Clogged nozzle detection

Abstract

Sound detection techniques and sound discrimination techniques are used to analyze the real time sounds generated during the operation of cleaning heads operating within a vessel to determine if the cleaning heads are operating properly. During a typical cleaning operation pressurized cleaning solution is dispensed through a plurality of rotating nozzles inside the vessel. As the nozzles rotate the spray moves about the interior of the vessel creating a unique sound pattern. By placing one or more pickups on the exterior of the vessel the sound is captured and fed to an analyzing device for analysis. The peaks in the captured sound pattern are divided into the number of nozzles and stored in an equal number of buffers. After averaging, the buffers a compared to each other. One buffer that significantly differs froms the others indicates that the nozzle associated with that buffer is defective.