US20160201278A1 - Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system and method - Google Patents

Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system and method Download PDF

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Publication number
US20160201278A1
US20160201278A1 US14/991,342 US201614991342A US2016201278A1 US 20160201278 A1 US20160201278 A1 US 20160201278A1 US 201614991342 A US201614991342 A US 201614991342A US 2016201278 A1 US2016201278 A1 US 2016201278A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
working device
air
brush
vehicle
vehicle assisted
Prior art date
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Abandoned
Application number
US14/991,342
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English (en)
Inventor
Jaakko HAPPONEN
Petri Heikkinen
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Snowek Oy
Original Assignee
Snowek Oy
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Snowek Oy filed Critical Snowek Oy
Assigned to SNOWEK OY reassignment SNOWEK OY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAPPONEN, JAAKKO, HEIKKINEN, PETRI
Publication of US20160201278A1 publication Critical patent/US20160201278A1/en
Priority to US16/031,793 priority Critical patent/US10920385B2/en
Priority to US16/582,896 priority patent/US10851504B2/en
Priority to US17/248,237 priority patent/US12012704B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/08—Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter or small objects; Drying by heat only or by streams of gas; Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles
    • E01H1/0827—Dislodging by suction; Mechanical dislodging-cleaning apparatus with independent or dependent exhaust, e.g. dislodging-sweeping machines with independent suction nozzles ; Mechanical loosening devices working under vacuum
    • E01H1/0836—Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction ; Suction nozzles
    • E01H1/0845—Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction ; Suction nozzles with mechanical loosening or feeding instruments for the dirt to be sucked- up, e.g. brushes, scrapers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/02—Brushing apparatus, e.g. with auxiliary instruments for mechanically loosening dirt
    • E01H1/05—Brushing apparatus, e.g. with auxiliary instruments for mechanically loosening dirt with driven brushes
    • E01H1/056—Brushing apparatus, e.g. with auxiliary instruments for mechanically loosening dirt with driven brushes having horizontal axes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/24—Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/02—Nozzles
    • A47L9/04—Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
    • A47L9/0461—Dust-loosening tools, e.g. agitators, brushes
    • A47L9/0466—Rotating tools
    • A47L9/0477—Rolls
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/102—Dust separators
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/02—Brushing apparatus, e.g. with auxiliary instruments for mechanically loosening dirt
    • E01H1/04—Brushing apparatus, e.g. with auxiliary instruments for mechanically loosening dirt taking- up the sweepings, e.g. for collecting, for loading
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/08—Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter or small objects; Drying by heat only or by streams of gas; Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles
    • E01H1/0863—Apparatus loosening or removing the dirt by blowing and subsequently dislodging it at least partially by suction ; Combined suction and blowing nozzles
    • E01H1/0872—Apparatus loosening or removing the dirt by blowing and subsequently dislodging it at least partially by suction ; Combined suction and blowing nozzles with mechanical loosening or feeding instruments for the dirt to be removed pneumatically, e.g. brushes, scrapers

Definitions

  • the Invention relates to cleaning technology, in more specific, to removal of extraneous materials from a surface as indicated in the preamble parts of independent claims directed to a working device, method of cleaning surfaces, and a system for cleaning surfaces.
  • the amount of air-borne dust has been reduced conventionally by showering the surface to be cleaned with water and then brushing the wet mass into a vessel of the cleaning vehicle. This is facilitated with various kinds of cleaning devices which are most often car-borne type, operable during the movement of the vehicle into which the device is strictly integrated.
  • a problem is the weight of the water to be used in such a surface treatment, which causes fuel consumption of the vehicle and thus the ratio in maintenance versus in duty would be at least partly non-economic.
  • a corollary problem of the water weight is the reduced amount of the debris that can be collected before a new round of collection.
  • the after-treatment that has to be made is made on high water content basis when/after emptying the vessel of the collected debris.
  • a further improvement to the dust problem is to use suction in a system to suck the dust away.
  • the dust cannot be emitted back into the air, but should be rather removed in a regenerative way treating the air as a dust particle carrier.
  • Filtration of large amounts of air-borne particles need a large surface area for the bag-house to be used for the filtration, the filtering unit being relatively large in mechanical size.
