U.S. patent application number 10/774503 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for appliance to clean industrial chimneys.
Invention is credited to Vilarasau Alegre, Teresa.
Application Number | 20040231089 10/774503 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31985217 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040231089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vilarasau Alegre, Teresa |
November 25, 2004 |
Appliance to clean industrial chimneys
Abstract
This appliance consists of a cleaning robot (1) to which the
following devices are connected: a suction cleaner (2), a
compressor (3) to supply cleaning products, and a control box (4).
The robot (1) includes: traction devices (7) to move inside the
chimney, a rotating brush (10), a suction cavity (11), mini-cameras
(15) to take and send images to the control box (4), lighting LEDs
(16) and at least one nozzle to spray cleaning products.
Inventors: |
Vilarasau Alegre, Teresa;
(Barcelona, ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRAVEL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW, PC
200 DAINGERFIELD RD
SUITE 400
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
31985217 |
Appl. No.: |
10/774503 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 9/049 20130101;
B08B 9/035 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/319 |
International
Class: |
A47L 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 22, 2003 |
ES |
P200301191 |
Claims
1-10. (cancelled)
11. A chimney cleaning device used for cleaning chimney flues,
comprising: a. a cleaning robot having a body and rotating members
for propelling the robot inside of the flue of the chimney to be
cleaned; b. a cleaning device attached to the cleaning robot for
cleaning the material from the flue; c. a suctioning device on the
robot for drawing the material from the flue; and d. a control
system for controlling the operation of the robot in the flue.
12. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said
rotating members are comprised of rotating tracks.
13. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 12 wherein said
rotating tracks are positioned on the outside of said body and
corresponding drives for said rotating tracks are positioned on the
inside of said body.
14. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said
cleaning device comprises a nozzle on said cleaning robot for
spraying cleaning products to clean the chimney flue.
15. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 14 further
comprising a compressor for spraying cleaning products from said
nozzle.
16. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 15 wherein said
cleaning products comprise degreasers and water.
17. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 further
comprising a scraping device for scraping the inside of the chimney
flue.
18. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 17 wherein said
scraping device comprises a straight brush member having
substantially parallel bristles, said brush member being activated
by a rotating device.
19. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said
suctioning device comprises a suction cleaner connected to a pipe
member that is connected to a passage on said device, said passage
leading to a cavity that is delimited by a skirting, said skirting
covers the side and back areas of said cavity to optimise the
suctioning process of said suction cleaner.
20. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said
control system includes a monitor for viewing images provided by at
least one image capturing device on said cleaning robot.
21. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 20 wherein said at
least one image capturing device is comprised of a mini-camera.
22. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 20 further
comprising at least one lighting device to provide lighting for
said image capturing device.
23. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 22 wherein said
lighting device comprises an LED.
24. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 further
comprising a jack to connect said control system to said cleaning
robot.
25. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said
control system includes an image storage system for storing images
captured by said image capturing device.
26. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 11 wherein said
control system provides power to said cleaning robot and is
connected to said cleaning robot with a cable member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an appliance to clean industrial
chimneys with at least one flue that has a practically horizontal
length.
BACKGROUND
37 C.F.R. .sctn. 1.77(b)(5)
[0002] At present, industrial chimneys do not always follow a
vertical line and usually have horizontal lengths or with a slight
slant. This slight slant is necessary for the draft of the
fumes.
[0003] Non-vertical lengths of chimneys are normal in chimneys of
restaurant and bar kitchens, basically because it is impossible to
place vertical piping to the exterior from the location of the
kitchen.
[0004] The problem of horizontal or almost horizontal lengths of
flues, is cleaning because of their low slant. It should be noted
that more dirt accumulates at the start of lesser-slanted flues.
This is because these horizontal lengths are slower and therefore
dirt tends to remain stuck to the surface of these lengths. A
mixture of smoke and grease circulates inside a kitchen chimney and
in a horizontal length, the smoke advances owing to the slight
slant, but the grease becomes stuck to the walls of this
length.
[0005] When cleaning vertical chimneys, the force of gravity plays
a significant role, as just by scraping the inside walls of the
chimney, the dirt falls downwards. However, it is impossible to
clean horizontal lengths in this way.
[0006] Another problem involved in cleaning horizontal lengths of
chimneys, which usually consist of lengths of pipe joined by
connection flanges, is that high amounts of liquid cleaning
products cannot be used, as these would leak out through the pipe
connections, spilling onto suspended ceilings and other permeable
areas. Cleaning the areas around the pipe connections is also a
considerable problem, as perimeter channels on the inner surface of
the chimney also lead to grease and dirt settling on the
inside.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
37 C.F.R. .sctn. 1.77(b)(6)
[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems, an appliance has been
designed to clean industrial chimneys. The invention provides
constructive features aimed at cleaning horizontal lengths or
lengths having a slight slant, to ensure that dirt deposited on the
inside walls is removed, and to enable the cleaning tasks performed
to be observed and recorded.
[0008] The devise to clean industrial chimneys is especially
designed to clean noticeably horizontal lengths of chimney or with
a slight slant.
[0009] In accordance with the invention, the appliance consists of
a cleaning robot provided with caterpillar-type traction devices to
move inside the chimney flue to be cleaned, spray devices for
cleaning products, scraping devices, suction devices and image
capturing devices connected to lighting devices.
[0010] According to the invention, the appliance also consists of a
suction cleaner connected by means of a pipe to the outlet of the
cleaning robot, in order to provide it with the suctioning capacity
required to extract the detached dirt from the pipe and any surplus
cleaning liquid used; at least one compressor connected by means of
a pipe to an inlet of the cleaning robot in order to supply the
required cleaning products; and a control box provided with a
connection to suitable power supply devices and connected by means
of a cable to the cleaning robot, for the purpose of controlling
its operation.
[0011] The control box enables the operation of the cleaning robot
to be controlled by means of the corresponding controls, and
therefore all the devices of the robot. This means that the control
box can also control the operation of the suction cleaner and the
compressor. However, there may be the possibility that the suction
cleaner and/or the compressor also have their own control panel in
order to control their own operation.
[0012] In accordance with the invention, the cleaning robot
consists of a body, preferably constructed of aluminium, which has
caterpillar-type traction devices on the sides, and corresponding
drive devices inside. The drive devices are controlled through the
control box and enable the traction devices to be operated so that
the cleaning robot can move forwards, backwards and even turn.
[0013] The spraying devices for cleaning products included in the
robot, consist of one or more nozzles anchored to the body of the
robot, and which can fan spray degreasants, water or other products
from the inlet connected to the compressor.
[0014] If more than one nozzle is connected, cleaning products can
be sprayed simultaneously in several directions. It is also
possible that each fixed nozzle sprays one particular product. It
may also be possible that if there is more than one nozzle, each
can be connected independently to a compressor, or to an individual
tank.
[0015] The scraping devices included in the robot consist of a
straight brush, made up of flexible, noticeably parallel bristles,
which are connected to appropriate turning devices placed inside
the body of the robot. These turning devices are operated from the
control box. When the turning devices of the straight brush are
activated, the centrifugal force produced by the turn, places the
flexible bristles in a radial position so that they can scrape
inside the chimney flue to be cleaned.
[0016] By placing the straight brush in the front part of the
cleaning robot, when it is started up, the turn of the flexible
bristles in a radial position, traces the circumference of the
chimney flue, scraping its interior surface. If the robot also
moves longitudinally, the scraping device will cover the entire
cylindrical surface of the chimney flue. If the fixed nozzles spray
cleaning products on the flexible bristles in a radial position,
they will help to disperse the cleaning products properly onto the
interior surface of the chimney flue.
[0017] The suction devices included in the robot consist of a
cavity connected by a passage to the outlet, where the pipe from
the suction cleaner is connected. This cavity forms a suctioning
area. The invention includes skirting to cover the side and back
areas between the cavity and the lower plane defined by traction
devices, in order to delimit a space to optimise the suctioning
effect of the suction cleaner.
[0018] The arrangement of the skirting provides an inlet in the
front part of the robot, which exactly matches the place where the
products scraped from the flue by the brush bristles fall. As
suctioning from the suction cleaner is channelled towards this
front part, suctioning is very effective.
[0019] The image capturing devices included in the robot comprises
mini-cameras that can take and send images to the control box.
[0020] One of the mini-cameras is placed in front of the robot and
the other behind, in order to take images of the areas of the
chimney flue where the robot circulates. The mini-cameras are
located inside the body of the robot and preferably the lens is
protected by glass.
[0021] The lighting devices included in the robot are comprised of
light-emitting diodes ("LED"s) or similar elements that provide the
necessary lighting for the mini-cameras to correctly capture the
images.
[0022] It has been planned that the lighting LEDs are positioned
around the end of the lens of each of the robot mini-cameras.
[0023] The cleaning robot will also incorporate a base or jack to
connect the cable with the control box.
[0024] The control box also includes a monitor to view the images
taken by the mini-cameras of the robot, either in real time or
recorded. Obviously, recorded viewing of these images is possible
if the control box includes a recording and storage system of the
images taken by the mini-cameras of the robot.
[0025] It is possible that the cleaning robot can include
additional devices other than those described, or that it does not
include all of the devices mentioned.
[0026] Therefore, by using the appliance of this invention, it is
possible to clean a horizontal length of chimney or with a certain
slant, by inserting the robot inside the flue of the chimney, and
moving it by its caterpillar-type traction devices, until it
reaches the furthest point of said horizontal length. Once it
reaches this position, the direction of the robot is reversed so
that it returns to the initial position. During the return, the
compressor is activated so that the fixed nozzles spray degreasant
onto the surface of the chimney flue. After this return operation,
the robot is sent back to the furthest point of the flue, and when
it returns, the fixed nozzles spray very highly pressured water,
the straight brush is started-up, the flexible bristles scrape the
inside surface of the flue and the suction cleaner suctions through
the corresponding cavity of the robot.
