Dust removal device with one or more load sensors

Abstract

A heavy dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a dust separator (110) wherein the heavy dust removal device is arranged to be supported on a ground surface (101) by one or more support members (150, 160) wherein one or more load sensors (210, 220) connected to the one or more support members (150, 160) are provided to measure a load on the one or more support members (150, 160), the dust removal device comprising a control unit (170, 900), and a control unit (170, 900) arranged to receive data indicative of the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220), where the control unit (170, 900) comprises means for measuring time, where the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine a dust removal rate (740), represented by the weight of dust removed per unit time, based on the received data, where the control unit (170, 900) comprises means for measuring time. And controlling the operation of the heavy dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heavy-duty dust removal device suitable for removing dust and slurry generated when treating concrete surfaces and other concrete objects. The present disclosure also relates to construction equipment configured to operate with the heavy-duty dust removal device, such as floor grinders, power cutters, concrete wall saws, scraping machines, road milling machines, shot blasting machines, steel shot machines, and core drills. Some aspects of the present disclosure also relate to remote control devices and display units. Background Art

[0002] Concrete is a common building material. Concrete surfaces are used, for example, for floor laying in both residential and industrial facilities. Concrete is also used for walls, ceilings, and other support structures, as well as various ornaments.

[0003] Floor grinders, scraping machines, road milling machines, shot blasting machines, and steel shot machines can be used to effectively treat concrete surfaces in order to obtain, for example, a flat surface with a uniform topology and / or a surface with a desired surface texture.

[0004] Power cutters, wall saws, and core drills can be used to shape concrete objects.

[0005] There is a need for an improved construction equipment for concrete processing that is both efficient and convenient for an operator to use.

[0006] When treating concrete surfaces and other objects, a large amount of dust and slurry may be generated. Dust is harmful to machine operators, and slurry usually makes the construction site untidy. Therefore, dust removal devices are used to collect dust and slurry. There is a need for more efficient dust removal devices.

[0007] CN105662279 B relates to an industrial vacuum cleaner including a frame body, a suction fan, a dust collection bucket, and a controller. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved dust removal device and related construction equipment. This object is achieved at least in part by a heavy-duty dust removal device that includes a dust separator device, such as a cyclone separator and / or a coarse pre-filter, disposed upstream of a fine basic filter, such as a HEPA filter. The heavy-duty dust removal device is arranged to be supported on the ground by one or more support members, wherein at least one load sensor connected to the support members is provided to measure the load on the support members. The dust removal device further includes a control unit that is arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors from the one or more load sensors. The control unit further includes means for measuring time and is arranged to determine a dust removal rate associated with the weight of the dust removed per unit time based on the received data. The control unit is further arranged to control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device and / or the related construction equipment based on the determined dust removal rate. In this way, multiple dust weight-related operations of the dust removal device can be controlled in a reliable and cost-effective manner, which will be explained below. The complexity of the means for measuring time varies, from simple timers to more advanced devices for measuring the passage of time, such as a clock arranged to be periodically calibrated by an external time reference. The term "dust removal rate" should be interpreted broadly here and will be discussed in more detail below. For example, the dust removal rate can be determined as an absolute rate in units such as kg / min or as a relative rate compared to a reference dust removal rate. The dust removal rate can also be expressed as a dimensionless value on a certain scale (e.g., a scale from one to ten), where, for example, one is a lower dust removal rate and ten is a higher dust removal rate.

[0009] Many advantages obtained from the teachings herein specifically relate to one or more load sensors arranged to be connected to one or more support members of the dust removal device. However, some of the technical features disclosed herein do not depend on a specific type of load sensor but have a more general applicability.

[0010] The control unit can control multiple different operations based on the determined dust removal rate. For example, the control unit can control a display device on the dust removal device or a display device remote from the dust removal device to display the current dust removal rate, so that the user can receive information about the dust removal rate in a convenient manner in real time. Various notification and alarm functions can also be implemented, such as the following functions: notifying the user when the dust removal rate exceeds an upper threshold and / or is below a lower threshold. The control unit can also be arranged to configure the fan power setting of the dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate. In this way, in the case of a higher dust removal rate, the fan power can be increased, otherwise decreased, in order to save power, for example. Preferably, a reference dust removal rate for controlling the fan power is set according to the current fan power.

[0011] Some of the technical features and operations discussed herein relate to the dust removal rate, while other features relate to the weight of dust accumulated at one or more locations in the dust removal device. These features are advantageously used in combination, but many features can also be used separately from each other. Specifically, some of the operations described herein are based on the dust removal rate, and some of the operations described herein are based on the weight of the accumulated dust.

[0012] According to some aspects, the control unit is configured to determine the time variation of the dust removal rate, which is expressed, for example, as the weight of dust removed per unit time squared or the decrease in the dust removal rate over time, and compare the determined time variation of the dust removal rate with one or more predetermined thresholds. The control unit can then trigger the operation of the dust removal device when the time variation of the dust removal rate exceeds the upper threshold and / or breaches the lower threshold. The change in the dust removal rate over time (possibly from a time-varying dust removal rate to a stable dust removal rate) may indicate that it is time to replace the concrete processing tool or that the work task has been completed.

[0013] One or more support members can include wheels, for example, in which case the load sensor can be arranged to be connected to the wheels. The advantage of this arrangement is that it is easily accessible and suitable for measuring the total weight of the dust removal device. The wheel with the load sensor can be, for example, the rotating front wheel of the dust removal device. This rotating front wheel is typically arranged to rotate about a central vertical axis. The load sensor can be arranged around this axis to measure the load on the rotating wheel.

[0014] The load sensor preferably includes a load measuring element configured to generate an electrical signal based on the tension, compression, pressure, or torque applied by the ground on the support member. This type of load sensor is a durable device that provides accurate load data, which is an advantage. Using the load measuring element is particularly advantageous in an environment where dust is likely to accumulate, such as a construction site.

[0015] The load sensor can also include a pressure sensor disposed inside the tire on the wheel supporting the dust removal device. This type of tire pressure sensor is known as a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor in the automotive industry and is used to monitor tire pressure. The TPMS sensor is typically connected to the control unit of the dust removal device via a wireless link. The TPMS sensor represents a cost-effective way to measure the load on the support members of the dust removal device, including some form of tire.

[0016] According to some aspects, the heavy-duty dust removal device includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The control unit can then be set to process data indicating the load measured by the load sensor on the premise that the IMU outputs a signal indicating the spatial stationary state of the dust removal device. By processing one or more load signals based on the output of the IMU, more reliable weight determination can be performed. This is because when the dust removal device is subjected to external forces, such as when the dust removal device moves or undergoes some vibration, the load data from the load sensor may be disturbed. When the user manipulates the dust removal device in a certain way, such as when emptying the dust collector, the data indicating the load measured by the load sensor may also be disturbed. For example, pulling out a new section of the Longopac dust collector system by the user may interfere with the load measured by the load sensor. Whether or not the control unit receives the IMU signal, the control unit can be set to determine the dust removal rate and / or the weight of the removed dust by averaging the data indicating the load measured by the load sensor to suppress transients that may otherwise have a negative impact on the accuracy of the determined dust removal rate of the dust removal device. However, if the IMU is available, the control unit can be set to process the data at least partially based on a signal from the IMU indicating that the dust removal device is in a stationary state in order to further improve the reliability of the weight determination. For example, less averaging of the measurement data can be applied when the dust removal device is stationary compared to when the IMU output signal indicates that the dust removal device is moving.

[0017] According to other aspects, the heavy-duty dust removal device includes an electronic level set to determine the angle of the ground relative to the horizontal plane. The control unit can then be set to compensate the data indicating the load measured by one or more load sensors based on this angle. It can be understood that if the dust removal device is not supported on the ground aligned with the horizontal plane, the weight on the support member may be unevenly distributed, that is, more weight can be transferred to the rear wheels or the front wheels, depending on the tilting direction of the dust removal device. The control unit can compensate for this uneven weight distribution based on the data from the electronic level. The electronic level can be set to provide a vector value angle, that is, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional angle relative to the horizontal plane, in order to measure the tilt in more than one direction. In this regard, it may also be advantageous to configure the support member to have a soft surface capable of absorbing at least some unevenness in the ground, such as small stones, etc.

[0018] The heavy-duty dust removal device may also include a separation structure load sensor, such as a hatch load sensor configured to measure the load applied to the hatch mechanism of the dust removal device, or a grille load sensor configured to measure the load applied to the grille of the dust removal device (which is located between the dust separator and the dust collector). The control unit can then be configured to receive data indicative of the load measured by the separation structure load sensor and determine the weight of the dust supported by the separation structure based on the data indicative of the load measured by the separation structure load sensor, i.e., the load of the dust and mud inside the dust separator. This is an advantage because the control unit can then determine whether an unacceptable amount of dust and mud has accumulated on top of the separation structure, which may indicate, for example, a malfunction in the hatch mechanism, as the dust and mud should be regularly dumped from the dust separator into the dust collector located below the dust separator if the hatch mechanism is fully operational.

[0019] According to some aspects, the control unit is configured to determine or at least approximately estimate the amount of dust and mud contained inside the dust separator by integrating the dust removal rate over a period of time elapsed since the last emptying operation, in which the dust and mud are discharged from inside the dust separator into the dust collector.

[0020] The dust removal devices and construction equipment discussed herein typically generate dust or mud. The dust removal devices taught herein can remove both dust and mud depending on the type of construction equipment currently associated with them. Some operations are wet operations that generate mud to be removed by the dust removal device, while other operations are dry operations that generate dust to be removed. It should be understood that some dust may be generated during wet operations and vice versa. The weight of the material removed by the dust removal device will be referred to herein as the weight of the dust and mud, but it should be understood that what is commonly referred to as weight is the weight of the dust or the weight of the mud, depending on the operation being performed.

[0021] According to some aspects, the heavy-duty dust removal device includes a dust collector load sensor configured to measure the load applied to the dust collector of the dust removal device, and the control unit can then be configured to receive data indicative of the load measured by the dust collector load sensor and determine the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector based on the data indicative of the load measured by the dust collector load sensor. The weight of the dust supported by the dust collector and the weight of the dust contained inside the dust separator are generally the total weight of the dust supported by the dust removal device.

