Suspended Window Cleaning Conveyor for Frames and Ledges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning windows and walls of tall buildings is labor-intensive, hazardous, and challenging due to strong winds, irregular shapes, and protuberances, with existing methods lacking suitable automatic solutions for effective cleaning around frames and ledges.
Innovation Solution
A remotely controlled cleaning system with a suspended platform and adjustable conveyor belts equipped with stiff but elastic extenders and rotating conveyors, allowing for horizontal and vertical movement to clean around frames and ledges without scratching, using brushes or polishing heads that adapt to different window shapes and angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a long conveyor is used to bridge horizontal irregularities, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the brush becomes too stiff and may damage delicate frames or scratch the window
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into multiple segments or sections, allowing the brush to maintain contact with the surface while accommodating horizontal irregularities without requiring excessive length and stiffness
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor is designed with flexible or adjustable components that can dynamically adapt to the surface geometry, enabling the brush to reach horizontal irregularities while maintaining appropriate compliance to avoid damage
2Productivity
If the platform moves continuously vertically, then productivity is improved, but horizontal ledges or protuberances interfere with the continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system incorporates adjustable inclination angles that can be dynamically changed to match the platform's vertical velocity, allowing continuous operation even when encountering horizontal ledges or protuberances
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor's operational parameters, particularly its inclination angle and velocity, are adjusted in response to detected surface features, enabling the system to maintain continuous cleaning operation despite vertical platform movement and horizontal irregularities
3Device complexity
If the conveyor moves at a fixed angle, then the structure is simpler, but the brush may scratch the frame end when the platform changes direction
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor inclination angle is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to platform direction changes and prevent the brush from scratching frame ends while maintaining relatively simple overall structure
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
Enables efficient and safe cleaning of windows and walls on tall buildings, including irregularly shaped surfaces, by maintaining continuous operation and preventing damage to frames, while allowing for remote control and adaptation to various window structures.
Implementation Method 1
a first conveyor for moving horizontally a brush towards the window, wherein the conveyor is arranged to compensate for a vertical movement of the platform
Implementation Method 2
Strong but elastic extenders are used to attach the brushes to the conveyor belt
Implementation Method 3
Using a structure including two conveyors, one mounted above the other and rotating in opposite directions
Data Source
AI summary
A system for cleaning windows in tall buildings, comprises a chassis (7) with means for its mounting on a suspended platform. (3) It also includes a rotating conveyor belt (61) mounted on the chassis and brushes (62) mounted on the conveyor belt. Each brush is mounted through extender means (63). Preferably, the conveyor belt includes means for its rotation in a generally horizontal direction. The means for rotating the conveyor belt include a first roller (71) and a second roller (72) mounted on the chassis. The conveyor belt is preferably mounted between the rollers and further includes motor means for rotating one of the rollers.