DE102015108263A1 - Cleaning device and vehicle washing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (3) for cleaning a vehicle (F) in a washing area (W) of a vehicle washing installation, having a hand-cleaning device (4) which can be mounted on a pivoting arm which can be mounted on a suspension in the vehicle washing installation and rotatable about an axis of rotation (A) (7) arranged fluid supply line (5) can be supplied with a cleaning and / or flushing fluid, and a vehicle washing system with at least one washing area (W) for a vehicle to be washed (F) and above the washing area (W) arranged cleaning device (3) , The invention solves the problem of allowing a simple and space-saving design of the cleaning device and the vehicle washing system and a damage-free and easy-to-use manual vehicle cleaning, with a cleaning device, wherein the rotary arm (7) on a guide element (10) in a longitudinal direction (L) the washing area (W) is movable, and with a vehicle washing system with such a cleaning device (3).

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a vehicle washing system according to the preamble of claim 11.

From the prior art, it is known to spray motor vehicles in self-service car wash manually with a treatment agent and then spray the treatment agent with standing under high pressure water. For this purpose, cleaning lances are used, which are connected via a hose with a supply device for the treatment agent and the water. In order to handle the cleaning lance easily and not having to pull the hose around the whole vehicle, the hose hangs from a ceiling gyro arranged on the ceiling of the car wash. The ceiling gyro usually has a rotatable arm about a rotation axis, at the free end of the hose hangs down. As a result, the hose with the cleaning lance can be guided around the entire vehicle from above.

An example of this shows the US 601003 , where there is arranged on a massive mount a steel tube via a stuffing box rotatably mounted on the ceiling of a vehicle washing system. At the end of the steel tube then hangs down a hose with spray nozzle.

The DE 196 42 847 C1 discloses a fixed to the ceiling of a vehicle washing system ceiling boom with boom and arranged at the free end, hanging down hose down.

A disadvantage of these known ceiling rotors is that the radius of the boom is only so short that it extends laterally beyond the vehicle width when the vehicle is centered below the axis of rotation of the boom. The hose then hangs down to the side of the vehicle. In contrast, the boom arm is not long enough to protrude forward or rearward beyond the front or rear of the vehicle. The hose with the cleaning lance then hangs down over the vehicle. Since the free-hanging hose is always longer than the distance from the ceiling gyro to the ground, in order to grasp the cleaning lance and to be able to direct all areas of the vehicle, then there is a risk that the hose or the cleaning lance strikes in these areas to the vehicle, when the operator releases the cleaning lance.

In addition, even with the utmost care of the operator when handling the cleaning lance the possibility that the hose touches the vehicle during the transition from side to rear wash, if this runs from the cleaning lance obliquely up to a fixed ceiling gyroscope. Although the contact of the hose and the vehicle in the fewest cases can seriously damage the vehicle, however, washing customers of the typical self-service washing systems attach particular importance to a completely non-contact vehicle cleaning.

To avoid this, sees the DE 196 14 658 A1 prior to dividing the boom into two rotatable interconnected arms, so that a so-called hinged swing gyro arises. In this way, the length of the boom can be increased variably, so that the front and rear of the vehicle can be washed better. But even with such ceiling gyroscopes, there are vehicles that are too long to safely avoid a collision with a front or rear hanging cleaning lance. In addition, the handling of the cantilever arm is more difficult, and in some cases, the cantilever arm may also impact laterally on the side walls of the washer. Also, the construction is more complicated, especially since a further rotary feedthrough for the treatment agent and the high-pressure fluid must be provided.

An alternative to this is the GB 2 181 705 A ready for a mobile vehicle wash. This has a transportable supply unit, which can be placed stationary for cleaning in one place. On the supply unit is a vertical rotatable spar with a rotatable arm arranged at its upper end. The cantilever arm is provided at its free end with a long, reasonably rigid hose which extends longitudinally from the rear or front over the entire vehicle. Due to the necessary length, this design must be made very stable and solid, to prevent the vehicle due to the large length of the boom and the hose safe contact.

A similar, permanently fixed mounted version for a workshop discloses the AU 2010214791 A1 with a very long boom, which is held above the vehicle via a complex support structure and mounted at its one end about a vertical axis of rotation by 180 ° rotatably mounted on the workshop wall. There, a trolley can be moved in the longitudinal direction by means of a drive motor, from which a pneumatic hose hangs down. Due to the forcibly very long arm there must be intercepted by the holder large forces, especially when the trolley is at the free end. In addition, further dynamic loads must be intercepted if the User puts the hose on. Both the attachment and the boom itself must therefore be solid.

An alternative solution provides to provide a umführbaren around the vehicle hose instead of a ceiling gyro.

So revealed the GB 375 182 an extending around the vehicle rail with a movably arranged carriage with it down hanging hose. As a result, the hose can be driven around the vehicle without damage. However, the encircling roadway must be designed for all imaginable vehicle lengths and widths so that the hose hangs far away from the vehicle, especially for short vehicles. In addition, the road is expensive to assemble. There is also the problem of connecting the hose on the input side with a water supply, since it can be zigfach rotated in one direction of travel due to the closed roadway.

To avoid this, the EP 2 284 053 B1 a vehicle washing system with two at its one longitudinal end wall mounted hose rollers. In this case, a hose runs from one of the hose rollers in the longitudinal direction to the other end in a U-shape around the vehicle to the other hose reel. On the hose then a connection point for a hanging hose part is provided with cleaning lance, which can thus be drove freely hanging around three sides of the vehicle. This construction is complicated and must ensure a secure guide with simultaneous uniform winding and unwinding of the hose on the two hose reels. In addition, the hose can not be led around one end of the vehicle.

Another, unfavorable in use solution looks then according to the DE 961 509 C vor, instead of providing a running around the entire vehicle rail only on the long sides two centrally spaced rails with their own trailer for the hose provided. Since the ends of the two rails are bent towards the center of the plant u-shaped, the hoses can also be moved at the rear and front of the vehicle at least slightly towards the center of the vehicle. In this embodiment, however, is disadvantageous that twice the equipment on both sides is necessary to clean both sides of the vehicle. So two water connections, two hoses with spraying device and two rails with respective hangers must be provided. Nevertheless, the drooping hoses can not be completely moved to the center of the vehicle, so that even here, the cleaning of the vehicle front and rear of the vehicle is not optimal.

The GB 1 333 387 discloses a cleaning device for the vehicle underside. For this purpose, a massive carriage drives on the ground, which is motor-driven via two at the opposite longitudinal ends of the system attached to the ground chain drives in the longitudinal direction. On the carriage a spray nozzle is pivotally mounted at a pivoting arm by a small angle, which sprayed from below the vehicle floor. This massive and heavy construction does not allow hand-carried laundry of the entire vehicle, but only a powered movement of the truck under the vehicle.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a cleaning device and a vehicle washing system, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and allow a simple and space-saving design of the cleaning device and the vehicle wash and a damage-free and easy-to-use manual vehicle cleaning.

This object is achieved by the invention by a cleaning device with the features of claim 1 and a vehicle washing system with the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

An aforementioned cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that the rotary arm can be moved on a guide element in a longitudinal direction of the washing area. As a result, in a simple manner, the entire rotary arm can be guided around the vehicle both laterally and also on the front and rear sides of the vehicle, so that the hand-cleaning device always hangs down outside the vehicle and thus the danger of damage to the vehicle can be avoided. Also, the user can always hold the hand cleaning device at an advantageous distance from the vehicle, so that a good cleaning is possible.

Advantageously, the guide element may be at least one running rail, on which a carriage with the rotatable arm arranged rotatably thereto can be moved.

Furthermore, the fluid supply line may comprise a hose extending from the rotary arm to the hand-cleaning device, so that the hand-held device is easy to handle. In this case, the hose can preferably be arranged in the region of the free end of the rotary arm to the largest possible Turning radius of the hand cleaning device to allow. In this case, the rotary arm can preferably be freely rotatable about its axis of rotation, so that there is no danger of the fluid supply line being jammed and the hand-cleaning device can be moved around the vehicle in either direction.

Advantageously, the invention can provide that the rotary arm has a rotary feedthrough, which is connected on the one hand to the fluid supply line and on the other hand to a supply feed line for supplying the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid from the vehicle washing system to the rotary arm. In this case, a supply line leading to the rotary arm for the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid can be guided in an energy chain in order to enable a good, reliable, defined and protected guidance. Also, a spring drum may be provided for winding and unwinding a supply line for the cleaning and / or flushing fluid leading to the rotary arm, in order to enable a good, reliable, defined and protected guidance and to facilitate the process of the rotary arm.

Preferably, a pulling member for manually moving the rotary arm can be provided along the guide member by the user, which enables easy operation especially when mounting the cleaning device in height above the user. Preferably, the fluid supply line is designed as a tension member, which may advantageously consist of a flexible and at the same time robust material.

