AU3685599A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: CLEANING APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for, but not limited to, portable waste collection containers and a method of cleaning said containers whereby the washing liquid is recycled.

BACKGROUND ART At present, domestic and medium sized portable commercial waste containers are manually cleaned by hosing, or a combination of hosing and scrubbing, to remove particulate build up and/or reduce bin odour. Hosing is an inefficient method of 1o cleaning in that a large quantity of water is expelled to clean a relatively small surface area, and has the additional drawback that the impact of high-pressure hosing is apt to blast a mist of fine particles of rubbish out of the container in the water spray, and thus can be a means of spreading infection into the air around the container being cleaned.

Often, the waste water and/or particulate matter is deflected back onto the cleaner. s 15 Further, if surfactants such as phosphate based detergents are employed, the cleaner may have to transport the containers to a designated washing area so that the waste water run-off can be discharged to a drainage system provided in compliance with local or governmental ordinances.

Due to the unpleasant nature of the cleaning task, the containers tend to be cleaned at 20 irregular intervals. However, cleaning of the containers is essential to maintain hygiene and to avoid the attraction of pests such as flies, cats or dogs.

0: DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which is simple to operate, easily maintained and which utilises a minimal quantity of washing liquid.

The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus suitable for (but not limited to) cleaning portable waste collection containers, said apparatus comprising: at least one rotatable cleaning head connectable to a liquid supply, the or each said cleaning head providing a plurality of liquid outlets; means for controlling the flow of liquid to the or each said cleaning head; means for supporting the article to be cleaned in a 2 predetermined position relative to at least one said cleaning head; waste liquid collection means positioned relative to said supporting means and said cleaning head so as to collect a major portion of the waste liquid.

Although the waste liquid may be discarded after cleaning, it is preferred to re-cycle the waste liquid. In this case, said waste liquid collection means includes a removable filter positioned over a waste liquid collection sump. Preferably, the recycling means includes a pipe extending into said sump and return means for drawing waste liquid through said pipe and returning the waste liquid to said liquid supply. The return means may be any suitable means, such as a pump, but preferably comprises a pump which in use circulates liquid from the liquid supply such that the pump draws liquid from said liquid supply and then returns liquid to said liquid supply through a pipe opening into said sump pipe and provided with a Venturi downstream of said sump pipe connection.

The means for supporting the article to be cleaned may comprise a supporting framework or hoist, but preferably comprises a tray located beneath the or each i cleaning head, the tray sloping downwards towards the waste liquid collection means.

The cleaning head may be long or short, relative to the length of the container being cleaned.

The liquid may be water, but preferably is water containing a detergent, most preferably a non-foaming detergent.

20 Preferably, the liquid outlets from said cleaning head are arranged such that water is emitted at an angle other than 90 degrees to the surface of the container being cleaned.

The present invention further provides a method of cleaning a container comprising providing apparatus as described above, positioning a waste collection container to be cleaned on its side, supported by said supporting means such that at least one cleaning head lies inside the container and the container lid is partially closed; operating said pump to circulate liquid from said liquid supply tank; supplying a flow of liquid to the or each said cleaning head such that cleaning liquid is emitted from said cleaning head inside said container, to clean the inside of said container; after cleaning is completed, shutting off the flow of liquid to the or each cleaning head and removing the cleaned container; passing the waste liquid through said filter into said sump; removing waste liquid from said sump and returning said waste liquid to the liquid supply tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example only a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing the position of a waste .00.container in dotted outline relative to the waste collection unit and cleaning head; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning head of Fig. 1 or 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternative type of cleaning head; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the cleaning head of Fig. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, the cleaning apparatus 2 comprises a liquid supply tank 3, cleaning head 15, waste liquid collection unit 5 and pump/motor 6.

S.In use, liquid is continuously circulated through the cleaning apparatus 2 by the pump 6 and a network of pipes (as hereinafter described) in the direction of the arrows depicted in Fig. 1. Preferably, the liquid is composed of water and a detergent. Preferably, the detergent is a non-foaming detergent. Alternatively, said liquid is water. Optionally, the liquid may also include a sanitizer and/or deodorant.

Referring to Fig. 1, the liquid supply tank 3 consists of a storage container having an outlet 7, inlet 8, drain 9 and a refilling inlet (not shown). The outlet 7 is a short distance above the base and is connected to the pump/motor 6 by a pipe. The position of the outlet 7 allows for sedimentation of particulate material in the base of the supply tank 3 and reduces the uptake of particulate matter in the liquid outflow through the pump 6.

Sedimentary material can be removed from the supply tank 3 by opening the drain 9 located at the base of the supply tank 3. The supply tank 3 may be cleaned by running a suitable cleaning agent through the refilling inlet (not shown) to the open drain 9 when the pump 6 is inoperative.

When activated, the pump 6 circulates liquid from the supply tank 3 into the outflow pipe 10. Optionally, the pump 6 includes a heating unit (not shown). The outflow pipe is connected to a shut-off valve 11, and to a T-junction 12 adjacent the outlet terminus so that some of the liquid in the pipe 10 can be diverted through the shut-off valve 11 to the cleaning head 15 via an inflow pipe 14, and the remainder flows through the return pipe 13 to the supply tank 3 via inlet 8. Whether the valve 11 is open or closed, liquid continually flows through the pipe 10, junction 12 and pipe 13, returning to :the storage tank 3.

*With particular reference to Fig. 2 and 3, the cleaning head 15 is supported upon one end of the inflow pipe 14 and includes a substantially central fixed pipe 16, a sleeve 17 base of which is releasably mounted within a collar 18 (Fig. 2 only), and a cap 19.

In the open position, the shut-off valve 11 shunts liquid from the pipe 10 into the cleaning head 15 via the fixed pipes 14 and 16. It will be appreciated that the fixed pipe 16 may be a continuation of the inflow pipe 14 or be rigidly connected at one end 20 thereof to the inflow pipe 14.

The fixed pipe 16 is perforated along its length by a series of apertures 20 and the top opening is partially sealed by the cap 19. The top opening of the fixed pipe 16 is inserted in the aperture of a first circular bearing 21. In use, liquid flows through the side wall perforations 20 and also streams out of the jet 22 provided in the centre of the cap 19 adjacent the top opening of the fixed pipe 16. The cap 19 is retained on the peripheral rim 21a of the bearing 21 and is releasably secured to the top of the sleeve 17 and/or bearing 21 by an interference fit or retaining screw(s) (not shown).

The sleeve 17 consists of an elongate open ended tube having a plurality of spaced nozzles 23 along its length. The top of the sleeve 17 is inserted over the bearing 21 adjacent the rim 21 a and the base of the sleeve 17 is inserted over a second circular bearing 24, such that the fixed pipe 16 and bearings (21,24) define an enclosed cavity concentric with the sleeve 17. It will be appreciated that the bearings (21,24) may be any suitable commercial available bearings such as a ball race or plastics bearing.

In use, when the shut-off valve 11 is in the open position and the pump 6 is activated the sleeve 17 spins within the collar 18 in the direction of arrow A under the force of the liquid passing into the concentric cavity of the sleeve 17 from the fixed pipe 16 and out of the nozzles 23. The outlet channel of each nozzle 23 is inclined such that in use, the expelled stream of liquid is at an angle to the container wall and thus is effective in lifting off particulate matter from the container (25, Fig Optionally each nozzle 23 may be variable in position and the outflow from the nozzle may also be adjustable.

Preferably, the setting of the nozzles maximises the revolution of the sleeve 17 and reduces the overall number of nozzles required to effect efficient cleaning. Optionally, one or more nozzles 23 may further include a brush attachment.

.With reference in particular to figures l and 2, the waste liquid collection means *consists of a tray 26 for the support of a container being cleaned; the tray 26 is inclined 15 towards a filtration unit 29 covering a sump 30. The upper surface of the tray 26 may be provided with a hydrophobic low friction surface such as a Teflon coating.

The filtration unit 29 includes at least one layer of filtration material e.g. polypropylene wadding. Preferably, the filtration unit 29 comprises a removable mesh basket lined with a filter material.

An alternative design of cleaning head is shown in figures 4 and 5. In this design, the cleaning head 35 is very much shorter than the embodiment of figures 1-3, and cleaning water is emitted only at/adjacent the end of the head, rather than along the :whole length of the head. However, providing a sufficiently high water pressure is used, the shorter head has been found to work well, and being more compact is less likely to be damaged in use.

As shown in figures 4 and 5, the cleaning head 35 comprises a short length of pipe 36 which is open each end; one end is sealed onto the upper end of the in flow pipe 14, and the other end opens into the hollow center of a plastics end piece 37. The end piece 37 is coaxial with the pipe 36 and is rotatably mounted on the pipe 36 by means of a cylindrical housing 38 and a set of bearings 39, and is secured in place on the housing 38 by means of snap-fitted circlips 41 which engage in parallel grooves in the 6 exterior surface of the housing 38. The housing 38 is coaxial with the pipe 36, and the bearings 39 (which may be of any suitable type e.g. oil filled ball bearings) are mounted between the inner surface of the housing 38 and the outer surface of the pipe 36. A seal 40 is fitted adjacent the end of the pipe 36 within the end piece 37, to prevent water and dirt from entering the bearings.

The end piece 37 is formed with a plurality of water outlet channels 43 all of which connect the central cavity 44 of the end piece to the exterior surfaces of the end piece.

The channels 43 extend as a variety of angles through the end piece:- some of the channels 43 are parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the head, some are perpendicular to said axis and some are at an acute angle to the axis. It is important that the end piece 37 provides numerous water outlet channels at a variety of different angles, so that the end piece and the housing 38 rotate relative to the pipe 36 when water passes through the pipe 36 and the end piece 37, and so that water is emitted .1%from the end piece in a variety of different directions, to ensure a thorough scrubbing of the container being cleaned.

The outer end of the central cavity 44 is closed by a screwed on end cap 45, which also may be provided with one or more water outlet channels or with a water outlet nozzle (not shown).

It will be appreciated that the cleaning apparatus 2 may be mounted on a movable 20 platform or vehicular deck a truck or trailer unit), or alternatively, be installed inside or adjacent a building structure.

The above described cleaning apparatus 2 is operated in the following manner:- 1.The operator ensures that the drain 19 is in the closed position and then proceeds to fill the supply tank 3 with cleaning liquid via the refilling inlet (not shown).

2. The shut-off valve 11 is closed and the pump 6 is activated. Cleaning liquid then circulates from the supply tank 3 through the pump 6 to the outflow pipe and returns to the supply tank 3 across the T-junction 12 into the return pipe 13 to the inlet 8. The inlet 8 is located adjacent the top of the supply tank 3 to permit particulate settling in the base of the tank 3 as hereinbefore described.

Preferably, the supply tank 3 includes a surfactant dispensing mechanism.

3. The operator positions at least one empty container 25 to be cleaned adjacent the waste collection unit 5. Optionally, step may be completed before undertaking step 4. An empty container 25 is lifted onto the collection unit 5 such that the cleaning head 15, 35 is inserted in the compartment of the container 25 and a portion of a side of the container rests on the tray 26 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2.

In this position, the lid 25 a of the container hangs down as shown in Fig. 2, being kept slightly open only by the in flow pipe 14. With the lid in this position, the lid deflects and directs downwards to the filter unit 29 nearly all of the cleaning water splashing from the inside of the container 25, thus minimising the amount of cleaning water and entrained waste particles being sprayed into the surrounding air. If necessary, the interior of the lid can be surface cleaned by the operator when the empty container 25 is in position on the collection unit 15 5.The operator opens the shut-off valve 11 whereby liquid flows through the valve 11 into the inflow pipe 14 and out of cleaning head 15, 35 as hereinbefore described. The interior of the container compartment is cleaned by the water :emitted from the nozzles 23/22/water outlet channels 43 respectively. The partially opened lid of the container 25 acts as a splash guard for the operator.

6. Waste liquid containing particulate material washed from the compartment of the container and lid runoff drains down the tray 26, trickle filters through the filtration unit 29 and collects in the sump 30. The filtration unit removes a substantial proportion of the particulate material so that the filtered waste liquid can be recycled. The filters of the filtration unit 29 are cleaned or changed at regular intervals in accordance with the amount of particulate build up on the filters.

7. The filtered liquid is suction fed from the sump 30 across a one way flap valve (31, Fig. 1) into pipe 32. The suction force is provided by the flow of cleaning liquid across the T junction 12 and the provision of a Venturi 33 in the return pipe 13. The filtered liquid combines with the flow of cleaning liquid derived 8 from the supply tank 3 and flows into the supply tank 3 via the return pipe 13 and inlet 8. It will be appreciated that suction feeding of the filtered liquid collected in the sump 30 occurs whenever the pump 6 is activated whether or not the shut-off valve 11 is opened.

8. The operator closes the shut-off valve 11 and removes the cleaned container from the collection unit 9. Steps 4-8 above are repeated for each empty container 25 to be cleaned.

The operator de-activates the pump 6.

The inventor has discovered that the cleaning apparatus 2 performs efficiently using the io following parameters:-

OD

liquid pressure: 60-1000 psi :":flow rate: 100-350 litres per minute (venturi 33= approximately 100 I/min; cleaning head approximately 250 I/min).

*SS*

SS Whilst the cleaning apparatus 2 has been described and depicted as an apparatus for cleaning single compartment waste container 25, it will be appreciated that the cleaning apparatus 2 could be adapted to clean compartmented containers wherein a S S: corresponding plurality of spaced, adjacent cleaning heads 15 were provided to clean ""each compartment of the container.

;It will also be appreciated that the pipe section 32 and Venturi 33 may be omitted if the S 20 sump 30 is provided with a resealable outlet for manual drainage, or an outlet connected (or adjacent) a drainage. Further it will be appreciated that the filtered waste liquid need not be recycled.

Claims (14)

1. A cleaning apparatus suitable for cleaning portable waste collection containers, said apparatus comprising: at least one rotatable cleaning head connectable to a liquid supply, the or each said cleaning head providing a plurality of liquid outlets; means for controlling the flow of liquid to the or each said cleaning head; means for supporting an article to be cleaned in a predetermined position relative to at least one said cleaning head; waste liquid collection means positioned relative to said supporting means and said cleaning head so as to collect a major portion of the waste liquid.

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said waste liquid collection means includes a removable filter.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said waste liquid collection means includes a sump and said apparatus further includes means for recycling at least part of said waste liquid.

4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said waste liquid collection means comprises a removable filter positioned above a waste liquid sump; and said apparatus further provides means for recycling said waste liquid, including a pipe extending into said sump and return means for drawing waste liquid through said pipe and returning waste liquid to said liquid supply. 20

5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising a liquid supply tanks, wherein said return means comprises a pump arranged in use to circulate liquid from said liquid supply tank such that the pump draws liquid from said liquid supply tank and then returns liquid to said liquid supply tank through a pipe opening into said sump pipe and provided with a Venturi downstream of said sump pipe connection.

6. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said supporting means comprises a tray located beneath the or each cleaning head, said tray sloping towards said waste liquid collection means.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each said cleaning head comprises a pipe connected at one end to said liquid supply and supporting a perforated rotatable portion arranged to rotate when liquid is supplied thereto.

8. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said rotatable portion is of similar length to the height of the container to be cleaned.

9. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said rotatable portion is substantially shorter than the height of the container to be cleaned.

The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims wherein said apparatus is mobile.

11. A cleaning apparatus suitable for cleaning portable waste collection containers, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. %o 1-3 or Fig. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of cleaning a portable waste collection container comprising the steps of: providing the apparatus as claimed in claim •positioning a waste collection container to be cleaned on its side, supported by 0 said supporting means such that at least one cleaning head lies inside the i container and the container lid is partially closed; °il* operating said pump to circulate liquid from said liquid supply tank; **ol 20 supplying a flow of liquid to the or each said cleaning head such that cleaning liquid is emitted from said cleaning head inside said container, to clean the inside of said container; after cleaning is completed, shutting off the flow of liquid to the or each cleaning head and removing the cleaned container; passing the waste liquid through said filter into said sump; removing waste liquid from said sump and returning said waste liquid to the liquid supply tank. 11

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said supporting means comprises a tray located beneath the or each cleaning head, said tray sloping towards said waste liquid collection means.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in figures 1-3 or figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS TWENTY-NINTH DAY OF JUNE, 1999 DION VINCENT MONOPOLI BY PIZZEYS PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS