EP0546949A1 - Vacuum cleaner for cleaning roads, in particular for the underground network - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner train comprises a blowing device mounted transversely and two suction devices positioned before and after the blowing device as well as means of adapting transversely the flows of blowing and sucking in order to achieve a non-homogeneous division of the flows across the direction of the train. <??>In one version, the suction and blowing devices comprise ramps divided into three compartments (6-8), three flexible pipes (17) connected to the corresponding fans and means of positioning the pipes on any compartment. <??>In another version, these devices have nozzles provided with means of blocking and means of operating in synchronisation with the means of blocking. Moreover, the outlet (49) of the nozzles can be directed sideways to clean the edges (nosing) of platforms (53). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum train for cleaning tracks, in particular for metropolitan networks. It relates more particularly to a suction train comprising a suction and blowing hood, covering the cleaning area, and equipped on the one hand with a high speed air blowing device intended to take off the dust and waste from the surface to be cleaned and arranged transversely with respect to the direction of travel of the train, and on the other hand of two suction devices arranged respectively one upstream and the other downstream of the blowing device and intended to capture the dust and waste raised by the blowing device.

A suction train of this type is known in particular from the document FR A 2 074 564. According to the teaching of this document, the suction or suction devices are equipped with flexible deflectors, profiled in the form of convergent-divergent; this particular embodiment aims to improve the capture of dust and waste by the suction cups by avoiding sudden dispersion of this dust and this waste under the action of the blowing ramp, outside the suction action zone and blowing.

However, the improvement made in this document FR A 2 074 564 does not make it possible to fully optimize the cleaning of the tracks, in particular when there are pits placed longitudinally between the rails, when there are platform noses. ie when the end of the platform is a cantilever extension coming close to the track, and finally when the suction train is intended to clean small and medium networks and is therefore a train of reduced size.

The aim set by the applicant is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner train which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks in that it allows optimal cleaning of all track configurations and in that it can be suitable for small and medium networks. .

This goal is perfectly achieved by the vacuum train of the invention. It is a vacuum train with blowing and suction hood which in known manner comprises a blowing device mounted transversely and two suction devices arranged for one downstream and for the other upstream of the device blowing. Typically, the suction train of the invention comprises means for transverse adaptation of the blowing and suction flows, capable of achieving a non-homogeneous distribution of said flows transversely with respect to the direction of the train.

Thus, thanks to the transverse adaptation means, it is possible to concentrate the blowing and suction flows on a particular area of the track and consequently to obtain perfect cleaning of this particular area.

According to a first version, intended for small and medium-sized networks, the blowing and suction hood comprising a blowing ramp connected to a blowing fan and two suction ramps arranged respectively downstream and upstream of the ramp blowing, and each connected to a suction fan, said ramps are partitioned into three independent compartments, transversely delimiting three working areas; in addition, the hood comprises three flexible ducts for connection to the three blowing and suction fans and it also includes means for positioning said ducts, capable of placing the three ducts in the position of connection with a given compartment.

In this first version, the transverse adaptation means of the blowing and suction flows consist of the positioning means capable of carrying out the displacement and the synchronous connection of the three connecting conduits with one of the compartments of the blowing ramps and suction.

When a vacuum train of this type is intended for cleaning small and medium networks, the complete cleaning of the track is done in three passages, implementing each of the three compartments recpectively. Because the area to be cleaned is smaller, the suction and blowing powers will be less and in consequently the fans of smaller size also.

This first version of the vacuum train is also suitable for cleaning tracks which have a central pit, located between the rails, in particular the anti-suicide pits located in the stations. In this case the three connection conduits are positioned on the central compartment of the supply and suction booms.

According to a second version, the blowing and suction hood comprises a set of blowing nozzles juxtaposed transversely and two sets of suction nozzles arranged upstream and downstream of the blowing nozzles, and each nozzle is equipped with sealing means. ; moreover the suction train comprises control means able to control in synchronization the means for closing off certain blowing and suction nozzles so as to channel the blowing and suction flows towards a given zone.

In this second version, the transverse adaptation of the blowing and suction flows consists of the means for shutting off the blowing and suction nozzles as well as in the means for controlling these shutter means.

It is understood that, compared to the first aforementioned version, it is possible to work in a much more flexible manner on a precise work area. To do this, simply choose the blowing and suction nozzles corresponding to this precise area. It goes without saying that when we speak here of synchronization it is necessarily a matter of using a blowing nozzle and two suction nozzles arranged longitudinally with respect to the blowing nozzle upstream and downstream thereof.

Preferably, the suction train of the invention comprises means for transverse deflection of the blowing and suction flows.

The purpose of these transverse deflection means is to direct the blowing and suction flows towards the outside of the hood overlap zone and to allow good cleaning of the track beyond the rails. Particularly in the case of a track which is overhung by a platform nose, the transverse deflection of the blowing flow makes it possible to create a vortex movement of the air in the cavity located under the platform nose. This swirling movement makes it possible to lift the dust and waste located in this cavity normally not accessible by the suction train. The deflection of the suction flows makes it possible to collect the dust and the waste carried in this vortex movement.

The means for transverse flow deflection may consist of deflectors, mounted at the end of the side blowing and suction nozzles and directed obliquely towards the outside of the hood.

These can be deflectors which are fixedly mounted on the sides of the hood.

However, preferably, the corresponding nozzle comprising a flexible duct, the deflector is orientable by rotation about a horizontal and longitudinal axis, and the suction train comprises means for controlling the deflectors in rotation.

In the latter case, the driver of the suction train can control, without stopping the latter, the transverse deflection of the blowing and suction flows when he enters a station which includes platform noses.

According to a preferred version, the suction train of the invention comprises a set of four blowing nozzles arranged transversely, two central nozzles and two side nozzles framing the two central nozzles, as well as two sets of six suction nozzles, one set being located upstream and the other downstream of the set of blowing nozzles; moreover in each set of suction nozzles, four are exactly opposite the four blowing nozzles and two are beyond these first four arranged opposite the side nozzles; the extreme lateral suction nozzles are provided with movable deflectors in rotation, while the two intermediate lateral suction nozzles are provided with fixed deflectors.

Thanks to the presence of the four lateral suction nozzles, framing the lateral blowing nozzle, and the possibility of adjusting the deflection of the two extreme lateral suction nozzles it is possible to obtain cleaning very effective for all platform noses whatever their dimensions.

Preferably, the suction train also includes sealing flaps, extending laterally the blowing and suction hood and arranged so as to form with the edge of the platform a box, arranged on the side of the train and substantially waterproof.

The sealing flaps consist for example of a horizontal flap extending over the entire length of the hood, terminated at its ends by two vertical flaps, said flaps being fixed cantilevered on the frame of the hood.

The presence of these sealing flaps makes it possible to maintain the air displacing the dust and waste in a well-defined zone, avoiding any excessive loss, which tends to increase on the one hand the cleaning efficiency and on the other hand helps reduce the consumption of blown and aspirated air.

• La figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique des trois compartiments de la première version
• La figure 2 est une représentation symbolique de la disposition des buses d'aspiration et de soufflage du train de la deuxième version
• La figure 3 est une vue schématique en coupe selon l'axe AA de la figure 2,
• Les figures 4a, et 4b sont des vues partielles des clapets d'obturation de la figure 3 en position fermée (Fig. 4a) et ouverte (Fig. 4b)
• Et la figure 5 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale selon l'axe BB de la figure 2 d'un train aspirateur à quatre buses latérales d'aspiration.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of two exemplary embodiments of the suction train with transverse adaptation of the blowing and suction flows, illustrated by the appended drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the three compartments of the first version
• FIG. 2 is a symbolic representation of the arrangement of the suction and blowing nozzles of the train of the second version
• FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in section along the axis AA of FIG. 2,
• Figures 4a, and 4b are partial views of the shutter valves of Figure 3 in the closed (Fig. 4a) and open (Fig. 4b) position.
• And FIG. 5 is a partial view in longitudinal section along the axis BB of FIG. 2 of a suction train with four lateral suction nozzles.

A suction train is a train on which are mounted all the equipment necessary for cleaning the track by suction. Conventionally, a vacuum train carries a blowing installation, a suction installation and a filtration and collection facility for dust and residual waste.

FIG. 5 shows a partial view of the blowing and suction installations which are mounted on the frame 1 of the train. The blowing installation comprises a fan not shown in FIG. 5 which propels the air at high speed into a manifold 2, giving either in a blowing ramp arranged transversely relative to the direction of travel of the train, or in different nozzles blowing 4 juxtaposed to each other along a transverse axis relative to the movement of the train.

As regards the suction installation, it preferably comprises two fans, each one being connected either to a suction manifold disposed upstream or downstream of the blowing manifold, or to juxtaposed suction nozzles to each other transversely opposite the blowing nozzles.

The high speed air jet blown by the blowing ramp or the blowing nozzles, is used to remove the waste and dust which are on the ballast to allow the suction by the boom or the suction nozzles arranged at immediate proximity to the boom or blowing nozzles.

All of these blowing and suction ramps or nozzles constitute the blowing and suction hood 5 which overhangs the track to be cleaned.

In a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner train of reduced size intended for cleaning small and medium-sized networks, the blowing and suction ramps are partitioned into three juxtaposed compartments, a central compartment 6 and two lateral compartments 7 and 8, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Each of these compartments 6, 7, 8 is fixed and overhangs a precise longitudinal zone of the track 9. The lateral compartments 7, 8 have slightly flared end edges 10, 11 so that the lower part of the corresponding compartment is close walls 12, 13 surrounding track 9.

Each of the compartments 6, 7 and 8 has in its upper part an opening 14, 15, 16.

A flexible duct 17, terminated by a blocking end piece 18, makes it possible to ensure the connection of one of the compartments with either the blowing manifold if it is a compartment of the blowing ramp, or with the suction fan if it is a compartment of the suction ramp.

On the upper face of the compartments 6, 7, 8 is provided a slide 19 in which the end piece 18 for blocking the flexible conduit 17 can slide. The end piece 18 is integral with two sets of jacks, a first set of jacks horizontal axis making it possible to move the end piece in the slide 19 and a second set of jacks having a vertical axis making it possible to block the end piece on the slide when the free end 20 of the conduit 17 is found placed opposite one of the openings 14, 15, 16.

The suction train according to this first version also includes an automatic system for controlling the cylinders of horizontal and vertical axes allowing the train driver to select the compartments which will be operational, namely the central compartment 6, the lateral compartment 7 on the left on 1, the side compartment 8 on the right in FIG. 1.

Of course, the automatic control system makes it possible to synchronize the positioning of the three flexible conduits 17, corresponding to the three compartments aligned in the longitudinal direction, namely the central blowing compartment and the two suction compartments arranged upstream and downstream of this blowing compartment.

Since in this first version the working area is limited to a third of track 9, the suction and blowing powers are reduced in proportion and the dimensions of the suction and blowing fans are also reduced, whereby the suction train according to this first version is small and of lower cost and is perfectly suited for small and medium-sized networks.

In a second exemplary embodiment, it is no longer a question of blowing and suction booms but of individual nozzles. In FIG. 2, the arrangement of these nozzles is shown schematically, namely a set 21 of four blowing nozzles 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively from left to right in FIG. 2, the set 21 corresponding to an alignment of the four nozzles 22 to 25 transversely to the direction of travel of the train, and two sets 59 and 60 of six suction nozzles. In each set 59, 60, four of the six suction nozzles 26 to 29 respectively for the first set from left to right in FIG. 2, and 30 to 33 for the second set from left to right in FIG. 2 are arranged in vis-à-vis the four nozzles 22 to 25 of the blow set 21. As for the two other suction nozzles, respectively 34 and 35 for the first set 59 and 36 and 37 for the second set 60, they are arranged in alignment with the side nozzles 22, 26 and 30 respectively for the nozzles 34 and 36 and 25, 29 and 33 for nozzles 35 and 37.

There is therefore laterally a single blowing nozzle framed by two suction nozzles upstream and downstream.

Each of the four blowing nozzles 22 to 25 is connected to the blowing fan by a duct 38 leading to the manifold 39. The duct 38 has a flexible duct 48 and a chamber 40 overlooking the manifold 39.

This chamber 40 is equipped with a closure system, the operation of which is illustrated in FIG. 4. This system comprises a jack 41 mounted outside the chamber 40. The end 42 of the rod 43 of the jack 41 is secured to the closure plate 44 of the chamber 40. This plate 44 is pivotable around the axis 45 and is extended beyond this axis 45 by a rod 46 secured by a ball joint of the end 42 of the rod 43 of the jack 41. On the inner periphery of the chamber 40 is placed a seal 47 forming a stop for the closure plate 44.

In Figure 4a there is shown the closure plate 44 in the closed position, that is to say that it is applied to the seal 47 and completely closes the chamber 40, preventing the passage of air from fan and manifold 39 in the flexible duct 48.

In Figure 4b there is shown the closure plate in the open position. The jack 41 has been actuated, so that the rod 43 comes out of the body of the jack which displaces the free end of this rod 42. This displacement makes the ball joint fixed to this end 42 pivot and drives the plate 44 in rotation by relative to the axis 45. This rotation makes it possible to open the pipe 38 and obtain the passage of air from the manifold 39 to the flexible duct 48.

Each cylinder 41 is connected to the automatic control system, which allows the train driver to operate all or part of the blowing and suction nozzles. It is understood, with regard to FIG. 2, that the automation is adjusted so that this selection is made according to the longitudinal rows 49, 50, 51 and 52.

