EP3536859A1 - Sweeping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-propelled picking sweeper comprises a carrier vehicle, a sweeping unit having at least one rotating broom, and a sweep receiving unit. This in turn comprises a debris collecting container, a suction fan and a sweeping material intake tract with a suction channel opening into the debris collection container and a end arranged thereon, together with the surface to be cleaned (7) a suction head (1) defining a suction air inlet gap (13). It is a humidification system with a water tank and a supplied from this, provided on the suction head (1) water distributor (8) for introducing water into the sweeping material intake tract flowing through the suction air stream (S). In this case, the water distributor (8) has a suction plate (1) arranged, transversely to the suction air flow direction extending film forming plate (10) having a lower, the Saugluftstrom (S) exposed tear-off edge (29) and a film forming zone arranged above it (27) and a water application (15) arranged above the film-forming zone (27).

Description

The present invention relates to a self-propelled pick-up sweeper with a carrier vehicle, a sweeping broom having at least one rotating broom and a sweep receiving unit comprising a sweeping material collecting container, a suction fan and a sweeping material intake tract with a suction channel opening into the sweeping material collecting container and one end arranged thereon, together with the surface to be cleaned a Sauglufteintrittsspalt defining suction head, wherein a humidification system is provided with a water tank and provided by this, provided on the suction water distributor for introducing water into the sweeping material intake tract flowing through the suction air stream.

Self-propelled picking sweepers are commonly known as road sweepers when commonly used to clean roads. For example, refer to the CN 101225648 A . DE 7216571 U1 . DE 29910989 U1 . EP 29347 A1 . EP 164315 A2 . EP 242943 A2 . EP 291844 A2 . EP 621376 A1 . EP 1707678 A2 . EP 342512 A1 . FR 2405331 A . JP 2017-89260 A . KR 10-0955916 B1 . US 3977039 A . US 4457043 A . US 2006/0053582 A1 . US 2006/0048332 A1 . WO 91/19050 A1 . WO 97/042378 A1 . GB 2420813 A and DE 1137061 A ,

The potential health hazard of dust particles, especially if it is (respirable) so-called fine dust, is reason for extensive efforts to reduce the dust pollution of the air to reduce. Thus, also in receiving sweepers, following some stricter legal requirements, various measures are taken to reduce the occurring during their use of the environment with dust particles.

A measure which has been used for comparatively long time for the purpose of reducing dust is atomization or spraying of water in the region of the at least one rotating broom, in order to bind fluidized dust to larger and heavier conglomerates which are to be cleaned Surface settles and then - together with other debris - can be recorded. Building on this approach, even sweeping with a veritable excess of water, d. H. a kind of wet sweeping proposed.

Another approach, sometimes pursued in parallel, is the injection of water directly into the intake tract, again with the formation of very fine droplets. The objective is to bind the dust absorbed by the suction air stream on its way through the intake tract to the debris collection container in such a way that it settles in it (and does not return to the environment via the blower exhaust air). Also with the aim of reducing dust emissions, a circulating air duct has been proposed, in which the (dust-laden) blower exhaust air is passed in the immediate vicinity of the suction mouth on the surface to be cleaned, to be sucked by the suction head again.

More recently, the use of electrostatic effects for dust binding and / or separation has been proposed - in the light of further stringent requirements (cf. DE 102009006766 A1 ). Again, other approaches are the use of fine filters for the sweeping material collecting container leaving the exhaust air or in the foreground.

