EP1401316A1 - Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces sans brosse autopropulse a recuperation - Google Patents

Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces sans brosse autopropulse a recuperation

Info

Publication number
EP1401316A1
EP1401316A1 EP01935792A EP01935792A EP1401316A1 EP 1401316 A1 EP1401316 A1 EP 1401316A1 EP 01935792 A EP01935792 A EP 01935792A EP 01935792 A EP01935792 A EP 01935792A EP 1401316 A1 EP1401316 A1 EP 1401316A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
surface cleaner
vacuum
brushless
liquid
deck
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01935792A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1401316A4 (fr
Inventor
William E. Clemons, Sr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Clean Up America Inc
Original Assignee
Clean Up America Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Clean Up America Inc filed Critical Clean Up America Inc
Priority claimed from PCT/US2001/040779 external-priority patent/WO2002094076A1/fr
Publication of EP1401316A1 publication Critical patent/EP1401316A1/fr
Publication of EP1401316A4 publication Critical patent/EP1401316A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/10—Hydraulically loosening or dislodging undesirable matter; Raking or scraping apparatus ; Removing liquids or semi-liquids e.g., absorbing water, sliding-off mud
    • E01H1/101—Hydraulic loosening or dislodging, combined or not with mechanical loosening or dislodging, e.g. road washing machines with brushes or wipers
    • E01H1/103—Hydraulic loosening or dislodging, combined or not with mechanical loosening or dislodging, e.g. road washing machines with brushes or wipers in which the soiled loosening or washing liquid is removed, e.g. by suction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
    • B08B3/024—Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to surface cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a self-contained and self-propelled brushless surface cleaner that effectively scrubs a surface with pressurized/heated fluid, and that reclaims both the fluid and contaminants loosened from a surface during the cleaning thereof.
  • a variety of industrial-strength surface cleaners are known in the prior art.
  • a pressurized cleaning fluid is sprayed onto a surface to loosen dirt, rubber, oil, grease, etc., that has been deposited on the surface during the use thereof.
  • the loosened dirt and other contaminants are then vacuumed.
  • Some surface cleaners filter out the dirt and other contaminants in order to reuse the cleaning fluid. Specific examples of prior art surface cleaners are noted below.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,959,010 discloses a surface cleaner having a spray/vacuum head attached to the front of a tractor and having mechanical systems mounted on a towed trailer.
  • the spray/vacuum head has spray nozzles mounted in separate fore and aft compartments thereof .
  • a central compartment positioned between the fore and aft compartments defines a vacuum chamber. Holes are provided in a bottom wall of the vacuum chamber adjacent the surface to be cleaned. Air vortexes are created at the holes as the vacuum is drawn therethrough.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,845,801 discloses a surface cleaning vehicle having a forward-mounted low-pressure sprayer, an aft-mounted high-pressure sprayer head and vacuum head mounted aft of the high-pressure sprayer for vacuuming up liquid and loose debris .
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,331,713 discloses a surface cleaning vehicle having a front-mounted sprayer followed immediately by rotating brush heads. A squeegee and vacuuming assembly is mounted at the aft portion of the vehicle to vacuum up cleaning liquid and debris.
  • U.S. Patent Nos. 5,287,589, 5,469,597 and 5,979,012 disclose surface cleaners having vehicle-mounted mechanical systems coupled by long hoses to either walk-behind cleaning heads or individual spray and vacuum wands .
  • the walk-behind cleaning heads or wands must be manually moved/manipulated while the vehicle is frequently moved to a suitable support distance.
  • none of the prior art surface cleaners is able to achieve the combination of superior surface cleaning, elimination of cleaning fluid runoff, complete cleaning fluid reclamation, and efficient of operating manpower.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaner that is totally self-contained.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaner that can be operated by a single person.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaner that effectively scrubs a surface without the use of brushes or other types of surface- contacting scrubbing devices.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled surface cleaner that is easy to maneuver on a surface to be cleaned.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a surface cleaner that reclaims its cleaning fluid while trapping loosened surface contaminants in order to prevent any toxic runoff.
  • a brushless surface cleaner includes a vehicle having at least one drive system for propelling the vehicle on a surface to be cleaned.
  • a cleaning head is mounted to the vehicle to extend forward therefrom.
  • the cleaning head has a deck and a skirt extending from the deck such that when the skirt is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, a cleaning volume is bounded by the deck, skirt and surface to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning head further has at least one vent port formed in a forward portion thereof and at least one vacuum port formed in a rear portion thereof.
  • a plurality of nozzles are mounted for movement within the cleaning volume between the forward and rear portions thereof when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto and sprayed therefrom.
  • a liquid supply system is mounted on the vehicle for supplying the liquid under pressure to the nozzles so that the surface to be cleaned is effectively scrubbed by the liquid to produce a mixture of the liquid and contaminants loosened from the surface to be cleaned.
  • a vacuum recycling system is mounted on the vehicle and coupled to the vacuum port(s) for suctioning the mixture, filtering the mixture to separate the liquid from the contaminants and return the liquid so- separated to the liquid supply system for reuse thereby.
  • FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of the self-propelled brushless surface cleaner according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front interior view of the surface cleaner's cleaning head taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an isolated side view taken along line 3-3 of DIG. 2-2 depicting the angular orientation of a pair of nozzles coupled to a rotating arm in the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the cleaning head taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 depicting the attachment of the sealing band to the cleaning head's skirt;
  • FIG. 5 is a top schematic view of an embodiment of the baffle mounted in the vacuum tank of the vacuum/reeyeling system;
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a plurality of bag filters mounted in the vacuum tank for filtering large particles from liquid passed therethrough.
  • Surface cleaner 10 is a self-contained assembly for cleaning a surface 100 over which it can be driven.
  • Such surfaces include, but are not limited to, runways, streets, sidewalks, parking surfaces, decks of ships and industrial floor areas .
  • Surface cleaner 10 includes a self-propelled vehicle having a frame 12, a drive train coupled to frame 12 that includes a transmission 14 coupled to rear wheels 18 (as shown) and/or front wheels 16. Controls for driving surface cleaner 10 and operating various systems thereon are provided in a driver/operator compartment 20 at the front portion of the vehicle.
  • transmission 14 can be selectively coupled to either an electric motor 22 or a combustion-engine motor 24 via an operator-positioned switch 26.
  • the driving speed of surface cleaner 10 can be limited to a maximum speed by coupling a speed limiter or governor 34 to transmission 14. Another option is to dictate a constant driving speed of surface cleaner 10 by coupling a speed controller 36 to transmission 14.
  • Combustion-engine motor 24 can be any motor that runs on a combustible fuel such as gasoline, diesel fuel, propane gas, etc.
  • Electric motor 22 can be powered by one or more batteries 28 or by a DC current-producing alternator 30. More specifically, alternator 30 is coupled mechanically to combustion-engine motor 24 and electrically to a switch 32 that is selectively positioned to couple either batteries 28 or alternator 30 to electric motor 22. In this way, even if batteries 28 run low during the cleaning operation, power for electric motor 22 can simply be switched over to alternator 30 which is turned by combustion-engine 24.
  • An AC voltage generator 38 is also mechanically coupled to combustion- engine motor 24 to produce an AC voltage for use by various electrically-powered elements onboard surface cleaner 10 as will be explained further below.
  • a cleaning head 40 is mounted at the front of surface cleaner 10 by means of, for example, an arm 42 pivotally attached to frame 12 at pivot point 44. Arm 42 can be manually pivoted or pivoted via a motorized force to raise/lower cleaning head 40 and set a forward-to-rear pitch angle of cleaning head 40 relative to surface 100.
  • Cleaning head 40 is defined by an inverted tray shape having a top or deck 46 and a peripheral side skirt 48 that extends down from deck 46 when cleaning head 40 is positioned over surface 100 as shown.
  • a cleaning volume 50 is defined by the volume of air space bounded by deck 46 on its top, skirt 48 (to include band 70) on its sides and surface 100 at its bottom.
  • vent ports 54 are provided at the forward portion of cleaning head 40.
  • vacuum portions 56 are provided at the rear portion of cleaning head 40.
  • Ports 54 and 56 are preferably formed in deck 46 and allow outside air to communicate with cleaning volume 50.
  • the area defined by ports 54 should be approximately equal to the area defined by port(s) 56.
