US 5,640,983 A · Tank cleaning device

Abstract

A fluid driven tank cleaning device is provided. The device includes an inlet that connects to a source of cleaning solution under pressure and a stem coupled to the inlet having a fluid receiving chamber. A hermetically sealed gear box is also provided which is coupled to the stem and has a secondary chamber separated from the receiving chamber by a common wall. A primary drive shaft rotatably mounted within the fluid receiving chamber is driven by an impeller which rotates in response to fluid entering the fluid receiving chamber. The primary drive shaft is magnetically coupled to a secondary drive shaft rotatably mounted within the secondary chamber. A gear train reduces the speed of the secondary shaft. A first output shaft rotatably mounted within the secondary chamber is connected to the secondary drive shaft via the gear train. The output shaft is magnetically coupled to a second output shaft which rotates a main housing relative to the stem about a first axis. A fluid nozzle assembly rotatably mounted to the main housing about a second axis is also provided. The fluid nozzle assembly is fluidly connected to the fluid receiving chamber and discharges the cleaning solution out of the tank cleaning device in a high speed spray. The inlet, the stem, the hermetically sealed gear box, the main housing and the fluid nozzle assembly are all formed of an aliphate polyketone.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A fluid driven tank cleaning device, comprising:

an inlet that connects to a source of cleaning solution under pressure;
a stem coupled to the inlet having a fluid receiving chamber;
a hermetically sealed gear box coupled to the stem having a secondary chamber separated from said receiving chamber by a common wall;
a primary drive shaft rotatably mounted within the fluid receiving chamber;
a drive means connected to the primary drive shaft for rotating the primary drive shaft in response to fluid entering the fluid receiving chamber;
a secondary drive shaft rotatably mounted within the secondary chamber, the secondary chamber having a lubricating fluid disposed therein;
a first magnetic drive coupling for magnetically coupling the primary drive shaft to the secondary drive shaft so as to cause the secondary drive shaft to rotate in response to rotation of the primary shaft;
gear reduction means disposed in said secondary chamber and connected to the secondary drive shaft for reducing the rotational speed of the secondary drive shaft;
a first output shaft rotatably mounted within the secondary chamber and connected to the secondary drive shaft through the gear reduction means;
a main housing rotatably mounted to the stem about a first axis;
a second output shaft for rotating the main housing;
and
a second magnetic drive coupling for magnetically coupling the first output shaft to the second output shaft so as to cause the second output shaft to rotate in response to rotation of the first output shaft and thereby causing the main body to rotate.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tank cleaning device

Life of this patent

Tank cleaning device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24