Rotating Spray Head Suction Design for Gentle Hull Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rotating-brush cleaning systems damage new 'easy release' ship hull coatings when cleaning bio-fouling, as these coatings are self-cleaning at sea but prone to fouling in port, necessitating a gentler cleaning method for non-horizontal surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A spray head system that generates suction forces during rotation to maintain contact with non-horizontal surfaces, such as ship hulls, using a design with spray nozzles and a body featuring balanced bore holes and channels to create suction, allowing for cleaning without damaging the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating-brush cleaning system is used to clean bio-fouling from ship hulls, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the easy release coatings are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical brush contact system with a fluid-based cleaning system. High-pressure water jets and chemical solutions are used to remove bio-fouling without direct mechanical contact, thereby eliminating the abrasion and damage caused by rotating brushes while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic principles by employing high-pressure water injection systems to clean the ship hull. The pressurized fluid stream provides the necessary force to remove bio-fouling without requiring mechanical brush contact, thus protecting the easy release coatings from damage
2Area of stationary object
If a spray head is rotated to clean non-horizontal surfaces, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the spray head cannot maintain contact with the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a suction mechanism that generates negative pressure to pull the spray head toward the ship hull surface during rotation. This suction force counteracts the centrifugal force and gravity that would otherwise cause the spray head to lift away from the non-horizontal surface, ensuring continuous contact and effective cleaning coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a vacuum suction system with suction nozzles positioned opposite the spray nozzles. As the spray head rotates, the suction creates a pressure differential that maintains the spray head in contact with the hull surface, enabling effective cleaning of non-horizontal areas without loss of contact
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
Enables effective cleaning of non-horizontal surfaces like ship hulls with 'easy release' coatings without damaging them, as the suction forces keep the spray head in place during rotation, ensuring thorough cleaning without surface damage.
Implementation Method 1
suction forces are generated as the body is rotated where the suction forces can be used to maintain the body adjacent to a non-horizontal surface
Data Source
AI summary
A support head capable of generating suction upon the rotation thereof has a body that defines a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a peripheral edge, and an open region formed in a central portion of the second surface. Work producing elements such as spray nozzles are mounted in the first surface. Each of a first plurality of holes extends between the first surface and the second surface. Each of a second plurality of holes extends between the peripheral edge of the body and the open region of the body. When the body is positioned over the surface with the first surface opposing same, suction forces are generated as the body is rotated.