Improvements in or relating to the cleaning of vessels for holding materials

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the cleaning of vessels from any solids element or residue remaining after the discharge of materials of liquid, gaseous or flowable solid form, or after maintenance operations involving derusting or descaling, which vessels can be land-based, or sea-based on rigs or platforms for material storage or be the cargo carrying holds or tanks or ships. The invention is more particularly concerned with the cleaning of the tanks or holds of ships.

[0002] Escalating manning costs in ships in recent years has, predictably, led to a concerted move on the part of owners to reduce their crews to the minimum compatable with statutory requirements and the efficient operation of their ships. This in turn has stimulated research into technical advances capable of eliminating or at least reduced labour intensive operations on board ships.

[0003] This is particularly true in the design and operation of bulk and combination carriers. However, in this field the task has been bedevilled by a swiftly changing pattern of world trade. The steady decline of the liner trade of such ships has given rise to a demand for highly flexible ships more suited to voyage and time chartering. In turn, this requirement has highlighted perhaps the most labour intensive operation of all in this class of ship - hold cleaning. The solids element remaining after the discharge of cargo which can be say grain at one time or say iron ore or coal the next time can be of the order of many tons. Not only can the solids element be left on the hold bottom but also residues can remain on the hold walls which have to be washed down to the hold bottom for removal. In derusting or descaling operations which usually involve the use of blasting grit, again many tons of solids have to be cleaned from the hold before anti-corrosion treatment can be carried out.

[0004] Various arguments have been advanced as to how often holds require cleaning, some operators maintaining it is only necessary when changing from one type of cargo to another while others clean their holds on a weekly basis. The truth is, there is no hard and fast rule on the subject. In some cases the nature of the carton is such that if the holds are not washed immediately after discharge the residues can harden to a point where it is almost impossible to remove them. Again cargo residues harbour moisture which can aggravate corrosion problems. What is not in doubt, however, is the cleaning job whatever its nature is time consuming and labour intensive and therefore costly. The longer the cleaning job takes, the greater the down time, which in bulk and combination carriers reduces their flexibility and increases their operating costs.

[0005] Faced with the inevitable, the operator of bulk and combination carriers has two options open to him dependent on the previous cargo and the next one to be carried. These basically are, simple sweeping of the hold bottom or a combination of washing down and sweeping. Where washing down is involved there are again various options - the use of a) ordinary wash hoses, b) a high pressure wash unit inducing air into the water flow, c) tank washing machines in either the fixed or portable mode but either way more usually associated with tank cleaning in oil tankers. The common factor in each case is that the solids element has to be removed from the hold bottom. Where washing down is involved this is even more essential if abrasive materials are not to find their way into the ballast lines and pumps causing potentially expensive damage.

[0006] Again, in the case of oil bulk ore or oil ore tankers, the residue left in the tanks after discharge of the oil may take the form of a thick sludge which has to be cleaned from the tank bottom before they are refilled which is time consuming, labour intensive and costly.

[0007] Similar problems exist with stationary land or sea-based material holding vessels such as containers, tanks or hoppers.

[0008] It should be appreciated that the term "bottom" is used herein in relation to "vessel" in a generic sense to embrace the tank top ceiling of a ship, the base area of a ship's hold on which cargo is supported and the floor of a storage container such as a hopper grain silo or tank, or bottom say of a sewage pond.

[0009] The length of time and number of personnel required to carry out the cleaning operation are directly related to the method which has hitherto been employed to remove the residue from the bottom of the vessel, and which is basically a "bucket and spade job". This can either involve the residue or other solids material, such as rust scale and grit blast abrasives, being spaded into bucket grabs or other suitable containers for transport out of the vessel for ultimate discharge, or alternatively, spaded into a portable jet pump which has been lowered into the vessel and is supported on the vessel bottom with its entrainment jet located above the vessel bottom. Even if the capacity of a portable jet pump could be increased whilst still keeping its portability, the cleaning time is still dictated by the ability and number of men to spade the solids material into the pump, the limit being typically, for a heavy material such as iron-ore, 2 to 2) tons per man hour. Thus, the time consuming and labour intensive nature of this operation can be readily appreciated, particularly when one considers bulk carriers, which may have as many as eight holds, each 90 feet deep and having a bottom area of 700 square metres, for example.

[0010] In another hold cleaning system known to the applicants vertically arranged educators are disposed behind the bulkheads, the eductors being enclosed within fluid lines which connect them to remotely disposed suction inlets in the hold bottom, and acting to suck the solids material from the holds. Such eductors are not very efficient, can block and in the event of wear from abrasive materials, the whole eductor has to be replaced, which is an expensive and time consuming operation, not the least because of the disposition of the eductors behind the bulkheads.

[0011] Recent reductions in manning level legislation have resulted in a more urgent need for a vessel cleaning system, in particular for the holds of ships, in which the aforesaid disadvantages are avoided or substantially reduced.

[0012] It is known from US-A-3 421 639 to provide an installation for use in cleaning solids material from the bottom of a vessel, in which solids material is entrained in at least one pressurized jet of fluid, comprising means defining at least one aperture in the vessel bottom, means for producing a unitary flow of entraining fluid and comprising a pressurized jet of fluid for entraining liquid-borne solids material therein, and disposed in at least one location beneath said vessel bottom and beneath said aperture, said means including a housing defining an open topped chamber of which the open top is in alignment with the aperture, nozzle means disposed transversely below and for projecting said entrainment jet in a direction substantially parallel with said vessel bottom, means for producing liquid containing washing fluid for washing solids material from the vessel bottom through said aperture and into said entrainment jet, means for guiding the washing fluid entrained solids material passing through said aperture into the entrainment jet, and at least one fluid line for the discharge of fluid entrained solids material out of the vessel whereby in operation the vessel interior communicates with said entrainment through said guide means and said aperture and solids material washed through said aperture by the washing fluid is guided into said entrainment jet to be entrained therein and the fluid entrained solids material is discharged through said discharge line in the fluid flow engendered by the entrainment jet.

[0013] Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method of and installation for cleaning vessels in which the cleaning time and number of personnel required are substantially reduced, which is much more efficient, in which any worn parts may be easily and quickly replaced, which can cope with the larger particle sizes of solids material debris of general cargo without sacrificing efficiency, which can both be installed in existing ships or into ships being built, which can be used with flat floored holds and in the case of bulk or combination carriers considerably increasing their flexibility.

[0014] According to the invention an installation having the aforementioned features known from US-A-3 421 639 is characterised in that said means including a housing comprises an open top of smaller size than that of the aperture, said nozzle means is disposed in, and extends transversely of, said chamber and is spaced from an enlarged diameter outlet from said chamber to said fluid discharge line for projecting entraining fluid transversely of said housing chamber through said outlet, said means for producing liquid containing washing fluid including means for producing at least one pressurized jet of liquid containing washing fluid, and said guide means comprise inclined wall means extending downwardly and inwardly from said aperture to said chamber open top and defining an upper wider open end which can be in communication with the vessel interior through said aperture and a lower narrower open end which is in communication with said entrainment jet exposed through said chamber open top, said inclined wall means being a funnel or hopper with said upper open end provided with an outwardly projecting rim which is inset in the aperture and rests on and is removably fixed to an annular supporting lip which is rigid with the vessel bottom and projects beneath said aperture, and with said lower open end removably fixed to said housing around said open top of the chamber.

[0015] The invention also consists in a vessel, or a ship comprising at least one vessel such as a hold, provided with such an installation.

[0016] The invention includes the method of operating an installation according to the invention characterised by generating said entrainment jet beneath said vessel bottom and said aperture with said entrainment jet being projected in a direction which is substantially parallel with said vessel bottom and being exposed to the vessel interior through said aperture, providing at least one pressurized jet of liquid containing washing fluid to wash the solids material from the vessel bottom, through said aperture and into entrainment with said entrainment jet, and leading the fluid entrained solids material out of the vessel.

[0017] Because of the disposition and arrangement of the or each entrainment jet and the fact that the or each entrainment jet is exposed to the vessel interior through the aperture it is an extremely simple matter using pressurized jets of washing fluid to wash the solids material from the vessel bottom directly into the entrainment jet(s) which considerably reduces time and the number of operating personnel required. Since the entrainment jet is exposed to the vessel interior, i.e. is in direct communication therewith, without the solids material having to pass through a fluid line or through valves, speed and efficiency of cleaning is considerably increased as compared to all the systems known to the Applicant. Even if screens such as grilles, gratings of wire mesh or the like are placed over the aperture, which is preferred in order to prevent solids material having a particle size which is beyond the permissible maximum from entering the entrainment jet, this in no way interferes with the exposure of the entrainment jet to, or direct communication beween the entrainment jet and, the vessel interior. When used on board ship the method and apparatus have considerable advantages over the known systems. Spading is eliminated. The number of ship personnel required to operate the method and installation can be reduced to as little as two. In the case of a bulk carrier changing over cargoes, the cleaning time can be reduced as little to 2-5 hours per hold depending on the materials involved. Thus, the requirement for flexibility with bulk and combination carriers is not only fully met but is to the applicant's knowledge met to a degree which is without parallel in any of the known hold cleaning systems. The method and installation can be operated under bad weather conditions at sea since the hatches can be left in position on the holds which eliminates the possibility of the loss of opened hatches overboard.

[0018] Furthermore, unlike cleaning systems utilizing partial suction with eductors, the method and installation according to the invention creates a positive head which allows vertical lifts well in excess of 30 metres to be achieved, which provides the further advantage that depths of tanks or holds for shipboard applications pose no problems. Moreover, with installations constructed in accordance with the invention blocking is virtually eliminated and the throat size of the jet entrainment arrangement can readily be made of greater bore size enabling the installation to deal effectively with larger solids particle sizes. For example particle sizes of 4 inches (95 mm) and larger can be accommodated. Indeed when tank washing machines are employed, for cleaning the holds of ships, the whole cleaning operation can be automated, which further reduces the cleaning time and number of operating personnel.

[0019] The entrainment fluid is selected in dependance upon the nature of the solids material and may be fresh water, sea water, oil, compressed air, steam, methyl gas or hexyl alcohol or other suitable liquids, gases or mixtures thereof. With most bulk or combination carrier cargoes, sea water can be used and is used for obvious reasons.

[0020] The washing fluid may be high pressure water by itself or water in which air is induced into the water flow.

[0021] In order to facilitate the flow of washing fluid entrained solids material from the aperture and into the entrainment jet, means such as a hopper or funnel is advantageously provided for guiding the solids material into entrainment with the jet. Such a hopper or funnel has its wider open upper end fixed to that part of the vessel bottom which defines the aperture and its lower narrower end fixed to a housing which defines an open-topped chamber across which the jet flows, with the open lower end of the hopper or funnel being in communication with the chamber through its open top. This ensures that the solids material is quickly and efficiently directed straight from the vessel bottom into the entrainment jet by means of the high-pressure jets of washing fluid.

[0022] The hopper or funnel conveniently has a rim at its upper end which preferably rests on a flange which is inset into the aperture, the inset being of sufficient depth to accommodate the flange, a screen, a sealing gasket and a removable cover such that the cover is flush with the vessel bottom to avoid damage, the cover being in position when the vessel carries solids material and being removed for a cleaning operation.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle means is detachable, e.g. by mounting it in a holder by means such as screw-threads, and projects into the chamber with the nozzle being connected to a source of pressurized fluid via a suitable supply line. The entrainment jet is directed across the chamber and into a mixer chamber for the fluid entrained solids material which in turn is connected, preferably via a diffuser, to the discharge line, which carries the solids material in the flow of fluid engendered by the jet which in the case of a ship can be overboard or alternatively to a suitable storage container on deck, or waste reception tank for subsequent discharge.

[0024] The arrangement of the jet nozzle, open-topped and mixer chambers and diffuser, acts as a jet pump which utilises the venturi principle and, as will be appreciated, has the considerable advantage of not having any moving parts.

[0025] For any given size of jet entrainment arrangement the particle size to be handled can be optimized by adjusting the distance between the nozzle and mixer entry to relate to the mixer diameter, the ratio of the distance between the nozzle to mixer entry to mixer internal diameter preferably being of the order of 1:1.

[0026] With ships having double bottoms, the jet entrainment arrangement is conveniently mounted between adjacent vertically extending floors which run longitudinally of the ship within the double bottom, i.e. between the tank top ceiling and ship bottom and, to provide a chest or enclosed space for the jet arrangement, the opposite open ends of the containing space can be closed off by partitions extending between the adjacent floors.

[0027] Again in the case of ships, in particular those having double bottoms, the aperture and thus the entrainment jet could conceivably be located anywhere in and beneath the tank top ceiling (vessel bottom). However, applicants have found that the optimum position for a hold having one such aperture and entrainment jet is adjacent the bilge well which is located in the aft/outboard corner of the or each hold, and this constitutes another preferred feature of the invention. This has the advantage that when the flow of pressurized fluid to the nozzle means is stopped at the end of a cleaning operation, when liquids are used as the cleaning and entrainment fluids, the liquids in the supply and delivery or discharge lines flow back into the hold through the aperture and can enter the adjacent bilge well for discharge by the bilge pump system. If a second entrainment jet is required for the or each ship hold, it can advantageously be positioned in the opposite aft outboard corner of the or each hold.

[0028] In accordance with another preferred feature of the invention, a further facility can be provided with the removal sealing cover in position over the aperture in the vessel bottom to clean-out debris. e.g. sediment or rust scale from adjacent double-bottom tanks, and to suck up water from inside the double bottom. When such tanks are used to carry ballast water, such ballastwater can include a substantial amount of mud if taken in from the bottom of a river estuary for example. Accordingly, the jet entrainment arrangement is provided with an inlet or aperture which is preferably in the open-topped housing and which is additional to the aperture in the bottom of the vessel, for connection to a fluid line. When the additional inlet is used for cleaning out sediment and scale from the double-bottom tanks and cleaning remaining debris from the vessel bottom, the fluid line is conveniently a flexible hose. The flexible hose can be brought into hold interior through any of the existing normally closed entry apertures for access to the double-bottom tanks. In the case of sucking up water or other liquid from the double-bottom tanks, the fluid line is preferably a rigid length of pipe having an outwardly flared free end. This arrangement is such that a suction is produced enabling debris from the adjacent double-bottom tanks to be sucked through the hose and entrained into the entrainment jet for discharge. When a gas such as air or steam is used as the entrainment fluid a strong vacuum of the order of 24 inches of mercury (0.829 kg/cm²) is produced. The additional inlet is located in the housing wall, advantageously, opposite the opening in the open-topped chamber in the bottom wall of the housing or in a side wall of the housing. This is an extremely important optional feature of the present invention and can eliminate the necessity for bilge pumps since water in the bilges can also be sucked out by means of the vacuum created by the entrainment jet.

[0029] The additional inlet or aperture is normally closed, for example by means, of a removable blanking plate or by a manually, electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated plate valve. When the inlet is in the bottom wall of the housing the blanking plate or plate of the valve forms in effect the bottom wall, when closed. By providing suitable connections, e.g. of the bolt and flange type, it is a simple manner to connect the flexible hose or flared pipe. The free end of the flared pipe is conveniently located a short distance from the ship bottom inside the double-bottom tank, e.g. about 1 inch (2.54 cm).

[0030] In order to ensure that only those particle sizes of the solids material compatible with the jet arrangement and bore size of discharge line are accepted into entrainment jet, a grille or grating may be inset into the aperture around the open funnel or hopper top so as effectively to screen the solids material particle size to the maximum permissable.

[0031] In a typical installation either one or two jet entrainment arrangements can be fitted in each ship tank or hold. Where only one jet entrainment arrangement is employed provision will have to be made to ensure a suitable trim to allow for drainage to the arrangement.

[0032] All requisite control valves can be at deck level and provision made to break the fluid supply line to ensure against accidental flooding of the holds or tanks in the event of failure to close the deck valve.

[0033] Maintenance of the jet entrainment arrangements is minimal and normally involves no more than exchanging nozzles and mixer chambers when after prolonged use these become worn - a simple five minute operation. It is another featured this invention that replacement of worn mixer chambers and nozzles can be simply and quickly achieved through the aperture, without having to go to the expense of long downtime and replacement of the whole jet entrainment arrangement. Moreover, the nozzle replacement facility enables changing over of nozzles for differing solids material cargoes to optimize efficiency.

[0034] Typically, to cover all current ship sizes, the jet entrainment arrangements can be supplied to handle 80, 100, 120 or 240 tons of entrainment water per hour but can handle more if the circumstances require it. In the range given above, the body of the arrangement can be of the same dimensions with the different performance requirements being met simply by varying the jet nozzle and mixer chambers to which end the nozzles are removably mounted in suitable holders and the mixer chambers detachable, as aforesaid.

[0035] In the case of a ship, the jet entrainment arrangement can be incorporated into an extension of the conventional bilge well or into a conventional pipe tunnel extending along the centre line of the ship.

[0036] When installations constructed according to the invention are installed in existing ships it is a simple matter to cut the necessary aperture in the hold or tank bottom for accommodating the jet entrainment arrangement.

[0037] Supply and discharge lines can then be easily run down the hold or tank bulk-heads and beneath the bottom.

[0038] When ships are being built with the installations, the vertical lengths of the supply and discharge lines can be disposed behind the tank or hold bulkheads.

[0039] Service access can be simply achieved, when it is desired to change the nozzle and/or mixer for example, through the aperture to the entrainment jet, and unbolting the various parts such as the hopper, unscrewing the nozzle and/or unbolting the mixer.

[0040] The invention further consists in a kit of parts for use in the production of any of the installations defined hereinabove.

[0041] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a digrammatic side elevation through a bulk carrier incorporating an installation constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bulk carrier of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section through Fig. 1 and showing the bottoms of the holds of the bulk carrier,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through one of the holds of the bulk carrier of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one of the holds of the bulk carrier of Fig. 1 with parts broken away,

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the double- bottomed tank of the hold of Fig. 5, showing one form of jet entrainment arrangement,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the jet entrainment arrangement of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is an end-view of the jet entrainment arrangement of Fig. 6,

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sections, through the jet entrainment arrangement of Fig. 6, and taken along the line X-X of Fig. 9, respectively,

Fig. 11 shows an alternative mode of locating different sized mixers in the jet entrainment arrangement of Figs. 6 to 10,

Fig. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating one way of operating the installation,

Fig. 13 is a flow diagram of the installation, and

Fig. 14 is a block diagram of an electrical control circuit for the installation.

[0042] Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the bulk carrier which is generally indicated by the reference 1 is of double-hulled construction having double-bottom and side tanks 2 and 3 respectively and seven cargo carrying holds 4, constituting vessels for containing solids material, which are closed by respective hatch covers 5. The bottom or deck of each hold 4 on which the solids material rests, is constituted by the tank top ceiling 6 of the associated double-bottom tank 2 and the bottom proper of the bulk carrier is indicated by the reference 7. The bulk carrier is also provided with wing tanks 8 located in the upper regions of the holds 4.

[0043] Each hold 4 is provided with an installation for use in cleaning the hold from solids material, such as a cargo of grain, remaining on the tank top ceiling 6 after the discharge of the cargo and prior to loading with another cargo of solids material, for example iron ore. Each installation comprises a jet entrainment arrangement which is hereinafter referred to as a jet pump and which is indicated by the reference 9, and a means for supplying the pressurized jet(s) of washing fluid including two tank washing machines 10. Since the installation is on board a ship, water being readily available, is almost invariably adopted for use as the washing fluid and as the entrainment fluid and, therefore, will be used for the purposes of this description. Mounted on and extending longitudinally of the deck 11 of the bulk carrier 1 are water supply lines in the form of headers 12 and 13 for the jet pumps 9 and the tank washing machines 10 in all the holds 4. The headers 12 and 13 are connected to a single pump 14 of suitable capacity or, alternatively, to respective pumps 14, 14a of which the pump 14a is shown in dashed lines in Fig. 2. Branch lines 15 extend to each hold from the header 12 and are connected to respective water supply lines 16 having on deck horizontal sections with gate valves 16a from which the lines 16 extend vertically down through the holds behind the aft bulkheads 17 and beneath the tank top ceilings 6 to the jet pumps 9. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, one water supply header 12, 13, may supply both the jet pumps 9 and the tank washing machines 10.

[0044] The tank washing machines 10 are connected to the water supply header 13 or to the common water supply header 12,13 (Fig. 5) by branch lines 18 having gate valves 18a therein (Fig. 5). As shown in more detail in Fig. 5, each jet pump 9 has a water entrained solids material discharge line 20 projecting therefrom and horizontally beneath the respective tank top ceiling 6, vertically upwards behind the aft bulkheads 17, out through the deck 11 where there is a horizontal section 21 which extends to a gate valve 21a a located near one side of the bulk carrier 1. A conveniently flexible hose 22 is connected to the outboard side of the gate valve 21 and leads over the ships side. The discharge line 20 has a diameter which is greater than that of the associated water supply line 16, both the supply and discharge lines 16 and 20 conveniently being metal pipes. The bore size of each discharge line 20 is of greater diameter than that of each supply line 16; for example the discharge lines may have an internal diameter of 4 inches (95 mm) and the supply lines 16 an internal diameter of 3 inches (75 mm). In places where the installation is installed in an existing ship, the supply and discharge lines 16 and 20 conveniently run down the aft bulkhead 17 inside the hold 4.

[0045] Each tank washing machine 10 includes a casing 23 mounted on the deck 11 and a water delivery line 24 depending from the casing 23 and extending through the deck and into the hold 4, the water delivery line 24 terminating in a washing unit 25. The delivery line 23 and the washing unit 24 are retractable into the deck mounting casing 23, from inside the hold 4.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5, each jet pump 9 is disposed in a fluid-tight chest 26, beneath an aperture 27 located in the tank top ceiling 6 aft of each hold 4 adjacent one of the outboard bulkheads 28 and a bilge well 29 in one aft/outboard corner of the hold. The fluid-tight chest comprises portions of floors 30 which extend longitudinally of the ship's hull and vertically between the tank top ceiling 6 and the hull bottom 7, a portion of the bulkhead 28 and partitions 31 and 31a.

[0047] Additional jet pumps 9 (only three shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 3) may also be located beneath respective apertures in the tank top ceilings 6 in the other aft/outboard corners of each hold 4.

[0048] Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 to 10, each jet pump 9 is mounted in the chest 26 by means of flanges 32, 33 at its opposite ends which are removably fixed as by the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 34 to the floors 30. The bolts 34 also extend through mounting flanges 35 and 36 on the water supply and discharge lines 16 and 20 respectively to secure them to the floors 30 in alignment with apertures therethrough. Passing from its upstream to its downstream ends, the jet pump 9 comprises a supply pipe 37 leading from the supply line 16, a nozzle holder 38 projecting through the upstream end of a housing 39 and carrying a nozzle 40 within the housing, a mixer 41 surrounded by a tubular sleeve 42, the mixer and sleeve projecting into the downstream end of the housing 39 and a diffuser 43 leading into the discharge line 20. The supply pipe 37 and diffuser 43 mount the flanges 32 and 33 respectively. The nozzle holder 38 and supply pipe 37 are removably fixed together as by the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 43 passing through mounting flanges 44 and 45. The nozzle holder 38 passes through an aperture in the housing 39 and is welded in the aperture around weld lines 46.

[0049] The mixer sleeve 42 has mounting flanges 47 and 48 located inwardly of its upstream end and at its downstream end respectively through which pass the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 49, 49a, which removably fix the sleeve 42 to housing 39 and to a mounting flange 50 which is rigid with the upstream end of the diffuser 43. The sleeve 42 enables interchanging and the locating of different sized mixers, by access through the aperture 27, in a manner to be described. The mixer 41 is located coaxially within the sleeve 42 and with respect to an aperture in the housing 39 through which the upstream end of the mixer and sleeve project by means of a screw-on end cap 51 and to the diffuser 42 by the engagement of the downstream end 52 of the mixer in an annular mating. recess (not visible) in the diffuser flange as in Fig. 9 or in a separate annular mounting piece 53 which is located in the diffuser flange recess 54 as shown in Fig. 11.

[0050] The nozzle 40 is replacably and adjustably mounted in the nozzle holder 38, for example by means of an external screw thread (not shown) on the nozzle engaging with an internal screw thread (not shown) in the bore of the nozzle holder.

[0051] The housing 39 defines an open topped chamber 55 which is in communication through its open top with a hopper or funnel 56 for guiding solids material entrained in the washing water from the aperture and into a pressurized jet 57 of the entrainment liquid generated by the passage of liquid through the nozzle 40. The housing 39 has an access aperture 58 in one of its walls which is closed by a cover or blanking plate 59.

[0052] The lower smaller open end of the hopper 56 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 60 which is secured as by the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 61 to an inwardly directed flange 62 which is integral with the housing 39 and extends around the open top of the chamber 55. At its upper wider open, the hopper 56 has an outwardly directed flange or rim 63 which rests on an inwardly projecting annular lip 64 below the aperture 27 and which is removably fixed to the lip 64, by the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 65. An annular sealing gasket 66 is positioned on the rim 63 and a screen or grille 67 for screening solids material particle size to the maximum permissible for the jet pump 9 extends across the aperture 23 and rests at its periphery on the gasket 66. The position of the lip 64 is such that the hopper rim 63, gasket 66, screen 67 and a removable cover 68 are inset in the aperture 27 and the cover 68 is flush with the surface of the tank top ceiling 6. The cover 68 is secured to the lip 64 as by the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 69, with the gasket sealing the cover in the aperture 26, when the hold carries cargo and is removed by undoing bolts 69 for a cleaning operation.

[0053] In order to replace the mixer 41 by one of an increased or reduced size, in the embodiment of Fig. 9, the cover 68 is unbolted and removed together with the screen 67 and gasket 66, the bolts 65 and 61 are undone and the hopper is removed through the aperture 27, the nozzle 40 is unscrewed and removed through the aperture 27. The end cap 51 is unscrewed and removed together with the mixer 41 and sleeve 42 through the aperture 26. Since the annular mating recess for the end 52 of the mixer 41 is matched to that mixer, the diffuser is unbolted by undoing bolts 34 and 49 and is removed through the aperture and replaced by a diffuser having an annular recess which matches the end 52 of the replacement mixer and is then located in the annular recess in the flange of the replacement diffuser, and a suitable end cap is screwed back on. A nozzle appropriate to the replacement mixer is screwed into the nozzle holder, the hopper 56 is bolted back into position and the gasket 66, and screen 67 are replaced. This operation can be simply and quickly achieved which is a very important factor in view of the location of the jet pump 9 beneath the tank top ceiling 6.

[0054] An even quicker and easier way of changing the mixer 41 since it does not require the diffuser also to be changed can be achieved by use of the annular mounting piece 53 illustrated in Fig. 11. The annular recess 54 in the diffuser flange 50 has been machined out to mate with a tapered external diameter of the mounting piece 53 which locates in recess 54. The mounting piece or ring 53 has a tapered internal bore 71 constituting an annular recess which mates with a complementary taper on the downstream end 52 of the replacement mixer 41. All that needs to be provided is a range of mounting pieces with appropriately shaped bores or recesses 71 for a range of mixers having complementarily shaped downstream ends 52.

[0055] These features which facilitate interchanging of mixers are very important aspects of the present invention. The direction of flow of entrainment water through the jet pump 9 is indicated by the illustrated arrow heads in Fig. 9.

