GB2257901A - Foam cleaning device with vacuum extraction - Google Patents
Foam cleaning device with vacuum extraction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2257901A GB2257901A GB9215235A GB9215235A GB2257901A GB 2257901 A GB2257901 A GB 2257901A GB 9215235 A GB9215235 A GB 9215235A GB 9215235 A GB9215235 A GB 9215235A GB 2257901 A GB2257901 A GB 2257901A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- foam
- cleaning device
- brush
- assembly
- vacuum shroud
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/02—Nozzles
- A47L9/04—Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
- A47L9/0461—Dust-loosening tools, e.g. agitators, brushes
- A47L9/0466—Rotating tools
- A47L9/0472—Discs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/29—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
- A47L11/30—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction
- A47L11/302—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools
- A47L11/305—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools the tools being disc brushes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4044—Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4063—Driving means; Transmission means therefor
- A47L11/4069—Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
A cleaning device (11) consists of a vacuum shroud assembly (12) with a peripheral skirt (21) which encloses a brush assembly (13). The brush assembly (13) is operated by injecting high-pressure foam; the foam also suspends or dissolves any dislodged contaminants. The foam is then extracted from the vacuum shroud assembly, for additional treatment, via an extraction duct. The cleaning device (11) may be attached to a robotic or manipulator arm, and may include a compliance coupling (16) for coupling the device to such an arm. <IMAGE>
Description
Cleaning Device
The present invention is concerned with a cleaning device and method of cleaning.
According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning device comprising a vacuum shroud assembly and a brush assembly within the vacuum shroud assembly, the brush assembly comprising a movable brush mechanism operable by foam and an inlet duct for foam to cause operation of the brush mechanism, and the vacuum shroud assembly comprising a peripheral skirt, an inlet port for introducing foam into the inlet duct of the brush mechanism and an extraction duct for extracting foam from the vacuum shroud assembly.
Preferably the cleaning device also comprises a coupling suitable for attaching said cleaning device to a robotic or manipulator arm, such as a compliance coupling.
The present invention also provides a method for cleaning a surface, the method comprising: introducing foam into a cleaning device incorporating a brush assembly within a vacuum shroud assembly via an inlet duct, such that said foam operates a movable brush mechanism within the brush assembly so the brush dislodges surface contaminants, and the foam collects, suspends or dissolves the dislodged contaminants, and extracting the foam containing the dislodged contaminants from the vacuum shroud assembly via an extraction duct.
Preferably the foam is then deposited in a sump or an interceptor vessel where it is caused to collapse. By the tern interceptor vessel is meant any vessel into which the extracted foam may be deposited for collapsing. A filter may be used to remove contaminants from the foam before the foan enters the sump. The cleaning device may be manufactured from any suitable materials such as organic polymeric materials or metallic materials. The peripheral skirt may be manufactured from any suitable material which is flexible. The peripheral skirt may be manufactured from a polymeric material and more preferably it is manufactured from an elastomeric material. The peripheral skirt is preferably arranged to enable air to enter the cleaning device; this may be achieved by introducing notches into the peripheral skirt.It is preferred that these notches are located towards the front of the cleaning device. If air cannot enter the device by means of the peripheral skirt, it is preferred that the vacuum shroud assembly comprises a vent which may be used to control the flow of air into the vacuum shroud assembly. In a further embodiment the peripheral skirt may be in the form of a brush strip skirt, which preferably comprises firm bristles. By the term firm bristle is meant a bristle which is strong enough that the brush strip skirt supports the weight of the cleaning device. The bristles of the brush strip skirt are preferably at least as strong as those of the the movable brush mechanism. The vacuum shroud assembly may be of any suitable shape depending on the location to be cleaned. It may be round, elliptical, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or any combination of these shapes.
The movable brush mechanism may be any suitable mechanism which may be operated by foam. Preferably the movable brush mechanism comprises a circular rotatable brush. Preferably the circular rotatable brush is detachable and interchangeable with a variety of rotatable brushes. The circular rotatable brush may be a soft bristle brush.
The foam apart from operating the movable brush mechanism also acts as a carrier medium for contaminant material which is dislodged from the contaminated surface by the cleaning action of the movable brush mechanism. The dislodged contaminants are suspended or dissolved in the foam and are removed from the vacuum shroud assembly via the extraction duct.
Since it is desirable to minimise the waste output from any cleaning operation the use of foam for suspending dislodged contaminants has the advantage that it produces a minimal amount of waste once the foam has collapsed. Other carrier media such as water would produce significantly larger volumes of waste which would require additional processing to remove the contaminants. The use of foam also precludes the necessity to use other power sources to drive the movable brush mechanism such as compressed air or electricity.
The foam may be any foam suitable for operating a movable brush mechanism and suspending or dissolving dislodged comtaminants. The foam may be prepared from a pre-foam. The pre-foam may be prepared by mixing a reagent mixture comprising water and a foaming agent, with air. The reagent mixture and air may be injected at a rate of 1/3-4 1 mien~1 and < 30 1 min-l respectively to produce the pre-foam. The pre-foam may be further treated with air which is injected, at a rate of 10-1000 1 min~l and more preferably 10-100 1 min-l, into the pre-foam, to produce a foam, suitable for operating a cleaning device, which has a relatively low density and can withstand relatively high pressures.If desired various additives may be added to the reagent mixture for example complexing agents such as ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid and its derivatives.
The foam is injected into the cleaning device such that the inlet pressure is in the range 200-1000 kPa preferably is 500-700 kPa and most preferably 550-620 kPa. The foam is preferably injected into the cleaning device at a rate which is less than the rate of extraction of the foam from the cleaning device via the extraction duct. The foam may be extracted at rates of up to 100 1 sec-1.
The cleaning device of this invention may be used in any number of applications to clean and/or decontaminate any number of surfaces. It is anticipated that the cleaning device will have specific utility in the cleaning of relatively smooth metal, painted or other surfaces.
The cleaning device of the invention may be operated and scanned manually. Used in this way it is envisaged that the device of the invention may be used in domestic, office, and factory cleaning operations, public cleaning operations and the cleaning of industrial sites. In certain applications it may be necessary and/or desirable to have the device of the invention operated and scanned by a robot; such applications may include the decontamination of sites contaminated with highly toxic materials e.g.
asbestos or radioactive materials.
The invention will be further illustrated by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a cleaning device partly
cut away;
Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device of
Figure 1 as viewed along the line II-II;
Figure 3 shows a plan view of an alternative cleaning
device, partly cut away;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device of
Figure 3 as viewed along the line IV-IV of
Figure 3; and;
Figure 5 shows an underside view of the cleaning device
of Figures 3 and 4, in the direction of arrow A
of Figure 4, during operation.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a cleaning device 11 consists of two assemblies: a vacuum shroud assembly 12, which encloses a brush assembly 13 (part of the top surface of the vacuum shroud assembly 12 as shown in Figure 1 is cut away to show the brush assembly 13). The vacuum shroud assembly 12 consists of a housing 14 which defines a containment space 15, a compliance coupling 16 which is attached to the exterior of the housing 14 by bolts 26 (three shown) such that it is held above the housing 14 by springs 27 (three shown) and is suitable for attaching the cleaning device to a robotic or manipulator arm, an inlet port 17, an extraction duct 18, a brush assembly attachment 19 which is suitable for securing the brush assembly 13 to the vacuum shroud assembly 12, a peripheral skirt retention ring 20 and a peripheral skirt 21. The brush assembly 13 is enclosed by the vacuum shroud assembly 12 in the containment space 15. The brush assembly 13 consists of a brush head 22, a brush 23 and an inlet duct 24. Within the interior of the brush head 22 is located a brush mechanism (not shown) which may be operated by foam, and which drives the brush 23.
Referring to Figure 2 (in which the brush assembly 13 is shown in elevation), the inlet duct 24 of the brush assembly 13 locates in the inlet port 17 of the vacuum shroud assembly 19. The brush head 22 is further secured to the vacuum shroud assembly by the brush assembly attachment 19. The peripheral skirt 21, which has notches 25 located towards the front of the cleaning device 11, is retained by the peripheral skirt retention ring 20 and is located around the bottom exterior circumference of the housing 14 such that it stands proud of the bottom edge of the housing 14. The brush 23 is held within the vacuum shroud assembly 12 such that the bottom of the brush just projects beyond the bottom edge of housing 14 but is enclosed by the peripheral skirt 21.
The cleaning device 11 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is operated in the following manner. The cleaning device is placed on a surface to be cleaned such that the peripheral skirt 21 and the brush 23 are in contact with the surface. The cleaning device 11 can then be scanned over this surface manually or by a robot and during the scanning foam is introduced into the brush head 22 via the inlet 24 at a pressure of 200 kPa. The foam causes the brush mechanism within the brush head 22 to operate causing brush 23 to rotate, dislodging any contaminants on the surface to be cleaned. The foam which has driven the brush mechanism passes from the brush head 22 through the brush 23 and into the containment space 15 of the vacuum shroud assembly 12. During this passage the foam picks up and suspends or dissolves any contaminants which have been dislodged by the action of the brush 23.The foam and foam containing suspended or dissolved contaminants is prevented from escaping from the containment space 15, during operation of the cleaning device, by the peripheral skirt 21 and the action of air which is drawn into the containment space 15 under and/or through the peripheral skirt 21; the foam is extracted from the containment space 15 via extraction outlet 18. The foam containing suspended or dissolved contaminants which is extracted via extraction outlet 18 may be further treated by filtration and/or collapsing and separation.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative cleaning device 30 which is suitable for cleaning into and around corners or surfaces which are difficult to access with the cleaning device 11 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The cleaning device 30 is essentially the same as cleaning device 11 with the following exceptions: the vacuum shroud assembly 31 (along with its housing 34 and peripheral skirt 35) is rectangular, and a soft bristle brush 33 is used in place of the brush 23. Referring to Figure 4 the arrangement of the soft bristle brush 33 is such that, before operation of the cleaning device 30, its bottom edge projects beyond the bottom of housing 34 and the peripheral skirt 35. Referring to Figure 5 the underside of the cleaning device 30 is illustrated during operation.
The soft bristle brush 33, during operation of cleaning device 30, is forced by centrifugal force up against the housing 34 and the peripheral skirt 35, to fill internal corners 36 and 37 located at the front of the cleaning device 30 whilst maintaining contact with the surface being cleaned.
Claims (27)
1. A cleaning device comprising a vacuum shroud assembly and a brush assembly within the vacuum shroud assembly, the brush assembly comprising a movable brush mechanism operable by foam and an inlet duct for foam to cause operation of the brush mechanism, and the vacuum shroud assembly comprising a peripheral skirt, an inlet port for introducing foam into the inlet duct of the brush mechanism and an extraction duct for extracting foam from the vacuum shroud assembly.
2. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movable brush mechanism comprises a circular rotatable brush.
3. A cleaning device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the brush is a soft bristle brush.
4. A cleaning device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the peripheral skirt is elastomeric.
5. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the peripheral skirt is notched.
6. A cleaning device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the peripheral skirt is a brush strip skirt.
7. A cleaning device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims which also comprises a vent in the vacuum shroud.
8. A cleaning device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which also comprises a coupling suitable for attaching said cleaning device to a robotic or manipulator arm.
9. A method for cleaning a surface comprising introducing foam into a cleaning device incorporating a brush assembly within a vacuum shroud assembly via an inlet duct, such that said foam operates a movable brush mechanism within the brush assembly so the brush dislodges surface contaminants, and the foam collects, suspends or dissolves the dislodged contaminants, and extracting the foam containing the dislodged contaminants from the vacuum shroud assembly via an extraction duct.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the extracted foam is deposited in a sump or an interceptor vessel.
