FR2643626A1 - Automatic machine which is remotely controlled from the ground, and intended for cleaning facades - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the creation of an original machine which is controlled from the ground, and intended to carry out, on the outsides and insides of buildings, the cleaning of the walls, in elevation, without the constraints of scaffolding, by progressively eliminating the soiling particles which adhere thereto by means of an "air powder" spray dispensed by the association of two drums, one fixed, the other rotary. These drums are grouped together, with complementary equipment, on a moving assembly, moving laterally and vertically along metal crossmembers which are parallel to the facade. The vertical mobility of the assembly is provided by a modular mast which rests on a self-propelled vehicle supporting a driver's cab and all the various controls.

Description

NEED OF THE MARKET
The industrial evolution of modern Zende leads to the creation of polluting waste, some of which in the form of corrosive fumes increasingly attack the facades of our various buildings.

 To try to remedy this evil it has become essential to periodically clean the facades of monuments and other buildings to preserve its aesthetic interest and conserve its artistic and venal values as heritage.

DESIGNATION OF MATERIAL
Automatic machine with remote control of the floor, intended for cleaning facades.

 The present invention relates to the construction of a chine system for cleaning facades, automated and remotely controlled from the ground, intended to restore to stone or any other support, and without altering its characteristics, its original coloring by elimination of the agglomerates and of the polluting particles which have stuck to it, using a large projection of coi air; rinsed containing solid micro-particles in suspension of variable density.

GENERAL PRESENTATION
Most of the device's operating organs are grouped together inside an ogival-shaped cell which ensures its seating and protection and which will be referred to below as our WORKING HEAD.

 This working head rests on two parallel metal beams, located on the same horizontal plane, connected together, by telescopic metal crosspieces.

 These horizontal metal beams of several others in length, provide support and stability for the working head, allowing its lateral displacement over the entire length, using a motorized translation device.

 The telescopic metal crosspieces, perpendicular to the metal beams, make it possible to vary the spacing of the support and thus modulate the intervention distance of the working head according to the needs and the constraints of the building or facade to be cleaned.

 The upward movement of the assembly (working head and metal beams) is carried out by automatic, regular, programmed sequences, by means of a rack and pinion device adapted on a vertical metallic structure composed of nodules of square or rectangular section nestable and fixed on each other, allowing the constitution of a mast of variable height (10 meters, 20 others, 30 meters etc ...> according to the requirements of working heights.

 The base of the mature is fixed on a self-propelled plate (forklift style), specially rearranged for this purpose for the whole of the implementation of the material.

 On the self-propelled platform, a large cabin will be set up, grouping together all the various control instruments for all the equipment, as well as a cockpit ensuring its movement.

An observation platform will be designed to be made available to one or more additional people.

WORKING HEAD G
It includes a parabolic envelope (2) of variable dimensional characteristic adapted to the building facades and to the types of work to be carried out (example. Medium model of sixty hundred centimeters in diameter). This envelope will be made of a material of metallic structure or of synthetic material.

It houses all of the following main organs:
1) Two tanbours, one fixed, (3) the other rotary secured by a hollow central axis.

 A- The first fixed steel drum will be strictly sealed and intended to receive by means of several flexible pipes compressed air (6) and an "air powder mixture of variable density. This first drum will be crossed at its center by a hollow shaft or transmission shaft, (5) resting on bearing tracks fixed on the side walls. C these ball raceways allowing rotational speeds of several hundred revolutions minutes).

This rotary transmission axis crosses the external wall to extend, support and drive in rotation a second drum of smaller cross section going of larger diameter.

 B) The second drum, unlike the first, is rotary, and is equipped with a more or less large number of tilting exhaust nozzles (8), of variable outlet diameter, which are intended to ensure the projection of the air powder mixture on the support to be cleaned.

The axis or drive shaft has the particularity of being hollow and provided with fins located in the first drum, this
fin system performs a dual function
- Fremierement, under the continuous thrust of the air the spinning of the fins, drives the central axis of transmissionin a rotary movement, which ensures the rotation of the second drum.

- Secondly, the diffusion of the "air powder" mixture up to the exhaust nozzles is ensured by the special shape of these fins, capturing in the first drum this mixture, which they convey inside the central axis through orifices intake drilled on the central shaft at each of the fins attachment points
2.> Over the entire outer periphery of the parabolic envelope are arranged fine bristle brushes (10) of high density, over a thickness of several centimeters, and over a length of several tens of centimeters, thus allowing contact flexible and airtight with the surface to be cleaned, preserving the ambient environment of all projections of powders and used particles, outside the perimeter of intervention of the working head
3 ') In addition to the start of the brushes, a rubber bead (11) outed covers the entire outer perimeter of the warhead in order to mitigate the effects of extensive contact with the surface to be treated.

 4) A circular suction duct for the used particles (12) forming a sort of double envelope is placed over the entire internal contour of the working head, and evacuated as and when cleaning, all of the dust caused by the work. This sheath is connected to the ground by means of flexible hoses, conveying the dust sucked into collecting tanks fitted with important air filters.

 5) A video camera located in a watertight cabin on the external face of the parabolic envelope, provided with a gyroscopic porthole, makes it possible to carry out the work and its role. It also allows easy and instant control of a facade from the ground before and after the work and if necessary at each instant of the progress thereof. This cambra vide @ (20) also allows the making of a set of photographic plans usable for the establishment of a detailed and precise diagnosis of the state of a facade.

 6 ') A set of powerful projectors allowing to work at night and in poorly lit places.

 The implementation of the work head and the use of the various functions is controlled by an operator, located on the ground, from a cabin where all the commands necessary for operating the device are grouped.

MODULAR MAT (13)
The working head and its support and translation beams are fixed on a metal module assembly, which ensures the ascent by regular and automated sequences
C from fifty centimeters to fifty centimeters for example), coordinated with the lateral stroke of the working head along the length of the metal support beams.

This nat is composed of modules of square or rectangular interlocking section and fixed on each other, allowing the constitution of a mast of variable height (10 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters etc ...) according to the requirements of heights of work.

It is possible to integrate a platform on this mat allowing, if necessary, staff access to the various intervention points. (15)
The whole of this mast is equipped with motors, allowing the raising and lowering of the metal sleepers and telescopic arms supporting the working head.

This modular mat supports a protective sheath ensuring the routing of the various pipes:
- Compressed air supply
- Supply of compressed air powder mixture
- Electric wiring
- Video wiring
- Suction pipes for used particles
THE AUTONOXIC AUTOMOTIVE TRAY
It has variable dimensional characteristics (doyenne length between five and six meters and average width between two meters and two and a half meters)
But this self-propelled platform includes in all cases:
- A closed cabin housing a console where the various organs and joysticks of the machine are located, the various TV-video screens and video recorders.

- A seat for the operator
- A bench allowing various people to
follow the progress of the site.

- A double waterproof insulated container containing the micro
cleaning particles.

- Tubs equipped with air filter for recovery
dust and residue.

FUNCTIONAL MODES
A) A compressor generating compressed air
B) A powerful central suction group
C) A generator
OPERATION INDICATION
The interest of this material and its originality is characterized
by the fact that they ensure the perfect regularity of the process
cleaning obtained by the use of a mechanical process without int
direct manual service.

The operation of the second drum located in the working head is characterized by the fact that it is the zeca-
rotating air projection of the "air powder" mixture, which in mul
multiplying with absolute regularity, the frequency of the passages at the same places of the surface to be cleaned, will allow a progressive elimination of the particles of fouling stuck on the stone, or on any other support, without abrasion of this one, (This result is made possible by the significant reduction and modulation of the compressed air pressures used), thus giving the cleaned material its original color.

 This system is characterized by the fact that it is equipped with telescopic crosspieces, (16) ensuring most of the positioning necessary for the implementation of the working head.

This system is characterized by the fact that an installation inside the working head and perpendicular to its axis of intervention, allows if necessary to perfect the positioning by bringing the projection nozzles closer or further away from the area to clean. This result is obtained by means of telescopic crosspieces moving the two drums on a guide rail.
This system is characterized by the fact that the speed of rotation of the disc or second drum, which can be modulated according to the compressed air intake power supplied by the operator.

 This system is characterized by the fact that the forward speed of the working head along its lateral cross-member can be modulated at any time by the operator.

 This system is characterized by the fact that the upward progression of the working head and of the metal beams takes place automatically in a regular sequence of fifty centimeters to fifty centimeters for example after each lateral travel of the working head along its intervention beam.

 This system is characterized by the fact that an automotQLS) eur plate ensures progressive lateral movement of the assembly all along the facade to be treated.

This system is characterized by the fact that the air-powder dosage diffused by the exhaust nozzles is automatically adjusted by the operator located on the ground
This system is characterized by the fact that the operator located on the ground can stop the diffusion of the powder at any time.

 This system is characterized by the fact that its type of operation and its discretion of use allow it to intervene on any type of building without any annoyance of work for the occupants and the residents, and on any type of commercial buildings. , such as hotels and stores, without generating or interrupting their operation

Claims (6)

 -RE SELL I CATI ON S 1) Device for moving a work head for cleaning facades characterized in that said work head (1) is integral with telescopic sleepers (17) and beams (14) movable laterally and horizontally, and the same fixed to a mat (13) on which they move vertically. 2) device for moving a facade cleaning work head according to claim 1 characterized in that the beams (14) are movable vertically along a mast (13) and automatically by regular sequences and programmed from '' a cockpit located in a cabin on the ground. 3) A device for moving a cleaning work head according to the preceding claim characterized in that the whole of the mat and the devices which are associated therewith are integral with a trojan of displacelent to the ground, such as a tank - iot elevator. 4) Device for displacing a cleaning work test according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal beams are fitted with telescopic cross-pieces ensuring the positioning of the work test relative to the surface to be cleaned. 5) A device for moving a facade cleaning work head according to any one of claims characterized in that the operator can regulate on demand the spraying pressure dosage of the powder according to the working requirements. 6) A device for moving a facade cleaning work head according to any one of claims in that a casera allows the making of a set of photographic plans usable for the establishment of a detailed and precise diagnosis of the facade before work.