EP1382749B1 - Road vehicle with cleaning structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a road cleaning vehicle of the type comprising various means to ensure the cleaning of roadways and track edges by spreading or spraying fluid, in particular water and directly connected to a single water distribution block associated with a tank.

Urban road cleaning faces many constraints, in particular because of the configuration of the tracks, the presence of moving or parked vehicles and other parameters which oppose a regular and uniform treatment of vehicles. surfaces. Thus, it is often necessary to provide at least two successive passages on the same area, which often involves in the meantime a passage of the vehicle in the workshop, for example to adjust or modify the positioning of the brushes or projection means of water.

Various methods are known which allow in isolation or in combination to carry out cleaning operations of the road from a suitable vehicle.

Thus, French Pat. No. 2,702,397 describes a device for projecting a fluid under pressure intended to be mounted at the rear of a road vehicle, by means of jacks making it possible to adjust the position thereof in the vertical plane and hydraulically connected to said vehicle by a suction pipe and a water supply pipe.

This modality only partially allows to achieve the desired goals. Indeed, its use is limited to an area of small localized area, the device being neither expandable nor movable, the only possible movement being in the vertical plane at the rear of the vehicle.

In addition, the positioning of the pipes behind the vehicle only allows in any case to treat the floors, and not possibly side areas such as curbs sidewalks.

Finally, it is not possible to change the working direction once the device is in place.

The known solutions of the prior art have a common drawback, which is the impossibility for the driver of the vehicle to ensure both the tasks of driving and monitoring washing operations, because of a reduced field of view , which may involve significant risks, especially when the washing is carried out with a second operator following or accompanying the vehicle on foot.

Also known road cleaning vehicles comprising an extensible arm pivotally mounted on the chassis of the vehicle about a horizontal axis and longitudinal. Such a vehicle is described in FR-A-2 584 747.

The present invention proposes to overcome these various disadvantages by providing a washing structure for a road vehicle, which can be easily adapted to any type of existing gear without structural modification and to work on a very large surface both towards the before going backwards from one treatment zone to another without the need to stop the vehicle or carry out adjustment operations in the workshop.

In the cleaning vehicle according to the invention, as defined by appended claim 1, the washing structure is disposed on the upper part of the vehicle cabin and comprises two separate brackets, respectively oriented towards the front and towards the rear of said cabin, all of these elements can be directly connected to a common and single water distribution block associated with a double-walled tank.

• la figure 1 est une vue de trois quart avant d'un véhicule de voirie équipé d'une structure de lavage selon la présente invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue rapprochée du dessus du véhicule de voirie représenté à la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail de la potence arrière de la structure selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue de détail de la potence avant, et
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en élévation de la cuve.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a three-quarter front view of a road vehicle equipped with a washing structure according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the top of the road vehicle represented in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the rear bracket of the structure according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a detail view of the front stem, and
• Figure 5 is a schematic elevational view of the vessel.

With reference to the appended figures, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing structure (1) according to the present invention is mounted on a road vehicle comprising a chassis receiving a cabin (2) and a tank (30) connected to the structure by a pipe (3) fluid supply, for example water.

The washing structure (1) is composed of two brackets (10, 20), arranged on the upper rear part of the cabin (2) and oriented so as to extend respectively towards the front and towards the rear of said cabin, the assembly being directly connected to a distribution block in common water associated with a tank.

The fluid water supply is provided by means of a pipe (3) that the operator unrolls from a single reel (not shown) disposed at the rear of the cabin (2). A washing gun (not shown) will be mounted at the free end of the pipe (3).

This arrangement makes it possible to use only one winder receiving the necessary length of pipe. In conventional vehicles, it is necessary, if you want to work alternately at the front and rear, to provide two separate reels. In addition, the front winder is then located in the lower part of the vehicle, which prohibits any work at height.

The pipe (3) will be connected to one or other of the brackets (10, 20), depending on whether one wishes to work towards the front or towards the rear of the vehicle. This ensures a working amplitude of 80 °, much higher than that offered by vehicles or devices of known type.

