AU715307B2 - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/04669 PCT/AU98/00565 CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to a cleaning apparatus having a motor driven rotatable cleaning head with means to allow a cleaning fluid to be applied to the cleaning head.

Cleaning brushes having a rotating brush head are known. These brushes can be connected to a water hose, and the water pressure from the hose causes the brush to rotate as well as providing water to the brush bristles.

These brushes suffer from a disadvantage which 'is that the brush readily comes to a standstill if too much pressure is applied to the brush. These brushes are therefore not suitable for cleaning paths, or heavy-duty cleaning of other surfaces. Also, such brushes do not rotate under a controlled speed which makes them unsuitable for many applications.

It is known to provide cleaning brushes which are rotated by a motor, typically an electric motor.

Floor waxing machines are an example of such a device.

These devices generally have no provision to allow a cleaning fluid to be applied directly to the brush bristles. In some cases, a cleaning fluid is applied, but this is applied in front of the brush and not on to the brush bristles.

In order to provide a good cleaning effect it is necessary to provide intimate contact between the cleaning head and the cleaning fluid. That is, it is not sufficient to merely apply the cleaning fluid in front of the cleaning head. Also, it is advantageous to be able to force the cleaning fluid into and intimately around the cleaning head as this appears to improve the cleaning ability of the apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning head which can be used with a cleaning fluid and where the cleaning fluid can be forced into the SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 99/04669 PCT/AU98/00565 2 cleaning head.

In one form the invention resides in a cleaning head comprising a head member which is motor driven, the head member including cleaning means for contact with a surface to be cleaned, and means to force a cleaning fluid into contact with the cleaning means.

The cleaning head may comprise a rotatable disc member having a lower surface associated with the cleaning means, and an upper surface. A plurality openings can be provided in the disc member so that Cleaning fluid applied to the upper surface can pass through the openings to the lower surface and into contact with the cleaning means.

Fluid deflectors are preferably provided adjacent the plurality of openings to force cleaning fluid to pass through the openings as the cleaning head rotates. The fluid deflectors can be in the form of impeller blades The cleaning means can vary to suit the particular cleaning application required. For scrubbing applications, the cleaning means can comprise an array of bristles. The bristles can be attached to the lower surface of the disc member.

In one embodiment, the disk member can have a brush on the lower surface which rotates as the disk member rotates. A cleaning fluid, for example water, can be forced into the brush bristles by being deflected through the openings by the fluid deflectors.

The cleaning head can be attached to a variety of apparatus which can rotate the cleaning head. One preferred apparatus is a brush cutter which can be electric or motor driven. The brush cutter typically has a lower line trimmer which can be removed and replaced with the cleaning head. The cleaning head can then be driven at constant speed and the brush cutter makes the SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/04669 PCT/AU98/00565 3 cleaning head ideal for cleaning pathways, driveways, floor tiles, and even walls.

A cleaning fluid such as water can flow through an adjacent nozzle and through the openings in the disk member.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning head according to an embodiment, Figure 2 is a top view of the cleaning head of figure 1, Figure 3 is a bottom view of the cleaning head of figure 1, and Figure 4 illustrates a nozzle and clamp arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 illustrates a brushcutter having a cleaning head attached thereto.

Figures 6A and 6B, illustrate the use of the cleaning head to clean pavers and walls.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figure 1 there is shown a view of the top portion of cleaning head 10. Head 10 in the embodiment, consists of a circular disk member having an upper surface 11 shown in figure 1 and a lower surface 12 shown in figure 3.

Referring initially to figure 1, head 10 has a central aperture 13 which allows head 10 to be mounted to a motor driven shaft [not shown]. Aperture 13 extends through a mounting block 14 positioned in the central portion of head Head 10 has a number of spaced apart radially extending slots 15 which extend entirely through head These slots function to allow a cleaning fluid to pass from the upper portion of head 10 to the lower portion of head 10. Adjacent each slot 15 is a fluid deflector in SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/04669 PCTIAU98/00565 4 the form of an impeller blade 16. Each impeller blade 16 is angled as illustrated in figure 1 so that as head is rotated, cleaning fluid applied to the upper portion of head 10 is forced through slots 15 because of impeller blades 16.

Figure 2 shows the positioning of each slot and its adjacent blade 16.

