Patent US5439840A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4025984A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4025984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Window wall washing device for high rise buildings
Assignee: ROBERTSON-CECO Corp A DE CORP
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Filing: 1973-07-31
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Granted: 1977-05-31
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Expires: 1993-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A wall washing device is provided with self contained liquid spray means, wall and window surface scrubbing means such as brushes or sponges and means for providing a curtain of high velocity, in-rushing air around a wall washing sight. This air serves to dry the freshly laundered wall and window surfaces and also to confine the washing liquids and retard their egress from the wall washing sight. The high velocity, in-rushing air curtain is delivered through a perimeter aperture which is spaced-apart from the window/wall surfaces, in accordance with a first embodiment; and is provided by forceably drawing atmospheric air inwardly at the perimeter of the wall washing sight in accordance with a second embodiment. The device is adapted to ascend and descend between a pair of vertical mullions of the building. The device is further adapted to provide its wall and window washing function during either the ascending or descending runs or both. The device moreover is intended for remotely controlled operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph H. Hoener, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:43
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L1/00; A47L1/02; A47L2201/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In a building exterior wall washing device, the combination of a housing comprising a boundary wall having a forward edge, and a rear wall cooperating with said boundary wall to define a chamber; a sight disposed in an essentially vertical plane defined by the said housing and being essentially unobstructed at the said forward edge of said housing; liquid distributing means within said chamber for directing liquid through the said sight; plural spaced-apart spacing members located exteriorly of said housing maintaining the said housing in spaced-apart relation from the said exterior wall; means for providing a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain at the said forward edge of the said housing to preclude substantial egress of said liquid between the said forward edge and the said exterior wall; means communicating with said chamber at a location spaced from said forward edge for removing liquid from said chamber; conduit means for extracting at least a portion of the said gas from the said chamber; said means for providing a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain comprising fan means connected to the said conduit means for evacuating the said chamber whereby atmospheric air is forceably drawn between the said forward edge of the said housing and the said exterior wall, into the said chamber as the said high velocity in-rushing gas curtain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a building exterior wall washing device, the combination of a housing comprising a boundary wall having a forward edge, and a rear wall cooperating with said boundary wall to define a chamber; a sight disposed in an essentially vertical plane defined by the said housing and being essentially unobstructed at the said forward edge of said housing; liquid distributing means within said chamber for directing liquid through the said sight; plural spaced-apart spacing members located exteriorly of said housing maintaining the said housing in spaced-apart relation from the said exterior wall; means for providing a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain at the said forward edge of the said housing to preclude substantial egress of said liquid between the said forward edge and the said exterior wall; means communicating with said chamber at a location spaced from said forward edge for removing liquid from said chamber; conduit means for extracting at least a portion of the said gas from the said chamber; said means for providing a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain comprising fan means connected to the said conduit means for evacuating the said chamber whereby atmospheric air is forceably drawn between the said forward edge of the said housing and the said exterior wall, into the said chamber as the said high velocity in-rushing gas curtain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said spacing means comprises mullion engaging elements which maintain the said sight at a selected distance from the said exterior wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the said device includes mechanical scrubbing elements positioned within the said chamber and extending forwardly through the said sight to engage the said exterior wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the said mechanical scrubbing elements are mounted for oscillation in a generally horizontal locus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the said mechanical scrubbing elements are rotatable about an axis which is generally horizontal and is also generally parallel with the generally vertical plane of the said sight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the said mechanical scrubbing elements are bristle containing brushes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the said liquid distributing means are disposed both above and below the said mechanical scrubbing elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device of claim 3 including platform means for supporting said mechanical scrubbing elements for reciprocal movement through the said sight between a scrubbing position and a retracted position spaced from the said scrubbing position; and resilient means for urging the said mechanical scrubbing elements through the said sight into the said scrubbing position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 8 including motor means operable at the termination of a washing cycle for moving the said mechanical scrubbing elements to the said retracted position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 8 including motor means responsive to reduced liquid pressure within said liquid distributing means for moving the said mechanical scrubbing elements to the said retracted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the said fan means is a centrifugal fan.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the said centrifugal fan has an axis of rotation parallel with the general vertical plane of the said sight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the said boundary wall of the said housing presents flexible forward portions at the said sight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the said boundary wall of the said housing presents rigid forward portions at the said sight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device of claim 1 including second conduit means for extracting at least a portion of the gas discharged from the said fan means; and second aperture means disposed above and outboard of the said sight and communicating with the said second conduit means for delivering a supplementary high velocity gas curtain at a suitable inclination angle against the said exterior wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 15 wherein the said second conduit means includes a discharge opening communicating with the atmosphere; and proportioning valve means for controlling the volume of extracted gas delivered to the said second aperture means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein an entrained liquids removing device is disposed within the said conduit means between the said chamber and the said fan means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a building exterior wall washing device, the combination of a housing including a boundary wall having a forward edge; and a rear wall cooperating with said boundary wall to define a chamber; a sight disposed in an essentially vertical plane defined by said housing and being essentially unobstructed at said forward edge of said housing; liquid distributing means within said chamber for directing liquid through said sight; means for removing liquid from said chamber; spacing means for maintaining said housing in spaced-apart relation from said exterior wall; means for precluding substantial egress of said liquid between said forward edge and said exterior wall, including a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain at said forward edge along the bottom of said chamber; conduit means for extracting at least a portion of said gas from said chamber; a compartment formed in said housing above said chamber and presenting a mouth adapted to be capped by said exterior wall; resilient means surrounding said mouth; and pressurizing means communicating with said compartment for maintaining the gas pressure within said compartment at a level above that of said chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a building exterior wall washing device, the combination of a housing including a boundary wall having a forward edge; and a rear wall cooperating with said boundary wall to define a chamber; a sight disposed in an essentially vertical plane defined by said housing and being essentially unobstructed at said forward edge of said housing; liquid distributing means within said chamber for directing liquid through said sight; means for removing liquid from said chamber; spacing means for maintaining said housing in spaced-apart relation from said exterior wall; means for precluding substantial egress of said liquid between said forward edge and said exterior wall, including a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain at said forward edge along the bottom of said chamber; conduit means for extracting at least a portion of said gas from said chamber; a compartment formed in said housing above said chamber and presenting a mouth adapted to be capped by said exterior wall; resilient means surrounding said mouth; and pressurizing means communicating with said compartment for maintaining the gas pressure within said compartment at a level above that of said chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said mouth is positioned obliquely with respect to the direction of travel of said mobile cleaning device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said resilient means surrounding said mouth comprises first flexible means disposed along one side of said mouth adjacent to said chamber; second flexible means spaced from said first flexible means and disposed along that side of said mouth remote from said chamber; and resilient side rails, one disposed at each end of said mouth and extending between the ends of said first flexible means and said second flexible means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said first flexible means is positioned obliquely with respect to the direction of travel of said mobile cleaning device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 21 wherein said second flexible means is positioned obliquely with respect to the direction of travel of said mobile cleaning device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said means for providing a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain comprises aperture means at said forward edge extending across the bottom of said chamber; duct means formed in said housing and communicating with said aperture means outboard of said site; and delivery means for delivering gas through said duct means and through said aperture means and at a suitable inclination angle as said gas curtain.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 23 wherein said compartment communicates with said duct means and is pressurized by said delivery means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 23 wherein said inclination angle of said gas curtain converges at an angle from about 5 to about 20 degrees with respect to the normal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 23 wherein said delivery means for delivering gas is connected to said conduit means whereby at least a portion of said gas delivered through said aperture means is recirculated through said delivery means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 26 wherein said delivery means is a centrifugal fan.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 26 wherein a moisture removing device is disposed within said conduit means between said chamber and said delivery means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said device includes mechanical scrubbing elements positioned within said chamber and extending forwardly through said site to engage said exterior wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 29 wherein said mechanical scrubbing elements are mounted for oscillation in a generally horizontal locus.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 29 wherein said mechanical scrubbing elements are bristle containing brushes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 29 wherein said liquid distributing means are disposed above and below said mechanical scrubbing elements.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said spacing means comprises mullion engaging elements which maintain said sight at a selected distance from said exterior wall.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 33 including means for disengaging said mullion engaging elements.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 19 including journal means for supporting said housing for reciprocal movement between an operating position and a retracted position spaced from said operating position; and motor means operable at the start of a washing cycle for moving said housing to said operating position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 34 including resilient elements for urging said housing into said retracted position.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a building exterior wall washing device, the combination of a housing comprising a boundary wall having a forward edge, and a rear wall cooperating with said boundary wall to define a chamber; a sight disposed in an essentially vertical plane defined by the said housing and being essentially unobstructed at the said forward edge of said housing; liquid distributing means within said chamber for directing liquid through the said sight; spacing means located exteriorly of said housing for maintaining the said housing in a spaced-apart relation from the said exterior wall; means for precluding substantial egress of said liquid between the said forward edge of said housing and the said exterior wall, including a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain at the said forward edge; said means for precluding substantial egress of said liquid being distinct from said spacing means; means communicating with said chamber at a location spaced from said forward edge for removing liquid from said chamber; and conduit means for extracting at least a portion of the said gas from the said chamber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a building exterior wall washing device, the combination of a housing comprising a boundary wall having a forward edge, and a rear wall cooperating with said boundary wall to define a chamber; a sight disposed in an essentially vertical plane defined by the said housing and being essentially unobstructed at the said forward edge of said housing; liquid distributing means within said chamber for directing liquid through the said sight; spacing means located exteriorly of said housing for maintaining the said housing in a spaced-apart relation from the said exterior wall; means for precluding substantial egress of said liquid between the said forward edge of said housing and the said exterior wall, including a high velocity in-rushing gas curtain at the said forward edge; said means for precluding substantial egress of said liquid being distinct from said spacing means; means communicating with said chamber at a location spaced from said forward edge for removing liquid from said chamber; and conduit means for extracting at least a portion of the said gas from the said chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-30 | 1980-11-29 | 1981-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-30 | 1984-11-29 | 1985-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-30 | 1988-11-29 | 1989-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |