EP0365707B1 - Cleaning apparatus for façades and similar surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for facades, ceilings and similar surfaces with the aid of a sand-blasting method with an environmental compatibility achieved by the dust which collects during the cleaning not escaping into the atmosphere or contaminating adjacent living or street areas. The sand-blast nozzle (10) is surrounded by a protective hood (14) which is placed with an adaptable seal (22) against the surface to be cleaned and contains in the interior suction openings arranged in such a way that a suction flow, closing off the inner dirt-collecting space (20), or a vacuum curtain appears past the peripheral seal. Instead of a portable protective hood, an accessible working cabin can be used which can be moved on a scaffold (60) or by means of a crane (26) and in which an operator manipulates the sand- blast nozzle, the cabin being connected via hose lines to an exhaust- air purifying unit on the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning system for facades and the like surfaces using a compressed air sandblasting method, with a sandblasting nozzle surrounded by a housing which is open towards the front, the housing delimiting a dirt-collecting space with a seal arranged along its front opening, which can be applied to the surface, and into the Suction opening opening into the housing, which is connected to a suction unit installed on the floor by means of a hose line for the disposal of the blasting material and the surface removal, generates a suction flow directed past the seal into the housing.

From DE-B 1 031 172 a system for surface treatment is known with which surfaces of workpieces are cleaned by sandblasting. In the system, a blow head is supplied with blasting agent from a storage container by means of a feed line, which is sucked in by an injector during the blowing process and hurled against the surface to be cleaned. The blow head contains a hood that surrounds the injector at a short distance, the front opening of which is provided with a brush seal and rests on the workpiece. The hood is connected to a suction line via a side opening to remove the abrasive and from the surface to remove detached chips. With the help of the suction pressure acting on the side opening, a negative pressure should also be maintained in the area of the front opening of the hood and air should be continuously drawn in through the brush seal so that blasting agents and chips cannot escape to the outside. This blow head, intended for sandblasting work on the surfaces of metallic workpieces, is unsuitable for machining facades and other large surfaces made of stone and building materials due to its small dimensions. In addition, when cleaning the facade due to the blasting agent action with the so-called chip removal, an additional considerable dust development takes place, which cannot be prevented by the underpressure acting from the suction opening from its impermissible spreading through the brush seal to the outside.

In a sandblasting system known from US Pat. No. 2,729,918 for cleaning large surfaces of a ship's hull located in dry dock, a car suspended from a scaffold carries a platform for the operator, which is sealed off from a dirt-collecting space by a partition with a window. The dirt trap consists of a bellows with a circumferential seal that can be moved against the ship's wall and contains several sandblasting nozzles. In the dirt trap enclosed by the bellows, the blasting material including the chips removed from the surface fall into a bottom hopper, from where it is transported away for reprocessing by means of a suction line to become. This known system is also not suitable for cleaning facades made of stone or other masonry, because the effective negative pressure from the bottom hopper and the suction line connected to it is not able within the dirt trap enclosed by the bellows to produce the finest floating particles that arise during facade cleaning Stone dust containing particles to prevent it from spreading past the system seal to the outside.

The invention has for its object to improve and further develop a cleaning system for facades and similar surfaces in such a way that the cleaning work can be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner and the dust produced during cleaning does not escape into the surrounding atmosphere. Under these preconditions, the cleaning system should be able to be used economically, particularly for facades with an articulated surface.

This object is achieved in that the housing consists of a walk-in cabin open on one side and provided with a circumferential seal, which can be moved by means of a hoist or on a scaffold in front of the facade that suction channels with suction slots opening into the interior in the region of the cabin rear wall are arranged, which run parallel to the side, top and bottom walls of the cabin and a suction flow which extends past the seal along all cabin walls and which closes off the dirt-collecting space to the outside generate that the suction channels open into a lower collecting duct, from which a connection piece for the flexible suction line leading to the suction unit is emanating, and that in the cabin at least one suction piece is provided for connecting at least one movable protective hood provided with inner suction openings and a peripheral seal, which as Coverage of the façade's structure, which cannot be covered with the peripheral seal of the cabin, or with a sandblasting nozzle that is movably held in a bushing for processing limited surface areas.

