FR2515589A1 - PENDULAR BRUSH WITH OMNIDIRECTIONAL DETECTION FOR AUTOMATIC POROTIC WASHING STATION - Google Patents

Abstract

PENDULUM BRUSH WITH OMNIDIRECTIONAL DETECTION. REMARKABLE INVENTION IN THAT THE CARRIAGE CROSS-MOUNTING BEARING 10 IS MOUNTED OSCILLATING ON THE POINT AND IN THAT THE HOLLOW-SHAFT 9 MOTOR-GEARED UNIT IS SUPPORTED BY A PLATE SOLIDARIZED TO THE CROSS-MOUNTING BEARING SO AS TO CONSTITUTE A SINGLE MECHANICAL BLOCK AND FOLLOW THEM. AXLE TILT MOVEMENTS IN FRONT OF A DETECTOR 16 FIXED TO THE TROLLEY 3. THIS INVENTION IS INTERESTED BY MANUFACTURERS OF AUTOMATIC WASHING EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES.

Description

2-2515589

  The invention relates to a pendulum assembly with omnidirectional detection for vertical brushes

  Equipped with automatic car wash gantries.

  The automatic washing stations have at least two vertical rotating cylindrical brushes provided for washing the parts substantially.

  vertical of the vehicle: grille, wings, side and rear.

  Proper washing requires close and constant contact of the brushes with the body, without excessive speed or pressure. This should be the case for vertical brushes that do a lot of the work.

washing.

  To do this, the brushes are movably mounted spaced and brought together by means of trolleys animated rectilinear movements forward and back along the gantry transverse to the washing direction.

  The brushes themselves are pivotally mounted

  against the cart so that it can bow

  slightly and reach the recessed parts.

  There are currently only two ways to make the kinematic connection between the axis of a brush

  vertical and the corresponding carriage.

  A first way in which the axis of the brush is pivoted relative to the carriage in the plane of the gantry and a more elaborate way of making the axis free oscillations in two crossed planes, the parallel and the other perpendicular to the movements of the gantry The brush may, in this embodiment, perform all compound movements in these two general directions To do this, we mount the axis of articulation that will allow movement in transverse planes in a cradle oscillating around

of a longitudinal axis.

  In the two modes above, the detection assembly comprises a finger and roller switch cooperating with a notch or a profiled recess On either side of a central position, the roller comes out of its housing and transmits a detection signal at the block

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  for controlling the movements of the carriage which, as the case

  moves in spacing or in approximation.

  The first embodiment limits the movements of the axis carrying the brush to transverse pendular movements with respect to the washing direction. As a result, the accentuated changes in the shape of the vehicle to be washed translate into an inclination

  most important of the brush in the transverse plane.

  This higher inclination is reflected at the level of the detection block by a command of the recessed carriage. This results in insufficient momentary contact to ensure

a perfect wash.

  The second embodiment provides significantly better results Indeed, in this case, the axis of the brush can affect various inclinations in all the vertical planes passing through its axis, thus making it possible to better match the shapes during the abrupt change of profile or concavity and reach

  more effectively the recessed parts.

  However, blind spots are observed when the inclinations are too large or when the shapes are too pronounced. For example, when

  450, the brush goes down instead of controlling the gap.

  The object of the invention is to overcome these various disadvantages by providing an omnidirectional motion and sensing brush holder assembly which allows the brush to closely follow and stay in close contact with all body shapes, even more tormented, and to achieve Vaçon totally effective

all parties in withdrawal.

  For this purpose, the invention is remarkable

  in that the carriage traversing step by the drive shaft

  is mounted oscillating in all directions on the body of the carriage by a three-point double suspension and in that the support of the hollow shaft geared motor unit is mechanically connected to the bushing to constitute a unitary mechanical unit moving in inclination with the brush in front of a set -detecteur

appropriate.

  In addition to the advantages mentioned above, we can mention: Perfect washing Total safety Simplicity and reliability Low maintenance

Easy assembly.

  Other technical characteristics and

  advantages are recorded in the description below

  killed as a non-restrictive example of a method of

  of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section;

  of the omnidirectional assembly according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a detail view in vertical section

  of the assembly represented in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the carriage showing the

  distribution of the connecting elements forming the suspension.

  Figure 4 is a general elevational view of a gantry illustrating the possible inclinations with the assembly

according to the invention.

  Figure 5 shows schematically, seen from above, the locations of the brush in various extreme positions. An embodiment of the invention will be described below by its particular means, without wishing

  however, to limit the protection sought.

  This is the case of the suspension that may affect various forms, and the detector Indeed, the invention remains valid regardless of the detection principle. The vertical washing brushes 1 are movably mounted along a gantry 2 by means of carriages 3 animated with rectilinear movements away from and on a path formed by the profiles 4 of the upper cross member 5 of the gantry 2 The vertical brushes 1 comprise a mandrel, which is mounted by an attachment flange 7, a drive shaft 8 passing through a group

geared motor 9.

  The axis 8 is mounted on the carriage via

  It also passes through the hollow shaft gearbox 11 'of the geared motor assembly 9 to terminate at an end 12 provided with a detestable element 13, for example a metal pellet 14 facing the surface. sensing 15 of a suitable detector 16 secured to the body of the carriage by a suspension arm 17. The bushing 10 is mounted oscillating

  on the body of the carriage 3 by an omnidirectional suspension

  the double 18, for example with three upper anchor points

  and at three lower anchor points, as follows.

  The crossing bearing 10 is secured

  to a median support disc 19 resting on damped studs

  20 in regular radial arrangement as shown in Figure 3 These pads are fixed on the one hand to the disk

  median 19 and on the other hand to the body of the trolley 3 alternative-

  in the upper part and in the lower part

the identical angulars.

  For these -plots, it will be possible advantageously to choose hardened rubber damping cylinders

on motor vehicles.

  This suspension allows the brush to perform angular movements in all directions to

  from its vertical position of rest -

  The geared motor unit is mounted on a support plate 21 connected to the end of the bushing

  10 by an auxiliary support 22 and an intermediate damping block

  diaire 23 absorbing the effort of the couple at startup.

  In this way, the bushing bearing becomes one with the motor unit The inclination of the brush

that of the upper set.

  In operation, the vertical brushes are subjected to various inclinations resulting

  of their passage along the bodywork.

  The suspension according to the invention will

  to absorb the inclinations in all directions.

4 - -

  At more pronounced inclinations, the deviation

  the end of axis 8 will release the detectable element

13 of the detection field.

  This signal immediately causes the carriage to move in withdrawal movement. The brush then returns to the working position under the effect of the return spring. A preferred embodiment of the invention will utilize a more elaborate detector 24 which will provide a

  control unit 25, for example electronic, information

  on the value and the sign of the angle of inclination

of the brush.

  The housing 25 is connected, directly or through an adaptation and monitoring module 26, to the translation motor of the carriage 11 which controls its movement from the information of the detector thus forming a

  real servomechanism chain.

  According to this embodiment, it is envisaged to enslave the movements of the carriage to a set value

  representing the optimal inclination of the brush.

  Thus, during the wash and regardless of the external disturbances and those resulting from the variations of shapes of the body of the vehicle,

  the brush will automatically resume its optimal inclination.

  In this operating mode, it is necessary to avoid any slippage movements or slippage of the carriage, for example by carrying out the training

by a rack device.

  The invention has been described above in detail.

  It is understood, however, that various secondary modifications, direct variations, substitution by materials, materials or equivalent means and other changes without inventive contribution, can not escape the present protection. the detection set that will be able to use the variations

  of the most diverse physical quantities.

O

Claims (15)

  1 Pendulum unit with omnidirectional detection   for vertical brushes driven in rotation   and mounted on carts animated with movements of   recessing and approaching along the gantries of automatic washing stations for vehicles, characterized in that the thrust bearing (10) of the drive shaft (8) is oscillatingly mounted on the body of the carriage (3) by a double suspension (18), said bearing carrying at its upper end the support plate (21) of the geared motor unit (9) so as to constitute a mechanical unit moving in inclination with the brush in front of a set   detection device (16) integral with the carriage.   2 pendulum assembly according to the claim   1 characterized in that the double suspension (18) is con-   fitted with damping pads (19) fixed between a solid disc of the bearing (10) and the body of the carriage   (3) alternatively in the upper and lower parts of the   in an alternating and regular angular distribution.   3 Set according to claims 1 and   2 characterized in that the double suspension (18) is three points.   4 assembly according to claims 1,   2 and 3 characterized in that the damping pads (19) are made of hard rubber.   5 assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that the support plate (21) of the geared motor unit (9) is mounted on an annxe support secured to the bearing (10) via an intermediate buffer block (23).   6 assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that the end of the drive shaft (8) comprises a detectable element (13).   7 assembly according to claim 6, characterized   in that the detectable element (13) is a metal pellet lique (14).   8 assembly according to claims 1,   6 and 7 characterized in that the detector (16) is induction magnetic - 7 2515589   9 assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that the detector (16) is of the angle detection type (24).   Assembly according to claims 1 and   Characterized in that the detector is connected, via a control box (25) and, if necessary through an adaptation and monitoring module (26), to the translation motor of the carriage with a view to achieving a control by means of which the movements of the carriage bring the brush into a position at optimal inclination.