US3715774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic window washer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-20
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Granted: 1973-02-13
•
Expires: 1991-01-20
Abstract
Abstract An automatic window washer has a module riding in tracks on the face of the building and is controlled from a unit mounted on the roof of the building. As the module moves down the face of the building the presence of areas to be washed is automatically sensed and the washing operations then automatically begun and terminated by equipment in the module. The module or modules may be mounted in a span frame for lateral movement therein for washing more than one vertical column of windows when the tracks on the face of the building are spaced apart by a plurality of columns of windows. The washing equipment in the module may take various forms for washing windows of curtain front buildings and for washing recessed windows.
Inventors
- 👤 R Fannon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:53
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L1/00; A47L1/02; A47L2201/00; A47L2201/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
302 words
An automatic window washer for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, nozzles in said module for spraying cleaning fluid on the windows, means in said module for supplying cleaning fluid under pressure to said nozzles, a squeegee in said module above said nozzles, means in said module for moving said squeegee into and out of engagement with a window being cleaned, vacuum means in said module cooperating with said squeegee for removing residue therefrom, means in said module for supplying high pressure air, means in said module for supplying low pressure air, a span frame, means for moving said module laterally in said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be washed, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said module adjacent a window to be washed, electric control means energized from the roof unit for energizing said means for supplying cleaning fluid, said vacuum means, said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame and for energizing said means for supplying high and low pressure air, fluidic control means mounted in said module energized by said means for supplying low pressure air, a start fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the top of a window to be cleaned, a stop fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the bottom of a cleaned window, pneumatic control means energized by said means for supplying high pressure air sequentially actuated by said fluid control means for first connecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzles and then for actuating said means for moving said squeegee, said start sensor starting window cleaning and said stop sensor stopping window cleaning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
302 words
An automatic window washer for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, nozzles in said module for spraying cleaning fluid on the windows, means in said module for supplying cleaning fluid under pressure to said nozzles, a squeegee in said module above said nozzles, means in said module for moving said squeegee into and out of engagement with a window being cleaned, vacuum means in said module cooperating with said squeegee for removing residue therefrom, means in said module for supplying high pressure air, means in said module for supplying low pressure air, a span frame, means for moving said module laterally in said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be washed, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said module adjacent a window to be washed, electric control means energized from the roof unit for energizing said means for supplying cleaning fluid, said vacuum means, said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame and for energizing said means for supplying high and low pressure air, fluidic control means mounted in said module energized by said means for supplying low pressure air, a start fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the top of a window to be cleaned, a stop fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the bottom of a cleaned window, pneumatic control means energized by said means for supplying high pressure air sequentially actuated by said fluid control means for first connecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzles and then for actuating said means for moving said squeegee, said start sensor starting window cleaning and said stop sensor stopping window cleaning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
302 words
An automatic window washer for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, nozzles in said module for spraying cleaning fluid on the windows, means in said module for supplying cleaning fluid under pressure to said nozzles, a squeegee in said module above said nozzles, means in said module for moving said squeegee into and out of engagement with a window being cleaned, vacuum means in said module cooperating with said squeegee for removing residue therefrom, means in said module for supplying high pressure air, means in said module for supplying low pressure air, a span frame, means for moving said module laterally in said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be washed, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said module adjacent a window to be washed, electric control means energized from the roof unit for energizing said means for supplying cleaning fluid, said vacuum means, said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame and for energizing said means for supplying high and low pressure air, fluidic control means mounted in said module energized by said means for supplying low pressure air, a start fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the top of a window to be cleaned, a stop fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the bottom of a cleaned window, pneumatic control means energized by said means for supplying high pressure air sequentially actuated by said fluid control means for first connecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzles and then for actuating said means for moving said squeegee, said start sensor starting window cleaning and said stop sensor stopping window cleaning.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
302 words
An automatic window washer for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, nozzles in said module for spraying cleaning fluid on the windows, means in said module for supplying cleaning fluid under pressure to said nozzles, a squeegee in said module above said nozzles, means in said module for moving said squeegee into and out of engagement with a window being cleaned, vacuum means in said module cooperating with said squeegee for removing residue therefrom, means in said module for supplying high pressure air, means in said module for supplying low pressure air, a span frame, means for moving said module laterally in said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be washed, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said module adjacent a window to be washed, electric control means energized from the roof unit for energizing said means for supplying cleaning fluid, said vacuum means, said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame and for energizing said means for supplying high and low pressure air, fluidic control means mounted in said module energized by said means for supplying low pressure air, a start fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the top of a window to be cleaned, a stop fluidic sensor for said fluidic control means sensing the bottom of a cleaned window, pneumatic control means energized by said means for supplying high pressure air sequentially actuated by said fluid control means for first connecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzles and then for actuating said means for moving said squeegee, said start sensor starting window cleaning and said stop sensor stopping window cleaning.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 1, said fluidic control means including a counter having a start position connected to said means for supplying low pressure air, said start sensor starting said counter and connecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzles, said counter after a predetermined interval actuating said pneumatic control means and moving said squeegee into engagement with a window.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 2, said counter actuated by said stop sensor after a predetermined interval disconnecting said means for supplying cleaning fluid to said nozzles and thereafter after a predetermined interval said stop sensor actuating said pneumatic control means and moving said squeegee out of engagement with the window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 3, including means for resetting said counter to its start position at the end of each window cleaning cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 2, said counter including a wheel travelling on the face of the building and actuating said counter a predetermined linear distances on the face of the building.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 2, said fluidic control means including a surface discriminator and a delay associated therewith, said surface discriminator preventing actuation of said fluidic control means should said start sensor erroneously start said counter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 2, said fluidic control means including a cam actuated window over travel valve actuating said means for moving said squeegee out of window engagement when said squeegee at appropriate time is not otherwise moved out of window engagement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 1, including a reservoir for cleaning fluid and a reservoir for compressed air in said span frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 1, including parallel links pivoted on and extending from the roof unit and spaced parallel track extensions pivotally mounted on said links away from the roof unit, said track extensions forming extensions of the vertical tracks on the building and receiving said span frame and said module when said span frame is raised above the tracks on the building.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 1, said start fluidic sensor and said stop fluidic sensor being mounted on said span frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic window washer as described in claim 1, said electric control means including overload responsive means inactivating said electric control means upon overload of said resilient non-extensible means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic window cleaner for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, at least one means in said cleaning module for window cleaning, an open rectangular span frame, said module being capable of lateral movement in the opening of said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be cleaned, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said span frame adjacent to at least one window to be cleaned and means for energizing said window cleaning means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic window cleaner for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, at least one means in said cleaning module for window cleaning, an open rectangular span frame, said module being capable of lateral movement in the opening of said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be cleaned, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said span frame adjacent to at least one window to be cleaned and means for energizing said window cleaning means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
103 words
An automatic window cleaner for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, means in said cleaning module for window cleaning, an open rectangular span frame, said module being mounted in the opening of said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be cleaned, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said span frame adjacent to at least one window to be cleaned and means energized from the roof unit for energizing said window cleaning means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
An automatic window cleaner for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, means in said cleaning module for window cleaning, an open rectangular span frame, said module being mounted in the opening of said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent the windows to be cleaned, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said span frame adjacent to at least one window to be cleaned and means energized from the roof unit for energizing said window cleaning means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
An automatic window cleaner for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, at least one means in said cleaning module for window cleaning, an open rectangular span frame, means for moving said module laterally in the opening of said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent to the windows to be washed, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said span frame and said module adjacent to at least one window to be cleaned and means for energizing said window cleaning means and said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
An automatic window cleaner for buildings having a mobile supporting unit on the roof of the building, at least one cleaning module, at least one means in said cleaning module for window cleaning, an open rectangular span frame, means for moving said module laterally in the opening of said span frame, means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building disposed adjacent to the windows to be washed, resilient non-extensible means extending from said span frame to the roof unit for positioning said span frame and said module adjacent to at least one window to be cleaned and means for energizing said window cleaning means and said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automatic window cleaner as described in claim 14, said means for energizing said window cleaning means and said means for moving said module laterally in said span frame being mounted in said roof unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
An automatic window cleaner as described in claim 12, said means on said span frame engaging vertical tracks on the building including at least one corner of said span frame an adjustable support and guiding means on said support positively engaging the adjacent vertical track on the building.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |