Modular system for cleaning building surfaces

Abstract

System (1) for cleaning building surfaces (F), comprising: at least one cleaning unit (2) with at least one electric motor (8), at least one cleaning element (10) rotationally driven by the electric motor (8), at least one water nozzle (12), wherein the water nozzle (12) is designed to wet the building surface (F), and a cleaning interface (14); a self-propelled carrier vehicle (4) for driving on building surfaces (F), wherein the carrier vehicle (4) has traction elements (16) for moving on the building surface (F) to be cleaned, a vehicle housing (22) and a vehicle interface (24) connected to the vehicle housing (22), wherein the vehicle interface (24) is designed such that it can be coupled to the cleaning interface (14), characterized by a manually operable rod unit (6) having at least one extendable guide rod (26) and a rod interface (28), wherein the rod interface (28) is designed such that it can be coupled to the cleaning interface (14) such that a cleaning unit (2) at the cleaning interface (14) is connected either to the rod interface (28) or to the vehicle interface (24).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system for cleaning building surfaces, e.g. glass facades, windows or solar modules.

[0002] Building surfaces, such as facades or roofs, not only define or cover structures, but can also fulfill aesthetic requirements (e.g., color, mirroring) or, as solar modules, contribute to the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. Environmental influences, such as pollen, dust, sand, leaves, or bird droppings, lead to soiling of building surfaces. This is unsightly and, in the case of solar modules, can also lead to a reduction in efficiency. They must therefore be cleaned regularly.

[0003] Various solutions are available on the market for cleaning building surfaces: The applicant markets cleaning brushes which are attached to guide rods, are driven in rotation and are manually guided along the surface to be cleaned, whereby the surface is wetted by liquid nozzles.

[0004] Solar-powered cleaning robots are available in various designs from SolarCleano Sarl, based in Grass, Luxembourg. These robots feature cleaning brushes attached to self-propelled vehicle robots.

[0005] Sun-X GmbH, Fraunberg, Germany, offers cleaning robots with a modular design so that, for example, the width of the cleaning robots can be adapted to the respective cleaning task.

[0006] The company hyCLEANER GmbH & Co. KG, Gronau, Germany, sells glass cleaning robots, facade cleaning robots and solar cleaning robots, as well as hand brush sets consisting of cleaning brushes, guide rods and other accessories (e.g. cables, hoses).

[0007] Cleaning robots advantageously require little or no muscle power to move. Hand brushes on guide rods, on the other hand, are more suitable for cleaning hard-to-reach areas that are difficult or impossible for a robot to reach. These can be areas at the edges, for example, or areas with one or more interruptions, such as windows or chimneys. Smaller areas can sometimes be cleaned more quickly with hand brushes on guide rods, as there is no need to move a heavy cleaning robot onto the area. Furthermore, hand-held brushes are more suitable for steeply inclined surfaces where a cleaning robot might slip.

[0008] The disadvantage of these solutions is their inflexibility: two systems always have to be kept on site. Often, there is a need for both manual cleaning and robotic cleaning at job sites. This can be the case when horizontal or slightly sloping surfaces, e.g. on flat or pitched roofs, but also vertical or steeply inclined surfaces or window facades, need to be cleaned. Both manual brushes and robotic cleaning brushes must then be available at the respective site. In some cases, replacement brushes must also be available for both systems in case they need to be replaced due to wear during operation. Accordingly, more space is required for storage and transport to the job site. The operating personnel must be familiar with the different systems for assembly, maintenance and repair, and / or must be trained accordingly.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system in which greater flexibility is ensured and the same cleaning brushes can be selectively coupled to guide rods or cleaning robots.

[0010] This object is achieved by a system for cleaning building surfaces according to claim 1.

[0011] Such a system comprises a cleaning unit with a cleaning element (e.g., a cleaning brush) rotationally driven by an electric motor, at least one water nozzle, and a cleaning interface. It further comprises a self-propelled carrier vehicle having traction elements for locomotion, a vehicle housing, and at least one vehicle interface. The system also comprises a manually operable pole unit with at least one extendable pole and a pole interface. The cleaning interface, the vehicle interface, and the pole interface are configured such that the cleaning unit can be selectively connected to a vehicle interface of the carrier vehicle or to the pole interface of the pole unit via the cleaning interface. Consequently, the cleaning unit can be selectively coupled to the pole unit or to the carrier vehicle.

[0012] The cleaning unit comprises at least one cleaning element that is rotationally driven by an electric motor. The cleaning element can be, for example, a brush provided with bristles, a sponge, a cloth, or the like. It is designed to loosen dirt particles lying on or adhering to the building surface during mechanical movements relative to the building surface. To support this, at least one water nozzle can wet a section of the building surface. The wetting of the section of the building surface can occur before the cleaning element comes into contact with this section and / or after it comes into contact with this section. The water nozzle is designed to be wetted with a liquid, for example with water, in particular demineralized water, which can be mixed with one or more additives, e.g. cleaning additives. Adhering dirt particles can advantageously be more easily loosened mechanically by wetting.If the wetting occurs after the section of the building surface has come into contact with the cleaning element, an additional rinsing effect is achieved. On vertical or inclined building surfaces, the dirty water runs off. The cleaning element is driven by an electric motor for rotational movement.

[0013] The cleaning interface enables a selective connection of the cleaning unit to the carrier vehicle at the vehicle interface of the carrier vehicle or to the rod unit at the rod interface of the rod unit. It should be understood that a vehicle interface and a rod interface are each designed to provide at least one coupling element for coupling to a counter-coupling element of a cleaning interface. However, a plurality of coupling elements and a plurality of counter-coupling elements can also be provided. Coupling can also be referred to as connecting. Coupling or connecting can be, for example, an electrical connection with electrical connections, a mechanical connection, for example by a screw connection, and / or a connection of a liquid supply, for example by a pipe connector and / or a hose connector.It should be understood that the vehicle interface, rod interface, and cleaning interface can each be a fixed element in the sense of a coherent structural unit. However, they can also be formed from multiple elements (e.g., various plug connections) that are not rigidly connected to one another.

[0014] The carrier vehicle is self-propelled, meaning its own drive unit or motor can move the traction elements so that the carrier vehicle moves along the surface to be cleaned. Traction elements include tracks, chains, and / or wheels. The vehicle interface enables selective connection of the carrier vehicle to the cleaning unit.

[0015] The manually handleable rod unit can, for example, be a tube, consist of sections from a tube and / or a solid material, a square profile or another profile. It is preferred that the longitudinal extent of the rod unit is significantly greater than a width or a diameter of the rod unit. The rod is preferably essentially straight, but can also have at least one bend and / or at least one kink. At one end of the rod there can be one or more handles or other profiles of the rod unit so that it can be handled more easily manually. The rod interface is attached to the other end of the rod. The rod interface enables the rod unit to be connected to the cleaning unit.

[0016] According to the invention, the cleaning interface, rod interface and vehicle interface are designed such that the cleaning interface can be selectively connected to the rod interface or a vehicle interface. This advantageously ensures that the same cleaning unit can be selectively attached to the carrier vehicle or to the rod unit. For example, large areas that are easily accessible to the carrier vehicle can be cleaned with the cleaning unit connected to the carrier vehicle. The connection can then be released and the same cleaning unit connected to the rod unit, thus also enabling the cleaning of hard-to-reach regions of the building surface to be cleaned or the cleaning of another, smaller building surface. There is no need to purchase and transport different cleaning units for operation and, if necessary, as spare parts to be kept on hand.Only one type of cleaning unit is necessary because the cleaning interface is designed to be compatible with both the vehicle interface and the rod interface.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning interface has a mechanical coupling piece, the vehicle interface has a first mechanical coupling counterpart, and the rod interface has a second mechanical coupling counterpart, wherein the mechanical coupling piece can be selectively coupled to the first mechanical coupling counterpart or to the second mechanical coupling counterpart. A mechanical coupling counterpart and a mechanical coupling piece, in conjunction with one another, each form a mechanical coupling. Such a mechanical coupling is designed to transmit mechanical forces and moments for movement. The mechanical coupling piece of the cleaning interface and thus of the cleaning unit is accordingly selectively moved by the first mechanical coupling counterpart of the vehicle interface or by the second mechanical coupling counterpart of the rod unit.It should be understood that the described mechanical coupling does not exclusively cause the movement of the cleaning unit; rather, additional weight forces act on inclined surfaces, for example, or as a result of the rotationally driven cleaning brush, additional traction forces occur when the brush comes into contact with the building surface.

