Method and apparatus for cleaning an internal volume

A method for cleaning an internal surface delimiting a cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a manifold body having a first axis therein, a first outer fluid diversion surface disposed about and centered on the first axis, and a first offset port having a principal axis orthogonal to, but offset from, the first axis of the manifold body;
• providing a central ring having a central axis aligned to the first axis of the manifold body, a first end, a second end, at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, a first inner fluid diversion surface disposed at the first end and adjacent both the inner surface and outer surface and mated to the first outer fluid diversion surface of the manifold body, a second inner fluid diversion surface disposed at the second end and adjacent both the inner surface and outer surface, and freely rotatable with respect to the manifold body about the central axis;
• providing a cap ring having a central axis aligned to the first axis of the manifold body, and a first surface mated to the second generally-conical fluid diversion surface of the central ring;
• inserting the manifold body, central ring, and cap ring to the cavity;
• passing a fluid through the offset port and against the inner surface of the central ring at an angle so as to impart rotary momentum to the central ring;
• and
• passing at least a portion of the fluid passing through the at least one offset port between the facing fluid diversion surfaces;
• and
• directing the portion of the fluid at the internal surface to be cleaned.

An apparatus for cleaning an internal surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a manifold body having a principal central axis and at least one outer fluid diversion surface;
• a first offset port in said body extending from a first face of a principal axial plane along a principal axis lying in a principal center plane and parallel to a principal radial axis, offset from the principal radial axis a first distance along a vector normal to the principal central axis of the manifold body;
• the principal center plane disposed generally orthogonal to the principal central axis and positioned at approximately the center of the center section;
• the principal radial axis disposed within the principal center plane and intersecting the principal central axis;
• the principal axial plane generally aligned to the principal central axis and generally orthogonal to the principal radial axis;
• a second offset port extending from a second face of the principal axial plane along a principal axis lying in the principal center plane and parallel to the principal radial axis, offset from the principal radial axis the first distance along a second vector coaxial with, and having an opposite sense to, the first vector;
• a central ring having a principal central axis generally aligned to the principal central axis of the manifold body, a principal central plane generally aligned to the principal center plane of the manifold body, at least one inner surface,
• a first inner fluid diversion surface having a generally-conical profile disposed at a first end of the inner surface facing an outer fluid diversion surface in the manifold body and separated therefrom by a first fluid diversion gap;
• a second inner fluid diversion surface having a generally-conical profile disposed at a second end of the inner surface;
• and
• a cap ring, having a central axis aligned to the first axis of the manifold body and a first outer fluid diversion surface facing the second inner fluid diversion surface of the central ring and separated therefrom by a second fluid diversion gap.