WO1995023258A1

WO1995023258A1 - A brushing machine especially intended for cleaning airport runways

Info

Publication number: WO1995023258A1
Application number: PCT/FI1995/000088
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Halme; Kari Pinola; Olavi Pekkala; Matti Sporvari; Terho Suoreijus; Erkki Valkonen
Original assignee: ILMAILULAITOS
Current assignee: ILMAILULAITOS
Priority date: 1994-02-23
Filing date: 1995-02-22
Publication date: 1995-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1996-08-23
Also published as: AU1709995A; FI940839A0; FI94977B; FI94977C

Abstract

The object of the invention is a brushing machine especially intended for cleaning airport runways, which includes a frame (4), support wheels (6.1, 6.2), as well as a rotating brush (3) suspended from the frame and equipped with a mudguard and rotation devices, and which is arranged to be moved at an angle to the direction of travel. The brushing machine includes one or more water collection gutter (20) in connection with the water-collecting surface and water transfer equipment connected to this.

Description

A BRUSHING MACHINE ESPECIALLY INTENDED FOR CLEANING AIRPORT RUNWAYS

The object of the invention is a brushing machine especially intended for cleaning airport runways, which includes a frame, and support wheels, as well as a rotating brush suspended from the frame and equipped with a rotation device and a mudguard, and which is arranged to be moved at an angle to the direction of travel.

Particularly in the cleaning of airfields equipment is used that is adapted to fit onto a truck, the equipment consisting of ploughing equipment adapted to the truck itself and brush and blower equipment installed on a trailer. Other pieces of machinery, such as e.g. a scoop-loader, are also used in place of the truck. Brushing machines are located on their own trai¬ ler, which normally includes its own power unit and blowing devices, or they are located on a self-propelled car. Ploughing equipment can naturally not be used for anything other than the removal of snow and slush, so that a brushing machine and blowing equipment must be used for the removal of water.

An air field is cleaned in order to provide the best and most even friction conditions for landing aircraft. A layer of water on the surface of the field is also highly detrimental. In addition, it may freeze during cold weather, which considerably reduces friction. Because of this, an attempt is made to remove water from the surface of the field as completely as possible. A rotating brush throws the water forward at circumferential speed, when a brush set at an angle moves the water to the side. As the circumferential speed increases, the effectiveness of the brush as such improves, but at the same time water mist, which goes over the brush, increases. This significantly diminishes the result of the cleaning. It is the intention of this inven- tion to remove the aforesaid defect. The characteristic features of the invention are presented in the accompanying Patent Claims. In a brushing machine in accordance with the invention it is possible to use high circumferential speeds, because most of the water mist going over the brush is collected and removed by means of the mudguard and the water collection gutter. Because the amounts of water collected are very large, it is advantageous to use a high-pressure pump, which is able to eject the water far to the side away from the cleaned area. Basically it is even possible to collect only the water striking the surface of the frame beam and dropping off it, but it is more advantageous to use surfaces and mudguards suitable for such water collection.

In what follows the invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying Figures, which show one brushing machine in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows a brushing machine pulled by a truck.

Figure 2 shows one water-collection system in accordance with the invention in connection with a rotating brush.

Figure 3 shows the same equipment with a worn brush.

Figure 4 shows another brushing equipment.

The equipment to be used especially for cleaning airport runways includes a truck 2 and a trailer 1 pulled by this, which further includes a brushing machine 5, a power unit 9, as well as blowing equipment. The trailer 1 consists of a chassis 4, its support wheels 6.1, as well as the aforementioned power unit 9 , in connection with which the aforesaid blowing machine is installed. The brushing machine 5 is installed on turning devices and it also has its own support wheel 6.2, which makes possible the more precise setting of the brush. Behind the brush

3 is the water-collection equipment 7, which is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3. In this application, however, this includes an intermediate reservoir 16 and a high power pump 17, the output side of which is connected to a spray nozzle 18.

Figures 2 and 3 show, in addition to the water-collection equipment a such, its operation when the brush wears. The water- collection equipment 7 is located on the frame 12 of the brush in such a way that it extends above the brush 3 behind it, roughly in the centre, thus effectively collecting the drops of water that travel over the brush. The principal components are formed by a mudguard 18, its turning lower part 19, and a water gutter 20. At the end of the water gutter 20 there is in ad¬ dition a transfer pump by means of which the water collected in the gutter is moved to the intermediate reservoir 16 seen on the bed of the truck 2 in Figure 1.

As the brush 3 wears, its diameter gets smaller and in order that the water collection effectiveness remains the same, the lower end of the mudguard must be moved to keep it at a fixed distance from brush 3. This is arranged in such a way that the lower part 19 of the mudguard 18 can be turned towards the brush. This lower end is kept as close as possible to the circumference of the brush 3. The mudguard 18 extends to at least 1,3, but most advantageously 1,4 times the height of the brush 3.

Instead of the intermediate reservoir of the high power pump, it is possible to use a large reservoir, even if the large amounts of water to be collected from an airport make this impractical.

If wing members are used in a brushing machine at the front of the brush, it is advantageous to equip them too with a water gutter in accordance with Figure 4. In this, the support of the brush 3 and the mudguard 7 are similar to those in Figures 2 and 3. In this a control wing assembly 27 is installed in front of the brush, it is not dealt with in greater detail here. This includes, however, its own water gutter 22, which is connected to the aforesaid water collection system. It has been clearly noted that wing members in front too collect in any event a considerable quantity of water, the removal of which consider¬ ably saves the work of the brush, while at the same time it improves the result of the work significantly.

In quite many brushing machines a brush with a diameter of about 900 mm are used, which wears in use to 400 mm. The normal speed of revolution is 600 revolutions per minute, but in new machines it is possible to adjust the speed from 100 to 1200 rpm. Driving speeds vary from 50 to 60 kph, but it is possible drive at up to 80 kph, even if the resulting cleaning suffers from such a high speed.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A brushing machine especially intended for cleaning airport runways, which includes a frame, (4) support wheels (6.1, 6.2), as well as a rotating brush (3) suspended from the frame and equipped with a mudguard and rotation devices, and which is arranged to be moved at an angle to the direction of travel, characterized in that the brushing machine includes one or more water collection gutter (20, 22) in connection with the water- collecting surface and water transfer equipment connected to this.

2. A brushing machine in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that in connection with the rotating brush there is a mudguard (7) equipped with a water collection gutter, and extending from a height of at least 1,3 times the brush (3) to the lower water collection gutter (20) behind the brush, which is located right next the brush.

3. A brushing machine in accordance with Patent Claims

1 or 2, characterized in that the water transfer equipment includes a transfer pump and a water reservoir.

4. A brushing machine in accordance with Patent Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the water transfer equipment in¬ cludes a transfer pump (13) and intermediate reservoir (16) , a high- pressure pump (17) , as well as a spray nozzle (18) for throwing the collected water far from the cleaned area.

5. A brushing machine in accordance with one of the above Patent Claims 1 - 4, in which a control wing assembly is located in front of the brush (3) , characterized in that the control wing assembly in front includes a water gutter (22) and is connected to the aforesaid water transfer equipment.