US3646630A

US3646630A - Remote control window cleaning device

Info

Publication number: US3646630A
Application number: US815087A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl D Russell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-10
Filing date: 1969-04-10
Publication date: 1972-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-07

Abstract

This invention relates to remote control cleaning apparatus, primarily for use in cleaning both the exterior and interior sides of windows of tall buildings. Hoisting apparatus is adapted to move along a track on the roof of the building and to raise or lower a cleaning unit to a selected window. Control means which may comprise a second or master cleaning unit is provided for manual operation inside the building and electromagnetically couples to the exterior unit. Manual movement of the interior unit causes the exterior unit to follow it, the exterior unit being rendered substantially weightless through suspension by springs. Controls of the positioning, application of the cleaner, and removal thereof are provided at the interior unit and are effective at the exterior unit by electromagnetic coupling through the window and/or by wireless through a switching station at the hoisting apparatus and down to the suspended unit over the suspending wires which comprise electrical leads.

Description

Russell Mar. 7, 1972 REMOTE CONTROL WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Carl D. Russell, Tulsa, Okla.

Cralwn D. James; Mary Lea James, part interest to each Apr. 10, 1969 Inventor:

Assignees:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl. ..l5/302, 15/50 R, 15/103, 15/312 R, 15/321, 325/37, 325/105, 325/428 Int. Cl. ..A471 1103, A471 7/02, A471 1 1/38 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 34,966 8/1925 Denmark ..15/220.1 1,076,289 7/1967 Great Britain 1 5/220.l 1,545,864 10/1968 France ..l5/220.1

Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-Wilfred G. Caldwell [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to remote control cleaning apparatus, primarily for use in cleaning both the exterior and interior sides of windows of tall buildings. Hoisting apparatus is adapted to move along a track on the roof of the building and to raise or lower a cleaning unit to a selected window. Control means which may comprise a second or master cleaning unit is provided for manual operation inside the building and electromagnetically couples to the exterior unit. Manual move ment of the interior unit causes the exterior unit to follow it, the exterior unit being rendered substantially weightless through suspension by springs. Controls of the positioning, application of the cleaner, and removal thereof are provided at the interior unit and are effective at the exterior unit by electromagnetic coupling through the window and/or by wireless through a switching station at the hoisting apparatus and down to the suspended unit over the suspending wires which comprise electrical leads.

21 Claims, 11 Drawingligum SHEET 1 UF 5 F IG! ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 8,646,630

sum 2 [1F 5 F I63 F I62 INVENTOR CARL D. RUSSELL ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAR H972 3,646,630

SHEET 3 0F 5 FIG? INVENTOR CARL D. RUSSELL BY 10%! $4M A TORNEY PAIENTEBMAR 71972 3,646,630

SHEET u 0F 5 FIGS 2 1 iv I 0 7 f5 R9 i510 c== [7 n T e TRANSMITTER FIG.9

RECEIVER INVENTOR.

CARL D. RUSSELL 700 3 4 93 e c4 e L2 A c g 2 C REMOTE CONTROL WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE The present invention relates to apparatus for remotely cleaning the exterior of windows from an interior control, which also permits simultaneous cleaning of the interior of the windows. As a matter of fact, the apparatus for washing the exterior of the windows is a followup or slave device for the interior master device which is manually manipulated to spray or deposit the cleaning compound or fluid, and then to wipe or brush off the cleaner by traversing the glass areas.

Basically, the invention comprises hoisting apparatus adapted to be located above the work area, preferably on the roof of the building, being equipped with rails or guideways for spanning the perimeter, length, or width of the building to locate the hoisting apparatus generally directly overhead of the areas to be cleaned. A power source, such as a battery, rectified source of DC or battery-generator, or battery AC- rectifier supply, is carried by the hoisting apparatus carriage for permitting remote control of selected functions of the slave unit from a control station associated with the master unit. Power is preferably supplied to the slave unit through hoisting cables, which comprise electrical leads for the positive and negative power connections, and which connections include constant tension or spiral negator wound springs i.e., of the type spring used in watches) interposed between the slave unit and the hoisting apparatus to reduce the effective weight of the slave unit, so it is easily control operated.

