JPH0910704A - Column and columnar light source cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To clean a columnar light source easily and automatically by providing a cleaning member which comes into contact with the periphery of a column with a curvature such as a hand rail or a neon sign, and also, a drive mecha nism which moves the cleaning member centered around the center shaft of the column by rotation. CONSTITUTION: When cleaning a columnar light source 1 for a columnar fluorescent lamp, a doughnut-shape cleaning member 3, with a brush 2 provided on the inner circumference, which comes into contact with the periphery of the light source 1, is arranged. A worm wheel is formed on the periphery of the cleaning member 3 and is engaged with a worm 4. The worm 4 has the both ends borne by a bearing 5, and the cleaning member 3 moves rotating centered around the center of the light source 1, if a motor 6 is rotated. Further, if it is detected by a position, sensor, that the cleaning member 3 has reached the end, and the cleaning member 3 has stopped, the cleaning member 3 is moved back by reversing the motor 6. Thus the cleaning member 3 moves rotating on the light source 1, while the former comes in contact with the latter, so that the cleaning effect can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for cleaning dirt and deposits adhering to the surface of a cylindrical light source, particularly a cylindrical light source, or its outer casing. As the column, not only straight ones such as clothesline and handrail but also those having a curvature such as neon sign can be applied. Furthermore, snow, rain, etc. on electric wires and clothes poles are also targets for cleaning according to the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Items such as a dry pole, an outdoor handrail, and a columnar structure, which are provided especially outdoors, are covered with dust or snow, and when they get wet, they become moldy or adhere to the dust. It is common for a person to perform these cleanings with a brush or a rag, but once they are firmly attached, they cannot be easily removed. Further, if dust, mold, animal droppings, moss, etc. adhere to the surface of a light source such as a fluorescent lamp or a germicidal lamp, the amount of light decreases. Devices that automatically clean this are not commonly used. Ultraviolet light sources are used to sterilize water in the fields of fisheries and ornamental fish. In this case, water is circulated in the chamber containing the ultraviolet light source, but there is a mechanism for cleaning the cleaning element that contacts the ultraviolet light source or its outer tube by sliding the drive rod that penetrates the inside and outside of the chamber and penetrates the chamber. It has been put to practical use.

However, when the cleaning element is slidably moved by the drive rod, the cleaning element may be twisted by the light source and may not move smoothly, and if force is applied, the seal portion for sealing water may be pained or leaked. It was the cause. In addition, since the sliding direction of the contact point between the cleaning element and the light source is parallel to the light source, it is difficult to complete cleaning because leaks easily occur. Furthermore, since the moving distance of the drive rod requires the same length as the light source, it requires a space in the longitudinal direction, and it is difficult to automate the compact and inexpensive.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to easily clean a cylindrical object without the drawbacks of the prior art. In addition, we propose a device that cleans a cylindrical light source more neatly without using a drive rod and facilitates automation.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a columnar cleaning device having a cleaning element which is in contact with the outer periphery of a column and a drive mechanism for rotating and moving the cleaning element around the central axis of the column. To propose. Further, a light source cleaning device is proposed in which the cylinder is a light source or an outer cylinder thereof. Also proposed is a cleaning device for a cylindrical and cylindrical light source, which has a blade fixed to a cleaning element that abuts on the outer periphery of a circular cylinder arranged in a fluid. In other words, the cleaning element is arranged and driven so as to be movable so as to clean the outer circumference of the column. The cleaning element has a center of its circular movement on the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and this center moves along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder to repeat linear movement. This movement is suitable for the present invention by using the following mechanism, for example. In other words, the outer circumference forms a worm wheel, and a cleaning element having a brush on the inner circumference is brought into contact with a part of the outer circumference of the cylinder, and the cleaning element is driven by a motor to rotate around the central axis of the cylinder. While moving it in the direction of the vertical axis of the cylinder.
To move in the opposite direction, reverse the motor.
Further, since the inner wall has the blade fixed to the cleaning element that contacts the outer circumference of the cylinder, the cleaning element moves in the fluid in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder while being rotated by the blade. If the fluid flows in the opposite direction, the cleaning element moves in the opposite direction. When the cylinder is a cylindrical light source, it may come into direct contact with the outside world, but it is also effective when it is housed in an outer tube that is transparent or opaque but transmits and diffuses light.

That is, by sliding the cleaning element while rotating the outer periphery of the cylinder, the cleaning element does not tend to move by being twisted with the column, and cleaning leakage does not easily occur. In the case of the cylindrical light source cleaning device, since the driving force described above is not necessary, there is no wasted space in the longitudinal direction of the light source, and it can be easily automated. When the blade is fixed to the cleaning element, the cleaning element is rotated and moved by the fluid. The moving direction of the cleaning element can be changed by automatically switching the flow direction of the fluid, or the moving direction of the cleaning element can be switched using outside air or tidal current, which naturally changes the flow direction of the fluid. .
When a doughnut-shaped cleaning element that comes into contact with the outer circumference of a column such as a clothesline, a handrail, or a columnar structure has fixed wings, if the cleaning element is above it, it falls by gravity and rotates at this time. If it falls to the lower end, it can be cleaned by pulling it up manually or by some device, or by turning the vertically standing cylinder upside down and rotating again.

A wide range of materials can be selected for the cleaning element by contacting the outer circumference of the cylinder to be cleaned. For example, it can be used as a material to which brushes of various materials, cloth of carpet, paper, brushes of metal or plastic, etc. come into contact. If these materials are impregnated with a lubricant that does not easily volatilize and that does not adhere to the outer circumference of the column, the cleaning element can easily rotate and move.

The columnar light source includes a columnar fluorescent lamp, a columnar ultraviolet ray lamp, and an outer tube for housing these, as well as a columnar light source in which various light sources are contained inside a light transmissive cylinder.

[0009]

Example 1 The present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.
1 shows a schematic sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A doughnut-shaped cleaning element 3 having a brush 2 on the inner circumference is arranged so as to come into contact with the outer circumference of the cylindrical light source 1. The outer periphery of the cleaning element 3 forms a worm wheel and meshes with the worm 4. The worm 4 is fixed by a bearing 5 and can be rotated and inverted by a motor 6. When the motor 6 is rotated using this device, the cleaning element 3 moves while rotating around the central axis of the light source 1. The position sensor etc. detects that the cleaning element has reached the end, stops, and then reverses to move in the opposite direction. With this device, since the cleaning element 3 moves on the light source while rotating, the cleaning element 3 moves smoothly, and since the brush 2 moves in a circular motion, the distance and time for moving in contact with the light source are long and the cleaning effect is good. There are also advantages.

[0010]

Second Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the second embodiment. This embodiment relates to a light source cleaning device arranged in a fluid. A quartz tube 11 having an open end on one side is hermetically disposed in a chamber 12 through which a fluid flows. The structure of the sealing part is general and is not shown. The light source 1 is inserted from its open end. On the outer circumference of the quartz tube 11, a cleaning element 3 having a brush 2 which is in contact with the cleaning element 3 is arranged, and a blade 13 is provided on the outer circumference thereof.
When the fluid flows in the direction of arrow 14, the cleaning element 3 rotates in the direction of arrow 15 and moves in the direction of arrow 14. If the flow direction of the fluid is switched after reaching the target position, the cleaning element moves in the opposite direction. For example, when sterilizing water by turning on an ultraviolet lamp in the water circulation line of a viewing fish tank, an ultraviolet light source is often arranged in the chamber as shown in FIG. Decrease. At this time, if the light source and the cleaning device thereof as in the structure of this embodiment are used, the automatic cleaning device can be easily made by automatically switching the flow direction with time.

Although it is assumed that the amount of light will be reduced due to dust or the like in lighting on the road, the cleaning element moves while rotating due to wind. When the wind direction is reversed, the cleaning element moves in the opposite direction. In this way, it is possible to clean using natural power without supplying electric energy from the outside. Although the blades 13 are arranged on the circumference of the cleaning element in the embodiment, they may be arranged before and after the cleaning element.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, the cleaning element can be rotated to smoothly move on the outer circumference of the cylindrical or cylindrical light source, and the drive rod as described above can penetrate the chamber. There is no need to worry about water leaks.
Furthermore, automation is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cylindrical light source, 2 ... Brush, 3 ... Cleaning element, 4 ...
Worm 6 ... Motor, 11 ... Quartz tube, 13 ... Wing

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A column cleaning device comprising: a cleaning element that comes into contact with the outer periphery of a column; and a drive mechanism that rotates and moves the cleaning element around the central axis of the column. 2. A cylindrical light source cleaning device, wherein the cylinder is a light source or its exterior cylinder. 3. The cylindrical and cylindrical light source cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a blade fixed to a cleaning element that abuts an outer periphery of the cylindrical column arranged in the fluid.