Method and apparatus for cleaning the interior of industrial vessels by using rotating nozzle heads

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein liquid is supplied to the liquid nozzle heads at about 250 psi.

Claim 4

In combination with a tank car, a nozzle assembly for cleaning the interior of the tank car comprising: a riser passing through a manway and into the interior of the tank car, at least one rotatable nozzle head, in communication with the riser, for producing high velocity liquid jets from multiple nozzles positioned in the head to liquid sweep substantially all of the tank car interior, the axis of rotation of the nozzle head generally coinciding with the longitudinal tank axis; at least three nozzles distributed both circumferentially and longitudinally in the nozzle head, so that both radial and longitudinal distances between nozzles are constant, and the nozzles are inclined to the axis of the nozzle head so that each nozzle sprays fluid in a different direction, the nozzles having internal fillets of at least about 20 nozzle exit diameters; a tee-shaped gas nozzle positioned below the rotatable nozzle head and set about parallel to the tank car axis just above the floor of the tank car to gas sweep substantially all of the tank car interior, comprising a cylindrical head having opposing nozzles with exit diameters not more than about 4 inches, the head being in commmunication with the riser, and the length of each half of the head being a minimum of about two diameters of the head in order to effectively direct the jets issuing from the nozzles; and concentric supply pipes which supply liquid to the rotatable nozzle head and gas to the gas nozzle.

Claim 5

In combination with a tank car, a nozzle assembly for cleaning the interior of the tank car comprising: a riser passing through a manway and into the interior of the tank car, at least one rotatable nozzle head, in communication with the riser, for producing high velocity liquid jets from multiple nozzles positioned in the head to liquid sweep substantially all of the tank car interior, the axis of rotation of the nozzle head generally coinciding with the longitudinal tank axis; at least three nozzles distributed both circumferentially and longitudinally in the nozzle head, so that both radial and longitudinal distances between nozzles are constant, and the nozzles are inclined to the axis of the nozzle head so that each nozzle sprays fluid in a different direction, the nozzles having internal fillets of at least about 20 nozzle exit diameters; a tee-shaped gas nozzle positioned below the rotatable nozzle head and set about parallel to the tank car axis just above the floor of the tank car to gas sweep substantially all of the tank car interior, comprising a cylindrical head having opposing nozzles with exit diameters not more than about 4 inches, the head being in commmunication with the riser, and the length of each half of the head being a minimum of about two diameters of the head in order to effectively direct the jets issuing from the nozzles; and concentric supply pipes which supply liquid to the rotatable nozzle head and gas to the gas nozzle.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the nozzle exit diameter is about 3/16 inch.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fillet radii are about 4 inches and the internal nozzle length is about 2 1/2 inches.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the rotatable head is in the form of a spherical sector.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein two rotatable heads are mounted on opposite sides of a drive mechanism for the heads.