US3497902A - Building cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3, 7,

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet].

- INVENTOR.

JOHN HARTIGAN BY/2M? ATTORNEY- Ma h 3, 1970 .1. HARTICQAN 3,497,902

I BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS, r

Filed Oct. 4, 1968 14 Shets-Sheat 2 INVENTOR. JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 J. HARTIGAN BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiYed Oct. 4, 1968 INVENTOR.

- JOHN HARTIGAN BY fla /4am ATTORNEY J. HARTIGAN BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Ma rch 3, 1 970 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 4, 1968 llll i INVENTOR. JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3,497,902

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Fxled Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. l

JOHN HARTIGAN /iz/fzm ATTORNEY March a, 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3,497,902

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Flled Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 (D Q I N 1 6 INVENTOR. E 3

JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 Filed Oct. 4, 1968 BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS J. HARTIGAN ZIO v 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3-, 1970 J. HAR'I 'IGAN 3,497

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 fivvEN'roR. Jorm HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3,497,902

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1968 r 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY 4 March 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3,497,902

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS Flled Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 J. HARTl G-AN BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Flled Oct. 4, 1968 mwm INVENTOR. JOHN HAR'TIGAN 7 ATTORNE Y March 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3,497,902

Q BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS med Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 x i INVENTOR. JOHN HARTIGAN i i ATTORNEY I March 3, 1970 J. HARTIGAQ 3,497,902

BUILDIZJG CLEANING APPARATUS F11ed Oct. 4, 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 o O: 0 p 2 o L) I INVENTOR.

JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 J. HARTIGAN 3,

BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS F i186 4. 1968 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 8 E v N L W 5 2 m F N ml V N G l 1 I D INVENTOR.

JOHN HARTIGAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,497,902 BUILDING CLEANING APPARATUS John Hartigan, 931 Faile St., Bronx, N.Y. 10459 Filed Oct. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 765,188 Int. Cl. A47] 1/02 U.S. Cl. 15302 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus capable of being raised and lowered alongside a building and with no personnel aboard effecting all necessary operations on the building to clean either or both the opaque and the window surfaces thereof. The apparatus includes positioning and clamping means for effecting its spaced relation to a building; a washing liquid spray system; transversely reciprocable brushes to operate on normal outwardly facing building surfaces and rotary brushes to operate on external building beams; an air blast system to remove liquid and loose soil from window sills and closely adjacent glass areas, and a sponge and squeegee system operable upon window glass areas for soil and liquid removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning the exterior surfaces of buildings. It relates particularly to apparatus of this kind which can perform all of its cleaning functions as it is moved, usually downwardly, alongside a building without having any personnel aboard. It relates more particularly to an apparatus of the kind described which except for reliance on external means for raising and lowering it and an external source of electrical power is fully self contained and capable of programming its own operations, It relates still more particularly to apparatus of the nature in question which is capable of performing a full scope of individual cleaning operations including spraying on of washing liquid, brushing of external building surfaces including the surfaces of protruding vertical beams, blowing dry of upper and lower window sill areas ad adjacent strips of wingramming its own operations. It relates still more pardow glass, and sponging and squeegeeing of window glass areas and adjacent opaque or sill areas of the building. It relates even still more particularly to such an apparatus which is capable of releasably maintaining its own properly spaced or aligned relation to the building being cleaned, and further is capable of great flexibility of programming according to the nature and configuration of the surface of the building to be cleaned,

Description of the prior art The traditional method of cleaning the exterior surfaces, particularly the window surfaces, of large buildings has been manual cleaning done by men on scaffolds lowered from the roofs of these buildings. With changing architectural concepts calling for increasing use of glass and bright metal surfacing for the opaque areas of buildings between the windows the total amount of surface to be kept clean has tended to increase for modern oflice buildings of a given size, and further the size of ofiice or commercial buildings generally has tended to become greater with a corresponding increase in at least the clear glass or window area needed to be kept clean on a per building basis. All of this has had a substantial effect of increasing the cost of keeping the exterior surfaces, even only the window surfaces, of large, new buildings clean by the traditional method, especially in view of rapidly rising labor costs on a man-hour basis.

For the foregoing economic considerations, taken together with the consideration of the general desirability of eliminating hazardous work, there has been for some time and now there is increasingly an incentive for developing apparatus capable of cleaning the exterior surface of a building without the requirement of any man or men riding on the apparatus. The possibility of designing such an apparatus has become more substantial as newlyconstructed ofiice buildings have tended to become smoother or more regular in surface; that is, they are seldom characterized by the very deep window sills or far-out projecting cornices or balustrades or the ornately sculpted or cast decorations such as shields, lions, gargoyles or heroic figures which were not uncommon on buildings erected in earlier times. This is, of course, true with respect to not only large office or commercial buildings but also large residential structures such as high rise apartment buildings.

