Garbage Bin Cleaning Hopper Drain Flushing With Pressurized Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garbage bin cleaning systems face operational downtime and maintenance issues due to debris and grease obstructions in the hopper drain, requiring manual intervention and lacking an integrated mechanism for flushing with pressurized water.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system with a power takeoff driven pressure washing system that includes a hopper with a drain, spray rods with high-pressure rotating nozzles, and a pressurized water line controlled by a valve to actively flush obstructions from the drain, integrating a computerized system for automated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hopper drain is used to expel grey water during cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but obstructions form in the drain due to debris and grease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary flushing action by directing pressurized water through the drain before obstructions fully form, preventing debris and grease from accumulating and blocking the drain passage, thereby maintaining continuous operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by introducing a pressurized water flushing system that directs high-pressure water flow through the drain to dislodge and remove debris and grease obstructions, ensuring the drain remains clear and functional
2Device complexity
If manual intervention is used to clear drain obstructions, then the system is simple in structure, but operational downtime increases and sanitation conditions worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-maintenance by automatically flushing the drain with pressurized water during or after cleaning operations, eliminating the need for manual intervention to clear obstructions and reducing maintenance downtime without significantly increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flushing mechanism ensures continuous operation by automatically clearing the drain of obstructions during the cleaning cycle, preventing interruptions and maintaining uninterrupted cleaning productivity
3Reliability
If pressurized water is used to flush the drain, then obstruction removal capability is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies pressurized water locally and selectively only to the drain area where obstructions occur, rather than using high pressure throughout the entire cleaning system, thereby achieving effective obstruction removal while minimizing overall water consumption
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 system ensures continuous operation by automatically flushing obstructions, reducing maintenance downtime, improving sanitation, and enhancing system reliability while minimizing water usage and operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure washer pump mechanically coupled to the mechanical means such that the mechanical means drives the pressure washer pump, wherein the one or more spray rods are fluidically coupled with the pressure washer pump such that the pressure washer pump provides pressurized water
Implementation Method 2
one or more spray rods extending upwards from the hopper and configured to wash an interior of the garbage bin, wherein each of the one or more spray rods include at least one high-pressure, rotating water nozzle that sprays a water jet
Implementation Method 3
a valve disposed in the water line and operable to selectively direct pressurized water from the pressure washer pump into the drain of the hopper so as to flush obstructions from the drain
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle mounted garbage bin cleaning system includes a pair of arms configured for lifting a garbage bin, the arms rotatably coupled to a mount on a vehicle, a hopper configured for accepting the garbage bin when the arms lift the garbage bin into the hopper, spray rods extending upwards from the hopper and that spray water jets to clean an interior of the garbage bin, a power takeoff driven pressure washing system, and a water line fluidically coupled with the drain of the hopper on a first end, and fluidically coupled to the pressure washing system on a second end, such that the pressurized water is provided to the water line so as to flush obstructions from the drain.