MXPA06011598A - Device for suction of waste and contaminating substances from the ground - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates a device for suction of waste and contaminating substances from the ground of the type used in machines for cleaning roads and similar comprising a suction pipe (2) and a recirculation pipe (3), the device (1) comprising:an inlet aperture (2a) of the suction pipe (2a) and an outlet aperture (3a) of the recirculation pipe (3);said aperture being a slot surrounding the inlet aperture (2a) near the ground;the device (1) further comprising a system for adjustment (12) of the distance from the ground consisting of an articulated quadrilateral (13), a fluid dynamic cylinder (14) and at least one castor (15) in contact with the ground.

Description

"DEVICE FOR ASPIRATION OF SOIL CONTAMINANT WASTE AND SUBSTANCES" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for suction of waste and soil polluting substances, of the type used in road sweepers and the like comprising a suction pipe and a recirculation pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been known for many years that sweeping machines and vacuum cleaners have been used to clean roads and the like. These machines use a complex suction system that has a suction inlet located close to the ground. The suction inlet is mainly responsible for the suction efficiency of the machine and therefore is of fundamental importance. In fact, over the years, many different modifications have been made to the end area of the suction pipe. Of the various improvements made to the suction inlet, it should be noted the introduction of a laminar air flow that bruises the surface of the ground. Said air flow, if properly directed, determines a drop in pressure in the soil surface due to the known Venturi effect. The fall in pressure on the surface causes the release of dust and polluting substances that adhere to the ground and therefore, an improved cleaning of roads and the like. It has been ensured that the use of such a device allows a considerable reduction of the energy used by the aspiration, since the energy (or velocity) acquired by the air during the aspiration, instead of dispersing when the air is discharged to the external environment is retained since it is sent, through a recycling pipe, to the entrance. The known technique referred to above has some disadvantages. Very often, the suction inlets of the road cleaning machines do not allow the recovery of energy because there are considerable losses of pressure along the trajectory and at the entrance. Said losses, in particular those at the entrance, are harmful not only in terms of energy but above all cause a reflux of air to the outside, consequently introducing polluting substances into the environment. In fact, the air created by the recycling flow contains dust and polluting substances sucked out of the soil and only partially decanted along the path. It certainly contains still PM10 type pollutants, the most dangerous to health since they are easily inhaled by humans. Therefore, said powder is dispersed to the environment due to the fact that the flow that bruises the soil is not completely captured by the suction pipe. In addition to obtaining the Venturi effect, the surface of the air passage over the ground must be restricted in order to increase the speed and reduce the pressure. Said restriction produces a loss of pressure and therefore a reduction in air flow. It is obvious that this reduction falls to a similar degree also in the suction pipe with the consequent reduction in speed and therefore, is a reduced collection of waste in terms of both volume and, above all, weight. Attempts have already been made to resolve the above disadvantages, through various solutions which, in summary, are all the result of a single strategy. The system is produced in such a way that the amount of recirculating air is limited, dispersing the increased amount remaining in the environment and generating pollution because it is rich in PM10-type powder, or to transport said additional air together with the primary air to filters that necessarily become larger and therefore occupy more space inside the waste container (reduced operating autonomy of the machine) and are also more expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In this situation, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to conceive a device for the aspiration of wastes and polluting substances capable of substantially remediating the disadvantages referred to thereto. In the context of said technical task, an important objective of the invention is to produce a device for the aspiration of waste and polluting substances from the soil that uses an air flow that allows the optimal detachment of waste, dust and contaminants from the soil with a reduced energy consumption. A second important objective of the invention is to produce a device for the aspiration of waste and polluting substances from the soil that has greatly reduced the losses of air and polluting substances to the environment, also with a rugged road. An additional important objective of the invention is to design a device that maintains a flow of suction air such as collecting debris weighing up to 500 g. The specified objectives are achieved by a device for the aspiration of waste and soil polluting substances, of the type used in road sweepers and the like comprising a suction pipe and a recirculation pipe, said device comprising: an entrance opening of said suction pipe and an outlet opening of said recirculation pipe, said outlet opening substantially consisting of a slot substantially surrounding said inlet opening close to the ground and comprising a front part and a rear part designed to create flows of opposite air; said front part and said rear part having distances from the ground that differ one from another of between 4 cm and 12 cm. The device allows the release of dust and polluting or relatively voluminous substances without dispersion of polluting substances in the environment.

- - BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The additional features and advantages of the invention are better clarified below by the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side section of the device of aspiration according to the invention; Figure 2a graphically represents a first portion of a positive according to the invention; Figure 2b graphically represents a second portion of a device according to the invention; Figure 2c graphically represents the union of the portions illustrated in Figure 2a and 2b; Figure 3 illustrates the bottom view of the device according to the invention; Figure 4 shows an axonometric view of the device according to the invention; and Figure 5 shows a sweeping and cleaning machine in which a device according to the invention is provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the figures referred to, the suction device according to the invention is generally indicated by the number 1. The device 1 is used in street cleaning machines 20 for roads and the like, provided with a pipe 2 of aspiration which sucks air, waste and polluting substances such as dust and the like, and a recirculation pipe 3, which substantially recirculates the air containing polluting substances. The device 1 comprises an inlet opening 2a of the suction pipe 2, and an outlet opening 3a of the recirculation pipe 3, illustrated schematically in Figure 3 and 4 by a dashed line. The suction pipe 2 and the recirculation pipe 3 lead to a chamber for the storage of the waste or the like. The cleaning machine 20 sucks the external debris and air in the forward direction, the inlet 2a sucks the external air and debris mainly in its front part. The inlet opening 2a and the outlet opening 3a are appropriately defined by a suction structure 4. The suction structure 4 preferably consists of a central element 5 (Figure 2a) defining the opening 2a of entry and part of the suction pipe 2, and a peripheral element 8. The central element 5 and the peripheral element 8 are illustrated separately and in the section in Figure 2a and 2b. The central element 5 consists substantially of a circular pipe that expands in diameter near the base of the element 5, or near the opening 2a of entry. Therefore, this expression defines an opening 2a of entry with a large surface that improves the suction of the waste and reduces pressure losses. In this respect, the central element 5 preferably has a front part 5a that expands more than the rear part 5b of the central element 5, where the suction of air and debris mainly takes place. The front part 5a also has a height from the ground of approximately 8 cm, in order to suck relatively bulky waste. The central element 5 further preferably comprises a conveyor surface 6, integral with the base of the central element and preferably comprising at least one fin element 7, designed to create an appropriate air flow as specified below, and preferably configured in three sides. Said fin element 7 has a considerable length to distribute the energy over a large surface. The fin member 7 preferably extends near the rear part 5b, as illustrated in Figure 3 and 4. The conveyor surface 6 (Figure 2b) preferably consists of a flat horizontal portion 6b biased to the level of the rear part 5a and a slanted flat portion 6a, with an opposite bias with respect to the front part 5a to which it is connected. The peripheral element 8 is substantially an expansion and a conformation of the recirculation pipe 3; therefore, it includes the outlet opening 3a and is connected to said recirculation pipe 3. The peripheral element 8 includes almost completely the central element 5. Consequently, the central element 5 passes through the upper surface of the peripheral element 8. Said peripheral element 8 has a lower opening 8a located near the entrance opening 2a (Figure 2c). Substantially it surrounds said opening 2a of entry defined by the central element 5. Therefore, the opening 3a of exit consists of the portions of the lower opening 8a that are not occupied by the central element 5 (Figure 1). Consequently, the output aperture 3a produced substantially substantially surrounds the entrance 2a. Said opening 3a has a very elongated shape and consequently reduces the pressure losses that optimize the flows and the recirculation energy. Furthermore, if the opening 8a is very close to the central element 5, the outlet opening 3a is provided by slots or fine openings which, according to the known principles of fluid dynamics, constitute high velocity air flows. Ultimately, the opening 8a is appropriately located close to the ground, so that said air flows create a pressure drop near the ground, where the waste is located to be collected. Preferably, the peripheral element 8 consists mainly of a front portion 9 and a rear portion 10. The front portion 9 substantially surrounds the front part 5a of the central element 5, and is approximately 8 cm from the ground in order to accommodate the waste more bulky Therefore, said front portion 9 defines the front part of the exit opening 3a. The rear portion 10 comprises the end part of the recirculation pipe 3 and therefore - - wraps and defines the rear part of the outlet opening 3a, appropriately positioned near the fin member 7 and also formed along three sides, like the fin element 7. The rear portion 10 is generally located at a very limited distance from the ground, on the order of a few millimeters. Therefore, the front part of the outlet opening 3a and the rear part of the outlet opening 3a have floor distances that differ from one another by between 4 cm and 12 cm. Ultimately, the peripheral element 8 comprises two lateral portions 11, which also surround the sides of the central element 5. The device 1 comprises a system