Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to washers for suction hoses on trucks.

Background of the Invention A vacuum vehicle, such as a vacuum truck or vacuum tanker, is a tank truck that has a pump and a tank. The pump is designed to pneumatically suck liquids, sludges, slur ries, or the like from a location into the tank of the truck. Vacuum trucks transport the collected waste material to a treatment or disposal site, for example a sewage treat ment plant.

A vacuum truck has a large container and may have several places to visit and to col lect waste material from, before driving to a treatment or disposal site. The suction hose is in direct contact with the waste and after use, when rolled up on the truck, there will be waste on the outer side of the suction hose. The waste material will unin- tentionally be more or less spread in the surroundings. This causes some environmen tal issues, such as contamination and/or spreading of diseases.

After use, the suction hose on vacuum trucks must be cleaned to prevent spreading the waste material. Depending on the contents of the waste material, e.g. fecal sludge, sewage sludge, industrial liquids, or slurries from animal waste from livestock facili ties with pens, there will be environmental requirements for disposal of the waste. The vacuum trucks must drive to a cleaning facility equipped to receive the waste from the suction hose. Driving the vacuum truck to a cleaning facility will take up working time and manpower, and the costs of maintenance of cleaning the suction hoses are high but necessary.

EP 2756870 A1 describes a hose winder, and cleaning unit comprising a hollow interior through which the hose is transported and in which cleaning nozzles are arranged. The cleaning unit consists of a cylindrical tube. For better movement of the hose through the cleaning unit, the two pipe ends can be funnel-shaped, i.e. the ends widen out wards. The cleaning unit according to the invention has a set of rollers at one or both openings in order to facilitate the transport of the hose through the cleaning unit and to allow the hose to be dragged over the opening edges ,with the associated risk of dam age to the hose. Inside the cylindrical tube, approximately at the level of a clamp, there is a ring with cleaning nozzles. The hose is passed through the cylindrical tube and the ring, and cleaned in the process. This cleaning unit is large and dependent on the hose being dragged substantially vertical through the cylindrical tube using a hose winder, which is arranged above the cleaning unit.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a washer and a method for washing suction hoses on vehicles, such as trucks, tractors or trailers, which provides an easy and agile washing of suction hoses on site just after use of the suction hose. The object of the invention is at the same time to produce a washer easily and cheaply to maintain and produce at low costs.

Description of the Invention

The present invention addresses this by providing a circular hose washer for washing suction hoses on trucks, where said circular hose washer comprises:

- a conduit having a conduit shell, said conduit is arranged along a circumference of a circle, where the circle has a central axis,

- an inlet tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, the first tube end is at tached to said conduit shell facing away from the central axis, so said inlet tube is in fluid communication with said conduit, the second tube end comprises connection means for a fluid connection,

- a plurality of jet apertures equally distributed in the conduit shell along the circum ference of the circle, and each of said jet apertures has a jet direction line, and the jet direction lines are facing towards the central axis in at least one predefined jet angle relative to the central axis, and the inlet tube is in fluid communication with the jet aperture via said conduit.

Waste material is often transported by vacuum trucks. The waste material is for exam ple septage, such as fecal sludge, e.g. from septic tanks and pit latrines etc. The vacu um trucks also transport sewage sludge, industrial liquids or slurries from animal waste from livestock facilities with pens. The vacuum truck comprises a substantially long suction hose, which in one end is attached to a container on the truck. Suction hoses are flexible, often made of plastic or rubber, and the suction hose may be pro- vided with a grooved outer surface. The suction hose is often rolled up on a reel on the truck. When putting the suction hose into use, the suction hose is unreeled form the reel.

The waste material may easily get stocked to the grooved outer surface of the suction hoses. Using a circular hose washer, the worker is able to wash the suction hose on site. The waste material on the outer side of the suction hose will be washed off using fluid, the fluid and the waste material may afterwards easily be removed from the washing location by the vacuum truck itself. There will be no need of driving the vac uum truck to a cleaning facility, so the company or/and worker will reduce the work ing time and manpower when cleaning the suction hose on site, and thereby reduce the costs of maintenance.

A circular hose washer comprises a conduit having a conduit shell, wherein the con duit shell is arranged along a circumference of a circle. The circular hose washer has an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The inner diameter of the circular hose washer determines and/or limits the maximum cross sectional diameter of the suction hose, which is capable of being arranged inside the circular hose washer. The circular hose washer has a function as a ring around a hose capable of moving in a first and a second direction along the hose. The circular hose washer has a central axis.

The circular hose washer is provided with an inlet tube. The inlet tube has a first tube end which may be attached to the conduit shell using fastening means and/or the first tube end may be glued or welded to the conduit shell. The inlet tube is in fluid com munication with said conduit. The second tube end comprises connection means for a fluid connection to a fluid source. The connection means may be floating joint, screw couplings or hose couplings etc. The circular hose washer may easily and fast be con nected or disconnected to a fluid source.

The circular hose washer comprises a plurality of jet apertures equally distributed in the conduit shell along the circumference of the circle having the inner diameter. By jet apertures means a rapid stream of fluid may be forced out of a small opening in the conduit shell. Each of the jet apertures has a jet direction line pointing in the direction of the central axis. The jet direction lines may be perpendicular to the central axis. Alternatively, the jet direction lines may each be in a predefined jet angle relative to the central axis. Each jet aperture may be provided with a jet direction line in a prede fined jet angle relative to the central axis, which may be different from the other near by jet apertures.

The inlet tube is in fluid communication with the jet aperture via said conduit, so that the fluid from the fluid source may flow from the inlet tube through the conduit and out of the jet apertures, towards the part or nearby part of the suction hose, which is arranged in the centre of the circular hose washer.

To ensure that the waste material is not spread from one location to another location, the suction hose must be washed after use before the suction hose is rolled onto the truck. The circular hose washer may be attached to the vacuum vehicle, so the suction hose is lead through the centre of the circular hose washer from one end to another end of the suction hose. Alternatively, the circular hose washer may be handheld, and easily be lead along the suction hose.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a first shield has a top edge and a bottom edge, and the top edge of the first shield is attached to the conduit shell along the circumference of the circle, and the bottom edge of the first shield extends away from the conduit shell.

The first shield is attached to the circular hose washer, so when the suction hose is arranged substantially in the centre of the circular hose washer, the first shield is held in a position directed substantially towards the ground. The first shield is reflecting the fluid from the circular hose washer towards the ground. The first shield minimises the distribution of the waste material which is washed off the suction hose. The waste material is gathered within a limited area, and after cleaning, the waste material may easily and fast be sucked up using the suction hose.

The length of the first shields is determined by the distance from the top edge to a bottom edge of the first shield. The top edge of the first shield is attached to the con duit shell along the conduit. The bottom edge of the first shield extends away from the conduit shell. The length of the shield may vary according to the application. For ex- ample, the length may depend on the size of the inner diameter of the circular hose washer and/or the jet angle of the jet apertures, and/or the total weight of the circular hose washer. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said first shield is shaped as a hollow truncated cone, where a diameter of the bottom edge is larger than a diameter of the top edge.

The first shield may be shaped as a truncated cone. When the circular hose washer is in use, the first shield extends toward the ground. The first shield directs the fluid and the waste is flushed downwards and is limiting the area where the fluid and the waste will hit the ground.

The form of the first shields is determined by the shape from the top edge and to a bottom edge of the first shield. The shape may be as a truncated cone. The shape may alternatively have another shape chosen for optimal use by the type of application. The top edge of the first shield is attached to the conduit shell along the conduit. The bottom edge of the first shield extends away from the central axis and from the con duit shell in a predefined angle or angles. Both the shape and the length of the shield may vary according to the application.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a second shield has an upper edge and a lower edge, and the lower edge of the second shield is attached to said conduit shell along the circumference of the circle on the opposite side of conduit shell relative to the first shield, and the upper edge of the second shield extends away from the first shield.

When the circular hose washer is in use, the first shield extends toward the ground. To prevent the fluid from spreading unintended upwards and away from the conduit shell, a second shield is provided. The lower edge of the second shield may be attached to the conduit shell, so the upper edge of the second shield is capable of extending away from the conduit shell. The second shell prevents the fluid and waste to spread in all directions. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a second shield is shaped as a cylinder.

The length of the second shields is determined by the distance from the upper edge to the lower edge. The shape of the second shield may be cylindrical. The shape may alternatively have another shape chosen for optimal use by the type of application. The lower edge of the second shield is preferably circular and may be attached to the conduit shell along the conduit. The upper edge of the second shield extends away from the conduit shell, and the length of the shield may vary according to the applica- tion. For example, the length may depend on the size of the inner diameter of the cir cular hose washer and/or the jet angle of the jet apertures, and/or the total weight of the circular hose washer etc.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a cross section shape of the conduit shell has a first half shell and a second half shell, where a partition line between said first half shell and said second half shell is parallel to the central axis, the first half shell is facing toward the centre of the circle and the second half shell is facing away from the centre of the circle, where the cross sectional shape of saidfirst half shell differs from the cross sectional shape of said second half shell.

