Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning vessels stacked on racks with a minimum of head clearance. The cleaning apparatus has a drive unit with a turbine wheel connected to a multi-stage gear train. The output motion of the gear train connects through an angular transmission within a fluid conveying elbow to a rotatable housing having a rotatable nozzle angularly assembled thereto. The elbow has a pressure channel and a suction channel there through. The length of the apparatus from the elbow to the housing is short enough to be passed into the bunghole of a vessel, e.g. a wine barrel, while racked. A flexible suction hose is connected to a suction line in the apparatus for removing spent cleaning fluid from within the vessel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of cleaning the interior of a vessel, and more particularly to cleaning stacked vessels having restricted head clearance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As used in the description below, the term vessel refers generally to tanks, barrels and other industrial containers that are used to contain liquids in repetitive production cycles. Wine in particular is processed in barrels, preferably oak barrels for best taste and body. Wine barrels are generally stored in horizontal orientation on racks in order to conserve floor space. The head space from the top of a lower barrel to the bottom of an upper barrel stacked on a rack is typically no greater than 20 cm (8.0 inches). The barrel has a single opening known as a bunghole in the middle of the curved sidewall. During the wine production process, samples of wine are periodically extracted through the bunghole and additives are inserted to conform the batch being processed to the desired final characteristics. The bunghole is sealed with a bung, a type of cork, after the sampling and additive procedure has been completed. 
     A residue of the grapes and additives will remain in the oak barrel after the wine is fermented and the completed wine has been bottled. This residue must be cleaned before the barrel is used again. This cleaning process helps the purity of future wine batches and extends barrel life. Before the present invention, cleaning of wine barrels and other vessels required removing the vessel from the rack. An earlier process for barrel cleaning involved inverting the barrel to position the bunghole at the bottom and inserting a controlled spray device, for example a Gamajet® EZ-7 barrel washer, into the bunghole; the surplus cleaning fluid continuously drained out of the downward-facing bunghole by gravity. This method has the drawback of having to remove the barrels from their storage racks and inverting them for cleaning, requiring additional labor and a dedicated floor area. In addition, this prior method causes flooding of the area below and around the barrel being cleaned with the spent cleaning fluid that carries grape and additive residue. 
     A significantly improved washer apparatus and method is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/089,085 filed Mar. 24, 2005 and entitled VESSEL CLEANING DEVICE by the present inventors. This prior invention is known commercially as the Gamajet® All-In-One barrel cleaning machine. Patent application Ser. No. 11/089,085 is incorporated herein by reference. The All-In-One machine disclosed therein incorporates a pressurized fluid passage for injecting fresh cleaning fluid into the barrel and a suction passage for simultaneously removing the spent cleaning fluid from the barrel. This improvement allows the barrel to be cleaned in the normal position with the bunghole facing up. The All-In-One machine is formed as an elongate linear structure. The fresh cleaning fluid is discharged from a spray nozzle disposed within the barrel to impinge the interior surfaces of the barrel. The suction line passes through the drive body and the rotating nozzle structure to a tube that is positioned within the barrel or other vessel being cleaned. This All-In-One cleaning machine eliminates the area flooding described above with relation to the EZ-7 machine by extracting the spent cleaning fluid from the vessel being cleaned. However, a particular limiting requirement of the All-In-One machine is that with the bunghole facing up, a considerable clearance over the top of the barrel is needed for insertion and extraction of the elongate cleaning mechanism. This clearance distance typically requires that the barrels must be removed from their multi-level rack storage for cleaning, a time-consuming task. Furthermore, barrel moving involves a risk of barrel damage or injury to personnel. It is more desirable to clean barrels while on their storage racks, thus saving time and floor space as well as being a safer procedure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior known apparatus and methods, improving the process of barrel cleaning. The invention provides a cleaning apparatus capable of being introduced through a bunghole in a barrel that is stacked with a low head clearance. The cleaning apparatus has a drive unit that generates a torque from a pressurized fluid flow over a turbine wheel connected to a multi-stage gear train adapted for low speed output. An output shaft from the gear train is coupled to a first bevel gear that is in drive communication with a second bevel gear that is perpendicular to the first bevel gear, both bevel gears contained within an elbow enclosure. The second bevel gear drives a rotating unit having a perpendicular rotating nozzle that resides within the barrel. A first fluid passage conveys the cleaning fluid through the gear train mechanism and the rotating unit to the nozzle. A second fluid passage conveys spent cleaning fluid from the barrel to be discharged as waste. A flexible suction hose is connected to the cleaning apparatus. The length from the elbow to the rotating housing is relatively short to enable inserting the flexible suction hose and rotating housing into a barrel for cleaning the interior thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by similar reference numerals and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross sectional view of two containers on supporting racks with the cleaning apparatus of the present invention being inserted into the lower container. 
         FIG. 2  is the view of  FIG. 1  after the cleaning apparatus has been fully inserted into the lower container. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the cleaning apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the cleaning apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the cross section in the area indicated by bracket  5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the cross section in the area indicated by bracket  6  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken in the direction of line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the invention cleaning apparatus  20  is illustrated as it is being inserted through an aperture  14  in the top of a vessel  10 . Vessel  10  is supported on a first rack  12  with a second rack  12 ′ positioned on top of first vessel  10  and a second vessel  10 ′ positioned on second rack  12 ′. Whereas second vessel  10 ′ is not being accessed for cleaning in the instant illustrated, a closure  16  is placed in aperture  14 . In the particular case of vessels  10 ,  10 ′ being for example wine barrels, racks  12 ,  12 ′ are configured to maintain a minimal head space H between the top of first vessel  10  and the bottom of second vessel  10 ′. In practice, head space H is made sufficient to permit wine processing personnel to extract a sample of the contents of first vessel  10  and insert a modifying additive through aperture  14 . Wine processing terminology defines aperture  14  as a bunghole and closure  16  as a bung. Head space H is commonly not more than 20 cm (8.0 inches), thus preventing the insertion of a barrel cleaning device having a longer linear section such as is disclosed in the patent application incorporated herein. Whereas cleaning apparatus  20  of the present invention is formed with an elbow connection between proximal and distal portions, the linear length for insertion into vessel  10  is significantly less and the barrel head space condition is substantially overcome. A flexible suction hose  26  is attached to the distal end of cleaning apparatus  20 , enabling entry through aperture  14  and further overcoming the head space condition. An annular weighted foot  28  is mounted to the lower end of suction hose  26  to assist in insertion of hose  26  into vessel  10 . A supply hose  22  is connected to the proximal end of cleaning apparatus  20  for providing a flow of pressurized cleaning fluid. A discharge hose  23  is connected to an intermediate port in cleaning apparatus  20  for removing spent cleaning fluid. A foot  24  is attached to the proximal end of cleaning apparatus  20  to enable cleaning apparatus  20  to reside in the desired orientation as described below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , cleaning apparatus  20  is shown fully mounted to vessel  10  with foot  24  resting on the curved upper surface of vessel  10 , allowing cleaning apparatus  20  to reside with the proximal end thereof oriented horizontally and suction hose  26  extending vertically down to the bottom of vessel  10 , aided by weighted foot  28 . Rotating housing  36  and nozzle  38  are positioned within vessel  10  for delivering a rotating stream of impinging cleaning fluid to all interior surfaces. Suction hose  26  is positioned to draw off the spent cleaning fluid at the bottom through discharge hose  23  to a vacuum device (not shown) that discharges to waste. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show an exterior side elevation view and a cross sectional view respectively of barrel cleaning apparatus  20 . A drive unit  30  comprises a turbine wheel that is driven by a flow of pressurized cleaning fluid, the turbine wheel being connected to a multi-stage speed reduction gear train. A handle  32  is provided on drive unit  30  for use in inserting and removing cleaning apparatus  20  to and from vessel  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). Hose connection  31  provides an entry for pressurized cleaning fluid from supply hose  22  (see  FIG. 2 ). Outlet port  33  provides an exit for spent cleaning fluid and residue from within the vessel being cleaned. Outlet port  33  is in fluid connection with a suction channel within elbow  50  as will be described below. An output shaft from the gear train in drive unit  30  passes through transition section  48  that is connected to an elbow  50 . Elbow  50  may be at any desired angle; according to the preferred embodiment of the invention elbow  50  is a 90° elbow. A rotating housing  36 , alternately referred to as a T housing, is connected to elbow  50  through a sleeve  40  formed with a bunghole fitting  42 . Drive unit  30  generates a torque about axis X in response to passage of the cleaning fluid therethrough. The generated torque is transmitted to rotating housing  36 , causing rotating housing  36  to rotate about axis Y. The direction of rotation of housing  36  and other rotating components of the invention may be either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the preference of the designer. Rotating housing  36  will rotate about axis Y and nozzle  38  will rotate about axis X′ to cause an impinging spray of cleaning fluid to radiate within the vessel through 360° for thoroughly cleaning the interior surface of the vessel. According to the present invention, axis X′ of nozzle  38  is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from axis X of drive unit  30 . 
     Suction hose  26  is formed of a flexible material, e.g. vinyl, to enable repeated bending and straightening while being inserted into and removed from vessel  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). Weighted foot  28  prevents suction hose  26  from rotating and swivel connector  44  allows suction hose  26  to remain still while housing  36  rotates. Weighted foot  28  is formed with an irregular lower portion configured as an array of prongs, or scallops, that will contact the inner surface of the vessel for holding suction hose  26  from rotating while allowing the entry of spent cleaning fluid to suction hose  26 . Suction hose  26  is connected to rotating housing  36  through a swivel connector  44  to allow relative rotation therebetween. Details of the drive mechanism and cleaning fluid transition through elbow  50  are described below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an enlarged cross section of elbow  50  is shown in the area indicated by bracket  5  of  FIG. 4 . Elbow  50  is a compound elbow having an annular pressure channel  82  and a central suction channel  92  supported by a web  86  to be substantially concentric with one another. A hollow drive tube  52  passes through transition section  48 , the left end (not shown in this view) being drivingly connected to the gear train within drive unit  30  (see  FIG. 4 ). A drive bevel gear  54  is affixed to drive tube  52  to rotate therewith. Drive bevel gear  54  is meshed in drive communication with driven bevel gear  56 , oriented at an angle thereto, preferably an angle of 90°. Driven bevel gear  56  is affixed to a driven tube  58  to rotate therewith. The combination of drive bevel gear  54  and driven bevel gear  56  thus provides an angular transmission means. A suction channel  94  within drive tube  52  is in fluid communication through suction channel  92  of elbow  50  to the suction channel  90  of driven tube  58 . The lower end of driven tube  58  is connected to rotating housing  36  (see  FIG. 4 ) to cause housing  36  to rotate around vertical axis Y. A further angular gear transition (not shown) is provided from driven tube  58  to nozzle  38  (see  FIG. 4 ) within rotating housing  36  to cause nozzle  38  to rotate around horizontal axis X′. Nozzle  38  is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced apart ports that may be flush with or protrude from the surface of nozzle  38 . Thus, when drive unit  30  causes drive tube  52  to rotate around horizontal axis X, nozzle  38  rotates around horizontal axis X′. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 5 , an annular fluid passage is formed of pressure channels  80 ,  82 ,  84  for conducting pressurized cleaning fluid around drive tube  52 , around drive bevel gear  54 , through elbow  50 , around driven bevel gear  56  and around driven tube  58  to be sprayed from rotating nozzle  38  (see  FIG. 4 ). A series of holes  55  are provided through the flange of drive bevel gear  54  in a circular array to pass pressurized cleaning fluid from pressure channel  80  to pressure channel  82 . A series of holes  57  are provided through the flange of driven bevel gear  56  in a circular array to pass pressurized cleaning fluid from pressure channel  82  to pressure channel  84 . A fluid suction passage is formed of channels  90 ,  92 ,  94  for conducting spent cleaning fluid and collected residue through the center of driven tube  58 , driven bevel gear  56 , elbow  50 , drive bevel gear  54  and drive tube  52 . Suction channel  94  connects to discharge port  33  (see  FIG. 4 ) of drive unit  30 . A bearing  62  is mounted in transition section  48  to support the flange of drive bevel gear  54  for rotation and a second bearing  66  is positioned between drive bevel gear  54  and a mating protrusion  70  within elbow  50 . A liquid seal  67  is assembled between protrusion  70  and drive bevel gear  54  to prevent pressurized cleaning fluid in pressure channels  80 ,  82 ,  84  from mixing with spent cleaning fluid in suction channels  90 ,  92 ,  94 . A bearing  64  is mounted to support the flange of driven bevel gear  56  for rotation and a second bearing  68  is positioned between driven bevel gear  56  and a mating protrusion  72  within elbow  50 . A liquid seal  69  is assembled between protrusion  72  and driven bevel gear  56  to further prevent pressurized cleaning fluid in pressure channel  80 ,  82 ,  84  from mixing with spent cleaning fluid in suction channel  90 ,  92 ,  94 . Liquid seals  67  and  69  are of the type known as dynamic seals, having an internal leaf spring structure to press edges of the seals against mating surfaces to enhance seal integrity. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an enlarged cross section is shown as indicated by bracket  6  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  generally shows details of swivel connector  44  mounted between driven tube  58  and suction hose  26 . Swivel connector  44  is connected by means of an upper collar  60  to the lower end of driven tube  58 . A nipple  78  is held rotatably within swivel connector  44  by a collar  74  and seal  76 . Suction hose  26  is mounted to the lower end of nipple  78  by compression band  88 . In operation, as driven tube  58  is rotated by the motion of rotating housing  36  (see  FIG. 4 ), upper collar  60  rotates. With the pronged end of weighted foot  28  being in contact with the interior surface of the vessel being cleaned, suction hose  26  is restrained from rotating. Swivel connector  44  allows this relative motion between rotating driven tube  58  and stationary suction hose  26  without creating a meaningful torque therebetween. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a cross section of elbow  50  is illustrated in the direction of line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 . As shown, annular pressure channel  82  in elbow  50  partly encircles suction channel  92  that is maintained affixed to the outer wall of elbow  50  in a substantially concentric relation by web  86 . Drive bevel gear  54  is rotatably mounted within elbow  50 . Elbow  50  is assembled to transition section  48  by a number of fasteners F, e.g. screws. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the minimal cross sectional area of pressure channel  82 , extended through pressure channels  80 ,  84  (see  FIG. 5 ) is approximately equal to or less than the minimal cross sectional area of suction channel  92 , extended through suction channels  90 ,  94 . In this manner, the suction process will be capable of removing the volume of spent cleaning fluid from the vessel being cleaned. 
     While the description above discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow.