Surface drying machine

• US 6,189,179 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saturn Machine & Welding Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Saturn Machine & Welding Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Baird, Billy Carr
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/281,030
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 153/46, 153/64, 154/05
• US Class Current: 15/364
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/108 Removing liquids or semi- liquids, e.g. absorbing rain water, sucking-off mud in road washing machines E01H1/103; in snow melting E01H5/108; applying absorbing agents on oil or the like E01H1/001; constructional measures for draining roads E01C11/224

Abstract

An apparatus for drying wet roadway surfaces, and more particularly, paved race tracks. The drying device has a rectangular, box-shaped housing with first and second chambers. The first or leading chamber has a first drip pan for collecting water. At least one brush is rotatably mounted in the first chamber such that the longitudinal axis of the brush is oriented transversely to the device'"'"'s direction of travel when removing water. The brush is adapted to contact the surface so as to collect water in the brush as the brush rotates. The brush is also adapted to contact the first drip pan so as to dislodge the collected water in the brush and deposit the water into the drip pan. First and second squeegees are mounted respectively to the first and second chambers for diverting water away from the surface over which the apparatus is traversing. Finally, a blower is mounted atop the housing for forcing air into the second chamber for evaporating water on the surface not already collected by the brush.

Claims

1. An apparatus for traversing a surface to remove water therefrom, the apparatus comprising:

a housing with first and second chambers, said first chamber having a first drip pan for collecting water, said first chamber preceding said second chamber as the apparatus traverses the surface;

at least one brush rotatably mounted in said first chamber, the longitudinal axis of said brush being oriented transversely to the apparatus'"'"'s direction of travel when removing water, said brush adapted to contact the surface so as to collect water in said brush when said brush rotates;

first and second squeegees mounted respectively to said first and second chambers for diverting water along the surface over which the apparatus is traversing; and

a blower for forcing air into said second chamber for aiding evaporation of water on the surface not already collected by said brush.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first pair of oppositely disposed wheels operatively connected to said housing for allowing movement of the apparatus perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said brush so as to remove water from the surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a second set of wheels operatively connected to said housing and oriented perpendicularly to said first set of wheels such that the apparatus may be transported in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said brush.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a transport hitch detachably connected to said housing and oriented such that the apparatus may be towed by a vehicle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said brush when the apparatus is not being used to remove water from the surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first pair of wheels is operably coupled to said brush so as to turn said brush when said first pair of wheels turns.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a transport hitch pivotally connected to said housing so that said housing can be selectively rotated relative to said transport hitch such that the water removal apparatus can be towed in one of two orientations, said first orientation being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said brush, said second orientation being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said brush.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transport hitch has a pair of transport wheels disposed at a first end of said transport hitch and a coupling device disposed at a second end of said transport hitch, said transport hitch further includes a lift cylinder for lifting said housing and said first pair of wheels off the ground so that said housing can be selectively rotated between said first and second orientations.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said transport wheels are selectively steerable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an operation hitch operatively connected to said housing and oriented such that the apparatus may be pulled by a vehicle in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said brush so as to remove water from the surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two rotatably mounted brushes in said first chamber, said brushes being aligned along a common longitudinal axis, each of said brushes being mounted in floating bearings such that each brush may follow the contours of the surface so as to maintain contact with the surface when removing water.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first chamber has second and third drip pans adapted to collected water made air born by the rotation of said brush.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a collection tank attached to said housing and adapted to receive water collected by said first, second and third drip pans.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blower is adapted to blow heated air.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second chambers share a common wall, said wall having slots for diverting a portion of the air from said blower into said first chamber to help evaporate air born water and water remaining in said brush.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said common wall has a third squeegee mounted to divert water along the surface over which the apparatus is traversing.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said brush is adapted to contact said first drip pan so as to dislodge the collected water in said brush and deposit the water into said drip pan.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a motor operably coupled to said brush so as to turn said brush to remove water from the surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said motor is hydraulically actuated.

19. An apparatus for traversing a surface to remove water therefrom, the apparatus comprising:

housing with first and second chambers, said first chamber having a plurality of drip pans for collecting water, said first chamber preceding said second chamber as the apparatus traverses the surface;

first and second brushes rotatably mounted in said first chamber and aligned along a common longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis being oriented transversely to the apparatus'"'"'s direction of travel when removing water, said brushes adapted to contact the surface so as to collect water in said brushes when said brushes rotate, said brushes also adapted to contact one of said drip pans so as to dislodge the collected water in said brushes and deposit the water into said one of said drip pans, the other of said drip pans adapted to collect water made air born by the rotation of said brush;

a collection tank attached to said housing and adapted to receive water collected by said drip pans;

first and second squeegees for diverting water along the surface over which the apparatus is traversing, said first squeegee mounted to a leading wall of said housing, said second squeegee mounted to a trailing wall of said housing; and

a blower for forcing heated air into said second chamber for aiding evaporation of water on the surface not already collected by said brush.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a first pair of oppositely disposed wheels operatively connected to said housing for allowing movement of the apparatus perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said brushes so as to remove water from the surface, said first pair of wheels being operably coupled to said first and second brushes so as to turn said first and second brushes when said first pair of wheels turns; and

a second set of wheels operatively connected to said housing and oriented perpendicularly to said first set of wheels such that the apparatus may be transported in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said brush.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a transport hitch detachably connected to said housing and oriented such that the apparatus may be towed by a vehicle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said brushes when the apparatus is not being used to remove water from the surface; and

an operation hitch operatively connected to said housing and oriented such that the apparatus may be pulled by a vehicle in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said brush so as to remove water from the surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a first pair of oppositely disposed wheels operatively connected to said housing for allowing movement of the apparatus perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said brushes so as to remove water from the surface;

a transport hitch pivotally connected to said housing so that said housing can be selectively rotated relative to said transport hitch such that the water removal apparatus can be towed in one of two orientations, said first orientation being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said brush, said second orientation being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said brush; and

a hydraulically actuated motor operably coupled to said first and second brushes so as to turn said first and second brushes to remove water from the surface.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said transport hitch has a pair of selectively steerable transport wheels disposed at a first end of said transport hitch and a coupling device disposed at a second end of said transport, said transport hitch further includes a lift cylinder for lifting said housing and said first pair of wheels off the ground so that said housing can be selectively rotated between said first and second orientations.