EP0527985B1 - Device for cleaning smooth surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

Described is a device for cleaning smooth surfaces with liquid, the device having a washing roller (3) linked to a vibrator unit (7) which causes the roller (3) to execute a translational and/or circular vibrational motion. The high frequency of the small-amplitude vibrations enables the cleaning liquid to dissolve the dirt in the coating (5) on the roller (3) and to remove it mechanically. At the same time, the edge (15) of the wiper blade (13) removes any remaining liquid, together with the dirt dissolved in it, from the pane surface. The liquid thus removed drips back on to the roller (3) and is thus used again in the cleaning process.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning smooth surfaces according to the preamble of claim 1.

FR-A-2.106.101 known from the international search report discloses a device for cleaning panes which is attached to the end of a stem. At the top end there is a rubber wiper lip and underneath a sponge to catch the wiped water. The stripped water can be drained through a hose and through the stem. Below is a spring-loaded cylindrical sponge for wetting and cleaning the window. This device can only perform vertical movements from top to bottom; movement from top to bottom would completely prevent the effectiveness of this device.

DE-A-1 628 790, also known, discloses a window cleaning device which consists of two parallel rubber lips with sharp edges, between which water is introduced. The lips are vibrated vertically and are designed to clean the surface of the disc. The injected water runs down the window and has to be wiped up separately.

A rectangular cleaning pad is known from US-A-3,629,893, which also became known from the international search report and can be set in motion by a vibration drive arranged in the handle. In such a device, on the one hand, the water must be supplied separately and the pane treated by the device must subsequently be freed of dirt and dried in a conventional manner.

From the further known DE-A-27 53 582 a surface cleaner with a sponge-like pad and a water supply line and a water drain line is known. With an ultrasonic transducer arranged in the surface cleaner, impurities are detached from the surface of the pane, in the known manner that the ultrasonic waves are guided through the water pumped into the sponge to the window surface and there detach any dirt particles present from the window surface by cavitation. The detached impurities can then be removed by sucking off the water.

Stubborn dirt, such as fly droppings and the like, and dirt on window glasses that have not been cleaned for years can only be removed with the conventional devices with great time and physical effort.

The object of the present invention is now to provide a device which facilitates the cleaning of heavily soiled smooth surfaces.

Thanks to the vibrating movements of the washer, even stubborn dirt can be effortlessly removed and removed with the device according to the invention.

The vibratory drive for the washer has a very low weight, so that the operator is physically less stressed than when the dirt has to be removed from the pane by circular or upward and downward movements.
With the scraper arranged parallel to the washer, the cleaning liquid remaining on the pane and the dirt dissolved in it can be continuously removed from the pane surface. The stripped liquid no longer drips onto the floor, but falls back on the washer. As a result, the washer remains moist for a very long time and the cleaning liquid can be replenished at much greater intervals than was previously the case.
The vibration damping element inserted between the handle and the vibration drive prevents on the one hand the transmission of the vibrations to the handle and a telescopic rod attached to the handle if necessary, and on the other hand it is possible to work with a lower vibration drive power, since the entire vibration energy is transferred to the washer.
The scraper, which is fixed and adjustable with respect to the washer, enables the device to be adapted to the respective work location (vertical or inclined surfaces) and to the wishes of the operator.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung mit aufgesetztem Abstreifer,

Fig. 2

eine andere Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

einen Schwingungsverlauf in kreisenden Bewegungen und

Fig. 4

einen Schwingungsverlauf in translatorischen Bewegungen.

The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of illustrated exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a perspective view of the device with the wiper attached,

Fig. 2

another embodiment of the device in side view,

Fig. 3

a course of oscillations in circular movements and

Fig. 4

a waveform in translatory movements.

In Figure 1, a cylindrical washer 3 is attached to the end of a handle 1 and covered with a coat 5 made of lambskin or the like. A vibration drive 7 sits on the washer 3 and is connected to the washer 3. A vibration damping element 11 in the form of a wave-shaped curved spring can be inserted between the handle 1, which can have a joint 9, and the vibration drive 7. At the front end of the handle 1, a scraper 13 with a lip-shaped edge 15 is also placed. The lip-shaped edge 15 lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of the washer 3. Energy can be supplied to the vibration drive 7 by means of a cable 17.

In the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2, the vibration drive 107 is arranged inside the tubular washer 103. A damping element 111 made of rubber or metal is inserted between the washer 103 and the end of the handle 101. The scraper 113 is connected to a fastening device, e.g. a wing nut 119, axially displaceably connected to the latter at the end of the handle 101, such that the angle alpha between the surface 121 to be cleaned and the axis of the handle 101 can be adapted to the respective needs without the lip 115 being too strong or too tight little is pressed onto the surface 121.

By means of the vibratory drive 7, 107, the washer wetted with water and / or cleaning liquid, depending on the design of the vibratory drive, will perform a rotating movement according to FIG. 3 or a translational back and forth movement as shown in FIG. 4. Of course, the two movements according to FIGS. 3 and 4 can be superimposed by appropriate arrangement and design of the vibration drive 7, 107.
Dirt adhering to the surface to be cleaned, for example the disk 121, is mechanically detached due to the small-stroke, but high-frequency movements. The mechanical detachment is supported by the pressing of the washer 3 onto the jacket 5 cleaning liquid squeezed onto the disk 7, 21, 121.
When the device is guided downwards, the cleaning liquid remaining on the disk and the dirt dissolved in the cleaning liquid are continuously drawn off from the surface by the lip 15, 115 of the scraper 13, 113. The liquid which has been drawn off is returned to the casing 5, 105 in drops 123 or as a clot along the surface of the pane, where it is available for continuous cleaning.

Alternatively, the vibration drive can also be accommodated within the handle or connected to a drive standing on the ground via a flexible shaft if this is required by the regulations of electrical monitoring associations.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for cleaning smooth surfaces with a fluid, having a built-in washer, which is mounted on the end of a handle, for dissolving and mechanically separating the contaminants/dirt, and a resilient scraper, which is disposed in parallel above the built-in washer, characterised in that the built-in washer (3,103) is connected to a vibratory drive (7,107), can be caused to vibrate by said drive and has a casing (5,105) for accommodating the cleaning fluid for wetting the surface (121) to be cleaned and for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid, which has been scraped from the cleaned surface (121) by the scraper (13,113) and flows back into the built-in washer (3,103).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the vibratory drive (7,107) transmits a circular and/or translatory vibrational movement to the built-in washer (3,103).
3. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the vibratory drive (7,107) is inserted on the built-in washer (3,103), between the handle (1,101) and the built-in washer (3,103) or in the handle (1,101).
4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the vibratory drive (7,107) is disposed inserted internally of the built-in washer (3,103).
5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a vibration damping element (11,111) is inserted between the handle (1,101) and the built-in washer (3,103).
6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the scraper (13,113) is connected to the handle (1,101) by the end of the vibration damping element (11,111) facing the handle.
7. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the position of the scraper (13,113) can be set and adjusted in respect of the built-in washer (3,103).

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