A vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system and method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning technologies for streets and surfaces face issues with dust re-suspension into the air, high water usage leading to fuel inefficiency, and the need for large and expensive filtration systems to manage air-borne particles.

Innovation Solution

A mobile air-assisted cleaning device that uses a blower for underpressure and overpressure, combined with an air knife and cyclone separator, to efficiently remove dust without water, allowing for a lightweight and versatile system that can be attached or integrated with vehicles, reducing emissions and maintenance costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If water is used to suppress dust during cleaning, then dust emission is reduced, but fuel consumption increases and maintenance costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust emissionVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the water component from the cleaning system, replacing it with a purely mechanical brushing mechanism and suction system. The brush rolls directly contact and agitate the dust particles on the surface, while the suction device captures them, eliminating the need for water suppression and its associated fuel consumption for water carriage and handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the hydraulic/water-based dust suppression system with a mechanical brushing and suction system. The brush rolls provide mechanical agitation to loosen dust, and the suction device with cyclone separator provides mechanical separation and capture, substituting the chemical/physical water-dust binding mechanism with purely mechanical forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water is used for surface cleaning, then dust is suppressed, but the weight of water reduces the amount of debris that can be collected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust suppressionVSAvoiddebris collection capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts water from the cleaning system entirely, using only air and mechanical forces. The suction device draws air through the brush rolls and captures dust particles directly in a dry state, allowing the collection vessel to dedicate its full capacity to debris storage without being weighted down by water, thereby increasing the quantity of debris that can be collected per trip.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a blower is used for both underpressure and overpressure, then the number of components is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoiddust emission control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies the multi-functionality principle by designing a single blower that operates in two distinct modes: creating underpressure for suction during the cleaning phase, and creating overpressure for dust delivery to the collection vessel. This single device performs multiple critical functions that would otherwise require separate components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective dust emission control through both suction and directed delivery mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively minimizes dust emission, conserves fuel, and reduces maintenance needs by using a compact, multi-purpose design that can handle debris collection efficiently, allowing for cleaning near obstacles and varying terrain.

Implementation Method 1

means for providing an underpressure for a suction of the detached material and means for providing an overpressure for an air-knife and return of the separated air to the surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

means for separating said detached material from said air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 3

separating said detached material from said air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 4

means for providing an overpressure for an air-knife and return of the separated air to the surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear stress: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 5

The nozzle may have a contracted dimension/cross-section of its aperture for increasing air flow velocity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh velocity air flow: Jet

Implementation Method 6

at least one brush arranged to detach said extraneous material from said surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical abrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 7

means for providing an underpressure for a suction of the detached material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3042997B1A vehicle assisted working device, cleaning system and method
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 SNOWEK OY
  • EP3042997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3042997B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle assisted working device (15) for cleaning streets and similar surfaces from extraneous materials, such as sand. The working device comprises at least one brush (5) for detachment of said extraneous material from said surface, means for providing an underpressure (2) for a suction (7) of the detached material into the air flow from said surface, means for separating (4) said detached material from said air flow and means for providing an overpressure and return of the separated air to the surface (6). In the embodiments of the invention, at least one brush is arranged to rotate counter-wise to the intended direction of movement of the working device, so that said means are ordered in such a way that when the working device is intended to move over a spot to be cleaned, the means treat the spot in the following order: means for the suction of the extraneous materials (8, 9), at least one brush (5) and means for return of the separated air to the surface (6). The invention also relates to a system and method for cleaning.