U.S. patent number 3,648,316 [Application Number 04/852,584] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-14 for surface-treating apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Garsite Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edwin Franklin, George Habian.
United States Patent |
3,648,316 |
Habian , et al. |
March 14, 1972 |
SURFACE-TREATING APPARATUS
Abstract
A system for treating or working on the surface of vehicles,
such as airplanes. It is provided with a vertically extensible mast
mounted on a carriage for movement relative to the aircraft to be
serviced, or at a fixed location depending on the requirements of
the job. Two generally horizontally extending extensible booms are
swivelly connected to the upstanding arms of a yoke on the top of
the mast. Each boom is provided with an underwing high level
counterpoise mechanism for maintaining a boom in a desired
operating position, and also to serve as means for minimizing the
effort required by an operator while working on the surface of an
airplane. The forward end of each extensible portion of each boom
mounts a surface-treating machine which can operatively support
selected types of cleaning, and polishing brushes and applicators
which may be needed for the work to be done. These machines are
relatively light in weight and are provided with rotating brush
supporting spindles so designed that the cleaning and polishing
brushes and other tools which may be detachably used in the machine
can efficiently be operated over large areas of the surface being
worked on. Fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air, is used
for raising and lowering the mast, delivering fluid to the cleaning
and polishing machines, and for driving the air motors of the
machines for rotating their brush and applicator supporting
spindles. Suitable valves and conduits effect the desired
continuous supply of compressed air to the system. A constant lead
and supply line is maintained as a carriage is moved to different
areas of the aircraft surface thereby eliminating drag and
crisscrossing of lines due to the provision of reeling apparatus on
the carriage which maintains the air lines at all times under
control.
Inventors: |
Habian; George (Manhasset,
NY), Franklin; Edwin (Bayside, NY) |
Assignee: |
Garsite Products, Inc. (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
10432874 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/852,584 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/53.2; 15/24;
15/DIG.2; 451/342 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64F
5/30 (20170101); Y10S 15/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B64F
5/00 (20060101); B64f 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/4,21R,21E,50,97,98
;248/2 ;51/168,180 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Roberts; Edward L.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, including means for mounting said boom on said mast
including means for permitting horizontal and vertical movement of
said boom with respect to said mast, wherein said means for
permitting said horizontal and vertical movement are disposed on
one side of said mounting means and in close proximity to one
another.
2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said mast comprises a
fixed section mounted on a platform, and a telescopic section
mounted for vertical movement relative to said fixed section,
pneumatically actuated mechanism for effecting the movement of said
telescopic section to locate said boom at said selected operating
positions, and means of controlling the operation of said mechanism
and the extent of movement of said telescopic section.
3. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, including means for mounting said boom on said mast for
movement in vertical and horizontal planes, wherein said boom
comprises a fixed section supported on said mast by said last-named
means, an extensible section having means for supporting said
machine for working on the surface of said aircraft, including
counterpoise mechanism for balancing said boom while an operator is
working on areas of said aircraft surface, and a resilient
torsional device coacting with said boom for controlling the
movement of said extensible section of said boom in said fixed
section thereof, and for restoring said extensible section to its
withdrawn position in said fixed section when said apparatus is
inoperative.
4. The invention defined in claim 3, wherein said counterpoise
mechanism includes a bracket mounting a torsion spring attached to
said mast and a link connected to an arm coacting with said spring
and a bracket on said fixed section to which said link also is
connected, and means for selectively incapacitating said
counterpoise mechanism when an operator using a machine carried on
the free end of said boom is working on selected generally
horizontal surfaces of said aircraft.
5. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, including means for mounting said boom on said mast for
movement in vertical and horizontal planes, wherein said boom
comprises a fixed section supported on said mast by said last-named
means, an extensible section having means for supporting said
machine for working on the surface of said aircraft, wherein
apparatus includes counterpoise mechanism connected to said mast
and said boom for balancing said boom and tending to maintain said
boom in a generally horizontal position except when said apparatus
is in use, and resilient means for controlling the extensible
movement of said extensible boom section as an operator moves said
machine supported on said boom over the surface of an aircraft.
6. The invention defined in claim 5 including an auxiliary
counterpoise mechanism coacting with said sections of said boom for
preventing unbalance of said boom when said extensible section
thereof approaches the outer limits of its extension during the
operation of said apparatus.
7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said auxiliary
counterpoise mechanism comprises a spring motor supported on said
fixed section of said boom, a guide rod extending along said fixed
section of said boom, brackets attached to said last-named boom
section supporting said guide rod, a weight carriage slidably
mounted on said guide rod, means connected to said spring motor,
said carriage and said extensible boom section for effecting the
rearward movement of said weight carriage during outward movement
of said extensible boom section relative to said fixed section, and
for causing the opposite movement of said carriage in response to
the constant torque exerted by said spring motor when said
extensible boom section is moved rearwardly relative to said fixed
section of said boom, and the desired balanced condition of said
boom is maintained.
8. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, including a container for surface servicing fluid
materials, a nozzle on said machine, a flexible hose extending from
said container upwardly relative to said mast along said boom and
connected to said machine for discharge of said materials from said
nozzle, a fluid-operated motor for said surface-servicing machine,
rotatable brush means mounted in said machine and driven by said
motor, a flexible hose extending upwardly relative to said mast
along said boom and connected to said motor for delivering
compressed air thereto for driving said motor, control means for
actuating said motor and effecting the flow of fluid materials from
said container to said machine, and means on said machine for
effecting the controlled discharge of said materials from said
nozzle onto the surface of said aircraft in advance of said brush
means.
9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said boom is mounted
for angular movement relative to said mast, and said boom comprises
a fixed section and an extensible section mounted for movement
relative thereto, conduit means attached to the free end of said
fixed boom section and connected to the ends of said hoses
extending along said boom, complementary flexible pressure hoses
also connected to said conduit means above said fixed boom section,
guide rods extending along said fixed boom section, a movable
bracket located above said fixed boom section, said bracket having
spaced legs depending therefrom and slidably supported on said
guide rods, a vertical shaft carried by said bracket, a pair of
superimposed sheaves rotatably mounted on said bracket shaft, said
complementary hoses being trained over said sheaves and having
their other ends attached to the free end of said extensible
section of said boom, a stationary bracket attached to said fixed
section of said boom proximate said mast, a torsion spring
mechanism mounted on said fixed bracket, a cable connecting said
torsion spring mechanism to said movable bracket such that
resilient pressure is constantly exerted on said movable bracket
during its movement on said guide rods in response to the outward
or inward travel of said extensible section of said boom, and said
complementary hoses are maintained in substantially parallel
relationship relative to said boom and to themselves during the
operation of said apparatus and the movement of said machine along
and upon the surface of the aircraft being serviced.
10. The invention defined in claim 9 including an elongated support
for said servicing machine carried on the free end of said
extensible section of said boom, and means for adjusting said
support relative to said free end of said boom section to dispose
said machine in a selected operating position.
11. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, wherein said machine is provided with a chassis, an air
motor mounted in said chassis, brush means having a fixed end
rotatably supported in said chassis and a free end thereof
extending transversely outwardly therefrom, tranversely mounted
spindles mounted in said chassis supporting said brush means, a
nozzle mounted at the front end of said chassis, pressure hoses for
conducting compressed air to said motor for driving said motor and
rotating said brush means, and conduits for delivering cleaning
and/or polishing materials to said nozzle for discharge therefrom
onto the surface of said aircraft being treated in advance of said
brush means.
12. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, wherein said machine comprises a chassis, brush means
rotatably mounted in said chassis and extending transversely
outwardly from the sides of said chassis and partially below the
bottom edge thereof, a motor mounted in said chassis for driving
said brush means, a transverse shaft extending between the sides of
said chassis and substantially intermediate of its length, rollers
mounted on said shaft, a vertically movable yoke having laterally
spaced downwardly extending arms, means mounting said yoke in said
chassis rearwardly of said rollers and adjacent the rear end of
said chassis, a shaft supported in said arms of said yoke, rollers
mounted on said shaft, and means for adjusting the position of said
yoke vertically in said chassis and said rollers carried thereby
for disposing said rollers in a selected operating position for
movement of said machine on said rollers over the surface to be
serviced.
13. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said means for
mounting said boom on said mast for movement in vertical and
horizontal planes are separate and distinct from one another and
disposed in immediate adjacent relationship to one another.
14. The invention defined in claim 13, wherein said last-mentioned
means are disposed in abutting relationship.
15. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, at least one generally
horizontally extending elongated boom carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said boom for working on
the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said boom at selected
operating positions relative to the surface of said aircraft to be
serviced, wherein said top of said mast is provided with a bracket,
a yoke mounted on said bracket, said yoke having upstanding arms,
and wherein an elongated boom is carried on each of said arms, and
each of said booms is movable independent of the other.
16. An apparatus of the type described comprising a vertically
extensible mast, a support for said mast, a yoke carried at the top
of said mast having a plurality of spaced arms, a plurality of
horizontally extending elongated booms carried at the top of said
mast, a machine mounted at the free end of said booms for working
on the surface of an aircraft, mechanism for raising at least a
portion of said mast or lowering it to locate said booms at
selected operating positions relative to the surface of said
aircraft to be serviced, wherein each of said booms include
mounting means supporting it on an arm of said yoke for movement in
horizontal and vertical planes.
17. The invention defined in claim 16, wherein each of said booms
includes a fixed section and an extensible section supporting said
servicing machine for movement over the surface of an aircraft for
cleaning and/or polishing said surface.
Description
Aircraft with clean exterior surfaces are highly desired not only
by commercial airlines, but also by the military and private plane
owners. Accumulations of dirt, oxides and other foreign matter on
such surfaces of airplanes cut down their speed, maneuverability
and efficiency, and, therefore, add appreciably to operating costs.
Experience has shown that one of the most expensive and time
consuming aircraft maintenance problems lies in the removal of
foreign matter and the cleaning and/or polishing of their exterior
surfaces.
Heretofore, the application of cleaning and/or polishing compounds,
and the removal of oil, grime and other foreign matter has been
done manually with handmops and rags, or a combination of mops,
rags and hand held bonnet buffers, which at best afforded only
uncertain manual control of polishing pressures. The man-hours
spent in preparing or cleaning the aluminum surfaces and polishing
them has made this operation an inefficient and costly one.
Furthermore, with the evolution of the present day huge aircraft
now in use, and the ever increasing size of those about to come
into service, such manual methods and means are entirely unsuitable
and for obvious reasons must be discarded. While reference has been
made primarily to treating aluminum surfaces of aircraft, it will
be appreciated that similar problems arise in connection with
painted aircraft. In fact many commercial airlines paint part or
all exterior surfaces of their aircraft, which also must be treated
as in the case of unpainted airplanes.
In short, highly polished, brightly gleaming aircraft are most
desired and are the goal of all commercial airline operators, the
military, executive and private owners. The main drawback
heretofore in achieving these goals, especially for commercial
airlines, has been the prohibitive number of man-hours and high
utilization factor of their airplanes, which does not allow
adequate downtime in which to complete a thorough cleaning and/or
polishing job before the aircraft must go back to the flight line.
It is believed that with the means heretofore available, no
satisfactory system or apparatus has been capable of doing the
required work in a minimum of time such that the problems of
reduction of man-hours and rapid turn around can be avoided.
The present invention constitutes a solution to the problems
discussed above. The system is one which meets the exacting
requirements of mechanical cleaning and/or polishing of aircraft
with pressure control of the mechanism working on their surfaces
such that the aircraft skin is not subjected to over heating. The
apparatus is trouble free and economical in operation. The
supporting carriage for the apparatus enables it to be wheeled
around relative to an aircraft and be positioned wherever needed in
order that one or two operators using one system or apparatus can
efficiently work on large adjacent areas of the surface with a
minimum of effort, and wash, or apply cleaning or polishing fluids
thereon by means of the work unit or machine carried by the free
end of elevated booms from a remote source mechanically. This
construction insures the removal of dirt and grime, and makes it
possible to clean and/or polish the aircraft surface in a straight
line, which is, therefore, free of swirl marks regardless of the
direction of movement of the cleaning or polishing brush of the
support unit.
The number of surface-treating systems or apparatuses employed will
depend upon the size and type of aircraft to be serviced, extent of
surface to be worked on, and the allowable time in which the work
must be done. It will be apparent that one or several can be used
at the same time, thereby markedly decreasing the downtime prior to
turn around of the aircraft.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel system or
apparatus for mechanically treating the surfaces of vehicles, such
as aircraft in order to remove dirt, oil, grime and other foreign
matter therefrom and polish the surface so treated.
The invention further consists in the provision of novel apparatus
for removing unwanted foreign material from the surface of aircraft
by means of mechanism which positions one or more surface-servicing
machines or units at any desired operating level which may be
required relative to the exterior of the airplane to be serviced,
and wherein these machines or units are supported in counterpoised
relationship relative to the aircraft such that underwing and
vertical surfaces can be serviced with the expenditure of a minimum
of effort by the operators.
The invention also consists in the provision of a novel apparatus
for cleaning and/or polishing the exterior surface of an aircraft
which includes a vertically movable extension mast supporting one
or more generally horizontally extending extensible booms, each of
which carries a detachably mounted unit for use in washing the
surface with or without the use of detergents, applying cleaning
fluids to the surface to be cleaned under pressure, and polishing
the cleaned surface, and wherein a counterpoise mechanism is
provided for supporting the weight of such units when servicing
underwing and vertical surfaces.
It is a further object to provide a novel vehicle surface treating
and maintenance system which includes a vertically extending
telescopic mast having a cross yoke at the top which swivelly
mounts two generally horizontally extending booms, each provided
with a surface-servicing machine, and compressed air conduits for
supplying fluid cleaning compounds or water with or without
detergents to the brushes and applicators of the servicing machines
or units and for driving the motors which rotate these brushes and
applicators, and for effecting the raising and lowering of the mast
in order to position the servicing machines and units in locations
required for working on the surface of an aircraft.
The invention also consists in the provision of a novel
surface-servicing machine having driving spindles and
fluid-operated means therefor which mount the cleaning and/or
polishing brushes in such manner that their ends are substantially
cantilevered supported and wherein the ends thereof can be used
efficiently in cleaning and polishing surface areas heretofore most
difficult to reach with means heretofore available.
Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the
description of the particular embodiment selected to illustrate the
invention progresses.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this
specification, and in which like characters of reference and
numerals indicate the same or like parts:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a surface-treating or servicing machine
boom embodying the invention.
FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the manner in which
a surface-treating machine or unit embodying the invention is
connected to the free end of a support boom.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a preferred form
of surface-treating or servicing machine or unit constructed in
accordance with the invention.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a view taken on line 8--8 in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a view taken on line 9--9 in FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 is a view taken on line 10--10 in FIG. 6.
FIG. 11 is a view taken on line 11--11 in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a view taken on line 12--12 in FIG. 7, and
FIG. 13 is a view taken along line 13--13 in FIG. 12.