11. A method as claimed in either one of claims 9 or 10 wherein the extracted foam is caused to collapse.
12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein the extracted foam is filtered before it is caused to collapse.
13. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein the foam is prepared from a pre-foam.
14. A method as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the pre-foam comprises a mixture of a reagent mixture comprising water and foaming agent, with air.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the reagent mixture and air are provided at a rate of 1/3-4 1 min 1 and < 30 1 mien~1 respectively to produce a pre-foam.
16. A method as claimed in claim. 13 wherein the pre-foam is injected with air at a rate of 10-1000 1 min-1.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the air is injected into the pre-foam at a rate of 10-100 1 mien~1.
18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17 wherein the pressure at which the foam is introduced is 200-1000 kPa.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the pressure is 500-700 kPa.
20. A method as claimed in Claim 19 wherein the pressure is 550-620 kPa.
21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 20 wherein the rate of extraction of foam is greater than the rate of injection.
22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the rate of extraction of foam is less than 100 1 sec-l.
23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9-22 wherein the cleaning device is operated by means of a robot.
24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9-22 wherein the cleaning device is operated by means of a manipulator arm.
25. A method as claimed in any one of- claims 9-25 wherein the surface contaminants are radioactive materials.
26 A method for cleaning a surface as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.
27. A cleaning device as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9215235A GB2257901B (en) | 1991-07-20 | 1992-07-17 | Cleaning device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB919115813A GB9115813D0 (en) | 1991-07-20 | 1991-07-20 | Cleaning device |
| GB9215235A GB2257901B (en) | 1991-07-20 | 1992-07-17 | Cleaning device |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9215235D0 GB9215235D0 (en) | 1992-09-02 |
| GB2257901A true GB2257901A (en) | 1993-01-27 |
| GB2257901B GB2257901B (en) | 1994-10-26 |
Family
ID=26299277
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9215235A Expired - Fee Related GB2257901B (en) | 1991-07-20 | 1992-07-17 | Cleaning device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2257901B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108143363B (en) * | 2018-01-05 | 2022-10-21 | 山东交通学院 | Cleaning method of high-altitude cleaning robot with humanoid working industry mode |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2010079A (en) * | 1977-11-30 | 1979-06-27 | Servicios Caribe Sa | Improvements in systems for cleaning public transport vehicles |
| GB2145620A (en) * | 1983-08-31 | 1985-04-03 | Duraclean Int | Apparatus and method for fabric cleaning with foam |
| SU1279609A1 (en) * | 1984-03-13 | 1986-12-30 | Куйбышевский Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени Авиационный Институт Им.Акад.С.П.Королева | Installation for cleaning a surface |
| WO1989003191A1 (en) * | 1987-10-14 | 1989-04-20 | Heinrich Abbrederis | Device for cleaning surfaces |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATA244690A (en) * | 1990-12-04 | 1993-11-15 | Abbrederis Heinrich | DEVICE FOR CLEANING SURFACES |
-
1992
- 1992-07-17 GB GB9215235A patent/GB2257901B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2010079A (en) * | 1977-11-30 | 1979-06-27 | Servicios Caribe Sa | Improvements in systems for cleaning public transport vehicles |
| GB2145620A (en) * | 1983-08-31 | 1985-04-03 | Duraclean Int | Apparatus and method for fabric cleaning with foam |
| SU1279609A1 (en) * | 1984-03-13 | 1986-12-30 | Куйбышевский Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени Авиационный Институт Им.Акад.С.П.Королева | Installation for cleaning a surface |
| WO1989003191A1 (en) * | 1987-10-14 | 1989-04-20 | Heinrich Abbrederis | Device for cleaning surfaces |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2257901B (en) | 1994-10-26 |
| GB9215235D0 (en) | 1992-09-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20020717 |