GB2159696A

GB2159696A - Suction cleaning/spray head

Info

Publication number: GB2159696A
Application number: GB08413085A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Anthony Edward North; Benjamin Soshan
Original assignee: Rotowash Ltd
Current assignee: Rotowash Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-22
Filing date: 1984-05-22
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: GB8413085D0

Abstract

A cleaning head for cleaning walls and ceilings comprises at least two contiguous chambers 12, 16, one of which is connected to a vacuum source and the other of which is provided with an entry port 18 for replacement air. The chambers 12, 16 have open faces 20, 22 surrounded by a flexible skirt 26 adapted to seal against the surface to be cleaned. A brush 28 is arranged between the chambers and a spray nozzle 30 is located in chamber 16 for spraying cleaning solution onto the surface being cleaned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning apparatus This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and in particular relates to apparatus for cleaning of vertical and elevated services such as walls and ceilings.

The cleaning of walls and ceilings, especially in high soil environments such as commercial kitchens, is often difficult and sometimes dangerous occupation.

Conventional techniques involving cleaning solutions often result in cleaning solution/or removed soils splashing on the surface being cleaned with the possibility of causing contamination of cooking equip ment and the like. Thus often the areas to be cleaned must firstly be cleared or at least protected by suitable coversheets increasing the labournecessaryforthe whole operation.

The invention seeks to provide a cleaning apparatus which simplifies the cleaning operation and contains cleaning solution and removed dirt preventing it spreading outside the immediate cleaning area.

According to the present invention there is provided cleaning apparatus which comprises a head comprising at leasttwo contiguous chambers one of which is connected to a vacuum source and the otherofwhich is provided with an entry port for replacement air both chambers having an open face surrounded by a flexible skirt adapted to seal against a surface to be cleaned, and brush means arranged atan interface between the two chambers adapted to contactthe surfaceto be cleaned, there being fu rther provided meansforintroducing cleaning solution into the or each chamber provided with an entry port.

When an apparatus in accordance with the inven tion isplacedagainstthesurfacetobecleaned,for example a wall or ceiling, theflexible skirt seals against the surface and the seal is held by vacuum applied to at least one of the chambers. Replacement air enters th rough the entry port in one of the other chambers and is drawn through the brush at the interface before being removed bythevacuum line.

The entry port size is balanced with the degree of vacuum applied so that the head is drawn againstthe surface to be cleaned and sealed there by means ofthe flexible skirt. Cleaning solution is supplied, for example by means of a spray nozzle, and is drawn through the brush together with the replacement air. The constant flow of replacement air and cleaning solution through the brush sets up an oscillation therein which enhances the cleaning effect, and all cleaning solution, together with removed soil or dirt, is withdrawn from the head by means of the vacuum line.

In its simplestform the apparatus may comprise two only contiguous chambers with a fixed brush between the two. A rotary brush may be substituted for the fixed brush in which the airflow causes the brush to rotate thereby adding to the cleaning effect Similarly two or more chambers of each type may be supplied in each case with a fixed or rotary brush at the interface between one kind and the other.

The apparatus ofthe invention maythereforetake the form of a hand held cleaning head which is connected, for example by means of suitable flexible tubes or pipes, to a vacuum pump and reservoir, on the one hand, and to a source of cleaning solution on the other.

Splashing or dropping of cleaning solution and/or removed soil is effectively prevented since the cleaning solution and waste products are contained within the cleaning head by means ofthe drawn vacuum and flexible skirt and are removed by means of the vacuum line. Thus the cleaning of walls and ceilings especially in areas such as kitchens is greatlyfacilitated.

The cleaning solutions employed will be conventional solutions such as aqueous solutions of soap and/or detergent and, owing to the containing of these solutions within the head ofthe invention stronger or more caustic solutions may be employed than would otherwise be advisable.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a second embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, in figure 1 a cleaning head generally designated 10 comprises a first chamber 12 connectedto a vacuum pump by means of a pipe 14this is contiguous with a second chamber 16 having an entry port 18for replacement air. One face 20,22 of each chamber is open and, in use, seals against the surface 24to be cleaned, for example a wall or ceiling. The sealing effect is obtained by means of flexible skirt 26 wh ich surrounds the chambers 12, 16.

The chambers 12, communicate with one another by an interface in which is located a brush 28 the bristles of which, in use, also contact the surface to be cleaned 24. A spray nozzle 30 is located within the second chamber 16 and is able to dispense a cleaning solution, for example an aqueoussolution of detergent.

The size ofthe entry port 18 is such, when taken with thedegreeofvacuum exertedbythevacuum pump, thatthe head 10 is drawn againstthe surface 24 and the flexible skirt 16forms an effectively gas and fluid tight seal therewith. All replacement air required is supplied by means ofthe entry port 18 and none is drawn beneath the skirt 26. Replacement air entering the port 18 fl ows th roug h the chamber 16,throughthe brush 28, and into the chamber 12 where it is removed by the vacuum pump to a reservoir (not shown).

Entrained with this air is cleaning fluid from the spray 30 which, as it passes through the bristles ofthe brush 28 causes agitation ofthe latter and a cleaning action againstthe wall surface 24. Soil is therefore removed entrained with the cleaning solution which is removed by the vacuum line and stored in the reservoir.

This construction provides a very effective cleaning action and yet, owing to the good seal between the The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

The claims were filed later than the filing date within the period prescribed by Rule 25(1) of the Patents Rules 1982.

flexible skirt 26 and the wall 24 little orno cleaning fluid, either clean or contaminated, escapes from the area ofthe cleaning head. Thus the apparatus of the invention can be used in areas such as kitchens without removing the apparatus therefrom.

In figure 2 there is shown a second embodimentof the apparatus ofthe invention. The operation is basicallythe same but in this case thevacuum chamber 72 su rrounds an ai r chamber 16 having two entry ports 18a and 18b.

In this case a pair of rotary brushes 28a and 28b are mounted atthe interfaces between the chambers 12 and 16. The brushes 28 a and bare mounted for rotation and, to encourage rotation the brushes each comprise a central cylindrical core 32, bristles34, and longitudinally and radially directed 'paddles' 36. The action ofreplacementafrand cleaning solution being drawn from the chamber 16 to thechambers 12 causes the rotary brushes to rotate as indicated bythe arrows infigure2thereby providing a cleaning action, In certain circumstances it may bedesirableto augmentthe rotary action ofthe brushes by providing drive means,--for example hydraulic drive means, but this is not normally necessary.

Thusthe apparatus ofthe invention provides a simple and effective meansforclcaning vertical and elevated surfaces whilst containing cleaning fluid and removed dirt.

Claims

1. Cleaning apparatus including a head which comprises a leasttwo contiguous chambers one of which is connected to a vacuum source and the other of which is providedwith an entry portfor replace ment air, both chambers having an open face sur rounded by a flexible skirt adapted to seal againstthe surface to be cleaned, with brush means arranged at an interface between the chambers adapted to contactthe surface to be cleaned, there being further provided means for introducing a cleaning solution into the or each chamberprovided with an entry port.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising two contiguous chambers with a fixed brush between thetwo.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising two chamberswith a rotary brush between the two.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which there is provided a spray nozzle for supplying cleaning solution.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in figure 1 orfigure 2 of the accompanying drawings.