It is often necessary to remove liquids from paved surfaces. In particular, it is presently the practice to de-ice aircraft by spraying the aircraft with deicing liquids such as glycols while the aircraft are parked on a paved surface such as a taxiway or ramp. The liquid which drains from the aircraft accumulates on the paved surface. This liquid must be collected so that it does not run into storm drains or off the pavement and into the ground water.
It has been proposed heretofore to use a high-powered vacuum cleaner mounted on a special-purpose truck chassis with its own motive power to collect the liquid. Units which have been available prior to the present invention have required very powerful suction units, which are costly to build and to operate. The special-purpose truck chassis, with its own power train, adds further cost. Attempts have been made heretofore to use suction cleaning units mounted on trailers which can be pulled by an ordinary truck. Moreover, the fluids tend to accumulate on the pavement in uneven pools, with shallow and deep portions. The suction cleaner may work well on deep liquid as, for example, a pool more than an inch deep, but work poorly on shallow liquid or vice-versa.
Accordingly, there have been needs for further improvements.
One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for suctioning fluid from a hard surface. Apparatus according to this aspect of the invention desirably includes a squeegee structure defining a collection space, the squeegee structure being movable across the hard surface and adapted to collect fluid from the hard surface in the collection space. A plurality of vacuum inlets communicate with the collection space. The apparatus desirably include a collection tank and a suction pump connected to the collection tank. The apparatus also desirably incorporates a fluid flow structure including one or more conduits. Most preferably, the fluid flow structure is constructed and arranged to connect only one or more selected ones of the inlets to the tank. As further explained below, the ability to use different inlets under different conditions facilitates efficient operation on both deep and shallow liquid pools.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for vacuuming fluid from a hard surface that is towable behind a vehicle. The apparatus desirably includes a trailer frame having a forward end, a rear end and main wheels mounted thereon between the ends. The apparatus desirably also includes one or more hitch units, at least one of which is adapted to connect a hitch on a towing vehicle to the front end of the frame while maintaining the frame in a predetermined attitude with respect to the ground regardless of the height of the hitch on the towing vehicle. The apparatus desirably also includes a suction apparatus having a squeegee structure linked to the trailer frame and a vacuum unit connected to the squeegee structure for drawing fluid from the squeegee structure. The ability to use towing vehicles having different hitch heights provides operating versatility. This feature is particularly useful in the airport environment, where various special-purpose vehicles commonly are available.
Apparatus according to yet a another aspect of includes a squeegee structure defining a collection space, the squeegee structure being movable across the hard surface and adapted to collect fluid from the hard surface in the collection space; a collection tank; a plurality of vacuum inlets communicating with the collection space, one more of the vacuum inlets being movable relative to the squeegee structure; a fluid flow structure including one or more conduits for connecting one or more of the vacuum inlets to the collection tank; and a suction pump connected to the collection tank.
Still further aspects of the invention provide methods for the removal of fluid from a hard surface.
Apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention (
The apparatus includes a first hitch unit 160 (
The apparatus further includes a second hitch unit 150, (
A collection tank 10 is securedly mounted to the trailer frame 1. The tank is cylindrical in shape and is of the type commonly found on septic cleaning trucks. The tank has a circular door 18 at its rear end. The door is normally held closed by clamps (not shown) but can be manually opened by manually releasing the clamps. A dumping mechanism such as a hydraulic dumping mechanism 21 commonly found on dump trucks is mounted to the trailer frame 1 and linked to the tank so that, when the dump mechanism is activated by the operator, the forward portion of the tank 20 raises from the trailer frame allowing for the contents of the tank to flow through the rear door 18 into a suitable waste receptacle. This feature allows the operator to empty the tank easily without coming into contact with the fluid. One or more work lights (not shown) may be mounted to the rear of the tank.
Also attached to the trailer frame 1 is an engine-powered suction pump 12. In the preferred embodiment, the pump is mounted to a support 60 in front of the collection tank 10 but behind the attachment site 5. The suction pump is connected to the interior of tank 10 by a hose 62. As the pump operates, air is drawn from the tank so that suction is generated in tank 10. Suction pump 12 may be a conventional pump of the type commonly used to generate suction in septic-tank cleaning devices as, for example, a pump powered by a 40-50 horsepower engine and capable of pumping 400-500 cubic feet per minute of air.
A squeegee structure 4 is located at the rear of the trailer frame 2. Referring to
The squeegee structure 4 includes a single first inlet 36 and four second inlets 38. As best seen in
The entire squeegee structure 4 is physically attached to the rear end of trailer frame 1 by two adjustable mounting brackets 68. The mounting brackets allow for the squeegee structure to be raised to the position indicated in broken lines at 4′ in
The apparatus further includes a fluid flow structure for carrying fluid from the inlets 36 and 38 to the collection tank 10. The fluid flow structure includes a collection chamber 42 (
In operation, in a method according to one embodiment of the invention, the second or caster hitch unit 150 (
The squeegee structure 4 is positioned in the operative position depicted in the drawings. When the squeegee structure is in this position, and with the trailer frame 1 in the desired level attitude, the caster wheels 50 and brackets 68 position the squeegee structure with the top wall 101 substantially parallel to the pavement surface, and with the strip 113 at the bottom edge of the rear wall 112 bearing lightly on the pavement. The suction pump 12 is actuated to create a subatmospheric pressure in tank 10. One or both of valves 64 and 66 is opened to connect selected ones of the inlets 36, 38 to the tank. When valve 66 is open, chamber 42 and second inlets 38 are connected to tank 10, whereas when valve 68 is open, first inlet 36 is connected to the tank. The tow vehicle is operated to pull the trailer frame 1 and hence squeegee structure 4 over the surface, thus moving the squeegee structure over the pavement in the forward direction, with the forward end 110 leading. As the squeegee structure advances over the pavement, the liquid on the surface tends to accumulate within the space 102, near the rear wall 112.
The suction or subatmospheric pressure in tank 10 draws air and liquid into the particular inlets which are connected to the tank. The liquid is retained in tank 10, whereas the air passes out through the pump 12. The apparatus can efficiently vacuum liquids of different depths. Normally, only the smaller second inlets 38 are connected to the suction in the tank while the squeegee structure is engaged with a shallow film or layer of liquid on the pavement, whereas only the first inlet 36 is connected to the suction in the tank while the squeegee structure is engaged with a relatively deeper liquid as, for example, about an inch or more in depth. The first inlet provides rapid pickup of deep liquid, whereas the second inlets provide efficient removal of shallower liquid. The ability to select particular inlets suitable for different conditions provides effective liquid pickup with modest suction pump power and modest fuel consumption. As noted above, the pipe sections 206 of the second inlets 38 are adjustable so that their distance from the surface can be manipulated. This feature can also be used to accommodate fluid spills of different depths. The inlets can be lowered towards the ground for use with very shallow fluid is shallow, or raised when the fluid is deeper.
Once the tank is full, as indicated by a gauge located on the tank, the fluid contents of the tank can be dumped. The fluid can be discharged through a bottom drain (not shown) on the tank. As the apparatus operates, it may collect solid debris from the surface. The debris can be removed by opening door 18 and raising the front end of the tank. Typically, the squeegee structure is removed during this process.
The first or pintle hitch unit 160 can be used during the vacuuming operation if a tow vehicle having a hitch at the right height to maintain the trailer frame in a level attitude is available. Also, the first or pintle hitch unit 160 (
Preferably, the components are arranged so that the apparatus can be operated entirely or partially from the cab of the towing vehicle. For example, valves 66 and 64 may be electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically actuated valves, and may be linked to a suitable actuation power source and to a remote control apparatus. Also, a power-operated mechanism (not shown) may be provided for moving the squeegee structure between the operative and storage positions, and such mechanism also may be linked to the remote control apparatus.
Numerous variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be used. For example, more than one relatively large first inlet 36 can be provided. Also, more than four or fewer than four second inlets 38 can be provided. The size and shape of the squeegee structure can be varied. Also, the squeegee structure, tank and associated elements can be mounted on a self-powered truck chassis instead of on a trailer. The hitch units can include features other than rings for engaging the hitch on the tow vehicle. For example, the ring can be replaced by a ball socket for engagement with a ball-type hitch or a pin for engagement with a “fifth wheel” type hitch.
In a further variant, the two separate hitch units can be replaced by features integrated with the trailer frame which are arranged to hold the trailer frame in a predetermined level attitude regardless of the height of the hitch on a tow vehicle. For example, a ring or other feature for engaging the tow vehicle can be mounted to the front end of the trailer frame through an adjustable mechanism such as a screw jack so that the ring or other engaging feature can be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the trailer frame and then locked in place.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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