[0027] Viewing the images taken by the mini-cameras inside the
chimney, in real time, enables more or less intensive cleaning of
the different lengths, depending on the dirt accumulated, and also
enables the condition of the chimney to be viewed before and after
cleaning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
37 C.F.R. .sctn. 1.77(b)(7)
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a diagram drawing of the appliance for cleaning
industrial chimneys in the operational position inside a
chimney.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cleaning robot.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a back elevation view of the cleaning robot,
without any connections.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a side elevation cross view of the robot, where
the suction cavity can be observed together with the skirtings that
delimit it sideways and at the back.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
37 C.F.R. .sctn. 1.77(b)(8)
[0032] As can be observed in FIG. 1, the appliance to clean
industrial chimneys is comprised of a cleaning robot (1), a suction
cleaner (2), a compressor (3) and a control box (4). Its purpose is
to clean lengths that are formed by a noticeably horizontal or
slightly slanted flue (5).
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cleaning robot (1) comprises
caterpillar-type traction devices (7), a fixed nozzle (8),
connected to an inlet (9), a straight brush (10), a suction cavity
(11), joined by a passage (12) to an outlet (13), skirtings (14),
mini-cameras (15), LEDs, (16) and a base or connection jack
(17).
[0034] The caterpillar-type traction devices (7) enable the
cleaning robot (1) to move inside the chimney flue (5) to be
cleaned, as indicated in FIG. 1. The drives that move these
traction devices (7), which may be gears or other drive devices
understood by those skilled in the locomotive art, are located
inside the body (6). The tracks may be constructed of the different
materials known by those skilled in the art.
[0035] The suction cleaner (2) is connected by a pipe (18) to the
outlet (13) of the cleaning robot (1) and provides the required
suctioning capacity so that suctioning takes place in the cavity
(11) to collect the dirt deposited in this area of the flue (5).
Skirtings (14) placed in the side and back areas of the cavity (11)
help to optimise the suctioning capacity of the suction cleaner
(2), as they prevent the suctioning from dispersing and concentrate
it in one specific area. In FIG. 4, the suctioning devices of the
cleaning robot (1) can be observed.
[0036] The compressor (3) is connected by a pipe (19) to the inlet
(9) of the cleaning robot (1) and is connected to the fixed nozzle
(8). In this way it is possible to feed the fixed nozzle (8) with
the required cleaning products, which can be degreasants, water or
other products. At the same time, the fixed nozzle (8) fan sprays
the cleaning products onto the inside surface of the flue (5).
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the straight brush (10) consists of
flexible bristles (20) placed noticeably parallel. When the
straight brush (10) is started-up by means of rotating devices
located inside the body (6), the centrifugal force makes the
flexible bristles (20) be placed in a radial position, as indicated
in the diagram of FIG. 1. This radial position of the bristles (20)
enables them to scrape the inside of the chimney flue (5).
[0038] The mini-cameras (15) can take and send images from the
cleaning robot (1) to the control box (4). In order to take these
images, suitable lighting is necessary inside the flue (5). The
LEDs (16), located around the lenses of the mini-cameras (15) as
indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, provide this lighting.
[0039] In the system described, the cleaning robot (1) has a
mini-camera (15) and LEDs (16) at the front, as shown in FIG. 2,
and an identical lay-out at the back of the robot (1) as shown in
FIG. 3.
[0040] The control box (4) has a connection (21) to receive the
corresponding power supply and by operating the corresponding
controls, operates all the elements of the appliance. At the same
time, the control box (4) is connected by a cable (22) to the base
or connection jack (17) of the cleaning robot (1), which is where
the connections are made to the various devices incorporated in the
cleaning robot (1). In this way, it is possible to control from the
control box (4), the spraying of products through the fixed nozzles
(8), the rotation of the straight brush (10), the traction devices
(7), to activate the lighting devices (16) and the front and back
mini-cameras (15),
[0041] Apart from the corresponding controls to control the
described appliance, the control box (4) also has a monitor (23) to
view the images taken by the mini-cameras (15). Viewing can be in
real time or recorded, as the control box (4) includes
image-recording devices.
[0042] The following table lists the part numbers and part
descriptions as used herein and in the drawings attached
hereto.
[0043] Parts List
1 Part Number: Description: 1 Cleaning robot 2 Suction cleaner 3
Compressor 4 Control box 5 Chimney flue 6 Body 7 Traction device 7a
Rear sprocket 7b Front sprocket 7c Upper sprocket 8 Nozzle 9 Inlet
10 Straight brush 11 Cavity 12 Passage 13 Outlet 14 Skirting 15
Mini-camera 16 LEDs 17 Base 18 Suction cleaner pipe 19 Compressor
pipe 20 Flexible bristles 21 Control box connection 22 Control box
cable 23 Monitor
[0044] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention,
together with an example of a preferred embodiment, it is hereby
stated that the materials, form, size and lay-out of the elements
described, may be modified as long as this does not alter the
essential features or spirit of the invention, the claims for which
are given below.
* * * * *