FR2881971A1 - METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES USING DEMINERALIZED WATER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a method of cleaning a surface by means of a tool (9) having a handle (10) at one end (11) of which a brush (12) is mounted, the tool (9) being equipped a water supply duct to said brush (12) for wetting the surface, in which at least partially demineralized water is used for wetting.The invention also proposes a cleaning system for cleaning the surface. surfaces, for the implementation of this method.

Description

Surface cleaning process using demineralised water

  The invention relates to the cleaning of surfaces, more particularly glazed surfaces, especially glazed surfaces of street furniture.

  Currently the cleaning of glass surfaces of urban furniture is carried out in several stages. First, a soaping step, generally carried out using a brush or a soap sponge, then a rinsing step, generally performed by means of a brush or a wet sponge, and finally a step of drying, generally performed by means of a rubber scraper.

  Not only these operations are long, but also the final state of the surface is often imperfect, because of the traces left by the squeegee and dry residues left as a result of the evaporation of the rinsing water.

  The invention aims in particular to remedy these problems by proposing a cleaning process that is both faster, easier to implement, and which allows to obtain a good final state of the cleaned surface.

  For this purpose, the invention proposes a method of cleaning a surface by means of a tool having a handle at one end of which a brush is mounted, the tool being equipped with a water supply duct. said brush for wetting the surface, in which method is used for wetting water at least partially demineralized.

  In this way, the cleaning can be performed without soaping: its purity demineralized water tends to absorb impurities on the surface to clean and leads with it during its runoff. In addition, no drying is necessary, the demineralised water leaving almost no dry residue on the cleaned surface.

  This results in greater simplicity and faster cleaning.

  Demineralized water is preferably produced on demand; it can be produced by reverse osmosis.

  According to a particular embodiment, the reverse osmosis producing on the one hand partially demineralized water, on the other hand a highly mineralized aqueous byproduct, is recycled the aqueous by-product. This results in water savings and reduced pollution.

  The invention also proposes a surface cleaning installation, which comprises: a device for producing water at least partially demineralized from running water, a cleaning tool provided with a handle at one end of which is mounted a brush , the tool being equipped with a conduit for supplying water to said brush, and a water supply pipe connected at one end to an outlet of the demineralised water production device, and by a second end to the water supply conduit of the tool.

  The brush of the tool is for example provided with a nozzle pierced with a bore opening into a slot inclined relative to the axis of the bore.

  According to one embodiment, the device for producing demineralized water comprises: a membrane osmosis unit, a tank for supplying water to the osmosis unit, an evacuation circuit for the at least partially demineralized water produced by the reverse osmosis unit, a circuit for discharging a highly mineralized aqueous by-product produced by the osmosis unit, and a circuit for recirculating the aqueous by-product, connecting the evacuation circuit and the reservoir.

  The demineralised water production device can be embedded in a motor vehicle, for the benefit of the mobility of the installation. The running water, intended to be demineralised, is preferably stored in a tank on board the vehicle, but it could also be planned to connect the demineralized water production device to the municipal water distribution circuit.

  In addition, for certain applications (for example in the case of urban furniture having hard to reach surfaces), it may be useful to use a tool whose handle has a first straight portion, extended by a curved portion mounted articulated on the portion right. According to one embodiment, the handle of the tool is also telescopic.

  Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge in the light of the description given hereinafter with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning installation according to the invention, comprising a device for producing demineralised water on board a motor vehicle; - Figure 2 is a side plan view showing a cleaning tool, the handle has a curved portion, for an installation according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a view of a detail of the tool shown in Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the ongoing cleaning of street furniture by means of a tool as shown in Figure 2; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a device for producing demineralized water for a cleaning installation according to the invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating elements of the demineralised water production device of FIG. 5; and - Figure 7 is a partial sectional view showing the end of the handle of a cleaning tool for an installation according to the invention.

  In Figure 1 is shown a facility 1 for cleaning surfaces, such as glazed surfaces of street furniture.

  This installation 1 comprises, firstly, a device 2 for producing demineralized water, embedded in a motor vehicle 3, in this case a van. For the sake of simplification, demineralised water is defined as water that is even partially demineralized. Reverse osmosis, which as we shall see below is a technology that can be used in the context of the invention, makes it possible to obtain a pure water up to 99.9%.

  We will describe below in detail the internal structure of the device 2 for producing demineralized water.

