U.S. patent application number 14/625172 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-17 for auto cleaner for gun barrel.
The applicant listed for this patent is In-Young KIM. Invention is credited to In-Young KIM.
Application Number | 20150362279 14/625172 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51751081 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150362279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; In-Young |
December 17, 2015 |
AUTO CLEANER FOR GUN BARREL
Abstract
Provided is an auto cleaner for a gun barrel includes a main
body having one end connected to a first cleaning unit and other
end connected to a second cleaning unit, wherein the main body
includes three shafts, a reciprocating unit, and a driving device.
The auto cleaner may be used not only to automatically clean a gun
barrel, but also to clean the inside of a pipe, such as a water
supply or drainage pipe, or a boiler tube.
Inventors: |
KIM; In-Young; (Boryeong-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIM; In-Young |
Boryeong-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
51751081 |
Appl. No.: |
14/625172 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 9/049 20130101;
B08B 9/00 20130101; F41A 29/02 20130101; A46B 2200/3013 20130101;
A46B 13/02 20130101; B08B 9/051 20130101; F41A 29/00 20130101; F16L
55/34 20130101; F16L 2101/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 29/02 20060101
F41A029/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0070481 |
Claims
1. An auto cleaner for a gun barrel, the auto cleaner comprising a
main body having one end connected to a first cleaning unit and
other end connected to a second cleaning unit, wherein the main
body comprises: a first shaft having one end combined to an inside
of the main body and on which forward and reverse screw threads are
formed; a second shaft having one end connected to the inside of
the main body and provided in parallel to the first shaft; a
reciprocating unit moving back and forth along the forward and
reverse screw threads of the first shaft and the second shaft by
being inserted into each of other end of the first shaft and other
end of the second shaft; a third shaft having one end connected to
the reciprocating unit and other end connected to the second
cleaning unit, and moving the second cleaning unit according to a
movement of the reciprocating unit; and a driving device rotating
the first shaft in one direction.
2. The auto cleaner of claim 1, wherein each of the first and
second cleaning units comprises: a hollow frame; and a cleaning
brush combined outside the hollow frame for cleaning an inner
surface of the gun barrel, wherein the cleaning brush tilts in a
direction opposite a forward direction and maintains the tilted
direction unless an opposite artificial force is applied
thereto.
3. The auto cleaner of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first
and second cleaning units comprises at least one of a photographing
unit and a lighting unit.
4. The auto cleaner of claim 3, further comprising a monitor
display unit that receives and reproduces data captured by the
photographing unit.
5. The auto cleaner of claim 4, further comprising a foreign
substance removing unit that removes foreign substances attached to
the photographing unit and the lighting unit.
6. The auto cleaner of claim 1, wherein the main body further
comprises at least one oil nozzle that sprays oil into the gun
barrel.
7. The auto cleaner of claim 1, further comprising: a first fixing
member that fixes the main body and the first cleaning unit; and a
direction changing cable that is connected to the first fixing
member to change a proceeding direction of the auto cleaner.
8. The auto cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first and second
cleaning units are detachable.
9. The auto cleaner of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating unit
comprises: a body into which the first and second shafts are
inserted and with which the third shaft is combined; and a rotating
member enabling the body to move along the first shaft by moving
along the forward and reverse screw threads while being combined
with the body.
10. The auto cleaner of claim 9, wherein the rotating member
comprises: a cylindrical rotor; and an arched pin combined with the
cylindrical rotor and disposed inside the forward and reverse screw
threads.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] One or more exemplary embodiments relate to a cleaner for
cleaning the inside of a gun barrel, and more particularly, to an
auto cleaner for a gun barrel, which may be used not only to
automatically clean a gun barrel of a tank contaminated by firing
or foreign external substances, but also to clean the inside of a
pipe, such as a water supply or drainage pipe, or a boiler
tube.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A gun barrel is a metal pipe for determining a flying
direction of a shell. The inside of a gun barrel of a
self-propelled gun, a mortar, or a tank needs to be cleaned after
usage. Otherwise, the performance of the gun barrel may
deteriorate, and moreover, the gun barrel may explode. Currently,
the number of people and time for cleaning the inside of the gun
barrel are excessive, which increases the battle fatigue of
military troops, thereby limiting the immediate defense readiness
conditions.
