GB2330297A

GB2330297A - Automatic cleaning crawler

Info

Publication number: GB2330297A
Application number: GB9720659A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Po-Lin Shu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-29
Filing date: 1997-09-29
Publication date: 1999-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-29
Also published as: HK1019992A1; GB2330297B; GB9720659D0

Abstract

An automatic cleaning crawler for cleaning the facades of buildings, including curved or off-vertical facades, comprises a housing 1, a driving device 21-25 including motor M, tubular cleaning brushes (3, Fig. 5) and a set of suction disk assemblies 4. The cleaning brushes are attached to drive shafts 132 extending through slots (14, Fig. 1) and rotated by motor 13 which is mounted on a sliding board 131. The board is mounted on guide rails 12 and driven by the driving device to impart an upward and downward cleaning motion on the brushes. The automatic cleaning crawler is suspended from above by cables 11 and held in contact with the surface to be cleaned by suction disks 411. The cleaning procedure includes spraying, brushing, drying and wiping.

Description

Automatic Cleaning Crawler The present invention relates to a cleaning crawler more particularly, to an automatic cleaning crawler by which the cleaning. drying jobs can be conducted automatically.

L'.S. Pat. No. 3.298.052. entitled "automatic Window Washes and Dryer Modern Skyscraper" discloses a cleaning device for the window of a building.

The sk!scraper includes a washer roller uith which the cleaning water contained in a water tank can be sprayed onto the window of the building and the washer roller also conducts a washing movement along the window. Afterward, a dozing roller which is disposed above the washer roller is used to remove or wipe the excess water on the window. However. the cleaning water is only transformed to the window by the washer roller and the cleaning effect is poor.

Besides, this cleaning device is specially designed for the w'indow and it can not be applied for cleaning the facade. Furthermore, the skyscraper shall be guided by a pair of guiding posts disposed at both sides of the window. If the outer wall i.i not proided with this guiding posts, it is impossible to position the skyscraper oil the outer wall of the building. However there is no guiding posts disposed on the facade of the modern building, the skyscraper is useless in this situation because it is impossible to effectively position the skyscraper upward and downward along the facade.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,466, entitled 'zHigh-rise Building Cleaning Machine'1 in which a sucking disk is provided for fixing the cleaning machine on the facade of the building. However, if the facade is not vertically installed, the sucking disk can not be effe -tivelx attached thereof Australia Patent No. 2S0,862. entitled "Apparatus For Cleaning A Facade Of A Building Or A Part Thereof' suggests the cleaning apparatus can be moved upward and downward along the guiding rails disposed on the facade of the building. In case the facade is not provided with the guiding rails, it is impossible to position the cleaning apparatus onto the facade of the building.

Furthermore, none of these cleaning devices is provided with a drying device accordingly, even the facade or window is cleaned the scales resulted from water spot are still seen on the window or facade.

Accordingly, there is still a room for providing an improved and enhanced cleaning device for the facade of the building.

It is the objective of this invention to provide an automatic cleaning crawler with which the facade of the building. especially for higirise building. can be readily and conveniently washed and cleaned.

It is still the objective ofthis invention to provide an automatic cleaning crawler wherein the housing of the crawler can be readily attached to the facade of the building despite the facade has a cure or slant contour.

It is still yet the objective of this invention to provide an automatic cleaning crawler in which a tubular cleaning brush is provided and which can establish a fill 1-time contact with the facade with the building to perform the cleaning procedures such as the spraying bushing drying and scraping.

It is still yet the objective of this invention to provide an automatic cleaning crawler in which a positioning device is provided such that the tubular cleaning brush is spaced to the facade with a preset distance to perform an effect bushing despite the facade is a recessed or curve or slant surface.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely b wax of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the automatic cleaning crawler made according to the present invention; Figure 2 is still a perspective view showing the internal stnacture of the cleaning crawler shorn in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tubular cleaning brush incorporated in the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a variant of the tubular cleaning brush; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing the interrelationship between the tubular cleaning brush, driving shaft and the external hose; Figure 6 is a side view of the sucking disk assembly incorporated to the cleaning crawler; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the sucking disk in wtich a sensing probe is incorporated thereof, Figure 8 is a schematic illustration showing the cleaning procedure performed by the tubular cleaning brush: Figure 9 is a schematic illustration showing the application of the retaining clamp of the present invention; Figure 10 is a schematic illustration showing the cleaning crawler is performing a cleaning work along the facade of a building; Figure 11 is a side elevation view showing the driving device is disposed at side portion of the sliding board; and Figure 12 is partial. perspective view showing the engagement between the small driving device and the sliding socket.

Detailed Descnption of Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 and 2. the automatic cleaning crawler made according to the present invention generally comprises a housing 1 a driving device 2, a tubular cleaning brush 4, and a set of sucking disks 4.

The housing 1 can be moved upward and dozsoward along the facade of a building by a pair of conventional lifting cable 11. The lifting crane and the lifliig cable 11 are irrelevant to the present invention and no detailed description will be given. The inner wall ofthe housing 1 is provided with a plurality of linear guiding rails 12 for mounting a sliding board 131 thereof. The sliding board 131 is fixedly mounted with a motor 13 and which can be moved upward or doxsnsvard by means of the driving device 2. The output shaft of the motor 13 extends bilaterally and is coupled with a driving shaft 132 at both ends by means of an universal joint 138, respectively. The driving shaft extends outward over the guiding grooves 14 and each ofthe prising shafts 132 is mounted with a tubular cleaning brush 3 and which can be enclosed by an enclosing 133.

The universal joint 138 disposed between the output shaft ofthe motor and the driving shaft may facilitate an easy mounting and dismounting ofthe driving shaft 132 and the tubular cleaning brush 3.

Referring to Figures 2 and 11. the driving device 2 is used to move the sliding board 131 upward and downward along those linear guiding rails 12.

The driving device 2 is configured by an upper fixing plate 21 and a lower fixing plate 22 which are fixedly mounted to the upper and lower end of the linear guiding rails 12, respectively. The upper and lower shafts 23(23) is rotationally mounted onto the upper and lower fixing plates 21 and 22. An upper pulley or sprocket 24 is fixedly mounted at the shaft 23. A motor N1 is fixedly mounted at sprocket 24 is fixedly mounted at the shaft 23. A motor M is fixedly mounted at the lower fixing plate 22 and the output shaft of the motor M is coupled with the lower shaft 23. The lower shaft 23 is also fixedly mounted with a lower pulley or sprocket 25. A driving belt or chains 26 is routed along the upper and lower pulleys 24 and 25. The free ends of the driving belt 26 are engaged to the suitable position of the sliding board 131 by means of a connecting tabs 261, respectively. When the motor M is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the driving belt 26 is also moved clockwise or counterclockwise along the upper and lower pulleys 24, 25. By this arrangement, the motor 13 which is fixedly mounted to the sliding board 131 are also moved upward and downward. As a result. the tubular cleaning brushes 3 are also moved upward and downward.

This is specially advantageous as the tubular cleaning brushes 3 are performing a cleaning process along the facade of the building.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, bristles of the tubular cleaning brush 3 can be arranged spirally or radially. The bristles may also arranged in row and which are planted along the longitudinally along the mounting barrel 31. The mounting barrel 31 can be engaged with the bushing 139 of the driving shaft 132, as clearly shown in Figure 5. One or hvo end of the bushing 139 is externally mounted with a rotary coupler 32 in which a water hose 33 is connected. By this arrangement, the pressurized water can be sprayed outward by the orifices 134 and 311. As a result, a cleaning process can be readily performed by the corporation of the rotational movement of the cleaning brush 3 (which is controlled by the driving shaft 132 ofthe motor) and the upward and downward movement of the motor 13 (controlled by the driving device 2). The rotary coupler 32 is configured by a bearing 321 and an enveloping barrel 322 having a water passage therein for readily and durable rotation and connection. The rotar)- coupler 32 is further provided with water seals 232, 324 to ensure a As shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7, the sucking disk assembly 4 is mounted at the corner of the outer wall of the housing 1. It is preferably that each of the four comers is mounted with a sucking disk assemblv 4. The disk assembly 4 includes a sucking disk bracket 41, a smaller electromechanical actuator 42. a small motor 43 and a sensing switch 44.

The disk bracket 41 has a I-shape cross section and is mounted with one or more than one vacuum disk 411 at one end thereof. The sensing probe 412 can be moveably mounted thereof by means of a pair of retaining tabs 413 and a locking bolt 414. A biasing spring 413 is disposed betu-een those retaining tabs 413 and which is biased against to a inner ring of the disli bracket 41. As a result, when the sensing probe 412 is contacted with an object, it can be conveniently retracted inward. The movement of the sensing probe 412 may trigger on off of a sensing switch 44.

The ele4 tromechanical actuator 42 is fixedly mounted on the outer housing 1 and the piston 421 can be engaged with the motor 43 which is used to control and adjust the shifting of the disk bracket 41. The shifting lever 431 of the motor 43 is fixedly engaged with the disk bracket 41. As a result, the disk bracket 41 can be readily and linearly moved by the actuation of the electromechanical actuator 42.

The motor 43 is mounted at the end portion of the piston 421 of the electromechanical actuator 42. The driving shaft 432 passes vertically through a traverse cutout 416 of the piston 421 and the shifting rod 431. As a result. when the motor 43 is actuated, the shifting lever 431 can be shifted accordingl.

The sensing switch 44 is disposed in a suitably position which is adjacent to the shifting lever 431. Ashen the sensing switch 44 is triggered the sensing probe 412 can be retracted inward when the later is in contact with an object, i.e. the facade of the building. Alternatively, an infrared sensor can be also applied and which can be used to trigger the sensing switch 44 such that the motor 43 is rotated and the shifting lever 431 may move an angular displacement toward a given sensing lever 412. as shown by the arrow in Figure 7. However. when another sensing probe 412 is in contact with an object. i.e. a pair of sensing probes 412 are simultaneously contacted with the facade of the building. The sensing switch 44 can be triggered such that the electromechanical actuator 42 and the motor 43 are simultaneously stopped. In this case the sucking disk 411 is vertical to the facade of the building. Afterward, the sucking disk 411 can be s-3cutlmed to attach to the facade 9 of the building. The cleaning procedure of the cleaning brush 3 can be commenced.

When the cleaning crawler is used to conduct a cleaning work along the facade of a building. especially a high-rise building. the housing 1 can be readily positioned at a selected position by the lifting cable 11. Afterward, the electromechanical actuator 42 of the sucking disk assembly 4 is moved forward such that when one of the sensing probe 412 is in contact with the facade and retracted therefrom the sensing switch 44 is triggered to adjust automaticallx the shifting angle. When the sucking disk 411 is rightly aligned with the facade 9, the sucking disk 411 will be vacuumed such that the sucking disk 411 is firmly attached to the facade 9. Afterward, by the controlling of the pertinent circuit the driving device 2. linear guiding rails 1 2 and the motor 13 which drives the tubular cleaning brush 3 while the cleaning water is supplied. the cleaning work can be commenced, as shown in Figure 8.

As shown in Figure 8, the enclosing 133 can be further provided with an elongate wiper 13 35 at the upper edge. B this arrangement when the cleaning crawler is proceeding the drying procedure, the wiper 135 may readily remove the excess waver drop such that the scale resuhed from the water spot can be effectively eliminated. Accordingly, the dozing procedure may have an excellent effect. Bides, the enclosing 133 is further provided with a brush strip 136 at the upper and side edges of the enclosing 133, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 8.

Furthennore, the gab between the enclosing 133 and the guiding grooves 14 is also provided with brush strip 136. The provision of the brush strip 136 is used to direct and limit the water stream into the enclosing 133 and the water stream can he effectively prevented from splashing all around. The sliding board 131 is provided with at least one traverse rib 137 which extends outward from the external guiding groove 141. An enclosing 133 is attached to the traverse rib 137 with its inner wall, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. By this arrangement, the rigidit) ofthe enclosing 133 can be enhanced. Furthermore, the number of those linear guiding rails 12 is preferably four. Bv this arrangement. the stability of upward and downward movement of the sliding board 13 1 can be further enhanced.

The cleaning crawler is provided with a drying blower 5 which is disposed at above the housing 1 andtheenclosing 133. AdrEingmotor51 which is controlled by a pertinent circuit to conduct the cleaning work afler the washing procedure. According to the design of the present invention the sliding board 131 is moved upward and downward during the cleaning'washing procedure.

However, the drying procedure is connnenced only after the sliding board 131 is mox ed upward. .X s a result the cleaning work can be performed continuously Besides when the facade of the building is provided with guiding post 6 which is provided with recessed groove 62, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, then the housing I is provided with a retaining clamp 7 at both sides. The retaining clan1p 7 includes a telescopic arm 72 and the free end of the telescopic arm 72 is rotationallx mounted with a supporting rod 73. The supporting rod 73 is provided with a retaining foot 74 which can insert into the guiding groove 62 of the building. .As a result. supporting rod 73 can be positioned respect to the telescopic arm 72. By this arrangernent, the housing 1 is firmly supported uithout traverse movement during the upward and downward movement of the housing 1.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12. the electromechanical actuator 42 of the sucking disk assembly 4 can be disposed with a sliding socket 8 which can move all around The sliding socket 8 includes an upper slide 82 which can move to left and right A lower slide 84 is also provided and which may move forward and backward. The upper and lower slides 82 and 84 are driven by a motor 85, 86 respectively. The ele tromechanical actuator 42 is fixedly mounted onto the upper slide 82. The purpose of providing a sliding socket 8 is to avoid the groove or emboss in which the sucking disk 411 can not be held in a vacuum condition. In caise the sucking disk 411 is aligned with a recess or emboss, the motor 85 or 86 can be triggered such that the upper slide 82 or lower slide 8S can be moved to left or right or forward or backward to avoid the recess or emboss.

By this arrangernene, the sucking disk 411 can be readily and conveniently aligned with a planar surface ofthe facade 9 and firmly attach thereof.

From the forgoing description, it can be readily appreciated that the automatic cleaning crawler may conduct a washing job to the facade of the building. Even the facade has a curve or slant surface, the crawler may readily grasp onto the facade to conduct a washing job. On the other hand the cleaning crass layer is also provided with a drying and wiper to facilitate the cleaning job.

While particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims: An automatic cleaning crawler, comprising. a housing which can be moved upward and downward along the facade of 8 building. the inner wall of said housing being provided uith a pluralih of linear guiding rails, both sides of said housing being at least provided with a guiding groove; a sliding board in which a driving motor is fixedly mounted being mos-eabls disposed onto said linear guiding rails, the driving shaft of said motor being extended outward over one of said guiding groove of said housing both ends of said driving shaft being mounted with a tubular cleaning brush, respectively;. a driving device which is used to move said sliding board upward and d) rd along said linear guiding rails; and a pluralit of sucking disk assemblies being fixedly disposed onto the outer wall of said housing such that said housing can be fixedly attached to the facade of a building bx the vacuum effect of said sucking disk assembly.
2. An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in claim 1, wherein said driving de lce comprising: an upper fixing plate and a lower fixing plate which are fixed mounted to the upper and lower end of said linear guiding rails. respectively, the upper and lower shafts being rotationally mounted onto said upper and lower fixing plates. an upper pulley or sprocket being fixedly mounted at said shaft; a motor being fixedly mounted at said lower fixing plate and the output shaft of said motor being coupled with said lower shaft. said lower shaft being also fixedly mounted with a lower pulley or sprocket; and a driving belt or chains being routed along said upper and lower pulleys; the free ends of said driving belt being engaged to a suitable position of said sliding board by means of a connecting tab, respectively, wherein when said motor is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, said driving belt is also moved clockwise or counterclockwise along said upper and lower pulleys such that said sliding board being also moved upward and downward.
3. An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular cleaning brush includes a mounting tube having a plurality of orifices thereof and which can be engaged with a bushing of said driving shaft, said bushing being provided with a water passage which is aligned with said orifices of said mounting tube. a rotary coupler being attached to said bushing being configured by a hearing and an enveloping barrel having a water passage therein for readily and durable rotation and connection to the outer end of said bushing a water hose being attached to said rota, coupler.
4. An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in claim 1, wherein said sucking disk assembly comprising a disk bracket having a I-shape cross section and is mounted with one or more than one vacuum disk at one end thereof, a sensing probe being moveably mounted thereof by means of a biasing spring for detecting the distance and which is biased a inner ring of said disk bracket such that when the sensing probe is in contact with an object, it can be conveniently retracted inward and the movement of said sensing probe may trigger on off of a sensing switch: an electromechanical actuator being fixedly mounted on the outer wall of said housing and the piston of said actuator being engaged with a motor which is used to control and adjust the shifting of said disk bracket, said shifting lever of said motor being fixedly engaged with said disk bracket such that said disk bracket can be readily and linearly ed moved by the actuation of said electromechanical actuator; a motor being mounted at the end portion of said piston of said electromechanical actuator, wherein the driving shaft of said motor passes vertically through a traverse cutout of said piston and said shifting rod for adjusting the shifting movement of said shifting lever; and a sensing switch being disposed a suitable position of said shifting lever. wherein when said sensing switch is triggered, said sensing probe can be retracted inward when the later is in contact with an object and said shifting lever is moved bx said motor toward the angular shifting formed by said special sensing probe, wherein when another sensing probe is in contact with an object said sensing switch can be triggered such that said electromechanical actuator and said motor are simultaneously stopped and then said sucking disk is vertical to the facade of the building and is vacuumed to attach to said facade of said building.
5. An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in claim 1. wherein said left and right driving shaft is coupled to the output shaft of said driving motor bx means of an universal joint, respectively. such that said tubular cleaning brush fixedly attached thereof can be pressed suitably against said facade for a cleaning work.
6. An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in claim 1, wherein said sliding board is provided with at least a traverse rib which extends outward over the guiding groove. an enclosing being attached to the free end of said traverse rib with the inner wall, a dryer and a wiper being disposed above said enclosing and the lower portion of said enclosing being provided with brush strip. respectively.
7. An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in clam 1, wherein said housing being provided with a retaining clarnp at both sides resp -tivels, said retaining clamp including a telescopic ann and the free end of said telescopic arm being rotationalls mounted with a supporting rod said supporting rod being provided with a retaining foot, wherein sshen said building is provided with the guiding posts. said retaining foot can insert into the guiding groove of said building such that said housing is firmly supported without traverse movement during the upward and do:nward movement of the housing.
An An automatic cleaning crawler as recited in claim 1, wherein said electromechanical actuator is provided with a sliding socket which can be moved all around, said sliding socket including an upper slide which can move to left and right a lower slide being also provided and which may move forward and backward, said upper and lower slides and being driven by a motor respectively.
9. An automatic cleaning crawler substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.