US3791583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spray cleaning system
Assignee: Pfaudler Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-09
•
Granted: 1974-02-12
•
Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A spray cleaning head is mounted on a reciprocating cleaning fluid supply tube extending from the open end of a hydraulic cylinder. An annular piston on the tube, the tube itself, and the cylinder define an expansible chamber within the cylinder. A pump supplies cleaning fluid to the closed end of the hydraulic cylinder, whereby the cleaning fluid exerts pressure on the annular piston, and means are provided for supplying fluid to and draining fluid from the expansible chamber. The pressure exerted by the cleaning fluid on the annular piston moves the supply tube and the cleaning head from a retracted to an extended position when fluid is drained from the expansible chamber, and the supply tube and cleaning head are moved back to the retracted position when fluid is supplied to the expansible chamber. In some embodiments, reciprocating the supply tube moves the cleaning head into and out of an open ended casing attached to the hydraulic cylinder and surrounding the supply tube. A lid closes the end of the casing when the cleaning head is in the casing; and means are provided for filling the casing with fluid when the lid is closed, thereby protecting the cleaning head. Where the cleaning head is of the type having a rotating housing and nozzles rotatably attached to the housing, the lid is preferably attached to the rotating housing, and means are provided for pivoting the lid to close the open end of the casing as the cleaning head moves into the casing and for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern of the nozzles as the cleaning head moves out of the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 E Nunlist
- 👤 H Coleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:45
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B3/00; B05B3/02; B05B3/04; B05B3/06; B05B3/066; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/093; B08B9/0936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for supplying cleaning fluid to and positioning a spray cleaning head within a vessel comprising: a hydraulic cylinder having an open end and a closed end; a cleaning fluid supply tube extending through the open end of the cylinder and adapted for reciprocation within the cylinder, said cleaning head being supported by and reciprocating with the fluid supply tube; an annular piston on the tube, said cylinder, tube and piston defining an expansible chamber within the cylinder; a pump for supplying cleaning fluid to the closed end of the cylinder, whereby the cleaning fluid exerts pressure on the annular piston; and means for supplying fluid to and draining fluid from the expansible chamber, whereby the pressure exerted by the cleaning fluid on the piston moves the supply tube and cleaning head from a retracted position to an extended position when fluid is drained from the expansible chamber, and the supply tube and cleaning head are moved back to the retracted position when fluid is supplied to the expansible chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for supplying cleaning fluid to and positioning a spray cleaning head within a vessel comprising: a hydraulic cylinder having an open end and a closed end; a cleaning fluid supply tube extending through the open end of the cylinder and adapted for reciprocation within the cylinder, said cleaning head being supported by and reciprocating with the fluid supply tube; an annular piston on the tube, said cylinder, tube and piston defining an expansible chamber within the cylinder; a pump for supplying cleaning fluid to the closed end of the cylinder, whereby the cleaning fluid exerts pressure on the annular piston; and means for supplying fluid to and draining fluid from the expansible chamber, whereby the pressure exerted by the cleaning fluid on the piston moves the supply tube and cleaning head from a retracted position to an extended position when fluid is drained from the expansible chamber, and the supply tube and cleaning head are moved back to the retracted position when fluid is supplied to the expansible chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for supplying fluid to and draining fluid from the expansible chamber comprises a multi-way valve adapted to connect the expansible chamber to the discharge of said pump or to a drain line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the means for supplying fluid to the expansible chamber comprises a second pump; and a pressure relief valve connects the discharge of the second pump to the closed end of the hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: an open ended casing attached to the hydraulic cylinder and surrounding the supply tube, whereby reciprocating the supply tube moves the cleaning head into and out of the casing; and a lid adapted to close the end of the casing when the cleaning head is in the casing, whereby the cleaning head is protected from materials inside the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising means for filling the casing with fluid when the lid is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for filling the casing comprises the cleaning fluid supply pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: the means for supplying fluid to the expansible chamber comprises a second pump; and the means for filling the casing with fluid comprises a pressure relief valve connecting the discharge of said second pump to the closed end of the hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a vessel cleaning system including a cleaning fluid supply tube adapted for reciprocation along its axis and a spray cleaning head mounted on and reciprocating with the supply tube, said cleaning head having a housing adapted for rotation about the supply tube''s axis and nozzles rotatably attached to the housing, an enclosure for the cleaning head comprising: an open ended casing surrounding the supply tube, whereby reciprocating the supply tube moves the cleaning head into and out of the casing; a lid attached to the rotating housing; means for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern of the nozzles as the cleaning head moves out of the casing; and means for pivoting the lid to close the open end of the casing as the cleaning head moves into the casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a vessel cleaning system including a cleaning fluid supply tube adapted for reciprocation along its axis and a spray cleaning head mounted on and reciprocating with the supply tube, said cleaning head having a housing adapted for rotation about the supply tube''s axis and nozzles rotatably attached to the housing, an enclosure for the cleaning head comprising: an open ended casing surrounding the supply tube, whereby reciprocating the supply tube moves the cleaning head into and out of