JPH054261B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Object of the Invention (1) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an installation structure for an ultrasonic detection device in a car wash device.

(2) Prior Art Conventionally, a system has already been proposed in which the ultrasonic detection device described above is used to detect a vehicle to be washed and to control the operation of each processing device of a car wash device.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic detection device malfunctions due to splashes of processing liquid such as washing water generated during the operation of a car wash device and entering the receiving section. I had a problem.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an equipment structure for an ultrasonic detection device in a car wash device, which can solve the above problems with a simple structure.

B. Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a frame with an upper rotating brush capable of brushing the upper surface of the vehicle, and an outer part of the frame than the upper rotating brush. In a car washing device, a top surface blowing nozzle is provided near an end to dry the top surface of a vehicle, and the frame and the vehicle can move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ,
An ultrasonic detection device for detecting the height of the top surface of the vehicle is disposed so as to be located outward from the top surface blowing nozzle, and the ultrasonic detection device includes a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; It is characterized by comprising a transmitting and receiving shielding tube with an open lower end, which are connected to the transmitting and receiving sections, respectively, and extend along the propagation direction of the ultrasonic waves.

(2) Effect By separately installing the above-mentioned shielding cylinders in the transmitting and receiving parts of the ultrasonic detection device, compared to the case where one shielding cylinder is installed in common in the transmitting and receiving parts, it is possible to reduce the burden on each shielding cylinder. Since the opening area can be made smaller, the amount of processing liquid such as cleaning water that enters the shielding cylinder through the opening is reduced accordingly.

Furthermore, by arranging the ultrasonic detection device on the ceiling of the frame so as to be located outward from the top blower nozzle, we can minimize the horizontal distance between each shield tube opening and the top rotating brush. In addition, since the upper surface blowing nozzle can be interposed between them, it becomes difficult for a large amount of processing liquid that is vigorously splashed in all directions from the upper surface rotating brush to reach the openings of each shielding tube. Coupled with the effect of reducing the area, it is possible to prevent the splashing treatment liquid from the top rotating brush from entering the shielding cylinder, and eventually emitting it.
Adhesion to the receiving section is effectively prevented, and malfunction of the ultrasonic detection device due to the adhesion of the processing liquid is avoided.

(3) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a car wash apparatus equipped with the apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a gate-shaped traveling frame 1 is mounted on a traveling rail 2 laid on the ground so as to be movable via a traveling wheel 3 pivotally supported thereon. This gate-shaped traveling frame 1 includes an upper rotating brush 4 as a rotating brush.
and integral side rotating brushes 5,5 are supported.

The upper rotating brush 4 is attached to the gate-shaped traveling frame 1.
It is swingably supported via a swinging arm 7 on a horizontal shaft 6 horizontally mounted on the swinging arm 7, and is rotationally driven by a prime mover 8 provided on the swinging arm 7 via a transmission mechanism within the swinging arm 7.
It is possible to contact the upper surface of the vehicle body and brush the surface. A sprocket 9 is fixed to the horizontal shaft 6, and another sprocket 11 is supported so as to freely rotate on an intermediate shaft 10 fixed to the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 below the horizontal shaft 6. An endless chain 12 is suspended between the sprockets 9 and 11. A mounting bracket 13 is fixed in the middle of the endless chain 12, and the upper end of an air cylinder 14 whose lower end is pivotally supported 14' on the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 is connected to the mounting bracket 13. Therefore, air cylinder 1
4, the upper rotating brush 4 can be held in the upper retracted position as shown by the chain line in FIG. Further, when the air cylinder 14 is in an inoperative state, the upper rotating brush 4 can freely swing back and forth with respect to the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 about the horizontal shaft 6.

At the rear of the gate-type traveling frame 1, the pair of side rotating brushes 5, 5 are suspended, that is, a pair of movable frames 16, 16 are slidably engaged, and the vertical shaft 1 has a pair of side rotating brushes 5, 5 suspended from the movable frames 16, 16.
7 and 17 are attached, and each moving frame 16 and vertical shaft 17 can swing in the traveling direction of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 using the support shaft 18 of the guide rail 15 as a fulcrum. A prime mover 19 is supported by each moving frame 16, and this prime mover 19 controls the side rotating brush 5.
can be rotated. The pair of side rotating brushes 5, 5 are controlled to open and close along the guide rail 15, and can brush the front, both side and rear surfaces of the vehicle body. The supporting and operating mechanisms of the upper surface and the pair of side rotating brushes 4 and 5, 5 are conventionally known mechanisms, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

The front part of the gate-type traveling frame 1 is equipped with a drying device D. That is, on both sides of the gate-type traveling frame 1, there are a pair of side blowing nozzles 21 as processing devices that open inward. .
The pivot 2 can be raised and lowered via a parallel link mechanism 24.
5 and 26, and the parallel link mechanism 24 is controlled to rotate in the vertical direction around pivot points 25 and 26 by the telescopic operation of the lifting cylinder 27. These side and top blower nozzles 21, 21 and 22 are blowers 2 installed at the lower ends of both sides of the portal traveling frame 1.
It is connected to 3. Since this drying device D also has a conventionally known structure, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

A rinsing water injection device R as a processing device is provided outside the side rotating brushes 5, 5 of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1, and is capable of injecting rinsing water onto the vehicle body surface. Next, the structure of this rinsing water injection device R will be explained mainly with reference to FIG. The rinsing water injection pipe 31 is disposed across the gate-shaped running frame 1, and a plurality of nozzles 32 with their nozzles facing inward of the gate-shaped running frame 1 are provided at intervals. A solenoid valve 3 is installed in the middle of the rinse water injection pipe 31.
A rinse water supply pipe 34 is connected through the solenoid valve 33, and this rinse water supply pipe 34 is connected to a water pump P supported by the portal traveling frame 1.
By opening the valve, fresh water can be injected from the nozzle 32.

Further, the support frame 28 is provided with a wax coating device W as a processing device inside the rinsing water injection device R. This wax applicator W
has a gate-shaped water-based wax injection pipe 37 disposed approximately parallel to the rinsing water injection pipe 31, and the water-based wax injection pipe 37 is provided with a gate-shaped traveling frame 1.
A plurality of nozzles 38 with their nozzles facing inward are provided at intervals. A water-based wax supply pipe 39 is connected in the middle of the water-based wax injection pipe 37,
This supply pipe 39 is connected to an ejector 40 and a solenoid valve 41.
The water supply pipe 42 is connected to a water pump P via the water supply pipe 42 . A wax stock solution supply pipe 43 connected to the wax tank T is connected to the ejector 40. Therefore, when the solenoid valve 41 is opened after the water pump P is driven, the pressure water reaches the ejector 40, where the aqueous wax stock solution is sucked from the wax stock solution supply pipe 43 due to the ejector effect, and the aqueous wax mixed with water is Wax can be injected from a plurality of nozzles 38.

Further, in the gate-shaped traveling frame 1, between the upper rotating brush 4 and the pair of side rotating brushes 5, 5, there is provided a cleaning water injection device C as a processing device capable of injecting cleaning water onto the vehicle body surface of the vehicle. ing.
This cleaning water injection device C, like the wax injection device W, has a gate-shaped cleaning water injection pipe 45 disposed across the gate-shaped traveling frame 1, and this cleaning water injection pipe 45 is connected to the portal-shaped traveling frame. It is constructed by providing a plurality of nozzles 46 with their nozzles facing inward at intervals. The cleaning water injection pipe 45 is connected to a water supply pipe 47 connected to a water supply source S such as a tap, and a solenoid valve 48 is inserted in the middle of the water supply pipe 47, and when the solenoid valve 48 opens, the nozzle 46 More cleaning water is sprayed.

Further, at the upper front part of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1, there is a detection device A for detecting the body position and vehicle height of the vehicle V to be washed or polished and sending the information to a car wash control circuit 59 as a control means. The configuration of this detection device A will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

A reflective ultrasonic detection device 50 is disposed on the ceiling of the gate-type traveling frame 1 further outward than the upper surface blowing nozzle 22, which is disposed closer to the outer end of the frame 1 than the upper rotating brush 4. , this ultrasonic detection device 50 includes a transmitting section 52 that receives pulsed ultrasonic waves transmitted from a transmitting circuit 51 and emits them toward the upper surface of the vehicle body, and a receiving section that receives reflected waves from the vehicle body surface. 53, and shielding tubes 52a and 53 for transmitting and receiving, which will be described later, are connected to the transmitting and receiving sections 52 and 53 and have their lower ends open, respectively.
It is equipped with a. The transmitting and receiving sections 52 and 53 are provided close to each other, and the reflected ultrasonic waves received by the receiving section 53 are sent to a receiving circuit 54, where it is determined whether the reflected ultrasonic waves were emitted from the transmitting section 52 or not. It is determined that the ultrasonic wave is emitted from the transmitter 52, and if it is the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitter 52, it is sent to the arithmetic circuit 55. The arithmetic circuit 55 simultaneously receives the ultrasonic waves when the transmitter circuit 51 transmits the ultrasonic waves, and uses the transmitter 52 or the receiver due to the difference in reception time between the ultrasonic waves from the transmitter circuit 51 and the reflected ultrasonic waves from the receiver circuit 54. The distance from 53 to a reflecting body such as a vehicle body surface is calculated, and a voltage signal that increases in proportion to the calculated distance is sent to first to third comparison circuits 56, 57, and 58.

