RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/303,031 filed on February 10, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to surface cleaning vehicles such as street cleaning vehicles and sidewalk cleaning vehicles, and more particularly to surface cleaning vehicles such as street cleaning vehicles and sidewalk cleaning vehicles for cold-weather use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] One of the most significant problems in the sweeper industry is that of dust suppression during the sweeping of a road, parking lot, sidewalk, factory floor, or the like. Sweepers may employ a sweeping broom within a pickup head as a primary or secondary source for removing dirt and debris from a surface. Alternatively, sweepers may use a vacuum type of pickup head or a recirculating air type pickup head for removing dirt and debris from a surface.

[0003] In either case, it is almost inevitable that a significant amount of dust will be created during the process of removing dirt and debris from a surface. Recently, it has become increasingly important for environmental reasons to not just fully remove dirt and debris during a street cleaning operation, but to remove dust and other particulate matter, especially particles less than about ten microns. In many jurisdictions, there are strict environmental laws pertaining to the removal and containment, during a street cleaning operation, of particulate matter having a size of less than ten microns, which is essentially breathable particulate with known associated adverse negative health effects. [0004] It is widely accepted in the industry that the containment of dust generated during the street cleaning operation is extremely difficult, especially the containment of dust having a particle size under ten microns, without using water. The use of water is known, but is undesirable, as it creates two problems. Water cannot be used in cold winter months because the water tends to freeze on the surface being swept, thus creating unsafe conditions, and tends to freeze in tank, lines and water pipes, thereby causing damage to these parts and their associated mechanisms. Furthermore, sweepers that use water for dust suppression usually cannot sweep below temperatures of about four degrees (4°) Celsius, as the mist of water tends to freeze within the sweeper specifically within the conduit, at about that temperature due to wind chill. Water for dust suppression can be used only during warm weather when the water will not freeze. Accordingly, such sweepers are often avoided altogether in many colder climates.

[0005] The freezing of water within the sweepers is a substantial problem in the industry. Hundreds of thousands of hours of potential sweeping time are lost every year in North America and Europe alone, due to this problem. Furthermore, there are times when it is desirable for these sweepers to sweep during slightly cold weather but they cannot sweep due to the freezing of the water used in the dust suppassion system.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface cleaning vehicle that can be used effectively in cold weather.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a surface cleaning vehicle that uses water for dust suppression and can be used effectively in cold weather.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a surface cleaning vehicle that precludes ice build-up on the surface to be cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel surface cleaning vehicle for cold-weather use. The surface cleaning vehicle comprises a base vehicle, a pick-up head mounted on the base vehicle for removing debris from a surface to be cleaned, and a debris receiving hopper having a debris receiving opening and mounted on the base vehicle for receiving and retaining debris therein. A debris delivery conduit has an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication one with the other, and connects the pick-up head in debris delivering relation to the debris receiving hopper, for delivering debris-laden air from the pick-up head to the debris receiving hopper. A fan causes debris-laden air to be moved through the debris delivery conduit, from the pick-up head to the debris receiving hopper. A debris-water separator is disposed in water receiving relation to the debris receiving hopper for separating the re-circulated water from water-laden debris in the debris receiving hopper. A water collector is disposed in water receiving relation with the debris-water separator for collecting re-circulated water from the debris-water separator. A water delivery implement delivers re-circulated water from the water collector into the debris-laden air. The water delivery implement has at least one water delivery orifice disposed in water delivery relation with respect to at least one of the pick-up head, the debris delivery conduit, and the debris receiving hopper, such that the re-circulated water is introduced into the debris-laden air travelling from the pick-up head to the debris receiving hopper, to subsequently suppress dust within the debris receiving hopper. A water heater has a source of heat and a water-heating interface. The water-heating interface engages in heat transfer relation one of the water delivery implement, the debris-water separator, the water collector and the water delivery implement to thereby cause heating of said re-circulated water.

[00010] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel water heating system for cold-weather use in a surface cleaning vehicle having a pick-up head, a debris receiving hopper and debris delivery conduit connecting the pick-up head in debris delivering relation to the debris receiving hopper for delivering debris-laden air from the pick-up head to the debris receiving hopper, and a fan for causing debris-laden air to be moved through the debris delivery conduit. The water heating system comprises a debris-water separator disposed in water receiving relation to the debris receiving hopper for separating the re-circulated water from water-laden debris in the debris receiving hopper. A water collector is disposed in water receiving relation with the debris-water separator for collecting re-circulated water from the debris-water separator. A water delivery implement delivers re-circulated water from the water collector into the debris-laden air. The water delivery implement has at least one water delivery orifice disposed in water delivery relation with respect to at least one of the pick-up head, the debris delivery conduit, and the debris receiving hopper, such that the re-circulated water is introduced into the debris-laden air travelling from the pick-up head to the debris receiving hopper, to subsequently suppress dust within the debris receiving hopper. A water heater has a source of heat and a water-heating interface. The water-heating interface engages in heat transfer relation one of the water delivery implement, the debris-water separator, the water collector and the water delivery implement to thereby cause heating of said re-circulated water. [00011] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel surface cleaning vehicle for cold-weather use. The surface cleaning vehicle comprises a base vehicle; a pick-up head mounted on the base vehicle; a debris receiving hopper; a debris delivery conduit for dehvering debris-laden air from the pick-up head to the debris receiving hopper; a fan for causing debris-laden air to be moved through the debris delivery conduit; a debris-water separator for separating re-circulated water from water-laden debris; a water collector for collecting the re-circulated water; water delivery implement for delivering re-circulated water from the water collector into the debris-laden air; and a water heater for heating the re-circulated water.

[00012] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00013] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the surface cleaning vehicle for cold-weather use according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[00014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention;

[00015] Figure 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle of Figure 1, taken along section line 2-2 of Figure 1; [00016] Figure 3 is a sectional side elevational view similar to Figure 2, showing the surface cleaning vehicle in use;

[00017] Figure 4 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention;

[00018] Figure 5 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the third preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention;

[00019] Figure 6 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention;

[00020] Figure 7 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention;

[00021] Figure 8 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the sixth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention; and,

[00022] Figure 9 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the seventh preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00023] Referring to Figures 1 through 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that Figures 1 through 3 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention, Figure 4 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention, Figure 5 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention, Figure 6 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention, Figure 7 illustrates a fifth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention, Figure 8 illustrates a sixth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention, and Figure 9 illustrates a seventh preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle of the present invention.

[00024] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 through 3, which show a preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle for cold-weather use according to the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 20. Fundamentally, the surface cleaning vehicle 20 comprises a base vehicle 22, a pick-up head 30 mounted on the base vehicle 22, a debris receiving hopper 40, a debris delivery conduit 50 for delivering debris-laden air from the pick-up head 30 to the debris receiving hopper 40, a fan 60 for causing debris-laden air to be moved through the debris delivery conduit 50, a debris-water separator 100 for separating re-circulated water 29a from water-laden debris 41, a water collector 70 for collecting the recirculated water 29a, a water delivery implement 80 for delivering the re-circulated water 29a from the water collector 70 into the debris-laden air, and a water heater 110 for heating the re-circulated water 29a.

[00025] More specifically, the surface cleaning vehicle 20 comprises a base vehicle 22, a pick-up head 30 mounted on the base vehicle 22 for removing debris from a surface 24 to be cleaned, and a debris receiving hopper 40 mounted on the base vehicle 22 for receiving and retaining debris therein. The debris receiving hopper 40 has a debris receiving opening 42 for receiving debris 41 into the debris receiving hopper 40. The surface cleaning vehicle 20 is a re-circulating air type surface cleaning vehicle, but could also be a vacuum type surface cleaning vehicle.

