# US 5,707,455 A · Automated cleaning method of exterior wall of building > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,455 A - Document ID: US5707455A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/548,463 - Filed: 1995-10-26 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-10-27 - Inventors: Katsuaki Tomita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707455A ## CPC - A47L 1/02: Power-driven machines or devices - E04G 23/002: {Arrangements for cleaning building facades} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS ## Abstract An automated cleaning method is provided for an exterior wall of a building. Elongated, water-tight or electrically-insulating hollow members are accommodated within upper and lower sash rails constructing said exterior wall so that said hollow members continuously extend in horizontal directions, respectively. An electrical conductor extends in one of the hollow members. The other hollow member forms a drainage. A cleaning apparatus main unit is arranged so that said cleaning apparatus main unit is supplied with electric power through said conductor to permit self-travelling in a horizontal direction along said exterior wall and is also supplied with washing water from said drainage to permit cleaning of a surface of said exterior wall. The washing water is drained into said drainage subsequent to the cleaning by said cleaning apparatus main unit. The washing water can be recirculated for reuse. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated cleaning method for cleaning an exterior wall of a building, comprising: providing elongated hollow members extending continuously in a horizontal direction within sash rails of said exterior wall, a fluid-tight of said hollow members forming a drainage and an electrically-insulated of said hollow members containing an electrical conductor; arranging a cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontally movable manner along said sash rails, said cleaning apparatus main unit being electrically connected to said electrical conductor and being in fluid communication with a washing fluid contained in said drainage; moving said cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontal direction along said sash rails while drawing washing fluid from said drainage through said cleaning apparatus main unit and spraying said washing fluid onto said exterior wall; and recovering said washing fluid sprayed onto the exterior wall in said drainage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An automated cleaning method according to claim 1, further comprising brushing the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An automated cleaning method according to claim 2, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An automated cleaning method according to claim 1, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 5 An automated cleaning method for cleaning an exterior wall of a building, comprising: providing upper and lower elongated hollow members in respective upper and lower sash rails of said exterior wall, said hollow members extending continuously in a horizontal direction, said upper hollow member containing an electrical conductor and said lower hollow member forming a drainage; supporting a cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontally movable manner on said sash rails, said cleaning apparatus main unit including an intake pipe in fluid communication with a washing fluid contained in said drainage, a nozzle directed toward said exterior wall, and a water supply pump powered via said electrical conductor to pump said washing fluid from said drainage to said nozzle; moving said cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontal direction along said sash rails while operating said water supply pump to spray said washing fluid from said nozzle onto said exterior wall; and recovering said washing fluid sprayed onto the exterior wall in said drainage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An automated cleaning method according to claim 5, further comprising brushing the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An automated cleaning method according to claim 6, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) An automated cleaning method according to claim 5, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 9 An automated cleaning method for cleaning an exterior wall of a building having elongated hollow members extending continuously in a horizontal direction within sash rails of said exterior wall, a fluid-tight of said hollow members forming a drainage and an electrically-insulated of said hollow members containing an electrical conductor, said method comprising: supplying a washing fluid to said drainage; arranging a cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontally movable manner along said sash rails, said cleaning apparatus main unit being electrically connected to said electrical conductor and being in fluid communication with said washing fluid in said drainage; moving said cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontal direction along said sash rails while drawing washing fluid from said drainage through said cleaning apparatus main unit and spraying said washing fluid onto said exterior wall; and recovering said washing fluid sprayed onto the exterior wall in said drainage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An automated cleaning method according to claim 9, further comprising brushing the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An automated cleaning method according to claim 10, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) An automated cleaning method according to claim 9, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 13 An automated cleaning method for cleaning an exterior wall of a building having upper and lower elongated hollow members in respective upper and lower sash rails of said exterior wall, said hollow members extending continuously in a horizontal direction, said upper hollow member containing an electrical conductor and said lower hollow member forming a drainage, said method comprising: supplying a washing fluid to said drainage; supporting a cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontally movable manner on said sash rails, said cleaning apparatus main unit including an intake pipe in fluid communication with said washing fluid in said drainage, a nozzle directed toward said exterior wall, and a fluid supply pump powered via said electrical conductor to pump said washing fluid from said drainage to said nozzle; moving said cleaning apparatus main unit in a horizontal direction along said sash rails while operating said water supply pump to spray said washing fluid from said nozzle onto said exterior wall; and recovering said washing fluid sprayed onto the exterior wall in said drainage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An automated cleaning method according to claim 13, further comprising brushing the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An automated cleaning method according to claim 14, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) An automated method according to claim 13, further comprising wiping the washing fluid off of the exterior wall with said cleaning apparatus main unit while said cleaning apparatus main unit is being moved along said sash rails.