Gps directed ultra-high pressure runway cleaner
AssigneeWaterblasting, LLC
InventorJames P. Crocker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A GPS directed vehicle for cleaning airport runway surfaces. The vehicle uses an ultra-high pressure washer for cleaning rubber off the surfaces of the runway, and a vacuum system for the collection of debris. A GPS device allows an operator to track a cleaning line so as to allow no more than 25 mm overlap of surfaces to be cleaned. An iPad can be used to highlight Google maps for calculating a runway area to be treated. Recording allows the exact location of last treated surface area to allow exact location of an untreated surface area.
Claims11
A control system for precise positioning of a work vehicle used for cleaning airport runway surfaces comprising:
- a work vehicle having a frame supported by wheels;
- an engine attached to said frame and connected to a driveline for propelling said work vehicle;
- a speed control module for monitoring the speed of the work vehicle, said speed control module coupled to work vehicle brake module and throttle control module;
- an encoder removably coupled to a steering wheel directional control of the work vehicle;
- a GPS receiver with GNSS precision positioner mounted to said work vehicle and coupled to said encoder;
- a computer coupled to said positioning system for relocating the work vehicle within 2 mm of a selected position providing autonomous direction control of the work vehicle;
- an ultra-high pressure washer mounted to said frame having at least one blaster head available for placement over the selected position;
- whereby ultra-high pressure water is directed towards a selected position for a cleaning process for a runway surface and said computer cooperates with said positioning device to return the work vehicle to the selected position to resume pressure cleaning after an interruption of the cleaning process.
A method for precise positioning of a work vehicle used for cleaning airport runway surfaces comprising the steps of:
- mounting a GPS receiver with GNSS precision positioner system to a work vehicle having a frame supported by wheels with an engine attached to the frame and connected to a driveline for propelling the work vehicle together with a speed control module for monitoring the speed of the work vehicle through a brake module and throttle control module;
- attaching an encoder to a steering wheel for providing directional control of the work vehicle;
- coupling a computer to said positioner system for receiving instructions to locate the coordinates of the work vehicle;
- installing an ultra-high pressure washer to the frame including at least one blaster head fluidly coupled to the pressure washer;
- positioning the blaster head over a selected position wherein pressurized water is directed to the runway surface for removal of debris from the runway surface;
- directing said blaster head to follow a predetermined path by receipt of computer instructions through autonomous direction control of the work vehicle;
- displaying the path and instant coordinates of the blaster head;
- capturing interruption coordinates before the blaster head is removed from the predetermined path;
- returning said blaster head to a position within of said interruption coordinates;
- resume autonomous directional control of the work vehicle to continue cleaning along the predetermined path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.