Underwater cleaning apparatus using suction grip

Abstract

A rotating or oscillating brush is brought up against an underwater surface to be cleaned. The surface may be the hull of a boat or inside walls of an aquarium. While the brush moves, the apparatus is held against the surface by suction. There is a suction pump which pumps water from the apparatus to above ground or elsewhere. The suction creates force of the apparatus against the surface for good cleaning. It is ordinarily difficult to get good force against the surface since the water may be deep and there is nothing for the operator or the apparatus to push against. Debris from cleaning is drawn away from the cleaning area. Wheels or pads or a rubber skirt are used to avoid damaging the surface from too much force. A flexible skirt minimizes water leakage past the apparatus and allows conformation to rounded shapes such as boat hull. The motor to drive the brush may be electric, or may be hydraulic, or may use the suction pressure as a source of energy. The suction pump may be separate or may be driven by the same motor driving the brush.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces, comprised of a power drive to an abrasive device, a housing for the device with an open end towards the surface to be cleaned, an exhaust pump connected to or external to the housing, said pump suctioning water from the underwater surface through the housing to the exhaust point, said water flow causing said housing to press against the surface to be cleaned.  
     
     
         2 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1 , in which the said moving abrasive device is in the shape of a flat circular disk, with an abrasive side facing the surface, and in which the said power drive is in the form of a shaft to the circular disk.  
     
     
         3 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1 , in which the said moving abrasive device is in the shape of a roller, with axis parallel to the said surface, with an abrasive exterior facing the said surface, and in which the said power drive is a belt drive to the said roller.  
     
     
         4 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1 , in which the said housing is in the form of a bell, the open end of the bell facing the underwater surface.  
     
     
         5 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which said power drive causes oscillatory action of said abrasive device.  
     
     
         6 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which power to said power drive is an electric motor.  
     
     
         7 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which power to said power drive is an hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         8 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 7  in which said hydraulic motor is driven by the water flow resulting from the suction of water by said exhaust pump.  
     
     
         9 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which the said motor driving the said shaft moving the said brush also drives the rotor of a centrifugal pump, said centrifugal pump then acting as the said exhaust pump.  
     
     
         10 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim as in  1  in which the said suction water flow also removes debris to a remote location.  
     
     
         11 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which the lips of the said housing are held a short distance away from the said surface by roller wheels.  
     
     
         12 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which the said lips of the said housing are held away by a rubber bumper.  
     
     
         13 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim as in  1  in which the said open end of said housing is surrounded by a flexible skirt or flange which resists water flow under the housing perimeter tips, and thereby increases the pressure of the housing against the said surface.  
     
     
         14 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1  in which the said brush can be moved perpendicularly to said surface towards or away from said surface to allow adjustment of the pressure of said brush against said surface.  
     
     
         15 . A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in  claim 1 , in which lateral motion across said surface can be accomplished by slight tipping of said housing, thereby unbalancing the flow under the said lips, and causing the housing to have a preferred lateral direction of motion across said surface.