AU2016100358A4

AU2016100358A4 - High-Pressure Cleaner Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2016100358A4
Application number: AU2016100358A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Daniel Williamson
Original assignee: Specialised Cleaning Eco Vehicles Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Specialised Cleaning Eco Vehicles Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-04-01
Filing date: 2016-04-01
Publication date: 2016-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-01

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted high-pressure cleaner assembly is described which comprises a high pressure fluid pump; an electromotor for driving the pump; and a battery supplying power to the electromotor and to the pump; wherein the high-pressure cleaner assembly is attached to a frame assembly which is mounted on the vehicle. A vehicle which comprises comprising the high-pressure cleaner assembly mounted thereon is also described. Figure 2

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a high pressure cleaner assembly, which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] High-pressure cleaners for industrial or professional use are conventionally powered by combustion engines, including generators, which are fuelled by petrol, gas, or diesel, an example of which is shown in Figure 1. Examples include the Senator Diesel Range of high-pressure water cleaners from Seco Industrial Services Pty Ltd sold under the Jetwave Industrial Equipment Trade Mark. However, such cleaners are undesirably noisy, reaching noise levels of about 90 to 100 decibels and usually higher. This is disadvantageous when the high-pressure cleaners are operated during the night or in the early morning, particularly in residential areas. Since high-pressure cleaners are increasingly used in the city during the early hours of the morning, this noise is disruptive to residents and leads to complaints of noise nuisance.

[0003] Cleaners with combustion engines are also not convenient to use in small spaces or in poorly ventilated spaces, such as in underground mines. For health and safety reasons, operators of such cleaners need to use safety equipment to protect their ears due to their frequent and proximal exposure to the high intensity decibel noise levels associated therewith. Additionally, combustion engines of conventional high-pressure cleaners emit fumes, thereby increasing air pollution in the immediate vicinity and requiring operators to use safety breathing equipment. Fumes from combustion engines can sometimes accidentally trigger fire-safety sprinkler systems, causing inconvenience and unnecessary expense. To decrease noise levels, mufflers may be fitted to combustion engines. However, mufflers have limited effectivity in reducing noise and do not alleviate air pollution.

[0004] In addition, there are fire safety issues associated with refilling the fuel tank of conventional cleaners that are powered by combustion engines. The fuel tanks that supply such conventional cleaners are typically capable of carrying between five (5) and twenty-four (24) litres of fuel. However, even when a twenty-four (24) litre fuel tank is used with a conventional cleaner that is driven by a combustion engine, it is still often necessary for operators to refill the fuel tank during use in order to continue cleaning, and sometimes having to refill the tank as many as three (3) times during a typical eight (8) hour shift. It is a significant fire hazard for an operator to refill the fuel tank with flammable fuel, such as petrol, when the combustion engine and its associated exhaust pipe are still hot from use.

[0005] Alternatively, portable electric high-pressure cleaners are available, such as the Cadet Mine Range of high-pressure water cleaners from Seco Industrial Services Pty Ltd. However, these electric cleaners, while capable of producing pressures of up to 5,800 psi (39990 kPa), require connection to mains electricity via electric cords. This disadvantageously limits the areas in which these cleaners can be operated, as they cannot be used to clean target areas that do not provide access to electricity mains. Furthermore, these electric cleaners are limited by the length of the electric cable connecting the cleaner to the electric socket. Electric wall-mounted high-pressure water cleaners, such as the Cadet Wall Mount Range from Seco Industrial Services Pty Ltd must similarly be connected to an electric socket and have the further disadvantage of not being portable. The use of electricity mains and electric connections thereto must also be made watertight, or at least distanced or shielded from the water used in cleaning applications, for safety purposes. Smaller, portable electric pressure cleaners are available for domestic applications, such as those supplied by Karcher Pty Ltd. However, such cleaners not only require connection to mains electricity, limiting the areas in which they can be used, but they also do not provide sufficient pressure for industrial or professional use.

[0006] Improved high-pressure cleaners are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Broadly, the invention is directed to a high-pressure cleaner assembly for industrial or professional use comprising an electromotor, a battery, and a high-pressure fluid pump. The high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention is preferably mounted on a carriage vehicle.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle-mounted high-pressure cleaner assembly comprising a high-pressure fluid pump; an electromotor for driving the pump; and a battery supplying power to the electromotor and to the pump; wherein the high-pressure cleaner assembly is attached to a frame assembly which is mounted on the vehicle.

[0009] In use, the high-pressure pump may expel fluid at a pressure of about 1,500 psi (10342 kPa) to 4,000 psi (27579 kPa), preferably, of about 2,500 psi (17237 kPa) to 4,000 psi (27579 kPa) and most preferably, of at least 3,600 psi (24821 kPa).

[0010] The high pressure pump may expel fluid at a flow rate of about 3 litres per min (lpm) to 20 1pm, preferably, of about 10 1pm to 18 1pm and most preferably, of at least 15 lpm.

[0011] In use, the noise level of the high-pressure cleaner assembly does not exceed a noise level of about 80 decibels (dB) at a distance of 30 centimetres (cm), and preferably emits a noise level of about 77 dB at a distance of 30 cm.

[0012] The electromotor may be a brushless DC electromotor (BLDC motor).

[0013] The battery may be selected from deep cycle batteries, such as lead acid batteries, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries, and gel batteries. The battery may be a lithium-ion battery, such as a lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePOzO. The battery may be a 60 V DC battery. The battery may be rechargeable. The battery may be the battery of a vehicle.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the battery is a 60 V rechargeable LiFeP04 battery.

[0015] The high-pressure cleaner assembly may further comprise a control spray gun or wand, optionally fitted with a trigger for starting and stopping the flow of fluid during use.

[0016] The high-pressure cleaner assembly may further comprise tubing connecting the pump and the control gun or wand, and/or tubing connecting the pump and a fluid source. The tubing may comprise high pressure hose.

[0017] The fluid may be water, water mixed with a detergent, or water mixed with a solvent. The fluid may comprise recycled water.

[0018] The high-pressure cleaner assembly may further comprise one or more of a chemical injector, a water tank, a steam generator, a hot water boiler, a strobe bar light, and/or a hose reel. Optionally, the high-pressure cleaner assembly may further comprise a remote control.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising the mounted high-pressure cleaner assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying representations in which:

Figure 1 shows photographs of a high-pressure cleaner with a combustion engine of the prior art (A) when mounted on a vehicle (B);

Figure 2 shows photographs of an embodiment of the high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention connected to a battery and to a fluid source (A) and the brushless DC electromotor used in the invention (B);

Figure 3 shows photographs of the housing containing the electric components of the electromotor of an embodiment of the high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention, showing the user interface from the front (A) and the back (B);

Figure 4 is an electric circuit diagram of some of the connections to the electromotor in the housing shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a photograph showing the decibel reading of the high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention at a distance of 30 cm when in operation; and

Figure 6 is series a photographs showing the decibel reading of a conventional high pressure cleaner with a combustion engine at a distance of 30 cm (A) and at a distance of 5 m (B), respectively, when in operation.

[0021] The present invention relates to high-pressure cleaner assemblies for industrial or professional use. As shown in Figure 2A, the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) comprises an electromotor (12), such as a brushless DC electromotor (Figure 2B), a battery (14), such as a 60 V DC battery, and a high-pressure fluid pump (16) connected to a fluid source (18) via tubing (20), such as high-pressure hose. The high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) further comprises a control spray gun or wand (22), which is also connected to the high-pressure fluid pump (16) via tubing (not shown), such as flexible high-pressure hose. The control gun or wand (22) has a switch or trigger (not shown) for starting and stopping the flow of fluid during use.

[0022] In some embodiments, the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) further comprises a chemical injector (24), a water tank (26), a steam generator, a hot water boiler, and/or a strobe bar light (not shown). Optionally, a remote control (not shown) is included which is communicable with the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10).

[0023] As shown in Figures 3A and B, and in Figure 4, in another embodiment, a user interface (28) is displayed on housing (30) and is connected to an electromotor (12), such as an EMP M7 motor, via a kelly controller (32). The kelly controller (32) is connected to a toggle switch (34) and a 500A current shunt (36). The 500 A current shunt (36) is in turn connected to a 60 V DC battery (14), which is linked to an emergency switch (38) through a 150 A main fuse (40). The 500 A current shunt (36) is also connected to a DC/DC converter (42) and a battery monitor (44). The battery monitor (44) is connected to the 500 A current shunt (36), a contactor (46), and the toggle switch (34), as well as a 5:1 prescalar (48). A power or ignition switch (50) is connected to the emergency switch (38) and DC/DC converter (42). As shown in Figure 3A, the user interface has knobs connected to a chemical injector (24) and to a pressure level monitor (52), as well as dials for displaying output (54) and power status (56).

[0024] The BLDC electromotor used in the invention is typically more reliable, more efficient and has greater torque per weight relative to a conventional DC motor. The

LiFeP04 used in an embodiment of the invention is typically about 75% smaller in size than conventional batteries, about 194% lighter and has 6 to 10 times the cycle life. It is also rapidly charged.

[0025] The high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) is mounted on a vehicle, with some embodiments arranged within a common housing or frame assembly, such as a machine cabinet attachable to the vehicle by way of bolts (not shown). The vehicle is typically a service or utility vehicle with a flatbed for supporting and attaching the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) of the invention. The high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) is attached to a frame assembly (not shown) by at least four (4) appropriately spaced large studs and corresponding locking nuts, and the frame assembly is then attached to the vehicle. Rubber pads are inserted between the high-pressure pressure cleaner assembly (10) and the frame assembly to reduce vibration effects. The frame assembly is optionally mounted on bearings to permit a user to slide it laterally relative to the vehicle in order to convenient access the high-pressure pressure cleaner assembly (10) for repair and maintenance purposes.

[0026] The fluid that is pumped from the fluid source (18) by the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) is typically water, but it can be water mixed with a detergent, or water mixed with a solvent. The fluid may also comprise recycled water.

[0027] In use, an operator drives the vehicle, upon which an embodiment of the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) is mounted, to the target area to be cleaned, typically an area requiring a low level of noise and having no access to electricity mains. The operator powers the high-pressure cleaner assembly on by using the power switch (50) of the user interface (28) without needing to connect the assembly (10) to electricity mains, selects a desired pressure and/or flow rate using the relevant knobs (24, 52), then turns on the “run” switch (51, Figure 3A), and directs the control gun or wand (22) towards a target area to be cleaned. The operator then activates the trigger to spray pressurized fluid on the target area to be cleaned. As shown in Figure 5, the noise level of the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) is about 77 dB decibels at a distance of 30 cm.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the high-pressure pump (16) expels fluid at a pressure of about 3,600 psi and at a flow rate of about 15 litres per minute.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) of the invention is significantly quieter with a noise level of 77 dB at a distance of 30 cm, which may be compared to the noise level of a conventional high-pressure cleaner assembly with a combustion engine, which is about 97 dB at a distance of 30 cm and 82 dB at a distance of 5 m. It is important to note that decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, such that a 20 dB difference between the noise level of the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) of the invention and a conventional combustion engine constitutes a significant reduction in noise, since it is perceived by the human ear as being about four (4) times quieter.

[0030] After use, the high-pressure cleaner assembly (10) is transported away from the target area using the vehicle, for storage and recharging of the battery.

[0031] The invention advantageously provides a high-pressure cleaner assembly which, when in operation, has significantly lower noise levels than conventional high-pressure cleaners with combustion engines. This means that it can be used in residential areas with decreased risk of noise complaints from residents, because it operates with lower noise levels. It also means that the high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention is safer for users, particularly when using the cleaner assembly of the invention in small spaces such as in mines, as user’s ears are not exposed to such intense noise levels as those associated with conventional combustion engines.

[0032] The invention also has the advantage of providing a sufficiently high pressure of fluid without requiring mains electricity, and without generating fumes. The present high-pressure cleaning assembly also has the advantage of increased safety for users as there is no need to interrupt workflow in order to refill a fuel tank with flammable fuel when using the high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention. As such, the significant fire risk that is often associated with use of conventional cleaners that are powered by combustion engines is avoided.

[0033] An important aspect of the present invention is that it is mounted on a vehicle for transport to a target area without needing to access the electricity mains. This means that the high-pressure cleaner assembly may be transported to, and used in, areas without mains electricity, or at least authorised access to mains electricity.

[0034] Unlike portable electric pressure cleaners currently available for domestic applications, the high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention provides pressure that is sufficient for use in industrial or professional applications.

[0035] The high-pressure cleaner assembly of the invention also generates no fumes and therefore no air pollution.

[0036] Where the terms “include”, “includes”, “included” or “including”, “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprised” or “comprising” are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

[0037] Any prior art reference or statement provided in the specification is not to be taken as an admission that such art constitutes, or is to be understood as constituting, part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A vehicle-mounted high-pressure cleaner assembly comprising: a) a high-pressure fluid pump; b) an electromotor for driving the pump; and c) a battery supplying power to the electromotor and to the pump; wherein the high-pressure cleaner assembly is attached to a frame assembly which is mounted on the vehicle.
2. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein when used the high-pressure pump expels fluid at a pressure of at least 3,600 psi (24821 kPa) and/or at flow rate of about 15 litres per minute (1pm).
3. The assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the assembly when used does not exceed a noise level of 80 decibels (dB) and when measured at a distance of 30 cm from the assembly.
4. The assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the electromotor is a brushless DC electromotor, and/or wherein the battery is a 60 V lithium-ion battery and/or wherein the battery is the battery of the vehicle.
5. A vehicle comprising the high-pressure cleaner assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 mounted thereon.