EP2922735A1

EP2922735A1 - Drying apparatus, vehicle treatment system and method for drying a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2922735A1
Application number: EP14745100.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Mayer
Original assignee: Washtec Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Washtec Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2013-08-23
Filing date: 2014-07-21
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Also published as: DE102013109139A1; DE102013109139B4; WO2015024717A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a drying apparatus (17) for drying a vehicle (2) in a vehicle treatment system (1), with at least one fan (18, 18'), a first flow duct (23) with a first elongate nozzle outlet opening (24) and a second flow duct (23') which is separated in terms of flow from the first flow duct (23) and has a second elongate nozzle outlet opening (24'), and to a method for drying a vehicle (2). The invention solves the problem of enabling complete drying of the vehicle after previous cleaning with liquids by a drying apparatus in which the first nozzle outlet opening (24) is longer than the second nozzle outlet opening (24'), by a vehicle treatment system (1) with such a drying apparatus (17) and by a method with the following steps: a) conducting a first drying air stream (25) from a first edge region (R) of the washing region (W), as seen with respect to a centre (M) of the vehicle treatment system (1) running in the longitudinal direction (L), beyond the centre (M) to another side of the vehicle treatment system (1), and b) conducting a second drying air stream (25') from a second edge region (R') of the washing region (W) opposite the first edge region (R), as seen with respect to the centre (M), as far as a region (1) ending before the centre (M).

Description

Drying device, vehicle treatment system and method for drying a vehicle

The invention relates to a drying device according to the preamble of claim 1, a vehicle treatment system according to the preamble of claim 10 and a method for drying a vehicle in a vehicle treatment system according to the preamble of claim 12.

In known vehicle treatment systems, in particular vehicle washing systems, a wide variety of types of drying devices are known. Thus, DE 35 35 782 A1 discloses an arrangement of two compressed-air nozzles, the jet of which is an approximately line-shaped jet and runs relative to the direction of travel at an acute angle and the direction of travel is opposite. The driving off of the water from the vehicle surfaces is achieved by the compressed air nozzles are moved transversely to the vehicle on a carrier and forth. This is cumbersome and expensive in construction.

EP 1 627 788 B1 discloses a drying device in which the dry air exits through an oblique orientation of the flow channels from the nozzle slots in an oblique direction. The outflow directions are directed outwardly of the center and toward outer ends of the nozzle boxes. The oblique flow direction drives the water from the overhead vehicle surfaces from the center and the overlap region there to the left and right away to the outside of the vehicle to avoid liquid residue. The concentrated outflow of air in the overlap area provides a strong, left and right dividing driving effect for the water on the vehicle surface.

In US Pat. No. 5,875,565, dry air is blown across a plurality of nozzles transversely to the vehicle's longitudinal direction and partly also counter to the direction of travel, the nozzles there being always aligned symmetrically, so that asymmetrically formed problem areas can not be dried satisfactorily.

In DE 298 10 804 Ul is blown down by a roof nozzle vertically down to the vehicle surfaces, wherein in the edge region, a portion of the air jet strikes the vehicle side edges. DE 20 2010 005 667 U1 discloses a drying device for vehicles with a roof nozzle arrangement and a side nozzle arrangement. The roof nozzle arrangement has a nozzle box with two blowers, wherein in the central region a substantially normal or slightly oblique air flow and at the side edges of an oblique side beam is emitted.

US 5,596,818 A shows a dryer for vehicles with a plurality of nozzles, which partly generate a lateral air flow. To blow off the water from the vehicle surfaces, the nozzles are oscillated transversely to the vehicle longitudinal direction moves, which is complicated and complicated.

WO 93/03943 AI discloses paired adjustable air nozzle units for gantry washing with each fixedly arranged on a vertical column air nozzle, which is directed in the drying direction to the vehicle. On the column, a movable arm with a further air nozzle is also attached, so that on each side of the vehicle an oblique air flow is generated.

DE 20 2004 014 233 Ul discloses a ventilation device for painting and / or drying systems with filter elements and laterally mounted ball nozzle holders. Air is blown vertically onto the vehicle through the filter elements, while a central spherical nozzle generates an air jet which drives symmetrically from the vehicle longitudinal center to the outside.

The drying devices described above have the disadvantage that certain, especially asymmetrically formed problem areas of the vehicle can not be dried sufficiently. Thus, for example, cleaning fluid collects on vehicle parts such as license plate or windshield wipers windshield or rear window, and by the known, symmetrically to the vehicle longitudinal center air-drying drying devices, the cleaning liquid can not be completely blown off. It remains then liquid residues on the vehicle surfaces back, which are distributed during the further driving on the vehicle and leave water marks. In the known drying devices, these liquid residues must be removed by hand laboriously immediately after drying. The invention is therefore based on the object, a drying device, a vehicle treatment system and a method for drying a vehicle in a vehicle treatment system to provide, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and allow complete drying of the vehicle after the previous cleaning with liquids, even of protruding and asymmetric arranged vehicle parts such as windscreen wipers or license plates.

This object is achieved by the invention by a drying device with the features of claim 1, a vehicle treatment system with the features of claim 10 and a method for drying a vehicle in a vehicle treatment system with the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are in the specified dependent claims.

An aforementioned drying device according to the invention is characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening is longer than the second nozzle outlet opening. According to the invention, a vehicle treatment plant mentioned at the outset has a drying device according to the invention which is arranged above the washing area and transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle treatment installation. The drying device advantageously forms the often referred to as a roof nozzle drying device for drying the roof and the other transverse to the longitudinal direction surfaces such as rear and front, windscreen and rear window and engine cover and trunk lid.

As a result, in particular, the parts of the vehicle extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle treatment system and parts arranged thereon, such as number plates, etc., and in particular also asymmetrically formed parts and regions of the vehicle, such as the windscreen wipers, can be dried reliably so that no liquid residues remain on the vehicle. In particular, also retracted vehicle surfaces or indentations, such. the recessed handle for the trunk handle, the recess for the license plate or the area under the rear spoilers, especially in vehicles with a hatchback, are cleaned of liquid residues.

Preferably, the first nozzle outlet opening may be at least twice as long as the second nozzle outlet opening, preferably at least two and a half times as long and particularly preferably at least three times as long. This can be advantageous from the first Exiting nozzle outlet opening first dry air flow over large parts of the vehicle from a first side edge to the other, second side edge are driven off.

In this case, the first drying air stream is preferably directed from the first nozzle outlet opening obliquely downward and preferably transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in a plane with respect to the nozzle outlet opening angle to the second side edge, preferably at an angle of less than 60 ° and more preferably less than 45 ° ,

More preferably, the first nozzle outlet opening may be at most five times as long as the second nozzle outlet opening, preferably at most four times as long and more preferably at most three and a half times as long. As a result, the region of the second side flank and adjacent vehicle surfaces can advantageously be coated by the second drying air flow of the second nozzle outlet opening so that the liquids abraded from the first to the second side flank are driven off at the second side flank.

In this case, the second drying air stream can preferably be directed from the second nozzle outlet opening obliquely downward and preferably transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and at a steep angle with respect to the nozzle outlet opening to the second side edge, preferably at an angle of more than 45 ° and particularly preferably more than 60 °.

In a manufacturing technology favorable embodiment, the first nozzle exit opening and the second nozzle exit opening may be formed by a common nozzle slot. This results in a compact design without offset of the nozzle outlet opening or their abutting ends. Advantageously, between the first and the second nozzle outlet opening, a separating plate for the flow separation of the nozzle outlet openings can be provided from each other.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the first flow channel, a first fan and the second flow channel is associated with a second fan, wherein advantageously the first fan may have an impeller with a larger diameter and / or a higher operating speed than the second fan. In this way, the expulsion of the liquid through the first nozzle outlet opening to the second side edge can be additionally supported. Furthermore, an upper first baffle plate of a first baffle section and a first baffle section closer to the first fan may advantageously be provided between a first outflow opening of the first blower and the first nozzle outlet opening, wherein the first baffle section is inclined steeper to the first nozzle exit opening as the second baffle section.

