Street Light Head Cleaning Device with Movable Shells

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing street light cleaning methods are challenging due to the difficulty in accessing street lights, which are often located high up and surrounded by obstacles, leading to safety risks, high costs, and environmental impact, especially in urban areas where manual cleaning is time-consuming and requires road closures, posing risks to pedestrians and cyclists.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device comprising a cleaning box with movable shells, high-pressure water jets, and brush systems, attached to a vehicle's lifting arm, which can efficiently clean street light heads from various angles and positions, using a closed-loop water recycling system and ecological cleaning products, operated by a single operator from the ground.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning is used for street lights, then cleaning can be performed, but safety risks increase and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning safetyVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning operations with an automated robotic cleaning system equipped with brushes, water spray nozzles, and suction devices. The robot can autonomously navigate to street lights, position itself, and perform cleaning operations without human intervention, thereby eliminating safety risks associated with manual high-altitude work while maintaining efficient cleaning speed.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning robot is designed to autonomously perform the entire cleaning process including navigation to the street light, positioning, cleaning execution, and water recycling. The system self-manages the cleaning operation without requiring human operators to work at height, thus improving safety while the automated processes maintain productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual cleaning equipment is installed, then street lights can be cleaned, but road closure is required and traffic disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidroad usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional manual cleaning equipment that requires road closure with a compact robotic cleaning system. The robot's small size and autonomous operation capability allow it to work in situ without blocking the road, enabling cleaning operations to proceed while traffic continues to flow normally, thus maintaining both accessibility and road productivity.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional cleaning methods are used, then street light heads can be cleaned, but water consumption increases and environmental impact worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidwater pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a water recycling system where the robot collects used washing water through suction devices during the cleaning process. The collected water is then filtered and reused for subsequent cleaning operations. This closed-loop water management reduces fresh water consumption and prevents polluted water from being discharged into the environment, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The robot utilizes hydraulic and pneumatic systems for water spray delivery and water suction/recycling. The hydraulic system delivers water at controlled pressure for effective cleaning, while the pneumatic suction system recovers used water. This integrated fluid management system achieves thorough cleaning while minimizing water waste and environmental pollution through efficient water recovery and reuse.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Productivity

If human operators work at height for cleaning, then street lights can be cleaned, but risk of injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidoperator safety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human operators working at height with an autonomous robotic cleaning system. The robot navigates to street lights, positions itself using sensors and actuators, and performs cleaning operations completely autonomously. This substitution eliminates all safety risks associated with human work at height while maintaining full cleaning capability through automated brushes, water spray, and suction mechanisms.

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

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 device provides safe, efficient, and ecological cleaning of street light heads without the need for manual labor, reducing traffic disruptions and environmental impact, while ensuring thorough cleaning of street lights with various configurations.

Implementation Method 1

The washing means comprises at least one high pressure water jet system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-pressure water jet: Jet

Implementation Method 2

The washing means comprises at least one brush system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical abrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP4067576B1Street light head cleaning device and cleaning method
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 ROMANDE ENERGIE SA
  • EP4067576B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b
  • EP4067576B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4b
  • EP4067576B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

A cleaning device for a street light head comprising a cleaning box 1, an outer periphery of which is defined by at least a first shell 2a and a second shell 2b opposed to each other, the first and the second shells 2a, 2b delimiting a hollow inside space 3 of the cleaning box 1, and the first shell 2a and/or the second shell 2b being configured to move from an open position in which the cleaning box 1 is open and configured to allow the street light head 6 to be positioned inside the cleaning box 1, to a cleaning position in which the cleaning box 1 is closed. The cleaning device comprises an actuator device 4 configured to move the first shell 2a and/or the second shell 2b between the open position and the closed position and a washing means 5 arranged in the hollow inside space 3 and configured to clean the street light head 6.