Device and method for removing dirt

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for removing dirt, in particular oil, extreme dirt, etc. on a surface, in particular on a road pavement, wherein the device is integrated into a vehicle or associated with the vehicle, comprising nozzles ( 5, 9 ) for spraying cleaning liquid onto the area, brushes ( 3, 12 ) for mechanically treating the soiled area, and a suction apparatus ( 6 ) for suctioning the emulsion containing the removed dirt. Said device is designed and further developed in such a way that the cleaning liquid can be heated using the waste heat of the vehicle by means of a heat exchanger ( 2 ) in order to achieve a low use of cleaning liquid and a mode of operation that is gentle to surfaces and at the same time the least possible energy requirement.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A device for removing dirt, particularly oil, extreme soiling, etc., on a surface, particularly a road surface, with the device being at least one of integrated in and allocated to a vehicle, wherein the device comprises:
 nozzles ( 5 ,  9 ) to spray a cleaning liquid on the surface;   brushes ( 3 ,  12 ) for a mechanical processing of a soiled portion of the surface; and   a suction device ( 6 ) for suctioning off the emulsion containing the dissolved dirt, wherein:
 the cleaning liquid can be heated via heat exchangers ( 2 ) using the exhaust heat of the vehicle; and 
 the heat exchanger ( 2 ) utilizes the thermal energy of the exhaust of the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger ( 2 ) uses the thermal energy of the cooling water of the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the cleaning liquid is water. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the cleaning liquid is a mixture of water and cleaning solution. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a spraying device ( 10 ) for spraying pre-heated cleaning liquid, the spraying device comprising several nozzles ( 9 ), each being individually controllable. 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the outlet nozzles are provided to spray pre-heated cleaning liquid onto the brushes ( 3 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein high-pressure nozzles ( 5 ) are provided for applying cleaning liquid under high pressure. 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 23 , wherein said high-pressure nozzles comprise wide-jet nozzles. 
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the suction device ( 6 ) is adjustable, such that it is configured to be lowered automatically to the area to be processed. 
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising individually controlled front and lateral nozzles configured to clean edge sections. 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a circuit by which any unused preheated cleaning liquid can be returned into the reservoir ( 1 ). 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a hand lance with a hose reel, the hand lance and the hose reel being configured for a manual cleaning of hard-to-access areas. 
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a manually operated dome configured to suction off hard-to-access areas. 
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a separate front sweeping device to sweep up coarse dirt. 
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising lateral brushes to allow an edgeless sweeping. 
     
     
         32 . A device according to  claim 17 , further comprising lateral brushes ( 12 ) having lateral pre-spraying nozzles to allow an edgeless wet scrubbing. 
     
     
         33 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein a recycling system ( 8 ) is provided to allow processing suctioned, contaminated cleaning liquid so that it can be reused. 
     
     
         34 . A method for removing dirt, particularly oil, extreme soiling, etc., on an area, particularly a road surface, said method using a device according to  claim 17 .