With reference to the drawings, the invention consists of a novel
surface-treating or servicing system or apparatus for cleaning
and/or polishing the exterior surfaces of a vehicle, such as an
airplane. It can be mounted on a carriage for movement to selected
working locations adjacent to an aircraft being serviced, or it can
be fixedly mounted on rigid supports in which case the aircraft to
be worked on must be moved into such position that the
surface-treating mechanisms of the system can be used in doing the
required cleaning and/or polishing work.
In the embodiment selected for purposes of illustration, the
apparatus is designated generally 2 (FIG. 1). A movable carriage 4
supports a vertical mast designated generally 6. This mast is
formed with a fixed or lower section 8 suitably mounted on platform
5 of carriage 4. At least one extensible or telescopic section 10
is slidably supported in section 8. Section 10 is mounted for
vertical up and down movement in section 8 in any suitable
conventional manner. Its movement is effected and controlled by
fluid means, such as compressed air, described more fully
hereinbelow.
A yoke or transverse boom support 16 is mounted in T-relationship
with mast 6 in a bracket 17 attached to the to the top of section
10. Each end of boom support 16 is provided with an upstanding arm
(FIGS. 1 and 2). The upper end of each arm 18 carries a
suitable-type swivel joint 20 which supports a boom bracket 22 for
horizontal swinging movement of a boom 24, described below, to and
from the operator. Bracket 22 also is provided with a swivel joint
26 of conventional construction which supports a boom 24 for up and
down movement. The mounting arrangement for each boom 24 make it
possible for an operator to move it in any desired path of travel
while cleaning and/or polishing the surface of an airplane.
A system embodying our invention preferably is provided with two
operating booms designated generally 24. Each boom 24 supports a
surface-servicing machine or unit M on its free end. We have found
that two operators form an excellent work team. In servicing the
surface of an airplane, especially one of the present day large
aircraft now in use commercially, the greatest efficiency in
removing foreign materials from the surface thereof can best be
effected by the use of several systems constructed as shown in FIG.
1. If each system be considered a battery, when several batteries
are used the downtime which is most important can be held to a
minimum.
Since all booms 24 are the same in construction and operation, only
one is described herein in detail. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a
boom 24 comprises a fixed tubular section 28 having an end flange
30 secured to flange 32 on boom connector 34 swivelly mounted in
swivel joint 26. An elongated telescopic or extensible boom section
36 is slidably supported in bushings 38 and 39 in section 28 for
reciprocatory movement relative thereto as an operator moves unit M
carried thereby as he works on portions of the aircraft being
serviced.
The free end of telescopic section 36 is provided with a flange 40
to which is attached a flange 42 of the surface-treating or
servicing machine support mechanism 44, described hereinbelow more
in detail. Manifold 46 suitably attached to the tops of flanges 40
and 42 has ports 48 and 50 to which are secured conduits or pipes,
such as any suitable pressure hose, 52 and 54 through which
pressurized fluid, e.g., compressed air and desired
surface-treating and servicing fluids can be delivered to a machine
M for the work to be done.
Referring to FIG. 1, two flexible conduits 56 and 58 of suitable
pressure bearing hose or the like, extend upwardly from platform 5
of carriage 4. The upper ends of these conduits are attached to
transversely extending pipes 60, 62, respectively, which are in
turn connected to flexible pressure hoses or conduits 64,66,
respectively. There are two conduits for each boom 24. Conduits
56,60 and 64 supply pressurized air to other conduits which deliver
it to machines or units M carried by support mechanism 44. Conduits
58,62 and 66 are used to conduct cleaning and/or polishing fluids
under pressure, or water with or without detergents to other
conduits which deliver to the spray nozzle of units M, as described
more in detail hereinafter.
Flexible conduits or hoses 56 and 58 can be of any conventional
self-storing type. In this way these conduits assume the compact
stored appearance and position as shown in FIG. 1, and thereby are
free from tangling, damage, etc., during movement of the apparatus
from one location to another and while it is in use. The upper ends
of conduits 56, and 58 are connected to transverse pipes or
conduits 60 and 62. Preferably the upper end of hose 56 is
connected through a conventional type of lubricator 57 (FIGS. 2 and
4) mounted on bracket 59 attached to mast section 10.
Compressed air is delivered by pressure hose 12 from a suitable
source of supply S. This compressed air is responsible for the
following operations: Operating the fluid motors of the units or
servicing machines M; effecting the flow of fluid materials to
units M, and for raising and lowering mast section 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, hose 12 is wound on a reel R carried by
platform 5. This arrangement allows hose 12 to be reeled or
unreeled as the case may be when the apparatus embodying the
invention is moved from place-to-place during the servicing of the
surface of an aircraft. Air hose 12 is connected to a manifold 13
suitably mounted on platform 5. Compressed air is delivered to the
motors of units M from manifold 13 through conduit 21, manually
operated valve 23, conduits 56,60, 64 and 78 to delivery pipe 52 in
manifold 46. Compressed air is delivered from manifold 13 by
conduit 25 through manually operated valve 27 and conduit 29 to
container 68. From container 68 fluid material, e.g., a selected
suitable type of cleaning compound to be used in cleaning the
surface of an airplane is delivered under pressure through conduits
58, 62, 66 and 80 to pipe 54 in manifold 46.
Compressed air for raising and lowering mast section 10 is
delivered to manually operated two way control valve 14 from
manifold 13 through conduit 11. Conduits or pressure hoses 15 and
19, respectively, are provided for conducting compressed air to the
top and bottom of the piston (not shown) of telescopic mast section
10 in order to raise or lower it in its tubular fixed support
section 8. Movement of valve handle 9 (FIG. 1) up or down effects
the desired flow of compressed air through valve 14 to control the
direction of movement of mast section 10. When handle 9 is in a
substantially horizontal position, movement of section 10 is
stopped. Thus, the height of booms 24 relative to the vehicle being
serviced can be controlled by the operator, as desired.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, conduits 64 and 66 extend along fixed
boom section 28 of boom 24. The rear or left ends of these
conduits, as viewed in these figures, are supported in brackets 72
attached to fixed boom section 28. Their front ends, as viewed in
the same figures, are secured to rigid pipe coupling members 74,
and 75, respectively, mounted in brackets 76 attached to boom
section 28.
In order to provide for telescopic movement of boom section 36
relative to fixed section 28, conduits 64 and 66 are continued as
conduit sections 78 and 80, respectively, from the tops of members
74 and 75 around lower and upper pulleys or sheaves 82 and 84,
respectively, and then back in parallel relationship relative to
fixed boom section 28 and conduits 64 and 66, to manifold 46 where
they are connected to pipes or conduits 52 and 54,
respectively.
Pulleys 82 and 84 are rotatably mounted on a common shaft 86
supported in bracket 88 (FIGS. 2 and 4) positioned above boom 24.
Bracket 88 is formed with two longitudinally spaced sets of
depending legs 90, each of which has a longitudinal bore seating a
conventional type of ball bushing 92. Longitudinally extending
parallel guide rods 94 are mounted on each side of boom 24 and
extend through ball bushings 92. This construction insures a
rolling, low friction movement of bracket 88 along rods 94 is
response to the back and forth or in and out travel of telescopic
boom section 36 as an operator moves a unit M upon the work during
the operation of the apparatus.
The ends of guide rods 94 are suitably supported in brackets 72. If
desired sheet metal or plastic guard means, attached to brackets 72
and 76, and designated generally 96 can be provided. These form no
part of the invention, and further description or showing thereof
is deemed to be unnecessary.
Sagging of hoses 78 and 80 relative to boom 24 and each other which
might interfere with the satisfactory operation of the apparatus is
prevented by means of a torsional spring device 98, which can be of
any suitable design. This device is mounted on bracket 100 secured
to boom section 28, and is operatively connected by cable 102 to
bracket 88. As boom section 36 moves relative to boom section 28,
bracket 88 also is moved on its guide rods 94. Since the front ends
of hoses 78 and 80 are attached to manifold 46, when an operator
grips a machine or unit M and moves it into working position
relative to the surface to be serviced, the outward movement of
boom section 36 resulting therefrom will cause bracket 88 to be
pulled to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4, by hoses 78 and 80
in response to such movement, and sheaves 82 and 84 will rotate as
these hoses track thereover. When the operator moves boom section
36 in opposite direction or releases his grip on a machine M, the
mechanism just described tends to effect the return of boom section
36 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. These operations of
spring device 98 through cable 102 exert a resilient torsional
force on bracket 88 both during the outward and inward travel of
boom section 36, and maintain the proper arrangement of hoses 78
and 80 at all times.
A boom counterpoise, of any suitable known design, such as an OPW
Spring Balance Unit, manufactured by the Dover Corporation,
Cincinnati, Ohio, is provided to support the weight of the
surface-servicing unit or machine M, especially when underwing and
vertical exterior surface areas of an aircraft are being worked on.
In addition this mechanism maintains each boom 24 in a generally
horizontal position such that the unit M carried thereby is well
within the reach of an operator who need exert a minimum of
physical effort in moving the boom to and from himself as he works
on the surface being treated.
Each counterpoise unit 104 is mounted on a bracket 22 on mast
section 10. It comprises a torsion spring 106 encircling shaft 108
supported in brackets 110 which form a part of the unit in such
manner that when crank 112 fixed to shaft 108 is rocked through
link 114 attached to collar 116 secured to boom section 28, tension
in spring 106 caused thereby tends to effect the return of boom 24
to and maintain it in its generally horizontal position shown in
FIG. 1.
Under operating conditions when boom section 36 is extended from
retracted to fully extended position, an auxiliary counterpoise
mechanism is provided to balance boom 24. As boom section 36 is
extended outwardly or retracted, the auxiliary counterpoise
mechanism operates as described hereinafter to maintain a constant
balance at all times. This mechanism is designated generally 118.
It can be of the type known as Neg'ator B Spring Motor,
manufactured by the Hunter Spring Division of Amatek, Inc.,
Hatfield, Pennsylvania.
Referring to FIG. 2, Neg'ator mechanism 118 comprises a spring
motor 120 mounted on bracket 122 attached to fixed boom section 28.
A roller 124 carried by bracket 122 located beneath telescopic boom
section 36 supports it for movement relative to boom section 28
during operation of the apparatus. A cable 125 connected to the
spring motor of auxiliary counterpoise mechanism 118 extends
through an opening in bracket 126 fixed to the underside of boom
section 28, and is secured to arm 127 of a weight-containing
carriage 128 slidably carried on guide rod 130, the ends of which
are supported in brackets 126, 132 secured to boom section 28.
There are two longitudinally spaced arms 127, 129 formed on the top
of carriage 128 which are provided with conventional ball bushings
for providing free, low friction rolling of carriage 128 along rod
130. A cable 136 having one end connected to arm 129 of carriage
128 runs over a pulley 138 freely rotatably mounted on rod 130. Its
other end extends through aligned openings in carriage 128 and is
attached to the depending flange of bracket 140 secured to the free
end of telescopis boom section 36.
The quantity of weights in carriage 128 will depend upon the amount
required to insure that even when boom section 36 is fully
extended, its boom 24 will always be properly balanced and assume a
generally horizontal position when the operator releases his hold
on a machine or unit M. This arrangement adds to the complete
maneuverability of the entire boom system with the minimum of
expenditure of effort on the part of the operator. The operation is
such that as a boom section moves outwardly (to the right as viewed
in FIG. 2) weight carriage 128 will be moved in the opposite
direction against the constant resilient torque of the spring motor
of mechanism 118, thereby balancing the entire boom system to the
extent desired for optimum operation of the apparatus. It will be
readily apparent that the movement of weight carriage 128 and the
counterbalancing effect of the auxiliary counterpoise mechanism 118
occurs in response to the in or out movement of boom section 36 in
fixed section 28.
As mentioned hereinabove each boom section 36 carries a
surface-servicing machine or unit at its free end. Support 44 is
provided with a suitable conventional swivel mount 142 to which is
rotatably couples a complementary swivel member 144. This member
has an arcuately slotted flange 146. Member 144 carries an
elongated rod designated generally 148 which includes an
intermediate swivel coupling 150 of suitable conventional design
from which depends a terminal end portion 152. A bolt 154 having an
enlarged head 156 formed with a transverse bore 158 is secured to
the end of rod portion 152 (FIG. 5). Bore 158 rotatably seats the
head end of coupling member 160 which is held therein by means of a
snap ring (not shown) of conventional design. The other end of
member 160 is formed with an enlarged portion 162 having an opening
164.
A bracket 166 attached to the top of generally T-shaped casing or
housing or chassis 168 or unit M has two spaced arms 170 provided
with aligned holes 172. A unit or machine is detachably connected
operatively to telescopic boom section 36 by means of a removable
pin 169 passing through holes 172 and opening 164 in member 160.
When so connected it is apparent that the operator of the apparatus
can position a servicing machine M which he is using in any
position on the surface he is working on which may be required to
secure the desired results.
The angular position of a machine or unit M relative to the end of
a boom 24 can be maintained fixed, if desired, by means of a lock
screw 176 which extends through slot 174 in flange 146 and is
threaded into bracket 178 fastened to support 44. A handle 180
carried by the head of lock screw 176 provides means for releasing
or tightening screw 176 relative to flange 146 when it is desired
to make a change in the adjusted position of rod 148 and the
machine M carried thereby relative to the end of a boom 24.
A surface-treating or serving machine M constructed in accordance
with the invention is compact, self-contained and relatively
lightweight. It comprises a chassis or casing 168 in or on which
all parts thereof are mounted in assembled operating relationship
to constitute a complete machine. Its design is such that it
permits equally efficient operation in any direction.
As viewed in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the front portion of chassis 168
or the T-head thereof contains the brushes 182 or other types of
elongated cylindrical cleaning, polishing or servicing means which
may be needed for a given job. Brushes 182 and the other means
which may be used in the machine M, are readily removably mounted
on the transversely extending ends of spindle 184 (FIG. 10)
supported in bearings 186 in gearbox 188 attached by screws 190 to
carry underside portion of chassis 168. Spindle 184 carries a gear
192 which is driven by gear 194 on the shaft 195 of air motor
196.
The elongated transversely extending portions of spindle 184 which
carry the surface-servicing devices, hereinafter referred to as
brushes, have elongated central bores 185 in which are slidably
mounted elongated cams 200. Each of these has an end release button
198 by means of which cams 200 can be moved inwardly in a bore 185
against a compression spring 202 seated at the inner end of each
bore 185. When a brush 182 is to be placed in a unit M, button 198
is pressed. This action causes movement of cam 200 inwardly against
compression spring 202 and balls 204 supported for radial free
movement in openings in spindle 184 can drop into the relief
portion of cam 200 (FIG. 10), whereby brush 182 can be inserted on
spindle 184 and press against a cushion spring 206 suitably carried
by chassis 168 and encircling spindle 184. Upon release of button
198, cam 200 is moved in the opposite direction by spring 202
thereby camming up balls 204 against the central cylindrical
paperboard or plastic core 205 of a brush 182 which locks it in
operating position on spindle 184. Removal of a brush 182 from a
spindle is accomplished by pulling it off its supporting spindle
when button 198 is depressed.
