FI126383B - Tire Cleaning System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tire washer according to claim 1.

Known tire washers are available for one, two and four tires. The problem with single-ring washers (for example: W09011210) is their limited capacity and the employment effect due to the fact that each ring must be individually inserted and removed after the washing program is completed. Such devices are very unsuitable for, for example, seasonal tire changing, whereby fast rotation is an essential requirement in the industry. Multi-ring washers, on the other hand, are technically quite complex and therefore also expensive in manufacturing. Multi-ring washers operate either by automatically changing the tire to the machine itself, which washes one tire at a time (eg: Hedson Technologies, Drester W-750) or alternatively all four rings are washed simultaneously by rotation (eg: DE 10160154 AI or Performtec GmbH, BIG WHEEL 4-Wheel Washing System). In the former, capacity remains low and in the latter, the problem is the complexity of the technology and the consequent high purchase price of the device. Other multi-ring washing machines and methods include: US 1924005 A, DE 29720955 and Fl 20100179.

In known devices, the washing itself is based on either pressure washing or mechanical brush washing. Both methods are suitable for the device of the present invention. The problem with known devices is not in the washing process itself, but in the way the tires are handled, i.e. moved and rotated during washing. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks and to provide a four-ring washer which washes at the same time, but which is mechanically simpler than the present devices and thus more cost-effective to manufacture.

The basic idea of the invention is that the body of the device is formed by a two-way inclined roller track from which the rings are inserted into the device. With the help of gravity, the tires line up so that they are attached to each other. At the end of the device is a motorized roller against which the first set tire is pressed. In addition, the tire set rests transversely on the upper roller track, making it easier to fit the tires and keep the tires in place despite the rotation. When the machine starts, the motorized roller rotates the ring in contact with it so that the other three rings rotate each other. The washing itself is carried out by means of pressurized water nozzles or mechanical brushes on both sides of the tires, as is known in the art. The tire rotating roller descends after the wash cycle whereby the first tire comes out of the washer and at the same time the bottom-up stop stops the next tires in place. After that, the motorized roller mechanism rises again and the stopper lowers down, so that the next tires move forward against the roller. Thus, the tires can be inserted and removed individually. The first washing ring is also removed first. This saves time when the wash cycle can be started as soon as the first tire is on and the tires can be removed accordingly. More specifically, the tire washer according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing (Fig. 1) showing a tire washer according to the invention.

The body of the washer consists of a two-way sloping roller track (1) and a vertical roller track at 90 degrees consisting of roller rails (2, 3 and 4). Washable rings (5) are inserted from the top of the device into the device, whereby the first ring slides against the motorized roller (6) at the lower end of the roller track, and the subsequent rings are always against the previous ring. Each tire rests at its upper end on the upper roller rails (2 and 3) of the vertical roller track and on the lower roller rail (4). At least the middle roll rail (3) is implemented with multi-roll rolls. When this is done, the device can be fitted with rings of different diameters.

When the machine starts, the motorized roller rotates the ring in contact with each of the four rings rotating each other. The washing is usually carried out with pressure water nozzles or mechanical brushes on both sides of the tires, not shown.

When the washing program has washed the first tire, the roller mechanism lowers down, whereupon the first tire comes out of the washer and at the same time the bottom-up stop (7) holds the following rings in place. After this, the motorized roller mechanism rises again and the stopper lowers down to move the remaining tires forward. Repeat until all tires have been washed.

The washed tires roll gravitationally out onto the washer extension (8) where they can be taken for further operations.

Alternatively, the device may also be implemented with the tire set upright and supported on both sides by its upper end.

For the sake of clarity, the figure does not show the outer casing of the device nor any components related to the washing process itself, such as pressure water nozzles.

Claims (4)

1. Wheel wash consisting of a lower roller (1), to the lower roller at an angle of 90 °, which in contrast consists of roller rails (2,3 and 4), motor-driven coil (6) and stopper (7) characterized in that the wheels is placed in the machine so that they are fixed to each other so that as the coil (6) drives the first wheel, the other wheels roll with the washing devices washing the wheels continuously and evenly. 2. Wheel washing according to claim X characterized by the roller web (1) is inclined. Wheel washing according to claim 1, characterized in that the flushing mechanism (6) is mechanically liftable from the level of the roller track and lowerable from the upper level and because it is connected to a stopper (7) which is also mechanically liftable from the level of the roller track and lowerable from the upper level. Wheel washing according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the middle roller rail (3) in the standing roller track is made with all-wheel drive.