EP2210982B1 - Drivable high-pressure cleaning machine for outdoor plastic floors and use of same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mobile HD cleaning machine for the proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such a mobile HD cleaning machine for the proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors, including fall protection floors and elastic products for field coverings and athletics coverings. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such a mobile HD cleaning machine for the regeneration of the fall protection properties of fall protection plates and floors that are laid on sports and playgrounds. The abbreviation "HD" is used in this documentation to refer to "high pressure".

Known in the prior art are mobile HD cleaning machines having substantially the features of the preamble of claim 1 which have been described for cleaning various substrates but not for cleaning outdoor plastic floors as described below.

The document WO 02/097197 A1 relates to a brushless cleaning head for the treatment of surfaces. The cleaning head is mounted on a mobile HD cleaning machine, which is equipped with a chassis having a plurality of wheels, of which at least one drive wheel is driven by a motor to move the machine at a predetermined operating speed on the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning head has a Hood-shaped to open to the floor surface to open housing in / on which a spraying device is housed to spray water under high pressure conditions against the floor surface to be cleaned. Further, a collecting means is provided to receive by means of suction air splashed water and a slurry of water, dirt particles and other solid particles and to remove from the housing. On this chassis is at least additionally attached:
a water tank; an HP pump that draws water from the water tank and delivers it to the sprayer under HD conditions; a suction fan whose suction port is connected to the collecting means; and a motor unit having at least a drive wheel drive, a suction fan drive and an HP pump drive.
It can be applied to a control system that adjusts the pressure of emerging from the nozzles of a rotating sprayer water spray jets and the rotational speed of the rotating sprayer to the propagation speed of the HD cleaning machine to ensure optimum cleaning performance for a particular cleaning task. This HD cleaning machine can be used in difficult cleaning tasks, where high demands are made, for example in the cleaning of parking areas, airport runways, gas stations and the like.
The document DE 90 17 025 U1 describes a mobile device for cleaning porous, uneven floor coverings with the aid of a liquid which is sprayed from one or more nozzles under pressure on the floor coverings. As floor coverings to be cleaned, for example, pavement and pavement pavements made of asphalt and similar materials are described. To increase the working width of the known device when cleaning floor coverings, two spray nozzles carrying the spray nozzles can be arranged next to one another, ie transversely to the feed direction of the device.

The document DE 44 04 230 A1 relates to a method and a device for cleaning floor surfaces, in particular joints between paving stones and floor slabs. The device used to clean the bottom surfaces consists of a downwardly open hood to which a plurality of downwardly facing spray heads and a suction device are attached. The hood is suspended on a chassis height adjustable and fixed to the chassis so that in the lower part of its outer circumference brush mounted just on the bottom surface. Within the circular hood, the external suction device and the internal spray heads are separated by a partition wall. In the outer region of the hood, an annular channel is formed, to which several hoses are connected, via which the suction takes place. From a separate channel trolley, standing water is supplied to the spray heads under a pressure of 300 bar. The vacuum required for suction can be generated by a separate compressor.

The document WO 2005/071168 A1 relates to a device, a vehicle and a method for cleaning surfaces to which chewing gum sticks. It is well known that the removal of chewing gum from paving slabs and the like requires drastic actions. Consequently, HD-water jets are used which are sprayed under a pressure of 300 to 750 bar, the water having a temperature of at least 115 ° C. Preferably, the water should have at least a temperature of 150 ° C. These high-pressure water jets are generated by rotating spray nozzles running at a speed of 500 to 1400 revolutions / min. rotate. Preferably, several spraying devices are arranged one behind the other in the working direction, so that a given surface is processed several times. These are drastic conditions, which are not eligible for a gentle cleaning of outdoor plastic floors of the type considered here.

The cleaning of a rubber or plastic floor, for example a tartan track, is in the document DE 31 33 789 C2 addressed. Here, a cleaning machine should be designed so that the located on the surface Dirt using liquid or water jets completely, that is without residues and economically, that can be eliminated with relatively low energy and water consumption. The machine is equipped with a nozzle bar, with the aid of which HD water jets are directed against the surface to be cleaned. The special feature is that in the direction of travel in front of the nozzles of the beam, a collecting device connected to the machine is arranged, which receives and discharges the liquid sprayed by the nozzles against the surface to be cleaned. This collecting device consists of a rising in the direction of travel from rear bottom to front up with the lower end resting on the surface to be cleaned or as close to this surface arranged plate and from an adjoining trough. In order to avoid damage to the surface to be cleaned, which may for example be a rubber or plastic bottom sensitive type, for example, a tartan, the usually made of sheet metal plate of the collecting device is at the coming into contact with the ground end with a bar Rubber or plastic provided that does not damage the latter when sliding on the ground.

The document DE 100 42 042 C1 refers to a device for cleaning a road, in particular an airport runway. Here is the problem of removing the rubber abrasion that occurs when placing the wheels of a landing aircraft on the runway of an airport in the so-called "touch-down zone". In this known device, the one or more, the spray nozzles carrying (n) support beams are driven by a purpose-designed rotary drive with drive shaft, and the peculiarity is that this drive shaft also drives a fan, with the negative pressure and an air flow to dissipate the dissolved Dirt is generated.

• eine zu der reinigenden Fläche hin offene Auffanghaube;
• einen innerhalb der Auffanghaube angeordneten, rotierenden Düsenträger mit jedenfalls im Wesentlichen gegen die Fläche gerichteten Reinigungsdüsen; und
• eine an der Auffanghaube angeordnete Reinigungsflüssigkeits-Absauganordnung.

Dieses bekannte Hochdruckreinigungsgerät ist mit einer Hochdruckpumpe ausgerüstet, die Wasser unter einem Ausgangsdruck von etwa 300 bar bis 500 bar bereitstellt. An den Reinigungsdüsen werden dann noch Drücke von 100 bar bis 250 bar auftreten.The document DE 100 37 082 B4 discloses a high pressure cleaner for substantially flat surfaces. This known high-pressure cleaning device essentially comprises:

• a collecting hood open to the cleaning surface;
• a disposed within the collecting hood, rotating nozzle carrier with at least substantially directed against the surface cleaning nozzles; and
• a arranged on the collecting hood cleaning liquid suction assembly.

This known high-pressure cleaning device is equipped with a high-pressure pump, which provides water at an initial pressure of about 300 bar to 500 bar. At the cleaning nozzles then pressures of 100 bar to 250 bar will occur.

The document DE 20 2005 011 99 U1 relates to a floor cleaning machine, which is suitable for example for cleaning hard floors. The cleaning is carried out by means of a rotating brush, which is driven by a brush drive. This floor cleaning machine may be a machine to be pushed by an operator, which has only a brush drive and no drive motor, or it may be a drive motor driven machine. The brush cleans the floor with the help of a cleaning fluid, especially water. This cleaning fluid is housed in a reservoir, which is carried on the machine. While the floor cleaning machine is standing, in particular while the brush is not being operated, no cleaning liquid should reach the floor. Otherwise, the floor cleaning machine would run out, so to speak. Therefore, a valve is provided which can block the flow of cleaning fluid in the direction from the reservoir to the outlet adjacent to the floor to be cleaned when the machine is stopped. If an operator wants to put the floor cleaning machine into operation, he must open the valve for the cleaning liquid, switch on the brush drive and, if necessary, also switch on a drive motor of the floor cleaning machine.

The document DE 298 19 927 U1 relates to a mobile cleaning device, which is driven by a motor, and performs their cleaning work by means of a rotating brush. In addition, cleaning liquid is applied to the floor to be cleaned, which is provided from a storage tank entrained on the cleaning machine; this cleaning fluid passes under the influence of gravity from the storage tank on the surface to be cleaned. This cleaning machine can drive at different speeds over the surface to be cleaned. At a higher vehicle speed, a larger area is cleaned per unit time and therefore more cleaning fluid is required per unit time. Therefore, proceed to couple the dosage of the application of the cleaning liquid on the floor to be cleaned with the vehicle speed to adjust the applied amount of cleaning fluid to the respective driving speed of the cleaning device. Such a measure appears to be necessary in any case when a supply of cleaning liquid is carried in a storage tank on the cleaning machine, and the cleaning machine is designed for different vehicle speeds. This measure has no relation to the soil to be cleaned.

The aim of the present invention is the proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors. These outdoor plastic floors consist essentially of PUR-bonded rubber fibers, rubber granules or granules of synthetic rubber such as EPDM or contain at least one tread or wear layer of such material. "PUR-bound" here stands for "polyurethane-bound";"EPDM" here stands for ethylene / propylene-diene terpolymers. Indoor plastic floors of this type are typically provided with an additional surface sealant layer which allows for floor cleaning common in interiors and halls. For outdoor plastic floors, such a surface sealing layer is missing. Outdoor plastic floors of this type can be constructed as single-layered or multi-layered and are typically laid in the form of seamlessly set plates and sheets or large-scale coatings on a prepared substrate, for example on an unbound base course or on asphalt or concrete. The products are typically colored, most often in reddish brown. A well-known manufacturer is BSW, Berleburger Schaumstoffwerke GmbH, 57301 Bad Berleburg (DE), whose products of this type are marketed under the REGUPOL® brand. Outdoor plastic floors of this type are characterized by an open-pored structure, by water permeability and by elasticity. Depending on her Resiliency may be fall protection flooring that meets the fall protection requirements of European Standard 1177. Corresponding fall protection floors are typically laid in the form of fall protection plates and fall protection coverings, for example on children's playgrounds, here for example under climbing frames or as edging of sandboxes, also in outdoor pools, on schoolyards, and in the form of play and sports surfaces; Fall protection floors are used wherever there is an increased risk of injury from falls. Elastic products of this type have a lower elasticity and are typically used as special floors on playgrounds and small playgrounds for a variety of ball sports, or as athletics surfaces, such as tracks and sprint tracks of sports fields.

The elasticity required for these products, apart from the use of elastic materials such as rubber and synthetic rubber, is also due to the fact that within the material layer (s) there are a great deal of open pores and voids which are compressible under load. If such fall protection floors and elastic products are laid outdoors, it must be expected that in the course of time with rain, wind and other environmental pollution dirt particles and other foreign solid particles are registered and stored in the open-pore structure, which gradually reduces the elastic properties. As a rule of thumb, fall protection floors installed in the outdoor area must be replaced after a service life of 10 years because the fall protection properties required by the EN 1177 standard are no longer guaranteed. Proper cleaning of such outdoor plastic floors must be sufficient to the extent that the debris stored in the course of time and other foreign solid particles are removed so far that the original elastic properties, for example, the fall protection requirements of EN 1177 are at least partially restored. In the context of the present invention it has been found that it is desirable for sufficient cleaning to remove the stored dirt particles and other foreign solid particles at least to the extent of 60%.

It is known to spray such outdoor plastic floors for cleaning purposes with an HD water jet, which is directed by means of a hand-operated lance, the so-called KÄRCHER, to the ground. The water jet typically exits the lance tip at a pressure of about 80 to 100 bar. If an HD water jet from such a KÄRCHER is directed to the same location on the ground for more than about 5 seconds, damage typically occurs that can be detected as a lighter spot with respect to the surrounding coloration. Outdoor plastic floors of the type considered here are much more sensitive to treatment with a HD water jet than those substrates, such as flagstones for sidewalks and terraces, parking areas and pavements of asphalt and concrete runways, which in the above-referenced documents are addressed. In that regard, the measures described therein are not readily applicable or in a suitable manner for cleaning outdoor plastic floors of the type considered here.

Proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors depends on various factors and may require different cleaning conditions. An important factor is the degree of pollution. For example, an extremely dirty floor, which is already interspersed with organic material and has assumed a greyish color, requires more powerful cleaning conditions than a typical fall protection floor under a child's play stand. Too little injection pressure of the HD water jets provides an unsatisfactory cleaning image; it remains a shadow. Older outdoor plastic floors may already show minor damage, such as minor holes and cracks. If such damage is exposed to an excessive and / or too strong exposure to high-pressure water jets, the granulate surrounding the crack or the hole, which is partly loosely attached, can be cut off; it is removed granules, which increases the damaged area.

Proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors must therefore not only be carried out sufficiently, but also gently. Gentle, such cleaning is when on the cleaned floor surface, with respect to the surrounding color brighter spots and stripes do not occur, and / or already existing damage, such as smaller holes and cracks are not increased, which would ever be due to an improperly strong and / or temporally too long exposure to the HD water jets. If the HD cleaning machine according to the invention with the water jets produced by it would twice clean a given area at the intended operating speed or clean a given area for too long, for example because the machine is in an active spraying device or carries out a complicated turning maneuver, then lighter spots, Strips, an enlargement of existing defects and other damage to the cleaned surface occur, which affects the visual impression of the cleaned surface and thus the quality of cleaning.

On this basis, the object of the present invention is to provide an HD cleaning machine of the generic type for the proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors. Another object of the present invention relates to the proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors using an HD cleaning machine. Properly means here sufficiently and gently in the sense of the foregoing. According to a further object of the invention, the cleaning of fall protection coverings with this HD cleaning machine to restore the fall protection properties of such coverings to the extent that the useful life of such, purified fall protection coverings - while ensuring the fall protection properties according to the standard EN 1177 - extended.

• ein Reinigungskopf, mit
  • -- einem haubenförmigen, zur zu reinigenden Bodenfläche hin offenen Gehäuse, in/an dem untergebracht ist:
  • -- eine Spritzeinrichtung, um Wasser unter Hochdruckbedingungen gegen die zu reinigende Bodenfläche zu spritzen; und
  • -- eine Sammeleinrichtung, um mit Hilfe von Saugluft verspritztes Wasser sowie eine Aufschlämmung aus Wasser, Schmutzteilchen und sonstigen Feststoffpartikeln aufzunehmen und aus dem Gehäuse zu entfernen und wobei an diesem Fahrwerk wenigstens zusätzlich angebracht ist:
• ein Wassertank;
• eine Hochdruckpumpe, die Wasser aus dem Wassertank abzieht und unter HD-Bedingungen zur Spritzeinrichtung fördert;
• ein Sauggebläse, dessen Sauganschluss mit der Sammeleinrichtung verbunden ist, und
• eine Motoreinheit mit wenigstens einem Antrieb der HD-Pumpe, einem Antrieb des Sauggebläses und einem Antrieb des Antriebsrades oder der Antriebsräder;