Each of the comparison circuits 56, 57, and 58 compares the voltage signal output from the arithmetic circuit 55 of the ultrasonic detection device 50 with a plurality of reference voltages corresponding to predetermined distances, and determines whether the voltage signal corresponds to the corresponding one. When the voltage is equal to or lower than a reference voltage, output signals are sent to a car wash control circuit 59, which will be described later. Indicates that the vehicle has entered. A certain low height from the ground (first level
The second comparison circuit 57 generates an output signal when the voltage signal from the arithmetic circuit 55 is smaller than the first reference voltage E ₁ corresponding to H ₁ ), and the second comparison circuit 57 outputs an output signal when the voltage signal from the calculation circuit 55 Maximum vehicle height (2nd level)
The third comparator circuit 58 generates an output signal when the second reference voltage E2 corresponding to _H2 ) is lower than the second reference voltage _E2 , and the third comparator circuit 58 generates an output signal when the voltage signal from the arithmetic circuit 55 is lower than the second reference voltage E2 corresponding to Maximum vehicle height (3rd level _H3 )
are each configured to generate an output signal when the third reference voltage E3 corresponding to the voltage _E3 is lower than or equal to the third reference voltage E3. The detection device A generates an output signal from the first comparison circuit 56 when a vehicle, such as an ordinary passenger car, whose vehicle height is greater than H ₁ and smaller than H ₂ enters the gate-shaped traveling frame 1; Further, when a vehicle such as a van-type vehicle whose vehicle height is greater than _H2 and smaller than _H3 enters the gate-type traveling frame 1, the first and second comparison circuits 56 and 57 simultaneously issue output signals, In addition, vehicles with a vehicle height exceeding H ₃ have a gate-type traveling frame 1.
When it is determined that the vehicle and the frame 1 are in a relative positional relationship inappropriate for car washing, the first
The second and third comparison circuits 56, 57, and 58 are all configured to simultaneously issue output signals.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting part 52 and the receiving part 53 of the ultrasonic detection device 50 are formed in a conical shape. There is a risk that the ultrasonic waves will scatter and adhere to the inner surfaces of the conical transmitter 52 and the receiver 53, and the ultrasound emitted from the transmitter 52 will directly enter the receiver 53, causing malfunction. Weak ultrasonic waves called side lobes are generated along the side walls of the cone, but the propagation direction and intensity of these side lobes change depending on the temperature, density, etc. of the atmosphere, so depending on the atmospheric conditions, reception may be difficult. The unit 53 may receive a reflected wave from an object located laterally, rather than a reflected wave from a reflector directly below it, and may cause a malfunction.

Therefore, at the tips of the transmitting section 52 and the receiving section 53, a shielding tube 52a made of synthetic resin is provided, which extends linearly and thinly along the propagation direction (vertical direction in the illustrated example) of the ultrasonic waves transmitted and received by the transmitting section 52 and the receiving section 53, and has an open lower end. ,53
The shielding tubes 52a and 53a effectively prevent splashes of washing water and the like during car washing from entering the receiving sections 52 and 53. The side lobes of the ultrasonic waves described above can be shielded. If, as shown in the illustrated example, a certain interval of 50 seconds is set between the lower ends of the openings of the shielding tubes 52a and 53a, and a discontinuous portion is formed between the edges of the openings, the side lobe can be shielded. The prevention effect can be obtained even more reliably.