[0005] A canon bore cleaning system has been introduced in KR
10-0963166.
SUMMARY
[0006] One or more exemplary embodiments include an auto cleaner
for a gun barrel, which cleans the inside of a gun barrel
regardless of a bore of the gun barrel by using cleaning units
having various sizes, enables a user to observe an internal state
of the gun barrel in real-time, is easily carried, and
automatically cleans the inside of the gun barrel with use of small
manpower by being directly connected to a car battery without
having to use separate units for supplying power and operation.
[0007] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the
description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the presented
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of the
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an auto cleaner for a
gun barrel, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an assembled state of an auto cleaner
for a gun barrel, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a reciprocating unit assembled with a
first shaft, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rotating member according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a reciprocating unit that reached an
end of a forward screw thread, according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a reciprocating unit that reached an
end of a reverse screw thread, according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an auto cleaner for a gun barrel,
which primarily moved forward, according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an auto cleaner for a gun barrel,
which secondarily moved forward, according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a diagram of an auto cleaner for a gun barrel,
which primarily moved backward, according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 10 is a diagram of an auto cleaner for a gun barrel,
which secondarily moved backward, according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an auto cleaner for a
gun barrel, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 2 is a diagram of an assembled state of the auto cleaner,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the auto cleaner for a gun
barrel, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may
largely include a main body 100 and a cleaning unit 200.
[0022] The main body 100 includes a plurality of guide plates 110,
i.e., first through third guide plates 110-1 through 110-3, a guide
shaft 120, a driving device 130, a first shaft 140, a second shaft
150, a reciprocating unit 160, a third shaft 170, and a housing
180.
[0023] The cleaning unit 200 includes a first cleaning unit 200-a
and a second cleaning unit 200-b, wherein each of the first and
second cleaning units 200-a and 200-b includes a frame 210 and a
cleaning brush 220. Since the first and second cleaning units 200-a
and 200-b have the same structure, they will be commonly referred
to as the cleaning unit 200 for convenience of description.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
plurality of guide plates 110 are spaced apart from each other and
include the first guide plate 110-1 that covers a left end of the
housing 180, the second guide plate 110-2 that is provided inside
the housing 180, and the third guide plate 110-3 that covers a
right end of the housing 180, based on FIG. 1.
[0025] A plurality of the guide shafts 120 connect the first and
second guide plates 110-1 and 110-2, and the second and third guide
plates 110-1 and 110-3, and for simplification of drawings, only
the guide shaft 120 connecting the second and third guide plates
110-2 and 110-3 is shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] A combining portion 111 protrudes from a center portion of
the first guide plate 110-1 in an external direction of the housing
180, wherein the first cleaning unit 200-a is inserted around the
combining portion 111 and a first fixing member 300 for fixing the
main body 100 and the first cleaning unit 200-a is combined to an
end of the combining portion 111. In other words, the first
cleaning unit 200-a may be separated from the combining portion 111
after the first fixing member 300 is separated.
[0027] Also, a power supply unit 310 that supplies power to the
driving device 130 included in the main body 100 is combined with a
center of the first fixing member 300, and a latch 320 is combined
with the first fixing member 300. A direction changing cable 400
for changing a proceeding direction of the auto cleaner is
connected to the latch 320.
[0028] The direction changing cable 400 may be connected to a
winder (not shown) disposed outside the gun barrel to be
automatically or, if necessary, manually pulled. The winder may
operate by receiving power from the same power supply source as the
driving device 130. Alternatively, instead of using the direction
changing cable 400, for example, a shaft may be directly combined
with the first fixing member 300 and then the shaft may be moved
forward or backward, thereby changing the proceeding direction of
the auto cleaner.
[0029] A hole 112 through which the third shaft 170 penetrates is
formed in a center portion of the third guide plate 110-3, and the
third guide plate 110-3 includes at least one oil nozzle 113 that
ejects oil, acting as a lubricant, into the inside of the gun
barrel. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an oil storage unit (not
shown) and an oil supply pipe (not shown) connecting the oil
storage unit and the oil nozzle 113 are disposed inside the main
body 100. The oil may be ejected not only manually but also
periodically automatically by using a sensor and an automatic
injection apparatus.
[0030] The driving device 130 is included in the second guide plate
110-2, and includes a motor 131, timing pulleys 132, and a belt
133. According to an embodiment, a decelerator (not shown) that
adjusts a speed of the motor 131 may be included in the main body
100.
[0031] The timing pulleys 132 are respectively combined with the
motor 131 and the first shaft 140, and the belt 133 connects the
timing pulleys 132. When the motor 131 rotates, the timing pulley
132 combined with the motor 131 also rotates, and thus, the belt
113 provides rotatory power to the timing pulley 132 combined with
the first shaft 140 to rotate the first shaft 140.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the reciprocating unit 160 assembled
with the first shaft 140, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rotating member 162
according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a
diagram of the reciprocating unit 160 that reached an end of a
forward screw thread, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the reciprocating unit 160
that reached an end of a reverse screw thread, according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6.
[0034] The opposite ends of the first shaft 140 are respectively
rotatably combined with the second guide plate 110-2 and the third
guide plate 110-3, and as described above, the first shaft 140
rotates by interlocking with the driving device 130. The opposite
ends of the second shaft 150, in parallel to the first shaft 140,
are respectively combined with the second guide plate 110-2 and the
third guide plate 110-3.
[0035] The reciprocating unit 160 includes a body 161 and the
rotating member 162, wherein a plurality of holes are formed in the
body 161. The first and second shafts 140 and 150 may be inserted
into and move along a respective hole, and the third shaft 170 is
fixed to the body 161.
[0036] Forward and reverse screw threads 141 are formed on an outer
circumferential surface of the first shaft 140. When the first
shaft 140 rotates, the reciprocating unit 160 moves back and forth
along the forward and reverse screw threads 141. The forward and
reverse screw threads 141 are screw threads in which a forward
screw thread and a reverse screw thread are alternately formed. The
second shaft 150 inserted into the hole of the body 161 of the
reciprocating unit 160 operates as a guide for the reciprocating
unit 160 to move only back and forth linearly.
[0037] The rotating member 162 forming the reciprocating unit 160
moves along the forward and reverse screw threads 141 of the first
shaft 140 while being combined to the body 161, such that the body
161 moves along the first shaft 140. Referring to FIG. 4, the
rotating member 162 includes a cylindrical rotor 162-a that is
combined with the body 161, and a pin 162-b. The pin 162-b having
an arch shape and located inside the forward and reverse screw
threads 141 is combined with the cylindrical rotor 162-a.
[0038] Since the first shaft 140 rotates as the driving device 130
operates, the reciprocating unit 160 moves along the forward and
reverser screw threads 141 of the first shaft 140 that is rotating
and the second shaft 150.
[0039] When the pin 162-b included in the reciprocating unit 160
moves along the forward screw thread and reaches the end of the
forward screw thread, the cylindrical rotor 162-a rotates such that
the pin 162-b moves in an opposite direction along the reverse
screw thread. Then, when the pin 162-b reaches the end of the
reverse screw thread while moving along the reverse screw thread,
the cylindrical rotor 162-a rotates such that the pin 162-b moves
in an opposite direction along the forward screw thread. As such,
the pin 162-b moves back and forth.
