WO1993010702A1

WO1993010702A1 - Device for treating and especially cleaning level surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO1993010702A1
Application number: PCT/AT1992/000156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinrich Abbrederis
Original assignee: Heinrich Abbrederis
Priority date: 1991-11-29
Filing date: 1992-11-27
Publication date: 1993-06-10
Also published as: ATA238091A

Abstract

A device for treating and especially cleaning level surfaces has a housing (1) in which a processing tool (9) is fitted to rotate about an axis at right angles to the surface (10). This tool (9) is caused to rotate by a drive (26). A treatment fluid is applied to the surface (10) outside the field of rotation of the tool (9) via a supply line (24) and removed via a discharge line (33). The underpressure in the discharge line (33) and the rotation speed of the rotary tool (9) are mutually adjusted so that the treatment fluid applied is drawn substantially radially inwards to the discharge line (33). This prevents environmental pollution.

Description

Device for treating, in particular cleaning, flat surfaces

The invention relates to a device for the treatment, in particular cleaning, of flat surfaces, with a housing which can be displaced on the surface and in which at least one tool, in particular at least one brush ring, rests against the surface to be treated, about an axis normal to the surface is mounted circumferentially, and with a drive for the rotary movement of at least one such tool, and with a supply line leading to the housing for a treatment liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid, and with a suction line leading from the housing within the orbit of the tool to a suction unit for the used treatment liquid. Such devices are known (AT-PS 388 863). In the known construction, the tool is formed by two brush rings arranged concentrically to one another and rotating in opposite directions, the cleaning liquid being introduced into the gap between the two brush rings. A hydraulic motor attached to the housing serves as the drive for the two brush rings. Such devices are well suited for cleaning very large areas, but are problematic for smaller areas due to the relatively high weight. In addition, four lines are required in the known device, namely a supply line and a return line for the pressure medium of the hydraulic motor, the supply line for the treatment liquid and the suction line. Furthermore, an escape of cleaning fluid from the surface covered by the housing can usually not be completely avoided, so that at least parts of the surface are wetted by the cleaning fluid after work. The invention has for its object to improve a device of the type described so that the processing of the surface, in particular the cleaning of the same, is possible in a single operation with little design effort and with little effort, without a liquid on the treated Area remains. The invention solves this problem in that the mouth of the supply line lies in a ring shape outside the orbit of the tool around this distributor line, and in that the inward suction force exerted by the suction unit on the liquid applied is greater is than that of. rotating tool applied to the liquid centrifugal force. In contrast to the known device, the treatment liquid is not applied to the surface to be treated within the orbit of the tool or tools, but is distributed outside this circular orbit and in the form of a closed ring around the center of the rotating tool, so that a uniform one The supply of liquid to the tool is ensured from all sides, provided only the distribution line releases the liquid uniformly over its entire length. This at least reasonably uniform application of the treatment liquid around the rotating tool or around the rotating tools also ensures that all partial areas of the treated area are supplied with the treatment liquid uniformly and that even conditions for. all Beweguπgsrichtungen the device along the ^'area to be treated occur. If only the suction force exerted by the suction unit is chosen to be sufficiently large that it exceeds the centrifugal force component exerted on the treatment liquid by this tool, the effect surprisingly occurs that the treatment liquid applied to the surface to be treated is sucked essentially radially inwards to the suction point without liquid escaping to the outside and remaining on the treated surface when the device is moved. This treatment does not necessarily have to be a cleaning of the surface, although primarily the surface cleaning will be the preferred area of application for a device according to the invention. For example, it is also possible to process the surface to be treated with the rotating tools or the treatment liquid in such a way that it is removed from the surface of the surface to be treated. The particles removed from the surface are sucked in together with the treatment liquid and do not emerge from the area covered by the housing, so that pollution of the environment is avoided. This advantage also occurs if the liquid chosen for treatment is one which contains aggressive constituents, since these constituents also immediately after application to the surface to be treated, together with the other liquid constituents, the loosened dirt and, if appropriate, the surface removed particles are suctioned off again. The device according to the invention can be built very easily and subsequently operated very conveniently, since commercially available construction parts can be used, so that special requests can be made. can be waived.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distributor line is provided with outlet openings for the liquid which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the housing. This ensures a uniform application of the treatment liquid around the center of the rotating tools in a simple manner. For this purpose, it is particularly expedient, according to a further development of the invention, if the distributor line is located in a sealing sleeve made of elastic material which is placed on the circumference of the housing and lies against the treated surface. This sealing sleeve lies outside the orbit of the tools on the surface to be treated and improves the seal to the outside, so that the suction force exerted by the suction unit is effectively retained.

This sealing sleeve is expediently made of rubber or plastic material, so that it adapts well to any unevenness in the surface to be treated and in this way maintains the vacuum inside the housing, which is necessary for reliable suction of the liquid, and at the same time keeps it there Leakage of liquid to the outside is prevented, for example by the influence of the centrifugal force exerted by the rotating tool. In the context of the invention, the sealing sleeve expediently consists of at least two layers, between which the liquid can flow out against the surface to be treated. The liquid supplied via the ring-shaped feed line is therefore introduced at the upper edge of the sealing sleeve between the layers thereof and is guided downward through the gaps existing between the individual layers of the sealing sleeve to the surface to be treated. As a result, the liquid is only released at the lower edge of the sealing sleeve, that is to say on the surface to be treated, and is sucked inward from there by the negative pressure existing inside the housing. The supply of the liquid via the sealing sleeve prevents the liquid from getting inwards at an early stage, so that the supplied liquid remains fully effective and has to flow past the rotating tool or tools on the way inward. The sealing sleeve can, for example, in the context of the invention of two layers, such as a double layer of rubber or elastic plastic or the like. be formed so that the two layers are integrally connected to one another at their edges facing away from the surface. A sealing collar designed in this way need only have at least one opening on its upper edge for the introduction of the supply line for the treatment liquid. The ring connected to this supply line ,, _Λ , _M

WO93 / 10702

The existing distribution line then lies within the sealing sleeve and can also serve to fix the sealing sleeve on the cylindrical housing wall. However, additional fastening options can also be provided, for example by gluing the sealing sleeve to the housing wall or clamping it by means of a clamping ring or the like. To the sealing sleeve _r especially their the. to the treatment surface facing the surface part _j, the possibility of deforming according to any unevenness of the surface without the sealing sleeve rubbing against the rotating tool, there is expediently an intermediate gap between the sealing sleeve and the rotating tool.

It is also possible within the scope of the invention to make at least one layer of the sealing sleeve water-permeable or to provide channels in this position which carry the liquid. When using a water-permeable layer, it is only necessary to ensure that the liquid cannot be drained off at an early stage, which can be ensured in a simple manner, for example, by the water-permeable layer being offset outside and inside from a water-impermeable layer on the sealing collar is covered.

The total weight of the device according to the invention can be kept particularly low if the drive for the rotary movement of the rotating tools has a pneumatic motor connected to the housing, which is coupled to a drive shaft of the rotating tool via a gear. Such pneumatic motors are also commercially available, they are light in weight and only require a single supply line for the supply of compressed air, but not a return line. The used compressed air is environmentally compatible.

An even lower weight can be achieved according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a drive shaft of the rotating tool is connected to a vane wheel mounted in a compartment of the housing, a pressure line opening into this compartment, which has a discharge opening for the pressure medium . This pressure medium can also be compressed air, in which case the discharge opening can lead outside, but pressure oil or another pressure fluid can also be used. In the case of pressure oil, however, there must be a return line for the pressure oil returned from the housing. Such a return line is not required in the case of a pressure fluid if, according to a development of the invention, the pressure line from the supply line for the supply line for the cleaning supply liquid branches off or is formed by this supply line. In this case, the treatment liquid supplied serves first as a drive medium for the vane wheel and then as a treatment medium for the surface to be treated. Since the vane wheel generally rotates very quickly, whereas high-speed rotation of the tool or tools is generally not desired, the vane wheel is expediently coupled to the drive shaft of the rotating tool via a reduction gear.

In order to avoid that treatment liquid escapes from the device in an uncontrolled manner and wets the environment when the device is lifted from the surface to be treated, a pressure sensor is arranged in the suction line according to a further development of the invention, which sensor switches above a predetermined value when the vacuum is reduced The valve in the supply line closes so that no treatment liquid can escape unintentionally.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown schematically in the drawing. Fig.l shows a device driven by a pneumatic motor in vertical section. 2 shows a similar section through a device driven by means of a vane wheel. Fig.3 is a section along the line III - III of Fig.2. Fig. 4 shows another embodiment in section similar to Fig.l. 5 to 8 show three further exemplary embodiments similar to those according to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The device according to Fig.l has a housing 1, which consists of a hollow cylindrical base body 2 and an adjoining compartment 3 above, which is closed at the top by a cover 4. A connector 5 for a suction line 33 is attached to the side of the base body 2. The base body 2 is separated from the compartment 3 by an intermediate wall 6, which carries a downwardly projecting bearing stub 7, in which a shaft 8 for driving a tool 9 rotating around the axis of the shaft for treating the flat surface 10 is mounted. The bearing neck 7 has a flange 11 at the bottom which, with the interposition of a thrust bearing 12, is opposite a counter flange 13 which is screwed to a carrier body 14 of the tool 9. The carrier body 14 has spokes, between which there are openings 38 for the passage of the substances to be sucked into the suction line 33, and carries on its circumference a clamp 36 for an annularly arranged, closed brush collar 15 with which the Device rests on the surface 10 to be treated. The lower edge 16 of the vertical wall 17 of the base part 2, however, lies at a distance above this surface 10, but carries a sealing collar 18 on the outside, the lower edge of which abuts the surface 10. The sealing collar 18 consists of an elastic material, preferably rubber, and is applied to the wall 17 in the form of a double layer. The two layers 19, 20 are or the like at their upper edges by appropriate folding of a rubber strip. connected in one piece. Within this

Folding area 21 is an annular distributor line 22, which is provided with nozzle-like outlet openings, distributed around the circumference of the wall 17, for a treatment liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid, for example water provided with a protective solution. The treatment liquid supplied to the device via the supply line 24 “emerges downwards between the two layers 19, 20 of the sealing collar 18 to the surface 10. The distribution line 22 also forms a clamp which holds the sealing sleeve 18 on the wall 17. In addition, the sealing sleeve 18 can be glued to the wall 17, or resilient retaining rings 23, for example made of wire, can be inserted into the sealing sleeve in order to ensure a secure fit of the sealing sleeve 18 on the housing 1. The distributor line 22 is connected to a supply line 24 which is sealingly guided into the socket 5. A flexible line (not shown), for example a hose, is connected to the connection piece 5 as a suction line 33, which leads to a suction unit (not shown). Likewise, the section of the feed line 24, which runs within this flexible section and leads to a source for the treatment liquid (not shown), is designed to be flexible in order to ensure easy handling of the device. The rotary tool 9 is driven in rotation via the shaft 8 by means of a bevel gear 25 mounted in the compartment 3 by a drive 26, which in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 is formed by a pneumatic motor 27 fastened to the housing 1, which compressed air is supplied via a flexible pressure hose 28 is supplied. The bevel gear 25 forms a reduction gear, so that the rotating tool 9 rotates at a lower speed than the output shaft of the motor 27. This rotational speed of the tool 9 must be based on the vacuum generated by the suction unit within the nozzle 5 and thus within the essentially airtight Base part 2 of the housing 1 is maintained so that it is in the gap of the two Layers 19, 20 of the sealing sleeve 18 to the surface 10 water or the like. inward against the center of the housing 1, against the centrifugal force exerted by the rotating tool 9. In this way it is achieved that on one hand no treatment liquid from the edged of the ^'sealing collar 18 of the area of outlet 10, on the other hand always treatment fluid is drawn substantially radially inwardly into the housing 1, so that the rotating brush ring 15 always treatment liquid is supplied, and this brush wreath does not run dry. The used treatment liquid is sucked off together with the dirt particles removed from the surface 10 through the base part 2 of the housing 1 into the nozzle 5 and via this to the suction unit.

All components used are commercially available, so the total cost of the device is low. Their weight is just as low, since enough powerful pneumatic motors with a weight of about 300 g are commercially available.

As can be seen, there is an annular gap 29 below the wall 17, through which the sealing sleeve 18 is separated from the brush collar 15 of the rotating tool. The sealing collar 18 and the brushes of the brush ring can therefore deform during operation of the device without coming into contact with one another.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 only differs from that according to FIG. 1 with regard to the design of the drive 26 for the rotating tool 9 ^' . According to FIG. 2, a vane cell wheel 30 is rotatably mounted in compartment 3 of housing 1, which is rotationally connected to shaft 8 and rotates in the circular chamber of compartment 3 arranged eccentrically to the axis of shaft 8. A pressure medium, for example compressed air or compressed oil, is fed to the vane cell wheel 30 via a pressure line 31 (FIG. 3) and is discharged again through a discharge opening 32. Such a construction has the advantage of being extremely light, particularly when using compressed air as the pressure medium, since the discharge opening 32 can then lead to the outside without polluting the environment. It would also be possible, instead of compressed air or compressed oil, to supply the pressure fluid supplied to the sealing collar 18 as a drive medium to the vane wheel 30 before being introduced into the annular distributor line 32, that is to say to connect the distributor line 22 to the discharge opening 32. This would be conceivable and advantageous, in particular in the case of larger devices which have a considerable need for supplied cleaning fluid. With smaller ones ^{As a} rule, however, 1 devices, the liquid requirement required for cleaning or other treatment of the surface 10 will be less than that required for driving the vane cell wheel 30. In this case, it is expedient to lead a branch 5 from the supply line 24 to the vane wheel 30, a return line being connected to the discharge opening 32. This construction would still have the advantage of a common supply line for the treatment liquid and the drive medium for the rotating tool 9.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the speed of rotation of the rotating tool 9 is equal to that of the fly cell wheel 30. However, it may be desirable to keep the speed of the rotating tool 9 lower, in which case the impeller 30 is to be coupled to the drive shaft 8 of the rotating tool 9 by means of a reduction gear. 5 As a rule, the treatment liquid supplied is included

Overpressure supplied to ensure a safe exit from the sealing collar 18. As mentioned, the treatment liquid does not have to be a cleaning liquid, just as the tool 9 does not necessarily have to be formed by a brush ring 15. Instead of such a brush ring, for example, a wiping element, a sponge and possibly also a tool that scrapes or abrades the surface 10 could occur, in special cases even a grinding or polishing ring. In all cases, environmental pollution is reliably avoided in that both the material removed from the surface 10 and the 5 treatment liquid cannot escape from the area delimited by the sealing sleeve 18, provided only the negative pressure in the suction line 33 is kept sufficiently large to on the one hand to ensure the suction of the components to be removed, and on the other hand to overcome the centrifugal force exerted on these components by the rotating tool 9. 0 If it disturbs that the rotating tool 9 exerts a reaction torque on the device, the rotating tool can be formed by two rings rotating in opposite directions, concentrically arranged, which are driven by the common drive, which does not cause any design problems . Such a device is shown in FIG. 4, it has two brush rings 15, 15 'running in opposite directions of rotation around a common center, which are fixed by means of clamps 36, 36 "to two carrier bodies 14, 14', which are arranged one above the other Carrier body 14 is screwed to the central shaft 8 as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, whereas the carrier body 14 'is fastened to a hollow shaft 8' which surrounds the shaft 8 concentrically. The two shafts 8, 8 'are rotationally connected to bevel gears 37 and 37' of the bevel gear 25, which are driven by a smaller, common bevel gear 39 which is seated on the output shaft of the pneumatic motor 27.