[0018] It is further preferred that the cleaning interface has an electrical coupling piece, the vehicle interface has a first electrical coupling counterpart, and the rod interface has a second electrical coupling counterpart, wherein the electrical coupling piece can be selectively coupled to the first electrical coupling counterpart or to the second electrical coupling counterpart. The first or second electrical coupling counterpart and the electrical coupling piece can be designed, for example, as mutually compatible plugs, sockets, couplings, plug-in connectors, etc., as are known in numerous embodiments on the market and in standards. For example, a suitable plug from IEC 60320 or IEC 60309 can be selected. In the coupled state, for example, the electric motor of the cleaning unit can be supplied with power using the electrical energy provided.

[0019] In a further aspect of the invention, the cleaning interface has a fluid coupling piece, the vehicle interface has a first fluid coupling counterpart, and the rod interface has a second fluid coupling counterpart, wherein the cleaning interface can be selectively coupled to the first fluid coupling counterpart or to the second fluid coupling counterpart. The first or second fluid coupling counterpart and the fluid coupling piece can be designed, for example, as mutually compatible sleeves, plug-in couplings, screw couplings, hose ends with a matching pipe clamp, or the like. In the coupled state, water or water mixed with additives is provided, e.g. for cooling the electric motor or in particular for supplying the water nozzles.

[0020] It is further preferred that the mechanical coupling piece can be coupled to the first mechanical coupling counterpart, and the mechanical coupling piece can be coupled to the second mechanical coupling counterpart in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner to transmit movement. This can be achieved, for example, by a pin connection, a wedge connection, a screw connection, a clip, or the like.

[0021] It is preferred that the mechanical coupling piece can be coupled and released with the first mechanical coupling counterpart, and that the mechanical coupling piece can be coupled and released with the second mechanical coupling counterpart, without the use of tools. This means that connecting elements are used that can be manually locked and released. This advantageously makes changing the cleaning unit from the pole unit to the carrier vehicle or from the carrier vehicle to the pole unit even easier and, in particular, does not depend on whether, for example, suitable tools are available at the site.

[0022] It is further preferred that the first mechanical coupling counterpart is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the vehicle housing, and the second mechanical coupling counterpart is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the guide rod. Advantageously, the first or second mechanical coupling counterpart is then not immobile, i.e., rigidly connected to the mechanical coupling piece. This can be particularly advantageous, for example, when changes in direction occur during the travel movement, when uneven surfaces are overcome, or when shortening of the bristles due to wear needs to be compensated.

[0023] It is also preferred that the rotational axis of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element is perpendicular to the direction of movement. This advantageously ensures that the rotationally driven cleaning element applies additional traction forces to the building surface to be cleaned. The manual drive of the rod unit or the drive of the traction elements—depending on the selective coupling type—is thus supported and relieved.

[0024] In a preferred development of the invention, a system is preferred wherein a first bearing of the first mechanical coupling counterpart has a first rotational degree of freedom, wherein the rotation axis of the first rotational degree of freedom is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element, and a second bearing of the second mechanical coupling counterpart has a second rotational degree of freedom, wherein the rotation axis of the second rotational degree of freedom is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element. With regard to the first bearing, it is advantageous that the rotation axis of the bearing, which is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the cleaning element, ensures that the cleaning unit can be raised and lowered in the connected state. The cleaning unit can, for example,be connected to the first coupling counterpart in such a way that the rotatably mounted cleaning unit with the cleaning elements rests on the surface to be cleaned. If the cleaning elements become worn, e.g. the bristles become shortened due to abrasion, the described mounting advantageously enables the position of the cleaning unit relative to the carrier vehicle to be adjusted by corresponding rotation parallel to the rotation axis of the cleaning element. With regard to the second mounting, when connected to the rod unit, it is advantageously achieved that steering the cleaning unit is considerably facilitated by guiding the rod unit with the described mounting if there is no rigid connection. Changes of direction and curves are thus easier to implement.

[0025] In a further preferred embodiment of the system, a first mechanical coupling counterpart and a second mechanical coupling counterpart are designed such that they each have a surface with at least two bores, and the mechanical coupling piece has at least two pins that are designed to penetrate at least two of the bores. It is possible for the bores of the first mechanical coupling counterpart and the second mechanical coupling counterpart to be congruent and equally penetrated by the pins. However, it is equally possible for the mechanical coupling piece to have three, four, five, or more pins that are designed such that at least two first pins penetrate the bores of the first mechanical coupling counterpart and at least two second pins penetrate the bores of the second mechanical coupling counterpart.The first at least two pins can be identical, partially identical, or non-identical to the second at least two pins. The surfaces, each of which has at least two holes, can each be a continuous surface or a partially interrupted surface. They can be straight, angled, or curved, or a combination thereof.

[0026] It is further preferred that the at least two pins are threaded pins, and that the mechanical coupling piece is selectively coupled to the first mechanical coupling counterpart or the second mechanical coupling counterpart in such a way that the at least two pins penetrate the at least two bores of the first mechanical coupling counterpart or the second mechanical coupling counterpart and are each fastened to the sheet metal with wing nuts and / or knurled nuts. Such a connection can be released essentially without the use of tools.

[0027] In a further aspect of the invention, the at least two bores lie in one plane. Those of the at least two bores whose bore centers are at the greatest distance from one another have a distance between the bore centers that is at least 10% of a longitudinal extent of the rotationally driven cleaning element. The structural design in one plane advantageously promotes a simple manufacturing process. By setting a minimum distance between the bore centers of 10% of a longitudinal extent of the rotationally driven cleaning element, it is advantageously achieved that torques can be absorbed better, i.e. with lower forces at the position of the bores and the threaded pins. The longitudinal extent here is referred to as the maximum length of the longest cleaning element.

[0028] It is further preferred that the first mechanical coupling counterpart is designed to space the rotationally driven cleaning element from the distal end of the carrier vehicle such that the distance from the distal end of the carrier vehicle to the outer diameter of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element is at least 10% of a maximum transverse extent of the rotationally driven cleaning element. This minimum distance ensures that, when the carrier vehicle is coupled, there is no collision between the traction elements and the cleaning unit. Furthermore, advantageously, the structure surface is wetted, rather than, or to a lesser extent, the carrier vehicle.

[0029] A preferred embodiment of the traction elements are tracks and / or wheels, preferably with a surface made of a rubber or elastomer material. Tracks have a large contact area with the surface to be cleaned, thus providing a particularly secure grip. Wheels can be controlled more easily independently of one another, simplifying steering. A surface made of an elastomer material offers high friction values ​​on typical facade materials (glass, solar modules, plastics, and the like), ensuring the carrier vehicle has a secure grip even on inclined surfaces. The traction elements can also have suction elements, ribbing, and / or another structure that further promotes adhesion to the surface to be cleaned.

[0030] The rotationally driven cleaning element preferably has a substantially cylindrical envelope and preferably also has bristles and / or a sponge structure. The cylindrical envelope achieves approximately uniform cleaning across the width of the cleaning unit when driven in a rotational manner. Bristles and / or sponge structures have a high specific surface area, which is therefore particularly suitable for absorbing or removing dirt particles.

[0031] Embodiments of the invention will now be described below with reference to the drawings. These are not necessarily intended to depict the embodiments to scale; rather, where this is useful for explanation, the drawings are schematic and / or slightly distorted. With regard to additions to the teachings immediately apparent from the drawings, reference is made to the relevant prior art. It should be noted that numerous modifications and changes to the form and detail of an embodiment can be made without deviating from the general idea of ​​the invention. The features of the invention disclosed in the description, the drawings, and the claims can be essential for further developing the invention, both individually and in any combination.Furthermore, any combination of at least two of the features disclosed in the description, the drawings, and / or the claims falls within the scope of the invention. The general idea of ​​the invention is not limited to the exact form or detail of the preferred embodiments shown and described below, nor is it limited to a subject matter that would be limited compared to the subject matter claimed in the claims. For the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals are used below for identical or similar parts or parts with identical or similar functions.

[0032] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

[0033] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of the components of the system; Fig. 2 an isometric view of a cleaning unit connected to the vehicle interface of the carrier vehicle at the cleaning interface; Fig. 3 a plan view of a connection of the cleaning interface to the vehicle interface; Fig. 4 a detailed view of the mechanical coupling piece coupled with the first mechanical coupling counterpart Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a cleaning unit connected at the cleaning interface to the rod interface of the rod unit from the rear; and Fig. 6 an isometric view of a cleaning unit connected at the cleaning interface to the rod interface of the rod unit from the front

[0034] Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a system 1 for cleaning building surfaces, comprising a cleaning unit 2, a carrier vehicle 4, and a rod unit 6. In the embodiment shown here, a cleaning element 10 of the cleaning unit 2 has bristles 62 and is rotationally driven by an electric motor 8. A water nozzle 12, which is designed to wet a building surface F, is attached via a rod to a bearing of the rotation axis R of the cleaning unit 2. A cleaning interface 14 of the cleaning unit 2 is schematically indicated. In the embodiment shown here, the carrier vehicle 4 has wheels 18 as traction elements 16. In other embodiments, however, the traction elements 16 can also be designed as tracks 20 (cf. Fig. 2). The carrier vehicle 4 has a vehicle housing 22, on which a vehicle interface 24 is arranged, which can be coupled to the cleaning interface 14. According to the invention, the cleaning interface 14 can alternatively also be coupled to a rod interface 28 of the guide rod 26 of the rod unit 6. A coupling can comprise a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, and / or a connection of hoses designed to conduct fluid. It should be understood that the vehicle interface 24, cleaning interface 14, and rod interface 28 depicted here are depicted as functional elements. In particular, they are not to be understood as a structural unit. Rather, a vehicle interface 24, cleaning interface 14, and / or rod interface 28 can comprise one or more elements that serve for an electrical, mechanical, or fluid coupling.This can be seen, for example, in . Fig. 2: Here, the vehicle interface 24 comprises a surface 50 with two bores 51, which form the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32, a socket 41, which forms a first electrical coupling counterpart 38, and a valve connection 45, which forms a first fluid coupling counterpart 44. In this embodiment, the first fluid coupling counterpart 44, the first electrical coupling counterpart 38, and the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32 together form a vehicle interface 24.

[0035] An extension piece 27 is attached to the distal end of the guide rod 26. This extension piece has a smaller diameter than a sleeve rod 29, so that the extension piece 27 is telescopically movable axially relative to the sleeve rod 29. Not shown is that the sleeve rod 29 and extension piece 27 can be secured by known elements, such as snap fasteners and spring clips and corresponding bores. Other connections, such as screw connections, pipe clamps, expansion connectors, or the like, are also conceivable. The guide rod 26 can also be constructed from several extension pieces 27 and, by selecting a number of extension pieces 27, form an extendable guide rod 26.

[0036] In the isometric view of a structural design in Fig. 2, the cleaning unit 2 is connected to the carrier vehicle 4 by coupling the cleaning interface 14 and the vehicle interface 24. The rod unit 6 is in Fig. 2 not shown. The electric motor 8 is mounted above the cleaning element 10 and separated from it by a splash guard 11. The splash guard 11 has a bending radius and is beveled at each end of the bend. The splash guard 11 protects the electric motor 8, cleaning interface 14, and carrier vehicle 4 from dirt and splash water. The rotational kinetic energy is transferred from an output shaft of the electric motor 8 to the rotatably mounted cleaning element 10 via a transmission, e.g., a belt, gear chain, or the like.

[0037] A row of three water nozzles 12 is attached to each of the two beveled areas. Water nozzles 12 of a first row are designed to wet the building surface F in front of the cleaning element 10. Water nozzles 12 of a second row are designed to wet the building surface F behind the cleaning element 10. The building surface F is thus first wetted, then cleaned with the rotating cleaning element 10, and finally rinsed during wetting by the water nozzles 12 of the second row. The water nozzles 12 are connected by hoses 13. The fluid flow is distributed among the various water nozzles 12 by T-connectors 15.In the embodiment shown here, hoses 13 can be connected to the housing of the electric motor 8 at two connecting elements 19a, 19b, wherein one connecting element 19a is designed to receive liquid when the hoses 13 are connected and another connecting element 19b is designed to deliver the liquid from the motor via the hoses 13 to the nozzles 12 when the hoses 13 are connected. Advantageously, a liquid for wetting the building surface F can thus be used to cool the electric motor 8 before wetting. The fluid coupling piece 42, which is connected to the first fluid coupling counterpart 44, supplies the hoses 13 and thus the water nozzles 12 with a liquid. This liquid can be, for example, water or water mixed with a cleaning agent. The liquid can, for example, be collected in a reservoir of the carrier vehicle 4.Alternatively, the carrier vehicle 4 has a holder for guiding and securing a water supply hose, which supplies water from a tank, a water supply network, a reservoir, or another water source. In such a case, the vehicle-side end of the water supply hose can be configured as a first fluid coupling counterpart 44 or connected to such a coupling counterpart.

[0038] In Fig. 2 further shows the connection of the mechanical coupling piece 30 to the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the mechanical coupling piece 30 comprises two pins 52, which are designed here as threaded pins 54 and each penetrate a bore 51 that is part of the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32. The bores 51 are provided on the surface 50, and the threaded pins 54 are connected to the surface 50 by nuts 56. The nuts 56 are preferably designed so that they can be removed without tools, e.g., as wing nuts or knurled nuts. In this case, the surface 50 is configured such that it comprises sections of the same component, namely the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32, that lie in the same plane. However, it is not necessary for these sections to be connected to one another without interruption.In the embodiment shown here, the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32 has a stepped shape as a stop surface, which facilitates positioning on the mechanical coupling piece 30 of the cleaning unit 2. When the carrier vehicle 4 moves in the direction of travel X, compressive forces can be transmitted to the mechanical coupling piece 30 of the cleaning unit 2 through the stop surface, so that no or fewer transverse forces act on the screw connection.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the carrier vehicle 4 has tracks 20 as traction elements 16. The tracks 20 have a non-slip elastomer material on the surface that comes into contact with the building surface F, so that even on sloping building surfaces F, there is protection against slipping and, at the same time, the material of the building surface is protected.

[0040] Fig. Figure 3 shows a detailed view of an embodiment of the connection of the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32 to the mechanical coupling piece 30. The centers of the nuts 56 and the associated bores 51 are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance d1 in the direction of the rotation axis R. This is advantageous for absorbing moments that occur, for example, in the case of unevenness or local elevations of the structural surface that are uneven along the rotation axis.

[0041] The first mechanical coupling counterpart 32 is also designed here such that the cleaning element 10 has a certain second distance d2 from the distal end of the vehicle housing 22, so that advantageously no collisions occur here and, in addition, dirt conveyed by the cleaning element 10 is washed away at the second distance d2 by the second row of water nozzles 12 and, for example, flows off due to gravity in the case of an obliquely aligned building surface F. The first mechanical coupling counterpart 32 here comprises an axis A. The axis A is connected in a materially bonded manner to the surface 50 of the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32, which has a step-shaped stop surface (cf. also Fig. 4). The axis A is aligned essentially parallel to the axis of rotation R of the cleaning element 10 and orthogonal to the direction of travel X. It is rotatably mounted so that the first mechanical coupling counterpart 32 has a first rotational degree of freedom DOF1. This first rotational degree of freedom DOF 1 allows movement about the axis A. This is advantageous because as the cleaning element 10, which can be designed, for example, as a sponge structure or as a brush, wears out, the diameter of the cleaning element changes over time. Axial locking elements are used, for example, with a locking pin.

