Washing head for marine washing system

Abstract

A cleaning head for a marine cleaning system used to clean a submerged surface includes a body configured to be positioned adjacent to and moved relative to the submerged surface during use. The body defines at least one suction hole in fluid communication with a suction zone surrounding the body. A support arm extends from the body, the support arm supporting a cleaning element configured to, during use, separate material on the submerged surface from the submerged surface and suspend it in the suction zone. Material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction zone through the suction hole. The support arm extends from a junction with the body such that the cleaning element is supported in a laterally spaced apart relationship away from the junction, with the junction operatively disposed forward of the cleaning element during use.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cleaning head for marine cleaning systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cleaning head for connection to a marine cleaning system used for cleaning submerged surfaces, for example to clean the underwater portions of a ship hull or other structures such as dock piers or piles. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] When a structure is submerged under water for a long period of time, particularly in seawater, it is common for the structure to become covered by growths of plants and animals, such as seaweed and various types of barnacles. In many cases, such growth can remain undisturbed. However, in the case of a ship hull, the growth constitutes biological fouling and is harmful in various aspects. If the fouling is not removed from the hull, significant problems can arise, including damage to the hull itself or its antifouling coating, potentially leading to reduced sailing performance of the vessel and increased fuel consumption.

[0003] Antifouling coatings are applied to ship hulls as the primary defense against biological fouling. Silicon-based coatings are commonly used on high-speed vessels and infrequently berthed vessels such as naval vessels, and these compounds inherently minimize biological fouling. On low-speed vessels such as container ships, antifouling coatings contain active ingredients or biocides, for example oxides of tin, zinc or copper, to minimize the adhesion of biological fouling. It will be appreciated that applying such antifouling coatings to large vessels is generally commercially expensive to apply and repair when damaged.

[0004] Antifouling coatings containing copper oxide may undergo leaching during their underwater service life, with the result that the leached layer becomes relatively loosely attached to the antifouling coating. Over time, the leached layer gradually becomes less active, and increasingly larger amounts of biological fouling can adhere to the coating.

[0005] Furthermore, some organisms can be harmful, and when they are transported elsewhere as ships traverse the world's oceans between various ports, they can pose a threat to native species. These problems can be reduced or avoided by washing the hull to remove biofouling. In many cases, hull washing is carried out in a dry dock to prevent environmental pollution, but this approach is often costly and time-consuming.

[0006] Uncontrolled underwater cleaning can release cleaning chemicals or biological contaminants that pollute local seawater. For example, some submerged cleaning and maintenance platforms (SCAMPs) use integrated impellers to destroy biological fouling and any harmful invasive alien species among them. However, in addition to biological fouling, cleaning residues may also contain fragments of hull coatings and corrosive by-products, all of which are then simply discharged directly into the surrounding seawater. As mentioned above, most antifouling coatings contain heavy metals such as Cu and Zn as biocides, and these biocides are then released during cleaning operations in levels that may exceed water quality standards, for example, if a loosely attached leachate layer of the antifouling coating is scraped off the hull. Additionally, fouling removal may stimulate plant or animal growths to release reproductive organisms or fragments of plants and animals that can further proliferate or regenerate.

[0007] Therefore, it is preferable to first filter the wash water and any remaining deposits before discharging them into the environment. An example of such a system is disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which a wash head has a body and a skirt extending around the periphery of the body, the skirt functioning to seal the body to the hull and define a wash chamber. The wash head also includes a scraper for removing deposits from the hull within the wash chamber and at least one suction pipe in fluid communication with the wash chamber. During use, the removed deposits are carried away by water and drawn away from the wash head through the suction pipe to a filtration unit (which may be surface-mounted) before the washed seawater returns to the environment.

[0008] The aforementioned prior art systems are relatively large platforms / vehicles that cannot always be directed towards narrow corners or hard-to-reach areas, such as around a ship's propeller. They also cannot be effectively used to clean smaller boat hulls or smaller areas such as dock piers or pilings. In such cases, a manual cleaning head is often more useful.

[0009] Where any prior art publication is referenced herein, such reference should not be understood to constitute an acknowledgment that such publication forms part of the general knowledge in the art in Australia or any other country. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9550552 [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a cleaning head for a marine cleaning system used to clean the surface of a submerged water is provided, the cleaning head is, A main body positioned adjacent to the submerged surface and configured to be moved relative to the submerged surface, The main unit has at least one suction port that is in fluid communication with the suction area around it during use, A support arm extending from the main body, comprising at least one support arm extending from the joint with the main body, A cleaning element supported by support arms, wherein during use, when the main body is moved in the operating direction relative to the submerged water surface, the cleaning element is configured to separate material on the submerged water surface from the submerged water surface and suspend it in a suction area, and the material separated from the submerged water surface is drawn away from the suction area through suction holes, Includes, The cleaning element is positioned laterally away from the joint so that the joint is operatively positioned in front of the cleaning element during use.

[0012] The body may be substantially tubular, with a suction port provided at one end of the body and an opening at the opposite end of the body. The opening may have a cross-sectional area larger than that of the suction port, such that the body converges from the opening toward the suction port.

[0013] The main body includes a floor that can be tilted relative to the cleaning element so as to orient the cleaning element to a pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle, which helps to orient the cleaning element substantially parallel to the submerged surface during use. In one embodiment, the main body includes one or more magnets embedded in the floor, which are configured to hold the floor slidably relative to the ferromagnetic submerged surface.

[0014] The cleaning element may include a scraper body and a scraper blade. The scraper blade may be an integral part of the scraper body. Alternatively, the scraper blade may be a separate part and may be releasably joined to the scraper.

[0015] The cleaning element may have a flat plate shape. In one embodiment, the cleaning element has an arched shape with its concave surface facing the main body. In this embodiment, the cleaning element may have an arched shape such that the central portion of the cleaning element rises above the opposing outer portion of the cleaning element.

[0016] The cleaning element may have a width substantially wider than the width of the main body, and the cleaning element defines opposing wing-shaped portions that protrude laterally beyond the main body. The cleaning head may include opposing channels on both sides of the body, provided between the cleaning element and the body, the channels configured to allow fluid flow from the suction area around the cleaning head toward the suction port. The channels may define a venturi-type constriction configured to increase the fluid flow rate from the suction area toward the suction port during use. The cleaning element may be movably supported relative to the body, thereby allowing adjustment of the cross-sectional area of ​​the channels.

[0017] In one example, the main body may include a rotatable disc, and the suction holes include one or more holes extending transversely through the disc. The cleaning head may include several cleaning elements arranged separately on the main body at circumferential intervals.

[0018] In one embodiment, a support arm is flexibly attached to the body to allow movement of the cleaning element closer to or further away from the body. The cleaning head may include a biasing member configured to bias the support arm and the cleaning element away from the body. The biasing member may be a spring, an elastic plastic material, or an elastic foam material.

[0019] The cleaning element may be angled toward the joint so that, during use, the cleaning element is operationally aligned with respect to the submerged surface at a pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle. In one example, the inclination angle is 130° to 140°. In another example, the inclination angle is 135°.

[0020] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a method for cleaning a submerged surface is provided, the method is: A cleaning head, comprising: a main body; at least one support arm extending from the main body, the at least one support arm extending from a joint connected to the main body; a cleaning element supported by each of the support arms, the cleaning element being laterally spaced apart from the joint such that the joint is operatively positioned forward of the cleaning element; providing a cleaning head comprising the above components; positioning the cleaning head relative to a submerged surface such that the main body is arranged adjacent to and movably relative to the submerged surface; applying a suction force to a suction region around the main body; moving the cleaning head in an operating direction relative to the submerged surface such that the cleaning element separates material on the submerged surface from the submerged surface and suspends the separated material in the suction region; comprising the above steps, the material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction region through a suction hole.

[0021] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. The following drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting in any way. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] [Figure 1] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a cleaning head for a marine cleaning system configured for manual use. [Figure 2] Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cleaning head shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 3] Fig. 3 is a side view of the cleaning head shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 4] Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cleaning head shown in Fig. 1. [Figure 5] Fig. 5 is an upper perspective view of a second embodiment of a cleaning head for a marine cleaning system configured for use in an automated cleaning platform. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a downward perspective view of the cleaning head. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the cleaning head. [Figure 8] Figure 5 is a side view of the cleaning head. [Figure 9] This is a rear perspective view of a further embodiment of the cleaning head. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] This disclosure relates to a cleaning head 10 for connection to an offshore cleaning system used to clean the submerged surface of a ship hull or other structure, such as the subwater portion of a dock pier or pile. While embodiments of the present invention are described in relation to ship hull cleaning, it should be understood that other applications are also envisioned.

[0024] Figures 1-4 show one embodiment of the cleaning head 10. The cleaning head 10 includes a tubular body 12 having an opening 14 at one end and a suction hole 16 at the opposite end. The suction hole 16 is configured to be joined to a suitable suction pipe (not shown) and therefore may have the shape of a cylindrical outlet into which the suction pipe can be tightened.

[0025] The main body 12 is positioned adjacent to the submerged water surface and is configured to be moved in the operating direction relative to the submerged water surface during use. The operating direction is indicated by the arrow 18, and the main body 12 is moved in the direction from the opening 14 toward the suction hole 16.

[0026] For the purposes of the following explanation, the terms “forward” and “rear” should be understood to indicate the direction of movement. Accordingly, “forward” is used herein to refer to the feature or part of the cleaning head 10 that is closest to or near the proximal end of the cleaning head 10 relative to the suction port 16 or to the position of the cleaning head 10 facing to the right as shown in Figures 1-3. Conversely, “rear” is used herein to refer to the feature or part of the cleaning head 10 that is furthest from or near the tip of the cleaning head 10 relative to the suction port 16 or to the position of the cleaning head 10 facing to the left as shown in Figures 1-3.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the main body 12 has a substantially quadrilateral cross-section with a roof 20 joined to the floor 22 by opposing side walls 24. The cleaning head 10 typically has a central axis 26 extending from the suction hole 16 to the center. An exemplary embodiment of the cleaning head 10 is mirror symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry that extends perpendicularly through the central axis 26, i.e., the plane of symmetry extends through the roof 20 and the floor 22 to the center.

[0028] The main body 12, when viewed in a plan view, is roughly trapezoidal in shape (see Figure 4), such that the roof 20 has a larger transverse dimension α toward the opening 14 and a smaller transverse dimension β toward the suction hole 16. Therefore, the opening 14 has a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of ​​the suction hole 16, so that the main body 12 converges from the opening 14 toward the suction hole 16.

[0029] As can be seen more clearly in Figure 3, the floor 22 is inclined with respect to the central axis 26, while the roof 20 is oriented substantially parallel to the central axis 26. The floor 22 is therefore also inclined with respect to the roof 20, and the floor 22 is positioned closer to the roof 20 at or near the opening 14, while the floor 22 is positioned further away from the roof 20 at or near the suction hole 16.

[0030] The main body 12 includes one or more magnets embedded in the floor 22. During use, and when the submerged surface is ferromagnetic, as is typically found in a ship's hull, the magnets are configured to hold the floor 22 in slidable contact with the submerged surface.

[0031] The cleaning head 10 includes a control attachment provided to the main body, which is configured to allow a control force to be applied to the main body 12. In the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 1-4, the control attachment is a handle 28 joined to the roof 20 of the main body 12. The handle 28 is a cylindrical columnar object projecting outward from the roof 20. In some cases, the handle 28 may project perpendicularly from the roof 20. However, it should be acknowledged that the handle 28 merely functions to allow the user to hold and control the cleaning head 10, and therefore the handle 28 may also be provided in other forms, such as a spherical knob, an arcuate bow handle, or a U-shaped or L-shaped bar handle. In yet another example, the control attachment may include a recess in the main body 12, for example, one or more finger rests that can be gripped by the operator's hand.

[0032] The support arm 30 extends from the main body 12 and is joined to the roof 20 at a joint 32. The support arm 30 extends axially beyond the floor 22 so that it overlaps the opening 14. In the exemplary embodiment, the support arm 30 is aligned so as to be coplanar with the roof 20 and essentially forms an integral extension of the roof 20. However, in other embodiments, the support arm 30 may be offset from the roof 20 or angled relative to the roof 20.

[0033] The cleaning element 34 hangs from the support arm 30 with a lateral gap between it and the joint 32 so that the joint 32 is operatively positioned in front of the cleaning element 34 during use. The cleaning element 34 is laterally spaced behind the opening 14 and also located behind the handle 28. The cleaning element 34 is angled forward / inward toward the opening 14 so that during use the cleaning element 34 is operatively aligned at an angle θ of 130° to 140° with respect to the submerged surface (and therefore with respect to the floor 22) (see Figure 3). In one example, the angle θ is 135°.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning element 34 includes a scraper body 36 having an outer surface 38 facing away from the opening 14, an inner surface 40 facing toward the opening 14, and a lower edge 42. The scraper body 36 may be integral with the support arm 30. The scraper body 36 is provided with an integral scraper blade 44 that extends along and beyond its lower edge 42. The scraper blade 44 is located inside the scraper body 36 such that the upper edge of the scraper blade 44 defines a peripheral portion 46 that extends along the inner surface 40. The peripheral portion 46 acts as a reinforcement structure to strengthen the scraper body 36 and mitigate any bending that may occur during use.

[0035] While exemplary embodiments show a single, integrated scraper body 36 and scraper blade 44, in other embodiments the scraper blade 44 may be separate from the scraper body 36 and may be releasably joined to it by preferred means. In one example, the scraper blade 44 may be bolted to the scraper body 36. In another example, the scraper blade 44 may be configured to be received and frictionally held within a complementaryly sized slot provided in the scraper body 36.

[0036] In exemplary embodiments, the scraper body 36 and scraper blade 44 have a concentric curved or arched shape as seen in the plan view, with their concave surfaces facing the body 12, which is more clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2. In some examples, the scraper body 36 and scraper blade 44 may be concentric spheres.

[0037] The scraper body 36 is positioned at a distance to the rear away from the opening 14 and hangs down by a distance sufficient to position the scraper blade 44 facing the floor 22. In one example, the bottom edge of the scraper blade 44 is coplanar with the floor 22. The bottom edge of the scraper blade 44 is pointed. In embodiments where the scraper blade 44 is arched, the scraper blade 44 may also be arched such that the central portion of the scraper blade 44 is above the roof 20 and closer to the roof 20 than the opposing outer portion of the scraper blade 44.

[0038] The cleaning element 34 has a width substantially wider than the width of the body 12 at its opening 14. An exemplary embodiment shows a cleaning element 34 that is about 50% wider than the body 12. In one example, the cleaning element 34 has a width of about 300 mm, while the body 12 has a width of about 200 mm at the opening 14. The cleaning element 34 thus defines opposing wing-like portions 48 that project laterally beyond the body 12.

[0039] The cleaning head 10 defines opposing side channels 50 located in front of the wing-shaped portion 48 between the cleaning element 34 and the opening 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the channels 50 have a height equal to the height of the opening 14.

[0040] In one example, the channel 50 has an adjustable width such that the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 50 can be increased or decreased. In this regard, the cleaning element 34 may be supported movably relative to the body 12 so that the cleaning element 34 can move axially toward or toward the body 12, thereby adjusting the width of the channel 50. In an exemplary embodiment, the support arm 30 is extendable so that the cleaning element 34 can move axially toward or toward the body 12. In another example, the support arm 30 is nested. In yet another example, the support arm 30 is slidably joined to and supported by the roof 20. In a further example, the cleaning element 34 is slidably joined to and supported by the support arm 30. After the cleaning element 34 is positioned at the required distance from the main body 12, that is, once the required width of the channel 50 is set, the support arm 30 and / or cleaning element 34 can be fixed in place, for example, by using suitable bolts, clips, or cotter pins, to prevent further undesirable movement during use.

[0041] The channel 50 is configured to allow fluid flow from the suction area around the cleaning head 10 toward the suction hole 16, and during use, water around the body 12 (primarily water located laterally outside the body 12) is drawn into the body 12 through the channel 50 and the opening 14, and then through the suction hole 16. Adjusting the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 50 allows the operator to maintain an optimal flow rate of fluid through the channel 50.

[0042] Each of the channels 50 has a cross-sectional dimension Φ smaller than the transverse dimension α of the opening 14 (see Figure 4). In one embodiment, the cross-sectional dimension Φ of the channel 50 is less than half of the transverse dimension α such that α > 2Φ. In this way, the channels 50 are configured to provide a venturi-type constriction that generates an increased flow of water from the external environment surrounding the body 12 through the channels 50 into the opening 14.

[0043] In another embodiment of the cleaning head shown in Figure 9, the cleaning element 34 may have a flat plate shape when viewed in a plan view. An exemplary embodiment of the cleaning head 10 is a single, integrated part made of plastic or metal. In one example, the cleaning head 10 may be made of polyurethane or nylon plastic material. In another example, the cleaning head 10 may be made of steel, aluminum, or a suitable alloy of these metals.

[0044] When in use, activating the marine cleaning system causes suction through the suction pipe, resulting in low pressure inside the main body 12, which then causes water to be drawn into the main body 12 through the channel 50 and the opening 14.

[0045] The operator can grasp the handle 28 and position the cleaning head 10 adjacent to the submerged surface of the hull being cleaned, such that the floor 22 is substantially flush with the submerged surface. Magnets within the floor 22 help to hold the cleaning head 10 relative to the submerged surface, thereby reducing the amount of pressure required to maintain the cleaning head 10 in contact with the submerged surface. The inclination angle of the floor 22 is configured to optimally align the scraper blade 44 with respect to the submerged surface at an inclination angle θ of, for example, 135°.

[0046] The operator can then move the cleaning head 10 substantially along the central axis 26 in a forward-backward direction to scrape off biological deposits from the submerged surface. It will be understood that moving the cleaning head 10 forward, i.e., toward the suction hole 16, constitutes the active removal stroke direction. In contrast, moving the cleaning head 10 backward, i.e., toward the cleaning element 34, constitutes the return stroke direction. This is due to the inclination angle θ of the scraper blade 44.

[0047] Combined with its inclination angle θ, the pointed bottom edge of the scraper blade 44 acts to lift (e.g., slice or peel) biological fouling away from the hull. This prevents the biological fouling debris from being dragged along the hull and potentially causing additional damage to any antifouling coatings applied to the hull.

[0048] In some cases, biological deposits may be hard and difficult to remove, and therefore may not necessarily separate from the submerged surface after the cleaning head 10 has passed over them once. In such cases, the scraper blade 44 rides up onto the biological deposits, moving the cleaning head 10 away from the submerged surface by a short distance. The position of the handle 28, which is operationally forward of the scraper blade 44, results in the downward pressure and forward force applied by the operator being applied operationally forward to the spacer blade 44. This helps to allow the scraper blade 44 to ride up onto any unremoved biological deposits.

[0049] In contrast, in other systems where downward and forward forces are applied either substantially above the scraper blades or operationally behind them, the scraper blades tend to get stuck or embedded in biological deposits, which often makes them more prone to bending or pivoting on the deposits, frequently resulting in damage to the blades and ultimately rendering them inoperable.

[0050] As the biological fouling is separated from the submerged surface, along with any loosely adhering leaching layers of any antifouling coatings that may separate from the hull during the scraping action, the material is taken into the surrounding water, resulting in a slurry of "dirty" water around the cleaning head 10. This slurry is drawn into the body 12 through the channel 50 and opening 14 for removal via the suction port 16 and suction pipe for further treatment and filtration before the cleaned water is returned to the environment.

[0051] The increased flow rate caused by the smaller opening of channel 50 increases the area of ​​the suction zone from which ambient water can be drawn into the washing head 10. This results in virtually all removed biological deposits being captured by the washing head 10 without any of the biological deposits being scattered into the environment.

[0052] Figures 5-8 show a second embodiment of the cleaning head 110. The cleaning head 110 is configured for use in an automated marine cleaning system, such as the system described in U.S. Patent No. 9,550,552, in which the cleaning head 110 is rotatably mounted within its housing (140) and moved along the submerged surface. The cleaning head 110 is positioned adjacent to the submerged surface and is configured to rotate in the operating direction relative to the submerged surface during use. The operating direction is indicated by arrow 112. In this embodiment, the drive shaft functions as a steering attachment configured to allow steering force to be applied to the cleaning head 110.

[0053] For the purposes of the following explanation, it should be understood that the terms “forward” and “rear” refer to the direction of movement. Therefore, “forward” is used to refer to the feature or part of the cleaning head 110 that is in front of the other feature or part in the direction of rotation. Conversely, “rear” is used to refer to the feature or part of the cleaning head 110 that follows behind the other feature or part in the direction of rotation.

[0054] The cleaning head 110 includes a disc-shaped body 114. Numerous suction holes 116 extend transversely through the body 114, through which suction from a suction pipe can be applied, and through which water and biological deposits slurry can be removed during use.

[0055] The cleaning head 110 further includes several cleaning members 118 arranged separately and circumferentially spaced on the main body 114. Each cleaning member 118 includes a mounting bracket / joint 120 configured to be fixed to the main body 114, for example, by screws or bolts 122. A support arm 124 extends rearward in the rotational direction from the bracket 120, and the support arm 124 carries a cleaning element 126 hanging from its opposite end, i.e., the bracket 120 is operatively positioned in front of the cleaning element 126 during use.

[0056] The support arm 124 is flexibly attached to the body 114 in the bracket 120 so that the support arm 124 can be bent to allow the cleaning element 126 to move closer to or further away from the body 114. A biasing member 128 is provided to bias the support arm 124 and the cleaning element 126 away from the body 114. In the illustrated example, the biasing member 128 is provided between the body 114 and the support arm 124. The biasing member 128 may be a spring, for example a compression spring, or it may be a columnar object of elastic plastic or foam material.

[0057] Each cleaning element 126 is angled forward / inward toward the bracket 120 so that during use, the cleaning element 126 is operationally aligned with respect to the submerged surface at an angle θ of 130° to 140° (see Figure 8). In one example, the angle θ is 135°.

[0058] In this embodiment, the cleaning element 126 includes a scraper body 130 having an outer surface 132 facing away from the bracket 120, an inner surface 134 facing toward the bracket 120, and a lower edge 136. The scraper body 130 is integrated with the support arm 124.

[0059] The scraper body 130 supports a scraper blade 138 that extends along and beyond its lower edge 136. In this example, the scraper blade 138 is located outside the scraper body 130 such that the upper edge of the scraper blade 138 defines a peripheral portion 140 that extends along the outer surface 132. The peripheral portion 140 functions as a reinforcing structure to strengthen the scraper body 130 and to mitigate any bending that may occur during use.

[0060] In this example, the scraper body 130 and the scraper blade 138 have a flat plate shape when viewed in a plan view. Furthermore, the scraper blade 138 is fixed to the scraper body 130 by bolts 142.

[0061] During use, if the scraper blade 138 encounters a biological deposit that is difficult to remove, the scraper blade 138 rides up onto the biological deposit. This movement is made possible by the bending of the support arm 124 and the compression of the associated biasing member 128. Once the obstacle is crossed, the biasing member 128 biases the scraper blade 138 to contact the submerged surface again.

[0062] The position of the bracket 120, which is operationally forward of the scraper blade 138, causes the downward and lateral forces applied by the body 114 to be applied operationally forward of the scraper blade 138. This helps allow the scraper blade 138 to ride up onto any unremoved biological deposits, which mitigates the tendency for the scraper blade 138 to bend or pivot on the biological deposits, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage to the scraper blade 138.

[0063] It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that numerous changes and / or modifications can be made to the cleaning heads shown in particular embodiments without departing from the broadly described intent or scope of the disclosure. The embodiments of the present invention are therefore intended to be illustrative and not limiting in all respects.

[0064] In the following claims and in the preceding description, unless the context should be interpreted otherwise due to language or necessary implication, the term “comprise” or its variations, such as “comprises” or “comprising,” are used in a non-restrictive and inclusive sense, that is, to identify the presence of the listed features in various embodiments, but without precluding the presence or addition of further features. References to elements with the indefinite article “a” do not preclude the possibility of two or more elements unless the context explicitly requires that there be only one element. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0065] 10 Cleaning heads 12 Main unit 14 Aperture 16 Suction hole 18. Arrow (direction of operation) 20 Roof 22 beds 24 Side wall 26 Center axis 28 handles 30 Support Arms 32 Joint 34 Cleaning elements 36. Scraper body 38 Exterior 40 Inner self 42 Lower edge 44 Scraper Blades 46 Peripheral area 48 Wings 50 channels 110 Cleaning Head 112 Arrow (Direction of Operation) 114 Main unit 116 Suction hole 118 Cleaning member 120 Joint / Bracket 122 volts 124 Support Arm 126 Cleaning elements 128 Biasing member 130 Scraper Body 132 Exterior 134 Inner self 136 Lower edge 138 Scraper Blades 140 Peripheral area 142 volts α Larger transverse dimensions of the main body β Smaller transverse dimensions of the main body θ: Inclination angle of the cleaning element Φ Channel cross-sectional dimensions

Claims

1. A cleaning head for a marine cleaning system used to clean the surface of submerged water, A main body positioned adjacent to the submerged surface and configured to be movable relative to the submerged surface, The main body has at least one suction port that is in fluid communication with the suction area around it during use, At least one support arm extending from the main body, each support arm having at least one support arm extending from the joint between the main body and the support arm, At least one scraper hanging from each support arm, the scrapers being spaced laterally apart from the corresponding joints such that the corresponding joints are positioned forward in the operating direction of the scraper, and each scraper being angled toward the corresponding joints such that during use the scraper extends with respect to the submerged surface at a pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle, and configured during use when the body is moved forward in the operating direction relative to the submerged surface the scraper separates material on the submerged surface from the submerged surface and suspends it in the suction area, and the material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction area through the suction holes, including, Washing head.

2. The cleaning head according to claim 1, wherein the main body is tubular, the suction hole is provided at one end of the main body, and the opening is provided at the opposite end of the main body.

3. The cleaning head according to claim 2, wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the suction hole such that the main body converges from the opening toward the suction hole.

4. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main body includes a floor that is inclined with respect to the scraper such that it is oriented parallel to the submerged surface during use, which helps to orient the scraper to the pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle.

5. The cleaning head according to claim 4, wherein the main body includes one or more magnets embedded in the floor, and the magnets are configured to hold the floor slidably with respect to the ferromagnetic submerged surface.

6. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the scraper includes a scraper body and a scraper blade, and the scraper blade is either an integral part of the scraper body or a separate part that is releasably joined to the scraper body.

7. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the scraper has a flat plate shape.

8. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the scraper has an arched shape with its concave surface facing toward the main body.

9. The cleaning head according to claim 8, wherein the scraper has an arc shape such that the central portion of the scraper is raised above the opposing outer portion of the scraper.

10. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the scraper has a width wider than the width of the main body, and the scraper defines opposing wing-shaped portions that protrude laterally beyond the main body.

11. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising on both sides of the body opposing channels provided between the scraper and the body, wherein the channels are configured to allow fluid flow from a suction area around the cleaning head toward the suction hole.

12. The cleaning head according to claim 11, wherein the channel comprises a venturi-type constriction configured to increase the flow rate of fluid from the suction area into the suction hole during use.

13. The cleaning head according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the scraper is movably supported with respect to the main body, thereby allowing adjustment of the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel.

14. The cleaning head according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a rotatable disc, and the suction holes include one or more holes extending transversely through the disc.

15. The cleaning head according to claim 14, comprising several scrapers arranged separately on the main body at circumferential intervals.

16. The cleaning head according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each support arm is flexibly attached to the body to allow the corresponding scraper to move closer to or further away from the body.

17. The cleaning head according to claim 16, wherein each support arm includes a biasing member configured to bias the support arm and the corresponding scraper away from the main body.

18. The cleaning head according to claim 17, wherein the biasing member includes a spring, an elastic plastic material, or an elastic foam material.

19. The cleaning head according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle is 130° to 140°.

20. The cleaning head according to claim 19, wherein the pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle is 135°.

21. A method for cleaning the surface of a submerged water, It is a cleaning head, A main body comprising a main body and defining at least one suction port that is in fluid communication with a suction region around the main body, At least one support arm extending from the main body, each support arm having at least one support arm extending from the joint between the main body and the support arm, At least one scraper hanging from each support arm, the scrapers being spaced laterally apart from the corresponding joints such that the corresponding joints are positioned forward in the operating direction of the scraper, and each scraper being angled toward the corresponding joint such that during use the scraper extends with respect to the submerged surface at a pre-selected operational cleaning inclination angle, To provide a cleaning head that includes, Positioning the cleaning head with respect to the submerged surface so that the main body can move with respect to the submerged surface, Applying suction force to the suction area around the main body, The cleaning head is moved forward in the operating direction relative to the submerged surface while at least one scraper is in contact with the submerged surface, so that the scraper separates the material on the submerged surface from the submerged surface and suspends it in the suction area. Includes, A method wherein the material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction area through the suction hole.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cleaning head is the cleaning head described in any one of claims 1 to 20.

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