[0022] Having information about the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector is advantageous because it allows the operator to be notified when the dust collector needs to be emptied, thus avoiding the dust collector becoming too heavy to be manually handled.

[0023] According to other aspects, the control unit is arranged to trigger and activate the notification function of the dust removal device when the weight of the dust supported by the separation structure mechanism, the weight of the dust contained inside the dust separator, or the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector exceeds a corresponding weight threshold or otherwise breaches a predetermined acceptance criterion. In this way, the operator can be informed of the weight status of the dust removal device, thereby allowing the operator to take action in the event of an excessive weight accumulation at a certain location in the dust removal device system. Additional advantages can be achieved if the weight data obtained by the control unit of the dust removal device is transmitted to a construction device that works together with the dust removal device. For example, the weight data can be transmitted to a floor grinder and displayed thereon, such that the operator knows the current dust generation rate of the floor grinder. The weight data can also be used to optimize the operation of the dust generating device based on the dust weight data received from the dust removal device, which will be discussed in more detail below. For example, by adjusting the processing capacity of the construction device, it is possible to control some types of construction devices to generate more or less dust. An example is a shot blasting machine that can be operated at different power settings, where each power setting generates a corresponding amount of dust.

[0024] The heavy-duty dust removal device may also include a dust separator load sensor that is arranged to measure the torque generated when the dust separator pivots about its pivot axis relative to the main body of the dust removal device, thereby determining the weight of the dust contained inside the dust separator. This is an alternative or supplementary load sensor arrangement that has the advantage that the location of the load sensor is at a distance from the ground such that it is not exposed and is also subject to less dust and mechanical shock. The dust separator load sensor can advantageously be implemented using a load measuring element that is arranged at a distance from the pivot axis and is connected to a support element. A torque sensor arranged to be connected to the pivot axis can also be used.

[0025] According to other aspects, the control unit is arranged to transmit data indicating the determined dust removal rate and / or the determined weight of the removed dust to a remote server and / or to a construction device associated with the dust removal device, such as a concrete processing machine or a remote control device. This allows for multiple functions to be implemented at the remote server, as will be discussed below.

[0026] The control unit is optionally set to determine a preferred expected time point for emptying the dust collector based on the determined dust removal rate. This means that the operator can receive information about the remaining time before the operator has to empty the dust collector (before the dust collector becomes too heavy or overfilled), thus allowing the operator to better plan the work tasks. The operator can receive the information via a display on the dust removal device, a display on a remote control device, or a display on the concrete processing equipment that generates the dust (removed by the dust removal device). This function is particularly suitable for autonomous systems, where when the dust collector has collected enough dust and slurry and needs to be emptied before it becomes too heavy, the robotic dust removal device can be sent to the dust collector emptying station in a timely manner.

[0027] The control unit can also be set to determine an appropriate selection of the concrete processing tool based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the temporal variation of the determined dust removal rate. Certain tools for a particular work task tend to generate a large amount of dust and slurry at the beginning and then the amount of dust generated gradually drops to a smaller value. If the dust generation rate of a given tool (inferred from the dust removal rate of the dust removal device) drops below a certain threshold, it may indicate that it is time to switch to some other tool (such as a fine grinding tool). If the dust removal rate initially drops and then becomes stable over time, it may also indicate the preferred time point for tool replacement or that the work task has been completed. Thus, more efficient concrete processing operations can be achieved. Of course, this function can also be implemented by a control unit provided in the dust generating device connected to the dust removal device (which includes the tool) or in a remote control device connected to the dust removal device and / or the dust generating device via a wireless link.

[0028] As described above, the control unit located on the dust removal device and / or the control unit provided on the associated dust generating construction equipment can be set to control the production rate of the construction equipment associated with the dust removal device based on the measured dust removal rate. For example, the measured dust removal rate can be compared with a reference rate, and the construction equipment operation can be adjusted accordingly to obtain the desired dust generation rate. For example, the desired dust removal rate can be set to a rate that the dust removal device can effectively handle. The desired dust removal rate can also be set based on computer simulations, numerical analyses, and / or actual experiments related to various efficiency metrics, production quality metrics, and / or tool wear metrics, just to name a few examples.

[0029] The present disclosure also relates to construction equipment associated with a dust removal device, such as a floor grinder, a concrete wall saw, a power cutter, a core drill equipment, a scraping machine, a road milling machine, a shot blasting machine, a steel shot machine, or a remote control device configured to control a concrete processing machine and / or a dust removal device. The construction equipment includes a control unit configured to communicate with the heavy-duty dust removal device discussed above. The construction equipment includes a control unit that is configured to communicate with the heavy-duty dust removal device discussed above. The control unit of the construction equipment is configured to receive data indicating the weight of the dust removed by the heavy-duty dust removal device and / or data indicating the dust removal rate, and control at least one function of the construction equipment based on the received data. The control unit in the construction equipment may include a device for measuring time, but this is not necessary.

[0030] The construction equipment may, for example, include a display unit, in which case at least one function of the construction equipment may include displaying, via the display unit, any of the following items; the weight of the dust removed by the dust removal device, the weight of the removed dust supported in the dust collector of the dust removal device, the dust removal rate of the dust removal device, and / or a notification indicating the difference between the current dust removal rate of the dust removal device and the expected dust removal rate of the dust removal device. Of course, the time variation of the dust removal rate of the dust removal device, such as the decrease of the dust removal rate over time, may also be displayed.

[0031] The construction equipment may also include a drive unit, such as an electric motor, a hydraulic actuator, or an internal combustion engine. The control unit of the construction equipment may then be configured to control the operation of the drive unit based on the data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device so as to adjust the amount of dust generated by the concrete processing equipment towards a certain target dust generation value, as mentioned above. The drive unit control may, for example, include the control of the force, torque, or speed applied by the tool to the work object. This means that the operation of the construction equipment can be conveniently optimized to generate a preferred amount of dust for a given work task, which amount is neither too high nor too low. In this way, the tool contact pressure of the tool relative to the work object and / or the tool movement speed of the tool relative to the work object can be advantageously controlled.

[0032] According to some aspects, the construction equipment includes a variable tool contact pressure device, and the control unit is configured to control the weight or force applied to the concrete processing tool of the construction equipment based on the data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device. In this way, it is an advantage that the tool contact pressure can be adjusted based on the dust generation rate to obtain the desired tool behavior.

[0033] According to some other aspects, the operating power of a shot blasting machine, a road milling machine, or a scraping machine is adjusted based on the data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device to obtain the desired dust generation rate for a given work task.

[0034] The control unit of the construction equipment can also be set to, for example, send a signal containing an instruction to perform a dust separator emptying operation to the heavy-duty dust removal device in response to a user input (e.g., pressing a button or selecting a menu option on a display device) and / or in response to the weight of the removed dust exceeding a predetermined threshold weight and / or in response to the dust removal rate exceeding a predetermined threshold rate.

[0035] According to some aspects, the construction equipment is set to determine an appropriate selection of a concrete processing tool based on the dust removal rate and / or based on the time variation of the dust removal rate (such as the reduction rate of the dust generation rate). Certain concrete processing operations are associated with the variation of the dust generation rate as the work task progresses. For example, the dust removal rate may decrease and then tend to stabilize as the time for tool replacement approaches. Therefore, for certain work tasks, the dust removal rate can be used as an indication of when to replace the tool, which is an advantage. For certain work tasks, the time variation of the dust removal rate can be used as an indication of when to replace the tool, which is an advantage. The dust removal rate and / or the time variation of the dust removal rate can also be used to determine when the work task is approaching completion or when it has been completed.

[0036] The construction equipment can also be set to control the liquid dispenser of the equipment based on the received data. In this way, the start and stop of the supply of a liquid (such as water) to the work object being processed by the equipment can be controlled. The amount of the dispensed liquid can also be controlled based on the received data.

[0037] The present disclosure also discloses a control unit, a method, and a computer program associated with the advantages mentioned above.

[0038] Generally, unless otherwise clearly defined herein, all terms used in the claims should be interpreted according to their ordinary meanings in the technical field. All references to "an / the element, device, component, device, step, etc." should be interpreted openly as referring to at least one example of the element, device, component, device, step, etc., unless otherwise clearly stated. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art will recognize that different features of the present invention can be combined without departing from the scope of the present invention to form embodiments other than those described below. Description of the Drawings

[0039] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] Figure 1 An exemplary dust removal device is shown;

[0041] Figure 2Shows an exemplary ground support member of a dust removal device;

[0042] Figure 3 Shows the inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane;

[0043] Figures 4A to 4D Shows a hatch mechanism having a dust collector holder;

[0044] Figure 5 Shows some other details of an exemplary dust removal device;

[0045] Figure 6 Shows a load sensor based on the pivot of a dust separator;

[0046] Figure 7 Shows the user interface of an exemplary dust removal device;

[0047] Figure 8 Is a flowchart showing a method;

[0048] Figure 9 Schematically shows a control unit;

[0049] Figure 10 Schematically shows a computer program product;

[0050] Figure 11 Is a graph showing the time variation of the dust removal rate;

[0051] Figure 12 Shows a dust removal device having an exemplary pre-filter system;

[0052] Figure 13 Shows an exemplary pre-filter system;

[0053] Figure 14 Shows the filter cleaning operation over time; and

[0054] Figure 15 Shows an exemplary valve device in the dust removal device. Detailed Description

[0055] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain aspects of the present invention are shown. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and aspects set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.

[0056] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings; rather, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims.

[0057] Figure 1 An exemplary dust removal device 100 is shown. The dust removal device is configured to remove dust from various concrete processing operations, such as concrete surface processing operations performed by a floor grinder, cutting operations performed by a concrete wall saw or power cutter, or drilling operations associated with core drilling equipment. Other uses of the dust removal device 100 are of course not excluded, such as general cleaning tasks not related to concrete processing operations. Some dust removal devices can also remove wet substances, such as slurry, from concrete processing operations and the like. The techniques disclosed herein can be applied to various dust removal devices, including air cleaners.

[0058] The dust removal device generates suction by means of a blower (such as a blower or compressor), which sucks in dust and slurry and causes them to pass through a hose connection 120 into a dust separator 110 (shown as a cyclone separator in Figure 1 ), and then through a pre-filter disposed upstream of the main filter, which captures finer dust particles. A dust separator or a dust separating device is generally a device that separates dust particles from an air stream. The dust separator is usually disposed upstream of the main filter and can include a cyclone separator and one or more pre-filters (i.e., filters coarser than the main filter). Other forms of dust separators are also possible, such as a pure filter type dust separator that does not include a cyclone separator. It should be noted that both the pre-filter and the main filter are optional, and the techniques disclosed herein can also be applied to a dust removal device that includes only a cyclone separator (without a filter), and also to such a dust removal device in which one or more filters are disposed in an entity separate from the cyclone separator, for example, one or more filters are connected to the cyclone separator unit via a hose.

[0059] The main filter is discussed in, for example, Appendix AA of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60335-2-69:2021.

[0060] The dust separator 110 is supported by a main body 145 of the dust removal device 100, which includes a carrying structure 140 for supporting, for example, a plastic bag dust collector. Some dust removal devices can include additional body structures for supporting the pre-filter and / or supporting the main filter. The techniques disclosed herein are also applicable to such multi-body dust removal devices.

[0061] A dust collector holder 130 is provided for supporting a dust collector, such as a plastic bag or a bucket ( Figure 1(not shown in the figure). Usually, a so-called Longopac system dust collector is used, which is a long plastic tubular container that is pulled out in segments from the dust collector holder, and these segments are used to hold a portion of the dust. Mud (i.e., wet concrete waste) can also be collected in this way, but a pure dust removal device is more common.

[0062] In some examples, the dust collector can be supported by the carrier structure 140, and in other examples, it is suspended on the dust collector holder 130. A separating structure such as a hatch mechanism, a grille, or a telescopic cone usually separates the inside of the dust separator from the dust collector during operation. The term "separating structure" is interpreted broadly here to cover any structure that separates the inside of the dust separator from the dust collector. The function of this separating structure is to prevent the dust collector from being sucked into the dust separator during operation. In the case of using a rigid dust collector such as a bucket, there may be no separating structure between the dust separator and the dust collector. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular form of hatch mechanism or other separating structure.

[0063] The dust separator 110 can be emptied into the dust collector regularly in the following ways: backwashing the system in a known manner, or closing the dust removal device to release the suction negative pressure, so as to discharge the dust from the dust separator into the dust collector. The emptying operation of the dust separator 110 may involve: opening the hatch mechanism to discharge the dust and mud from the inside of the dust separator. The hatch is an example of a separating structure provided between the dust separator and the dust collector. The hatch mechanism can have a dust separator side facing the dust separator and a dust collector side facing the dust collector. Therefore, during backwashing and sometimes spontaneously, the hatch mechanism opens and the dust and mud inside the dust separator 110 fall into the dust collector. When the dust collector is full, the operator needs to empty it. It is generally desirable that the dust collector not be filled with too much dust and mud, because the dust collector will become heavy and it will be more difficult for the operator to perform manual manipulation.

[0064] According to some aspects taught herein, the mechanism for discharging dust and mud from the dust separator 110 and discharging them into the dust collector is triggered at least in part by the control unit based on the amount of dust and mud contained inside the dust separator. The amount of dust and mud inside the dust separator can be determined or at least estimated by the control unit based on data from different weight sensors disclosed herein.

[0065] The dust removal device 100 is supported on the ground 101 by one or more support members 150, 160. In this case, the one or more support members are two front wheels 150 and two rear wheels 160 attached to the load-bearing structure 140. These wheels enable the dust removal device to be transported in a convenient manner. Other types of support members are also possible, such as rubber feet. Three separate support members (feet and / or wheels) can generally provide sufficient stable ground support, but some dust removal devices can be supported by a single support member that has sufficient extension length in the horizontal plane to support the dust removal device 100 in a stable manner.

[0066] When using a concrete processing tool that generates dust (such as a floor grinder), a method of measuring the efficiency / production rate of the work task is to measure how many kilograms (kg) of dust and slurry are generated within a given time period, i.e., the dust generation rate. An experienced operator can estimate the dust generation rate by observing the filling of the dust collector over time (usually when the dust collector is emptied), and based on the dust generation rate of the construction equipment that generates dust, judge whether the type of tool used is correct. In other words, an experienced operator infers the dust generation rate of the dust generation equipment through the dust removal rate of the dust removal device. For example, when using a rough grinding tool, a high dust generation rate is expected. Therefore, if no dust is generated or only a very small amount of dust is generated when using a rough grinding tool, there is likely a problem. This way of working is quite difficult and requires an experienced operator to accurately determine the dust generation rate. It also takes some time, such as about 10 to 15 minutes, to determine the dust generation rate only by visually inspecting the dust collector.

[0067] Figure 1 The dust removal device 100 in [description] is equipped with one or more load sensors that are arranged to measure the weight of the dust removed by the dust removal device. The dust removal device 100 also includes a control unit 170 that includes devices for measuring time, such as a timer or a clock. Therefore, the control unit 170 can be used to determine the dust removal rate, which is expressed as the weight of the dust removed per unit time, for example, kg / min or kg / h. The control unit 170 can be arranged to control various functions and operations of the dust removal device, such as displaying information on the display device 175 of the dust removal device, controlling the fan power setting of the dust removal device, and sending signals to and receiving signals from external entities such as construction equipment, remote display devices, and remote servers 180.

[0068] As will be explained below, with reference to Figure 1, the load sensors can be arranged to connect to the hatch mechanism (more generally, the separation structure) at the bottom of the dust separator (A) to measure the load exerted on the separation structure by the removed dust and mud; connect to the dust collector holder (B) to measure the load of the dust accumulated in the dust collector; connect to one or more support members (C, D) of the dust removal device; and serve as a pivot sensor connected to the dust separator. Tire pressure monitoring sensors provided on the support members inside the tires can also be used to obtain data related to the current load on a given wheel.

[0069] Figure 2 Details of an exemplary dust removal device 200 are shown, which includes load sensors 210, 220 arranged to connect to the front support wheel and the rear support wheel 150, 160. It should be understood that not all of these load sensors are necessary, and as will be explained below, using a single load sensor is sufficient. However, using four (or more) load sensors can of course provide more stable data, thereby enabling the determination of the dust removal rate.

[0070] The control unit 170 is arranged to receive data indicating the loads F1, F2 measured by at least one load sensor on the dust removal device, and based on the received data and based on a timer or clock included in or at least accessible to the control unit, determine the dust removal rate expressed as the weight of the dust removed per unit time. The control unit can then control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device 100 based on the determined dust removal rate. The dust removal rate expressed as the weight of the dust removed per unit time can be determined in various ways. One way is to simply calculate the weight of the dust removed within a unit time (e.g., per minute or per hour), for example in kilograms, thereby determining the rate in kg / min or kg / h. Another way is to associate the determined weight and time period with a dimensionless scale, for example from 1 to 10, where 1 represents a lower dust removal rate and 10 represents a higher dust removal rate. A third example of determining the dust removal rate expressed as the weight of the dust removed per unit time is to determine it by relating the rate to a certain reference rate. Then, the dust removal rate can be expressed as a percentage relative to the reference rate, for example 10% lower or 10% higher than the nominal rate. Therefore, it should be understood that the determined dust removal rate expressed as the weight of the dust removed per unit time should be interpreted broadly herein to cover all forms of dust removal rate indicators.

[0071] By integrating the dust removal rate over a period of time, the increase in the weight of the accumulated dust and mud can be determined. Therefore, by integrating the dust removal rate over a period of time starting from the last time the dust contained in the dust separator was discharged into the dust collector, the amount of dust and mud inside the dust separator 110 can be determined or at least approximately estimated.

[0072] In the case of the current concrete processing operation (and potentially the current tool selection), if the determined dust removal rate is inconsistent with the expected dust generation rate, a notification can be issued to inform the user of this fact. In the case where the dust removal rate deviates from the expected dust removal rate configured according to the current concrete processing operation, the control unit 170 can also deactivate the dust removal device. Some dust removal devices can also be connected to construction equipment that generates dust and slurry via a wireless link or a wired link. In this case, the control unit 170 can also transmit data related to the dust removal rate to the concrete processing equipment, and then the concrete processing equipment can adjust its operation based on this data. For example, in the case of an unexpected amount of dust (insufficient or excessive) being removed, certain types of construction equipment may deactivate itself. This function can improve the safety at the construction site because an insufficient dust removal rate may indicate a malfunction in the dust and slurry removal system, that is, a portion of the generated dust is released into the air, which may cause harm to the on-site personnel. An unexpectedly low dust removal rate may also indicate an unexpectedly low dust generation rate of the dust generating equipment connected to the dust removal device. The dust generating equipment may, for example, have a malfunctioning concrete processing tool that can no longer effectively process concrete, or the housing or dust-proof cover of the dust generating equipment is damaged, which causes the dust to escape into the surrounding environment before being captured by the dust removal device. Glazing (forming a hard shell) of the tool on the dust generating equipment can be detected or even predicted in this way before it occurs because glazing usually results in a significant reduction in the dust generation rate. By stopping the operation of the dust generating equipment and / or triggering an indication of this fact to the operator, the operator can investigate why the measured dust removal rate is inconsistent with the expected dust removal rate, thereby avoiding the release of harmful dust into the atmosphere at the construction site or avoiding the inefficient execution of concrete processing due to a malfunction of the concrete processing equipment.

[0073] Some of the dust removal devices disclosed herein are also capable of controlling the rate of concrete processing operations performed by construction equipment such as shot blasting machines or scraping machines, so that the construction equipment obtains the desired dust generation rate. The control unit 170 can, for example, send a control signal to the construction equipment via a wireless interface to increase or decrease the production rate of the construction equipment.

[0074] In summary, various applications and functions can be realized based on the control unit set to determine the dust removal rate. Some examples of these applications include: displaying the determined dust removal rate on the display device 175 on the dust removal device and / or on the display device 700 remote from the dust removal device; and comparing the determined dust removal rate with one or more predetermined thresholds, and triggering a notification function to notify the user in the case where the dust removal rate exceeds the upper threshold and / or is lower than the lower threshold.

[0075] The control unit can also be set to configure the fan power setting of the dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate. In this way, if the dust generation rate is high, the fan power can be increased, otherwise it can be decreased. The reduced power setting will result in lower power consumption, which may be desirable, especially when the dust removal device is battery-powered. A reference dust removal rate related to the fan setting can be configured and used as the basis for the control unit to control the fan power. It should be understood that a reduced fan power setting will generally also result in a lower dust removal rate. Therefore, the reference dust removal rate is preferably configured according to the current fan power setting. For example, a fan power setting table with corresponding upper and lower dust removal rate thresholds can be configured. If the dust removal rate at the current fan power setting is higher than the reference value in the table by a certain margin, the fan power can be increased. If the dust removal rate at the current fan power setting is lower than the reference value in the table by a certain margin, the fan power can be decreased. These reference dust removal rates for fan control can be determined through experiments or computer simulations and pre-configured in the control unit. These reference dust removal rates can also be manually configured or at least adjusted by the operator.

[0076] The control unit can also be set to determine the time variation (i.e., the variation over time) of the dust removal rate, as Figure 11 shown. For example, this is achieved by calculating the average time derivative of the dust removal rate over a certain time period, such as around a few minutes. The unit of this time variation of the dust removal rate is kg / s 2 . The control unit can then compare the determined time variation of the dust removal rate with one or more predetermined thresholds or reference values, and trigger the operation of the dust removal device when the time variation of the dust removal rate exceeds the upper threshold and / or is lower than the lower threshold and / or deviates too much from the reference value. The reason for this function is that some concrete processing operations exhibit such characteristic behaviors that the rate is initially high and then decreases. When the dust removal rate drops (as Figure 11 shown) and becomes stable, it is usually time to replace the concrete processing tool. A stable dust removal rate (i.e., a dust removal rate that truly has a significant time variation) may also indicate the completion of the work task.

[0077] The present disclosure relates to heavy-duty dust removal devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 including a dust separator 110 such as a cyclone separator or a coarse filter, wherein the heavy-duty dust removal device 100 is arranged to be supported on the ground 101 by one or more support members 150, 160, and wherein one or more load sensors 210, 220 are provided, which are connected to the one or more support members 150, 160 to measure the load on at least one of the support members 150, 160. The dust removal device includes a control unit 170, 900, which is arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors 210, 220, and wherein the control unit 170, 900 includes means for measuring time. The control unit 170, 900 is arranged to determine a time variation of the dust removal rate (which is expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time squared) based on the received data, and to control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device 100 based on the determined dust removal rate.

[0078] An exemplary implementation 900 of the control unit 170 will be discussed below in connection with Figure 9 The control unit 900 can also be arranged in a construction device generating dust, in a remote control device, and in a portable display unit such as a tablet computer and a smart phone.

[0079] The load sensors 210, 220 discussed herein can include one or more load cells, which are arranged to generate an electrical signal based on the tension, compression, pressure, or torque exerted by the ground 101 on the support members 150, 160. The load measuring elements are generally known and will not be discussed in more detail herein.

[0080] According to a preferred embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the dust removal device includes four wheels forming the support members 150, 160 to stably support the dust removal device on the ground 101. Load sensors 210, 220 can be provided that are connected to one or more of the wheels. For example, a load sensor can be provided around the vertical axis of the rotating front wheel 150 of the dust removal device to measure the load F1. A load sensor 220 can also be provided to measure, as a supplement or as an independent sensor, the load F2 on at least one of the rear wheels 160 or the load on the axle connecting the two rear wheels 160. It is advantageous if the support members are sufficiently flexible to absorb unevenness of the ground.

[0081] As Figure 2 shown, the loads F1, F2 measured by the load sensors represent the normal force Fz exerted by the ground 101 on the support members 150, 160 associated with the load sensors (in Figure 2is schematically shown). It should be understood that the total weight of the dust removal device 100 is distributed on the support members, that is, if there are N support members and the total weight of the dust removal device 100 is W, then

[0082]

[0083] where w i is the weight on the i-th support member. This weight distribution is not always uniform, but can generally be determined in advance by simulation or experiment and tabulated in the memory of the control unit. Therefore, a single load sensor that measures only one of the weights {w i} i＝1..N is usually sufficient to determine the total weight W of the dust removal device and the weight of the dust and mud accumulated by the dust removal device 100 (by subtracting the pre-configured weight W 0 ) of the dust removal device without load. The dust removal rate can be determined as the change in the weight of the dust and mud removed, W - W 0 , within a given time period T. In other words, according to the example, the dust removal rate can be determined as:

[0084]

[0085] where t 1 and t 2 are the time points when the control unit 170 receives the load sensor data.

[0086] According to some aspects, the heavy-duty dust removal device includes an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The IMU is a device that measures acceleration and vibration, and the control units 170 can utilize it to determine whether the dust removal device 100 is stationary (not moving) or undergoing some form of movement. For example, when a hose is attached to the connector 120, the operator may shake the dust removal device. If the dust removal device 100 is repositioned on an uneven ground 101, the dust removal device may also vibrate. During a period when the dust removal device is unreasonably stationary, the load data received by the control unit from one or more load sensors is unlikely to be reliable. Therefore, the control units 170, 900 can be set to process the data indicating the load measured by the load sensors 210, 220 on the premise that the IMU outputs a signal indicating that the dust removal device is in a stationary state. This means that the control units 170, 900 monitor the output from the IMU and determine whether the dust removal device 100 is stationary enough for the load sensors to provide relevant output data, or whether the dust removal device is not stationary enough to use the data from one or more load sensors. The test for the dust removal device to be stationary enough may involve comparing the average acceleration or vibration amplitude with acceptance criteria such as a predetermined threshold of the IMU or a range of acceptable output values. The predetermined threshold of the IMU or the range of acceptable output values can be determined in advance through experiments or mathematical analysis (involving, for example, computer simulations).

[0087] The control units 170, 900 are preferably also set to determine the dust removal rate and / or the weight of the removed dust by averaging the data indicating the load measured by the load sensors 210, 220. This averaging may include, for example, low-pass filtering or applying a moving average filter, which suppresses transient interferences caused to the load data due to, for example, vibrations. Such low-pass filtering or moving average filtering can also be determined in advance through experiments or mathematical analysis (involving, for example, computer simulations). Of course, more advanced signal processing operations, such as Kalman filtering, can also be applied. The Kalman filter utilizes a model of the dust removal device (which can be determined in advance) to filter the data received from one or more load sensors. The Kalman filter is well-known and will not be discussed in more detail here.

[0088] If the control unit has access to data from the IMU, the control units 170, 900 can also be set to process the payload data at least in part based on signals from the IMU. For example, the control unit can apply a certain type of weighted filtering, where the payload data received from one or more load sensors during a period when the dust removal device is not in a stationary state (i.e., is vibrating significantly or is being repositioned) has a lower weight compared to the payload data received from the sensors during a period when the dust removal device is in a stationary state (i.e., is not moving or vibrating significantly). In this way, the payload data measured during periods of interference caused by the vibration or movement of the dust removal device is suppressed in favor of the payload data measured when the dust removal device is in a stationary state (i.e., is not moving around or vibrating excessively).

[0089] Reference Figure 3 , the heavy-duty dust removal device 300 can also include an electronic level 310, which is set to at least determine the angle α of the ground 101 relative to the horizontal plane H. Then, the control units 170, 900 can be set to compensate for the data indicating the load measured by the load sensors 210, 220 based on this angle α. The weight distribution on the support member depends on the angle α. Figure 3 The more the dust removal device in the example 300 tilts backward, the more weight falls on the rear wheels, and the more the dust removal device tilts forward, the more weight falls on the front wheels. The weight may also be unevenly distributed on both sides of the device. By obtaining data indicating this angle α, the control unit 170 can compensate for the tilt, which is an advantage because the load data becomes more reliable, especially in the case of using, for example, a single load sensor connected to the front wheels. The control unit 170 can be configured with an analysis function for performing such compensation based on the angle α, or only with a look-up table having a compensation factor, which is stored in the memory and indexed by the angle α relative to the horizontal plane H or some other reference plane. The center of mass 320 of the dust removal device can be used as an input to the control unit 170. The electronic level 310 is preferably a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) electronic level, which measures the relationship between the plane tangent to the support member and the horizontal plane H. The 2D electronic level then provides data on the lateral tilt as well as the tilt along the forward / backward direction. A simple way is to estimate the total weight W of the dust removal device based on a single measured value of the load on a single support member, tabulate the estimated total weight corresponding to the load measurement value and the output from the electronic level, and store this table in the memory of the control unit 170. The control unit 170 can also configure a mathematical relationship to perform a mapping from the load sensor data and the electronic level output to the total weight W of the dust removal device.

[0090] Figures 4A to 4D and Figure 5Details 400 of a combined hatch mechanism 410 and a dust collector holder 450 are shown. The hatch mechanism is an example of a separating structure that separates the interior of the dust separator from the dust collector of the dust removal device. According to this example, the hatch mechanism 410 is suspended from the dust removal device body (which is in turn supported on the ground by a support member) by an elastic portion 420 that can be compressed and / or extended in the vertical direction (the direction of gravity). Accordingly, a load sensor 430 connected to the elastic portion 420 can be provided to at least approximately measure 440 the load F3 exerted on the hatch by the dust and mud accumulated in the dust separator 110.

[0091] Figure 4B An exemplary hatch mechanism in the closed position is shown, where dust and mud accumulate above the hatch (in the direction away from the support surface 101). Figure 4C The same hatch mechanism 410 in the open position is shown, in which dust and mud can fall from the interior of the dust separator into the dust collector provided below the hatch.

