A Cleaning Head For A Marine Cleaning System

A cleaning head for a marine cleaning system used for cleaning a liquid submerged surface includes a body configured to be disposed adjacent to and moved relative to the submerged surface during use. The body defines at least one suction aperture being in fluid communication with a suction region adjacent the body. At least one support arm extends from the body, which support arm in turn supports a respective cleaning element including a scraping blade that is configured to cause material on the submerged surface to separate from the submerged surface and become suspended in the suction region during use. The material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction region through the at least one suction aperture. Each support arm extends flexibly from a respective junction with the body so that the cleaning element is supported in a spaced relation laterally away from the junction with the junction being disposed in an operatively forward direction of the cleaning element during use.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning head for a marine cleaning system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a cleaning head for connection to a marine cleaning system used for cleaning a submerged surface, for example to clean an underwater portion of a ship hull or other structure, such as a dock pier or piling.

BACKGROUND

When a structure is submerged underwater for extended lengthy periods, and especially in sea water, it is common for the structure to become covered by plant and animal growth, e.g. seaweed and various types of barnacles. In many cases, this growth can remain undisturbed. However, in the case of ship hulls, the growth constitutes biological fouling and is detrimental in various aspects. Significant problems can occur if the fouling is not removed from the ship hull, including damage to the hull itself or to the antifouling coating thereon and potentially causing a reduction in the ship's seafaring performance and increased fuel consumption.

Antifouling coatings are applied to a vessel hull as the primary defense against biological fouling. Silicon based coatings are generally used on high-speed vessels and on infrequently stopping vessels, e.g. military navy vessels, which compound inherently minimizes any biological fouling. In slow-speed vessels, such as container ships, the antifouling coating includes an active ingredient or pesticide, such as tin, zinc or copper oxides, to minimize adhesion by the biological fouling. It will be appreciated that applying such antifouling coatings to large vessels is generally commercially expensive to apply and to repair if damaged.

Antifouling coatings containing copper oxide can experience leaching during its underwater lifespan, resulting in the leached layer becoming relatively loosely attached to the antifouling coating. Over time the leached layer becomes increasingly less active and progressively higher amounts of biological fouling can adhere to the coating.

In addition, some living organisms can be noxious and, if transported to other locations while the ship traverses the world's oceans between various ports, can be dangerous to local species. These problems can be reduced or avoided by cleaning the ship hull to remove the biofouling. In many cases, the cleaning of a ship hull is performed in a dry-dock to prevent polluting the environment, but this approach is often expensive and time consuming.

Uncontrolled in-water cleaning may release cleaning chemicals or biological contaminants polluting the local sea water. For example, some submerged cleaning and maintenance platforms (SCAMPs) utilize an integrated impeller to destroy the biological fouling and any harmful invasive marine species therein. However, in additional to the biological fouling, the cleaning residue can also include bits of hull coatings and corrosion by-products, all of which is then simply discharged directly into the surrounding sea water. As mentioned above, most antifouling coatings include heavy metals such as Cu and Zn as biocides that are then released during cleaning operations at levels that can exceed water quality criteria, e.g. if the loosely adhered leached layers of the antifouling coatings are scraped off from the hull. Additionally, the removal of the fouling may stimulate the plant or animal growths to release reproductive propagules, or plant and animal fragments capable of further growth or regeneration.

It is therefore preferable to first filter the cleaning water and fouling residue before discharge to the environment. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,552 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In this arrangement a cleaning head has a body, and a skirt extending around a periphery of the body, whereby the skirt functions to seal the body to the ship hull and define a cleaning chamber. The cleaning head also includes a scraper for dislodging the fouling from the hull inside the cleaning chamber, and at least one suction pipe in fluid communication with the cleaning chamber. During use the dislodged fouling is water-borne and drawn away from the cleaning head through the suction pipe to a filtration unit (which may be surface mounted) before the cleaned sea water is returned to the environment.

The above prior art systems are relatively large platforms/vehicles that cannot always be directed into tight corners or hard-to-reach areas, e.g. around the ship's propellers. They also cannot be effectively used to clean smaller areas, e.g. smaller boat hulls or dock piers or pilings. In such cases a hand operated cleaning head is often more useful.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an exemplary arrangement, there is provided a cleaning head for a marine cleaning system used for cleaning a liquid submerged surface, the cleaning head comprisinga body being configured to be movable in disposed adjacent relation to and moved relative to a submerged surface;at least one suction aperture being in fluid communication with a suction region around the body during use;at least one support arm extending from the body, the support arm extending from a junction with the body;a cleaning element supported by each support arm, whereby the cleaning element is configured to cause material on the submerged surface to separate from the submerged surface and become suspended in the suction region during use when the body is moved in an operative direction relative to the submerged surface, and whereby the material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction region through the suction aperture; andwherein the cleaning element is spaced laterally away from the junction so that the junction is disposed in an operatively forward direction of the cleaning element during use.

The exemplary body may be substantially tubular with the suction aperture being provided at one end of the body and with an open mouth being provided at an opposed end of the body. The mouth may have a larger cross sectional area than that of the suction aperture so that the body converges from the mouth towards the suction aperture.

The exemplary body comprises a floor that may be inclined relative to the cleaning element so that orientating the floor substantially parallel to the submerged surface during use assists in orientating the cleaning element at a preselected operative cleaning inclination angle. In one exemplary arrangement the body comprises one or more magnets embedded within the floor with the magnets being configured to slidably hold the floor against a ferromagnetic submerged surface.

The exemplary cleaning element may include a scraper body and a scraper blade. The scraper blade may be an integral part of the scraper body. Alternatively, the scraper blade may be a separate part and releasably joined to the scraper.

The exemplary cleaning element may have a flat planar shape.

In some exemplary arrangements the cleaning element has an arcuate shape having its concave face directed towards the body. In this arrangement the cleaning element may have an arched shape so that a central part of the cleaning element is raised above the opposed outer parts of the cleaning element.

The exemplary cleaning element may have a transverse width being substantially wider than the transverse width of the body, whereby the cleaning element defines opposed wings that project laterally beyond the body.

The exemplary cleaning head may include opposed channels provided between the cleaning element and the body on opposed sides of the body, the channels being configured to allow liquid flow from a suction region around the cleaning head towards the suction aperture. The exemplary channels may define a venturi type constriction being configured in use to cause an increased flow rate of liquid from the suction region into the suction aperture. The exemplary cleaning element may be movably supported relative to the body thereby permitting adjustment of a cross sectional area of the channels.

In some exemplary arrangements, the body may comprise a rotatable disc and the suction aperture may comprise one or more apertures extending transversely through the disc. The exemplary cleaning head may comprise a number of cleaning elements arranged at discrete spaced circumferential intervals on the body.

In some exemplary arrangements the support arm is flexibly attached to the body to allow movement of the cleaning element closer to or further away from the body. The exemplary cleaning head may include a biasing member configured to bias the support arm and cleaning element away from the body. The biasing member may be a spring, resilient plastics material or resilient foam material, for example.

The exemplary cleaning element may be angled towards the junction so that, during use, the cleaning element is operatively aligned relative to the submerged surface at a preselected operative cleaning inclination angle. In some examples the inclination angle is 130°-140°. In an exemplary arrangement the inclination angle is 135°.

The exemplary arrangement may be utilized to carry out a method of cleaning a liquid submerged surface, the method comprisingproviding a cleaning head havinga body;at least one support arm extending from the body, the support arm extending from a junction with the body; anda cleaning element supported by each support arm, wherein the cleaning element is spaced laterally away from the junction so that the junction is disposed operatively forward of the cleaning element;locating the cleaning head against the submerged surface so that the body is disposed adjacent to and movable relative to the submerged surface;applying a suction force to a suction region around the body; andmoving the cleaning head in an operatively forward direction relative to the submerged surface so that the cleaning element causes material on the submerged surface to separate from the submerged surface and become suspended in the suction region,whereby the material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction region through the suction aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning head10configured for connection to a marine cleaning system used for cleaning a submerged surface surrounded by liquid, for example for cleaning an underwater portion of a ship hull or other structure, such as a dock pier or piling. Although the present exemplary arrangement will be described in relation to cleaning a ship hull, it should be understood that other applications are envisaged.

FIGS.1to4show one exemplary arrangement of the cleaning head10. The cleaning head10includes a substantially tubular body12. As used herein substantially tubular means extending around a body bounded interior area. An interior area13bounded by the tubular body12has an open mouth14at one body end15thereof, and has a suction aperture16at an opposed body end17thereof. The suction aperture16is configured to be joined to a suitable suction pipe (not shown) and therefore in some arrangements may have the shape of a cylindrical spout to which the suction pipe can be clamped.

The body12is configured to be disposed adjacent to and moved in an operatively forward direction relative to the submerged surface during use. As used herein the operatively forward direction refers to the direction in which the body is moved relative to the submerged surface to cause material to be scraped off the submerged surface.

The operatively forward direction of body12is indicated by arrow18wherein the body12is moved relative to the surface in a direction from the mouth14towards the suction aperture16.

It should be understood for the purposes of the description below that the terms “forward” and “rearward” refer to operative direction of movement. Thus “forward” is used herein to refer to a feature or part of the cleaning head10that is closest or proximal to the suction aperture16or to a position towards the right of the cleaning head10as shown inFIGS.1to3. Conversely, “rearward” is used herein to refer to a feature or part of the cleaning head10that is furthest or distal to the suction aperture16or to a position towards the left of the cleaning head10as shown inFIGS.1to3.

In the exemplary arrangement the body12interior area13has a generally quadrilateral cross section having a roof20that is joined to a floor22that is joined on respective transverse sides by opposed side walls24.

The exemplary cleaning head10has a central axis26that will normally extend centrally from the suction aperture16. The exemplary arrangement of the cleaning head10is mirror symmetrical about a symmetry plane extending vertically through the central axis26, i.e. whereby the symmetry plane extends centrally through the roof20and floor22.

The exemplary body12is generally trapezoidal in shape in transverse cross section when seen in plan view so that the roof20has a larger transverse dimension α towards the mouth14and has a smaller transverse dimension β towards the suction aperture16(seeFIG.4). Accordingly, the mouth14has a larger cross section area than that of the suction aperture16so that the interior area of the body is convergent in the exemplary arrangement as body12converges from the mouth14towards the suction aperture16.

As can be seen more clearly inFIG.3, the exemplary roof20is orientated substantially parallel relative to the central axis26, whereas the floor22is planar and inclined relative to the central axis26. The floor22is therefore also inclined relative to the roof20, whereby the floor22is located closer to the roof20at or near the mouth14at the body end15, while the floor22is spaced further away from the roof20at or near the suction aperture16.

The exemplary body12includes one or more magnets23embedded within the floor22. In use, and when the submerged surface is ferromagnetic such as is typically found in a ship hull, the magnets are configured to hold the floor22against and in substantially parallel slidable engaging contact with the submerged surface.

The exemplary cleaning head10includes a maneuvering mount which is alternatively referred to as a maneuvering mounting provided on the body, which maneuvering mounting is configured to allow a maneuvering force to be applied to the body12. In the exemplary arrangement shown inFIGS.1to4, the maneuvering mounting comprises a manually engageable handle28joined to the roof20of the body12. The exemplary handle28includes a cylindrical pillar projecting outwardly from the roof20that extends transverse to the operatively forward direction. In some alternative arrangements, the handle28can project orthogonally from the roof20. However, it should be appreciated that the exemplary handle28functions to allow a user to hold and maneuver the cleaning head10and thus the handle28can also be provided in other shapes, such as being a spherical knob, an arc-shaped bow handle, or a U-shaped or L-shaped bar handle. In still other examples, the maneuvering mounting can comprise a recess in the body12, such as one or more finger recesses that can be gripped by the operator's hand.

In the exemplary arrangement a support arm30extends from the body12, whereby the support arm30is joined to the roof20at a location which is alternatively referred to as a junction32. The support arm30extends axially beyond the floor22so that the support arm30overhangs the mouth14. In the exemplary arrangement the support arm30is aligned to be co-planar with the roof20and in essence forms an integral extension of the roof20. However, in other exemplary arrangements the support arm30may be offset from or angled relative to the roof20.

In the exemplary arrangement a cleaning element34is in fixed operative connection with and depends from the support arm30with the cleaning element34being spaced laterally away from the junction32so that the junction32is disposed in the operatively forward direction of the cleaning element34during use. The exemplary cleaning element34is in a spaced relation laterally rearward of the mouth14and is also located rearward of the handle28. The exemplary cleaning element34is angled forwardly/inwardly towards the mouth14so that, during use, the cleaning element34will be operatively aligned relative to the submerged surface35(and accordingly relative to the floor22) at an angle θ of 130°-140° (seeFIG.3). In one exemplary arrangement the angle θ is 135°.

In the exemplary arrangement the cleaning element34comprises a scraper body36having an outer face38facing away from the mouth14, an inner face40facing towards the mouth14, and a lower edge42. In some arrangements the scraper body36may be integral with the support arm30. The exemplary scraper body36is provided with an integral scraper blade44extending along and beyond its lower edge42. The exemplary scraper blade44lies inwardly of the scraper body36so that a top edge of the scraper blade44defines a ridge46extending along the inner face40. The exemplary ridge46acts as a strengthening formation to strengthen the scraper body36and mitigate any flexing thereof that may occur during use.

Although in the exemplary arrangement the scraper body36and scraper blade44are integrally configured, in other arrangements the scraper blade44can be separable from the scraper body36and releasably joined thereto by suitable fasteners. In some exemplary arrangements, the scraper blade44can be bolted to the scraper body36. In some exemplary arrangements for example, the scraper blade44may be configured to be received and frictionally held within a complementary sized slot provided in the scraper body36. Of course it should be understood that these approaches are exemplary and in other arrangements other types of fastener arrangements may be used.

In the exemplary arrangement the scraper body36and the scraper blade44have concentric curved or arcuate shapes when seen in plan view, wherein their concave faces are directed towards the body12. This is more clearly shown inFIGS.1and2. In some exemplary arrangements, the scraper body36and the scraper blade44can be concentrically spherically shaped.

The exemplary scraper body36is spaced rearwardly away from the mouth14and depends for a sufficient distance so that the scraper blade44lies opposed to the floor22. In some exemplary arrangements a bottom edge of the scraper blade44lies co-planar with the floor22. The exemplary bottom edge of the scraper blade44is sharpened. In the exemplary arrangements in which the scraper blade44is arcuate, the scraper blade44can also be arched so that a central part of the scraper blade44lies above and closer to the roof20than the opposed outer parts of the scraper blade44. Of course it should be understood that these configurations are exemplary.

The exemplary cleaning element34has a transverse width substantially wider than the transverse width of the support arm30and the body12at its mouth14. As used herein substantially wider means at least 25% wider than the referenced width. The exemplary arrangement shown has the cleaning element34about 50% wider than the body12at the mouth and the support arm at the location of the junction. In one exemplary arrangement the body12has a transverse width at the mouth14of about 200 mm while the cleaning element34has a transverse width of about 300 mm. The exemplary cleaning element34therefore includes laterally opposed outer wings48that project laterally transversely beyond the body12and the respective support arm30on each respective transverse side.

The exemplary cleaning head10configuration includes opposed side channels50that are located forwardly of the scraper blade and wings48, and between the cleaning element34and the mouth14. In the exemplary arrangement the channels50have a height equivalent to a height of the mouth14.

In some exemplary arrangements the channels50have a width that is adjustable so that the cross sectional area of the channels50can be selectively increased or decreased. In such arrangements the cleaning element34can be movably mounted in operative connection with the body12so that the cleaning element34can be moved and held fixed in selected positions axially closer to or further from the body12, thereby to adjust the width of the channels50. In some exemplary arrangements the support arm30is selectively extendable so that the cleaning element34can be moved axially closer to or further from the body12. In other exemplary arrangements the support arm30is telescopic. In other exemplary arrangements the support arm30is slidably joined to and supported by the roof20. In yet further exemplary arrangements the cleaning element34is slidably joined to and supported by the support arm30. After the cleaning element34is positioned at the desired distance away from the body12, i.e. once the desired width of the channel50has been set, the support arm30and/or cleaning element34can be secured in a fixed position to prevent undesired movement thereof during use by suitable fasteners, e.g. by using suitable bolts, clips or split pins, for example.

The exemplary channels50are configured to allow liquid flow from a suction region adjacent and around the cleaning head10towards the suction aperture16, whereby in use water and suspended material adjacent to and surrounding the body12(being water intermediate of the scraped blade and suction aperture and predominantly water located laterally outside the body12) is sucked through the channels50and the mouth14into the body12and then through the suction aperture16. Adjustment of the cross sectional area of the channels50allows an operator to maintain an optimum flow rate of liquid flow through the channels50.

In the exemplary arrangement each of the channels50has a cross section dimension φ that is smaller than the transverse dimension α of the mouth14(seeFIG.4). In some exemplary arrangements the cross section dimension φ of the channels50is less than half the transverse dimension α, so that α>2φ. In this way the channels50are configured to provide a venturi type constriction being configured to cause an increased velocity and flow rate of water from the outer environment surrounding the body12through the channels50and into the mouth14.

In another exemplary arrangement of the cleaning head as shown inFIG.9, the cleaning element34can have a flat planar shape when seen in plan view.

In some exemplary arrangements the cleaning head10is an integral single piece that is made of a plastics material or of metal. In some exemplary arrangements the cleaning head10can be made of polyurethane or nylon plastics material. In some exemplary arrangements the cleaning head10can be made of steel, aluminum or suitable alloys of these metals.

In use, activating the marine cleaning system causes suction through a suction pipe that is connected to the suction aperture16, resulting in a low pressure within the body12which then causes water and suspended material to be sucked into the body12through the channels50and the mouth14.

An operator can grip the handle28and locate the cleaning head10adjacent to a submerged surface of a ship hull or other surface to be cleaned such that the floor22lies substantially flush against the submerged surface. The magnets23within or otherwise in fixed operative connection with the floor22assist in holding the cleaning head10against the submerged surface by attraction of ferromagnetic material in the submerged surface and thereby reduces the amount of force pressure needed to maintain the cleaning head10in contact with the submerged surface35. The inclination angle of the floor22in the exemplary arrangement is configured to optimally align the scraper blade44relative to the submerged surface, e.g. at an inclination angle θ of from 130° to 140° and in some arrangements 135°.

The operator can then move the cleaning head10in forward-rearward directions lying substantially along the central axis26to scrape off biological fouling from the submerged surface. It will be appreciated that moving the exemplary cleaning head10in an operative forward direction, that is in this exemplary arrangement in a direction of the body from the engaged blade towards the suction aperture16, constitutes the active removal stroke direction. In contrast, moving the exemplary cleaning head10in a rearward direction, that is in a direction from the suction aperture towards the cleaning element34, constitutes the return stroke direction. This is because of the inclination angle θ of the scraper blade44of the exemplary arrangement.

In conjunction with its inclination angle θ, the sharpened bottom edge of the scraper blade44of the exemplary arrangement operates to lift (e.g. slice or peel) the biological fouling away from the hull or other surface over which the cleaning head is moved. This prevents the biological fouling debris from being dragged along the hull and potentially causing additional damage to any antifouling coating applied thereon.

In some instances, the biological fouling can be hard and difficult to remove so that it does not necessarily separate from the submerged surface after a single pass of the cleaning head10in the operatively forward direction. In such case the scraper blade44will ride up and over the biological fouling causing the cleaning head10to move away from the submerged surface for short distances. The exemplary location of the handle28, operatively forward of the scraper blade44, results in the downward pressure toward the surface and forward forces applied by the operator being operatively in advance of the spacer blade44. This assists in permitting the scraper blade44to ride up and over any non-removed biological fouling.

In contrast thereto, in some other systems wherein the downward force and forward forces are applied either substantially above or operatively rearward of their scraper blades, the scraper blades may tend to get stuck or embedded within the biological fouling and this often results in the scraper blade tending to buckle or pivot over the biological fouling—often causing damage to the blade so that it no longer operates correctly.

In operation of the exemplary arrangement as the biological fouling is separated from the submerged surface, together with any loosely attached leached layers of any antifouling coating that may separate from the hull or other surface during the scraping operation, the material becomes suspended entrained in the surrounding water causing a slurry of “dirty” water within, adjacent to and around the cleaning head10. This slurry of fluid and suspended material is sucked through the channels50and into the mouth14into the body12for receipt and removal via the suction aperture16and suction pipe for further treatment and filtration before the cleaned water is returned to the environment.

In the exemplary arrangement the increased flow rate and velocity caused by the smaller openings of the channels50increases the suction region range from which the surrounding water is capable of being sucked into the cleaning head10. This results in substantially all the removed biological fouling being captured by the cleaning head10without any of the biological fouling dispersing to the environment. Of course it should be understood that this cleaning head arrangement is exemplary and in other arrangements other configurations may be used.

FIGS.5to8show a further alternative arrangement of a cleaning head110. The cleaning head110is configured to be used in an automated marine cleaning system, e.g. such as in the system described in the incorporated disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,552 wherein the cleaning head110is configured to be rotatably mounted within the body of housing (140) thereof and moved along the submerged surface to be cleaned. The cleaning head110is configured to be disposed adjacent to and rotated in an operatively forward direction relative to the submerged surface during use. The operatively forward direction is indicated by arrow112. In this exemplary arrangement the drive shaft functions as the maneuvering mounting being configured to allow a maneuvering force to be applied to the cleaning head110.

It should be understood for the purposes of the description below referring to cleaning head110that the terms “forward” and “rearward” refer to operative direction of movement. Thus “forward” is used to refer to a feature or part of the cleaning head110that is rotationally in advance of another feature or part. Conversely, “rearward” is used to refer to a feature or part of the cleaning head110that rotationally follows another feature or part.

The exemplary cleaning head110comprises a disc shaped body114. A plurality of suction apertures116extend transversely through the body114, through which suction apertures116the suction from the suction pipe can be applied and through which the slurry of water and suspended biological fouling material can be removed during use.

The exemplary cleaning head110further comprises a number of cleaning members118arranged at discrete spaced circumferential intervals on the body114. Each cleaning member118includes an attachment bracket/junction120configured to be fixed to the body114, through fasteners such as by screws or bolts122. A support arm124extends rotationally rearwardly from the bracket120with the support arm124carrying a cleaning element126depending from its opposed end and in fixed operative connection with the support arm, i.e. the bracket120is disposed in the operatively forward direction of the cleaning element126during use.

The exemplary support arm124is flexibly attached to the body114at a junction through the bracket120so that the support arm124is capable of flexing to allow movement of the cleaning element126transversely to the operatively forward direction closer to or further away from the body114. A biasing member128is provided to bias the support arm124and cleaning element126away from the body114. In the illustrated example, the biasing member128is provided to act between the body114and the support arm124. The biasing member128may comprise a spring in some exemplary arrangements, such as a compression spring. In alternative exemplary arrangements the biasing member may comprise a pillar of resilient plastics or foam material, for example.

In the exemplary arrangement each cleaning element126is angled forwardly/inwardly towards the bracket120so that, during use, the exemplary cleaning element126will be operatively aligned relative to the submerged surface at an angle θ of 130°-140° (seeFIG.8). In some exemplary arrangements the angle θ is 135°.

In this exemplary arrangement the cleaning element126comprises a scraper body130having an outer face132facing away from the bracket120, an inner face134facing towards the bracket120, and a lower edge136. The exemplary scraper body130is integral with the support arm124, and may be substantially wider than the support arm as shown.

The exemplary scraper body130supports a scraper blade138in operatively fixed engagement therewith extending along and beyond its lower edge136. In this exemplary arrangement the scraper blade138lies outwardly of the scraper body130so that a top edge of the scraper blade138defines a ridge140extending along the outer face132. The exemplary ridge140acts as a strengthening formation to strengthen the scraper body130and mitigate any flexing thereof that may occur during use.

In this exemplary arrangement the scraper body130and the scraper blade138have a flat planar shape when seen in plan view. Further, the exemplary scraper blade138is releasably fixed to the scraper body130by bolts142. Of course it should be understood that this configuration is exemplary and in other arrangements other configurations may be used.

In use of this exemplary cleaning head110, when the scraper blade138encounters hard to remove biological fouling, the scraper blade138moves relative to the body transversely of the operatively forward direction and will ride up and over the biological fouling. This movement is permitted through flexing of the support arm124and correlated compression of the biasing member128. Once the obstacle is traversed, the biasing member128urges the scraper blade138back into engaging contact with the submerged surface.

The location of the connection location of bracket120operatively forward of the scraper blade138in the exemplary arrangement, results in the downward and lateral forces applied by the body114being operatively in advance of the scraper blade138. This assists in allowing the scraper blade138to ride up and over any non-removed biological fouling, which mitigates any tendency of the scraper blade138buckling or pivoting over the biological fouling and thereby reducing the likelihood of damage to the scraper blade138.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the cleaning head arrangements as shown herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as broadly described. The disclosed arrangements are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in a non-limiting and an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in the recited arrangements. A reference to an element by the article “a” includes an arrangement in which more than one of the elements is present, unless the recited arrangement specifically requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

Thus the exemplary arrangements achieve improved operation, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices, methods and systems and attain the useful results described herein.

It should be understood that the features and/or relationships associated with one exemplary arrangement can be combined with features and/or relationships from another exemplary arrangement. That is, various features and/or relationships from various exemplary arrangements can be combined in further arrangements. The new and useful aspects of the disclosure are not limited to only the exemplary arrangements shown and/or described herein.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the exemplary arrangements, the manner in which they are constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results attained, the new and useful features, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.