Blast cleaning machine for ferromagnetic surfaces

The present invention relates to a pneumatic cleaner for ferromagnetic surfaces.

The cleaner is designed especially for ferromagnetic vertical surfaces, bottom horizontal surfaces or surfaces set at any intermediate angle, for example ship hulls and tanks

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Typical pneumatic cleaners are usually equipped with a blower wheel with many blades protruding radially. The blower wheel is installed in the housing and is driven at high speed. Abrasive material is fed onto the blades, for example steel shot, which is thrown onto the surface to be cleaned. The impact of the abrasive material on the surface to be cleaned removes paint, rust or other contaminants. Usually, the impurities are removed from the system and the abrasive used is returned to the blower wheel. The housing can be either of the stationary type into which the object to be cleaned is placed, or the movable one, which moves on the surface to be cleaned.

One such pneumatic cleaner is shown in US Patent No. 4,377,922 issued under the name Bergh. Although such devices work very well in a horizontal or nearly horizontal plane, it is not suitable for cleaning vertical surfaces or for cleaning the underside of horizontal surfaces, such as the bottom of a ship's hull. A pneumatic cleaner specially adapted for cleaning vertical surfaces is the subject of US Patent No. 3,034,262 issued under the name Pawlson. The Pawlson device is a relatively small hand-held device that is impractical when cleaning large areas and in conditions of difficulty or inability for the operator. Finally, US Patent No. 3,864,876 issued in the name of Diehn shows a handle for supporting the cleaner attached to a vertical surface by means of an electromagnet.

According to the invention, the pneumatic cleaner for ferromagnetic surfaces comprises a blast block provided with an abrasive ejection assembly on a vertical or inclined surface in the blast zone, abrasive and dirt recycling assembly, abrasive and dirt separation assembly and an abrasive feeding assembly again

The cleaner according to the invention is characterized in that the blower block is connected to the first and second tracked magnetic blocks contacting the cleaned surface, which are connected to at least one engine driving them, regulating the speed and direction of movement of the blowing block, the track blocks being connected pendulum with a blow block using at least one bolt

Preferably, the blowing block is connected to an adjustment assembly for positioning it relative to the surface, the adjustment assembly being adapted to receive a signal indicating the position of the blowing block relative to the surface.

Preferably, the control assembly is connected to a proximity sensor generating a position signal of the blowing block relative to the surface.

Preferably, the adjustment assembly includes an arm whose one end is pivotally connected to the magnetic track blocks and the opposite end extends beyond the magnetic track blocks, the wheel being in contact with the surface

Preferably, each magnetic crawler block is mounted on an axis whose one end is mounted in a movable bearing in a direction approximately perpendicular to the surface being cleaned.

Preferably, the first and second magnetic crawler blocks are driven by motors synchronized with each other

Preferably, the blow block comprises at least one blow wheel that ejects abrasive through the blow channel into the blow zone onto the surface

Preferably, the blowing block comprises at least one return duct extending from the blowing zone.

Preferably, the blowing block is rotatable relative to the magnetic crawler blocks about two axes.

Preferably, the magnetic track blocks are equipped with an adjustment mechanism to adjust the tension of the magnetic track blocks.

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Preferably, the magnetic track blocks comprise a set of permanent magnets and a biasing mechanism for biasing each permanent magnet facing the surface to be cleaned.

Preferably, the biasing mechanism comprises a spring exerting, on the portion of the magnetic track block in contact with the surface, a force away from that surface.

Preferably, the blowing block comprises a set of rigid partitions forming chambers surrounding the blowing zone.

Preferably, the blow block includes a set of flexible gaskets surrounding the blow zone

Preferably, screw conveyors leave the chambers to the return duct for recycling the used abrasive and dirt, the return duct being connected to the blow zone.

In another embodiment of the invention, a pneumatic cleaner for ferromagnetic surfaces according to the invention is characterized in that the blower block is connected to the surfaces in contact with the surface to be cleaned, containing drive motors, first and second magnetic track blocks, which have permanent magnet assemblies installed to move the cleaner over the cleaned surface surface, the magnetic track blocks are pendulum connected to the blowing block by means of at least one bolt.

Preferably, the blowing block includes a separator for separating spent abrasive from contaminants in the vertical position of the separator, in an inverted position and in any intermediate position.

Preferably, the separator comprises an inlet of abrasive material and impurities, an outlet of abrasive material, an air stream inlet, an air outlet of impurities, and baffles for directing air, abrasive and impurities into respective holes.

Preferably, the magnetic crawler blocks are supported on the transport table during transport to the surface to be cleaned to obtain a vertical position

Preferably, the transport table has a ferromagnetic surface, attracting magnetic crawler blocks.

Preferably, the transport table has an oblique surface adapted to the slope of the surface to be cleaned.

Preferably the transport table has a door for controlling the blast zone, removable in particular for controlling the surface being cleaned

In yet another variation of the invention, the pneumatic cleaner for ferromagnetic surfaces according to the invention is characterized in that the blowing block is connected to magnetic track blocks, each of which has a support frame and a set of permanent magnets forming a track contacting the cleaned surface, the magnets being driven by at least one engine, and the support frame is pendulum connected to the blowing block by means of at least one bolt.

Due to the fact that the pneumatic cleaner according to the invention consists of a self-propelled vehicle equipped with a pair of independently driven magnetic tracks, it can stick to vertical ferromagnetic surfaces and move on them, as well as on the underside of horizontal ferromagnetic surfaces The pneumatic cleaner is equipped with a blowing block supported by magnetic caterpillars with a pair of blowing wheels. The caterpillars are pivotally mounted relative to the two axes of the blowing block, which allows the caterpillars to move on curved surfaces. The tracks also have the ability to bend, which makes it possible to move on surfaces with a variable profile. In addition, it is possible to adjust the angle of the blow block relative to the surface to be cleaned to ensure its proper position for pneumatic cleaning. In addition, the blowing block is equipped with a special mechanism for removing used abrasive and dirt from

169 600 surfaces, and a separator for separating the reusable abrasive for dirt, both in vertical and inverted block position, which makes the cleaner very efficient and economical.

The subject of the invention is shown in the examples of the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a pneumatic cleaner on a vertical surface, Fig. 2 - a pneumatic cleaner in a rear view, Fig. 3 - detail of a cleaner in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing one of the magnetic caterpillars, Fig. 4 - the magnetic caterpillar in section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, fig. 5 - the magnetic caterpillar in section along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 3, fig. 6 - rear view separator of the pneumatic cleaner, Fig. 7 - partial cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 - partial cross-sectional view of the blow duct and the blow zone in exploded view, Fig. 9 - bottom view of the pneumatic cleaner showing the blowing zone and the partition, Fig. 10 - a pneumatic cleaner similar to the one in Fig. 9 showing the arrangement of the seals from below, fig 11 - transport table for transport and checking the pneumatic cleaner, from below, and fig. 12 - transport table in side view

The pneumatic cleaner according to the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a blowing block 1 installed between two crawler blocks 2 and 3. The blowing block 1 is installed on a frame 4 which is pivotally connected to the crawler blocks 2 and 3 to allow relative movement of the crawler blocks and a blow block as described below. Because the design and operation of track blocks 2 and 3 are identical, they are described in relation to track block 2 only

The crawler block 2 is provided with an approximately rectangular frame 6 pivotally connected to the C-shaped support arm 8 by means of enabling swinging pins 10 and 12 The support arm 8 is in turn pivotally connected to the frame 4 of the blower block 1 by means of enabling pendulum swinging movement 14. Thus, pins 10 and 12 are the first axis of rotation, and pin 14 is the second axis of rotation of the frame 6 of the crawler block 2, 3 relative to the frame 4 of the blowing block 1 Thanks to this, the crawler blocks 2, 3 can move freely relative to the blowing block 1 around two perpendicular axis, so that the pneumatic cleaner can move on curvilinear surfaces of any shape

The track block 2 is equipped with a drive assembly 16 consisting of an axle 18 rotatably mounted in bearings in its frame 6. The axle 18 is connected to the drive motor 20 via a suitable drive transmission element 22 and supports two spaced apart sprockets 24 and 26. It should be noted that it is advantageous if the propulsion engines 20 are synchronized with the propulsion engine 28 of the crawler block 3, so that both engines 20, 28 work at the same speed moving the vehicle along a straight line. To change the direction of the vehicle, the speed of one increases or decreases from propulsion engines 20, 28. The engine speeds 20, 28 can be adjusted by the vehicle operator from a remote location using appropriate electronic controllers connected by a cable to a pneumatic cleaner

The track block 2 also includes a idler assembly 30, which includes an axle 32 supporting two sprockets 34 and 36 spaced apart from one another. On sprockets 24 and 34 and 26 and 36, two chains are spread, one of which is marked as 35 in Fig. 1. As best seen in Fig. 1, each of the ends of the axle 32 is seated in a bearing 38, which in turn is slidably mounted between the rails 40 and 42 so that it can reciprocate to and from the drive assembly 16 The bearing 38 is moved along the rails 40 and 42 by by means of a screw jack 44 for changing the distance between axes 18 and 32 and thereby adjusting the tension of the chains 35.

On the chains 35 are fixed magnets 48 attached to them, so that the magnets 48 together with the chains 35 form magnetic tracks. To ensure that each of the magnets 48 that are in contact with the surface to be cleaned 45 moves the part

169 600 of the weight of the pneumatic cleaner, pressure belts 50 are used, which is best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The pressure belts 50 are webs of durable high molecular plastic with low friction. The belts 50 with their opposite ends are attached to the frame 6 and pass over the booms 51 protruding on each side of the magnets 48 in contact with them. To exert pressure on the booms 51 away from the cleaned surface , as shown by arrow A (figs 3 and 5), a number of pressure mechanisms 53 are used. As shown in detail in Fig. 5, each pressure mechanism 53 consists of a pressure plate 55 attached to the belt 50 by means of a suitable fastening element 56. The pressure plate 55 is attached to a post 57 which is mounted in a seat 58 formed in the plate 56 (plate 56 is mounted on the frame 6 of a tracked block 2) to create a support point, around which the pressure plate 55 has the ability to perform limited swinging motion. A plate 59 is attached to the plate 55 through the hole 61 of the frame 6 of the crawler block 2 and having the ability to move in this hole 61. A socket 63 is attached to the screw 59 by means of a nut 67 springs 65. The compression spring 65 is mounted between the frame 6 and the seat 63 exerting force on the pressure plate 55 via the screw 59 in the direction of arrow A By tightening or loosening the nut 67, the distance between the frame 6 and the seat 63 can be changed, thus increasing or reducing the force exerted by the spring 65 for disc 55

The structure shown in Figs. 3-5 distributes the weight of the pneumatic cleaner to all magnets 48 in contact with the surface being cleaned, in order to provide greater overall adhesion force of the crawler block 2 to the surface. This design is particularly useful when the device is in an inverted position, as shown in fig 3, when the central magnets 48 would otherwise only provide very little or no fastening of the blowing block 1.

As also follows from Fig. 3, additional freedom of movement can be provided by allowing limited reciprocating movement of one of the ends of the axle 32 in a direction perpendicular to the surface being cleaned. In particular, the bearing 54 which supports the axle 32 is installed between rails 69 and 71, so that it can move along 69 rails, 71 to and from the surface to be cleaned when changing its shape This reciprocating movement of one of the ends of the axle 32 allows the tracks to bend and stack, applying them to the variable surface profile 45.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the blowing block 1 is provided with two blowing wheels 60 and 62, arranged to eject abrasive material along the blowing channels 64 and 66, into the blowing zone 68 (best seen in Fig. 8) and on the surface 45. After hitting the surface 45, the abrasive material and the impurities resulting from the cleaning of the surface 45 fall under the influence of gravity to the return channels 70 and 72

Abrasive and impurities are collected by two screw conveyors 74, 76 from the respective channels 70 and 72 and fed to the top of separators 78 and 79. Separators 78 and 79 are identical and are used to separate impurities from the abrasive and direct impurities to the collector 81 and direct , reusable abrasive material for return to blower wheels 60 and 62.

Separator 78, which is shown in more detail in Figs. 6 and 7, is specially designed to work with the pneumatic cleaner in (1) vertical position (shown in Fig. 1), (2) inverted horizontal position (corresponding to the rotation of Fig. 1 by 90 degrees to the left, or (3) in any intermediate position.