  • the shape or number of ports 54 or 56 is not a limitation of the present invention.
  • An open-ended prior duct 60 can be attached to deck 46 to effectively extend the height at which each port 54 communicates with the outside air. The function of duct 60 will be explained below.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a front interior view of cleaning head 40 taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1
  • a pair of side-by-side arms 62 and 64 are rotatably mounted to deck 46 by means of spindles 62A and 64A, respectively.
  • Each combination of spindles and arm e.g., spindle 62A and arm 62
  • Arms 62 and 64 are sized so that nozzles 66A/66B and 68A/68B experience movement within cleaning volume 50 between ports 54 and 56.
  • Each of the nozzles is directed towards surface 100 at an acute angle with respect to a surface-extending vertical line such that when water is sprayed therefrom, arms 62 and 64 rotate parallel to deck 46 on their respective spindles.
  • nozzles 66A and 66B are directed at opposite acute angles ⁇ relative to an imaginary vertical line 102 that is perpendicular to surface 100.
  • Acute angle ⁇ is typically in the range of approximately 15- 30E. Note that during testing of surface cleaner 10, it was found that an angle ⁇ of approximately 30E provided the best cleaning results.
  • band 70 is attached to the lower periphery of skirt 48 that forms a seal with surface 100.
  • Band 70 is a strong but flexible material that can withstand abrasion forces developed as cleaning head 40 moves over surface 100.
  • a material that performed well in testing of surface cleaner 10 is a multi-layered material having alternating layers of rubber and nylon. This material is available commercially from a variety of rubber manufacturers such as B.F. Goodrich and Goodyear.
  • band 70 is mounted to skirt 48 using a plurality bolts/screws 72.
  • Band 70 has elongated slots 74 formed therethrough to receive bolts/screws 72. The use of elongated slots 74 allows band 70 to be lowered as its bottom edge 70A becomes worn/damaged. This effectively increases the useful life of band 70.
  • a wheel assembly 80 Attached to the forward end of cleaning head 40 are a plurality of spaced-apart wheel assemblies, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and referenced generally by numeral 80.
  • the wheel assemblies support-cleaning head 40. Further, by making the height of each wheel assembly 80 independently adjustable, the side-to-side pitch of cleaning head 40 can be adjusted.
  • a wheel assembly 80 includes a fixed support 82 and an adjustable height support 84 coupled to a wheel 86.
  • the particular configurations of support 82 and 84 are not limitations of the present invention.
  • a liquid (e.g., water) delivery system and a vacuum/recycling system, both of which are mounted on frame 12.
  • a liquid delivery system e.g., water
  • a vacuum/recycling system both of which are mounted on frame 12.
  • the basic elements of the liquid delivery system are contained within dashed-line box 90 and the basic elements of the vacuum/recycling system are contained within dashed-line box 92.
  • Electricity for various elements of systems 90 and 92 is provided by generator 38 which is turned whenever combustion- engine motor 24 is operating.
  • Liquid delivery system 90 includes a large water storage tank 902 which can be baffled at 904 to prevent/minimize sloshing forces when surface cleaner 10 is moving.
  • a high- pressure pump 906 is coupled to tank 902 to draw water therefrom and pump same under high pressure to a boiler 908.
  • pump 906 is typically a mechanically-driven pump that would be coupled to combustion-engine motor 24 as would be well understood in the art.
  • boiler 908 can be constructed entirely of stainless steel .
  • Water under pressure circulates through boiler 908 and exits same at a set elevated temperature.
  • the heated and pressurized water is supplied at 901 to nozzles 66A/66B and 68A/68B via spindle 62A/arm 62 and spindle 64A/arm 64, respectively, thereby causing each arm to rotate within cleaning volume 50 as water is sprayed onto surface 100.
  • Vacuum/recycling system 92 includes a blower-type vacuum 920 having its blowing vent side vented at 92.2 and its suction side coupled to a vacuum tank 924.
  • Vacuum tank 924 is a sealed tank ported at 926 and 928. Ports 926 and 928 should define approximately equal areas. Port 926 has a larger-particle filter 930 coupled thereto and port 928 has a baffle 932 coupled thereto. Filter 930 and baffle 932 reside in the air space of vacuum tank 924 , and will be explained further below.
  • a pump 934 (e.g., a sump pump) is mounted in the lower (fluid-filled) portion of vacuum tank 924. Pump 934 pumps fluid 936 through one or more particle filters 938.
  • a plurality of filters 938 are used, they would typically be coupled in series in descending order of particle sizes to be filtered.
  • the particle-strained fluid is then passed through an oil separator 940 (e.g., a coalesce filter as they are known in the art) .
  • the fluid exiting oil separator 940 is clean water that is returned to tank 902 for reuse in the cleaning process.
  • Port 926 is coupled via'hose 942 to vacuum port(s) 56.
  • baffle 932 The details of an embodiment of baffle 932 are illustrated in FIG. 5 where a box-like structure 932A is attached to vacuum tank 924.
  • outer structure 932A includes a top and bottom.
  • a narrow slot or port 932B is formed between outer structure 932A and tank 924.
  • the area of port 932B matches that of port 928.
  • a baffle plate 932C in outer structure 932A defines a tortuous path 932D through baffle 932 so that any of liquid 936 drawn up towards port 928 (by the vacuum force drawn through port 928) is entrained by baffle 932.
  • FIG. 6 An embodiment of large particle filter (s) 930 is illustrated in FIG. 6 where a plurality of bag filters 930A, 93OB, etc., are coupled in parallel to port 926.
  • Each of the bag filters traps larger particles (e.g., 100 microns or greater) while allowing the mixture of liquid and smaller particles to pass therethrough as liquid 936 that falls via gravity to the lower portion of vacuum tank 924.
  • surface cleaner 10 has tank 902 filled with water and is driven to a site to be cleaned.
  • switch 26 When driving to a site, switch 26 will normally be positioned to couple combustion-engine 24 to transmission 14. Once surface cleaner 10 is in position to begin cleaning, switch 26 is positioned so that electric motor 22 is coupled to transmission 14. Combustion-engine motor 24 continues running to turn alternator 30 and generator 38, as well as provide the mechanical drive for elements such as pump 906.
  • Cleaning head 40 is lowered onto surface 100 with its front-to-rear and side-to-side pitch being set to accommodate surface 100. Systems 90 and 92 are turned on and surface cleaner 10 is driven over surface 100.
  • Heated water under pressure is sprayed from nozzles 66A/66B and 68A/68B causing arms 62 and 64, respectively, to rotate between ports 54 and 56 as described above.
  • the hot, pressurized water loosens solid debris and other contaminants from surface 100.
  • a vacuum force created by vacuum/recycling system 92 is applied through hose 942 to port (s) 56.
  • the suction force from this vacuum draws outside air into cleaning volume 50 via duct (s) 60.
  • the use of ducts 60 prevent water sprayed into cleaning volume 50 from escaping therefrom via port(s) 54.
  • the resulting air flow into and through cleaning volume 50 is illustrated at 200.
  • port(s) 54 and 56 By placing port(s) 54 and 56 at the respective forward and rear portions of cleaning volume 50, a high-pressure air flow is drawn over surface 100 in the area where high-pressure water is being sprayed. This large area of high-pressure air flow serves to not only pick ' up the water and loosened debris/contaminants, but also frees debris/contaminants partially loosened by the high-pressure water spray.
  • Placing ports 54 and 56 in the top of cleaning volume 50 i.e., in deck 46
  • the resulting mixture 202 of water and loosened debris/contaminants is drawn into hose 942 and delivered to vacuum tank 924.
  • Mixture 202 is first filtered by large particle filter (s) 930 where larger solid particles are trapped and a partially filtered liquid is deposited via gravity as liquid 936 in the lower portion of tank 924.
  • Pump 934, filter (s) 938 and oil separator 940 function as described above to return clean water to tank 902.
  • surface cleaner 10 is driven under the power of electric motor 22 because of its smoother delivery of power to transmission 14 as compared to combustion-engine motor 24.
  • cleaning head 40 should move at a relatively constant speed over surface 100. This constraint is simplified for an operator by powering transmission 14 via electric motor 22. For greater precision, a consistent speed could be maintained automatically by use of speed control 36.
  • optimum cleaning is obtained by assuring that cleaning head 40 is positioned over each area of surface 100 for a certain period of time. This is achieved by not driving surface cleaner 10 to quickly over surface 100.
  • speed limiter 34 can be coupled to transmission 14 during the cleaning operation to assure that the maximum (optimum cleaning) speed for a particular surface is not exceeded. For safety reasons, the use of speed limiter 34 may be preferred to speed control 36.
  • the advantages of the present invention are numerous. Improved surface cleaning is achieved by a uniquely-designed cleaning head that uses both high-pressure water and a uniquely directed vacuum flow to remove the maximum amount of debris/contaminants from a surface using only hot water.
  • the surface cleaner is self-contained and self-propelled so that it ⁇ can be efficiently operated by one person.
  • the contaminated cleaning water is reclaimed for reuse.
  • the spray/vacuum operation is contained within a single cleaning head, there is no toxic runoff generated by the cleaning operation.
  • the surface cleaner can be propelled smoothly by an electric motor for optimum cleaning while simultaneously using a combustion-engine motor to charge batteries and drive various mechanical systems .

