当前申请(专利权)人地址：
540 Maple Avenue West,Vienna, VA 22180-4225,US
发明人：
PAOLOZZI, GUY ANTHONY | BUSH, NICHOLAS NOAH | TOMKO, CHRISTOPHER D.
摘要：
A cleaning apparatus for use by hand and/or with a robotic device includes a nozzle that expels fluid, air or liquid, out of an open end of a housing of the cleaning apparatus. Simultaneously, a vacuum device is suctioning debris through the housing and into a vacuum port. The simultaneous use of suction and expelled fluid through a single apparatus generates turbulent airflow and effectively loosens and removes debris attached to surfaces without the need for the housing to contact the surfaces.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing comprising: a first end portion having an open end; and a second end portion including a first port configured for connection to a vacuum device and in fluid communication with the open end such that a suction created by the vacuum device can pull debris through the open end and into the first port; and a nozzle positioned within the housing and configured to expel fluid out from the open end, wherein the nozzle expels fluid while the suction simultaneously pulls debris into the first port, a radial distance between the nozzle and an adjacent wall of the housing being at least one-half inch, wherein a space between the nozzle and the adjacent wall of the housing is unobstructed and an interior of the housing is configured such that during suction, the debris can move along an unobstructed path to the first port.
2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radial distance between the nozzle and the adjacent wall of the housing is approximately equal to or greater than 1.0 inch.
3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein a diameter of the open end is approximately twice a size of a diameter of the first port.
4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a soft-skinned exterior surface.
5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dust skirt coupled to the open end of the housing.
6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, the housing further comprising a connection portion configured to secure the housing to a robotic device.
7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotary brush head.
8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rotary brush head is removably coupled to the nozzle.
9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing configuration includes one of a bowl-shaped, cup-shaped, or bell-shaped portion, the nozzle extending through a central portion of the bowl-shaped, cup-shaped, or bell-shaped portion.
10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a center of mass of the cleaning apparatus lies above and within a perimeter of the open end of the housing when positioned with the open end of the housing facing and generally parallel to a surface being cleaned.
11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the housing.
12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for adjusting a distance of a distal end of the nozzle from the open end of the housing.
13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, the housing further comprising an adjustable vent configured to change a suction pressure through the housing.
14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, the housing further comprising a removable grip for handheld operation of the cleaning apparatus.
15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration allows for touchless cleaning of a surface during the suction operation created by the vacuum device.
16. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing having a substantially hollow main body and a first port for connection to a vacuum device; a nozzle positioned within the substantially hollow main body; and a connection portion coupled to the housing and configured for connection to a robotic device, wherein the substantially hollow main body is configured such that a hollow portion of the main body creates a crush zone configured to absorb shock upon impact
of the housing with an object and minimize shock transferred to the connection portion.
17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 16, wherein the substantially hollow main body includes an open end with no obstructed paths between the open end to the first port.
18. The cleaning apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a dust skirt channel provided at an open end of the substantially hollow main body; and a dust skirt secured within the dust skirt channel.
19. The cleaning apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a rotary brush extending from an open end of the housing.
20. The cleaning apparatus of claim 16, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a proximity of the housing to a surface.
21. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing configured for touchless cleaning of a surface, the housing including a main body portion having a rear section and a front section, the front section having an open end; a first port opening into the rear section of the main body portion and in fluid communication with the open end and a vacuum source; and a second port opening into the rear section of the main body portion and in fluid communication with the open end and a fluid source, wherein during a cleaning operation, the housing is held in a spaced apart relation to a surface being cleaned.
22. The cleaning apparatus of claim 21, wherein the housing includes a connection portion for connection to a robotic device.
23. The cleaning apparatus of claim 22, wherein the housing is configured with a crush zone.
24. The cleaning apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a nozzle extending from the second port and into the main body portion, a radial distance between the nozzle and an adjacent wall of the housing being approximately equal to or greater than 1.0 inch.
25. The cleaning apparatus of claim 21, wherein during use a center of mass is above and within the perimeter of the open end of the housing when the open end of the housing is facing the surface being cleaned.