[0040] The third shaft 170 has one end combined with the
reciprocating unit 160 and the other end combined with the second
cleaning unit 200-b by a second fixing member 171. In other words,
by separating a fixing screw of the second fixing member 171, the
second cleaning unit 200-b may be separated from the third shaft
170. According to a movement of the reciprocating unit 160, the
third shaft 170 moves back and forth linearly by passing through
the hole 112 formed in the third guide plate 110-3.
[0041] The cleaning unit 200 will now be described in detail.
[0042] The cleaning unit 200 cleans an inner surface of the gun
barrel by rotating along screw threads formed on the inner surface
of the gun barrel.
[0043] A combining hole 211 having an inner diameter larger than a
side circumference of the combining portion 111 or second fixing
member 171 is formed in a center portion of the frame 210 forming
the first and second cleaning units 200-a and 200-b. The cleaning
brush 220 for cleaning the inner surface of the gun barrel is
disposed outside the frame 210, wherein the cleaning brush 220
tilts in a direction opposite the forward direction of the auto
cleaner and maintains the tilted direction unless an opposite
artificial force is applied thereto. The frame 210 and the cleaning
brush 220 may be formed of a synthetic resin or a metal
material.
[0044] The frame 210 may include at least one of a photographing
unit 212, a lighting unit 213, and a foreign substance removing
unit 214. The photographing unit 212 and the lighting unit 213 may
be separately provided in the frame 210, or the photographing unit
212 with which the lighting unit 213 is combined may be provided in
the frame 210. A diameter of the bore of the gun barrel may vary,
and the cleaning unit 220 having a size matching the bore of the
gun barrel may be selected and used to automatically clean the gun
barrel regardless of the bore of the gun barrel. In order to
monitor an internal state of the gun barrel, a wireless camera may
be used as the photographing unit 212 and a light-emitting diode
(LED) device may be used as the lighting unit 213. In addition, an
air ejecting device (not shown) may be used as the foreign
substance removing unit 214.
[0045] The photographing unit 212, the lighting unit 213, and the
foreign substance removing unit 214 may receive power from the same
power supply source as the driving device 130, or may receive power
through a power supply source separately provided in the frame
210.
[0046] The photographing unit 212 photographs the internal state of
the gun barrel and transmits captured data to a server (not shown)
via wires or wirelessly. Upon receiving the captured data from the
server, a monitor display unit (not shown) may display the captured
data such that a user may check the internal state in real-time.
Alternatively, the photographing unit 212 and the monitor display
unit may be directly connected to each other without having to use
the server, such that the user may view the captured data in
real-time. The monitor display unit may be a monitor of a computer
or a mobile phone, but is not limited as long as the captured data
is viewable.
[0047] The foreign substance removing unit 214 is used to remove
foreign substances from the photographing unit 212 and the lighting
unit 213, and as described above, the foreign substances may be
removed by ejecting compressed air to the photographing unit 212
and the light unit 213 by using an air ejecting apparatus.
[0048] Referring to the above description, it would be obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art that the auto cleaner of the
present invention may be used to clean the inside of a pipe, such
as a water supply or drainage pipe, or a boiler tube, as well as
the gun barrel.
[0049] FIG. 7 is a diagram of the auto cleaner that primarily moved
forward, FIG. 8 is a diagram of the auto cleaner that secondarily
moved forward, FIG. 9 is a diagram of the auto cleaner that
primarily moved backward, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the auto
cleaner that secondarily moved backward.
[0050] A movement method of the auto cleaner inside the gun barrel,
which is described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10, is based
on the movement principle of a caterpillar.
[0051] First, a principle of the auto cleaner moving forward inside
the gun barrel will now be described.
[0052] When the auto cleaner is inserted into the gun barrel,
cleaning brushes 220-a and 220-b of the first and second cleaning
units 200-a and 200-b tilt in a direction opposite a proceeding
direction of the auto cleaner due to friction with the inner
surface of the gun barrel. An initial location of the reciprocating
unit 160 is shown in FIG. 8.
[0053] When the motor 131 rotates, the first cleaning unit 200-a is
fixed due to friction between the cleaning brush 220-a of the first
cleaning unit 200-a and the inner surface of the gun barrel, and
the second cleaning unit 200-b operating based on a movement of the
reciprocating unit 160 rotates and moves forward along the screw
threads on the inner surface of the gun barrel.
[0054] After the reciprocating unit 160 reaches the end of the
forward screw thread, the cylindrical rotor 162-a rotates so that
the reciprocating unit 160 moves along the reverse screw thread.
However, due to the friction between the cleaning brush 220-b of
the second cleaning unit 200-b and the inner surface of the gun
barrel, the second cleaning unit 200-b is fixed and stopped in the
gun barrel. At this time, the first cleaning unit 200-a that is
fixed to the inner surface of the gun barrel moves towards the
second cleaning unit 200-b.
[0055] When the reciprocating unit 160 reaches the end of the
reverse screw thread, the first cleaning unit 200-a is fixed again
and the second cleaning unit 200-b moves forward.
[0056] In other words, the auto cleaner moves forward as a process
of fixing the first cleaning unit 200-a and moving forward the
second cleaning unit 200-b and a process of fixing the second
cleaning unit 200-b that moved forward a predetermined distance and
moving forward the first cleaning unit 200-a that was fixed are
repeatedly performed.
[0057] In this case, the second cleaning unit 200-b does not move
backward but is fixed since the friction between the inner surface
of the gun barrel and the cleaning brush 220-b of the second
cleaning unit 200-b, which is tilted in the direction opposite the
proceeding direction, is larger than a force of the second cleaning
unit 200-b moving backward.
[0058] A principle of the auto cleaner moving backward inside the
gun barrel will now be described.
[0059] When the direction changing cable 400 is pulled
automatically or manually, directions of the cleaning brushes 220-a
and 220-b of the first and second cleaning units 200-a and 200-b
are changed to be opposite the forward direction as shown in FIG.
9.
[0060] At this time, when the motor 131 rotates, the reciprocating
unit 160 moves forward along the forward screw thread, but the
second cleaning unit 200-b is fixed by friction between the inner
surface of the gun barrel and the cleaning brush 220-b of the
second cleaning unit 200-b, whereas the first cleaning unit 200-a
is pushed backward towards an inlet of the gun barrel. Accordingly,
the auto cleaner moves backward.
[0061] When the cylindrical rotor 162-a rotates and the
reciprocating unit 160 moves along the reverse screw thread after
the reciprocating unit 160 reaches the end of the forward screw
thread, the first cleaning unit 200-a is fixed due to friction
between the inner surface of the gun barrel and the cleaning brush
220-a of the first cleaning unit 200-a and a location of the second
cleaning unit 200-b is changed as shown in FIG. 10.
[0062] The auto cleaner moves backward as the processes described
above are repeated.
[0063] In this case, the second cleaning unit 200-b does not move
forward but is fixed since the friction between the inner surface
of the gun barrel and the cleaning brush 220-b of the second
cleaning unit 200-b, which is tilted in the direction opposite the
proceeding direction, is larger than a force of the second cleaning
unit 200-b moving forward.
[0064] By using the auto cleaner for a gun barrel of the present
invention, the inside of the gun barrel may be cleaned by employing
a low number of people and without excessive time consumption, and
thus, fatigue of military troops may be reduced. Also, foreign
substances inside the gun barrel may be effectively removed since a
cleaning state of the gun barrel may be observed in real-time.
[0065] Also, by selectively using any one of the cleaning units
having various sizes, the auto cleaner may be used regardless of
the bore of the gun barrel. Moreover, the auto cleaner may also be
used to clean the inside of a pipe, such as a water supply or
drainage pipe, or a boiler tube.
[0066] In addition, the auto cleaner may be easily carried and
operated by being directly connected to a car battery without
having to use a power supply source or a separate device.
[0067] While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described
with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the inventive concept as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *