Modular bridge joint cleaning tool

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of analogical bridge expansion joint cleaning tools, technical scheme is as follows: including sundry collection flat shovel, the V-shaped cleaning shovel that sundry collection flat shovel front end lower part is provided with same to clean bridge expansion joint interior sundry, handle is installed at the rear end of sundry collection flat shovel, the integrated design of the V-shaped cleaning shovel and sundry collection flat shovel in the application, realize the direct cleaning and synchronous collection of sundry, effectively avoid the secondary cleaning demand and water stop rubber belt damage problem caused by traditional tool, with can clean and collect expansion joint interior sundry in one time, avoid secondary cleaning, reduce the damage to water stop rubber belt, improve cleaning efficiency, shorten road closure time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of expansion joint cleaning, specifically to a modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool. Background Technology

[0002] Over long-term use, bridge expansion joints tend to accumulate dirt, gravel, leaves, and other debris, affecting their normal function. Therefore, regular cleaning is crucial. Current cleaning methods primarily rely on traditional manual tools such as steel bars, hooks, and high-pressure water guns, which have the following drawbacks:

[0003] 1. During operation, the debris inside the expansion joint must be forcibly pried out first, and then a second cleaning must be carried out to deal with the residue scattered around. The whole process is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also significantly reduces work efficiency.

[0004] 2. Sharp tools and insufficient operating precision can easily scratch or puncture the key component of the expansion joint, the water-stop rubber strip, causing a decrease in waterproof performance, leading to subsequent problems such as water seepage and corrosion, and increasing maintenance costs.

[0005] 3. Cleaning operations are usually carried out on bridges that are open to traffic, requiring long-term traffic control to ensure safety. Traditional methods are too time-consuming, leading to extended road closures and serious disruption to vehicle traffic, especially during peak hours when congestion is likely to occur.

[0006] With the development of technology, high-pressure water guns clean debris from the gaps, but this causes debris to splash onto the ground, increasing the cleaning workload and easily damaging the rubber waterstop, wasting water resources. Another type of equipment, the serrated wheel brush, can sweep debris out of the gaps, but it cannot effectively collect scattered debris, requiring additional steps for secondary processing, which is very troublesome. Utility Model Content

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool.

[0008] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0009] This application provides a modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool, the technical solution of which is as follows: it includes a debris collection shovel, a V-shaped cleaning shovel for cleaning debris inside the bridge expansion joint is provided at the lower front end of the debris collection shovel, and a handle is installed at the rear end of the debris collection shovel.

[0010] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the V-shaped cleaning shovel and the debris collection flat shovel are integrally connected, with the front end of the V-shaped cleaning shovel having an opening and its rear end being connected to the debris collection flat shovel via a ramp.

[0011] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the V-shaped cleaning shovel includes two side shovel plates that are adapted to bridge expansion joints of different widths by means of two hinged connections, and connecting plates are hinged to the upper part of the two side shovel plates. The connecting plates are fixedly connected to the debris collection flat shovel by means of multiple fixing screws.

[0012] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the front end of the debris collection shovel has an installation groove for placing a V-shaped cleaning shovel, and multiple rows of connecting screw holes are spaced apart on both sides of the installation groove.

[0013] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the rear ends of the two side shovels are provided with staggered and overlapping baffles.

[0014] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the front end of the V-shaped cleaning shovel extends towards the front of the debris collection flat shovel and is inclined.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: The modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool provided in this application, through the integrated design of a V-shaped cleaning shovel and a debris collection flat shovel, realizes the direct cleaning and simultaneous collection of debris, effectively avoiding the secondary cleaning requirements and damage to the waterstop rubber strip caused by traditional tools. It can clean and collect debris inside the expansion joint in one go, avoid secondary cleaning, reduce damage to the waterstop rubber strip, improve cleaning efficiency, and shorten road closure time. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the practical usage status;

[0019] In the diagram: 1. Debris collection flat shovel; 2. Handle; 3. V-shaped cleaning shovel; 4. Side shovel plate; 5. Connecting plate; 6. Baffle; 7. Mounting groove; 8. Connecting screw hole; 9. Fixing screw; 10. Bridge expansion joint; 11. Water-stop rubber strip. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0021] like Figure 1 , 3 As shown, a modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool includes a debris collection shovel 1, a V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 for cleaning debris inside the bridge expansion joint 10 is provided at the lower front end of the debris collection shovel 1, and a handle 2 is installed at the rear end of the debris collection shovel 1.