Further, as described above, since the ultrasonic detection device 50 itself is located further outward than the upper surface blowing nozzle 22 which is disposed closer to the outer end of the frame 1 than the upper surface rotating brush 4, each of the ultrasonic detection devices 50 Shield tube 52
a, 53a opening and the top rotating brush 4 can be horizontally spaced apart as much as possible, and the top blowing nozzle 22 can be interposed therebetween, so that the brush is vigorously scattered in all directions from the top rotating brush 4 during the brushing process. It is possible to make it difficult for a large amount of cleaning water to reach the openings of the shielding tubes 52a and 53a. Therefore, the shielding tubes 52a and 5 are installed separately in the transmitting and receiving sections 52 and 53.
3a in series to reduce the opening area of the individual shielding tubes 52a, 53a, the splashed cleaning water from the upper rotating brush 4 can be prevented from entering and spreading into the shielding tubes 52a, 53a. In addition, adhesion to the emitting and receiving sections 52 and 53 can be extremely effectively prevented.

Furthermore, when the car wash device is operated in cold weather, the temperature of the washing water is higher than the outside air, so the air temperature and humidity inside the car wash device rise, and the cold air causes dew condensation on the receivers 52 and 53, causing their Water droplets may adhere to the inner surface and cause malfunctions or malfunctions, but
The tips of the receiving sections 52 and 53 are shielded by shielding tubes 52a and 53a.
Since the convection of air inside and outside the shielding tubes 52a and 53a can be suppressed by covering the shielding tubes 52a and 53a, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation in the emitting and receiving sections 52 and 53 as described above.

In FIG. 1, a control panel 61 attached to the front side of one side of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 includes a car wash method selection switch 62 for selecting a predetermined car wash program, and a driving motor of the car wash device (see FIG. A start button 63 is provided in the control panel 61 to start the car wash method (not shown), and a predetermined button 63 is provided in the control panel 61 in response to output signals from the start button 63, the car wash method selection switch 62, and the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50. The car wash control circuit 59 (FIG. 5) as a control means is built in to operate the car wash apparatus in accordance with a control program set.

The car wash control circuit 59 includes a first control program for washing and drying the car body, wax application,
It consists of a second control program for rinsing and drying, and when the first control program is selected,
When the gate-type traveling frame 1 moves back and forth, the cleaning water injection device C is activated to spray cleaning water from the cleaning water injection pipe 45 to clean the vehicle body surface while brushing with the top and side rotating brushes 4, 5, and 5. death,
Also, when the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 goes back, the drying device D
to operate the top and side blow nozzles 22,2.
When the second control program is selected, the wax application device W and the rinsing water injection device R is activated, clean water is sprayed from the aqueous wax injection pipe 37 to wash away excess wax, and when the gate-type traveling frame 1 returns, the drying device D is activated to dry the car body surface after wax application and rinsing. It's becoming like that.

Next, the operation of the device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. First, the car wash method selection switch 62 selects one of the first and second control programs.
For example, when the first control program is selected and the start button 63 is pressed, a driving engine (not shown) is started, and the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 starts moving toward the vehicle V. When the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50 reaches directly above the front end of the vehicle V, as shown in FIG. That is, it is detected that the vehicle height is greater than the first level _H1 , and the first
An output signal is sent from the comparison circuit 55 to the car wash control circuit 59, and the car wash control circuit 59 operates the prime movers 8, 19, and the top and side rotating brushes 4, 5, 5
At the same time, the electromagnetic valve 48 of the cleaning water injection device C is opened, and cleaning water is injected from the nozzle 46 of the cleaning water injection pipe 45. The gate-shaped traveling frame 1 moves further forward, and the reflection-type ultrasonic detection device 50
reaches the front upper surface of the vehicle (Figure 3B), when the height of the vehicle V is relatively low like a normal passenger car and is between the first level _H1 and the second level ₂ . The reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50 detects this and sends a signal from the first comparison circuit 56 to the car wash control circuit 59, and the air cylinder 14 is extended by the operation of the car wash control circuit 59, and the upper rotating brush 4 is activated. It is lowered from the upper limit position (shown by the chain line in Figure 3) to the lower limit position (shown by the dotted line in Figure 3), and the vehicle height is between the second level _H2 and the third level _H3 , such as in a pan-type car. In this case, the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50 detects this and sends a signal from the first and second comparison circuits 56 and 57 to the car wash control circuit 59, and the air cylinder 14
is contracted to hold the upper rotating brush 4 at the upper limit position.

Further, if the height of the vehicle exceeds the third level _H3 , it is determined that the vehicle and the portal traveling frame 1 are in a relative positional relationship inappropriate for car washing. ~Third comparison circuits 56-58
Upon receiving an output signal from the controller, the driving engine (not shown) is deactivated to stop the gate-type traveling frame 1 from traveling, and the operation of all processing devices including the rotating brushes 4 and 5 of the car washing device is also urgently stopped. let This prevents a collision between the vehicle and the gate-shaped traveling frame 1, etc., and also prevents the rotating brushes 4 and 5 from continuing to rub and damage a specific surface of the vehicle more than necessary.

