A cleaning head

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning head 100 comprising: a casing 10 with a central shaft 13 that supports a first turbine 20 at a first end of the casing 11 and a second turbine 30 at a secon

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning head, in particular a rotating brush cleaning head for attaching to a pressurised fluid source. Background It is common to use pressurised fluid, to clean and lubricate intricate and hard to reach areas and items. Although pressurised air aerosols, used as an air duster, are designed to shift dust, this cannot always be achieved when dust has settled for a period of time and becomes encrusted or layered too thickly that it cannot be removed by pressured air alone. In these situations a user may also use a brush in combination with applying pressurised air in attempt to dislodge fixed or caked on dust. Often separate devices are used or connected to enable fluid flow to be accelerated to blow compressed fluid to the area to be cleaned and to be able to effectively extract displaced debris using suction. The present invention provides a cleaning head that can accommodate both uses. Prior Art CN109940447 (TIANJIN) discloses pneumatic portable cleaning tool. CN2335445 (YANG SONG) discloses a cleaning brush. CN109770531 (XIAN) discloses a computer hardware dust removal device. US2020 / 0329855 (LIU) discloses a brush device. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cleaning head comprising: a casing with a central shaft that supports a first turbine at a first end of the casing and a second turbine at a second end of the casing; and a substantially tubular chamber with a first end, a second end, a first fluid opening and second fluid opening; wherein the second end of the chamber is connected to the first end of the casing to form a continuous conduit through which fluid flows. In this way when fluid passes through the conduit it passes through two turbines that act to accelerate flow. It is appreciated that fluid flow through the conduit may be in either direction depending on whether used as a blower to displace debris / particles during cleaning, or if operated using suction to extract debris / particles displaced by the cleaning head. The casing and the chamber are typically substantially tubular to provide a tubular conduit therethrough. In a preferred embodiment the tubular casing has varying diameters along its length to accommodate turbines of different sizes. In a preferred embodiment the tubular chamber also has varying diameters along its length to assist with accelerating fluid flow, typically by means of having a waist regions that acts to accelerate fluid flow by means of the Venturi effect. In preferred embodiments the second end of the casing has a larger opening than the first end of the casing and the first turbine at the first end is thereby smaller than the second turbine at the second end. The casing thereby has an increased diameter at the second end relative to the diameter at the first end. The second turbine at the second end is adapted to receive a cleaning means which is typically a brush connected to an outer face of the turbine for engaging with surfaces to be cleaned. The cleaning means is used to displace undesired material(s) from a surface or to spread fluid such as lubricant over part of a surface. In this way the cleaning head is able to accelerate fluid flow through the continuous conduit and rotate a cleaning means to enhance cleaning or lubrication of a surface, in particular an intricate surface. The first and second fluid openings enter the chamber at different locations to create different airflow patterns, to include generating suction to draw displaced particles, dust etc, through the conduit, or to force compressed fluid through the conduit to disperse particles dust etc. In preferred embodiments the fluids openings are pipes to direct fluid into the chamber at a selected direction relative to the axis of the conduit. In a preferred embodiment the first fluid opening is at the first end of the chamber and the second fluid opening is at a second end of the chamber. Typically one fluid opening is selected to be open during use depending on the direction of fluid flow through the conduit. The other opening may be closed by a plug, cap, or bung. In a preferred embodiment the first end of the casing is received concentrically to the second end of the substantially tubular chamber. This allows for the casing to only encase the turbines and not require an extended portion to receive the chamber. Preferably the casing and chamber are separable so that the casing with both turbines can be connected directly to a pressurised air source and optionally used without the chamber. It is appreciated that in some embodiments both fluid openings may be closed by plugs and fluid may only enter / exit through the first end of the chamber and the second end of the casing. The fluid openings may receive compressed fluid from a fluid source to assist with cleaning and / or lubrication. The pressurised fluid may be a supply of pressurised air or a supply of pressurised cleaning fluid or lubricant. In a preferred embodiment the first fluid opening may be connected to a compressed fluid source to pump compressed fluid into the first fluid opening along the conduit towards the turbines in the casing. The first fluid opening is typically a pipe directed through the conduit towards the turbines. The second fluid opening may be closed by a plug when the first fluid opening is in use. When using the second fluid opening a compressed fluid source is pump into the second fluid opening that is a channel directed along the conduit towards the first end of the chamber. In this arrangement the conduit acts to suck fluid away from the surface being cleaned through the conduit and exiting through the first end of the chamber. The first fluid opening may be closed by a plug when the second fluid opening is in use. It is appreciated that for some uses the first end of the chamber may be connected to a fluid extraction means to collect and direct displaced particles for disposal. For example the first end of the chamber may be connected to a vacuum with a vacuum bag so that material / debris / particles displaced by the cleaning means are collected in the vacuum bag. Alternatively a first end of the chamber may be connected to a compressed fluid source to direct fluid through the first end of the chamber towards the turbines to force fluid towards the surface to be tended. Preferably the second fluid entrance is arranged where the first end of the casing and the second end of the substantially tubular chamber concentrically overlap so that the second fluid entrance enters the casing through a hole between the first turbine and the second turbine. In this way fluid is forced through the second opening, towards the first turbine along the conduit towards the first end of the chamber that is the fluid exit in this arrangement. Preferably the substantially tubular chamber has a waist region that forms a narrowing of the conduit that acts to accelerate fluid flow by the Venturi effect. In this way the shaping of the chamber and the turbines together act to accelerate fluid flow through the conduit. The shaft that houses the turbines is received to a shaft support to permit the shaft to turn / rotate about the shaft support. In preferred embodiments the shaft support has a low friction lining to permit smooth rotation of the shaft relative to the shaft support. The cleaning head includes a brush to aid with displacing particles from a surface. Ideally the brush comprises a ferrule arrange on the second turbine with a plurality of filaments extending therefrom. In some embodiments the brush is displaceable so that the type of brush can be changed and / or so a worn brush can be replaced. In some embodiments the brush may be an anti-static brush. In some embodiments distal ends of the filaments are angled towards a central axis of the shaft to resist splaying during rotation. Ideally the filaments are arranged in a ring extending away from the turbine. In some embodiments the filaments are arranged in a solid frusto-conical form extending from the turbine to form a cleaning tip for precision cleaning. In some embodiments an inner face of the chamber and / or casing has raised and lowered surfaces to direct fluid flow. In this way the inner face may act to direct fluid more efficiently towards or away from the turbines. For example the inner face may have helical grooves to direct fluid flow in a helical flow to accelerate rotation of the turbines. In some embodiments the chamber includes at least one aperture on a wall to allow air to be drawn therethrough. Preferably the apertures may be provided at the waist region so that air can be drawn in at this point to further encourage the enhanced flow created by the Venturi effect. Any aperture may also be plugged with a plug to prevent air flow through. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the cleaning head; Figure 2A shows a front isometric view of the cleaning head; Figure 2B shows a side view of the cleaning head; Figure 3A shows a cross section of the cleaning head; Figure 3B shows a side view of the cleaning head; Figure 3C shows a bottom view of the cleaning head; Figure 4A shows a front perspective view of a cleaning head connected to a compression gun Figure 4B shows a side view of the cleaning head connected to a compression gun; Figure 5A shows a rear perspective view of a cleaning head connected to a compression gun Figure 5B shows a side view of the cleaning head connected to a compression gun; Figure 6A shows a side view of a cleaning head connected to a compression gun that is connected to an aerosol can; Figure 6B shows a front isometric view of a cleaning head connected to a compression gun that is connected to an aerosol can; Figure 7 shows a front isometric view of a cleaning head connected to a compression gun that is connected to an aerosol can and a fluid extraction means connected to the chamber; Figure 8 shows a partial section of a front isometric view of the cleaning head; Figure 9 shows a partial section of a rear isometric view of the cleaning head; Figure 10 shows a section of a front isometric view of the cleaning head; Figure 11 shows a section of a rear isometric view of the cleaning head; Figure 12 shows a cleaning head with arrows to indicate fluid flow when operation under suction mode; and Figure 13 shows a cleaning head with arrows to indicate fluid flow when operating under blower mode. Detailed Description of Figures Figures 1 to 13 show a preferred embodiment of the cleaning head 100. The cleaning head has a casing 10 with a central shaft 13 that receives a shaft support about which a first turbine 20 rotates at a first end 11 of the casing 10 and a second turbine 30 rotates at a second end 12 of the casing 10; and a substantially tubular chamber 40 with a first end 41, a second end 42, a first fluid opening 43 and second fluid opening 44; wherein the second end 42 of the chamber 40 is connected to the first end 11 of the casing 10 to form a continuous conduit 50 through which fluid flows. The casing 10 is tubular and has a first end 11 of a first