Another significant and favorable development, one going along with the general smoothing of the exterior surfaces of large buildings, is that beams of various cross sectional configurations can be and now frequently are installed vertically along, or projecting through, these surfaces for both decorative effect and service as guidance members or tracks for window or building cleaning scaffolds. While not essential to the success of unmanned cleaning machines or apparatus, the actual or at least potential availability of such vertical beams is at least helpful. It is also helpful that modern office buildings are frequently being constructed with tracks on their roofs on which cars can run carrying hoisting and lowering winches and outwardly extending davits or booms for the cables on which cleaning scaffolds are hung. This makes shifting of a scaffold or a self-contained or automated building cleaning machine from location to location around a building relatively easy,

Several designs of unmanned or automated building cleaning machines, intended principally for the cleaning of windows only, have been concevied and patented, In this connection, as rather recent examples of the state of the art, reference may be had to U.S. Patent No. 3,080,592 to C. Hassage and U.S. Patent No. 3,298,- 052 to M. G. Wolfe, The disclosures of the prior art, besides showing means for spraying on water or a detergent formulation as a cleaning liquid, usually show a brush mechanism of some sort, and in all such cases known to the present applicant they show rotary brushes turning about axes either parallel or normal to the windows which they are to clean. Brushes of this nature practically necessarily leave some regions of the windows untouched, either along the tops and bottoms or in the corners thereof if the windows be even somewhat inset from the opaque or masonry surfaces of a building.

Further, even though some examples of the prior art disclose wiping or squeegeeing mechanisms, none of them are deemed to show mechanisms fully elfective for wiping the top and bottom window stirps or for cleaning and drying these areas and the adjacent sill areas, again where the windows have any significant extent of inset. Still further, no building cleaning machine or apparatus of the prior art known to the applicant has its appendages which actually touch the building being cleaned, i.e., its brush tufts or bristles, its wiping elements such as sponges and its squeegee blades arranged for automatic movement in and out according to variations in building contour. Thus none of them do, for example, disclose brushes which can scrub an inset transparent area or window with a given pressure or intensity of contact and then move out to scrub a masonry or metal sheathed wall surface with the same intensity, or perhaps pull back out of contact with the latter surface entirely.

Even further the applicant knows of no prior art building cleaning apparatus which is capable of cleaning the building beams along which it travels vertically, nor of releasably or yieldably clamping itself inwardly to these beams and adjusting itself laterally with respect thereto for achievement of consistently correct positioning in relation to the building which it is cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The building cleaning apparatus of the present invention is capable of operation in an unmanned, automatic fashion, and is intended to clean both the opaque and the transparent surfaces of a building, even when the latter has some significant degree of inset from the former. This apparatus is self contained except for reliance on external cables for hoisting and lowering and the furnishing to it of electric power for the operation of various motors. It carries its own supply of washing water or detergent solution and spraying or pressure discharging system for the same, and in particular it includes means to remedy the shortcomings noted above of the building cleaning apparatuses of the prior art.

The inventive apparatus includes brushes or brush assemblies which are movable and driven in a recoprocating end-to-end or side-to-side manner. Movement of this nature applied to a flatfaced brush allows the brush to be fully effective in cleaning all surfaces of a window, especially including its top and bottom strips adjacent its sills. Of course this brush movement is equally effective for cleaning the apoque or masonry surfaces of a building between its windows. Further, the present apparatus includes a compressed air system operable to emit blasts of air to drive gross amounts of water off of the top and bottom strips of inset windows and also off of the adjacent sills.

Still further the apparatus of this invention has its sponges and squeegee blades used on window surfaces all on horizontally shiftable mountings so that all of these members or elements which actually come in contact with building surfaces can be moved in toward the building or pulled back from it as appropriate upon changes in contour of the building as seen or sensed by the descending cleaning apparatus. This horizontal movement is effected automatically by signals sent out from a control center in the apparatus to power-actuated drive or shifting mechanisms. Even futrher the inventive apparatus has rotating brushes in addition to the aforementioned reciprocating brushes which serve to clean or burnish the surfaces of the building beams along which the apparatus travels. Besides this the apparatus of the present invention includes power-actuated clamping means for securing the apparatus onto the building beams and locating it with respect thereto and thus with respect to the building in both the in-and-out and side-to-side senses. Even in the engaged condition, however, these means are at least slightly yieldable to accommodate waviness or other moderate irregularities in rail shape or form without the apparatus becoming bound thereby as it descends along a building while performing its cleaning operations thereupon.

With respect to apperance, the apparatus of the present invention is capable of being fully enclosed within a unitary, box-like housing from which only the apparatus appendages actually coming into contact with a building protrude. Access to the various individual mechanisms is available through hinged cover plates. The top cover plates provide unobstructed standing and walking room for building inspectors who may occasionally ride on the apparatus, and a personnel safety or guard railing is designed to be carried by the apparatus in those cases. Landing legs are installed for proper seating of the apparatus on a street or sidewalk at the end of a descending run.