[0056] Optionally, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the housing 39 is provided with an inlet aperture 74 additional to, and in the bottom wall of the housing 39 opposite to, the aperture 27. The inlet aperture 74 has a vertical pipe 75 fixed to the housing wall by means of the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 76 passing through flanges 77. The pipe 75 may be removably connected either to the vertical pipe or elephants foot 78 having an outwardly flared free end 79 disposed a short distance above the hull bottom 7, by the diagrammatically illustrated bolts 80 passing through flanges 81 and 82 on the pipes 75 and 78 respectively or to a flexible vacuum hose (not shown) having a suitable fixing flange. In Fig. 10 an alternative position for the additional inlet aperture is that provided by the opening 58 when the cover or blanking plate 59 is removed.

[0057] In order to open the inlet aperture 74, there is a normally closed plate valve 83 provided with an actuator 84 which biasses the valve into the closed position so that even if the operating mechanism, or circuit for the actuator fails, the plate valve remains closed. This is important as the plate valve 83 should always be closed during a cleaning operation. With the cover 68 closing aperture 27, the plate valve 83 open, and the entrainment jet 57 flowing, the pipe 78 or hose can be used to suck up debris and water from the double-bottom tank 2 and into entrainment with the jet 57.

[0058] The operation of the installation will now be described with reference to Figs. 12 to 14 and in relation to one hold 4 of the bulk carrier 1. A control room 88 illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 14 has appropriate switches for operating the or each pump 9 and supply pump 14 and 14a if provided, all the valves and the tank washing machines 10. There are two jet pumps 9 illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 and two tank washing machines 10 and an isolation valve 89 is preferably provided in the line 16 leading to one of the jet pumps 9 so that only one jet pump may be used if required. To commence a hold cleaning operation to remove solids material, as represented by the white triangles in Fig. 12, remaining on the tank top ceiling 6 after the discharge of cargo from the hold 4, the cover 68 over the aperture 27 is removed, a supply valve 90 in header 13 upstream of the pump 14, a suction valve 91 in the sea water suction intake line 92 downstream of the pump 14 and the gate valves 18a are opened and the tank washing machines 10 are switched on from the control room so that the pressurized washing water passes down lines 18 and lines 24 (Fig. 5) to the washing units 25. A supply valve 94 located in the header 12 downstream of the pump 14, gate valves 16a and 21a for one jet pump 9 and, if desired, isolation valve 89 as well as gate valves 16a and 21 a for the other jet pump 9 are opened from the control room, so that water under pressure, as represented by the black triangles in Fig. 12, is supplied down lines 16 to each of the jet pumps 9 to generate the entrainment jets 57 (Figs. 7 and 9). The solids material is washed by the flow of pressurized washing water from the washing units 25 of the tank cleaning machines 10 through the aperture 27 and into entrainment with the pressurized jets 57 and the water entrained solids material, as represented by the black and white triangles in Fig. 12, is discharged through the discharge lines 20 and out of the hold, through the horizontal line sections 21 and overboard through flexible hoses 22.

[0059] The deck pressure of the water supplied by the pump 14 to the headers 12 and 13 may, by way of example, be 125 p.s.i. (8.75 kg/cm²).

[0060] If it is desired to utilize the vacuum facility of the jet pumps 9 to suck up debris and/or water from the double-bottom tanks 2, either with a flexible hose or the flared pipe 78, the cover 68 must be replaced or be left in position, the or each valve 83 is opened by operating the or each actuator 84 by switches in the control room 88, the pump 14 is operated and the valves 94 and 16a, 21 a for one jet pump 9 and if required the valve 89, and valves 16a and 21a for the other jet pump are opened, whereby the or each entrainment jet 57 produces a vacuum and the sucked up debris and/or water from the double-bottom tanks is entrained in the entrainment jet(s) and discharged through the line(s) 20 and hose(s) 22.

[0061] It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, other washed apparatus utilizing pressurized cleaning fluids may be used instead of the tank washing machines 10.

[0062] In the appended claims the term hold means is used generically to embrace the hold of a ship such as a bulk or combination carrier and the tank of an oil bulk ore or oil ore tanker.

Claims

1. An installation for use in cleaning solids material from the bottom of a vessel, in which solids material is entrained in at least one pressurized jet of fluid, comprising means defining at least one aperture (27) in the vessel bottom (6), means (9) for producing a unitary flow of entraining fluid and comprising a pressurized jet of fluid for entraining liquid-borne solids material therein, and disposed in at least one location beneath said vessel bottom (6) and beneath said aperture (27), said means (9) including a housing (39) defining an open topped chamber (55) of which the top is in alignment with the aperture (27), nozzle means (40) disposed transversely below and for projecting said entrainment jet (57) in a direction substantially parallel with said vessel bottom (6), means (10) for producing liquid containing washing fluid for washing solids material from the vessel bottom (6) through said aperture (27) and into said entrainment jet (57), means (56) for guiding the washing fluid entrained solids material passing through said aperture (27) into the entrainment jet (57), and at least one fluid line (20) for the discharge of fluid entrained solids material out of the vessel (4) whereby in operation the vessel interior communicates with said entrainment jet (57) through said guide means and said aperture (27) and solids material washed through said aperture (27) by the washing fluid is guided into said entrainment jet (57) to be entrained therein and the fluid entrained solids material is discharged through said discharge line (20) in the fluid flow engendered by the entrainment jet, characterised in that said means (9) including a housing (39) comprises an open top of smaller size than that of the aperture (27), said nozzle means (40) is disposed in, and extends transversely of, said chamber (55) and is spaced from an enlarged diameter outlet from said chamber (55) to said fluid discharge line (20) for projecting entraining fluid transversely of said housing chamber and through said outlet, said fluid line (20) for the discharge of fluid entrained solids material having a diameter larger than said nozzle means (40), said means for producing liquid containing washing fluid including means for producing at least one pressurized jet of liquid containing washing fluid, and said guide means (56) comprise inclined wall means extending downwardly and inwardly from said aperture (27) to said chamber open top and defining an upper wider open end which can be in communication with the vessel interior through said aperture (27) and a lower narrower open end which is in communication with said entrainment jet (57) exposed through said chamber open top, said inclined wall means being a funnel or hopper (56) with said upper open end provided with an outwardly projecting rim (63) which is inset in the aperture (27) and rests on and is removably fixed to an annular supporting lip (64) which is rigid with the vessel bottom and projects beneath said aperture, and with said lower open end removably fixed to said housing (39) around said open top of the chamber (55).

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lip (64) supports an annular sealing gasket (66), a screen (67) for screening the solids material particle size to the maximum permissible for the entrainment jet and a cover (68) which closes said aperture (27) when said vessel is carrying solids material and which is removable to open the said aperture (27) for a cleaning operation, said sealing gasket (66), said screen (67) and said cover (68) being inset in said aperture (27) and said cover (68) having an upper surface which is flush with the vessel bottom (6).

3. An installation as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said at least one entrainment jet (57) is directed by said nozzle (40) into a tubular mixer (41) for the fluid entrained solids material, said mixer (41) being surrounded coaxially by a tubular sleeve (42) of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of said mixer, said mixer and said sleeve having upstream ends which project into said housing (39) opposite said nozzle means (40), said tubular sleeve (42) being removably fixed towards its upstream end to said housing (39) and at its downstream end to a diffuser (43) which communicates upstream with said mixer (41) and communicates downstream with said fluid discharge line (20), and means for removably locating said mixer (41) in said sleeve (42) and with respect to said diffuser (43) and said nozzle means (40), whereby said mixer (41) may be removed with said sleeve (42) through said aperture (27) in said vessel bottom (6) and interchanged with a differently sized mixer.

4. An installation as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said means for locating said mixer comprises an end cap (51) which removably engages with the upstream ends of said mixer (41) and said sleeve (4) and which has a bore therethrough which aligns with the mixer bore, means (47) defining an annular recess in the upstream end of the diffuser (43) and a downstream end (52) of said mixer (41) which is of complementary shape to said annular recess and which engages therein.

5. An installation as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said means for locating said mixer comprises an end cap (51) which removably engages with the upstream ends of said mixer and said sleeve and has a bore therethrough which aligns with the mixer bore, means defining an annular recess (54) in the upstream end of said diffuser (43), an annular mounting piece (53) having a mating portion having a shape which is complementary to that of, and engaging in, the annular recess (54), means defining a mating recess (71) in said mounting piece (53) and a downstream end (52) of said mixer which is of complementary shape to said mating recess (71) and which engages therein.

6. An installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the nozzle means (40) is adjustably and removably mounted in a holder means (38) which is fixed to and projects into said housing (39).

7. An installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by means defining a space (2) beneath said vessel bottom (6), means defining another aperture (74) in said housing (39) which is additional to said aperture (27) in said vessel bottom (6), which aperture (74) is normally closed and is communicatable with said chamber (55) and with said space (2), means (76, 77) for connecting a suction line (75, 78) to said another aperture (74) and leading into said space (2) and means (83, 84) for opening said another aperture (7) whereby in operation of said entrainment jet (57), when said aperture (27) in said vessel bottom (6) is closed, said another aperture (74) is open and said suction line is connected thereto, at least one of debris and liquid in said space (2) may be sucked through said suction line (75, 78) and into entrainment with said entrainment jet (57) for discharge in the fluid flow engendered in said entrainment jet.

8. An installation as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said means for opening said another aperture comprises a valve (83) which is biassed into a closed position and actuator means (84) which is operable to open said valve.