The separator 78 of Figures 6 and 7 is shown in a vertical position and consists of a chamber 80 having, generally speaking, a decreasing cross-section from top to bottom. In one of the side walls of the chamber 80 a rectangular hole 82 is made for the introduction of abrasive material and impurities coming from the screw conveyor 74 In the bottom of the chamber 80 there is also an opening 84 connecting the chamber with the blow wheel 60, which serves to remove the clean abrasive material back to the wheel nad8

169 600 fly tying. An air outlet 86 leading to the collector 81 (see FIG. 1) via a hose 88 is formed at the top of the chamber 80 to transport dirt from the separator 78 to the corrector 81. An air inlet 90 is made in one of the walls. When the blowers in the collector 81 are working, the air enters the chamber 80 through the opening 90 and passes through the chamber 80 and outlet 86, as shown by the continuous arrows in fig. 7 In the chamber 80 there are two partitions 94 , 96, passing between the side walls and for partially separating the opening 82 from the interior of the chamber 80 and determining the air flow path with the abrasive and impurities provided by the screw conveyor 74 When the air cleaner works on a vertical surface, the abrasive and impurities are fed through the opening 82 and fall between partitions 94 and 96 and into the air flow. Lighter impurities will be suspended in the air stream and discharged through the outlet 86 to the collector 81. The heavier abrasive will not be suspended in the air stream and will fall through the chamber 80 through the outlet opening 84 into the blow wheel 60, 62.

The position of separator 78 when the air cleaner works on the lower parts of the ship's hull (i.e. generally in an inverted position) can be represented by turning figs 6 and 7 to the left by 90 degrees. In this position, the separator 78 operates as described above, except that the abrasive and impurities slide down the partition 94 before entering the chamber 80 and the cleaned abrasive slides into the hole 84 along the wall 98. Thus, the separator 78 according to the invention operates, both when the cleaner is in a vertical position, in an inverted position, and in any intermediate position.

Impurities delivered to the collector 81 when the cleaner moves along the vertical wall fall into containers 100, and when it moves in an inverted position they fall into containers 101, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Containers 100 and 101 are attached to the collector 81 with they can be removed so that they can be removed and emptied after being filled with contaminants.

The blowing unit of the pneumatic cleaner, shown in more detail in Figures 8, 9 and 10, includes a blowing channel 64 through which the abrasive is ejected by means of a blowing wheel 60, a blowing zone 68 in which the abrasive hits the cleaned surface 45 and the return channel 70 for receiving and transferring used abrasive and dirt to the screw conveyor 74 as previously described with reference to 'Figures 1 and 2. More specifically, the outer walls of the blast channel 64 and the return channel 70 are extended as shown by reference numerals 64a and 70a to form the blast zone 68 and to prevent some abrasive material and contaminants from escaping.

In order to ensure that essentially all of the abrasive material and impurities are captured, a sealing system around the blow zone 68 is used. More specifically, a support plate 102 parallel to the surface to be cleaned is attached to the blow channel 64 and return channel 70. The first set of rigid partitions 104, 106, 108 and 110 are attached around the perimeter of the plate 102, which form the chamber 112, as best seen in Fig. 9.

On the inside of the first set of baffles, a second set of rigid partitions 114, 116, 118, 120 and 122 are arranged, which directly surround the blast zone 68 forming the second chamber 124 Between the first and second set of baffles a single rigid partition 126 is installed

The first set of baffles 102, 104, 106, 108 is surrounded by a protruding first flexible rubber gasket 130. The gasket 130 is shaped as a single rubber element with a central opening 133 that surrounds the blowing zone 68. The front and rear edges 135 and 137, respectively 130 have shaped profiles, the seal edge 130 at each point being set at an angle to the direction of travel of the cleaner. By angling the gasket 130, it can pass through the welding seams and other irregularities of the surface being cleaned without clinging to it and deforming or curving backwards. A second rubber gasket 139 is located and secured above the second baffle assembly 114, 116, '118, 120, 122 The second gasket 139 also has a centrally located opening that is slightly smaller than the opening 133 of the first gasket 130 Front edge 141 and rear edge 143 of the second gasket 139 are shaped as explained in relation to the first gasket 130 Intermediate gasket 145 is also attached to the partition 126, which is also provided with a profiled edge 147.

As a result, abrasive and dirt falling from the blowing zone 68 are captured in the chambers formed by the baffle assemblies and seals 130, 139, 145 In order to remove these particles, a flow of air stream is generated, generated in the system by the collector blower, through the hose 132 into the chambers and its circulation in the chambers formed by the partitions and seals to transfer abrasive material and impurities towards the opening 131, which is connected to channels 70 and 72, as best seen in Fig. 9. Several holes 128 are formed in plate 102 connected to return channels 70 and 72 via a hose 132 to recycle the part of the abrasive that does not end up in hole 131 Furthermore, holes 134 are provided in the partition 126 to allow the abrasive material to pass through them into the holes 128. As a result, the caught particles are recycled under the influence of gravity and the air circulating in the system back to the abrasive return channels, which does not go into the hole 131. In addition, holes 126 are provided in the partition 126 to allow the abrasive material to pass through them into the holes 128. As a result, the caught particles will be recycled under the influence of gravity and air circulating in the system back to the return ducts, thanks to which abrasive losses and the release of polluting dust are reduced

