Pneumatic Tank Cleaning Arrangement for Variable Vortex Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tank cleaning methods, such as those used in aircraft waste tanks, fail to effectively reach and clean all areas due to obstructions and uneven fluid distribution, leading to incomplete cleaning and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic distributor system with multiple ports and nozzles that create a variable vortex within the tank using compressed air to distribute cleaning fluid, ensuring thorough coverage by adjusting pressure and nozzle activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single spinning rinse head with nozzles is used to clean the tank interior, then the cleaning device can be simple in structure and require no power supply, but the cleaning fluid cannot reach all areas of the tank interior due to obstructions and limited spray coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cleaning function into multiple independent nozzles distributed at different locations on the tank interior rather than using a single spinning head. Each nozzle is positioned to target specific areas, ensuring complete coverage without requiring mechanical movement or power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point cleaning approach (spinning head at one location) to a multi-point distributed approach by placing nozzles at various positions around the tank interior. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions ensures that all areas, including previously obscured regions, are reached by the cleaning fluid.
2Ease of operation
If pressurised fluid is sprayed from a single location to clean the tank, then the cleaning system is simple to operate, but the fluid may not reach the bottom and all parts of the interior with sufficient force
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into multiple nozzles positioned at different locations and angles within the tank. This allows the pressurised fluid to be delivered directly to various areas including the bottom and hard-to-reach spots, ensuring sufficient cleaning force throughout the entire tank interior without complex operation.
3Reliability
If multiple nozzles are positioned to maximize fluid distribution, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple nozzle functions into a single integrated cleaning system that is activated by one operation. The pneumatic distributor merges the control of multiple nozzles into one unified mechanism, allowing all nozzles to be activated simultaneously with a single action, thus maintaining simplicity despite the increased number of nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the tank's existing pneumatic infrastructure (ATP system) to activate the nozzles, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms or power supplies. The nozzles are self-activating through the existing pneumatic network, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
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 system ensures comprehensive cleaning of the tank interior by creating adjustable vortices that reach all areas, reducing contamination risks and water consumption, while being adaptable to various tank sizes and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
create a variable vortex in the tank interior
Implementation Method 2
a pneumatic distributor having a pneumatic fluid input and a plurality of pneumatic fluid outputs and configured to selectively route pneumatic fluid from the input to the outputs
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning arrangement for cleaning the interior of a tank containing fluid, the cleaning arrangement comprising: a pneumatic distributor (160) having a pneumatic fluid input (170) and a plurality of pneumatic fluid outputs (171, 172, 173, 174) and configured to selectively route pneumatic fluid from the input to the outputs, each of the outputs configured to provide fluid to an interior of the tank via a respective port (151, 152, 153, 154) in a wall of the tank according to the selectively routed distribution of fluid to create a variable vortex in the tank interior.