Inexpensive receivers or unit receiving sections, preferably operable in the citizen frequency band (CB), are carried by the hoisting apparatus, along with a bank of switches operable by relays controlled by the receivers. The switches, under received signals, reverse the power connections to a vertical motor, carried by the hoisting apparatus, to raise or lower the slave unit to the selected window for cleaning. Similarly, the carriage is driven to the right or left by a carriage motor under control of further switches, along the top of the building, for selecting the vertical row of windows to be cleaned.

An additional switching arrangement, remotely establishes power to a fan motor in the slave unit to maintain the slave unit away from the building, during the positioning operation, and to reverse the direction of the fan motor to drive the slave unit inwardly of the building, close to or against the selected glass to be cleaned.

At this time, electromagnets in the master unit may be energized, at the master unit, magnetically to couple the two units together on opposite sides of the glass.

Both units are provided with a cleaner applicator, preferably in the form of a spray arrangement, for applying to the glass a thin film of cleaner, which rapidly dries, and when subsequently brushed off, very effectively cleans the glass. Thus, each unit preferably includes a small pump and motor for drawing fluid from a reservoir carried by each unit, and directing the same through one or more nozzles against the glass. To simplify the spray controls, spring-loaded magnetic switches may be employed, such that they cause spraying only while momentarily depressed.

A feature of the invention permits this control to be directly deployed in the master unit, such that a magnetic switch in the slave unit can be operated independently, through magnetic coupling via the window, for spraying the exterior of the glass. It is sometimes desirable to clean the exterior a greater number of times than the interior, or at least to apply the cleaning fluid to dirtier or more difiicult areas on the exterior for additional cleaning action. This direct-type control, of course, eliminates further transmitter-receiver units.

The electrical controls may comprise conventional transmitters and receivers, preferably operative on a tone and frequency basis to set up connections to selected relays for performing the selected switching functions. For the described operations, six separate transmitters and receivers will suffice to perform the outlined functions. Of course, these units may now be inexpensively manufactured using integral solid-state chips as independent devices or as sections of a single unit. In any event, preselected crystals establish the primary frequency of each transmitter and its receiver is appropriately tuned.

With the foregoing in mind, among the objects of the invention is the provision of apparatus remotely operable to clean the exterior of glass areas or the like comprising sections or segments of large structures.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such cleaning apparatus incorporating a slave unit electromagnetically coupled to the exterior of a window from an interiorly situated master unit for simultaneous traversal or cleaning.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such master and slave units with further magnetic coupling for control of the slave unit from the master unit via the glass separation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of hoisting apparatus incorporating electrical leads for suspending, raising, and lowering the slave unit while supplying operating control to components thereof, and further for coupling thereto via springs serving to reduce the effective weight of the slave unit.

An additional feature of the apparatus resides in remote wireless control of the positioning of the slave unit from the master unit.

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description thereof when taken in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration to show in general the structure of the invention as applied to cleaning operations;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the carriage for location on the roof of a building;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of part of the structure of FIG. 2, seen from the right;

FIG. 4 shows in block form the master and slave units applied to a window;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the master and slave units in opposed relation;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a portion of the slave unit;

FIG. 7 is an electromagnetically operated switch for operation through the glass;

FIG. 8 is a typical transmitter or transmitter section;

FIG. 9 is a typical receiver or receiver section;

FIG. 10 is an electrical circuit showing a switching arrangement for operation of the transmitters and other components from the master unit; and

FIG. 11 is a switching arrangement operated by the receivers for positioning the slave unit from the master unit by wireless.

In FIG. 1 a building, generally indicated at 11, is pictured with the side removed to reveal the roof 15, floors l7, 19, 21, 23, and 25 with the windows to be cleaned shown at 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35. On the roof 15 there is located the hoisting apparatus, generally shown at 41. The positive and negative leads extend via respectively insulated reels 43 to the slave unit 45 to support and power same.

The master unit 47 is shown within building 11 supplied from cart 51 on floor 17 to clean window 27, the supporting and manual handle 53 serving to connect master unit 47 with cart 51. The operator, who would normally be manipulating master unit 47 from handle 53, is not shown.

The same cart 51 is shown on lower floor 25 with master unit 47 and slave unit 45 in a different cleaning position, i.e., cleaning the lower portion of window 35.

In FIG. 2 the hoisting apparatus M is shown in detail as comprising a reservoir 61 for the cleaning fluid. Reservoir 61 is supported from frame 63 in turn supported by

wheels

64, 65, 66, and 67. These wheels flange fit the rails 71 and 73 which may comprise permanent or temporary fixtures capable of being affixed to the roof of the building to permit the carriage 75 comprising frame 63, etc., to traverse the perimeter, length, or width of the building to position slave unit 45 as required.

