Oscillating Nozzle for Concrete Drum Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for cleaning residual concrete from ready mixed concrete truck drums are inefficient, hazardous, and often leave behind small pieces that reaccumulate, as they require workers to enter confined spaces and use high-pressure water from a nozzle positioned along the drum's axis, which is ineffective at the center and damages equipment.
Innovation Solution
A novel apparatus featuring an oscillating high-pressure water nozzle with a torpedo-shaped nozzle housing that pivots and maintains a consistent stand-off distance, allowing for thorough cleaning of both sides of helical fins and the drum interior without manual intervention, using a combination of hydraulic and pneumatic systems to adjust position and angle for efficient concrete removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a worker enters the drum to manually chip concrete, then concrete can be broken into removable chips, but the worker is exposed to confined space hazards, silica particles, and equipment damage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical chipping with a high-pressure water jet system. A pump delivers water at high pressure through a nozzle that directs a concentrated stream at the concrete buildup on the drum interior, eliminating the need for workers to enter confined spaces and exposing them to hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a hydraulic pump system to generate high-pressure water flow. The pump draws from a water source and pressurizes the water to deliver it through the nozzle with sufficient force to erode and remove hardened concrete from the drum surface without manual intervention.
2Device complexity
If the nozzle is positioned on the drum axis, then the cleaning apparatus is simple to implement, but the stand-off distance is too great at the center and cleaning effectiveness drops off sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is mounted on a bracket that can pivot or rotate, allowing the stand-off distance to be dynamically adjusted. This enables the nozzle to maintain an optimal distance from the concrete surface throughout the drum's rotation, ensuring consistent cleaning effectiveness while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows adjustment of the stand-off distance parameter by pivoting the nozzle mounting bracket. This parameter change optimizes the water jet's effectiveness by maintaining a consistent, appropriate distance between the nozzle and concrete surface throughout the cleaning cycle.
3Productivity
If high pressure water is used to blast concrete, then concrete removal is effective, but water consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water jet is concentrated into a narrow, high-velocity stream that focuses energy on a small area of concrete at a time. This localized application of high-pressure water achieves effective concrete removal with lower overall water consumption compared to diffuse spray methods, as the energy is concentrated where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system operates by rotating the drum or pivoting the nozzle to periodically bring different sections of concrete buildup into the water jet's path. This periodic action allows the same high-pressure stream to clean the entire drum surface over time, reducing the need for continuously high water flow rates.
4Ease of operation
If the nozzle is retracted from the drum, then the cleaning action stops, but the same nozzle cannot clean both the front and back sides of helical fins effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is mounted on a pivotable bracket that allows it to change orientation dynamically. As the drum rotates or the nozzle pivots, the bracket adjusts the nozzle's angle to maintain contact with both the front and back sides of helical fins, enabling comprehensive cleaning without requiring multiple nozzles or complex positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting bracket adds an angular dimension to the nozzle's positioning capability. This allows the nozzle to sweep across different surfaces and angles, cleaning both sides of fins and various drum surfaces by changing its orientation rather than requiring multiple fixed-position nozzles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively removes all residual concrete without damaging the drum or fins, conserves water and energy, and eliminates the need for workers to enter the drum, ensuring thorough cleaning and reducing reaccumulation by maintaining an optimal stand-off distance and adjusting for different truck configurations.
Implementation Method 1
high pressure water nozzle in fluid communication with a source of water under high pressure
Implementation Method 2
rotation of the ready mixed concrete drum, coupled with discharge of high pressure water from the oscillating high pressure water nozzle during such rotation, causes separation of residual concrete from an interior surface of the ready mixed concrete drum
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Residual concrete in the drum of a ready mixed concrete truck is removed by high-pressure water. A nozzle is mounted on the leading end of a torpedo-shaped nozzle housing that is hingedly mounted to an elongate boom. The boom enters the mouth of the drum at an angle that matches the angle of the drum. The hinge allows the nozzle housing to pivot with respect to the elongate boom so that the nozzle is close to the residual concrete. The boom is retracted toward the mouth with the drum rotating in the mix direction and the nozzle oscillating so that it cuts through a swath of concrete. As the boom retracts, the torpedo-shaped nozzle housing maintains the nozzle close to the residual concrete on the drum and both sides of the helical fins. The nozzle sweeps an arc from about eighty to one hundred twenty degrees as it oscillates.