The novel cantilever mounting of brushes 182 as set forth
hereinabove makes it possible for an operator to achieve markedly
superior results than heretofore possible. This is because of the
manner in which the free ends of a brush can be moved into close
adjacency with portions of the surface of an aircraft, such as
close corners, heads of rivets, seams and bends thereof.
Air motor 196 is cylindrical and can be of any suitable
conventional design. As disclosed in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, it is
mounted for operation in chassis 168 by bracket 208 and clamp 210
by screws 211 with its forward end seated in opening 212 in gearbox
188 and held therein by setscrew 218. The air connection 214 at the
rear of air motor 196 is coupled to air fitting 216 which is
fastened to the rear of chassis 168. This latter fitting is
detachably secured to conduit 218 which is suitably connected to
air supply conduit 52 (FIG. 3).
Handle 220 mounted on the top and adjacent the read end of chassis
168 provides the main control and guidance for machine or unit M.
It supports air trigger 222 which is rockably mounted on pin 224 in
the handle bracket. Trigger 222 has an arm 226 at its base
positioned to engage and depress valve stem 228 of a conventional
type of control valve (not shown) of air motor 196 to power the
motor and rotate spindle 184 and the brushes thereon.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, two sets of rollers are provided for
supporting a unit or machine M with rolling contact on the surface
being worked on. Forward rollers 230, which in the illustrated form
of the invention are five in number, are fixed for rotation on
shaft 232 supported in brackets 234 attached to the sides of
chassis 168. These rollers preferably are provided with a suitable
elastomeric tire 235, such as rubber, such that they will not
scratch or otherwise mar the surface of the aircraft or other
vehicle being processed.
Rear rollers 236, also provided with a similar elastomeric tire
237, are mounted on shaft 233 supported in the spaced depending
arms 238 of yoke member 240. A stem or rod 242 attached to the
center of the cross arm of yoke 240 extends upwardly through
chassis 168 and projects through the top of handle 220 (FIGS. 6 and
8). A lock nut 244 is threaded on the top free end of stem 242. An
adjusting nut 246 also threadably mounted on the top portion of
stem 242 extends at right angles thereto through openings in the
sidewalls of handle 220.
Arms 238 are formed with vertical grooves 239 extending along their
outer faces. These provide for vertical sliding coaction with
elongated guide members formed on the opposite inner walls of
chassis 168. This construction stabilizes the rear rollers 236 in
that it holds their support yoke 240 against forward or rearward
motion relative to chassis 168. A spring 243 encircling stem 242
between collar 248 on stem 242 and the top of handle 220 (FIG. 8)
maintains a resilient support for the rear rollers on yoke 240 on
the surface being worked on, a washer 245 being disposed between
the top of stem 242 and the bottom of spring 243.
By loosening locknut 244 and turning adjusting nut 246 on stem 242,
the latter and therefore yoke 240 with rollers 236 can be raised or
lowered as desired relative to chassis 168. After each adjustment
locknut is again tightened against the top of handle 220 to secure
the adjustment. THis adjustment provides the desired controlled
pressure of the brushes 182 on the surface being treated. When the
adjustment is made pivoting action occurs with the fixed rollers
230 acting as the center of pivotal action.
Handle 250 mounted on the top front end of chassis 168 provides the
forward support for machine M, and also supports the mechanism
which controls the flow of cleaning or other kind of fluid which
may be required for a job to brushes 182. Referring to FIGS. 6, 7,
12 and 13, handle 250 has a central, vertical bore 252 in which a
liquid release button 254 attached to the top of valve stem 256 is
vertically slidably mounted. Valve stem 256 extends downwardly
(FIG. 12) through guide 258 in bore 252 and valve seat 260 of valve
V threadably secured in the bottom of handle 250.
As best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, valve seat 260 is formed with a
circumferential outer groove 262, a downwardly diverging central
tapered bore 264 and a transverse bore 266 connecting with groove
262 and bore 264. The bottom end of stem 256 is formed with a
tapered plug portion 255 which is complementary with bore 264, such
that when a unit M is not in use plug 255 seats snugly in bore 264,
and with washer 268 attached to the end of stem 256 prevents the
flow of fluid through valve V to nozzle N.
Spring 270 in bore 272 in chassis which is coaxial with bore 252
normally maintains plug 255 seated in bore 264 and washer 268
pressed against valve seat 260, as shown in FIG. 12, except when
button 254 is depressed. When this occurs valve V is opened and
fluid can flow from conduit 274 through valve V, duct 276 in
chassis 168, and can be delivered under pressure to the work by
nozzle N, which is detachably mounted on chassis 168 and connected
to duct 276.
The pattern of spray delivered from nozzle N is flat and angular.
The sprayed fluid is applied to the work ahead of a unit or machine
M. The spray nozzle is retained in place on chassis 168 by retainer
278 and adapter 280. Nozzle N can be of any suitable conventional
type and is readily removable from chassis 168 for cleaning,
replacement or repair by removing retainer 278.