If necessary, at least one additional tool, which does not rotate, can also be provided. In order on the one hand to monitor the negative pressure in the suction line 33, and on the other hand to prevent treatment liquid from unintentionally escaping when the device is lifted off the surface 10, it is expedient to arrange a pressure sensor 34 in the suction line 33 which plugs into the supply line 24 activated valve 35 actuates as soon as the vacuum in the suction line 33 leaves the predetermined tolerance range. The pressure sensor 34 can be an electronic sensor, but also e.g. mechanical sensor, especially a membrane.

The exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 5 to 8 differ only slightly from those according to FIGS _. .l to 4, namely in that instead of a folded sealing sleeve 18, a three-layer sealing sleeve 18 is used, the individual layers 19, 20, 40 of which are each placed in a ring shape on the wall 17 and there due to the elasticity of the one used Adhere material, preferably elastic plastic or rubber. The middle layer 40 is water-permeable, for example by means of channels or holes, so that the treatment liquid supplied via the distribution line 22 can reach the surface 10 to be treated at least through this water-permeable layer, for example through the channels thereof. If necessary, this liquid can also flow to the surface 10 between the individual layers 19, 20, 40. In order to ensure a secure fit of the individual layers 19, 20, 40 on the wall 17, these layers can be glued to the wall 17 of the housing 1 or the outermost layer 19 and the innermost layer 20 can each be provided with an annular bead 41 be, which engages in a corresponding groove of the wall 17. 6, 7 and 8, the pressure sensor 34 is also shown in more detail in one embodiment. The supply line 24 is guided outside of the connection piece 5 and, with the valve 35 inserted into it, lies within a housing 42 of the pressure sensor 34, into which the suction line 33 prevailing negative pressure is transmitted via an opening 43. A spring-loaded membrane 44 is guided in the housing 42, which is adjusted by the fluctuations in the negative pressure in the suction line 33 and in this way actuates the valve 35.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Device for the treatment, in particular cleaning, of flat surfaces (10), with a housing (1) which can be displaced on the surface (10) and in which at least one tool (9) bearing against the surface (10) to be treated, in particular at least a brush ring (15), which is mounted around an axis normal to the surface (10), and with a drive (26) for the rotary movement of at least one such tool (9), and with a feed line (24) leading to the housing (1) for a treatment liquid, in particular a cleaning liquid, and with a suction line (33) leading from the housing (1) within the orbit of the tool (9) to a suction unit for the used treatment liquid, characterized in that the mouth of the supply line (24) in one is in a ring shape outside the orbit of the tool (9) around this guided distribution line (22), and that that exerted by the suction unit on the liquid applied , inward suction force is greater than the centrifugal force applied to the liquid by the rotating tool (9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor line (22) with around the circumference of the housing (1) is evenly distributed outlet openings for the liquid is provided.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the distributor line (22) in a on the circumference of the housing (1), on the treated surface (10) adjacent sealing collar (18) made of elastic material.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing sleeve (18) consists of at least two layers (19, 20, 40), between which the liquid can flow out against the surface to be treated (10).

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one central layer (40) of the sealing sleeve (18) consists of material permeable to the liquid or has channels for this liquid.

6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the layers (19, 20) at their edges facing away from the surface (10) are integrally connected (Fig.l - 4).

7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that between the sealing sleeve (18) and the circumferential Tool (9) is an annular gap (29).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the drive (26) with a housing (1) connected to the pneumatic motor (27) which via a gear (25) with a drive shaft (8) of the rotating tool (9) is coupled.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that a drive shaft (8) of the rotating tool (9) with a in a compartment (3) of the housing (1) mounted vane cell wheel (30) is coupled, wherein a pressure line (31) opens into this compartment (3), which has a discharge opening (32) for the pressure medium.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure line (31) branches off from the feed line (24) for the Behaπdluπgs fluid or is formed by this feed line. -

11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the .. vane wheel (30) via a reduction gear with the drive shaft (8) of the rotating tool (9) is coupled.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the revolving tool (9) has two brush wreaths (15, 15 ') which are arranged concentrically to one another and in the opposite sense (Fig. 4, 8).

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a pressure sensor (34) is arranged in the suction line (33), which closes a valve (35) in the supply line (24) when the negative pressure is reduced above a predetermined value .