In the above, when the vehicle height is equal to or lower than the third level _H3 , the driving motor is continuously operated by the car wash control circuit 59 to continue traveling the portal traveling frame 1, and the vehicle height is lower than the second level H3. For vehicles such as passenger cars that are lower than ₂ (shown by the solid line in Figure 3),
The upper surface rotating brush 4 performs cleaning while brushing along the upper surface shape of the vehicle V, and on the other hand, the vehicle V such as a van-type automobile whose vehicle height is higher than the second level _H2 .
(shown by the chain line in Figure 3), the upper rotating brush 4
The upper surface of the vehicle body is brushed while being held at the upper limit position, and at the same time, the side rotating brushes 5, 5 move along the front, both sides, and rear surface of the vehicle body while opening and closing laterally to clean these surfaces. Brush and wash. When the reflection-type ultrasonic detection device 50 passes the rear end of the vehicle body (FIG. 3C), the reflection-type ultrasonic detection device 50 detects that the vehicle height has become below the first level _H1 and indicates the After a certain period of time has elapsed since the timer was activated, that is, after the rear end of the gate-type traveling frame 1 has passed the rear end of the vehicle V, the solenoid valve 48
is closed to stop the injection of washing water from the nozzle 46 of the washing water injection pipe 45, and the driving motor (not shown) and the brush driving motors 8 and 19 are deactivated, and the gate-type running frame is closed. 1 is stopped, and the rotation of the top rotating brush 4 and the side rotating brushes 5, 5 is also stopped.

Next, the drying process begins, and the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 starts going back with the upper rotating brush 4 raised to the upper limit position, and the rear of the vehicle V is connected to the gate-shaped traveling frame 1.
When the vehicle enters the interior, the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50 detects that the height of the vehicle V is greater than the first level _H1 , and the first comparison circuit 56 detects that the height of the vehicle V is higher than the first level H1.
An output signal is sent to 9 to drive the blower 23.
At the same time, if the vehicle height is between the first level _H1 and the second level _H2 , the first comparison circuit 56
An output signal is sent from the controller to the car wash control circuit 59, which causes the lifting cylinder 27 to extend and lower the upper air blower nozzle 22 to the lower limit position. 2
When the level is higher than H ₂ , output signals are sent from the first and second comparison circuits 56 and 57 to the car wash control circuit 59, so that the gate type running is performed while the top air blowing nozzle 22 is held at the upper limit position. frame 1
As the vehicle goes back, pressure air is blown onto the top and side surfaces of the vehicle body from the top blow nozzle 22 and the side blow nozzle 21 to efficiently dry the surface of the vehicle body. When the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 continues its go-around and leaves the front end of the vehicle V (FIG. 3A), the blower 23 and the driving motor are activated by the car wash control circuit 59 based on the detection by the reflective ultrasonic detector 50. (not shown) is deactivated, the air blowing from the air blowing nozzles 21, 22, and 22 is stopped, and the traveling of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 is also stopped, thereby completing the drying process.