When using the proposed cleaning system, the spreading of the dust cloud that forms during the sandblasting work is limited to the dirt-collecting and calming room located inside the cabin, since in addition to the sealants arranged at the front opening of the cabin, intensive, targeted suction is provided. The suction slots arranged on the rear wall of the cabin along the inner circumference maintain a stable, steady suction flow which, with the fresh air drawn in over the entire gap length in the critical gap between the peripheral seal and the facade, creates a vacuum curtain that effectively prevents the spreading of the dust cloud. This intensive suction flow, which is effective from the entire scope of the cabin, also contributes to the fact that the finest particles removed during sandblasting of stone, mortar and other building material, including the blasting agent used, are continuously extracted to the rear wall of the cabin are, so that the operator in the cabin regains sufficient view of the surface to be machined already during the sandblasting work, but at least very quickly after switching off the sandblast, in order to be able to determine whether reworking is necessary or can be transferred to an adjacent surface area.

In order to be able to carry out continuous work from the cabin even at places along a facade where, for example, vertical niches or horizontal grooves cannot be covered with the front cabin seal, the movable protective hood of suitable dimensions that can be connected to the suction port in the cabin is provided . If necessary, it is inserted by the operator into the recess that cannot be covered by the cabin seal and thus ensures complete protection of the atmosphere surrounding the cabin in its area with the internal suction openings. On the other hand, a movable protective hood is advantageously used from the cabin if the sandblasting cleaning is to take place on limited areas without hitting neighboring sensitive areas, for example windows. In this case, the protective hood with a sandblasting nozzle limits the development of dust to its smaller dirt trap area, while the cabin covering the larger surface area serves as additional protection for the surrounding atmosphere.

Further developments and refinements of the cleaning system according to the invention result from subclaims 2 to 16. With the further development according to claim 2 it is achieved that on the grating forming the base for the operator there are no disruptive deposits of used blasting material and worn surface material.

The development according to claim 3 leads to a useful enlarged work space consisting of several connected cabins, which can be conveniently placed around building corners and offers the operator the greatest possible freedom of movement.

In the case of the cleaning system which is further developed according to claim 4 and is composed of a plurality of cabin units, the width of the working area which is open towards the facade can be adjusted as required with a seal which can be adapted to the outside. For smaller working areas, there is a more intensive suction. In order to ensure adequate suction performance under all circumstances, the lateral cabin units can also each have suction channels with suction slots connected separately to a suction unit, in accordance with the embodiment according to claim 5.

With the development of the cleaning system according to claim 6, an increased suction power and thus improved sealing is achieved in each cabin. If necessary, the additional suction ducts running along the front opening can pass through the control devices are additionally put into operation, the ratio between the suction pressure emanating from the cabin rear wall to the suction pressure effective from the suction slits at the front opening being changed to an appropriate extent.

With the development according to claim 7, the suction pressure ratio between the front and rear suction channels on each circumferential side of the cabin can also be regulated individually, so that, for example, if the system is not uniform on all sides, the cabin has a stronger suction pressure on the surface on one front side than on the other front of the cabin takes effect.

From the development according to claim 8, there is the possibility, as an alternative to using a movable protective hood for sealing depressions in the surface to be cleaned, to extend a suitably shaped plate arranged in the cabin or to additionally use this on one side of the cabin while on the other Cabin side the sealing is accomplished with the help of the protective hood.

With the development according to claim 9, the protective hood is given a practical concave design, which, like in the cabin, is constantly effectively emptying the dirt-collecting space, and is sealed off from the outside by means of suction slots arranged at several suitable locations and by the resulting inner circumferential suction flow remains. If the protective hood is equipped with a sandblasting nozzle, it can also be used outside a cabin for processing limited areas.

The development according to claim 10 relates to a movable protective hood with an improved seal by the suction space extending along its circumference with respect to the dust cloud that forms, while the further development according to claim 11 has a frame type of the protective hood to the object, in which the between the as suction channels serving frame parts located frame fields are closed by wall sections.

In the development of the cleaning system according to claim 12, instead of a walk-in cabin that can be moved by a lifting device, an automatic surface cleaning is carried out using a protective hood, in which the protective hood is driven in a frame mounted in front of the surface to be cleaned in order to perform transverse and longitudinal movements . With this design, hard-to-reach areas, such as ceilings, can be cleaned inexpensively and quickly without manual handling and without an operator at all.

Due to the development according to claim 13, a simple design of the frame is created for the protective hood which can be moved longitudinally and transversely together with the device frame. Regardless of where the rack for automatic cleaning is set up or hung on a ceiling or sprouted, the automatic movements of the device frame can be electronically controlled, in particular remote controlled.

According to the development according to claim 15, the device frame which can be moved in the frame can be designed as a hood frame and, at its front opening, have a circumferential seal which lies against the surface to be cleaned and, within it, have a suction channel which, in addition to the seal, is open to the facade and open to the side of the dirt collecting space Has suction slots. The hood frame has a suitable outline shape adapted to the processing purpose.

According to the development of the cleaning system according to claim 16, the suction unit can be accommodated in a trailer that contains a filter system with continuous cleaning and continuous dust discharge, with at least enough storage space being provided on the front of the trailer to accommodate a cabin, while between the filter system and storage space the exhaust fan is equipped with a discharge silencer.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht einer Schutzhaube nach der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

einen Vertikalschnitt der Schutzhaube nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Horizontalschnitt der Schutzhaube nach Fig. 1 und 2 in Höhe der Sandstrahldüse,

Fig. 4

einen Horizontalschnitt durch eine in Verbindung mit einem in Führungsschienen verfahrbaren Geräterahmen gebildeten Schutzhaube,

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht eines Rahmengestells zur Durchführung automatischer Flächenreinigungsarbeiten mit einer aus Geräterahmen und Schutzhaube gebildeten Baueinheit in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

eine Keil-Seitenansicht des Rahmengestells nach Fig. 5, das in einem Abstand von der zu reinigenden Oberfläche angeordnet ist,

Fig. 7a, b und c

Frontansicht, Draufsicht bzw. Seitenansicht einer zur Anlage an einer Fassade bestimmten begehbaren Kabine,

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht einer an einem Kran aufgehängten Kabine ähnlich Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht einer Kabine, die entlang eines an der zu reinigenden Fassade aufgestellten Gerüstes verfahrbar ist,

Fig. 10

eine teilweise horizontal geschnittene Draufsicht auf eine Arbeitskabine mit seitlich angeschlossenen zusätzlichen Kabineneinheiten,

Fig. 11 bis 13

Anwendungsbeispiele der erweiterten Kabinengruppe gemäß Fig. 10 an verschiedenen Fassadengliederungen,

Fig. 14

eine geschnittene Ansicht einer fahrbaren Absauganlage zur Filterung und Entsorgung des in der Reinigungsanlage anfallenden Staubes,

Fig. 15

einen schematischen Schnitt durch eine zusätzliche Schutzhaube für Arbeiten an einer Fassade wie in Fig. 7b.

Embodiments of the cleaning system according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Each shows schematically

Fig. 1

a view of a protective hood according to the invention,

Fig. 2

2 shows a vertical section of the protective hood according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

1 and 2 at the height of the sandblasting nozzle,

Fig. 4

a horizontal section through a protective hood formed in connection with a device frame which can be moved in guide rails,

Fig. 5

4 shows a view of a frame for carrying out automatic surface cleaning work with a structural unit formed from the device frame and protective hood in FIG. 4,

Fig. 6

5, which is arranged at a distance from the surface to be cleaned,

7a, b and c

Front view, top view or side view of a walk-in cabin intended for installation on a facade,

Fig. 8

7 shows a side view of a cabin suspended from a crane, similar to FIG. 7,

Fig. 9

2 shows a side view of a cabin which can be moved along a scaffold erected on the facade to be cleaned,

Fig. 10

a partially horizontally cut top view of a work cabin with additional cabin units connected to the side,

11 to 13

Application examples of the extended cabin group according to FIG. 10 on different facade structures,

Fig. 14

a sectional view of a mobile suction system for filtering and disposing of the dust accumulating in the cleaning system,

Fig. 15

a schematic section through an additional protective hood for work on a facade as in Fig. 7b.

To carry out facade cleaning with the aid of a sandblasting process, in particular a microblasting process developed therefrom, in which the blasting material consists of a mixture of fine particles broken in the μ range, a cleaning system which is particularly environmentally compatible for this work is used according to the invention. The sandblasting device is handled by the operator, who is located in a nacelle or cabin on a platform or on a scaffold and in doing so applies a protective hood 14 surrounding the sandblasting nozzle 10 to the wall to be cleaned, similar to a weir shield.

In the exemplary embodiment 1 to 3 shown, a protective hood 14 developed for this purpose consists of an approximately oval frame which, in the side view according to FIG. 2, is concavely curved and, when in contact with the facade to be cleaned, by means of a peripheral seal, for example in the form of a brush ring 22 inside its curvature forms a dirt trapping and calming space 20 for the dirt cloud arising during cleaning. A central window opening 34 is provided in the protective hood 14 above a passage 16 for the sandblasting nozzle 10. The window opening is surrounded by an annular suction line 30, which in turn has a connection to a collecting line 36 surrounding the guide 16. According to FIG. 3, two connecting pieces 38 for one suction line hose 40 each extend from the collecting line 36.

A suction line 24 is provided along the circumference of the hood, which is connected to the ring line 30 or to the collecting line 36 via struts or spokes. The space between the suction channels and frame parts or struts is closed by connecting wall sections in accordance with the curved course of the protective hood according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The suction channels 24, 26 and 30 contain openings, preferably longitudinal slots, which face the dirt-collecting and calming space 20. This statement applies to FIGS. 2 and 3 with the exception that the suction slots 32 of the annular suction channel 30 are directed inwards towards the window, while the annular suction channel 24 arranged on the circumference of the protective hood 14 has a sequence of suction slots 28 which face the facade are open and consequently induce an intake flow that is parallel to the bristles of the brush seal 22 runs. The sandblasting nozzle 10 can be fixed in the guide 16 of the protective hood 14 from the start and can be replaced if necessary. In general, the protective hood 14 contains a plurality of suction channels which are connected to one or two central suction manifolds. For this purpose, the outer suction slot 28 is accommodated in an outer annular bead or suction channel 24. The connecting lines leading to the center are designed as stiffening pipes. The protective hood is expediently made of light metal or plastic which is as light as possible so that it can be handled comfortably together with the sand steel gun. During the cleaning work, the protective hood follows every movement of the sandblasting gun. A certain elasticity can possibly be provided in the passage of the jet nozzle through the protective hood in order to be able to adjust the jet relative to the protective hood to a limited extent. Apart from the suction slots on the circumference of the protective hood near the sealing brush, any number of internal suction slots can be provided. Depending on the application, other forms of protective hoods can also be used, e.g. B. also those whose end face with the brush circumference is not in one plane, but for example curved surfaces to the plant.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the protective hood 14 is shown as an optionally connectable part of a device frame 96, which is guided by means of laterally attached guide rollers 98, depending on the place of use, in horizontal or vertical rails 84, which can form components of a working frame. Although a protective hood similar to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can also be coupled to a device frame, in the example according to FIG. 4 the hood 14 is designed in the manner of a supporting frame or a trestle for the passage and holder 16 of the sandblasting nozzle 10, the Spaces between the trestle or frame struts are closed by a hood wall 110 similar to the hood wall 18.

The device frame 96 can have a round, rectangular or any other shape in accordance with the hood frame and is provided as before with a brush seal 22, while an optionally annular suction channel 112 is arranged therein, the suction slots 114 directed towards the facade and laterally contains suction slots 116 directed towards the dirt-collecting space 20.

In order to clean a larger surface area of a facade or a room ceiling, in particular without manual handling, a frame frame 76 is provided according to FIGS. 5 and 6, which can also have a shape that is elongated in one direction or the other instead of the rectangular shape shown. In the frame, the device frame described in connection with FIG. 4 is guided with a work or protective hood 14 and held pressed against the facade.

For this purpose, the frame 76 according to FIG. 6 is brought into a specific relationship with the aid of spacers 120 on the wall 122 to be cleaned, so that the brush seal 22 on the device frame 96 comes into sealing engagement with the wall 122.

5 consists of upper and lower guide rails 80, 82 and two outer vertical struts 88 running perpendicular thereto. Within the main frame formed in this way, a slide 86 composed of vertical rails and horizontal struts 90 can be moved transversely and for this purpose guided in the upper and lower guide rails 80, 82. The carriage 86 is driven in an adjustable manner by means of upper and lower cable pulls which are guided around electronically controlled cable drums 94 mounted on the corners of the main frame.

In the vertical guide rails 84 of the slide 86, with the help of the rollers 98 shown in FIG. 4, a device frame 96 is guided, which according to FIG. 5 is circular and is intended for receiving and connecting a circular protective hood 14. The device frame 96 is suspended from a rope 100 which is connected to a e.g. electronically controlled drive pulley is connected, from which the device frame with protective hood and sandblasting nozzle is automatically driven in order to automatically clean the surface section covered by the frame 76 or certain sections thereof, whereby the drive can also be carried out with an NC control according to any template.

The drive or winding drum 104 as well as the deflection rollers 102 are mounted on the carriage 86 in a stationary manner. By controlling the winding drum 104 the protective hood 14 is moved upwards or downwards, while the cable drums 94 initiate the horizontal adjustment movement of the slide 86.

5, on the inside of which the suction channel 112 is fastened, is connected to one or more suction lines 106 which, via guides and deflections (not shown), lead from the area of the frame frame 76 to the suction system installed on the floor without kinks are.

According to another embodiment, the protective hood 14 of the cleaning system according to FIGS. 7 to 9 consists of a cabin open to the facade, which is brought up to the facade at its edges provided with a brush seal 22 and is sucked off via its inner dirt-collecting space. Such cabins that are open on one side can be moved in height and / or laterally on a scaffold 60 that may even move on rails 124 according to FIG. 9. The adjustment movements of the cabin 14 can also be accomplished according to FIG. 8 with the aid of a crane 126 and a holder which is movable in itself and which can be pivoted to all sides. According to FIG. 8. the crane boom carries a hydraulically controlled swivel arm 128, to which the cabin is firmly connected, so that an oscillation is avoided.

7a to 7c, the cabin is preferably made of aluminum sheet with a cabin floor 42, a grating 44 arranged at a distance above it, cabin side walls 46, a top wall 47 and a cabin rear wall 48. A brush seal 22 extends around the front side of the cabin At the rear of the cabin rear wall 48 there is a circumferential suction channel 49 which is connected to the interior of the cabin via longitudinal slots 54. The longitudinal slots 54 expediently extend over the entire respective side or wall length in the vicinity thereof, so that, as with the portable protective hood, there is a continuous suction flow at the periphery of the cabin and the fresh air drawn in via the brush strips ensures that the air in the cabin The resulting cloud of dust does not spread outwards.

The lower horizontal section of the suction channel 49 can be designed as a collecting line 51, from which a connection piece 53 for the suction line to the suction unit according to FIG. 14 starts.

According to a variant, additional suction channels 144 with slots facing the facade are connected to the suction channel 49 in the cabin according to FIG. 7b along their front circumference. Control devices can be installed in the collecting or distribution channel 51 and in the side connecting channels 146 in order to adjust the suction pressure size at the slots 54 and at the slots of the suction channels 144 individually or together.

As shown in FIG. 7c, the side walls 46 and the cabin roof 47 can each be provided with windows, which supports artificial light sources in the interior of the cabin. The open front of the cabin can be closed by a railing door 52.

A further development of the cabin shown in Fig. 7 results from Fig. 10, where a cabin z. B. the type described above is supplemented by two side cabin units 62, 64. The lateral cabin units are each connected to one another by a bellows 66 on open side walls and by a vertical hinge axis 70, so that a relatively extensive adaptation to attached facades is possible, as indicated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

10, both sides of the walk-in middle cabin are each connected to a side cabin unit 62, 64 by means of openings in the side walls 46 and by means of bellows 66 connecting them. There is an articulated connection between the cabin units, specifically on the front side around a vertical hinge axis 68. On the lateral cabin units 62, 64, the outer vertical seals or brush strips are preferably adjustable over the entire width of the cabin. According to FIG. 10, a folding wall 72 can be provided between the outer fixed brush strip 22 and a sliding brush strip 70 in order to be able to close the cabin opening more or less.

An example of the use of such a design is shown in FIG. 11, where the entire width of a building pillar is covered by the open cabin combination and its opening is correspondingly restricted by the folding walls 72 and the movable brush strips 70. Similar applications are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, where in each case a lateral cabin unit is pivoted through 90 ° about the vertical hinge axis 68 and thus seals on both sides of a building corner abuts, the fanned bellows 66 contributing particularly to the adaptability of the cabin combination.

In the example according to FIG. 10, a modified suction system is shown for the side cabin unit 64, where there are connections from a manifold 51 (vacuum distributor) arranged on the cabin rear wall through the cabin rear wall 48 to channels 55 running on the circumference of the cabin. These channels contain suction openings on the side and on the rear wall, preferably at least above the floor and below the top wall.

According to FIG. 14, a compact suction unit is accommodated in a trailer, which comprises a filter system with continuous cleaning and continuous dust discharge, the filter material being discharged from the filter funnel to a screw via a cellular wheel sluice and from there via a slide to the outside. There is sufficient storage space on the front of the trailer to be able to transport at least one cabin (Fig. 7) to the next work station. The exhaust fan with exhaust silencer is located in the trailer between the storage space and the filter.

In Fig. 15, a portable suction hood 130 is shown schematically, which is connected to a z. 7b provided suction port 132 by means of a movable hose 134 and which is fastened by means of a plug connection not shown or by means of a tripod near the open cabin edge, for example around the vertical niches 136 shown on the facade 122 in FIG. 7b to cover during machining. This additional suction or protection hood 130 is consequently useful in cases where smaller wall recesses, as shown, or also horizontal fillets are to be cleaned, into which the cabin cannot enter.

For these cases, a platform (not shown) that can be extended or attached from the floor of the cabin or a platform support can be provided, on which a base plate for the operator is fastened in accordance with the outline shape of the niche. The niche 136 is then covered upward by the suction hood 130, which remains in readiness in the cabin when not in use. The suction hood 130 can have a bell shape according to FIG. 15, with resilient sealing means 138, for. B. a leather apron can be provided, while on the inside of the double-walled hood suction slots 140 are included, to which the negative pressure is passed on via the suction nozzle 142.

Claims (16)

1. Cleaning equipment for facades and similar surfaces and for using a pressurized-air sand blasting method, including a sand blasting nozzle surrounded by an open-faced housing, which by means of a seal disposed along its open face for being forced against said surface, limits a dirt collecting space, a suction opening in said housing for generating a suction flow directed past said seal into said housing being connected by means of a hose line to an exhaust plant installed at the ground for removal of blasting stuff and cuttings,
   characterized in

   - that the housing consists of a walkable cabin (14) open to one side, provided with a peripheral seal (22), and movable along the facade by means of a hoist or on a scaffold,

   - that exhausting ducts (49) having suction slots (54) directed toward said inner space are disposed within the area of the rear wall (48) of the cabin, said exhausting ducts extending parallel to the side, cover, and bottom walls of the cabin to generate a suction flow extending past said seal and along all cabin walls and sealing said dirt collecting space to the exterior,

   - that the exhausting ducts (49) open into a lower collecting duct (51), from which a connecting piece (53) issues to the flexible exhaust line leading to said exhaust plant,

   - and in that in said cabin (14) at least one suction piece (51) is provided for connection to at least one movable protecting hood (14; 130) having inner suction openings (28; 140) and a peripheral seal, and serving to cover structures of the facade, which are not coverable by the peripheral seal (22) of the cabin, or serving, together with a sand blasting nozzle (10) movably supported in a lead-in (16), for treatment of limited surface areas.
2. Cleaning equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that a lower horizontal exhausting duct at the rear wall of the cabin includes suction slots (54), which are disposed between the bottom wall (42) and a grid (44) spacedly disposed above therefrom.
3. Cleaning equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cabin (14) has openings in the side walls (46), each of which are pivotably connected to a sidewardly disposed cabin unit (62 or 64) by means of joining bellows (66) for pivoting about a vertical pivot axis disposed in the area of the open face.
4. Cleaning equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that vertical seals (70) of the sidewardly disposed cabin units (62, 64) are adjustable in the direction of the width of the cabin, and that a foldable wall (72) is provided between each of said seals (70) and the cabin side wall for limiting the open face of the sidewardly disposed cabin unit.
5. Cleaning equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that both the cabin (14) and the sidewardly disposed cabin units (62, 64) include exhaust ducts having suction slots, which are separately connected to an exhaust plant.
6. Cleaning equipment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cabin (14) includes additional exhaust ducts (144) extending along its open face with suction slots generally directed toward the surface to been cleaned, and in that adjustment means are provided for varying the ratio of the vacuum pressure between the suction slots at the rear wall and the suction slots at the open face.
7. Cleaning equipment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exhaust ducts (144) and the suction slots thereof disposed near the open face of the cabin (14) are separately adjustable with respect to the vacuum pressure acting therein and its ratio with respect to the vacuum pressure originating from the exhaust ducts (49) on each peripheral side of the cabin rear wall.
8. Cleaning equipment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that plates are provided in the cabin adapted for sealing vertical or horizontal recesses in the surface to be cleaned, said plates being mounted at the cabin's periphery for being moved outwardly in order to conform said periphery to said surface.
9. Cleaning equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable protecting hood (14, 130) is formed as a double-shell shield or bell and seals a dirt collecting space (20) by means of its resilient peripheral seal (22, 138), which is adjustable along its open face and adapted to bear on the surface to be cleaned, and that the inner shell and/or the side of tubular frame members (24, 26, 30) includes suction slots (140), said tubular frame members facing the dirt collection space and by means of a collector duct (36) communicating with a connecting piece (140, 142).
10. Cleaning equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that an exhaust space (24) is provided along the periphery of the protecting hood (14) comprises suction slots (28) directed toward the facade and is connected to said collection duct (36) by communication with the space inside the double-shell or with spider-like distribution conduits (26) having suction apertures directed to the dirt collection space (20).
11. Cleaning equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that the protecting hood (14) is formed by said frame members including exhausting ducts and by wall sections (18), to close open fields between said frame members.
12. Cleaning equipment according to one of the claims 9 to 11, characterized in that for carrying out automatic surface cleaning operations the movable protecting hood (14) is provided with at least one sand blasting nozzle and one vacuum connection and is mounted to an apparatus frame (96), which, within a frame structure (66) adapted to be placed in front of the surface to be cleaned, is driven for longitudinal and lateral movements directed in parallel to the plane of the frame structure.
13. Cleaning equpiment according to claim 12, characterized in that the apparatus frame (96) is guided in vertical rails (84) of a sliding carriage (86), which is movable in horizontal rails (80, 82) of the frame structure (76).
14. Cleaning equipment according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the sliding carriage (86) is driven by means of horizontal cable lines (92) and by electronically controlled cable drums (76) mounted to the frame structure (76), while the apparatus frame (96) supporting the protecting hood (14) is driven by means of a vertical cable line (100), which by means of deflector rollers (102) is lead to an electronically controlled cable drum (104).
15. Cleaning equipment according to one of the claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the apparatus frame (96) is a hood-shaped frame, including a peripheral seal (108) at its open face for fitting to the surface to be cleaned, and an exhausting duct (112), which is disposed inwardly from said seal and includes suction slots (114 or 116) adjacent said seal and open towards the surface to be cleaned and open toward the dirt collecting space (20), respectively.
16. Cleaning equipment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exhaust plant is accomodated in a trailer including a filter equipment operating with continuous filter cleaning and continuous dust discharge, in that stowage space sufficent for accomodating a cabin is provided at the front end of the trailer, and in that the exhaust blower with blow-off sound absorber is disposed between the filter equipment and the stowage space.

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