[0022] The debris collection shovel 1 and the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 are connected or formed by welding or integral molding. The debris collection shovel 1 can be understood as a device for containing and transferring debris generated during the cleaning process. The V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 is designed to effectively embed itself inside the expansion joint to scrape away debris during the cleaning process. The handle 2, as an operating component, can be implemented in the form of a straight rod or a curved rod. Its main function is to provide the operator with a point of force to control the movement of the tool. Using the handle 2, maintenance workers can work standing up. The maintenance personnel can hold the handle 2 and push from one end of the bridge expansion joint 1 to the other, reducing the labor intensity of maintenance personnel, improving work efficiency, and avoiding damage to the rubber waterstop.

[0023] The innovation of this application lies in its integration of cleaning and collection functions, enabling the one-time removal of debris inside bridge expansion joints. Compared to existing technologies that require prior cleaning followed by secondary sweeping, this tool significantly reduces the number of steps and avoids direct contact between traditional tools and the waterproofing rubber strip, thus reducing the risk of damage. Furthermore, the optimized handle design improves operation, making tool movement more stable and further enhancing safety and efficiency.

[0024] Example 1: This application further proposes that the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 and the debris collection flat shovel 1 are integrally connected, with the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 having an opening at the front and its rear end being connected to the debris collection flat shovel 1 by a ramp.

[0025] Specifically, the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 refers to a cleaning tool with a specific geometric shape. It can be integrally made of metal with the debris collection shovel 1 or welded together, such as stainless steel or high-strength aluminum alloy, to ensure structural strength and durability. The open front section means that the front end of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 is not a closed structure, but forms an open channel. This allows debris to slide smoothly into the shovel during cleaning, avoiding jamming caused by a closed front section. The sloping connection means that the rear end of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 is connected to the debris collection shovel 1 via a sloping surface. This can be achieved through welding, bolting, or integral molding, aiming to reduce hard impact on the edges of the expansion joint and effectively prevent the water-stop rubber strip from being scratched or damaged.

[0026] Based on the overall structure of the aforementioned tools, the combination of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 and the debris collection flat shovel 1 forms a fully functional cleaning system. In practical applications, the operator can control the direction and force of the tool's movement via the handle 2, and quickly guide debris into the debris collection flat shovel 1 using the opening design of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3. Simultaneously, the sloping connection design ensures the smoothness and safety of the entire cleaning process. This structural improvement not only solves the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive traditional cleaning methods but also avoids potential damage to critical components of the bridge expansion joint 10, demonstrating the ingenuity of the tool design.

[0027] Example 2: Figure 2 As shown, another embodiment of this application proposes a V-shaped cleaning shovel 3, which includes two side shovel plates 4 that are adapted to bridge expansion joints 10 of different widths by two hinged connections. The upper part of the two side shovel plates 4 is hinged to a connecting plate 5, and the connecting plate 5 is fixedly connected to the debris collection flat shovel 1 by a plurality of fixing screws 9.

[0028] Specifically, the side shovel plate 4 refers to a shovel component whose angle can be adjusted according to the actual width of the bridge expansion joint 10. It can be made of metal sheet with a certain degree of elasticity and strength, aiming to achieve adaptive cleaning of expansion joints of different widths. The hinged connection is a movable connection method, which can be understood as achieving relative rotation between two components through a pin or similar structure, aiming to provide flexible angle adjustment. The connecting plate 5 refers to the intermediate component used to connect and support the side shovel plate 4, aiming to ensure the overall stability of the side shovel plate 4 during adjustment. The fixing screw 9 refers to the fastener used to fix the connecting plate 5 to the debris collection flat shovel 1.

[0029] In detail, this technical solution effectively solves the cleaning problem caused by changes in the width of expansion joints through an adjustable side shovel structure. The side shovel 4 is hinged to form a V-shaped structure. This design allows it to automatically adjust its angle according to the actual width of the expansion joint, ensuring a tight fit against the joint wall at different widths and preventing tearing or jamming of the rubber strip caused by forced insertion. The connecting plate 5 is hinged to the upper part of the side shovel 4, providing a stable support point for the entire V-shaped cleaning shovel 3, ensuring overall rigidity during width adjustment and preventing deformation or loosening due to uneven force during cleaning.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, another embodiment further proposes that the front end of the debris collection shovel 1 has an installation groove 7 for placing the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3, and multiple rows of connecting screw holes 8 are spaced apart on both sides of the installation groove 7.

[0031] Specifically, the mounting groove 7 refers to the recessed structure opened at the front end of the debris collection shovel 1. It can be implemented by using a rectangular groove adapted to the shape of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3. Its purpose is to provide a stable embedding space for the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 and prevent displacement or detachment due to external vibration during the cleaning process. The connecting screw holes 8 can be understood as multiple fixing holes distributed along both sides of the mounting groove 7. They can be implemented in the form of circular holes, elliptical holes, or polygonal holes. Their purpose is to provide multiple optional fixing positions, and to select different rows of screw holes to install the fixing screws 9 according to the actual expansion joint width, thereby precisely adjusting the hinge angle of the side shovel plate 4.

