Mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus is provided with a vehicle trailer, on the chassis of which at least two running wheels are held so as to be rotatable, and with a high-pressure cleaning appliance having a motor and a pump, and also with at least one water storage tank for storing water for the high-pressure cleaning appliance. So that water can be provided to the apparatus from the at least one water storage tank or from a water supply mains, without risk of water from the water supply mains being returned thereto, the high-pressure cleaning apparatus has a decoupling tank with at least one inlet which can be connected to the water supply mains, and at least one outlet which is connected to the high-pressure cleaning appliance and to at least one water supply tank via a shut-off member which can be actuated by the user.

Claims

1. A mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus with a vehicle trailer, on a chassis of which at least two running wheels are held so as to be rotatable about a common axis of rotation for moving the high-pressure cleaning apparatus, and with a high-pressure cleaning appliance having a motor and a pump driven by the motor for pressurizing water which can be directed at an object which is to be cleaned, and also with at least one water storage tank for storing water for the high-pressure cleaning appliance, wherein the high-pressure cleaning apparatus has a decoupling tank with at least one inlet which is adapted to be connected to a water supply mains, and with at least one outlet which is connected to the high-pressure cleaning appliance and to at least one water storage tank via a shut-off member which is adapted to be actuated by a user, wherein the high-pressure cleaning apparatus has a first water storage tank and a second water storage tank which are arranged spaced apart from each other in each case on a long side of the vehicle trailer and are connected together via a line arrangement, the first water storage tank being arranged on a first long side of the vehicle trailer and the second water storage tank being arranged on a second long side of the vehicle trailer and the two water storage tanks being located on the chassis and the high-pressure cleaning appliance being positioned between the two water storage tanks on the chassis, wherein the decoupling tank is integrated in the first water storage tank and is connected via a supply line to the high-pressure cleaning appliance and via a first connecting line which is adapted to be shut off to the second water storage tank, wherein the second water storage tank is connected via a second connecting line to the first water storage tank, and wherein the first water storage tank has an indentation which forms the decoupling tank.

2. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chassis has a frame on which the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank are located.

3. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank extend over the entire length of the chassis.

4. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two water storage tanks has, facing the other water storage tank, at least one recess which forms a receptacle for an accessory part of the high-pressure cleaning appliance.

5. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure cleaning apparatus has a heating unit for heating the water pressurized by the pump, the heating unit being arranged on the chassis between the two water storage tanks.

6. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heating unit is configured as a fuel-operated continuous-flow heater.

7. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fuel tank, a cleaning-agent tank and/or an antifreeze tank are arranged between the two water storage tanks.

8. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fuel tank, the cleaning-agent tank and/or the antifreeze tank are accessible to the user from the rear side of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

9. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a high-pressure hose wound onto a hose drum and/or an inlet hose wound onto a hose drum are arranged between the two water storage tanks.

10. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the high-pressure hose and/or the inlet hose are accessible to the user from the rear side of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

11. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an electric switch cabinet and/or a storage surface for a toolbox are arranged between the two water storage tanks.

12. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the switch cabinet and/or the storage surface for the toolbox are accessible to the user from the rear side of the mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

13. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure cleaning apparatus has at least one cover which is movable back and forth between a closed position and an open position, which in the closed position covers a region between the two water storage tanks and uncovers this region in the open position, and which is mounted movably on the two water storage tanks.

14. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one cover is mounted to be pivotable about a pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to a direction of travel on a first and a second bearing element, the first bearing element being formed on the first water storage tank and the second bearing element being formed on the second water storage tank, and the two bearing elements facing each other.

15. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the two water storage tanks have in each case an extension arm oriented vertically upwards, on the upper end region of which is remote from the chassis the bearing elements are formed.

16. The mobile high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the bearing elements are configured as pivot pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to the invention with an opened front cover and an opened rear cover;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 with the front cover opened;

(3) FIG. 3 is a rear view of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus of FIG. 3, the rear cover having been removed;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 with the front cover closed and the rear cover removed;

(5) FIG. 5 is a top view of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 with the front cover closed and the rear cover removed;

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first and a second water storage tank of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1, the two water storage tanks being connected together via a line arrangement;

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the first water storage tank of FIG. 6;

(8) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the first water storage tank along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7; and

(9) FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the first water storage tank along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) In the drawings, an advantageous embodiment of a high-pressure cleaning apparatus according to the invention, which is assigned overall the reference numeral 10, is illustrated schematically. The high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 is designed in the manner of a vehicle trailer which has a chassis 12 with a frame 13 which is connected rigidly to a drawbar 16 projecting forwards from the chassis 12 in the direction of travel 14 and on which two running wheels 18, 20 are mounted to be rotatable about a common axis of rotation 22. The high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 has a front side 24 facing the drawbar 16, a rear side 26 remote from the drawbar 16 and also a first long side 28 and a second long side 30 which extend in the direction of travel 14 from the rear side 26 to the front side 24.

