EP3900852A1

EP3900852A1 - Vehicle for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues and aspiration system comprising such vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3900852A1
Application number: EP21167864.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Berton; Davide CINI; Marco Paterni; Fabrizio Vicini
Original assignee: Pegasuslab Srl; Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche CNR
Current assignee: Pegasuslab Srl; Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche CNR
Priority date: 2020-04-23
Filing date: 2021-04-12
Publication date: 2021-10-27
Also published as: IT202000008791A1

Abstract

Vehicle (1) and system for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues on a support plane. The vehicle (1) comprises a body (2) having a predetermined width (L), length (1) and height (h) less than the width (L) and/or length (1) and identifying a first side (21) facing the support plane and a second side (22) opposite the first side (21), the body (2) comprises an outlet fitting (24) connectable to a remote aspiration plant with respect to the vehicle (1) and an aspiration mouth (25) positioned at the first side (21) in fluid continuity with the outlet fitting (24); movement means configured to allow the movement of the body (2) along the support plane. A perimeter skirt (4) delimits the first side (21) and defines a pressure-controlled environment between the first side (21) and the support plane when the body (1) is placed on the support plane.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a vehicle for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues and a corresponding system comprising such a vehicle, in accordance with the preamble of claims 1 and 11, respectively.
The vehicle and the system are particularly used, for example, in the industrial production and processing of paper.

Background art

It is known that in the context of numerous industrial production activities, especially those of paper production and processing, there are problems due to the accumulation of machining residues, such as cellulose dust, on the support plane, on static parts of the machinery and in the compartments below the machine.
It is also known that such deposits of cellulose dust, if not identified and removed, can aggravate the risk of fire in the industrial plant, as well as worsen the quality of the working environment.
In fact, the deposits of cellulose dust are also added to the usual dust deposits present in the production plants, further worsening the air quality in which the operators of the plant operate since such residues of cellulose dust can have effects similar to those of so-called fine particulates.
Traditionally, the deposits of cellulose dust and dust are removed manually or with the aid of semi-automatic machines such as aspirators and sweepers.
For example, according to the prior art an operator removes deposits by means of hand brushes and subsequently aspirates them by means of the systems provided with the industrial plant such as centralized aspirator systems, cart aspiration systems and movable sweepers.
At the same time, the prior art requires blowing the inaccessible parts with compressed air and the subsequent aspiration of the deposits by means of the systems provided with the industrial plant.
Vehicles for aspiration are also known.
For example, document EP1075816A2 shows a vehicle comprising a first side, which can face a walking surface, an aspiration mouth arranged at said first side and elements vertically movable between a retracted position and an extended one by virtue of preloaded springs. Such movable elements are arranged at said first side and delimit the aspiration mouth.
Still for example, document DE102015100392A1 shows a vehicle comprising a first side, which can face a walking surface, and an aspiration mouth arranged on said first side and having a surface extension slightly smaller than the surface extension of the first side.

Problems of the prior art

Unfortunately, the methods and devices of the prior art do not allow to remove all the deposits with due accuracy and speed, especially in hard-to-reach places, such as compartments below the machine and ventilation shaft. Consequently, fire risks remain, although limited, and the quality of the working environment is not adequately improved.
In fact, the aspirators of the prior art do not allow the aspiration, with due accuracy, of cellulose dust which has dimensions equal to those of fine particulates, i.e., of a few micrometres in diameter. Still disadvantageously, as established by the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (art. 1.6.1, art. 1.6.2, art. 1.6.4), the cleaning must be carried out after stopping the production or processing lines, with consequent productivity losses. In fact, every six months, the production or processing lines of industrial plants are shut down to carry out a thorough cleaning of the deposit accumulation areas, which are difficult to access from the outside. The cleaning of the prior art is therefore expensive in terms of loss of revenues due to the scheduled machine shutdown for the extraordinary maintenance of the industrial plant.
Lastly, the cleaning operations of the prior art are risky for operators, both for the inhalation of dust and for the movement of the machinery. Even if such cleaning is carried out to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries to workers, it can be particularly risky from these points of view.

Summary of the invention

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a vehicle for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues and a system comprising such a vehicle which overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle for aspiration which allows to effectively remove all the deposits of dust and/or machining residues, even in the most hard-to-reach areas. It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a vehicle for aspiration which also allows to remove the dust with dimensions in the order of micrometres.
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle for aspiration which allows to avoid the direct intervention by an operator.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to propose a system comprising the vehicle for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues.
The mentioned technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a vehicle for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues and a system comprising such a vehicle comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims.

Advantages of the invention

By virtue of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to accurately aspirate dust with dimensions in the order of micrometres and consequently increase the aspiration efficiency of the larger deposits.
In addition, by virtue of the preferred embodiment of the invention it is possible to reduce the risks of fire and the risks from inhalation of fine particulates by the operators present in the rooms intended for production and, at the same time, to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries of the operators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of an exemplary, but not exclusive, and therefore non-limiting preferred embodiment of a vehicle for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues and a system comprising such a vehicle as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of a vehicle for aspiration in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the vehicle of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle of Figure 1 and of a cart for the transport of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With particular reference to the appended figures, number 1 indicates a vehicle 1 for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues on a support plane.
In the present description, a support plane means both a walking surface along which operators move and on which machinery is arranged, and a floor of a false ceiling of an industrial facility. In fact, dust and/or machining residues tend to accumulate both on the floor and ceiling surfaces.
The vehicle 1 comprises a body 2 having a predetermined width "L", length "1" and height "h". Such a height "h" is less than the width L and/or the length 1.
Advantageously, the overall dimensions of the vehicle, namely the height h, the width L and the length 1, can be significantly reduced without compromising the aspiration power of the vehicle 1. In particular, having a height "h" less than the width L and/or length 1, the vehicle 2 is capable of reaching narrow spaces, hard to reach by an operator, being substantially wider/longer than it is high.
Alternatively, the body 2 could have a square shape and thus coincident length and width dimensions or a circular shape and in this case inscribable in a square of predefined length/width.
Preferably, the body 2 has a parallelepiped shape and in an embodiment the width "L" is 440 mm, the length "1" is 360 mm, while the height "h" is 140 mm.
The body 2 identifies a first 21 and a second side 22 connected to each other by a side wall 23 of height "h". The first side 21 faces the support plane, when the vehicle 2 is placed on the support plane, and the second side 22 is opposite to said first side 21. Preferably, the first side 21 and the second side 22 are opposite to each other along a longitudinal direction X-X. Except when the vehicle 1 overcomes any obstacles along the support plane, the longitudinal direction X-X is substantially perpendicular to the support plane.
The side wall 23 has a front portion 231 and an opposite rear portion 232 along a transverse direction Y-Y substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X.
The body 2 comprises an outlet fitting 24 and an aspiration mouth 25 placed at the first side 21 in fluid continuity with the outlet fitting 24. In other words, the body 2 comprises a connection duct 26 between the outlet fitting 24 and the aspiration mouth 25. Preferably, the outlet fitting 24 is placed at the side wall 23. More preferably, the outlet fitting 24 is placed at the rear portion 232 of the side wall 23.
In an embodiment, the aspiration mouth 25 has a circular shape (as illustrated in the figures) but could also have the shape of a circumferential arc.
The aspiration mouth 25 is embodied as a notch of the first side 21 so as to allow the passage therethrough of dust and/or machining residues. The outlet fitting 24 is connectable in fluid continuity to a remote aspiration plant with respect to the vehicle 1.
For example, as will be clearer in the following description, such an aspiration plant is a centralized aspiration plant of an industrial facility.
Alternatively, such an aspiration plant is a movable system provided with the industrial facility.
When the outlet fitting 24 is connected to the aspiration plant and such an aspiration plant is operated, the deposits of dust and/or machining residues, present on the support plane, are aspirated through the aspiration mouth 25 and reach the aspiration plant by passing through the connection duct 26 and the outlet fitting 24.
The vehicle 1 is therefore not provided with an on-board aspiration and/or storage and/or filtration plant, i.e., integrated in the same vehicle 1, but exploits a remote aspiration plant with respect to the vehicle 1.
Preferably, the surface extension of the aspiration mouth 25 is less than 50% of the surface extension of the first side 21. More preferably, the ratio of the surface extension of the aspiration mouth 25 to the surface extension of the first side 21 is one-ninth. Such a specific size of the surface extension of the aspiration mouth 25 ensures a higher aspiration efficiency with respect to the known configurations.
According to an aspect, the vehicle 1 comprises actuating means (not illustrated in the attached figures) configured to move the connection duct 26 along the circumferential arc so as to pass from one side to the other of the body 2 of the vehicle so as to improve the aspiration action through said aspiration mouth 25.
The vehicle 1 comprises movement means configured to allow the movement of the body 2 along the support plane.
According to a characteristic aspect, the vehicle 1 comprises a perimeter skirt 4 delimiting the first side 21 of the body 2 and configured to define a pressure-controlled environment between the first side 21 and the support plane when the body 2 is placed on the support plane.
Such a pressure-controlled environment allows to increase the aspiration efficiency, i.e., the speed of the air flow to the aspiration mouth 25, allowing a homogeneous aspiration, not only at the aspiration mouth 25, but substantially at the entire first side 21, i.e., at the projection on the support plane of the shape of the vehicle 1 delimited by the perimeter skirt 4.
In fact, such a pressure-controlled environment allows a homogeneous aspiration flow to be obtained, thus allowing the removal of even the smallest dust from the support plane, i.e., of dimensions in the order of micrometres.
At the same time, such a more efficient aspiration is also reflected in an improved removal of larger deposits.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the perimeter skirt 4 is positioned at the side wall 23 of the body 2 and is protruding towards the first side 21.
Thereby, the perimeter skirt 4 delimits the shape of the body 2 and extends from the body of the vehicle 2 up to near the support plane.
It is by virtue of the reduced opening created between the perimeter skirt 4 and the support plane that a substantially closed environment is defined between the first side 21 and the support plane itself.
In particular, the perimeter skirt 4 surrounds the first side 21 externally and extends along the longitudinal direction X-X between an upper end 42 and an opposite lower end 43.
Between the upper end 42 and the lower end 43, the skirt 4 has a height h' which is less than the height h of the vehicle 2 and a thickness "s" less than the height h'.
The shape of the perimeter skirt 4 can be, for example, similar to that of a solid at right angles but other types such as forms of solids of revolution can also be hypothesized.
In the case shown in the figures, the vehicle 2 being provided with four side walls 23, the perimeter skirt 4 is obtained in a parallelepiped for each side wall 23 of height h', of length equal to the length/width of the vehicle 2 and of thickness smaller than both the height h' and the length/width of the vehicle 2.
As can be seen in the figures, the perimeter skirt 4 has a small interruption at the outlet fitting 24. Such an interruption allows the connection of the outlet fitting 24 to an aspiration plant. It should be noted that such a small interruption of the perimeter skirt 4 has little if any influence on the definition of the pressure-controlled environment.
In an embodiment, not shown in the figures, the perimeter skirt 4 can have a wedge shape at the front portion 231 of the side wall 23. By virtue of such a wedge shape, it is possible to reach areas of the support plane shaped, for example, like an edge.
According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle 1 comprises at least one actuator 41 to allow a movement of the perimeter skirt 4 with respect to the support plane, so as to move the perimeter skirt 4 between a retracted position and an extended position. Preferably, the vehicle 1 comprises a plurality of actuators 41, each used to move a respective portion of the perimeter skirt 4.
The distance of the perimeter skirt 4 increases from the extended position to the retracted position. In the retracted position, the perimeter skirt 4 is at the maximum distance from the support plane, while in the extended position, the perimeter skirt 4 is at the minimum distance from the support plane. In the extended position, the perimeter skirt 4 therefore defines a substantially closed environment between the first side 21 and the support plane.
Even when the perimeter skirt 4 is at the minimum distance from the support plane, the movement means allow the movement of the body 2 of the vehicle 1 along the support plane.
Preferably, the actuator 41 allows the perimeter skirt to also assume a series of intermediate positions between the retracted position and the extended position, each characterized by a different distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane. The closer the intermediate position is to the retracted position, the greater the distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane. Conversely, the closer the intermediate position is to the extended position, the smaller the distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane.
It should be noted that adjusting the distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane allows the movement means of the vehicle 1 to overcome any small obstacles or roughness along the support plane such as small steps and discontinuities of the support plane. In fact, as the size of the obstacle encountered along the support plane increases, the actuator 41 allows to move the perimeter skirt 4 towards positions with greater distance from the support plane.
Furthermore, the adjustment of the distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane allows to adjust the pressure and therefore the aspiration action through the aspiration mouth 25. In fact, the smaller the distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane the greater the aspiration action through the aspiration mouth 24, i.e., the aspiration is maximum when the perimeter skirt 4 is in an extended position and decreases as the intermediate position assumed by the perimeter skirt 4 is characterized by a gradually greater distance from the support plane.
Preferably, the upper end 42 of the perimeter skirt 4 is connected to the side wall 23 by means of the actuator 41. The actuator 41 then causes the movement of the upper end 42 of the perimeter skirt 4 along the longitudinal direction X-X and, consequently, the translation of the lower end 43 of the perimeter skirt 4 along the same longitudinal direction X-X. By translating the upper end 42 of the perimeter skirt 4, the distance of the perimeter skirt 4 from the support plane is selectively adjusted.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, alternative to the first embodiment, the vehicle 1 comprises at least one actuator 41 to allow a movement of the body 2 (and therefore of the perimeter skirt 4 associated therewith) with respect to the support plane so as to move the body 2 between a retracted position and an extended position.
The distance of the body 2 increases from the extended position to the retracted position. In the retracted position, the body 2 is at the maximum distance from the support plane, while in the extended position, the body 2 is at the minimum distance from the support plane.
Unlike the first embodiment in which the movement of the perimeter skirt 4 with respect to the support plane is allowed, in this second embodiment the perimeter skirt 4 is kept fixed, while the movement of the body 2 with respect to the support plane is allowed.
Also in such a second embodiment of the invention, adjusting the distance of the body 2 from the support plane allows the vehicle 1 to overcome any obstacles along the support plane and adjusts the aspiration action through the aspiration mouth 24. Also in the second embodiment, the smaller the distance of the body 2 from the support plane, the greater the aspiration action.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the movement means are of the omnidirectional type for the omnidirectional movement of the body 2 along the support plane.
Advantageously, the omnidirectional movement of the vehicle 1 facilitates the approach of the vehicle 1 to the machinery present in the industrial plant.
Preferably, the omnidirectional movement means are a plurality of wheels 31 for the omnidirectional movement of the body 2 along the support plane or are tracks.
If the movement means 31 are implemented with wheels, they are, for example, "mecanum" or "omniwheel' type wheels.
"Mecanum" type wheels and "omniwheel' type wheels are known to the person skilled in the art and will therefore not be further described.
The movement means 31 further comprise one (or more) drive motors (not shown in the accompanying figures).
The operation of the drive motor is known to the person skilled in the art and will therefore not be further described.
Preferably, the perimeter skirt 4 also surrounds the movement means. Consequently, the movement means 31 do not affect the spatial dimensions of the vehicle 1, allowing the vehicle 1 to approach a machine of the industrial plant, bringing the perimeter skirt 4 substantially into contact with a wall of such machinery. The vehicle 1 is then able to aspirate the deposits of dust and/or machining residues which are located near the machinery itself.
Still preferably, the movement means 31 are inserted at least in part in the height h of the body 2 of the vehicle 1. As a result, the height "h" of the vehicle 1 is considerably reduced.
According to an aspect, the vehicle 1 comprises a control unit (not shown) in signal communication with the movement means 31. The control unit is configured to control the movement means automatically or autonomously.
Preferably, the control unit is also in signal communication with the actuators 41. The control unit is configured to also control the actuators 41 automatically or autonomously.
In the event of automatic movement by means of the control unit, a preset vehicle movement program 1 is stored in a memory of the control unit. Such a preset program, for example, comprises a sequence of movements of the vehicle 1 which take into account the planimetry of the support plane, that is, the arrangement of the rooms and of the machinery. The control unit then controls the movement means and actuators 41 following such a preset program.
In the event of autonomous movement by means of the control unit, the vehicle 1 comprises a plurality of environment sensors (such as, for example, optoelectronic devices 5) placed in signal communication with the control unit. Such environment sensors are configured to detect information about the environment surrounding the vehicle 1 and to send such information to the control unit. Such a control unit is then configured to control the movement means and actuators 41 on the basis of such information detected by the environment sensors.
According to a further aspect, the vehicle 1 is also remotely controllable. In other words, in the event of remote control, the control unit is in signal communication with a remote control device (not illustrated) with respect to the vehicle 1 and, always, with the movement means 31.
Preferably, in the latter scenario, the vehicle 1 is connectable to the control device via an ethernet cable which exploits Power Over Ethernet (POE) technology. POE technology allows to transmit the signals exchanged between the control unit and the control device along the ethernet cable, i.e., it allows to put the control unit and the control device in signal communication, and at the same time it allows to transmit the power necessary for the control unit, the movement means and the actuators 41 along the ethernet cable.
Advantageously, the POE technology allows to reduce the number of cables and the necessary connections in a high-risk environment such as that of industrial facilities.
It should be noted that the vehicle 1 lacks energy storage batteries since the power supply is provided through the ethernet cable which exploits POE technology.
The vehicle 1 control unit is configured to control the movement means based on a control signal coming from the remote control device.
The control unit is configured to control the actuators 41 of the perimeter skirt 4 on the basis of the same control signal.
According to an aspect, the vehicle 1 comprises at least one optoelectronic imaging device 5 in signal communication with the control unit. For example, such an optoelectronic device 5 is a camera.
Such at least one optoelectronic imaging device 5 is configured to capture digital images of an environment surrounding the body 2 of the vehicle 1.
Preferably, the vehicle 1 comprises a plurality of optoelectronic devices 5 arranged at the side wall 23 of the body 2, so as to capture digital images all around the vehicle 1.
The optoelectronic device 5 is preferably configured to send such digital images to the control unit of the vehicle 1, where the control unit is configured to send the digital images to a remote video surveillance unit, or in an alternative embodiment the optoelectronic device 5 is directly in signal communication with the remote video surveillance unit.
It should be noted that such a remote video surveillance unit is placed in signal communication with the control unit and/or with the optoelectronic device(s) 5 by means of the aforementioned ethernet cable.
As will be clearer in the following, the digital images received by the video surveillance unit are used as an aid for the movement of the vehicle 1 and/or to identify the morphology of the places which need cleaning and/or which still need to be cleaned.
At the same time, in the case of autonomous control of the vehicle 1 by means of the control unit, the digital images may be used by the control unit in combination with the information detected by the other environment sensors to control the movement means and actuators 41.
The present description also relates to a system for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues along a support plane. This system comprises the vehicle 1 in accordance with any of the previously described embodiments thereof.
Such a system also comprises an aspiration plant (not shown) comprising an aspiration unit provided with all the devices necessary for the aspiration, filtration and storage of the aspirated residues.
For example, the aspiration plant is a centralized plant or alternatively a movable plant.
Advantageously, in the event of a centralized plant, the system does not require a complex installation, since the vehicle 1 can interact with the pre-existing aspiration plant of the industrial facility.
The aspiration plant is known to the person skilled in the art and for this reason will not be described further.
In addition, the system comprises an aspiration duct 6 connected in fluid continuity at a first end 61 thereof to the aspiration unit and at a second end 62 thereof to the outlet fitting 24 of the body 2. Preferably, said aspiration duct 6 is deformable to facilitate the movement thereof when connected to the vehicle 1.
The aspiration unit is configured to generate a negative pressure inside the aspiration duct 6 so as to aspirate dust and/or machining residues through the aspiration mouth 25 of the vehicle 1. In other words, the negative pressure created by the aspiration motor is transmitted along the aspiration duct 6, reaching the aspiration mouth 25.
It should be noted that the vehicle 1 is free of filters and/or containers intended to accumulate dust or aspirated residues, since all the filtering and containment functions of the aspirated residues are delegated to the centralized system. This allows to avoid expensive maintenance operations on each individual vehicle as well as to include spare parts in stock for each individual vehicle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system comprises the aforementioned remote control device in signal communication with the control unit of the vehicle 1. Preferably, such a remote control device is a computer such as a fixed or portable computer.
Still in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the system comprises the aforementioned ethernet cable which exploits POE technology. Such an ethernet cable communicates a signal between the control unit of the vehicle 1 and the control device and, at the same time, allows the transmission of power to the control unit, the movement means and the actuators 41. Preferably, such an ethernet cable is associated with the aspiration duct 6.
The remote control device is configured to send a command signal to the control unit so that the control unit controls the movement means of the vehicle 1 based on the control signal. In other words, the control signal controls the movement of the vehicle 1 along the support plane.
By means of the control signal, the control unit also controls the actuators 41 of the perimeter skirt 4, in order to overcome any obstacles on the support plane and/or adjust the aspiration action, as previously described.
It should be emphasized that a single control device can control a plurality of vehicles 1 to simultaneously clean a plurality of areas of the industrial facility. In this case, the system comprises a plurality of vehicles 1 and the control unit of each vehicle 1 is in signal communication with the control device.
According to a preferred aspect, the system comprises the aforementioned remote video surveillance unit in signal communication with the control unit of the vehicle 1 and at least one monitor in signal communication with the video surveillance unit. Preferably, the video surveillance unit is placed in signal communication with the control unit by means of the ethernet cable.
The video surveillance system is configured to receive digital images from the control unit of the vehicle 1 and to reproduce such digital images on the monitor. In other words, the digital images recorded by the optoelectronic device 5 of the vehicle 1 may be viewed on the monitor by an operator, to control, for example, the position of the vehicle 1 in the industrial facility and the morphology of the cleaned places.
According to an aspect, the video surveillance system is in signal communication with the remote control device. For example, the video surveillance system is integrated with the control device.
The video surveillance system is configured to process the digital images received by the control unit of the vehicle 1 and to generate a video processing signal. Such a video processing signal is the result of processing the digital images. The video processing signal takes into account the morphology of the environment surrounding the vehicle 1, i.e., the presence of any obstacles along the support plane and whether there are clean areas and/or areas with dust deposits and/or machining residues around the vehicle 1.
The video surveillance system is also configured to send the video processing signal to the remote control device. The remote control device is instead configured to generate the control signal based on said video processing signal.
In other words, the vehicle 1 can be moved remotely automatically, i.e., without the aid of an operator, based on the morphology of the environment surrounding the vehicle 1. Such a vehicle 1 is then diverted to the areas of the support plane with deposits of dust and/or machining residues. At the same time, the vehicle 1, by virtue of the processing carried out by the remote video surveillance unit, can automatically overcome any obstacles on the support plane.
Alternatively, an operator viewing the digital images on the monitor can send the control signal to the vehicle 1 control unit himself.
With particular reference to figure 3, the system also comprises a cart 7 for supporting the control device, the video surveillance system and the monitor. At the same time, such a cart 7 also allows the transport of the vehicle 1 and the aspiration duct 6 when the vehicle 1 is not in action.
In fact, the cart 7 comprises an upper support plane 71 and a lower support plane 72. The upper support plane 71 is configured to accommodate the control device, the video surveillance system, and the monitor. Instead, the lower support plane 72 is configured to accommodate the vehicle 1 when it is not in action. Furthermore, the cart 7 comprises a hose reel 73 arranged between the upper support plane 71 and the lower support plane 72. Such a hose reel 73 allows the aspiration duct 6 to be wound thereon when the vehicle 1 is not in use and at the same time allows the aspiration duct 6 to be unwound when the vehicle 1 is moved on the support plane.

