GB2243070A - Cleaning apparatus for roof glazing - Google Patents

Abstract

Glazing 12 in roof structure 10 is cleaned by a rotary brush supported on end mountings 19, (20) which are movable either in or out of synchronism with each other along guide rails 16, 16A, the brush being so constructed that its effective length between the end mountings is changeable. The brush may comprise two telescopically arranged parts. A curved roof structure 60 may be cleaned by an arcuate brush comprising a corrugated tubular rubber core accommodating a spring. A perforated spray tube 88 may be mounted above the brush. <IMAGE>

Description

Title Cleaning Apparatus for Roof Glazing Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning roof glazing, more especially the non-planar glazed roof structures employed in large covered areas such as shopping precincts, for eaple atrium-type glazed roof structures and barrel arch-type glazed roof structures.

Background to the invention It is known, for the purpose of cleaning planar window glazing in tower blocks, to mount an elongate brush to be rotatable about its axis between end mountings movable in synchronism between one end of a path of movement and the other, so that in use the brush is applied over a rectangular area. One example of apparatus for cleaning tower block window glazing is described in U.K. Patent Specification No. 1154983, from which it is readily apparent that this known apparatus is clearly not suited to cleaning non-planar glazed roof structures, for example of the atrium-type or the barrel arch-type.

The invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for cleaning the glazing of a nonplanar glazed roofing structure, comprising an elongate brush mounted to be rotatable about its axis between end mountings movable not necessarily in synchronism each between one end of a path of movement and the other, wherein the brush is so constructed as to be able to change its effective length between its end mountings.

The elongate brush may have either a straight longitudinal axis or a curved longitudinal axis.

A straight brush is employed in a first embodiment for cleaning atrium-type glazing which includes one or more triangular glazing sections at the ends of a planar area of glass forming part of the glazed roof structure.

A curved brus: is employed in a second joSient for cleaning a barrel arch-type roof structure incorporating semi-cylindrical glazing extending lengthwise around an angle or corner.

In both embodiments, one end mounting for the brush is required to continue movement for a period during which the other end mounting is substantially stationary, i.e.

to clean the above-mentioned triangular azing section or to traverse the above-mentioned angle or corner.

According to another aspect of the invention, therefore, apparatus for cleaning a non-planar glazed roofing structure comprises an elongate brush mounted to be rotatable about its axis between end mountings movable each between one end of a path of movement and the other, and driving means for moving at least one end mounting along at least part of its path of movement independently of the other end mounting.

The drive means thus enables one end mounting to move differently from the other, i.e. not n s:nchronism. When the two end mountings move in non-synchronised relationship, the brush is required to change its length due to the change in spacing between the end mountings which occurs during non-synchronised relative movement.

In the first embodiment above-mentioned, where a substantial change in length of the straight brush is often necessary, the brush may be formed in two parts slidable relative to one another, e.g. telescopically, along the axis of the brush.

In the second embodiment above-mentioned, where a smaller change in length of the curved brush will often be sufficient to enable it to stretch or expand into an angle or corner, the curved brush may have a resilient core normally, i.e. when the two end mountings are moving in synchronism along parallel straight paths, under a degree of compression along its length.

In both embodiments, the brush end mountings may comprise miniature carriages themselves mounted to slide along guide rails fixed to the building exterior, e.g. the brickwork or atrium apex, adjacent the respective longitudinal edges of the glazed roof structure. An electric motor carried by one of the carriages drives the brush in rotation about its axis. At least one end mounting is preferably driven along its associated rail by means of a helical drive shaft extending parallel to the rail, the helical drive shaft itself being drivable in rotation by a stepper motor. In the second embodiment, two independent stepper motors are employed, and a sensor detects the position of a brush end mounting along the rail and feeds back a signal to stop one of the stepper motors during a period of non-synchronised relative movement of the end mountings.In the first embodiment only a single stepper motor is used, i.e. only one end mounting is driven, and pivotal connections between the respective end mountings and the brush enable the said one end mounting to continue to move after the other end mounting has encountered a stop. A rack and pinion drive may alternatively be used.

The apparatus preferably also includes a water spray system, of which the spray nozzles may be carried by the guide rails. Water may also be pumped into the central tube of the brush and dispersed through the bristles.

Description of drawings Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions of two embodiments of apparatus for cleaning roof glazing, making reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figures 1 to 8 relate to a first embodiment and Figures 9 to 13 relate to a second embodiment, and wherein:: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an atrium-type glazed roof structure with the first embodiment of cleaning apparatus mounted thereto; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the roof structure; Figures 3A and 3B show details of the brush construction; Figures 4 and 5 show details of the brush drive at the atrium base; Figures 6 and 7 show details of alternative designs of the brush mounting at the atrium apex; Figure 8 shows detail of a spring detent; Figure 9 is a plan view of a barrel arch-type glazed roof structure with a second embodiment of cleaning apparatus mounted thereto; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line A-A of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a scrap view in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 9; and Figures 12 and 13 show details of the brush mountings and drives.

Description of embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 8, the atrium-type roof structure 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a triangular section of glazing 12 at the end of one side.

The cleaning apparatus includes a rotating brush 14 adapted to clean the one side of the glazed roof structure, including the triangular section 12, without overlap of the brush into the space where no glazing exists.

For this purpose, the rotating brush 14 is driven to sweep across the glazing, from left to right in Figure 1, with the upper and lower ends of the brush moving equally and in synchronism, until it reaches the beginning of the triangular section 12, where the upper end of the brush is stopped, whilst the lower end continues to move to the right, accompanied by elongation of the brush, in order to sweep the triangular section 12. The brush is then returned from right to left into a parking shelter (not shown) at the left-hand end of the glazed structure, whereat an analogous triangular end section may have been cleaned in similar manner at the beginning of the preceding left to right sweep.

In order to accomplish the foregoing, two guide rails 16, 16A are fixed to the building exterior, one along the brickwork 18 adjacent the base of the glazed structure and one along the apex of the atrium roof, and the rotating brush 14 is supported between two end mountings 18, 20 in the form of small carriages which run along the rails.

Details of the lower carriage are later described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 and details of the upper carriage with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

Figures 3A and 3B show the construction of the rotating brush 14. It has two telescopically arranged parts 22, 24 each carrying nylon bristles or filaments. When the inner part 22 is retracted into the outer tubular part 24, the nylon bristles on the inner part collapse and are accommodated in an annular space 26 formed between the two parts. Reference 28 in Figure 3A denotes the guide means on which the two parts of the brush slide relative to one another along the axis of the brush. Such relative sliding movement is produced automatically when the two brush end mountings 18, 20 become increasingly spaced, i.e. when the triangular section 12 is being swept.

Figures 4 and 5 show the lower carriage 18 and parts associated therewith, in side and end view. The carriage 18 is driven along the rail 16 by a helical drive shaft 30 rotatably supported by the rail in bearing blocks 32. The carriage 18 itself runs on the rail through stabilising wheels 34, and incorporates a helical nut 36 cooperating with the drive shaft.

A hinged plate 38 carries a bearing block 40 rotatably supporting one end of the shaft 14, and an electric motor 42 is provided to drive the brush in rotation. Hinged plate 38 allows the angular orientation of the brush to change when the triangular section 12 is being swept. It should be mentioned, for reasons of clit, that the carriage block 18 is shown in cross-section in Figure 4, taken on the line A-A of Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows one design of the upper carriage 20 and parts associated therewith. The guide rail 16A in this design includes a round guide bar 17 along which the carriage can rotate as well as slide linearly. The rotational movement of the carriage 20 around the guide bar 17 allows the angular orientation of the brush 14 to change, so that a hinged plate is not required. Instead, the upper end of the shaft 14 is rotatably supported by a bearing assembly 44 carried by an angle member 46 fixed to the carriage 20.

An alternative design of the carriage 20 is shown in Figure 7. In this case the guide rail 16A has a central web 17A supporting a pair of rollers 17B on which the carriage runs, guided by further rollers 4Ç, on the carriage and cooperating with the central web of the guide rail. A hinged plate 50 supports a bearing assembly 52 for the upper end of the rotating brush 14. The hinged plate 50 allows the brush to change its angular orientation when the triangular section 12 of the roof glazing is being swept.

Figure 8 shows the detail of a locking detent means employed, at the position indicated in Figure 7, to lock the hinged plate carrying the rotating brush in its normal position, i.e. in the appropriate angular orientation when the main length of glazing is being swept and the two brush end mountings are moving in synchronism.

Water spray nozzles appertaining to a water spray system may also be carried by the guide rails.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 13, there is shown in Figures 9 to 11 a barrel arch-type glazed roof structure 60 which is being cleaned by an arcuately curved brush 64 rotating about its curved axis. The arched roof structure includes an angle region 62 at which it changes direction, shown on the extreme right-hand side of Figure 9. The brush 64 is driven along the arched glazed structure by drive means operable independently of one another at both ends of the brush, so that when the angle change 62 is reached, the drive can continue around the outside of the angle while the drive at the inside of the angle is stopped.

As shown in Figure 12, in order to provide the necessary elongation of the brush 64 when the angle change 62 is being traversed, and to enable the brush to stretch into the angle for efficient cleaning, the brush is provided with a corrugated rubber core tube 66 accommodating a highly flexible spring 68. The core tube 66 is fitted to a tubular end stub 70 to which a water tube 72 is attached. The end stub 70 is apertured to emit jets of water supplied through the water hose. It is alternatively possible to employ a perforated core tube 72 emitting water directly into the brush bristles.

It will be appreciated that the drives at both ends of the curved rotating brush 64 can be identical, and Figures 12 and 13 serve to show one convenient arrangement.

Thus, on each side of the barrel arch roof structure, a shaped guide rail 74 incorporating a precision linear rack 76 is fixed to the brickwork of the building. The guide rail and rack follows precisely the profile, including angle changes, of the roof structure. A carriage 78, fixedly carrying the above-described end fitting stub for the brush 64, carries a stepper motor and gear box 80 driving a spur gear pinion 82 cooperating with the rack 76. Additionally the carriage 78 is equipped with guide rollers 84A, 84B which cooperate with the shaped guide rail. The carriage also carries an encoder controlled electric motor and gear box 86 for driving the brush in rotation about its curved longitudinal axis. Thus, the brush is rotated synchronously from both ends.

In use, by means of a sensing device (not shown), the stepper motor 80 on the outside of the angle at the change in roof direction continues to drive while the stepper motor 80 on the inside of the angle is stopped. At this time the curved brush extends to stretch into the corner of the angle in the roof glazing.

After sweeping the full length of the glazing of the arched roof structure, the carriages return the brush to a parking shelter.

Reference 88 in Figure 10 denotes an additional or alternative water spray system.

Various modifications of the above-described arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning the glazing of a non-planar glazed roofing structure comprising an elongate brush mounted to be rotatable about its axis between end mountings movable not necessarily in synchronism each between one end of a path of movement and the other, wherein the brush is so constructed as to be able to change its effective length between its end mountings.

2. Apparatus for cleaning the glazing of a non-planar glazed roofing structure comprising an elongate brush mounted to be rotatable about its axis between end mountings movable each between one end of a path of movement and the other, and driving means for moving at least one end mounting along at least part of its path of movement independently of the other end mounting.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the brush has a straight longitudinal axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the brush is formed in two parts relatively slidable along the longitudinal axis of the brush in order to change the effective length of the brush.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the two parts of the brush are arranged telescopically.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the brush has a curved longitudinal axis.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the brush has a resilient core normally under a degree of compression along its length, whereby the curved brush is able to stretch or expand into an angle or corner.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the brush mountings comprise miniature carriages mounted on rails fixed to the building exterior.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an electric motor carried by one of the carriages drives the brush in rotation about its axis.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein at least one end mounting is driven along its associated guide rail by means of a helical drive shaft extending parallel to the rail, the helical drive shaft itself being drivable in rotation by a stepper motor.

71. Apparatus according to claim 10 when appendant to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein one of the end mountings is driven by a stepper motor, and pivotal connections between the respective end mountings and the brush enable said one end mounting to continue to move after the other end mounting has reached a stop position.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 when appendant to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the end mountings are independently driven by respective stepper motors, and a sensor detects the position of a brush end mounting and feeds back a signal to stop one of the stepper motors during a period of non-synchronised relative movement of the end mountings.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11, including a water spray system having spray nozzles carried by the guide rails.

14. Apparatus for cleaning roof glazing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 or to Figures 9 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.