Vehicle for cleaning road surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) for cleaning road surfaces, of the type comprising a driver's cab (2) and a waste collection bin (3) supported by a chassis (4) mounted on wheels (5), the waste collection bin (3) having a waste inlet (10) and an air outlet (11) and housing a suction turbine (8) adapted to circulate an airflow (9) between the waste inlet (10) and the air outlet (11), the suction turbine (8) being driven by an electric motor and a filter grid (12) being disposed upstream of the suction turbine (8) on the path taken by the airflow (9) between the waste inlet (10) and the air outlet (11). The vehicle (1) is characterized in that it includes means for detecting the degree of clogging of the filter grid (12) and means for automatically unclogging the filter grid (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle for cleaning urban areas such as roads, sidewalks, parking lots, even public gardens, etc.

[0002] Typically, such a vehicle comprises a driver's cab and a waste collection bin supported by a chassis mounted on wheels. It is also equipped with a brush assembly mounted at the front of the driver's cab, as well as a suction turbine housed in the bin and connected to a duct opening under the chassis, above the surface to be cleaned.

[0003] Thus, in practice, as the cleaning vehicle moves, the waste is lifted by the brush assembly and then sucked into the bin through the duct. In short, according to a known phenomenon, the depression generated inside the bin by the suction turbine creates an air flow, which circulates from the surface to be cleaned towards the internal volume of the bin, and carries with it the materials to be collected lifted by the brushes.

[0004] A filtration grid, placed in the bin, upstream of the suction turbine, also helps to protect it from the untimely introduction of solid particles, and therefore contributes to its proper functioning. In other words, as waste is collected and the vehicle is used, this filtration grid retains a certain number of particles. In doing so, as is known, it naturally ends up clogging and blocking, causing a gradual reduction in suction efficiency.

[0005] However, it has been observed that in order to compensate for this phenomenon, the driver of the vehicle gradually increases the suction power, until the end of his intervention and the vehicle stops. Obviously, this way of proceeding is the cause of excess energy consumption, which is detrimental both in terms of costs and environmental impact.

[0006] To the applicant's knowledge, no effective solution to overcome this problem has been proposed to date. In particular, no system for detecting the degree of clogging of the filtration grids of a road cleaning vehicle currently exists. Thus, the sensors with which certain machines are equipped to measure the vacuum inside the bins only provide an approximate indication of the level of clogging of the suction grids, but are not reliable due to their own progressive obstruction by waste. This lack of reliability makes the reading for the user inaccurate and therefore unusable. Furthermore, at present, no automatic unclogging solution is provided, so that drivers of road cleaning vehicles are forced to clean the filtration grids themselves, manually, during or at the end of the journey.However, this approach is tedious and time-consuming, especially since the particles tend to stick to the grid and are often difficult to dislodge. As a result, many vehicle drivers are reluctant to implement it and tend to postpone it until a later date, thereby prolonging the period of excess energy consumption. In the worst case, they may also abandon it altogether, thereby risking causing the engine to overheat unexpectedly.

[0007] In addition, the sometimes significant water consumption required for manual cleaning not only increases the financial cost of the cleaning operation, but is also harmful to environmental resources.

[0008] DE 10 2005 036807 A1 discloses a vehicle for cleaning urban areas with a filter cleaning device.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to overcome all of the drawbacks mentioned above and to provide a solution enabling a driver of a road cleaning vehicle to have both reliable information regarding the degree of clogging of the filtration grid of the waste collection bin and means for automatically cleaning it, at a time deemed appropriate by the driver or as soon as a certain clogging threshold has been detected.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle for cleaning road surfaces, of the type comprising a driver's cab and a waste collection bin supported by a chassis mounted on wheels, the waste collection bin having a waste inlet and an air outlet and housing a suction turbine adapted to circulate an air flow between the waste inlet and the air outlet, the suction turbine being driven by an electric motor and at least one filtration grid being arranged upstream of the suction turbine on the path traveled by the air flow between the waste inlet and the air outlet, said vehicle being characterized in that it comprises means for detecting the degree of clogging of the filtration grid and means for automatically unclogging the filtration grid.According to claim 1, the vehicle according to the invention comprises means for supplying the electric motor driving the suction turbine with a constant electric current while the means for detecting the degree of clogging of the filtration grid are defined by means for measuring the rotation speed of the electric motor driving the suction turbine.

[0011] A characteristic of the vehicle according to the invention consists in that it is equipped with visual indication means and / or audible indication means of the degree of clogging of the filtration grid integrated into the driver's cab.

[0012] Furthermore, within the framework of the present invention it has also been provided that the means for automatically unclogging the filtration grid preferably comprise means for redirecting the air flow.

[0013] In this case, the waste collection bin may advantageously comprise a compartment for storing the waste, incorporating the waste inlet, and a compartment for housing the suction turbine incorporating the air discharge orifice, said compartments being delimited by a partition wall comprising a first opening allowing the passage of air arriving from the waste inlet through the filtration grid and a second opening, said compartment for housing the suction turbine further comprising a flap adapted to adopt a waste collection position in which it closes the second opening and a position for unclogging the filtration grid in which it closes the air discharge orifice.

[0014] According to a possible alternative embodiment, said second opening can extend opposite the air outlet orifice while the shutter can be pivotally mounted between its two positions on the partition wall.

[0015] According to another characteristic of the vehicle according to the invention, the tilting of the shutter between its two positions can be actuated by means of a jack.

[0016] In this case, the vehicle according to the invention may include means for automatic control of the jack.

[0017] An additional feature is defined by the fact that the automatic control means of the jack can be controlled by the means for measuring the rotation speed of the electric motor driving the suction turbine.

[0018] The automatic jack control means may also include a button integrated into the cockpit.

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, which relates to a particular example of embodiment of a vehicle for cleaning road surfaces according to the invention, which should not however be considered as limiting the invention.

[0020] Understanding this description will be facilitated by referring to the following figures: [ Fig.1 ] is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle for cleaning road surfaces according to the invention, [ Fig.2 ] is a sectional view of a waste collection bin of the cleaning vehicle of the figure 1 , in a waste suction mode, Fig.3 ] represents a sectional view of the waste collection bin of the figure 2 , in an automatic cleaning mode of the filtration grid with which it is equipped.

[0021] In reference to the figure 1 , the vehicle 1 for cleaning road surfaces according to the invention conventionally comprises a driver's cab 2 and a waste collection bin 3 both supported by a chassis 4 mounted on wheels 5. It is also equipped with a sweeping assembly 6, extending under the chassis 4, at the front of the driver's cab 2, and comprising several rotating brushes 7 whose movement makes it possible, as the vehicle 1 advances, to lift all the dirt encountered. The latter are sucked concomitantly towards the waste collection bin 3 through a suction turbine 8 with which the latter is equipped.

[0022] Conventionally, the suction turbine 8 is driven in rotation about an axis X by an electric motor, and adapted to circulate an air flow 9 between a waste inlet mouth 10 of the bin 3 and an air discharge orifice 11. In the illustrated embodiment variant, the air inlet mouth 10 is made in the bottom 30 of the bin 3 and is extended by a conduit (not illustrated) provided with a nozzle opening in the vicinity of the sweeping assembly 6, and consequently of the surface to be cleaned. The air discharge orifice 11 is formed on an upper face 31 of the peripheral wall of the bin 3.

[0023] On the other hand, a filtration grid 12, arranged upstream of the suction turbine 8 on the path traveled by the air flow 9 between the waste inlet mouth 10 and the air outlet orifice 11, makes it possible to keep the dirt in the lower part of the bin 3 and to prevent it from being introduced into the suction turbine 8. Thus, the air flow 9 passing through the bin 3 between its waste inlet mouth 10 and its air outlet orifice 11 consists of a part 13 loaded with dirt and a purified part 14 rejected by the outlet orifice 11 itself provided with an additional filtration grid 15. Conventionally, during the cleaning operation, and as described previously, solid particles entrained by the air flow 9 are deposited at the bottom of the bucket 3, while other dirt is gradually deposited on the upstream face 33 of the filtration grid 12 directed towards the bottom 30 of the bucket 3.

[0024] In accordance with the invention, the vehicle 1 for cleaning road surfaces also comprises means for detecting the degree of clogging of the filtration grid 12 as well as means designed to carry out automatic unclogging of the latter.

[0025] For this purpose, the vehicle 1 comprises means for supplying the electric motor driving the turbine 8 with a constant electric current as well as means for measuring its rotation speed during the cleaning operation of a surface, and consequently the suction of the dirt.

[0026] In short, thanks to such a characteristic, any clogging of the filtration grid 12 can be quickly detected to the extent that any increase in the rotation speed of the turbine 8 is directly correlated to this phenomenon.

[0027] In the context of the invention, it has further been provided that the information relating to the degree of clogging of the filtration grid is provided to the driver of the road cleaning vehicle 1 through visual indication means and / or audible indication means integrated into the driver's cab. The latter may for example consist of a visual strip arranged on the dashboard of the driver's cab, previously calibrated on a typical clogging, and comprising three areas, respectively green, orange and red, along which a movable cursor moves as the rotation speed of the suction turbine 8 increases and consequently as the degree of clogging of the filtration grid 12 increases. In short, when the cursor is placed in the green area, the suction power is maximum, the filtration grid 12 is clean.The arrival of the cursor in the orange range signals to the driver that the filtration grid 12 is beginning to clog and that to compensate for the drop in suction power the rotation speed of the turbine 8 is increasing. In order to avoid this phenomenon, he can intervene now or wait until the cursor reaches the red range indicating an even higher level of clogging of the filtration grid 12.

[0028] With this indication, and thanks to an additional characteristic of the invention, the driver can then manually activate, for example through a control button also integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle 1, means for automatically unclogging the filtration grid 12. According to an alternative that can also be envisaged, the vehicle 1 can be equipped with means for automatically activating the automatic unclogging means, requiring no human intervention and thus making it possible to carry out this operation without the driver's knowledge. Of course, the vehicle 1 can also include both manual activation means and automatic activation means for the automatic unclogging means.

[0029] Within the framework of the invention, it has been provided that the latter comprise means for redirecting the air flow 9 circulating through the collection bin 3 from its inlet mouth 10.

[0030] In fact, in reference to the figures 2 et 3 , the waste collection bin 3 comprises a compartment 16 for storing the waste, incorporating the waste inlet mouth 10, as well as a compartment 17 for housing the suction turbine 8 incorporating the air discharge orifice 11. These two compartments 16, 17 are delimited by a separating partition 18. This has a first opening 19 allowing the passage of air, arriving from the waste inlet mouth 10 through the filtration grid 12, in the direction of the suction turbine 8. It also has a second opening 20 which here extends both opposite the air evacuation orifice 11 of the waste collection bin 3 and opposite the filtration grid 12. In the illustrated embodiment variant, the latter is supported by a partition 32 extending parallel to the bottom 30, between the bottom 30 and the separating partition 18.

[0031] It should also be noted that the compartment 17 for housing the turbine 8 comprises a flap 21 pivotally mounted on the partition wall 18 between a position in which it closes the second opening 20 and a position in which it closes the air evacuation orifice 11 of the bucket 3.

[0032] As visible at the figure 2 , when the flap 21 is placed in its position in which it closes the second opening 20 of the partition wall 18, the air flow 9 is evacuated through the air evacuation orifice 11 by passing through the filtration grid 15 with which it is equipped. The system then operates in “suction” mode for waste only.

[0033] Furthermore, with reference to the figure 3, when the flap 21 is placed in its position in which it closes the air evacuation orifice 11 of the bucket 3, the air which has entered the compartment 17 housing the turbine 8 can no longer escape through the air evacuation orifice 11 and is redirected towards the waste storage compartment 16 of the bucket by passing through the second opening 20 of the separating partition 18. In doing so, it also circulates through the filtration grid 12, in the opposite direction this time, which makes it possible to dislodge the particles deposited on the upstream face 33 thereof.

[0034] The tilting of the shutter 21 between its two positions is preferably actuated by means of a jack (not shown), over a short cycle of the order of a few tens of seconds, for example 20 seconds.

[0035] The jack can be operated manually by the driver of the vehicle 1, acting for example on a control button provided on his dashboard when he notices, by means of the visual indicator strip also integrated into the dashboard, that the filtration grid 12 is blocked or at least that unclogging is necessary.

[0036] Alternatively, the cylinder can be actuated automatically by electronic activation means triggered automatically from a certain clogging threshold. In this case, the automatic control means of the cylinder are advantageously controlled by the means for measuring the rotation speed of the electric motor driving the turbine and cause the filtration grid 12 to be unclogged independently of any risk of excessively long waiting, or even forgetfulness on the part of the driver.

[0037] As is apparent from the above, the invention makes it possible to provide a driver of a vehicle 1 for cleaning road surfaces with a system for cleaning the grilles by reverse air flow, which can be controlled from the dashboard and can be implemented both during and at the end of a cleaning operation.

[0038] By providing clear information to the driver on the clogging status of the suction grille 12, the driver can therefore easily, by means of a control system accessible from the driver's cabin 2, keep the grille clean. The vehicle 1 will thus be able to provide optimum suction for a low level of energy consumption, leading to a positive impact on the autonomy of the vehicle's batteries and on the environment.

[0039] Finally, cleaning the suction grille 12 is always a tedious task for drivers and the fact that this function can be made automatic and activated from the cockpit is a strong selling point.

[0040] It is also advantageously provided that all the measurements necessary for monitoring the evolution of the level of clogging of the suction grid 12 and their processing will be done through the computer system of the vehicle 1.

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) for cleaning road surfaces, of the type comprising a driver's cab (2) and a waste collection skip (3) supported by a chassis (4) mounted on wheels (5), the waste collection skip (3) having a waste inlet mouth (10) and an air discharge port (11) and housing a suction turbine (8) suitable for circulating an air flow (9) between the waste inlet mouth (10) and the air discharge port (11), the suction turbine (8) being driven by an electric motor and at least one filter grid (12) being arranged upstream of the suction turbine (8) on the path traveled by the air flow (9) between the waste inlet mouth (10) and the air outlet port (11), said vehicle (1) being characterized in that it comprises means for detecting the degree of clogging of the filter grid (12) and means for automatically unclogging the filter grid (12), characterized in that it comprises means for supplying the electric motor driving the suction turbine (8) with a constant electric current, and in that the means for detecting the degree of clogging of the filter grid (12) are defined by means for measuring the speed of rotation of the electric motor driving the suction turbine (8).

2. Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with means for visually indicating and / or means for audibly indicating the degree of clogging of the filter grid (12), which means are incorporated into the driver's cab (2).

3. Vehicle (1) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for automatically unclogging the filter grid (12) comprise means for redirecting the air flow (9).

4. Vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the waste collection skip (3) comprises a compartment (16) for storing waste incorporating the waste inlet mouth (10) and a compartment (17) for housing the suction turbine (8) incorporating the air discharge port (11), said compartments (16, 17) being delimited by a partition wall (18) comprising a first opening (19) allowing air arriving from the waste inlet mouth (10) to pass through the filter grid (12) and a second opening (20), said compartment (16) for housing the suction turbine (12) further comprising a flap (21) suitable for adopting a waste collection position in which it seals the second opening (20) and a filter grid (12) unclogging position in which it seals the air discharge port (11).

5. Vehicle (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said second opening (20) extends opposite the air discharge port (11) while the flap (21) is pivotally mounted between its two positions on the partition wall (18).

6. Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that tilting of the flap (21) between its two positions is actuated by means of a cylinder.

7. Vehicle (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means for automatically controlling the cylinder.

8. Vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for automatically controlling the cylinder are servo-controlled by the means for measuring the speed of rotation of the electric motor driving the suction turbine (8).

9. Vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for automatically controlling the cylinder comprise a button incorporated into the driver's cab (2).

Images