GB2374798A

GB2374798A - A tyre cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2374798A
Application number: GB0110037A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Moore
Original assignee: VISIONARY IDEAS Ltd
Current assignee: VISIONARY IDEAS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-24
Filing date: 2001-04-24
Publication date: 2002-10-30
Also published as: GB0110037D0

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus 10 for cleaning vehicle tyres comprises a trough 12, one more rollers 24 for supporting the vehicle tyre above the trough, and cleaning means 26. The rollers 24 may be powered to turn the wheel as it is cleaned, and ramps 18 may be provided to allow access to the apparatus. The cleaning means 26 may be a water jet, disinfectant jet, and/or brushes. A storage tank may be provided to collect the dirty water, and this may further include a settling chamber for the dirt to settle out of the water.

Description

A Tyre Cleaner The present invention relates to a vehicle tyre cleaner. In particular, the present invention relates to a cleaner for tyres of lorries and trucks.

Lorries and trucks frequently have to enter building sites or other such areas where there is a substantial amount of loose earth lying on the ground. This earth tends to get caught in the tread of the vehicle tyres as the vehicle moves around the site. When the vehicle subsequently leaves the site, the earth falls from its wheels onto the road where it can build up and result in a deterioration of the road surface quality. For this reason, building sites often have to make provisions for cleaning nearby roads, in order to minimise inconvenience to road users. Typically, this is done by manually scraping mud from the road.

This is, however, time consuming and costly in terms of manhours.

In more recent times, concern has been caused by vehicles entering and leaving farms or moving between areas, where there is a possibility of foot and mouth disease being present and so spread to the wider community. To avoid the transfer of this disease via vehicles, some authorities have insisted that vehicle wheels be sprayed with disinfectant. This is done manually and so is a very slow process. In addition, it can be difficult to clean the entire tyre sufficiently.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for cleaning vehicle tyres.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for cleaning vehicle tyres, the apparatus comprising:

a trough; a roller for supporting the vehicle tyre above the trough, the roller being adapted to rotate with the vehicle tyre, and cleaning means located in the trough for cleaning the tyre as it rotates with the roller.

Two rollers may be provided, the rollers being spaced from each other so that the vehicle wheel is supported on and rotated by each roller in use. The or each roller may extend along the entire width of the trough portion. The or each roller may be operable to rotate the wheel.

Preferably, ramp portions are provided for directing the vehicle onto the roller.

The trough and the ramp portions may be formed as a one-piece unit. The trough and/or the ramp portions may be made of steel.

Preferably, the cleaning means comprise a fluid jet for spraying fluid onto the tyre. Typically, a plurality of water jets is provided. The jets may be positioned so as to clean a vehicle that has a single wheel configuration and/or a vehicle, such as a lorry or a truck, that has a double wheel configuration. The fluid may include water and/or a disinfectant.

The cleaning means may further comprise a brush for brushing the tyre as is rotates, thereby to improve the cleaning capability.

A tank or storage vessel may be provided for storing fluid that has been directed onto and subsequently off of the tyre. The tank or storage vessel may include a settling chamber, where mud or dirt that has been removed from the tyre can

seetle out form the fluid. Means for dredging the settling chamber may be provided.

Various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a tyre cleaning apparatus, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a tyre cleaning apparatus 10 that has a steel trough 12 that defines a base 14, from which extend sidewalls 16. Extending from an upper end of each one of an opposing pair of sidewalls are ramp portions 18. At the ends of the ramp portions 18 are flat plates 20 that extend towards each other to define a central opening 22. The ramp portions 18 are provided to allow vehicles to drive smoothly onto the apparatus 10. Located on opposing sides of the opening 22 and on the base 14 of the trough 12 are two rollers 14, each of which extends along the entire width of the opening 22 and slightly above the level of the flat plate portions 20.

