Abstract:
A self-contained, mobile system for cleaning trash receptacles. The system comprises a water system and a lift system that work in conjunction with each other to provide an automated method for cleaning trash receptacles. The water system acts as a water purification system minimizing waste of the cleaning solution and maximizing efficiency. The system may be adapted to clean multiple trash receptacles sequentially or simultaneously.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/299,236, filed Nov. 17, 2011, which claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/415,290, filed Nov. 18, 2010, and both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. The Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to processes for industrial washing, and, more particularly, to cleaning and sterilizing of waste receptacles such as garbage cans, totes, dumpsters, recycling containers and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Trash receptacles (bins, totes, carts, dumpsters) used out of doors to collect and transport various waste materials from a residence or business now come in certain relatively standard forms. Such trash receptacles are adapted for mechanical handling by refuse trucks. They are generally cylindrical or rectangular with a lid on a hinge and a bottom that may include wheels. 
         [0006]    The types of materials transported in these receptacles may be varied. A residence or business may have multiple bins or receptacles. Often one receptacle is used for combined trash materials considered waste and not easily recyclable, while another receptacle is used for certain types of materials designated for recycling. Moreover, there may be more than one receptacle used for different types of recycling to further separate recyclable materials, i.e., one receptacle for paper recyclables and another receptacle for plastic recyclables. 
         [0007]    The relatively standardized forms and materials of trash receptacles were selected for automated processes for gathering and removing the various types of waste. Garbage or refuse trucks that allow for mechanized, even somewhat automated gathering and transport of the various types of waste are well-known fixtures. 
         [0008]    Trash receptacles accumulate persistent residues, from liquids to solids, often with associated odors. The process for cleaning trash receptacles at the point of use is not frequently employed and has not advanced in the same manner as the process for gathering and transporting waste materials. Generally, if someone wants clean trash receptacles, the official recommendation is that they clean the trash receptacles themselves, typically with a garden hose, by hand For example, one may spray the inside of the receptacle with a garden hose in an attempt to at least rinse out the bulk of residue inside receptacle. A more determined person may include some sort of scrubbing of the inside of the receptacle with a brush, rag or mop, followed by rinsing the receptacle. Few do so, for a variety of unsavory reasons. 
         [0009]    What is needed then, whether recognized or not in the garbage industry, is a mechanized, even automated, non-personal-contact, relatively inexpensive method of cleaning the various trash receptacles. A portable system that could quickly and easily clean trash receptacles would provide a valuable service for improving cleanliness. It would be a further advantage to have a system that can clean multiple trash receptacles sequentially or simultaneously. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In accordance with the foregoing, certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention provide a self-contained, automated system for cleaning trash receptacles. A water system and lift system work in conjunction with each other to accomplish this. 
         [0011]    The water system may comprise: a tank that contains a cleaning solution; a pump that heats, pressurizes, and sprays the cleaning solution into the receptacles to be cleaned; a collection shroud that collects the cleaning solution after it leaves the receptacles; and a filtering system that prepares the cleaning solution for reuse. The lift system may comprise a lift or arm and linkage system that can engage and move the trash receptacles. The lift system may be a hydraulic system that can move the trash receptacles from their original position, to a positions where they can be cleaned, and back to their original positions. 
         [0012]    The water system and the lift system operate in coordination with each other to clean and sterilize the trash receptacles. For example, a mobile apparatus may be mounted on a vehicle to move into position next to a trash receptacle to be cleaned. The lift system may engage the receptacle and then move the receptacle on or near a vehicle into a position to be cleaned. The water system may then dispense the cleaning solution into the receptacle and clean out the inside of the receptacle. The lift system then returns the trash receptacle to its original position. The water system collects, filters, cleans, and reuses the cleaning solution so a minimal amount of cleaning solution is used to clean multiple trash receptacles. This system minimizes use of water, minimizes hauling weight, and minimizes wasted cleaning solution. 
         [0013]    One embodiment of the present system cleans a trash receptacle using a multi-stage process. For example, a trash receptacle is sprayed with a washing solution to remove the majority of debris and residue and then sprayed with a cleaning or disinfectant solution to sterilize the receptacle. The respective solutions may be maintained in separate tanks and used independently. 
         [0014]    One embodiment of the present system cleans one trash receptacle during a single cycle. One embodiment of the present system cleans multiple trash receptacles during a single cycle. One embodiment of the present system is stationary and the trash receptacles to be cleaned are brought to the cleaning station, cleaned, and then replaced. All embodiments may be used with the various types of trash receptacles used by the majority of residences. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The foregoing features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a system for cleaning trash receptacles in accordance with the invention with two receptacles in a loading mode; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an alternate rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a primary pump mechanism of a system for cleaning trash receptacles; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a sprayer of a system for cleaning trash receptacles; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a shroud, or collection unit, of a system for cleaning trash receptacles; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a filtering and sterilization unit of a system for cleaning trash receptacles; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a system for cleaning trash receptacles in accordance with the invention with two receptacles in a loading mode; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  with two receptacles in a cleaning mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , an apparatus  10  or system  10  in accordance with the invention may be configured to be self-contained and mobile. The system  10  may be configured to be transported on a flat surface, such as a flat-bed truck (see especially  FIGS. 1-2 ) or a trailer (see especially  FIGS. 7-8 ), or may be configured to be transported by alternate means, such as a regular pick-up truck. The system  10  may also be configured to be stationary. 
         [0026]    The system  10  may be described as having a water system and a lift system working in cooperation to clean a receptacle. The water system may be described as facilitating the movement and collection of a cleaning solution used to clean the receptacles. The water system may also include heating, filtering, and sterilizing of the cleaning solution. The lift system may be described as facilitating the positioning of the receptacles through the process of loading, cleaning, and returning the receptacles throughout the cleaning process. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , the water system may be comprised primarily of a tank  20 , a primary pump  30 , wands  40 , a shroud  50  or collection device, and a filtering system  60 . The water system may include additional components to aid in the cleaning and collection process. For example, a heater (not pictured) may be included with the pump  30  to heat the cleaning solution used to clean the receptacles  80 . Also, an ultra-violet water sterilization unit  65  may be used to kill bacteria and further sterilize the cleaning solution, especially at moderate (e.g. closer to ambient) temperatures rather than elecated (between pasteurization and boiling) temperatures. 
         [0028]    The tank  20  may be of any suitable size and shape, and may be composed of any suitable material, especially non-corroding materials, such as stainless steel or polymers like polyethylene plastic. The tank  20  is the primary location for the cleaning solution used in the cleaning process. In one embodiment, the tank  20  has a square cross-section, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 . 
         [0029]    However, other cross-sections are likewise extremely suitable, such as a square cross-section tank or an efficient, blow-molded, fitted tank surrounding or fitted between other components. The shape or size of the tank  20  should be such that the system  10  may be self-contained, mobile, and provide enough volume to perform a suitable number of cleaning cycles. The tank  20  contains the cleaning solution to be used in the cleaning process. 
         [0030]    The cleaning solution may be any solution suitable for spraying the inside of the receptacles  80 . For example and not by way of limitation, the cleaning solution may be water, alone or treated such as by a detergent, disinfecting solution, or both. The disinfecting solution may include any suitable disinfecting agent such as an alcohol, an aldehyde, a phenolic, a quaternary ammonium compound, an oxidizing agent, or the like. 
         [0031]    The oxidizing agents may include sodium hypochlorite, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, lactic acid, acidic electrolyzed water, or the like. Disinfecting solutions are used to provide an extra measure of cleanliness to the receptacles after the cleaning process. Detergents may help free debris and dried liquid residue materials or other residues from the walls of the receptacle to be cleaned. Some materials like ammonia act as both detergents and disinfectants. 
         [0032]    The cleaning tank  20  is fluidly connected to the primary pump  30 . The primary pump  30  may be any pumping mechanism (e.g. positive flow, non-positive, impeller, diaphragm, centrifugal, etc.) suitable for transferring the cleaning solution from the tank  20  to the wands  40  under suitable pressure. The primary pump  30  should be corrosion resistant, not easily jammed, and also be able to generate enough water pressure to facilitate the mechanical cleaning of the inside of the receptacles  80  by sheer forces and separation pressure generation when the cleaning solution is sprayed through the wands  40  and into the receptacles. Rotary impeller pumps and centrifugal pumps generally appear to be suitable, available, and manufactured in non-reactive polymers. The primary pump  30  may be fluidly connected to a sprayer support  42  such that the cleaning solution may be pumped from the tank  20  through the primary pump  30  and through the sprayer support  42  to the wands  40 . In one embodiment, the primary pump is provided as part of a Landa® brand specialized, pressure washer package, such as the Landa® SLX-SLT portable hot water pressure washer. 
