GB2362314A

GB2362314A - Method and apparatus for cleaning up graffiti

Info

Publication number: GB2362314A
Application number: GB0011618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Walmsley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-16
Filing date: 2000-05-16
Publication date: 2001-11-21
Also published as: GB0011618D0

Abstract

Graffiti is cleaned from surfaces such as walls by applying cleaning medium to the surface and subsequently retrieving the medium to a storage container 19. In the embodiment cleaning medium is stored in a pressurised container 16, power being provided by generator 17. The cleaning medium is supplied through conduit 15 to a nozzle device 14 within a hood 11. The periphery 13 of the hood may be provided with for example a flexible rubber seal to seal against the surface being cleaned. The hood may also have a transparent window to observe the cleaning process. Used cleaning medium is sucked out via drain 13 into conduit 18 and thence to storage container 19 which may be under reduced pressure so as to suck the used up cleaning medium out of the hood. Power for the suction may also be provided by the generator 17. The cleaning medium may be an aqueous chemical cleaner or blasted abrasive material. The whole assembly may be mounted on a trailer and sources of both types of cleaning medium may be provided.

Description

2362314 1 CLEANING C The invention relates to a method of cleaning and to

cleaning apparatus, and particularly, though not exclusively, to a method and apparatus for cleaning graffiti.

Methods and apparatus for cleaning graffiti are well known. Known methods involve the use of abrasives or chemicals but both methods can be dangerous and can cause serious problems not only to inexperienced operatives and members of the public, but also to the environment. The use of chemicals frequently involves extremely hazardous ingredients which must be rinsed off, the residue going into the nearest drain, which is not always a foul drain. The use of abrasives can also present hazards to people and the environment.

The invention provides a method of cleaning a surface, for example a graffiti covered wall, comprising applying a cleaning medium to the surface and positively withdrawing the medium, after use, into a storage reservoir.

This ensures that the cleaning medium is positively controlled at all times and residue can be subsequently disposed of at an appropriate disposal site.

The invention also provides cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning a surface such as a graffiti covered wall, the apparatus comprising means to deliver a cleaning medium to the wall, and means to retrieve the cleaning medium after use.

The apparatus may comprise a hood structure to be applied against the surface, means to deliver cleaning medium into the hood and means to extract used cleaning medium from the hood.

The hood may be provided with means to provide a seal between the edges of the hood and the surface.

2 The sCaling means may comprise flexible edges for the hood.

The flexible edges may be made of rubber or other resilient material.

Preferably the means to apply cleaning medium is connected to the hood at a point above the means to extract used cleaning medium.

The means to apply cleaning medium may comprise a nozzle to direct a 10 mixture of water and cleaning chemicals onto the surface.

The means to extract used cleaning medium may comprise a conduit connected to a lower part of the hood and leading to a storage receptacle.

Means may be provided to cause the used cleaning medium to be sucked away from the hood to the storage receptacle.

In an alternative embodiment, there may be means to blast abrasive material into the hood and onto the surface to be cleaned.

The hood may be at least partially transparent so that an operator of the apparatus can observe the cleaning process.

The cleaning apparatus may be mounted on wheels for ease of movement to and from cleaning sites.

The cleaning apparatus may be mounted on a trailer.

The trailer may be provided with both chemical cleaning apparatus and 30 abrasive cleaning apparatus.

3 By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of cleaning apparatus according 5 to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the apparatus in use; Figure 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of apparatus, before application to a surface to be cleaned; Figurc 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of cleaning apparatus according to the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of a trailer for transporting apparatus according to the invention;and Figure 6 is a side view of the trailer shown in Figure 5.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3 is intended for use in the removal of graffiti from walls, a typical wall being shown at 10 in Figures 2 and 3.

The apparatus comprises a see-through hood 11 which comprises a tapering chamber having an open mouth 12 for application to the wall 10. The edges 13 of the hood are made of resilient material such as rubber, so that when the hood is pressed against the wall, a seal is created.

At the apex of the hood, a spray gun 14 is connected. The spray gun is 30 connected by a hose 15 to a pressurised container 16 from which an airless supply of clean water, mixed with cleaning chemicals, is directed to the spray 1 4 gun from which it is sprayed out onto the wall to remove graffiti. A generator 17 is connected to the vessel 16 to provide power.

The clean water neutralises the chemicals as cleaning takes place and the residue, including removed paint materials, runs down the wall 10 but instead of just running off into the nearest drain, as happens with prior art arrangements, the residue is contained within the hood and is withdrawn through a hose 18 into a storage tank 19.

The storage tank 19 can subsequently be discharged at a properly constituted disposal site.

Not only does the use of the hood 11 protect operatives, members of the public and the surrounding environment, but it also brings about a reduction in the amount of water that is needed to carry out the cleaning.

The tank 19 may be at a lower pressure than atmospheric, for example by using a pump (not shown) powered by the generator 17, to assist in sucking residue into the tank 19.

For the alternative apparatus shown in Figure 4, an abrasive nozzle gun 20 is provided for connection to a hood similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The nozzle gun 20 is provided with a blast of rapidly moving adhesive from a 25 pressure vessel 21. The pressure vessel is powered by a compressor 22.

The hood is provided with a vacuum system (not shown) to recover abrasives and removed debris and return this to a storage container (not shown).

The apparatus is preferably mounted on a mobile trailer such as that shown at 23 in Figures 5 and 6.

The trailer may be provided with apparatus capable of providing both chemical cleaning or abrasive cleaning depending on the nature of the surface to be cleaned and the material to be removed from the surface.

For example, the trailer may be provided with the compressor 22, and pressure vessel 21, as well as with the tank 16, generator 17 and also, for example, a clean water tank 24, a supply of chemicals 25, and contaminated water tank 26.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

6

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a surface, for example a graffiti covered wall, comprising applying a cleaning medium to the surface and positively withdrawing the medium, after use, into a storage reservoir.

2.

Cleaning apparatus for use in cleaning a surface such as a graffiti covered wall, the apparatus comprising means to deliver a cleaning medium to the wall, and means to retrieve the cleaning medium after use.

Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a hood structure to be applied against the surface, means to deliver cleaning medium into the hood and means to extract used cleaning medium from the hood.

4. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, provided with means to provide a seal between the edges of the hood and the surface.

Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, in which the sealing means comprises flexible edges for the hood.

6. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which the flexible edges are made of rubber or other resilient material.

Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, in which the means to apply cleaning medium is connected to the hood at a point above the means to extract used cleaning medium.

8. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, in which the means to apply cleaning medium comprises a nozzle to direct a mixture of water and cleaning chemicals onto the surface.

0 Y 7 g. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, in which the means to extract used cleaning medium comprises a conduit connected to a lower part of the hood and leading to a storage receptacle.

10. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, in which means is provided to cause the used cleaning medium to be sucked away from the hood to the storage receptacle.

11. Cleaning apparatus as clamed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, having means to blast abrasive material into the hood and onto the surface to be cleaned.

12. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 11, in which there is a hood which is at least partially transparent so that an operator of the apparatus can observe the cleaning process.

13. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 12, mounted on wheels for ease of movement to and from cleaning sites.

14. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, mounted on a trailer.

15. Cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, in which the trailer is provided with both chemical cleaning apparatus and abrasive cleaning apparatus.

16. Cleaning apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of cleaning, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.