Tank cleaning system using remotely controlled robotic vehicle
OwnerKenneth C. Landry, Paul Borginventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for cleaning storage containers used in petrochemical or oil refineries. A remotely controllable dual tracked robotic vehicle is placed in a container to be cleaned. A cleaning fluid diluent material is directed against waste material in the container causing a portion of it to form a slurry which is vacuumed out by a nozzle and hose carried by the vehicle. A separator system exterior to the tank processes the removed slurry.
Claims13
A system under control of an operator for cleaning waste material, or sludge, having a solid phase and a liquid phase from a container comprising:
- (a) a source of cleaning fluid for supply to a directionally controllable nozzle carried by;
- (b) a remotely controllable movable robotic vehicle, said vehicle being controllable from outside a direct line of sight of an operator, said movable robotic vehicle capable of directing a stream of said cleaning fluid onto said waste material in an amount sufficient to cause a flow of at least a portion thereof;
- and
- (c) said vehicle having an evacuation nozzle and hose capable of evacuating at least a portion of said liquid phase and said flow of said waste material exteriorly to said container.
A remotely controllable movable robotic vehicle sized and adapted for passage in a storage tank containing waste sludge to be removed, comprising:
- a) dual hydraulically powered tracks separately powered and remotely controllable and attached to either side of a vehicle body platform;
- b) cannon nozzle means for directing flow of a cleaning fluid in a desired direction;
- c) video camera means attached to said nozzle for remotely observing the effect of said directed flow of cleaning fluid on said sludge;
- d) controllable light source means for illuminating the region generally of the direction of flow of said cleaning fluid;
- and
- e) evacuation nozzle means attached to said vehicle and remotely controllable and movable therewith to pick up and remove a pumpable slurry of said sludge and said cleaning fluid from the storage tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.