         [0033]    The primary pump  30  may also include a heater for heating the cleaning solution before it is sprayed into the receptacles  80 . The primary pump  30  may heat the cleaning solution to a temperature from about 70 degrees Fahrenheit to about 320 degrees Fahrenheit, and usually from solution approximately 180 to about 310 degrees Fahrenheit. The primary pump  30  may also be capable of delivering the cleaning solution at from about 500 psi to about 4000 psi, and typically from approximately 2500 to about 3500 psi. When heated to such a temperature and delivered at such a pressure, the cleaning solution may be suitable for cleaning receptacles without additional detergents or disinfectants. One such system operates at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit and 3000 psi. 
         [0034]    The primary pump  30  may also include a built-in generator for producing the electricity to drive controls and to power the hydraulics for the lift system described hereinafter, or the like. 
         [0035]    The wand  40  may be configured in any manner that will facilitate the spraying of the cleaning solution into the receptacle  80  when the receptacle is in the cleaning position, as shown in  FIG. 8 . For example the wand  40  may extend into the receptacle to a greater or lesser depth, may spin or not spin, and may have any suitable number and direction of jets or sprayers. 
         [0036]    The wand  40  may be composed of any suitable material, such as stainless steel or heat tolerant plastic. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the wand  40  may include a stem  44  and a sprayer  46  at the end of one or more stems  44 . In one embodiment, a Gamajet IX™, which is capable of providing 360 degree impingement of a receptacle may act as a sprayer  46 . 
         [0037]    The system  10  may be configured to have one wand  40  or to have multiple wands  40 . The wands  40  may be configured like wands that include jets, small orifices or apertures at each end of the stems  44 , or at each end of the stems  44  and along the shaft of the stems  44 . In another embodiment, the wands  40  may be configured to have a Gamajet IX™ sprayer  46  at each end of the stems  44 . 
         [0038]    The wands  40  may be oriented such that the sprayers  46  may be attached to a sprayer support  42  in fluid connection with the primary pump  30 . The wands  40  may be attached to the sprayer support  42  at an approximate midpoint of the wands  40 . The wands  40  may begin to spin when the cleaning solution is being pumped through them. The wands  40  may be configured to spin near the opening of the receptacles  80  when the receptacles are in the cleaning position. Alternatively, or in addition, the wands  40  may be configured to spin and extend a certain distance into the receptacles  80  when the receptacles are in the cleaning position. Alternatively, or in addition, the wands  40  may spin at a slower, controlled rate, while the sprayers  46  spray cleaning solution on virtually the entire inside surface of the receptacle  80  later in the cleaning cycle. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, consistent with  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 , and  8 , a cover or shroud  50  may be positioned around the opening of the receptacles  80  when the receptacles are in the cleaning position, as shown more specifically in  FIG. 5 . The shroud  50  may be a thin sheet of material shaped to cover or enclose all or a portion of the area around the opening of the receptacles  80  when the receptacles are in the cleaning position. 
         [0040]    A benefit of the shroud  50  is to help arrest splashing back of the cleaning solution used during the cleaning process when the cleaning solution is forcefully directed or re-directed toward the collection foot  52  and may splash back as a result. The shroud  50  helps to increase the collection of the cleaning solution and to make sure cleaning solution does not spill onto the area surrounding the system  10  during the cleaning process. 
         [0041]    The collection foot  52  may be considered the main structure or area where cleaning solution is collected after it is sprayed into the receptacles  80 . The collection foot  52  has an opening positioned proximate to the opening for any receptacle  80  in the cleaning position, as shown more particularly in  FIG. 8 . The collection foot  52  is a temporary holding position for the cleaning solution before the cleaning solution moves to a filtering system. The collection foot  52  does not need to be capable of holding a large amount of cleaning solution. Generally, the collection foot  52  will be able to contain the cleaning solution used to clean the receptacles  80  during approximately 2-3 cleaning cycles, and maybe drained back more often. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment and as pictured in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a shroud  50  may also include a screen  54 . The screen  54  may be a thin sheet of material with suitably sized sieve holes positioned to separate debris from the cleaning solution after the cleaning solution is sprayed into a receptacle  80 , but before the cleaning solution enters the collection foot  52 . The screen  54  may be composed of any suitable material, such as stainless-steel, PVC, polyethylene or other plastic, or the like. In one embodiment, the screen  54  is positioned between the collection foot  52  and the opening of the receptacle  80  when the receptacle is in the cleaning position. 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the screen  54  may be positioned at an angle. The angle may be any suitable angle that allows the cleaning solution to flow past the screen and facilitates any debris from the receptacle  80  sliding or falling from the screen  54  into a trough at the bottom of the screen  54 . The trough may simply be the location formed where the screen  54  connects to the collection foot  52 , or may be rounded to collect even more debris. 
