GB2063793A

GB2063793A - Washing apparatus for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2063793A
Application number: GB7919762A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-06-06
Filing date: 1979-06-06
Publication date: 1981-06-10
Also published as: ES243739Y; FR2427932B1; DE2824674B1; ES243739U; GB2063793B; NL7904139A; FR2427932A1; DE2824674C2; BE876175A

Abstract

A washing apparatus for vehicles has a portal assembly 1 which is reciprocable over a vehicle 3. On the portal assembly 1 are mounted one or more brushes 8 mounted in carriages movable relative to the portal. Electric motors 4, 14 act through transmission means 5, 15 to drive the portal and the brush carriages respectively. Each combination of motor and transmission means can accommodate slippage. The motors for driving the portal and the brush carriage are controlled in response to the speed of movement of the brush carriages and the portal respectively. At the start of the washing cycle the brushes are stationary and the portal is moved until a brush engages the vehicle. The portal then stops moving and the brushes are driven across the engaged face of the vehicle. The slippage in the drive of the portal results in the brush being pressed against the vehicle throughout its movement. If the brush meets an obstruction 3a the portal is retracted (arrow B). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washing apparatus for vehicles The invention relates to a washing apparatus for vehicles, comprising a portal assembly which is reciprocable over a position to be occupied by a vehicle to be washed, the portal assembly being driven through transmission means by an electric motor, one or more washing brushes being mounted in brush carriages which are displaceable relative to the portal assembly vertically or laterally, the brush carriages being driven through transmission means by one or more electric motors.

A washing apparatus of this kind is known from DAS No. 1 430 903. In this apparatus, the horizontal washing brushes are mounted to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the carriages which carry them, the mounting possibly comprising pivot arms, the pivotal mounting means or the displacement mounting means being provided with switches. The horizontal brush serves as a sensing member which senses the outline of the vehicle to be washed. If the pressure force applied by the brush rises, the pivotal or displacement mounting means is moved out of its centre position and thereby actuates a switch which in turn acts both on the motor for the portal assembly and also on the motor for the horizontal washing brush in such a way that the portal assembly is stopped and the horizontal washing brush is raised.However, the pivotal or displacement mounting of the brush gives rise to considerable mechanical cost and in addition there is no certainty that the washing brushes will actually follow the outline of the vehicle. Particular difficulties arise in connection with parts of a vehicle which suddenly project out or are suddenly recessed. It is also difficult for the pressure of the washing brush to be kept approximately constant over the entire surface of the vehicle.

According to this invention there is provided a washing apparatus for vehicles, comprising a portal assembly which is reciprocable over a position to be occupied by a vehicle to be washed, the portal assembly being driven through transmission means by an electric motor, one or more washing brushes being mounted in brush carriages which are displaceable relative to the portal assembly vertically or laterally, the brush carriages being driven through transmission means by one or more electric motors, wherein the motor or the transmission means in the drives of the portal assembly and the brush carriages can accommodate slippage if the movement of the portal assembly or the brush carriages is obstructed without necessitating disconnection of the motor from the power supply, and wherein first control means are provided to control the motor or motors for driving the brush carriages in response to the speed of movement of the portal assembly, and second control means are provided to control the motor for driving the portal assembly in response to the speed of movement of the brush carriages.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of the washing apparatus, Figures 2 to 4 show side views of different working positions of the portal assembly and the horizontal washing brush of the washing apparatus, and Figure 5 shows a plan view of the vertical washing brush of the washing apparatus.

For the sake of greater clarity, the vertical washing brush has been omitted in each of Figs. 2 to 4, while the horizontal washing brush has been omitted in Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that there are washing apparatuses which do not have a horizontal washing brush, for example washing apparatuses for washing trams and the like.

Referring to the drawings, a washing apparatus for vehicles comprises a portal assembly 1 which can be reciprocated in directions A and B on rails 2 which extend on both sides of a vehicle 3 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The portal assembly is driven by means of a control motor 4 which drives one of the wheels 6 by way of a transmission means 5. The drive motor is desirably in the form of a short circuit resistant rotating field magnet motor. Rotating field magnet motors of this kind have over-dimensioned windings so that they can be connected to voltage even when stationary for a prolonged period of time, without any fear of damage to the motor. Rotating field magnet motors of this kind produce a given torque which can be adjustable.To enable adjustment of the torque of a rotating field magnet motor, double or triple windings are used, and one or more of the windings is brought into operation selectively. Depending on the number of windings which are operative, the rotating field magnet motor produces different torque values. Rotating field magnet motors are also marketed under the term 'torque motors'. A rotating field magnet motor is preferably used, but it would also be possible to use a normal motor as the control motor, in which case a slipping clutch must be provided between the control motor 4 and the transmission means 5. Consequently the combination of the motor 4 and transmission means 5 can accommodate slippage if the movement of the portal assembly 1 is obstructed without necessitating disconnection of the motor from the power supply.

A rotary speed measuring means is provided on the transmission means 5 when using a rotating field magnet motor, or, pref erably is arranged directly on the motor. The rotary speed measuring means may for example, be a centrifugal switching means or a tachometer. If a motor with a slipping clutch is used, the rotary speed measuring means is to be arranged on the transmission means 5.

Thus the rotary speed measuring means measures the speed of rotation of a drive member in the drive of the portal assembly, and hence, indirectly, the speed of movement of the portal assembly.

A washing brush 8 which rotates about a horizontal axis 7 is provided on the portal assembly 1 mounted in two brush carriages (not shown) which are movable along vertical guide rails provided on the portal assembly. A flexible traction member 9 engages each of the brush carriages and is passed over a drive roller 10 to a counterweight 11. The drive roller 10 is driven by a drive shaft 12, with a locking means 13 being provided between the drive roller 10 and the drive shaft 12. The locking means 13 is locked when the drive shaft 12 is driven in direction C, in a direction of rotation which will cause the brush 8 to be raised. If in contrast the drive shaft 12 is driven in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by arrow C and in so doing rotates faster than the drive roller 10, the locking means 13 disengages the drive connection between the shaft 12 and the drive roller 10.The drive shaft 12 is driven by a control motor 14, by way of an interposed transmission means 15. The control motor 14 is preferably a rotating field magnet motor or if a normal motor is used, a slipping clutch is provided in the transmission means 15. It is not absolutely necessary for the above-described locking means 13 to be disposed between the shaft 12 and the drive roller 10, but it can also be provided at another position between the transmission means 15 and the drive roller 10. Instead of a locking means, it would also be possible to use an electromagnetic clutch which always makes a drive connection between the transmission means and the drive roller when the control motor 14 is operative in the direction of lifting the brush 8.If the control motor 14 is driven in the opposite direction or if it is at rest, the electro-magnetic clutch is disengaged and the drive connection between the transmission means and the drive roller is interrupted.

A vertical washing brush 17 which rotates about a vertical axis 16 is mounted in a brush carriage (not shown) which is movable on horizontal or approximately horizontal guide rails on the portal assembly 1, for displacement laterally with respect to the directions of displacement A and B of the portal assembly and thus transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The brush carriage which carries the vertical washing brush 17 is driven by an endless V-belt 18 or a similar flexible transmission member which is driven by a control motor 19 by way of a transmission means 20 and a drive roller 21.

The control motor 19 is again preferably in the form of a rotating field magnet motor or in the form of a normal motor with a slipping clutch connected to the output thereof.

The washing apparatus may either be provided with a single vertical washing brush or it may be provided with two vertical washing brushes which are each moved only to the middle of the portal assembly. The washing apparatus may be provided only with vertical washing brushes, or with a horizontal washing brush and vertical washing brushes.

If the apparatus has both a horizontal washing brush 8 and vertical washing brushes 17, a detecting action in respect of the speed of movement of the carriages is preferably effected only in respect of the vertical drive motion of the horizontal washing brush. In this case, a rotary speed measuring means is arranged to monitor the movement of the drive roller 10, and hence, indirectly, the movement of the brush carriages which support the horizontal washing brush 8. If the apparatus has only vertical washing brushes, monitoring of the speed of rotation of the drive for displacing the washing brushes is effected at the drive roller 21 or the transmission means 20 or at the control motor 19 itself if the motor used is a rotating field magnet motor.

The rotary speed measuring means in the drives of both the portal assembly and the brush carriages are preferably such as to produce control pulses only when the movement of the portal assembly or the brush carriages stops or starts.

Control of the washing apparatus is as follows: The portal assembly is moved in a direction A towards the vehicle, by means of the control motor 4, until the horizontal washing brush lies against the surface of the vehicle with a pressure force which is determined by the torque of the control motor 4. The engagement between the brush and the vehicle causes the control motor to come to a halt, if the motor is a rotating field magnet motor, or, if the motor used is a normal motor, the motor continues to rotate while the transmission means 5 is stationary, by virtue of the slipping clutch. For the sake of simplicity, the description set out hereinbelow will only relate to the mode of operation when using rotating field magnet motors as the control motors 4, 14 and 19, in regard to which the monitoring action in respect of the speed of rotation may be performed directly at the motor. However, the following description also applies in substance to normal motors with a slipping clutch connected to the output thereof, in which case the monitoring action for detecting the speed of rotation must be effected at a component in the drive system disposed between the slipping clutch and the driven member (wheel 6, or roller 10, 21).

When the control motor 4 is stationary, the centrifugal switching means produces a control signal for the control motor 14, which comes into operation in the direction of lifting the horizontal washing brush 8. The control motor 14 remains operable in the lifting mode until the pressure of the brush 8 against the vehicle is reduced and the control motor 4 of the portal assembly can begin to rotate again.

when the control motor 4 is rotating, its rotary speed measuring means switches the control motor 14 to rotate in the opposite direction thus lowering the washing brush 8. However, the horizontal washing brush 8 is lowered in each case only as far as the surface of the vehicle permits. By virtue of the free wheel 13, the control motor 14 can continue to rotate continuously.