Advantageously, the hand cleaning device can be designed to apply the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid to the vehicle, preferably by spraying or spraying. This may advantageously be a cleaning lance, with which the optionally under high pressure cleaning and / or flushing fluid can be sprayed. Advantageously, the hand-held cleaner can be a high-pressure lance, a cleaning lance with a brush attachment, a pilot lance for applying particularly effective cleaning fluid, or even a power foam lance for achieving a good foam pattern. Possibly. The hand cleaning device can also combine several of the above types in itself.

If necessary, a second hand cleaning device is provided, then advantageously a second fluid supply line can be provided, which is arranged on the same rotary arm. Possibly. but can advantageously also be provided a further rotary arm, which is arranged rotatably offset in the axial direction of the axis of rotation of the rotary arm and its own rotary feedthrough with a further supply lead for supplying the cleaning and / or flushing fluid from the vehicle washing system.

The cleaning device as described above and below can be advantageously used in a vehicle washing system, in particular a self-service washing system.

An aforementioned vehicle washing system is inventively characterized in that the cleaning device is formed as above and below. Preferably, the cleaning device may be arranged on a ceiling of the vehicle washing system, on which advantageously the guide element is arranged. In this case, advantageously, the rotary arm can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the washing area in order to also be able to clean the front and the rear of the vehicle.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. These show:

1 a schematic side view of a vehicle washing system according to the invention with a cleaning device according to the invention;

2 a plan view of the vehicle washing system 1 with different positions of a ceiling gyro;

3 a side view of the vehicle washing system 1 in an alternative end position of the ceiling gyro;

4 a schematic side view of the vehicle washing system 1 with an alternative feeder.

1 and 2 show a schematic side view and a plan view of a self-service car wash, hereinafter also referred to as self-service car wash or only as a car wash, formed according to the invention vehicle washing system.

It is between two side supports 1 . 1' the washer a wash area or washing area W provided in the a user B, z. As the driver, a gas station attendant or cleaning staff, a vehicle to be washed F enters and turns off for cleaning. In general, the retraction of the vehicle F takes place in the longitudinal direction L of the car wash, wherein, depending on the driving skills of the user B, the vehicle F is as central as possible, ie in the longitudinal direction L and between the side supports 1 . 1' comes to a halt in the middle. The washing area W limiting side supports 1 . 1' wear in a known manner a roof or a ceiling 2 the washing system to protect the driver B and the vehicle F when cleaning from sun, rain or snowfall. Such washes are often used in the Free operated, so no full housing is provided. However, the invention can also be used in a car wash, which is arranged in a hall with a fixed housing and entrance and exit if necessary. The above-described embodiment is known to those skilled in the art and needs no further explanation.

On the ceiling 2 is a cleaning device according to the invention 3 attached, which will be described in detail below.

To clean the vehicle F, the user B sprays a cleaning lance 4 trained hand cleaning device first treatment agent, such as foam or shampoo, on the vehicle F. After a certain exposure or cleaning with a sponge or a brush then the cleaning lance 4 be switched to a Abspritzfunktion with high-pressure water, so that the treatment agent can be sprayed with a high-pressure jet. Alternatively, a further cleaning lance for high pressure, not shown here, could also be provided. Such cleaning lances 4 and the switching between application of treatment agent and spraying with high-pressure spray liquid are basically known and require no further explanation.

The cleaning lance 4 is over a hose 5 with a supply pipe 6 connected. The supply pipe 6 is in a swivel arm 7 led and protrudes slightly beyond its free end. The rotary arm 7 is about a preferably designed as a rotary feedthrough swivel 8th about a rotation axis A rotatable on a carriage 9 arranged. This training with supply pipe 6 , Swivel arm 7 and swivel 8th with rotary feedthrough is often referred to as a ceiling gyro.

The sled 9 is on a mounted in the longitudinal direction L rail 10 movably arranged and can between the front and rear end by pulling the hose 5 be moved by the user B in the longitudinal direction L. The rail 10 is in the usual way on the ceiling 2 attached to the car wash.

The swivel joint 8th respectively the rotary feedthrough is on the output side with the supply pipe 6 and on the input side via a supply line 11 connected to a not shown supply means of the washer for the treatment agent and the high-pressure water. This is the supply line 11 preferably in a graphically indicated energy chain 12 led to damage to the supply line 11 to avoid and a clean entrainment and guidance of the supply line 11 when moving the carriage 9 to ensure in the longitudinal direction L.

Next shows 1 in dashed lines the rotary arm 7 when turning 180 ° to the front of the vehicle. This results in a plan view of 2 well-recognizable turning radius R, so that the hose connection pipe 6 Sufficiently protrudes laterally over the sides of the vehicle. Thus, the free-hanging end of the hose 5 with the cleaning lance 4 hang freely there at a distance to the vehicle F, without touching it or even damaging it.