  • the pump or a blower to maintain sufficient pressure drop over the often clogging bag-house have to be quite large and heavy.
  • Such vehicle-born systems lead to large design and tight integration, consequently making the devices expensive and only for one purpose-oriented.
  • the working device for cleaning streets and similar surfaces from extraneous materials is characterized by claim 1
  • said working device is a separate module/implement, which can be easily attached to the vehicle and detached from a vehicle. This allows the use of the vehicle for multiple purposes, and the working device can be simple and relatively light without integrated drive or power generator facilities.
  • the invention it is also possible to implement the invention with a working device which is integrated with a vehicle.
  • said means for separating comprises a blower for providing said underpressure and/or overpressure.
  • a blower for providing said underpressure and/or overpressure.
  • the means for return of the separated air comprises a nozzle for providing an air knife.
  • the nozzle may have a contracted dimension/cross-section of its aperture for increasing air flow velocity.
  • the height dimension of the nozzle aperture (the smallest aperture dimension which is orthogonal to the horizontal nozzle width) may preferably be smaller than the diameter of the duct supplying air to the nozzle. Due to the high velocity of air, the air knife efficiently removes such extraneous material from the surface, which has not been removed by suction and brushing. The high air velocity is also efficient in moving and guiding the material to the brush located in front of the air knife.
  • the air velocity is higher at the middle and smaller at the side ends of the nozzle. This way it is possible to reduce the air coming out from the sides of the cleaning area.
  • the air to be returned is directed to the surface and has a movement component in the intended movement direction of the working device.
  • This direction of air movement has an advantage that the air knife removes the extraneous material from the surface and guides the removed material to the rotating brush.
  • the flow provided by the underpressure and air suction with the extraneous material is arranged to be transported in a channel directed to cross over at least one said brush. This way it is possible to achieve the advantageous order for the phases of suction, brushing and air knife.
  • the means for separating comprises a cyclone and/or another type of an elutriator.
  • a cyclone brings several advantages. It does not require regular maintenance except emptying the collected dust. It is not necessary to provide changeable filters, for example. With a cyclone it is also possible to provide the underpressure required for suction, and to provide the overpressure required for the air knife. The cyclone has a small pressure drop and low consumption of energy, which are not affected by the amount of collected material.
  • the means for separating and the vessel are located to the back of the treatment area of the surface in respect of the intended direction of movement. This way it is possible to have the treatment area at the front of the working device and it is possible clean surfaces close to obstacles like walls, fences and stairs.
  • the vehicle assisted working device is designed to be located at the front of the assisting vehicle. This way the driver is able to see the device during driving and control its path of movement more accurately. However, it is also possible to design the working device for installation to the rear of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle assisted working device has a part which is able to float in vertical direction respective to assisting vehicle.
  • the floating part is supported to the ground by the brush and/or wheels.
  • the floating part can thus follow an uneven surface of the ground and compensate the wearing of the brush.
  • the floating part preferably comprises the brush and the air knife. The distance of the air knife can thus be kept on a constant, suitable distance from the ground independently of the form of the ground surface.
  • a method of cleaning surfaces with a mobile air-assisted collection device is characterized by claim 14 .
  • the material detached by the pressurized air from the surface is led to the brush and led further to the suction.
  • the method comprises utilization of a small particle separation unit in a sub-unit of said separating unit.
  • This embodiment has an advantage of further decreasing the amount of small particles that may spread to the environment.
  • a system comprises a hosting vehicle and a working device.
  • underpressure means a pressure which has a lower magnitude than the ambient pressure.
  • overpressure means a pressure which has a higher magnitude than the ambient pressure.
  • the ambient pressure means the pressure of air in the environment.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning arrangement according to the invention as a cross-sectional view
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method according the invention as a flow diagram
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the invention for a vehicle assisted working device 15 for cleaning streets and similar surfaces from extraneous materials, such as sands.
  • the main direction of device movement is shown with an arrow in front of the working device.
  • the working device comprises at least one brush 5 in a brush assembly, arranged to detach said extraneous material from said surface, i.e. street surface for example.
  • This surface is given as an example of a horizontal or essentially horizontal type surfaces, into which type all the streets, squares and markets belong, which are sufficiently planar for a vehicle to access.