A motor 81, preferably of the DC type is mounted on carriage 75 and is coupled to one or more of the wheels 64-67 by a suitable shaft 83 and gear train or other drive (not shown) to propel the carriage 75 back and forth along the rails 71 and 73.

A source of DC power, such as battery 87, is supported from the frame 63 by a box 89 and a switching apparatus shown as the block 91 is provided to establish connections and to reverse polarity between battery leads 93-95 and the leads to motor 81, shown in cable 97.

Also contained in the switching matrix 91 are one or more receivers (shown in detail at 101 in FIG. 9). The receivers are connected to antenna 103 for wireless operation by one or more transmitters (such as shown at 105 in FIG. 8) and carried by cart 51 (FIG. 4).

The carriage 75 also carries a drum 111 (FIG. 3) comprising

conductive reels

113 and 115 spaced apart by an insulative core 1 17 which may comprise plastic, hard rubber, or the like. Reel 113 is connected to positive or negative lead 121 via its mounting hub 123 and reel 115 is connected to the other of the positive and negative leads 125 via its hub 127. Both leads 125 and 121 form cable 131 which extends from switching matrix 91 in order that the polarity applied to

leads

121 and 125 may be reversed and/or removed under control of signals received at antenna 103. Lead 121 extends from reel 113 to a removable connector 141 which electrically and physically connects it to a spiral spring 143 adapted to wind and to unwind in box 145, carried by the slave unit 45. Similarly, conductor 125 extends via connector 147 to spring 149 in box 151.

The

springs

143 and 149 are selected in accordance with the weight of the slave unit 45 substantially to offset its weight or render it somewhat weightless for ready movement by master unit 47.

The leads 121 and 125 extend from the

springs

143 and 149 to motor 171 for fan 173. Thus, motor 171 can be run in a forward or reverse direction to drive the fan 173 clockwise or counterclockwise, thereby propelling the slave unit 45 toward or away from the building, all under control of switching matrix 91, in turn controlled by signals received over antenna 103. Normally, in descending or rising, the fan will be caused to run in a direction to propel the slave unit 45 away from the building. However, when the selected window area has been reached, the fan 173 is reversed in direction to propel the slave unit 45 adjacent to or in contact with the exterior of the window 35 (FIG. 4) where it is electromagnetically coupled to the master unit 47, relieving the tension in the

leads

121 and 125, master unit 47 completely supporting slave unit 45 through the electromagnetic force exerted through the windows, less slight friction.

Assent and descent of the slave unit 45 to selected position is under control of DC motor 201 (FIGS. 2 and 3) coupled through gears 203 and 205 to drive core 117 of drum 111 in one direction or the other to wind or unwind

electrical leads

121 and 125. The motor 201 is also under control of the switching matrix 91, via a double-lead cable 207, for remote control over antenna 103.

Thus, in operation the master unit 47 (FIG. 4) is manipulated through the handle or holder 217 to traverse the inside of window 35, thereby causing the slave unit 45 to follow precisely the same course along the exterior of the window 35. The handle 217 is connected by flexible hose 219 to the cart 51, and in particular to a disposable bag 221, provided to collect the brushed-off, dried cleaning powder, in the manner of a vacuum cleaner. Additionally, cart 51 is equipped with a DC source of power, such as battery 223, for supplying the double (positive and negative) cable 225 via hose 219 and hollow handle 217, power to the electromagnets of the master unit 47, as well as certain control functions to be described in connection with the detailed structure of FIG. 5.

In addition, the cart 51 preferably includes the multiple transmitter units 231 (see also F 1G. with switches or buttons such as 233, for achieving the various wireless functions.

Also, handle 217 is equipped with the portable hand unit 241 (also seen in FIG. 10) for operation of further apparatus by depressing the buttons or switches 243 to perform the further functions to be described.

In FIG. 5, there is presented a detailed interior view of the slave unit 45 in opposed relation to the master unit 47 the two being separated by the glass 35. Slave unit 45 comprises a supporting frame 275 (FIG. 6) which includes the integrally carried

spray nozzles

276, 277, 278, and 279 carried thereby and the subassembly comprising spacers 281 slidably mounted on the spray nozzles through

bearings

282, 283, 284, 285, etc. Operation of the fan 173 by motor 171 in the direction of the window 35, carries the subframe comprising spacers 281 toward window 35 to permit contact by the

brushes

291, 292, 293, and 294 with the exterior of glass 35.