  The device 2 for producing demineralised water comprises a tank 4 embedded in the vehicle 3, in which is stored running water, connected by a pipe 5 to a demineralization module 6 comprising water treatment elements which will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the installation 1 furthermore comprises a cleaning tool 9 provided with a handle 10, preferably telescopic, at one end 11 of which is mounted a brush 12 provided with a nozzle 7 of which an example embodiment will be described below, and equipped with a conduit 13 for supplying water to the brush 12 (specifically to the nozzle 7). The conduit 13 is for example in the form of a flexible pipe circulating in the handle 10, itself consisting of a hollow metal or plastic tube.

  The installation 1 further comprises a second water supply pipe 14 connected at one end 15 to an outlet 16 of the device 2 for producing demineralised water, and at a second end 17 to the supply duct 13. water of the tool 9. A connecting sleeve may be mounted at one end 18 of the handle 10, opposite the brush 12, to allow a connection, for example by simple snap sealing, of the pipe 14 on the handle 10.

  The pipe 14 can be mounted on a winder / unwinder 19 included in the module 6, so as to be able to present the desired length by an operator using the tool 9.

  As illustrated in Figure 1, the handle 10 of the tool 9 may be straight. However, for certain applications, for example in the case of urban furniture of which some surfaces are difficult to access, the handle 10 may have a curved portion 10a, at one end 11 of which is mounted the brush 12, this curved portion 10a being mounted articulated by an end 20 opposite the brush 12 on a straight portion 10b, as shown in FIG. 2.

  According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the curved portion 10a is mounted on the straight portion 10b (here only partially shown to reveal the duct 13) by means of a yoke 21, fixed at one end 22 of the straight portion 10b via an axis 23 constituted, for example, by a stud or a rivet.

  A pin 24, passing through both the clevis 21 and the end 22 of the straight portion 10b, ensures that when in place the curved portion 10a is held in a position (in solid lines in FIG. 2) in which it continuously extends the right portion 10b, while its withdrawal allows to fold the curved portion 10a to the right portion 10b, for example to allow the storage of the tool 9 without major problems of size. This curved configuration of the tool 9 allows its use in certain particular configurations of the surfaces to be cleaned, as illustrated in FIG. 4, where an operator proceeds to clean the curved glazed roof of a bus shelter 26.

  In order to ensure the continuity of the water supply, the pipe 13 forming the conduit for bringing water to the brush 12 emerges radially from the straight portion 10b via a lateral orifice 27, and then circulates in the curved portion 10a, itself formed by an arcuate hollow tube.

  As can be seen in FIG. 3, the emergent portion of the pipe 13 forms, between the straight portion 10b and the curved portion 10a of the handle 10, a meander (or a convolution) intended to allow the free pivoting of the curved portion 10a relative to at the right portion 10b without the deflection of the curved portion 10a being limited by the tension of the pipe 13.

  The use of demineralized water for cleaning makes conventional soaping, rinsing and drying operations unnecessary.

  Indeed, demineralized water has the property of attracting to it the particles it encounters. This is the case with soiling on the surfaces to be cleaned that are wetted with demineralised water. These particles are drained by the runoff of water, which by its purity leaves almost no trace after evaporation.

  The operating principle of a device 2 for producing demineralized water that may be suitable for the installation 1 that has just been described is illustrated in the diagram of FIG. 5, its physical structure being for its part illustrated in FIG. 6 This device 2 operates on the principle of reverse osmosis.

  This device 2 comprises: a primary tank 4, supplied with running water by an external tap 28, actuated when the vehicle 3 stops to refuel the tank 4, a series of physical filters ensuring the retention of the water particles current from the primary reservoir 4, namely a first filter 29 retaining particles larger than or equal to 60 pm; a second filter 30 retaining particles of size greater than or equal to 25 μm; and a third filter 31 retaining particles of size greater than or equal to 5 μm; a chemical filter 32 ensuring the dechlorination of the water (such as an active carbon filter); a basin 33 of decalcification; a secondary tank 34, a diaphragm osmosis unit 35 supplied with water by the secondary tank 34; the osmosis unit 35 produces, on the one hand, at least partially demineralized water, and on the other hand a highly mineralized aqueous by-product, formed of a mixture of water from the secondary reservoir 34 and particles retained by the membrane of the osmosis unit 35; a circuit 36 for discharging the demineralized water produced by the osmosis unit 35, and a circuit 37 for evacuating the aqueous by-product of the osmosis unit 35.

  As can be seen in FIG. 5, the device 2 for producing demineralized water further comprises a primary circuit 38 for recirculating the aqueous by-product, connecting the circuit 37 for evacuating the aqueous by-product to the secondary reservoir 34.

  A secondary circuit 39 for recirculating the aqueous by-product is further provided, which connects the circuit 37 for discharging the aqueous by-product to the primary reservoir 4.

  In this way, a double recycling of the aqueous by-product is carried out, on the one hand, through the primary recirculation circuit 38 which feeds the secondary tank 34 in which the by-product is mixed with the water coming from the primary reservoir. 4, the by-product thus undergoing a second osmosis, and secondly through the secondary circuit 39 which feeds the primary reservoir 4 in which the by-product is mixed with running water and undergoes a new complete cycle of treatment .

  This results in reduced water consumption and pollution compared to a conventional device for the production of demineralised water.

  Pumps 40, 41 provide a sufficient flow of water at the outlet of primary tanks 4 and secondary 34. In addition, it is conceivable, as shown in Figure 5, to allow untreated water withdrawal of water. at the outlet of the primary reservoir 4, for example for watering the soil. For this purpose, a three-way valve 42 can be interposed between the pump 40 and the first physical filter 29.

  It should be noted that this device 2 makes it possible to produce demineralized water on demand, that is to say for example as long as the operator actuates a supply valve on the handle 10 of the tool 9.

  It is therefore not necessary to embark a high capacity demineralized water tank to ensure the cleaning of an entire park of street furniture. Just board a sufficient amount of running water.

  Furthermore, according to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the components of the device of 2 which have just been presented, apart from the primary reservoir 4, are assembled in a module 6 comprising a frame 8 on which are fixed the components. This frame 8 is for example embedded in the vehicle 3, as shown in Figure 1.

  In FIG. 7 is illustrated a brush 12 of a tool 9 according to an embodiment where it is inclined with respect to the axis of the handle 10.

  The brush comprises a plate 43 on which are implanted bristles 44 defining in a central section of the plate 43 a clearing in which the nozzle 7 emerges from the plate 43, to allow the free passage of the jet produced by the nozzle 7.

  The nozzle 7, mounted at the end 11 of the handle 10, comprises a threaded tubular body 45, screwed into the handle 10, and pierced with a bore 46 coaxial with the handle 10, to which bore is connected at one end 47 of the nozzle, a slot 48 inclined relative to the axis of the handle 10 for spraying the demineralized water from the conduit 13 in a jet substantially parallel to the bristles 44.

  With a water flow rate of 1 l / min and a relative water pressure of 1 bar, a sufficiently powerful jet and a sufficiently fine spray are obtained at the same time to allow effective cleaning and rapid evaporation of the droplets.

Claims (9)

  A method of cleaning a surface by means of a tool (9) having a handle (10) at one end (11) of which a brush (12) is mounted, the tool (9) being equipped with a conduit for supplying water to said brush (12) for wetting the surface, in which at least partially demineralized water is used for wetting.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein the demineralized water is produced on demand.   3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the demineralized water is produced by reverse osmosis.   4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the reverse osmosis producing partly demineralized water, on the other hand a highly mineralized aqueous byproduct, is recycled the aqueous byproduct.   5. Installation (1) for surface cleaning, which comprises: a device (2) for producing water at least partially demineralized from running water, a cleaning tool (9) equipped with a handle (10) at one end (11) of which is mounted a brush (12), the tool (9) being equipped with a conduit (13) for supplying water to the brush (12), and a pipe (14) for supply of water connected by a first end (15) to an outlet (16) of the demineralised water production device, and by a second end (17) to the water supply duct (13) fitted to the tool (9).   6. Installation (1) according to claim 5, wherein the handle (10) of the tool (9) has a straight portion (10b), extended by a curved portion (10a) articulated on the right portion (10b) .   7. Installation according to claim 5, wherein the brush (12) of the tool (9) is provided with a nozzle (7) pierced with a bore (46) opening into a slot (48) inclined relative to the axis of the bore (46).   8. Installation (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the device (2) for producing demineralized water comprises: a membrane osmosis (35), a reservoir (34) for the water supply an osmosis unit (35), a circuit (36) for discharging the demineralized water produced by the osmosis unit (35), - a circuit (37) for discharging a highly mineralized aqueous byproduct produced by the reverse osmosis unit (35), and a circuit (38) for recirculating the aqueous by-product, connecting the evacuation circuit (37) and the reservoir (34).   9. Installation (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the device (2) for producing demineralized water is embedded in a vehicle (3) automobile.