  • the working device can additionally comprise a smaller brush (not shown in Figure) in front of or beside the brush assembly.
  • the additional brush has a vertical axis of rotation and it is addressed for cleaning at the edge of pavements on the streets.
  • the additional brush may also have suction for collecting debris to the debris container vessel 10 .
  • a brush assembly can comprise the brush 5 , its support arm 52 , and joints 13 , 51 to hold the brush, and/or to guide its movement.
  • the brush assembly can also comprise at least one of the following, a hydraulic or electric motor for rotation of the brush, a wheel, pressure sensor, slip sleeve, chamber wall, air knife nozzle, and a suction channel.
  • means 1 , 2 for providing an underpressure for a suction 7 of the detached material (as being detached by the brush 5 and/or air-knife 6 ,) into the air flow directing away from said surface at the detachment spot, means 4 for separating said detached material from said air flow, and means 1 , 2 for providing an overpressure via tubing 12 for an air-knife 6 and return of the separated air to the surface via the air-knife 6 .
  • the means for separating is embodied as a cyclone.
  • the cyclone has the tangential flow inlet 41 , a dished ground plate 44 , end cone 43 and the air exit 42 .
  • the flows are illustrated by the arrows, to demonstrate the operation of the cyclone via the flows.
  • the brush 5 is arranged to rotate counter-wise to the intended direction of movement of the working device, in hosting device's guidance, so that the spot on the surface to be cleaned is treated by the working device in the order: means for the suction of the extraneous materials, at least one brush and means for return of the separated air to the surface.
  • the intended direction of operation is indicated with a horizontal arrow pointing to left.
  • the underpressure is produced by a fan 2 or a blower 2 , which has underpressure side at the intake inlet and an overpressure side at the outlet to the tubing 12 , so providing respective means for making the underpressure and the overpressure.
  • Making the needed underpressure for the suction is made via the garbage vessel 3 , being achieved by the fan 2 , but also by directing suction of the air flow along a suction channel 7 towards the garbage vessel 3 .
  • the underpressure condition reaches the lip sleeve 8 and the brush 5 co-operation point at the intake location.
  • the underpressure is exposing also the brush contact spot to the surface to be brushed.
  • the lip sleeve has approximately same width as the brush, and approximately reaches the ground surface to be cleaned and thus sweeps the ground surface.
  • the lip sleeve and the brush are preferably in contact, whereby the brush moves the debris along the lip sleeve towards the channel 7 .
  • the entrance chamber has a front sleeve 91 .
  • the lip sleeve and the entrance chamber both prevent the debris from being thrown by the brush outside from the front of the device. They also restrict the suction volume and thus enhance the suction force at the brush in the entrance chamber area.
  • the hosting vehicle assists the module/implement (as another system element) comprising the working device.
  • the module can comprise also attachment means and/or mating means to the attachment means (not shown) so that the module can be attached and/or detached to the assisting vehicle, (or several assisting vehicles according to the attachment needs in each), acting as a hosting machine when the system of said system elements are operated together.
  • FIG. 1 shows a hydraulic motor 1 for the operating of the fan 2 or a blower 2 , taking hydraulic operating power in suitable part from the hosting vehicle's hydraulic system.
  • the motor can be pneumatic or electrical, also taking the power from the hosting vehicle.
  • the motor for rotating the brush 5 can also be hydraulic, pneumatic or electric powered in similar way, in accordance of the power feed lines (not shown in the FIG. 1 ).
  • the working device comprises attachment means 31 (see also FIG. 3 ) to attach the device to a host machine, which is provided with mating means to said attachment means.
  • the attachment means is configured to connect and relay from the host machine at least one of the following: a mechanical fixation, pull or push, hydraulic fluid flow to relay an assisting hydraulic pressure, and electric connection for power feed and/or signaling a control signal.
  • the attachment means also have e.g. hydraulic actuators for controlling the tilt angle of the working device.
  • the fixed part of the working device has sensor(s) for measuring the distance to ground surface. A controller can then monitor the sensor outputs and control the tilt angle of the working device based on the form of the ground surface. This automatic tilt control allows additional compensation to ground forms so that a floating brush unit can have a smaller span of floating.
  • the working device has a container vessel 10 for the garbage that are collected and allowed to settle by the gravity in the vessel 10 , which is indicated in FIG. 1 .
  • the container vessel 10 comprises a lid 11 which can be closed/opened for holding/removing the debris.
  • the container vessel 10 is located below the cyclone.
  • separating means 4 it has a cone. Above the cone there is drawn in the embodied cyclone a dished ground plate 44 , which is meant for forces vortex reversal and to direct fine particulates to the hopper in the cyclone cone. Another task of the dished ground plate in this embodiment is to prevent already collected debris to get re-entrained by the cyclonic forces.
  • the cyclone can be positioned into the working device's inner volume 17 , advantageously so that the tangential inlet of the cyclone 41 is as far as possible in the volume 17 , so facilitating longest available settling time to the airborne debris in the volume 17 , that extends from the brush housing or alike to the back wall near the embodied example of the cyclone inlet 41 location.
  • the fan 2 or a blower 2 is arranged so that the same fan or blower 2 can be used for providing the underpressure, and overpressure to the line 12 .
  • the overpressure side of the closed loop part can comprises also a pressurizing compressor option as arranged to further increase the pressure for maximizing the pressure, the flow velocity through the air-knife nozzle to cause a shear force on the surface to be cleaned, when the air-knife nozzle is directed towards the surface to be cleaned.
  • the air knife is arranged to provide a shear stress based cutting force to detach the debris from the surface to be cleaned.
  • the nozzle can have a contracted cross-section and/or a narrow slit for increasing air flow velocity for providing an air-knife action with the shear stress component directed on the surface.
  • a slit it can be implemented with an adjustable dimension of the slit.
  • the nozzle 6 , brush 5 and the suction interface 7 - 9 preferably have a substantially same width.
  • the fan 2 is arranged to provide air flow in a closed loop, according to an embodiment variant some volumetric proportion of the sucked air may be directed to the atmosphere, to balance the flow logistics. This way it is possible to keep the underpressure in the brushing area and thus reduce any emission of dusty air. Also, if the underpressure formed by the fan is also used for an additional brush, it is necessary to lead the corresponding amount of the sucked air to the atmosphere. According to an embodiment the releasable air is directed to the atmosphere via a secondary cleaning unit.
  • the overpressure side of the fan 2 the air in overpressure can be thus optionally fed via a conduit directly or via the pressurizer connected to the air-knife nozzle.
  • the device comprises a conduit and/or a valve arranged to release at least part of the air coming from the fan into the atmosphere.
  • the release is arranged to happen instead of direct release, via a secondary cleaning unit, that removes from the air to be released, some further particulate matter before the release of the air.
  • the secondary cleaning unit comprises an arrangement, where the airflow is directed into water, towards a water surface, so that particles from the air are suspended into the water to get settled therein in the water.
  • this arrangement as referred also as an impinger in the following, comprises the nozzle to be positioned in respect to the water surface so that the water surface is under the nozzle, below the nozzle, where the air directed for release is flowing, and the flow is directed towards to the water surface, whereby to make a sudden curve-linear turn.
  • the collection efficiency as a particle size is influenced by the degree of the turbulence, the embodied operation can be understood on the terms of impaction theory in suitable part.
  • the water surface in the secondary cleaning unit is arranged into the nozzle of the air flow or into the conduit feeding the nozzle, i.e. the air is fed underneath the water surface, so that the air flows through the water. Then soluble debris can get solved into the water, and the non-soluble debris part as suspended, settles down to the bottom by gravity.
  • the secondary cleaning unit comprises a scrubber arranged to remove particles from the air flow before its exit into atmosphere.
  • the air-knife 6 arrangement comprises means to increase the pressure for forming a high velocity jet type flow, from a nozzle or slit system to direct a shear stress type force on to the surface, thus improving the cut off of the particles and/or debris from the surface, i.e. street.
  • the nozzle demonstrated in the FIG. 1 can be adjustable, so that the direction can be altered for improving the detachment of the debris, whereas in other embodiments the nozzle can be solidly mounted to a fixed position.
  • the air to be returned to the brushes via the air-knife arrangement is directed to the surface and the intended movement direction of the working device.
  • the angle of the flow and the surface is below 50 degrees, advantageously below 30 degrees but even more advantageously below 25 degrees.
  • the angle is more than 10 degrees, but even more advantageously more than 15 degrees.
  • the air knife arrangement comprises means to direct the air flow on to the surface to be cleaned in a working angle in respect to the surface to be cleaned.
  • the detached material from the surface at the lip sleeve 8 in the entrance chamber 9 is introduced into an underpressure channel 7 leading over the brush 5 , so that the flow provided by the underpressure and consequent air suction causing the flow, the air flow with the extraneous material is arranged to be transported in a channel 7 , which is directed to cross over at least one said brush 5 .
  • the slip sleeve 8 in the entrance chamber 9 is arranged so that the brush is actually pushing the debris to the channel 7 , which expands when leading over the brush.
  • the slip sleeve is arranged to tightly fit to the brush hairs position at the very beginning of the channel 7 , near the surface to be cleaned.
  • the surface to be cleaned is cleaned by at least one brush 5 , which is embodied as a rotational brush lamellae comprising brush, which has its rotational axis parallel to the surface, but above it in the example of the embodiment.
  • the debris from the surface detaches as large flocks rather than individual small particles, except loose debris as stones, sands or alike.
  • cyclone is used as a separator.
  • the vessel for the separated material and the cyclone are located to the backwards section of the device of the treatment area of the surface in respect of the intended direction of movement, for example.
  • the brush is mounted to be as a floating brush, i.e. the axle of the brush is so suspended that the brush hairs at the location of the surface to be cleaned is intercepting the surface to be cleaned.
  • the brush is so suspended that the brush hairs twist because of the surface, at the end position of the hairs touching the surface to be cleaned.
  • the brush is suspended by an arm arrangement 51 and a joint 13 , so that the brush can follow the surface accurately, but also to facilitate adjustment of the brush contact to the surface to be cleaned. This way it is also possible to take into account the brush hair wear out.
  • the joint can comprise a motor and/or a locking device to a certain position of the arm.
  • the floating brush assembly comprising at least the brush 5 , comprises also at least one wheel 14 , 16 , to be positioned in front ( 16 ) of the brush 5 and/or behind ( 14 ) the brush 5 , so that the wheels 14 , 16 are arranged to be not connected directly to the brush 5 so being enabled to float.
  • the wheels are suspended.
  • the surface to be cleaned at the brush contacting area has been closed by a slip sleeve 8 at the front side of the brush 5 , but according to a further variant optionally or in addition also from the rear and other sides of the brush 5 .
  • the separating means comprises a sub-separator or a sub-unit, which is arranged to remove smaller fractions of suspended particles, for instance small particles below 10 ⁇ m in diameter.
  • this sub-separator is situated after the cyclone 4 , in series in respect of the flow exit 42 of the cyclone 4 .
  • the air exit of the separating means is indicated with aligned arrows to the left, but a skilled man in the art knows, that other positions can be used in suitable part, depending on the elutriator type in use.
  • an electrostatic precipitator for example such as a variant of an old Cottrel-type can be used.
  • the working device is designed to be located at the front of the assisting vehicle, but according to respective optional embodiments the device can be located to side or back of the hosting device.
  • the hosting machine can be a robot or remotely controlled vehicle or alike.
  • such surfaces as streets, squares and market places can be cleaned from sand with a vehicle assisted working device according to an embodiment of the invention operating according to the following method with the ensemble of method steps as demonstrated in FIG. 2 .
  • the method comprises method steps for
  • a spot of a surface is treated in the order: sucking, brushing and directing pressurized air.
  • material detached by the pressurized air from the surface is led to the brushing and led further to the suction.
  • the vehicle assisted working device is a separate module to be attached and/or detached to the vehicle that is assisting the working device as hosting machine.
  • the module variant is designed for fixation by attachment means to attach to the hosting machine, and its electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic system in suitable part, also in an embodiment variant in which the module is permanently fixed via the attachment means.
  • the attachment means comprise also mechanical support and/or parts to relay the push/pull force as an operating force from the hosting machine.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates system according to an embodiment of the invention wherein the working device 15 comprises attachment means 31 to attach the device to a host machine 32 .
  • the host machine is embodied as a tractor in FIG. 3 , but also different kind of vehicles that have the mating means to the attachment means will do.
  • the attaching means can be comprised in the host machine and the suitable mating means in the working device.
  • the position of the working device is shown as an example, without intention to limit the system topology only to the shown example.
  • the working device is embodied as a vehicle assisted module for cleaning streets or alike surfaces.
  • a working device is a mobile collection device, wherein the device comprises: a closed loop air circulating fluid suction arrangement for producing suction, a collector unit to clean the fluid sucked, an air-knife arrangement to produce a shear stress directable on to the debris on the surface to be cleaned, a rotating brush arrangement, arranged to comprise at least one brush rotatable in alignment of said suction, in a counter direction of the planned movement of the device, a fluid guide to guide said fluid sucked onwards on a curved surface of said fluid guide for improvement of the fluid flow into the collector unit.
  • the module is attachable to a vehicle acting as a host machine by attachment means, the vehicle can be at least one of the following: A car, a tractor, a wheel loader, a tram, and a lorry.
  • the fixation to the host machine is made permanent.
  • the system comprising the host vehicle and the working device is scaled down to the size of a hoover, wherein the host vehicle is at least partly an autonomously self-driving robot vehicle, arranged to cleaning surfaces in the poisonous or radioactive environments for example.
  • the separator 4 comprises at least one of the following: A cyclone, a classical cyclone, a Lapple type cyclone, a Thien type cyclone, a combination of at least two of the mentioned cyclones and a cyclone train comprising only one type of said cyclone types.
  • the brush arrangement comprises at least one brush 5 with a horizontal rotating axis, but in some embodiments the brush arrangement may have at least one additional brush with vertical rotating axis.
  • the air flow of the air-knife is a constant air flow, but in an optional embodiment a pulsating air shock flow, maintained with an oscillating on-off valve, for example.
  • a system according to an invention comprises a host vehicle and a working device. According to a further embodiment the system comprises control means to control said vehicle in suitable part.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
US14/991,342 2015-01-08 2016-01-08 Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system and method Abandoned US20160201278A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/031,793 US10920385B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2018-07-10 Vehicle assisted cleaning method
US16/582,896 US10851504B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2019-09-25 Vehicle assisted cleaning device and system
US17/248,237 US12012704B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2021-01-15 Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system, and method using the same

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20155008A FI127690B (en) 2015-01-08 2015-01-08 A vehicle assisted working machine
FI20155008 2015-01-08

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US14/991,342 Abandoned US20160201278A1 (en) 2015-01-08 2016-01-08 Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system and method
US16/031,793 Active US10920385B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2018-07-10 Vehicle assisted cleaning method
US16/582,896 Active US10851504B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2019-09-25 Vehicle assisted cleaning device and system
US17/248,237 Active 2036-03-21 US12012704B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2021-01-15 Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system, and method using the same

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US16/582,896 Active US10851504B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2019-09-25 Vehicle assisted cleaning device and system
US17/248,237 Active 2036-03-21 US12012704B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2021-01-15 Vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system, and method using the same

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CN111957148A (zh) * 2020-07-15 2020-11-20 李家行 一种柳絮吸附清理装置
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CN114554921A (zh) * 2019-10-10 2022-05-27 戴森技术有限公司 用于真空清洁器具的吸尘器头

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FI20155008A (fi) 2016-07-09
CN105780698A (zh) 2016-07-20
CN113737695A (zh) 2021-12-03
EP3346056A1 (fr) 2018-07-11
US20180320329A1 (en) 2018-11-08
US20210164180A1 (en) 2021-06-03
CN113737696A (zh) 2021-12-03
FI127690B (en) 2018-12-14
CA2916802C (fr) 2023-05-16
US10920385B2 (en) 2021-02-16
US20200018026A1 (en) 2020-01-16
US12012704B2 (en) 2024-06-18
ES2660374T3 (es) 2018-03-22
CA2916802A1 (fr) 2016-07-08
ES2901601T3 (es) 2022-03-23
DK3346056T3 (da) 2021-12-13
EP3042997B1 (fr) 2017-12-27
EP3346056B1 (fr) 2021-09-22
US10851504B2 (en) 2020-12-01
EP3042997A1 (fr) 2016-07-13

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