WO2023089646A1

WO2023089646A1 - System for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and artifacts

Info

Publication number: WO2023089646A1
Application number: PCT/IT2022/050296
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Massimo TRAVERSI
Original assignee: Airmation Ecp Srl
Priority date: 2021-11-17
Filing date: 2022-11-16
Publication date: 2023-05-25
Also published as: IT202100029075A1

Abstract

A system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and artifacts is described comprising a tunnel (1) inside a soundproof cabin (2), the tunnel (1) supported by a base (3), at least one apparatus of cleaning tools (4), (5) inside the tunnel (1), blowing means (6) of incoming air, filtration means (7) of outgoing air, closed-circuit water recirculation means (8) being operative. The base (3) consists of at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34) to be able to collect and channel the cleaning residues and waters, at least one dripping tank (31), (32), (33) to retain any leaks of cleaning residues and waters from at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34), and a frame (35) to support the tunnel (1).

Description

SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATIC CLEANING OF SKIDS FOR BODIES AND ARTIFACTS

The present invention relates to a system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and artifacts.

In general, the present invention relates to methods for preventing encrustations, prevention of encrustations with liquids by means of devices for containing or collecting said liquids; removal of waste, e.g. labels, from the cleaning liquid; regenerative cleaning fluids, vehicle cleaning equipment not integrated with vehicles.

In particular, the present invention relates to cleaning by hand spray guns; fluid preparations for this kind of cleaning.

Us Patent 6,120,614 A relates to an air pressure source which supplies a pneumatic system, preferably at a pressure in the range of about 40 PSI to about 100 PSI, from an external compressor or a compressed gas cylinder, the air pressure source is coupled to a quick disconnect coupling, a coupling branch is arranged to supply an external drying rod which can be used to dry a washed object, another branch of the coupling is coupled to an alpha valve and a rotary control valve, the control valve has three settings, off wash and circulated, in the off setting, the air pressure source is disconnected and the pneumatic system does not operate, in the recirculation setting, the pneumatic system will circulate the water, but the pressure washer does not work, so the objects may not be washed, in the washing setting, typically the pump which passes the water through the heater and into the inlet of the pressure washer is operative. When the control valve is in the circulation setting, the control valve routes an air signal to the alpha valve, which opens, thus allowing air to flow along a path to a shuttle valve, the air then enters a flow regulator which can be manually adjusted to vary the air pressure downstream of the regulator which drives the pump which emits water at the same pressure as the inlet air pressure, therefore, by adjusting the regulator, an operator can modify the water flow rate of the pump. The air leaving the regulator is also coupled to a logic device. The pump receives the water entering from the tank through the pipe, and exits the water on the line, a pressure sensor is coupled to the device, and is positioned adjacent to the water line, the device rotates on only when sufficient air pressure in the line from the pressure sensor is detected. This acts as a safety mechanism, preventing the air pump from operating at zero or insufficient air pressure, and thus preventing the apparatus from feeding a dry line to the pressure washer. After exiting the AND device, the air is supplied by a Schrader valve, therefore, when the control valve is in the recirculation position and there is sufficient water pressure in the line, the Schrader valve moves, passing water from the line through a needle valve to the recirculation path.

In particular, the relevant state of the art is represented by the patent document EP 3 168 095 A1.

The state of the art described above solves the problem of recirculating water under pressure. However, the merit of a construction of a plant without building works such as foundations and foundations is not taken into account.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above prior art problems by providing a system for the automatic cleaning of skids for closed and continuous cycle bodies and articles which can be installed without the need to set up the site with foundations or underfloor.

A further object is to safeguard an ecological component by always working with the same technological water in continuous cycle recirculation.

A further object is to provide a modular system.

A further object is to provide a system for cleaning surfaces prepared with a high-pressure fluid jet of the order of 2000: 3000 bar with the possibility of punctual work through cycles dedicated to the frequent cleaning of contact areas between the skid and the body.

A further object is to be able to carry out complete cycles suitable for electrostatic painting in order to guarantee electrical continuity.

A further object is to safeguard the quality of the cleaned surfaces while maintaining the geometry of the cleaned parts unchanged, avoiding negative effects such as thinning of the contact points, erosion, consumption of metal parts and dust pollution.

A further object is to use motorized pneumatic tools at high speed of rotation.

A further object is to organize an optimized cleaning cycle of the metal parts which ensures the automatic discharge of all the debris and paint residues in big bags by means of a system of self-cleaning filters.

A further object is to use robotized systems installed upside down with the advantage of reduced dimensions and synchronized working possibilities, for example, synchronized work of at least two robots simultaneously operating under high pressure, compared to a state of the art that sees robots on the ground making simultaneous opposite work impossible.

A further object is to provide rinsing ramps mounted on the sides of a hopper to drop the slag, avoiding the deposit on the bottom.

A further object is to provide a system with a programmable logic controller in order to be able to manage ad hoc procedures.

A further object is to use leak proof stainless steel dripping tubs to protect the subsoil by means of a base with a tank welded in place.

A further object is to provide a system with sloping dripping tubs with a slight slope.

A further object is to use a self-cleaning filter to discharge without manual intervention.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with a system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and artifacts, such as that described in claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims. It is understood that all the appended claims form an integral part of the present description. It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modifications (for example, relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionalities) can be made to what has been described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.

shows a front view of an embodiment of the system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and manufactured articles according to the present invention.

shows a further front view of an embodiment of the system of the preceding figure.

shows a perspective view of a first module of an embodiment of the system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and manufactured articles according to the present invention.

shows a front view of the module of an embodiment of the system of the preceding figure.

shows a perspective view of a second module of an embodiment of the system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and manufactured articles according to the present invention.

shows a perspective view of a third module of an embodiment of the system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and manufactured articles according to the present invention.

shows a front view of a fourth module of an embodiment of the system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and manufactured articles according to the present invention.

shows a perspective view of a fifth module of an embodiment of the system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and manufactured articles according to the present invention.

With reference to , , , , it can be noted that a system for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and artifacts comprises a tunnel 1 inside a soundproof cabin 2, the tunnel 1 supported by a base 3, at least one apparatus of

cleaning tools

4, 5 inside the tunnel 1, blowing means 6 of incoming air, filtration means of outgoing air, not shown, closed-circuit water recirculation means 8 being operative.

Advantageously, the base 3 consists of at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom 34 to be able to collect and channel the cleaning residues and waters, at least one dripping

tank

31, 32, 33 to retain any leaks of cleaning residues and waters from at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom 34, a frame 35 to support the tunnel 1.

Referring to , at least one apparatus of

cleaning tools

4, 5 comprises a

robot

41, 42 programmed to direct a plurality of water jets. With reference to , , the water jets are supplied through a high pressure pump 9 connected to the closed circuit water recirculation means 8.

The

robot

41, 42 is connected to a bridge structure 36 equipped with a

hoist

37, 38 to allow the

robot

41, 42 to move and replace without invading the operational area at the base of the tunnel 1.

The

robot

41, 42 is arranged so as not to occupy the space at the base of the tunnel 1.

With reference to , , the closed-circuit water recirculation means 8 comprise an accumulation tank 81 equipped with filtration elements, at least one motorized self-cleaning filter 82 able to move towards the accumulation tank 81 to allow the cleaning residues to be sucked up and discharged into a cleaning residues container 83, a first hydraulic circuit 84 dedicated to the apparatus of

cleaning tools

4, 5, a second hydraulic circuit 85 dedicated to the tank with an inclined flat bottom 34 in order to increase the disposal of cleaning residues and to rinse inside the tank with an inclined flat bottom 34.

The accumulation tank 81 is connected to a battery of inspectable stainless steel pre-filtration panels and a special booster pump.

The accumulation tank 81 is connected to a compartment intended to receive only the debris which is automatically emptied from the motorized self-cleaning filter 82 by means of a further pump with automatic level management connected to the cleaning residue container 83, to allow subsequent disposal of the sole debris deriving from the paint stripping processes.

The closed-circuit water recirculation means 8 comprise a special pump simultaneously connected to a system of debris evacuation and rinsing ramps and a system of further multiple filters for feeding a booster system and the high pressure pump 9.

The first hydraulic circuit 84 comprises at least one manifold provided with a plurality of pressure nozzles 86 extending vertically outside and above the tank with inclined flat bottom 34 to create an auxiliary jet of water directed to the center of the tunnel 1.

The second hydraulic circuit 85 comprises at least one manifold provided with a plurality of pressure nozzles 87 inside of the tank with an inclined flat bottom 34 to create an auxiliary jet of water in order to be able to push the slags deposited along the tank with an inclined flat bottom 34.

The inclined flat bottom of at least one tank with inclined flat bottom 34 is formed with a slope of about one degree.

Examples

The system refers to the use of two technologies in particular: UltraClean UHP and FineJets.

UltraClean UHP technology uses only water, in an extremely technological manner, for the thorough cleaning and preparation of surfaces. The technology is very versatile because of the possibility of removing in an extremely fast and deep technical or protective covering of any type, deposits also very clinging and stratified, oxides and materials of high thickness. The cleaning and removal takes place leaving the original profile of the treated surface perfectly intact. Moreover, the surface is not subjected to any chemical or thermal stress. There is no dust or gas emission in the process. The use of such technology allows both manual cleaning operations or automatic tools inside dedicated machines with different degrees of automation, 2-3 controlled axes or anthropomorphic robots.

FineJets technology used for manual or automatic cleaning tools, fractionates into a plurality of jets with very high kinetic energy and mass, which makes the impact force necessary for the process small. Nozzles with extremely small orifices, even of the order of 0.08 mm, allow supersonic water speeds, at 2300 bar the water speed is 2.5 times that of the sound. Very limited amounts of water are normally sufficient for good efficiency. The housing of the nozzles takes place on rotating heads which differ in size and number of jets. The assembly also provides specific inclinations for each jet and rotations on different orbits. The rotation is ensured by high torque pneumatic motors integrated in the tools with which it is possible to select the correct speed according to the process. This assembly produces a circular impression at very high pressure and high speed of rotation, which, with variable angles, allows to effectively remove coatings or process residues.

UHP water technology offers many benefits over conventional surface removal and restoration processes. First of all, the use of water alone is an extremely environmentally friendly choice. The possibilities of using UHP technology with the use of water alone are innumerable, with a multitude of different application sectors and in non-binding environmental conditions. For the residues deriving from the processes according to manual or automatic processes it is sufficient to collect the debris themselves in simple bags or filtration systems. The use of water also guarantees the possibility of normal channeling and collection of 100% of the removed part. Normally, a treatment with a suitable degree of filtration and retention is sufficient, in order to discharge the water directly into the mains. The water thus filtered in some cases can be directly reused in the process. As far as other types of residues are concerned, the systems normally leave nothing in the air, neither suspensions nor debris that can be transported.

The most frequent traditional removal technologies normally use chemical, abrasive products or baths and, in some cases, mechanical removal with tools. The chemistry is slow and expensive in overall terms of management and safety and very expensive from the environmental point of view and from the working environment itself. It can also create latent incompatibilities and results that are not easy to understand, especially in the subsequent processes to which the article is intended. The use of chemical-free water allows the treated surface to be left clean and residue-free, allowing reproducibility of the result. The use of abrasives, which is faster in general than chemical processes, is also expensive because of the need for arrangement, containment and collection of abrasives. Furthermore, the environment must normally be controlled due to the presence of considerable dust and gas in the air. The clean surface with the use of water only guarantees a very deep cleaning, without inclusions or sediments between the surface micro-ridges, allowing a better grip of the coatings, which are more durable. Also in the mechanical removal by means of a tool there is usually the need to reprepare the article with a new sanding and/or grinding. In both cases, sanding and mechanical removal, it is then impossible to differentiate between the covering to be removed and the substrate; normally, the underlayer is also removed with these methods.

Rotating tools are highly technological instruments for use in high and ultra high pressure water jet systems. The entire range provides a high speed (multi-jets head) rotation of the terminal via an integrated high torque air motor. The selection of the correct speed, together with a range of dedicated heads with multi-jet housing, 2-9 jet, and multi-orbit geometry, allows specific efficiency depending on the application. Such tools are extremely efficient and performing in the accurate preparation of surfaces with a wide possibility of use, such as cleaning, selective removal, stripping. Manual versions allow extreme security of remote activation and use, through double consent commands. The automatic versions are suitable for automated applications with application on robots or in controlled axis systems. Common technical features are extremely robust design, contact parts in special steels and hardened steels, ultra high pressure water-tight swivel joint, infinite speed selection via integrated motor, remote activation with double-drive safety, multi-jets housing heads with multi-orbit geometries.

The placed dripping tubs help to avoid and contain possible leaks of the cleaning residues and the water preserving the location site of the system from polluting infiltrations.

At the base of the tunnel a fluid bed is formed with a continuous surface with inclined geometry which, by means of the delivery of water from collectors with pressurized nozzles, allows to channel and push toward the storage tank the residues and slag deriving from the cleaning operations.

In the storage tank lies a battery of stainless steel pre-filtration panels which can be inspected and a special booster pump.

Furthermore, the storage tank is collated to a compartment intended to receive only the debris which is automatically discharged by the self-cleaning filter system. Such debris, such as sludge and mud-like, are sucked by a further specialized pump, with automatic level management, which provides for the delivery to big bags for the subsequent disposal of the only debris deriving from the painting operations, for example, chipped with various aggregates of different size and microfiltration.

The water is constantly recirculated through a special pump, both to the debris evacuation ramps and to the rinse ramps and at the same time to a system of additional multiple filters for supplying the booster system and the high-pressure pump.

The robot connected to a bridge structure comprises a portal structure made of welded and/or bolted steel profiles composed of uprights and currents framed and laid on an industrial plant floor anchored with drawplates.

The inverted mounted robot allows to optimize the space occupied by the system and the positioning of the sensitive parts of the robot itself, the feeding of the robot being above and outside the tunnel, i.e. in a zone not struck by water, atomized water and debris.

Furthermore, in the case of double robots, the inverted mounting solution allows to optimize the base constructively, for example, using a single surface for conveying the debris, avoiding the interception and the mutual disturbance of two robots, allowing a speed-up of the operations of unpainting.

The maintenance is improved by raising the robot inside the tunnel with the hoist 37, 38, offering the possibility of movement by means of guides and guards from water and debris made of technical fabric.

The tunnel structure conceived with the piers junction of the ground fixing plates allows an assembly with the perfect leveling of the system by anchoring the support plates to the floor, cementing and eventually resining the entire floor under the structure, possibly using waterproofing products, and subsequently with the possibility of removing the entire structure, leaving only the support plates anchored, cemented and resin-coated on the ground.

The sound-insulated cabin 2 comprises an autonomous structure covering the entire tunnel.

The high-pressure pump 9 consists of a skid-mounted assembly comprising an electric motor, a motor-pump coupling, a high-pressure pump body complete with crank mechanism, manifold by-pass and pistons.

The high-pressure pump 9 allows to develop and feed with high-pressure water the rotating tools during the painting operations, with a power in a range between 45 kW and over 250 kW.

The obtainable pressures that can be generated are variable, with or without inverters inside the power switchboard, and can vary according to the operations from 1000 bar to over 3000 bar continued.

A feed tank, with water in new reception or from the recirculation system, equipped with a booster pump, supplies the last filtration stage to supply the high-pressure pump 9.

Claims

System for the automatic cleaning of skids for bodies and artifacts, comprising a tunnel (1) inside a soundproof cabin (2), the tunnel (1) supported by a base (3), at least one apparatus of cleaning tools (4), (5) inside the tunnel (1), blowing means (6) of incoming air, filtration means of outgoing air, closed-circuit water recirculation means (8) being operative, the base (3) consisting of at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34) to be able to collect and channel the cleaning residues and waters, at least one dripping tank (31), (32), (33) to retain any leaks of cleaning residues and waters from said at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34), a frame (35) to support the tunnel (1), said at least one apparatus of cleaning tools (4), (5) comprising a robot (41), (42) programmed to direct a plurality of water jets fed through a high pressure pump (9), said high pressure pump (9) connected to said closed circuit water recirculation means (8), said closed-circuit water recirculation means (8) comprise an accumulation tank (81) equipped with filtration elements, at least one motorized self-cleaning filter (82) able to move towards the accumulation tank (81) to allow the cleaning residues to be sucked up and discharged into a cleaning residues container (83), a first hydraulic circuit (84) dedicated to said apparatus of cleaning tools (4), (5), a second hydraulic circuit (85) dedicated to said at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34) in order to increase the disposal of cleaning residues and to rinse inside said at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34), characterized in that said accumulation tank (81) is connected to a compartment intended to receive the debris only, which are automatically emptied from said at least one motorized self-cleaning filter (82) by means of a further pump with automatic level management connected to said cleaning residue container (83), to allow subsequent disposal of the sole debris deriving from the paint stripping processes.
System according to the previous claim, characterized in that said accumulation tank (81) is connected to a battery of inspectable stainless steel pre-filtration panels and a special booster pump.
System according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said closed-circuit water recirculation means (8) comprise a special pump simultaneously connected to a system of debris evacuation and rinsing ramps and a system of further multiple filters for feeding a booster system and said high pressure pump (9).
System according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said first hydraulic circuit (84) comprises at least one manifold equipped with a plurality of pressure nozzles (86) extending vertically outside and above said at least one tank with inclined flat bottom (34) to create an auxiliary jet of water directed to the center of the tunnel (1), and by the fact that said second hydraulic circuit (85) comprises at least one manifold equipped with a plurality of pressurized nozzles (87) inside of said at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34) to create an auxiliary jet of water to be able to push the slags deposited along said at least one tank with an inclined flat bottom (34).