the casing; a lid attached to the rotating housing; means for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern of the nozzles as the cleaning head moves out of the casing; and means for pivoting the lid to close the open end of the casing as the cleaning head moves into the casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the lid seats against an annular lip on the open end of the casing, said lip lying in a plane at right angles to the supply tube''s axis; and the lid pivots about an axis parallel to the plane of the lip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the nozzles are attached to one side of the rotating housing and the lid is pivotally attached to the other side of the Rotating housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the supply tube''s axis is generally vertical; and the lid is pivotally attached to the rotating housing at a location offset from the lid''s center of gravity, whereby the means for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern comprises the weight of the lid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the lid seats against an annular lip on the open end of the casing; the lip is generally coaxial with the supply tube, and the means for pivoting the lid to close the open end of the casing comprises a member extending from one side of the lid and adapted to contact the lip as the cleaning head moves into the casing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the lid engages an annular lip on the open end of the casing and the means for pivoting the lid to close the open end of the casing comprises: an annular surface within the casing parallel to the plane in which the lip lies; a cam surface on the lid; a rod extending generally parallel to the supply tube''s axis between said cam surface and said annular surface, said rod being supported by the rotating housing and adapted for longitudinal movement with respect to the housing; and a coil spring surrounding the end of the rod nearest to the annular surface and extending beyond the end of the rod, said spring being adapted to contact the annular surface as the cleaning head moves into the casing, whereby the rod moves towards the lid and the lid is pivoted to close the open end of the casing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a second coil spring surrounding said rod and biasing the rod towards the annular surface, said second spring having a lower spring factor than the spring that contacts the annular surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said rod and said coil spring are adapted to pivot said lid into a position generally parallel to said lip before the cleaning head has moved all the way into the casing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the casing is attached to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to reciprocate the supply tube and thereby move the cleaning head into and out of the casing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the casing is mounted in an opening in a vessel and the hydraulic positioner is located outside the vessel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the hydraulic cylinder extends through an opening in a vessel and supports the casing inside the vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
174 words
A vessel cleaning system comprising: a hydraulic cylinder having a reciprocating cleaning fluid supply tube extending therefrom; a cleaning head mounted on the end of the supply tube, said cleaning head having a housing adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the supply tube and nozzles rotatably attached to one side of the housing; an open ended cylindrical casing attached to the hydraulic cylinder and extending coaxial with and surrounding the supply tube, whereby reciprocating the supply tube moves the cleaning head into and out of the casing; an annular lip on the open end of the casing, said lip lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of the supply tube; a lid pivotally attached to the opposite side of said rotating housing from the nozzles; means for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern of the nozzles as the cleaning head moves out of the casing; and means for pivoting the lid to seat against the lip on the casing as the cleaning head moves into the casing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
174 words
A vessel cleaning system comprising: a hydraulic cylinder having a reciprocating cleaning fluid supply tube extending therefrom; a cleaning head mounted on the end of the supply tube, said cleaning head having a housing adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the supply tube and nozzles rotatably attached to one side of the housing; an open ended cylindrical casing attached to the hydraulic cylinder and extending coaxial with and surrounding the supply tube, whereby reciprocating the supply tube moves the cleaning head into and out of the casing; an annular lip on the open end of the casing, said lip lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of the supply tube; a lid pivotally attached to the opposite side of said rotating housing from the nozzles; means for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern of the nozzles as the cleaning head moves out of the casing; and means for pivoting the lid to seat against the lip on the casing as the cleaning head moves into the casing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein: the supply tube''s axis is generally vertical; and the lid is attached to the rotating housing at a location offset from the lid''s center of gravity, whereby the means for pivoting the lid out of the spray pattern comprises the weight of the lid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the means for pivoting the lid to seat against the lip comprises a member extending from one side of The lid and adapted to contact the lip as the cleaning head moves into the casing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein there is an annular surface within the casing parallel to the plane of the lip and the means for pivoting the lid to seat against the lip comprises: a cam surface on the lid; a rod extending generally parallel to the supply tube''s axis between said cam surface and said annular surface, said rod being mounted in guides attached to the rotating housing and adapted for longitudinal movement with respect to the housing; and a coil spring surrounding the end of the rod nearest to the annular surface and extending beyond the end of the rod, said spring being adapted to contact the annular surface as the cleaning head is moved into the casing whereby the rod is moved towards the lid and the lid is pivoted parallel to the plane of the lip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said coil spring is adapted to contact the annular surface and pivot the lid parallel to the lip before the cleaning head has moved all the way into the casing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |