Facade Cleaning Brush Using Gravity Drive and Fluid Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic cleaning systems for multi-story building façades are complex, rely on electricity, and use hoses to supply cleaning fluid, which can lead to inefficiencies and operational challenges, especially when cleaning tall structures.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus that uses gravity for downward movement, capillary forces to feed cleaning fluid to a rotating brush, and a wiper device to collect and reuse cleaning fluid, eliminating the need for electrical power and hoses, and featuring a simple, lightweight design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical pumps and hoses are used to supply cleaning fluid, then cleaning can be performed on multi-story buildings, but the device complexity increases and operational challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes electrical pumps and hoses from the cleaning apparatus, extracting the complex fluid supply system. Instead, it uses a reservoir that utilizes capillary action and gravity to deliver cleaning fluid to the brush, dramatically simplifying the device while maintaining functionality on multi-story buildings.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus uses self-service mechanisms where the reservoir automatically supplies cleaning fluid to the brush through capillary action without external power sources. The system serves itself by utilizing natural physical phenomena rather than requiring complex electrical control systems.
2Reliability
If electrical power is used to drive cleaning apparatus, then cleaning function is achieved, but reliability decreases due to dependency on power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical power systems with mechanical and physical phenomena-based systems. Gravity provides the driving force for downward movement, and capillary action replaces electrical pumps for fluid delivery, eliminating dependency on electrical power and enhancing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus utilizes self-service through natural physical forces. Gravity automatically propels the device downward, and capillary action automatically supplies cleaning fluid, removing the need for external power sources and improving operational reliability.
3Loss of substance
If hoses are used to transport cleaning fluid, then fluid supply is enabled, but loss of substance occurs due to leakage and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hoses from the system, eliminating the source of leakage and friction losses. Cleaning fluid is transferred directly from the reservoir to the brush through capillary action in a contained manner, preventing fluid loss while also reducing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient cleaning of façades without electricity or hoses, reducing complexity and operational challenges, and allows for effective reuse of cleaning fluid, improving cleaning efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the apparatus is designed so that a downward movement of the apparatus is solely powered by gravity forces acting on the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
the drive mechanism for rotating the brush comprises at least one drive wheel arranged to be in contact with the surface of the façade and to generate a friction powered torque during downward movement of the cleaning apparatus
Implementation Method 3
a fluid feeding device adapted to feed the rotating brush with cleaning fluid from the container by means of capillarity forces
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning apparatus (1) for cleaning facades on multi-story buildings. The apparatus comprises a rotating brush (11) arranged rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a drive mechanism (16) for rotating the brush, a container (18) for housing a cleaning fluid, and a fluid feeding device adapted to feed the rotating brush with cleaning fluid from the container by means of capillarity forces. The apparatus is designed to engage to steering guides (4) provided on the facade. The apparatus is designed so that a downward movement of the apparatus is solely powered by gravity forces acting on the apparatus. The drive mechanism for rotating the brush comprises at least one drive wheel (16) arranged to be in contact with the surface of the facade and to generate a friction powered torque during downward movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a transmission unit arranged to transfer the torque of the drive wheel to the rotating brush to make the brush rotate during the downward movement. The apparatus further com- prises a wiper device (22) arranged above the rotating brush and adapted to be in contact with the facade during cleaning to wipe off used cleaning fluid from the facade, and a fluid collecting member arranged to collect the cleaning fluid wiped off by the wiper device, and to transport the collected cleaning fluid to the container for reuse.