The nature and substance of the present invention as well as its objects and advantages will be more clearly perceived and fully understood upon referring to the following description and claims considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which are briefly described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents an isometric view of the building cleaning apparatus of this invention showing the apparatus disposed in cleaning position adjacent the face of abuilding;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 represent fragmentary sectional views representative of typical building constructions wherein are shown certain particular protrusions upon which the building cleaning apparatus may be disposed as it moved thereover;

FIG. 5 represents a somewhat diagrammatic transverse sectional view through the building cleaning apparatus taken along line 55 in FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the relative placement therewithin of certain of its mechanical and electrical components;

' FIG. 6 represents another somewhat diagrammatic transverse sectional view through the apparatus taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the relative placement therewithin of certain other of its mechanical and electrical components;

FIG. 7 represents a sectional plan view through the apparatus along line 7-7 in FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the disposition therewithin of water storage tanks and the mechanism for advancing and retracting the brush assembly;

FIG. 8 represents a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing said advancing and retracting mechanism;

FIG. 9 represents a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 99 in FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows showing supporting means for said advancing and retracting mechanism;

FIG. 10 represents a somewhat fragmentary sectional plan view of the apparatus taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the cycling drive for and with the brush and air blast components of the apparatus;

FIG. 11 represents an enlarged fragmentary end view of the support means for the brush and air blast systems, the view being taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 12 represents an enlarged fragmentary transverse view taken along line 1212 in FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows showing in section certain components of the brush and air blast systems;

FIG. 13 represents an enlarged fragmentary transverse view taken along line 1313 in FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the motor drive for the brush and air blast systems;

FIG. 14 represents an exploded isometric view of the brush and air blast systems and a portion of the drive mechanism for these systems;

FIG. 15 represents a side or end view of the assembled sponge and squeegee mechanism of the building cleaning apparatus of the present invention taken along line 15 15 in FIG. 17 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 represents a front view of the sponge and squeeee mechanism of FIG. 15 taken along line 1616 in FIG. 17 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 17 represents a plan view of the sponge and squeegee mechanism taken along line 17-17 in FIG. 16 looking in the direction of the arrows;

- FIG. 18 represents a somewhat fragmentary exploded isometric view of the configurations and relative positions of the components of the sponge and squeegee mechanism of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 represents an overall side or end View of the 5. building cleaning apparatus suspended in working position alongside a building;

FIG. represents a somewhat diagrammatic plan I view of a clamping mechanism for engaging, positioning and retaining the inventive apparatus in working position on and along the face of a building;

FIG. 21 represents a fragmentary front view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 represents a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of another clamping mechanism;

FIG. 23 represents a plan view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 22 with its roller elements oriented to allow the building cleaning apparatus to be withdrawn from the face of a building;

FIG. 24 represents a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of still another clamping mechanism;

FIG. 25 represents a front view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 represents a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of even still another clamping mechanism;

FIG. 27 represents a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of additional members of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 represents a fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic side view of an alternate arrangement of the sponge and squeegee mechanism;

FIG. 29 represents a transverse sectional view through a typical brush plate of the inventive apparatus;

FIGS. 30, 31 and 32 are somewhat diagrammatic side or end views of the brush assembly of the inventive apparatus in a sequential series of positions passing an indented window, and showing also a brush position control sensor;

FIG. 33, 34, 35 and 36 represent somewhat diagrammatic side sectional views of the air blast cycling valve of the inventive apparatus in a sequential series of operating conditions as its sensor passes an indented window;

FIG. 37 represents a somewhat diagrammatic sectional plan view of a brush arrangement for cleaning vertical T-beams extending from the face of the building;

FIG. 38 represents in a somewhat reduced scale a plan view of a plurality of brush arrangements similar to that of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 represents a face view of the composite brush arrangement of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 represents a side view of a safety device used with the cables for elevating and lowering the building cleaning apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 41 represents a mechanical and electrical power and control circuit diagram for the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 42 represents a fragmentary alternate power and I control circuit diagram in which a connection from the air pressure tank to the cleaning water supply tank is provided for forcing water to the brush assemblies, and

FIG. 43 represents a face or front view of the building cleaning apparatus of the present invention taken along line 4343 in FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, especially FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the building cleaning apparatus of this invention generally designated 48 has a housing 50 having a back cover 51 which is maintained on a frame 52 by means of hinges 53 and secured in place by boltlatch members 54 and 55. In like manner the upper surface of the housing is provided with hinged covers 56, 57 and 58. At each end of housing 50, cable slings 60 and 61 are attached to ears 62, 63, 64 and 65 and provide a means for elevating and lowering the inventive apparatus. Disposed at each corner of the upper surface of frame 52 are upstanding pins 67, 68, 69 and 70, and midway between pins 67 and 69 there is a like pin 71 attached to the frame. A retaining frame 72, shown in phantom outline, is removably mounted on housing 50 as its vertical members have sliding fits on pins 67 through 71. This frame serves as a guard rail so that an operator may stand safely on covers 56, 57 and 58, and as the cleaning apparatus is raised and lowered be transported up and down the face of a building to examine its condition of cleanliness and repair. Frame 72 may be secured to its locating pins 67 through 71 by means of small cross pin retainers not shown.

It is to be further noted in FIG. 1 that on the face of a building 74 with respect to which apparatus 48 is in working position there is a plurality of vertical T-beam members 75 which are arrayed in a regular pattern and spacing, and which may and do serve as guidance means for the cleaning apparatus. As seen particularly in FIG. 2 the wall of building 74 may include various post members 76 from which the T-beam members 75 extend. Between the several posts 76 there may be glass panels or windows 77 which are mounted at a determined distance in or indentation from the face of the wall. The cleaning of the wall including the cleaning of the glass is more fully discussed hereinbelow in connection with the operation of building cleaning apparatus 48.

Referring next to FIG. 3 there is shown a building 80 having spaced vertical posts or pillars 81. Attached to and extending outwardly from each of these pilars are two angles 82 and 83. These angles have their outer legs turned toward each other so as to provide an interior channel vertically disposed to the face of the building along each pillar or column. Between adjacent columns or posts 81 there are mounted glass panels 84 in the manner of panels or panes 77 in FIG. 2 above. Referring next to FIG. 4, a building 85 is provided with vertical posts or columns 86 each of which has extending outwardly therefrom, and possibly formed integrally therewith, a square vertical facade member 87 which may be made of metal or concrete or any other suitable material. These members may be solid or they may be hollow. Located between the various posts or columns 86 are glass panels 88 as in FIGS. 2 and 3 above. Angles 82 and 83 and facade members 87, besides T-beams 75, may serve as guidance means for a building cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring next to FIG. 5, cleaning apparatus 48 carried by its slings is disposed in working position to be a determined distance from the face of the building 74. This spacing or distance is maintained by means of a plurality of upper and lower ball rollers 89 and 90 running on the outer flange faces of T-beams 75. These rollers are carried in frame 52 in such manner as to extend a determined distance from the face thereof. They are spaced in the frame so as to bear on the faces of a plurality of T-beams simultaneously. A clamping mechanism which is more fully described hereinafter serves to maintain frame 52 and hence the whole apparatus 48 in engagement and alignment with the T-beams 75 and hence with the face of the building. Extending below the frame are relatively short legs or pins 91 and 92. These legs support the building cleaning apparatus when the apparatus has reached the ground, pavement or other landing surface.

Referring next to FIG. 6, the frame 52 carries across its bottom members a support plate 94 upon which is mounted a gearmotor 95 which carries or has attached to it a lead screw 96. Gearmotor 95 is contemplated as reversible to turn lead screw 96 in either direction desired so as to cause an engaged nut 97 to be moved in or out along the screw. Nut 97 depends from a platform 98 upon which is mounted the brush and air blast equipment more fully shown and described in conjunction with FIGS. 10 through 14.

Referring next to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 it may be seen that the end of lead screw 96 distant from gearmotor 95 is carried by flanged ball bearing assembly 99. Platform 98, illustrated in FIG. 6, also appears in FIGS. 8 and 9, and in FIG. 9 is shown as supported by shaft 101 which is one of a pair of shafts 101 and 102 slidably passing through ball bushings 103 carried in blocks attached to the underside of the platform. One end of shaft 101 is carried by one of a pair of pedestals 104 and its other end on frame 52 in an attached support collar 105. The platform 98 and the equipment it carries are moved toward and away from the building to be cleaned in accordance with the rotation of screw 96 as the latter is turned by motor 95 and drives nut 97.

Referring next to FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 it is to be noted that platform 98 carries a pair of support brackets 110 and 111. These brackets are drilled to receive and retain a pair of support rods 112 and 113. These rods are carried in vertically spaced parallel array and blocks 114- and 115 containing bushings 116 and 117 are adapted to slide along them. These blocks are sized and configured to fit within and support a rectangular housing member 118 which as shown in FIG. carries two brush assemblies 119. Retention of rods 112 and 113 in their supports 110 and 111 is effected by means of collars 120 and 121 which may be pinned or otherwise attached to the rods.

Referring particularly to FIG. 14 it may be seen that housing 118 is drilled to receive and retain on its front face an I-beam member 122. This member is attached to housing 118 by means of bolts and nuts mountable in aligned holes 124 and 125. The forward face of I-bearn 122 is drilled for attachment to it of an angle 126. This angle carries an air blast manifold, chamber or header 127 having flexible tubular discharge tips 128 which are removably carried in short pieces of stiff tubing 129 extending from the interior of the chamber which has a compressed air feed inlet 130.