(11) The high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 has a first water storage tank 32 which is arranged on the first long side 28 and extends from the rear side 26 over the entire length of the chassis 12 to the front side 24. Furthermore, the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 has a second water storage tank 34 which is arranged on the second long side 30 and extends from the rear side 26 over the entire length of the chassis 12 to the front side 24. The first water storage tank 32, just like the second water storage tank 34, is located directly on the chassis 12. The chassis 12 to this end may have in the region of the first long side 28 a first longitudinal spar, on which the first water storage tank 32 is located, and in the region of the second long side 30 the chassis 12 may have a second longitudinal spar, on which the second water storage tank 34 is located directly. The longitudinal spars are not shown in the drawings in order to obtain a better overview.

(12) The two water storage tanks 32, 34 have in each case a front tank region 36 and a rear tank region 38. The front tank region 36 extends from the front side 24 to approximately the axis of rotation 22 of the two running wheels 18, 20, and the front tank region 36 is adjoined by the rear tank region 38, which extends as far as the rear side 26. The rear tank region 38 forms an extension arm 40 oriented vertically upwards, which defines the maximum height of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10. On the upper end of the extension arm 40 are formed a front pivot pin 42 and a rear pivot pin 44. The front pivot pins 42 of the two water storage tanks 32, 34 face each other, are oriented flush with each other and define a front pivot axis 46. The rear pivot pins 44 of the two water storage tanks 32, 34 likewise face each other, are oriented flush with each other and define a rear pivot axis 48. On the front pivot pin 42 of the two water storage tanks 32, 34 a front cover 50 is mounted so as to be pivotable about the front pivot axis 46 and detachable, and on the rear pivot pin 44 of the two water storage tanks 32, 34 a rear cover 52 is mounted so as to be pivotable about the rear pivot axis 48 and detachable. The two covers 50, 52 can be pivoted back and forth between a closed position, in which they cover a space between the two water storage tanks 32, 34, and an open position, in which they uncover the space between the two water storage tanks 32, 34. If required, the covers 50, 52 can be removed completely from the water storage tanks 32, 34.

(13) The front cover 50 is shown in its open position in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in its closed position in FIGS. 4 and 5. The rear cover 52 is shown in its open position in FIG. 1 and the rear cover 52 has been removed in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

(14) In the region of the extension arm 50 there is molded into the first water storage tank 32 a first recess 54 which opens into an inner wall 56 of the first water storage tank 32. The inner wall 56 of the first water storage tank 32 faces an inner wall 58 of the second water storage tank 34. A safety helmet 60 for example can be positioned in the first recess 54.

(15) The second water storage tank 34 has, approximately at the level of the first recess 54 of the first water storage tank 32, a second recess 62 which faces the first water storage tank 32 and opens into the inner wall 58 of the second water storage tank 34. The second recess 62 forms a receptacle in which for example operating instructions can be positioned.

(16) Beneath the second recess 62, the second water storage tank 34 has a third recess 63 and a fourth recess 64 which likewise open into the inner wall 58 of the first water storage tank 34 and are molded into the second water storage tank 34. The third recess 63 forms a receptacle for a jet pipe which is connected to a spray gun 68, and the fourth recess 64 forms a receptacle for an extension jet pipe 70 which can be attached to the jet pipe connected to the spray gun 68.

(17) The recesses 62, 63 and 64, as has already been indicated, are molded into the water storage tanks 32, 34, the direction of demolding for the recesses 62, 63, 64 running perpendicularly to the direction of travel 14. The two water storage tanks 32, 34 are produced from a plastics material in a rotational sintering process.

(18) In the region between the two water storage tanks 32, 34, an electric switch cabinet 72, a hose drum 74 for a high-pressure hose 76, a hose drum 78 for an inlet hose 80, a storage surface 82 for a toolbox 84 and also a cleaning-agent tank 86 and an antifreeze tank 88 are arranged between the rear tank regions 38, these all being accessible to the user in a simple manner from the rear side 26 of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 when the rear cover 52 is opened. Furthermore, a fuel filler pipe 92 for a fuel tank is arranged in this region, this tank not being shown in the drawings in order to obtain a better overview. The first water storage tank 32 bears a decalcifying-agent tank 90 at its rear end.

(19) Between the front tank regions 36 of the two water storage tanks 32, 34 are arranged a high-pressure cleaning appliance 94 with a motor 96 and a pump 98 driven by this motor 96, and also a heating unit 100 which succeeds the pump 98, which unit in the embodiment illustrated is designed as a fuel-operated continuous-flow heater 102 with which a fan 104 for supplying combustion air is associated. The high-pressure cleaning appliance 94, just like the heating unit 100, is arranged in the region between the two water storage tanks 32, 34 on the chassis 12.

(20) The two water storage tanks 32, 34 in each case form a hollow body. A decoupling tank 106 in the form of an indentation 108 molded into the first water storage tank 32 is integrated in the first water storage tank 32. The decoupling tank 106 has a first inlet 110 and a second inlet 112. A first filling-level-dependent valve in the form of a first float valve 114 is connected to the first inlet 110. The first float valve 114 has a first float 116 which detects the filling level of the decoupling tank 106. A second filling-level-dependent valve in the form of a second float valve 118, which has a second float 120 with which the filling level of the decoupling tank 106 can be detected, is connected to the second inlet 112. The first inlet 110 and the second inlet 112 are arranged above the maximum filling level of the decoupling tank 106. If the filling level of the decoupling tank 106 reaches a maximum value, the first inlet 110 and the second inlet 112 are closed by the float valves 114, 118 so that water cannot pass into the decoupling tank via the inlets 110, 112 any more. For example the inlet hose 80 can be connected either to the first inlet 110 or alternatively to the second inlet 112, which hose can be connected by its free end to a water supply mains, in particular to a public water supply mains.

(21) The decoupling tank 106 has an outlet 122 which is connected to the second water storage tank 34 via a first connecting line 124. From the first connecting line 124 there branches off a supply line 126 which is connected to the entrance of the pump 98, so that a flow connection between the decoupling tank 106 and the pump 98 of the high-pressure cleaning appliance 94 is provided via the supply line 126.

(22) A T-joint 128 is inserted into the first connecting line 124 in order to connect the supply line 126 to the first connecting line 124. Between the T-joint 128 and the second water storage tank 34 a shut-off member which can be actuated by the user is inserted into the first connecting line 124, which member in the example of embodiment illustrated is designed as a stopcock 130. By means of the stopcock 130, the flow connection between the decoupling tank 106 and the second water storage tank 34 can be broken without thereby adversely affecting the flow connection between the decoupling tank 106 and the high-pressure cleaning appliance 94.

(23) The second water supply tank 34 is in a flow connection with the first water supply tank 32 via a second connecting line 132. A purging cock 134 is inserted into the second connecting line 132, which cock can be actuated by the user in order to empty the two water storage tanks 32, 34 and the decoupling tank 106 if required.

(24) The high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 which is in the form of a vehicle trailer can be moved to different operating sites, in particular to different construction sites, with the aid of a towing vehicle. At the respective operating site, water can be pressurized by means of the high-pressure cleaning appliance 94 and directed at an object via the pressure hose 76. The water which is pressurized by the pump 98 of the high-pressure cleaning appliance 94 can be heated by means of the heating unit 100. If a water supply mains is available at the respective operating site, water can be taken from the water supply mains via the inlet hose 80, which water can flow into the decoupling tank 106 and be supplied therefrom to the high-pressure cleaning appliance 94 via the supply line 126. The user in this case can close the stopcock 130, so that the water cannot pass from the decoupling tank 106 into the water storage tanks 32, 34.

(25) To improve the cleaning result, a liquid cleaning agent, for example a soap solution, can be admixed to the water, which solution can be stored in the cleaning-agent tank 86. In order to avoid deposition of lime in the heating unit 106, furthermore a decalcifying agent can be admixed to the water, which agent can be stored in the decalcifying-agent tank 90. If the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10 is not being operated, then in the cold season the high-pressure cleaning appliance 94, just like all the water-receiving lines and hoses of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10, can be filled with an antifreeze which can be stored in the antifreeze tank 88.

(26) If no water supply mains is available at the operating site of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 10, the two water storage tanks 32, 34 can be filled with water beforehand at a collection point by supplying the water from the collection point via the decoupling tank 106 and the first connecting line 124 to the second water storage tank 34, and from it via the second connecting line 132 to the first water storage tank 32. The stopcock 130 is opened for this purpose. The decoupling tank 106, when the stopcock 130 is opened, forms a communicating system with the two water storage tanks 32, 34 via the first connecting line 124 and the second connecting line 132, the filling level of the decoupling tank 106 coinciding with the filling level of the two water storage tanks 32, 34. At the operating site, the water can then flow out of the water storage tanks 32, 34 via the connecting lines 124, 132 and the supply line 126 to the entrance of the pump 98 of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus 94 when the stopcock is opened.