WO2010015967A1

WO2010015967A1 - Device for the cleaning of snow-covered road pavings

Info

Publication number: WO2010015967A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/053294
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Piazzi
Original assignee: Studio Tecnico Piazzi Di Piazzi Geometra Roberto E C. S.A.S.
Priority date: 2008-08-05
Filing date: 2009-07-29
Publication date: 2010-02-11
Also published as: IT1390745B1; ITBO20080503A1

Abstract

The device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings comprises a tilting supporting device (13), suitable to be connected to a road tractor (5) and having a central snowplough blade (15). The snowplough blade (15) carries scraper blades (14) suitable to adapt to the road paving configuration. To the tilting supporting device (13) is connected at least a wheel (17), placed resting on the road paving and provided with sensor means (18) suited to detect the charge that weighs on the same wheel. The sensor means are connected to actuator means (10) suitable to drive the articulation means (9a, 9b) of the tilting supporting device (13), determining the transfer of part of the weighing charge from the wheel (17) to the rear axis of the road tractor (5), when such a charge goes over a predetermined threshold.

Description

Title of Invention: DEVICE FOR THE CLEANING OF SNOW- COVERED ROAD PAVINGS

Technical Field Technical Field

[1] The present invention regards a device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings.

Background Art Background Art

[2] It is known that during winter, dangerous snow and ice accumulations deriving from snowy precipitations can form on the road-bed. In order to clean the streets from the snow it is a common use of having resource to road machines that make use of scraper blades.

[3] Such machines, commonly denominated snowplough, are basically constituted of a lorry equipped with a blade device usually carried overhanged at the front. The scraper blade is made of a single element connected to the carrying vehicle, and therefore such a device cannot elastically adapt to the transverse configuration of the road-bed. Consequently, the scraper blade often exerts harmful stresses on the paving. Furthermore, snowplough devices of the traditional type weigh mainly on the front part of the carrying vehicle, rendering necessary the installation of heavy ballasting on the driving wheels, usually constituted of the rear axis, in order to maintain the adherence of the vehicle.

[4] After the removal of the snow from the road paving, in order to prevent the forming of ice, distribution of an appropriate solvent mixture is provided, the mixture being substantially composed of sodium chloride and/or calcium chloride. In case of heavy snowfalls, application of a liquid solution of calcium chloride is provided for, by means of machines provided with suitable spray members. In order to carry out such operations it is necessary to use suitably equipped machines, commonly denominated salt-cellars, basically composed of a lorry provided with a cistern containing the salt to be strewed and presenting, at the bottom of such cistern, devices for feeding and dispensing the salt.

[5] Nowadays the road-bed, especially in motorway sections, is preferably made of open cell asphalt, of the draining type. Such a type of asphalt results advantageous in case of rainy precipitations, because it favours the drainage of the water, but on the opposite it results disadvantageous in case of heavy snowy precipitations. In fact the given conformation of the draining asphalt allows the penetration of the snow inside the open cells, with the risk of an immediate formation of ice in consequence of the temperature lowering. Moreover, due to the low difference of temperature between the trampling plane and the part below the paving, even at temperatures close to the thermal zero the present snowy remnants suddenly transform into ice. Moreover, to this contribute the dragging and the compression operated by the blades of the common snowplough machines used as first intervention to remove the surface layer of snow.

[6] Therefore, in the road sections made of open cell asphalt there is a necessity to provide for the dispensing of an adequate solvent mixture immediately after the cleaning treatment effected with snowplough machines, in such a way as to prevent the formation of ice layers. Such an operation is frequently carried out employing a suitable salt-cellar machine.

[7] In conclusion, it is obvious that for cleaning the roads from snow, and for preventing and resisting efficiently the formation of ice on the roads it is nowadays necessary to have resource to a plurality of road machines, equipped for different scopes, with considerable management costs. It is also evident that such machines often represent an immobilized capital, as they generally have an occasional utility, depending basically on the climatic conditions requiring the use thereof. Furthermore, the snowplough machines correctly used result as being a little versatile and scarcely functional, as they often present problems of adherence, and they are not suitable to fit the thrust exerted from the blades to the characteristics of the road surface, thus determining an insufficient cleaning or causing damages to the paving. Disclosure of Invention Disclosure

[8] The task of the present invention is that of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks, by devising a device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings, suitable to carry out simultaneously the cleaning treatment through scraper blade and the distribution of an appropriate solvent mixture in order to avoid the formation of ice.

[9] A further object of the present invention is that of providing a device suitable to carry out correctly and accurately the cleaning of the road from the snow, without damaging the road-bed, also in presence of obstacles or variations of the paving profile.

[10] Another object of the invention is that of providing a versatile device, that is easy to use and of reliable functioning.

[11] The above mentioned objects are attained, according to the present invention, by the device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings according to claim 1. Description Of Drawings

[12] Details of the invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings according to the invention, illustrated for indicative purposes in the attached drawings, wherein: [13] figure 1 shows a lateral view of the device according to the invention, wherein the front arms are in the lifted idle position;

[14] figure 2 shows a lateral view of a detail of the device according to the invention;

[15] figure 3 shows a plan view of a detail of the device according to the invention;

[16] figure 4 shows a lateral view of the central snowplough blade, of the spray means and of the cylindrical brushes according to the invention;

[17] figure 5 shows a lateral view of the device according to the invention, wherein the front arms are in the lowered use position;

[18] figure 6 shows a lateral view of the device according to the invention, in a storing configuration, wherein it is separated from the road tractor, resting on the vertical supports;

[19] figure 7 shows an axonometric view of the profiled front arms according to the invention. Best Mode

[20] With particular reference to such figures, the device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings according to the invention is indicated in its entirety with 1.

[21] The device 1 comprises a tank 2, suitable to contain an adequate mixture of solvent products, as will be better specified in the following. The tank 2 has at its bottom part a fifth wheel pin 3, suitable to be coupled, in a configuration of use, to the fifth wheel 4 of a road tractor 5. The tank 2 has further means 6 for coupling to the frame of the road tractor 5; the coupling means 6 are suitable to support vertically the tank 2 and to absorb the transverse stresses acting on the structure during the functioning.

[22] The tank 2 is connected frontally to two profiled arms 7, which carry respective blades 8 at the free ends. Each arm 7 is connected to the tank 2 through an articulation 70 which allows the rotation thereof about a horizontal axis, between a back and lifted idle position (fig. 1) and an advanced and lowered use position (fig. 5), wherein the blades 8 make contact with the road paving, in front of the front wheels of the road tractor 5. The rotation of each arm 7 about the articulation 70 is operated by a respective hydraulic actuator 71.

[23] More in detail, each profiled arm 7 comprises a first portion 72, which extends in a lateral direction. Such a lateral portion 72 is constituted by a tubular which carries axially inserted a shank free to slide in the axial direction, driven by an appropriate actuator 73. The adjustment of the length of the lateral portion 72 allows to go beyond the lateral dimensions of the road tractor cabin, allowing the rotation of the arms 7 about the respective articulations 70. Each arm 7 further comprises a second portion 74, which extends in the longitudinal direction. Analogously, such a longitudinal portion 74 is constituted by a tubular which carries axially inserted a shank free to slide in the axial direction. The adjustment of the length of the longitudinal portion 74 allows to go over the longitudinal dimension of the road tractor cabin, allowing the correct positioning of the blades 8 in the operative position, in front of the front wheels of the road tractor 5. The profiled arms 7 further comprise a rafter 75, suitable to connect the respective final ends of the longitudinal portions 74, in order to absorb the lateral stresses produced by the thrust of the snow on the blades 8.

[24] The tank 2 is connected at its rear part to a couple of arms 9a, 9b, which constitute a parallelogram articulation, controlled by an hydraulic actuator 10. At the opposite end, the arms 9a, 9b carry a plate 11, which bears at the lower part a fifth wheel 12. The articulation of the arms 9a, 9b allows the fifth wheel 12 to shift vertically, always maintaining its base on a horizontal plane.

[25] The fifth wheel 12 has coupled at the lower part a tilting supporting device 13, suitable to support a plurality of scraper blades 14. The supporting device 13 comprises a central snowplough blade 15, connected at the upper part to the fifth wheel 12 through a longitudinal pin 16 to the coupling base. The pin 16 allows the snowplough blade 15 to tilt in the transverse direction, by arranging parallel to the road plane.

[26] The snowplough blade 15 carries a couple of wheels 17 applied in the rear part, ki- netically independent, placed resting on the road paving. Each wheel 17 is provided with a respective sensor 18 adapted to detect the loading that weighs on the same wheel. Each wheel 17 is connected to an adequate supporting frame 21, through a first supporting pin 19, and is connected to the sensor 18 by means of a second pin 20. The supporting frame 21 is connected to the supporting device 13 through a suitable vertical pin 22, which allows the rotation thereof about a vertical axis. The bushing of the pin 22 bears coaxial a cogwheel 23, geared to a rack 24. The rack 24 is linked to a hydraulic actuator 50, constrained to the structure of the supporting device 13 (fig. 3).

