TOOL FOR UNDERWATER CLEANING OF SURFACES AND NOZZLE FOR THIS TOOL Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: hydrodynamic cleaning; tools for cleaning underwater surfaces of ship's hulls and water-development works against fouling, corrosion crust, chemical and mechanical deposits. SUBSTANCE: proposed tool has body provided with handle and connected with working fluid source. Tool is provided with at least one nozzle for forming cavitating jet of working fluid which is connected with body by means of delivery pipe line. Flow-through passage of nozzle is formed by inlet confuser, straight cylindrical section, expansion chamber and outlet diffuser. Body of nozzle is provided with at least two passages located at angle relative to longitudinal axis of flow-through passage. These passages are communicated with expansion chamber. Outlet holes of passages are directed towards diffuser outlet. Inner surface of diffuser is parabolic in form. In case two or more nozzles are used, they may be mounted on revolving disk. In case use is made of three and more nozzles, they may be mounted on fixed base. It is good practice to arranged nozzles in opposite positions at angle equal to 360/n, where "n" is number of nozzles. It is good practice to equip tool with adjustable compensator for compensation of reaction of jet when axes nozzles are located at angle relative to surface to be treated and hold- down units for pressing the tool to surface being treated. EFFECT: possibility of compensating for reactive force of escaping jet of water; enhanced efficiency. 6 cl, 4 dwg