Clever cleaner at Luton Council
Page 79
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Luton Borough Council's transport division has installed a computer-controlled brush wash capable of cleaning any vehicle from a light van to a refuse truck.
The Contact brush washer is started by passing a programed key fob over a reader sited by the wash. A code number in the fob is interpreted by the computer to select the correct wash program and then to log the wash against the vehicle fleet number.
Six wash programs are avail able; rigid box vehicles (cars, vans, coaches and rigids with box bodies): complete articulated vehicles; semi-trailers only; rigid vehicles with roof obstacles; rigid vehicles with roof and rear-end obstacles; and refuse vehicles with rear-end brush avoidance.
As the brushes move from the front to the rear of the vehicle they clean and pass over items like roof spoilers and wash the back of tractive units and the front of the trailers. On the return pass the computer will remember the spoilers.
On the refuse collector program the brushes move in and out to clean between the body's ribs then pull clear of the rear-end equipment to avoid snagging.
As the operation of the £48,500 washer is automatic and restricted to those with the proper key fob the Council has been able to open the wash to third parties on an extended hours basis. Local fleets can buy a number of washes in advance.
To wash a coupled artic takes about 13 minutes and costs £15 but council vehicles are internally charged at a lower rate.
Luton's transport manager, Don Allison, expects the installation to pay for itself within three years from third-party washing.