diameter and a second end 12 with a second larger diameter. The diameter of the casing 10 is varied to accommodate turbines 20 and 30 that are of different sizes. The casing 10 has a central shaft 13 which rotates about a shaft support 14. The shaft support 14 is a nut 14A and bolt 14B. Inside the casing 10 are ribs 15 to provide structural strength. The first turbine 20 is a smaller turbine with a central aperture 21 through which the shaft support 14 passes and a plurality of blades 22. The tips 23 of the blades 22 are connected to a collar 24. The second turbine 30 is a larger turbine with a central aperture 31 through which the shaft support 14 passes and a plurality of blades 32. The tips 33 of the blades 32 are connected to a collar 34. The second larger turbine 30 has a central tube 35 that extends from a rear face of the turbine. The tube 35 is received through the shaft 13. A distal end of the central tube 35 is received to the central aperture of the first turbine 20. The channel through the tube 35 receives the shaft support 14 so that the first turbine 20 and the second turbine 30 rotate about the shaft support 14 and the tube 35 acts to locate the two turbines 20, 30 and allow smooth, simultaneous rotation. As the first and second turbines 20, 30 are connected by the central tube 35 and shaft support 14 fluid flow directed to either turbine will cause both to spin. The shaft support 14 acts to join the casing 10 and first and second turbines 20, 30 together so that the casing and shaft support 14 are static during use and the turbines 20, 30 rotate within the casing 10 about the shaft support 14. The chamber 40 has a varying diameter along its length to assist with accelerating fluid flow by nature of the Venturi effect. The tubular chamber has a waist region 48 that forms a narrowing of the conduit that acts to accelerate fluid flow by the Venturi effect. The waist region 48 has an aperture 49 to allow air to be drawn in to further accelerate fluid flow through the conduit 50. In this way the shaping of the chamber and the turbines together act to accelerate flow through the conduit 50. The first end 11 of the casing 10 is received concentrically to the second end 42 of the chamber 40. This allows for the casing 10 to only encase the turbines 20, 30 and not require an extended portion to receive the chamber 40. The first end 11 of the casing has an annular groove 16 for receiving an annular protuberance 45 on the chamber 40. The mating of the groove 16 and the protuberance 45 connects the two parts 10, 40 together to form the conduit 50. The chamber 40 has two fluid openings 43, 44. The fluid openings 43, 44 are tubes that enter through the wall of the chamber 40 to provide a port through which fluid can be pumped or extracted, or that can be closed by a cap 46. The first fluid opening 43 is at the first end 41 of the chamber 40. This opening is intended to receive pumped fluid from a fluid source such as an aerosol can to force fluid towards the turbines 20, 30. The second fluid opening 44 is at a second end 42 of the chamber 40 and is intended to receive pumped fluid from a fluid source such as an aerosol can to force fluid towards the first end 51 of the conduit 50. The second fluid opening 44 enters the conduit 50 where the first end of the casing 10 and the second end of the chamber 42 overlap. There is a hole 17 in the wall (see Figures 8 and 9) of the casing 10 that aligns with the fluid opening 44. In this way pressurised fluid is pumped in to the casing 10 at a location between the first turbine 20 and the second turbine 30. The pressurised fluid is directed towards the first turbine 20 to initiate and maintain rotation to generate suction through the conduit. An outer face of the chamber 40 has fins 40A, 40B, 40C that provide strength and protection to the conduit 50 and the first fluid opening 43. The first end 41 of the chamber 40 has an annular groove 41A and a collar ring 41B that aid with attachment to extraction or blowing means. The cleaning head 100 has a plurality of filaments to form a brush 70 (not shown in Figure 1). In the pictured embodiment the second fluid opening 44 has a connector 60. The connector 60 is intended to allow for connection to a pressurised air source, such as an aerosol can 200. The connector 60 has threaded first and second ends 61, 62 and a threaded cuff 63 for connecting the connector 60 to the fluid opening 44 by threading the cuff 63 to a corresponding screw thread 47 on an outer surface of the fluid opening 44. In Figures 4A and 4B, 5A and 5B the cleaning head 100 is connected to a compression gun 300at the second fluid opening 44 using the connector 60. In Figures 6A and 6B the compression gun 300 is connected to an aerosol can 200 which contains the source of compressed fluid. In Figure 7 the assembly shown in Figures 6A and 6B is connected to and extraction means 400 that is a pipe connected to the first end 41 of the chamber 40. Figures 12 and 13 show the different fluid flow patterns with arrows depending on which fluid opening 43, 44 is receiving pumped fluid. Arrows also indicate the direction of rotation of the turbines 20, 30 and shaft 13. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning head comprising: a casing with a central shaft that supports a first turbine at a first end of the casing and a second turbine at a second end of the casing; and a substantially tubular chamber with a first end, a second end, a first fluid opening and second fluid opening; wherein the second end of the chamber is connected to the first end of the casing to form a continuous conduit through which fluid flows.

2. A cleaning head according to claim 1 wherein the substantially tubular chamber has a waist region to accelerate fluid flow by the Venturi effect.

3. A cleaning head according to claim 1 to claim 2 wherein the first end of the casing is received concentrically to the second end of the substantially tubular chamber.

4. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the first fluid opening is arranged at a first end of the chamber.

5. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the second fluid entrance is arranged between the first turbine and the second turbine.

6. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the shaft is received to a shaft support.

7. A cleaning head according to claim 6 wherein the shaft support has a low friction lining to permit rotation of the shaft relative to the shaft support.

8. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the second end of the casing has a larger opening that the first end of the casing.

9. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the second turbine has a cleaning means to engage with a surface.

10. A cleaning head according to claim 9 wherein the cleaning means is a brush.

11. A cleaning head according to claim 10 wherein the brush comprises a ferrule with a plurality of filaments extending therefrom.

12. A cleaning head according to claim 11 wherein distal ends of the filaments are angled towards a central axis of the shaft to resist splaying during rotation.

13. A cleaning head according to either claim 10 or 11 wherein the filaments are arranged in a ring extending away from the fan.

14. A cleaning head according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein filaments are arranged in a solid frusto-conical form extending from the turbine.

15. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein an inner face of the chamber and / or casing has raised and lowered surfaces to direct fluid flow.

16. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the pressurised fluid is a supply of pressurised air.

17. A cleaning head according to any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the pressurised fluid is a supply of pressurised lubricant.

18. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim including a plug to close one of the fluid openings.

19. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the chamber includes at least one aperture on a wall to allow air to be drawn therethrough.

20. A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the fluids openings are in the form of a pipe.21 .A cleaning head according to any preceding claim wherein the first end of the chamber is adapted to connect to a fluid source or to a fluid extraction means.

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