Preferably, in the vehicle treatment system according to the invention, the first nozzle outlet opening extend beyond the middle of a first edge region of the washing region viewed from a longitudinal center of the vehicle treatment system and the second nozzle outlet opening from a second edge region of the washing region opposite the first edge region, viewed from the center Center in order to direct the liquids from the vehicle surfaces in the region of the first edge region well to the vehicle surfaces in the region of the second edge region and the side edges there.

An initially mentioned method for drying a vehicle in a vehicle treatment installation described above and below is characterized by the steps a) passing a first drying air flow from a first edge area of the wash area beyond the center, viewed from a longitudinal center of the vehicle treatment installation, to another side the vehicle treatment plant, and b) passing a second drying air flow from a second edge area of the washing area opposite the first edge area with respect to the center to a center-ending area. Preferably, the drying air flow can be blown from above obliquely downwards onto the vehicle in order to blow out liquid residues from hidden places.

In this case, to assist the removal of the liquid from the vehicle, the first drying air flow may advantageously be stronger than the second drying air flow. For this purpose, the first drying air flow generated by the first fan may advantageously have a higher volume flow and / or a higher pressure than the second drying air flow generated by the second fan. In an embodiment which is favorable for drying the entire vehicle, the first drying air flow can be conducted at least partially to a first side flank of the vehicle and / or the second drying air flow can be conducted at least partially to a second side flank of the vehicle opposite the first side flank. As a result, with the one drying device all vehicle surfaces except the bottom can be dried in one operation.

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

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle treatment plant with a schematically illustrated drying device according to the invention. a schematic detail view of the drying device of FIG. 1; a schematic plan view of a nozzle slot of the drying device of FIG. 2 from below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a vehicle treatment system designed as a gantry washing installation 1 with a retracted vehicle 2 viewed from a vehicle front 3. The formation of such gantry washing installations 1 is familiar to the person skilled in the art.

With the gantry washing system 1, with the exception of an underside, the surfaces of the vehicle 2, so vehicle front 3, hood 4, windshield 5, roof 6, side edges 7, 7 'and not shown rear with rear window etc, washed. Likewise, parts of the vehicle 2 projecting from or protruding from the surfaces are to be washed, for example a number plate 8 or windshield wiper 9 of the windshield 5 or the rear window arranged on the vehicle front 3 and arranged in a number plate recess 8a.

For this purpose, the gantry washing installation 1 has a washing gantry 10 with two vertical portal columns 11 and 12, which are connected to each other by a horizontal gantry cross member 13. There are arranged rotatably driven vertical washing brushes 14, 14 'and a rotary drivable horizontal washing brush 15. Alternatively or additionally, too Cleaning liquid spraying high-pressure nozzles are provided. Such a washing portal 10 is known per se, so that a detailed explanation can be omitted.

In the case of the gantry washing system 1 described here, in which the vehicle 2 is parked for cleaning in a washing area W of the gantry washing system 1 delimited by the longitudinal direction L of the wheel guide rails 16, 16 ', the washing gantry 10 can move in a known manner into a longitudinal direction L of the gantry washing system 1 and thus the vehicle 2 are moved over this time. In an alternative, designed as a ride-through vehicle treatment vehicle treatment such washing portals are not movable as a rule, but the vehicle is towed by a towing device on the washing portals with the treatment facilities arranged thereon. The invention can be readily used in all types of vehicle treatment plants, even if the invention is described herein with reference to a movable gantry washing system.

At the washing portal 10, a drying device 17 according to the invention, also referred to as a roof-drying nozzle, is arranged in a height-adjustable manner in a manner known per se, so that the drying device 17 can follow the vehicle contour. The drying device serves for this purpose necessary facilities are well known to the skilled person and therefore need not be described.

The drying device 17, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 1 and in more detail in FIG. 2, has a first blower 18 and a second blower 18 'in a manner known per se. Here, reference numerals without apostrophe refer to parts of the drying device 17 on the left side of the drawings, the corresponding parts on the other, right in the drawings are marked with corresponding reference numerals with apostrophe. The blowers 18, 18 'are known per se as radial blower with inflow openings 19, 19', not shown impellers and outflow openings 20, 20 'is formed.

The outflow openings 20, 20 'are peripherally connected to a first blower box 21 and second blower box 21'. The fan boxes 21, 21 'in Fig. 1 for Partial cut drawn so that an upper first baffle 22 and second baffle 22 'are clearly visible. The first and second blower boxes 21, 21 'thus each form a first flow channel 23 or second flow channel 23', which in each case from the first and second blower 18, 18 'to an elongated first nozzle outlet opening 24 and second nozzle outlet opening 24' on outflow end of the flow channels 23, 23 'rich. The nozzle outlet openings 24, 24 'extend substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction L.

As a result, during operation of the blowers 18, 18 ', a first drying air flow 25 or second drying air flow 25' are conducted to the vehicle 2 via the first and second flow channels 23, 23 '.

Instead of the two blowers 18, 18 'described here, it would also be possible to use other types of blower or just one blower connected to the two blower boxes 21, 21'.

Preferably, a first baffle portion 22a of the first baffle 22 in one of the outflow openings 20 of the left first blower 18 closer portion may be inclined to the horizontal steeper than a second, flatter Leitblechabschnitt 22b of the first baffle 22. Thereby, the first nozzle outlet opening 24 over its entire length and in particular at its first fan 18 fluidly remote end with sufficient first drying air stream 25 are supplied.

The nozzle outlet openings 24, 24 'are viewed from their outer ends 26, 26' as a whole wider than the vehicle 2, so that not only the transverse to the longitudinal direction L extending vehicle surfaces can be dried, but also the more or less longitudinally extending side edges 7, 7 '.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, in an advantageous embodiment, the outside ends 26, 26 'can be widened outwards, ie widen the elongated nozzle outlet opening 24, 24' toward the edge, in order to obtain a drying air stream 25, 25 which is sufficient for the drying 'on the side edges 7, 7' to conduct. As can readily be seen in FIG. 1, the nozzle outlet openings 24, 24 'extend far beyond a center M of the gantry washing system 1 running in the longitudinal direction L. Since the vehicle 2 is preferably positioned centrally in the washing area W between the portal columns 11, 12, a vehicle center F usually coincides with the center M or differs only slightly therefrom. This also ensures that the portions of the drying air streams 25, 25 'exiting at the outside ends 26, 26' of the nozzle outlet openings 24, 24 'are also blown onto the side flanks 7, 7' of the vehicle.

Thus, by means of the drying air streams 25, 25 'both the side edges 7, 7' and transverse to the longitudinal direction L extending surfaces of the vehicle 2, so vehicle front 3, hood 4, windshield 5, roof 6, side edges 7, 7 'and rear with rear window etc. are dried. In this case, the drying is done mainly by the blowing off on the vehicle 2 drops of cleaning and / or Abspülflüssigkeit, which were previously applied to the vehicle 2.

In order to dry well enough for the drying air streams 25, 25 'problem areas around the license plate 8 and license plate recess 8, recessed grips for door and trunk grips or asymmetric parts such as windshield wipers 9, rear spoilers, where often collect liquid residue, the first nozzle outlet opening 24 and the second nozzle outlet opening 24 'are formed asymmetrically with respect to the center M. In particular, the drying air streams 25, 25 'viewed from the front blown obliquely on the vehicle surfaces, that is substantially obliquely in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction L. Thus, the first nozzle outlet opening 24 extends from the first outflow opening 20 of the first blower 18 far over the middle M. and thus beyond the vehicle center F addition. As a result, the first drying air flow 25 directed obliquely to the right blows the drops located on the surfaces running transversely to the longitudinal direction L from the left far beyond the center M and vehicle center F to the right, opposite side flank 7 ', at which the collected liquid drops then run downwards.

Thus, for example, drops located below the left-hand windshield wiper 9 'in Fig. 1 can be blown off to the right on the right-hand windshield wiper 9', as indicated by arrows 9 "in Fig. 1. The same applies to the drops appearing on the license plate 8 collect, which are also blown off by the obliquely rightward drying air stream 25 in Fig. 1 to the right, as indicated in Fig. 1 by arrows 8 ".

In contrast, in conventional drying devices, the symmetrically shaped roof nozzles with symmetrically running drying air streams would blow the drops under the windscreen wipers or on the license plate in the direction of the center of the vehicle, where they would collect.

To ensure that the liquid blown off from left to right by the first drying air stream 25 also runs off the right side flank 7 ', the right second nozzle outlet opening 24' is only short and likewise extends far outward. As a result, the drying air flow 25 'is directed steeply downwards and thus on the side flank 7'.

As can be clearly seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present drying device 17 the two nozzle outlet openings 24, 24 'are formed by a common elongate nozzle slot 27 so that the drying air streams are aligned with one another transversely to the longitudinal direction L. The nozzle slot 27 is thereby divided by a separating plate 28 at the interface of the two guide plates 22, 22 'in the two nozzle outlet openings 24, 24'. In this case, the partition plate 28 may also be slightly bevelled in a not-shown embodiment to the bottom right to continue the left first drying air flow 25 to the right and the right second drying air stream 25 'slightly in the direction of the right side edge 7' to lead to the blowing in to support this direction. Preferably, the left-hand blower 18, which generates the first drying air flow 2 reaching over the largest part of the vehicle 2, may have higher output than the right-hand blower 18 ', which only covers a small part of the surfaces running transversely to the longitudinal direction L and the second side flank 7'. must blow off. For example, as schematically indicated in FIG. 1, the first blower 18 may have a larger impeller and thus a larger fan diameter, possibly with a larger inflow opening 19, than the second blower 18 '. Alternatively or additionally, the left-hand blower 18 can also be operated at a higher speed for this purpose than the right-hand blower 18 '. Due to the oblique blowing with the left blower 18 transversely to the longitudinal direction L, in particular hidden areas, for example the areas around the license plate 8 in the number plate recess 8a, can be freed of liquid residues. In conventional symmetrical uniform blowing of right and left accumulate at such locations usually the liquid residues and then run after the drying process again on the Fahrzeugfiächen where they must be wiped by hand. In the asymmetric, oblique blowing of the invention, however, the liquid residues are almost completely blown away in the number plate recess 8a to one side of the license plate 8 and run while still drying. The same applies to similar parts of the vehicle 2 as in the roof area a steep rear spoilers or recessed grips for the door or trunk grips of the vehicle. 2

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 gantry washing system (vehicle treatment plant)

2 vehicle

3 vehicle front

4 hood

5 windshield

6 roof

7, 7 'side flanks

8 license plate

8a number plate recess

9, 9 'windscreen wiper

10 washing portal

11, 12 portal columns

13 portal traverse

14, 14 'vertical side washing brushes

15 horizontal roof washing brush

16, 16 'wheel guide rails

17 drying device

18, 18 'first and second blower, respectively

19, 19 'inlet openings radial fan

20, 20 'Auströmöffhungen radial fan

21, 21 'first and second blower box

22, 22 'first and second baffle

22a, 22b first and second baffle portion of the first baffle

23, 23 'first and second flow channel

24, 24 'first and second nozzle outlet opening

25, 25 'first and second drying air flow

26, 26 'outside ends of the nozzle outlet openings

27 common nozzle slot

28 separating plate

L longitudinal direction

F vehicle center

M center of the vehicle treatment plant in the longitudinal direction L

R, R 'lateral edge regions of the washing area W

W wash area

Claims

Expectations

Drying device (17) for drying a vehicle (2) in a vehicle treatment system (1) with at least one fan (18, 18 '), a first flow channel (23) with a first elongated nozzle outlet opening (24) and one of the first flow channel (23) flow-wise separated second flow channel (23') with a second elongated nozzle outlet opening (24'), characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening (24) is longer than the second nozzle outlet opening (24').

Drying device (17) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening (24) is at least twice as long as the second nozzle outlet opening (24 '), preferably at least two and a half times as long and particularly preferably at least three times as long.

Drying device (17) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening (24) is at most five times as long as the second nozzle outlet opening (24 '), preferably at most four times as long and particularly preferably at most three and a half times as long.

Drying device (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening (24) and the second nozzle outlet opening (24') are formed by a common nozzle slot (27). Drying device (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a separating plate (28) for fluidly separating the nozzle outlet openings (24, 24') from one another is provided between the first nozzle outlet opening (24) and the second nozzle outlet opening (24 ').

Drying device (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flow channel (23) is assigned a first blower (18) and the second flow channel (23 ') is assigned a second blower (18').

Drying device (17) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first fan (18) has an impeller with a larger diameter and/or a higher operating speed than the second fan (18').

Drying device (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening (24) and/or the second nozzle outlet opening (24') widen at their respective outside end (26, 26').

Drying device (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between a first outflow opening (20) of the first blower (18) and the first nozzle outlet opening (24) there is an upper first baffle (22) with an approach to the first blower (18). first baffle section (22a) and a second baffle section (22b) remote from the first fan (18), the first baffle section (22a) being inclined more steeply to the first nozzle outlet opening (24) than the second baffle section (22b).

10. Vehicle treatment system (1) with treatment devices (14, 14 ', 15) for cleaning a vehicle (2) located in a washing area (W) of the vehicle treatment system (1), characterized in that one above the washing area (W) and across A drying device (17) arranged in a longitudinal direction (L) of the vehicle treatment system (1) is provided according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Vehicle treatment system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the first nozzle outlet opening (24) is viewed from a first edge region (R) of the washing area (W) as seen from a center (M) of the vehicle treatment system (1) running in the longitudinal direction (L). ) extends beyond the center (M) and the second nozzle outlet opening (24 ') from a second edge region (R') of the washing region (W) opposite the first edge region (R) in front of the center (M) when viewed from the center (M). ends.

12. A method for drying a vehicle (2) in a vehicle treatment system (1) according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized by the steps a) directing a first drying air stream (25) from a center (M) extending in the longitudinal direction (L). ) the vehicle treatment system (1) viewed from the first edge region (R) of the washing area (W) beyond the center (M) to another side of the vehicle treatment system (1), and b) directing a second drying air flow (25 ') from one with respect to the From the middle (M), seen from the first edge area (R), the second edge area (R') of the washing area (W) lies opposite the first edge area (R) up to an area (1) that ends in front of the center (M).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the first drying air flow (25) is stronger than the second drying air flow (25 ').

14. The method according to any one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the first drying air flow (25) generated by the first blower (18) has a higher volume flow and / or a higher pressure than that generated by the second blower (18 '). second drying air stream (25').

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the first drying air stream (25) is at least partially directed to a first side flank (7) of the vehicle (2), and / or the second drying air stream (25 ') at least partially is directed to a second side flank (7 ') of the vehicle (2) opposite the first side flank (7).

16. The method according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the first drying air stream (25) and / or the second drying air stream (25 ') - seen from above - are guided transversely or obliquely.