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un appareil de nettoyage (10) de surfaces sans brosse autopropulsé situé sur un véhicule pourvu d'une tête (40) de nettoyage montée sur la partie avant du véhicule comportant un plateau (46) et une jupe (48) dépendant du plateau (46). La tête (40) de nettoyage comporte au moins un évent (54) formé dans une partie avant et au moins un orifice d'aspiration (56) formé dans la partie arrière. Des buses (66, 68) sont montées sous le plateau (46) en vue d'un déplacement lorsque le liquide sous pression est diffusé à partir de ces dernières. Un système d'amenée (90) de liquides achemine le liquide sous pression jusqu'aux buses (66, 68). Un système de recyclage (92) de liquides, couplé à l'orifice d'aspiration (56), conduit de l'air par l'évent (54) et un mélange de liquide et de contaminants par l'orifice d'aspiration (56) arrière.
EP01935792A 2001-05-18 2001-05-18 Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces sans brosse autopropulse a recuperation Withdrawn EP1401316A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2001/040779 WO2002094076A1 (fr) 2000-05-10 2001-05-18 Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces sans brosse autopropulse a recuperation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1401316A1 true EP1401316A1 (fr) 2004-03-31
EP1401316A4 EP1401316A4 (fr) 2006-11-02

Family

ID=31975557

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01935792A Withdrawn EP1401316A4 (fr) 2001-05-18 2001-05-18 Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces sans brosse autopropulse a recuperation

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1401316A4 (fr)
CA (1) CA2451158A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1432557A (en) * 1973-02-20 1976-04-22 Dynaclean Ltd Apparatus for cleaning a substantially -non-porous- surface such as a floor or wall
EP0162769A1 (fr) * 1984-05-11 1985-11-27 TROTTOIRNET Société Anonyme Dispositif de nettoyage du sol, notamment pour le prélèvement des déjections canines
WO1986001240A1 (fr) * 1984-08-08 1986-02-27 Ing. Alfred Schmidt Gmbh Dispositif aspirateur
US5331713A (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-07-26 White Consolidated Industries, Inc. Floor scrubber with recycled cleaning solution

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1432557A (en) * 1973-02-20 1976-04-22 Dynaclean Ltd Apparatus for cleaning a substantially -non-porous- surface such as a floor or wall
EP0162769A1 (fr) * 1984-05-11 1985-11-27 TROTTOIRNET Société Anonyme Dispositif de nettoyage du sol, notamment pour le prélèvement des déjections canines
WO1986001240A1 (fr) * 1984-08-08 1986-02-27 Ing. Alfred Schmidt Gmbh Dispositif aspirateur
US5331713A (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-07-26 White Consolidated Industries, Inc. Floor scrubber with recycled cleaning solution

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO02094076A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1401316A4 (fr) 2006-11-02
CA2451158A1 (fr) 2002-11-28

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