Patent ID: 7959741
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: B08B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. The method for cleaning a fuel tank having an upper surface with at least one opening formed therein comprising: a. lowering a vacuum stinger into said at least one opening and vacuuming loose contaminants out of the fuel tank and into an external waste tank; b. lowering a rotating nozzle connected to a water supply line into the fuel tank through said at least one opening and suspending the nozzle at a position substantially intermediate an upper surface and a lower surface of the tank; c. supplying pressurized water to the rotating nozzle through the water supply line to wash contaminants from interior surfaces of the tank; d. lowering the vacuum stinger into said at least one opening and vacuuming the contaminants and wash water out of the fuel tank and into the external waste tank; e. lowering a self-propelled nozzle connected to a water supply line into the fuel tank through said at least one opening and directing the self-propelled nozzle along the lower surface of the tank; f. lowering the vacuum stinger into the fuel tank through said at least one opening; g. supplying pressurized water to the self-propelled nozzle through the water supply line; h. feeding more water supply line into the tank, thereby allowing the self-propelled nozzle to travel across the lower surface of the fuel tank away from the vacuum stinger while washing contaminants from the interior surfaces of the tank back toward the vacuum stinger; and i. pulling the water supply line out of the tank, thereby drawing the self-propelled nozzle back across the lower surface of the fuel tank toward the vacuum stinger while washing contaminants from the interior surfaces of the tank toward the vacuum stinger.