WO2001072438A1

WO2001072438A1 - Arrangement and method for cleaning fronts

Info

Publication number: WO2001072438A1
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lebuinus Franciskus Petrus Van Der Bles; Hendrikus Lebuinus Maria Van Der Bles
Original assignee: Bedrijfsdiensten V.D. Bles
Priority date: 2000-01-27
Filing date: 2001-01-22
Publication date: 2001-10-04
Also published as: NL1014205C1; EP1181111A1; AU3423701A

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning fronts of buildings. The apparatus comprises a frame (3), provided with a cylindrical brush (14), mounted for rotation around its length axis, a fan (18a, 18b), and a spraying arrangement (16a, 16b). The apparatus can be moved alongside a building (1) to be cleaned with the aid of a winch and is provided with four wheels (19a, 19b, 19c, 19d) which contact the building (1). Use is made of a brace wire (9a, 9b), stretched in a vertical direction along the building (1), for pushing the apparatus against the front. Frame (3) is provided with guiding means (10a, 10b), co-operating with the brace wire (9a, 9b).

Description

Arrangement and method for cleaning fronts

The invention relates to an arrangement for cleaning fronts, comprising a frame, provided with at least one at least substantially cylindrically shaped brush, mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis, with supporting means, for operationally supporting the frame against a front to be cleaned, and with fastening means for fastening the frame to a hoisting device.

An arrangement of this type is known from EP 0 847 720. The known arrangement is especially well suited for cleaning horizontal and sloping surfaces. For vertical surfaces, and more in particular for fronts provided with windows, it is necessary to push the brush against the front, which cannot be performed by the known arrangement. It is possible therefore that the window frames and the window boards are less well cleaned.

The invention obviates this disadvantage and is characterized in that the arrangement comprises at least one bracing wire, under operational conditions to be stretched at least substantially vertically alongside the frame to be cleaned and that the frame is provided with guiding means which under operational conditions co-operate with the at least one brace wire.

With the inventive arrangement, it is no longer necessary to provide buildings with a movable suspended stage for having the windows periodically cleaned by a human being. This entails an important cost saving, especially now that the safety requirements with respect to suspended stages for personal use tend to become increasingly severe. Instead of this, a winch can be used now, which is usually -available for hoisting objects when removing. A favourable embodiment of the inventive arrangement is characterized in that de supporting means comprise two pairs of wheels, mounted on either side of the brush, such that an unevenness in the front surface will only marginally influence the position of the brush.

When the arrangement is moved alongside the front then, without additional measures, it would be necessary to adjust continuously the length of the brace wires. A favourable embodiment which obviates this disadvantage is characterized in that at least part of the at least one brace wire is made of an elastic material.

A favourable alternative embodiment which enables the use of a steel cable as a brace wire is according to an other aspect of the invention characterized in that the guiding means are provided with spring means, which spring means can provide for the necessary change in length of the at least one brace wire.

A still further favourable embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the frame is provided with at least two separate spray means, mounted alongside the brush, for spraying liquids or steam. Normally exactly two spray means are available, one of which sprays for example during hoisting up a soap solution onto the surface to be cleaned, while the other sprays clean water for rinsing of the surface.

A very favourable embodiment according to another aspect of the invention is characterized in that the frame is provided with fan means, for drying cleaned surfaces.

The invention also relates to a method for cleaning fronts, in the process of which a frame, provided with a rotating, at least substantially cylindrically shaped brush, is dragged alongside a front to be cleaned while front parts in the vicinity of the brush are sprayed with liquids and while wheels, connected to the frame and rolling along the front, maintain a previously determined distance.

The inventive method is characterized in that before the front is cleaned a brace wire is stretched alongside the front and that the frame is placed between the front and the at least one brace wire, such that the at least one brace wire pushes the brush against the front during the cleaning action.

A favourable realization of the inventive method is characterized in that together with the brush, a fan is dragged alongside the front to be cleaned and that a cleaned surface is at least substantially dried by blowing off the water.

The invention will now be explained more in detail with a reference to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically represents in side view a building and a possible embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically represents in front view a building and a possible embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 3 schematically represents in front view a possible embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 4 schematically represents in side view a possible embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 5 schematically represents a possible embodiment of a hoisting device.

Fig. 1 schematically represents in side view a building 1 provided with a possible embodiment of an arrangement 2 according to the invention. Arrangement 2 comprises a frame 3 which is provided with cleaning means and which can be dragged alongside the front of the building with the aid of a hoisting device 4 and a cable 5. In this process, building 1 is cleaned in vertically oriented tracks.

Hoisting device 4 may be part of the equipment of building 1 and will normally be mounted on a rail 6, such that it can be moved into a horizontal direction, until frame 3 is well positioned, after which hoisting device 4 hoists frame 3 up to a point near the roof edge of building 1. During this hoisting-up the track to be cleaned may be covered with a soap solution, supplied via a hose 7, connected to a service vehicle 8 which is located underneath frame 3. Together with hose 7, other hoses and a supply voltage for feeding the various electromotors can be attached to frame 3. Next, one slowly descends frame 3 from the eaves, during which the cleaning equipment cleans, rinses and dries the track to be cleaned. In order to push frame 3 against the front of building 1, two bracing wires 9a, 9b are provided, connected to hoisting device 4 and running downwards via two pulleys 10a, 10b, where they are connected to service vehicle 8 or to two eyes, anchored into the ground, via two hand winches 11a, lib. With the hand winches 11a, lib the bracing wires 9a, 9b are put under tension. For relatively low buildings, for example up to forty meters, the bracing wires can be put under tension manually and be connected via springs to spiral-shaped anchors, screwed into the ground. For buildings that are to be cleaned regularly, eyes may be connected preferably permanent to the building or to the ground. In order to prevent the tension in bracing wires 9a, 9b to increase too much in the extreme positions of frame 3, the bracing wires 9a, 9b are made of an elastic material, or draw springs, not shown in the figure are incorporated or pulleys 10a, 10b are spring- mounted to frame 3. A combination of measures is also possible. Once the track to be cleaned is finished, the bracing wires are released and frame 3 is moved sideways with the aid of hoisting device 4, service vehicle 8 is moved sideways and the arrangement is ready for cleaning an adjacent track.

Fig. 2 schematically represents in front view a building 1 and a possible embodiment of the arrangement 2 according to the invention, with frame 3, hoisting device 4, mounted permanently to building 1 and sideways movable on rail 6, hose 7, via which cleaning fluids, water and a supply voltage can be supplied to frame 3 from service vehicle 8, and bracing wires 9a, 9b which are stretched from hoisting device 4 via pulleys 10a, 10b and via hand winches 11a, lib to service vehicle 8. The surface to be cleaned of building 1 is provided with windows 12 and non-transparent panels 13a, 13b, with the windows normally in a slightly recessed position. Although the aim is, at least in principle, to clean the building in adjacent vertically running tracks, it is possible to displace hoisting device 4 with respect to service vehicle 8, in which case pulleys 10a, 10b follow the now oblique running bracing wires 9a, 9b and oblique running tracks will be cleaned.

Fig. 3 schematically represents in front view a possible embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention, in which a cylindrically shaped brush 14 with an integrated electromotor 15 of the type in use in automated car washers is mounted in frame 3. Moreover, frame 3 comprises two sets of spraying devices 16a, 16b, of which the openings, not ω 0J ro ro I-¹ t-π O o Cn O n

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bolts 24 and compression springs 25a, 25b, in such a way that mounting plates 22a, 22b will move towards cover 21 at a previously determined tension in brace wires 9a, 9b.

It is also possible to build the arrangement without a cover 21, by connecting the mounting plates 22a, 2b to frame 3 with the aid of a bow frame, which makes the arrangement less wind sensitive.

Fig. 5 schematically represents a possible embodiment of a hoisting device 4, here provided with a winch 26 which is mounted underneath a cart 27, which cart 27 can move over rails 6, as known in the art. In order to connect the brace wires 9a, 9b according to the invention onto cart 27, a • steel plate 28 has been placed between cart 27 and winch 26, on which two eyes 29a, 29b mounted, to which brace wires 9a, 9b are connected, for example by a spring-loaded split hook.

Claims

1. Arrangement for cleaning fronts, comprising a frame, provided with at least one at least substantially

5 cylindrically shaped brush, mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis, with supporting means, for operationally supporting the frame against a front to be cleaned, and with fastening means for fastening the frame to a hoisting device, characterized in that the arrangement comprises at

10 least one bracing wire, under operational conditions to be stretched at least substantially vertically alongside the frame to be cleaned and that the frame is provided with guiding means which under operational conditions co-operate with the at least one brace wire.

15

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that de supporting means comprise two pairs of wheels, mounted on either side of the brush.

20 3. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the at least one brace wire is made of an elastic material.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in 25 that the guiding means are provided with spring means.

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is provided with at least two separate spray means, mounted alongside the brush, for spraying liquids or

30 steam.

6. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in ,.'.'^*?^■■• that the frame is provided with fan means, for drying cleaned surfaces.

35 n O cn

VD