As in 3 shown, the user draws the B for spraying the vehicle rear 9 with the hose 5 in the position shown with dashed lines to the rear, right here end of the rail 10 , The cleaning lance 4 does not hang down there over the vehicle F, but behind it, so that the rear of the vehicle as in 3 shown easily and conveniently splashed and damage to the vehicle F can be avoided. The same applies to the cleaning of the vehicle front, for which the carriage 9 by means of the hose 5 can be pulled forward.

In the 3 shown rear position at the rear of the vehicle as well as the opposite front position of the rotary arm 7 at the front of the vehicle are in 2 again indicated. As well recognizable there, can be achieved by the mobility of the rotary arm 7 in the longitudinal direction L, the vehicle F are completely surrounded, which unlike the very long boom arms of the known washing systems no large area must be kept free from the side of the vehicle. This is advantageous in that in a self-service washing plant often several washing stations are to be accommodated next to each other in a confined space often to provide a maximum number of washing spaces can

4 shows an alternative cleaning device 13 essentially due to the design of the feed for the treatment agent and the high pressure fluid to the slide 9 from the in 1 and 3 differs shown embodiment. Therefore, the same parts will be given the same reference numerals, and essentially the differences will be described below.

Instead of an energy chain 12 to use, here is the one end of the rotary feedthrough 8th arranged treatment agent supply line 11 from a spring drum 14 unwound or wound up. The spring drum 14 is equipped with a lock, so they the slide 9 does not undesirably retract from the position set by user B. About a light dressing of the carriage 9 by means of the hose 5 can the lock in at be solved known manner, so that then the hose 5 is wound up again. Again, the user B the sled 9 easy with the hose 5 to the desired position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 '

 side supports

2

 Roof, ceiling

3

 cleaning device

4

 Cleaning lance (hand cleaning device)

5

tube

6

supply pipe

7

rotating arm

8th

 Rotary union

9

carriage

10

 running rail

11

 Supply line treatment agent

12

 energy chain

13

 sprayer

14

 spring drum

A

 Rotary axis rotary arm

B

 Driver, user

F

 vehicle

L

 longitudinal direction

R

 Radius swivel arm

W

 Laundry area, washing area

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 601003 [0003]
• DE 19642847 C1 [0004]
• DE 19614658 A1 [0007]
• GB 2181705 A [0008]
• AU 2010214791 A1 [0009]
• GB 375182 [0011]
• EP 2284053 B1 [0012]
• DE 961509 C [0013]
• GB 1333387 [0014]

Claims (13)

Cleaning device ( 3 ) for cleaning a vehicle (F) in a washing area (W) of a vehicle washing installation, with a hand-cleaning device ( 4 ) mounted on a hanging in the vehicle washing system and about a rotation axis (A) rotatable rotary arm ( 7 ) arranged fluid supply line ( 5 ) can be supplied with a cleaning and / or flushing fluid, characterized in that the rotary arm ( 7 ) on a guide element ( 10 ) is movable in a longitudinal direction (L) of the washing area (W). Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide element at least one rail ( 10 ), on which a carriage ( 9 ) with the rotary arm rotatably mounted thereon ( 7 ) is movable. Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid supply line ( 5 ) one of the rotary arm ( 7 ) to the hand cleaning device ( 4 ) running hose ( 5 ). Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the hose ( 5 ) in the region of the free end of the rotary arm ( 7 ) is arranged. Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary arm ( 7 ) a rotary union ( 8th ), on the one hand with the fluid supply line ( 5 ) and on the other hand with a supply line ( 11 ) for supplying the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid from the vehicle washing system to the rotary arm ( 7 ) connected is. Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one to the rotary arm ( 7 ) ancillary supply line ( 11 ) for the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid in an energy chain ( 12 ) is guided. Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring drum ( 14 ) for winding and unwinding a rotary arm ( 7 ) supply lead ( 11 ) is provided for the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid. Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary arm ( 7 ) is freely rotatable about its axis of rotation. Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pulling member ( 5 ) for manually moving the rotary arm ( 7 ) along the guide element ( 10 ) is provided by the user (B). Cleaning device ( 3 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hand cleaning device ( 4 ) for applying the cleaning and / or rinsing fluid to the vehicle (F) is formed. Vehicle washing installation having at least one washing area (W) for a vehicle (F) to be washed and a cleaning device (above) located above the washing area (W) ( 3 ), characterized in that the cleaning device ( 3 ) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle wash according to claim 11, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 3 ) on a ceiling ( 2 ) of the vehicle washing system is arranged. Vehicle wash according to claim 12, characterized in that the rotary arm ( 7 ) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the washing area (W) is movable.

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