Pipe Cleaning Nozzle with Dynamic Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe cleaning devices using high-pressure liquid jets often cause damage to pipe walls due to prolonged exposure and uneven cleaning, especially when dealing with stubborn dirt and varying pipe geometries.
Innovation Solution
A device with a nozzle system that allows for axial, rotational, and pivoting movements, guided by a sensor-equipped guide device to maintain a consistent distance from the pipe wall and adjust the nozzle's angle to prevent direct impact, ensuring efficient cleaning with minimized mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a rotating nozzle is used to clean pipe walls, then cleaning coverage is improved, but exposure time to pipe wall increases causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is made dynamically movable along the pipe wall rather than stationary or simply rotating. The positioning device enables controlled movement of the nozzle in multiple directions (axial, radial, and tangential), allowing the jet to dynamically track and clean the pipe wall surface while maintaining minimal exposure time at any given point.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor detects the distance between the nozzle and pipe wall in real-time and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the nozzle position based on this feedback to maintain optimal cleaning distance, ensuring thorough cleaning while preventing excessive exposure that would damage the pipe wall.
2Measurement precision
If guide carriages are used to position the nozzle, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device serves multiple functions: it enables axial movement along the pipe, radial adjustment for distance control, and tangential positioning for optimal angle. This multi-functional positioning system replaces the need for separate guide carriages and sensors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor-equipped positioning device automatically detects and adjusts its own position relative to the pipe wall, eliminating the need for external guide carriages or manual positioning mechanisms. The system self-regulates to maintain optimal cleaning parameters.
3Productivity
If the nozzle is kept at minimal distance from pipe wall, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but mechanical stress on pipe wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle distance from the pipe wall is dynamically adjusted based on real-time sensor feedback rather than being fixed. The positioning device continuously moves the nozzle to maintain the optimal balance between cleaning efficiency (minimal distance) and pipe wall protection (controlled exposure), adapting to variations in pipe geometry and contamination levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (nozzle distance, angle, and position) in real-time based on sensor data and control unit processing. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the nozzle to operate at minimal safe distance for efficient cleaning while preventing excessive mechanical stress on the pipe wall.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the jet is directed parallel to pipe wall, then pipe wall damage is reduced, but cleaning performance on stubborn dirt decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle angle relative to the pipe wall is dynamically adjusted during operation. The positioning device enables the nozzle to pivot between parallel orientation (for protecting the pipe wall) and angled orientation (for maximizing cleaning performance on stubborn dirt), with the optimal angle determined by real-time sensor feedback and control unit processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle periodically alternates between parallel and angled orientations relative to the pipe wall. During normal cleaning, the nozzle operates parallel to minimize damage. When encountering stubborn contamination, the control unit triggers periodic angular adjustments to enhance cleaning effectiveness, then returns to parallel orientation to prevent damage.
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 device effectively cleans all areas of the pipe without causing damage by maintaining a controlled distance and angle of the high-pressure jet, reducing the risk of pipe wall damage and ensuring thorough removal of deposits.
Implementation Method 1
The high pressure of the liquid is the reason for the powerful force capable of dislodging even heavy encrustations
Implementation Method 2
processing the interior of inaccessible pipes and pipe networks by means of high-pressure jets of a fluid with or without an abrasive
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) for processing the interior of inaccessible pipes and pipe networks by means of high-pressure jets of a fluid with or without an abrasive, comprising: • at least one nozzle (3) arranged at the front end of the device (1) for generating at least one forward-directed, focused jet (4a) of the fluid; • a media supply for supplying the at least one nozzle (3) with the high-pressure fluid medium; • a guide device (8) for guiding the at least one nozzle (3) with an orientation of the at least one jet (4a) exiting the nozzle (3) parallel to the pipe wall (2a).• a positioning device for approaching and/or applying the at least one nozzle (3) and/or the guide device (8) to the pipe wall to minimize and/or maintain the distance of the at least one nozzle jet (4a) to the parallel-spaced pipe wall (2a) and/or a pivoting device for deflecting the at least one nozzle jet (4a) from parallel to the pipe wall (2a) towards the pipe center (13), • a rotary device for rotating the at least one nozzle (3) about the pipe axis (16) or along an axis parallel to the pipe axis (16) on the pipe wall (16), • a feed device for an axial feed movement (17) along or parallel to the pipe axis (2a) and • at least one camera (19) for observing the alignment and deflection of the at least one nozzle (3). With such a device, all areas of a pipe can be cleaned efficiently.without the pipe walls being damaged by the high-pressure jets of the fluid.