The various measures not only (sometimes very substantial) additional costs for the production or purchase and / or for the operation of the respective sweeper are connected. Also, in practice, in terms of reducing dust emissions, the net achievements that can be achieved are often less than hoped for. This is related to various factors. For example, in the operation of sweepers with a water surplus of (limited) available water supply is exhausted faster, ie for the respective sweeping use is only a smaller range available before the sweeper (typically in the depot) has to refuel water. The result is increased unproductive empty runs, which not only (in addition to the water costs) further reduce the economy, but are also associated with additional emissions from the vehicle drive. The same applies to the dust collecting internals of the sweepings receiving unit, which go to the detriment of the capacity of the debris collection container; because these also lead to a limitation of the range of the respective sweeping operation before the sweeper has to start a landfill or other disposal facility for emptying the sweepings collection container. One - due to the Operating the sweeper with a surplus of water - wet debris also causes problems with disposal. Even more so with a correspondingly increased moisture content of the dust to be filtered out of the exhaust also increases the already considerable risk of clogging of fine filters for the discharged from the debris collection exhaust air. The result is not only functional failures, but also to a greater extent unproductive, associated with additional exhaust emissions workshop and maintenance trips, not to mention the high maintenance requirements for the regular filter change. In those sweepers where - for the purpose of dust binding - by means of appropriate spray nozzles (in the vicinity of the rotating brush and / or in the intake into it) is sprayed with the aspect that there is a satisfactory reliability only when using clean fresh water achieve. However, when using water separated from the collected debris, the spray nozzles tend to clog. This could be prevented at most by a very intensive water purification, but this would require a very expensive, expensive and expansive water treatment plant. Thus, the binding of dust spraying of water leads to substantial restrictions.

In the light of the above-mentioned prior art and the associated disadvantages, the present invention is directed to provide a sweeper of the type mentioned, which is characterized in the sense by a particularly high practicality that even stringent requirements in terms of dust emissions, without significantly compromising the economics and reliability of the sweeper and / or sacrificing reach with the need for increased unproductive empty runs compared to the prior art.

The above-mentioned problem is solved by a arranged on the suction head, arranged transversely to Saugluft-flow direction film forming plate with a lower, the Saugluftstrom exposed tear-off edge and a film forming zone disposed therefrom and a film forming above the above in a sweeper of the type mentioned arranged water task has. The present invention thus utilizes the flow conditions prevailing in or at the suction air inlet gap for the introduction of very fine water droplets into the air stream flowing through the sweeping material intake tract, in order to bind suspended dust particles in it. Because in the area of the suction air inlet gap there is regularly a particularly high flow velocity of the air flow, typically even the maximum speed at all. These pressure and flow conditions favor that at the tear-off edge of the film-forming plate finest water droplets are entrained by the suction air flow and optimally distributed within the suction air stream. In particular, the precipitation of the dust-binding water on the inner surface of the suction head and the suction channel - to form a non-binding dust-binding, ie inefficient water film - avoided with high reliability.

Another significant advantage of the invention consists in the fact that the said droplet formation does not take place in a pressurized spray nozzle, but rather - at least substantially - can be depressurized, alone or at least largely due to the tear-off edge of the film-forming plate more effective flow dynamic effects in the suction air stream. The formation of droplets without the use of a spray nozzle in turn allows water separated from the collected debris to be used for the binding of dust, without any appreciable treatment or cleaning. A simple filter with a comparatively coarse mesh size (eg 2.5 mm) is typically perfectly adequate. The possibility of using circulated water for dust binding, without the reliability suffers and / or the space available for the aggregates of the sweeping unit receiving space is affected, is an economically significant aspect and also has the rest, to the extent conducive for the practicality of the sweeper out. Thus, in application of the present invention, excellent dust emission values can be achieved without this being associated with the disadvantages of known sweepers set out above.

A possibly entrained supply of fresh water is thus used optimally. The consumption of fresh water is minimal and can be limited, for example, to the atomization of fresh water in the region of the at least one rotating broom. be used. Since the dust binding in the sweep intake tract serving (circulating used) wastewater from the in the Kehrgut collecting container passing debris is deposited, the latter has a disposal that does not affect the consistency; and also - in terms of a long range - the capacity of the debris collection container and the allowable payload of the sweeper optimally used. Due to the multiple use of (circulating) wastewater, the amount introduced into the sweepings intake tract can be optimized with regard to the dust-binding effect, regardless of the "consumption".

