EP2909377B1

EP2909377B1 - Cleaning unit for retroflectors

Info

Publication number: EP2909377B1
Application number: EP13818381.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Micheletti; Andrea Micheletti
Original assignee: Airoxmig SR L
Current assignee: Airoxmig SR L
Priority date: 2012-10-15
Filing date: 2013-10-15
Publication date: 2016-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-15
Also published as: EP2909377A1; WO2014060939A1; ITVI20120270A1

Description

Field of invention

The present invention is applicable to the technical field of cleaning systems and particularly relates to a cleaning unit for retroreflectors, which are typically found along roadsides, highways, airport runways and the like.
The present invention also relates to a kit and a cleaning method of the above retroreflectors, as well as to a software for exploiting this method.

Background of the invention

Along roadways, such as roads, highways or in any case lanes susceptible to be run by vehicles such as in airports the runways for the landing and the takeoff of aircrafts, side barriers are typically present to delimit the roadway and to avoid that vehicles come accidentally out therefrom.
Typically, these side barriers consist of guardrails, so-called "new jersey" barriers, boundary walls, milestones, plastic columns or the like.
To improve their visibility during night or in low-light moments, the side barriers are typically provided with retroreflectors, retroreflective bodies susceptible to reflect light, such as the headlights of a vehicle. In this way, the various retroreflectors defines a real boundary line of the roadway.
However the retroreflectors, which lye outside and at the boundaries of a way for vehicles, are subject to get dirty, in such a manner that the reflective surface thereof became opaque. In addition, along roadsides typically grow grass, shrubs and the like, which hides the visibility of the retroreflectors.
To date, the periodic cleaning of the dirty retroreflectors is performed manually by a suitable staff.
It is self-evident that this solution is disadvantageous and expensive, because the number of retroreflectors to be cleaned is high and the manual cleaning thereof requires time. In fact, the suitable staff must move from one reflector to another, by manually wash with special detergent and rinse them one-to-one.
Moreover, since often the cleaning operations are carried out without closing the road section concerned, the workers are exposed to serious dangers.
Further, the same staff may be instructed to cut and weed weeds or shrubs that may hide the retroreflectors, thus making the process even more expensive in terms of time and money.
From the documents IT1034392 , WO2011/042577 and JPH01244005 are known kit and/or units suitable for the cleaning of retroreflectors.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to overcome at least partly the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a cleaning unit for retroreflectors that allows a cost effective and efficient cleaning operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit and/or a cleaning unit for retroreflectors which allows to minimize the consumption of washing and/or rinsing fluids.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit and/or a cleaning unit for retroreflectors which allows to minimize the operative times.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit and/or a cleaning unit for retroreflectors that allows to operate safely.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit and/or a cleaning unit for retroreflectors which allows to minimize the use of human personnel.
A further object is to provide a kit and/or a cleaning unit for retroreflectors which allows to reduce, or even to avoid at all, the growth of grass, shrubs or the like nearby retroreflectors.
The above objects, as well as others that will appear more clearly hereinafter, are achieved by a kit for the cleaning of retroreflectors according to what it is herein described and/or shown and/or claimed, in particular according to what it is claimed in claim 1.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a cleaning unit for retroreflectors may be provided according to what is herein described and/or shown and/or claimed, in particular according to what is claimed in claim 14.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for the cleaning of retroreflectors may be provided according to what is herein described and/or shown and/or claimed, in particular according to what is claimed in claim 15.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a software product for the cleaning of retroreflectors may be provided according to what is herein described and/or shown and/or claimed, in particular according to what is claimed in claim 16.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined according to the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more evident upon reading the detailed description of some preferred, non-exclusive embodiments of a cleaning unit for retroreflectors according to the invention, which is described as non-limiting examples with the help of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGs. 1 is a side view of a cleaning unit 1;
FIG. 2 is a hydraulic diagram of some details of the flushing 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first movement device 6 for moving the first nozzles 5;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the second movement device 13 for moving the second nozzles 12;
FIGs. 5a, 5b and 5c are schematic views of the cleaning unit 1 during use respectively at time t0, t1 and t2;
FIGs. 6a, 6b and 6c are functional schemes of the cleaning method which is carried out by means of the cleaning unit 1, respectively at time t0, t1 and t2;
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a safety structure 45 which is to be inserted within the reservoir 40;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the third movement device 6' for moving the third spraying device 30.

Detailed description of some preferrred embodiments

With reference to the above figures, the cleaning unit 1 is particularly suitable for the cleaning of the vertical retroreflectors R placed on the side barriers G of a roadway W to define the boundary line d thereof.
The cleaning unit 1 may include a vehicle V, for example a truck, on which all the components mentioned below may be mounted.
In this way, the cleaning unit 1 can be easily moved by an operator. In particular, the operator can continuously move the vehicle V at a predetermined forwarding speed s along a forwarding direction d' substantially parallel to the boundary line d defined by the retroreflectors R.
In order to clean the retroreflectors, the cleaning unit 1 may use a washing fluid L1, for example a mixture of detergent and water, the latter being preferably hot, and a rinsing fluid L2, for example water, the latter being preferably hot, which can be sprayed sequentially on the retroreflectors R to be cleaned.
In a preferred, not exclusive embodiment, the cleaning unit 1 may also be useful for weeding the areas A surrounding the reflectors R, so as to avoid the hiding thereof by weeds, shrubs and the like.
To this end, the cleaning unit 1 may use a herbicide fluid L3, for example a mixture of water and herbicide composition, to be sprayed on the area A.
Therefore, the vehicle V may advantageously include a first reservoir 40 for the water, a second reservoir 41 for the detergent and a third reservoir 42 for the herbicide composition. In order to allow heating and pressurizing the water, an energy unit 43 of the known type may be provided.
For spraying the fluids L1, L2 and L3, the cleaning unit 1 may include a first spraying device 2 for spraying the washing fluid L1, which may include one or more first nozzles 5, a second device 10 for spraying the rinsing fluid L2, which may include one or more second nozzles 12, and a third device 30 for spraying the herbicide fluid L3, which may include one or more third nozzles 31.
The first, second and third nozzles 5, 12 and 31 may be mounted in sequence on the vehicle V at predetermined distances l1, 12, so as to be the one downstream of the other along the forwarding direction d'thereof.
Advantageously, each of the spray devices 2, 10 and 30 may provide a respective first, second and third pump 3, 11 and 32, which will have their respective inlets 4', 15 and 33 fluidly connected with the first reservoir 40 of water by means of respective circuit branches 5', 16 and 34.
The first and third pumps 3 and 32, but not the the second pump 11, may further have the inlets 4' and 33 respectively fluidly connected also with the second reservoir 41 of the cleaning agent and with the third reservoir 42 of the herbicide. Moreover, along the branches 5' and 34 respective dosing devices 5" and 35 may be provided to allow varying according to needs the ratio water/detergent and water/herbicide.
Moreover, the pumps 3, 11 and 32 may have their outlets 4", 17 and 36 fluidly connected with the first, second and third nozzles 5, 24 and 31 by means of respective circuit branches 5"', 18 and 37.
The washing and rinsing cycle of the retroreflectors R may be automatically carried out while the vehicle V moves along the roadway W with speed s.
To this end, a device 15 for the selective detection of the presence of a retroreflector R to be cleaned may be provided. Suitably, the device 15 may include at least one sensor member 16, for example a photocell. The latter can be oriented and/or calibrated to detect retroreflectors R at a distance l3 from the vehicle V, for example 1 to 6 meters. Suitably, the device 15 may include a laser pointer 16' associated with the photocell 16 so as to allow the operator to verify the correct operation thereof directly from the cab of the vehicle V. The laser beam will also work in conditions of poor visibility, for example with fog.
Appropriately, the photocell 16 may send a light signal C and may be able to detect the return thereof. Upon detection, at time t0 the detection device 15 sends an activation signal to data processing means 20, for example a CPU control unit.
The latter may be operatively connected with both the detection device 15 and the first and the second spray devices 2, 10 for selectively activating the first spray device 2 at a first predetermined time interval t1 from the detection of the retroreflector R to be cleaned by the sensor member 16 and for selectively activating the second spray device 10 at a second predetermined time interval t2 after the activation of the first spray device 2.
Moreover, in a preferred, not exclusive embodiment of the invention, the data processing means 20 may be susceptible to calculate the first and the second time interval t1, t2 according to the forwarding speed s of the vehicle V, and in particular to decrease the formers as the latter increases and vice-versa, so as to be sure that the nozzles 5, 12 work in sequence on the same retroreflector R.
To this end, means 25 may be provided for the input of the speed s data which are operatively connected to the data processing means 20, so as to allow a user to set the forwarding speed s of the vehicle V.
Such input means 25 may include for example a keyboard to manually input the desired speed, for example 10, 15 or 20 km/h. In this case, means may be provided to automatically limit the vehicle speed to the set speed, such as a speed limiter.
On the other hand, the means 25 may automatically detect the speed of the vehicle and communicate it periodically to the data processing means 20, which may automatically calculate the intervals t1 and t2.
In a further preferred, not exclusive embodiment of the invention, the data processing means 20 may be settable or set with at least one of the first and/or the second time interval t1, t2.
For example, these parameters may be manually set by an operator before starting the vehicle, or automatically set by a software program that interacts with the data processing means 20.
On the other hand, the first and/or second time interval t1, t2 may be preset in the data processing means 20, for example upon programming thereof.
