Hinged Cleaning Frame for Container Wall Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning assemblies for container interiors are inefficient due to the need for extensive nozzle arrangements, lack of adaptability, and misalignment issues, especially when dealing with irregular surfaces and heavy, slow-moving boom systems.

Innovation Solution

A guiding frame with a moveable cleaning frame and hinged cleaning heads, along with a drying frame, is used to facilitate efficient movement and directional adjustment, utilizing wheels and a controller for precise control and integrated supply tubes for efficient operation, and rotatable nozzles for enhanced flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a telescopic boom with outwardly directed nozzles is used to clean container walls, then cleaning coverage is achieved, but the system becomes heavy and slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidcleaning speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system is divided into a stationary guiding frame and a moveable cleaning frame with cleaning heads. This segmentation allows the heavy boom structure to be replaced with a lighter, faster cleaning frame that moves along the guiding frame, achieving cleaning coverage without the weight and slowness of the complete boom system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning heads are extracted from the heavy telescopic boom structure and placed on a separate, lighter cleaning frame. This extraction removes the unnecessary weight of the boom while retaining the essential cleaning function, enabling faster operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If the complete frame with boom is moved to adjust position, then positioning is achieved, but the cleaning process becomes slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is separated from the cleaning function. The guiding frame remains stationary and provides precise positioning references, while the cleaning frame moves along it. This allows the cleaning frame to be quickly repositioned without moving the entire heavy boom structure, reducing positioning time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding frame acts as an intermediary between the stationary support structure and the moveable cleaning frame. It provides a stable reference system for positioning while allowing the cleaning frame to move independently and quickly along its length, eliminating the need to move the complete boom structure for repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If fixed nozzle positions on the frame are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different cleaning needs is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe structureVSAvoidcleaning adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning heads are made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed to the frame. Each cleaning head can be independently positioned and oriented along the container walls, allowing adaptation to different cleaning needs and container configurations while maintaining a relatively simple frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning heads are pre-equipped with adjustable mechanisms that allow them to be positioned and oriented as needed before the cleaning operation begins. This preliminary adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different cleaning requirements without requiring complex reconfiguration during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Quantity of substance

If multiple outwardly directed nozzles are arranged on the frame, then cleaning coverage is achieved, but the number of nozzles and complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidnozzle arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having multiple fixed nozzles distributed on the frame, the system uses a smaller number of dynamically positionable cleaning heads. These heads can be moved to different locations and oriented to cover the required areas, achieving comprehensive cleaning coverage with fewer nozzles and reduced structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3069799B1Cleaning assembly for cleaning the inner walls of a container and combination of a cleaning assembly and a container to be cleaned
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 LEEMANS WASTE CENT BV
  • EP3069799B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3069799B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3069799B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning assembly (1) for cleaning the inner walls of a container, comprising: - a guiding frame (4), with a first end, which guiding frame is moveable in a direction of transport; - a cleaning frame (14), moveable in the direction of transport along the guiding frame; and - at least one cleaning head (16), attached to the cleaning frame and hingeable along an axis parallel to the direction of travel, the cleaning head comprising at least one cleaning nozzle, connected to cleaning means. The invention further relates to a combination of a cleaning assembly and a container to be cleaned.