US 10,584,497 B2Granted

Roof cleaning processes and associated systems

AssigneeDri-Eaz Products, Inc.

InventorsKeith Studebaker, William Bruders, Dennis P. Bruders, Kevin J. Miller, Brett Bartholmey

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Roof cleaning processes and associated systems are disclosed. A representative process includes dispensing a cleaning fluid on the roof, at least restricting the cleaning fluid from exiting the roof via a roof drain, and collecting the cleaning fluid from the roof and directing the cleaning fluid to a sanitary sewer. A representative system includes a pump coupleable to a source of water and configured to pressurize the water, a surface cleaner coupled to the pump with a water line to receive pressurized water, a vacuum source coupled to the surface cleaner with a vacuum line to remove wastewater produced by the surface cleaner, and a retainer configured to be removably attached to a building at least proximate to a roof of the building, the retainer being removably coupleable to the vacuum line and the water line to at least restrict movement of the vacuum line and the water line.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for cleaning a roof, comprising:

blocking a drain on the roof, wherein the roof includes a parapet disposed around at least a portion of an upwardly facing surface of the roof;
sweeping the roof;
heating and pressurizing a cleaning fluid on the ground;
releasably securing a retainer to the parapet, wherein the retainer has an adjustable width, and wherein releasably securing the retainer includes adjusting the width to fit the parapet, and wherein the retainer includes a first member, a second member, and a third member, and wherein the first member includes a first elongated positioning slot configured to enable the third member to be moved relative to the first member, and wherein the second member includes a second elongated positioning slot configured to enable the second member to be moved relative to the first member, and wherein releasably securing the retainer to the parapet includes clamping the retainer to the parapet by securing a first securing screw in the first elongated positioning slot and securing a second securing screw in the second elongated positioning slot;
directing the heated and pressurized cleaning fluid to a rotary cleaning tool on the roof via the retainer;
using the rotary cleaning tool to direct the heated and pressurized cleaning fluid against the upwardly facing surface of the roof;
applying a vacuum to the cleaning tool to direct used cleaning fluid from the roof to a wastewater tank on the ground;
and
directing the used cleaning fluid from the wastewater tank into a sanitary sewer.

6 more elements

A method for cleaning a roof having an upwardly facing surface and a parapet disposed around at least a portion of the upwardly facing surface, wherein the method, comprises;

blocking a drain on the roof;
sweeping the roof;
releasably securing a retainer to the parapet, wherein the retainer has an adjustable width, and wherein releasably securing the retainer includes adjusting the width to fit the parapet, and wherein the retainer includes a first member, a second member and a third member, and wherein the first member includes a first elongated positioning slot configured to enable the third member to be moved relative to the first member, and wherein the second member includes a second elongated positioning slot configured to enable the second member to be moved relative to the first member, and wherein releasably securing the retainer to the parapet includes clamping the retainer to the parapet by securing a first securing screw in the first elongated positioning slot and securing a second securing screw in the second elongated positioning slot;
releasably securing a water line to the retainer;
connecting the water line to a cleaning tool on the roof;
releasably securing a vacuum line to the retainer;
connecting the vacuum line between the cleaning tool and a wastewater tank on the ground;
heating and pressurizing a cleaning fluid on the ground;
directing the heated and pressurized cleaning fluid to the cleaning tool on the roof, via the water line;
using the cleaning tool to direct the heated and pressurized cleaning fluid against an upwardly facing surface of the roof;
applying a vacuum to the cleaning tool via the vacuum line to direct used cleaning fluid from the roof to the wastewater tank on the ground;
and
directing the used cleaning fluid from the wastewater tank into a sanitary sewer.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/868,212Filed 28 Sep 2015 · us provisional application
Priority: 5 Dec 2014
Published: US 2016/0160506 A19 Jun 2016
Granted: 10 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E04D 15/006
Apparatus or tools for roof working: for cleaning the roof
A47L 11/38
Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings: machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or…
A47L 11/4044
Parts or details of the surface treating tools: vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
A47L 11/4083
Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents: liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices