Semi-automatic apparatus for washing a building

Abstract

A building cleaning apparatus includes a platform adapted to be suspended along a side of a building. The platform includes a base and a barrier mounted on the base that encloses an operator work station. The building cleaning apparatus includes a building cleaning structure mounted beneath the base of the platform. The building cleaning structure includes a cleaning component that is driven by a motor. The cleaning component is mounted such that at least a portion of the cleaning component is directly beneath the base of the platform during cleaning of the building.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of cleaning a surface of a building, comprising:
 mounting a cleaning brush to a platform having a base and a longitudinal axis, with the cleaning brush being rotatable about a rotation axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, the cleaning brush being mounted to the platform in a manner to define a walkway on the base to a rear of the rotation axis of the cleaning brush that permits a human operator to walk on the base of the platform along at least a portion of the length of the brush; and   with the platform suspended from the building with the human operator on the platform, raising or lowering the platform along the surface while the cleaning brush rotates in contact with the surface to thereby clean the surface using the cleaning brush.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the platform is connected to a davit system, and comprising using the davit system to raise and lower the platform; or   the platform is connected to a roof mounted crane, and comprising using the crane to raise and lower the platform.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising connecting the platform to stabilization structure to stabilize the platform relative to the building. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the surface is a window or structure of the building adjacent to a window. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the platform includes a barrier mounted to the base that defines an operator work station, the barrier includes a front side and a rear side, and when the platform is suspended from the building the front side faces the surface of the building; and comprising mounting the cleaning brush to the platform so that the rotation axis is closer to the front side than to the rear side. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein mounting the cleaning brush to the platform comprises:
 a) mounting the cleaning brush to an existing platform to temporarily or permanently retrofit the platform; or   b) mounting the cleaning brush to the platform at the time the platform is manufactured.