CLEANING EQUIPMENT

Abstract: The invention relates to cleaning equipment of the type which allows switching between flushing with tap water and application of foam with cleaning agent and also allows optional disinfection, said equipment comprising a spray nozzle having an intermediate pipe (2) which may be connected with a hose at its rear end, and which, at its front end, exhibits a foam nozzle (4) whose inner side is shaped as a valve seat (10). A longitudinally slidable co-axial inner pipe (6) is provided in the intermediate pipe (2), said inner pipe having a flushing nozzle (8) whose front side is shaped as a valve face (12) corresponding to the valve seat (10). A longitudinally slidable outer pipe (32) is connected with the inner pipe (6) via a transverse pin (22) through at least one Z-shaped guide slot (24) in the intermediate pipe (2) so that operation of the outer pipe (32) causes the inner pipe (6) to be moved between a retracted position providing free and rectilinear flow through the ring gap (14) between the intermediate pipe (2) and the inner pipe (6), and an advanced position in which the valve seat (10) sealingly engages the valve face (12). The spray nozzle is unique in that switching is possible between flushing and application of foam without exchange of nozzles, and that a large passage is present in the foam applying position for optimum application of foam.

Description: CLEANING EQUI PMENT The present invention relates to cleaning equipment of the type which allows switching between flushing with tap water and application of foam with cleaning agent and also allows optional disinfection, said equipment com¬ prising a spray nozzle whose one end is intended for con¬ nection with a hose through which the fluid is fed to the spray nozzle. Cleaning systems of this type are described e.g. in DK Patent Specification No. 166 225 and DK Patent Specifica¬ tion No. 169 596. It is characteristic of these systems that switching between the various states of operation necessitates switching to various nozzles. In particular, the structure of the nozzles which are used for the ap¬ plication of foam is critical, since the foam is easily flattened e.g. by directional changes and cross-sectional constrictions. It must also be taken into consideration that maximum foam ejection is desired, since the systems are most frequently used for cleaning at not very acces¬ sible locations such as industrial plants. To achieve a sufficient range, lancers have previously been used to attain a range of 3 to 4 metres, which is necessary e.g. for the cleaning of conveyor belts which are suspended below the ceiling. Another requirement is that the equipment must be functional, including easy to operate even when it is wet and greasy and the operator wears rubber gloves. The object of the invention is to provide a cleaning system wherein flushing and application of foam may be performed without it being necessary to exchange nozzles. This is achieved according to the invention in that the equipment comprises a spray nozzle which is characterized in that it comprises an intermediate pipe which may be connected with the hose at its rear end, and which, at its front end, exhibits a foam nozzle whose inner side is shaped as a valve seat, a coaxial inner pipe longitudi- nally slidable in the intermediate pipe and having a liquid passage to the intermediate pipe, said inner pipe having a flushing nozzle whose front side is shaped as a valve face corresponding to the valve seat, a longitudi¬ nally slidable outer pipe which is connected with the in- ner pipe via a transverse pin through at least one guide slot in the intermediate pipe so that operation of the outer pipe causes the inner pipe to be moved between a retracted position providing free and rectilinear flow through the ring gap between the intermediate pipe and the inner pipe, and an advanced position in which the valve seat sealingly engages the valve face, thereby pro¬ viding passage only through the inner pipe. Thus, with one and the same spray nozzle it is possible to flush with tap water as well as to apply foam merely by dis- placing the outer pipe. Retraction of the outer pipe pro¬ vides a large open passage between the foam applying nozzle, while said passage will be blocked by advancing the outer pipe, and then there is just a passageway through the narrow flushing nozzle on the inner pipe. US-A 5 242 116 discloses a spray nozzle for a high pres¬ sure cleaner in which switching is possible between a central high pressure nozzle and a plurality of nozzles arranged co-eccentrically with respect thereto for the ejection of a jet of a lower pressure. The spray nozzle, however, is not useful in a cleaning system of the type described in the application, as it cannot be used for the application of form. The foam will quite simply be flattened because of the narrow passages and directional changes in the spray nozzle. The liquid is fed in a nar¬ row central channel in a longitudinally slidable core element, while in the spray nozzle of the invention the fluid is fed in the intermediate pipe which has a consid¬ erably larger opening. The spray nozzle of the invention may be made particu¬ larly easy to operate when the outer pipe is provided with a jacket of rubber or elastic plastics material and shaped as a handle. The jacket has the additional func¬ tion that it protects the spray nozzle against impacts and knocks during handling. In the nature of the case, the spray nozzle is used in a wet and slippery environment, and, additionally, the op¬ erator wears gloves and water-repelling clothes, which makes the handling difficult. When the guide slot for the outer pipe is given a Z-shape and is optionally also formed with inclined side branches, a safe and self-lock¬ ing operation of the spray nozzle is achieved. The invention will be explained more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first em¬ bodiment of a spray nozzle, Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a second em¬ bodiment of the spray nozzle, and Fig. 3 shows a fragment of a guide slot in an intermedi- ate pipe of the spray nozzle. The spray nozzle comprises an intermediate pipe 2 whose rear end may be connected with a hose from the cleaning system via a coupling (not shown) . The front end of the intermediate pipe is shaped as a nozzle 4 intended for use when applying foam. A longitudinally slidable inner pipe 6, whose front end is provided with a nozzle 8 in¬ tended for flushing, is arranged inside the intermediate pipe. The inner pipe is guided in the intermediate pipe by means of guide bosses on the front end of the inner pipe - so what, on the face of it, appears to be a closed access, is in reality a free flow area. The rear side of the foam nozzle 4 is shaped as a valve seat 10, while the front side of the flushing nozzle 8 is shaped as a corre¬ sponding valve face 12. When the inner pipe 6 is moved forwards until the valve face 12 is in sealing engagement with the valve seat on the foam nozzle 4, the nozzle 4 will be blocked so that just the flushing nozzle 8 is ac¬ tive. In the retracted position of the inner pipe, there is a free passageway for the feeding of foam in a ring gap 14 between the inner pipe 6 and the intermediate pipe 2 and out to the foam nozzle 4. As will appear, this pas¬ sageway is almost free and rectilinear. Two screw springs 16, 18 are mounted on the intermediate pipe 2, one on each side of a slide bushing 20. The ends of the springs facing away from the bushing are mounted on a ring in engagement with a gasket to provide a seal between the intermediate pipe and an outer pipe. The bushing is connected with the inner pipe 6 by a pin 22, which extends through two oppositely positioned z-shaped guide slots 24 in the intermediate pipe and through a transverse long hole 26 at the end of the inner pipe. The slide bushing 20 is connected with a longitudinally slid¬ able outer pipe 32 by screws 30 into the pin 22, said outer pipe carrying a jacket 34 preferably of rubber or elastic plastics material and shaped as a handle. In the inner pipe 6, a screw spring 26 is mounted between a breast and the transverse pin 22. In neutral, the handle 34 is a central position, as shown in the drawing. Flushing operation occurs by moving the handle 34 forwards, which causes the inner pipe 6 to be pressed forwards until it sealing engages the valve face with the bearing face and thereby blocks passage through the ring gap. The water thus exclusively flows through the flushing nozzle, there being a free passageway through the foam nozzle. The opening in the foam nozzle is so large that it does not interfere with the jet from the flushing nozzle, said flushing nozzle, in its ad¬ vanced position, being positioned right out in the open¬ ing of the foam nozzle. The position is locked by turning the handle 34 to the right so that the pin 22 is seated in a side branch 38 on the guide slot 24. The side branch extends slightly inclined rearwards, thereby creating a catch effect for the pin. When switching to another posi¬ tion, the handle is pushed forwards and turned back, whereby the handle automatically returns to the neutral position because of the two springs 16, 18. Flushing op- eration occurs in a similar manner by pulling the handle 34 back with simultaneous retraction of the inner pipe, thereby unblocking the access from the ring gap to the foam nozzle. This creates free access to the foam nozzle through the inner pipe as well as through the ring gap. The handle 34 is locked, like before, by turning it, but this time to the left so that the pin 22 engages an oppo¬ sitely positioned side branch 40 of the guide slot. The operator hereby knows with certainty whether the spray nozzle is in flushing position or foam applying position. Made of rubber or a soft plastics material, the handle may be shaped ergonomically correctly, while absorbing impacts and knocks if the spray nozzle is dropped on the floor. For the same purpose, the front end of the spray nozzle may be provided with a rubber or plastics jacket. The embodiment of the spray nozzle shown in fig. 2 dif¬ fers from the one shown in fig. 1 only by the structure of the front end. In fig. 1 the foam nozzle is provided with external threads, while in fig. 2 it is provided with internal threads. The function is the same in both cases.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S : 1. Cleaning equipment of the type which allows switching between flushing with tap water and application of foam with cleaning agent and also allows optional disin¬ fection, said equipment comprising a spray nozzle whose one end is intended for connection with a hose through which the fluid is fed to the spray nozzle, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the nozzle comprises an intermedi- ate pipe (2) which may be connected with the hose at its rear end, and which, at its front end, exhibits a foam nozzle (4) whose inner side is shaped as a valve seat (10), a co-axial inner pipe (6) longitudinally slidable in the intermediate pipe (2) and having a liquid passage to the intermediate pipe, said inner pipe having a flush¬ ing nozzle (8) whose front side is shaped as a valve face (12) corresponding to the valve seat (10) , a longitudi¬ nally slidable outer pipe (32) which is connected with the inner pipe (6) via transverse pin (22) through at least one guide slot (24) in the intermediate pipe (2), so that operation of the outer pipe (2) causes the inner pipe (6) to be moved between a retracted position provid¬ ing free and rectilinear flow through the ring gap (14) between the intermediate pipe (2) and the inner pipe (6), and an advanced position in which the valve seat (10) sealingly engages the valve face (12), thereby providing passage only through the inner pipe (6) . 2. The cleaning equipment according to claim 1, c h a r- a c t e r i z e d in that the outer pipe (32) carries a jacket (34) of rubber or elastomeric plastic material and is shaped as a handle. 3. The cleaning equipment according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the end of the inner pipe (6) is formed with a transverse hole (26) through which the transverse pin extends. 4. The cleaning equipment according to claim 3, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the transverse hole (26) is shaped as a long hole, and that a spring (36) sealingly engaging the transverse pin (22) is arranged in the inner pipe. 5. The cleaning equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the guide slot(s) is (are) Z-shaped. 6. The cleaning equipment according to claim 5, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the Z-shaped guide slots are formed with inclined side branches (38, 40) for self- locking of the pin (22) .

Inventors: KROGSHEDE KARL, KROGSHEDE, KARL
Applicants: HENKEL ECOLAB GMBH CO OHG, KROGSHEDE KARL, SCANIO FLOW EQUIP, HENKEL-ECOLAB GMBH CO. OHG, KROGSHEDE, KARL, SCANIO FLOW-EQUIPMENT A/S
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B08B3
IPC codes: B05B1