Is, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, also provided an air circulation, in particular by the exhaust gas collecting the outlet leaving the exhaust air is blown through a recirculation in the immediate vicinity of the suction head to the surface to be cleaned, so even in larger Intake system introduced amounts of dirty water (in winter) the risk of icing low; because as a result of the air circulation, the temperature of the intake air flowing through the air is above the ambient temperature. The discharge of water from the system via the exhaust air collecting the collecting waste container is minimal, because the exhaust air flow itself is minimized. It typically accounts for only a fraction (ideally between about 15% and 25%) of the airflow drawn into the debris hopper through the sweep intake manifold; because the predominant proportion (ideally between about 75% and 85%) of the sucked air flow circulates through the circulating air recirculation, that is sucked back into the intake tract after leaving a Umluftdüse. With the appropriate quantitative reduction of the Sweeping material collecting container leaving, discharged into the environment airflow is also accompanied by a correspondingly reduced discharge of dust from the system. The thus reduced amount of exhaust air continues to allow the economic use of possibly additionally provided (correspondingly compact) exhaust air filter systems.

The advantages associated with the present invention (see above) can be used in particular in those preferred embodiments in which the suction air inlet gap defined jointly by the surface to be cleaned and the suction head extends wholly or at least predominantly on the front side of the suction head, in which case the Water distributor is arranged at the front of the suction head. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the Sauglufteintrittsspalt example, all or at least predominantly on the back of the suction head, in which case the water distributor is also disposed on the back of the suction head. This embodiment proves to be particularly advantageous when behind the suction head a rotating roller brush (eg., A so-called "suction chute roll") is arranged, by means of which dirt, which due to adherence to the surface to be cleaned not initially moved from the suction mouth over it was taken, loosened and conveyed from behind into the intake of Saugmndes. Visible are also combined systems with several Sauglufteintrittsspalten, in particular with a front and a rear suction air inlet gap possible. In this case, both or all Sauglufteintrittsspalten each be assigned according to erfindunsggemäß executed water tasks; however, this is not mandatory.

Another preferred development of the present invention is characterized in that the film-forming plate extends over at least a substantial portion of the horizontal extent of the suction air inlet gap. Ideally, the film-forming plate extends - possibly in the form of a sequence of several segments - more or less over the entire horizontal extension of the Sauglufteintrittsspalts. This favors the desired optimal, d. H. as uniform as possible distribution of the water droplets within the suction air flow, for which it is not even mandatory that takes place over the entire extent of the film-forming plate in the same way a film formation. Rather, excellent results can also be achieved with a sequence of individual film-forming areas.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the suction air inlet gap in the sense defined by the lower edge of the film-forming plate, particularly preferably by the tear-off that this (or these) on the front side of the suction head has the smallest distance to the surface to be cleaned. The same favors the flow effects set forth above by the present invention. In particular, in this case, the film-forming plate is particularly preferably carried out elastically yielding. Thus, damage to the film-forming plate is counteracted by coarse debris. The suction air inlet gap can accordingly a have particularly low height, which in turn is advantageous for the invention used flow effects.

Yet another preferred development of the invention is characterized in that a metering plate is provided adjacent to the film-forming plate, wherein the film-forming zone is arranged on the surface of the film-forming plate facing the metering plate. The task of water is preferably arranged in the space between the film-forming plate and the metering plate. And preferably, the distance of the metering plate to the film-forming plate decreases from top to bottom, in particular such that the metering plate adheres to its lower edge region a minimal, executed in the form of a gap opening or multiple stomata gap to the film-forming plate and possibly even locally attached to the latter. For the formation of said stomata, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the metering plate can have a profiling in its lower edge region adjacent to the film-forming plate, which limits defined water-passage gaps. The above aspects and design aspects prove to be especially favorable when the metering plate is designed to be elastically yielding, so that the risk of damage from coarse dirt is as low as possible for them.

In the interest of a homogeneous film formation, as it favors the most uniform possible droplet formation, which extends Water application preferably at least substantially over the horizontal extent of the film-forming plate. It may, in a particularly preferred embodiment, comprise a distribution rail which forms a feed gap to the film-forming plate and / or to an optionally provided metering plate, wherein the distribution bar and the feed slot particularly preferably extend at least substantially over the horizontal extent of the film-forming plate. Through the said feed gap, the water can flow down to form an initial film on the relevant plate (film-forming plate and / or metering plate). If a metering plate is not provided in the above sense, the initial film produced in the feed gap can merge without interruption into the film of water produced in the film-forming zone, as it is entrained according to the invention at the tear-off edge of the film-forming plate of the air flow in the form of very fine droplets. If, on the other hand, a metering plate is provided in the above sense, a water reservoir which is charged by the water application, which in turn charges the gap opening (s) or the passage (s) (e), can be located in the intermediate space between the film-forming plate and the metering plate which the film formation takes place.

Yet another preferred development of the present invention is characterized in that the water distributor is mounted liftably on the suction head body. Thus, the entire water distributor, in particular when the sweeper approaches to particularly large-sized waste (eg., A bottle or a beverage can) can be raised, be it by the Operator of the sweeper or automatically using a sensor control, so that the relevant debris can be detected and recorded by the suction head.

Earlier it has already been explained in detail that in the sweeping machine according to the invention separated water can be taken from the collected debris for the wetting of the dust reaching the suction air stream into the suction head. In that regard, the water tank of the sweeper is particularly preferably connected via a water separator with the debris collecting container. It is also advantageous if a feed pump is arranged in the feed line connecting the water container to the water distributor. It is true that, because a pressure atomization of the water in a spray nozzle does not take place for droplet formation, with a suitable arrangement of the water tank relative to the water distributor, it is also possible to dispense with such a pump. However, a feed pump is preferable in terms of optimal dosing of the water. Incidentally, it is favorable if at least one shut-off valve is arranged in the feed line connecting the water container to the water distributor. Two shut-off valves designed as pinch valves are particularly preferably provided in order to be able to reliably prevent the supply of water from the water container to the water distributor in a cost-effective manner.

Fig. 1

den Saugkopf in perspektivischer Ansicht von vorne-links-oben,

Fig. 2

den Saugkopf von vorn,

Fig. 3

den Saugkopf von links und

Fig. 4

den Saugkopf (bei entfernter Heckschürze) von hinten.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing. Shown here is - in different views - only the lower portion of a inventively executed sweeping material intake tract, namely the suction head together with the water distributor. For other details of the self-propelled picking sweeper such as the specific design of the carrier vehicle, the sweeping unit and especially the at least one rotating broom and the sweeping material receiving unit and especially the debris collection container and the suction fan, it does not matter in the present invention; In that regard, the sweeper can be designed in any manner familiar to the skilled person (cf the prior art described at the outset). It shows

Fig. 1

the suction head in perspective view from the front-left-up,

Fig. 2

the suction head from the front,

Fig. 3

the suction head from the left and

Fig. 4

the suction head (with the rear apron removed) from the rear.

The illustrated in the drawing suction head 1 has a suction head body 2, which extends from the overhead lying, the connection of a suction channel serving flange opening 3 downwards approximately funnel-shaped (see. Fig. 2 ), transversely thereto, ie viewed in working direction A, but slightly tapered (cf. Fig. 3 ), so that the suction head body 2 as a result has an elongated, oriented transversely to the direction A suction port 4 of approximately longitudinally rectangular basic shape. Side sealing lips 5 are provided; and the rear side takes place via a flexible rear skirt 6, a substantial sealing of the suction head 1 relative to the surface to be cleaned. 7

On the front side, a water distributor 8 is provided on the suction head 1, which serves to introduce finely distributed water into the suction air stream S flowing through the suction head body 2. This water distributor 8 is by means of two pivot arms 9, which are pivotally hinged to the suction head body 2 about the horizontally and transversely to the working direction A extending axis B hinged, mounted and lowered (double arrow C).

The water distributor 8 comprises a film-forming plate 10 which extends transversely to the working direction A, inclined backwards and downwards and a metering plate 11 arranged opposite the working direction A, ie behind the film-forming plate 10, which likewise extends transversely to the working direction A. Between the film-forming plate 10 and the metering plate 11, there is a gap 12 which tapers downwardly as the distance of the metering plate 11 to the film-forming plate 10 decreases from top to bottom. The film-forming plate 10 defines, together with the surface to be cleaned 7, a suction air inlet gap 13 provided on the front side of the suction head 1 whose height H is predetermined by the lower edge 14 of the film-forming plate 10 and through which the suction air flow S enters the interior of the suction head body 2. The film-forming plate 10 extends in this way over the entire horizontal extension of the suction air inlet gap 13. By suitable choice of material, both the film-forming plate 10 and the metering plate 11 are made elastically resilient.

The water distributor 8 further has a water application 15 extending over the horizontal extent of the film-forming plate 10. This comprises a distributor rail 16 in the form of a multi-angled sheet 17 extending over the horizontal extent of the water distributor 8. Above, the sheet 17 has two water supply nozzles 18. At the lower edge region 19 of the distributor rail 16, the edge 20 of the metering plate 11 is opposite to form a task gap 21. Thus, a pre-distribution of the water supplied through the two water inlet nozzle 18 on the dosing plate 11 to form an initial film which trickles down on the corresponding surface of the metering plate 11 and to the bottom of the gusset between film-forming plate 10 and metering plate 11 existing water reservoir 22 passes.

The metering plate 11 has in its lower edge region 23 a profiling 24 in the form of a sequence of arcuate cutouts 25. In conjunction with the film-forming plate 10, to which the metering plate 11 is increasingly approaching downwards, 25 water passage gaps 26 are formed between the film-forming plate 10 and the metering plate 11 in the region of their arcuate cut-outs. Through this, water passes from the water reservoir 22 the film-forming zone 27, located on the rear, d. H. the dosing plate 11 facing surface 28 of the film forming plate 10 is located in the lower region. From the film-forming zone 27, a film of water reaches the underlying tear-off edge 29 of the film-forming plate 10 exposed to the suction air flow S.

Claims (17)

Self-propelled picking sweeper with a carrier vehicle, a sweeping unit having at least one rotating broom and a sweeping unit receiving a sweeping material collecting container, a suction fan and a sweeping material intake tract with a suction channel opening into the sweeping material collecting container and an end arranged thereon, together with the surface (7) to be cleaned comprises a suction head (1) defining a suction air inlet gap (13), wherein a humidifying system comprises a water tank and a water distributor (8) supplied by the latter and provided at the suction head (1) for introducing water into the sweeping material Intake tract is provided by the stream of suction air (S), characterized in that
in that the water distributor (8) has a film-forming plate (10) arranged transversely to the suction-air flow direction and having a lower tear-off edge (29) exposed to the suction air flow (S) and a film-forming zone (27) arranged above it a water application (15) arranged above the film-forming zone (27). Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that the film-forming plate (10) extends over at least a substantial portion of the horizontal extent of the suction air inlet gap (13). Sweeper according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the suction air inlet gap (13) through the lower edge (14) of the film-forming plate (10) is defined. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the film-forming plate (10) is designed to be elastically yielding. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that adjacent to the film-forming plate (10) a metering plate (11) is provided, wherein the film-forming zone (27) on the dosing plate (11) facing surface (28) of the film-forming plate (10 ) is arranged. Sweeper according to claim 5, characterized in that the distance of the metering plate (11) to the film-forming plate (10) decreases from top to bottom. Sweeper according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the metering plate (11) in its lower, the film-forming plate (10) adjacent edge region has a profiling (24) which defines defined water passage column (26). Sweeper according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the metering plate (11) is designed to be elastically yielding. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the water application (15) extends at least substantially over the horizontal extent of the film-forming plate (10). Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the water application (15) comprises a distributor rail (16) which forms a feed gap (21) to the film-forming plate (10) and / or to a possibly provided metering plate (11) , Sweeper according to claim 10, characterized in that the distribution rail (16) and the feed gap (21) extend at least substantially over the horizontal extent of the film-forming plate (10). Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the suction air inlet gap (13) provided on the front side of the suction head (1) and the water distributor (8) is arranged on the front side. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the water distributor (8) is mounted liftably on a suction head body (2). Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the water tank is connected via a water separator with the debris collecting container. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a feed pump is arranged in a feed line connecting the water tank with the water distributor. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in the water tank with the water distributor connecting feed line at least one shut-off valve is arranged. Sweeper according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the moistening system further comprises a fresh water pump and at least one of the at least one broom associated fresh water spray nozzle.

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