Escalator and Travelator Tread Cleaning Device and Method

Abstract

The disclosed invention utilizes deformable gaskets configured to form a seal which slides through the grooves and across the tops of escalator and travelator treads and using evacuation cleaning components as either a complete escalator and travelator tread cleaning machine or an accessory device configured to operate with an existing vacuum carpet evacuation apparatus. The disclosed gaskets in combination with evacuation and spray nozzle manifolds connected by escalator and travelator groove passages form a basic embodiment of the disclosed tread engagement assembly. In certain embodiments, the disclosed apparatus utilizes certain components of carpet evacuation equipment in combination with the disclosed v for cleaning escalator and travelator treads, including both the risers and treads of the escalator and travelator.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for cleaning escalator and travelator treads comprising:
 a source of cleaning solution;   a suction source;   a recovery tank for storing extracted cleaning solution;   a tread engagement assembly comprising:
 a cleaning solution sprayer connected to the source of cleaning solution comprising a plurality of sprayer nozzles, wherein the cleaning solution sprayer sprays cleaning solution into a vacuum spray manifold; 
 a vacuum evacuation manifold connected to the suction source; 
   
       front and rear gaskets which mate with a plurality of grooves of the escalator and travelator tread, wherein the vacuum spray manifold and the vacuum evacuation manifolds are substantially sealed against the grooves of the escalator and travelator tread and communicate through the escalator and travelator groove passages;
 whereby the tread engagement assembly forms a vacuum seal against escalator and travelator treads and cleans the escalator and travelator treads by spraying cleaning solution onto the treads which is extracted by the suction and stored for disposal in the recovery tank. 
 
     
     
         2 . The device as in  claim 1  also comprising side skirt vacuum gaskets connecting the front and rear gaskets. 
     
     
         3 . The device as in  claim 1  also comprising a bridge pad separating the vacuum spray manifold from the vacuum evacuation manifold except by communication through the escalator and travelator groove passages. 
     
     
         4 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         5 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of an elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of an oleophilic foam, whereby the front and rear gaskets absorb oil from the escalator and travelator treads but do not absorb a water based cleaning solution extracted during cleaning operation. 
     
     
         7 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein the front and rear gaskets comprise at least a plurality of teeth which mate against the escalator and travelator tread grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The device as in  claim 7  wherein the plurality of teeth are of a generally square cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The device as in  claim 1  also comprising a scrubber brush assembly separating the vacuum spray manifold from the vacuum evacuation manifold except by communication through the escalator and travelator groove passages. 
     
     
         10 . An escalator and travelator tread cleaning accessory for vacuum evacuation cleaners comprising:
 a tread engagement assembly comprising:   a cleaning solution sprayer connected to a source of cleaning solution;   a plurality of spray nozzles;   a vacuum evacuation manifold connected to the suction source;   front and rear gaskets which mate with escalator and travelator tread grooves in an escalator and travelator tread, wherein the vacuum evacuation manifold mates against the escalator and travelator tread;   whereby when operated in conjunction with an evacuation cleaning apparatus the tread engagement assembly forms a vacuum seal against escalator and travelator treads and cleans the treads by spraying cleaning solution onto the groove passages of the treads which is extracted by the suction source.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly as in  claim 10  also comprising side skirt gaskets connecting the front and rear gaskets. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as in  claim 10  also comprising a bridge pad separating a vacuum spray manifold from the vacuum evacuation manifold. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly as in  claim 10  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly as in  claim 10  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of an elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly as in  claim 10  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of an oleophilic foam, whereby the oleophilic foam gaskets absorb oil from the escalator and travelator treads but not a water based cleaning solution extracted during cleaning operation. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly as in  claim 10  wherein the front and rear gaskets comprise at least a plurality of teeth which mate against the escalator and travelator tread grooves. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly as in  claim 16  wherein the plurality of teeth are generally of a square cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly as in  claim 16  wherein the front has a front to rear length within the range of about ¼ to 4 inches (10 cm). 
     
     
         19 . The assembly as in  claim 16  wherein the rear gasket plurality of teeth have a front to rear length in the range of ½ inches (1.27 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm). 
     
     
         20 . The assembly as in  claim 16  also comprising a scrubber brush assembly separating the vacuum spray manifold from the vacuum evacuation manifold except by communication through the escalator and travelator groove passages. 
     
     
         21 . A device for cleaning escalator and travelator treads comprising:
 a carpet evacuation cleaning machine modified with an accessory apparatus performing a means for cleaning escalator and travelator treads.   
     
     
         22 . A method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads comprising:
 providing a tread engagement assembly coupled to a suction extraction source;   setting the tread engagement assembly in place on an escalator and travelator tread wherein a plurality of teeth of at least one gasket of the tread engagement assembly are engaged with a plurality of escalator and travelator grooves of the escalator and travelator tread;   allowing the escalator and travelator to run a full cycle while the tread engagement assembly is in operation along with the suction evacuation source.   
     
     
         23 . The method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads as in  claim 22  wherein the vacuum spray manifold and vacuum evacuation manifold are also bounded by a side gasket portion on the right and left sides of the respective manifolds. 
     
     
         24 . The method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads as in  claim 22  wherein the deformable gasket individual teeth are of a generally square cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         25 . The method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads as in  claim 22  wherein the front and rear gaskets are constructed of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         26 . The method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads as in  claim 22  wherein the front gasket has a front to rear length within the range of about 1/16 inches (0.1615 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm). 
     
     
         27 . The method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads as in  claim 22  wherein the rear has a front to rear length in the range of about ½ inches (1.27 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm). 
     
     
         28 . The method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads as in  claim 22  also comprising a scrubber brush assembly separating the vacuum spray manifold from the vacuum evacuation manifold except by communication through the escalator and travelator groove passages. 
     
     
         29 . A method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads comprising:
 providing a tread engagement assembly coupled to a suction evacuation source;   setting the tread engagement assembly in place on an escalator and travelator tread wherein a plurality of teeth of at least one gasket of the tread engagement assembly are engaged with a plurality of escalator and travelator grooves of the escalator and travelator tread;   allowing the escalator and travelator to run a full cycle while the tread engagement assembly is in operation along with the suction evacuation source.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the tread engagement assembly comprises a vacuum evacuation manifold and a vacuum spray manifold in communication with each other through a plurality of escalator and travelator groove passages, wherein the spray manifold is connected to a source of liquid cleaner which is sprayed into the manifold by spray source nozzles;
 the spray source nozzles being aligned in a direction that is lateral to movement of escalator and travelator treads and the spray nozzles having an angle of spray selected from the group consisting of: 
 
       a. forwardly angled 
       b. vertical; and 
       c. rearwardly angled
 wherein the spray nozzles operate to spray liquid during operation of the tread engagement assembly and the sprayed liquid along with debris are sucked into the vacuum evacuation manifold for further disposition. 
 
     
     
         31 . A device for cleaning escalator and travelator treads comprising:
 a source of cleaning solution;   a suction source;   a recovery tank for storing extracted cleaning solution;   a tread engagement assembly comprising:
 a cleaning solution sprayer connected to the source of cleaning solution comprising a plurality of sprayer nozzles, wherein the cleaning solution sprayer sprays cleaning solution into a vacuum spray manifold; 
 a vacuum evacuation manifold connected to the suction source; 
 front and rear gaskets which mate with a plurality of grooves of the escalator and travelator tread, wherein the vacuum spray manifold and the vacuum evacuation manifolds are substantially sealed against the grooves of the escalator and travelator tread and communicate through the escalator and travelator groove passages, wherein the rear gasket is configured to abut against a stationary tread comb structure at a bottom or a top of the escalator and travelator, wherein when the device is engaged with the escalator and travelator tread during operation of the escalator and travelator, the rear gasket contact with the stationary comb structure when the device is engaged with the forward gasket and rear gasket positioned with the forward gasket facing oncoming escalator and travelator treads and the rear gasket blocking motion of the device by direct contact with the stationary comb; 
   whereby the tread engagement assembly forms a vacuum seal against escalator and travelator treads and cleans the escalator and travelator treads by spraying cleaning solution onto the treads which is extracted by the suction and stored for disposal in the recovery tank.   
     
     
         32 . A method for cleaning escalator and travelator treads the treads having a top and being separated by grooves defining tread sides and tread bottoms and the treads moving in a rearward direction comprising:
 providing a wet vacuum extraction cleaning system comprising:
 a chassis extending a selected width across threads comprising:
 a tread engagement assembly comprising:
 a front gasket attached to the chassis at a front portion thereof and having teeth configured to fit across the tread tops and into the tread grooves and a rear gasket attached to the chassis at a rear portion thereof having teeth configured to fit across the tread tops and into the tread grooves the front and rear gaskets forming a vacuum seal to the treads and being spaced apart along the length of the treads defining a vacuum groove passage within grooves of the treads in the selected width that are encompassed by the front and rear gaskets; 
 
 a plurality of spray nozzles extending within the chassis rearwardly adjacent to the front gasket to cause spray of cleaning solution into the vacuum groove passage; 
 a vacuum evacuation manifold connectable to a suction source and extending within the chassis rearwardly of the spray nozzles; 
 a vacuum bridge in the chassis extending across the width of the treads under the chassis and located between the spray nozzles and the vacuum evacuation manifold and in contact with the top of the treads which it extends across; 
 a suction source connected to the vacuum evacuation manifold; 
 
   
       whereby when operated in conjunction with an evacuation cleaning apparatus the tread engagement assembly forms a vacuum seal against escalator and travelator treads and cleans the treads by spraying cleaning solution onto the groove passages of the treads which is extracted by the suction source through the vacuum evacuation manifold.