WO2020026265A1

WO2020026265A1 - Road dust collector system

Info

Publication number: WO2020026265A1
Application number: PCT/IN2019/050551
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shiva Nagendra SARAGUR MADANAYAK; Mallikarjun TURAMARI; Dheeraj ALSHETTY
Original assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS (IIT Madras)
Priority date: 2018-08-03
Filing date: 2019-07-26
Publication date: 2020-02-06

Abstract

A road dust collector device (100) mounted on a wheeled assembly and a method of collecting dust using the device thereof is provided. The device (100) is configured to sweep dust from a surface using a sweeping arrangement, suck the dust into a cyclone separator (105) and separate the dust from clean air. The sweeping arrangement includes a plurality of rotatable adjustable brush assemblies (103) that is configured to pick up dust by mechanical agitation created by rotation of the self-adjusting brush assembly (103) that adjusts height via a spring-loaded link mechanism. The dust is separated from the air at the cyclone separator (105) and is collected at the dust collector (109). The device may be used in the management of dust emissions and can be manufactured at low cost.

Description

ROAD DUST COLLECTOR SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Indian provisional patent application no.

201841029256 entitled Road Dust Collector System filed on 3.08.2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to transport infrastructure maintenance and waste management, and in particular to road dust collector systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] Transport infrastructure such as roads are prone to large amount of dust particles which are mostly fine in nature. In order to remove dust deposited on the road, manual sweeping is widely practiced in several countries. During manual sweeping large amount of dust particles are subjected to resuspension on the road. The resuspended dust is responsible for high concentration of particulate matter (PM) in local environment. Road dust particles are highly toxic in nature as they contain several harmful particles embedded to them. When inhaled these particles enter the lungs and are responsible for many respiratory diseases. Pedestrians and the people involved in manual sweeping are exposed to high levels of dust particles. At present, dust particles are collected manually and also in some cases mechanical devices are being used. The existing mechanical devices are expensive and also may not be accessed in all places such as in narrow roads.

[0004] The earlier available technologies are either power intensive or complex collection mechanism. The Chinese patent CN101876163A discloses a light motor vehicle for cleaning road surface that includes a cleaning mechanism, a garbage and dust recycling mechanism, a driving mechanism and a vehicle body and a circuit. The invention disclosed in the Chinese patent CN106759024A is an electric three- wheeled sweeping car. CN205530057U relates to a sanitation truck. The US patent US4457043A describes a sweeping machine. CN103114545A discloses a manpower and motive power dual-purpose street road surface cleaning vacuum sweeper.

[0005] In developing nations like India, there is a need for low cost, simple and sustainable technology which can be used for improving the quality of life. Further the technologies should be such that they can be produced in a decentralized market. So, the technology have to be simple in construction too.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In various embodiments a movable carriage for sweeping dust from a surface is disclosed. The carriage includes a wheeled base fitted with sweeping arrangements and an enclosure mounted on the wheeled base for providing suction to take up the dust in an air stream thereof.. In some embodiments each brush assembly is configured to maintain contact with the surface and sweep up dust therefrom.

[0007] In various embodiments the enclosure includes at least one inlet pipe that has an end opening at the bottom of the enclosure to receive dust particles swept by the plurality of brush assemblies, at least one suction fan configured to create a negative pressure to take up dust through the inlet pipe and form the air stream and a plurality of cyclone separators configured to separate dust and clean air from the air stream. In various embodiments each cyclone separator includes a hollow cylindrical portion fitted with a duct configured to receive the air stream tangentially from the inlet pipe and an outlet to exhaust clean air and a hollow cone portion having an opening at the bottom to discharge dust into a dust collector.

[0008] In various embodiments the carriage comprises a solar panel mounted at an angle at the top of the enclosure and is configured to generate power to charge a battery. In various embodiments the brush assembly includes a spring-loaded link mechanism to self-adjust height of the brushes. In various embodiments the suction fan is fitted in the outlet of each cyclone separator. In various embodiments the suction fan is driven by a motor powered by the battery.

[0009] In some embodiments at least one guide vane aperture is attached to a first side of the enclosure and configured to guide air into the enclosure. In some embodiments the wheeled assembly is a tricycle or a vehicle comprising wheels in the range of 3 to 10. In various embodiments the enclosure is sealed with rubber flaps. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention has other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] FIG.1A illustrates a side view of a movable carriage dust collector device

[0012] FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the movable carriage dust collector device.

[0013] FIG. 2 depicts a cyclone separator.

[0014] FIG. 3A shows a side view of a tricycle based dust collector device.

[0015] FIG. 3B depicts a top view of a tricycle based dust collector device..

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0016] While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.

[0017] Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The meaning of "a", "an", and "the" include plural references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on." Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Additionally, a reference to the singular includes a reference to the plural unless otherwise stated or inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

[0018] The invention in various embodiments discloses a movable carriage for sweeping dust from a surface. The dust collector is configured to pick up dust by mechanical agitation created by rotation of the self-adjusting brush assembly that adjusts its height according to the variation in altitude.

[0019] In various embodiments provided herein is a movable carriage 100 also termed as a road dust collector device as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The movable carriage is configured to sweep dust from a surface, suck the dust into a cyclone separator and separate the dust from clean air. The carriage 100 includes a wheeled base 115 that is fitted with sweeping arrangements. The sweeping arrangement in various embodiments includes a plurality of rotatable adjustable brush assembly 103 that is configured to pick up dust by mechanical agitation created by rotation of the self-adjusting brush assembly 103 that maintains contact with a surface via a spring-loaded link mechanism. The spring-loaded link mechanism allows the brush assembly to adjust itself such that the brushes do not leave the contact of road surface either due to slope variation, change in road roughness, or brush wear.

[0020] The carriage further includes an enclosure that is mounted on the wheeled base to provide suction to take up the dust in an air stream. In various embodiments the enclosure includes an inlet pipe 107 having an end 117 opening at the bottom of the enclosure. The inlet pipe 107 is configured to receive the dust particles swept by the plurality of brush assemblies 103 through the end 117 opening at the bottom. In various embodiments a suction fan 105 is included to create a negative pressure to suck the dust through the inlet pipe and form an air stream. In various embodiments a plurality of cyclone separators 101 are included in the enclosure to process the air stream. The cyclone separators 101 are configured to separate dust and clean air from the air stream. In various embodiments each cyclone separator 101 consists of an upper hollow cylindrical part referred to as the barrel 202 and a lower conical part referred to as cone 204, as shown in FIG. 2. The cyclone separator is configured to separate the dust particles from the air. The hollow cylindrical portion 202 is fitted with a duct that is configured to receive the air stream tangentially from the inlet pipe 107. The cylindrical portion also has an outlet 208 at the top configured to exhaust clean air. The hollow cone portion 204 has an opening at the bottom 210 to discharge dust into a dust collector 109.

[0021] In various embodiments the air stream enters at the top of the cyclone barrel tangentially through an inlet duct 206 and travels downward into the cone forming an outer vortex. The increasing air velocity in the outer vortex results in a centrifugal force on the particles which separates them from the air stream. In various embodiments when the air reaches the bottom of the cone, an inner vortex is created, reversing direction and exiting out the top through the outlet 208 as clean air. The particulates or dust fall to the bottom 210 of the cyclone separator. A dust collector 109 may be placed to the bottom of the cyclone separators to collect the settled dust. The container may be cleaned from time to time to remove the accumulated dust. [0022] In various embodiments the top of the carriage 110 is fitted with solar panels 120 as illustrated in FIG. 3A. The solar panels 120 are configured to generate solar power to charge a battery. The suction fans 105 in various embodiments are operated by motors powered by DC batteries run on solar energy generated by the panels. The solar panels may in some embodiments be arranged at an incline to the top surface.

[0023] In various embodiments at least one guide vane aperture 111 as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B is attached to a first side of the enclosure and configured to guide air into the enclosure. The guided vane aperture 111 collects the air from a wider area and guides it into the enclosure within the body 110, thus increasing the volume flow rate and turbulence of flow. This mechanism enhances the collection of dust in the system. In some embodiments the enclosure is sealed with flaps made of flexible material so that the agitated dust particles are constrained for being drawn by the suction fans 105.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the carriage includes 6 cyclone separators 101 placed within the enclosure 110. In some embodiments, the road dust collector includes 4 to 10 numbers of cyclone separators placed within the enclosure 110. The set of cyclone separators are arranged so that the dust collection efficiency is maximized.

[0025] In one embodiment, the road dust collector device may be mounted on a tricycle having its own means of propulsion. In other embodiments, the road dust collector may be mounted on any number of wheels in the range of 3 to 10. A tricycle-based dust collector that is configured to pick up dust by mechanical agitation created by rotation of the self-adjusting brush assembly 103 which adjusts its height according to the variation in altitude is as shown in FIG. 3 A and FIG. 3B. A negative pressure is created within body 110 by the action of the suction fans 105. The simple mechanism of agitation and suction using a low power consuming fans 105 attached at the outlet of cyclone separators improves efficiency. The fan creates enough pressure to suck the re-suspended dust, which is then allowed to pass through the inlets 107 of the cyclone separators 101. The suction fans are operated by motors powered by DC batteries run on solar energy. Solar energy is generated via panels 120 fitted to the top of the body 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1B. The whole setup is enclosed in a box fitted on the tricycle carrier and the solar panel is arranged on 45-degree inclined to the top surface. At the cyclone separator the air stream enters at the top of the barrel tangentially through an inlet duct and travels downward into the cone forming an outer vortex. The increasing air velocity in the outer vortex results in a centrifugal force on the particles which separates them from the air stream. In various embodiments when the air reaches the bottom of the cone, an inner vortex is created, reversing direction and exiting out the top through the outlet as clean air. The particulates or dust fall to the bottom of the cyclone separator and is collected in a dust collector.

[0026] In various embodiments, a method of collecting dust includes using the tricycle- mounted dust collector device as described herein. The method includes, operating the device by mechanical agitation created by rotation of the brush assembly, sucking the dust particles into a cyclone separator, operating the cyclone separator to obtain clean gas and collect dust particles separately.

[0027] The dust collector as disclosed here offers several advantages such as affordability and for use in management of dust emissions from the road. The use of cyclone separators for the removal of particulate matter or dust from air streams comes at low capital and maintenance costs.

[0028] While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Further, the examples to follow are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention which will be as delineated in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A movable carriage (100) for sweeping dust from a surface, the carriage comprising

a wheeled base (115) fitted with sweeping arrangements, wherein the sweeping arrangement comprises

a plurality of rotatable brush assemblies (103) each brush assembly (103) configured to maintain contact with the surface and sweep up dust therefrom; and

an enclosure mounted on the wheeled base for providing suction to take up the dust in an air stream thereof comprising:

at least one inlet pipe (107) having an end (117) opening at the bottom of the enclosure to receive dust particles swept by the plurality of brush assemblies (103);

at least one suction fan (105) configured to create a negative pressure to take up dust through the inlet pipe (107) and form the air stream;

a plurality of cyclone separators (101) configured to separate dust and clean air from the air stream wherein each cyclone separator (101) comprises:

a hollow cylindrical portion (202) fitted with a duct configured to receive the air stream tangentially from the inlet pipe and an outlet to exhaust clean air; and

a hollow cone portion (204) having an opening at the bottom (210) to discharge dust into a dust collector (109).

2. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carriage comprises a solar panel (120) mounted at an angle at the top of the enclosure and configured to generate power to charge a battery.

3. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein each brush assembly comprises a spring-loaded link mechanism to self-adjust height of the brushes.

4. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suction fan is fitted in the outlet of each cyclone seperator.

5. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suction fan is driven by a motor powered by the battery.

6. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one guide vane aperture (111) is attached to a first side of the enclosure and configured to guide air into the enclosure.

7. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheeled assembly is a tricycle or a vehicle comprising wheels in the range of 3 to 10.

8. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is sealed with rubber flaps.