ist die erfindungsgemäße Lösung obiger Aufgabe
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die HD-Reinigungsmaschine zusätzlich mit einer Spritzsperre ausgerüstet ist, nämlich eine solche Koppelung zwischen dem Antriebsrad-Antrieb und dem HD-Pumpen-Antrieb ausgebildet ist, die gewährleistet, dass die HD-Pumpe nur dann Wasser unter HD-Bedingungen zur Spritzeinrichtung fördert, wenn die HD-Reinigungsmaschine mit einer vorgegebenen Arbeitsgeschwindigkeit über die zu reinigende Bodenfläche fährt, wobei die Spritzsperre im Bedarfsfall von einer Bedienperson außer Betrieb gesetzt werden kann. Mit dieser Ausgestaltung werden an der gereinigten Bodenfläche helle Streifen, helle Flecken, eine Vergrößerung bereits vorhandener Schadstellen und andere Beschädigungen verhindert, die dann auftreten könnten, wenn die HD-Reinigungsmaschine bei voller Spritzleistung auf der zu reinigenden Bodenfläche steht oder nur mit einer verminderten Fortbewegungsgeschwindigkeit fährt, beispielsweise beim Drehen oder Wenden, so dass in der resultierenden Arbeitsbreite eine stärkere Reinigungswirkung auftritt, als auf der restlichen Bodenfläche, die mit der vorgesehenen Arbeitsgeschwindigkeit überfahren und mit der dabei resultierenden Reinigungswirkung gereinigt wird. Es kann eine optisch einwandfreie, gereinigte Oberfläche erhalten werden, die frei von hellen Streifen, hellen Flecken und anderen Beschädigungen ist.
Ziel der Erfindung ist es, die notorisch empfindlichen Outdoor-Kunststoffböden mit HD-Wasserstrahlen sachgemäß, sicher und effizient zu reinigen und hierfür eine geeignete fahrbare HD-Reinigungsmaschine bereitzustellen. Dieses Ziel geht über die Vorschläge aus dem Stand der Technik hinaus, die beispielsweise versuchen, bei einer, mit einem Vorrat an Reinigungsflüssigkeit, wie etwa Wasser versehenen Reinigungsmaschine das Auslaufen von Wasser zu verhindern, wenn die Maschine steht (vgl. das oben referierte Dokument DE 20 2005 011 99 U1 ), oder die auf dem zu reinigenden Boden aufzubringende Menge Reinigungsflüssigkeit an die Fortbewegungsgeschwindigkeit der Maschine anzupassen, weil bei höheren Fahrzeuggeschwindigkeit pro Zeiteinheit eine größere Fläche gereinigt wird, und deshalb pro Zeiteinheit auch eine größere Menge Reinigungsflüssigkeit benötigt wird (vgl. das oben referierte Dokument DE 298 19 927 U1 ). Ersichtlich vermitteln diese Vorschläge keine Anregung, wie ein notorisch empfindlicher Outdoor-Kunststoffboden mit HD-Wasserstrahlen sachgemäß, sicher und effizient gereinigt werden kann.
Die erfindungsgemäße HD-Reinigungsmaschine ist autark und kann ohne Beanspruchung externer Komponenten und Hilfsmittel unter typischen Arbeitsbedingungen mit einer Tankfüllung innerhalb 1 h eine Fläche von etwa 50 m² bis 150 m² reinigen, je nach deren Verschmutzungsgrad. Es wird eine ausreichende Reinigung erzielt, bei der typischerweise wenigstens 60 % und vorzugsweise noch mehr der in den offenporigen Kunststoffboden eingelagerten Schmutzteilchen und sonstige fremde Feststoffpartikel entfernt werden. Die Elastizität des Kunststoffbodens wird verbessert, und bei Fallschutzböden werden die ursprünglichen Fallschutzeigenschaften wenigstens teilweise wiederhergestellt, so dass die verwertbare Lebensdauer solcher Fallschutzböden verlängert werden kann.Starting from a mobile HD cleaning machine,
a chassis equipped with a plurality of wheels, at least one of which is motor-driven to move the machine at a working speed across the ground surface to be cleaned,
being hinged to this chassis:

• a cleaning head, with
  • - A dome-shaped, open to the floor surface to be cleaned case, is housed in / on the:
  • an injection device for spraying water under high-pressure conditions against the floor surface to be cleaned; and
  • - A collecting device to absorb with the help of suction air splashed water and a slurry of water, dirt particles and other solid particles and to remove from the housing and wherein attached to this chassis at least in addition:
• a water tank;
• a high-pressure pump that draws water from the water tank and delivers it to the sprayer under high pressure conditions;
• a suction fan whose suction port is connected to the collecting means, and
• a motor unit with at least one drive of the HP pump, a drive of the suction fan and a drive of the drive wheel or the drive wheels;

is the solution according to the invention above object
characterized in that
the HD cleaning machine is additionally equipped with a splash guard, namely such a coupling between the drive wheel drive and the HP pump drive is formed, which ensures that the HP pump promotes water only under high pressure conditions to the sprayer when the HD cleaning machine moves at a predetermined operating speed over the floor surface to be cleaned, the spray lock can be put out of action if necessary by an operator. With this configuration, bright stripes, light spots, an enlargement of already existing damaged areas and other damage that could occur when the HD cleaning machine is at full spray performance on the floor surface to be cleaned or drives only at a reduced travel speed are prevented on the cleaned floor surface For example, when turning or turning, so that in the resulting working width, a stronger cleaning effect occurs, as on the remaining floor surface, which is run over at the intended operating speed and cleaned with the resulting cleaning effect. It can be a visual perfectly clean surface, free from light streaks, light spots and other damages.
The aim of the invention is to clean the notoriously sensitive outdoor plastic floors with HD water jets properly, safely and efficiently and to provide a suitable mobile HD cleaning machine for this purpose. This aim goes beyond the prior art proposals which, for example, attempt to prevent leakage of water in a cleaning machine provided with a supply of cleaning liquid, such as water, when the machine is stopped (see the document referred to above DE 20 2005 011 99 U1 ), or to adapt the amount of cleaning liquid to be applied to the ground to be cleaned to the speed of movement of the machine, because at higher vehicle speed per unit time, a larger area is cleaned, and therefore a larger amount of cleaning liquid per unit time is required (see the above-referenced document DE 298 19 927 U1 ). Clearly, these proposals do not suggest how to adequately, safely and efficiently clean a notoriously sensitive outdoor plastic floor with HD water jets.
The HD cleaning machine according to the invention is self-sufficient and can clean without stress external components and aids under typical working conditions with a tank filling within 1 h an area of about 50 m ² to 150 m ² , depending on their degree of contamination. Sufficient cleaning is achieved in which typically at least 60% and preferably even more of the dirt particles stored in the open-pored plastic floor and other foreign solid particles are removed. The elasticity of the plastic floor is improved, and with fall protection floors, the original fall protection properties are at least partially restored, so that the useful life of such fall protection floors can be extended.

If necessary, the spray lock can be disabled by an operator, such as when the machine needs to perform a complicated turning maneuver or when a cleaning job needs to be performed in a location that is not easily accessible, such as under a jungle gym. In the case of the non-activated splash guard, the operator's experience and particular attention in operating the sprayer will prevent excessive cleaning of the floor surface, which could cause lighter streaks and stains.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the mobile HD cleaning machine according to the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.
Thus, it can preferably be provided that the HD cleaning machine according to the invention is designed for a travel speed of 5 to 10 m / min, more preferably designed for such a working speed of about 7 m / min. With this operating speed and the further features and measures described below, the above-described sufficient cleaning of outdoor plastic floors is achieved, in which at least 60% of the embedded in the porous plastic floor dirt particles and other foreign solid particles are removed.
Preferably, the HD cleaning machine according to the invention is designed for a relative cleaning performance, according to the per minute uninterrupted driving with about 20 to 30 liters of water at a working width of about 750 mm, an area of about 7 m ² to 10 m ^{2 of} the outdoor plastic floor processed can. These are reasonable conditions for commercial cleaning with the aid of an HD cleaning machine of this type. Typically, an HP pump with a pump outlet pressure of 200 to 500 bar is provided for this purpose, particularly preferably an HP pump with such a pump outlet pressure of about 250 to 400 bar intended. The HD water jets thus produced typically come under a pressure of about 150 to 300 bar from the rotating nozzles on the sprayer, which typically rotate at a distance of about 30 to 60 mm from the surface to be cleaned. If a given surface of an outdoor plastic floor were to be treated with these HD water jets continuously and for more than about 10 seconds while the HD cleaning machine was standing under these conditions, then color variations with respect to the surrounding untreated area would typically be required, as well as an increase and enlargement already existing damaged areas and further damage can be expected. With the help of the inventively provided splash barrier, despite these drastic cleaning conditions, a proper, safe and efficient cleaning of outdoor plastic floors can be ensured, which avoids any visible damage and damage.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the engine unit includes an internal combustion engine that drives a hydraulic pump to forcibly lead a liquid hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic fluid circuit to which a respective hydraulic drive is connected, each of the HP pump, the suction fan and the drive wheel or the drive wheels assigned. In such an embodiment, a solenoid valve may be used in the leading to the HD pump hydraulic drive hydraulic fluid supply line, which is only opened after the drive wheel hydraulic drive is acted upon by hydraulic fluid to the HD cleaning machine with the intended working speed on the to move to be cleaned area. In the case of a stall of the engine or in a direction reversal or other delay, the solenoid valve is closed, thus interrupting the operation of the sprayer, so as to prevent excessive cleaning on a limited area, leading to the formation of lighter stripes, lighter spots and could cause other damage to the cleaned outdoor plastic floor.