9. An installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said nozzle means (40) is connected to a source of pressurized fluid through a supply line (16) and in that said discharge line (20) has a bore size which is of greater diameter than that of said supply line and which is capable of accommodating solids material particle sizes at least of the order of 4 inches (95 mm).

10. A ship incorporating an installation as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the vessel is a hold means (4) of the ship (1).

11. A ship as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the means (9) for producing the pressurized entrainment jet is incorporated into an extension of a bilge well or into a pipe tunnel extending along the centre line of the ship (1).

12. A ship as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the supply and discharge lines (16 and 20) extend from deck level and down at least one bulkhead (17) of the hold means (4) and beneath the bottom (6) of the hold means (4).

13. A ship as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that vertical lengths of the supply and discharge lines (16 and 20) are disposed behind the bulkhead (17) of the hold means (4).

14. A ship as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the supply, washing jet and discharge lines (16, 18 and 20) have control valves, all of which are located at deck level, with one of the control valves (90 or 94) being operative to shut-off fluid flow to the supply line (16) and washing jet line (18) to ensure against accidental flooding of the hold means (4).

15. A ship as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, characterised in that the aperture (74) in the hold means (4) beneath which the means (9) for producing the pressurized entrainment jet (57) is disposed is located adjacent means defining a bilge well (29) in one aft/outboard corner of the hold means (4).

16. A ship as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the hold means (4) has a second means (9) for producing a pressurized jet of entrainment fluid and disposed beneath a second aperture in the bottom of the hold means (4), said second aperture being located in the other aft/outboard corner of said hold means (4).

17. A ship incorporating an installation as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the ship (1) has a deck (11), a plurality of said vessels constituted by cargo carrying hold means (4) beneath said deck (11) and characterised by means defining a plurality of double-bottom tanks (2) including tank top ceilings (6) forming the bottoms of said hold means (4) and the bottom (7) of the ship's hull, each hold means (4) being provided with at least one of said means for producing a pressurized jet of entrainment water constituted by a jet pump (9) and disposed beneath a respective said aperture (27) in the respective tank top ceiling (6) and located in a position which is aft of the respective hold means (4), at least one supply pump (14) for supplying a pressurized flow of water to said jet pumps (9) and to said means (10) for producing at least one pressurized jet of washing water, said pump (14) being connected to a water suction inlet line (92) and to header means (12, 13) extending lengthwise of the deck (11), first branch lines (15) extending from said header means and communicating with water supply lines (16) extending down in to the respective hold means (4) along bulkheads (17) of said hold means (4), said water supply lines extending beneath the respective tank top ceilings (6) and being connected to respective ones of said jet pumps (9) beneath said tank top ceilings (6), up the bulkheads (17) to the ship's deck (11) and over one of the ship's sides, second branch lines (18) extending from said header means and communicating with respective said washing water jet producing means (10) of which there is at least one for each hold means (4), each said means (10) having delivery lines (24) terminating in washing units (25), which delivery lines (24) and units (25) project into the hold means (4) for a cleaning operation and are retractable therefrom when the hold means (4) are to be loaded with solids material cargo, deck level mounted valve means (91) in said suction inlet line (92), (90, 94) in said header means, (16a) in said fluid supply lines (16), (18a) in said second branch lines (18), and (21a) in said fluid discharge lines (20) for controlling the flow of water therethrough, and characterised in that the nozzle means (40) of each jet pump (9), is disposed in and extends transversely of an open-topped chamber (55) and across which the said entrainment jet (57) flows and which is defined by a housing (39), and means for guiding the washing water entrained solids material passing through the aperture (27) into the entrainment jet (57) is constituted by a hopper or funnel (56) having an upper wider open end provided with an outwardly projecting rim (63) which is inset in the aperture (27), which, rests on, and is removably fixed to an annular supporting lip (64) which is rigid with the tank top ceiling (6) and which projects beneath the aperture (27), said hopper (56) having a lower narrower end which is removably fixed to said housing (39) and said hopper (56) being in communication with said entrainment jet (57) through the open top of the chamber (55).

18. A method operating an installation as claimed in claim 1 for cleaning the vessel generating said entrainment jet (57) beneath said vessel bottom (6) and said aperture (27) with said entrainment jet (57) being projected in a direction which is substantially parallel with said vessel bottom (6) and being exposed to the vessel interior through said aperture (27), providing at least one pressurized jet of liquid containing washing fluid to wash the solids material from the vessel bottom (6), through said aperture (27) and into entrainment with said entrainment jet (57), and leading the fluid entrained solids material out of the vessel (4).

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, characterised by closing said aperture (27) in said vessel bottom (6), providing another aperture (74) which is normally closed and which is communicatable with said entrainment jet (57) and with a space (2) disposed beneath said vessel bottom (6) and containing at least one of debris and liquid, connecting a suction line (78) to said aperture (74), leading said suction line (75, 78) into said space (2) and opening said another aperture (74) thereby communicating said space (2) with said entrainment jet (57), whereby at least one of said debris and liquid is sucked through said suction line (75, 78) and into entrainment with said entrainment jet (57) for discharge in the fluid flow engendered by the entrainment jet.

Ansprüche

1. Einrichtung zur Reinigung von Behälterböden von Feststoffe enthaltenden Materialien, mittels der die Feststoffe durch mindestens einen Flüssigkeits-Druckstrahl mitgerissen werden, einschließlich einer mindestens eine Öffnung (27) im Behälterboden (6) ausbildenden Anordnung, einer Anordnung (9) zur Erzeugung einer einheitlichen Entrainment-Flüssigkeitsströmung einschließend einen Flüssigkeits-Druckstrahl für das Mitreißen der von der Flüssigkeit transportierten Feststoffe, und angeordnet in zumindest einem Bereich unterhalb des Behälterbodens (6) sowie unterhalb der Öffnung (27), die Anordnung (9) ein Gehäuse (39) einschließt, das eine oben offene Kammer (55) ausbildet, deren Oberseite mit der Öffnung (27) ausgerichtet ist, eine Düse (40) in einer Anordnung transversal darunter und für den Austritt des Entrainment-Druckstrahls (57) in einer Richtung im wesentlichen parallel mit dem Behälterboden (6) verlaufend, eine Anordnung (10) zur Erzeugung einer Waschflüssigkeit für das Herabschwemmen der Feststoff-Materialien vom Behälterboden (6) durch die Öffnung (27) und in den Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57), eine Anordnung (56) zur Führung der die Öffnung (27) passierenden die Feststoff-Materialien enthaltenden Waschflüssigkeit in den Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57), und mindestens eine Rohrleitung (20) zur Abführung der in dieser Flüssigkeit enthaltenen Feststoff-Materialien aus dem Behälter (4), wobei in Betrieb das Behälter-Innere mit diesem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) über die Führungs-Anordnung und die Öffnung (27) kommunizierend in Verbindung steht, und die durch die Öffnung (57) mit der Waschflüssigkeit geschwemmten Feststoff-Materialien in den Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) geleitet, von diesem mitgerissen, und dann die in der Flüssigkeit enthaltenen Feststoff-Materialien in der durch den Entrainment-Druckstrahi (57) erzeugten Flüssigkeitsströmung durch die Ausströmleitung (20) ausgetragen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anordnung (9) ein Gehäuse (39) mit einer offenen Oberseite einschließt, die eine Öffnungsgröße kleiner als die der Öffnung (27) aufweist, die Düse (40) innerhalb der Kammer (55) angeordnet ist, transversal in dieser erstreckend, und abständlich eines von der Kammer (55) zur Ausströmleitung (20) für die Flüssigkeit führenden, einen vergrösserten Durchmesser aufweisenden Auslasses, für das Werfen den Entrainment-Flüssigkeit transversal der Gehäuserkammer und durch den Auslaß, die Ausströmleitung (20) für das Austragen des von der Flüssigkeit mitgerissenen Feststoff-Materials einen gegenüber Düse (40) grösseren Durchmesser hat, die Anordnung für die Erzeugung der Waschflüssigkeit Mittel zur Erzeugung eines die Waschflüssigkeit enthaltenden Druckstrahls einschließt, und die Führungs-Anordnung (56) aus von der Öffnung (27) schräg nach unten und einwärts zu der oberen offenen Seite der Kammer (55) führenden Wandungen besteht, und ein weit offenes oberes Ende ausbildet, das mit dem Behälter-Inneren über die Öffnung (27) in kommunizierender Verbindung sein kann, und eine engeres unteres Ende ausbildet, das mit dem durch die obere offene Seite der Kammer exponierten Entrainment-Druckstrahl in kommunizierender Verbindung ist, wobei die schrägen Wandungen eine trichterförmige Schute oder einen Trichter (56) ausbilden, dessen oberes offenes Ende einen auswärts auskragenden Rand (63) aufweist, der in die Öffnung (27) eingesetzt ist und auf einer ringförmigen, am Behälterboden unterhalb der Öffnung (27) ansetzenden und mit diesem starr verbunden Stützlippe (64) ruht und auf dieser abnehmbar befestigt ist, und dessen unteres offenes Ende auf dem Gehäuse (39) um die offene obere Seite der Kammer (55) herum abnehmbar befestigt ist.

2. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Lippe (64) eine ringförmige Dichtung (66), ein Sieb (67) für das Sieben des Feststoff-Materials bis zu einer Partikel-Größe höchstzulässig für den Entrainment-Druckstrahl, und eine Abdeckung (68), die die Öffnung (27) verschließt, wenn der Behälter Feststoff-Materialien enthält, und welche für eine Reinigung zur Freigabe der Öffnung (27) abnehmbar ist, auflagernd stützt, wobei die Dichtung (66), das Sieb (67) und die Abdeckung (68) in die Öffnung eingesetzt sind und die obere Fläche der Abdekkung (68) mit dem Behälterboden bündig abschließt.

3. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mindestens ein Entrainment-Druckstrahl von der Düse (40) in einen rohrförmigen Mischer (41) und in die Feststoff-Materialien enthaltende Flüssigkeit gerichtet ist, wobei dieser Mischer (41) eine koaxial diesen umgreifende rohrförmige Büchse (42) mit einem Innendurchnesser größer als der Außendurchmesser des Mischers aufweist, der Mischer und die Büchse sich mit den oberstromigen Enden bis in das Gehäuse (39) der Düsen-Anordnung (40) gegenüberliegend erstrecken, wobei die rohrförmige Büchse (42) zu ihrem oberstromigen Ende hin am Gehäuse (39) und mit ihrem unterstromigen Ende an einem Diffusor (43) abnehmbar befestigt ist, welcher oberstromig mit dem Mischer (41) und unterstromig mit der Ausströmleitung (20) in kommunizierender Verbindung ist, sowie eine Anordnung für die lösbare Halterung des Mischers (41) in der Büchse (42) mit Bezug zum Diffuser (43) und der Düsen-Anordnung (40), wodurch der Mischer (41) mit der Büchse (42) durch die Öffnung (27) im Behälterboden (6) hindurch gegen einen Mischer anderer Größe oder Abmessungen ausgetauscht werden kann.

4. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anordnung für die Halterung des Mischers eine mit dem oberstromigen Ende des Mischers (41) und der Büchse (42) in wiederlösbarem Eingriff befindliche und eine durchgehende zur Mischer-Bohrung ausgerichtet verlaufende Bohrung ausweisende Endkappe (51), ein eine ringförmige Ausnehmung im oberstromigen Ende des Diffusors (43) ausbildendes Anschlußteil (50), und ein eine komplementäre Form zu der ringförmigen Ausnehmung ausbildendes und in dieser zum Eingriff kommendes unterstromiges Ende (52) des Mischers (41) umfaßt.

5. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anordnung für die Halterung des Mischers eine wiederlösbar in Eingriff mit den oberstromigen Enden des Mischers und der Büchse befindliche und eine durchgehende, zur Bohrung des Mischers ausgerichtet verlaufende Bohrung aufweisende Endkappe (51), ein eine ringförmige Ausnehmung (54) im oberstromigen Ende des Diffusors (43) ausbildendes Anschlußteil (50), ein ringförmiges eine Paßläche komplementärer Form zu und für den Eingriff in diese ringförmige Ausnehmung (54) ausbildendes Befestigungsteil (53), eine in dem Befestigungsteil (53) eingeformte und eine Paßfläche ausbildende Ausnehmung (71), und ein mit der Paßfläche dieser Ausnehmung (71) komplementäre Form aufweisendes und mit dieser in Eingriff kommendes unterstromiges Ende (52) des Mischers umfaßt.

6. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Düsen-Anordnung (40) einstellbar und auswechselbar in einer Halterung (38) gelagert ausgebildet ist, die am Gehäuse (39) befestigt ist und in dieses hineinragt.

7. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, gekennzeichnet durch eine einen Raum (2) unterhalb des Behälterbodens (6) ausbildende Anordnung, eine weitere Öffnung (74) im Gehäuse (39) zusätzlich zu der Öffnung (27) im Behälterboden (6), wobei die Öffnung (74) normalerweise geschlossen und mit der Kammer (55) und mit diesem Raum (2) kommunizierend verbindbar ist, eine Anordnung (76, 77) für die Verbindung einer in diesem Raum (2) führenden Saugleitung (75, 78) mit der weiteren Öffnung (74), und eine Anordnung (83, 84) für das Öffnen dieser weiteren Öffnung (74), wodurch mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) in Betrieb, wenn die Öffnung (27) im Behälterboden (6) geschlossen, die weitere Öffnung (74) offen und die Saugleitung mit dieser verbunden ist, zumindest die in diesem Raum (2) vorhandenen Überbleibsel und Flüssigkeiten über diese Saugleitung (75, 78) in das Entrainment mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) gesaugt und mittels der von diesem Entrainment-Druckstrahl erzeugten Flössigkeitsströmung ausgetragen werden können.

8. Einrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anordnung für das Öffnen dieser weiteren Öffnung aus einem in Schließrichtung vorgespannten Ventil (83) und einem zum Öffnen des Ventils betätigbaren Stellglied (84) besteht.

9. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüchen 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Düsen-Anordnung (40) mit einer Druckflüssigkeitsquelle über eine Zuführungsleitung (16) verbunden ist, und daß die Ausstromleitung (20) eine Durchflußbohrung aufweist, die im Durchmesser größer als die der Zulaufleitung ist, und so ausgelegt ist, Feststoff-Materialien mit einer Größe von mindestens 4 inch (95 _IT\m) für das Austragen aufzunehmen.

10. Einrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Behälter ein Laderaum (4) eines Schiffes (1) ist.

11. Schiff nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anordnung (9) zur Erzeugung des Entrainment-Druckstrahls in einer Erweiterung eines Bilgebrunnens oder in einem entlang der Mittenlinie des Schiffs (1) sich erstrekkenden Rohr- oder Kieltunnel eingebaut ist.

12. Schiff nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zulauf- und Ausströmleitungen (16 und 20) sich von der Decksebene nach unten entlang zumindest eine Schotts (17) des Laderaums (4) bis unterhalb des Bodens (6) des Laderaums (4) erstrecken.

13. Schiff nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die vertikalen Längen der Zulauf-und Ausströmleitungen (16,20) hinter dem Schott (17) des Laderaums (4) angeordnet sind.

14. Schiff nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß den Zulauf-, Waschstrahl- und Ausströmleitungen (16, 18 und 20) Steuerventile zugeordnet aufweisen, die alle in Decksebene angeordnet sind, wobei eines dieser Steuerventile (90 oder 94) operativ so ausgelegt ist, den Zufluß zur Zulaufleitung (16) und Waschstrahlleitung (18) zu sperren, um ein unabsichtliches Fluten des Laderaumes (4) zu verhindern.

15. Schiff nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Öffnung (27) im Laderaum (4), unterhalb der die Anordnung (9) für die Erzeugung dieses Entrainment-Druckstrahls (57) plaziert ist, benachbart einer einen Bilgebrunnen (29) in einer achteren außenbordigen Ecke des Laderaums (4) ausbildenden Anordnung vorgesehen ist.

16. Schiff nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Laderaum (4) eine zweite Anordnung (9) für die Erzeugung eines Druckstrahls der Entrainment-Flüssigkeit aufweist, die unterhalb einer zweiten Öffnung im Boden des Laderaums (4) plaziert ist, und diese zweite Öffnung in der anderen achteren außenbordigen Ecke des Laderaums (4) vorgesehen ist.

17. Schiff, ausgerüstet mit einer Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Schiff (1) ein Deck (11) und eine Vielzahl der das Ladegut aufnehmenden Behälter in Form von Laderäumen (4) unterhalb des Decks (11) aufweist, gekennzeichnet durch eine Anordnung, die eine Vielzahl doppelbödiger Tanks (2) vorsieht, deren obere abschließende Decken die Böden der Laderäume (4) ausbilden und deren Böden vom Boden (7) des Schiffrumpfes gebildet wird, in jedem der Laderäume (4) mindestens eine der Anordnungen zur Erzeugung eines Entrainment-Wasserdruckstrahls vorgesehen ist, bestehend aus einer Strahlpumpe (9), und angeordnet unterhalb einer entsprechenden Öffnung (27) in der entsprechenden Tankdecke (6) und in einer Position achtern des entsprechenden Laderaums (4), mindestens eine Versorgungspumpe (14) für die Zuführung des Wassers unter Druck zu der Strahlpumpe (9) und zu der Anordnung (10) für die Erzeugung eines Waschwasser-Druckstrahls, wobei die Pumpe (14) eingangsseitig an einer Wasser-Saugleitung (92) und an längs des Schiffsdecks (11) sich erstreckenden Sammlern oder Sammelleitungen (12, 13) angeschlossen ist, erste Zweigleitungen (15), die von den Sammelleitungen ausgehend mit den nach unten entlang der Schotten (17) der jeweiligen Laderäume (4) führenden Wasser-Zufurleitungen (16) in kommunizierender Verbindung stehen, wobei die Wasser-Zufuhrleitungen bis unter die jeweiligen oberen Tankdecken (6) führen und an den jeweiligen Strahlpumpen (9) angeschlossen sind, Ausströmleitungen (20), die von diesem Strahlpumpen (9) unterhalb der jeweiligen Tankdecke (6) nach oben entlang der Schotten (17) zum Deck (11) des Schiffes (1) und über eine der Schiffsseiten außenbords führen, zweite Zweigleitungen (18), die von den Sammlern oder Sammelleitungen ausgehend mit der jeweiligen Waschwasser-Druckstrahlerzeuger-Anordnung (10) in kommunizierender Verbindung ist, von der zumindest eine für jeden Laderaum (4) verogesehen ist, und jede dieser Anordnungen (10) in Wasch-Einheiten (25) endende Zuleitungen (24) einschließt, und wobei die Zuleitungen (24) und Einheiten (25) sich für die Reinigung in den jeweiligen Laderaum (4) erstrecken und aus diesem zurückziehbar ausgelegt sind, wenn der Laderaum (4) Feststoff-Material als Ladegut enthält, in Decksebene angeordnete Ventile (91) einlaßseitig der Saugleitung (92), Ventile (90, 94) in den Sammlern, Ventile (16a) in den Zufuhrleitungen (16), Ventile (18a) in den zweiten Zweigleitungen (18), und Ventile (21 a) in den Ausströmleitungen (20) für die Steuerung des WasserDurchflusses, und dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Düsen-Anordnung (40) jeder Strahlpumpe (9) innerhalb einer oben offenen Kammer (55), transversal darin erstreckend, angeordnet ist, durch die der Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) geführt und die durch ein Gehäuse (39) deiniert ist, und daß die das Feststoff-Materialien mitreißende Waschwasser durch die Öffnung (27) in diesen Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) leitende Anordnung aus einer trichterförmigen Schute oder einem Trichter (56) besteht, dessen oberes weit offenes Ende einen auswärts auskragenden Rand (63) aufweist, der in die Öffnung (27) eingesetzt ist, und auf einer ringförmigen, starr mit der Tankdecke (6) unterhalb der Öffnung (27) verbundenen Stützlippe (64) ruht und auf dieser abnehmbar befestigt ist, dieser Trichter (56) ferner ein unteres engeres Ende aufweist, das abnehmbar an dem Gehäuse (39) befestigt ist, wodurch der Trichter (56) in kommunizierender Verbindung mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) über die offene obere Seite der Kammer (55) ist.

