Semi-automatic system for washing a building

Abstract

A cleaning brush apparatus that is mountable onto a platform that is suitably suspended from a building for cleaning exterior and/or interior surfaces of the building. The cleaning brush apparatus includes a cleaning brush that is rotatable relative to the platform about a rotation axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform. The cleaning brush apparatus is mounted to the platform in a manner to define a walkway on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis that permits a human operator to walk on the platform behind the rotation axis and along at least a length of the cleaning brush apparatus. The cleaning brush apparatus may also be adjustably mounted on the platform to permit the cleaning brush apparatus to be adjusted in position on and relative to the platform in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

1 . A cleaning system that is configured to clean a surface of a building, comprising:
 a platform that is suspendable from the building, the platform has a longitudinal axis, and the platform is configured to support at least one human operator during use when suspended from the building;   a cleaning brush apparatus mounted on the platform, the cleaning brush apparatus includes a cleaning brush that is rotatable relative to the platform about a rotation axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform;   the cleaning brush apparatus is slidably mounted on the platform to permit the cleaning brush apparatus to be adjusted in position on and relative to the platform in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning brush apparatus is slidably mounted to the platform by a rail system that includes front and rear carriage rails fixed to the platform and carriages mounted on the cleaning brush apparatus and slidably supported on the front and rear carriage rails. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shroud around at least a portion of the cleaning brush. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning system of  claim 2 , wherein the carriage rails are removably fixed to the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform has a length that is greater than a length of the cleaning brush. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the brush has a length, and further comprising a walkway defined on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis that permits the at least one human operator to walk on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis along at least a portion of the length of the brush. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the walkway permits the human operator to walk on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis along the entire length of the brush. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the walkway permits the human operator to walk on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis along an entire length of the platform from one end of the platform to an opposite end. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning brush apparatus further includes a plurality of spray nozzles that are configured to spray fluid onto the surface of the building and/or spray fluid onto the cleaning brush prior to or during cleaning. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning system of  claim 1 , further comprising stabilization structure connected to the platform for stabilizing the platform relative to the building. 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning system that is configured to clean a surface of a building, comprising:
 a platform that is suspendable from the building, the platform has a longitudinal axis, and the platform is configured to support at least one human operator during use when suspended from the building;   a cleaning brush apparatus mounted on the platform, the cleaning brush apparatus includes a cleaning brush that is rotatable relative to the platform about a rotation axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform, the cleaning brush having a length; and   a walkway defined on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis that permits the at least one human operator to walk on the platform behind the rotation axis along at least a portion of the length of the cleaning brush.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the platform includes a front wall, and the cleaning brush apparatus is mounted on the front wall, and the walkway is located behind the cleaning brush apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the walkway permits the human operator to walk on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis along the entire length of the cleaning brush. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the walkway permits the human operator to walk on the platform to the rear of the rotation axis along an entire length of the platform from one end of the platform to an opposite end. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning brush apparatus further includes a plurality of spray nozzles that are configured to spray fluid onto the surface of the building and/or spray fluid onto the cleaning brush prior to or during cleaning. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning system of  claim 11 , further comprising stabilization structure connected to the platform for stabilizing the platform relative to the building.