[00026] There is a debris delivery conduit 50 having an inlet 52 and an outlet 54 in fluid communication one with the other. The debris delivery conduit 50 connects the pick-up head 30 in debris delivering relation to the debris receiving hopper 40, for delivering debris-laden air from the pick-up head 30 to the debris receiving hopper 40. The inlet 52 of the debris delivery conduit 50 is in fluid communication and debris receiving relation with the pickup head 30 and the outlet 54 of the debris receiving conduit 50 is in fluid communication and debris delivery relation with the debris receiving hopper 40.

[00027] The fan 60 causes debris-laden air to be moved through the debris delivery conduit 50, from the pick-up head 30 to the debris receiving hopper 40. Preferably, the fan comprises an electrically operable fan 60 mounted within the debris receiving hopper 40. [00028] It should be noted that the surface cleaning vehicle 20 is a re-circulating air type surface cleaning vehicle, as evidenced by the fan 60 and the re-circulating air duct 62 that interconnects the debris receiving hopper 40 and the pick-up head 30 in fluid communication one with the other. Alternatively, the surface cleaning vehicle 20 could be a vacuum type surface cleaning vehicle.

[00029] The debris-water separator 100 is disposed in water receiving relation to the debris receiving hopper 40 for separating the re-circulated water 29a from water laden debris 41 in the debris receiving hopper 40, as the water migrates from the debris receiving hopper 40 to the water collector 70. The debris-water separator 100 is disposed between the debris receiving hopper 40 and the water collector 70, and preferably comprises a sieve screen 100 that extends upwardly from the bottom floor of the debris receiving hopper 40. Preferably, the sieve screen 100 is generally vertically oriented, and is disposed around the perimeter of the debris receiving hopper 40 in order to maximize the amount of contact area with the debris 41, thus maximizing the amount of water draining from the debris 41.

[00030] A water collector 70 in fluid communication with the debris receiving hopper 40 so as to receive water from debris receiving hopper 40. More specifically, the water collector 70 is disposed in water receiving relation with said debris-water separation 100, for collecting re-circulated water from the debris water separator 100. The water collector 70 is disposed below the debris receiving hopper 40 so as to permit water 29a to flow from the debris in the debris receiving hopper 40 to the water collector 70 by means of gravity.

[00031] The first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 further comprises a supplemental water reservoir 72 in water delivery relation with the water collector 70. There is also a selectively operable valve 74 for permitting the control of water flow from the supplemental water reservoir 72 to the water collector 70. Alternatively or additionally, a water pump could be used. The water in the supplemental water reservoir 72 may be used to maintain a desired level of water in the water collector 70 as the debris in the debris receiving hopper 40 absorbs water.

[00032] The surface cleaning vehicle 20 also comprises a water delivery implement 80 for delivering re-circulated water 29a from the water collector 70 into the debris-laden air. The water delivery implement 80 preferably comprises a water delivery conduit having at least one water delivery orifice 84 disposed in water delivery relation with respect to at least one of the pick-up head 30, the debris delivery conduit 50, and the debris receiving hopper 40, such that the water is introduced into the debris-laden air travelling from the pick-up head 30 to the debris receiving hopper 40, to subsequently suppress dust within the debris receiving hopper 40. The spray of water 29b that is introduced into the debris-laden air produces water-laden debris 41 that settles into the debris receiving hopper 40. In the first preferred embodiment, at least one water delivery orifice 84 is disposed in water delivery relation with respect to the debris delivery conduit 50, with the at least one water delivery orifice disposed within the debris delivery conduit 50.

[00033] In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the water delivery implement 80 terminates at the water delivery orifice 84 in the debris delivery conduit 50 and thereby delivers water from the water collector 70 to the debris delivery conduit 50. The water deliver conduit 80 has an inlet 82 in fluid communication with the water collector 70. The inlet 82 of the water delivery implement 80 is at a higher elevation than the water delivery orifice 84 of the water delivery implement 80, and the water delivery orifice 84 of the water delivery implement 80 terminates in the debris delivery conduit 50. Preferably, the water delivery implement 80 terminates in a spray nozzle 86, which contains the water delivery orifice 84, for spraying water into the debris-laden air. In other words, the at least one water delivery orifice comprises at least one spray nozzle for spraying water into the debris-laden air. The water delivery implement 80 is physically connected adjacent its water delivery orifice 84 onto the debris delivery conduit 50 adjacent the inlet 52 of the debris delivery conduit 50.

