Cleaning device

Claim 2

A cleaning device, particularly for cleaning the interior of receptacles, comprising a foldable and spreadable framework including a plurality of elongated members; mounting means including a pipe pivotably mounting said framework for rotation about an axis; drive means associated with said framework and operative for effecting rotation of the same about said axis; operating means for folding and spreading said framework, including a sleeve slidable along said pipe, linkage arms articulately linking said members with said sleeve, and moving means for effecting movement of said sleeve along said pipe between two end positions in which said framework is respectively folded and spread; a plurality of spray heads mounted on said framework; and supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray heads.

Claim 3

A cleaning device as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a hydraulic drive unit.

Claim 4

A cleaning device as defined in claim 2, wherein said hydraulic drive unit is powered by some of the fluid under pressure and comprises a rotatable output portion coaxial with said axis.

Claim 5

A cleaning device as defined in claim 3, wherein said output portion is an outer sleeve of said hydraulic drive unit; further comprising connecting means connecting said mounting means with said outer sleeve for rotation therewith; and motion-imparting means for imparting stepwise rotary motion to said outer sleeve.

Claim 6

A cleaning device as defined in claim 4, said hydraulic drive unit having a center passage for liquid under pressure, and said pipe being coaxial with said passage and having an inner cross-section corresponding to that of the passage.

Claim 7

A cleaning device as defined in claim 5; further comprising a distributor associated with said pipe and spray heads for distributing fluid under pressure from the former to the latter.

Claim 8

A cleaning device, particularly for cleaning the interior of receptacles, comprising a foldable and spreadable framework including a plurality of elongated members; mounting means including a pipe pivotably mounting said framework for rotation about an axis and including an extension and a plurality of spray heads; a distributor associated with said pipe and spray heads for distributing fluid under pressure from the former to the latter, said extension projecting beyond said distributor; drive means associated with said framework and operative for effecting rotation of the same about said axis, said drive means including a hydraulic drive unit powered by some of the fluid under pressure and having a rotatable output portion in form of an outer sleeve coaxial with said axis, said hydraulic drive unit having a center passage for liquid under pressure which is coaxial with said pipe and has an inner cross section corresponding to that of said pipe; operating means for folding and spreading said framework, including a sleeve slidable along said extension, linkage arms articulately linking said member with said sleeve, and moving means for effecting movement of said sleeve along said extension between two end positions in which said framework is respectively folded and spread; connecting means connecting said mounting means with said outer sleeve for rotation therewith; motion-imparting means for imparting stepwise rotary motion to said sleeve; and supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray heads.

Claim 9

A cleaning device, particularly for cleaning the interior of receptacles, comprising a foldable and spreadable framework including a plurality of elongated members; mounting means including a pipe pivotably mounting said framework for rotation about an axis and including an extension and a plurality of spray heads; a distributor associated with said pipe and spray heads for distributing fluid under pressure from the former to the latter, said extension projecting beyond said distributor; drive means associated with said framework and operative for effecting rotation of the same about said axis, said drive means including a hydraulic drive unit powered by some of the fluid under pressure and having a rotatable output portion in form of an outer sleeve coaxial with said axis, said hydraulic drive unit having a center passage for liquid under pressure which is coaxial with said pipe and has an inner cross section corresponding to that of said pipe; operating means for folding and spreading said framework, including a sleeve slidable along said extension, linkage arms articulately linking said member with said sleeve, and moving means for effecting movement of said sleeve along said extension between two end positions in which said framework is respectively folded and spread; connecting means connecting said mounting means with said outer sleeve for rotation therewith; motion-imparting means for imparting stepwise rotary motion to said sleeve; and supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray heads.

Claim 10

A cleaning device as defined in claim 7, wherein said members of said framework are elongated units each provided with a plurality of said spray heads and each articulately carried by said pipe.

Claim 11

A cleaning device as defined in claim 8, said framework further comprising a plurality of tubes each having a first end portion articulated to said distributor, and a second end portion articulated to one of said units in an end region thereof, a plurality of arms each having spaced end portions articulated to said extension and to an opposite end portion of one of said units, respectively; and wherein said sleeve surrounds said extension intermediate said distributor and said arms.

Claim 12

A cleaning device as defined in claim 8, wherein respective arms of said spray heads on said units are angularly offset with reference to one another by 90*.

Claim 13

A cleaning device, particularly for cleaning the interior of receptacles, comprising a foldable and spreadable framework including a plurality of tubes each having one end portion and another end portion; mounting means including a pipe mounting said framework for rotation about an axis; a distributor associated with said pipe and having a plurality of nipples extending from and communicating with the interior of said pipe, and a connecting sleeve turnably mounted on each of said nipples and having at least one aperture communicating with the interior of the associated nipple, each of said one end portion being fixed to and communicating with one of said connecting sleeves; spray heads on said other end portions; drive means associated with said framework and operative for effecting rotation of the same about said axis, said drive means including a hydraulic drive unit powered by some of the fluid under pressure and having a rotatable output portion in form of an outer sleeve coaxial with said axis, said hydraulic drive unit having a center passage for liquid under pressure which is coaxial with said pipe and has an inner cross section corresponding to that of said pipe; operating means for folding and spreading said framework; connecting means connecting said mounting means with said outer sleeve for rotation therewith; motion-imparting means for imparting stepwise rotary motion to said outer sleeve; and supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray heads.

Claim 14

A cleaning device, particularly for cleaning the interior of receptacles, comprising a foldable and spreadable framework including a plurality of tubes each having one end portion and another end portion; mounting means including a pipe mounting said framework for rotation about an axis; a distributor associated with said pipe and having a plurality of nipples extending from and communicating with the interior of said pipe, and a connecting sleeve turnably mounted on each of said nipples and having at least one aperture communicating with the interior of the associated nipple, each of said one end portion being fixed to and communicating with one of said connecting sleeves; spray heads on said other end portions; drive means associated with said framework and operative for effecting rotation of the same about said axis, said drive means including a hydraulic drive unit powered by some of the fluid under pressure and having a rotatable output portion in form of an outer sleeve coaxial with said axis, said hydraulic drive unit having a center passage for liquid under pressure which is coaxial with said pipe and has an inner cross section corresponding to that of said pipe; operating means for folding and spreading said framework; connecting means connecting said mounting means with said outer sleeve for rotation therewith; motion-imparting means for imparting stepwise rotary motion to said outer sleeve; and supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray heads.

Claim 15

A cleaning device as defined in claim 11, wherein said tubes each have a bend adjacent the respectiveLy associated connecting sleeve.