[0032] In detail, this technical solution achieves flexible installation and width adjustment of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 through the design of the mounting groove 7 and multiple rows of connecting screw holes 8. The mounting groove 7 allows the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 to be securely embedded, ensuring operational continuity and reducing accidental damage to the water-stop rubber strip. The multiple rows of connecting screw holes 8 provide multiple fixing point options. Depending on the actual width requirements of the bridge expansion joint 10, different screw hole arrangements can be selected for fixing, thereby changing the opening width of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3. This design not only improves the tool's adaptability to expansion joints of different widths but also enhances the stability of the overall structure. Furthermore, based on the above solution, when the side shovel plate 4 of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 is connected by a hinge, the cooperation between the mounting groove 7 and the connecting screw holes 8 further optimizes the adjustment flexibility of the side shovel plate 4, ensuring that the tool can quickly match expansion joints of various widths during the cleaning process, avoiding incomplete cleaning or the need for secondary operations due to width mismatch.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, this application further proposes that the rear ends of the two side shovels 4 are provided with staggered and overlapping baffles 6. The side shovels 4 are hinged connecting components used to clean debris inside the bridge expansion joint 10. They can be made of metal materials with certain strength and toughness to ensure structural stability while adapting to expansion joints of different widths. The baffles 6 can be understood as a blocking structure to prevent debris from leaking out from the gaps between the side shovels. They can be fixed to the rear ends of the side shovels 4 by welding or integral molding, etc., and their purpose is to effectively block the gaps at the hinges of the side shovels and prevent debris from scattering.

[0034] In detail, this solution creates a dynamically adjustable physical barrier by setting staggered and overlapping baffles 6 at the rear end of the side shovel plate 4. The staggered design of the baffles 6 ensures that the two baffles remain staggered during the opening and closing of the side shovel plate 4, while the overlapping portion ensures continuous coverage. This structure can automatically adapt to different opening and closing angles according to the hinged movement characteristics of the side shovel plate 4, thus ensuring tight sealing of the rear gap in any state. In addition, the design of the baffles 6 not only maintains the adaptability of the side shovel plate 4 to expansion joints of different widths, but also eliminates the problem of debris scattering caused by the hinged connection, significantly improving cleaning efficiency and reducing the need for secondary cleaning. Through the above technical solution, a one-time thorough cleaning of debris inside the bridge expansion joint 10 is achieved, optimizing the overall operation process.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, this application further proposes that the front end of the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 extends towards the front of the debris collection flat shovel 1 and is inclined.

[0036] The V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 is a key component used to clean debris inside the bridge expansion joint 10. The extended design aims to allow the V-shaped cleaning shovel 3 to penetrate deeper into the narrow bottom area of ​​the expansion joint, thereby reaching debris accumulation points that are difficult to cover with a traditional flat front end. The inclined angle ensures that during the tool's advancement, debris can naturally slide along the inclined surface into the receiving area of ​​the debris collection flat shovel 1, avoiding debris splashing and scattering caused by a vertical or gentle front end angle.

[0037] The aforementioned V-shaped cleaning shovel 3, with its extended and inclined front end, together with the debris collection flat shovel 1, side shovel plate 4, and other components, constitutes a complete cleaning system. This system not only improves cleaning efficiency but also ensures the protection of the expansion joint structure.

[0038] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool, characterized in that: It includes a debris collection shovel (1), the lower front end of which is provided with a V-shaped cleaning shovel (3) for cleaning debris inside the bridge expansion joint (10), and the rear end of the debris collection shovel (1) is equipped with a handle (2).

2. The modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: The V-shaped cleaning shovel (3) is integrally connected to the debris collection flat shovel (1). The V-shaped cleaning shovel (3) has an opening at the front and its rear end is connected to the debris collection flat shovel (1) by a ramp.

3. The modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool according to claim 2, characterized in that: The V-shaped cleaning shovel (3) includes two side shovel plates (4) that are adapted to bridge expansion joints (10) of different widths by two hinged connections. The upper part of the two side shovel plates (4) is hinged with a connecting plate (5). The connecting plate (5) is fixedly connected to the debris collection flat shovel (1) by multiple fixing screws (9).

4. The modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool according to claim 3, characterized in that: The front end of the debris collection shovel (1) has an installation groove (7) for placing a V-shaped cleaning shovel (3), and multiple rows of connecting screw holes (8) are spaced apart on both sides of the installation groove (7).

5. A modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two side shovels (4) are provided with staggered and overlapping baffles (6) at their rear ends.

6. A modular bridge expansion joint cleaning tool according to claim 4, characterized in that: The front end of the V-shaped cleaning shovel (3) extends towards the front of the debris collection shovel (1) and is set at an angle.

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