GB2301022A - Apparatus for cleaning containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile cleaning apparatus for cleaning containers such as refuse bins comprises a vehicle or trailer including water storage means 6, a washing unit 12 to receive soiled containers, cleaning means to wash and/or brush the interior of the containers with water, a plurality of filters 9, 18, 22 and 23, water collection means 19 to collect filtered washing water from the washing unit and pump means 20 to transfer water from the collection means 19 to the storage means 6. The water storage means may be a tank with a lid 7 and a drain valve 8. The washing unit may have a sloping roof 14 and floor 15 and a sump 17 to collect water. The pump 20 may be controlled by a float switch 21. The pressure of the water from the storage tank used for washing may be increased with a pump in water pressure means 11.

Description

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CONTAINERS AND SIMILAR ITEMS.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning containers and similar items such as refuse containers and bins.

Large volume containers are widely used for the accumulation and storage of refuse. The containers may be made of metal or synthetic polymers. the latter being preferable as their intrinsic mass is less. When a refuse container is emptied the majority of its contents are usually discharged into a collection vehicle or incinerator by tipping so that the contents are fall from the container under the action of gravity While the larger items will fali under these conditions smaller items tend to adhere to the sides of the container with sufficient force that vibration or shaking will not dislodge them Such retained items are frequently biological materials. such as potato peelings. which will decompose it left providing a breeding ground for bacteria and act as an attractant for insects and rodents.For this reason it is most important that a refuse bin is always thoroughly cleaned after emptying and before re-use. Mechanical cleaning with orushes alone is seldom adequate so that a simultaneous or subsequent washing step is generally essential.

When the refuse from bins and containers is being collected from a variety of scattered sites it has seldom been practical to wash each one at its collection site due to the lack of water and power supplies at many of the sites.

Collection of the bins for cleaning at a central depot involves two tourneys to each site and requires vehicles with a very large capacity to transport an economic number of containers.

the present invention provides a mobile container cleaning apparatus which can operate without the need for connection to external sources of power or water.

According to the present invention there is provided a mobile container cleaning apparatus comprising a selfpropelled vehicle or a trailer including water storage means. a washing unit adapted to receive soiled containers.

cleaning means arranged to spray and/or brush the interior of the containers with washing water. water collection means for accepting filtered washing water from the unit.

pump means for returning the filtered water to the water storage means.

The water storage means is preferably a tank arranged for filling from a water supply mains and emptying through a drain valve located near to its base. The washing unit preferably consists of an open ended cabin arranged to carry one or more soiled containers in a manner which allows easy ingress and discharge of washing water. In a preferred embodiment the base of the cabin slopes downwardly so that washing water flows out of containers resting on the base together with stray washing water.

The lower edge of the base preferably includes a sump to collect the effluent from the cabin and permit it to flow.

through one of more filters. to a collecting tank. A recirculation pump associated with the collecting tank returns the contents to the water storage tank. A series of filters located above and/or within the collecting tank remove dirt are debris prior to water entering the recirculation pump. The output from the recirculation pump is preferably filtered before return to the storage tank. In order to conserve power the recirculation tank is preferably controlled by a float switch when the contents of the collecting tank reach a preset level. It will be seen that a major proportion of the water from the storage tank used to wash containers is returned after use. The returned water is reused repeatedly.

In practice additives may be included in the wash water such as detergents. disinfectants. etc. In order to ensure that the apparatus can operate in isolated locations the pumps and other equipment are preferably operated from the same power source as an associated vehicle or a supplementary power source having the same voltage. e.g. 12 or 24 volt dc.

The filtration systems and filters used in the apparatus are of great imprortance. After use for washing the water will contain a wide selection of insoluble contaminants.

The larger items are preferably collected immediately after use by allowing the washing effluent to pass through a wide gauge filter. Successively smaller mesh or pore size filters are used to remove the finer contaminants to prevent damge of the recycling pump and the water compression pumps.

The storage and collecting tanks may be constructed of a corrosion resistant metal. such as galvanised iron or aluminium. of a synthetic polymer. The washing cabin is preferably constructed of aluminium. The filters may be supported nylon mesh. porous ceramic or other known types.

Disposable filters are preferred.

The cleaning of containers may include mechanical devices.

such as brushes or vibrators. to dislodge debris adhering strongly to the walls and to assist its movement to the sump. Mechanical raking of the sump filter may be carried out autorratical ly to ensure free flow of washing effluent.

The racked debris may be discharged to an auxiliary container. such as a bucket. for subsequent disposal.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic layout of a mobile container cleaning apparatus according to the invention mounted on an open flat bed truck. and Figure 2 is the rear view of the apparatus according to the invention mounted in an enclosed van.