[27] The snowplough blade 15 further carries a plurality of tubular frames 25 applied at the rear part, substantially vertical, suitable to support respective coaxial shanks 26, free to slide within the frames 25. Each shank 26 bears at its free end a supporting means 27, connected to the shank 26 by means of radial pin 28. The pin 28 allows the supporting means 27 to freely rotate about an axis orthogonal to the axis of the pin 28. Each supporting means 27 is suitable to support a cylindrical brush 29, which is set in rotation in contact with the road paving. A pneumatic actuator 30, which connects the fixed structure of the frame 25 to the axis of the pin 28, is suitable to exert an appropriate axial action to fit the thrust of the brush 29 on the road paving below. Suitable spray means 31 are interposed between the snowplough blade 15 and the brushes 29, in order to dispense on the paving the solvent products contained in the tank 2. In particular, for the treatment of the open cell type pavings, the use of a calcium chloride solution, to be dispensed with a range comprised between 8 g/m² and 12 g/m², results particularly suitable. Within such a scope, the spray means 31 are connected to the tank 2 through suitable piping, and a pump 32 is provided for, suitable to maintain the solvent mixture at the right pressure. The action of the pump 32 is generated by the rotation of the wheel 33, to which the pump is connected coaxial. The wheel 33 is set in rotation in contact with the wheel 34 of the road tractor, through a suitable actuator 35.

[28] The snowplough blade 15 carries at the lower part a plurality of scraper blades 14.

The scraper blades 14 are arranged side by side, and are suited to adapt to the configuration of the road paving, independently to each other.

[29] The supporting device 13 further comprises two lateral snowplough blades 36, placed at the respective ends of the snowplough blade 15. The lateral snowplough blades 36 bear respective scraper blades 14, and are suitable to laterally rotate about respective pins 37, in order to reduce the overall lateral dimension of the device, when required by the geometry of the road surface. A lateral distance surveyor 42 is usefully provided for, to facilitate the adjustment of the position of the lateral snowplough blades 36, with respect to the allowed lateral dimension.

[30] The functioning of the device for cleaning road pavings according to the invention is described as follows.

[31] In a non-operative configuration the device is supported by front pneumatic supporting means 40, and by back pneumatic supporting means 41 (fig. 6). In such a way, the wheels 17 are maintained lifted and unloaded of the weight of the device.

[32] To operate the device, the road tractor 5 carries out the coupling to the fifth wheel pin

3 and to the front coupling means 6. The supporting means 40, 41 are lifted, and the arms 7 are brought into the advanced and lowered use position, wherein the blades 8 are in front of the front wheels of the vehicle 5. During the cleaning of the road paving, the blades 8 are further lowered and maintained in contact with the road surface, to allow the vehicle 5 to proceed without skidding on the snowy paving. If the use conditions do not require the use of the blades 8, the arms 7 can also be maintained in the lifted idle configuration during all the operative phases.

[33] Once the coupling operations of the device are completed, the sensors 18 connected to the wheels 17 become operative, measuring the value of the mass that weighs on the wheels at any moment.

[34] In particular, the mass weighing on the wheels 17 increases when the scraper blades

14 become operative, determining the accumulation of the removed snow within the snowplough blade 15 and the lateral snowplough blades 36. When the measured value by the sensors 18 goes over a predetermined threshold value, the parallelogram arms 9a, 9b are operated by the hydraulic actuator 10. This determines the transfer of the excess charge on the fifth wheel 3, therefore on the driving axis of the road tractor 5. This allows to maintain constant the thrust exerted by the snowplough blades on the road surface during all the operative phases, thus avoiding to damage the paving because of excessive thrusts. The transfer of the mass on the driving axis also allows to increase appropriately the adherence of the vehicle on the road surface.

[35] It is also possible to operate the hydraulic actuator 10 to completely lift the supporting device 13, and so the wheels 17, the brushes 29 and the blades 14 from the road surface. This results particularly helpful during the manoeuvring operations, for example in reverse, of the vehicle.

[36] During the operative phases of cleaning of the road surface, the blades 14 exert an appropriate pressure on the paving, removing the snowy remnants present thereon. At the same time, the sprays 31 dispense on the road surface the mixture contained in the tank 2, with a pressure proportional to the speed of the vehicle. The brushes 29, dragged in rotation in contact with the road surface, contribute to homogeneously distribute the solvent mixture, assuring the correct penetration of the same mixture within the interspaces present in the pavings of the draining type.

[37] Furthermore, during the operative phases of cleaning of the road surface the hydraulic actuator 50 becomes operative, exerting an axial thrust on the rack 24. The rack 24 transmits to the cogwheel 23 a torque which acts on the wheel 17 in contact with the road paving, stabilising the motion of the tractor vehicle and limiting the effect of the lateral thrusts due to the contact between the snow and the scraper blades 14, laterally inclined.

[38] Therefore the device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings according to the invention attains the object of simultaneously carrying out the cleaning treatment through scraper blades and the dispensing of a suitable solvent mixture to avoid the formation of ice.

[39] A characteristic of the present invention resides in providing a device suitable to execute correctly and accurately the cleaning of the road from the snow, without damaging the road-bed, also in presence of obstacles or variations of the profile of the paving.

[40] An advantage of the device according to the invention consists of the fact that it results suitable to maintain the adherence on the road-bed in any condition, without requiring the use of ballasting on the driving axis.

[41] It must be pointed out that the device according to the invention is versatile, easy to use and with a reliable functioning.

[42] In practice, the embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements.

[43] Should the technical characteristics mentioned in each claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

[Claim 1] Device for cleaning snow-covered road pavings, characterized in that it comprises a tilting supporting device (13), suitable to be connected in use to a road tractor (5) through articulation means (9a, 9b); a central snowplough blade (15), associated with said tilting supporting device (13); scraper blades (14), carried by said snowplough blade (15) and suitable to adapt to the road paving configuration; at least one wheel (17), placed resting on the road paving and connected to said tilting supporting device (13), provided with sensor means (18) suitable to detect the charge that weighs on the same wheel, and connected to actuator means (10) suitable to drive said articulation means (9a, 9b) determining the transfer of part of the weighing charge from the wheel (17) to the rear axis of the road tractor (5), when such a charge goes over a predetermined threshold.

[Claim 2] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a couple of said wheels (17), connected to said tilting supporting device

(13) and provided with respective sensors (18) suitable to detect the charge that weighs on each wheel.

[Claim 3] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a tank

(2), suitable to contain a suitable mixture of solvent products, provided at its bottom part with a fifth wheel pin (3), suitable to be coupled in use to a fifth wheel (4) of said road tractor (5).

[Claim 4] Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said tank (2) is provided with means (6) for coupling to the frame of said road tractor

(5) suitable to vertically support the same tank (2) and to absorb the transverse stresses acting on the structure during the functioning.

[Claim 5] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said articulation means (9a, 9b) are suitable to support at the lower part a plate (11) connected at the lower part with a fifth wheel (12) suitable to shift vertically, always maintaining its base on a horizontal plane, said fifth wheel (12) bringing at the lower part said central snowplough blade

(15).

[Claim 6] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a couple of profiled arms (7), having respective blades (8) at the free end, each arm (7) being connected to the tank (2) by means of an ar- ticulation (70) which allows the rotation thereof about a substantially horizontal axis, between a back and lifted idle position and an advanced and lowered use position wherein said blades (8) come into contact with the road paving, in front of the front wheels of said road tractor (5).

[Claim 7] Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said profiled arms (7) comprise a first portion (72), which extends in a lateral direction, constituted of a tubular which bears axially inserted a shank free to slide in the axial direction, operated by a suitable actuator (73); a second portion (74), which extends in a longitudinal direction, constituted of a tubular that bears axially inserted a shank free to slide in the axial direction, a rafter (75), suitable to connect the respective final ends of the longitudinal portions (74), in order to absorb the lateral stresses produced by the thrust of the snow on said blades (8).

[Claim 8] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said wheel (17) is connected to an appropriate supporting frame (21), through a first supporting pin (19), and is connected to said sensor means (18) by means of a second pin (20), said supporting frame (21) being connected to said supporting device (13) through a vertical pin (22), which allows the rotation thereof about a vertical axis, said pin (22) being provided with a cogwheel (23), geared to a rack (24) linked to a hydraulic actuator (50), constrained to the structure of said supporting device (13).

[Claim 9] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said snowplough blade (15) has applied at the rear part a plurality of tubular frames (25), substantially vertical, suitable to coaxially support respective shanks (26) free to slide inside said frames (25), each shank (26) having at its free end a supporting means (27), connected to the shank (26) through a radial pin (28) and suitable to support a cylindrical brush (29), suitable to be set in rotation in contact with the road paving.

[Claim 10] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spray means (31), interposed between said snowplough blade (15) and brushes (29), suitable to be set in rotation in contact with the road paving, in order to dispense on the paving the solvent products contained in a tank (2), said spray means (31) being connected to said tank (2) through suitable piping and through a pump (32), suitable to maintain the solvent mixture at the correct pressure, the action of said pump (32) being generated by the rotation of a wheel (33), to which the pump is connected coaxial, said wheel (33) being set in rotation in contact with a wheel (34) of the road tractor, through a suitable actuator (35).

[Claim 11] Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a couple of lateral snowplough blades (36), placed at the respective ends of said snowplough blade (15), having respective scraper blades (14), and suitable to laterally rotate about respective pins (37), in order to reduce the overall lateral dimension of the device, when required by the geometry of the road surface.

[Claim 12] Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a detector of lateral distance (42), for facilitating the adjustment of the position of said lateral snowplough blades (36) in function of the allowed lateral dimension.