Untitled record

(74) Agent: Cabinet Tony-Durand.

(54) Apparatus for brushing a surface submerged under water or applying paint to such a surface.

72) invention of:

(33) (32) (31) Conventional priority (6d) References of the main patent: Invention patent n. 1,567,045 of August 18, 1967.

Certificate of previous addition (s);

Sale of booklets at IMPRIMERIE NATIONALE. 27. rue de la Convention - PARIS (15^e)

05715 ¹ 2079942

The present invention relates to a new embodiment of the apparatus which is the subject of the main patent.

This device is intended to be used for brushing a surface submerged under water or applying a paint, or other similar product, on such a surface.

To this end, this device comprises two parallel rectilinear brushes arranged in a casing open towards the surface to be worked, and driven in movement in opposite directions by a single motor.

Furthermore elastic blades are arranged parallel to these brushes on either side thereof, while one or more supply lines of paint, or other similar product to be applied, open in front of the brush arranged in front.

In the embodiment described in the main patent, the two brushes of the apparatus are each driven in an alternating movement, the arrangement being such that one of these brushes moves in one direction, while the other is moving in the opposite direction.

Thanks to this feature, the operation of the device by the operator is not likely to be disturbed or hindered by the movements of the device in water, due to the reactions due to the movement of the movable brushes. Indeed, these reactions cancel each other out, since these brushes move in opposite directions to each other. .

However, the fact that the two brushes are reciprocated has certain drawbacks. Indeed, the mechanical efficiency of the device is relatively poor, because there are dead times. However, these cannot be compensated for by a high inertia of the moving masses since it is not possible to envisage such inertia in a material of this kind. Furthermore, the mechanisms necessary for driving the brushes are relatively fragile and delicate to maintain.

This is why the present invention relates to a new improved embodiment, which is designed to eliminate these various drawbacks.

For this purpose this new embodiment is essential70 characterized by the fact that the two mobile brushes of the apparatus consist of two endless branches, arranged in parallel and driven by a continuous movement of rotation, in opposite direction one the other.

Under these conditions, the present device retains the same essential advantage as in the embodiment described in the main patent, namely the fact that one obtains a cancellation of the reactions due to the displacement of the two brushes. But the fact that these are replaced by endless bands driven by a continuous movement, we do not find the disadvantages inherent in the device described in the main patent. .

According to another characteristic of the present device, two drive tracks are arranged on either side of its casing, along the faces of the latter which are perpendicular to the two brushes of this device.

However, other particularities and advantages of the present device will become apparent during the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof. This description is given with reference to the attached drawing for information only, and in which:

Figure 1. is a side elevational view of an apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view in which the drive track provided on the corresponding side has been deleted;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of this apparatus;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3 j

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line VV of FIG. 4.

In the device shown the two brushes, provided in the embodiment described in the main patent, are replaced by two endless bands 1a and 1b provided with bristles so as to be able to brush the surface to be cleaned or painted.

These two strips, of flat shape, are arranged one after the other transversely to the direction of advance P of the device. Each of these bands passes over several drums 2 and 3, contained inside the casing 4 of the device. However the

05715 underside of this casing has an opening so that the two strips 1a and 1b can come into contact with the surface S to be cleaned or painted.

Some of the drums on which these two bands pass are freely rotatable, while others provide their movement training.

In fact, according to an essential characteristic of the present device, these two bands are both driven by a continuous movement of rotation, but in opposite directions to one another.

To this end, the drive of the strip 1a is ensured by a drum 3 & wedged on an axis 5a rotating in a direction such that this strip is driven in the direction P ^.

The neighboring drum 3 "over which the strip 1b passes, is engaged on this axis 5a, but it is freely rotatable, with respect to this.

Indeed, the drive ue this second strip 1b is provided by a drum 3b wedged on an axis 5b, which rotates in the opposite direction to the axis 5a, so that this strip is driven in the direction of the arrow Pg.

Again, the neighboring drum 3, on which the band 1a passes, is engaged around the axis 5b, but it is freely rotatable relative to the latter.

The two axes 5a and 5b are coupled with two half-shafts 6a and 6b, each turning in the same direction, and which are themselves coupled by a transmission system with the output shaft 7 d 'a drive motor 8. Preferably, this consists of a hydraulic motor.

On either side of the side walls of the casing 4, two drive tracks 9 are provided. These are driven by two pinions 10a and 10b carried by the ends of the two half-shafts 6a and 6b.

Thus, the motor 8 ensures both the drive of these tracks 9 and that of the two brushing strips 1a and 1b.

However, these two tracks also pass over return rollers 11, so as to come into contact with the surface 3 to be cleaned or painted, these return rollers being freely rotatable.

The side walls of the housing are also provided with two

057î5 grip pinions 12, allowing the operator to operate the device.

At the front, the latter includes a paint distribution device. This consists essentially of a roller 13 lined with bristles, of the type usually used for applying paint. This roller is freely rotatably mounted on the front of the device, on the underside of it.

In addition, pipes 14 for distributing paint open out opposite this roller, these pipes par10 both from a tank 15.

At the rear, the present device comprises a flexible blade 16 intended to be applied on top of the surface to be painted, so as to smooth the layer of paint applied to it.

Furthermore, the casing 4 carries at its upper part, a turbine, or a propeller 17, which is capable of applying the apparatus against the surface S to be painted. This propeller is driven by a motor 18 distinct from the motor 8 which drives the two brushing strips and the tracks 9.

Preferably, this apparatus can also be provided with a device intended to ensure the cleaning of the latter. In addition, a magnetic fixing device can be provided, which is removably mounted and which is capable of allowing the device to be adjusted when it is not in motion.

the speed of movement of the latter can be approximately 20 cm per second, or 720 linear meters per hour. As for the speed of movement of the brushing strips, it can be 80 cms per second. However, these are indications provided by way of example only, since the speeds provided for may be different.

Moreover, it is obvious that the apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the single example which has been described above for information only.

Thus the brushing strips can be produced in various ways. Optionally, they can be garnished with sheepskin.

As already indicated, the present device retains the same essential advantage as that described in the main patent. Indeed, thanks to the movement in the opposite direction of the two brushing strips 1a and 1b, the operation of this device does not risk

05715 to be disturbed by a tendency of it to move in the water.

But the present device has an additional advantage compared to that described in the main patent, since the two brushing bands are driven in a continuous movement and no longer in an alternating movement, as was the case for the brushes provided for in this previous device. This therefore makes it possible to avoid any downtime as well as the jolts that may occur in the previous device.

Furthermore, this has the advantage of allowing a simplification of the mechanism ensuring the driving of the two brushing strips.

Of course, the present device can be the same applications as that described in the main patent. However, this device can be used to apply a paint or any other product to a submerged surface, for example the hull of a ship, or the submerged part of any work. But this device can also be used to brush such a submerged surface, with the aim of simply ensuring its cleaning.

057)5