Automated building washing apparatus

Abstract

An automated building washing device generally includes one or more rotational brushes having a vertical rotational axis coupled to a window washing swing stage. The brushes are horizontally movable from end-to-end along the longitudinal direction of a window washing swing stage while rotating about their vertical axis so that a relatively large portion of building surface can be quickly cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated building washing apparatus, comprising:
 a swing stage;   a frame coupled to the swing stage;   a first track coupled to the frame; and   a first brush rotationally coupled to the first track such that a rotational axis of the first brush is in a vertical axis and that the first brush can move horizontally between opposing longitudinal ends of the first track while rotating about the vertical axis.   
     
     
         2 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control box disposed on the swing stage, the control box comprising control electronics for controlling operation of the first brush. 
     
     
         3 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the control electronics are configured to increase a speed that the first brush moves across the track when a speed that the swing stage is ascending or descending a building surface being cleaned is increased. 
     
     
         4 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the swing stage comprises a first longitudinal side to face a building surface to be cleaned and a second longitudinal side, opposite the first longitudinal side, that faces away from the building surface to be cleaned, the automated building washing apparatus further comprising a counterforce means to push the first brush against the building surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         5 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the counterforce means is a fan. 
     
     
         6 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first brush is located entirely between the swing stage and a building surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         7 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the swing stage defines a deck that is sized to allow an adult human to walk between opposing longitudinal ends of the swing stage, and wherein the first brush is located such that the first brush does not impede the adult human from walking between opposing longitudinal ends of the swing stage when the first brush is rotated. 
     
     
         8 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a gyroscopic stabilizer provided to the swing stage. 
     
     
         9 . The automated building washing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a block stop provided to the swing stage and configured to be secured to a stabilization cable. 
     
     
         10 . An automated building washing assembly that can be retrofitted to a swing stage, the automated building washing assembly comprising:
 a frame adapted to be coupled to the swing stage;   a first track coupled to the frame; and   a first brush rotationally coupled to the first track such that a rotational axis of the first brush is in a vertical axis and that the first brush can move horizontally between opposing longitudinal ends of the first track while rotating about the vertical axis.   
     
     
         11 . The automated building washing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a control box disposed on the swing stage, the control box comprising control electronics for controlling operation of the first brush, wherein the control electronics are configured to increase a speed that the first brush moves across the track when a speed that the swing stage is ascending or descending a building surface being cleaned is increased. 
     
     
         12 . The automated building washing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the swing stage comprises a first longitudinal side to face a building surface to be cleaned and a second longitudinal side, opposite the first longitudinal side, that faces away from the building surface to be cleaned, the automated building washing apparatus further comprising a counterforce means to push the first brush against the building surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         13 . The automated building washing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first brush is located entirely between the swing stage and a building surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         14 . The automated building washing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first brush is located such that the first brush does not impede an adult human from walking between opposing longitudinal ends of the swing stage when the first brush is rotated. 
     
     
         15 . The automated building washing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a gyroscopic stabilizer provided to the swing stage. 
     
     
         16 . A method of washing a building, comprising
 spinning a first brush about a vertical axis; and   moving the first brush horizontally along a surface of the building while the first brush spins about the vertical axis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising changing a vertical height of a swing stage to which the first brush is attached.