18. Verfahren für den Betrieb einer Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1 für die Reinigung des Behälters, gekennzeichnet durch die Erzeugung eines Entrainment-Druckstrahls (57) unterhalb des Behälterbodens (6) und der Öffnung (27), mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) ausgerichtet in einer Richtung im wesentlichen parallel zum Behälterboden (6) und freiliegend zum Behälter-Inneren durch die Öffnung (27) hindurch, und das Anwenden zumindest eines eine Waschflüssigkeit enthaltenden Flüssigkeits-Druckstrahls für das Wegschwemmen des Feststoff-Materials vom Behälterboden (6) durch die Öffnung (27) und das Entrainment mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) und Abführen des in der Flüssigkeit mitgerissenen Feststoff-Materials aus dem Behälter (4).

19. Verfahren nach Anspruch 18, gekennzeichnet durch das Schließen der Öffnung (27) im Behälterboden (6), Vorsehen einer anderen Öffnung (74), die normalerweise geschlossen ist und die kommunizierend mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) verbunden werden kann, und mit einem Raum (2) in Anordnung unter dem Behälterboden (6), enthaltend zumindest einen darin ablagernden Feststoff und Flüssigkeit, Anschließen oder Verbinden einer Saugleitung (78) mit der Öffnung (74), Herabführen dieser Saugleitung (75, 78) in diesem Raum (2) und Öffnen der anderen Öffnung (74) zur Herstellung einer kammunizierenden Verbindung dieses Raumes (2) mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57), wodurch zumindest eine der Ablagerungen und Flüssigkeit über die Saugleitung (75, 78) in das Entrainment mit dem Entrainment-Druckstrahl (57) gesaugt und mit dem vom Entrainment-Druckstrahl bewirkten Flüssigkeitsstrom ausgetragen wird.

Revendications

1. Installation pour servir au nettoyage de matériaux solides sur le fond d'une citerne, dans laquelle le materiau solide est entraine dans au moins un jet de fluide pressurisé, comprenant des moyens définissant au moins une ouverture (27) dans le fond (16) de la citerne, des moyens (9) pour produire un courant unitaire de fluide d'en- trainement et comprenant un jet pressurise de fluide pour entrainer dedans les materiaux solides portés par le liquide, et disposés dans au moins un emplacement sous ledit fond (6) de citerne et sous ladite ouverture (27), lesdits moyens (9) incluant une enveloppe (39) définissant une chambre (55) à dessus ouvert, dont le dessus est de niveau avec l'ouverture (27), des moyens de tuyere (40) disposés transversalement en dessous et pour projeter ledit jet d'entraînement (57) dans une direction sensiblement parallèle audit fond (6) de citerne, des moyens (10) pour produire un fluide de nettoyage contenant du liquide pour nettoyer les materiaux solides du fond (6) de la citerne par ladite ouverture (27) et dans ledit jet d'entraînement (57), des moyens 56 pour guider les matériaux solides entraînés par le fluide de lavage, passant par ladite ouverture (27) dans le jet d'entraînement (57) et au moins une conduite (20) de fluide pour la decharge du materiau solide entraîné par le fluide hors de la citerne (4), d'ou il résulte qu'en fonctionnement, l'intérieur de la citerne communique avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) par lesdits moyens de guidage et ladite ouverture (27), et les matériaux solides entraînes par ladite ouverture 27 et par le fluide de nettoyage sont guides dans ledit jet d'entraînement (57) pour y être entraînés, et les matériaux solides entraînés sont déchargés par ladite conduite de décharge (20) dans le courant de fluide engendré par le jet d'entraînement, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (9) comprenant une enveloppe (9) comprennent un dessus ouvert de dimension inférieure à celle de l'ouverture (27), lesdits moyens de tuyère (40) sont disposés dans, et s'étendent transversalement à ladite chambre (55) et sont espaces d'une sortie de diametre élargi de ladite chambre (55) à ladite conduite de décharge de fluide (20) pour projeter le fluide d'entraînement transversalement à ladite chambre d'enveloppe et à travers ladite sortie, ladite conduite de fluide (20) pour la décharge du matériau solide entraîné par le fluide ayant un diametre supérieur à celui dudit moyen de tuyere (40), lesdits moyens pour produire un fluide de nettoyage contenant du liquide comprenant des moyens pour produire au moins un jet pressurisé de fluide de nettoyage contenant du liquide, et lesdits moyens de guidage (56) comprennent des moyens de paroi inclinée s'étendant vers le bas et vers l'intérieur, à partir de ladite ouverture (27) vers ledit dessus ouvert de la chambre et définissant une large extrémité supérieure ouverte qui peut être en communication avec l'intérieur de la citerne par ladite ouverture (27) et une extrémité inférieure ouverte plus etroite, qui est en communication avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) exposé à travers ledit dessus ouvert de la chambre, lesdits moyens de paroi inclinée étant une cheminée ou une trémie (56) avec ladite extrémité supérieure ouverte realisée avec un bord (63) en saillie vers l'extérieur, qui est intercale dans l'ouverture (27) et reposé sur, et est fixé de façon amovible à une lèvre support annulaire (64) qui est solidaire du fond de la citerne et fait saillie en dessous de ladite ouverture et avec ladite extrémité inférieure ouverte fixée de façon amovible à ladite enveloppe (39) autour dudit dessus ouvert de la chambre (55).

2. Installation selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la lèvre (64) supporte un jointe d'étanchéité annulaire (66), un tamis (67) pour tamiser les particules de matériau solide de dimension maximum permissible pour le jet d'entraînement et un couvercle (68) qui obture ladite ouverture (27) quand ladite citerne reçoit des matériaux solides et qui est amovible pour ouvrir ladite ouverture (27) pour une opération de nettoyage, ledit joint d'etanchéite (66), ledit tamis (67) et ledit couvercle (68) étant intercalés dans ladite ouverture (27) et ledit couvercle (68) ayant une surface supérieure qui est de niveau avec le fond (6) de la citerne.

3. Installation selon une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit au moins un jet d'entraînement (57) est dirigé par ladite tuyère (40) dans un mélangeur tubulaire (41) pour le matériau solide entraîné par fluide, ledit mélangeur (41) étant entouré coaxialement par un manchon tubulaire (42) de diametre interne supérieur au diametre externe dudit mélanger, ledit mélangeur et ledit manchon ayant des extrémités amont qui font saillie dans ladite enveloppe (39) en face desdits moyens de tuyère (40), ledit manchon tubulaire (42) étant fixé de façon amovible vers son extrémité amont à ladite enveloppe (39) et à son extrémité aval à un diffuseur (43) que communique en amont avec ledit mélangeur (41) et communique en aval avec ladite conduite de décharge de fluide (20), et des moyens pour fixer de façon amovible ledit mélangeur (41) dans ledit manchon (42) et par rapport audit diffuseur (43) et audit moyen de tuyère (40), d'où il résulte que ledit mélangeur (41) peut être enlevé avec ledit manchon (42) par ladite ouverture (27) dans ledit fond de citerne (6) et interchangé avec un mélangeur de taille différente.

4. Installation selon la revendication 3 caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens pour positionner ledit mélangeur comprennent un bouchon d'extrémité (51) qui est appliqué de façon amovible contre l'extrémité amont dudit mélangeur (41) et dudit manchon (42) et qui est traversé par un alésage aligne avec l'alésage du mélangeur, des moyens (47) définissant une cavité annulaire dans l'extrémité amont du diffuseur (43) et une extrémité aval (52) dudit mélangeur (41) qui à une forme complémentaire de ladite cavité annulaire et qui est appliquée dedans.

5. Installation selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens pour positionner ledit mélangeur comprennent un bouchon d'extrémité (51) qui est appliqué de façon amovible contre l'extrémité amont dudit mélangeur (41) et dudit manchon (42) et qui est traversé par une alésage aligné avec l'alésage du mélangeur, des moyens définissant une cavité annulaire (54) dans l'extrémité amont dudit diffuseur (43), une pièce de montage annulaire (53) ayant une portion d'adaptation qui à une forme qui est complémentaire de celle de la cavité annulaire (54), et est appliquée contre celle-ci, des moyens définissant une cavité d'adaptation (71) dans ladite pièce de montage (53) et une extrémité aval (52) dudit mélangeur qui est de forme complémentaire de ladite cavité d'adaptation (71) et qui est appliquée dedans.

6. Installation selon une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que les moyens de tuyère (40) sont montés de façon de adjustable et amovible dans des moyens support (38) qui sont fixés à, et font saillie dans ladite enveloppe (39).

7. Installation selon une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée par des moyens définissant un espace (2) sous ledit fond de citerne (6), des moyens définissant une autre ouveture (74) dans ladite enveloppe (39), qui est additionnelle à ladite ouverture (27) dans ledit fond de citerne (6), laquelle ouverture (74) est normalement fermée et peut communiquer avec ladite chambre (55) et avec ledit espace (2), des moyens (76, 77) pour connecter une conduite d'aspiration (75, 78) à ladite autre ouverture (74) et conduisant dans ledit espace (2) et des moyens (83, 84) pour ouvrir ladite autre ouverture (7), d'ou il résulte que quand ledit jet d'entraînement (57) est en fonctionnement, quand ladite ouverture (27) dans ledit fond de citerne (6) est fermée, ladite autre ouverture (74) est ouverte et ladite conduite d'aspiration est connectée dedans, au moins un des débris et liquides dans ledit espace (2) peut être aspire par ladite conduite d'aspiration (75, 78) et un entraînement avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) pour être évacué dans le courant de fluide engendré dans ledit jet d'entraînement.

8. Installation selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens pour ouvrir ladite autre ouverture comprennent une soupape (83) qui est sollicitée vers une position fermée et des moyens d'actionnement (84) qui sont opérationnels pour ouvrir ladite soupape.

9. Installation selon une que des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de tuyère (40) sont connectés à une source de fluide pressurisé par une conduite d'alimentation (16) et en ce que ladite conduite de décharge (20) à un alésage d'une dimension de diamètre supérieur à celui de ladite conduite d'alimentation, et qui est capable de recevoir des particles de matériaux solides de dimension au moins de l'ordre de 4 pouces (95 mm).

10. Navire comportant une installation selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisé en ce que la citerne est une cale (4) du navire 1.

11. Navire selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (9) pour produire le jet d'entraîment pressurisé est incorporé dans une extension d'un puit de cale ou dans une tuyauterie s'étendant suivant la ligne centrale du navire 1.

12. Navire selon une des revendications 10 ou 11, caractérisé en ce que les conduites d'alimentation et de décharge (16 et 20) s'étendent depuis le niveau du pont et descendent sur au moins une cloison (17) des cales (4) et sous le fond (6) de la cale (4).

13. Navire selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que des longueurs verticales d'alimentation et de décharge (16, 20) sont disposées derrière la cloison (17) de la cale (4).

14. Navire selon une des revendications 10 à 13, caractérisé en ce que les conduites d'alimentation, de nettoyage et de décharge (16, 18, 20) ont des soupapes de commande qui sont toutes situées au niveau du pont, avec une des soupapes de commande (90 ou 94) qui peut fonctionner pour arrêter le courant de fluide de la conduite d'alimentation (16) et à la conduite du jet de nettoyage (18) pour se garantir contre une inondation accidentelle des cales (4).

15. Navire selon une des revendications 10 à 14, caractérisé en ce que l'ouverture (74) dans la cale (4), en dessous de laquelle est disposée le moyen (9) pour produire le jet d'entraînement pressurisé (57), est placée adjacente aux moyens définissant un puit de cale (29) dans un coin arrière/extérieur de la cale (4).

16. Navire selon la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que la cale (4) à un second moyen (9) pour produire un jet pressurise de fluide d'entraînement et disposé sous une seconde ouverture dans le fond de la cale (4), ladite seconde ouverture étant située dans l'autre coin arrière/ extérieure de latide cale (4).

17. Navire comportant une installation selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le navire (1) à un pont (11), une pluralité desdites citernes constituées par des cales de transport de charge (4), sous ledit pont (11), et caractérisé par des moyens définissant une pluralité de reservoirs (2) a double fond comportant des plafonds (6) de reservoirs formant les fonds desdites cales (4) et le fond (7) de la coque du navire, chaque cale (4) étant munie d'au moins un desdits moyens pour produire un jet pressurisé d'eau d'entraînement constitués par une pompe de jet (9) et disposés sous une dite ouverture respective (27) dans le plafond (6) du réservoir respectif, et située dans une position qui est en arrière de la cale respective (4), au moins une pompe d'alimentation (14) pour fournir un courant pressurisé d'eau auxdites pompes de jet (9) et auxdits moyens (10) pour produire au moins un jet pressurise d'eau de lavage, ladite pompe (14) étant connectée à une conduite d'entrée d'aspiration d'eau (92) et à un moyen de collecteur (12,13) s'étendant le long du pont (11), des premières conduites d'embranchement s'étendant depuis ledit collecteur et communicant avec les conduites (16) d'alimentation d'eau descendant dans les cales respectives le long des cloisons (17) desdites cales (4), lesdites conduites d'alimentation d'eau s'étendant sous les plafonds respectifs (6) de réservoirs et étant connectées aux respectives unes desdites pompes de jet (9), conduites de decharge (20) menant desdites pompes de jet (9) sous ledit plafond de réservoir (6), des cloisons (17) jusqu'au pont (11) du navire et pardessus un des côtés du navire, secondes conduites de branchement (18) s'étendant dudit moyen de conduite générale et communicant avec lesdits moyens respectifs (10) de production de jet d'eau de nettoyage dont il y à au moins un pour chaque cale (4), chacun desdits moyens (10) ayant des conduites (24) d'alimentation se terminant dans les unités de nettoyage (25), lesquelles conduites d'alimentation (24) et unites (25) font saillie dans la cale (4) pour une opération de nettoyage et en sont retractables quand la cale (4) doit être chargée de matériau solide, des moyens de soupape (91) montés au niveau du pont sur ladite conduite d'entrée d'aspiration (92), (90, 94) dans ledit moyen de conduite générale, (16a) dans lesdites conduites d'alimentation de fluide (16), (18a) dans ladite seconde conduite de branchement (18), et (21 a) dans lesdites conduites de déchargé de fluide (20) pour y commander le courant d'eau, et caractérisé en ce que le moyen de tuyère (40) de chaque pompe de jet (9) est disposé dans, et s'étend transversalement à une chambre (55) à toit ouvert, et à travers laquelle s'écoule ledit jet d'entraînement (57), et qui est définie par une enveloppe (39), et le moyen pour guider le matériau solide entraîné par l'eau de nettoyage passant par l'ouverture (27) dans le jet d'entraînement (57) est constitué par une tremie ou une cheminée (56) ayant une extrémité supérieure ouverte plus large et munie d'un bord (63) en saillie vers l'extérieur, qui est inséré dans l'ouverture (27), qui, reposé sur, et est fixé de façon amovible à une lèvre (64) de support annulaire, qui est solidaire du plafond (6) du reservoir et.qui fait saillie sous l'ouverture (27), ladite trémie (56) ayant une extrémité inférieure plus étroite qui est fixée de façon amovible à ladite enveloppe (39) et ladite trémie (56) étant en communication avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) à travers le haut ouvert de la chambre (55).

18. Procédé de conduite d'une installation telle que revendiquée dans la revendication 1, pour nettoyer la citerne engendrant ledit jet d'entraînement (57) sous ledit fond (6) de la citerne et ladite ouverture (27) avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) étant projeté dans une direction qui est sensiblement parallèle audit fond (6) de citerne et étant exposé à l'intérieur de la citerne par ladite ouverture (27), fournissant au moins un jet pressurisé de fluide de lavage contenant du liquide pour nettoyer les materiaux solides du fond (6) de la citerne, par ladite ouverture (27), et en entraînement avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57), et conduisant les, matériaux solides entraînés par le fluide à l'extérieur de la citerne (4).

19. Procédé selon la revendication 18, caractérisé en ce que l'on ferme ladite ouverture (27) dans ledit fond (6) de la citerne, on prevoit une autre ouverture (74) qui est normalement fermée et qui peut être mise en communication avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) et avec un espace (2) disposé sous ledit fond (6) de citerne de contenant au moins l'un de débris ou liquide, on connecte une conduite d'aspiration (78) à ladite ouverture (74), on conduit ladite conduite d'aspiration (75, 78) dans ledit espace (2) et on ouvre ladite autre ouverture (74), ce qui met en communication ledit espace (21) avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57), d'où il résulte que au moins un desdits debris et liquide est aspire dans ladite conduite d'aspiration (75, 78) et en entraînement avec ledit jet d'entraînement (57) pour décharger dans le courant de fluide engendré par le jet d'entraînement.

Drawing