GB2091992A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus comprises one or more spray units 18 for spraying cleaning materials, such as water, steam or abrasive fines onto a surface to be cleaned and means for removing used cleaning materials such as a suction nozzle formed in skirt 19. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning apparatus This invention concerns cleaning apparatus particularly for use in cleaning dirty, greasy painted or corroded surfaces.

As used herein the term "cleaning" may include washing, steam cleaning, descaling and the like.

According to the invention there is provided cleaning apparatus comprising one or more spray units for spraying cleaning materials such as water, steam or abrasive fines onto a surface to be cleaned and means for removing used cleaning materials.

When the cleaning material is water it may have additions of solvents, detergents etc.

The spray-units are preferably of high speed operation wherein cleaning material is forced through spray jets at high pressure. The abrasive fines will be suspended in a fast moving air stream.

Preferably the spray jets are on spray arms which are mounted on a hub rotatable about an axle. The spray arms, hub and axle have communicated bores so that cleaning material can be supplied to the jets via the axle, hub and spray arms. A preferred arrangement has two arms mounted on the hub diametrically opposed. Suitable sealing means such as "0" rings may be provided to prevent leakage between the axle and the hub.

In order to cause the spray arms/hub to rotate about the axle, the spray jets may be inclined to the vertical oppositely on opposed arms. This inclination of the jets coupled with the use of high pressure will cause the spray arms to rotate at high speed thus enhancing the cleaning effect, i.e. the abrasive action, of the cleaning material.

A single spray unit may be used although it is preferred to have more, usually three. The spray unit or units may be mounted on wheels to assist movements.

The means for removing used cleaning ma teriai may be a so-called vacuum squeegee such that as the cleaning apparatus is moved, used cleaning material is collected by the vacuum squeegee". The vacuum squeegee may be situated rearward of the spray units and preferably comprises a resilient, usually rubber, sheet arranged so that its lower edge contacts the surface being cleaned and a suction pipe mounted on the front side of the rubber sheet and connected to a vacuum pump. It is advantageous for the rubber sheet to be V-shaped so as to direct used cleaning fluid towards its mid-point at which the suction pipe can be situated.

To assist the action of vacuum squeegee, the spray units may be surrounded by a skirt so as to confine the cleaning material fluid and direct it towards the vacuum squeegee.

Alternatively the squeegee may completely surround the spray units so that no matter in which direction the apparatus is moved the used cleaning materials will be collected. Preferably the squeegee comprises a double curtain of resilient material, the lower edge of the outer curtain contacting the surface being cleaned and the lower edges of the inner curtain being spaced from the surface by a small amount, say less than 1/8". Used cleaning material can then be drawn up through ducts communicating with the gap between the curtain and connected to a vacuum pump.

Advantageously the outer curtain has its outer surface grooved vertically. Thus, as the apparatus is moved the outer curtain will tend to fold inwards because of its contact with surface and cleaning material can enter the gap between the curtains via the gaps created between the grooves and surface.

Experience has shown that the double skirted vacuum removal means occasionally fails to clear all liquid and soils. Therefore, it is preferred that at least one further peripheral skirt be provided between the inner and outer skirts of a cleaning head.

In preferred embodiments the further skirt is spaced more from the inner skirt than from the outer skirt to afford an inner main peripheral removal gap and an outer minor peripheral removal gap.

The further skirt will normally be longer than the inner skirt, say of the same depth as the outer skirt.

As an alternative to a shortened inner skirt of impervious material, the inner skirt may be longer, say of the same depth as the outer skirt, but be pervious, say formed as a brush.

Finally, it is preferred, when using multiple spray outlets for the cleaning head, that a connection between such outlets be formed integral with, or attached to the upper side of, the main head component.

The spray units and vacuum squeegee may be mounted on a trolley which also carries a reservoir for the cleaning material and the high pressure pump or air compressor for supplying the spray units, and the vacuum pump. Advantageously, the vacuum pump returns the used cleaning material to the reservoir via a suitable filtration system. A device for metering solvent or detergent into the cleaning material may be provided and the reservoir may also include a water heating system for providing hot water or steam.

It is also envisaged that a spray unit be provided which is not fixed to the trolley but is connected to the reservoir by a flexible stretch hose so that it can be used to clean places otherwise inaccessible. This arrangement may be particularly useful in cleaning walls and descaling corroded or painted surfaces.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with refer ence to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of cleaning apparatus; Figure 2 is a part cut away perspective view of a cleaning head; Figure 3 is a top view of a spray unit; Figure 4 is a section along line A-A of Fig.

3; Figure 5 is a side view of the spray unit of Figs. 3 and 4; Figure 6 is a part plan view of an alternative cleaning head from below; and Figure 7 is a part sectional view on the line B-B of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, water cleaning apparatus 10 comprises a trolley 12 having wheels 14, the trolley 12 carrying a reservoir 16 for cleaning fluid 15. Fixed to the front of the trolley 12 is a cleaning head 17 having three spray units (not shown) surrounded by a skirt 19. Enclosed by but sealed from the reservoir 16 are a vacuum pump 20 and a high pressure water pump 22, between which is an electric motor 21 for driving the pumps.

The cleaning head 17 is mounted for vertical pivotal movement relative to the trolley 12 by arms 26, 27.

Above the reservoir but within the same casing is a filter unit 23 which separates out dirt from used water collected from the cleaning head by the vacuum pump 20, the cleaned water being returned to the reservoir 16 as indicated by arrows A. Dirty water actually enters the filter unit 23 via inlet 24 in cover 25 of the apparatus.

Indicated at 42, 43 are seals for the cover and the bottom of the filter unit respectively.

Seal 43 mates with the upper edge of the inner wall of the reservoir and prevents ingress of water to the vacuum pump. Air flow through the apparatus is shown by arrows B.

After passing through the filter unit air actually enters the vacuum pump via openings 28 in the upper part of the inner wall of the reservoir. Provision may be made for automatic sealing of the openings 28 should the water level in the reservoir rise too high.

Water enters the water pump at inlet 44 and leaves at outlet 45 which is connected to the cleaning head (see Fig. 2).

The reservoir may be filled via inlet 46 which may have a valve arrangement to prevent over filling.

Turning to Fig. 2, the cleaning head 17 has three spray units 18 (more fully described later) supplied with water under pressure via pipe 30 connected to outlet 45 of the water pump 23. The skirt 19 surrounding the spray units has inner and outer curtains 47, 48, the gap between them widening to form air duct 49 which communicates with passage 50 connected to inlet 24 of the apparatus leading to the filter unit. The inner curtain 47 is about 1 /8" shorter than the outer curtain 48 so that water from the spray units can enter the gap between them and be sucked into the filter unit. Water flow is indicated by arrows C. The skirt 1 9 also serves to confine the water to a small area thus enhancing its effect and avoiding mess.

The cleaning head may be mounted on wheels to maintain the desired contact of the skirt with the surface being cleaned.

Each spray unit 18(see Figs. 3 to 5) has a supply pipe 30 which is a branch of the main pipe 29. The supply pipe 30 is connected to axle 31 about which hub 32 can rotate freely.

Connected to opposite sides of the hub 32 are two hollow spray arms 33 each having a plurality of spray jets 34. The axle 31 and hub 32 have communicating waterways 37, 38 for supplying the spray jets via spray arms 33. Leakage of cleaning fluid from between the axle 31 and hub 32 is prevented by "O" rings 39, 40.

The spray jets on opposite arms 33 are inclined to the vertical oppositely so that the cleaning fluid has a horizontal thrust component causing the hub 32 ro rotate.

Each spray unit 18 is secured in the spray system by means of its mounting plate 36.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a head 100 has spaced peripheral edges 101, 102 communicating with ducting 103, 104, 105 for application of vacuum. Two of three features for rotary spray application heads are shown at 106, 107 interconnected by integral feed channels 108, 109.

Within the peripheral edges 101, 102 are mounted inner and outer flexible skirts 110, 111 the inner (110) being slightly shorter than the outer, and a further intermediate skirt 11 2, shown of the same depth as the outer (111) and closer thereto.

The skirts 110, 111, 112 form inner and outer peripheral gaps 11 3, 114 of which the inner is the wider for main removal of used cleaning liquid and soils. The outer peripheral gap 114 serves to remove any used cleaning liquid and soils that escape under the intermediate skirt 112.

The illustrated embodiments, as stated are intended for water cleaning applications. However, it will be appreciated that with certain modifications their principle of operation is also applicable to descaling apparatus, the spray units would be constructed from materials able to resist the abrasive action of the abrasive fines and the high pressure pump would be replaced by an air compressor, the abrasive fines being metered from the reservoir into the air system.

For a steam cleaning apparatus a gas or liquid fuel, such as paraffin, fired boiler would be needed to generate steam. The boiler would be sited between the high pressure pump and the spray units and when steam is being generated the high pressure pump speed would be reduced to be suitable for steam.

Claims (29)

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising one or more spray units for spraying cleaning materials onto a surface to be cleaned and means for removing used cleaning materials.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having spray units of high speed operation wherein cleaning material is forced through spray jets at high pressure.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the spray jets are on spray arms which are mounted on a hub rotatable about an axle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spray arms, hub and axle have communicating bores.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein two spray arms are mounted on the hub diametrically opposed.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spray jets are inclined to the vertical oppositely on opposed arms.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 having three spray units.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the spray units are mounted on wheels.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the means for removing used cleaning material is a vacuum-squeegee.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the vacuum squeegee is situated rearward of the spray units.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the vacuum squeegee comprises a resilient sheet arranged so that its lower edge contacts the surface being cleaned and a suction pipe mounted on the front side of the sheet and connected to a vacuum pump.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the sheet is V-shaped so as to direct used cleaning materials towards its mid point at which the suction pipe is situated.

13. Apparatus as claimed in one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the spray units are surrounded by a skirt so as to confine the cleaning material and direct it to the vacuum squeegee after use.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the squeegee surrounds the spray units.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the squeegee comprises a double skirt of resilient material.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the lower edge of the outer skirt contacting the surface being cleaned and the lower edge of the inner skirt being spaced from the surface by a small amount.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the inner and outer skirts are of the same depth but the inner skirt is pervious.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the gap between the inner and outer skirt communicate by ducts with a vacuum pump.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16 wherein the outer skirts has its outer surface grooved vertically.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein at least one further peripheral skirt is provided between the inner and outer skirts.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the further skirt is spaced more from the inner skirt than from the outer skirt to afford an inner main peripheral removal gap and a minor peripheral removal gap.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the further skirt is longer than the inner skirt.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the further skirt is of the same depth as the outer skirt.

24. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein the spray units and used cleaning material removing means are mounted on a trolley which also carries a reservoir for the cleaning material, a high pressure pump or air compressor for supplying the spray units and a vacuum pump.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the vacuum pump returns the used cleaning materials to the reservoir via a filteration system.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25 further comprising a device for metering solvent or detergent into the cleaning material.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, 25 or 26 wherein the reservoir includes a heating system.

28. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein a spray unit is connected to a reservoir by flexible stretch hose.

29. Cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 or Figs. 1 and 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.