GB2413481A

GB2413481A - Cleaning apparatus for tunnels

Info

Publication number: GB2413481A
Application number: GB0405268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alison Knowles
Original assignee: CHIPPER CAROLINE HELEN
Current assignee: CHIPPER CAROLINE HELEN
Priority date: 2004-03-09
Filing date: 2004-03-09
Publication date: 2005-11-02
Also published as: GB0405268D0

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for use when cleaning a tunnel, comprises at least one carriage (20,22). The or each carriage (20,22) comprises a body (30,32) mounted on a wheeled chassis (34,36) configured to ride on railway track (38). The body (30,32) defines an opened-topped collection region, e.g. tray (40,42). A skirt (45,47), comprising bristles (55), is disposed along at least one lateral side of its body (30,32) and is configured to direct, in use, material falling from a region of tunnel above the skirt (45,47) towards the open-topped collection region. Also claimed is apparatus for cleaning ballast of a railway track, comprising a body on a wheeled chassis for running along the track, the body defining a collection region, and being provided with means for drawing debris in the ballast into the collection region via an opening facing downwards towards the ballast.

Description

1 2413481 TITLE: CLEANING APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

: :::e ë The present application relates to apparatus for use ..

in railway maintenance, particularly but not exclusively ...

for use in cleaning railway tunnels and/or railway track. . ballast. .. .

Tunnel maintenance is a time-consuming and costly exercise in many of today's railway systems, particularly so-called "underground" systems which may employ many hundreds of miles of underground tunnels. Dirt and grease build-up in railway tunnels may interfere with sensitive electrical equipment disposed along tunnel walls, and thus routine cleaning and maintenance of tunnels is required if a tunnel is to remain operational. Furthermore, hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead may be present in the walls of some railway tunnels, and these materials need to be handled with particular care.

Conventional tunnel maintenance techniques generally involve deploying groups of maintenance staff into tunnels to perform various cleaning and maintenance duties.

Maintenance staff may even be required to clean large portions of tunnels by hand to avoid damaging fragile equipment. Furthermore, extreme care must be taken to prevent debris removed from tunnel walls from falling onto the tracks or onto the tunnel floor. Such cleaning and maintenance can be laborious and slow, with whole sections of tunnel networks sometimes having to be closed-off whilst maintenance staff are deployed in a tunnel. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cleaning and maintenance system which overcomes, or at least alleviates, some of the

problems associated with the prior art.

EP 0879919 discloses apparatus for cleaning tunnel walls and/or ceilings, the apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles for spraying a compressed air-water mixture onto tunnel walls/roof parts, and a suction hood positioned for collecting sprayed fluid and dislodged debris.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use when cleaning a tunnel, comprising: a body for mounting on a wheeled chassis, the body defining an open-topped collection region; and a skirt disposed along at least one lateral side of the body, the skirt being configured to direct material falling from a region of tunnel above the skirt towards the collection region.

The wheeled chassis may for example be a bogie configured to run on rails. In this way, apparatus is provided which may be moved along a railway track and used to collect falling material (e.g. debris) resulting from cleaning or other maintenance activities, thereby alleviating the problem of material falling onto the tunnel floor or onto the track. The apparatus may be used as a part of an automated, or at least semi- automated, maintenance vehicle. The maintenance vehicle may further comprise means for performing one or more activities from the non- exhaustive list of: cleaning; leak sealing; decoration; and graffiti removal. ë

The body will generally have a profile which is . :.e'.

compatible with width and height restrictions of the tunnel .

(e.g. within limits set for maintenance vehicles). .

Accordingly, there will generally be some clearance between ...

the body and the walls (e.g. ceiling) of the tunnel. ..

The skirt may be configured to create a snug fit (e.g. .. :: . an airpermeable seal) between the body and an adjacent tunnel wall or surface to prevent as much material as possible from passing therebetween. The skirt may be resiliently flexible so that the snug fit may be maintained even when the body is rounding a bend in the tunnel. For example, the skirt may comprise an array of closely packed flexible members, e.g. bristles.

The apparatus may be mountable on a standard chassis.

For example, the apparatus may be mountable on a bogie of a length suitable for a given application.

The collection region may comprise a tray, with the skirt being configured to direct or funnel material to the tray. In normal use, the tray may have a base which is positioned below the height of the skirt.

The body may further comprise an end screen configured to at least partially enclose an end of the collection region. For example, the body may comprise front and rear screens. The or each end screen may have a profile which is similar in cross-section to a conventional train carriage used in the tunnel. The or each end screen may comprise a panel or a curtain.

The or each end screen may comprise a resilient barrier disposed around an outer perimeter thereof, and :-e directed towards an inner periphery of the tunnel, the resilient barrier being configured create a snug fit between its respective end screen and the inner periphery of the tunnel to prevent as much material as possible from ë- passing therebetween. The resilient barrier may be.. :: - configured so that the snug fit may be maintained even if tunnel height relative to the screen changes within a predetermined range. For example, the resilient barrier may comprise an array of closely packed flexible members, e.g. bristles. The or each end screen and the or each resilient barrier may be configured to direct or funnel material to the collection region.

