ON-BOARD CLEANING DEVICE FOR WASTE CONTAINERS

Abstract

On-board waste container cleaning device. The present invention relates to a cleaning device (1) for at least one waste container, said cleaning device (1) being mounted in a rear compartment (9) of a light commercial vehicle (10) and notable in that it comprises at least: - a washing chamber (14) disposed in and at the rear of the rear compartment (9) and having an opening (15) allowing the introduction or removal of at least one waste container into said washing chamber (14), - loading means allowing the loading / unloading of the container (2) at least partially inside said washing chamber (14), - washing means (17) installed at least partially in the washing chamber (14) for directing a pressurized liquid inside the container in the "washing" position, and - an electrical power source. [Fig 1]

Description

Title of the invention: ON-BOARD CLEANING DEVICE FOR WASTE CONTAINERS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of cleaning waste containers of the wheeled bin type. More specifically, it aims at a waste container cleaning device mounted on a light utility vehicle to allow for rapid intervention outdoors, particularly in urban areas with traffic lanes of varying widths. State of the art

[0002] Numerous devices for cleaning waste containers are already known. The vast majority of these cleaning devices are installed either permanently in warehouses specializing in container cleaning or, more often, on the trailer or chassis of a heavy goods vehicle, i.e., a road vehicle with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes. In the latter case, known cleaning devices typically include at least: - a washing chamber equipped with an opening for the admission of at least one waste container, - loading means for bringing said waste container into a washing position inside said washing enclosure through said opening and removing it after the washing operations, and - washing means and comprising at least one washing head having at least one pressurized water projection nozzle and means of movement capable of automatically moving said washing head inside the waste container, and comprising an automatic control unit to automatically move the washing head according to at least one predetermined washing cycle.

[0003] Furthermore, the cleaning devices also include a clean liquid reservoir connected to said washing head to clean the inside of said waste container and a used liquid reservoir connected to said washing enclosure to collect the dirty liquid and waste residues resulting from the washing operation.

[0004] To provide the electrical energy necessary for their operation, these known cleaning devices further include a generator set associated with a fuel tank.

[0005] These known cleaning devices certainly allow for the effective cleaning of waste containers, but nevertheless present a number of These are major drawbacks. It is clear that, given their design, these known cleaning devices are very bulky and therefore require the use of a heavy goods vehicle. Similarly, it is clear that the size of this type of vehicle can make maneuvering in urban areas difficult or even impossible, resulting in the inability to access waste containers located in densely populated urban areas with narrow roads.

[0006] Furthermore, it is understood that once the waste fluid tank is completely full, these cleaning devices can no longer operate, and the associated transport vehicle must return to a warehouse to empty the waste fluid tank in an environmentally sound manner and refill the clean fluid tank. Indeed, these known cleaning devices operate on a one-time use wash water system; that is, the fluid from the clean fluid tank is used only once and, after washing, sent to the waste fluid tank.To reduce the number of trips to the warehouse and limit time losses and productivity drops, this configuration requires a large liquid storage capacity and two tanks (one for clean liquid and one for used liquids) of identical capacity, resulting in a significant size and weight on board incompatible with the use of a transport vehicle other than a heavy goods vehicle.

[0007] Finally, these known cleaning devices do not have a satisfactory environmental impact, because fluid consumption is high, the reprocessing of used fluids is significant, and CO2 production from the heavy-duty vehicle's internal combustion engine is also high. Summary of the invention

[0008] The aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose an improvement of known waste container cleaning devices suitable for use in a light utility vehicle, said device being easy to implement on an intervention site, reliable and easy to maintain, allowing high productivity, having a weight, size and noise level compatible with the type of light utility vehicle and the standards and regulations in force, and presenting a satisfactory energy and ecological balance.

[0009] In accordance with the invention, a device for cleaning at least one waste container is therefore proposed, comprising a bin having an opening in its upper part surrounded by a collar, said cleaning device being mounted in a rear compartment of a light commercial vehicle and remarkable in that it comprises at least: - a wash bay located in and at the rear of the rear compartment, with an opening facing the rear of the vehicle and allowing the introduction or removal of the waste container into said wash bay, - loading means installed in said wash enclosure and along the lower edge of said opening, and allowing the container to be loaded at least partially inside said wash enclosure and from a "use" position in which its tray is in a lowered position outside the wash enclosure and its opening is horizontal and oriented upwards, to a "wash" position in which its tray is in a raised position and partially inside the wash enclosure and its opening is inclined and oriented downwards and towards the front of the vehicle, and the unloading of the container in a reciprocal movement, - washing means installed at least partially within the washing enclosure to direct a pressurized liquid inside the container in the "washing" position against the internal faces of its tank, and

[0010] - an electrical power source for the operation of the cleaning device.