The conduit shell may have a first half shell different from a second half shell when viewed in a cross sectional view. A partition line between said first half shell and said second half shell may be arranged parallel to the central axis. Alternatively, the parti tion line between said first half shell and said second half shell may be arranged per- pendicular to the central axis. The first half shell may be nearest the centre of the cir cle and the second half shell is facing away from the centre of the circle. The material thickness of the first half shell may differ from the material thickness of the second half shell. The shape of the first half shell may be curved more than the second half shell, so the second half shell may have a substantially straight surface, which may be provided as a smooth transition from the first shield to the second shield. The first half shell may be provided with jet apertures and may therefore have a curved shaped to provide an optimal jet flow from the jet apertures towards the suction hose. If a first partition line is arranged parallel to the central axis and a second partition line is arranged perpendicular to the central axis, the two partition lines cross each other in the conduit. The cross section of the conduit and the conduit shell may be defined by all four quadrants. The conduit and the conduit shell may be divided into four differ ent shapes, one for each quadrant etc.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said jet direction line of said jet aperture is crossing the central axis in a said jet angle between 90° to 179°. If a first partition line is arranged parallel to the central axis and a second partition line is arranged perpendicular to the central axis, the two partition lines cross each other in the conduit. The cross section of the conduit shell may be defined by all four quad rants. Quadrant one and four is facing the central axis, and the jet angles 90° to 179° is located in the fourth quadrant, which is nearest to the first shield. When the circular hose washer is in use, the fluid flow from the jet apertures may be directed downwards and towards the first shield. The jet angles may preferably be 100° to 150°, so the rap id stream of fluid may easily force the waste of the suction hose.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said jet direction line of at least one of said jet apertures has a different jet angle relative to said central axis than the jet direction line of the other said jet apertures.

Suction hoses are flexible, often made of plastic or rubber, and the suction hose may be provided with a grooved outer surface. The waste may be like a paste, which easily gets stocked in the grooves. If the jets hit the suction hose while moving the suction hose through the circular hose washer, the waste material will be hit from different angles and with a variation of forces that will shake the waste material into pieces. The waste material can then easily be removed from the suction hose by the fluid. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the circular hose washer or part of the circular hose washer is provided in a material comprising polymers.

The environment in which the circular hose washer is to be used may be very harsh because of the contents of the waste material. The circular hose washer may be pro- duced in stainless steel or aluminium or similar material. The weight of the circular hose washer may be heavy and not so easy to handle if the washing procedure is done using a handheld circular hose washer. Therefore, parts of the circular hose washer may be provided in material comprising polymers and/or composite material. The circular hose washer may then be reduced in weight, and be much easier for the work ers to use. The costs of producing the circular hose washer may also be reduced be cause the part or parts of the circular hose washer easily may be moulded. The process of moulding parts is a low costs, quick and agile process.

Method of washing a suction hose mounted on a truck using a circular hose washer according to the steps: a) connecting a fluid supply to the inlet tube of said circular hose washer, b) arranging a first end of said suction hose along a central axis in said circular hose washer, c) providing a fluid flow through a conduit of said circular hose washer, so the fluid is capable of flowing through a plurality of jet apertures arranged in said conduit shell, d) guiding said suction hose through said circular hose washer, from the first end of said suction hose to a second end of said suction hose, while the fluid is flowing through said jet apertures towards the suction hose, and thereby removing the waste from the suction hose.

The circular hose washer may be attached to a vehicle using attachment means. The suction hose is lead through the centre of the circular hose washer every time the suc tion hose is reeled in or reeled out. Alternatively, the circular hose washer may be handheld and easily be lead along the suction hose.

The circular hose washer may be connected to a fluid supply, which may be a fluid container on the vehicle or to a stationary tap located in the area. The fluid may com prise a cleaning agent. The first end of the suction hose is arranged along the inside of the circular hose washer. The circular hose washer is capable of being displaced along the suction hose.

When turning on the fluid supply, the fluid flows through the conduit of the circular hose washer. The fluid flows through a plurality of jet apertures arranged in said con- duit shell, where the fluid is directed towards a part of the suction hose. When the suc tion hose is guided through the circular hose washer, part after part of the suction hose gets washed from the first end of the suction hose to a second end of said suction hose, while the fluid is flowing through said jet apertures towards the suction hose, and thereby removing the waste from the suction hose.

After washing the suction hose, the waste material on the ground is removed by using the suction hose, and thereafter the suction hose is stored in or on the vehicle. The vehicle is now ready for the next assignment.

The invention has now been explained with reference to a few embodiments which have only been discussed in order to illustrate the many possibilities and varying de sign possibilities achievable with the circular hose washer according to the present invention. It shall also be understood that the circular hose washer can be used to wash suction hoses, whether the suction hoses are attached to vacuum trucks or any other type of vehicle or trailer. The use of vacuum trucks is used as an example.

Description of the Drawing

The embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to:

Fig. 1 : Illustrating a circular hose washer in a first embodiment. Fig. 2: Illustrating a circular hose washer from a top view.

Fig. 3: Illustrating a circular hose washer in three different embodiments.

Fig. 4: Showing an embodiment of a circular hose washer.

Fig. 5: Illustrating a circular hose washer comprising shields.

Detailed Description of the Invention An embodiment of the invention is explained in the following detailed description. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the following de scription or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Fig. 1 : Illustrates a circular hose washer in a first embodiment. A circular hose washer 1 comprises a conduit 2 arranged in a circle, and the circle of the circular hose washer 1 has a central axis X. The circular hose washer 1 is shaped as a ring with a space in side the ring, capable of receiving a suction hose. A suction hose is arranged parallel to the central axis X. The circular hose washer 1 is capable of moving in a first and a second direction along the suction hose.

The circular hose washer 1 is provided with an inlet opening 3. The inlet opening 3 is in fluid communication with said conduit 2. The inlet opening 3 also comprises con nection means, such as floating joint, screw couplings or hose couplings etc., for a fluid connection to a fluid source. The fluid connection may comprise releasable con nection means to a hose between the fluid source and the inlet opening 3. The circular hose washer 1 may easily and fast be connected or disconnected to the fluid source.

The circular hose washer 1 also comprises a plurality of jet apertures 4 equally dis tributed in the first half shell of the conduit 2, which is arranged facing towards the central axis X. A rapid stream of fluid is forced out of the jet apertures 4. Each of the jet apertures 4 has a jet direction line pointing in the direction of the central axis X, not showed on the fig. 1. The jet direction lines may be perpendicular to the central axis X. Alternatively, the jet direction lines may each be in a predefined jet angle rela tive to the central axis X.

The inlet opening 3, which is in fluid communication with the jet apertures 4 via the conduit 2, receives a flow of fluid from the fluid source. The fluid flows from the inlet opening 3 through the conduit 2 and out the jet apertures 4, towards the part or nearby part of the suction hose, which can be arranged through the circular hose washer 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates a circular hose washer from a top view. A circular hose washer 1 comprises a conduit 2 arranged along a circumference of a circle. The conduit 2 is provided with a shell which comprises an outer conduit shell 2' and inner conduit shell 2". The conduit 2, which is arranged along a circumference of a circle, forms a ring. The circular hose washer 1 has a space 6 inside the conduit 2, capable of receiv ing a suction hose. The circular hose washer 1 has an inner diameter di of the inner conduit shell 2" and an outer diameter d of the outer conduit shell 2'. The inner di ameter di of the circular hose washer 1 determines and/or limits the maximum cross sectional diameter of a suction hose, which is capable of being arranged inside the circular hose washer f . An inlet tube 7 is attached to the conduit 2 relative to the inlet opening 3. The inlet tube 7 has a first tube end and a second tube end. The first tube end of the inlet tube 7 may be releasably fastened to the outer conduit shell 2'. Alternatively, the inlet tube 7 end may be glued or welded to the outer conduit shell 2'. The inlet tube 7 is in fluid communication with the conduit through the inlet opening. The second tube end, which is arranged opposite the first tube end, is provided with connection means, such as floating joint, screw couplings or hose couplings etc., for connection to e.g. a fluid hose. The jet apertures 4, which is showed in fig 1, is arranged along the circumference of the inner shell 2". Each jet aperture 4 is provided with a jet direction line in a prede fined jet angle relative to the central axis X, which may be different from the other nearby jet apertures, to provide a randomised jet stream attack on the suction hose. Fig. 3 illustrates a circular hose washer 1 in three different embodiments, A, B and C. In all three examples, a suction hose 9 is guided through the space in the circular hose washer 1. A fluid pipe 10 is connected to the circular hose washer 1, providing fluid to the circular hose washer 1. The first embodiment A illustrates a circular hose washer 1 comprising a conduit 2. The jet of fluid is directed towards the suction hose 9. Waste material and fluid will be spread in all direction, when washed of the suction hose 9.

The second embodiment B illustrates a circular hose washer 1 comprising a conduit 2 and a first shield 11. The first shield 11 is shaped as a truncated cone. When the circu lar hose washer 1 is in use, the first shield 11 extends toward the ground. The top edge of the first shield 11 is arranged along the conduit 2. The bottom edge of the first shield 11 extends away from the conduit 2 in a predefined angle or angles. The jets of fluid are directed towards the suction hose 9. Most of the waste material and fluid will be washed off the suction hose 9 and directed downwards by the first shield 11, when washed off the suction hose 9, because the first shield 11 directs the fluid and waste material downwards and limits the area in which the fluid and the waste material will reach the ground. Still some of the waste material and fluid will be spread in all direc tions upwards when washed off the suction hose 9. The third embodiment C illustrates a circular hose washer 1 comprising a conduit 2 and a first shield 11 and a second shield. The second shield 12 is shaped as a cylinder. When the circular hose washer 1 is in use, the second shield 12 extends away from the ground. The lower edge of the second shield 12 is arranged along the conduit 2 on the opposite side of the first shield 11. The jet of fluid is directed towards the suction hose. Most of the waste material and fluid will be washed off the suction hose 9 and directed downwards by the first shield 11 when washed of the suction hose 9, because the first shield 11 directs the fluid and waste material downwards and limits the area in which the fluid and the waste will hit the ground. The second shield 12 provides a limitation to the waste material and fluid that will be spread upwards when washed off the suction hose 9. The waste material and fluid that will be spread upwards are stopped by the second shield 12 and directed downwards due to gravity force. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a circular hose washer 1. The material of the circular hose washer in this embodiment is made of stainless steel. The outer conduit shell 2' extends in a circular shape along the first shield 11 and a second shield 12, where the circular hose washer 1 forms a ring. The first shield 11 has a truncated cone shape and the second shield 12 is shaped as a cylinder. The top edge of the first shield is welded along the outer conduit shell 2'. The lower edge of the second shield 12 is welded along the outer conduit shell 2' on the opposite side of the first shield 11 extending away from the second shield 12. The first shield 11 and the second shield 12 have a space 6 on the inner side, capable of receiving a suction hose. In use the suction hose will first lead through the first shield 11, where the suction hose passes the circular conduit shell, and thereafter lead through the second shield. The inlet tube 7 is welded to the outer conduit shell 2', capable for receiving fluid such as water for cleaning the suction hose.

Fig. 5 illustrates a circular hose washer comprising shields. The circular hose washer comprises a conduit 2 arranged along a circumference of a circle, where the circle has a centre axis X.

The first shield 11 is shaped as a hollow truncated cone. The first shield 11 has a top edge 13 and a bottom edge 14. The top edge 13 has a circumference substantially equal to the circumference of the conduit 2. The top edge 13 is attached to the conduit 2 along the circumference of the conduit 2. The bottom edge 14 extends away from the conduit 2. A diameter of the bottom edge 14 is larger than a diameter of the top edge 13.

The second shield 12 is shaped as a cylinder. The second shield has an upper edge 16 and a lower edge 15. The lower edge 15 has a circumference substantially equal to the circumference of the conduit 2. The lower edge 15 is attached to the conduit 2 along the circumference of the conduit 2 on the opposite side of conduit 2 relative to the first shield 11. The upper edge 16 extends away from the first shield 11.

The circular hose washer 1 also comprises a plurality of jet apertures equally distrib uted along the conduit 2. Each of the jet apertures has a jet direction line Li, L2. Each of the jet direction lines is facing towards the centre axis X in at least one prede- fined jet angle y , qE relative to the centre axis X. The jet direction line Li is perpen dicular y to the central axis X. Alternatively, the jet direction line L2 is in a prede fined jet angle qE relative to the central axis X. Each of the jet apertures may be pro vided with a unique, predefined jet direction line in a predefined jet angle relative to the central axis X, which may be different from the other nearby jet apertures.

The jet angles q) , qE may vary between 90° to 179°, so the rapid stream of fluid may easily force the waste off the suction hose, and direct the fluid and waste material to wards the first shield 11 and out of the circular hose washer 1, as illustrated by the arrow F. The jet angles q) , q may preferably vary between 100° to 150°. The rapid stream of fluid may easily force the waste of the suction hose.