AU2008100147A4 - Gum Removal Vehicle - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: A gum removal vehicle The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me/us: 00 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to mobile cleaning apparatus for removing gum from a surface, and in particular, to a gum removal vehicle adapted to operate freely over relatively 00 large areas without having to be connected to an external source of power.

BACKGROUND ART [Mere reference to background art herein should not be construed as an admission that such art constitutes common general knowledge in relation to the invention.] OO Chewing gum is often discarded on pavements and other public trafficable surfaces Sfrom where it must be removed to avoid pedestrians inadvertently stepping on it. It is not only annoying for the pedestrians to step on gum, but also due to the adhesive and malleable nature of gum, it is particularly difficult to remove from the surface after it has been trodden underfoot by pedestrians.

It is known to use steam cleaners to remove gum adhered to a surface. Steam is applied to the gum to liquefy or dissolve it, and thereby render it easier to remove from the surface. It is also known to use suction to aspirate the liquefied or dissolved gum. Steam cleaners require a considerable amount of energy to generate the steam, and normally have electrical heating elements. The heating elements are electrically powered from an external power source, normally a mains power point, via an electrical lead.

However, while mains-powered steam cleaners are convenient to use, they have some inherent disadvantages. The range of operation of the steam cleaner is restricted by the length of the electrical lead and the location of available power points. As each individual area is cleaned, the operator must stop the cleaner, return to the power point, remove the electrical lead plug, move to a new power point, plug in the electrical lead and restart the steam cleaner. This process is both time consuming and tedious. Due to the restrictions mentioned above, it may not even be possible to clean some large public areas, such as pedestrian malls, entirely.

The electrical lead between the power point and the steam cleaner also creates a trip hazard for passing pedestrian traffic.

Steam cleaners are often transported between locations on the trays of utility vehicles or on trailers. Loading and unloading steam cleaners from the trays of utility vehicles or from trailers is difficult. It requires heavy lifting and therefore restricts the pool of persons who can operate steam cleaners to those who have the physical capacity to do so. It also 00 0 poses a workplace health and safety risk. Finally, it is time consuming and tiring for the Ni operator.

It is an aim of this invention to provide mobile cleaning apparatus for 0removing gum from a surface, which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the

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disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one broad form, the invention provides a mobile cleaning apparatus for removing gum from a surface, comprising: 00 a vehicle; and NI self-powered gum removal means on the vehicle, the gum removal means including a steam cleaner having a nozzle for directing the steam onto the gum to be removed.

As the gum removal means is self-powered, it is not restricted by the location of power points or the length of an electrical lead. Power generation occurs on board the vehicle and no external power source is required. The mobile cleaning apparatus can therefore operate freely over large areas. The apparatus is highly mobile and allows for greater coverage in a standard work shift. It can be used over large areas where power points are not readily accessible such as street malls, shopping malls, footpaths, stadiums and entertainment centres. The mobile cleaning apparatus can be made small enough to be used in shopping malls, footpaths and other confined spaces without inconvenience to passing pedestrian traffic.

Moreover, as the gum removal means is already mounted on the vehicle, it does not require loading or unloading from the trays of utility vehicles or from trailers.

Preferably, the vehicle is self propelled, and steerable. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle is a motorised cart, such as a modified golf cart.

Typically, the vehicle has a front compartment to seat a driver and possibly a passenger, and a rear compartment adapted to house the gum removal means.

Typically, the steam cleaner is powered electrically, and the gum removal means includes electric power generation means for powering the steam cleaner. The power generation means is typically an inverter or generator driven by a petrol engine.

Alternatively, the electric power generation means may comprise a hydrogen fuel cell power source, or rechargeable battery or batteries.

Preferably, the gum removal means includes means for aspirating the gum after it is substantially liquefied or dissolved by the steam directed thereto. This is normally a vacuum 00 generator having a manually positionable inlet nozzle near the steam nozzle. The steam N, cleaner nozzle and vacuum nozzle may be combined in a single handpiece.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference 00 to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a side view of a mobile cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention 00 Figure 2 shows a rear view of the mobile cleaning apparatus of Fig 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a preferred embodiment, the mobile cleaning apparatus is in the form of a gum removal vehicle 1 for cleaning gum off surfaces such as pavements, walls, paths and bins.

The vehicle 1 is self-propelled and steerable, and can be a modified golf cart. A suitable golf cart is the Fairplay Koala KS 200 Electric Vehicle Long Roof golf cart. The vehicle 1 may be provided with suitable safety and/or warning lights, and LED amber moving signs on the sides thereof. Solar panel(s) (not shown) are mounted to the roof of the vehicle to charge a deep cycle battery used to power the vehicle motor, headlights, safety warning lights or other lights of the vehicle 1.

The vehicle 1 has a front compartment to seat a driver and optionally a passenger, and a rear compartment to house self-powered gum removal means. The rear compartment may be adapted to contain other items also. The rear compartment may be substantially enclosed to reduce noise pollution. A roller or sliding door is provided on one or more sides of the rear compartment to provide access to the components of the gum removal means. A barrier may also be provided between the front and rear compartments, to reduce noise in the front compartment and enhance working conditions and safety for the operator. The barrier may be transparent or opaque, and may be made of glass, Perspex, or any other suitable material.

The gum removal means includes a steam cleaner 2 with a suitably positioned water storage device for feeding water to the steam cleaner 2, an electric power generator 3 for powering the steam cleaner 2, and a vacuum generator 4 which serves as a suction device.

Suitable steam cleaners which can be used include the SOTECO Amsterdam 303 Type WDS4, and the Vega Plus 8 Bar Steam Generator and Vacuum, both of which are 00 0 currently sold by Steam Australia, Queensland. The Vega cleaner combines both a steam Scleaner and vacuum, and uses low pressure, high water temperature to dissolve gum and then aspirate it.

SThe steam cleaner 2 has flexible hose 5 connected to an outlet thereof, and the hose 00 has a nozzle 6 at its end for directing the steam onto the gum to be removed. The nozzle may be manually positionable.

The vacuum generator 4 is used to suction or aspirate the gum after it is substantially liquefied or dissolved by the steam applied thereto. The vacuum generator 4 has a flexible hose 7 connected to an inlet thereof, with a nozzle 8 at its end manually positionable at the 00 gum to be removed.

C In the illustrated embodiment, the steam cleaner hose 5 and the vacuum hose 7 are joined or wound together, or integrally formed as two channels of a single hose, with the steam nozzle outlet and the suction nozzle inlet positioned adjacent each other. In this manner, the gum can be dissolved and aspirated in virtually a single action.

The nozzle(s) can be held, positioned and controlled by an operator. Preferably, the nozzle(s) can be held, positioned and controlled by the operator of the gum removal vehicle 1 while seated in the vehicle.

In use, with the steam cleaner and vacuum turned on, the operator positions the nozzle(s) over the gum to be removed. The nozzle trigger is pressed to release hot water/steam onto the gum at a low pressure, to substantially liquefy or dissolve it. The vacuum then sucks the liquefied or dissolved gum into a collection tank.

Typically the gum is sufficiently liquefied or dissolved after application of the steam for approximately 3 seconds. In a typical shift of eight hours continuous use, the steam cleaner 2 requires less than thirty litres of water.

The electric power generator 3 is used to power the steam cleaner, and is suitably a petrol powered generator, such as the noise suppressed generator 55 dB Robins Subaru RG 3200. An AC powered steam cleaner 2 may simply plug into the power generator, or the steam cleaner may be modified to be powered by DC current from a hydrogen fuel cell array or a battery powered by a solar panel or panels.

The power generator 3 is fully self-contained on the vehicle. Thus, all power generation occurs on-board and no external power source is required. The gum removal vehicle 1 can therefore operate freely over large areas, with greater coverage in a standard work shift. It can be used over areas where power points are not available or not readily accessible.

00 0 The gum removal vehicle 1 does not require loading or unloading from the trays of Ni utility vehicles or from trailers, as it itself mobile. It is small enough that it can be used in shopping malls, footpaths and other confined spaces without inconvenience to passing pedestrian traffic.

00 It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The term "steam" is intended to include hot water where applicable.

The foregoing embodiment is intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various 00

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Omodifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

iN Accordingly, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation described and illustrated, but only by the following claims which are intended, where the applicable law permits, to include all suitable modifications and equivalents within the spirit and concept of the invention.

For example, although the self-powered gum removal means is shown mounted on a motorised cart in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it may be mounted on a trailer adapted to be towed.

It is envisaged that the solar panel(s) may also be used to power the gum removal means, at least partially.

Furthermore, although the invention has been described with particular reference to its application to remove gum, it may also be applied, with suitable modification, to perform other steam cleaning functions.

Throughout this specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprise" and variants thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising" are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers.