Method of operating a movable base having rotatable supplies of pressurized fluid and a vacuum source

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6413323
  • Patent Number
    6,413,323
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, January 9, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 2, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
An improved method for cleaning vertical walls includes providing a vacuum source to adhere the system to the vertical wall. The vacuum source removes fluid and removed material from the wall, and also adheres the system to the wall. A rotating fluid jet is positioned radially inwardly of the vacuum source and impinges high pressurized fluid off of the surface to be cleaned to remove material. In a preferred embodiment, a central portion is provided that mounts both the fluid source and the vacuum source. A base portion mounts motors for driving the system along the wall. The base portion rotates relative to the central portion such that the central portion does not move as the base portion turns on the wall to drive the system along the wall. In a further feature, an additional air flow system is provided to provide supplemental air flow to assist the vacuum when moving the fluid and removed material. In addition, a second embodiment of a seal for contacting the surface to be cleaned includes a plurality of brush bristles. The brush bristles ensure good contact with the wall, and ensure that the vacuum will not be broken and that the device will adhere to the wall.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to a system which impinges a rotating water jet on a wall, and which adheres to the wall due to a vacuum force.




In the prior art, vertical walls such as are typically found in ship hulls are cleaned by systems which move along the walls and apply treatment to the surface. In particular, the systems are used to remove paint.




In one known type of system, a vacuum force adheres the moving system to the wall. The walls may be rather high, and the vacuum sources are often remote from the system. In the past, the system has moved and turned along the wall, and the connection to the vacuum source has sometimes become twisted, or misaligned, between the source and the moving system.




In such systems, it is difficult to ensure the system maintains contact on the surface to be cleaned while it moves. In the past the vacuum force holding the system on the wall may sometimes be lost due to inadequate sealing.




In addition, the proposed systems to date have not adequately cleaned the wall while still providing sufficient holding force.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is directed to a system which applies a rotating fluid jet onto a surface to be cleaned, and also provides a vacuum to remove fluid from the rotating fluid jet along with material (typically paint) removed from the surface to be cleaned. In a preferred embodiment both the fluid jet and the vacuum source are mounted on a central portion which remains stationary relative to a moving base. The moving base supports the central portion, but is capable of turning relative to the central portion without turning the central portion.




Thus, when the system is moved along a wall, the base and the entire system can change directions without changing the orientation of the central portion. The fluid lines leading to the vacuum source, and the rotating jets, etc. do not change orientation. In this way, the present invention thus ensures that the orientation will be predictable and will not become twisted.




In other features of this invention, the vacuum source is provided between two generally cylindrical walls. An inner cylindrical wall surrounds the rotating fluid jet, and a second cylindrical wall is spaced outwardly of the first cylindrical wall. A vacuum chamber is defined between the two walls. A curved seal is positioned radially outwardly of the second cylindrical wall and defines the end of the vacuum chamber. A source of additional fluid pressure is provided within the vacuum chamber. Preferably, the additional source is provided by a valve extending through the second cylindrical wall to communicate with the outside atmosphere. As long as the vacuum source is sufficiently low, the valve opens allowing air flow into the vacuum chamber, through a hole in an end wall. The vacuum chamber is preferably defined by a slanted end wall which is spaced toward the surface to be cleaned at the location of the additional fluid flow, and extend away from the surface to be cleaned in both circumferential directions from the hole. In this way, air is brought into the vacuum chamber and along the slanted wall to assist the flow of the fluid and removed surface materials to the vacuum source. This improves the ability to clean and remove material from the surface to be cleaned.




In a most preferred embodiment, a seal which contacts the wall to be cleaned, and which is stationary with the base, is formed of a plurality of bristles which are arranged in a very dense arrangement. The bristles allow air flow through the seal, but limit the air flow such that the air is only from outside the seal into the vacuum chamber created by the vacuum source. The bristles provide a very good seal against the wall, and ensure good adherence to the wall by the wall cleaning system.




In addition, both seal embodiments are attached to the base at a cylindrical neck portion. The seal is preferably formed with a cylindrically upwardly extending portion which is received on the neck portion. In this way, a clamp can easily clamp the seal onto the neck such that the seal may be removed as a unit for simple cleaning.




A preferred embodiment of this invention includes many other features. By studying the following drawings and specification one will identify many other beneficial features.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a schematic view of the system according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the cleaning system.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view through the system.





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the system.





FIG. 5

is an end view along one portion of the system.





FIG. 6A

shows the system in one orientation.





FIG. 6B

shows the system turned slightly from the first orientation.





FIG. 6C

shows the system turned to yet another orientation.





FIG. 7

shows another aspect of the present invention.





FIG. 8

shows a second embodiment seal.





FIG. 9

shows another view of the second embodiment seal.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIG. 1

shows a system cleaning a wall


20


such as a ship's hull. The cleaning system


22


moves with rear wheels


23


on each side of a base


24


. Forward wheels


25


are spaced on each side of the base


24


also. A central portion


26


is defined within the base


24


. A vacuum source


28


communicates through a vacuum line


36


to the central portion


26


, as will be explained in greater detail below. The vacuum source


28


is preferably capable of generating a very high vacuum level within central portion


26


. A cable


30


supports the system


22


and is held by a cable assembly


32


, explained in greater detail below.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the system


22


incorporates a cable bracket


34


fixed to the vacuum tube


36


. A fluid source


38


provides pressurized fluid, as will be explained below. Further motors


40


drive the wheels


23


,


25


on each side through a system of belts


44


and rollers


46


. The motors


38


and


40


may be rotary pneumatic motors, and are preferably supplied with pressurized air such as through line


41


. The present invention thus provides a pair of motors, with one motor associated with wheels on each side of the base


24


. In this way, the wheels can be driven, with one being reversed and the other being driven forward, to turn the base


24


about a central axis.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, the central portion


26


is mounted for relative rotation on the base


24


. As can be understood from

FIG. 3

, the motors


48


for driving the rotating shaft


50


and the fluid supply source


38


are mounted on the central portion


26


. Fluid nozzles


52


face the surface to be cleaned. Ports


54


supply pressurized fluid from source


38


to the nozzles


52


.




An outer wall


56


is associated with a radially outer seal


58


. As shown, radially outer seal


58


curves away from the surface to be cleaned to an outer lip


59


. This generally u-shaped seal structure limits the tendency of the seal to curve under itself when it is held against the surface to be cleaned.




An inner wall


60


defines a vacuum chamber


62


between the walls


56


and


60


. As can be understood, an inner cleaning chamber


63


is positioned radially inwardly of the wall


60


. Fluid is directed from the nozzles


52


onto the surface to be cleaned. The fluid jets remove surface material such as paint from the wall. That paint and fluid is then drawn into the vacuum chamber


62


, as will be explained below.




A bearing portion


64


is formed on the central portion


26


and a second bearing portion


66


is associated with a table


70


on the base


24


. A series of central bearings


68


are placed between the bearing portion


64


and


66


. When the wheels


23


and


25


are driven to turn the base


24


and table


70


, the central portion


26


does not turn. This assists the seal


58


in remaining against the surface to be cleaned, and not moving away from the surface to be cleaned when the base


24


turns. This further provides other assistance with regard to the direction of the fluid lines, as will be explained below.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, within the central portion


26


, the system includes an opening


72


to atmosphere through the outer wall


56


. A valve


74


is spring-biased


76


to selectively close the opening


72


. Opening


72


extends into a space


77


leading to an end wall


78


. An opening


82


extends through the wall


78


. The wall is ramped between the end


78


associated with the opening


82


, and to an opposed end


80


spaced further from the surface to be cleaned, as can be appreciated from this figure. An opening


81


extends from the space


80


to the vacuum source


36


.




When the vacuum is applied, the fluid and removed material move into the area beneath the end wall. If the vacuum is sufficient, supplemental flows in through the opening


72


, opening


82


, and into the area


78


. The supplemental air draws the fluid and the removed material along the entire circumference of the space


62


to the area


80


. This is assisted by the ramped surface of the end wall between ends


78


and


80


.




It should be understood that the ramp extends in both circumferential directions from the central opening


82


. This can be appreciated from

FIG. 5

which shows the space


77


extending through the opening


82


. The closer areas


78


are shown on both circumferential sides of the opening


82


, and both extend to a single spaced area


80


associated with the opening


81


, which is spaced further from the wall to be cleaned.




Due to the ability of central portion


26


to rotate relative to portion


24


, the system can rotate between several positions as shown in

FIGS. 6A

to


6


C. In each of these positions the vacuum tube


36


maintains an orientation as does the cable


30


. That is, the vacuum tube


36


, which provides a source of vacuum, is mounted such that it can rotate relative to the base


24


. However, the tube will move with the base


24


as can be understood. Further, as is also clear, the source of high pressure fluid will move with the base, but be rotatable relative to the base since it is also mounted on the central portion


26


. This assists in simplifying the operation of the system, and eliminates twisting or kinking in either the vacuum line


36


or the cable


30


. Further, the seal does not turn, this also assists in maintaining an adequate seal and holding force.