for the adjustment 12 of the distance from the ground. Therefore, the structure 4 is movable in vertical direction with respect to the suction pipes 2 and the recycling pipes 3, which are integral with a support structure 21, part of the cleaning machine 20. In order to guarantee the vertical mobility of the structure 4, the end parts of the pipes 2 and 3, integral with the structure 4, have a slightly smaller or slightly larger diameter with respect to the portion of the pipes 2 and 3 integral with the structure - 21 support and clutch with it. The adjustment system 12 is preferably automatically usable. The preferred embodiment provides said system 12 consisting of an articulated quadrilateral 13, a mechanism consisting of four members, two by two parallel, interconnected by hinges. The articulated quadrilateral 13 has two non-opposing hinges connected to the structure 4 while the remaining two hinges are connected to the support structure 21. It maintains structure 4 in a position parallel to the ground and defines the distance of structure 4 from the ground. The particular quadrilateral 13 is appropriately adjusted by a fluid dynamics cylinder 14, which preferably operates near the end of the articulated quadrilateral 13 with structure 4, in order to obtain a superior sensitivity to the movements of the structure 4. In addition, the system 12 preferably comprises one or more rotating wheels 15, integral with structure 4, which are brought into contact with the ground and which substantially define the correct distance from the floor of the structure 4. Two rotating wheels 15 are preferably provided and are arranged on both sides of the rear portion 10. The dynamics cylinder 14 of fluids substantially determines the pressure exerted by the rotating wheels 15 on the ground. It should be possible to vary said pressure according to the type of ground (smooth or bumpy, asphalt or concrete) in which the machine 20 is used. In this regard, the means for selection 16 of the pressure exerted by the rotating wheels 15 on the ground, preferably at level of the cabin 22 of the machine 20, consisting of a lever, a knob or the like. Said selection means 16 operates on a cylinder 17 of fluid dynamics or the like, to which it adjusts the pressure exerted by the fluid dynamics cylinder 14. In addition, the fluid dynamics circuit 17 is preferably able to maintain constant the pressure exerted on the ground. Similar fluid dynamics circuits may be of the various types known in the art. The machine 20 appropriately comprises two lateral brushes 23, which rotate and of the cupped type, or substantially circular and which expand towards the base. Said side brushes 23 are designed to transport the waste present on a large surface to an accumulation area between the two brushes 23. Said area must be cleaned by the device 1. In this regard, the device 1 pulls not frontal portion 9 substantially tangent to the brushes 23. In particular, if the front part has three sides in the example described, the two lateral sides of said front portion 9 are substantially present to the brushes 23, as illustrated in Figure 6. In addition, the brushes 23 protrude from the machine 20, with objects to collect the rubbish along with the pockets of pavements and roads. In said case, the area cleaned by the device 1 comprises said accumulation area between those laterals 23, also when the machine is traveling curves and the like. The operation of a suction device 1, structurally described above, is as explained below. When the cleaning machine 20 is turned on, the device 1 is placed, automatically or manually, at a correct distance from the floor, and the pressure exerted by the fluid dynamics cylinder 14 is also selected by the selection means 16.

- - Therefore, the fluid dynamics circuit 17 is activated and operates in the fluid dynamics cylinder 14 that moves the articulated quadrilateral 13. The rotating wheels 15 are then brought into contact with the ground at a certain pressure exerted by the user. of the machine 20, by the selection means 16, in accordance with the requirements of the soil to be cleaned, or others. Alternatively, the fluid dynamics cylinder 14 can stabilize the device 1 at a height higher than that determined by the rotating wheels 15. The pressure on the floor of the device 1, transmitted by the rotating wheels 15 and detected by said fluid dynamics cylinder 14, is continuously controlled and kept constant, so that any irregularity in the ground is compensated by the vertical movement of the device 1. As it moves towards in front of the cleaning machine 20, the device 1 sucks the waste, polluting substances and air from the outside through the entrance 2a. The waste is transported to the device 1 also by the brushes 23. Therefore, the device 1 cleans a wide surface area of soil. In particular, the influx of waste, pollutants and air is created at the level of the front part 5a, which rises approximately 8 cm from the ground, while the rear part 5b is at a very limited distance from the ground, of the order of a few millimeters. Said flow is transported into the cleaning machine 20, through the suction pipe 2, where a first part of the flow is properly filtered and partially ejected into the environment. A second part is circulated through the recirculation pipe 3, and constitutes the recirculation flow. Said recirculation flow arrives at the rear part 10 of the peripheral element 8 and from here it is divided into a frontal flow and a subsequent flow. The frontal flow crosses the internal part of the peripheral element 8, and is expelled by the front part of the outlet 3a. Consequently, a high velocity low pressure flow is created, which surrounds the front part 5a of the central element 5. The rear flow is transported through the rear part of the outlet 3a, where a flow is formed that surrounds the rear part 5b of the central element 5, with a low pressure and high speed, particularly suitable for the detachment of dust and soil polluting substances or the extraction of waste - - quite bulky. The invention offers important advantages. As described, the device 1 creates high velocity protruding air flows near the ground. These flows cause a sub-surface pressure close to the ground that allows the release of dust and contaminating substances or relatively bulky waste. In particular, the inflow of incoming air from the rear portion of the outlet 3a is particularly designed to create an underpressure close to the ground and is particularly effective due to the presence of the fin member 7. In addition, the outflow of air completely surrounds the inlet 2a of the suction pipe 2. This solution provides losses of very low pressure and therefore high flow rates, so that there is no dispersion of polluting substances in the environment and bulky heavy waste can be collected. An additional advantage is provided by the fact that the device 1 is automatically and continuously adjustable height. Furthermore, the pressure exerted by said device 1 on the ground can be selected by means of the rotating wheels 15. This allows the device 1 to always be very close to the ground, also when it is broken, etc. By the selection means 16, the pressure exerted on the ground by the device 1 can be adjusted easily and quickly. In addition, device 1 has a greatly reduced distance from the ground, of the order of a few millimeters. In particular, the side walls 11 and the rear portion 10 are very close to the ground, in order to avoid possible additional pressure losses, said reduced distance remains constant in the case of rough roads and the like by means of the system 12 of Adjustment, Last but not least, there is the advantage that the device 1 is located near the side brushes 23 and substantially tangentially to the same.In fact, this configuration allows the device 1 to completely absorb the waste transported by the side brushes 23 also when it is traveling curves and the like., by means of the particular shape of the openings 2a and 3a the brushes can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine 20. Therefore, the machine 20 is capable of being cleaned in the same way for a wide portion of roads both to the right as to the left of the device 1

Claims (11)

1. - NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the invention as antecedent, the content of the following claims is claimed as property CLAIMS 1. Device for suction of waste and soil polluting substances, of the type used in road sweepers and the like comprising a suction pipe (2) and a recirculation pipe (3), said device (1) comprising: opening (2a) of said suction pipe (2) and an outlet opening (3a) of said recirculation pipe (3), characterized in that: said outlet opening (3a) consists substantially of a groove substantially surrounding said opening (2a) of entrance near the ground and comprising a front part and a rear part designed to create opposite air flows, said front part and said back part having floor distances that differ one from another of between 4 cm and 12 cm. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a central element (5) constituting said entrance opening (3a), and a peripheral element (8), including said central element (5) and - 1 - having a opening (8a) near said central element (5) and said opening (2a) of entry, wherein said exit opening (2a) consists of the interaction of said opening (8a) and said central element (5). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a fin element (7) near said outlet opening (3a), said fin element (7) being designed to define an air flow that produces a subpressure on the ground. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes two lateral partitions (11) arranged on the sides of the central element (5). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a system for adjusting (12) the distance of the floor of said outlet opening (3a). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said adjustment system (12) consists of an articulated quadrilateral (13), a cylinder (14) of fluid dynamics and at least one rotating wheel (15) in contact with the ground. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said adjustment system (12) comprises a means for selecting (16) the pressure exerted by said fluid dynamics cylinder (14). - 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said adjustment system (12) comprises a fluid dynamics circuit (17) designed to keep the pressure exerted on the ground constant. 9. Road cleaning machine and the like designed to suck up wastes, polluting substances and air from said soil and characterized in that it comprises: at least one side brush (23) of the cupped type designed to transport said waste to an accumulation area, a suction pipe (2) and a pipe (3) of recirculation, a device for sucking said waste and polluting substances from the soil (1) present in said accumulation area and comprising: an opening (2a) of said suction pipe (2) and an opening (3a) ) exit of said recirculation pipe (3), characterized in that: said outlet opening (3a) substantially consists of a groove substantially surrounding said entrance opening (2a) near the floor. 10. Cleaning machine according to the claim 11, characterized in that at least one of said lateral brushes (23) is placed substantially tangent to said device (1). Cleaning machine according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one of said side brushes (23) is placed substantially tangent to said device (1) and protrudes laterally from the profile of said machine (20).