A mobile container cleaning apparatus according to the invention. see Figure 1. consists of a self-propelled truck having a flatbed base 1 mounted wheels 2. The vehicle has a driving cab 3 adapted to carry a driver and provide access to all the vehicle controls. The base 1 also carries a removable washing chassis 4 which is detachably mounted by a series of mounting bolts 5.

The chassis 4 carries water storage means in the form of a tank 6 having a removeable lid 7 and a drain valve 8. The tank 6 is connected through a filter 9 to a water pressure unit 11. The water pressure unit 11 contains a pump. not shown. which raises the water pressure to a high value in well known manner. The high pressure water is released through a hose to one or more hand lances. not shown which enable an operator to control and direct jets of water at surfaces to be cleaned.

A washing unit 12 consists of a cabin 13 having a roof 14.

sides (not shown) and a base 15. An open entrance 16 permits the entry of items to be washed. The roof 14 has a downward slope towards the entrance 16 in order to assist water drainage. The base 15 slopes downwardly at an angle of 250 tzars the entrance 16. A sump area 17 collects water and debris released during washing. The larger items of debris are retained by a second filter 18 while the rest of the water flows into a collection tank 19.

The tank 19 includes a a base mounted pump 20 whose operation is controlled by a float switch 21. The tank 19 also includes a pair of filters. 22 and 23 which remove the medium and fine particles respectively from water flowing into the pump 20. The output from the pump 20 flows to a filtration unit 24 and then into the tank 5. A supplementary tank 25 carries detergents. disinfectants and similar additives which may be added to the water in the tank 6 prior to its use for cleaning.

When the cleaning apparatus is mounted in an enclosed van.

see Figure 2. tne rear of the van has an opening 30 which permits the entry of one or more refuse containers. such as dustbins or wheelybins. with their entrances facing outwardly. Bars 31 and 32 maintain each type of bin in position while it is being washed. as described earlier.

with high pressure water jets from operator controlled lances. The entrance 30 is reinforced by box section tubular metal supports 33. Washing water after use flows to a collecting tank 34 and is repumped to the water storage tank as described previously.

It will be seen that either embodiment provides a container cleaning apparatus which is mobile and substantially self-sufficient in power and water. The recycled water can be discharged after each journey or less frequently.

and the water storage tank refilled when the apparatus reaches its base station. The water recycling system is of economic and environmental benefit.

Claims (18)

1 A mobile container cleaning apparatus comprising a self-propelled vehicle or a trailer including water storage means. a washing unit adapted to receive soiled containers.

cleaning means arranged to spray and/or brush the interior of the containers with washing water. water collection means for accepting filtered washing water from the unit.

pump means for returning the filtered water to the water storage means.

2. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed In claim 1 in which the water storage means is a tank arranged for filling from a water supply mains and emptying through a drain valve located near to its base.

3. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed In claim 1 or claim 2. in which the washing unit consists of an open ended cabin arranged to carry one or more sci led containers in a manner which allows easy ingress and discharge of washing water.

4. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the base of the cabin slopes downwardly so that washing water flows out of containers resting on its base together with stray washing water.

5. Moblle container cleaning apparatus as claimed In claim 4 In which the lower edge of the base includes a sump to collect the effluent from the cabin and permit it to flow to a collecting tank.

6. frob le container cleaning apparatus as claimed In claim 5 in which the effluent passes through one or more filters prior to entering the collecting tank.

7. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6. in which the sump has a first filter subject to automatic mechanical raking to ensure free flow of washing effluent.

8. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 7, in which a recirculation pump, associated with the collecting tank. returns the contents to the water storage tank.

9. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 8. in which the recirculation pump is controlled by a float switch when the contents of the collecting tank reach a preset level.

10. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in claims 8 or 9. in which a series of filters located above and/or within the collecting tank remove dirt are debris prior to water entering the recirculation pump.

11. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the storage and collecting tanks are constructed of a corrosion resistant metal. such as galvanised iron or aluminium. or a synthetic polymer.

12. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the washing cabin is constructed of aluminium.

13. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the apparatus includes a pump to increase the pressure of the water from the storage tank used for washing the interior of the containers.

14. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims. in which the pump or pumps and other equipment is operated from the same power source as the vehicle or a supplementary power source having the same voltage.

15. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 14. in which the power source or sources operate at 24 volts.

16. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

17. Mobile container cleaning apparatus as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accomoanying drawings.

18. A method of washing soiled containers comprising placing them in the washing unit of mobile container cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims