Patent GB-196797-A (GB)
Title: Automatic window washing and drying machines
IPC: A47L1/02
Filed: 1922-04-12
Abstract: 196,797. Martin, J. April 12, 1922. lY'izadows and the like, cleaning. - Windows are washed and wiped on both sides simultaneously with water and made to reciprocate up and down the glass, washing it while travelling upwards and wiping it while descending. A portable tank 1 divided into two longitudinal compartments by a partition 3 carries a platform 14 vertically adjustable by means of screwed posts 12 engaging with sprocket wheels 11 which may be rotated by a handle 8 through a chain 9. slidable in longitudinal grooves in this platform is a table 17 which may also be supported on a leaf 15 hinged to the platform 14 and adapted to rest upon the windowsill; this table carries uprights 18 at the front and hinged uprights 19<a>, 20 at the back. Cross-bars 19, 21 connecting these uprights support rotatably screwed shafts 39, 40, the shaft 40 being hinged at 40<a>, and arms 22 projecting from the part 19<a> support a shaft 24 hinged at 25 and carrying bevel wheel 26, 30 the latter meshing with a bevel wheel 31 on a shaft 32 passing through the plate 17 and having a handle 34. A sleeve 33 loosely surrounding the shaft 32 has bevel wheels 35, 36 fixed to it which mesh with bevel wheels 37, 38 on the screwed shafts 39, 40. Slidably keyed to the shaft 39 ara friction clutches 43, 44 which may engage wheels 45, 46 driven in opposite directions by a motor 53 through worms 47, 48, the clutch is shifted to reverse the direction of rotation of both shafts by rods 57, 58 connected to springs 63, 64 and operated by a belt-carrying casing 54 operatively connected with the screwed shaft 39, when it reaches collars 69, 70 or 71, 72 at the ends of its travel up and down the window. A similar casing 28 is reciprocated by the shaft 40 and each casing carries a washing and wiping member horizontally adjustable by means of racks 113, 114 meshing with wheels 117, 120. A handle 116 on the casing 54 which remains inside the room serves to turn the wheels 117, while the handle 34 turns the wheels 120 through shafts 32, 24, 121. The washing and wiping members comprise casings 85 carried on the racks 113, 114 and each supporting an endless perforated belt 94 passing over rollers 95, 96 and driven by a wringing roller 93 which is rotated by friction collars on a bevel gear 88 driven by a telescopic shaft 84 from a gear wheel 73 or 74 keyed to but slidable on the screwed shaft 39 or 40, through intermeshing wheels 79, 81, 82. Within each belt 94 is a water reservoir 99 with spray perforations 100 and a supply pipe 101 connected with a flexible pipe 104 through which water is pumped by a pump 105 driven from the motor 53, the water being drawn from the cleanwater compartment of the tank 1. The water is spread over the surface of the glass by the belt, excess being wiped off by tongues 109, 111, 112 and collected in a drain reservoir 98 whence it passes by a flexible pipe 108 to the dirty-water compartment of the tank 1. Water is .supplied continuously and the parts are so arranged that as the carriers 54, 28 are moving upwards the portions of the perforated belts in contact with the glass are travelling upwards and so distributing water over the glass. When the carriers are descending the direction of motion of the belt is reversed and the portions of the belts above the sprays 100, which have been wiped by the tongues 111, dry the glass. To place the apparatus in position the hinged upper portions 19<a> of the uprights 20 are turned into a horizontal position by rotating a crank 135 connected with a worm 126, Fig. 12, which rocks a gear-wheel 125 meshing with a toothed segment 124 fixed to a post 19<a>; the screwed shaft 40 hinges at 40a while the rod 24 hinges at 25 and slides through its upper bearing 23. The table 17 is then pushed forward until the open window 110 is between the belts, the window is lowered, the parts 19<a> brought into the vertical and the handles 116, 34 operated to adjust the belt, which will be in their lowest position, so that they press upon the glass. The collars 69 - - 72 are then adjusted to limit the travel of the casings 28, 54 and the motor started. The rollers 95, 96 are small enough to allow of the belt passing between the panes when necessary. To further dry the glass the machine may be operated with the pump disconnected.