WO2006133499A1

WO2006133499A1 - An arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface

Info

Publication number: WO2006133499A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/000830
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Ross Inkster
Original assignee: Arbortech Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Arbortech Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-17
Filing date: 2006-06-16
Publication date: 2006-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-17

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface comprising a body adapted to be moved across the surface, a skirt forming a part of the body and extending at least around a portion of a periphery of a plenum chamber area. The plenum chamber is adapted to receive air at above atmospheric pressure discharge at least some of this air at the above atmospheric pressure beneath the skirt so that it is then outside of the plenum chamber area. Collection means positioned external to the plenum capture and retain or transport elsewhere any particulate or liquid material suspended in the moving air subsequent to being entrained by passage of air through the gap.

Description

TITLE

AN ARRANGEMENT FOR LIFTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL OR LIQUID FROM A SURFACE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a lifting arrangement and also a method particularly suited for lifting of particulate materials and/or liquids.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known to use a below atmospheric pressure to suck air and with this, suspended materials through a vacuum head into a collection conduit (a traditional vacuum cleaner is an example).

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a different arrangement and method for effecting the lifting of particulate and liquid materials, which offers advantages over, or at the very least is an alternative to, the apparatus and arrangements of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

For the purpose of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word 'comprises' has a corresponding meaning.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one form of the invention there is proposed an arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface comprising a body adapted to be moved across the surface, a skirt forming a part of the body and extending at least around a portion of a periphery of a plenum chamber area, the plenum chamber adapted to receive air at above atmospheric pressure and adapted, with the skirt to discharge at least some of the air at the above atmospheric pressure beneath the skirt so that it is then outside of the plenum chamber area, and collection means positioned external to the plenum chamber and on the outer side of any gap defined beneath the skirt and a surface, wherein the collection means are adapted to capture and retain or transport elsewhere any particulate or liquid material suspended in the moving air subsequent to being entrained by passage of air through the gap.

Preferably, the skirt is supported to have its height, which defines the gap between it and the surface effected by the pressure of air within the plenum chamber where this is arranged to effect a lifting of the skirt in response to the level of such pressure and its resultant passage through the gap.

Preferably, the body is adapted to be substantially supported above a surface by a sufficient air pressure being within the plenum chamber.

Preferably, the skirt extends around an entirety of a perimeter of the body.

Preferably, the skirt defines a lower outermost surface that is shaped so that it provides a curved path that extends upwardly and outwardly on an outer side of the plenum chamber.

Preferably, the arrangement is adapted to be fully self-supporting by reason of a hovercraft lifting effect provided within the plenum chamber.

Preferably, there is a shape in plan of the skirt providing for a leading portion of the body to be a sharper curved shape than adjacent sides of the leading portion.

Preferably, the collection means include at least one inlet to a collection area where the inlet location is in a vicinity of a or the curved shape on an outer upwardly extending surface of the skirt. Preferably, the curved shape is convex relative to the direction of travel of the body.

In a further form, the curved shape is concave relative to the direction of travel of the body.

Preferably, the shape in plan of the plenum chamber is boomerang shaped.

Preferably, there is a means to effect a reduction in air pressure and there is at least one conduit connecting such means to at least the one inlet locations to effect a capturing of suspended particulate or liquid materials in the moving air.

Preferably, the collection means are coupled to a separation means where the particulates or liquid are arranged to be separated from the moving air.

Preferably, the body is arranged to be moved in a forward direction which is defined by there being an apex in plan of the skirt and there being for each side of the apex a collection inlet.

Preferably, the body has a skirt that is shaped when viewed in plan so as to define three apexes.

Preferably, the three apexes define when viewed in plan an approximately equilateral triangular shape.

Preferably, there is at least one ground engageable wheel adapted to effect a supplementary supporting of the body.

Preferably, the body further includes a motor driving a fan adapted to provide air at pressure into the plenum chamber,

Preferably, the arrangement includes a motor, an impeller located at an approximate centre of the body so as to rotate about a central axis of the body, a turbo separator arranged in line with a collection conduit so that material collected can be separated and will be separated from the air stream before being directed into the fan.

Preferably, the outside skirt surface shape of the body includes a curved convex shape selected such that air being directed beneath the skirt is adapted to be caused to follow the curved shape.

In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in an arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface which includes a body having a perimeter skirt extending at least partially around a front of the body and defining with other parts, a plenum chamber the perimeter skirt shape having a shape defining at least one apex or corner point, a collection inlet positioned so as to be in a location associated with the apex, means to effect a supply of air at a higher than atmospheric pressure to within the plenum chamber to exhaust air from within the plenum chamber beneath the perimeter skirt to outside of the plenum chamber, means to effect movement of the arrangement across a ground area in at least a forward direction where the apex is a forward most location, and means to draw into the collection inlet material lifted by air passing beneath the skirt and being adapted to kept suspended until the collection inlet is within a collection position.

In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in an arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface includes a suspension arrangement and a collection arrangement where the suspension arrangement is arranged to effect a lifting of particulates or liquid from a ground surface into an aerated suspended status as the perimeter of a body passes there over and the collection arrangement is arranged to suck up into a collection conduit, particulate and liquid materials from outside a perimeter of the body which particulates or liquid has been suspended by the suspension arrangement, the body having a perimeter skirt defining a plenum chamber, the perimeter shape in plan having a shape defining at least one apex and a collection inlet in a vicinity of at least one or more of the apexes, means to effect air at pressure within the plenum chamber to exhaust beneath the perimeter skirt, and means to effect a lower than atmospheric pressure within the collection inlet or inlets so as to effect a suction of air into a respective collection inlet.

In yet a further form, the invention may be said to reside in a method of effecting a lifting and collecting of particulates and or liquid from a surface which includes the steps of moving the arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims over a surface with the liquid or particulates thereon, where for a time the area beneath the skirt is over the material to be lifted and subjected to the positive flow of air through the gap between the skirt and the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described in relation to a preferred embodiment, it being intended that this is not of itself intended to be an indication of the limits to which the invention should be applied.

To assist in the description, this shall be now described with the assistance of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an arrangement according to a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the arrangement in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the arrangement in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 is a side view of an arrangement as a part of a street cleaning vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE INVENTION

Referring then to the illustrations, and in particular to Figure 1 , there is an arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface 1 , including a generally triangular shaped body, comprised of an upper part 2, and a lower part 4. This triangular shape of the body approximates, when viewed in plan, that of an equilateral triangle.

There is a perimeter skirt 6 made from a flexible material fixed to, and extending around the perimeter of the lower part 4 of the body. The skirt 6 defines a lower outermost surface that is shaped so that it provides a curved path that extends upwardly and outwardly on an outer side thereof.

There is a centrally located drive motor 8 which is adapted to fit to the assembled body, the motor having a vertically oriented output shaft, that drives a fan 10 that is attached to the output shaft.

The fan 10 is connected to each of three collection inlets 12, one located at each of the apexes 14 of the body, via conduits.

There are three wheels 16, that run within three corresponding wheels wells 18 formed into the lower part 4 of the body, and a handle 20 fixed to the upper portion 2 of the body.

In use, the motor 8 drives the fan 10, which supplies air at higher than atmospheric pressure into a plenum chamber 22 defined by the perimeter skirt 6, the body, and the ground surface. The fan 10 also provides suction at the three collection inlets 12, via the conduits. As air forces its way out of the plenum chamber, under the skirt 6, it will inflate the skirt (which is trying to maintain the air in the plenum chamber 22) and lift the arrangement 1 off of its wheels so that it can hover (i.e. provide a hovercraft effect). As this air passes between the skirt 6 and the ground surface it also effects a scouring and lifting of particulates or liquid from the ground surface so that they become entrained in this air.

After passing beneath the skirt 6, air and the liquid or particulate matter entrained therein follows the curved shape of the skirt 6 upward until it is sucked up by one of the three collection inlets 12.

The conduits connecting the three collection inlets 12 to the fan 10, incorporate a turbo separator that separates the material collected from the air stream before the air is again directed through the fan 10. This material can then be collected using appropriate means, such as a bag in the case of dirt and dust, for disposal. Collectively, the fan 10, the collection inlets 12, the conduits, the separator and the debris storage, are referred to as the collection means.

When the motor 8 is switched off, the skirt 6 will deflate and the arrangement 1 can descend until it again sits on it wheels 16. In order to facilitate this raising and lowering of the arrangement 1 , the collection inlets 12 can be retractable, so that when the motor of the lifer is switched on and the arrangement lifts off of its wheels 16 and hovers, the collection inlets 12 can, or be caused to, drop down so as to remain in close proximity with the ground surface. Conversely, when the motor 8 is switched off and the arrangement 1 lowers, the inlets 12 can retract into the body.

The handle 20 allows the arrangement to be pushed and steered by an operator, irrespective of whether or not the arrangement is in use. In use, the wheels 6 can be driven by the fan motor 8 so as to engage the ground and thereby propel the arrangement, they may also be driven by a second separate motor, or not at all, in which case the arrangement 1 must be pushed by the operator.

In use, as the arrangement 1 is pushed or driven forward, the curved convex shape and orientation of the arrangements triangular shaped body relative to the direction of travel is such that material caught in the air being directed outwardly from beneath the skirt 6 will be caused to follow around the curved characteristic of the body's shape as the arrangement moves forward, so that this material will then be generally held in this vicinity so that a following collection inlet 12 on one of the rearmost apexes 14 will eventually come within the associated location and suck this material into the collection inlet 12.

Referring now to Figure 4, the handles 20 may be replaced by arms 30 that maintain one or more of the arrangements 1 in front of a vehicle 32. In this fashion, the arrangements 1 would replace the brushes of conventional street sweepers. The vehicle 32 then might be a truck, the back 34 of which provides considerable storage for the particulate matter and liquid separated from the air drawn into the inlets 36, and which is the conveyed to the storage in the back 34 of the truck via the conduits.

It is considered that this invention will be of particular advantage to those seeking an alternative means for lifting particulate materials and/or liquids that is also very effective.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims

1. An arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface comprising a body adapted to be moved across the surface, a skirt forming a part of the body and extending at least around a portion of a periphery of a plenum chamber area, the plenum chamber adapted to receive air at above atmospheric pressure and adapted, with the skirt to discharge at least some of the air at the above atmospheric pressure beneath the skirt so that it is then outside of the plenum chamber area, and collection means positioned external to the plenum chamber and on the outer side of any gap defined beneath the skirt and a surface, wherein the collection means are adapted to capture and retain or transport elsewhere any particulate or liquid material suspended in the moving air subsequent to being entrained by passage of air through the gap.

2. The arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface as in claim 1 , further characterized in that the skirt is supported to have its height which defines the gap between it and the surface effected by the pressure of air within the plenum chamber where this is arranged to effect a lifting of the skirt in response to the level of such pressure and its resultant passage through the gap.

3. The arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface as in either one of claims 1 or 2, where the body is adapted to be substantially supported above a surface by a sufficient air pressure being within the plenum chamber

4. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where the skirt extends around an entirety of a perimeter of the body.

5. The arrangement as in anyone of the preceding claims where the skirt defines a lower outermost surface that is shaped so that it provides a curved path that extends upwardly and outwardly on an outer side of the plenum chamber.

6. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where the arrangement is adapted to be fully self-supporting by reason of a hovercraft lifting effect provided within the plenum chamber.

7. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where there is a shape in plan of the skirt providing for a leading portion of the body to be a sharper curved shape than adjacent sides of the leading portion.

8. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where the collection means include at least one inlet to a collection area where the inlet location is in a vicinity of a or the curved shape on an outer upwardly extending surface of the skirt.

9. The arrangement as in the immediately preceding claim where there is a means to effect a reduction in air pressure and there is at least one conduit connecting such means to at least the one inlet locations to effect a capturing of suspended particulate or liquid materials in the moving air.

10. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where the collection means are coupled to a separation means where the particulates or liquid are arranged to be separated from the moving air.

11.The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where the body is arranged to be moved in a forward direction which is defined by there being an apex in plan of the skirt and there being for each side of the apex a collection inlet.

12. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the body has a skirt that is shaped when viewed in plan so as to define three apexes.

13. The arrangement as in the immediately preceding claim the three apexes define when viewed in plan an approximately equilateral triangular shape.

14. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims where there is at least one ground engageable wheel adapted to effect a supplementary supporting of the body.

15. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims the body further includes a motor driving a fan adapted to provide air at pressure into the plenum chamber,

16. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the apparatus includes a motor, an impeller located at an approximate centre of the body so as to rotate about a central axis of the body, a turbo separator arranged in line with a collection conduit so that material collected can be separated and will be separated from the air stream before being directed into the fan.

17. The arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the outside skirt surface shape of the body includes a curved convex shape selected such that air being directed beneath the skirt is adapted to be caused to follow the curved shape.

18. An arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface which includes a body having a perimeter skirt extending at least partially around a front of the body and defining with other parts, a plenum chamber the perimeter skirt shape having a shape defining at least one apex or corner point, a collection inlet positioned so as to be in a location associated with the apex, means to effect a supply of air at a higher than atmospheric pressure to within the plenum chamber to exhaust air from within the plenum chamber beneath the perimeter skirt to outside of the plenum chamber, means to effect movement of the arrangement across a ground area in at least a forward direction where the apex is a forward most location, and means to draw into the collection inlet material lifted by air passing beneath the skirt and being adapted to kept suspended until the collection inlet is within a collection position.

19. An arrangement for lifting particulate material or liquid from a surface includes a suspension arrangement and a collection arrangement where the suspension arrangement is arranged to effect a lifting of particulates or liquid from a ground surface into an aerated suspended status as the perimeter of a body passes there over and the collection arrangement is arranged to suck up into a collection conduit, particulate and liquid materials from outside a perimeter of the body which particulates or liquid has been suspended by the suspension arrangement, the body having a perimeter skirt defining a plenum chamber, the perimeter shape in plan having a shape defining at least one apex and a collection inlet in a vicinity of at least one or more of the apexes, means to effect air at pressure within the plenum chamber to exhaust beneath the perimeter skirt, and means to effect a lower than atmospheric pressure within the collection inlet or inlets so as to effect a suction of air into a respective collection inlet.

20. A method of effecting a lifting and collecting of particulates and or liquid from a surface which includes the steps of moving the arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims over a surface with the liquid or particulates thereon, where for a time the area beneath the skirt is over the material to be lifted and subjected to the positive flow of air through the gap between the skirt and the surface.