Slave unit 45 is held in opposed position to master unit 47 by magnetic coupling, the slave unit including the soft iron bars or

magnetizable material

301, 302, 303, and 304 in opposed relation to the four electromagnets, such as 305 and 306 of master unit 47, respectively energized by

coils

307 and 308, the other two

coils

309 and 310 being shown in FIG. 10. Since the weight of the slave unit is offset, strong permanent magnets may be used in place of the electromagnets.

Slidable contact of the master and

slave units

47 and 45 with window 35 is provided by the plastic beads 320 through 323 for slave unit 45 and corresponding beads, such as 325 and 327 for master unit 47.

Master unit 47 also includes a slidable subframe comprising spacers 351 supported by bearings 352 through 355, etc., from the spray nozzles, such as 361 and 363, to permit the

brushes

370 and 371 to be moved adjacent window 35 by fan 173 under power of motor 171. Dust is collected by funnel 400, which communicates with hollow handle 217 (FIG. 4).

The brushes in both units are driven by common V-belts, such as 405 and 407 (FIG. 6) from the fan motor 171. Also each unit is equipped with stationary brushes, such as 420 through 433 (FIG. 6) for cleaning the comers of the window when the unit is agitated in contact with the respective corners thereof.

Each of the master and

slave units

47 and 45 is equipped with apparatus for applying the cleaner fluid onto the window 35, generally when the brushes are in the withdrawn position. In slave unit 45, a tiny reservoir 450 containing an ounce or'a few ounces of cleaning fluid 451, is connected to a fluid pump 453 by pipe 455. Pump 453 is operated by motor 457 to pump fluid over

pipes

459 and 460 to the

nozzles

277 and 276 for spraying on the exterior of window 35.

The master unit 47 is equipped with the same structure designated by the same numbers, bearing the prime thereof, to supply

nozzles

361 and 363.

Motor 457 for master unit 47 is operated directly from transmitter unit 231 of FIG. 10 by closure of switch 490 to connect B+ of lead 491 to pump motor 457' and B- thereto over lead 492. Thus, spray may be supplied at any time and for any momentary or extended period for the interior of glass 35 by depression of switch 490 of FIG. 10.

On the other hand the spray function of slave unit 45 is under electromagnetic control from master unit 47 The electromagnetic operating structure is best seen in FIG. 5 wherein the slave unit motor 457 has a circuit connected or closed between the positive and negative leads (from the hoisting apparatus 41 of FIG. 2) by virtue of a spring arm 501 (see also FIG. 7) which carries contact 502, being drawn to the right by an electromagnet 503, carried by master unit 47 and energized by coil 504 (FIG. 5, FIG. 7, and FIG. 10) to close contact 502 against contact 505 thereby energizing motor 457 to power pump 453. While this function could be carried out over the wireless equipment described, nevertheless, it is more convenient and less expensive to effect the same through the glass. Other functions heretofore described, may be carried out in the same manner but thus far in a less sufficient manner than the described wireless control.

Thus, it may be seen in FIG. 10 that operation of the outside spray switch 509 serves to energize electromagnet 504 over lead 591 connected to the positive terminal of battery 223 via power lead 511 whenever the positive lead or operating switch 512 for the master unit 51 is closed to initiate the window cleaning operation, the other lead being the negative lead 515 which connects to common negative lead 517, and thence to negative power lead 519. Latching switch 510 serves to energize the electromagnets 307-310.

The various functions and operation of the components herein described will better be appreciated from a consideration of the electrical control arrangements of FIGS. 8 through 11. First, in FIG. 8, a suitable transmitter 105 designed for operation in the CB band at 27.-lllmegacycles with accuracy available to three decimal places for selection within the 26 frequencies is available.

Thus, the transmitters 105 and receivers 101 are designed to be both tone and frequency responsive in order better to discriminate between each channel and permit finer tuning to avoid, e.g., interference from neighborhood or neighboring construction CBs. Conventional transmitters and receivers enable the wireless control to be carried out satisfactorily.

For this reason, the circuit of FIG. 8 is provided with a crystal Yll for initiating independent frequency signals to its associated receiver 101, and thus for each function a transmitter or transmitter unit 105 controls a receiver or receiver unit 101 at different frequencies using different crystals.

In transmitter 105, transistor 03 comprises the heart of a common base oscillator circuit for the resonant frequency of the inherent frequency of crystal Y1. Feedback obtains from the oscillator section through the collector 601, emitter 603, capacitance of Q3. The capacitor C5 forms a voltage divider with this Q3 capacitance to provide the proper feedback level to sustain oscillation. Resistors R6, R7, and R9 are used as bias resistors. Resistor R8 is a decoupling resistor and capacitor C4 is an RF bias capacitor, while capacitor C6 tunes the collector circuit to the 27.-Hlmc. crystal frequency.

The output is taken through the, e.g., two-turn link at the lower potential end of coil L1. The power amplifier stage (04) is operated as a driven common-emitter stage. Resistors R and R11 are also bias resistors. The bias voltage on the base 605 of transistor Q4 is varied at an audio rate which keys the output stage. Capacitors C8 and C9 are provided for RF bypass and capacitor C10 is the collector tuning capacitor. Here the output is taken from a two-turn link wound on the lower potential end of L2 connected to antenna 700.

Thus, the receiver 101 of FIG. 9 is provided to select, over the antenna 103, the predetermined tone or frequency generated by the associated transmitter section 105 to provide at

terminals

1, 2, and 3 at its left-hand end, in FIG. 9 the connections for operating the circuits of FIG. 1 1.

Consider now the circuits of FIGS. 10 and 11, and let it first be assumed that it is desired to move the slave unit 45 in an upward direction by employing motor 201 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 11. In FIG. 10 the button or switch 750 is depressed by the operator to complete a path from the positive lead of battery 223 over switch 512, leads 511, 491, and 751 to the transmitter vertical up block 105 which path is completed over switch 750 and via lead 492 to negative power lead 519. Now, comparing the circuitry of FIG. 10 to the transmitter of FIG. 8 it will be seen that the lead 751 corresponds to the lower positive lead and that the switch 750 is in series with lead 752. The application of power to the transmitter 105, in conventional fashion, produces a signal at antenna 700 modulated on the appropriate carrier for any control function. Reception of the signal establishes conduction in transistor Q4 of Receiver 101 of FIG. 9 to couple lead 3 to lead 2. This may be seen in FIG. 11 at the Receiver Vertical Up wherein the battery 87 (see FIG. 2) energizes the upper relay K1 of now closed switch 760 via lead 761 to terminal 3 of the Receiver Vertical Up. This terminal is connected internally to terminal 2 (see FIG. 9) for the appropriate signal to provide a positive lead to the lower terminal 770 of K1. The upper terminal 771 of K1 extends over lead 772 to the lower B lead 773, thereby enabling K1 to be energized and its two

switch blades

775 and 776 to be pulled upwardly to complete their circuits.

To move the slave unit 45 downwardly, one of the buttons generally indicated at 233 in FIG. 4 and particularly identified at 778 shown in FIG. 10 is closed to energize the Vertical Down Transmitter 105 over switch 512 and lead 511 for the positive connection and via negative power lead 519 and switch 778 for the negative connection. This provides the correct tone for reception for Vertical Down Receiver 101 to energize relay K2 over negative power lead 773, lead 772, and branch lead 780 and thence via

terminals

2 and 3 of the Vertical Down Receiver 101 and thence via leads 781, 761, 782, and switch 760 to the positive side of battery 87.

Energization of K2 closes

switches

788 and 789 to reverse the power to Vertical Motor 201 by connecting its upper lead 790 to positive lead 761 over switch 789 and to lower lead 791 by way of switch 788 to negative lead 772 which connects to the negative power lead 773. When the transmitter button 778 is released, motor 201 stops.

Thus, with the two transmitter and two receiver units or sections described, the slave unit 45 may be raised or lowered to position it at the selected window or area for cleaning.

Next, the circuitry for moving the carriage 41 to and fro or to the right and left of a given face of a building to select the proper vertical row of windows will be described. The motor 81 (FIGS. 2 and 11) is driven in one direction, for example, to the left by operation of the Horizontal Left Receiver 101 and in the other direction by the operation of the Horizontal Right Receiver 101.

Transmitter section 105 for Horizontal Left includes button 800 to close an energizing path from the negative power lead 519 to the negative terminal of the Horizontal Left Transmitter 105 with the positive supply being available over switch 512, lead 511, and branch lead 800. Operation of button 800 causes the corresponding Horizontal Left Receiver 101 to reduce the resistance between its

terminals

2 and 3, thereby energizing relay K3 from positive lead 761 over branch leads 804 and 805 and from negative lead 772 over branch leads.