Further, when the second control program is selected, as in the case where a water-based wax is applied to a vehicle that has already been washed and then dried, the operation of the car wash apparatus is controlled as follows. That is, when the start button 54 is pressed, the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 moves to the vehicle V.
At this time, the top rotating brush 4
is held at the upper limit position, and the prime movers 8, 19 for driving the rotation of the brushes are also kept inactive.
When the reflected ultrasonic detection device 50 reaches directly above the front end of the vehicle V due to the forward movement of the gate-type traveling frame 1, the reflected ultrasonic detection device 50 detects this and activates a timer (not shown) for a certain period of time. After the elapsed time, the water-based wax injection pipe 37 and the rinse water injection pipe 31
When the water-based wax reaches the front of the vehicle body, the solenoid valves 33 and 41 are opened by the timer, and the water-based wax injection pipe 3 is opened.
After spraying water-based wax onto the car body surface from the nozzle 38 of 7, clean water is sprayed onto the car surface from the nozzle 32 of the rinsing water injection pipe 31 to wash away excess wax liquid, and the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50 detects the car body surface. When passing directly above the rear end, the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50
detects this and activates a timer (not shown), which closes the solenoid valves 33 and 41 when the water-based wax injection pipe 39 and the rinsing water injection pipe 31 have passed the rear of the vehicle body, and the water-based wax and rinsing water are discharged. At the same time, the operation of a driving motor (not shown) is stopped to stop the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 from moving back and forth. Next, the drying process begins, and when the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 starts going back, the vehicle height is set to the second level by the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50 during going out.
If it is detected that H is larger than ₂ ,
The upper air blowing nozzle 22 is held at the upper limit position, and if it is detected that the vehicle height is between the first level _H1 and the second level _H2 , the lifting cylinder 2
7, the upper surface blowing nozzle 22 is lowered and moved up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body. When the reflection-type ultrasonic detection device 50 detects the rear end of the vehicle body due to the go-around of the gate-type traveling frame 1, the blower 23 is driven and the top blow nozzle 22 and the side blow nozzle 2 are activated.
Pressure air is injected from 1 and 21 onto the top and side surfaces of the vehicle body to efficiently dry these surfaces. When the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 moves away from the front end of the vehicle V during a go-around, both the blower 23 and the traveling prime mover (not shown) are deactivated based on the detection by the reflection type ultrasonic detection device 50. The air blowing from the upper and side air blowing nozzles 22, 21, and 21 is stopped, and the traveling of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1 is stopped, thereby ending the drying process.

C. Effects of the invention As described above, according to the present invention, the frame has the following:
An upper surface rotating brush capable of brushing the upper surface of the vehicle and an upper surface blowing nozzle disposed closer to the outer end of the frame than the upper surface rotating brush and capable of drying the vehicle upper surface are provided, and the frame and the vehicle are connected to each other. In a car wash device that is capable of relative movement in the front-rear direction, an ultrasonic detector is provided with an ultrasonic sensor that detects the height of the top surface of a vehicle. Since the extending shielding tubes with open bottom ends are installed in series, the opening area of each shielding tube can be made smaller compared to the case where one shielding tube is installed in common in both the transmitting and receiving sections, and the opening area of each shielding tube can be made smaller. It is possible to reduce the amount of processing liquid such as cleaning water that enters the shield cylinder through the filter.

Furthermore, since the ultrasonic detection device is placed on the ceiling of the frame so as to be located outward from the top blower nozzle, the distance between each shielding cylinder opening of the detection device and the top rotating brush is horizontally By separating them as much as possible and interposing the top blowing nozzle between them, it becomes difficult for the large amount of processing liquid that is vigorously splashed in all directions from the top rotating brush to reach the openings of each shielding tube, and as a result, as described above, it is possible to Combined with the effect of reducing the opening area of the shielding tube, this effectively prevents the treatment liquid splashed from the top rotating brush from entering the shielding tube, and further preventing the emission and adhesion to the receiving section. Therefore, malfunction of the ultrasonic detection device due to the adhesion of the processing liquid can be avoided, and this can greatly contribute to improving the accuracy of its operation. Moreover, since such an effect can be achieved simply by specifying the setting position of the ultrasonic detection device as described above, it can contribute to the simplification of the structure of the device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a car washing device, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of its rinsing water injection device, wax application device, and washing water injection device, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the essential parts of the reflection type ultrasonic detection device, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the reflection type ultrasonic detection device and its related parts. 1... Gate-type traveling frame as a frame, 4
...Top surface rotating brush, 22...Top surface blowing nozzle,
50... Ultrasonic detection device, 52... Transmission unit, 53
... Receiving section, 52a, 53a... Shielding tube.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 The frame 1 includes an upper rotating brush 4 that can brush the upper surface of the vehicle V, and an upper blower nozzle 22 that is disposed closer to the outer end of the frame 1 than the upper rotating brush 4 and can dry the upper surface of the vehicle V. In the car washing apparatus, the frame 1 and the vehicle V can move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the ceiling of the frame 1 is provided with an ultrasonic detection device for detecting the height of the top surface of the vehicle. 50 is disposed so as to be located outward from the upper surface blowing nozzle 22, and the ultrasonic detection device 50 includes a transmitting and receiving section 52, 53 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a transmitting and receiving section 5 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves.
Installation of an ultrasonic detection device in a car washing device, characterized in that the ultrasonic detection device is provided with shielding tubes 52a and 53a for transmitting and receiving, each of which has an open lower end and extends along the propagation direction of the ultrasonic waves and is connected to the ultrasonic waves 2 and 53, respectively. structure.