Method of and apparatus for cleaning hard-to-reach areas

• US 20020040513A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mister Sweeper, LP
• Original Assignee: The Mister Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Brantley, Daniel J., Franklin, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,735,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/345
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0809 Loosening or dislodging by blowing combined with suction E01H1/0863; with steam E01H1/10; removing snow by blowing E01H5/106; cleaning rails by blowing E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing fog by blowing E01H13/00; cleaning joints in road construction by blowing E01C23/0906; Drying by means of gas streams by heat only E01H1/08; combined with snow or ice melting E01H5/10, E01H5/106, E01H5/108

Abstract

A method and apparatus for cleaning generally hard-to-reach or inaccessible areas uses a turbine blower attached to at least one duct for blowing debris located in the hard-to-reach or inaccessible area into an accessible area. The apparatus is most typically mounted on a street-cleaning machine that collects debris as the machine is driven over the debris. The duct can be directionally adjusted from a driver'"'"'s position of the street-cleaning machine. Air flow volume per unit time can be adjusted from the driver'"'"'s position. The debris is moved using the apparatus from the inaccessible or hard-to-reach area into an area that permits the street-cleaning machine to be driven over the debris to collect the debris.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a wheeled chassis;

a device operable to collect debris traveled over by the chassis attached to the chassis;

at least one blower attached to the chassis;

at least one duct attached to at least one of the at least one blower, the at least one duct in combination directing an industrial-capacity air flow toward an area adjacent to the apparatus; and

a device operable to remotely control a direction of the air flow.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a device operable to remotely control a volume per unit time of the air flow.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow is directed while the apparatus is operating to collect debris being traveled over by the chassis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow is directed while the apparatus is operating at full capacity in a function of collecting debris being traveled over by the chassis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an instrument adapted to rapidly reduce the air flow.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the instrument is adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow through the at least one duct.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the instrument adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow is responsive to an air-flow threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the instrument adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow is responsive to the device operable to remotely control the volume per unit time of air flow.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow can be generated without diminishing an ability of the apparatus to simultaneously collect debris being traveled over by the chassis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow can be generated independently of a function of the apparatus of collecting debris being traveled over by the chassis.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an entire air-flow generation capacity of the at least one blower can be channeled through the at least one duct.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one blower generates the air flow directed by the at least one duct and a second air flow for collection of the debris traveled over by the chassis.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a regenerative-air street-cleaning machine.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of the at least one duct is directionally adjustable relative the chassis.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a volume per unit time of the air flow is adjustable.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of the at least one duct is directionally adjustable via a device adapted to remotely control a direction of the air flow.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a device adapted to remotely control a volume per unit time of the air flow and a direction of at least one of the at least one duct.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one duct comprises a valve for rapidly and selectively reducing an air flow volume per unit time of the at least one duct.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow is directed while the apparatus is operating to collect debris being traveled over by the chassis.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow is directed while the apparatus is operating at full capacity in a function of collecting debris being traveled over by the chassis.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an instrument adapted to rapidly reduce the air flow.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the instrument is adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce air flow through the at least one duct.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the instrument adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow is responsive to an air-flow threshold.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the instrument adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow is responsive to a device operable to remotely control a volume per unit time of air flow.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one blower generates the air flow directed by the at least one duct and a second air flow for collecting of the debris traveled over by the chassis.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a regenerative-air street-cleaning machine.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein at least one of the at least one duct is directionally adjustable.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein a volume per unit time of the air flow is adjustable.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein at least one of the at least one duct is directionally adjustable via a device adapted to remotely control a direction of the air flow.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a device adapted to remotely control a volume per unit time of the air flow and a direction of at least one of the at least one duct.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow is directed while the apparatus is operating to collect debris being traveled over by the chassis.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the industrial-capacity the air flow is directed while the apparatus is operating at fill capacity in a function of collecting debris being traveled over by the chassis.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising an instrument adapted to rapidly reduce the air flow.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the instrument is adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow through the at least one duct.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the instrument adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow is responsive to an air-flow threshold.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the instrument adapted to selectively and rapidly reduce the air flow is responsive to a device operable to remotely control a volume per unit time of air flow.

39. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow can be generated without diminishing an ability of the apparatus to simultaneously collect debris being traveled over by the chassis.

40. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the industrial-capacity air flow can be generated independently of a function of the apparatus of collecting debris being traveled over by the chassis.

41. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein an entire air-flow generation capacity of the at least one blower can be channeled through the at least one duct.

42. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the at least one blower generates the air flow directed by the at least one duct and a second air flow for the collecting of the debris traveled over by the chassis.

43. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the apparatus comprises a regenerative-air street-cleaning machine.

14. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a wheeled chassis;

a device operable to collect debris traveled over by the chassis attached to the chassis;

at least one blower attached to the chassis;

at least one duct attached to at least one of the at least one blower, the at least one duct in combination directing an industrial-capacity air flow toward an area adjacent to the apparatus, wherein the industrial-capacity air flow can be generated independently of a function of the apparatus of collecting debris being traveled over by the chassis.

28. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a wheeled chassis;

a device operable to collect debris traveled over by the chassis attached to the chassis;

at least one blower attached to the chassis;

at least one duct attached to at least one of the at least one blower, the at least one duct in combination directing an industrial-capacity air flow toward an area adjacent to the apparatus, wherein generation of the air flow does not diminish a capacity of the apparatus to simultaneously collect debris being traveled over by the chassis.

44. A cleaning method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus adapted to collect debris traveled over by the apparatus;

directing an industrial-capacity air flow toward a first area adjacent to the apparatus;

moving debris located in the first area using the air flow until the debris is no longer located in the first area; and

collecting the debris by traveling over the debris with the apparatus.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of moving further comprises the step of collecting debris located outside the first area during execution of the moving step.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of moving further comprises the step of driving the apparatus.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of moving further comprises the steps of:

adjusting a direction of the air flow; and

adjusting an air flow volume per unit time.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the adjusting steps are controlled from a driver'"'"'s position of the apparatus.

49. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of rapidly reducing the air flow responsive to the debris no longer being located in the first area.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of rapidly reducing is controlled from a driver'"'"'s position of the apparatus.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of rapidly reducing is responsive to an air flow threshold.