GB2142525A

GB2142525A - Cleaning equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2142525A
Application number: GB08414291A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Louis Donald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-30
Filing date: 1984-06-05
Publication date: 1985-01-23
Also published as: NZ204770A; AU558662B2; AU2182383A; GB8414291D0

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces e.g. hulls of boats, swimming pools, the insides of tanks, and reservoirs has a cleaning head (2) arranged in such a manner that, in use, when the cleaning head is moved over the surface being cleaned, a force is generated by the action of the blade on surrounding liquid which tends to move the cleaning head into contact with said surface. The cleaning head may be a brush, sponge, scraper, or abrasive device. In modifications, the handle may be replaced by an arrangement wires (44). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cleaning means for surfaces immersed in liquid This invention relates to means for cleaning surfaces immersed in liquid, and in particular to means adapted to clean such surfaces as the underside of boat hulls, swimming pools, the inside of tanks containing in particular liquids, and other reservoirs or surfaces bounded by a liquid.

Existing methods of cleaning surfaces in contact with water or other liquids, particularly the bottom of boat hulls whilst the boat is floating in water, have not satisfactorily overcome the difficulty of keeping the cleaning means such as a brush head, in close or tight contact with the surface to be cleaned. Some attempts to overcome this problem have been made by providing brushes with an elongated handle which can be forced against a boat hull by using an adjacent wharf or jetty as a fulcrum against which a handle bears. Such an arrangement is disadvantageous as it is clumsy to use. Also such a method cannot be used when cleaning a reservoir such as a swimming pool, for example.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and more easily operated means for cleaning surfaces bounded by a liquid such as boat hulls, swimming pools and the like, or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly the invention consists in apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid, said apparatus having a cleaning means, means operable to cause or allow said cleaning means to be moved overthe surface to be cleaned, and a force directing means arranged so that motion of the apparatus over the surface to be cleaned gives rise to a force which tends to move said cleaning means into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

To those skilled in the artto which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications ofthe invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a means for cleaning surfaces according to one preferred form of the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a representation of a part of a handle and cleaning head connecting piece for use in the invention of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of part of one preferred form of the handle for use in the means for cleaning surfaces of the invention; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a an alternative cleaning head for use in the invention; Figure 6 is a side elevation of a still further alternative cleaning head for use in the preferred form of the invention;; Figure 7 is a side elevation of an alternative means to give rise to a force tending to move a cleaning means into contact with the surface to be cleaned in the preferred form of the invention; Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a still further alternative form of the invention; Figure 9 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of apparatus to assist the use of one form of the invention such as the construction shown in Figure 8; Figure loins a diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus similar two the construction shown in Figure 8; and Figure ii is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of apparatus forming an embodiment of the invention alternative to the construction of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings a means for cleaning surfaces particularly for cleaning surfaces bounded by liquid is provided as follows. A cleaning head such as brush or sponge 2 is provided which is engaged or includes a mounting device for a handle.

Of course multiple brushes or the like may be used.

Thus the brush 2 may have bristles 3 extending from a plate 4 and the plate 4 may be engageable by a connecting piece 5 including a plate 6. This connection between the plates 4 and 5 may be in any desired manner and, for example, threaded studs 7 may extend outwardly form the plate 4 so as to be engageable by nuts 8. This allows the cleaning head 2 to be removed, for example, to allow changing of the cleaning head in a simple manner.

The connecting member 5 is desirably extended at 9 so as to be engageable by a handle 10. The handle 10 can be of any desired length depending on the surface to be cleaned and may also include any desired number of joints or knuckles. In the construction shown in Figure 1 the handle 10 comprises a first piece 11 and a second piece 12. The first piece 11 is engageable with the connecting member 5 and this may be achieved, for example, by providing transverse apertures through the member 5 and the member 11 so that an aperture 13 seen, for example, in Figures 3 to 7.

An aperture 14 is provided in the first handle piece 11 and the apertures 13 and 14 may be surrounded by a sequence of radial ribs 15 which co-operate to position the first handle piece 11 at a desired or selected angle relative to the connecting member 5.

The first handle piece 11 and the member 5 may then be engaged, for example, by passing a bolt through the apertures fixed, for example, by a wing nut 16.

The other end of the first handle piece 11 may be provided with an aperture 17 and radial ribs 18 so that the second handle 12 may be engaged substantially in the same manner by providing apertures at each end such as apertures 19 and again cooperating radial ribs. By providing apertures 19 at each end of the handle 12 successive lengths of handle pieces may be engaged if desired.

The connecting member 5 is also engaged by force directing means and in the preferred form of the invention the force directing means comprises a blade or vane 20 pivotally mounted on the connect ing member 5. To achieve this the blade or vane 20 may have a bifurcated mounting member 21 mounted on the blade or vane 20 which engages a member 22 forming part of the connecting member 5 which member 22 lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the intended plane of the cleaning apparatus.

The member 22 may have an aperture 23 therein and the bifurcated member 21 has aligned apertures through which an axle 24 may be passed.

It is desirable to restrict the range of rotation over which the vane or blade 20 may pass and this may be achieved by providing stops on the member 22.

This is satisfactorily achieved by providing a pair of protrusions 25 positioned each side of the fixing point for the blade or vane 20. The shape and disposition of the protrusions 25 will be determined by the desired range through which the blade or vane 20 should pivot and a desirable range is about 40 in each direction from the position where the blade or vane 20 is substantially at right angles to the intended plane of cleaning. However, a blade held at virtually any angle between 0 and 90"will produce some force in use substantially at right angles to the direction of motion, and could therefore be used.

In the preferred form the vane or blade 20 is simply a flat sheet of material such as thin plywood or the like, however the same could be obtained by having a blade or foil which is shaped substantially as a foil with a cross section which creates a lift on movement through the water or other liquid, the lift being directed towards the surface to be cleaned.

Such a foil could be rigidly fixed to a cleaning head 2 rather than being pivotally mounted as described to this point, so that upon movement in one direction the foil creates lift directed towards the surface to be cleaned and upon movement in the opposite direction, creates lift away from the surface to be cleaned.

In the construction of Figure 5 the brush 2 is replaced by a scraper 30 which may be held in a mounting block 31 affixed to the connecting device 5, for example, by screws bolts or other fixing members 32.

In the construction of Figure 6, the brush 2 is replaced by a bearer for abrasive material preferably in strip form. The bearer comprises, for example, a support having an outer part 33 and an inner part 34 engageable one with the other, for example, by protruding threaded studs from the part 33 extending through apertures in the part 34 to be fixed by a fixing device such as wing nuts 35. Thus, for example, abrasive paper may be clamped at the ends between the parts 33 and 34 so as to provide an outer cleaning face 36 for the abrasive paper 37. The inner bearer member 34 may be positioned on a mounting block 38 engageable with the connecting device 5.

In Figure 7 a construction is shown wherein the blade or foil 20 is replaced by a pair of blades 40 mounted on a bifurcated support 41 engageable with the connecting member 5. Multiple blades can be used and can be fixed directly to the bearer or connecting member 5 or may be mounted through an intermediate member such as shown in Figure 7.

In the construction of Figure 8 a pair of brushes 2 are shown mounted on a backing support 42 carrying a connecting member 43 which in turn carries a blade or foil 20 substantially as herein before described. However in this construction the handle 10 is replaced by other means to move the cleaning device and these may comprise strings, wires or other tendons 44 connected at each end of the means 1 for cleaning. It is desirable that the tendons 44 be connected to the connecting member 5 through a device that will release twisting in the tendons 44 such as, for example, swivels 45 which may be substantially of the type used in fishing lines.

The construction of Figure 8 is able to be used to clean, for example, the bottom surface of a reservoir and in such a construction it may be desirable to move the cleaning head 1 in a direction at right angles to the direction that will be induced by the tendons 44. One method of achieving this is to provide a rail 50 of which one such rail 50 is attached to each end or side of the reservoir and providing a block 51 able to move along the rail. In the construction shown in Figure 9 the block 51 has mutually inwardly facing arms 52 which move in slots 53 in the rail. Clearly other constructions could be used, for example, of the types used in curtain tracks or otherwise. The block 51 may mount a pulley or wheel 54, for example, from a pair of arms 55 so that the tendon 44 may pass there around. A possible construction is shown in Figure 10.In such a construction a fixed vane 60 is provided and move mentofthecleaning means 1 in the direction of arrow 61 will tend to force the cleaning head 2 against the surface 62 but movement in the direction of arrow 63 will tend to lift the cleaning device 2 away from the surface 62 at least over a substantial part of its travel. Thus a cleaning motion in one direction may be obtained. Where it is desired to clean a surface having end walls it may be desirable to restrict the width of the blade or vane 20, for example, to the position of the pecked lines 70 in Figure 2 so that the blade or vane has a length substantially equal to the length of the cleaning head 2. Of course in such a construction it may be desirable to extend the height of the blade or vane so as to compensate for the lost surface area.

In the embodiment of Figure 11 rod, tube or the like 70 is fixed at its ends to sides of a reservoir. A sleeve 71 can move on the rod 70 which sleeve 71 mountes pulley 54 about which tendon 44 passes.

Whichever embodiment or application is selected the operative end or head of the apparatus may be provided with buoyancy means to assist with the handling of the apparatus particularly where long operating handles are used. This buoyancy means could comprise a piece of polystyrene attached to connecting means 5 or could be provided by some other, equivalent material or component.

The use of the invention is as follows: In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 7, the knuckles in the handle are set so that the cleaning head 2 will be in contact with the surface to be cleaned at least over a substantial length of the travel in operation. In particular it is desirable that the brush head be substantially squarely in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The arrangement of Figure 1 is set up to indicate a possible arrangement for cleaning a boat hull by a person standing on an adjacent jetty, wharf, marina, dinghy or the like.

Clearly other dispositions will be required, for example, for cleaning the walls of a swimming pool which is substantially vertical or cleaning the bottom of a swimming pool which is substantially horizontal.

By suitably directed pressure on the handle 10 the cleaning head 2 and the vane or blade 20 will be moved through the liquid such as water creating a force which will push the vane or blade 20 to a position against one of the stops 25. This will give rise to hydrodynamics pressure in the form of a force which is directed so as to bring the cleaning head 2 into contact with the surface to be cleaned. Movement in the opposite direction will cause the vane or blade 20 to move against the other stop 25 again giving rise to a force tending to keep the cleaning head 2 in contact with the surface to be cleaned.

Alternative movements of this type will in each case substantially retain contact between the cleaning head 2 and the surface to be cleaned.

In the construction of Figures 8 and 9, the movement is achieved by alternately directed forces on the tendons 44 but the movement of the cleaning head is substantially as above described.

By using the construction of Figure 9 or Figure 11 the cleaning device may be traversed across the bottom of a reservoir.

In the construction of Figure 10, a cleaning movement will be given rise to in only one direction and this may be desirable if it is desired to deposit removed material along one side of a reservoir.

Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention apparatus is provided which may easily and effectively clean surfaces bounded by a liquid such as water, for example, boat hulls, swimming pools or other reservoirs. The apparatus gives rise to forces which will keep the cleaning head substantially in contact with the surface to be cleaned which increases the speed and efficiency of the cleaning of such surfaces.

Claims

1. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid, said apparatus having a cleaning means, means to move the cleaning means over the surface to be cleaned, and a force directing means arranged so that motion of the apparatus over the surface to be cleaned gives rise to a force which tends to move said cleaning means into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

2. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said force directing means comprises a foil, vane or blade associated with said cleaning means, said foil, vane or blade generating forces by way of hydrodynamic pressure when the cleaning apparatus is moved through said liquid.

3. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in claim 2 wherein said foil, vane or blade portion of the apparatus is movable so as to exert the force moving the apparatus towards the surface to be cleaned whether the apparatus is drawn towards the operator or moved away from the operator of the cleaning apparatus.

4. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said foil, vane or blade takes the form of a vane pivotally mounted on said cleaning means so as to pivot away from the direction of movement of the cleaning apparatus.

5. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in claim 4 wherein stops are provided to restrict the pivotal movement of said vane.

6. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in claim 5 wherein the maximum range of movement of said vane is approximately 80".

7. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said cleaning means comprises a brush, sponge, scraper or abrasive material.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said means to move said cleaning means comprises a handle and operated by hand from a distance.

9. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said means to move said cleaning means comprises tendons, said apparatus being moved by moving said tendons.

10. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid as claimed in claim 7 wherein said handle includes knuckles or joints, said knuckles or joints being able to be set in positions so that said handle is adjustable in contours to suit the contours of the object being cleaned.

11. Apparatus to clean a surface bounding a liquid when constructed arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.