GB2206090A - Washing and drying apparatus for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a portal (1) which can travel backwards and forwards relative to the vehicle in the longitudinal direction thereof, with a horizontal washing and/or liquid applying device (2) disposed on the portal and a horizontal blow drying nozzle (7). On the portal (1) a shield (10) is movably mounted which extends essentially over the whole width of the washing and/or liquid applying device (2) and which is movable by means of a servomotor (13) alternately into the region beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device (2) and into the region beneath the blow nozzle (7) by rotation about a horizontal axis A. Positioning the shield (10) below the nozzle (7) prevents liquid accumulation on the nozzle (7), and positioning the shield (10) below the device (2) prevents liquid dripping onto a drying vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

Washing and drying apparatus for motor vehicles The invention concerns a washing and drying apparatus for motor vehicles, with a portal which can travel backwards and forwards on rails relative to the vehicle in the longitudinal direction thereof, with at least one horizontal washing and/or liquid applying device disposed on the portal and with at least one horizontal blow nozzle disposed on the portal.

With a washing and drying apparatus of this kind, first of all by displacement of the portal relative to the vehicle the latter can be washed, or water which usually contains an additive can be applied to the surface of the vehicle. During forward and/or backward movement of the portal, if required, the portal can also perform several movements to and fro. Then the washing and/or liquid applying device is stopped, and after switching on the drier fan to dry the vehicle the portal is moved forwards and/or backwards relative to the vehicle. At the same time, however, water from the horizontal washing or liquid applying device, for example from the stopped horizontal washer brush or a spray tube, can drip onto the vehicle surface, whereby the drying effect is impaired.Moreover, during the preceding washing process or liquid application, water can also pass onto the blow nozzle and then, during the drying process, likewise drips onto the vehicle surface.

It is the object of the invention to provide a washing and drying apparatus for vehicles of the kind mentioned hereinbefore, in which drying of the vehicle is not impaired by dripping water. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that on the portal is movably mounted a shield which extends essentially over the whole width of the washing and/or liquid applying device and which by means of a servomotor is movable alternately into the region beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device and into the region beneath the blow nozzle.

During washing or application of liquid to the vehicle surface, the shield is moved into the region beneath the horizontal blow nozzle. Thus it protects the blow nozzle from splashing water, so that it remains dry. After completion of the washing process or liquid application, the shield is moved by means of the servomotor into its second position in the region beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device. As a result, water which drips down from the washing device, for example a washer brush, or the liquid applying device, for example a spray tube, is intercepted by the shield. Thus during the drying process any dripping of water down onto the vehicle surface is prevented, whereby a particularly good drying effect is obtained.The prevention of dripping water is particularly important when drying takes place in two stages, i.e. during forward and backward movement of the portal.

One particularly advantageous development of the invention lies in that the shield is attached to at least one pivot arm which is mounted on the portal so as to allow pivoting about a horizontal axis which extends perpendicularly to the direction of portal movement and is located between the washing and/or liquid applying device and the blow nozzle. In this embodiment of the invention, the shield is, so to speak, designed as a protective flap. This embodiment is of particularly simple construction and also particularly reliable in operation.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterised in the remaining subsidiary claims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to two practical examples shown in the drawings.

These show: Figure 1 a cross-section of a first embodiment in the direction of portal movement, Figure 2 a cross-section of a second embodiment in the direction of portal movement.

The portal 1, of which only the upper portion is shown, can travel backwards and forwards on rails in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (not shown) to be washed and dried.

On the portal 1 is disposed a horizontal washing and/or liquid applying device which extends over the whole width of the vehicle. Appropriately, this washing and/or liquid applying device can be raised and lowered by means of a motor 3, so that it can follow the vehicle contours. The washing and/or liquid applying device 2 can be of varying construction. For example, as shown in Figure 1, it can comprise several horizontal tubes 4 which are provided with nozzles or bores. These tubes 4 serve to apply liquids to the vehicle surface. The liquids are usually water which may be enriched with additives, e.g. a chemical drying agent, wax or the like. Moreover, one of the tubes 4 is intended for spraying dirt-releasing shampoo onto the vehicle surface. For washing the vehicle, water under high pressure can also be sprayed from the tubes 4 onto the vehicle surface.

According to Figure 2, the horizontal washing and/or liquid applying device can also comprise a washer brush 5 which rotates about a horizontal axis H and which is shown in the inoperative state in Figure 2. In addition to this washer brush 5, there may also be provided one or more horizontal tubes 6 with which water with additives can be sprayed or sprinkled onto the vehicle surface.

Furthermore, a horizontal blow nozzle 7 which is provided with a downwardly directed outlet slot 7a can be raised and lowered on the portal 1 by means of the motor 8. Due to a suitable control device, the blow nozzle 7 can also follow the vehicle contours during the drying process. Appropriately, the blow nozzle 7 can be retracted into a housing 9 which is open at the bottom only and which is formed for example by a traverse of the portal 1. Furthermore, vertical washing and/or liquid applying devices (not shown) may also be disposed on the portal.

Also, a shield 10 which extends essentially over the whole width of the washing and/or liquid applying device is mounted movably on the portal 1. In the particularly advantageous embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shield 10 is attached to at least one pivot arm 11 which is connected to a pivot shaft 12. The pivot shaft 12 is rotatable about a horizontal axis A extending perpendicularly to the direction B of portal movement. This pivot shaft 12 or axis A is disposed between the washing and/or liquid applying device 2, 2' and the blow nozzle 7. A servomotor 13 is provided for rotation of the pivot shaft 12.

Appropriately, the shield 10 comprises a rim 10a which is raised relative to the plane of the shield and which is advantageously provided on all sides of the shield. If required, the shield 10 could also have a channel-shaped or trough-shaped cross-section. The raised rim 10a is disposed on the shield 10 in such a way that, in the position shown in dotdash lines in Figures 1 and 2 beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device 2, 2', it points upwards towards the latter.

During the washing process, in which the portal can be moved one or more times to and fro in direction B relative to the stationary vehicle, the blow nozzle is fully retracted into the open-bottomed housing 9. During washing, the shield 10 is pivoted into a position beneath the blow nozzle 7 and seals off the housing 9 at the bottom. This prevents splashing water from reaching the blow nozzle 7 during the washing process.

After completion of the washing process, the shield 10 is pivoted by means of the servomotor 13 into its second position shown in dot-dash lines in the region beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device 2, 2'. In this way, during the subsequent drying process in which the portal is likewise moved to and fro one or more times in direction B relative to the vehicle, the shield serves as a collecting channel for dripping water which might drip down from the washing and/or liquid applying device. It is thus ensured that no water or washing liquid can drip down onto the vehicle from the washing and/or liquid applying device 2, 2' during the drying process. As the blow nozzle 7 is also covered by the shield 10 during the washing process, no splashing water can reach the blow nozzle either, so that it is also ensured that during the drying process, no water can drip from the blow nozzle 7 onto the vehicle surface. As the shield can be moved alternately into the region beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device and also into the region beneath the blow nozzle 7, the device which is not in use at any given time is covered alternately with one and the same shield. Both covering systems, however, serve the same purpose, namely to prevent water from dripping down onto the vehicle surface during the drying process.

The shield could also, if required, be movable in a different way, by mounting it for example so as to allow horizontal sliding on the portal in the direction of movement thereof. The pivotable mounting of the shield which is used in the embodiments shown in the drawings is, however, particularly simple and operationally reliable. Furthermore it has the advantage that the water collected by the shield during the drying stage is automatically emptied when the shield is pivoted back from its position shown in dot-dash lines, to the position in unbroken lines, before the beginning of a new washing process.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. Washing and drying apparatus for motor vehicles, with a portal which can travel backwards and forwards on rails relative to the vehicle in the longitudinal direction thereof, with at least one horizontal washing and/or liquid applying device disposed on the portal and with at least one horizontal blow nozzle disposed on the portal, characterised in that on the portal (1) is movably mounted a shield (10) which extends essentially over the whole width of the washing and/or liquid applying device (2, 2') and which is movable by means of a servomotor (13) alternately into the region beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device (2, 2') and into the region beneath the blow nozzle (7).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the shield (10) is attached to at least one pivot arm (11) which is mounted on the portal (1) so as to allow pivoting about a horizontal axis (A) which extends perpendicularly to the direction (B) of portal movement and is disposed between the washing and/or liquid applying device (2, 2') and the blow nozzle (7).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the shield is mounted on the portal so as to allow horizontal sliding in the direction of movement thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the shield (2, 2') comprises, at least on each of its longitudinal sides, a rim (iota) which is raised relative to the plane of the shield and which, in the position of the shield (10) beneath the washing and/or liquid applying device (2, 2'), points upwards towards the latter.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the raised rim (lOa) is provided on all sides of the shield (10).