A series of bushing holes 131 are formed in I-beam 122. Around these holes and on the forward face of the beam means are provided for attaching three bushings 132, and a T-bolt 134 is slidably carried in the center bushing. The end bushings each slidably carry a support bolt 136. T-bolt 134 and support bolts 136 each have their forward end drilled to receive and carry a rod 138 which is characterized by a series of tranverse drilled holes disposed to accept cotter pins 140. Thrust shoulders on the rod are provided by washers 142. Rod 138 is pivotally retained in drilled holes 143 defined in the ends of a brush support bracket 144. This bracket 144 and rod 138 are supported in the transverse journal portions of bolts 134 and 136. Two tension springs 145 are attached at their one ends to lower wing or tab portions of the bracket 144 and at their other ends to I-beam 122 so as to urge the bracket 144 into a downward rotation around the shaft 138. A stop bolt 146 mounted in a threaded hole 147 in beam 122 is adjustable to limit the angular displacement of the bracket 144. A lock nut 148 is mounted on stop bolt 146 to retain the desired adjustment thereof.

Attached to the face or forward portion of bracket 144 is a fluid chamber 150 having extending lugs 151 Whereat it is fastened to wing portions 152 of bracket 144 by means of bolts not shown. The chamber 150, which has end closure plate inserts 153, is connected through its rear panel by means of tubing 154 to a source or supply of washing or cleaning fluid such as Water containing some ammonia or a dissolved or admixed detergent. The forward panel of chamber 150 has three horizontal rows of apertures 155, 156 and 157 formed therein as seen particularly in FIG. 14. The apertures in central row 156 are aligned to feed the washing or cleaning fluid into and through a row 161 of holes or apertures disposed horizontally centrally in a brush plate 158. The fluid supply when pressureized is caused to be squirted through the forward portion of this brush plate which is secured to fluid chamber 150 by the same bolts which fasten together this chamber and bracket 144. At the same time fluid is discharged above and below the brush plate through rows of apertures 155 and 157 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 29 along with FIG. 14, it is to be noted that brush plate 158 is characterized by five horizontal rows of holes '159, 160, 161, 162 and 163. The holes of row 161 align axially with those of row 156 in chamber as aforesaid to serve as fluid passageways, while those of rows 159 and 160 on the one hand and those of rows 162 and 1-63 on the other hand serve for mounting pluralities of brush tufts of suitable, standard material such as plastic in upper group 164 and lower group 165 respectively. The holes of central row of holes 161 in the brush plate may be regarded as dispensing nozzles, as may those of top and bottom rows of holes .155 and 157 in chamber 150. The hole of row 161 discharge washing liquid essentially straight out from plate 158 between brush groups 164 and 165, while those of rows 155 and 157 are drilled or otherwise formed on axes inclined sufliciently upwardly and downwardly respectively that washing liquid emitted or dispensed from them passes at least a little above upper brush group 164 and at least a little below lower brush group 165. Thus a building surface being cleaned is Wetted ahead of both descending brush groups, between the groups, and behind both groups. Liquid and loose soil left behind upper group 1-64 is removed by air blasting, sponging and/or squeegeeing as appropriate.

Referring again particularly to FIGS. 10 and 14, it is to be noted that housing member 118 is provided with a pair of local external stiffening plates 168 and 169 on its rearwardly facing surface and a pair of internal transverse stiffening sleeves or tubes 170. Fastened in and extending rearwardly from these plates respectively and passing through these sleeves are pins 171 and 172. As seen particularly in FIG. 10, a tie or thrust rod or link 173 extends between these two pins. The left end of link 173 is bifurcated to receive one end of a connecting arm 174 which is actuated by a crank arm 175 which in turn is cycled by means of a gearrnotor 177 which is shown also in FIG. 13. As the output shaft 178 of motor 177 is rotated the outer end of crank arm 175 transcribes a circle and drives the left end of the connecting arm '174. The right end of the connecting arm oscillating about pin 172 reciprocates housing member 118 and all parts attached to it along rods 112 and 113. In actual reduction to practice, it is contemplated that the housing member 118 would travel approximately two inches on either side of a nominal dead center, which limits of travel are shown in phantom outline in FIG. 10.

Referring next to FIGS. 15 through 18, there is shown a sponge and squeegee mechanism generally designated 179 which provides means for removing the sprayed-0n washing fluid and loosened soil or dirt from the window surfaces of a building. A support plate .180 is the principal base for this mechanism including a sponge 182 which may be of foamed plastic. This sponge is of a rectangular cross section and, as shown, is retained and supported between lower and upper clamp plates 184 and 185. These clamp plates are mounted on either side of the horizontal leg of an angle 186. The upper clamp plate 185 carries a spring-biased piano hinge whose right hand leaf (FIG. 15) is attached to the clamp plate and angle. The outer or left hand leaf of the hinge carries and has attached to it upper and lower squeegee clamp plates 1-91 and 192 which have their outer ends configured to form lower and upper jaws snugly engaging and retaining a diamond-shaped back edge portion 193 of a squeegee body .194. A flexible blade member of relatively soft rubber is removably carried in a longitudinal slot in the front edge or surface of the body member 194 which is of relatively stiff but still at least semi-flexible material such as extruded rubber. The thin blade 195 is thus disposed to swing or be swun g upwardly in an arc having its center at the pin of piano hinge 190. The spring in this hinge, however, tends to urge the squeegee downwardly into a substantially parallel relationship to sponge 182 as shown. Angle 186 is attached through clamp plate 184 to a pair of slide members '198 which rest on plate 180 and are maintained in aligned sliding position by means of opposed retaining guides 199. These guides permit the sponge and squeegee to be cycled within closely determined limits.

Still referring to FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, it is to be noted that each angle 186 has attached to its vertical leg two spring pins 200. Each pin has its head end attachedpto the angle and its shank is fitted within a compression spring 202, and further is slidably carried in and extends through a bushing 203 mounted on a Z-bracket 204 wh ch is also attached to the base member 180. Each sprm-g 202 is confined between the Z-bracket and the head of pin 202. The forward travel of angle 186 is cont-rolled and limited by means of two bars 206 whose one end-s are attached to angle 186 and whose other ends are attached to the plunger portions 209 of solenoids 210 mounted on plate 180. The sponge and squeegee mechanism 179 IS in operating position at its maximum outward or forward displacement and in an inactive position when drawn to its inward location as in FIG. 15. This inward location is reached by the actuation of solenoids 210 causing bars 206 to be drawn rightwardly by the movement of plungers 209. The bars 206 draw the angle .186 and its attached slide members 198 inwardly so that the sponge and squeegee are clear of the face of the building.

Also carried by the upper forwardly extending legs of Z-brackets 204 is an upper piano hinge 212 which, in the manner of hinge 190, is also spring biased to urge the outer leaf downwardly and toward the leg of the Z-bracket. This piano hinge 212 has attached to its outer leaf a pair of squeegee clamp plates 2'13 and 214 similar to the plates mounted on hinge 190. A squeegee body 215 and flexible blade 216 are removably mounted in the clamp plates 213 and 214. Carried on the underside of the support plate 180 and at a determined distance therefrom by means of spacers 220 is a plate 222. This plate supports a cycling bar 224 which is adapted to retain a roller 225 on its forward end. A pair of angles 226 are attached to plate 222 to provide a spaced guide for the bar 224. A pair of bolts 227 are mounted in the angles and extend between them. Slots 228 are formed in bar 224 and are sized to allow the bar to slide smoothly across the shank portion of the bolts 227.

A tension spring 230 is attached at one end to one of the angles 226 and at its other end to an outwardly extending wing portion 231 of bar 224. This spring is disposed to urge the bar forward to an outer limiting position determined by the slots 228. A microswittch 234 is mounted on member 222, and has its movea'ble member or plunger 235 disposed to engage and be actuated by the rearward or rightward movement of bar 224 and thereupon energize both solenoids 210 to draw the sponge and squeegee back from contact with the face of the building against the forward thrusting force of springs 202. The positioning of the cycling bar from plate 180 by space-rs 220 is a matter of design in any particular case depending upon the speed of descent of the cleaning apparatus along a building and the indent configurations or contourings of the building.

Referring again to FIG. 5 there is shown an air compressor 236 which is driven by a motor 237. The compressor air thus provided is stored in tank 238 from whence it is fed to air blast manifold 127 and thence through the discharge tips 128. The compressed air may be stored at a pressure of about eighty to ninety pounds per square inch. With air at this ressure several operations using pneumatic actuating cylinders are performed for the positioning of the apparatus on or against the building. One embodiment of an air-actuated positioning and clamping apparatus is shown in FIGS. '20 and 21 wherein building 74 has vertical T-beam members 75 extending outwardly from its external or exposed surface. Looking at the right hand one of two beams shown in FIG. 20, a clamp arm 250 is pivotally carried on a support member 252 attached to apparatus frame 52. Also carried upon this support member is an air cylinder 253 whose piston rod 254 is pivotally attached to one end of the arm 250. A roller 255 is carried on the other end of arm 250, and is mounted so as to be in engagement with the underside or inside of one of the flanges of the T- beam 75 when the rod 254 is in the position shown in FIG. 20. As the rod 254 is moved outwardly, the roller 255 is moved in an arc until the roller 255 is swung free of any possible engagement with the T-beam 75.

To clamp the frame of the cleaning apparatus to the building, the cylinder 253 is actuated to cause the roller 255 to swing in an arc and bring the roller into engagement with the flange of the T-beam until the ball rollers 90 set in frame 52 engage the face of the beam. The mechanism of cylinder or actuator 253 has at least some resilience responsive to the pressure in the cylinder and permits a certain amount of irregularity to exist in the configuration and construction of the T-beam and building without binding or seizing of the clamping mechanism as the cleaning apparatus moves along the building. Sideways positioning of the apparatus frame to the edges of the T-beams is effected by means of arms 260 each having a roller 262 carried on one end thereof. Referring particularly to FIG. '21 it may be seen that each arm 260 is pivotally carried on support member 252. An air cylinder 263 has its piston rod 264 connected to the end of the arm distant from roller 262 and as the rod is moved the roller 262 is swung in an arc. In the condition of FIG. 21 this roller has been swung into engagement with the edge of T-beam 75 so that when opposed rollers 262 are actuated toward each other as in FIG. 20 the whole cleaning apparatus 48 is moved to and maintained in a proper side-to-side alignment with the T-beams of the building 74.

Referring next to FIGS. 22 and 23, there is shown a positioning and clamping mechanism suitable for use with an apparatus 48 working on building of FIG. 3 which has its oppositely or inwardly facing angles 82 and 83 on each pillar 81 spaced apart so as to receive the shank of a rod end member 270 and certain elements mounted on it. This rod end is formed with like rightangle extending portions in the nature of a T- head carrying rollers 271 and 272. When the rod 270 and its rollers are oriented or positioned at ninety degrees to their position in FIG. 22 they are movable in and out of the opening between the members 82 and 83. Such an orientation and movement are shown in solid and dashed outline in FIG. 23. To act as a clamp, the rod end 270 and its rollers are moved from outside the opening to the inner position shown in dashed outline after which the rod end is rotated ninety degrees to bring the common axisof rollers 271 and 272 into a horizontal attitude. In this orientation and attitude the rod 270 is drawn outwardly by means of an air cylinder or the like (not shown) to bring rollers 271 and 272 snugly against the interior flange surfaces of angles 82 and 83 so that the several ball rollers 90 on the frame 52 are drawn into engagement with the face of angle 82. A roller 274 carried on an arm 275 is movable toward the angle 83 so as to engage the exterior side or web surface of this angle and bring the frame 52 into a determined transverse orientation with respect to the angle and then, acting with an oppositely paired roller 274 and arm 275 not shown, maintain the cleaning apparatus in proper side-to-side alignment with the face of the building. Arms 275 are contemplated as being moved in response to the actuation of air cylinders not shown.

Referring next to FIGS. 24 and 25, there is shown a positioning and clamping mechanism suitable for use with an apparatus working on building 85 of FIG. 4 which has a square facade member 87 on each pillar 86. A pair of rollers 280 and 281 are each formed with a pair of spaced protruding ring portions 282. Each of these rollers is rotatably carried on a header member 284 pivotally mounted on an outer shaft end 285 of an arm 286. The other end of arm 286 is rotatably located on a vertical shaft or pin portion 287 of a post member 288 carried on frame 52. Attached to and extending outwardly from the main body of the post are a pair of stop arms 290 and 291 providing spaced opposed shoulder surfaces. Between the shoulder surfaces of these arms is disposed a lug 293 which is a part of arm 286 and is moved as the arm is moved. A resilient spring or cushion block 294 of rubber or the like is disposed between arm 290 and lug 293 and provides a means for urging the header member 284 toward the facade member 87. Extending rearwardly from and as an integral part of the header member 284 is an actuating arm or lever member 296 to which is pivotally attached a clevis end of a link 298 which is actuated by an air cylinder or other means not shown.

In response to the reciprocal vertical movement of this link 298 the header member 284 is moved around shaft end 285 to a position adjacent the facade member 87, that is, into its orientation or attitude shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, so as to swing the rollers 280 and 281 into engagement with the vertical facade member 87. To disengage these rollers from this member the link 298 is moved up or down so as to rotate header 284 to an attitude such that the longitudinal axes of the rollers are substantially parallel to the face of the facade member 87. The vertical shaft 287 and shaft end 285 are contemplated as being disposed at right angles to each other. Resilient block 294 urges the end of arm 286 and header 284 toward the vertical facade member 87 so that, as seen in FIG. 24, the inner ring portion 282 on roller 280 and the outer ring portion 282 on roller 281 tend to engage the opposing sides of facade 87. Outward thrust or sway or swing of the cleaning apparatus away from the face of the building tends to increase this two-point engagement of the facade member by the ring portions of the rollers which tend to draw the header toward the facade member. When desired, link 298 may be moved slightly downward to incline the rotative axes of the rollers 280 and 281 to a slight angle from and above a normal or right angle disposition to the face of the vertical facade member. This slight skewing tends further to draw the frame 52 of a downwardly moving cleaning apparatus toward the building. Of course the positioning and clamping mechanism shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 would be present at least as a pair of mechanisms on any particular building cleaning apparatus 48.

