US3366986A - Automatic washplant for continuous washing of vehicles - Google Patents

Automatic washplant for continuous washing of vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3366986A
US3366986A US544272A US54427266A US3366986A US 3366986 A US3366986 A US 3366986A US 544272 A US544272 A US 544272A US 54427266 A US54427266 A US 54427266A US 3366986 A US3366986 A US 3366986A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
brushes
brush
arms
vehicle
washing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US544272A
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English (en)
Inventor
Weigele Gebhard
Sulzberger Johann
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of US3366986A publication Critical patent/US3366986A/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S3/00—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles
    • B60S3/04—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles
    • B60S3/06—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles with rotary bodies contacting the vehicle
    • B60S3/063—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles with rotary bodies contacting the vehicle the axis of rotation being approximately vertical
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S15/00—Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
    • Y10S15/02—Car cleaning plants

Definitions

  • the present invention is concerned with improvements in or modifications of the invention which is the subject of our Patent No. 3,237,229, which is concerned with an automatic washing plant for the continuous washing of vehicles, in particular private cars, having rotary brushes mounted on pivoted arms and adapted to operate in stationary positions, one horizontally disposed brush being used for the cleaning of the upper side of the vehicle and two pairs of horizontally disposed brushes being arranged respectively on both sides and being mutually displaced in the direction of passage of the vehicles, the pivoted arms of these pairs' of brushes being mounted for pivotal movement about a common vertical axis, held in their rest position at an angle to each other of approximately 90 and flexibly interconnected by springs or the like.
  • the present invention relates to a further development and improvement of this automatic washing plant and is intended in particular to effect an increase in the performance thereof by reducing the distance between the vehicles passing through the washing plant to a minimum.
  • each brush assembly which is rotatable about a vertical axis consists of at least three brushes, the pivoted arms of which are movable about a common vertical axis and are each flexibly interconnected with the adjacent pivoted arms of the same brush as sembly by springs or the like in such a manner that each brush assembly, in the rest position, forms a symmetrical rotating star, the pivoted arms of which enclose equal angles.
  • This arrangement makes it possible to pass the vehicles for washing directly one behind the other at a minimum distance apart through the washing plant so that the output of the washing plant can be increased to a substantial extent.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the automatic washing plant in the rest position.
  • FIGURE 2 is a corresponding plan view of the same plant in a particular operating position
  • FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a brush assembly in the direction of the arrow III in FIGURE 2.
  • a vehicle is shown in broken lines at 1, which vehicle is being advanced by means of a suitable transport mechanism, e.g., an endless conveyor belt 2, continuously in the direction B through a washing plant.
  • This washing plant consists of a horizontal washing brush 4, rotating about an axis 3, which extends over the whole width of the vehicle and is used for washing the whole of the upper side of the vehicle.
  • This washing brush is mounted on a pivot arm 5 which is provided with a counterweight 6 in order to balance the weight.
  • This pivot arm 5 is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis 8 on a stationary column 7.
  • the brush 4 is driven by an electric motor 9 which is located on the pivot arm.
  • two identical brush assemblies are provided, each having at least three vertical brushes, in the case of the embodiment shown four brushes 14 to 17 and 18 to 21.
  • the pivot arms 22 carrying these brushes are rotatably arranged approximately on a common vertical axis, i.e., on the axis 23 or 24 of a vertical column 25 or 26, or alternatively according to the embodiment shown on a vertical axis 27 located close to the axis 23 and 24 as described in greater detail below.
  • each brush assembly in the rest position shown in FIGURE 1 forms a symmetrical rotating star, the pivot arms of which enclose equal angles a.
  • this angle a is equal to
  • This angle 06 would accordingly be in the case of an assembly consisting only of three brushes and 72 in the case of an assembly consisting of 5 brushes.
  • both brushes 19 and 18 wash the long side 11 of the vehicle simultaneously.
  • the brushes 14 and 15 of the first brush assembly have almost completed their task, the brush 15 having already washed half the rear side 13 of the vehicle.
  • the brush 19 of the second assembly finally washes the other half rear side 13 of the vehicle.
  • the brushes 15 and 16 of the first brush assembly and the brushes 19 and 20 of the second brush assembly are then used in the manher already described. There are thus always two brushes of each assembly in operation for the washing of a vehicle, so that by rotating the star-shaped brush assemblies towards each other all the brushes are brought into oper ation.
  • stops 30 can be provided on the pivot arm as shown in FIGURE 2, which, when the springs 28 are detensioned, prevent the brushes which are not then required (in FIGURE 2 the brushes 20 and 21) from coming into contact with each other or with the other brushes (18 and 19).
  • the brushes have the direction of rotation indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2 by arrows R and L, i.e., the brushes of the first assembly rotate in a clockwise direction and the brushes of the second assembly in an anti-clockwise direction. These directions of rotation are advantageous and necessary so that the brushes washing the front side of the vehicle can roll over forwardly projecting parts thereof and over projecting bumpers. It is however advantageous subsequently to alter this direction of rotation.
  • each washing brush drive is made reversible and a control device is provided which reverses the direction of rotation of each brush as soon as it has passed from the front of the vehicle to a long side.
  • a control device is provided which reverses the direction of rotation of each brush as soon as it has passed from the front of the vehicle to a long side. If for example the brush 18 initially rotating in the direction L has Washed half the front side of the vehicle 1, this direction of rotation is reversed into the opposite direction R as shown in FIGURE 2 as soon as this brush reaches the long side 11 of the vehicle.
  • these two brushes 18 and 19 which are in operation have opposite directions of rotation. This has the advantage that the sides of the vehicle are cleaned better and more completely than if the two brushes had the same direction of rotation.
  • each brush assembly it is advantageous to provide a fixed hollow supporting column 25 and 26 in the interior of which are housed the electric conductors and water supply pipes coming up from the ground.
  • a base or casing 31 which is rotatably mounted on the latter and carries the pivot arm 22. This latter is pivotally mounted round the circumference of the casing 31 on the axis 27.
  • a bearing head 32 is furthermore fixedly connected to this casing 31 and is supported on the column 26 and acts as a distributor head for electric current and water.
  • switch boxes 33 On the pivot arms 22 are arranged switch boxes 33 for control purposes, which are connected on the one hand by the leads 34 with the bearing head 32 and on the other hand by the leads 35 with the motors 36 which drive the vertical brushes 18, 19, etc. Water and washing fluid are sprayed onto each brush by a spray tube 37 as shown in FIGURE 3. This spray tube is connected with the distributor head 32.
  • each brush can pivot radially outwards. This pendulum movement or outward displacement occurs when the brushes come up against a protruding obstruction, e.g., the projecting ends of the bumper. In this was, the movement of the brushes over such obstruction is facilitated and in addition any damage to the brush mounting is avoided.
  • a protruding obstruction e.g., the projecting ends of the bumper.
  • brush assemblies can also be provided each having three or five brushes arranged in star formation. Brush assemblies with four or five brushes are, however, most advantageous.
  • neighbouring pivot arms can be inter- I connected not only by springs, but alternatively if required by pneumatic or hydraulic force-exerting means in order to obtain the action described above, i.e., the simultaneous pressing in each case of two brushes of an assembly with uniform pressure against the vehicle.
  • a brush assembly comprising:
  • resilient means flexibly interconnecting each of said arms with the adjacent pivoted arms of the same brush assembly in such a manner that the brush assembly, in the rest position, forms a symmetrical rotating star, the pivoted arms of which enclose equal angles.
  • the brush assembly defined in claim 1 including a hollow supporting column with an internally arranged electric current and water supply, a casing located at the upper end of said column and rotatably mounted on it, said brush-carrying pivoted arms being pivotally mounted on the circumference of the casing, and a bearing head rigidly fixed to said casing which is supported on the column and serves as a distributor head for electric current and water.
  • each brush is provided with reversible driving means having a control device adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of each brush as soon as the latter has passed from the front side of a vehicle advancing through the washing plant to a long side of said vehicle.
  • An automatic Washing plant of the type described in claim 1 including at least one horizontal rotary brush mounted on pivoted arm means for cleaning the upper side of the vehicle and two of said brush assemblies mutually displaced in the direction of movement of said vehicles.
  • the brush assembly defined in claim 1 including a base and means supporting said base for rotation about said common vertical axis, said arms being individually mounted on said base for pivotal movement with respect to said base about vertical pivot axes, whereby said arms can revolve about said common vertical axis and can pivot with respect to said base about said vertical pivot axes.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
US544272A 1965-12-18 1966-04-21 Automatic washplant for continuous washing of vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3366986A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEW0040535 1965-12-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3366986A true US3366986A (en) 1968-02-06

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ID=7602503

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US544272A Expired - Lifetime US3366986A (en) 1965-12-18 1966-04-21 Automatic washplant for continuous washing of vehicles

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US3366986A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
AT (1) AT260706B (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
BE (1) BE691330A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
DK (1) DK117331B (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
ES (1) ES332304A2 (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
GB (1) GB1132255A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
IL (1) IL25237A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
NL (1) NL6601936A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
SE (1) SE306473B (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5898966A (en) * 1997-07-17 1999-05-04 Kaady; Charles M. Car wash side brushing apparatus having two independently adjustable brushes
CN107060382A (zh) * 2017-04-10 2017-08-18 重庆废欲清环保科技有限公司 全包围式广告洗车房

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5898966A (en) * 1997-07-17 1999-05-04 Kaady; Charles M. Car wash side brushing apparatus having two independently adjustable brushes
CN107060382A (zh) * 2017-04-10 2017-08-18 重庆废欲清环保科技有限公司 全包围式广告洗车房
CN107060382B (zh) * 2017-04-10 2023-02-07 重庆废欲清环保科技有限公司 全包围式广告洗车房

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK117331B (da) 1970-04-13
SE306473B (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1968-11-25
GB1132255A (en) 1968-10-30
NL6601936A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1967-06-19
AT260706B (de) 1968-03-25
BE691330A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1967-06-16
ES332304A2 (es) 1967-07-16
IL25237A (en) 1969-09-25

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