Suitably, where the data processing means 20 are settable or set with only one between the first and/or the second time interval t1, t2, the same data processing means 20 may be susceptible to automatically calculate the other parameter.
In such an embodiment, a speed limiter mountable or mounted on the vehicle V may be provided to maintain the speed thereof as constant as possible.
In this way a continuous cleaning of the the retroreflectors R along barriers G is possible, in a simple, cheap and safe manner and by using a single driver on the vehicle V.
Moreover, thanks to the fact that the first spraying device 2 is activated at a first predetermined time interval t1 from the detection of the reflector R to be cleaned and that the second spray device 10 is activated at a second predetermined time interval t2 from the activation of the first spraying device 2, it is possible to minimize the consumption of washing and/or rinsing fluid. In fact, the latter are sprayed only and exclusively when the related nozzles are in correspondence of the retroreflectors R.
Therefore, for each retroreflector the cleaning cycle may include at the beginning, that is at time t0, the steps of selective detection of the presence of the retroreflector R to be cleaned along the boundary line d by the photocell 16, the calculation of the first time interval t1 by the data processing means 20, the spray of the washing fluid L1 on the detected retroreflector R to be cleaned by the nozzles 5, calculation of the second time interval t2 by the data processing means 20 and spraying of the rinsing fluid L2 on the washed retroreflector R by the nozzles 12. If necessary, the step of spraying the herbicide fluid L3 by the nozzles 31 may be subsequently provided.
On the other hand, a control panel may be provided whch is arranged inside the vehicle and by which the operator can manually operate while remaining in the vehicle, so as to continuously wash the retroreflectors while the veichle moves.
Advantageously, each of the spray devices 2, 10 and 30 may include a respective movement device 6 for moving the nozzles 5, 12 and 30 by varying the position thereof with respect to the retroreflectors R.
The movement devices 6, which may be substantially identical, may each include first actuating means 7 for moving the respective nozzles 5, 12 and 31 along a first axis X substantially perpendicular to the boundary line d, second actuating means 7' for moving the same nozzles 5, 12 and 31 along a second axis Y substantially perpendicular to both the first axis X and the the boundary line d and rotation means for rotatably moving the nozzles around the first and/or the second axis X, Y.
Therefore, the position of the nozzles 5, 12 and 31 is advantageously adjustable to adapt to the position of the retroreflectors to be cleaned.
Thanks to the above features, the use of the cleaning and rinsing liquids is optimized. This allows not only to optimize the costs of the cleaning operation, but also to limit the pollution caused by the fall of such liquids on the ground.
According to a possible alternative embodiment, the nozzles can be rotated automatically during movement of the vehicle so as to remain oriented towards the retroreflectors for a time relatively high. This allows to increase the maximum forwarding speed of the vehicle beyond which the cleaning becomes ineffective, which is an aooarent gain both in terms of operation time and costs.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, the third spraying device 30 for spraying the herbicide fluid L3 may include a respective movement device 6' which may include third actuating means 7", as well as possible first and second actuating means for the movement along the axes X and Y, which actuating means are not shown in figure as perse known.
More in particular, the movement device 6' may include two longitudinal arms 8', 8", each defining the directions X and Y, rotatably coupled each other at respective ends 9', 9". The third actuating means 7" may act on the first and/or second arm 8', 8" to rotatably move them around an axis Z which is substantially perpendicular to the axes X, Y and which passes through the point at which the arms 8', 8" are coupled to each other.
Advantageously, the movement device 6' may be rotatably mounted on the vehicle V to rotate about the axis Y. Suitably, elastic counteracting means 9'" may be provided to return the device 6' to the rest position upon impact with an obstacle.
Thanks to this configuration, strokes and/or damage to the movement device 6' and to any obstacles agaist which it may impact, e.g. road signs are avoided.
The first and/or second and/or third actuating means 7, 7', 7" may include respective linear actuators.
In a preferred, not exclusive embodiment, the reservoir 40 may internally include a safety structure 45 in order to stabilize the vehicle V when the same reservoir 40 is not completely full.
Suitably, the safety structure 45 may include a series of modular walls 46 coupled to each other to define adjacent compartments 47 to be filled by the washing liquid, so as to limit the longitudinal movement thereof.
Thanks to this solution, it is possible to improve the driving safety of the operator during use of the vehicle.
The above description clearly shows that the cleaning unit of the invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by allowing the automatic cleaning of the retroreflectors without the need of stop in the proximity thereof.
In particular, the cleaning unit according to the invention allows to clean the retroreflectors with a single operator which drives the vehicle V.
Moreover, in addition to the cleaning operation, the cleaning unit according to the invention further allows to prevent the growth of grass, shrubs or the like nearby the retroreflectors.
The invention is susceptible to many changes and variants, all falling within the inventive concept expressed by the annexed claims. All particulars may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to the needs, without exceeding the scope of the invention.
Although the invention has been described with particular reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers used in the description and in the claims are used only to improve the intelligence of the invention and do not constitute any limitation to the scope of protection claimed.