Between the rollers 24 are four sets of jets 26 that are operable to project fluid, typically water, upwardly. Two sets of the jets 26 are provided on each side of the apparatus and are spaced so that the outer sets of jets can be used for single wheels and both the inner and outer sets of jets can be used to clean vehicles that have four wheels. Optionally, the apparatus may also include a brush (not shown) that is selectively moved into engagement with the tyre during the cleaning process.

In use, the apparatus is positioned so that the ramp portions 18 extend upwardly from ground level and the main trough portion 12 is below ground. Typically, the apparatus 10 is located at the exit to building sites or other such areas, where is it disirable for vehicle tyres to be cleaned.

When a vehicle approaches the apparatus it moves firstly so that its front wheels move onto and up a first one of the ramps 18 and then onto a first one of the plate portions 20. Continued movement causes the front wheels of the vehicle to move onto the rollers 24. This causes the rollers 24 to rotate, together with the wheels. Typically, the jets spray water continuously, so that when the front wheels are located on the rollers 24, they are sprayed as they rotate. The apparatus 10 may, however, include sensors for detecting when a vehicle moves onto the ramp 18 and control means for receiving detection signals from the sensors and switching the water jets on, as and when appropriate. Likewise, sensors may be provided for detecting when the front wheels move off of the rollers 24. When this is detected, control signals are sent to the controller, thereby to cause the water jets 26 to be turned off.

After a determined time, the vehicle moves forward, so that its front wheels move off the rollers 24 and its back wheels move onto the rollers 24. The cleaning process is then repeated so that all of the vehicle wheels are cleaned.

Alternatively, two of the arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be provided one for the front vehicle wheels and one for the rear vehicle wheels.

In this way, all of the vehicle tyres can be simultaneously cleaned.

Material that is removed from the types falls to the bottom of the trough 12. In order to store the resultant sludge, a tank or storage vessel (not shown) may be

provided. The tank or storage vessel may include a settling chamber, where mud or dirt that has been removed from the tyre can settle out from the fluid.

Means for dredging the settling chamber may be provided. In addition, a drainage system is typically provided in order to allow the waste products to be drained away to an appropriate place. Of course other means could be provided for disposing of the waste material.

The cleaning apparatus 10 of Figures 1 and 2 is easy for drivers to use and does not involve manual labour in the cleaning process. In addition, because the vehicle wheels are rotated continuously throughout the cleaning process, the entire surface of the tyre is thoroughly cleaned. This is advantageous.

A skilled person will appreciate that variations of the disclosed arrangements are possible without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the above description of a specific embodiment is made by way of example and not for the purposes of limitation. It will be clear to the skilled person that minor modifications can be made without significant changes to the operation described above.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning vehicle tyres, the apparatus comprising : a trough; a roller for supporting the vehicle tyre above the trough, the roller being adapted to rotate with the vehicle tyre, and cleaning means located in the trough for cleaning the tyre as it rotates with the roller.

2. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers, the rollers being spaced from each other so that the vehicle wheel is supported on and rotated by each roller in use.

3. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each roller extends along the entire width of the trough portion.

4. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises two rollers.

5. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each roller is operable to rotate the wheel.

6. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising ramp portions for directing the vehicle onto the roller.

7. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the trough and the

ramp portions are formed as a one-piece unit.

8. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the trough and/or the ramp portions are made of steel.

9. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cleaning means comprise a fluid jet for spraying fluid onto the tyre.

10. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning means provides a plurality of water jets.

11. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the jets are positionable so as to clean a vehicle that has a single wheel configuration and/or a vehicle that has a double wheel configuration.

12. A cleaning apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the fluid includes water and/or a disinfectant.

13. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the cleaning means further comprises a brush for brushing the tyre as is rotates, thereby to improve the cleaning capability.

14. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a tank or storage vessel for storing fluid that has been directed onto and subsequently off of the tyre.

15. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the tank or storage

vessel includes a settling chamber, where mud or dirt that has been removed from the tyre can settle out form the fluid.

16. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for dredging the settling chamber.

17. A cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one embodiment as that embodiment is depicted in the accompanying drawings.