US3725967A - Control system for horizontal scrubbing brush of vehicle-washing station - Google Patents

Control system for horizontal scrubbing brush of vehicle-washing station Download PDF

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Publication number
US3725967A
US3725967A US00146285A US3725967DA US3725967A US 3725967 A US3725967 A US 3725967A US 00146285 A US00146285 A US 00146285A US 3725967D A US3725967D A US 3725967DA US 3725967 A US3725967 A US 3725967A
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Prior art keywords
brush
bar
vehicle
frame
combination defined
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00146285A
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English (en)
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U Capra
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Individual
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Individual
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    • 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
    • B60S3/066—Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles with rotary bodies contacting the vehicle the axis of rotation being approximately horizontal
    • 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 switch may comprise a weighted cam carrier freely pivoted 3,292,192 12/1966 Maxwell ..15/21 D on the support and coacting with a follower mounted 3,593,358 7/1971 Hofmann ..15/2l D on the bar thereof.
  • My present invention relates to a plant forcleaning, i.e., washing and/or drying, automotive vehicles and the like with the aid of rotating scrubbing brushes, e.g.,
  • Such systems normally include a so-called portal frame which straddles the path of the vehicle to be cleaned and which carries one or more scrubbing brushes, including at least one brush rotatable about a horizontal axis for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of the vehicle. Motion is imparted to the .frame and/or to the vehicle for relatively displacing same during the scrubbing operation, the drive means used for this purpose being advantageously reversible to permit a more intensive sweep of both end surfaces.
  • Such a swingfrom a normal brush position actuates an inclination sensor, e.g., a mercury switch, which thereupon starts a hoisting motor toelevate the brush until the latter clears the engaged surface.
  • an inclination sensor e.g., a mercury switch
  • the brush is continuously rotated in a sense preventing it from creeping up arising surface in contact with it, the swingable brush support being advantageously provided with centering springsor the like tending to maintain it in its normal vertical position.
  • the general object of my present invention is toprovide a control system for such a horizontal scrubbing brush which is of simplified construction, avoiding the need for a pair of swingable guide tracks to mount the brush on its portal frame.
  • the brush is of generally cylindrical configuration with the cylinder axis extending horizontally and transverse to the path of relative motion of the portal frame and the vehicle.
  • the brush is mounted on a support which is swingable with reference to the portal frame but, in contradistinction to the mountingof thecopending ap plication, is vertically guided in arpair of fixed tracks on placed in a predetermined direction, an advantageous embodiment (morefully described hereinafter) utilizes a sense of rotation opposite that preferentially employed in my earlier system, i.e., a rotation tending to induce upward creep along an inclined vehicular surface.
  • the relatively low moment of inertia of the swingable unit of my present system enables almost instant detection of even a moderate upward slope so that the brush can readily follow the contours of the vehicle.
  • the inclination sensor on the brush support comprises a weighted element which is freely pivoted on the supporting bar and coacts with a mounting element rigid with that bar, one of these elements being provided with a camming profile displacing a follower on the other element in a relatively swung-out position of the two elements.
  • FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatical front-elevational view of a vehicle-washing station embodying the present improvement
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged front-elevational view of a part of the system of FIG. 1 encompassed within the area ll thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the elements visible in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IV IV ofFIG. 2.
  • the system shown in the drawing comprises a vertically movable unit, generally designated 1, slidably guided in the jambs 6a of a portal frame 6 with the aid of a pair of channeled track members 5 secured to these jambs.
  • Frame 6 rides, by means of two sets of rollers 19 which are driven by a motor not shown (see US. Pat. No. 3,688,329), on horizontal rails 18 so as to be movable with reference to a stationary vehicle positioned between these rails. It will be understood that the framecould also be stationary if the vehicle is in motion during the scrubbingoperation.
  • Mobile unit 1 includes a horizontalgbar or beam .1' which terminates in a pair of end rollers 4 guided in the slots of track members 5. This mode of guidance also allowsthe bar 1 to pivot on the common axis of rollers 4. Such pivotal movement is communicated to a: horizontal scrubbing brush 2 which is suspended from bar 1" by two arms la in which it isrotatably journaled; the shaft 2a of brush 2 is driven from a motor 3, also carried on bar 1', with the aid of a belt or chain transmission 3a.
  • a horizontal scrubbing brush 2 which is suspended from bar 1" by two arms la in which it isrotatably journaled; the shaft 2a of brush 2 is driven from a motor 3, also carried on bar 1', with the aid of a belt or chain transmission 3a.
  • An inclination sensor 10 comprises a hoop of generally ovoid shape whose downwardly pointed extremity is weighted by a heavy insert 11 and which therefore maintains a vertical attitude as illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • Hoop l0 embraces the bar I with enough clearance to allow a substantial relative swingto either side, the top of the hoop being fastened for this purpose to an extremity .8 of a horizontal ,pin 8 journaled in a 15, in the form of a roller supported by a pushbuttontype operating arm 16a of a switch 16 fixedly mounted on an extension 16b of bar 1', confronts the camming edge 14, 14', 14" so as to be shifted to the left (as viewed in FIGS.
  • Brush motor 3 which advantageously is reversible together with the motor for the frame drive, operates in such a sense that the side of the brush facing the oncoming vehicle moves downwardly, thereby tending to propel the brush in a direction opposite that of relative vehicle motion; naturally, the brush rotates at such a high speed that its peripheral velocity greatly exceeds the relative velocity of the vehicle and the frame.
  • the balancing effect of the counterweights 25 reduces the friction between the bristles or filaments of the brush and the scrubbed surface to such a value that, if this surface is substantially horizontal, the resulting swing of the mobile unit 1 about the axis of rollers 4 is insufficient to trip the switch 16 whose contactor is normally spaced from the cam member 13.
  • the relative motion of the vehicle generates a forswing back (by gravity and/or creep) after clearing the obstacle.
  • switch 16 and cam 13 could be interchanged, with the latter an integral part of the bar 1' and the former carried on the pivoted arm 12; with the illustrated construction, however, the electric circuits are simplified since the leads to and from the switch may be fixedly imbedded in bar I and mounting arm 16b.
  • the invention could also be realized with other types of inclinationresponsive devices such as the mercury switch of my copending application Ser.No.9 9,408 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,329.
  • the frame drive may be arrested in response to a substantial brush deflection to allow the unit 1 to clear a large vertical or nearly vertical vehicle surface, such as the front or back of a truck.
  • switch 16 may be provided with a break contact included in the energizing circuit of the frame drive so as to open whenever the follower 15 is depressed sufficiently to operate the hoist motor 20.
  • a portal frame straddling the path of a vehicle to be scrubbed, said frame and said vehicle being relatively movable along said path;
  • inclination-responsive switch means on said support means for actuating said hoist means upon such swinging from a normal position by a predetermined minimum angle
  • said switch means comprising a weighted element freely pivoted on said bar and a mounting element rigid with said bar, one of said elements being provided with a camming profile, the other of said elements being provided with a follower displaceable by said profile in a relatively swung-out position of said elements.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
US00146285A 1970-07-10 1971-05-24 Control system for horizontal scrubbing brush of vehicle-washing station Expired - Lifetime US3725967A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2725470 1970-07-10

Publications (1)

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US3725967A true US3725967A (en) 1973-04-10

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ID=11221279

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00146285A Expired - Lifetime US3725967A (en) 1970-07-10 1971-05-24 Control system for horizontal scrubbing brush of vehicle-washing station

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US (1) US3725967A (OSRAM)
ES (1) ES195666Y (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2097729A5 (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1315753A (OSRAM)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4196486A (en) * 1978-03-03 1980-04-08 Ceccato & C. S.P.A. Control system for horizontal vehicle-scrubbing brush
US4301566A (en) * 1978-11-16 1981-11-24 Gebhard Weigele Apparatus for controlling the movements of a roller-like horizontal rotary washing brush in motor vehicle washing apparatus
US4495667A (en) * 1983-01-14 1985-01-29 Caravelle Industries, Inc. Vehicle washing apparatus
US5722104A (en) * 1996-04-22 1998-03-03 Belanger, Inc. Position control system for counterweighted vehicle laundry top brush
US20080086238A1 (en) * 2004-06-16 2008-04-10 Ceccato S.P.A. Brush Control System and Method on a Washing Brush Installation for Cleaning Vehicles

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3292192A (en) * 1964-08-11 1966-12-13 Minute Car Wash Company Ltd 4 Vehicle cleaning appliance
DE1247887B (OSRAM) * 1964-02-29 1967-08-17
CH443940A (de) * 1966-10-06 1967-09-15 Sam Vollenweider Ag Textilmasc Autowaschanlage
US3593358A (en) * 1968-02-29 1971-07-20 Josef Hofmann Switch control mechanism for a carwash installation

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1247887B (OSRAM) * 1964-02-29 1967-08-17
US3292192A (en) * 1964-08-11 1966-12-13 Minute Car Wash Company Ltd 4 Vehicle cleaning appliance
CH443940A (de) * 1966-10-06 1967-09-15 Sam Vollenweider Ag Textilmasc Autowaschanlage
US3593358A (en) * 1968-02-29 1971-07-20 Josef Hofmann Switch control mechanism for a carwash installation

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4196486A (en) * 1978-03-03 1980-04-08 Ceccato & C. S.P.A. Control system for horizontal vehicle-scrubbing brush
US4301566A (en) * 1978-11-16 1981-11-24 Gebhard Weigele Apparatus for controlling the movements of a roller-like horizontal rotary washing brush in motor vehicle washing apparatus
US4495667A (en) * 1983-01-14 1985-01-29 Caravelle Industries, Inc. Vehicle washing apparatus
US5722104A (en) * 1996-04-22 1998-03-03 Belanger, Inc. Position control system for counterweighted vehicle laundry top brush
US20080086238A1 (en) * 2004-06-16 2008-04-10 Ceccato S.P.A. Brush Control System and Method on a Washing Brush Installation for Cleaning Vehicles
US7765016B2 (en) * 2004-06-16 2010-07-27 Ceccato S.P.A. Brush control system and method on a washing brush installation for cleaning vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2097729A5 (OSRAM) 1972-03-03
GB1315753A (en) 1973-05-02
ES195666Y (es) 1975-07-01
ES195666U (es) 1975-02-01

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