EP1037780A1

EP1037780A1 - Method, wash station and control unit for cleaning vehicles, especially rail vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1037780A1
Application number: EP98958135A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marc Uhr
Original assignee: Zurfluh Louis
Current assignee: Zurfluh Louis
Priority date: 1997-12-11
Filing date: 1998-12-10
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Also published as: WO1999029547A1; CH692610A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a wash station (10) for cleaning vehicles (16), especially rail vehicles. Said wash station comprises a passageway (12) through which at least one vehicle (16) can be guided, and at least one cleaning device (20) surrounding the vehicle. The cleaning device (20) comprises at least three portals, in that context eight portals (21, 25, 25', 30, 70), which are driven independently from each other and can be moved sequentially along the vehicle (16) which is preferably in a fixed position. The first portal (21) has a unit for increasing the temperature of the outer part of the vehicle to a predetermined value and a unit for applying a detergent product. The second and third portal (21, 25, 25', 70) have cleaning brushes (26, 27, 29) and the fourth portal comprises a rinsing unit. The inventive wash station (10) allows for a reduction in wash time as well as in water and detergent consumption.

Description

Method and a washing system and a control device for cleaning vehicles, in particular rail vehicles

The invention relates to a method for cleaning vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, in which the at least one vehicle is guided into a passageway and is washed therein by a cleaning device with portals surrounding the vehicle; as well as a washing system and a control device.

In an existing method, in particular for cleaning entire trains, a cleaning device is installed in a transit hall, in which a plurality of stationary units arranged at a distance from one another are provided. The train is being towed by a

CONFIRMATION COPY O 99/29547

- 2 - the vehicle was driven through the hall at almost step-by-step, the front and side cleaning being carried out while the train was stationary. This requires a two-time process stop. With this washing system, the train moving into the hall is initially heated or cooled to a certain temperature and then cleaned with brushes on the front in a double-cycle device, the chemical being rubbed in on the front and then washed and rinsed . After completing this front wash, the composition is set in motion again, and the side surfaces are rubbed with a chemical and the brushes rub it on the train surface. After a so-called exposure zone, the composition is washed by the brushes as it passes through, rinsed by means of nozzles and finally the window parts are rinsed.

A considerable disadvantage of this washing installation is that it does not allow a variable exposure time for the chemical, since the train composition or the like passes through the installation at a constant speed. In addition, the length of the system is to be designed accordingly, after the chemical has been applied, after application of the chemical, which leads to a large construction volume. Likewise, a large amount of space is required for the sewage systems and the buffers. In addition, there is also no possibility of adapting the washing process to the degree of soiling of the train and of using the various cleaning chemicals efficiently. The hall must be open on both sides, since the train moving during cleaning moves in on one side and then comes out again at the opposite exit. As a result, the polluted exhaust air and waste water escape, for example aerosols enriched with phosphoric or sulfuric acid. There are other generic washing systems _* which, however, are unison with almost the same disadvantages as stated above.

In contrast, the present invention was based on the object of creating a method and a washing system according to the above-mentioned configuration which enable optimum cleaning with low energy, water and cleaning agent requirements. Furthermore, this washing system is intended to achieve an almost complete absorption and clarification of the wastewater or the exhaust air and, moreover, the degree of pollution of the vehicle should also be taken into account

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the cleaning device is formed from at least three portals which can be moved independently of one another and which are moved one after the other in the same direction along the vehicle, in particular when the vehicle is stationary.

With this device according to the invention, maximized cleaning, in particular of railway trains, can be carried out, in which, moreover, faster washing times are achieved with significantly lower consumption of water and cleaning agents. In addition, concentrated cleaning agents that can be used with a more targeted dosage can be used in an optimal manner without assuming any pollutants are released into the environment.

The washing installation according to the invention has at least three, preferably four or even up to eight independently driven portals O 99/29547

.4. on, which are arranged one after the other along the preferably stationary vehicle. This results in considerable advantages with regard to controllable and controlled cleaning. In addition, a better and easier storage of the wastewater or a complete removal of the exhaust air is achieved, and furthermore this washing system contributes to an environmentally compatible cleaning of vehicles without being associated with higher investment costs.

The passage hall, in which a washing system according to the invention is provided, has a plurality of samin channels or the like which are arranged next to one another and pass almost over the entire range of the portals, and which are arranged below the support surface for the vehicle, in particular rails. Depending on the consistency, the waste water can be collected and evaluated separately.

Correspondingly, the porcelain are each associated with receptacles, to which slcucrorganc are attached to the outlet, through which the resulting waste water can be directed into a selectable collecting channel.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention and further advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

I is a schematic plan view of a washing system according to the invention in a passage hall,

2 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment variant of a washing installation according to the invention,

3 shows a schematic cross section of a passage hall and a washing installation provided in it, 4 shows a schematic side view of a cleaning device, and FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a portal of the washing installation according to FIG. 4 provided with brushes.

1 shows a schematically illustrated washing system 10 for cleaning vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, in an area of a so-called medium-sized machine. This module variant shown is suitable for an output of approx. 400 to 650 meters of washed train per hour. It is specially designed for cleaning entire train sets. It has a passage hall 12 with a hall length of approximately 180 meters, which in the present exemplary embodiment is represented by the two halves that are mutually angular. In this hall 1 2, an entire ice rink train with an advantageous length of approximately 1,50 meters can run on rails 15 and be washed therein by a cleaning device 20. Such a washing system 10 with the through hall 12 is built in particular at a larger station, in which the trains remain overnight in this station and can therefore be brought quickly to the washing system and back to the platforms.

According to the invention, the cleaning device is formed from at least three, in the present exemplary embodiment, from a plurality of portals, which can be moved independently of one another, at least over a partial area of the hall length. These portals are moved one after the other in the same direction along the stationary vehicle in particular, the waste water and the exhaust air generated during the cleaning being collected almost completely and then clarified. There are eight portals in this cleaning facility, four of which form a block, by means of which one half of the train is cleaned. With this variant, a very powerful washing system has been created.

Each block has a first portal 2 1, by means of which the outside of the vehicle is heated or cooled to the desired temperature and then a cleaning agent is applied. This is done by spraying nozzles 22, 23, each spraying water or cleaning agent onto the side and top of the vehicle like a curtain. A selectable feed movement of the portal 2 1 along the train ensures that the cleaning agent is applied uniformly. Then the portals 25, 25 ^' according to the required line of action of the cleaning agent rub the side walls, the roof, the roof slopes, the aprons and finally the front cables of the train using the brushes 26, 27, 28 explained in more detail below. With the spraying of clear water through the nozzles 3 1 of the last portal 30, the cleaning agent is rinsed off all around. From further internally arranged nozzles 32 on the portal 30, a so-called window osmosis and optionally post-treatment are carried out, for example, by applying a school or preservative or the like. The portals 21, 25, 25 ', 30 are driven independently of one another for the longitudinal feed. This enables variable and precisely coordinated cleaning.

The portals move block by block, the block shown above moving from the center of the hall 12Y outwards to the end of the hall 12Z, while the block shown below simultaneously moves from the hall end I 2X into the hall center 12Y 99/29547

- 7 - is pushed. With this washing machine, very long trains can be washed completely in about 10 minutes.

The passage hall 12 is closed to the outside during the washing process. The resulting wastewater and the exhaust air are thus almost completely collected and filtered by a respective recycling process and impurities are removed from them, which is explained in detail below.

This optimized cleaning is additionally improved by determining the level of cleaning and / or speeding of the driving / injecting of a measuring method (not shown in more detail) and from this determining the application rate per area of the cleaning agent, in particular by adjusting the feed rate of the portals. This is preferably carried out by a PLC or the like.

Furthermore, the exterior dimensions of the vehicle during its heating or cooling are determined by a measuring method known per se, preferably using a radar measuring device working on a microwave basis. This measuring device has one or more sensors arranged at a selectable distance from the outside of the train. This sensor sends a microwave pulse onto the train surface, which is reflected on it and reflected back to a receiver. The respective distance can then be determined by means of an evaluation unit in the measuring device. The process computer belonging to the measuring device stores the determined distances and transfers them cyclically to a central computer, from which the brushes are then controlled accordingly. O 99/29547

This measuring device has the advantage that it works regardless of the temporary state of the ambient air, i.e. Even with a liquid mist or at different temperatures of this ambient air, the measurements can be carried out with sufficient accuracy.

2 shows a washer 40 ^'ig opposite to that of F. l is simpler and therefore less powerful. It has only three portals 2 1, 25, 30, each of those ^'pure according F. l correspond and are therefore no longer clear. These portals also travel block by block from one end of Hall 42 to the other, which is advantageously around 50 meters long. With this system 40, the trains are advantageously cleaned clockwise by approximately the full length. The two hall trucks provided at the end are designed in such a way that in the closed state they tightly enclose the train which extends on one or both ropes to outside the hall, so that the hall le is closed on both sides during the washing process.

In principle, the portals 2 i, 25, 30 could also be designed in such a way that they could be used to carry out the washing process both in one direction and in the other. For this purpose, the two outer portals 2 1 and 30 would have to be provided with corresponding nozzles and connections, so that both portals could carry out the same washing work. The middle portal 25 could, however, be left as shown. Incidentally, this also has hydrodynamic rotor sprinkler heads 24 which, instead of the brushes, become salted when a vehicle may not be brushed. O 99/29547

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross section of hall 12, which - as already mentioned above - is closed during cleaning. The tunnel-shaped hall 12 has a driving victory I I in the mille, on which the rails 15 are arranged, on which an indicated train 16 can move. At a distance from this web 15 there are parallel webs 18 each with a rail 17 for the portals 2 1, 25, 25 ', 30 which can be moved thereon. The illustrated portal 25 'isl like the other portals U-shaped and accordingly surrounds the train 16. Mil the brushes 27 provided with a vertical axis of rotation become the Scilenwändc of the train, meanwhile with the horizontal brush 29 the Zugdacli and mil the oblique brushes 28 the aprons and the roof slopes 16 'cleaned, in particular at Doppclstock fahrzcugcn.