Claims

A vehicle (1) for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues on a support plane, said vehicle (1) comprising:
- a body (2) having a predetermined width (L), length (1) and height (h), wherein the height (h) is less than said width (L) and/or length (1); said body (2) identifying a first (21) and a second side (22) connected to each other by a side wall (23); said first side (21) facing said support plane and said second side (22) being opposite to said first side (21); said body (2) comprising an outlet fitting (24) and an aspiration mouth (25) positioned at said first side (21) in fluid continuity with the outlet fitting (24), said aspiration mouth (25) being configured to aspirate dust and/or machining residues, said outlet fitting (24) being connectable in fluid continuity to a remote aspiration plant with respect to said vehicle (1);

- movement means configured to allow the movement of said body (2) along the support plane;
characterized in that it comprises:

- a perimeter skirt (4) delimiting the first side (21) and configured to define a pressure-controlled environment between the first side (21) and the support plane when the body (1) is placed on the support plane, said perimeter skirt (4) surrounding the first side (21) externally.
The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one actuator (41) to allow a movement of said perimeter skirt (4) with respect to said body (2), so as to move said perimeter skirt between a retracted position and an extended position.
The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one actuator (41) to allow a movement of said body (2) with respect to said support plane so as to move said body (2) between a retracted position and an extended position.
The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the perimeter skirt (4) is positioned at the side wall (23) of the body (2) and is protruding towards the first side (21).
The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface extension of the aspiration mouth (25) is less than 50% of the surface extension of the first side (21).
The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the movement means are of the omnidirectional type.
The vehicle (1) according to claim 6, wherein said omnidirectional movement means comprise a plurality of wheels (31) or tracks for the omnidirectional movement of the body (2) along the support plane.
The vehicle (1) according to claim 7, wherein the wheels (31) or tracks are inserted at least in part in the height (h) of the body (2) of the vehicle (1).
The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a control unit in signal communication with said movement means, said control unit being configured to control said movement means automatically or autonomously.
The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a control unit in signal communication with a remote control device with respect to said vehicle (1) and with the movement means, said control unit being configured to control the movement means based on a control signal coming from the remote control device.
A vehicle (1) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising at least one optoelectronic imaging device (5) in signal communication with the control unit, said at least one optoelectronic imaging device (5) being configured to capture digital images of an environment surrounding the body (2) of the vehicle (1) and to send said digital images to the control unit, said control unit being configured to send said digital images to a remote video surveillance unit.
A system for the aspiration of dust and/or machining residues along a support plane, said system being characterized in that it comprises:
- a vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11;

- an aspiration plant comprising an aspiration unit;

- an aspiration duct (6) connected in fluid continuity at a first end (61) thereof to the aspiration motor and at a second end (62) thereof to the outlet fitting (24) of the body (2); wherein the aspiration unit is configured to generate a negative pressure inside the aspiration duct (6) so as to aspirate dust and/or machining residues through the aspiration mouth (25) of the vehicle (1).
The system according to claim 12, comprising a remote control device in signal communication with a vehicle (1) control unit, said remote control device being configured to send a control signal to the control unit so that said control unit controls the movement means of the vehicle (1) based on the control signal.
The system according to claim 13, comprising a remote video surveillance unit in signal communication with the vehicle (1) control unit and at least one monitor in signal communication with the video surveillance unit, said video surveillance system being configured to receive said digital images from the vehicle (1) control unit and to reproduce said digital images on the monitor.
The system according to claim 14, wherein the video surveillance system is in signal communication with the remote control device, said video surveillance system is configured:
- to process said digital images received from the vehicle (1) control unit;

- to generate a video processing signal and

- to send said video processing signal to the remote control device, said remote control device being configured to generate the control signal based on said video processing signal.