Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Synthetic Grass

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning synthetic grass comprising a manifold and an elongate plenum head disposed within the manifold and having a compressed air inlet and a plurality of air outlets spaced therealong through which air can be expelled against the synthetic grass surface for dislodgement of coarse and fine particulate material and to entrain the dislodged particulate material, said manifold including at least one vacuum outlet located in rearwardly of the manifold associated with a vacuum system for exit of the fine particulate material, and an open lower region of the manifold.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning synthetic grass comprising a manifold and an elongate plenum head disposed within the manifold and having a compressed air inlet and a plurality of air outlets spaced therealong through which air can be expelled against the synthetic grass surface for dislodgement of coarse and fine particulate material and to entrain the dislodged particulate material, said manifold including at least one vacuum outlet located in a rear area of the manifold associated with a vacuum system for exit of the fine particulate material, and an open lower region of the manifold for distributing the coarse particulate material back to the synthetic grass surface. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for cleaning synthetic grass comprising a manifold and an elongate plenum head disposed within the manifold and having a compressed air inlet and a plurality of air outlets spaced therealong through which air can be expelled against the synthetic grass surface for dislodgement of particulate detritus, said manifold including at least one vacuum head located rearwardly of the manifold associated with a vacuum system for exit of the particulate detritus, and an open lower region of the manifold, the manifold having at least one inlet therein to allow additional air or water to be provided into the manifold. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  adapted to clean synthetic grass with sand infill wherein the fine particulate material is detritus and the coarse particulate material is sand. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  adapted to clean synthetic grass with water infill wherein the compressed air entrains the particulate detritus in water for collection by the vacuum system. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus accordingto claim  1  wherein the plenum head is mounted substantially horizontally in the manifold for rotation about a substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plenum head is mounted substantially horizontally in the manifold for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein one or more ports are provided in the manifold for addition of air into the manifold. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein one or more ports are provided in the manifold for addition of water into the manifold. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plenum head includes a plurality of air outlets grouped at either end of the plenum head. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plenum head includes a plurality of air outlets spaced substantially equally over the length of the plenum head. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the plenum head is adjustably mounted relative to the manifold in order to adjust the separation distance between the plenum head and the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one vacuum outlet is located in the manifold. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one vacuum outlet is located behind the manifold in the direction of travel. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to claim  1  further including a broom located behind the manifold in the direction of travel. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the device is a self-propelled vehicle with the manifold at a forward end, the manifold being movable between a lowered use condition and a raised condition in order to shorten the vehicle for maneuverability. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a water separation system is associated with the vacuum system to separate detritus from water, the water separation system including a filter bag through which the water is passed to separate detritus from water. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the filter bag is supported within a filter basket within a tank. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a cyclone particulate separation system is associated with the vacuum system to separate particulates of different sizes. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the manifold includes at least one inlet therein to allow additional air or water to be provided into the manifold.