GB2349663A

GB2349663A - Cleaning vehicle usable on roads and rail

Info

Publication number: GB2349663A
Application number: GB9910340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Alun Davies
Original assignee: COMPLETE DRAIN CLEARANCE Ltd
Current assignee: COMPLETE DRAIN CLEARANCE Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-06
Filing date: 1999-05-06
Publication date: 2000-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-06
Also published as: GB9910340D0; GB2349663B

Abstract

Cleaning vehicle 10 comprises first wheel arrangement (12, Fig 2) for use on roads and second wheel arrangement (14, Fig 2) for use on rail. The second wheel arrangement 14 may be selected by raising and lowering lifting means which may be hydraulically powered. The vehicle also comprises a suction means 24 for sucking up waste material and means for storing the waste material 18 on the vehicle. The waste material may be filtered into separate liquid and fine solids. The suction means 24 can comprise a pivotally mounted boom 20 on top of a waste material storage means 18. A blower 32 may be operable through the suction pipe (22, Fig 3).

Description

CLEANING VEHICLE This invention relates to a cleaning vehicle, and particularly but not exclusively to a vehicle usable for cleaning drainage arrangements on railways.

A commonly used drainage system for railways is to provide porous clay pipes in the ballast leading to catch pits every fifty metres or so. Such an arrangement however in practice tends to prove difficult to clean. For instance, a considerable amount of ballast tends to locate in the catch pits making them difficult to empty. Moreover, it is difficult for suitable vehicles to be brought to the catch pits in many locations to permit cleaning to take place. In most instances it is a requirement for cleaning of such arrangements to be carried out quickly so that the track concerned is not out of use for any significant length of time.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning vehicle, the vehicle being driveable and comprising first and second wheel arrangements; the first wheel arrangement being usable on roads and other solid ground; the second wheel arrangement being selectively usable to travel along railway tracks; the vehicle also comprising suction means for sucking up waste material which may comprise solids and/or liquids; and means for storing the waste material on the vehicle.

The first wheel arrangement may comprise a plurality of wheels with pneumatic tyres. The second wheel arrangement may comprise a plurality of rail wheels.

Selection means may be provided for selectively bringing the second wheel arrangement into use. The first wheel arrangement is preferably also usable when the second wheel arrangement is usable. The selection means may include lift means for selectively raising or lowering the second wheel arrangement relative to the first wheel arrangement. The lift means may be hydraulically powered.

The vehicle may comprise liquid storage means for water and/or other liquids for use in cleaning.

The vehicle may comprise a hose and/or jet wash cleaning equipment connectable to the liquid storage means.

The waste material storage means may comprise a tank, and means may be provided to permit emptying thereof, which means may comprise an openable door.

The suction means may comprise a suction pipe in communication with the waste material storage means. The suction means is preferably arranged to be usable on either side of the vehicle. The suction means may comprise a pivotally mounted boom from which the suction pipe extends, and the boom may be mounted on top of the waste material storage means.

The vehicle may be arranged to filter the sucked up waste material to separate liquid and fine solids from other solids, the separated portions may be locatable in separate storage means, and desirably separately dischargable therefrom.

The vehicle may comprise camera means to permit the interior of drains to be inspected. The vehicle may comprise a blower for blowing air to for instance clear leaves or other debris. The blower may be arranged to be operable through the suction pipe.

A vehicle usable for cleaning drainage arrangements on railways, the vehicle being according to any of the preceding nine paragraphs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic schematic plan view of a cleaning vehicle according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective front and side view of the vehicle of Fig. 1 in use.

The drawings show a vehicle 10 which is selectively driveable on roads or other similar surfaces, or along a railway line. The vehicle 10 comprises four conventional road wheels, 12 with pneumatic tyres. Located just in front of the front wheels 12, and just behind the rear wheels 12, are respectively one of four pairs of railway-wheels 14. The pairs of wheels 14 are mounted on a hydraulic lifting arrangement (not shown) to permit selective movement relative to the road wheels 12. Fig. 2 shows the rail wheels 14 in a raised position permitting conventional driving on a road. Fig. 3 shows the rail wheels 14 in a lowered condition where both the rail wheels 14 and road wheels 12 are engaging on railway tracks 16. As in the condition shown in Fig. 2 the vehicle 10 in this instance is driven in a conventional manner through the road wheels 12.

Mounted on the vehicle 10 towards the rear thereof is a waste material tank 18. Openable rear doors 19 are provided at the rear end of the tank 18 to permit emptying thereof. A boom 20 extends upwardly from the tank 18 in connection therewith, and is pivotally movable relative thereto. One or more hoses 22 is selectively mountable on the end of the boom 20. A pump 24 connects with the boom 20 to permit suction to be applied therethrough and hence through any connected hoses 22 to suck material into the tank 18.

Clean water tanks 26 are provided on either side of the waste material tank 18. The tanks 26 are connected to a hose in a hose reel 28. A water pump 30 is connectable to the hose reel 28 to power same. A blower 32 is also provided on the vehicle which permits blowing of air through the boom 20 and hence any hoses 22.

In use, the vehicle 10 can be driven conventionally along roads by the wheels 12 using conventional controls which are shown diagramatically at 34 with the rail wheels 14 raised as shown in Fig. 2. When the vehicle 10 reaches a railway line it is driven thereonto and the rail wheels 14 lowered to engage on the tracks 16. The vehicle 10 can now be driven along the tracks 16 using the wheels 12, with guidance being provided by the wheels 14.

The vehicle 10 can be driven to drainage catch pits 36 as is shown in Fig.

3. The boom 20 can be swung to the appropriate side of the vehicle 10 and if not already fitted, an appropriate hose 22 is fitted thereto. Using the pump 24 waste including ballast, rainwater and any other material can be sucked from the pit 36 into the tank 18. This process can be repeated along the railway line.

Once complete or when the railway line is required again for normal usage, at an appropriate location the rail wheels 14 are lifted and the vehicle 10 can be driven off the tracks 16. The vehicle 10 can then drive in a conventional manner to permit waste to be discharged from the tank 18.

If necessary the blower 32 can be used to remove loose detritus such as leaves etc. from the pits 36 or elsewhere. The hose in the reel 28 can be used to clean out the pits 36, any drains leading thereto or other locations.

There is thus described a vehicle which is readily usable to clean catch pits along the railway lines which to date have proved difficult to satisfactorily clean. The vehicle can readily be located to run along a railway line or to travel along roads.

Various modifications may be made to the vehicle without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the different tanks may be differently arranged. Means may be provided for filtering the waste material such that liquids and fine solids are stored separately from the other solids and can be discharged separately. The vehicle could incorporate a jet wash and/or a camera for inspecting the state of drains leading from the catch pits.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A cleaning vehicle, the vehicle being driveable and comprising first and second wheel arrangements; the first wheel arrangement being usable on roads and other solid ground; the second wheel arrangement being selectively usable to travel along railway tracks; the vehicle also comprising suction means for sucking up waste material which may comprise solids and/or liquids; and means for storing the waste material on the vehicle.
2. A cleaning vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the first wheel arrangement comprises a plurality of wheels with pneumatic tyres.
3. A cleaning vehicle, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second wheel arrangement comprises a plurality of rail wheels.
4. A cleaning vehicle, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein selection means are provided for selectively bringing the second wheel arrangement into use.
5. A cleaning vehicle, according to claim 4, wherein the first wheel arrangement is also usable when the second wheel arrangement is usable.
6. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the selection means include lift means for selectively raising or lowering the second wheel arrangement relative to the first wheel arrangement.
7. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the lift means are hydraulically powered.
8. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle comprises liquid storage means for water and/or other liquids for use in cleaning.
9. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle comprises a hose and/or jet wash cleaning equipment connectable to the liquid storage means.
10. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the waste material storage means comprises a tank.
11. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 10, wherein means are provided to permit emptying of the tank.
12. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the emptying permitting means comprise an openable door.
13. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suction means is arranged to be usable on either side of the vehicle.
14. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suction means comprises a suction pipe in communication with the waste material storage means.
15. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the suction means comprises a pivotally mounted boom from which the suction pipe extends.
16. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the boom is mounted on top of the waste material storage means.
17. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle is arranged to filter the sucked up waste material to separate liquid and fine solids from other solids.
18. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the separated portions are locatable in separate storage means.
19. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the separate portions are separately dischargeable from the separate storage means.
20. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle comprises camera means to permit the interior of drains to be inspected.
21. A cleaning vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle comprises a blower for blowing air to for instance clear leaves or other debris.
22. A cleaning vehicle according to claim 21 when dependent on claim 14 or on any of claims 15 to 20 when dependent on claim 14, wherein the blower is arranged to be operable through the suction pipe.
23. A vehicle usable for cleaning drainage arrangements on railways, the vehicle being according to any of the preceding claims.
24. A cleaning vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings.
25. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as in any of the preceding claims.