[0011] The electrical energy source is advantageously an electric current generator located at the chassis of said vehicle under the floor of its rear compartment and coupled to the vehicle's engine.

[0012] Advantageously, the washing enclosure comprises a floor, a ceiling, two generally vertical side walls and a front wall, said side and front walls connecting said floor and ceiling, said opening being delimited by the rear edges of the floor, ceiling and side walls, the ceiling and the front wall being advantageously inclined respectively downwards and towards the front of the vehicle, and downwards and towards the rear of the vehicle so as to guide the residual liquid generated by washing the container towards the floor of the washing enclosure.

[0013] The filtration means are advantageously combined with a screen disposed in a floor recovery tray and acting as a pre-filter by retaining the largest waste contained in the residual liquid.

[0014] The washing means preferably include at least one washing head equipped with at least one nozzle for projecting a pressurized washing liquid mounted at the end of a lance passing through the front wall of the washing enclosure and being connected to a high-pressure motor-pump unit allowing the washing liquid to be conveyed from a reservoir to the nozzle by compressing it to a determined pressure, the residual liquid generated by washing the container then being conveyed from the floor of the washing enclosure to the filtration means of said reservoir.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, each nozzle is rotatable and each lance is translationally movable, by means of a translational actuator, along its longitudinal axis relative to the front wall of the washing chamber so as to move the associated nozzle more or less inside the container, when the latter is in the "wash" position.

[0016] Advantageously, the filtration means are arranged in an orifice provided on said tank, these filtration means comprise a pre-filter consisting of a perforated cylinder having an open upper end fitted with an external flange and a closed lower end, and a filter bag having an open upper end fitted with an external flange, said filter bag being arranged around the pre-filter and the filter bag-pre-filter assembly being inserted into said orifice so that the external flange of the filter bag is compressed between the face of the tank and the external flange of the pre-filter.

[0017] The washing means advantageously comprise a manual high-pressure cleaning device connected to the high-pressure motor pump unit to allow an operator to clean the outside of the container when the latter is in its "washing" position.

[0018] Advantageously, the loading means are configured to hook at least one container in its "use" position by its collar, move it vertically upwards parallel to itself while locking its hook, then rotate it around a first horizontal axis of rotation parallel to the lower rear edge of the washing enclosure inside the washing enclosure until it reaches its "wash" position, and, once the washing is complete, rotate it around said first axis of rotation in the opposite direction, then move it vertically downwards parallel to itself while unlocking its hook until it reaches its "use" position.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the loading means comprise at least: - a rotary actuator attached to a base fixed to the floor of the washing chamber and capable of rotating, around said first axis of rotation, a first shaft extending on either side of said rotary actuator, - two first arms parallel to each other and fixed at one of their ends to said first shaft on either side of said rotary actuator, - two initial support plates mounted pivotally on the first shaft and positioned on either side of said first arms, - a second shaft being fixed to the free ends of the first two arms and extending parallel to said first shaft and advantageously beyond said first two arms, - two second arms parallel to each other and fixed at one of their ends to said second tree, said second arms extending in the same direction and parallel to said first arms, - a third shaft mounted pivoting on the free ends of the two second arms around a second horizontal axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, - at least one claw fixed on said third shaft and configured to cooperate with one of the edges of the collar of the container tray to hook the latter onto the loading means, - an apron fixed to said third tree and suitable for receiving the face of the perimeter wall of the container adjacent to the edge of the collar cooperating with said claw, when the container is attached to the loading means, - two second support plates, each fixed to the said third shaft between one of the second arms and the deck, and extending in a direction opposite to that of the latter, - two transfer plates, each fixed to the said third shaft between the second support plates and extending in a direction generally opposite to that of the said deck, - a fourth shaft mounted pivoting on the free ends of the two support plates around a third horizontal axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, said fourth shaft receiving a plurality of locking lugs adapted to come into contact with the edge of the collar cooperating with said claw when the container is hooked onto the loading means, in order to keep the container hooked, - two kinematic linkage members allowing the third and fourth shafts to be kinematically connected to each other, and - two connecting rods each being mounted pivotally, on one hand, at one of its ends on the free end of one of the return plates around a fourth horizontal axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation and, on the other hand, at the other of its ends on the free end of one of the first support plates around a fifth horizontal axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation.

[0020] The loading means are preferably shaped so that the projections of the first, second, fourth and fifth axes of rotation onto the sagittal plane of symmetry of said loading means determine the vertices of a deformable parallelogram.

[0021] The loading means preferably comprise two claws fixed on and along said third shaft.

[0022] Advantageously, the two connecting rods are adjustable in length.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment, the translational and rotary actuators are of the hydraulic cylinder type connected to a hydraulic unit.

[0024] Advantageously, said hydraulic unit comprises an electric motor powered by the generator, a pump coupled to said electric motor, an oil reservoir, a hydraulic distribution assembly to supply said actuators, at least one filter and a pressure limiter. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0026] [Fig. 1] is an external perspective view of a light utility vehicle in which a waste container cleaning device according to the invention is mounted,

[0027] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of the cleaning device of the [Fig. 1] from a second viewing angle,

[0028] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the cleaning device of [Fig.1] from a second viewpoint,

[0029] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the cleaning device of [Fig.1] from a third viewpoint,

[0030] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the collection tray and screen assembly of the cleaning device of the [Fig.1],

[0031] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the loading means of the cleaning device according to the invention,

[0032] [Fig.7] is a side view of the loading means of [Fig.5] during the first phase of loading a waste container,

[0033] [Fig. 8] is a side view of the loading means of the cleaning device according to the invention during the final phase of loading a waste container. Description of embodiments

[0034] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention relates to a device for cleaning 1 waste containers 2, of the household waste type, placed for example on the edge of a traffic lane. Said containers 2 comprise a bin 3, advantageously wheeled, of overall parallelepiped shape having a base 4, a perimeter wall 5 extending from the edges of said base 4 and forming in its upper part an opening 6 encircled by a collar 7 and closed, optionally and in a conventional manner, by a lid 8 pivotally mounted on one of the edges of said collar 7 and being adapted to close said opening 6 (See Figures 7 and 8).Said cleaning device 1 is designed to be carried in the rear compartment 9 of a vehicle 10 shown in part and being of the light commercial vehicle type, i.e. a vehicle whose maximum authorized mass does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and which can be driven by any holder of a simple category B licence (for France) or similar.

[0035] Here, "front" means any element or part of an element located on the front side of the vehicle 10 and "rear" means any element or part of an element located on the rear side of said vehicle 10.

[0036] It goes without saying that said cleaning device 1 can be installed on other types of vehicles, particularly heavy goods vehicles or trailers intended to be towed, without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the use of a light commercial vehicle 10 allows for easy movement in urban areas, particularly those with narrow or wide roads, and consequently, enables the cleaning of waste containers 2 scattered throughout the urban area. Similarly, the use of a light commercial vehicle 10, thanks to its fully or almost fully enclosed rear compartment 9, provides complete enclosure, and therefore mechanical protection and acoustic insulation, for the entire cleaning device 1 according to the invention.

[0037] To provide the electrical energy necessary for its operation, the cleaning device 1 includes an electrical energy source, advantageously an electric current generator 11 located at the chassis of said vehicle 10 under the floor of its rear compartment 9, so as to leave all the usable space of said rear compartment 9, with the exception of an electrical control cabinet 12, for the installation of said cleaning device 1. This generator 11 is coupled to the engine, conventionally a thermal engine, of the vehicle 10, the latter being advantageously of the propulsion type and said generator 11 being then coupled to the power take-off of the gearbox of said thermal engine.

[0038] It is clear that, to supply electricity to the cleaning device 1 according to the invention, the generator 11 thus configured avoids the use of a generator set, which has two major drawbacks: its specific maintenance and its size. Furthermore, leaving the internal combustion engine of the vehicle 10 running for the entire duration of use of said cleaning device 1 does not represent an increased environmental risk. Indeed, the anti-pollution standards in force for internal combustion engines of a light commercial vehicle are more stringent than those for generator sets.

[0039] It is understood that, for reasons of electrical power, it is advantageous, due to the presence of a power take-off (PTO), to connect the generator 11 to a rear-wheel-drive vehicle 10. However, it will also be possible to connect said generator 11 to a front-wheel-drive vehicle without departing from the scope of the present invention. In this case, the generator 11 will need to be coupled to the power take-off of the internal combustion engine of said front-wheel-drive vehicle by means of a pulley and belt system or similar.

[0040] However, the electrical energy source may be of a completely different type than that described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, if the vehicle 10 were equipped with an electric motor or a hybrid powertrain, it is clear that the electrical energy source could be, for example, an electric battery. In an extreme and uninteresting configuration, the The electrical power source may also be an external power source connected to said cleaning device 1 by a suitable electrical cable and being such as, for example, a generator or a power outlet.

[0041] With reference to Figures 2 to 4, the cleaning device 1 further comprises a first frame 13 supporting at least: - a wash enclosure 14 located at the rear of the rear compartment 9 and having an opening 15 oriented towards the rear of the vehicle 10 and allowing the introduction or removal of at least one waste container 2 into said wash enclosure 14, advantageously on the floor thereof, - loading means 16 installed in said wash enclosure 14 and along the lower edge of said opening 15, and allowing the container 2 to be loaded at least partially inside said wash enclosure 14 and from a "use" position in which its tray 3 is in a lowered position (said tray 3 being then placed on or near the ground) outside the wash enclosure 14 and its opening 6 is horizontal and oriented upwards, to a "wash" position in which its tray 3 is in a raised position and partially inside the wash enclosure 14 and its opening 6 is inclined and oriented downwards and towards the front of the vehicle 10, and the unloading of the container 2 in a reciprocal movement, and - washing means 17 installed at least partly in the washing enclosure 14 to project a pressurized liquid inside the container 2 in the "washing" position against the internal faces of its tank 3.

[0042] The wash enclosure 14 comprises a floor 18, a ceiling 19, two generally vertical side walls 20, and a front wall 21. The side walls 20 and front wall 21 connect the floor 18 and ceiling 19. The opening 15 is delimited by the rear edges of the floor 18, ceiling 19, and side walls 20. The front wall 21 supports the control cabinet 11, which is associated with the generator 11. The ceiling 18 and the front wall 21 are advantageously inclined, respectively, downwards and towards the front of the vehicle 10, and downwards and towards the rear of the vehicle 10, so as to guide the residual liquid generated by washing the container 2 towards the floor 18 of the wash enclosure 14. The residual liquid consists of the liquid projected by the washing means 17 against the inner faces of the tray 3 of the container 2 in position "washing" and exiting from the latter with the residues contained in said bin 3 before washing.The said floor 18 advantageously includes a collection tray 22 open at the top and whose bottom is inclined towards the rear of the vehicle 10.

[0043] The cleaning device 1 includes a screen disposed in the recovery tank 22 and acting as a primary pre-filter by retaining the largest waste contained in the residual liquid so as to prevent said waste from being carried towards the other elements of the cleaning device 1 and compromise their proper functioning. Referring to [Fig. 5], the screen comprises a perforated plate 23A covering the upper part of the collection bin 22 and a grid 23B fixed to the bottom of said collection bin 22 and shaped to retain solid waste. Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment, the screen is associated with a filter box 23C to filter the remaining solid particles.

[0044] The washing means 17 advantageously comprise at least one washing head equipped with at least one nozzle 24 for projecting a pressurized washing liquid mounted at the end of a lance 25 passing through the front wall 21 of the washing enclosure 14 and being connected to a high-pressure motor-pump unit 26, advantageously electric, powered by the electrical energy source and enabling the washing liquid to be conveyed from a reservoir 27, of generally parallelepiped shape, to the nozzle 24 by compressing it to a predetermined pressure, the residual liquid generated by the washing of the container 2 then being conveyed, for example by a drain pump, not shown, from the floor 18 of the washing enclosure 14 to the filtration means of said reservoir 27.The tank 27 is advantageously mounted on a second frame 28 positioned at the front of the rear compartment 9 of the vehicle 10 for improved load distribution within said rear compartment 9. Furthermore, each nozzle 24 is preferably rotating, in order to direct the pressurized liquid onto all internal surfaces of the tank 3 of the container 2 and thus obtain homogeneous cleaning. According to the embodiment shown, the washing means 17 advantageously comprise two washing heads. The high-pressure pump unit 26 is advantageously positioned on the first frame 13 in front of the washing enclosure 14.

[0045] Furthermore, said high-pressure motor-pump unit 26 is associated with a hydraulic unit 29 for supplying a fluid, advantageously oil, at a predetermined flow rate and pressure to a plurality of actuators described later. Said hydraulic unit 29 is also arranged on the first frame 13 in front of the washing enclosure 14 and comprises, in a conventional manner, an electric motor powered by the generator 11, a pump coupled to said electric motor, an oil reservoir, a hydraulic distribution assembly for supplying said actuators, at least one filter, and a pressure relief valve.