[00034] The most preferred location for the at least one water delivery orifice of the water delivery implement is at the inlet of the debris delivery conduit. It has been founded to that one third of the water is necessary as compared to spraying water into the hopper. It has further been found that with the spray of water being introduced to the debris delivery conduit 50, the spray of water is fully introduced into the stream of debris-laden air and none of the water is deposited on the surface 24 to be cleaned, thereby precluding ice build up on the surface 24 to be cleaned.

[00035] The surface cleaning vehicle 20 further comprises a water pump 90 operatively connected in series with the water delivery implement 80 to cause water to flow from the inlet 82 of the water delivery implement 80 to the delivery orifice 84 of the water delivery implement 80. The pump 90 comprises a conventional low power water pump 90 selectively operable via a switch (not shown) in the cab of the surface cleaning vehicle 20. Although the water will generally feed by means of gravity from the water collector 70 to the debris delivery conduit 50, the pump 90 would be used to increase the flow of water when necessary. There is also an optional filter 92 for filtering the water in the debris receiving hopper 40. The filter 92 comprises a conventional water filter disposed at the inlet 82 of the water delivery implement 80. The water filter 92 filters out larger particles of debris but does not significantly impede the flow of water through the water delivery implement 80.

[00036] There is also a water heater, as indicated by the general reference numeral 110, for heating the water in the water collector 70. In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the water heater has a source of heat 111 and a water-heating interface 118. In the first preferred embodiment, the water heating interface 118 is disposed in the water collection 70.

[00037] The source of heat 111 comprises a combustible fuel type heater 111, and even more particularly comprises a diesel fuel type heater 111, operatively mounted on the base vehicle 22 on the rear of the debris receiving hopper 40. The combustible type fuel heater 111 is disposed externally to the debris receiving hopper 40, preferably mounted adj acent the top of the debris receiving hopper 40, in order to permit the exhausting of fumes at a high an elevation as possible.

[00038] The combustible fuel type heater 110 has a heat-receiving coil 112 for containing a heatable fluid 114 therein. The heat-receiving coil 112 is connected in fluid communication, via suitable piping 116, with the water-heating interface 118 to form a closed-loop circuit therewith. Apump 120 is connected within the closed-loop circuit 122 to cause the heatable fluid 114 to flow within the closed-loop circuit 122. The water-heating interface 118 is disposed in heat transferring relation with respect to the water collector 70. As illustrated, the water-heating interface 118 is disposed in the water collector 70 in order to maximize the amount of heat transfer to the water 29a.

[00039] The water-heating interface 118 is best located after the debris-water separator 100, or in other words in heat transfer relation with respect to the water collector 70 or the water delivery implement 80 so that the more contaminated water in the debris receiving hopper 40 at the inlet side of the debris-water separator 100 is not the water that is being directly heated.

[00040] The surface cleaning vehicle 20 further comprises a thermostat 130 mounted on the water collector 70 and operatively connected in temperature sens ing relation to one of the water delivery implement 80, the water collector 70, the debris-water separator 100, and the debris receiving hopper 40. In the first preferred embodiment, the thermostat is operatively connected in temperature sensing relation to the water collector 70. The thermostat is also operatively connected in temperature controlling relation to the combustible fuel type heater 110 for controlling the operation of the heater 110. More specifically, the selectively controllable thermostat 130 is operatively connected to the heat control of the diesel fuel type heater 110 to permit control of the temperature of the heatable fluid 114 within the heat-receiving coil 112 and the heat-dumping coil 118. The temperature of the fluid in the heat-dumping coil 118 is a main factor in determining the amount of heat transferred to the water in the water collector 70. Temperature control of the re-circulated water is preferable both when the water is circulating and when the water is stationary.

[00041] Alternatively or additionally, in order to control the temperature of the heatable fluid 114 within the heat-receiving coil 112 and the water-heating interface 118, the pump 120 in the closed-loop circuit 122 with the heat-receiving coil 112 and the water-heating interface 118 may be sped up or slowed down. This allows control of the speed of the flow of heatable fluid 114 in the closed-loop circuit 122, thus permitting control of the temperature of the heatable fluid 114 in the water-heating interface 118.

[00042] The present invention also comprises a water heating system for cold-weather use in a surface cleaning vehicle 20 having a pick-up head 30, a debris receiving hopper 40 and debris delivery conduit 50 connecting the pick-up head 30 in debris delivering relation to the debris receiving hopper 40 for delivering debris-laden air from the pick-up head 30 to the debris receiving hopper 40. The water heating system comprises the debris-water separator 100, the water collector 70, the water delivery implement 80, and a water heater 110 for heating the re-circulated water 29a.

[00043] It can readily be seen that the present invention forms an open loop path for the re-circulated water 29a through the debris delivery conduit 50, the debris receiving hopper 40, the debris-water separator 100, the water collector 70, the water delivery implement 80, and possibly the pick-up head 30, depending on the specific location of the water delivery orifice 84.

[00044] Reference will now be made to Figure 4, which shows a second preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle 220 for cold-weather use according to the present invention. The second preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 220 is similar to the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 except that the water delivery implement 280 terminates in the debris receiving hopper 240, and more specifically in the debris receiving hopper adjacent the debris receiving opening 242, and thereby delivers water from the water collector 270 to the debris receiving hopper 240.

[00045] Reference will now be made to Figure 5, which shows a third preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle 320 for cold-weather use according to the present invention. The third preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 320 is similar to the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 except that the heat dumping coil 318 is disposed in at least one of the walls 372 of the water collector 370, or as illustrated, disposed in both walls 372 of the water collector 370.

[00046] Reference will now be made to Figure 6, which shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle 420 for cold-weather use according to the present invention. The fourth preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 420 is similar to the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 except that the heat-dumping coil 418 is disposed in the floor 471 of the water collector 470.

[00047] Reference will now be made to Figure 7, which shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle 520 for cold-weather use according to the present invention. The fifth preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 520 is similar to the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 except that the water delivery implement 580 terminates in the pick-up head 530 and thereby delivers water from the water collector 570 to the pick-up head 530. Preferably, the water delivery implement 580 terminates at its delivery orifice 584 in a spray nozzle 586 disposed within the pick-up head 530 adjacent the inlet 552 of the debris delivery conduit 550, and the delivery orifice 584 aims into the open front end 551 of the debris delivery conduit 550 to thereby preclude water from being deposited on the surface 524 to be cleaned.

[00048] Reference will now be made to Figure 8, which shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle 620 for cold-weather use according to the present invention. The sixth preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 620 is similar to the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 except that the water delivery implement 680 comprises a misting nozzle having its water delivery orifices 681 disposed in water delivery relation with respect to the debris delivery conduit 650. Accordingly, the water delivery implement 680 is not a conduit. The water collector 670 is disposed in juxtaposed relation with respect to the water pump 690 to receive re-circulated water therefrom, which itself is disposed in juxtaposed relation with respect to the water delivery implement 680, to deliver re-circulated water thereto. [00049] Reference will now be made to Figure 9, which shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the surface cleaning vehicle 720 for cold-weather use according to the present invention. The seventh preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 720 is similar to the first preferred embodiment surface cleaning vehicle 20 except that the water-heating interface 721 engages in heat transfer relation the water delivery implement 780 at the water delivery orifice 781.

[00050] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a sweeper that uses water for dust suppression and can be used in cold weather, which is unknown in the prior art.

[00051] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.