Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cleaning exterior condensers. The apparatus can include a vehicle, and a pump coupled to the vehicle and fluidly connected to a fluid source. The pump can move fluid from the fluid source to a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit can include a first and second end, and can be extendable to reach a location remote from the vehicle and adjacent the exterior condenser. The apparatus can further include a nozzle fluidly connected to the second end of the fluid conduit, and adapted to direct the fluid to clean the exterior condenser. The method can include moving the vehicle to a first location a distance from the exterior condenser, extending the fluid conduit to a second location positioned closer to the exterior condenser than the first location, moving fluid with the pump, and directing the fluid out of the nozzle to clean the exterior condenser.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to method and apparatus for cleaning exterior condensers. More particularly, this invention relates to a pressure washer and method for cleaning rooftop condensers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Condensers include a coil assembly through which fluid (e.g., a refrigerant) is flown to exchange heat with the environment. Condensers, and particularly, exterior condensers can accumulate dirt and debris on the coil assembly, which can decrease the heat exchanging efficiency of the coil assembly. Thus, the coil assembly of the condensers needs to be periodically cleaned (e.g., as part of a preventive maintenance schedule) to maintain proper heat exchanging properties of the condensers.  
         [0003]     Typically, exterior (e.g., rooftop) condensers are cleaned using a pump sprayer, cleaning chemicals, such as acid-base cleansers (e.g., a cleanser comprising glycolic acid and ammonium bisulfide, such as CAL-BRITE™ all-purpose cleanser, available from Nu-Calgon Wholesalers Inc.), and a water hose. The cleaning chemicals can create hazardous run-off water, leading to environmental concerns. In addition, the cleaning chemicals add unnecessary cost to the system. The chemicals need to be stored, logged and abated. Conventional cleaning systems include a high volume, low pressure washer (e.g., a water hose connected to a pump sprayer), or a high pressure, high volume washer (e.g., a pressure washer). Conventional high pressure, high volume washers run constantly and lack any automation to control when the pressure is turned on or off. In addition, conventional cleaning systems require that the low or high pressure washer be carried or otherwise moved to a location near the condenser to allow the coil assembly to be cleaned.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for cleaning an exterior condenser. The apparatus can include a vehicle adapted to be moved from one location to another, and a pump coupled to the vehicle and fluidly connected to a fluid source. The pump can be adapted to pressurize fluid and move the pressurized fluid from the fluid source to a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit can include a first end in fluid communication with the pump and a second end. The fluid conduit can be extendable to reach a location remote from the vehicle and adjacent the exterior condenser. The apparatus can further include a nozzle fluidly connected to the second end of the fluid conduit. The nozzle can be adapted to direct the pressurized fluid to clean the exterior condenser.  
         [0005]     In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for cleaning an exterior condenser is provided. The method can include providing a vehicle, a pump coupled to the vehicle and fluidly connected to a fluid source, and a fluid conduit fluidly connected to the pump and extendable to reach a remote location. The fluid conduit can include a first end in fluid communication with the pump, and a second end having a nozzle fluidly connected thereto. The method can further include moving the vehicle to a first location near the exterior condenser, and extending the fluid conduit to a second location positioned closer to the exterior condenser than the first location. The method can further include moving fluid with the pump from the fluid source, through the fluid conduit, and out the nozzle, and directing the fluid out of the nozzle to clean the exterior condenser.  
         [0006]     Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for cleaning a coil assembly of an exterior condenser. The apparatus can include a vehicle adapted to move from a first location remote from the exterior condenser to a second location closer to the exterior condenser, and a pump coupled to the vehicle and fluidly connected to a fluid source. The fluid consists of water, and the pump can be adapted to pressurize the water and move the pressurized water from the fluid source through a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit can be coupled to the vehicle and can include a first end in fluid communication with the fluid source and a second end. The second end can be extendable from the first end to a third location positioned adjacent the exterior condenser. The apparatus can further include a nozzle fluidly coupled to the second end of the fluid conduit to direct the pressurized water to the exterior condenser to clean the coil assembly of the exterior condenser.  
         [0007]     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a condenser cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and a condenser to be cleaned.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the condenser cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 , with the condenser removed for clarity.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is close-up rear perspective view of the condenser cleaning apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , showing a pump and a fluid source, the fluid source including a reservoir.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is close-up rear perspective view of the condenser cleaning apparatus of  FIGS. 1-3 , showing the pump.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an opening in the reservoir of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
       [0013]     Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “mounted,” “connected” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Furthermore, terms such as “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like are only used to describe elements as they relate to one another, but are in no way meant to recite specific orientations of the apparatus, to indicate or imply necessary or required orientations of the apparatus, or to specify how the invention described herein will be used, mounted, displayed, or positioned in use.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a condenser cleaning apparatus  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention, and an exterior condenser  15  to be cleaned. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the condenser cleaning apparatus  10  can include a vehicle  12 , a pump  14 , a fluid source  16  fluidly coupled to the pump  14 , and a first fluid conduit  18  (e.g., a hose wound around a first spool  25 ) fluidly coupled to the fluid source  16  to allow fluid to be moved by the pump  14  from the fluid source  16  to a location adjacent an exterior condenser  15 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first fluid conduit  18  includes a first end  17  that is fluidly coupled to the pump  14 , and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a second end  19  that is fluidly coupled to a sprayer  13  having a nozzle  21 . The nozzle  21  directs the fluid toward the exterior condenser  15 , and particularly, to a coil assembly  23  of the exterior condenser  15 . A variety of types of exterior condensers  15  can be cleaned using the present invention, including, without limitation, round-tube plate-fin condensers, evaporative condensers, fan-cooled condensers, and the like. In addition, the condenser cleaning apparatus  10  can be used to clean exterior condensers  15  at a variety of locations, including, without limitation, exterior condensers  15  positioned on the ground, on a rooftop, and the like.  
         [0015]     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the fluid source  16  can include a reservoir  24  coupled to the vehicle  12  and adapted to contain the fluid, and a second fluid conduit  26  (e.g., a hose, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) for fluidly connecting the reservoir  24  to an external fluid source, such as city water. In some embodiments, the fluid contains only water to avoid the cost, inconvenience and environmental concerns of other cleaning chemicals or detergents. The second fluid conduit  26  includes a first end  28  to which the external fluid source can be coupled, and a second end  30  that is fluidly coupled to an inlet  32  of the reservoir  24 . The second fluid conduit  26  has a length that can be wound around a second spool  34  to allow the second fluid conduit  26  to be extendable between an external fluid source at a location remote from the reservoir  24  and the inlet  32  of the reservoir  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portion of the second fluid conduit  26  can be secured to a frame  29  of the vehicle  12  to avoid cumbersome tangling of the second fluid conduit  26  with surrounding structures. The second fluid conduit  26  allows the reservoir  24  to be filled without removing the reservoir  24  from the vehicle  12 . The reservoir  24  can be filled prior to use of the condenser cleaning apparatus  10 , such that the condenser cleaning apparatus  10  can be transported to a location near the exterior condenser  15  to clean the exterior condenser  15 , and does not need to be positioned near any external fluid source, or a connection to any external fluid source.  
         [0016]     In some embodiments, the fluid source  16  does not include the reservoir  24 , but instead includes an external fluid source to which the pump  14  can be fluidly coupled (via the second fluid conduit  26  or otherwise). In such embodiments, the fluid source  16  does not need to be coupled to the vehicle  12 , but rather can be accessible at the location of the exterior condenser  15  to be cleaned (e.g., a connection to city water).  
         [0017]     Whether the fluid source  16  includes a reservoir  24  or an external fluid source, the pump  14  is fluidly coupled to the fluid source  16 , and pressurizes and moves the fluid from the fluid source  16  through the first fluid conduit  18  to the nozzle  21  to clean the exterior condenser  15 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the pump  14  is fluidly coupled to an outlet  35  of the reservoir  24  by a third fluid conduit  45 . In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet  35  is located in an upper portion of the reservoir  24 , and the third fluid conduit  45  extends downwardly into the reservoir  24 .  
         [0018]     With reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , the pump  14  can include a frame  42  (or other supporting structure), and can be driven by an engine  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , an electric motor, and the like. Two wheels  47  are coupled to the frame  42  to allow the pump  14  to be easily transported. The pump  14  can include a variety of pumps that are capable of pressurizing and moving the fluid from the fluid source  16  through the first fluid conduit  18 , including, without limitation, at least one of a positive displacement pump (e.g., a rotary pump), a centrifugal pump, and the like. For example, the pump  14  can include a pressure washer, such as a cold-water pressure washer (e.g., a BD series pressure washer, available from Hotsy, such as model no. BD0011H, which is capable of pressurizing the fluid to a pressure of about 3000 PSI at a flow rate of about 3.5 gallons per minute). The pump  14  can move the fluid at a variety of pressures and flow rates to clean the exterior condenser  15 , including, without limitation, a pressure of at least about 2500 PSI, and a flow rate of at least about 3.0 gallons per minute. In some embodiments, the pump  14  moves the fluid at a flow rate of at least about 4.4 gallons per minute.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the vehicle  12  includes a support surface  48 . Various components of the condenser cleaning apparatus  10  can be coupled to the support surface  48 . In some embodiments, coupling the components to the support surface  48  includes positioning the components on the support surface  48 , and in some embodiments, coupling the components to the support surface  48  includes securing them to the support surface  48 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the vehicle  12  includes a pick-up truck, and the support surface  48  can include a variety of surfaces on the truck, including a truck bed  50  of the pick-up truck, two side platforms  52 , and two rear walls  53  to which various components of the condenser cleaning apparatus  10  can be secured. The truck also includes a rear door  55 , and a rear platform  57 . Accordingly, the support surface  48  can further include the rear door  55 , the rear platform  57 , and the frame  29 . The rear door  55  is pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the truck to allow the rear door  55  to be pivoted downwardly to allow access to the truck bed  50 .  
         [0020]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , a bottom portion of the frame  42  of the pump  14  is secured to the support surface  48  by a plurality of brackets  22  that are bolted to the truck bed  50 . An upper portion of the frame  42  of the pump  14  is secured to the vehicle by a first lateral brace  54  that is bolted to each of the side platforms  52 . A forward portion of the frame  42  of the pump  14  is secured to the vehicle  12  by a second lateral brace  56  that is bolted to each of the rear walls  53 . The brackets  22  and the first and second lateral braces  54  and  56  substantially maintain the pump  14  in position and substantially avoid movement of the pump  14  while the vehicle  12  is in motion. The brackets  22  and the first and second lateral braces  54  and  56  also substantially prevent theft of the pump  14 .  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , the reservoir  24  is secured to the support surface  48  by a plurality of brackets  58  that are bolted to the truck bed  50 . In addition, the first spool  25  and the second spool  34  around which the first fluid conduit  18  and the second fluid conduit  26  are wound, respectively, are each secured to a side platform  52  with bolts.  
         [0022]     While specific brackets, braces and bolts are described above with respect to the illustrated embodiment, it should be understood that the components of the condenser cleaning apparatus  10  can be secured to the support surface  48  by a variety of fasteners, including, without limitation, at least one of nails, screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets, welding, snap-fit-type engagement, straps, and the like.  
         [0023]     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the vehicle  12  includes a pick-up truck. However, the vehicle  12  can include a variety of other vehicle types, including, without limitation, a trailer that can be pulled by another type of vehicle, a car, a van, and any other vehicle known to those of ordinary skill in the art capable of transporting the pump  14 , the fluid source  16  (in some embodiments), and the first fluid conduit  18  to a position closer to the exterior condenser  15 .  
         [0024]     In some embodiments, filling of the reservoir  24  is performed manually. In some embodiments, filling of the reservoir  24  is automatically controlled. For example, filling of the reservoir  16  can be controlled by a valve adjacent the inlet  32  of the reservoir  24 . The valve can be automatically actuated by a float assembly. The float assembly can include a ball float that floats atop the surface of the fluid in the reservoir  24 . When the fluid level in the reservoir  24  drops below a desired level, the ball float is dropped, actuating the valve to open to allow fluid to flow into the inlet  32  of the reservoir  24 . The ball float will rise with the fluid level as fluid fills the reservoir  24 . When the ball float reaches a desired level, it actuates the valve to close to cease filling of the reservoir  24 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the reservoir  24  can be drained (e.g., manually) via a drain outlet  60  of the reservoir  24  that can be opened or closed via a valve that is controlled by a lever  62 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of an opening  37  in an upper portion of the reservoir  24 . The opening  37  allows access to the interior of the reservoir  24 , and can be used to manually fill or remove fluid from the reservoir  24 . The opening  37  can be covered with a cap  39 , which has been removed in  FIG. 5  to allow visualization of the interior of the reservoir  24 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a baffle  38  is positioned in the reservoir  24  to at least partially cover the float assembly  36 , such that sloshing of the fluid adjacent the float assembly is inhibited to inhibit unnecessary triggering of the float assembly-actuated valve. The baffle  38  shown in  FIG. 5  includes three walls  40 , each wall  40  oriented at a 90-degree angle with respect to an adjacent wall  40  to form a three-sided structure that at least partially divides the reservoir  24  into separate fluid compartments. The walls  40  of the baffle  38  define an inner chamber within the baffle  38  within which the float assembly is positioned to substantially isolate the ball float of the float assembly from the remainder of the fluid in the reservoir  24 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , an upper wall  40  of the baffle  38  is bolted to an upper portion of the reservoir  24 . It should be understood, however, that the baffle  38  can be secured to the reservoir  24  by any of the securing means described above, or can be integrally formed with the reservoir  24 .  
         [0026]     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain best modes known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.