Patent Publication Number: US-2021189669-A1

Title: Method And Apparatus For Clearing Permeable Paver Joints

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 62/930,469 filed Nov. 4, 2019. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One ground covering technique for parking lots, roadways, courtyards, etc. is to place pavers or bricks on a base of chip rock, separated by narrow joints. The chip rock also fills the joints between the individual pavers or bricks. The advantage of this configuration is that storm water on these surfaces will infiltrate through the joints into the ground below without accumulating on the surface. Over time the joints can become clogged and lose their infiltration performance. 
     It is sometimes necessary to clear or clean the joints between bricks or pavers when those joints are clogged with chip rock or other debris. It is known to use pressurized air to blow out the joints using push cart apparatus and collect the debris afterword with a vacuum truck. 
     The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide a machine and method for effectively, efficiently, and cost-effectively clearing the joints of pavers to rehabilitate the paved surface for water infiltration. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides an effective apparatus and method for cleaning pavers and clearing joints between pavers. The apparatus includes a high pressure water source located within or on a vehicle, a plurality of nozzles arranged close to a paver surface to be cleaned and cleared, a header pipe connected to the nozzles, and a delivery pipe connected between the header pipe and the source of pressurized water. 
     A method according to the invention includes providing a source of pressurized water, providing a series of nozzles spread over a width of an area of the pavers to be cleaned and cleared, directing the pressurized water out of the nozzles to impact the pavers and paver joints, and moving the vehicle along the paver area to clean and clear a substantially wide swath of the paver area. Additionally, a vacuum truck or vacuum apparatus can follow the cleaning and clearing procedure to collect the cleared debris. 
     The high pressure water jets or spray dislodge the chip rock between pavers in the joints, the chip rock having been clogged with organic debris or other debris which inhibits its water permeability. After the chip rock is sprayed out, new and clean chip rock can be placed in the joints, making a permeable joint once again. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle with the paver clearing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the paver clearing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , separated from the vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2  with a front cover removed to see the underlying components; 
         FIG. 4  is a front fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of a center portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of an end portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front, enlarged perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  showing a mounting hitch supporting the apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear, enlarged perspective view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front, enlarged perspective view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     This application incorporates by reference U.S. Ser. No. 62/930,469 filed Nov. 4, 2019. 
       FIG. 1  shows an assembly  10  for performing the method of the invention.  FIG. 1  shows a vehicle  12 , such as a water tanker truck having a paver clearing apparatus  16  adjustably mounted to a rear thereof. Within the vehicle  12  is a water pump (not shown) which delivers high pressure water through a delivery tube or pipe  20  to the apparatus  16 . A vehicle hitch  24  includes a receiver  28  which adjustably mounts an apparatus spindle  32 . The high pressure water can be at 3000 psi. 
       FIG. 2  shows the apparatus  16  in more detail. The apparatus includes an elongated housing  36  having a top wall  36   a , a front wall  36   b , a first side wall  36   c , a second side wall  36   d , and a rear wall  36   e . The spindle  32  in the form of a square tube is mounted to the top wall  36   a  by a bracket  37 . A nozzle  39  is mounted to the apparatus  16  through the bracket  37  and is flow-connected to the supply tube or pipe  20  at one end and to a horizontal header pipe  43  (shown schematically) within the housing  36  at the other end. The front wall  36   b  is removable and is connected by latches  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c , and  41   d  ( FIG. 5 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows the apparatus  16  of  FIG. 2  with the front wall  36   b  removed. The nozzles  39  is connected to the horizontal header pipe  43  which flow-connects along its length to a plurality of pipe nipples  44 , each nipple flow-connected to a high-pressure water nozzle  46 . The nozzles  46  are arranged spaced apart along the length of the housing  36 . The nozzles are directed downwardly to cause a high impact water jet to strike the pavers and joints between the pavers. 
       FIG. 4  shows the spindle  32  which has vertically spaced apart pin-receiving holes  50 . The spindle  32  is inserted into the hitch receiver  28 , also in the form of a square tube to a selected depth until one or more of the pin receiving holes  50  aligned with pin holes  60  through the hitch. A pin is then inserted through the receiver and the spindle to lock the apparatus  16  at the desired height above the paver area. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the hitch receiver  28  is welded to a rugged hitch  24  which includes fastening holes  68  on a rear side of the hitch such that the hitch can be attached at a select elevation to a variety of vehicles. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a pin  70  can be provided to pass through the hitch  28  and the spindle  32  at selectively aligned pin receiving holes through the two members to select the relative elevation between the apparatus  16  and the hitch  24 . 
     In operation, the vehicle  10  slowly rolls along a paver surface to be cleared and cleaned. High-pressure water is delivered through the pipe  20  and to the horizontal header pipe within the housing  36 . The horizontal header pipe delivers pressurized water through the pipe nipples  44  to the high-pressure water nozzles  46  to spray the pavers and the joints between pavers. Dirt and clogged joints can be thus cleared off the pavers and the joints. A vacuum truck can follow the vehicle to collect the debris. 
     Alternatively, the apparatus  16  can be mounted to a vacuum truck also having a high-pressure water supply and the spraying and the vacuuming of debris can take place during the same vehicle movement. 
     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.