Abstract:
Briefly, disclosed is a stripe removal or cleaning system for removing coatings or markings from hard surfaces, such as roadways, by high pressure liquid. The system employs a liquid reservoir connected to a high pressure fluid pump for directing ultra high pressure water through a blast head to remove the coatings or markings. The blast head is mounted on a vehicle. Water and debris removed from the surfaces are delivered to a vacuum tank where the debris is separated from the water. The vacuum is maintained in the vacuum tank by a high power vacuum pump. The entire removal or cleaning system is mounted on a skid, thus enabling it to be transported to any location and used on vehicles which do not have to be dedicated to stripe removal or surface cleaning.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/032,279, filed Feb. 28, 2008, entitled “MODULAR STRIPE REMOVAL SYSTEM”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,116, entitled “STRIPE REMOVAL SYSTEM”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/340,738, filed Jan. 26, 2006, and entitled “TRANSPORTAL HOLDING TANK FOR STRIPE REMOVAL SYSTEM”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/340,104, filed Jan. 26, 2006, entitled “MOBILE MARK REMOVAL SYSTEM”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/368,020, filed Mar. 3, 2006, entitled “ARTICUABLE ARM FOR A MOBILE MARK REMOVAL SYSTEM”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/368,035, filed Mar. 3, 2006, entitled “COMBINED GRINDER AND WATER BLASTER FOR STRIPE REMOVAL”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/835,642, filed Aug. 8, 2007, entitled “STRIPE REMOVAL SYSTEM”. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of high pressure water cleaning devices for highways, airport runways, parking decks, subway stations, ships and other hard surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of paint strips, symbols and indicia on road surfaces is the accepted method to indicate vehicle lanes, crossing lanes, turn lanes, restricted lanes, parking areas and numerous other indicators. Various pavement marking techniques are known, including the use of traffic paint, thermoplastic road marking paint, epoxy paint and preformed tapes. Common pavement surfaces are asphalt and concrete. Most pavement marking systems are intended to be as durable and permanent as possible and resistant to weathering and wear from vehicle traffic. The removal of such striping, symbols and indicia is typically required when the road is to be resurfaced or if the indicia are to be changed. The removal of such strips and indicia is typically performed by use of abrasive wheels, grinding teeth or blasting abrasive particles of material against the strips or indicia to be removed. 
         [0004]    However, the use of grinding teeth or abrasive wheels results in an undesirable trench or groove in the road surface. 
         [0005]    When polymers such as paint are used for roadway marking, the surface of the pavement is penetrated from about ⅛-⅜ inch, so that surface removal of the marking material is not sufficient to remove the entire marking. As a result, current pavement marking removal machines often employ various forms of cutting devices to remove the marking material on the surface of the roadway and wall as a portion of the underlying layer of roadway also containing the marking material in order to effectively remove the painted lines or indicia. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0006]    One type of cutting machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,278. It is known and a “Road Pro” grinder and manufactured by Dickson Industries, Inc. 
         [0007]    This type of machine employs parallel passive shafts that extend between circular rotating end plates. Hardened steel star wheels are carried on the parallel passive shafts, and these star wheels strike and abrade the pavement surface. While this type of device is effective for removal of markings, they often create excessive heat which may melt thermoplastic materials causing the removal equipment to gum up. 
         [0008]    Another approach to pavement marking removal is the use of diamond saw blades arranged to make a dado cut. Still other types of machines use grinders or shot blast as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,052; 4,376,358; 3,900,969; 4,336,671; 3,977,128 and 4,377,924. Unfortunately, these devices must remove a portion of the roadway or pavement material to effectively remove the roadway marking, thereby leaving unsightly and potentially dangerous grooves in the roadway or pavement. 
         [0009]    NLB Corporation markets a high pressure water jet system from removing paint from pavement under the name “STARJET”. The STARJET system includes a blast head frame mounted on an attachment to the front bumper of a prime-mover truck. Casters support the frame for movement over the pavement and the path of the blast head is controlled by the driver steering the truck. Because of the position of the driver and the cab body of the prime-mover, it is difficult for the operator to see the blast head&#39;s position with regard to the stripes on the pavement. Obtaining clear vision requires the driver to lean out of the driver&#39;s side window, resulting in fatigue and other non-ergonomically efficient factors. Positioning the blast head to the passenger side of the prime-mover is performed manually with some difficulty and greatly complicating the driver&#39;s ability to view the path of the blast head. In addition, due to the length of the extension holding the blast head, the angular off-set and the swivel of the casters, the movement of the wheel of the truck is not directly related to the path of the blast head further complicating the operation. 
         [0010]    NLB Corporation also has another system marketed under the mark “STRIPEJET”, that is a self propelled tractor with a blast head on the front of the tractor. The blast head has a shroud and high pressure inlet without a vacuum recovery. A problem associated with the STRIPEJET device relates to the construction of the blast head mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a rigid track mounted transversely across the front of the tractor. This construction makes the tractor too long for transport on a truck in a transverse orientation. Transport of the tractor aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the truck requires a substantial amount of bed space, making a one truck stripe removal system impracticable. 
         [0011]    BLASTERS Corporation markets a high pressure water device which is mounted on a truck similar to the STARJET device. Yet another model appears to be a self-powered four wheeled tractor, similar to a grass mower, which supports a driver and is connected to the prime-mover by high pressure lines for delivery of high pressure water to a blast head. The blast head is mounted to the front portion of the tractor. 
         [0012]    One problem with the prior art systems is that a vehicle is required to be fully dedicated to the stripe removal or cleaning system. The vehicle cannot be used for any other operation or purpose. This is a problem if the company that owns the vehicle does not operate full time as a stripe removal or cleaning company. By mounting the cleaning system on a skid, the system can be placed on a truck or other vehicle and used to perform a removal or cleaning operation. The truck or other vehicle can then be used for other activities subsequent to the cleaning or removal operation. In addition the system mounted on a skid could be delivered to a job site and used without the need for an associated truck or other vehicle. A small tractor could be employed to operate the blast head. A plurality of hoses, one to supply water and one to remove water and debris, would be all that is required to connect the skid mounted system to the tractor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Briefly, disclosed is a stripe removal or cleaning system for removing coatings or markings from hard surfaces, such as roadways, by high pressure liquid. The system employs a liquid reservoir connected to a high pressure fluid pump for directing ultra high pressure water through a blast head to remove the coatings or markings. The blast head is mounted on a vehicle. Water and debris removed from the surfaces are delivered to a vacuum tank where the debris is separated from the water. The vacuum is maintained in the vacuum tank by a high power vacuum pump. The entire removal or cleaning system is mounted on a skid, thus enabling it to be transported to any location and used on vehicles which do not have to be dedicated to stripe removal or surface cleaning. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a stripe removal or cleaning system mounted on a skid enabling a compact unit which can be readily transported. 
         [0015]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a stripe removal or cleaning system which can be readily mounted on a truck or vehicle so that the vehicle does not have to be dedicated to stripe removal or cleaning of roadways. 
         [0016]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a compact modular cleaning system for fast transportation to job sites. 
         [0017]    It is still another objective of the instant invention to provide a compact modular cleaning system which could also be employed to remove paint, coatings and other substances from ships and other vehicles. 
         [0018]    It is still yet another object of the instant invention to provide a vacuum tank for removing from the debris of a cleaning operation which includes a filter bag mounted in the vacuum tank and supported by a plurality of straps secured to the top of the bag and hooked onto a plurality of hooks mounted on the interior of the vacuum tank. 
         [0019]    It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a vacuum tank for removing water from the debris of a cleaning operation which includes a door or wall which can be readily opened and closed to permit the removal of a filter bag and debris from the vacuum tank. 
         [0020]    It is still a further objective of the instant invention to provide a vacuum tank for retaining the debris and materials removed from a roadway and separation and repeated release of filtered water. This permits the debris to be retained in the vacuum tank and the capacity of the vacuum tank is repeatedly available for retention of filtered water used in the removal or cleaning operation. All of the debris is retained until the tank is full and can be dumped. When the debris is dumped, it is dumped as a semi-dried, dewatered material. 
         [0021]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0022]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of the stripe removal system mounted on a skid; 
           [0023]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the stripe removal system with a portion of the skid removed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a blast head mounted on a tractor; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the stripe removal system along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4B  is a cross sectional view of the vacuum tank along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5B  is affront view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5C  is an end view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7A  is a front view of the vacuum tank with the rear door open; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7B  is a cross sectional view of the vacuum tank along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8A  is a front view of the vacuum tank with the door open; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8B  is an end view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the vacuum tank; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the vacuum tank with the door open and 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the system of  FIG. 1  mounted on a vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The stripe removal system  10  of the present invention includes a modular system which is mounted on a skid. This enables the system to be readily deployed to various locations without dedicating the location specifically to the stripe removal system. For example, the system  10  including the skid could be placed on a flatbed truck without permanently converting the truck to a stripe removal system. The system  10  could also be located on the ground and moved to different locations by equipment such as bulldozers, dump trucks, etc. The system  10  could also be placed on a train, airplane or other vehicles and transported to various locations where it would be used to remove markings and other substances from paved roadways, airport runways, parking areas, etc. The system could also be placed in factories, buildings or other structures wherein markings or other materials need to be removed from surfaces. The system could also be employed to remove paint, coatings and other substances from ships and other vehicles. 
         [0041]    The stripe removal system, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , generally comprises an engine  12 , high pressure water or liquid pump  14 , a liquid or water reservoir  16 , a vacuum tank or sump  18 , a high powered vacuum or air pump  20  and a blast head  22 . The all of the components of the stripe removal system, except for the blast head, are mounted on a skid  24 . 
         [0042]    The blast head  22  can be mounted on a small tractor  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The blast head can also be mounted on the vehicle onto which the stripe removal system is placed. High pressure water from high pressure water pump  14  is delivered through high pressure fluid lines  28  to the blast head  22 . Material, such as paint, thermoplastic road marking paint, epoxy paint, rubber from tires, etc. is removed from a paved surface by the use of high pressure water in the blast head  22 . This material and water is removed from the area being cleaned and returned to the vacuum tank  18  via hose  30 . The hose  30  is connected to the top of the vacuum tank at one of the inlet ports  32 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4B ,  5 D and  6 . 
         [0043]    A filter bag  34  is located with in the vacuum tank or sump  18 . The filter bag  34  is preferably a parallelepiped with an open top, but could be any other shape. The filter bag preferably has a porosity of between 5-200 microns. However, the porosity may be of any desired size. The filter bag is retained in movable cage  36 ,  FIG. 6 . The cage  36  is preferably formed from wire mesh but could be made from any material which is permeable, including perforated plates. The function of the cage is to retain and support the filter bag in its open position enabling it to receive the water and material or debris which has been removed from a surface by the blast head. The cage permits the water to pass through the filter bag and cage and collect in the vacuum tank  18 . Cage  36  comprises a rear wall  42 , end walls  44 , a front wall  46  and a plurality of panels  48  which form the bottom wall. The rear wall, end walls and bottom wall are secured together. The front wall  46  is attached to the movable wall of the vacuum tank  18 ,  FIG. 7B . When the movable wall of the vacuum tank is in its closed position the front wall  46  of the cage engages the end walls of the cage thus enclosing and supporting the filter bag. 
         [0044]    Vacuum tank  18  comprises a top wall  50 , a rear wall  52 , end walls  54 , a movable front wall  56  and a bottom wall  58 . Front wall  56  is pivotably secured to top wall  50 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7B ,  8 B and  9 B. One end of hydraulic or pneumatic arm  60  is secured to movable wall and the other end of the arm  60  is secured to an end wall  54  of the vacuum tank,  FIGS. 7B and 8B . In a preferred embodiment, two hydraulic arms are employed, one on each side of the vacuum tank. The arms  60  maintain the movable wall  56  in its closed position. The perimeter of the opening in the front portion of vacuum tank  18  and the perimeter of the movable wall  56  are both tapered or inclined to permit a water and air tight seal between these members. This tapered fit between the tank and the movable wall  56  also prevents twisting or flexing of the tank  18 . A seal  62  can also be placed along the perimeter of the opening of the front portion of the vacuum tank to help maintain a water tight and air tight seal between the movable wall  56  and the remainder of the vacuum tank. The seal is preferably solid but could also be inflatable. 
         [0045]    Arms  62  are secured to each end of the movable wall  56 . The other end of these arms is secured to bars  64  and moves along slots  66  in the bars  64 . One end of the bars  64  are secured to the end walls  44  of the cage  36  at points  68 ,  FIG. 6 . This arrangement enables the cage  36  to be withdrawn from the vacuum tank  18  when the movable wall  56  is opened, as seen in  FIGS. 7B ,  8 B and  9 B. The front wall  46  of the cage, being secured to the movable wall  56 , separates from the remainder of the cage  36  upon movement of wall  56  toward its open position. The bottom of the cage  36  is formed from a plurality of hinged panels  48 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 A and  7 B. The hinged panels  48  are preferably formed from wire mesh but could be made from any material which is permeable, including perforated plates. The hinged panels  42  support the bottom of the filter bag. The hinged panels  42  are not secured to the end walls  44  of the cage  36 , but only to the rear wall  42  of the cage. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7 B,  8 A and  8 B, when the cage  36  is pulled out of the vacuum tank the hinged panels  48  drop away from the cage  36  and permit the filter bag to gradually drop out of the cage. As the filter bag is removed from the vacuum tank the straps or hooks  38  supporting the bag in the tank are torn away from the bag thus permitting the bag and its contents to be completely removed from the vacuum tank. The filter bag  34  can be provided with an opening along its lower portion. This opening is closed by a removable seal. The seal may be employ VELCRO® elements to maintain it in its closed position and permit readily opening of the removable seal. This seal permits the contents of the filter bag to be disposed of in one location while the entire filter bag can be disposed of in a different location. 
         [0046]    Air is evacuated from the vacuum tank  18  by high power vacuum pump  20 . The sump or vacuum tank  18  is connected to the vacuum pump  20  by hose  70 . The hose  70  is connected to an air cleaner  72  prior to it entering the high power vacuum pump so that any debris from the vacuum tank will be removed from the air stream prior to it entering vacuum pump  20 . The intake of the high power vacuum pump is capable of handling approximately 1100 CFM (cubic feet per minute). The air discharged from the high power vacuum pump is discharged to the atmosphere. The discharge of the air from the vacuum tank creates a vacuum which draws in the water and debris from the stripe removal or cleaning operation through hose  30  from blast head  22 . 
         [0047]    Water and debris pass through the opening in the top of filter bag  34 . The water passes through the filter bag and cage  36  and is retained in the vacuum tank  18 . Filter bag  34  includes loops or straps  38  positioned along the perimeter of the top of the bag,  FIG. 4B . The loops or straps are hung onto or secured to hooks  40 . The hooks  40  are secured to the interior of the vacuum tank  18 . It should also be noted that the hooks  40  could be replaced with other mechanical or mechanical/electrical mean suitable for retaining the filter bag in an open position during use. 
         [0048]    Water reservoir tank  16  contains approximately 600-1500 gallons of liquid. The water is withdrawn from this tank via low pressure pump  74 . The pump  74  is connected to the tank  16  by hose  76  to withdraw the water from the reservoir tank. The discharge from pump  74  is sent to high pressure pump  14  via hose  78 . The pump  44  is preferably driven off a shaft  80  connected to the output of an engine  12 . The pump  74  can also be an electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically operated pump. The high pressure pump  14  has an output of between 2-15 gallons per minute at a pressure of approximately 25,000-60,000 psi. This high pressure water is delivered to the blast head  22  through high pressure fluid lines  28 . The high pressure pump  14  is also driven off the engine  12  by a belt and pulley system  52 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Since the water reservoir and vacuum tanks are not interconnected, water can be supplied to the high pressure liquid pump  14  from any source. The other source could be an additional water reservoir tank, a well or a supply such as city water. 
         [0049]    Water from the stripe removal or cleaning operation enters the vacuum tank  18  through inlet  32  until it reaches the upper portion of tank  18 . A ball  82  is retained in a cage  84  which is secured to the inlet of hose  70 . Ball  82  floats in the water and thus when the level of the water in tank  18  raises the ball  82  will close off the inlet of hose  70 . This change in pressure of air to the vacuum pump is sensed and the stripe removal operation is stopped. The water is then drained from tank  18  through water outlet  86 . After the water has been drained the stripe removal or cleaning operation can begin again. This procedure of filling the vacuum tank with water and debris and the draining the water thereform is repeated until the filter bag is full of debris or solids. The cleaning operation is stopped and the movable front wall  56  of the vacuum tank is opened. The cage and filter bag are removed from the vacuum tank as described above. A new filter bag is hung of hooks  40  and the front wall  56  is closed. Closing of wall  56  moves cage  36  back into vacuum tank  18 . The cleaning operation can be resumed again. 
         [0050]    The exterior walls of vacuum tank  18  and water reservoir tank  16  are formed with alternating projections  88  and grooves  90 ,  FIG. 1A . The projections  88  of the vacuum tank fit into the grooves  90  of the water reservoir tank  16 . This construction enables the tanks to be secured to each other and prevents relative motion of one tank with respect to the other tank. This also enables the tanks to occupy less room on the skid  24 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 10  illustrates the modular stripe removal system  10  mounted on skid  24  placed on a truck  92 . The modular system could also be placed on any other type of vehicle including, but not limited to bulldozers, heavy equipment, trains, and aircraft. The tractor  26 , illustrated in  FIG. 2  could also be carried on the truck or it could be carried on a trailer towed by the truck. In another embodiment, a blast head  22  could be mounted on an arm  94  which is mounted onto the truck, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The arm  94  allows the blast head to be moved in a horizontal plane to remove roadways strips, indicia or other material. It also permits the blast head to be moved vertically and stowed close to or on the truck  92 . A similar arm  96  mounts the blast head  22  on the small tractor  26 . This arm also moves both horizontally and vertically. In addition a plurality of blast heads could be mounted onto various portions of the truck or other vehicles. 
         [0052]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0053]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0054]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.