FIG. 7

shows the system


32


for maintaining the cable


30


. As shown, a first motor


92


selectively drives a coil


93


of the cable


30


upwardly and downwardly. This is to perform movement of the system


22


when it is initially being adhered to the surface


20


, and when it is being lowered back to the ground.




During operation, a secondary motor system including a piston


94


actuates a lever


95


to move a yoke


96


. Yoke


96


selectively connects a shaft


98


associated with the coil


93


to a shaft


100


associated with a secondary motor


102


. Secondary motor


102


may be an air motor while primary motor


92


may be an electric motor. In this way, a secondary motor is utilized when the primary motor is disconnected. At that time, the secondary motor will provide a smaller force picking up slack in the cable


30


as the system moves about the surface


20


to be cleaned. This occurs when the yoke


96


has been moved to engage the shafts


98


and


100


. In another feature, a safety brake


104


is incorporated between the system


32


and the system


22


. The brake


104


is actuated if the cable


30


moves at too great a speed to lock the cable. The structure of the brake


104


may be as known in the art. By locking the cable


30


if it moves at too great of a speed, the brake


104


ensures that the system is unlikely to fall should the vacuum break, but instead it will be caught by the brake


104


and held until an operator can evaluate what has happened with the system.





FIG. 8

shows a seal


150


which replaces the seal


58


of the original embodiment. Seal


150


includes an outer contacting portion


152


having a plurality of brush bristles


154


. A hinge portion


155


biases portion


152


into contact with a wall to be cleaned. Portion


155


extends to an outer diameter


156


which is beyond the inner diameter


157


of the bristled portion


154


. Thus, the hinge portion


155


applies a force biasing the portion


152


against the wall at an area where there are bristles.




An inner tubular portion


158


is to be attached to the base of the cleaner, and to portion


56


as will be explained below. Air flows around the bristles and into the area


62


, as in the prior embodiment. The bristles ensure a better seal, and consequently better adherence to the wall.




As shown in

FIG. 9

, a clamp band


162


can clamp the tubular portion


158


onto the portion


56


of the base. Thus, when it is desirable to replace the seal


150


one merely removes the clamp band


162


, and the seal


150


is easily replaced. As can also be appreciated, the hinge


155


is biased away from its relaxed position when the system is adhered to a wall. This provides a reaction bias force from the hinge


155


biasing the portion


152


against the wall. As shown, the hinge


155


is welded to both portions


152


and


158


.




In one embodiment, the seal was formed by forming the portion


158


out of a tubular member, and forming the hinge


155


out of a member which wrapped around the tubular member, and which had an inner diameter which was smaller than the outer diameter of the tubular member


158


. In this way, the hinge member


155


is “cupped” such that the bias force is provided. Further, the use of the hinge member provides a flexible connection such that the brush can move over surface irregularities. In one embodiment, a staple set of blunt brush bristles was utilized, and the portion


52


cut from that material. The brush material is preferably crimped black nylon fill, with a maximum density, and mixed 0.012 inch diameter fill and 0.008 inch diameter fill bristles. The remainder of the seal body can be formed of appropriate urethane.




A preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, however, a worker of ordinary skill in this art will recognize that certain modifications come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.



Claims
  • 1. A method of cleaning a surface comprising the steps of:(1) providing a central rotating fluid jet for supplying a high pressure fluid against a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum chamber provided with a central vacuum source, and providing a source of high pressure fluid to said central rotating fluid jet, providing a base portion with a drive for driving said base portion along the surface to be cleaned, and mounting said source of high pressure fluid and said source of vacuum to be rotatable relative to said base portion, but moveable with said base portion; (2) driving said base portion along the surface to be cleaned, and delivering a high pressure fluid from said central rotating fluid jet along said surface; and (3) allowing said source of high pressure fluid and said source of vacuum to rotate relative to said base portion as said base portion moves.
  • 2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said source of vacuum and said source of high pressure fluid are mounted on a central body portion, and said central body portion being mounted for relative rotation on said base portion, such that said entire central body portion rotating relative to said base portion during Step (3).
  • 3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said source of vacuum and said source of high pressure fluid are both connected by fluid conduits to said base.
  • 4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said source of pressurized fluid is mounted to be rotatable relative to said central rotating fluid jet.
  • 5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said base is driven along a surface which is substantially vertical in step (2) and step (3).
  • 6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said source of pressurized fluid is mounted to be rotatable relative to said central rotating fluid jet.
  • 7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base is driven along a surface which is substantially vertical in step (2) and step (3).
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/271,236, which was filed Mar. 17, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,177 which was continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/193,668, filed Nov. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,960.

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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/271236 Mar 1999 US
Child 09/757304 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/193668 Nov 1998 US
Child 09/271236 US