[0092] Figure 4D How the dust collector holder 450 can be arranged in combination with the hatch mechanism is shown.

[0093] It has been recognized that by providing a plurality of load sensors at key locations on the dust removal device, the weights of the dust accumulated at different locations in the dust removal device can be measured, and these weights form part of the total weight W of the dust removal device. The locations of concern where dust and mud accumulate during the dust removal operation include: above the hatch (inside the cyclone separator), below the hatch suspended from the dust collector holder in the dust collector; and the location supported on the load-bearing structure 140 (such as in the case where the dust collector is placed on the load-bearing structure 140). The load sensors 210, 220 provided to be connected to the support member measure the total weight of the dust removal device 100, regardless of the location of the dust and mud. Part of the total weight is supported by the hatch, part of the total weight is supported by the dust collector, and part of the total weight is supported by the load-bearing structure 140. By providing load sensors at key locations (as Figure 5 shown), these weight portions can be determined.

[0094] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Details of an exemplary dust removal device are shown, in which separation structure load sensors 430, 510 for measuring the weight of the dust and mud supported by a separation structure (such as a hatch, a grille, or a telescopic cone) are provided. In addition to the load sensor 210 provided to be connected to the support member 150, dust collector load sensors 470, 520 are also configured to measure the weight of the dust and mud in the dust collector.

[0095] The separation structure load sensors 430, 510 can be implemented by load measuring elements set to measure the vertical displacement of the hatch support structure relative to the main body 145. In the case where the hatch is made of an elastic material (such as rubber), a load measuring element can be provided between the main body 145 and a position on the hatch to measure the amount of extension of the hatch caused by the weight of dust and mud accumulated on the dust separator side of the hatch. The dust collector load sensors 470, 520 can also be implemented using load measuring elements. Some form of elastic mounting member can be provided between the dust collector holder and the main body 145 of the dust removal device. Then, the weight of the dust and mud accumulated in the dust collector exerts a tensile force on the dust collector holder, and the load measuring element records this tensile force and transmits this tensile force as load data to the control unit 170.

[0096] In summary, examples of the heavy-duty dust removal devices 400, 500 discussed herein include: separation structure load sensors, such as hatch load sensors 430, 510, which are set to measure the load F3 applied to the hatch mechanism 410 of the dust removal device; and control units 170, 900, which are set to receive data indicating the load measured by the hatch load sensors 430, 510. The control unit is also set to determine the weight of the dust supported by the hatch mechanism 410 based on this data indicating the load measured by the hatch load sensors 430, 510. The heavy-duty dust removal devices 400, 500 can also include dust collector load sensors 470, 520, which are set to measure the load F4 applied to the dust collector 530 of the dust removal device. In this case, the control units 170, 900 are set to receive data indicating the load measured by the dust collector load sensors 470, 520 and to determine the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector 530 based on this data indicating the load measured by the dust collector load sensors 470, 520. For example, assume the dust removal device includes load sensors measuring loads w 舱口 , w 集尘器 and w 支撑结构 , where w 舱口 is related to F3, w 集尘器 is related to F4, and w 支撑结构 is a measure of the total weight W of the dust removal device. Then, w 舱口 can be used to detect when the hatch tipping function of the dust removal device is not working satisfactorily, i.e., when more than an acceptable amount of dust accumulates on top of the hatch and is not discharged into the dust collector. The magnitude of w 集尘器 can be used to detect when the dust collector has reached its capacity and needs to be emptied, while w 支撑结构Provide an indication of the total weight of the dust removal device. In cases where the surface is sensitive, such as concrete that has been recently poured and has not fully cured, monitoring the total weight of the dust removal device may be important. An overly heavy dust removal device may leave marks on the surface, which is of course undesirable.

[0097] According to some aspects, the control unit 170 is arranged to display the weight w to the operator via a display or a remote device 舱口 , w 集尘器 and w 支撑结构 of one or more of them. The operator can then determine, for example, whether the total weight W of the dust removal device exceeds the acceptance criteria for the weight supported by the floor 101, whether the amount of dust accumulated above the hatch is acceptable, and the current weight of the dust and mud accumulated in the dust collector, such that the dust collector can be emptied in a timely manner before it becomes too heavy to be manually manipulated conveniently. Some of these functions will be discussed in more detail below in conjunction with Figure 7 In general, the control units 170, 900 can be arranged to trigger and activate the notification function of the dust removal device when the weight of the dust supported by the hatch mechanism 410 or the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector 530 exceeds the corresponding weight threshold. This function can, for example, help prevent the dust collector from being overfilled, which can cause the dust collector to become too heavy to be manually manipulated by the operator. The weight threshold can be configured, for example, according to the type of dust collector and / or according to the type of dust removal device. The control units 170, 900 can also be arranged to trigger the transmission of a wireless signal or a wired signal to an associated construction device when the weight of the dust supported by the hatch mechanism 410 or the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector 530 exceeds the corresponding weight threshold. Thus, the dust generating device can be deactivated, i.e., placed in a standby operation mode, until the dust removal device is repaired and placed back in a fully operational state to remove dust from the dust generating device.

[0098] It should be understood that both the separate structural load sensors 430, 510 and the dust collector load sensors 470, 520 can be used in the system as independent load sensors together with the control unit 170, i.e., neither the separate structural load sensors 430, 510 nor the dust collector load sensors 470, 520 require any other load sensor system discussed herein. The various applications and functions based on the load data from the sensors discussed herein can also be implemented with the separate structural load sensors 430, 510 or the dust collector load sensors 470, 520.

[0099] Figure 6 The dust removal device 600 with another exemplary load sensor device is shown. Here, the dust separator 110 is pivotally supported by the main body 145 via a protrusion or a bump on which the dust separator is placed. As for example Figure 1As can be seen, the dust separator 110 can be arranged to support at least indirectly both the hatch mechanism and the dust collector. The increased weight creates a pivoting force or torque T about the mounting point 620. A load sensor can be configured to measure this torque T about the pivot point 620. In other words, the heavy-duty dust removal device 600 optionally includes a dust separator load sensor 610 that is arranged to measure the torque T generated when the dust separator 110 pivots about the pivot axis 620 of the dust separator relative to the main body 145 of the dust removal device. This type of load sensor device can be used as a stand-alone load sensor or in combination with different load sensor devices discussed above.

[0100] It should be understood that the dust separator load sensor 610 can also be used as a stand-alone load sensor in the system together with the control unit 170, i.e., the dust separator load sensor 610 can be used as the only sensor in the system in order to implement various applications and functions based on the load data from the sensor as discussed herein.

[0101] Referring, for example, to Figure 5 , the dust and mud D1 accumulated in the dust separator 110 are periodically emptied into the dust collector 530 where the dust and mud accumulation D2 is located. An emptying operation is not desired in which the dust and mud (located at D1) contained inside the dust separator 110 are transferred to the dust collector D2 because this emptying operation typically involves reconfiguring the suction operation, such as opening a valve to atmospheric pressure, closing a valve to the suction inlet, etc., which temporarily reduces the dust removal performance. At the same time, too few emptying operations are also not desired because then too much dust and mud may accumulate inside the dust separator 110, whereby the amount of dust D1 may become too large, making the emptying more difficult. According to some aspects, the control unit 170 is configured to measure the weight of the dust and mud D1 accumulated in the dust separator 110 and to control the discharge operation of the dust separator based on the determined weight. The measured weight can be compared with a reference weight for emptying the dust and mud into the dust collector. The reference weight can be configured according to the dust material, the humidity of the dust and mud, and according to the type of dust removal device used. The dust material can be configured manually by the user or automatically set, for example, according to the tool used in the dust generating machine. The humidity level of the accumulated dust and mud can be determined automatically by a humidity sensor provided on the dust removal device or configured manually by the operator. The type of dust removal device can be known in advance to the control unit 170 or configured manually by the operator. The exact parameter values for triggering the emptying operation can be determined by actual experiments and / or computer simulations.

[0102] In summary, the present disclosure relates at least in part to a heavy-duty dust removal device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, which includes a dust separator 110, one or more load sensors 210, 220, 510, 520, 610, and a control unit 170, 900. The one or more load sensors 210, 220, 510, 520, 610 are arranged to measure the weight of dust and mud D1, D2 accumulated in the dust removal device. The control unit 170 is arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors 210, 220 and to determine the weight of the dust D1 inside the dust separator 110. The control unit 170 is further arranged to trigger a discharge operation for discharging the dust and mud from the dust separator into the dust collector 530 based on the determined weight of the dust D1 inside the dust separator 110, as discussed above.

[0103] A separation structure on the dust removal device separates the dust separator (such as a cyclone separation tank or a coarse filter device) from the dust collector (such as a Longopac bag or a bucket) located below the dust separator. The dust and mud are regularly discharged from the dust separator into the dust collector by actuating the separation structure in a certain way, for example, by opening a hatch or a control valve to trigger an emptying operation, in which the dust falls from the dust separator into the dust collector below the dust separator. The emptying operation generally includes, for example, increasing the air pressure in the dust separator by means of a valve device that connects the surrounding environment of the dust removal device to the inside of the dust separator. The emptying operation is an operation that should be interpreted broadly herein. The emptying operation may include any of the following operations: controlling the valve to direct the air flow to flow backward away from the fan through the pre-filter system of the dust separator; controlling the valve to direct the air flow to flow from the external surrounding environment into the dust separator; opening the connection to a pressurized gas source; and / or opening a separation structure such as a hatch mechanism, a grille, or a retractable cone to discharge the dust and / or mud from the dust separator into the dust collector.

[0104] It should be understood that the load on the separation structure can be determined as the amount of dust and mud accumulated by the dust removal device since the last time the dust separator was emptied into the dust collector. In other words, by integrating the dust removal rate between the approximate time point of the last emptying action and the current time point, the amount of dust and mud inside the dust separator can be determined. Therefore, a load sensor on the support member can also be used to identify the weight of the dust accumulated in the dust separator. Other solutions for determining the amount of dust and mud contained inside the dust separator will be discussed below. Advantageously, the emptying operation of the dust removal device is controlled based on the amount of dust contained inside the dust separator. Therefore, some of the control units discussed herein are configured to trigger the dust separator emptying operation based on the determined amount of dust and mud contained inside the dust separator. In other words, as will be discussed in more detail below, according to some aspects, the control unit can control the dust separator emptying operation of the dust removal device based on the determined amount of dust and mud accumulated inside the dust separator. The control unit can, for example, track the amount of dust and mud accumulated inside the dust separator and determine an appropriate time point to discharge this dust and mud into the dust collector. In this way, the dust separator can be emptied into the lower dust collector at time intervals that are neither too short nor too long in duration.

[0105] Figure 12 An exemplary dust removal device 100 is shown, which includes a dust separator 110 having a lid 1200, the lid including valves 1210, 1220, which are arranged to generate a reverse air thrust through a pre-filter system 1230 (i.e., backwash the filter system). The reverse air thrust through the pre-filter system is the air thrust that passes through the filter wall of the pre-filter system in a direction opposite to the air flow during the normal operation of the dust removal device. Therefore, the reverse air thrust advances in a direction away from the fan of the dust removal device, as Figure 13 represented by the arrow 1340 in

[0106] Figure 13 An exemplary pre-filter system 1230 is shown. The pre-filter system 1230 includes a pre-filter having a filter orifice 1300 and a filter sidewall 1320. The sidewall 1320 is arranged to allow air flow through the sidewall and prevent at least some particulate matter from passing through the sidewall. The normal air flow during the operation of the dust removal device passes from the outside of the sidewall through the sidewall to the inside of the filter volume and then upward through the filter orifice 1300. The reverse air thrust generated during filter cleaning advances in the opposite direction (i.e., from the inside of the filter to the outside), as Figure 13as indicated by arrow 1340 in [the figure]. In this example, the filter sidewall 1320 extends away from the filter orifice 1300 and tapers inwardly towards the central axis 1330 of the filter to define an inner filter volume. A pre-filter is provided to hold the partition wall 1310 in place within the inner filter volume, dividing the inner filter volume into a first part and a second part 1230a, 1230b.

[0107] It should be understood that the pre-filter cleaning techniques and dust separator emptying operations discussed herein apply to pre-filter systems having a partition wall, such as Figure 13 the example in [the figure], and also to dust removal devices including two separate pre-filters constituting the first part 1230a and the second part 1230b.

[0108] Figure 15 A filter cleaning system having a first valve and a second valve 1210, 1220 is shown. Each valve 1210, 1220 can be opened O and closed C to generate a reverse air thrust 1500 through the corresponding filter part. This air thrust is an air flow that flows into the dust removal device from the external surrounding environment and flows out of the dust removal device through the filter sidewall 1320, as Figure 13 indicated by arrow 1340 in [the figure]. Each valve 1210, 1220 can be actuated by a control signal from the control unit 170. During normal operation of the dust removal device, the control unit actuates the valves 1210, 1220 (1510) in sequence, thereby cleaning the first part and the second part 1230a, 1230b in sequence. This filter cleaning mode maintains the suction performance because one filter part is always used for dust removal while the other filter part is used to remove dust and debris adhering to the filter wall 1320. However, if the first part and the second part 1230a, 1230b are cleaned in a manner such that there is at least some time overlap or even simultaneously by actuating the valves 1210, 1220, a particularly strong filter cleaning effect can be achieved. This actuation of the valves 1210, 1220 by the control unit 170 can open the separation structure 410 between the dust separator 110 and the dust collector 530 to discharge dust and / or slurry from the dust separator into the dust collector below, i.e., perform an emptying operation on the dust separator.

[0109] Figure 14 The operation of the valve device is shown, where first the first valve and the second valve 1210, 1220 are actuated in sequence (step 1400), and then an emptying operation is triggered in a time-overlapping manner (step 1410), in which dust and / or slurry are discharged from the dust separator into the dust collector.

[0110] It has been recognized that the actuation of valve devices (such as valves 1210, 1220) for filter cleaning in heavy-duty dust removal devices can be actuated by a control unit 170 based on the weight of the dust accumulated in the dust removal device and / or based on the weight accumulation rate (i.e., the dust removal rate). The actuation can be controlled, for example, based on the dust removal rate so that filter cleaning is performed more frequently when the dust removal rate decreases. The valve device can also be actuated to perform an emptying operation of the dust separator 110 in the case where the weight of the dust and / or slurry in the dust separator 110 exceeds a threshold or does not meet some other acceptance criteria (such as the allowable range of the dust weight in the dust separator 110), in which the dust is discharged into the dust collector.

[0111] In summary, a heavy-duty dust removal device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 is disclosed, which includes one or more load sensors 210, 220, 510, 520, 610, a control unit 170, 900, at least one valve device 1210, 1220, and a dust separator 110 having a pre-filter system 1230 as Figures 12 to 15 illustrated. The at least one valve device 1210, 1220 is configured to generate a reverse air thrust 1340 through the pre-filter system 1230 when actuated by the control unit 170, 900. The one or more load sensors 210, 220, 510, 520, 610 are arranged to measure the weight of the dust and / or slurry D1, D2 accumulated in the dust removal device, such as the absolute weight or the dust removal rate. The control unit 170, 900 is arranged to receive data indicating the weight of the dust and / or slurry D1, D2 accumulated in the dust removal device and actuate at least one valve device 1210, 1220 based on the weight.

[0112] According to some aspects, the control unit 170, 900 is arranged to determine a dust removal rate 740 represented by the weight of the dust removed per unit time based on the received data and configure the actuation frequency of at least one valve device 1210, 1220 based on the dust removal rate 740. For example, a decrease in the dust removal rate can cause the reverse air thrust 1500 to be generated more frequently, thereby causing the filter cleaning to be performed more frequently. The reverse air thrust can also be generated whenever a given amount of dust has been removed by the dust removal device (as indicated by the load sensor). In this case, the control unit tracks the amount of dust that has been removed since the last filter cleaning operation and triggers the reverse air thrust when the amount of removed dust reaches a predetermined amount since the last filter cleaning operation.

[0113] The heavy-duty dust removal device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 preferably includes at least a first valve device and a second valve device 1210, 1220, asFigure 14 as illustrated in, and the pre-filter system 1230 includes at least a first part 1230a and a second part 1230b, but two or more separate filter units with similar technical effects can also be used. Each valve device 1210, 1220 is configured to generate a reverse air thrust in response to a control signal from the control units 170, 900 to clean the relevant parts 1230a, 1230b of the pre-filter system 1230, as discussed above.

[0114] The control units 170, 900 are optionally set to determine the weight of the dust D1 inside the dust separator 110 based on data indicating the load measured by one or more load sensors 210, 220, as discussed above, for example, in connection with Figure 5 and, in the case where the weight of the dust D1 inside the dust separator 110 does not meet the acceptance criteria (such as exceeding a weight threshold or falling outside a weight range), actuate the first valve device and the second valve device 1210, 1220 in a manner where at least part of the time overlaps. By actuating the first valve device and the second valve device 1210, 1220 simultaneously, a particularly strong reverse air thrust is generated, which passes through the first part 1230a and the second part 1230b of the pre-filter system 1230. This strong reverse air thrust can also open the separation structure (such as the hatch or cone discussed in connection with Figures 4A to 4D ), thereby triggering an emptying operation in which the dust contained inside the dust separator is discharged into the associated dust collector.

[0115] Figure 7 An exemplary interface 700 is shown through which an operator can receive information about the status of the dust removal device. This particular example is a portable device 710, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer, but other interfaces can also be used, such as a display directly attached to the dust removal device 100. The device 710 is set to communicate with a remote server 720 via a wireless link, whereby the device 710 can receive configuration data 730 (such as load thresholds, load data filtering settings, and expected dust removal rates), and also report at least periodically, for example, the measurement results of the accumulated dust and mud and the dust removal rate. The interface 700 can also be set to display the time variation of the dust removal rate, as Figure 11 shown.

[0116] The control units 170, 900 are optionally set to transmit data indicating the determined dust removal rate 740, the time variation of the dust removal rate, and / or the determined weight of the removed dust to the remote servers 180, 720 via, for example, the wireless link 725. The remote server can then track the dust removal device based on, for example, the usage pattern. A dust removal device that has removed a large amount of dust is more likely to require maintenance compared to a dust removal device that has not removed a large amount of dust. Thus, the remote servers 180, 720 can schedule maintenance of the dust removal devices in the dust removal device fleet based on the data obtained from the control unit. The remote servers 180, 720 can also estimate the future need for new pre-filters and primary filters based on, for example, the total amount of dust removed by the dust removal device over time at a certain construction site. The remote servers 180, 720 can learn over time how the filters wear as a function of the dust removal rate and use this information to predict when the filters need to be replaced to maintain the dust removal capacity. The control units 170, 900 can also be set to determine a preferred expected time point 760 for emptying the dust collector based on the determined dust removal rate, as discussed above. The control unit 170 can, for example, be configured with a preferred maximum weight 730 and then trigger a notification 760 or even an alarm signal in the case where the total accumulated weight of the dust and mud exceeds this preferred maximum weight. In this way, the emptying of the dust collector can be made more efficient, and the dust collector can be prevented from being overloaded.

[0117] Data indicating the dust weight (such as the weight of the dust supported by the hatch mechanism 410 and the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector 530) can also be transmitted to the dust generating device (such as a floor grinder) or other devices (such as a remote control device associated with the dust removal device). In this way, for example, the operator of a floor grinder or some other form of concrete processing equipment can obtain valuable information in a convenient manner. Data indicating the determined dust removal rate can also be transmitted to the dust generating device associated with the dust removal device. This allows the current dust generation rate (which can be assumed to be similar to the dust removal rate) to be displayed on the display of the construction equipment generating the dust, which is an advantage. The operator can then quickly see whether the construction equipment is suddenly generating less dust or more dust than expected in a given current concrete processing operation. The operator or the control unit can also use the weight data received from the dust removal device at the dust generating construction equipment to optimize the operation of the dust generating device, which optimization is achieved, for example, by controlling the drive unit power or other machine settings (such as the weight applied to the concrete processing tool).

[0118] In other words, the present disclosure provides a construction equipment including a control unit 900 configured to communicate with the heavy-duty dust removal devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 discussed above. The control unit 900 is configured to receive data indicating the weight of the dust removed and / or indicating the current dust removal rate from the heavy-duty dust removal devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and control at least one function of the construction equipment based on the received data. The construction equipment may include, for example, a display unit similar to the display unit 700 discussed above in connection with Figure 7 a display unit. That is, at least one function of the construction equipment includes displaying, via the display unit, any of the following items: the weight of the dust removed by the dust removal device; the weight of the removed dust supported in the dust collector of the dust removal device; the dust removal rate of the dust removal device; a notification indicating the difference between the current dust removal rate of the dust removal device and the expected dust removal rate of the dust removal device; and / or a notification indicating that the weight of the dust in the dust removal device exceeds a dust weight threshold.

[0119] The construction equipment may further include a drive unit. In this case, the control unit 900 of the construction equipment may be configured to control the operation of the drive unit based on the data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device. The control unit may increase or decrease the power applied by the drive unit so as to adjust the amount of dust generated by the construction equipment (which may be inferred from the data regarding the removed dust). For example, the control unit may adjust the amount of generated dust by increasing or decreasing the rotational speed of a concrete processing tool to make it closer to the desired dust generation rate, and / or adjust the force or torque applied to the tool according to the current tool and the work task to be performed by the construction equipment.

[0120] According to some aspects, the control unit 170 of the dust removal device 100 is configured to control the operation rate or power of the construction equipment that generates the dust (which is removed by the dust removal device) based on the rate at which the dust accumulates in the dust removal device. The control unit 170 can then optimize the amount of the generated dust to an amount that can be effectively processed by the dust removal device, i.e., an amount that is neither so large that it cannot be processed by the dust removal device nor so small that it results in inefficient processing. These aspects are particularly suitable for construction equipment that can directly control the amount of the generated dust, such as shot blast machines and scraping machines, and the processing power of these devices can be adjusted to control the amount of the dust generated during operation.

[0121] The construction equipment may also include a variable tool contact pressure device through which the weight or force applied to the concrete processing tool can be adjusted to optimize the concrete processing operation. For example, more or less weight can be applied to the grinding head of a floor grinder to process the concrete surface more aggressively or more gently. Then, the control unit 900 of the construction equipment is optionally set to control the weight or force applied to the concrete processing tool of the construction equipment based on the data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device, either by automatic adjustment or by instructions sent to the operator via the display device.

[0122] The control unit 900 may also be set to send a signal containing an instruction to perform a dust separator emptying operation back to the heavy-duty dust removal device in response to a user input and / or in response to the weight of the dust removed exceeding a predetermined threshold weight.

[0123] The construction equipment may also be set to control the liquid dispenser of the equipment based on the received data. In this way, the liquid supplied to the work object being processed by the equipment, such as water, can be controlled. Both the start / stop and the amount of liquid can also be controlled based on the received data (i.e., based on the dust generation rate of the construction equipment).

[0124] According to some other aspects, the control units 170, 900 in the dust removal device or the dust-generating construction equipment are set to determine the appropriate selection of the concrete processing tool based on the determined dust removal rate, and / or to determine the time to replace the tool based on the determined dust removal rate, and / or to determine the time to complete the work task based on the determined dust removal rate. Each tool can be associated with an expected dust removal rate 730. Then, if the current dust removal rate is inconsistent with the expected dust removal rate, a warning 750 can be triggered, indicating that the tool selection may not be ideal or that there are some other unfavorable situations in the concrete processing operation. The expected dust removal rate can be pre-configured by the user 730, whereby the control unit can indicate to the user when the expected dust removal rate no longer occurs, enabling the operator to decide to replace the tool. The control units 170, 900 in the dust removal device or the dust-generating construction equipment can also be set to determine the appropriate selection of the concrete processing tool or the time point to replace the tool based on the time variation of the determined dust removal rate. The control unit can also utilize the time variation of the determined dust removal rate to determine when the work task is approaching completion and / or has been completed.

[0125] Figure 8FIG. 0 is a flow chart showing a computer-implemented method that summarizes some of the discussions above. The method is performed in heavy-duty dust removal devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 that include a dust separator 110, where the heavy-duty dust removal devices are arranged to be supported on a ground 101 by one or more support members 150, 160. The method includes step S1: arranging one or more load sensors 210, 220 connected to the one or more support members 150, 160 to measure the load on the support members 150, 160; step S2: using a control unit 170, 900 to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors 210, 220; step S3: using the control unit 170, 900 to determine a dust removal rate 740 expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data; and step S4: using the control unit 170, 900 to control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device 100 based on the determined dust removal rate.

[0126] Figure 9 FIG. 4 shows a control unit 900 that includes a processing circuitry 910, a communication interface 910 coupled to the processing circuitry 910; and a memory module 930 coupled to the processing circuitry 910, where the memory module includes machine-readable computer program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the control unit to perform the different operations discussed above. The control unit 900 can, for example, be used as the device control unit 170.

[0127] Figure 9 The general components of the control unit 900 are also schematically shown in the form of a plurality of functional units. The processing circuitry 910 is provided by any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit CPU, a multi-processor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor DSP, etc., and is capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product (e.g., in the form of a storage medium 930). The processing circuitry 910 can also be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit ASIC or a field programmable gate array FPGA.

[0128] Specifically, the processing circuitry 910 is configured to cause the dust removal device to perform a set of operations or steps, such as those discussed in conjunction with Figure 8 the discussion and the method discussed above. For example, the storage medium 930 can store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 910 can be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 930 to cause the device to perform the set of operations. The set of operations can be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus, the processing circuitry 910 is thereby arranged to perform the methods disclosed herein.

[0129] The storage medium 930 may also include a permanent memory, which may be, for example, any one or a combination of a magnetic memory module, an optical memory module, a solid-state memory module, or even a remotely installed memory module.

[0130] The circuit may also include an interface 920 for communicating with at least one external device. Thus, the interface 920 may include one or more transmitters and receivers, which include analog and digital components and an appropriate number of ports for wired or wireless communication.

[0131] The processing circuitry 910 controls the general operation of the control unit, for example, by sending data and control signals to the interface 920 and the storage medium 930, receiving data and reports from the interface 920, and retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 930.

[0132] Figure 10 A computer-readable medium 1010 carrying a computer program is shown, the computer program including program code portions 1020 for performing Figure 8 the method shown when the program product is run on a computer. The computer-readable medium and the code portions may together form a computer program product 1000.

Claims

1. A heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), comprising a dust separator (110), wherein, the heavy-duty dust removal device is arranged to be supported on the ground (101) by one or more support members (150, 160), wherein, one or more load sensors (210, 220) connected to the one or more support members (150, 160) are provided to measure the load on at least one of the support members (150, 160), the dust removal device comprises a control unit (170, 900), and the control unit is arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220), wherein, the control unit (170, 900) comprises a device for measuring time, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine a dust removal rate (740) expressed by the weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data, and control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate.

2. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to claim 1, wherein, the operation of the dust removal device comprises: displaying the determined dust removal rate on a display device (175) on the dust removal device and / or on a display device (700) remote from the dust removal device.

3. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 500) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the operation of the dust removal device comprises: comparing the determined dust removal rate with one or more predetermined thresholds, and triggering a notification function to notify the user when the dust removal rate exceeds an upper threshold and / or is lower than a lower threshold.

4. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to configure the fan power setting of the dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate.

5. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine the time variation of the dust removal rate, compare the determined time variation of the dust removal rate with one or more predetermined thresholds, and trigger the operation of the dust removal device when the time variation of the dust removal rate exceeds an upper threshold and / or is lower than a lower threshold.

6. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the measured load represents the normal force (Fz) exerted by the ground (101) on the heavy-duty dust removal device.

7. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more support members (150, 160) include wheels, and load sensors (210, 220) are provided and connected to the wheels.

8. The heavy-duty dust removal device (200) according to claim 7, wherein, the wheel is the rotating front wheel (150) of the dust removal device.

9. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least one of the load sensors (210, 220) includes a load measuring element configured to generate an electrical signal based on tension, compression, pressure, or torque applied by the ground (101) to the corresponding support member (150, 160).

10. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, including an inertial measurement unit IMU, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to process the data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220) on the premise that the IMU outputs a signal indicating that the dust removal device is in a stationary state.

11. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to determine the dust removal rate and / or the weight of the removed dust by averaging the data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220).

12. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to claims 10 and 11, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to process the data at least partially based on the signal from the IMU indicating that the dust removal device is in a stationary state.

13. The heavy-duty dust removal device (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, including two rear wheels (160), wherein, a load sensor (220) is provided for measuring the load on at least one of the rear wheels (160) or the load on the shaft connecting the two rear wheels (160).

14. The heavy-duty dust removal device (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, including an electronic level (310) configured to determine the angle (a) of the ground (101) relative to a horizontal plane (H), wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to compensate the data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220) based on the angle (a).

15. The heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) according to any one of the preceding claims, further includes a separation structure load sensor (430, 510) configured to measure the load (F3) applied to the separation structure mechanism (410) of the dust removal device, wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is configured to receive data indicating the load measured by the separation structure load sensor (430, 510), and determine the weight of the dust supported by the separation structure mechanism (410) based on this data indicating the load measured by the separation structure load sensor (430, 510).

16. The heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a dust collector load sensor (470, 520) configured to measure the load (F4) applied to the dust collector (530) of the dust removal device, wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is configured to receive data indicating the load measured by the dust collector load sensor (470, 520), and determine the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector (530) based on this data indicating the load measured by the dust collector load sensor (470, 520).

17. The heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is configured to trigger and activate the notification function of the dust removal device when the weight of the dust supported by the separation structure mechanism (410) and / or the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector (530) exceeds the corresponding upper weight threshold and / or is lower than the corresponding lower weight threshold.

18. The heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is configured to transmit data indicating the weight of the dust supported by the separation structure mechanism (410) and / or the weight of the dust supported by the dust collector (530) to a construction device associated with the dust removal device.

19. The heavy-duty dust removal device (600) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a dust separator load sensor (610) configured to measure the torque (T) generated when the dust separator (110) pivots about the pivot axis (620) of the dust separator relative to the main body (145) of the dust removal device (600).

20. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is configured to transmit data indicating the determined dust removal rate and / or the determined weight of the removed dust to a remote server (180, 720) and / or to a dust generating device or other construction device associated with the dust removal device.

21. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is configured to determine a preferred expected time point for emptying the dust collector based on the determined dust removal rate.

22. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, the control unit is configured to trigger a dust and / or slurry emptying operation based on the weight of the dust and / or slurry (D1) accumulated in the dust separator (110), and in the dust and / or slurry emptying operation, the dust and / or slurry is discharged from the dust separator (110) into the dust collector (530) of the heavy-duty dust removal device.

23. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to determine an appropriate selection of the concrete processing tool based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the time variation of the dust removal rate, and / or determine a preferred time point for tool replacement based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the time variation of the dust removal rate.

24. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of the preceding claims, Among them, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to control the operating rate of the associated dust-generating construction equipment.

25. A computer-implemented method, which is performed in a heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) including a dust separator (110), Among them, the heavy-duty dust removal device is configured to be supported on the ground (101) by one or more support members (150, 160), and the method includes: Step (S1): Set one or more load sensors (210, 220) connected to the one or more support members (150, 160) to measure the load on the support members (150, 160), Step (S2): Use the control unit (170, 900) to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220), Step (S3): Use the control unit (170, 900) to determine the dust removal rate (740) expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time and / or determine the time variation of the dust removal rate based on the received data, and Step (S4): Use the control unit (170, 900) to control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate.

26. A system including the heavy-duty dust removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 24 and including construction equipment, the construction equipment including a control unit (900) configured to communicate with the heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), Among them, the control unit (900) is configured to receive data indicating the weight of the removed dust and / or data indicating the dust removal rate from the dust removal device and control at least one function of the construction equipment based on the received data.

27. The system according to claim 26, Among them, The construction equipment includes a display unit (700), wherein at least one function of the construction equipment includes displaying, via the display unit, any of the following: the weight of the dust removed by the dust removal device; the weight of the removed dust supported in the dust collector of the dust removal device; the dust removal rate of the dust removal device; a notification indicating the difference between the current dust removal rate of the dust removal device and the expected dust removal rate of the dust removal device; and / or a notification indicating that the weight of the dust in the dust removal device exceeds a dust weight threshold.

28. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein, the construction equipment includes a drive unit, wherein the control unit (900) is configured to control the operation of the drive unit based on data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device.

29. The system according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein, the construction equipment includes a variable tool contact pressure device, wherein the control unit (900) of the construction equipment is configured to control the force applied to the concrete processing tool of the construction equipment based on data received from the heavy-duty dust removal device.

30. The system according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein, the control unit (900) of the construction equipment is configured to send a signal including an instruction to perform a dust separator emptying operation to the heavy-duty dust removal device in response to a user input and / or in response to the weight of the removed dust exceeding a predetermined threshold weight.

31. The system according to any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein, the construction equipment is configured to determine an appropriate selection of a concrete processing tool based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the time variation of the dust removal rate, and / or to determine a preferred time point for tool replacement based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the time variation of the dust removal rate.

32. The system according to any one of claims 26 to 31, wherein, the construction equipment is configured to control a liquid dispenser of the construction equipment based on the received data.

33. The system according to any one of claims 26 to 32, wherein, the construction equipment includes any of the following; a floor grinder, a concrete wall saw, a power cutter, a core drill device, a scraping machine, a road milling machine, a shot blasting machine, a steel shot machine, a portable display unit (710) and / or a remote control device configured to control a concrete processing machine.

34. A system including a heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) having a dust separator (110), wherein, the heavy-duty dust removal device is configured to be supported on the ground (101) by one or more support members (150, 160), wherein one or more load sensors (210, 220) are provided and connected to the one or more support members (150, 160) to measure the load on at least one of the support members (150, 160), The dust removal device includes a control unit (170, 900), and the control unit is arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220). Wherein, the control unit (170, 900) includes a device for measuring time. Wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine a dust removal rate (740) expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data. The system further includes a construction equipment, and the construction equipment includes a control unit (900) communicating with the heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600). Wherein, the control unit (900) is arranged to receive data indicating the weight of the removed dust and / or data indicating the dust removal rate from the dust removal device, and control at least one function of the construction equipment based on the received data.

35. A heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) includes a dust separator (110). The heavy-duty dust removal device includes a separating structure load sensor (430, 510) arranged to measure the load (F3) applied to the separating structure mechanism (410) of the dust removal device and a control unit (170, 900) arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the separating structure load sensor (430, 510). Wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine a dust removal rate (740) expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data and / or the weight of dust and / or mud accumulated on the dust separator side of the separating structure mechanism (410), and control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the weight of dust and / or mud accumulated on the dust separator side of the separating structure mechanism (410).

36. A heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) includes a dust separator (110). The heavy-duty dust removal device includes a dust collector load sensor (470, 520) arranged to measure the load (F4) applied to the dust collector (530) of the dust removal device and a control unit (170, 900) arranged to receive data indicating the load measured by the dust collector load sensor (470, 520). Wherein, The control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine a dust removal rate (740) expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data and / or the weight of dust and / or mud accumulated in the dust collector, and control the operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the weight of the accumulated dust and / or mud.

37. A heavy-duty dust removal device (400, 500) comprises: a dust separator (110); A dust separator load sensor (610) configured to measure a torque (T) generated when the dust separator (110) pivots about a pivot axis (620) of the dust separator relative to a main body (145) of the dust removal device; and a control unit (170, 900) configured to receive data indicative of a load measured by the dust separator load sensor (610), wherein the control unit (170, 900) is configured to determine a dust removal rate (740) expressed as a weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data and / or the weight of dust and / or slurry supported by the dust separator (110), and to control an operation of the heavy-duty dust removal device based on the determined dust removal rate and / or the weight of accumulated dust and / or slurry.

38. A construction equipment, comprising a control unit (900) configured to communicate with a heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), wherein, the control unit (900) is configured to receive data indicative of a weight of dust removed and / or data indicative of a dust removal rate from the dust removal device, and to control at least one function of the construction equipment based on the received data.

39. A heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), comprising a dust separator (110), one or more load sensors (210, 220, 510, 520, 610) and a control unit (170, 900), wherein, the one or more load sensors (210, 220, 510, 520, 610) are configured to measure a weight of dust and / or slurry (D1, D2) accumulated in at least one part of the dust removal device, wherein the control unit (170, 900) is configured to receive data indicative of a load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220), and to determine a weight of dust (D1) accommodated inside the dust separator (110), wherein the control unit (170, 900) is configured to trigger an emptying operation based on the determined weight of dust (D1) accommodated inside the dust separator (110), in which the dust and / or slurry accommodated inside the dust separator (110) are discharged from the dust separator (110) into a dust collector (530).

40. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to claim 39, wherein, the emptying operation includes any one of the following: controlling a valve to direct a reverse air thrust (1340) backward through a pre-filter system (1230) of the dust separator (110); controlling a valve to direct air to flow from an external surrounding environment into the dust separator (110); and / or actuating a separating structure such as a hatch mechanism or a telescopic cone to discharge dust and / or slurry from the dust separator (110) into the dust collector (530).

41. A heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) includes one or more load sensors (210, 220, 510, 520, 610), a control unit (170, 900), at least one valve device (1210, 1220), and a dust separator (110) having a pre-filter system (1230), wherein, the at least one valve device (1210, 1220) is configured to generate a reverse air thrust (1500, 1340) through the pre-filter system (1230) when actuated by the control unit (170, 900), wherein the one or more load sensors (210, 220, 510, 520, 610) are arranged to measure the weight of dust and / or slurry (D1, D2) accumulated in the dust removal device, wherein the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to receive data indicating the weight of dust and / or slurry (D1, D2) accumulated in the dust removal device and to actuate the at least one valve device (1210, 1220) based on this weight.

42. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to claim 41, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine a dust removal rate (740) expressed as the weight of dust removed per unit time based on the received data, wherein the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to configure the actuation frequency or time interval of the at least one valve device (1210, 1220) based on this dust removal rate (740).

43. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to claim 41 or 42 includes at least a first valve device and a second valve device (1210, 1220), wherein, the pre-filter system (1230) includes at least a first part (1230a) and a second part (1230b), wherein each valve device (1210, 1220) is configured to generate a reverse air thrust in response to a control signal from the control unit (170, 900) to clean the relevant part (1230a, 1230b) of the pre-filter system (1230).

44. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to claim 43, wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is arranged to determine the weight of dust (D1) accommodated inside the dust separator (110) based on data indicating the load measured by the one or more load sensors (210, 220), Wherein, the control unit (170, 900) is configured to actuate the first valve device and the second valve device (1210, 1220) in a manner such that at least a part of the time overlaps when the weight of the dust (D1) accommodated inside the dust separator (110) does not meet the acceptance criteria.

45. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of claims 41 to 44, Wherein, The pre-filter system (1230) includes a pre-filter having a filter orifice (1300) and a filter sidewall (1320), wherein the filter sidewall (1320) is configured to allow an air flow to pass through the filter sidewall and prevent at least some particulate matter from passing through the filter sidewall. Wherein, the filter sidewall (1320) extends away from the filter orifice (1300) and tapers inwardly towards the central axis (1330) of the filter to define an inner filter volume. Wherein, the pre-filter is configured to hold a partition wall (1310) in place within the inner filter volume to divide the inner filter volume into the first part and the second part (1230a, 1230b).

46. The heavy-duty dust removal device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of claims 41 to 44, Wherein, The pre-filter system (1230) includes two separate pre-filters constituting the first part and the second part (1230a, 1230b).

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