Each pipe 38 is terminated by an end piece 58 flared towards its lowest part 50 so as to ensure a good distribution of the air flow either blowing or suction over the entire area covered by the hood. This nozzle 58, which serves as a deflector, is at least for certain lateral nozzles orientable by rotation about a horizontal and longitudinal axis 51. As can be seen in Figure 3 the tip 58 can pivot by an angle of about 20 to 30 °, around the axis 51, so that the lower part 50 is slightly raised towards the cavity inside 52 of the platform nose 53. Preferably the suction nozzles equipped with such a swiveling nozzle are the extreme nozzles 34 and 36 for row 49 and 35 and 37 for row 52. Thus when cleaning the station equipped of a platform nose 53, the operator controls on the one hand the operation of the only nozzles of a lateral row for example 49, and on the other hand the pivoting of the nozzles 58 corresponding to the two end nozzles 34 and 36 of aspiration. All the dust and waste raised by the high-speed air jet coming from the nozzle 22 are collected either by the extreme suction nozzles 34 and 36 or by the intermediate nozzles 26 and 30. The deflection of the suction flows nozzles 34 and 36 caused by the pivoting of the 58 corresponding tips, allows to have dust and waste capture at two levels of height and thus obtain greater capture efficiency. This pivoting of the end piece 58 around the axis 51 is of course only possible thanks to the deformability of the flexible conduit 48 and to the action of jacks not shown, the end of the rod of which is fixed on the end piece. 58.

In addition, in order to improve this cleaning efficiency, sealing flaps were fixed on the frame 54 of the train so as to artificially create a substantially sealed box on the sides of the extractor hood. The purpose of this artificial box is to prevent dust and waste from being projected by the air flow beyond the effective zone of action of the suction system. This artificial box is obtained by fixing a first sealing flap 55 horizontally cantilevered relative to the frame 54 of the train. This flap is rectangular with a width e of the order of 15 cms and a length which corresponds to the length of the extractor hood. This flap 55 is positioned on the frame 54 at a height which corresponds substantially to the level of the platform nose 53. The artificial box is closed at its two ends by two vertical flaps 56 fixed on the frame 54 of the train at the ends of the first flap 55 and below it. Each of the sealing flaps is made of rigid rubber of the conveyor belt type. The presence of these flaps 55, 56 fixed to the outside of the frame 54 of the train makes it possible to improve the efficiency of cleaning, in particular when passing in front of a platform having a platform nose.

To improve the normal operation of the suction train, it is possible to place sealing flaps 57 on the nozzles 58 of the suction and blowing nozzles of the lateral rows 49 and 52 so as to allow better isolation of the air flows. from the outside of the range hood.

Claims (9)

Vacuum train with blowing and suction hood which comprises a blowing device mounted transversely and two suction devices arranged for one downstream and the other upstream of the blowing device, characterized in that it comprises means for transverse adaptation of the blowing and suction flows, capable of achieving a non-homogeneous distribution of said flows transversely with respect to the direction of the train. Vacuum train, according to claim 1, intended for small and medium-sized networks, characterized in that the blowing and suction hood comprising a blowing ramp connected to a blowing fan and two suction ramps respectively arranged downstream and upstream of the blowing ramp, and each connected to a suction fan, said ramps are partitioned into three independent compartments (6, 7, 8), delimiting three working areas transversely, in that the hood has three ducts flexible (17) for connection to the three blowing and suction fans as well as means for positioning said conduits (17), capable of placing the three conduits in the position of connection with a given compartment. Vacuum train, according to claim 1, characterized in that the blowing and suction hood includes a set (21) of blowing nozzles juxtaposed transversely and two sets (59, 60) of suction nozzles arranged upstream and in downstream of the blowing nozzles, and each nozzle is equipped with closure means (44), and in that it comprises control means (41) capable of controlling the closure means (44) of certain nozzles in synchronization blowing and suction so as to channel the blowing and suction flows to a given area. Vacuum cleaner train, according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means for transverse deflection of the blowing and suction flows. Vacuum cleaner train according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for transverse deflection of the flows consist of deflectors (10, 11), mounted at the end of the side blowing and suction nozzles and directed obliquely towards the outside of the hood. Vacuum cleaner train according to claim 5, characterized in that the corresponding nozzle comprises a flexible duct (48), and the deflector is orientable by rotation about a horizontal and longitudinal axis (51), and in that it comprises means for control in rotation of the deflectors. Vacuum cleaner train according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a set (59) of four blowing nozzles (22 to 25) arranged transversely, two central nozzles (23, 24) and two side nozzles (22, 25) framing the two central nozzles, as well as two sets (59, 60) of six suction nozzles, one set (59) being located upstream and the other (60) downstream of the set of blowing nozzles, in that in each set (59, 60) of suction nozzles, four nozzles are exactly opposite the four blowing nozzles and two are beyond these first four and arranged opposite the side nozzles, and in that the extreme lateral suction nozzles (34, 36) are provided with deflectors (50) movable in rotation, while the two intermediate lateral suction nozzles (26, 30) are provided with fixed deflectors. Vacuum train according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes sealing flaps, extending laterally the blowing and suction hood and arranged so as to form with the edge of the platform a box, arranged on the side of the train and substantially waterproof. Vacuum cleaner train according to claim 8 characterized in that the sealing flaps consist of a horizontal flap (55) extending over the entire length of the hood, terminated at its ends by two vertical flaps (56), said flaps being fixed cantilevered on the frame (54) of the hood.

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