Figure 3 shows the rear bracket (20) and Figure (4) shows the front bracket (10).

However, it should be noted that the front stem (10) consists of the same elements as the rear bracket (20). The description and remarks made below with regard to the rear bracket (20) also apply to the front bracket (10).

As illustrated in Figure 3, the rear bracket (20) is fixed by one of its ends on a support (20 ') fixed in rotation about a vertical axis (21).

The pipe (3) passes over a pulley (6) mounted at the fixed end (21) of the bracket (20) which is extended by a U-tube (22) open on top.

The pulley (6) serves as a guide to allow the operator to introduce the end of the pipe (3) into the tube (22) and slide it to the free end (23) of the bracket.

The rear bracket (20) has means (24) for maintaining the pipe (3) within the tube (22).

The holding means (24) are composed of a cover (25), connected by a hinge (26) to one side of the tube (22), a handle (27) for lifting or folding the lid (25) around the hinge (26), and a quick coupler (28) for securing the lid to the side of the tube (22) opposite to that receiving the hinge (26).

This mode makes it possible to quickly engage or disengage the pipe (3). Indeed, once it introduced into the tube (22), it is sufficient to fold the lid (25) and then fix it by means of the quick coupler (28).

The operator will then unroll the required length of pipe, without said pipe can be accidentally released from the gallows.

Conversely, the removal of the pipe will be done simply by opening the lid (25).

At the free end (21) of the bracket (20), there are two rollers (29a, 29b) of vertical axis, and a roller (29 ') of horizontal axis, respectively arranged on both sides on the sides of the tube (22), and at the front of the tube.

The rollers (29a, 29b, 29 ') guide the pipe (3) once it is unwound, both to facilitate its movement within the tube (22) and prevent premature wear.

It will be observed that the pipe (3) is simply held inside the open tube (22), but that it can freely slide back and forth inside this tube. This allows the operator to pull and unwind the length of pipe he needs to perform the desired interventions.

In the working position, it is necessary to be able to raise the end of the rear bracket (20) to facilitate the passage of the pipe (3) over possible obstacles, such as parked vehicles, or containers placed along the sidewalk.

According to one possible embodiment, provision is made for this purpose a gas spring (4) connecting one side of the support (20 ') to the side wall of the tube (22). The spring (4) also keeps the bracket (20) in the rest position when it is not used.

The transition from a rear working position to a front working position is very simple. It suffices to separate the pipe (3) from the rear bracket (20) to connect it to the front bracket (10).

This operation is both very simple and fast, since it is sufficient to unclip the lid (25) and pull the pipe (3) backwards.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the front stem (10), which consists of the same elements as the rear bracket (20) as described above, is fixed on the upper rear part of the cab (2) of the vehicle .

However, and unlike the rear bracket (20), the front bracket (10) is not free to rotate about an axis.

As previously described, the pipe (3) passes over a pulley (6) mounted at the rear end (21) of the bracket (10) which is extended by a U-tube (22) open on top.

The pulley (6) serves as a guide to allow the operator to introduce the end of the pipe (3) in the tube (22) and slide it to the front end (23) of the bracket.

Means (24) are also provided for maintaining the pipe (3) within the tube (22), which will receive a lid (25) connected by a hinge (26) to one side of the tube (22), a handle (27) for lifting or folding the lid (25) around the hinge (26), and a quick coupler (28) for attaching the lid to the side of the tube (22) opposite to the one receiving the hinge (26).

The presence of the end rollers (29a, 29b, 29 ') allows the displacement in the horizontal plane of the end of the pipe (3) which protrudes beyond the tube (22).

Thanks to the division of the washing support in two brackets arranged on the upper rear part of the cab of the vehicle and oriented so as to extend respectively towards the front and towards the rear of said cabin, it will be possible to work indifferently in one or the other direction by connecting the supply pipe to one or the other of said stems according to whether one wishes to work towards the front or towards the rear of the vehicle, without it being necessary to modify it therefore to immobilize it at least temporarily. In addition, according to this modality, the operator will be visible to the driver at all times, and can therefore intervene safely.

Figure 5 illustrates the features of the water tank (30).

The water tank (30) is made of rotomolded polyethylene in a small thickness. It is covered with a wall or envelope (31) made of sheet steel, which gives it the appropriate rigidity, as well as impact resistance. This modality also makes it possible to apply paint to the tank.

The tank (30) being completely inserted into a casing (31) made of sheet steel, it will no longer be necessary to tint the polyethylene in the mass to obtain different colors depending on the demands.

This solution also reduces tooling costs, since the mold used to make the tank will be less complex, much less material being used.

The tank thus produced is more resistant to shock and aging than a conventional polyester tank or a set of small tanks made by rotational molding to form a large tank.

As it is not necessary that the outer casing (31) is sealed, assembly will be facilitated, and the tank may be made of normal sheet, compatible with oxidizing liquids.

The tank (30) is made in one piece by rotational molding, so that the inner tank (33) is not closed at the rotomolding outlet. The interior of the tank (30) comprises means acting as a breakwater to regulate the movements of the liquid when the vehicle is in motion.

According to a preferred embodiment, the breakwater is constituted by a median cross (32), obtained by molding.

This technique makes it possible to obtain in a single operation the reservoir and the breakwater, without requiring the insertion of additional parts inside the mold.

A cover (34) made of sheet metal acts as a manhole, which is mandatory on this kind of tank. The lid (34) is designed to let the tank breathe when empty, the flowing water being then channeled by baffles (not shown) provided for this purpose.

The above description makes it possible to appreciate the advantages of a road vehicle equipped according to the present invention.

It is thus possible to perform all cleaning operations of the roadway, curbs and sidewalks by means of the gun connected to one of the two upper brackets.

Operations are carried out with perfect visibility, without risk of collision or degradation of vehicles or street furniture.

The washing jib is simpler, more robust and less expensive than the existing one, while offering a large range of work, without the use of valves to stop and start the water.

Last but not least, the device is adaptable to any type of vehicle and is flexible according to the work program without requiring any special intervention of assembly, disassembly or adjustment on the vehicle once equipped.

Claims (10)

1. Road vehicle with cleaning structure comprising a chassis housing a cab (2) and a tank (30)' and a cleaning structure connected to the tank by a hose (3) for supplying fluid, particularly water, characterised in that the cleaning structure comprised of two jibs (10, 20) arranged on the upper rear of the cab (2) and oriented so as to extend respectively towards the front and towards the rear of said cab, said supply hose being designed to be connected either of said jibs depending on whether one wishes to work towards the front or the rear of the vehicle.
2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the hose (3) is wound off a single winder arranged at the rear of the cab (2).
3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each jib (10,20) comprises a U-shaped tube (22) open on the top receiving the hose (3).
4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterised in that each jib (10, 20) comprises means for holding (24) the hose (3) in the tube (22)' comprised of a cover (25)' connected by a hinge (26) to one of the sides of the tube (22) a handle (27) making it possible to lift and close the couvercle (25) around the hinge (26) and a quick fastener (28) maing it possible to fix the cover (25) on the side of the tube (22) opposite the one receiving the hinge (26).
5. Vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that each jib (10, 20) comprises at its free end (21)' two lateral rollers (29a, 29b) with vertical axes, and a front roller (29') with a horizontal axis, arranged respectively on either side on the sides and at the front of the tube (22), to guide the hose (3).
6. Vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the rear jib (20) is fixed by one of its ends onto a support (20') fixed to rotate around a vertical axis (21).
7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterised in that the support (20') is connected by one of its sides to the sidewall of the tube (22) by a gas spring (4).
8. Vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the tank (30) is inserted in a casing (31) made of sheet steel.
9. Vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the tank (30) is made in a single piece.
10. Vehicle according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the inside of the tank (30) comprises a middle cross (32) which acts as a breakwater.

Images