DUST MITIGATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A dust mitigation system for a mobile sweeper, the dust mitigation system including a cover to at least partially cover one or more brushes of the mobile sweeper, a dust collector including at least one fan and one or more filters, and at least one duct fluidly connecting the cover with the dust collector.

Claims

1. A dust mitigation system for a mobile sweeper, the dust mitigation system including a cover to at least partially cover one or more brushes of the mobile sweeper; a dust collector including: at least one fan; and one or more filters; and at least one duct fluidly connecting the cover with the dust collector.

2. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, further including at least one separator for separating dust and/or debris from air, the separator including: a one or more blades to move the air through the separator; and a pre-filter located at least partially around the one or more blades, the pre-filter having a plurality of openings to enable dust and/or debris below a predetermined size to pass through the plurality of openings, and an exhaust aperture for larger particles to exit the pre-filter, the pre-filter tapered from an inlet of the pre-filter to the exhaust aperture.

3. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one separator is two separators.

4. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each separator includes a motor to drive the one or more blades.

5. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each separator includes a clutch to disengage the one or more blades relative to the motor.

6. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the clutch is a magnetic clutch.

7. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the motor is adapted to act as a clutch, enabling the one or more blades to spin without powering the motor.

8. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, further wherein the one or more filters is a panel filter mounted to a part of the dust collector by one or more resilient or elastic members adapted to enable movement during operation of the dust mitigation system to shake the filter to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the filter.

9. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one duct is two ducts.

10. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pre-filter is mounted to a portion of the separator by one or more resilient or elastic members adapted to enable movement during operation of the separator to shake the pre-filter to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the plurality of openings.

11. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the one or more resilient or elastic members are one or more springs.

12. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more filters is a panel filter, each panel filter having a filter; a frame surrounding the filter; one or more resilient or elastic members to mount the frame to a dust collector, wherein the one or more resilient or elastic members are adapted to enable movement during operation of the dust collector to shake the filter to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the filter.

13. A dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more resilient or elastic members are one or more springs.

14. A mobile sweeper including a dust mitigation system as claimed in claim 1.

15. A separator for separating dust and/or debris from air, the separator including: a one or more blades to move air through the separator; and a pre-filter located at least partially around the one or more blades, the pre-filter having a plurality of openings to enable dust and/or debris below a predetermined size to pass through the plurality of openings, and an exhaust aperture for larger particles to exit the pre-filter, the pre-filter tapered from an inlet of the pre-filter to the exhaust aperture.

16. A separator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pre-filter is mounted to a portion of the separator by one or more resilient or elastic members adapted to enable movement during operation of the separator to shake the pre-filter to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the plurality of openings.

17. A panel filter for filtering dust or debris from air, the panel filter having a filter; a frame surrounding the filter; one or more resilient or elastic members to mount the frame to a dust collector, wherein the one or more resilient or elastic members are adapted to enable movement during operation of the dust collector to shake the filter to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the filter.

18. A panel filter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the filter includes one or more seals to seal against a portion of the dust collector to ensure that the air passes through the filter.

19. A method of filtering air, including the steps of: sweeping a ground surface with a mobile sweeper; moving air with swept dust and/or debris through at least one separator having a pre-filter to separate different sized dust and/or debris; moving the air through a filter to filter the air; and shaking the pre-filter and the filter to dislodge dust and/or debris such that the dust and debris can fall into a hopper.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the air is moved by at least one fan, and the at least one separator includes one or more blades to move air through the separator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0055] FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of a mobile dust sweeper with a dust mitigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 2 is an isometric rear view of the mobile dust sweeper of FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a lower rear isometric view of the mobile dust sweeper of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of part of the dust mitigation system of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 5 is a partially transparent view of the dust mitigation system of FIG. 4;

[0060] FIG. 6 is a sectioned view of the dust mitigation system of FIG. 4;

[0061] FIG. 7 is a side view of the separator of FIG. 6;

[0062] FIG. 8 is a sectioned view of the separator of FIG. 6;

[0063] FIG. 9 is a front view of the panel filter of FIG. 6; and

[0064] FIG. 10 is a sectioned view of the panel filter of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0065] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 there is shown a dust mitigation system 10 for a mobile sweeper 12. The dust mitigation system 10 has a cover 14. The cover 14 covers brushes (not shown) of the mobile sweeper 12. The dust mitigation system 10 has two ducts 16. The two ducts 16 connect the cover 14 to a dust collector 18.

[0066] The dust collector 18 has a fan 20. The fan 20 is an axial fan which moves air through the dust mitigation system 10. The dust collector 18 also has a filter 200. The filter 200 is mounted relative to the dust collector 18 by springs 202. The springs 202 springs enable movement during operation to shake the filter 200 to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the filter 200.

[0067] The filter 200 includes a panel filter 204. The panel filter 204 is surrounded by a frame 206 (best seen in FIG. 9). The frame 206 creates a seal between the frame 206 and the dust collector 18 to ensure that the air travels through the filter panel 204. The panel filter 204 is inserted into the frame 206 and secured with locking pins 210.

[0068] The filter 200 includes a cover pate 208. The cover plate secures the filter 200 to the dust collector 18.

[0069] The dust collector 18 also includes two separators 100. Each separator 100 (best seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) has a blade 102 to move air through the separator 100. The blade 102 is attached to a shaft 104. The shaft 104 is rotatably mounted to an inlet 106 via a bearing 108. The shaft is driven by an electric motor 110, and further controlled by a magnetic clutch 112.

[0070] A pre-filter 114 is located around the blade 102. The pre-filter 114 has a plurality of openings 116 to enable dust and/or debris below a predetermined size to pass through the plurality of openings 116. The pre-filter 114 has an exhaust aperture 118 for larger particles to exit the pre-filter 114. The pre-filter 114 tapers from an inlet 120 of the pre-filter 114 to the exhaust aperture 118.

[0071] The pre-filter 114 is mounted to the inlet 106 by springs 122. The springs 122 enable movement of the pre-filter 114 to dislodge any dust or debris that may be stuck in or blocking the plurality of openings 116. The inlet 106 is mounted to the dust collector and fluidly connected to a corresponding duct 16.

[0072] The pre-filter 114 includes an impact protection cone 124. The impact protection cone 124 is fixedly attached to the inlet 106. The impact protection cone 124 protects the motor 110, the bearing 108 and the clutch 112 from incoming dust and debris.

[0073] The separators 100 can be driven to move air through the dust mitigation system 10 and to aid the fan 20 when the dust mitigation system 10 starts up. When the dust mitigation system 10 is up and running, the electric motors 110 of the separators 100 can be turned off, and the fan 20 can drive the blades 102.

[0074] The dust collector 18 includes a hopper portion 22 to store the dust and debris which settles from the separators 100 and the filter 200. The dust collector 18 has a discharge port in the form of a slide gate 24. The slide gate can be opened to remove the settled dust and debris.

[0075] The dust mitigation system 10 includes a support frame 26 to attach the dust collector 18 to the mobile sweeper 12.

[0076] The dust mitigation system 10 includes a solar panel 28 to charge a deep cycle battery 30.

[0077] The dust mitigation system 10 includes a reverse camera 32. The reverse camera enables an operator to see behind the mobile sweeper 12.

[0078] The dust mitigation system 10 includes a flood light 34 to illuminate the area behind the dust collector 18.

[0079] The mobile sweeper 12 has two arms 36 which can move the cover 14.

Advantages

[0080] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the separator can increase the duct speed which takes a load off the main fan. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the separator enables a higher filtration velocity as less dust is directed towards the filter. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the separator acts as an inline separator and fan in a single component. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the separator reduces the load requirement of the fan when the dust mitigation system starts up. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the separator reduces the footprint of dust collector as less filter area is required. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the filter frame ensures alignment of filter during service and when new filter is required. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the vibration of the filter during operation ensures dust build up is reduced, this also reduces load on main fan and increases filter life. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dust mitigation system includes that the filter seal system enables pack pressure to be used on the filter to clean it out without the filter becoming dislodged.

Variations

[0081] It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0082] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.