[0046] Each lance 25 is movable in translation along its longitudinal axis relative to the front wall 21 of the washing enclosure 14 so as to move the corresponding nozzle 24 more or less inside the container 2, when the latter is in the "washing" position. For this purpose, each lance 25 is attached to a translational actuator 30 attached to the first frame 13 in front of the washing enclosure 14, said translational actuator 30 advantageously being of the hydraulic cylinder type connected to said hydraulic unit 29.

[0047] Furthermore, depending on the state of soiling of container 2 to be cleaned, the operator will be able to select a washing time adapted to said state of soiling.

[0048] The washing means 17 are associated with filtration means for filtering the residual liquid generated by washing the container 2. Said filtration means advantageously comprise several filtration stages allowing for particle retention.

[0049] Thus, according to an advantageous embodiment, these filtration means, which are disposed in an orifice 31 formed on one face of said reservoir 27, advantageously its upper face, comprise a pre-filter 32 consisting of a perforated cylinder having an open upper end fitted with an external flange and a closed lower end, and at least one filter bag 33 having an open upper end fitted with an external flange. The filter bag 33 is disposed around the pre-filter 32, and the filter bag 33 - pre-filter 32 assembly is inserted into said orifice 31 such that the external flange of the filter bag 33 is compressed between the upper face of the reservoir 27 and the external flange of the pre-filter 32.

[0050] It is clear that the filtration means, advantageously combined with the screen located in the recovery tank 22 of the washing unit 4, make it possible to reduce the size of the washing means 17 and therefore of the cleaning device 1, since they allow the recycling of the liquid used for cleaning the containers 3 and consequently avoid the use of two tanks, one for the clean liquid and another for the residual liquid. Furthermore, by recycling the liquid used for cleaning the containers 3 through the filtration of the residual liquid, an operator can easily use the cleaning device 1 with a 500-liter tank 27 for half a workday, thus increasing their productivity.

[0051] It is understood that the means of filtration may be of a completely different type such as, for example, physico-chemical filtration or even electrical filtration, without going out of the scope of the present invention.

[0052] With reference to [Fig. 6], as described above, the cleaning device 1 further comprises loading means 16 comprising at least: - a rotary actuator 34 integral with a base 35 fixed to the floor 18 of the washing enclosure 14 and capable of rotating, around a first horizontal axis of rotation 36 parallel to the lower rear edge of the washing enclosure 14, i.e. the rear edge of said floor 18, a first shaft 37 extending on either side of said rotary actuator 34, - two first arms 38 parallel to each other and fixed at one of their ends on said first shaft 37 on either side of said rotary actuator 34, - two first support plates 39 mounted pivotally on the first shaft 37 and arranged on either side of said first arms 38, - a second shaft 40 being fixed to the free ends of the first two arms 38 and extending parallel to said first shaft 37 and advantageously beyond said first two arms 38, - two second arms 41 parallel to each other and fixed at one of their ends to said second shaft 40, said second arms 41 extending in the same direction and parallel to said first arms 38, - a third shaft 42 mounted pivoting on the free ends of the two second arms 41 around a second horizontal axis of rotation 43 parallel to said first axis of rotation 36, - at least one claw 44 fixed on said third shaft 42 and configured to cooperate with one of the edges of the collar 7 of the tray 3 of container 2, classically the one located opposite the edge on which the lid 8 of said container 2 is pivotally mounted to hook the latter onto the loading means 16, - an apron 45 also fixed to said third shaft 42 and suitable for receiving the face of the perimeter wall 5 of the bin 3 contiguous to the edge of the collar 7 cooperating with said claw 44, when the container 2 is hooked onto the loading means 16, - two second support plates 46, each fixed on said third shaft 42 between one of the second arms 41 and the deck 45 and extending in a direction opposite to that of the latter, - two transfer plates 47 each fixed on said third shaft 42 between the second support plates 46 and extending in a direction generally opposite to that of said deck 45 - a fourth shaft 48 pivotally mounted on the free ends of the two support plates 46 about a third horizontal axis of rotation 49 parallel to said first axis of rotation 36, said fourth shaft 48 receiving a plurality of locking lugs 50 adapted to come into contact with the edge of the collar 7 cooperating with said claw 44 when the container 2 is hooked onto the loading means 16, in order to prevent the collar 7 from disengaging from said claw 44 and to keep the container 2 hooked, - two kinematic linkage elements 51 allowing the third and fourth shafts 42,49 to be kinematically linked together, that is to say, the movement of one generates a movement of the other, and - two connecting rods 52, each pivotally mounted, on one side, at one end on the free end of one of the return plates 48 about a fourth horizontal axis of rotation 53 parallel to said first axis of rotation 36 and, on the other side, at the other end on the free end of one of the first plates supports 39 around a fifth axis of rotation 54 horizontal parallel to said first axis of rotation 36.

[0053] According to the embodiment shown, the third shaft 42 includes two claws 44 fixed along said third shaft 42 to allow the loading of one or two medium capacity containers 2 (approximately 250 liters) or one large capacity container 2 greater than 500 liters.

[0054] The rotary actuator 34 is advantageously of the rotary hydraulic cylinder type connected to said hydraulic unit 29.

[0055] The loading means 16 is shaped so that the projections of the first, second, fourth and fifth axes of rotation 36, 43, 53, 54 onto the sagittal plane of symmetry of said loading means 16 determine the vertices of a deformable parallelogram.

[0056] With reference to figures 7 to 8, with the configuration of the loading means 16, the container 2 is loaded into the washing enclosure 14 in the manner described below.

[0057] Before the container 2 is put in place, the loading means 16 are such that: - the first support plates 38 are substantially vertical and resting on the top of the base 35 of the rotary actuator 34, - the first and second arms 38, 41 extend outside the washing enclosure 14 towards the ground, and - the claws 44 and apron 45 are essentially vertical.

[0058] At this stage, an operator places at least one container 2 in the "use" position on the loading means 16 by engaging the claw 44 in the edge of the collar 7 of the bin 3 of said container 2 located opposite the edge on which the lid 8 is pivotally mounted and by placing against the apron 45 the face of the perimeter wall 5 of the bin 3 contiguous to the edge of the collar 7 cooperating with said claw 44.

[0059] Next, the operator commands, from a control panel 55 advantageously attached to the outside of the vehicle 10, the start-up of the rotary actuator 34 which has the effect of rotating the assembly first shaft 37 - first arms 38 - second shaft 40 - second arms 41 - third shaft 42 around the first axis of rotation 36 during a first phase.Given the configuration of the first, second, fourth, and fifth axes of rotation 36, 43, 53, 54 described previously and the non-pivoting of the first support plates 38, this first pivoting phase has the effect, thanks to the two connecting rods 52 and the return plates 47, on the one hand, of moving the container 2 upwards parallel to itself, the claws 44 and apron 45 remaining substantially vertical and, on the other hand, of pivoting the fourth shaft 48, thanks to the kinematic linkages 51, so that the locking lugs 50 come into contact with the edge of the collar 7 cooperating with said claw 44 to hold the container 2 in place. This first phase. ends when the second shaft 40 comes into contact with the free ends of the first support plates 38.

[0060] At this stage, the claws 44 and apron 45 are substantially vertical and folded onto the second arms 41. A second phase begins, and the assembly of the first shaft 37 - first arms 38 - second shaft 40 - second arms 41 - third shaft 42 continues to pivot around the first axis of rotation 36, carrying with it the first support plates 38. This has the effect of keeping the claws 44 and apron 45 folded onto the second arms 41. This second pivoting phase causes the container 2 to rotate around the first axis of rotation 36 inside the washing enclosure 14 until a presence detector 56 commands the rotary actuator 34 to stop. The container 2 is then in the "wash" position, and the washing cycle of the inside of its tray 3 can then begin thanks to the washing means 17 of the cleaning device 1.

[0061] Once the washing cycle is complete, the operator, from a control panel 55 advantageously attached to the vehicle 10, activates the rotary actuator 34 to rotate the assembly of the first shaft 37 - first arms 38 - second shaft 40 - second arms 41 - third shaft 42 around the first axis of rotation 36 in the opposite direction during a third phase. This third pivoting phase causes the container 2 to rotate around the first axis of rotation 36 outwards from the washing enclosure 14 until the first support plates 38 come into contact with the top of the base 35 of the rotary actuator 34 and no longer rotate.At this stage, the claws 44 and apron 45 are substantially vertical and folded over the second arms 41, a fourth phase begins and the assembly first shaft 37 - first arms 38 - second shaft 40 - second arms 41 - third shaft 42 continues to pivot around the first axis of rotation 36 and the container 2 moves downwards parallel to itself until it reaches its "use" position in order to be detached from the loading means 16.

[0062] It is understood that the specific kinematics of the loading means 16 makes it possible to limit the vertical movement of the container 2 when it is loaded into the washing enclosure 14 and to make the vertical dimensions of the latter compatible with the dimensions of the rear compartment 9 of the light utility vehicle 10.

[0063] Furthermore, the two connecting rods 52 are advantageously adjustable in length to allow angular adjustment relative to the vertical of the claw assembly 44 - apron 45 and therefore of the container 2 when it is hooked on said claws 44, but also angular adjustment of the locking cleats 50 in order to ensure proper hooking of the container 2 on the loading means 16.

[0064] In addition, the washing means 17 advantageously comprise a manual high-pressure cleaning device 57 connected to the high-pressure motor-pump unit pressure 26 to allow an operator to clean the outside of container 2, when the latter is in its "washing" position.

[0065] A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty adding to the cleaning device 1 the equipment necessary for its proper functioning such as, for example, presence detectors, flow or pressure limiters, hydraulic distributors or even limit switches.

[0066] It is clear that the cleaning device 1 according to the invention has the following advantages: - The combination of washing means 17 with filtration means allows, on the one hand, for liquid recycling and for having only one tank into which the residual liquid is returned after being filtered and, on the other hand, for having a low mass of liquid on board compatible with a light utility vehicle 10, - a satisfactory environmental impact thanks to reduced liquid consumption, reduced CO2 production because the mass of liquid on board is lower, and significant filtration of the residual liquid generated by washing container 2, which improves the possibility of reprocessing it, and - increased productivity thanks to the reduction of time lost due to filling and possibly emptying phases.

[0067] The cleaning device 1 according to the invention is particularly applicable to the cleaning of waste containers 2 of the household waste type, but it can also be used to clean containers of other types of waste.

[0068] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of cleaning devices 1 according to the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A cleaning device (1) for at least one waste container (2) comprising a bin (3) having in its upper part an opening (6) encircled by a collar (7), said cleaning device (1) being mounted in a rear compartment (9) of a light commercial vehicle (10), said cleaning device (1) comprising at least: - a washing chamber (14) disposed in and at the rear of the rear compartment (9) and having an opening (15) facing the rear of the vehicle (10) and allowing the introduction or removal of the waste container (2) into said washing chamber (14), - loading means (16) installed in said washing chamber (14) and along the lower edge of said opening (15),and allowing the container (2) to be loaded at least partially inside said washing enclosure (14) from a "use" position in which its tray (3) is in a lowered position outside the washing enclosure (14) and its opening (6) is horizontal and oriented upwards, to a "wash" position in which its tray (3) is in a raised position and partially inside the washing enclosure (14) and its opening (6) is inclined and oriented downwards and towards the front of the vehicle (10), and the unloading of the container (2) in a reciprocal motion, - washing means (17) installed at least partially in the washing enclosure (14) to project a pressurized liquid inside the container (2) in the "wash" position against the internal faces of its tray (3), and associated with filtration means to filter the residual liquid generated by the washing of said container (2), and, - a source of electrical power for the operation of the cleaning device (1), said cleaning device (1) being characterized in that the loading means (16) are configured to hook at least one container (2) in its "use" position by its collar (7), move it vertically upwards parallel to itself while locking its hook, then rotate it around a first horizontal axis of rotation (36) parallel to the lower rear edge of the washing enclosure (14) inside the washing enclosure (14) until it reaches its "washing" position, and, once the washing is complete, rotate it around said first axis of rotation (36) in the opposite direction, then the move vertically downwards parallel to itself by unlocking its latch until it reaches its "use" position.

2. Cleaning device (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the electrical power source is an electric current generator (11) disposed at the chassis of said vehicle (10) under the floor of its rear compartment (9) and coupled to the engine of the vehicle (10).

3. Cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the washing enclosure (14) comprises a floor (18), a ceiling (19), two generally vertical side walls (20) and a front wall (21), said side walls (20) and front wall (21) connecting said floor (18) and ceiling (19), said opening (15) being delimited by the rear edges of the floor (18), ceiling (19) and side walls (20), the ceiling (18) and the front wall (21) advantageously being inclined respectively downwards and towards the front of the vehicle (10), and downwards and towards the rear of the vehicle (10) so as to guide the residual liquid generated by the washing of the container (2) towards the floor (18) of the washing enclosure (14).

4. Cleaning device (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that the filtration means are combined with a screen disposed in a recovery tray (22) of the floor (18) and acting as a pre-filter by retaining the largest waste contained in the residual liquid.

5. Cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that the washing means (17) comprise at least one washing head equipped with at least one nozzle (24) for projecting a pressurized washing liquid mounted at the end of a lance (25) passing through the front wall (21) of the washing enclosure (14) and being connected to a high-pressure motor-pump unit (26) enabling the washing liquid to be conveyed from a reservoir (27) to the nozzle (24) by compressing it to a determined pressure, the residual liquid generated by the washing of the container (2) then being conveyed from the floor (18) of the washing enclosure (14) to the filtration means of said reservoir (27).

6. Cleaning device (1) according to claim 5 characterized in that each nozzle (24) is rotatable and in that each lance (25) is translationally movable, by means of a translational actuator (30), along its longitudinal axis relative to the front wall (21) of the enclosure washing (14) so ​​as to move the associated nozzle (24) more or less inside the container (2), when the latter is in the "wash" position.

7. Cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6 characterized in that the filtration means are disposed in an orifice (31) provided on said reservoir (27), these filtration means comprise a pre-filter (32) consisting of a perforated cylinder having an open upper end provided with an external flange and a closed lower end, and a filter bag (33) having an open upper end provided with an external flange, said filter bag (33) being disposed around the pre-filter (32) and the filter bag (33) - pre-filter (32) assembly being inserted into said orifice (31) so that the external flange of the filter bag (33) is compressed between the face of the reservoir (27) and the external flange of the pre-filter (32).

8. Cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7 characterized in that the washing means (17) comprise a manual high-pressure cleaning device connected to the high-pressure motor pump unit (26) to enable an operator to clean the outside of the container (2), when the latter is in its "washing" position.

9. Cleaning device (1) according to claims 3 to 8 characterized in that the loading means (16) comprise at least: - a rotary actuator (34) integral with a base (35) fixed to the floor (18) of the washing chamber (14) and capable of rotating, about said first axis of rotation (36), a first shaft (37) extending on either side of said rotary actuator (34), - two first arms (38) parallel to each other and fixed at one of their ends to said first shaft (37) on either side of said rotary actuator (34), - two first support plates (39) pivotally mounted on the first shaft (37) and arranged on either side of said first arms (38), - a second shaft (40) being fixed to the free ends of the two first arms (38) and extending parallel to said first shaft (37) and advantageously beyond of the said first two arms (38),- two second arms (41) parallel to each other and fixed at one of their ends to said second shaft (40), said second arms (41) extending in the same direction and parallel to said first arms, arm (37), - a third shaft (42) mounted pivotally on the free ends of the two second arms (41) around a second horizontal axis of rotation (43) parallel to said first axis of rotation (36), - at least one claw (44) fixed on said third shaft (42) and configured to cooperate with one of the edges of the collar (7) of the tray (3) of the container (2) to hook the latter onto the loading means (16), - an apron (45) fixed on said third shaft (42) and suitable for receiving the face of the perimeter wall (5) of the container (3) contiguous to the edge of the collar (7) cooperating with said claw (44), when the container (2) is hooked onto the loading means (16), - two second support plates (46) each fixed on said third shaft (42) between one of the second arms (41) and the deck (45) and extending in a direction opposite to that of the latter, - two return plates (47) each fixed on said third shaft (42) between the second support plates (46) and extending in a direction generally opposite to that of said deck (45) - a fourth shaft (48) pivotally mounted on the free ends of the two support plates (46) about a third horizontal axis of rotation (49) parallel to said first axis of rotation (36), said fourth shaft (49) receiving a plurality of locking lugs (50) adapted to come into contact with the edge of the collar (7) cooperating with said claw (44) when the container (2) is hooked onto the loading means (16), in order to keep the container (2) hooked, - two kinematic linkage elements (51) allowing the third and fourth trees (42,49) to be kinematically connected to each other, and - two connecting rods (52) each being mounted pivotally, on one hand, at one of its ends on the free end of one of the return plates (48) around a fourth horizontal axis of rotation (53) parallel to said first axis of rotation (36) and, on the other hand, at the other end of its ends on the free end of one of the first support plates (38) around a fifth horizontal axis of rotation (54) parallel to said first axis of rotation (36).

10. Cleaning device (1) according to claim 9 characterized in that the loading means (16) are shaped so that the projections of the first, second, fourth and fifth axes of rotation (36, 43, 53, 54) onto the sagittal plane of symmetry of said means loading (16) determine the vertices of a deformable parallelogram.

11. Cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 9 or 10 characterized in that the loading means (16) comprise two claws (44) fixed on and along said third shaft (42).

12. Cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11 characterized in that the two connecting rods (52) are adjustable in length.

13. Cleaning device (1) according to claims 6 and 10 characterized in that the translational actuators (30) and rotary actuator (34) are of the hydraulic cylinder type connected to a hydraulic unit (29).

14. Cleaning device (1) according to claim 13 characterized in that said hydraulic unit (29) comprises an electric motor powered by the generator (11), a pump coupled to said electric motor, an oil reservoir, a hydraulic distribution assembly for supplying said actuators, at least one filter and a pressure limiter.

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