806 and 807.

This closes switches 810 and 811 to apply positive potential to upper lead 812 and lower lead 813 for driving the motor in one direction.

In order to drive the carriage 41 to the right, the Right Horizontal Transmitter 105 is energized by depressing switch 819 to energize the Right Horizontal Receiver 101 and activate K4 to close

switches

821 and 822 thereby reversing the power to motor 81.

The fan motor 171 is also preferably a DC motor (as all others) in order that mere reversal of the power leads may suffice to move unit 45 toward and away from the building. Thus, depression of outside fan switch 900, located in the portable hand unit of FIG. 10 and being one of the switches of group 243 in FIG. 4, energizes Transmitter Fan In Control over leads 901 and 902 from negative lead 517 and via lead 903 from positive lead 491. This actuates Receiver Fan In Control to energize relay K5 and

close switches

905 and 906 to apply the negative power connection over lead 907 to the upper terminal of the motor 171 and the positive power connection over lead 908 to the lower terminal of motor 171.

To drive the fan in the out direction, switch 911 in the portable hand unit 241 is depressed to energize the Fan Out Transmitter Control 105 and in turn activate Receiver Fan Out Control 101 to energize relay K6 and

close switches

914 and 915, thereby reversing the power leads to motor 171. Of course, switches 905 and 906 are open at this time because relay K5 is deenergized.

In order to actuate the spray motor 457, the outside spray button 509 is momentarily depressed to energize the electromagnetic coil 504 (FIGS. 5 and 10). This closes switch 1000 to connect the motor across the power source by way of positive lead 1001 and

negative leads

1002 and 1003.

In FIG. 5 the switch 1000 is spring biased open, being of spring steel or the like such that to close the contacts the electromagnet 503 need merely attract the magnetizable material or piece of soft iron affixed thereto through electromagnetic coupling penetrating the glass 35.

Energization of the inside spray motor 457', is accomplished through closure of switch 490 which switch may also be located in the portable hand unit 241 rather than in the transmitter unit 231 if desired.

The inside fan motor 171 may be operated in either direction to move the brushes 370 against or away from the glass 35 through the provision of the

switches

1050 and 1051 effective to connect motor 171 to either of

sources

1053 or 1054. Of course, these sources also may be derived from battery 223 or the appropriate leads therefrom.

In order to make a neat cleaning operation, the cart 51 of FIG. 4 is provided with a vacuum system including the internal fan 1060 or any other conventional vacuum system to exhaust the cleaner dust particles from the cleaning area during the cleaning operation or at the conclusion thereof, being operated by a conventional button or switch, not shown.

What is claimed is:

1. Remote control cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning areas of a building, comprising in combination means for traversing at least one dimension of a face of the building at a position above the area to be cleaned; cleaning unit means; means for suspending the cleaning unit means from said traversing means; means in said traversing means for raising and lowering the cleaning unit means via said suspending means to position the cleaning unit at a selected area; said cleaning unit means comprising reversible means for propelling the cleaning unit means selectively toward and away from said building; said cleaning unit means further comprising means for spraying quick drying liquid cleaner onto the areas to be cleaned; and brushes for removing the dried cleaner from the areas being cleaned.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cleaning unit means comprises power-operated means including means for revolving the brushes for cleaning; said suspending means comprising electrical leads to said power-operated means; and said traversing means comprising a source of power for connection to said electrical leads.

3. Remote control cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning areas of a building or the like, comprising in combination means for traversing at least one dimension of a face of the building at a position above the area to be cleaned; cleaning unit means; means for suspending the cleaning unit means from said traversing means; means in said traversing means for raising and lowering the cleaning unit means via said suspending means to position the cleaning unit at a selected area; said cleaning unit means comprising means for propelling the cleaning unit means selectively toward and away from said building or the like; spring counterbalancing means connected in said means for suspending to reduce the effective weight of the cleaning unit means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said counterbalancing means are disposed at the cleaning unit to balance its weight only regardless of the length of suspending means employed therewith.

5. Remote control cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning areas of a building or the like, comprising in combination means for traversing at least one dimension of a face of the building at a position above the area to be cleaned; cleaning unit means; means for suspending the cleaning unit means from said traversing means; means in said traversing means for raising and lowering the cleaning unit means via said suspending means to position the cleaning unit at a selected area; said cleaning unit means comprising means for propelling the cleaning unit means selectively toward and away from said building or the like; polarity sensitive energizable-deenergizable means manually operable within the building for magnetically coupling to the cleaning unit means disposed exteriorly of the building by magnetic attraction through the glass areas of the building to guide the cleaning unit means.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising control means operable from within the building and effective via the electrical leads to operate the propelling means and control positioning of the cleaning unit means.

7. Remote control cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning areas of a building or the like, comprising in combination means for traversing at least one dimension of a face of the building at a position above the area to be cleaned; cleaning unit means; means for suspending the cleaning unit means from said traversing means; means in said traversing means for raising and lowering the cleaning unit means via said suspending means to position the cleaning unit at a selected area; said cleaning unit means comprising means for propelling the cleaning unit means selectively toward and away from said building or the like; said cleaning unit means comprising power-operated means for cleaning; said suspending means comprising electrical leads to said power operated means; said traversing means comprising a source of power for connection to said electrical leads; manually operable means adapted for location within the building; control means operable from within the building and effective via the electrical leads to operate the propelling means and control positioning of the cleaning unit means; means in the cleaning unit for effecting the cleaning operation; and means at the manually operable means for moving the cleaning unit means from the interior of the building for controlling the cleaning unit means by way of at least one of the electrical leads and through the window areas magnetically.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cleaning operation means comprises spray means for depositing cleaning fluid on the glass and brush means for removing the cleaning fluid from the glass; said brush means comprising main brushes and comer brushes.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising movable frame means within the cleaning means; said main brushes carried by the movable frame means; and said propelling means operable to move the main brushes into and out of contact with the glass through movement of said frame means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for manually moving disposed within the building comprises further cleaning unit means corresponding to said cleaning unit means disposed exteriorly of the building.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each cleaning unit means comprises reservoir means for cleaning fluid; and wherein the means for effecting the cleaning operation comprise pumping means in communication with the reservoir means; and spray means is communication with the pumping means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the manually movable cleaning unit means disposed interiorly of the building includes electromagnetic means and the cleaning unit means disposed exteriorly of the building includes magnetizable means for electromagnetic attraction to the electromagnetic means through the glass cleaning areas to couple the cleaning unit means together.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cleaning unit means disposed interiorly of the building comprises cart means; and vacuum system means carried by the cart means and effective at the cleaning means to collect dust and the like.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each cleaning unit means includes ball bearing means for contact with the glass to permit ready traversal thereof.

15. Combination manually and remotely operable cleaning apparatus for operation from opposite sides of glass areas to be cleaned, comprising in combination control means disposed on one side of the glass; cleaning means disposed on the other side of the glass; means disposed above the glass for supporting the cleaning means whereby the control means may guide the cleaning means in effecting cleaning operations; spring balancing means effective at the cleaning means to reduce its effective weight thereby enabling the control means readily to cause the cleaning means to traverse the glass to be cleaned; positioning means effective to position the cleaning means at a selected location; and means at the control means to control said positioning means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising cleaner applicator and removal means carried by the cleaning means; switching means for controlling the operation of said positioning means and said cleaner applicator and removal means; and means for orienting the cleaning means in a plane normal to any direction traversed by the cleaning means when positioned.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising power source means at the location of the supporting means; electrical lead means extending from said location to said cleaning means and wherein said control means comprises wireless transmitter means; and still further comprising wireless receiver means disposed at said location and operable to control the switching means in response to said transmitter means.

18. The apparatus of claim l7 wherein said control means further comprises electromagnetic means effective to couple to said cleaning means through the glass.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said control means further comprises additional electromagnetic means effective

Claims

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cleaning operation means comprises spray means for depositing cleaning fluid on the glass and brush means for removing the cleaning fluid from the glass; said brush means comprising main brushes and corner brushes.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said control means further comprises electromagnetic means effectiVe to couple to said cleaning means through the glass.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said control means further comprises additional electromagnetic means effective to operate at least the cleaner applicator means electromagnetically through the glass.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said control means comprises manually supportable cleaning means also comprising cleaner applicator and removal means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the cleaning means comprising the control means also further comprises cart means connected thereto; and power source means carried by the cart means for energizing the electromagnetic means and the transmitter means.