Where a pair of end screens is deployed, one end screen may be moveable relative to the other, whereby spacing therebetween may be varied. In this way, the apparatus may be configured to clean sections of tunnels which are shorter than a nominal spacing of the end screens.

The body may further comprise a fluid-spraying system (e.g. air-spraying system) comprising a compressed fluid supply (e.g. compressed air supply) connected to an array of nozzles for generating fluid jets (e.g. air jets). The array of air-jet nozzles may be mounted on one or more members spanning at least a part of the body, either side to-side or end-to-end (e.g. in a cage effect). The air spraying system may be configured to spray air at the inner periphery of the tunnel in pulsed bursts to remove material (e.g. dirt and grease) from tunnel walls. To prevent : damage of fragile equipment disposed on the tunnel walls, the air-spraying system may be configured to emit gentle (e.g. low velocity) bursts of air delivered at high frequency. It is believed that by exposing the wall of the tunnel to such bursts, material such as dirt and grease may be removed from the tunnel walls without damaging fragile equipment. The air-spraying system may also configured to function as a delivery system for sealant, paint or cleaning chemicals.

The body may further comprise suction means coupled to the collection region for drawing dislodged material collected therein into a holding tank coupled to the body.

The holding tank may be disposed beneath the body, for example beneath the tracks in tunnel. In another version, a separate holding tank may be used to store material drawn from the collection region, thereby avoiding, or at least reducing, the need for the collection region to be emptied during a job.

The apparatus may further comprise a dry ice machine configured to spray or blast the walls of the tunnel with dry ice (e.g. dry ice particles or pellets) prior to exposure thereof to the air-spraying system. For example, the dry ice machine may be configured to spray-coat or blastimpact the walls of a section of the tunnel bounded by front and rear end screens of the body. Dry-ice spraying or blasting may be used to aid the removal of certain materials such as dirt and grease from the tunnel walls.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may comprise a two-body arrangement comprising of a first body containing the dry ice machine, and a second body containing the air-spraying system. The first body may be configured for mounting on a first wheeled chassis (e.g. first bogey), and the second body may be configured for mounting on a second wheeled chassis (e.g. second bogey).

In the case of a tunnel comprising two lines of tracks, the or each body may further comprise a side screen for enclosing a side of the body which is closest to the centre of the tunnel. Thus, the apparatus may be used for cleaning one side of the tunnel without material falling onto the floor of the other side of the tunnel. The apparatus may then be transferred to the other side of the tunnel to clean that side. In one version, the side screen may be moveable from a first position, enclosing a side of the body, to a second position, wherein the side of the body is left exposed.

The or each body may comprise a further side screen disposed on an opposite side of the body to the first mentioned side screen. In this way, the apparatus may be used to clean a tunnel comprising three or more lines of tracks. In use, the two side screens may enclose the lateral sides of the body when the body is positioned over a central track during cleaning, sealing or painting of a roof section of the tunnel. In addition, such an arrangement would provide improved flexibility when cleaning or maintaining tunnels comprising just two lines of tracks.

The apparatus may in addition to, or instead of, the air-spraying system comprise a scrubbing system comprising at least one brush connected to a capture tank, the scrubbing system being configured to scrub the walls of the tunnel to remove materials such as dirt and grease. The at least one brush may be coupled to a feed-back sensor system for controlling movement and hence positioning of the at least one brush during scrubbing. The sensor system may be of the type commonly deployed in automated car wash systems.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for cleaning ballast for supporting a railway track, comprising a body mounted on a wheeled chassis configured to run along railway track adjacent the ballast, the body defining a collection region; and means for drawing debris present in or on the ballast into the collection region, the drawing means including an aperture configured to face substantially towards the ballast.

In this way, apparatus is provided which may be used in an automatic, or at least semi-automatic, system for cleaning ballast (i.e. loose stones forming the bed of a standard railway track, or set flooring of a railway tunnel). The apparatus may be mounted on any suitable wheeled chassis, e. g. a standard bogey. The apparatus may be mounted on a wheeled chassis comprising apparatus as defined in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

The drawing means may be configured to remove material such as dust and grease from the ballast, together with contaminants such as lead or asbestos. The collection region may be configured to seal collected material, and material may be transferred (e.g. through suction) through a bank of filters (e.g. HEPA filters) in a separate part of the apparatus (e.g. in a separate carriage). The filters (e.g. HEPA filters) may be removed under controlled conditions at the end of a job.

The drawing means may comprise means for providing a fluid flow (e.g. airflow) for entraining particulate matter. For example, the drawing means may comprise means for providing a positive pressure differential, e.g. a compressed fluid (e.g. air) system configured to spray ballast between the tracks, and/or means for providing a negative pressure differential, e.g. vacuum means for sucking up debris from the ballast.

In the case of a loose stone ballast, a compressed air system may be used to make airborne certain materials (such as dirt and debris, e.g. asbestos) to aid removal thereof from the ballast. The compressed air system may be configured to remove such material from the ballast substantially without moving the stones. Furthermore, the apparatus may comprise a rake system configured to rake (e.g. rack) the stones whilst the compressed air system is activated. In this way, materials submerged, or at least '' partially submerged, beneath a topmost layer of stones may exposed and removed by the drawing means. The rake system 'I' may additionally be used to rake the stones back into place.. once submerged material has been uncovered and removed. a.'', In the case of apparatus for use in cleaning ballast in tunnels, the apparatus may further comprise a brush system for brushing lower wall sections of the tunnel (e.g. below the skirt). The brush system may be run on sensors.

Materials dislodged from the tunnel wall may be collected by the suction means for collecting material from the ballast. In this way, when combined with apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, apparatus is provided for cleaning substantially all sections of a tunnel.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view from above of the base of first and second carriages of a maintenance vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a comprises schematic front, rear and side views of the first and second carriage of Figure 1; and Figures 3A-3C are schematic views of the maintenance vehicle of Figure 1 in a first, second and third positions for cleaning a tunnel.

Figures 1, 2 and 3A-3C show maintenance apparatus 10 comprising first and second carriages 20,22 coupled .-- together in series via linkage 25, with the first carriage '.

being intended to precede, in use, the second carriage 22 as the maintenance apparatus moves through a tunnel :' (e.g. tunnel 60). - The first and second carriages 20,22 each comprise a,. ..

body 30,32 mounted on a wheeled chassis 34,36 configured to ride on railway track 38, each body 30,32 comprising a tray 40,42 and a pair of skirts 45,47 disposed along laterals side 50,52 of each body 30,22. The pairs of skirts 45,47 comprise an array of closely packed flexible bristles 55, configured to maintain a snug fit with an adjacent wall of a tunnel (e.g. tunnel 60).

The first and second bodies 30,32 further comprise a pair of end screens 65,67, each screen comprising a resilient barrier 70,72 disposed around an outer perimeter 74,76 thereof, each resilient barrier 70,72 comprising an array of closely packed flexible bristles 75.

The first body 30 houses a dry ice machine 80 comprising a pump, for spraying walls of a tunnel (e.g. tunnel 60). The second body 32 houses an air-spraying system 90 comprising a compressed air supply 94 coupled to an array of air-jet nozzles 96 mounted on bar-like members spanning the body 32 (end-to-end) from one screen 67 to the other, along the perimeters 76 thereof.

The first and second bodies 30,32 further comprise pairs of side screens 110 for enclosing lateral sides of the bodies 30,32. The side screens on each body may be deployed either individually, together or not at all, thereby allowing the apparatus 10 to clean tunnels comprising a plurality of lines of track without material falling on uncovered track. For example, as shown in figures 3A-C, the apparatus 10 may be used to clean a tunnel (60) comprising three lines of track by deploying different combinations of side screens 110.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use when cleaning a tunnel, comprising: a body for mounting on a wheeled chassis, the body defining an open-topped collection region; and a skirt disposed along at least one lateral side of the body, the skirt being configured to direct material falling from a region of tunnel above the skirt towards the collection region.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skirt is configured to create a snug fit between the body and an adjacent tunnel wall.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the skirt is resiliently flexible.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the skirt comprises an array of closely packed flexible members.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the collection region comprises a tray, with the skirt being configured to direct or funnel material to the tray.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further comprises an end screen configured to at least partially enclose an end of the collection region.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the end screen comprises a resilient barrier disposed around an outer perimeter thereof, the resilient barrier being configured create a snug fit between its respective end screen and an inner periphery of a tunnel to prevent as much material as possible from passing therebetween.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further comprises a fluid-spraying system comprising a compressed fluid supply connected to an array of nozzles for generating fluid jets.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the air- spraying system is configured to emit gentle (e.g. low velocity) bursts of air delivered at high frequency.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising suction means coupled to the collection region for drawing dislodged material collected therein into a holding tank coupled to the body.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a dry ice machine configured to spray or blast the walls of the tunnel with dry ice (e.g. dry ice particles or pellets) prior to exposure thereof to the air- spraying system.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body further comprising a side screen for enclosing a side of the body which is closest to the centre of a tunnel.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a scrubbing system comprising at least one brush connected to a capture tank, the scrubbing system being configured to scrub the walls of a tunnel to remove materials such as dirt and grease.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one brush is coupled to a feed-back sensor system for controlling movement and hence positioning of the at least one brush during scrubbing.

15. Apparatus for cleaning ballast for supporting a railway track, comprising a body mounted on a wheeled chassis configured to run along railway track adjacent the ballast, the body defining a collection region; and means for drawing debris present in or on the ballast into the collection region, the drawing means including an aperture configured to face substantially towards the ballast.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the drawing means comprises means for providing a fluid flow for entraining particulate matter.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the drawing means comprises a compressed air system.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 17, further comprising a rake system configured to rake stones.

19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and any one of claims 15 to 18, further comprising a brush system for brushing lower wall sections of a tunnel (e.g. below the skirt).