The desired liquid for doing a specified job, such as cleaning the
surface of an airplane, is delivered under any suitable pressure
from the bottom supporting system by the means described
hereinabove. Such fluid is conveyed to conduit 274 from a semirigid
pressure conduit 282 mounted in and extending longitudinally in
chassis 168 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 9). Conduit 282 has one end removably
coupled to conduit 274 and its other end similarly attached to
conduit 288 by means of suitable conventional couplings 286 and
287. Couplings 287 is joined to one end of conduit 288, the other
end of which is connected to conduit 54 on a boom 24 from which
fluid under a desired pressure is delivered to nozzle N for
discharge therefrom ahead of the servicing machine or unit M which
is in use.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10, arcuate guards 290 may be provided if
safety regulations require them. As shown, these comprise flanges
292 which are rotatably mounted on hub portions 294 of gearbox 188.
Guards 290 are maintained in resiliently, frictionally operative
position thereon for movement relative to chassis 168 and for
movement down over and back over brushes 182 by means of snap rings
296.
As used herein the term "brush" is intended to mean any elongated
cylindrical body surface treating means having a central core which
enables it to be used in a surface-servicing machine or unit M when
seated on and secured to a spindle 184 thereof. A brush 182 can be
made of plastic, such as foamed or expanded polyeurathane, or an
elastomeric material such as rubber, or elongated cleaning and/or
polishing fibers. It may also comprise many types of bristles, or
other types of suitable cleaning and/or polishing or abrading
materials. In the following claims "brush" defines an element
mounted for rotation with spindle 184.
Brushes 182 are substantially cantileveredly carried on spindles
184. Because of this construction their free ends can be moved
readily into corners and other portions heretofore difficult to
reach. The extension and exposure of brushes 182 beyond the body of
machine M (FIGS. 6 and 7) protects the surface of an aircraft from
damage by the machine while work is in progress. The adjustable
guards 290 when moved down into their operative positions protect
the operator from spraying polish or cleaner fluids.
The position of nozzle N at the front end of a machine M insures
the sprayed delivery of cleaning and/or polishing fluids onto the
surface to be serviced in advance of the brushes 182 whenever
button 254 is pressed.
In operation, it is assumed that the surface of an airplane is to
be cleaned and polished. Operators place the selected type of
fluid, say a polishing fluid, in container 68, and then open the
valves 23 and 27 which are in the compressed air lines delivering
to the fluid line and air motor of a surface-treating unit M.
This will ready the apparatus for effecting the delivery of
polishing fluid to nozzle N and operate air motor 196 when their
respective button 254 and trigger 222 are pressed.
As shown in FIG. 1, two operators are standing on a scaffold 70 and
working on the surface of an airplane with an apparatus 2. Valve
handle 9 has been manipulated to raise mast section 10 to the
selected position for doing the required work. Each operator now
can grip the handles 220 and 250 of a machine or unit M supported
on booms 24, position rollers 230 and 236 on the surface to be
worked on and move machine M therealong. The adjusted position of
movable rollers 236 determines the pressure of brushes 182 upon the
surface of the aircraft being serviced. When handle or trigger 222
is pressed air motor 196 is set into operation and spindles 184 and
brushes 182 thereon rotate. When handle button 254 is pressed fluid
in delivered from container 68 to nozzle N and sprayed therefrom in
front of brushes 182 which apply it to the aircraft's surface.
Because machine M is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis it can
be operated in either direction without leaving defacing marks on
the surface being serviced, and due to the novel mounting of
brushes 182 it is especially efficient in close corner and
difficult areas of the surface.
After the polish has dried it is removed from the surface. For the
next operation brushes 182 are removed from a machine M and
polishing means or brushes are substituted therefor. For this
operation only air motor 196 need be operated. Therefore, conduit
288 can be disconnected and line 276 to nozzle N incapacitated,
since no fluid is required for the polishing operation. The
operator merely operates air motor for rotating spindles 184 and
the polishing brushes thereon to remove the dry polish and buff up
the now clean and polished exterior surface of the airplane.
During the work on all exterior surfaces, such as vertical and
underwing surfaces where an operator would have to exert great
physical effort, which over a period of time could be extremely
tiring, the working tool or machine M is connected to boom 24 in
order to obtain the benefit of the novel counterpoise mechanism
described hereinabove. However, when an operator is working on top
surface portions or areas of an aircraft, e.g., the top of a wing,
the counterpoise or balance mechanism need not be used. In such
case, each boom 24 is maintained fully retraced as shown in FIGS. 2
and 4, and held in substantially horizontal position by a locking
member in torsion spring balance device 98. For this part of the
work, machine M can be detached from its supporting coupling member
160 by the removal of pin 169. The air and polish hoses 52 and 54
are removed, and in their places long air and polish hoses can be
attached to manifold 46 and to a machine or unit M. This
arrangement permits working at a greater distance from mast 6 when
work is to be done on large top surface areas.
It will be appreciated that the provision of vertically adjustable
rollers 236 in the chassis 168 of a machine M make it possible to
control the pressure exerted by brushes and applicators 182 on the
work. In this way means are also provided for controlling the
amount of heat generated in the surface being serviced, and to hold
such heat within safe limits.
* * * * *