Patent Application
20180055298
Building structures, particularly tall urban buildings and skyscrapers, are frequently washed manually. This is often done by suspending a window washer operator alongside a building via a suspended platform (i.e., a swing stage or suspended scaffolding). However, manually washing windows can be time consuming and the effectiveness can be entirely dependent upon the skill of the window washer.
The present disclosure relates generally to a cleaning or washing apparatus that mounts to the bottom of a suspended platform for providing cleaning or washing of windows and other vertical surfaces of a tall building. The cleaning or washing apparatus is configured to efficiently and reliably clean the side of the building. An operator on the platform can modify operation of the cleaning or washing apparatus as needed, can perform touch-up work, can control upward and downward movement of the platform, and can monitor whether the platform is suitably stabilized relative to the building.
In a first aspect, a building cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The building cleaning apparatus includes a platform adapted to be suspended along a side of a building. The platform includes a base and a barrier mounted on the base that encloses an operator work station. The building cleaning apparatus includes a building cleaning structure mounted beneath the base of the platform. The building cleaning structure includes a cleaning component that is driven by a motor. The cleaning component is mounted such that at least a portion of the cleaning component is directly beneath the base of the platform during cleaning of the building.
A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.
The following drawings illustrate particular examples of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Examples of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like numerals denote like elements.
Suspended platforms (i.e., swing stages, suspended scaffoldings, etc.) are used to support window washers as window washers manually wash the windows of tall buildings. The platforms are suspended from the roofs or from tiers of the buildings. Hoist systems are used to raise and lower the platform along the sides of the buildings as the windows are manually washed. The type of hoist systems used to raise and lower the platforms can be dependent upon the height of the buildings being washed. For example, buildings having a height of 490 feet or less typically use a davit system to support suspended platforms as the suspended platforms are raised and lowered along the side of the building. In contrast, buildings having a height greater than 490 feet typically use a building maintenance unit to raise and lower the platforms along the side of a building.
The davit system 20 includes two davit arms 30 mounted on a roof or on a tier 23 of the building. The davit arms 30 are essentially cantilevers that overhang the side of the building 21. In one example, base ends of the davit arms 30 can be mounted within anchor sockets defined within the roof 23 of the building 21. In another example, the davit arms 30 can be mounted on tracks secured to the building 21 for allowing the davit arms 30 to be moved while remaining secured to the building 21. The davit arms 30 can be pivoted about vertical axes to maneuver the suspended platform 22 onto and off of the roof 23. Ends of the cantilever portions of the davit arms 30 include attachment locations for attaching lift cables 32 for raising and lowering the suspended platform 22. The lift cables 32 are extended and retracted by hoists or winches 34 that are typically mounted to the suspended platform 22 near the ends of the suspended platform. Thus, operation of the platform mounted hoists/winches 34 provides the mechanical torque/power for raising and lowering the suspended platform 22 relative to the building 21.
The suspended platforms 22, 42 are preferably secured to the building by lift cables and also by structures that prevent the suspended platforms 22, 42 from swinging away from the building. A number of systems (i.e., securing systems) are used to stabilize suspended platforms. Such systems can be used with both davit systems and BMU systems. Example securing systems include mullion guide systems, tie-in systems, and button guide systems.
a show an example mullion guide system 60 for stabilizing a suspended platform. The mullion guide system 60 includes vertically extending mullion guides or tracks 62 that are integrated with the building 21. The mullion guide system 60 also includes rollers 64 or slide shoes that are coupled to the suspended platform 22, 42 and that are captured within the mullion guides 62. As the suspended platform 22, 42 is raised or lowered, the rollers or slide shoes slide or move vertically within the mullion guides 62. Interference between the rollers/slide shoes 64 and the mullion guides 62 provide continuous stabilization that prevents the suspended platform from moving laterally outward from the side of the building. In some examples, the mullion guide system 60 includes external rollers/bumpers 65 that are coupled to the suspended platform 22, 42 and are configured to interface with the side of the building 21, outside of the mullion guides 62.
a show an example tie-in system 70 for stabilizing a suspended platform 22. The tie-in system 70 includes tie-in locations 72 (e.g., tie-in anchor points, sockets, etc.) integrated with the building 21. The tie-in system 70 also includes tie-in structures 74 slidably secured to the lift cables 32 of the suspended platform 22. The tie-in structures 74 include cords 75 having first ends including loops 76 through which lift cables 32 extend and second ends including pins 77 (e.g., anchors, snap-fit structures, etc.) that can be anchored to the tie-in locations 72. As the suspended platform 22 is lowered down a building 21, the window washers progressively anchor the tie-in structures 74 to the tie-in locations 72 to tie the lift cables 32 to the building 21 such that the distance the suspended platform 22 can swing away from the building 21 is limited. As the suspended platform 22 is lifted back up the building 21, the tie-in structures 74 are progressively disconnected from the tie-in locations 72. In some examples, the tie-in system 70 includes external rollers/bumpers 79, similar to the rollers/bumpers 65 described above, that are coupled to the suspended platform 22 and are configured to interface with the side of the building 21.
a show an example button guide system 80 for stabilizing a suspended platform 22. The button guide system 80 includes vertically extending tracks 82 that are integrated with the platform 22. The button guide system 80 also includes buttons 84 that are integrated with the building 21. As the suspended platform 22 is raised or lowered, the tracks 82 receive the buttons 84. Interference between the tracks 82 and the buttons 84 provides stabilization that prevents the suspended platform 22 from moving laterally outward from the side of the building 21.
In one example, the cleaning structure does not include a fan for forcing the cleaning component 505 toward the building 21 during cleaning of the building 21.
The cleaning structure 508 can also include an obstruction bar 539 positioned at a bottom side of the cleaning structure 508. The obstruction bar 539 is configured to alter the operations of the cleaning structure 508 when the obstruction bar 539 contacts an obstruction. In some embodiments, the obstruction bar 539 can interface with a controller that controls the operation of a hoist system and the operation of the cleaning structure 508 so that when an obstruction is encountered, the controller automatically shuts down the operation of the hoist system and/or the cleaning structure 508. The obstruction bar 539 interfaces with mechanical or electronic control devices such that actuation of the bar 539 by an obstruction causes the hoist system and or cleaning structure to shut down. In the case where the cleaning structure is a retrofit device used to retrofit an existing platform by adding the cleaning structure to the bottom of the platform, existing wheels and an existing obstruction bar of the platform can be removed to facilitate mounting the cleaning structure. In such a case, the cleaning structure can include an obstruction bar that performs the same function as the obstruction bar removed from the platform.
In one example, the cleaning structure 508 is a powered cleaning structure having one or more cleaning elements that are driven relative to the platform 506 by a power source. In certain examples, the cleaning element or elements can include a brush or brushes. In certain examples, the brush or brushes are driven in a rotary motion relative to the platform. In certain examples, the power source includes one or more motors such as one or more electric motors, or one or more combustion engines. In some examples, the cleaning structure 508 is a specialty manufactured apparatus. In some examples, the cleaning device can be an add-on device that can be added to an existing platform to temporarily or permanently retrofit the platform so as to include automated cleaning features. Alternatively, the cleaning device can be incorporated into the platform at the time the platform is initially manufactured. In other examples, an existing pre-manufactured platform can be modified to arrive at the washing apparatus 500.
The cleaning apparatus 500 can be used to clean an upright surface 102 of a building 21 (e.g., a skyscraper or high-rise building). The upright surface 102 can be the side of the building 21 including, for example, windows or the structure of the building between the windows. The cleaning apparatus 500 can be raised and lowered along the building by a davit system or a BMU system, and can be stabilized relative to the building by stabilization structures of the type described above (e.g., mullion guide systems, tie-in systems, button guide systems). The surface 102 includes the roof 23 and is resting on a ground surface. It should be understood that the ground surface can be anything that the structure 102 is resting on, including, other parts of the building, for example, a tiered building having other intermediate setbacks or roofs.
The washing apparatus 500 is shown cleaning the upright surface 102. The washing apparatus 500 is configured to move in a vertical direction along the upright surface 102 during cleaning.
With continued reference to
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/381,366, filed Aug. 30, 2016.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62381366 | Aug 2016 | US |