[0042] Fig. Figure 5 shows the components cleaning unit 2 and rod unit 6 of system 1 in a connected state in an isometric view. The structure of the cleaning unit 2 here essentially corresponds to the structure of the cleaning unit 2 as shown in Fig. 2. In this configuration of the system 1, the splash guard 11 does not protect the carrier vehicle 4, but rather the electric motor 8 and the operator from dirt and splashes. The rod unit 6 here includes, among other things, the guide rod 26, a distal bearing 48, an electrical cable 39, a water supply hose 47, and a rod interface 28. The rod interface 28 is formed here by the second mechanical coupling counterpart 34, the second fluid coupling counterpart 46, which is arranged at one end of the water supply hose 47, and the second electrical coupling counterpart 40, which is arranged at one end of the electrical cable 39.

[0043] The second fluid coupling counterpart 46 can be selectively coupled to the fluid coupling piece 42, the second electrical coupling counterpart 40 to the electrical coupling piece 36, and the second mechanical coupling counterpart 34 to the mechanical coupling piece 30. In the embodiment shown here, the rod unit 6 is mechanically coupled to the cleaning unit 2.

[0044] The water supply hose 47 and the electrical cable 39 are guided and held along the guide rod 26, for example by means of hook-and-loop fasteners. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the water supply hose and the electrical cable to be guided in an inner cavity of the guide rod 26. Both the electrical cable 39 and the water supply hose 47 have a flexible area between the distal end of the guide rod 26 and the cleaning unit 2. The flexible area is, for example, a bend, a coil, or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the electrical cable 39 and / or the water supply hose 47 are made flexible in this area by axial movement, for example by retracting the electrical cable 39 and / or the water supply hose 47. This ensures that neither the electrical cable 39 nor the water supply hose 47 are subjected to mechanical tensile stress.In the present embodiment, the guide rod 26 is constructed from a sheathing rod 29 and an extension piece 27 arranged in the sheathing rod 29, which is telescopically movable axially relative to the sheathing rod 29. The fixing and positioning of the extension piece 27 relative to the sheathing rod 29 is achieved here, on the one hand, by means of snap fasteners that engage in matching bores by means of spring clips. On the other hand, additional fixing is achieved by tightening a screw. It should be understood that second, third, fourth, etc. extension pieces can also be provided, which are telescopically movable relative to one another and can be positioned and fixed using the means described. The rod unit 6 is thus extendable and adaptable to the respective application.The second mechanical coupling counterpart 34 has a distal bearing 48, which, when connected, provides a second rotational degree of freedom (DOF 2) between the guide rod and the cleaning unit. The second rotational degree of freedom (DOF 2) allows rotation about an orthogonal axis O perpendicular to the rotation axis R. The angle of the orthogonal axis O to the rotation axis R can be fixed or variable as an additional degree of freedom. The distal bearing 48 makes handling easier for the operator, especially when changing direction.

[0045] In Fig.6 shows a front view of the cleaning unit 2, which is mechanically coupled to the rod unit 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical and / or fluid coupling counterparts are not shown. These can be designed as connecting pieces on cables and / or hoses, wherein the cables and / or hoses are guided and positioned inside the guide rod 26 or outside along the guide rod 26. The rod unit can then be coupled to the fluid coupling piece 42 of the cleaning unit 2 at the second fluid coupling counterpart 46 and / or to the electrical coupling piece 36 at the second electrical coupling counterpart 40. The system 1 can be adapted particularly flexibly to the requirements of the respective cleaning task.

Claims

[1] System (1) for cleaning building surfaces (F), comprising: at least one cleaning unit (2) with at least one electric motor (8), at least one cleaning element (10) rotationally driven by the electric motor (8), at least one water nozzle (12), wherein the water nozzle (12) is designed to wet the building surface (F), and a cleaning interface (14); a self-propelled carrier vehicle (4) for driving on building surfaces (F), wherein the carrier vehicle (4) has traction elements (16) for moving on the building surface (F) to be cleaned, a vehicle housing (22) and a vehicle interface (24) connected to the vehicle housing (22), wherein the vehicle interface (24) is designed such that it can be coupled to the cleaning interface (14), characterized by a manually operable rod unit (6) having at least one extendable guide rod (26) and a rod interface (28), wherein the rod interface (28) is designed such that it can be coupled to the cleaning interface (14) such that a cleaning unit (2) at the cleaning interface (14) is connected either to the rod interface (28) or to the vehicle interface (24). [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning interface (14) has a mechanical coupling piece (30), the vehicle interface (24) has a first mechanical coupling counterpart (32), and the rod interface (28) has a second mechanical coupling counterpart (34), wherein the mechanical coupling piece (30) can be selectively coupled to the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) or to the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34). [3] System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning interface (14) has an electrical coupling piece (36), the vehicle interface (24) has a first electrical coupling counterpart (38), and the rod interface (28) has a second electrical coupling counterpart (40), wherein the electrical coupling piece (36) is selectively coupleable to the first electrical coupling counterpart (38) or to the second electrical coupling counterpart (40). [4] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning interface (14) has a fluid coupling piece (42), the vehicle interface (24) has a first fluid coupling counterpart (44), and the rod interface (28) has a second fluid coupling counterpart (46), wherein the cleaning interface (14) is selectively coupleable to the first fluid coupling counterpart (44) or to the second fluid coupling counterpart (46). [5] System according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical coupling piece (30) can be coupled to the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) and the mechanical coupling piece (30) can be coupled to the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner for transmitting movement. [6] System according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical coupling piece (30) can be coupled and released with the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) and the mechanical coupling piece (30) with the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) without tools. [7] System according to claim 2, wherein the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the vehicle housing (22) and the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the guide rod (26). [8] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation axis (R) of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element (10) is transverse to the direction of movement (X). [9] System according to claims 7 and 8, wherein a first bearing of the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) has a first rotational degree of freedom (DOF1), wherein the rotational axis of the first rotational degree of freedom (DOF1) is substantially parallel to the rotational axis (R) of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element (10) and a second bearing of the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) has a second rotational degree of freedom (DOF2), wherein the rotation axis (R) of the second rotational degree of freedom (DOF2) is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis (R) of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element (10). [10] System according to claim 2, wherein both the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) and the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) each have a surface (50) with at least two bores and the mechanical coupling piece (30) has at least two pins (52) which are designed to penetrate the at least two bores. [11] System according to claim 10, wherein the at least two pins (52) are threaded pins (54) and coupling of the mechanical coupling piece (30) selectively with the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) or the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) takes place in such a way that the at least two pins (52) penetrate the at least two bores of the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) or the second mechanical coupling counterpart (34) and are each fastened to the surface (50) with wing nuts and / or knurled nuts. [12] System according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least two bores lie in one plane and those of the at least two bores whose bore centers are maximally spaced from each other have a distance of the bore centers which is at least 10% of a longitudinal extent of the rotationally driven cleaning element. [13] System according to one of claims 2-7, 9-12, wherein the first mechanical coupling counterpart (32) is designed to space the rotationally driven cleaning element (10) from the distal end of the carrier vehicle (4) such that the distance from the distal end of the carrier vehicle (4) to the outer diameter of the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element (10) is at least 10% of a maximum transverse extent of the rotationally driven cleaning element (10). [14] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the traction elements (16) are tracks (20) and / or wheels (18) and preferably have a surface made of an elastomer material. [15] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one rotationally driven cleaning element (10) has a substantially cylindrical envelope and wherein the cleaning element (10) has bristles and / or a sponge structure.

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