         [0044]    In one embodiment, a vacuum source may be used to help pull cleaning solution past the screen  54  into the collection foot  52 . Additionally, or in an alternative embodiment, a wiper or similar structure may slide across the outside surface of the screen  54  to clean debris off the screen  54  and into the trough. Alternatively, debris may be cleaned off the screen  54  or out of the trough manually, hydraulically (by water pressure), or a combination of any of the foregoing. 
         [0045]    The collection foot  52  is fluidly connected to the filtering system  60 . Cleaning solution contained in the collection foot  52  may be pumped or otherwise transferred through the filtering system  60 . The filtering system  60  may be any suitable system capable of filtering the recycled cleaning solution sufficiently to reuse the cleaning solution. The filtering system  60  may be comprised of multiple filters used to filter the cleaning solution in sequential stages. Each stage may collect solids and remove them periodically or continuously. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the filtering system  60  may include having the cleaning solution filtered through a bag filter after the cleaning solution exits the collection foot  52 . The bag filter may be a polypropylene filter like that available from Duda Diesel LLC. Any suitable, similar bag filter may be used. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, the filtering system  60  may include having the cleaning solution filtered through a pleated paper filter after the cleaning solution is filtered by the bag filter. The pleated paper filter may be a Unicel™ Flow-Max™ filter cartridge. Any suitable, similar pleated paper filter may be used. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the filtering system  60  may include having the cleaning solution filtered through a charcoal filter after the cleaning solution is filtered by the pleated paper filter. The charcoal filter may be a Filtrex™ Greenblock Carbon FX20CL2 filter. Any suitable, similar charcoal filter may be used. 
         [0049]    A filtering system  60  that incorporates a bag filter, a pleated paper filter, and a charcoal filter in succession is available from Landa®. Such a pre-assembled filtering system  60  may also be used. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, the filtering system  60  is in fluid connection with an ultra-violet water sterilization unit  65 . The cleaning solution may also be passed through an ultra-violet water sterilization unit, or UV unit  65 , after the cleaning solution has been filtered by the filtering system  60 . The UV unit  65  may be an Aqua UV™ ultra-violet water sterilization unit. Any suitable, similar ultra-violet water sterilization unit of suitable capacity and effectiveness may be used. 
         [0051]    The use of a UV unit  65  to further sterilize the recycled cleaning solution may become more important in considering thermal energy use. It has been shown that recycled cleaning solution that has only been filtered through a filtering system  60  as described herein may still contain a substantial amount of bacteria. However, recycled cleaning solution that has been filtered through a filtering system  60  and then sterilized with a suitable UV unit  65  is substantially free of bacteria. It has been shown that recycled cleaning solution filtered and sterilized with a UV unit is more than 95% free of bacteria and approximately 99.7% free of bacterial. The use of a UV unit  65  as described herein to sterilize the recycled cleaning solution virtually eliminates bacteria from the cleaning solution. Moreover, this permits the use of less thermal energy (heating) in the water. Mechanical energy (pressure) is less expensive for cleaning. 
         [0052]    Thus, substantially cleaner cleaning solution is used to clean the receptacles. This use of a UV unit  65  makes it possible to use cleaning solution that is not heated to pasteurization temperatures to clean the receptacles. 
         [0053]    After the cleaning solution has passed through the filtering system  60 , it may be returned to the tank  20  for reuse in the cleaning process. Alternatively, or in addition, the cleaning solution may be passed through the UV unit  65  and returned to the tank  20  for reuse in the cleaning process. 
         [0054]    The lift system  70  may include a lift or arm  74 . The arm  74  may be controlled by any system that enables the arm  74  to lift a receptacle  80  off the ground. For example, the arm  74  may include any structure suitable for engaging a receptacle  80 , or lift engagement  76 , as well as support structure  72  suitable for stabilizing the lift system  70  on the platform  15 . The arm  74  may be controlled by a hydraulic system  78  that lifts the engaged receptacle  80  from an original position on the ground to a cleaning position, as shown more specifically in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  8 . 
         [0055]    The hydraulic system  78  may include a piston that extends and contracts to move the arm  74 , as in  FIG. 1 . The hydraulic system  78  may include a track or chain or the like as a conveyor that lifts and inverts a receptacle along a specific, predetermined path, which may be complex or basic in direction and distance, as in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The support structure  72  for the hydraulic system  78  can likewise be adjusted to accommodate the specific hydraulic system  78  used. The arm  74  may then return the receptacle  80  to the original position after the cleaning process has been completed. 
         [0056]    In one embodiment, the lift engagement  76  may be configured with a rack or shelf that engages the receptacle  80  from the bottom. In another embodiment, the lift engagement may be configured like a clamp, or pincer, or fork that engages the receptacle around the approximate middle of the receptacle. In another embodiment, the arm  74  may be configured to removably attach to a bracket like, engagement portion of the receptacle  80 . 
         [0057]    The method or cleaning process may include various steps depending on the configuration of the system  10 . In one embodiment, a typical cleaning process or cleaning cycle may include positioning the system  10  to engage a receptacle  80  to be cleaned. The lift engagement  76  from the lift system  70  may then engage the receptacle  80  so the receptacle  80  may be moved from its original position on the ground to a cleaning position. 
         [0058]    Once in the cleaning position, the receptacle  80  may be cleaned by pressure driving holes through residues and lifting the residues by developing pressure there behind. Lateral shear forces of the flows parallel to walls carry the residues away. As the system  10  sprays cleaning solution through the wands  40  the solution carries residues back into the receptacle  80 . The cleaning solution may then be collected to be recycled and used again later. The receptacle  80  may then be returned to its original position on the ground. The system  10  may then move on to repeat this process with another receptacle. 
         [0059]    This cleaning process may be adjusted depending on the configuration of the system  10 . For example, the system  10  or primary pump  30  may include a heater that heats and pressurizes the cleaning solution before it is sprayed into the receptacle  80 . As another example, the system  10  may include a filtering system  60  that filters the cleaning solution after it is collected and before it is recycled or transferred to the tank  20  to be reused. In another example, the system  10  may include a UV unit to sterilize the cleaning solution before it is recycled or transferred to the tank  20  to be reused. The remainder of the cleaning process may be essentially unchanged by the addition of either or both of these steps of heating and filtering. 
         [0060]    The receptacle  80  to be cleaned may be any receptacle  80  of suitable size and shape that may be engaged by the system  10 . The receptacle  80  may be a traditional trash can, a dumpster, or a plastic bin or cart style with a lid on a hinge and wheels on its base. The receptacle  80  may be made of any suitable material. The receptacle  80  may be used to contain any type of waste material, such as recyclable, non-recyclable, wet, or dry waste. 
         [0061]    While the system  10  may be configured to be mobile, the system  10  may also be configured to be stationary and still operate in much the same way. A stationary system  10  may include all the primary components described above and operate in much the same manner. In a stationary embodiment, the platform  15  or bed of the system  10  may be the ground or any suitable built-up platform. 
         [0062]    Any tank or pump used in a stationary system may be enlarged or otherwise modified to enable more repetitions of the cleaning process, or even provide a virtually continual supply of cleaning materials. One difference between a mobile system  10  and a stationary system  10  is that someone wanting to clean a receptacle  80  using the mobile system  10  may position the receptacle  80  to be cleaned where the lift engagement  76  may engage the receptacle  80  such as at a curb. A stationary system  10  may have conveyors feed receptacles  80  to it. The receptacle position then corresponds to the original position described above. Again, the system  10  may be configured to clean one receptacle during a given cleaning cycle or multiple receptacles during a cleaning cycle. 
         [0063]    The stationary system  10  may or may not include a heater for heating the cleaning solution used in the cleaning process. UV light may perform all sterilization. Hear increases chemical processes, so a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit is preferred, and over 140 degrees is recommended. The stationary system  10  may or may not include a filtering system for filtering the cleaning solution as it is prepared to be reused and transferred to the tank  20 . 
         [0064]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.