According to an alternative embodiment, to drive the HP pump, the suction fan and each drive wheel depending on a separate electric motor is present, which is fed from one or more battery (s) located on board the machine are located. In this case, such mutual control of HP pump electric motor and drive wheel electric motor is provided to ensure that the HD pump promotes cleaning liquid under HD conditions to the sprayer only if the HD cleaning machine with at least the intended operating speed travels over the area to be cleaned. If the machine is equipped with the corresponding sensors, in this case, the rotational speed of each drive wheel can also be scanned by means of such sensors, and the output signal is processed in a central control unit, which also controls the HP pump electric motor.
The HD cleaning machine according to the invention is equipped with an HP pump, which sets and promotes water under high discharge pressure. Well suited is an HD pump that delivers a discharge pressure to the pump in the range of 200 to 500 bar. Particularly preferred is an HP pump that provides a variable, adjustable delivery pressure in the range of 250 to 400 bar. A flat jet nozzle typically requires a higher pump outlet pressure and, as a result, a higher injection pressure than a spot jet nozzle. For the gentle cleaning of the outdoor plastic floors provided here, it is advantageous if the HP pump generates a water pressure in the range of 150 to 250 bar at the outlet of the nozzles producing the water spray jets; even more preferred here is at the HD output of the nozzle, a water pressure in the range of about 180 to 230 bar. Under these conditions, the water jet emerging from the nozzle disintegrates after about 150 mm into individual droplets. The outlet opening of the nozzles is preferably kept at a distance of about 30 to 60 mm from the surface to be cleaned, and under these conditions, proper cleaning of the outdoor plastic floors can be obtained.
The injection device preferably has two, in the feed direction juxtaposed hollow support beams which are rotatably supported by a respective centrally disposed and vertically oriented hollow shaft. At each end of the stringer a nozzle is arranged so that one on the surface to be cleaned directed water jet is formed. The water is supplied to the nozzles under HD conditions via the hollow shaft and the hollow stringers. It is chosen such a mutual arrangement that approaching nozzles pass each other at a small distance.

Preferably, each hollow support beam can be connected to the associated hollow shaft via a quick-change system, which allows rapid replacement of a given, provided with a particular type of nozzle support beam against another, provided with a different type of nozzle support beams. Such a support beam is secured with respect to its associated hollow shaft, with the aid of a quick release and quick lockable bolt. Various types of nozzles may be provided, for example flat fan nozzles with a slot-shaped nozzle opening or spot jet nozzles with a circular nozzle opening. The slot of a fan jet nozzle may typically have a length of about 2 mm and a width of about 0.8 mm. Flat jet nozzles are preferably used for cleaning larger and less polluted areas. Here, the HP pump preferably delivers a pump outlet pressure in the range of 250 to 300 bar, which typically delivers an injection pressure of 180 to 230 bar at the outlet of the flat jet nozzle. Point jet nozzles are more typically used to clean heavily soiled surfaces; Also, a fall protection floor under a game device is preferably cleaned by means of spot jet nozzles.

Such spot jet nozzles may preferably have a straight through bore with a bore diameter greater than 0.70 mm and less than 0.90 mm; Particularly good results are achieved with a point jet nozzle whose straight through bore has a bore diameter of about 0.8 mm. For such point jet nozzles, HP pump outlet pressure in the range of 200 to 250 bar is preferably provided. Under these conditions, proper cleaning of the outdoor plastic floors provided here can be achieved.

With a bore diameter of the spot jet nozzle smaller than or equal to 0.70 mm, the water jet formed decomposes too early into individual droplets and does not produce sufficient cleaning action. With a bore diameter equal to or greater than 0.90 mm, the water consumption is too high under the conditions mentioned.

1. (a) mit Hilfe des ausströmenden Wasserstrahles ein, jeden Tragbalken in Rotation versetzendes Drehmoment zu erzeugen, und um
2. (b) mit Hilfe der beiden Düsen an dem einen rotierenden Tragbalken eine so bespritzte kreisringförmige Fläche zu bilden, welche die mit den beiden Düsen am anderen rotierenden Tragbalken bespritzte kreisringförmige Fläche berührt, aber nicht überlappt.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided here that each passage nozzle is arranged on the support beam in such a way that its through-bore in both orthogonal spatial directions is slightly inclined relative to the vertical in order to

1. (A) by means of the outflowing water jet, to generate each support beam in rotation torque, and
2. (b) to form with the aid of the two nozzles on the one rotating support beam such a spattered annular surface which contacts but does not overlap the annular surface spattered with the two nozzles at the other rotating support beam.

If these spattered annular areas overlapped, then the overlap area would be exposed to a dual cleaning action. This would result in the HD cleaning machine moved with the sprayer activated to form a lighter strip on the cleaned surface. This shows by way of example that when cleaning the relatively sensitive outdoor plastic floors of this type with an HP water jet, different factors must be coordinated to achieve sufficient cleaning, without damaging the cleaned area and / or the visual impression of the cleaned area to impair.

For each support beam may preferably be selected a length of 300 to 500 mm; Particularly preferred here is a support beam length of about 350 mm. Because the two support beams are arranged side by side and transversely to the feed direction, so that a working width of 600 mm to 1000 mm, in particular a working width of about 750 mm can be achieved, which has proven well in practice.

Typically, such a spray device is bounded by vertically aligned bristles which terminate at a small distance from the surface to be cleaned. These bristles are arranged in an oval ring, which encloses the two circular orbits of the spray nozzles. These bristles are used to limit the spray space and to keep from the floor surface to be cleaned rebounding water droplets and dirt particles within the spray chamber.

Such an injection device is formed on the cleaning head, which in turn is articulated on the HD cleaning machine. For this purpose, a transversely to the feed direction aligned U-shaped guide can be provided on the front portion of the machine, within which a complementary rail is guided displaceably, on which the cleaning head is articulated. This rail can be locked in various lateral positions with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the machine, so that the cleaning head can be arranged laterally offset from this longitudinal center plane and working if necessary. This adaptation to difficult to reach places of the surface to be cleaned can be achieved, for example under a climbing frame on a fall protection floor. The lateral adjustment of the rail on the cleaning head with respect to the guide on the machine can also be carried out continuously by means of a drive (rack and a gear operated by a servomotor, or rotating threaded rod, which adjusts a female thread meshing therewith on a nut); With such equipment, the operator can continuously change and align the laterally offset arrangement of the cleaning head with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the machine.

Typically, the cleaning head is provided with its own, height-adjustable rollers arranged to run on the surface to be cleaned. Thus, the outlet openings of the nozzles are kept at a distance of about 30 to 60 mm to the surface to be cleaned; Particularly preferred here is such a distance of about 40 mm. Also, the choice of this distance contributes to the proper cleaning of the outdoor plastic floors, as stated above.

At such a cleaning head and a collecting device is formed. Typically, such a collecting device may be provided with a collecting channel which forms a closed oval and is open towards the surface to be cleaned; bounded by an outer leg formed by the vertically aligned cleaning head housing wall and an inner leg spaced therefrom, each terminating at a distance of about 30 to 50 mm above the surface to be cleaned. The collecting channel thus formed opens into a collecting funnel, which is located in the feed direction behind the spraying device. This collecting funnel in turn is connected to the suction connection of the suction fan via a large-volume flexible hose piece.

Preferably, the rear part of the outer leg of the collecting trough can be provided with a trailing over the surface to be cleaned lip of flexible material. Such a lip inhibits the intake of sucked air at the back of the cleaning head. The air is sucked in mainly at the front of the cleaning head, which allows a greater distance of the lower edge of the cleaning head housing at this front. The cleaning head can thus drive on an uneven surface and clean them reliably and properly.

Preferably, the suction fan is designed for a delivery rate of about 25 to 40 m ³ air / min; Particularly preferred here is such a capacity of about 30 m ³ air / min provided. This high flow rate generates a strong suction air flow, with the help of which most of the sprayed water for cleaning can be resumed together with the expelled from the plastic floor dirt particles and other foreign solid particles in the collection of the cleaning head. This, liquid water, dirt and other foreign solid particles containing suction air stream is introduced via the suction fan with the subsequently formed compressed air flow into the water tank. Within the water tank, this contaminated compressed air stream flows along a longer path in turbulent flow past vortex plates, and this is a separated significant proportion of splashing water from the compressed air stream and fed back into the existing water tank in the water supply

With this considerable delivery rate of the suction fan, a strong suction effect is generated at the collecting channel. The lower edge of the collecting trough can end at a significant distance of about 30 to 50 mm above the surface to be cleaned; Thus, with the described cleaning head under these suction conditions and an uneven surface can be properly cleaned.

• -- einem haubenförmigen zur zu reinigenden Bodenfläche hin offenen Gehäuse, in/an dem untergebracht ist:
• -- eine Spritzeinrichtung, um Wasser unter Hochdruckbedingungen gegen die zu reinigende Bodenfläche zu spritzen; und
• -- eine Sammeleinrichtung, um mit Hilfe von Saugluft verspritztes Wasser sowie eine Aufschlämmung aus Wasser, Schmutzteilchen und sonstigen Feststoffpartikeln aufzunehmen und aus dem Gehäuse zu entfernen;

wobei diese Spritzeinrichtung über einen typischerweise 10 bis 15 m langen Schlauch an die HD-Pumpe an der HD-Reinigungsmaschine anschließbar ist; und die Sammeleinrichtung über einen weiteren großvolumigen, etwa 10 bis 15 m Schlauch an das Sauggebläse an der HD-Reinigungsmaschine anschließbar ist.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention may be provided to those provided with the above cleaning head
HD cleaning machine additionally a second, mobile and hand-guided cleaning head be connected,
which is equipped with

• a hood-shaped housing open towards the floor surface to be cleaned, in / on which is accommodated:
• an injection device for spraying water under high-pressure conditions against the floor surface to be cleaned; and
• - A collecting device to absorb with the help of suction air splashed water and a slurry of water, dirt particles and other solid particles and to remove from the housing;

wherein this spraying device can be connected via a typically 10 to 15 m long hose to the HP pump on the HP cleaning machine; and the collecting device can be connected via a further large-volume, about 10 to 15 m hose to the suction fan on the HD cleaning machine.

With this second, mobile and hand-held cleaning head surfaces can be cleaned that are not accessible from the HD cleaning machine, such as the fall protection floor below a play stand, which obstructs the access of the entire, relatively large HD cleaning machine. In such a case, by the operator by means of a manual control on the sole supply, the second mobile cleaning head with HD splashing and switching over the suction fan to avoid damage to the area on which the first cleaning head stands during this particular additional cleaning work.

All these measures and features, such as delivery of the suction fan, water pressure at the HD outlet of the HP pump, number, type and arrangement of the nozzles and the resulting water pressure at the outlet of the spray nozzles, and their distance from the surface to be cleaned and finally the envisaged operating speed, with which the HD cleaning machine travels over the surface to be cleaned, work together to adequately clean the relatively sensitive outdoor plastic base provided here with an HP water jet, without lighter stripes and spots on the cleaned surface and / or or other impairments and damage occur. In addition, the spray barrier prevents such damage and damage to the cleaned plastic floor, if the intended operating speed can not be achieved in a particular situation.

The HD cleaning machine according to the invention is equipped with its own water tank. For example, an elongated, box-shaped water tank can be provided, which can accommodate about 400 to 500 liters of water at a length of 150 to 200 cm, typically at a length of about 170 cm. More preferred is a water tank with a capacity of about 250 to 300 liters of water. This allows a slimmer HD cleaning machine to be realized. Preferably, such a water tank is made of a light metal, such as aluminum, to save weight. The pressure connection of the suction fan is connected to an air inlet of the water tank, which is attached to the rear of the water tank. Even if the water tank is completely filled with fresh water to the intended extent, there remains above the water surface free space for an air flow. In this free space several, attached to the ceiling wall of the water tank vortex plates protrude, which provide a turbulent flow of the passing air. It creates a long winding path for the air flow.

Along this route water droplets, dirt particles and other foreign solid particles are largely separated from the air flow, which reach the water in the water tank. The thus cleaned air flow leaves the water tank via a sieve, grid or the like, which is formed in the front end region on the top wall of the water tank. This air outlet may be preceded by an air filter.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the water in the water tank passes through one or more filters and then passes as pure water to the suction side of the HP pump.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the delivery rate of the suction fan, the treatment of the intake air within the water tank and the capacity of the water tank are coordinated so that for cleaning about three times that amount of water is available, which has been initially filled in the water tank. Thanks to this configuration, with a water tank volume of about 300 liters and a water demand of the sprayer for cleaning purposes of about 20 liters / min during an uninterrupted cleaning job at an average operating speed of about 7 m / min with a single water tank fill, an area of about 50 to 150 m ^{2 be} cleaned.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an HD cleaning machine equipped with the above-described spray lock, and optionally additionally having one or more of the above-described feature (s) for the proper cleaning of outdoor plastic floors. These outdoor plastic floors consist essentially of PUR-bonded rubber fibers, rubber granules or granules of synthetic rubber, such as EDPM or these outdoor plastic floors contain at least one tread or wear layer of such material. These outdoor plastic floors may be fall protection floors that meet the fall protection requirements of EN 1177 or equivalent elastic products.

In the case of cleaning such fall protection floors using the HD cleaning machine according to the invention, the stored over time in the fall protection soil dirt particles and other foreign solid particles can be at least so far removed that the original fall protection properties are at least partially restored. In this way can be extended by applying the HD cleaning machine according to the invention in the cleaning of such fall protection floors their useful life. Similar results are achieved in the purification of other comparable elastic products of this type.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht der HD-Reinigungsmaschine;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der verschiedenen Funktionen an der HD-Reinigungsmaschine und deren Anordnung;

Fig. 3

in einer Schrägbilddarstellung einen Blick auf die Unterseite des Reinigungskopfes, der hierzu aufrecht stehend angeordnet ist;

Fig. 4

eine Schnittdarstellung des Reinigungskopfes, parallel zur Vorschubrichtung;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittdarstellung des Reinigungskopfes senkrecht zur Vorschubrichtung zur Erläuterung der Ausrichtung der beiden inneren benachbarten Düsen am Reinigungskopf in einer gegebenen Situation; und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Seitenansicht der HD-Reinigungsmaschine nach Fig. 1, an die zusätzlich ein zweiter, mobiler, handgeführter Reinigungskopf angeschlossen ist.

Hereinafter, the HD cleaning machine according to the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings; the latter show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of the HD cleaning machine;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the various functions of the HD cleaning machine and their arrangement;

Fig. 3

in an oblique view, a view of the underside of the cleaning head, which is arranged upright for this purpose;

Fig. 4

a sectional view of the cleaning head, parallel to the feed direction;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of the cleaning head perpendicular to the feed direction for explaining the orientation of the two inner adjacent nozzles on the cleaning head in a given situation; and

Fig. 6

a schematic side view of the HD cleaning machine after Fig. 1 , to which a second, mobile, hand-guided cleaning head is additionally connected.

The HD cleaning machine 1 forms a mobile, self-propelled device remotely reminiscent of a self-propelled road roller or sweeper. The machine 1 is to drive on a surface 2, namely on the surface of a Outdoor plastic floor to clean this. In the illustration after Fig. 1 the machine 1 moves on the surface 2 in the arrow direction of the arrow 3, which corresponds to the usual direction of travel or feed direction in a cleaning job. In the upper portion of the - seen in the direction of travel - rear (rear) part of the machine 1 are a number of controls 35, 35 ', 35 ", which are operable during operation of a, behind the machine 1 forth - not shown - operator.

• ein auf Rädern laufendes Fahrwerk 10 mit einem rahmenartigen Vorbau 40;
• ein, an dem Vorbau 40 handgelenkter Reinigungskopf 70;
• eine an dem Vorbau 40 befestigte HD-Pumpe 60;
• ein an dem Fahrwerk 10 angebrachtes Sauggebläse 50;
• ein an der Oberseite des Fahrgestells abgestützter Wassertank 100; und
• eine innerhalb oder am Fahrwerk 10 befindliche Motoreinheit, beispielsweise eine Motoreinheit mit einem Verbrennungsmotor 30, der eine Hydraulikpumpe 32 treibt, die einen Hydraulikmittelkreis speist, aus dem zumindest ein Antriebsrad-Antrieb 24, ein Sauggebläse-Hydraulikmotor 51 und ein HD-Pumpen-Hydraulikmotor 61 versorgt werden.

The essential components of the HD cleaning machine 1 include:

• a running on wheels chassis 10 with a frame-like stem 40;
• a, on the stem 40 hand-held cleaning head 70;
• a fixed to the stem 40 HP pump 60;
• a suction fan 50 mounted on the chassis 10;
• a water tank 100 supported at the top of the truck; and
• a motor unit located inside or on the chassis 10, for example, a motor unit having an internal combustion engine 30 that drives a hydraulic pump 32 that feeds a hydraulic medium circuit, at least one drive wheel drive 24, one suction fan hydraulic motor 51, and one HD pump hydraulic motor 61 be supplied.

The chassis 10 is constructed essentially of four-edge steel profiles which are welded together. To these four-edge profiles include two lower parallel and spaced-apart side members 11 and 11 ', as well as correspondingly arranged upper side members 12 and 12', also in the side view Fig. 1 only indicated cross member 13, 14 and 15, further vertically oriented supports 16 and 17, and other struts and support members 18, 19 and 20. At the two, parallel and spaced from each other, the lower side rails 11 and 11 'is a hanging bridge 21st attached to the one, provided with a differential gear 23 and driven by a hydraulic motor 24 drive shaft 25 is mounted, at the ends of each a drive wheel 26 is fixedly mounted. Each drive wheel 26 has a steel rim 27 on which a strongly profiled pneumatic tire 28 is seated. In the rear part of a plate 29 is mounted on the two lower side rails 11 and 11 ', on which an internal combustion engine 30 is supported on the shaft 31, a hydraulic pump 32 is flanged, lead from the multiple hydraulic lines to a control block 33. Various control valves, not shown, which can be actuated by means of the operating levers 35, 35 ', 35 ", are actuated in this control block 33. The hydraulic lines are indicated only schematically by means of their various connections 36. The internal combustion engine 30 is assigned a motor vehicle battery 37. Further, a hydraulic fluid tank 38 is provided, which is also supported on the plate 29 ..

At the front ends of the two lower side members 11 and 11 ', a cross member 13 is welded to which in turn a frame-like stem 40 is welded, which is formed of two parallel and spaced apart longitudinal beams 41 and 41' and a front cross member 42. Of each longitudinal beam 41, 41 'is a support 43, 43' down from, on the pivotally mounted a U-shaped bracket 44, 44 ', the legs of which hold an axis on which a support wheel 45, 45' is rotatably mounted , At the front cross member 42, a U-shaped guide 46 is fixed, which is associated with a rotatably mounted spindle or threaded rod 47, which can be set by means of a hydraulic motor 48 in rotation. It is only indicated schematically that in this guide 46, a complementary U-shaped rail 98 is used, which is hinged to a frame 95 which is attached to the top of the cleaning head 70. On the spindle 47 sits a nut 49 which is fixed to the rail 98. With the help of the rotating spindle 47, the detained nut 49 is adjusted laterally and thus the cleaning head frame 95 and the cleaning head 70 held thereon can be adjusted in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the machine 1 and thus with respect to the feed direction.

At the front of the chassis 10, a suction fan 50 is fixed between the two longitudinal beams 41, 41 ', which is associated with an only schematically indicated hydraulic motor 51 which drives the fan of the suction fan 50. This suction fan 50 has an axially mounted and horizontally oriented suction port 55 and a radially mounted and vertically oriented pressure port 57. To this suction port 55 is a large-volume, flexible hose 56 can be connected, with its remote end to the collection hopper 93 of the collector 88 is connected to the cleaning head 70. To the pressure port 57, another, large-volume, flexible hose 58 is connected, whose distal end is connected to the air inlet 103 of the water tank 100. With the help of the suction fan 50, an air flow is sucked in the water droplets, dirt particles and other solid particles are dispersed, which have been taken up by the surface treated with the water spray jets 2. This air flow is - after passing through the suction fan - introduced in the form of the compressed air stream then formed in the water tank 100 and there largely freed from its accompanying substances. The cleaned compressed air stream then exits through a screen 102 on the water tank 100 back into the surrounding atmosphere.

At the front end of the stem 40, a plate is fixed at an angle between the longitudinal spar 41 and cross member 42, on which a high-pressure pump (= HP pump) 60 is supported. Also, this high-pressure pump 60 is associated with an only schematically indicated hydraulic motor 61, which drives the shaft of the HP pump 60.

In the leading to the HD pump hydraulic motor 61 hydraulic medium line 62, a solenoid valve 63 is used, which is adjustable in dependence on the hydraulic medium supply of the drive wheel hydraulic motor 24 and the rotational speed of each drive wheel 26 achieved therewith. When the solenoid valve 63 assumes its closed position, the hydraulic fluid supply of the HP pump hydraulic motor 61 is interrupted and the HP pump 60 will not deliver water under high pressure conditions to the sprayer 75 in the cleaning head 70.

The HP pump 60 has a suction side 64 and a pressure side 66. To the suction side 64 of the HP pump 60, a flexible hose 65 is connected, via the pure water from the water tank 100 is approachable. In addition, the HD pump suction side 64 can be supplied with fresh water from another source, if available. To the pressure side 66 of the HP pump 60, a flexible HD hose 67 is connected, which leads to a multi-way valve 68, to which the two supply lines 69 and 69 'are connected, which are connected to the two Shaft heads 78 and 82 lead, which seal the two hollow shafts 77 and 81 of the spray device in the cleaning head 70 and rotate. To another output of the multi-way valve 68 can be connected via a - not shown - longer flexible hose - not shown - manually operated spray lance, by means of which certain reworking can be carried out by hand for cleaning purposes, for example, such areas under a scaffold, which are not accessible with the HD cleaning machine.

Furthermore, the HD cleaning machine 1 according to the invention includes a cleaning head 70, which is more in detail with the Figures 2 and 4 is shown. This cleaning head 70 has a relatively flat (height typically less than 150 mm), substantially rectangular hood-shaped housing 71, which is open to the bottom surface 2 to be cleaned. At each housing corner is ever a roller 72, 72 ', 72 ", 72'" mounted vertically adjustable, which runs on the floor surface 2 to be cleaned. At the top of the housing 71, a frame 95 is hinged, the distal end is pivotally mounted on a U-shaped rail 98, which in the U-shaped guide 46 on the stem 40 can be inserted. The rail 98 is laterally adjustably guided and held within this guide 46, as described above.

Within the cleaning head housing 71, an injection device 75 is formed, to which two hollow support beams 76 and 80 belong. Each support beam 76 and 80 is arranged in the working position at a distance and substantially parallel to the surface 2 to be cleaned. The one support beam 76 is held on a hollow shaft 77 which is sealed and rotatably supported on a shaft head 78. The other support beam 80 is held on a hollow shaft 81 which is sealed and rotatably supported on a shaft head 82. At the two opposite ends of a support beam 76, the two spray nozzles 79 and 79 'are fixed. At the two opposite ends of the other support beam 80, the two spray nozzles 83 and 83 'are fixed. Each spray nozzle 79 and 79 'and 83 and 83' is here designed as a spot jet nozzle and has a straight, circular through-bore with a bore diameter of about 0.8 mm. Each shaft head 78 or 82 can via the respective supply line 69 and 69 'water be supplied under HD conditions, which passes through the hollow shaft 77 and 82 and the respective hollow support beam portion to the spray nozzle and emerges at the outlet end in an undivided spray jet. It is believed that at the outlet end of each spray nozzle 79 and 79 'and 83 and 83' still a water pressure of about 200 to 250 bar prevails.

Each spray nozzle 79 and 79 'or 83 and 83' is slightly inclined in both orthogonal spatial directions relative to the vertical. The resulting alignment of the spray jets produced with these spray nozzles is schematically shown in FIGS 4 and 5 indicated. Each spray jet encloses an angle α in the direction of rotation with the vertical (cf. Fig. 4 ) and is perpendicular to this direction of rotation outwardly inclined relative to the vertical by an angle β (see. Fig. 5 ). The angle α is about 45 °, whereby a sufficient torque for rotation of the support beams 76 and 80 is generated. The angle .beta. Is approximately 1.degree. The two hollow shafts 77 and 81 are arranged in a plane transverse to the feed direction and at a distance from one another in such a way that the annular surfaces sprayed by these two spray nozzles touch each other, even in the most closely spaced spray nozzles 79 'and 83. but do not overlap, like out Fig. 5 seen.

This spraying device 75 is bounded by vertically aligned bristles 85, which terminate at a small distance from the surface 2 to be cleaned. These bristles 85 are disposed in an oval rim 86 which encloses the respective orbits of the spray nozzles 79 and 79 'and 83 and 83' on the rotating support beams 76 and 80, respectively.

At each corner of the substantially rectangular housing of the cleaning head 70 is ever a separate role 72, 72 ', 72 "and 72'" arranged vertically adjustable, with the help of the cleaning head 70 can drive on the surface to be cleaned 2. Typically, such a roller arrangement is selected that the outlet openings of the spray nozzles 79, 79 'and 83, 83' are kept at a distance of about 40 mm to the surface 2 to be cleaned.

This spraying device 75 is surrounded by a collecting device 88 which has a collecting channel 89 which forms a closed oval and is open towards the surface 2 to be cleaned. This collecting channel 89 is outwardly bounded by an outer leg 90 formed by the vertically aligned cleaning head housing wall section and an inner leg 92 spaced therefrom; in the lateral direction of this inner leg 92 is arranged approximately at a distance of 20 mm, and to the rear at a distance of about 70 mm. Both legs 90 and 92 terminate at a distance of about 30 to 50 mm to the surface to be cleaned 2. This collecting channel 89 opens into a collecting hopper 93, which is located in the feed direction 3 behind the spraying device 75. This collecting funnel 93 is connected via a large-volume, flexible hose piece 56 to the suction port 55 of the suction fan 50. Typically, the hopper outlet port and the flexible hose 56 have an inner diameter of about 150 mm. At the rear part of the outer leg 90 of the collecting channel 89, a lip 91 may be attached made of flexible material, which can be towed over the surface 2 to be cleaned. Such a lip 91 inhibits the entry of sucked air, so that such air is increasingly sucked from the other portions of the collecting channel 89.

The cleaning head 75 described above is articulated via a frame 95 on the stem 40 of the remaining HD cleaning machine 1 so that the cleaning head 70 running on its own rollers 72, 72 ', 72 "and 72' can compensate for differences in height to the rest of the machine 1. The frame 95 comprises a plurality of struts 96, 96 ', 96 ", which are articulated on the one hand on the upper side of the cleaning head housing 71 and on the other hand pivotally hinged to a U-shaped rail 98, with their legs in an open, U-shaped guide 46th can be used, which is mounted at a suitable height on the stem 40 of the machine 1. Within this guide 46, the rail 98 can be adjusted laterally, as described above.

The Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of the HD cleaning machine 1, to which a second, mobile and hand-held cleaning head 170 is additionally connected. With this second, mobile cleaning head 170 such areas in the vicinity of the cleaning machine 1 are cleaned, which are not accessible to this cleaning machine 1. This second mobile cleaning head 170 is equipped in substantially the same way with a spraying device (not shown in detail) and with a collecting device (not shown in detail), like the cleaning head 70 described above. Typically, the cleaning head 170 processes a smaller working surface than the cleaning head 70 and is equipped only with a single rotating support beam to which two nozzles are mounted stationary. The spraying device on the mobile cleaning head 170 is connected via a flexible hose 169 to the HP pump 60 on the HD cleaning machine 1. The collecting device on the mobile cleaning head 170 is connected via a further flexible, large-volume hose 165 to the suction fan 50 on the HD cleaning machine 1. Typically, for each of these tubes 169 and 156, a length of about 10 to 15 meters may be provided. Alternatively, both hoses 169 and 156 can be combined in a common, flexible - not shown - hose device. Depending on the HD cleaning machine 1, the mobile cleaning head 170 is supplied via the hose 169 with HD splashing water, and disposed of via the hose 156. Thus, surfaces can be cleaned that are unreachable by the comparatively large HD cleaning machine 1.

The HD cleaning machine 1 is additionally equipped with a water tank 100. In the with Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, this water tank 100 has substantially the shape of an elongated rectangular box which is supported on the chassis 10 above the other units. In a preferred embodiment, this water tank 100 is made of aluminum and has a capacity of about 300 liters of water. In the schematic side view Fig. 1 the here visible side wall of the water tank 100 is shown partially broken away to show a view of the interior. In the rear area is located on the top wall 101, an inlet stub 58, to which a large-volume, flexible hose 58 is connected, with its other end to the pressure port 57 of the suction fan 50th connected. On the inside of the ceiling wall 101 of the water tank 100 are suspended vortex plates 105 are attached, which extend over the entire cross section of the water tank 100. Over the entire length of preferably 170 cm, for example, five spaced apart vortex plates 105 are provided, which may have a height of about 70 to 100 mm. These swirl plates force a turbulent flow on the passing stream of compressed air. At a front portion, the ceiling wall 101 of the water tank 100 is equipped with a perforated portion 102 in the form of a screen, grate or the like, via which the compressed air introduced into the water tank 100 exits again. On their way from the inlet port 103 to the broken section 102, the compressed air introduced into the water tank 100 follows a tortuous path adjacent to the vortex plates 105. Along this path, water droplets, dirt particles and other foreign solid particles are separated from the compressed air flow and enter the water tank 100 Water. In addition, the perforated section 102 may be preceded by an air filter (not shown) to further purify the exiting air.

In the front section of the water tank 100 serving as a dirt collector sink or gutter 108 is formed, from which heavily polluted water can be discharged through an adjustable slide 109. In this front portion of the water tank 100 are one or more filtering devices. Well proven has a filter in the form of a filter cartridge 110, which is equipped with a cylindrical filter layer 111. The water to be taken out of the water tank 100 enters this filter candle 110 via a porous outer wall. Into the cylindrical filter layer 111 protrudes a tube provided with holes 112, which receives the purified water here. In the pipe 112, a valve 113 may be used. On the other side of the valve 113 located pipe end 114 of the hose 65 is connected, via the pure water from the water tank 100 of the suction side 64 of the HP pump 60 can be fed.

In an exemplary embodiment, about 300 liters of water may be introduced into the water tank 100. For proper cleaning of the outdoor floor surface 2, about 15 to 20 liters of water per minute are needed. The suction air flow generated by the suction fan 60 takes on the collector 88 a large part of the sprayed onto the surface to be cleaned 2 water again, together with the thus released dirt particles and other solid particles. Water and dirt particles / solid particles are introduced into the water tank 100 together with the compressed air flow in an anhydrous section below the ceiling wall 101. On the way from the air inlet 103 to the air outlet 102 on the water tank 100, the majority of the droplet-shaped, liquid water is excreted again and separated. Experience has shown that during a cleaning job about three times the amount of water originally charged into the water tank 100 can be reacted, circulated and used for cleaning purposes. Subsequently, the remaining in the water tank 100, here in particular in its dirt collector 108 remaining water so heavily polluted that it must be drained and replaced with fresh pure water. Under the circumstances described can be with the HD cleaning machine 1 according to the invention with a one-time filling of the water tank 100 with about 250 liters of water and a water consumption for cleaning purposes of about 15 to 20 liters / min within about 60 to 80 minutes cleaning job an area of about 50 m ² to 150 m ^{2 of} the outdoor plastic floor 2 are cleaned properly. The HD cleaning machine works independently and is not dependent on external support.

Claims (11)

1. Mobile HP cleaning machine (1) for outdoor plastic floors, having a chassis (10) equipped with a plurality of wheels, of which at least one drive wheel (26) is motor driven to move the machine (1) at a predetermined operating speed over the floor surface (2) to be cleaned;
   wherein on this chassis (1) is articulated:

   - a cleaning head (70) with

   -- a hood-shaped casing (71) which is open to the floor surface (2) to be cleaned and in/on which is accommodated:

   -- a spray device (75) for spraying water under high-pressure conditions against the floor surface (2) to be cleaned; and

   -- a collecting device (88) for receiving and removing from the housing (71) water sprayed by means of suction air and a slurry of water, dirt particles and other solid particles; and

   wherein on this chassis (19) is at least additionally mounted:

   - a water tank (100);

   - an HP pump (60) which takes water from the water tank (100) and supplies it, under HP conditions, toward the spray device (75);

   - a suction fan (50), whose suction port (55) is connected to the collecting device (88); and

   - a motor unit with at least one drive wheel-drive (24), a suction fan-drive (51) and an HP pump-drive (61);

   characterized in that
   the HP cleaning machine (1) is additionally equipped with a splash guard which is formed as a coupling between the drive wheel-drive (24) and the HP pump-drive (61) and which ensures that the HP pump (60) supplies water under HP conditions to the spray device (75) only when the HP cleaning machine (1) drives over the floor surface (2) to be cleaned with a predetermined operating speed, wherein the splash guard can be closed down, if necessary, by an operator.
2. HP cleaning machine according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the HP cleaning machine (1) is adapted for a working speed of 5 to 15 m/min.
3. HP cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the motor unit includes an internal combustion engine (30) driving an hydraulic pump (32) to forcely lead a liquid hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic fluid circuit, to which an hydraulic motor (61) of the HP pump (60), an hydraulic motor (51) of the suction fan (50) and an hydraulic motor (24) of the driving wheel (26) or of the driving wheels is connected.
4. HP cleaning machine according to claim 3,
   characterized in that
   in the hydraulic fluid supply line (62) leading to the HP pump hydraulic motor (61), a solenoid valve (63) is inserted, which is opened only after the drive wheel hydraulic motor (24) is supplied with a hydraulic fluid for moving the HP cleaning machine (1) with the intended working speed over the surface (2) to be cleaned.
5. HP cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   for driving the HP pump, the suction fan and the driving wheel a respective electric motor is provided; and
   a mutual control of the HP pump electric motor and the driving wheel electric motor(s) is provided which ensures that the HP pump supplies water under HP conditions to the spray device only when the HP cleaning machine drives over the surface to be cleaned with the intended working speed.
6. HP cleaning machine according to any of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the spray device (75) comprises two hollow support beams (76, 80) which are arranged side by side in the advancing direction and which are rotatably mounted by a centrally arranged and vertically aligned hollow shaft (71, 81); at the respective ends of each support beam (76, 80) one respective nozzle (79, 79') and (83, 83') is arranged in such a way that a water jet is formed which is directed to the surface (2) to be cleaned; and
   nozzles (79', 83) approaching other pass each other at a small distance.
7. HP cleaning machine according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   each hollow support beam (76, 80) is connected to the associated hollow shaft via a quick change system, which allows a rapid replacement of the present supporting beam equipped with a specific type of nozzles by another supporting beam equipped with another type of nozzles.
8. HP cleaning machine according to claim 6 or 7,
   characterized in that
   each passage nozzle is arranged in such a way that its through hole is slightly inclined in both orthogonal spacial directions relative to the vertical, to

   a) generate, with the aid of the outflowing water jet, a torque rotating each support beam (76, 80); and to

   b) form, with the aid of both nozzles (79, 79') on the one support beam (76), a so splattered annular surface which contacts the annular surface splattered by both nozzles (83, 83') on the other support beam (80), but without overlapping.
9. HP cleaning machine according to any of claims 6 to 8,
   characterized in that
   the cleaning head (70) articulated on the HP cleaning machine (1) rolles on own rollers (72, 72', 72", 72'") arranged in a vertically adjustable manner, to maintain the output port of the nozzles (79, 79' and 83, 83') in the distance of about 30 to 60 mm to the surface (2) to be cleaned.
10. HP cleaning machine according to any of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the HP pump (60) is designed for a pump outlet pressure of 200 to 500 bar; the suction fan (50) is designed for a capacity of 25 to 40 cm³ air/min.; and with an amount of water of about 250 litre filled in the water tank (100) and with a water requirement of the spray device (75) for cleaning purposes of about 20 litres/min., during an uninterrupted cleaning job at an average operating speed of about 7 m/min., a surface (2) of about 50 to 150 m² can be cleaned with a single water tank filling.
11. Application of an HP cleaning machine according to any of claims 1 to 10, for properly cleaning of an outdoor plastic floor which essentially consists of PUR-bonded rubber fibres, rubber granulate or granulate of synthetic rubber, such as EPDM, or which comprises at least one so-constructed wear- or stepping layer.

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