Underwater vehicle for cleaning submerged surfaces

Abstract

This underwater vehicle for cleaning submerged surfaces comprises a chassis and at least one brush for cleaning the surface to be cleaned, rotationally driven by a motor about an axis of rotation of this brush, the brush being able to move, with respect to a fixed part of the vehicle, in a translational movement along its axis of rotation in such a way that it can be pressed firmly against the surface to be cleaned under the effect of a vacuum created by the rotation of the brush, the brush comprising a rotation shaft inserted into a sleeve that rotates as one with the brush and rotationally driven by a drive system, the brush rotating as one with the sleeve because of fingers fixed to the sleeve and inserted into holes of the brush with the possibility of sliding parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush.

1 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning submerged surfaces comprising a chassis and at least one brush for cleaning the surface to be cleaned rotationally driven by a motor about an axis of rotation of this brush, the brush is able to move, with respect to a fixed part of the vehicle, in a translational movement along its axis of rotation in such a way that it can be pressed firmly against the surface to be cleaned under the effect of a vacuum created by the rotation of the brush, the brush comprising a rotation shaft inserted into a sleeve that rotates as one with the brush and rotationally driven by a drive system, wherein the brush rotates as one with the sleeve because of fingers fixed to the sleeve and inserted into holes of the brush with the possibility of sliding parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush. 
     
     
         2 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 1 , comprising means for transmitting, between the brush and the fixed part of the vehicle, a force for thrusting the brush onto the surface to be cleaned generated by the vacuum created by the rotation of the brush. 
     
     
         3 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 2 , wherein the means of transmitting the thrusting force include a spring mounted between the brush and the sleeve and suited for exerting a force that tends to bring the brush closer to the fixed part of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 1 , comprising members for displacement of the vehicle on the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         5 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 1 , comprising two annularly- shaped brushes each centred about its axis of rotation. 
     
     
         6 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 1 , wherein the members for displacement include two wheels driven in pairs on two opposite sides of the chassis by two belts each driven by a motor. 
     
     
         7 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 5 , wherein the brush is able to move in a translational movement along its axis of rotation between:
 a first position, in which the brush is retracted in relation to the surfaces of contact between the wheels and the surface to be cleaned on the side of a bottom of the chassis, and   a second position, in which the brush is protruding in relation to the surfaces of contact between the wheels and the surface to be cleaned, opposite the bottom of the chassis.   
     
     
         8 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 6 , comprising rollers interposed between the wheels and whereon the belts bear against. 
     
     
         9 . Underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 6 , wherein the belts are mounted in grooves retracted from the external edges of the wheels. 
     
     
         10 . Use of an underwater vehicle for cleaning according to  claim 1  for the cleaning of submerged hulls of boats.