JPH06127346A - Method and device for automatic cleaning of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a cleaning device whose structure is comparatively simple and which is comfortable for a user. CONSTITUTION: A device has a horizontal spray lever 7 and vertical spray levers 8 and 9, which are formed into a high pressure spray nozzle and photoelectric cell measuring heads 17 and 18 having two transmitters that can execute reciprocal operations and receivers. When a vehicle interrupts a light beam from a photoelectric cell head, a signal is generated, it is evaluated, is converted into a control signal and controls a cleaning device. Distance measuring devices 23 and 24 formed into ultrasonic devices exist on both side parts of the vehicle. A distance between the side parts of the vehicle and the fixing point of the carriage is decided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically cleaning a motor vehicle as set forth in the preamble of claim 1.

The invention also relates to an automatic motor vehicle cleaning device as indicated in the preamble of claim 3.

[0003]

2. Description of the Prior Art Generally, in most types of known motor vehicle cleaning equipment, controlling various parts of the cleaning equipment, such as spray nozzles or drying fans, so that these parts conform to the contours of the vehicle. is necessary. In order to be able to do this, the vehicle must be scanned and the resulting signal must be converted into a control signal for the drive of the cleaning device. In the known device, the mechanical scanning is usually carried out by rollers which are brought into contact with the vehicle body of the vehicle. Such mechanical sensors record the contour shape only at the contact points, which results in a relatively large distance between the device and the vehicle.

However, the control of equipment at one or several work stations, especially the control of fans, brushes and nozzles or the like in motor vehicle cleaning equipment, is well known. Accordingly, devices are well known in which the work station and the vehicle are moved relative to each other and non-contact sensor devices are used to sense or scan the contours of the vehicle. . Such a sensing device includes a number of transmitters and receivers consisting of a bundle of rays. These ray bundles are interrupted by the vehicle so that the receiver relays the activation signal through the coupling device to the drive mechanism to position the device.

In such a known cleaning device, for example the device known from DE 30 05 493, the sensor device at the work station is connected to the cleaning device and is moved together with it. . The interruption of the rays gives the control to move the device to the respective position to be occupied. Experience has shown that such devices are easily disturbed by the presence of fouling and water particles.

In order to avoid disadvantages which are caused by disturbing environmental factors such as dust, dirt and / or moisture, and which cannot be expected to occur in vehicle cleaning equipment. German patent 32 08 52
7 C2 several sensors, at least one, in the form of monitoring fluxes, arranged in rows perpendicular to the direction of movement relative to the respective parts of the vehicle and the device, arranged above one another and connected in series with one another A device has been proposed. The measurement results thus obtained, which are typical for the positions of the individual contour points, are entered into a memory and are used to control the device so that the device is positioned relative to the vehicle. It is done as it is done.

Although there are a large number of subsequent work stations, only one scan is made, this scan being carried out at the start-up of the device in such a way that there is nothing that may interfere with the spray. Therefore, only one scanning device is required, which is located in the area of the space where dirt and water particles are discharged from various types of nozzles, brushes and fans. The contour shape of the vehicle is stored during the scanning, and when the vehicle reaches each work station, the contents thus stored are transmitted to each work station to synchronize the device with the relative movement of the vehicle. It is used to control the movement of each part.

[0008]

It is an object of the present invention, starting from the above-mentioned prior art, to combine in a novel way the various advantageous features of these prior art which allow a user of a relatively simple construction. And a special object of the present invention is to provide a new method and a new device designed to carry out high pressure spraying, which is of environmental and energy demand. Savings and improvements in cleaning time and efficiency.

In connection with such high pressure spraying, it is important that the spraying be done in the best possible manner in order to obtain satisfactory results. The important parameters in this case are the distance, the angle, the overlap of the beams (spray pattern) and, of course, the pressure of the water, the amount of water used and the quality and composition of the chemicals used and their composition and effectiveness. It's a good time.

[0010]

The invention therefore provides a method having the features highlighted in the independent claims of the method as mentioned at the outset.

The invention likewise suggests a vehicle cleaning device having the features listed above in the characterizing part of the independent claims of the device, as mentioned at the outset.

The present invention provides a compact device. The scanning is made possible without obstruction of dirt and water particles so that the individual high-pressure nozzles used are guided in the best position with respect to the vehicle.
This makes it possible to take full advantage of the advantages offered by high pressure sprays. Also, in this device, the cleaning time is significantly shortened so that the cleaning time is in the best possible use condition. Such a new method and new device also make the environment more pleasant due to the high-pressure spray (reduction of water consumption and external waste), and also a reduction in energy consumption.

[0013]

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

The device according to the invention comprises, as is known per se, a carriage or frame 1 which can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle 2 shown, which carriage runs on rails 3, 4 of a floor 5. It is like this.

The cleaning carriage 1 is provided with a horizontal spray bar 7. The horizontal spray bar is mounted on a carriage such that it can be raised and lowered as shown in FIG. 2 and rotated about a horizontal longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Due to this possibility of movement, the spray bar 7 will be moved by the vehicle 2 when the carriage 1 is moved to the right in FIG.
It can occupy a desired position relative to, and thus pass over the vehicle and be guided over it. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 by the fact that the spray bar 7 is pulled relative to the vehicle 2 and that the possible positions of the spray bar as the carriage 1 passes over the vehicle 2 are shown. It is shown.

In order to clean the sides of the vehicle, two vertical spray bahers, designated 8 and 9 respectively, are mounted in the cleaning carriage 1. These vertical spray bars 8, 9 are mounted on the carriage 1 so that they can be moved toward and away from the sides of the vehicle, can be moved vertically up and down, and can be rotated about a horizontal central axis. Has been. In addition, the vertical spray bars 8, 9 are also shown in dashed lines and are adapted to be tiltable toward and away from the respective sides of the vehicle, as indicated by the angle in FIG.

The spray bar 7 also serves as a measuring bar and is provided with two brackets 15, 16 for supporting the photocell measuring heads 17, 18 respectively. Each measuring head has four photocells 19, 20, 21, 2
Have two. These two measuring heads 17, 18 and their respective photocells 19, 20, 21, 22 lie horizontally above and below one another, so that light rays are emitted between them. These rays act as sensors perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or motor vehicle 2,
This car size is now being sensed. A signal is generated when one or several rays are interrupted, which is converted into a control signal by a suitable evaluation coupling device. These control signals are advantageously stored and used to control and position the spray bar. In this regard, the present invention contemplates devices that are themselves well known to those skilled in the art. More detailed information regarding this type of device is found in German patent 30
05 493 A1 and of interest in this regard is German patent 32 08 52
7 C2.

To measure the lateral distance, an ultrasonic device such as that shown by the rectangular compartments 23, 24 is used.

The spray bar 7 includes a high voltage cable (not shown) having a number of nozzles 25. Furthermore, a soaping pipe 26 is incorporated in this bar, the spray bar 7 also being structurally associated with a drying bar 27. No further details regarding the high-voltage cable, the soaping pipe and the spray bar will be given, since they are all components known per se to the person skilled in the art. What is important in this respect is that the high pressure nozzle 25 and the drying bar 27, among other things, can be controlled and positioned by utilizing the data provided by the scanning performed by the photocell heads 17, 18.

The ultrasonic devices 23, 24 are used to measure lateral distances and also provide information on any misadjustment of position within the carriage. The signals thus provided are also stored and used to control the respective vertical spray bars 8 and 9. These vertical spray bars 8 and 9 are mounted in a carriage to move toward and away from the sides of the vehicle, vertically movable up and down, and rotated about a horizontal central axis. be able to. Furthermore, these vertical spray bars 8, 9 can also be tilted towards and away from the respective sides of the vehicle as indicated by the dashed lines and by the angles shown in FIG.

A second vertical spray bar assembly is shown in FIG. Arranged inside each of the carriages are vertical spray bars 10, 11 which can be pivoted in any articulated manner. Each of these bars is mounted to a carriage so that it can be moved laterally of the vehicle toward and away from its respective sides. Although optional bar members 12, 13 allow for adjustment to the lateral profile of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 5, these bars 10, 11 can also be made linear and spray bar 8 , 9 and can be made even longer and the spray height can be made even larger.

The vertical spray bars 10, 11 can be used in place of the vertical spray bars 8, 9 but can also be optionally combined with this so that both vertical spray bars are in the same carriage 1. Can be done. In this case, the vertical spray bars 8, 9 are arranged, for example, on the sides of the vertical spray bars 10, 11 or FIG.
When the spray bars 10, 11 in are lifted slightly higher than the position shown in this figure to allow room to rotate the spray bars 8, 9 below, ie above the lower part of the side of the vehicle. It is located below the vertical spray bars 10, 11. Of course, the particular form of the spray bar assembly is not critical to the present invention and is relatively free to one of ordinary skill in the art in forming suitable embodiments.

A measuring device, namely the photoelectric cell head 17,
The purpose of 18 is to scan longitudinal vehicle contours, store and evaluate / record relevant contour measurements,
These are to be used later to control the bar assembly 7. Ultrasonic devices 23, 24 are used to scan the side, or distance, of the vehicle to control and position the vertical spray bar.

The scanning is preferably carried out with the vehicle fixed in position and the carriage being moved, but it is of course possible to operate the device in the opposite manner, and importantly, the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. And the relative movement between the carriage.

The cycle of the cleaning operation is as follows. The carriage 1 is in the activation position on the left side of FIG. Vehicle 2 is shown in Figure 1.
Is moved to the position shown in. A washing device, i.e. the washing carriage 1, is moved to the right over the vehicle 2 and over it. During this movement, one of the ultrasonic devices 23 is activated and a lateral distance measurement is made. The length of the vehicle is read at the same time. These measurements can be stored.

After that, the carriage 1 is moved to the left in FIG. 1, that is, to return to the starting position shown. During this movement, soap is applied by the soap application pipe 26.

The carriage 1 then passes again over the vehicle 2 to the right and is moved over it, during which movement the reading of the side profile of the vehicle is carried out using the photocell heads 17, 18. . At the same time, the ultrasonic measurement of the other side of the vehicle is performed by the ultrasonic device 24. These measurements are stored.

The reason why the sides of the vehicle 2 are measured individually in separate movements through the motor vehicle is that in this way the mutual reciprocating interference between the ultrasonic devices 23, 24 is effected. This is because the possibility of is avoided.

The carriage 1 is then moved one more time to the left again, during this movement the lateral positioning is effected, ie vertical spray bars 8, 9;
11 is used to perform lateral positioning using the measured lateral distance.

After that, the carriage 1 is returned to the right. Here, the high pressure spray on the side of the car is done using a vertical spray bar.

The carriage is then moved back to the left and high pressure spray is provided by the bar 7 and nozzle 25. Bar 7 and its nozzle 2 during this spray
5 is controlled by means of the measurements taken during the first reading of the side profile, which allows the spray bar 7 to be selected in a small amount relative to the fixed vehicle 2. The nozzle is guided at the correct distance and angle relative to the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2, which is shown in its normal operating position.

The carriage 1 is then put back in again and the wax is added and a water wash is carried out by using a spray bar.

The carriage is returned to the left again and so-called drainage is performed.

After that, the carriage is returned once again, a calcium removing agent is added, and washing with fresh water is carried out, thereby reducing the Ph value. During the next movement of the carriage, the drying takes place with the aid of the data, i.e. the bars are recorded and controlled using the stored data.

This completes the cleaning and provides a signal that can drive the vehicle out of the cleaning system.

[0036]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, various advantageous features of the prior art are combined in a novel manner to provide a cleaning device having a relatively simple structure and comfortable for the user. It is possible to provide a new cleaning method and a new cleaning device designed to perform high-pressure spraying so as to obtain environmental demands and energy savings and improved cleaning time and efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of an automobile cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a side view of the device of FIG.

3 is an end view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view similar to FIG. 2, showing the actual vehicle cleaning device, ie, the cleaning carriage, in motion during a cleaning cycle.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a slightly modified vehicle cleaning device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Carriage or Frame 2 Car 3 Rail 4 Rail 5 Floor 7 Horizontal Spray Bar 8 Vertical Spray Bar 9 Vertical Spray Bar 10 Vertical Spray Bar 11 Vertical Spray Bar 12 Bar Member 13 Bar Member 15 Bracket 16 Bracket 17 Photoelectric Cell Measuring Head 18 Photoelectric Cell Measuring head 19 Photoelectric cell 20 Photoelectric cell 21 Photoelectric cell 22 Photoelectric cell 23 Ultrasonic device 24 Ultrasonic device 25 Nozzle 26 Soap application pipe 27 Drying bar

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A side contour of a vehicle is scanned without contact so as to give a measurement result of a side contour shape of a vehicle, and the measurement result given by this scanning is stored and relayed to a control device for cleaning. A method for automatically cleaning a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is positioned relative to the vehicle and the cleaning device is moved relative to the vehicle during a cleaning operation. The length is measured without contact, the cleaning device-the lateral distance of the vehicle is measured without contact, the desired best direction towards the vehicle and the distance to the vehicle are recorded, the side of the vehicle The contour shape is scanned, the recorded / scanned measurement results are stored, the stored data is associated with positioning the cleaning device in a starting position, and then the cleaning device is moved relative to the vehicle. The cleaning device used at this time is a high-pressure cleaning device, and the cleaning device that is moved to match the recorded side contour shape while being moved relative to the vehicle is used with respect to the vehicle. A method for automatically cleaning a vehicle, characterized in that it is continuously positioned in the relative desired direction and distance. 2. The length of the vehicle is first determined, and the lateral distance between the cleaning device and the vehicle is simultaneously measured so that the device can be moved relative to it relative to the vehicle. And the reading of the side profile of the vehicle is performed using the photocell device during the subsequent movement through the vehicle,
The distance on the other side is measured at the same time, and thereafter high-pressure spraying, washing and draining, etc. and drying are carried out using the data recorded and stored during washing and scanning. The method described in. 3. A carriage having a horizontal bar and a vertical bar for supporting the cleaning device, and a scanning and control device for scanning the shape of the vehicle to control the bar having the cleaning device to match the scanning. A vehicle cleaning device including a horizontal bar having a high pressure spray nozzle, a device for controlling the horizontal bar utilizing recorded results of distance and direction relative to the vehicle, on each side of the vehicle. A high pressure spray nozzle, a vertical bar having a photocell device with two or more reciprocating adjacent transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving light rays as a scanning device, said receiver being evaluated / Controlling the cleaning device by connecting / connecting the device, recording / evaluating the received start signal and transmitting a control signal A carriage measuring device for determining the respective distances between the respective sides of the vehicle and the fixed points in the adjacent sides of said carriage. Cleaning equipment for automobiles.