Claims

A kit mountable on a vehicle (V) for the cleaning of vertical retroreflectors (R) placed on the side barriers (G) of a roadway (W) to define a boundary line (d) thereof, the kit using a washing fluid for washing the retroreflectors (R) to be cleaned and a rinsing fluid for rinsing the washed retroreflectors (R), the vehicle (V) being susceptible to continuously forward on the roadway (W) along a forwarding direction (d') substantially parallel to the boundary line (d) defined by the retroreflectors (R) at a forwarding speed (s), the kit comprising:
- a device (15) for the selective detection of the presence of a retroreflector (R) to be cleaned along said boundary line (d), said device (15) including at least one sensor member (16);

- a first spraying device (2) susceptible to spray the washing fluid on the retroreflector (R) to be cleaned detected by the detection device (15), said first spraying device (2) including at least one first nozzle (5);

- a second spraying device (10) susceptible to spray the rinsing fluid on the retroreflector (R) washed by said first spraying device (2), said second spraying device (10) including at least one second nozzle (12);
wherein said at least one sensor member (16) is mountable on the vehicle (V), said at least one first nozzle (5) and at least one second nozzle (12) being mountable in sequence on the vehicle (V) so as to be the one downstream of the other along the forwarding direction (d') thereof;
wherein the kit further comprises data processing means (20) operatively connectable with said detecting device (15) and with said first and second spraying device (2, 10) for selectively activating said first spraying device (2) at a first predetermined time interval (t1) from the detection of the retroreflector to be cleaned (R) by the detection device (15) and for selectively activating said second spraying device (10) at a second predetermined time interval (t2) from the activation of the first spraying device (2), in such a manner to allow the continuous cleaning of the retrireflectors (R) by minimizing the use of the cleaning and rinsing fluids.
Kit according to the claim 1, wherein said data processing means (20) are settable or preset with at least one of said first and/or second time interval (t1, t2).
Kit according to the preceding claim, wherein said data processing means (20) settable or preset with one of said first and/or second time interval (t1, t2) are susceptible to automatically calculate the other of said first and/or second time interval (t1, t2).
Kit according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a speed limiter mountable on said vehicle.
Kit according to claim 1, wherein said data processing means (20) are susceptible to automatically calculate said first and second time interval (t1, t2) according to the forwarding speed (s) of the vehicle (V).
Kit according to the preceding claim, wherein said data processing means (20) susceptible to automatically calculate said first and second time intervals (t1, t2) according to the forwarding speed (s) of the vehicle (V) are further susceptible to decrease said first and second time interval (t1, t2) upon decreasing of said forwarding speed (s) of the vehicle (V) and vice-versa.
Kit according to claim 5 or 6, comprising data input means (25) operatively connected with said data processing means (20) to allow a user to set the forwarding speed (s) of said vehicle (V).
Kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said detection device (15) is susceptible to detect the retroreflector to be cleaned (R) at a predetermined distance (13) from the vehicle (V), the device (15) preferably including a sensor (16).
Kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first spraying device (2) includes a first movement device (6) for moving said at least one first nozzle (5), said second spraying device (10) including a second movement device (13) for moving said at least one second nozzle (12), each of said first and second movement device (6, 13) being respectively susceptible of changing the position of said at least one first nozzle (5) and said at least one second nozzle (12) with respect to the retroreflectors (R).
Kit according to the preceding claim, wherein each of said first and second movement device (6, 13) comprises:
- first actuating means (7) for moving said at least one first nozzle (5), respectively said at least one second nozzle (12), along a first axis (X) substantially perpendicular to the forwarding direction (d');

- second actuating means (7') for moving said at least one first nozzle (5), respectively said at least one second nozzle (12), along a second axis (Y) substantially perpendicular to both said first axis (X) and said forwarding direction (d');

- rotation means for rotatably moving said at least one first nozzle (5), respectively said at least one second nozzle (12), around said first and/or said second axis (X, Y).
Kit according to any one of the preceding claims, the unit further using a herbicide fluid to be sprayed on a treatment area (A) surrounding the retroreflectors (R), the unit further comprising a third device (30) for spraying the herbicide fluid which includes at least one third nozzle (31).
Kit according to the preceding claim, wherein said third spray device (30) for spraying the herbicide fluid includes a third movement device (6') comprising a pair of arms (8', 8") each defining a respective first and second longitudinal axis (X, Y), said arms (8', 8") being rotatably coupled each other to mutually rotate around a third axis (Z) substantially perpendicular to said first and second axis (X, Y), third actuating means (7") acting on said first and/or said second arm (8', 8") to promote the mutual rotation about said third axis (Z) being provided.
Kit according to the preceding claim, wherein said third movement device (6') is rotatably mountable on said vehicle (V) to rotate about a fourth axis (Y') substantially parallel to said second axis (Y), elastic counteracting means (9'") susceptible to counteract the rotation of said third movement device (6') upon the impact thereof against an obstacle being provided.
A cleaning unit for cleaning vertical retroreflectors (R) placed on the side barriers (G) of a roadway (W) to define a boundary line (d) thereof, the unit using a washing fluid for washing the retroreflectors (R) to be cleaned and a rinsing fluid for rinsing the retroreflectors (R) washed, the unit comprising:
- a vehicle (V) susceptible to continuously forwarding along the roadway (W) along a forwarding direction (d') substantially parallel to the boundary line (d) defined by the retroreflectors (R) at a forwarding speed (s);

- a kit according to one or more of the preceding claims.
A method for the cleaning of vertical retroreflectors (R) placed on the side barriers (G) of a roadway (W) to define a boundary line (d) thereof, the method using a washing fluid for washing the retroreflectors (R) to be cleaned and a rinsing fluid for rinsing the retroreflectors (R) washed, the method further using the cleaning unit according to claims 10 or the kit according to claim 1 to 9, the method comprising the step of continuously forwarding the vehicle (V) on the roadway (W) along a forwarding direction (d') substantially parallel to the boundary line (d) defined by the retroreflectors (R) at a forwarding speed (s), wherein for each retroreflector to be cleaned (R) the method comprises in sequence the steps of:
- selective detection of the presence of the retroreflector (R) to be cleaned along said boundary line (d);

- calculation of said first time interval (t1);

- spraying of the washing fluid to wash the retroreflector (R) detected;

- calculation of said second time interval (t2);

- spraying the rinsing fluid on the retroreflector washed (R).