CA2736228C - Machine to clean facade of a building - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning facades including glass surfaces of high-rise buildings. The apparatus comprise of a) a thrust provider for generating force to keep the machine in contact with the facade; b) a hoist unit(s) that provide vertical movement for the machine; c) a close loop of fabric sheet that run between squeezing rollers; d) water spray nozzles that wash the close loop fabric sheet; e) retractable arms extended toward facade putting the fabric sheet in contact with facade; f) close loop water system consist of tank, discharge pump, water filtration unit and water collecting tray; g) an electrical controls unit that provide proper function to electrical components on the machine. The machine provides a number of novel elements and safety features by applying simple design concept that is practicable to wide range of buildings of glass or flat façades.

Description

MACHINE TO CLEAN FACADE OF A BUILDING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention pertains generally to apparatus and methods for cleaning facades of high rising buildings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] The number of buildings with large glass or flat façades is increasing all over the world.
These façades must be periodically cleaned using manual cleaning which is the conventional method today to clean external surface of high rising building.

[003] Cleaning windows on high rise buildings is both difficult and expensive.
Workers utilize the Building Maintenance Unit (BMU) to reach the façade. While the cradle of BMU is moving in front of building's windows, cleaning workers occupying the cradle use sponge and cleaning detergent to wipe clean the façade. This procedure has high risk for the workers and takes weeks to clean the facades of a single high rise structure. The workers sometimes have to perform their work under intense conditions leading risking injury. The method is also messy in operation and is highly sensitive to the weather condition. After cleaning one high rise structure the workers need to move to other side of the building with the equipment making it a laborious and time consuming process.

[004] Apart from the high cost and time for cleaning, another disadvantage of current method is that windows can only be cleaned in longer intervals, and it is not cost effective to wash individual sections of the building even if the need persists. Also as the façade workers are not always a part of Building Maintenance, important information could be seen or leaked during the cleaning process.

[005] Though a few automated or semiautomatic applications exist for cleaning buildings in the market, but have failed due to reasons like; a weak safety concept, poor cleaning quality, requiring additional construction to the facade, expensive initial or operating costs, unable to avoid obstacles such as an open window or minor structural protrusion. Even though some methods have been successful to some extent but are applicable only to a particular building.

[006] Accordingly, a need exists for a window cleaning system that can be operated autonomously and which can be utilized for performing overall periodic cleaning or performing cleaning on an as needed basis. The present invention overcomes the weaknesses of existing systems by simple designing of the machine to clean wide range of high rise building of glass or flat façades.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[007] An automated facade cleaning system is described that is particularly well-suited for washing the exterior surfaces or glass windows on high rise buildings. The system can be configured for semiautomatic cleaning, or for fully automated remote cleaning operations.
Although the bulk of the description herein describes a fully automated system, it will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented without one or more of the inventive aspects described and may thereby require manual intervention when so implemented.

[008] The invented machine is a frame housing electrical and mechanical components referred to as the Main unit which can be simply integrated with the existing BMU by replacing BMU's cradle with it. The unit requires electric power supply that can be provided through electric power cable either from the roof of the building or ground underneath it.

[009] In an aspect of the present invention the main unit lifting and lowering is provided by the existing hoist of BMU that is located on the roof part of BMU, however on some BMU systems the hoist unit is installed on a cradle, therefore the invented machine has a hoist device(s) which can provide the desired up & down movement.

[0010] The surface is cleaned while the main unit is moving on front of the façade, a close loop circuit of micro fabric sheet wipe the façade while resting on a soft or spongy roller attached to extended arms from the main unit.

[0011] In an aspect of the present invention thrust providing equipment generates air flow that may provide the necessary pushing force towards the window, thereby keeping the spongy roller and the micro fabric in contact with the surface.

[0012] The fabric sheet then enters a Laundry Chamber where it gets sprayed by high pressure water and/or cleaning solution from nozzles that are directed into fabric sheet to remove the particles. Afterwards the sheet is run between two or more rollers that are pressed against each other, squeezing most of the water out from the sheet.

[0013] In an aspect of the present invention a tray placed under the spraying nozzles and squeezing rollers collects all sprayed and squeezed water wherefrom a small pump sends it to a filtration unit to remove dust, dirt, sand and other particles. The purified water is then sent back to a water reservation tank.

[0014] In an aspect of the present invention the water in the tank is heated by an electrical water heater.

[0015] An aspect of the present invention is the ability to accomplish the cleaning task for different types of towers and skyscrapers depending on its construction of the external surface.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is to allow installing the fully automated façade cleaning system without the need of structural changes to the building.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is the reduced time of performing the facade cleaning tasks in comparison with the conventional methods and also lower consumption of water for the façade cleaning process.

[0018] Since the present invention eliminates direct human interference for façade cleaning it is safer, more reliable and can be operated on a wide range of weather conditions.

[0019] Yet another aspect of the present invention is its environmental friendly nature and cost effective solution over the conventional methods without degradation of the cleaning quality.

[0020] Further aspect and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0022] Fig. 1 shows overall the Main unit and its metallic structural chassis where all the electrical and mechanical components of the main unit are attached;

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the positioning of the main unit main in respect to Façade; and

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a Laundry Unit and its accessories.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring more specifically to the drawings for illustrative purposes, the present invention is embodied in the method generally described as shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention as provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that inventive aspects may be practiced in numerous alternative ways by one or ordinary skill without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Therefore, various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined here may be applied to other embodiments. Thus the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown below but only by its claims.

[0026] The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
Furthermore, aspects of the invention may be implemented separately or in various combinations without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Specific embodiments are typically shown having a given set of features for the sake of clarity; however, it will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented with more or fewer aspects without departing from the present invention. Few aspects of the invention may also be replaced by mechanical means without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a metallic structural chassis 5 where all electrical and mechanical components of the main unit are attached and are described in an embodiment of the present invention below.

[0028] As shown in Fig 1 the thrust provider are fans 10 driven by electrical motors, the fans 10 will generate mass of air flow as shown in Fig 2-44 in the opposite direction of the façade. Figure 1 also shows a soft or spongy roller 20 supported by arms 30 on the structural chassis 5. Wire rope 32 connecting fasteners 35suspend the main unit from the roof of building. Fig 3 show close loop of fabric sheet 28 pass between squeezing rollers 14. Squeezing rollers 14 driven by an electrical gear-motor 60. In an embodiment of the invention a high pressure discharge pump 55 is used to discharge water into the fabric sheet 28. Sprayed water 2 discharged from nozzles 4 and Water extracted by squeezing rollers 14 is collected by a tray 70. A
circulation pump 43 collects the water from tray 70 and sends it to a filtration unit 45. Water from the filtration unit 45 is sent to a reservation tank 50.

[0029] Thus the thrust provider helps the machine to cling on to the surface of the façade and fabric sheet in direct contact with the façade.

[0030]The fabric sheet 28 is a close loop circuit that is rolling between laundry unit and the façade.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows the positioning of the main unit against the façade. The natural pushing force that the cleaning machine apply against the façade is equal to (SIN B
(Fig.2-15) * the unit weight * gravity (g)). Since the horizontal distance 26 is limited and the height 25 is increasing significantly in comparison to the horizontal distance 26, it results in a very small 0 15 and therefore a little and an inadequate pushing force. Hence, the thrust provider is needed to generate sufficient pushing force that will keep the unit with good contact to the surface.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a Laundry Unit with its accessories. Part of the cloth fabric sheet 28 is contained in the laundry unit. The sheet is washed by being sprayed from nozzles 4 by pressurized water and/or detergent 2 to remove particles collected from the facade.

[0033] After the initial cleaning of facade the fabric sheet runs in between the squeezing rollers 14 that are pressed against each other squeezing most of the water from it.
One of the squeezing rollers 14 is rotated by the electrical gear-motor 60 to provide the movement and pulling force for the fabric sheet 28.

[0034] Underneath the squeezing rollers 14 and the sprayed water area is tray 70, which collects the water and sends it to the filtration unit 45. A circulation pump 43 sends the water collected from the tray 70 back to the reservation tank 50 where water is store to be reused.

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the water in the tank is heated by an electrical water heater 52. The water is then sent to the high pressure discharge pump 55 which pumps the water through a high pressure hose 57 to the nozzles 4 and discharges pressurized water 2 it onto the fabric sheet 28.

[0036] The roller 20 is attached to the extended arms 30 that are connected to the main unit. In an embodiment of the present invention, the roller may be a spongy roller. The spongy roller is to offer cushion contact with facade surface and improve on the cleaning coverage by being able to reach into corners. The arms are fixed to the main unit frame with a retractable mechanism.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the extended arms 30 are retractable to allow the machine to avoid obstacles like an open window or a minor structural outcrop while continuing to perform the cleaning job.

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus configured to clean facade while moving along a building and using recirculation cleaning system, comprising:
a) a structural frame;
b) a thrust provider for generating force to keep the apparatus in contact with the facade; c) a close loop circuit of fabric sheet to wipe clean the facade;
d) high pressure water pump that discharges water and/or detergent into the fabric sheet via spraying nozzles;
e) squeezing rollers where the fabric sheet runs in-between the rollers to extract water from the sheet;
f) collecting tray placed underneath the squeezing rollers and spraying nozzles to gather squeezed and sprayed water;
g) reservation water tank that supply water to the high pressure water pump;
h) filtration unit to filter water gather by the collecting tray wherefrom a small water pump sends it to the reservation tank;
i) retractable arms extended toward facade to put the fabric sheet in contact with facade;
j) hoist unit(s) to provide vertical movement for the apparatus;
k) wire ropes suspending the apparatus from the top of building.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is a structural chassis configured for moving along the facade of the building.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thrust provider is fan(s) discharging mass of air flow in direction opposite to the façade.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric sheet is to collect particles from facade and the particles are removed from the fabric sheet by pressurized water and or detergent discharged from spraying nozzles.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the close loop fabric sheet runs between squeezing rollers to provide pulling force to move the sheet and to squeeze out the water and impurities entrained during facade cleaning.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the close loop fabric sheet is to collect dust, sand, dirt, and smaller particles from the facade.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the squeezing rollers is driven by electrical gear-motor.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising hoist unit(s) and at least two wire ropes to move the apparatus vertically along the facade of the building.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a computer for controlling motion and cleaning operations of the main unit.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retractable arms allows the apparatus to avoid obstacles during facade cleaning.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the facade includes windows, panes, marble, any smooth surface and frames.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building includes residential apartments, towers, multiplexes, office buildings and other structures.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tray below the squeezing rollers and the spraying nozzles to collect water and send it to a filtration unit.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein water from the filtration unit is sent to a reservation tank to store and reuse the water.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the spraying water is heated by an electrical water heater.