As can be seen from Figs. 8 and 10, the possibility of removing abrasive material and dirt will be used effectively if the gaskets 130, 139, 145 are in the same plane as the surface being cleaned. Since ship hulls and the like have curved shaped surfaces, in the absence of compensation mechanism 136 (see Figures 1 and 2), the position of the blower relative to the surface would be subject to constant change. In addition, as can be seen from Fig. 1, the weight of the blower block 1 tends to tear the cleaner away from the wall 45 by turning the machine away from the wall around the arm defining moment of force, the lowest point of contact of the magnets 48 with the wall. Compensation mechanism 136 extends the arm of force to the point where it contacts the wall 45 wheel 138, which significantly increases the force needed to tear the machine away from the wall.

Compensating mechanism 136 includes arm 140 installed on frame 4 of blower block 1 at pivot 142. On the underside of arm 140 a castor 138 is installed, so that when the cleaner returns, arm 140 can rotate around axis B. Between arm 140 and beam 144, a motor-driven screw jack 142 is installed, with the beam 144 mounted between channels 70 and 72. Wheel 138 is rolled over surface 45 ensuring proper positioning of blowing block 1 relative to surface 45. Extending and / or sliding of helical jack 142 causes swinging motion of blowing block 1 relative to crawler blocks 2 and 3, and alignment of blowing block 1 relative to surface 45. By properly manipulating the screw jack 142, it can be ensured that the blowing block 1 is held in a constant position relative to the surface 45, even when the curvature of the surface being cleaned 45 changes, so that the sealing position relative to the surface is maintained. The screw jack 142 can be controlled manually or the automatically controlled screw jack is provided proximity sensor 148 located near the blow zone 68, as can be seen best in Fig. 8 The screw jack 142 is automatically adjusted according to the signal provided by the sensor 148 maintaining a fixed position of the blowing block 1 relative to the surface 45 In addition, as can be seen from Fig. 1, the use of wheel 138 significantly increases the torque arm which must produce

169 600 the weight of the machine while pulling the magnetic tracks from the surface 45 Thanks to this the cleaner is protected against falling off from the surface 45.

Figs. 11 and 12 show a transport table 150 according to the invention, which includes a platform 152 provided with a door 154 therein. To give the structure rigidity and secure the cleaner, a set of beam elements 156 is used. When loading, the transport table 150 with the platform 152 is set up horizontally (which corresponds to turning fig 12 clockwise by 90 degrees) The cleaner enters the platform 152 under the action of its own drive, that the blow zone 68 is above the door 154. To check the blow profile, the blower wheels 60, 62 are operated on the door 154. Then, the door 154 can be opened and the blow profile can be checked to see if the blower wheels 60, 62 work properly.

After hooking the crane or crane through the eyelets 158, the platform 152 is raised to the vertical position shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Because the platform 152 is made of steel, the air cleaner 1 will be attached to the platform 152 due to magnetic attraction between the magnetic tracks and a steel platform and will be placed in the vertical position of fig. 1. The platform 152 is then placed by means of a crane adjacent to the ship's hull or other vertical surface and the cleaner 1 can travel from the platform 152 to the processed surface under the action of its own drive. To facilitate this operation, the support structure 160, the platform 152 is provided with an oblique surface 162, which allows positioning the platform 152 tangentially to the ship's hull because the radius of curvature of the ship's hull or similar object may change significantly, in a preferred embodiment 164 celite booms are used. allow the cleaner to move from the transport table to the surface to be cleaned. Booms 164 can be mounted oscillating relative to surface 152 on pins 166, so that they can be folded during transport. All operations of the pneumatic cleaner are designed so that they can be controlled remotely by means of a control system connected to the cleaner through cables or by means of a radio control device. So the operator can be in any convenient and safe place, away from the place of pneumatic cleaning operations. With the remote control, the operator can control the speed and direction of the machine movement, the operation of the blowing block and the positioning of the block relative to the surface.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention is described in the drawings, it is obvious that the invention is defined solely by the appended claims

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