Referring next to FIGS. 26 and 27 there is shown another positioning and clamping mechanism suitable for use with an apparatus working on building 74 in FIGS. 1 and 2 which has T-beams 75 extending from its pillars 76. In the employment of this mechanism, which like the mechanism of FIGS. 20 and 21 would be used at least in pairs with any particular building cleaning apparatus 48, one of the inner flange surfaces of T-beam 75 is borne upon by clamping roller 302 carried on one end of arm 303. This arm is substantially centrally pivotally mounted on a support member 304 reciprocably carried on frame 52. On its other end arm 303 carries a cam follower 305 which is shown as a roller. A tension spring 306 has one end attached to support 304 and another to arm 303 near roller 302 so as to urge cam follower 305 toward and against a cam track member 307. The support 304 is moved in and out as indicated by the arrows and permits and causes follower 305 to traverse the contour of the cam track member. Roller 302 is swung in an arc around pivot pin 308 as urged by spring 306 and as limited by the contour of the track member 307. The movement of support 304 is effected by an air cylinder or electric motor not shown.

Means for the lateral adjustment of cleaning apparatus 48 with respect to T-beam 75 and the building from which it extends is shown particularly in FIG. 27. An

alignment roller 309 is carried on one end of an arm 310. This arm is pivotally carried on reciprocably movable support member 311. On its other end the arm 310 carries a cam follower 312 which like follower 305 is preferably a roller. A tension spring 313 has one end attached to arm 310 in a manner tending to rotate the arm to maintain cam follower 312 against a cam track member 314. Support member 311 may be moved either with support member 304 or independently of it in the direction of the arrows causing or permitting spring biased roller 309 to be swung toward or away from T-beam as cam follower 312 runs along cam track member 314 with arm 310 turning about its pivot pin 315.

Referring next to FIGS. 19 and 40, building cleaning apparatus 48 is shown as carried by cable sling 60 beyond which of course there is another sling 61. These cables are reeled in or out to carry the cleaning apparatus up or down the face of building 74. A motorized crane apparatus 320 of a kind known to the art is supported on rails 321 and 322 disposed on the roof 323 of the building. A retaining shoe or clip 324 is provided to clamp the crane 320 at selected locations along the rails. A cable reel 326 to wind up or pay out cable 60 thereon is carried on and is driven by a motor in the crane apparatus. A boom 327 extending from the base of the crane apparatus carries on its outer end a sheave 328 over which the cable 60 passes. Arrangements similar in the foregoing and other pertinent respects are present for the handling of cable 61.

In the winding and unwinding of cable 60 from reel 326 it is desirable to provide a safety apparatus whereby the downward or pay out speed of the cable may be limited to a determined value with any speed in excess of this causing the cable to be automatically gripped so as to stop the further paying out of the cable. A simple safety device is shown in FIG. 40 wherein sheave 328 carries cable 60 in a groove formed in its periphery. A brake block 330 is disposed above the cable, and is just out of contact therewith. Pivotally carried by shaft 332 is nip member 334 which has a weight 335 adapted to retain it in the illustrated attitude as the cable 60 travels over sheave or pulley 328 in the direction of the arrow and at a maximum selected speed. A spring 337 carried by support 338 upholds the leftward arm portion of nip member 334 when pulley 328 is at rest or is traveling counterclockwise. A friction clutch 340 carried on shaft 332 is adjustable so that as pulley 338 is rotated by the passage thereover of cable 60 the nip member is urged clockwise around shaft 332. When the speed of the cable 60 in the direction of the arrow is in excess of a safe speed clutch 340 urges nip member 334 to rotate with pulley 328 and to overcome the effect of weight 335 so that wedge lip 341 of member 334 is brought into engagement with cable 60 whereby this lip is moved clockwise to pinch the cable between itself and brake block 330, and arrest or at least decelerate the descent of building cleaning apparatus 48.

The safety stop mechanism or device shown in FIG. 40 is provided to indicate simply one of several possible means for limiting the downward rate of travel of the cleaning apparatus. A considerable number of safety devices for cables are known, and in certain states and cities only certain approved safety apparatus for this general purpose may be employed. It is contemplated that such approved designs will be used with actual reductions to practice of the present invention in conformity with the applicable codes.

Referring next to FIGS. 33 through 36 there is provided an operation sequence of views of a valve control for timing and regulating the flow of air under pressure from tank 238 to and through the flexible discharge tips 128 carried by air blast chamber 127 shown in FIG. 12. In this control an air valve generally indicated as 345 includes a cylindrical housing 347 within which a piston body 348 is reciprocably movable. A midportion 349 of the piston 348 is of a reduced diameter to provide an air

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