Figure 3 shows the lower surface 12 of the head Lower surface 12 is formed with cleaning means in the form of brush bristles 17. Bristles 17 extend entirely over lower surface 12 except for slots 15 and the central portion comprising mounting block 14 and central aperture 13. As cleaning fluid is forced through slots 15, the cleaning fluid contacts the bristles 17 immediately adjacent a respective slot 15, and as head rotates, the cleaning fluid is thoroughly mixed through bristles 17.

Figure 4 illustrates a nozzle and clamp arrangement 20. Nozzle and clamp arrangement 20 is positioned above the head 10 and a water hose [not shown] can be attached to the nozzle arrangement 20 through a conventional coupling 21. A valve 22 is provided to allow the quantity of water passing through nozzle arrangement 20 to be regulated. Nozzle arrangement has a nozzle outlet 23 which passes a stream of cleaning fluid [for instance water] against blades 16 on head The above arrangements is especially suitable for use with a brush cutter. The nozzle arrangement can be clipped to the elongate body portion of the brush cutter using a clamp 24. Nozzle arrangement 20 can pivot about pivot 25 and be clamped in a desired position.

The cleaning head can collect water from nozzle arrangement 20 and impel the water directly into the brush bristles. The cleaning head is power driven by a motor source and is not reliant on water pressure to SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/04669 PCTIAU98/00565 rotate the head. The head can have constant rotation under a controllable speed, and will not stall or stop rotating if pressed against a surface to be cleaned.

The cleaning head can be removed when not in use, thereby allowing it to function as and accessory to a brush cutter.

The cleaning head can be designed to fit onto all types of brush cutters.

The cleaning head can clean house exteriors, pools, caravans, driveways, pavers, and many other types of surfaces.

Figure 5 shows a brushcutter of known design and which has a brushcutter shaft 31 in which a drive shaft is located as is known. The normal trimmer head is removed to expose a coupling shaft, pin, or bolt to which the cleaning head 10 is attached. The nozzle is clamped onto shaft 31 via clamp 24, and a water hose 30 is coupled to the nozzle. To stop hose sag, a hose clamp 32 is provided.

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the convenient use of the cleaning head when attached to a brushcutter to clean ground pavers (Figure 6A), or wall boards (Figure 6B).

It should be appreciated that the cleaning head can be attached to devices other than brush cutters. For instance, the cleaning head could be attached to industrial carpet shampoo machines. Also, the bristles 17 or other cleaning means can be made detachable and interchangeable from the lower surface 12. The cleaning means can include buffers, abrasive surfaces such as sand and grit papers, nylon or metal scourers, cloth, sponge, and the like. The fluid deflecting impeller blades can be adjusted to vary the force of water passing through the head, and can be reversed to accommodate clockwise and anti-clockwise head rotation. The central aperture 13 can SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 99/04669 PCT/AU98/00565 6 be replaced by a coupling such as a thread to fit various motor driven sources.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

Claims (6)

1. A cleaning head comprising a head member which is driven by an independent motor source,the said head member having a lower surface adapted to support a variety of cleaning means for contact with the surface to be cleaned, and having an upper surface comprising fluid deflectors, which propel cleaning fluid to pass into the cleaning means through a plurality of openings which are immediately under the fluid deflectors in the head member and when the said independent motor source is engaged,the head member rotates causing the cleaning fluid to be collected and propelled by the fluid deflectors,through centrifugal force,into the cleaning means,through the plurality of openings,and the said head member having on its upper surface a central aperture,which can be adapted by various means to mount the cleaning head to the independent motor driven shaft.

2. The cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the head member is rotated by a shaft,the shaft being driven by said motor the motor being sufficiently far from the head member to not be in contact with the cleaning fluid.

3. The cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the head member spins independently of the water pressure by said motor source,and therefore requires no housing to retain a constant flow of cleaning fluid to the cleaning means.

4. The cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the cleaning fluid is supplied by an independent,controlled source which is mounted adjacent to the fluid deflectors in the said head member and the cleaning fluid requiring no pressure as the cleaning head will collect and propel the cleaning fluid through gravity feed,if necessary.

The cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the head member can operate in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation,therefore the fluid deflectors can be arranged to face either direction.

6. The cleaning head of claim 1-5 substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU