Sweeper Water Spray Control via Precipitation Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing street sweepers face challenges in reducing dust emissions while incurring additional costs and operational inefficiencies, such as reduced range and increased maintenance due to excessive water use and dust separation methods, which lead to unproductive empty runs and higher emissions.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled sweeper equipped with a precipitation sensor that adjusts water usage based on natural precipitation, incorporating a fresh water system and a dirty water circulation system to optimize water use, minimize fresh water consumption, and enhance dust binding efficiency without impairing disposal or increasing emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If excess water is used to bind dust and reduce dust emissions, then dust emissions are reduced, but water consumption increases and range is reduced due to more frequent refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The water spray system dynamically adjusts water application based on real-time dust detection. Sensors monitor dust concentrations and automatically modulate water spray intensity, applying water only when and where dust is detected, rather than continuous excess water application. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by maintaining dust suppression effectiveness while minimizing water consumption and extending operational range between refills
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through dust detection sensors that continuously monitor airborne dust levels and provide real-time information to the water spray control system. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of water application rates, ensuring dust emissions remain controlled while optimizing water usage. The feedback-driven control prevents both over-spraying (wasting water) and under-spraying (allowing dust emissions), resolving the contradiction between dust suppression and water conservation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dust separation components are added to reduce dust emissions, then dust emissions are reduced, but the capacity of the sweeping container is reduced and range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dust separation function from traditional heavy filtration systems and implements it through a lighter, more efficient water spray-based dust binding system. By using water to bind dust particles at the source (brush area) and during transport, the system achieves effective dust separation without the weight and capacity constraints of traditional filters. This extraction approach resolves the contradiction by providing dust emission control while preserving container capacity and extending sweeping range
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs hydraulic water spray mechanisms to control dust particles, using water as a pneumatic-hydraulic medium to bind and suppress dust throughout the sweeping process. This approach replaces traditional mechanical filtration systems with a fluid-based dust control method that is more space-efficient and maintains better container capacity. The hydraulic water spray system achieves effective dust separation without compromising sweeping range or productivity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fine filters are used for exhaust air to reduce dust emissions, then dust emissions are reduced, but maintenance effort increases and reliability decreases due to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive, maintenance-intensive fine filters with a more robust water spray-based dust suppression system that uses consumable water instead of disposable filter media. Water can be easily replenished and does not clog in the same manner as filters, eliminating maintenance trips and improving reliability. This substitution resolves the contradiction by achieving dust emission control through a system that requires minimal maintenance and maintains high operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes mechanical filtration systems with a water-based dust binding and suppression system. Instead of relying on mechanical filters that are prone to clogging and require frequent maintenance, the system uses water spray mechanisms to bind dust particles and suppress emissions through a non-mechanical, fluid-based approach. This substitution eliminates the reliability issues associated with filter clogging while maintaining effective dust emission control
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 reduces dust emissions while maximizing the sweeper's range and service life by minimizing unproductive empty runs and maintaining economic efficiency and reliability, with reduced water consumption and lower maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a precipitation sensor which is exposed to the environment of the sweeper and generates a precipitation signal
Implementation Method 2
The water system, for example, sprays water in the area of at least one rotating brush. This serves to bind stirred-up dust and is a measure to reduce the environmental impact of dust particles when sweepers are in use.
Implementation Method 3
a debris collection unit comprising a debris collection container with a suction blower and a debris intake tract with a suction head and a suction channel opening into the debris collection container
Implementation Method 4
a sweeping unit with at least one rotating brush
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-propelled sweeper comprises a carrier vehicle (2), a sweeping unit (3) with at least one rotating brush (6), a debris collection unit (4) which in turn includes a debris collection container (8) with a suction blower (9) and a debris intake tract (7) with a suction head (10) and a suction channel (11) opening into the debris collection container (8), and a water system with a water tank (13; 25), a water pump (14; 26) and at least one water spray nozzle (16; 28) assigned to the sweeping unit (3) or the debris collection unit (4). A control unit (S) comprising a control unit (35) is provided, acting on at least the brush drive, the suction blower (9) and the water pump (14; 26) and/or at least one water valve. The controller (S) generates the signal for the water pump (14; 26) respectively.the water quantity control signal, which switches at least one water valve, depending on a precipitation signal generated by a precipitation sensor (38) exposed to the environment of the sweeper and in signal-transmitting communication with the control (S).