If, as the washing brush is moved upwardly by virtue of the action of the operating control motor 14, the washing brush 8 comes into contact with an abutment surface on a projecting obstacle 3a, for example a projecting part of the bodywork of a bus or a cooling unit, the control motor 14 comes to a halt. The centrifugal switching means which is arranged at the drive roller 10 now switches the control motor 4 of the portal assembly to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the brush moves away from the vehicle in direction B. This continues until the horizontal washing brush 8 has moved sufficiently far away from the obstacle and the control motor 14 is rotating again.Now, possibly with the inter-position of a time delay means, the centrifugal switching means arranged at the drive roller 10 causes the control motor 4 to be switched to rotate in the original direction so that the portal assembly 1 again moves in direction A. When the control motor 4 is stationary, the control motor 14 is again rendered operable until the horizontal washing brush has reached the roof of the vehicle 3 when the control motor 4 moves the portal assembly forward over the entire length of the vehicle.When this occurs, the horizontal washing brush does not move substantially in a vertical direction and its drive roller 10 is at rest, so the apparatus is preferably provided with an electrical locking means which cuts out the switching function of the rotary speed measuring means provided at the drive roller, as long as the control motor 4 of the portal assembly is rotating.

When the portal assembly 1 has covered approximately half its travel distance or has washed half the vehicle, the switching functions which are originated at the drive roller 10 are reversed by way of a special circuit so that, when the drive roller 10 rotates, the control motor 4 of the portal assembly 1 is switched over into a direction of rotation which is opposite to its direction of rotating when the drive roller 10 is stationary. Thus when the horizontal brush 8 has washed the roof of the vehicle 3 and arrives at the sharply falling front or rear surface of the vehicle, the washing brush 8 moves downwardly under its own weight and the drive roller 10 rotates.

The rotary speed measuring means which is provided at the drive roller switches the control motor 4 over into the opposite direction of rotation so that the portal assembly now moves in direction B and the washing brush is pressed against the front or rear surface of the vehicle as long as the downward movement continues.

The control motor 19 of the vertical brush 17 is controlled in dependence on the speed of rotation of the control motor 4 or its transmission means 5, in a similar manner to the control for the control motor of the horizontal washing brush. If a rotary speed measuring means is provided at the drive roller 21, the transmission means 20, or the control motor 19 (if the motor 19 is a rotating field magnet motor), then the control motor 4 of the portal assembly is controlled by this rotary speed measuring means. The only difference is that the movement of the vertical washing brush 17 is transversely with respect to the vehicle in a horizontal direction, towards or away from the vehicle. The pressing force applied by the washing brush 17 to the surface of the vehicle when washing the sides of the vehicle may be produced by the control motor 19 alone. However, it would also be possible to provide additional spring or weight loadings.

Claims

1. A washing apparatus for vehicles, comprising a portal assembly which is reciprocable over a position to be occupied by a vehicle to be washed, the portal assembly being driven through transmission means by an electric motor, one or more washing brushes being mounted in brush carriages which are displaceable relative to the portal assembly vertically or laterally, the brush carriages being driven through transmission means by one or more electric motors, wherein the motor or the transmission means in the drives of the portal assembly and the brush carriages can accommodate slippage if the movement of the portal assembly or the brush carriages is obstructed without necessitating disconnection of the motor from the power supply, and wherein first control means are provided to control the motor or motors for driving the brush carriages in response to the speed of movement of the portal assembly, and second control means are provided to control the motor for driving the portal assembly in response to the speed of movement of the brush carriages.

2. A washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control means comprise means to sense whether there is movement of the portal assembly and the brush carriages respectively, and further comprise means which produce a control pulse only when the movement of the portal assembly and the brush carriages respectively stops or starts.

3. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means to sense whether there is movement of the portal assembly and the brush carriages comprise means to sense whether a drive member is rotating, the drive member being a member in the drive of the portal assembly or brush carriages which rotates when there is movement of the portal assembly or brush carriages.

4. A washing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the brush carriages are rotating and the portal assembly is moving and then stops as a result of engagement between a brush and a vehicle to be washed, the first control means switches the motor or motors for driving the brush carriages to cause the brush carriages to move until the portal assembly is free to move again.

5. A washing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the brush carriages are caused to move. upwardly in the case of brush carriages supporting a cylindrical brush arranged with its longitudinal axis horizontal, and wherein the brush carriages are caused to move laterally in the case of brush carriages supporting a cylindrical brush arranged with its longitudinal axis vertical.

6. A washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein when the portal assembly is stationary and brush carriges are moving and then stop moving as a result of engagement between a brush and an abutment surface on a vehicle to be washed, the second control means switches the motor for driving the portal assembly to cause the portal assembly to move in such a direction that the brush is moved away from the vehicle until the brush carriages are free to move again, whereupon the second control means switches the motor for driving the portal assembly to cause the portal assembly to move in such a direction that the brush is moved towards the vehicle.

7. A washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein when the portal assembly is moving and brush carriages are stationary as a result of engagement between a brush and a vehicle to be washed and then become free to move and start moving, the second control means switches the motor for driving the portal assembly to drive the portal assembly in the opposite direction.

8. A washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the transmission means in the drive of the brush carriages includes a flexible traction member.

9. A washing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.