GB2434970A

GB2434970A - Apparatus for cleaning a traffic cone

Info

Publication number: GB2434970A
Application number: GB0602585A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julian Marcus Brown; Andrew John Cash
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-09
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-09
Also published as: GB2434970B; GB0602585D0

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a traffic cone or bollard comprises an enclosed unit 6 which can be placed over the top of the traffic cone. Three brushes (9, fig 3) are rotatably connected on the inside of the unit 6 and water is supplied to the surface of the cone through the brushes (9, fig 3). The unit 6 can be connected to a vehicle or permanent fixing via an operating arm 1 which is able swing and pivot thus enabling easier positioning of the cleaning apparatus. A motor 3 and gear train 4 is provided to drive the brushes (9, fig 3) while handles 5, 7 are provided to enable the user to lift and manoeuvre the cleaning unit 6.

Description

Cone Washer/Cleaner This invention relates to a device for cleaning

road cones and fixed bollards while in use or in storage.

When a section of road is closed for maintenance purposes reflective cones are used to alert the on coming traffic and divert them around the potential hazard.

However, these reflective cones are subject to the elements of nature, dirt thrown up by traffic and exhaust pollution. The cone and in particular the reflective strip in the middle of the cone becomes dirty thus the reflective effectiveness of the cone is dramatically reduced. While hundreds of cones can be in use at any one time the cost in monetary terms and man hours to hand clean the cones can be immense. To overcome this costly operation the present invention proposes a cleaning unit consisting of three cleaning brushes a drive mechanism and water supply to be placed over the top of the cone or bollard and wash away any dirt that may reduce its reflective effectiveness.

The operation of the operating arm can be made to suit the size of the cone washer/cleaner, spring assisted or hydraulic assistance of the arm will aid in the operation. The operating arm will be able to swivel and pivot. The swivel action will be used to swing the operating arm out into position; the pivot action will enable the unit to be placed over the cone prior to cleaning process.

The drive for the three cleaning brushes will be provided by a motor and gear train which will be sealed and located directly above the brushes, the whole unit will have the ability to rotate on its own axis, to aid the cleaning process. The three cleaning brushes will, via its own individual swivel drive, located at the top of each brush and a tension spring and guide at the bottom, have the ability to move out while keeping in constant contact with the cone or bollard surface during the cleaning process to accommodate all shapes and sizes of cones or bollards.

Water will be supplied via a separate storage tank and piped to the top / centre of the three cleaning brushes, the rotating brushes will displace the water down and round thus cleaning the cone.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the operating arm and cleaning unit.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the operating arm and cleaning unit.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the underside of the cleaning unit.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the topside of the cleaning unit gearbox and drive train.

In figure 1, the cone washer/cleaner includes the operating arm (1), which can be attached to a suitable equipment or a stationary position. The main cleaning unit (6) is attached to the operating arm (1) by the swivel mounting (2) to enable the unit to be rotated to ensure full cleaning. The brushes are powered by a motor (3) and gearbox (4) which will be sealed from the elements and any water mist produced during the cleaning process. The main cleaning unit can be lifted and rotated by the fixed handles (5 & 7) with handle seven doubting as a safety rail when cleaning is in process.

The feed pipes (8) can be contained inside the operating arm (1) or attached on the outside of it. Dampers (14) assist with manoeuvring operation of the arm (1).

In figure 2, the operating arm is fully extended with the cone washer/cleaner unit rotating on its axis, the operating arm when fully extended can still pivot as it axis.

In figure 3, the underside of the cone washer/cleaner shows three cleaning brushes (9) which driven by a motor, clean the road cone or bollard and are kept in contact with its surface by the guide and tension spring (10). The road cone is held firm by depth stops (11); these will stop the cone rotating during the cleaning process. A bump stop (15) provides the height restriction when cleaning bollards.

In figure 4, inside of the gearbox (4), shows the motor (3) and drive train (12), this sits directly on top of the cleaning unit (6).

Both rotate together via swivel mountings (2 -shown in figure 1) and are water tight/sealed. The swivel drive (13) enables the cleaning brushes to swing out to accommodate different sizes and shapes of road cones and bollards.

Claims

Claims 1. A cone washer/cleaner unit can be attached to any suitable

vehicle or permanent fixing by means of an operating arm and will by means of rotating brushes remove dirt from road cones and bollards of any size or description, with the assistants of water.

2. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, will be able to swing and pivot by means of an operating arm to enable the cone washer/cleaner unit to be placed in position to enable the cleaning process to take place.

3. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, in which, the operating arm is assisted by means of dampers.

4. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1 in which, the motor, gearbox and drive train are secured to the operating arm by utilising a swivel fixing.

5. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 4, the motor, gearbox and drive train will be water sealed.

6. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, the three cleaning brushes will be driven by the gearbox through three swivel drives positioned on each brush at the top and secured and tensioned at the bottom to ensure permanent contact with the road cone or bollard.

7. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, water will be supplied via a separate storage tank and supplied to the top of the three cleaning brushes via pipes.

8. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, will be fitted with depth stops to secure the road cone during the cleaning process.

9. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, will be fitted with a bump stop to limit the height the cleaning unit will go to when cleaning bollards.

10. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, the cleaning unit can be manoeuvred via means of fixed handles on the body of the cleaning unit.

11. A cone washer/cleaner unit according to claim 1, the cone body will serve the purpose of acting as both a ridged and protective structure.