Hall 1 2 preferably has a watertight inner casing 19 which delimits the washroom and which is advantageously also provided in the entrance and exit hall of Hall 12. As a result, the waste water and exhaust air that accumulate can be almost completely collected and filtered by a respective recycling method and impurities can be removed from them.

To collect the wastewater, on both sides of the web 1 1 there are a plurality of collecting channels arranged next to one another and extending approximately over the entire displacement range of the portals, which are arranged below the contact surface formed by the rails 15. These collecting channels are designed on the one hand as receiving channels 55, 61, 62 for the waste water and on the other hand as supply channels 56, 57 for the portals. In the case of the receiving grooves 55 located below the portal 25 ', three are provided on each side of the web 11, the two outer 62, the middle 61 and the inner grooves 55 being paired. O 99/29547

- 10 - as the same wastewater and thus a subdivision into three different wastewater orl takes place. The supply channels 56, 57 are connected via suction pipes 64 or the like to the supply nozzles on the portals. The different liquids stored in these troughs 56, 57 can thus optionally be removed in a controlled manner by pump units.

As a further advantage within the scope of the invention, the portals each have two catch troughs 65 which extend below the respective portal 25 'from the cutout inwards to the rail 15 or above the receptacles 55, 61, 62 - covering them are. The collecting troughs 65 are each provided with at least one, preferably even three outlets 66, each of which is directed into one of the three channels 55, 61, 62. These drains 66 each contain a closure member (not shown in more detail), by means of which the contaminated liquid collected by the collecting trough 65 can be directed into one of the three collecting bins 55, 6 1, 62 by controlled opening of one of the closure members, this primarily depends on the liquid sprayed on, which may be pure water, such a cleaning agent, water with additives or other.

The wastewater in receptacles 55, 61, 62 are led to a sewage treatment plant for clarification via drain pipes, which are not shown in detail. Such a wastewater treatment plant works in a conventional manner and is therefore no longer explained in detail. With this system, the wastewater from sludges etc. is filtered, oil is separated and chemicals are removed. Some of the clarified wastewater is returned O 99/29547

into the supply channels 56, 57, into which fresh water and appropriate cleaning and other agents are also added.

All of the exhaust air is discharged via channels 51 during cleaning and is likewise cleaned in a conventional manner and is blown back into the washroom laterally along with fresh air via air inlet channels 52, 53.

Due to the arrangement of the washer 10 erfindungsgemässc optimal conditions for a komplcf lcs and simplifying [ ^'eighth recycling the waste water and the exhaust have been created.

4 and FIG. 1 again show the portals and in particular the arrangement of the brushes on the portal 70. A further advantage according to the invention is the brush 26 used for the front and rear ropes, which is designed in such a way that it matches the effective shape of the front and l lckckscitc of a vehicle 16, as shown for example by the locomotive in Figure 4, can be adjusted. As a result, the outer shape of the brush 26 can be adjusted accordingly to all the known shapes in modern trains. The brush 26 is composed of three individual brushes 67, 68 lined up, each of which has a drive shaft 67 ', 68', which are pivotally connected to one another via universal joints 69 or the like. On the outside, the axes 67 'are rotatably mounted on the portal and can be set in rotation with a corresponding drive 7 1. By means of cylinders 73 or the like which are pivotably held on the portal 70 on two ropes, the drive axes 67 'of the brushes 67 on the outside can be adjusted in a horizontal plane starting from a straight line on both ropes over an angular range. This angular range moves approximately within the two shown in FIG. O 99/29547

- 12 - p.csl lllon Posiliotu-n this Mihslcn? ( _* The l- ^' iu / clbi * (cn (<^" \ ON-. Are still each with a slightly concave outer shape, so that in each angular position there is a results in approximately unbroken outer line 74. These brushes 26 thus allow both the front and the leash ropes to be rubbed in. Outside angle, the angular position can be changed during brushing at any height position.

The invention is sufficiently demonstrated with the exemplary embodiments explained above. Of course, you can see yourself in other variations. For example, a very long Hiscnbahi could be washed in overall strength takteler order in which ^'Fei to ^l' hawks the style lstehenden each wash train would cleaned.

Claims

O 99/29547

- 13 -

PΛTENTΛNSPRUCI1E

I. Method for cleaning vehicles, in particular rail vehicles (16), in which the at least one vehicle (16) is guided into a passage hall (12) and contained therein by a cleaning device (20) with portals (21, 25, 25 ') surrounding the vehicle, 30, 70), characterized in that the cleaning device (20) is formed from at least three portals (21, 25, 25 ', 30, 70) which can be moved independently of one another, at least over a partial region of the length of the case, and which are cleaned one after the other are moved in the same direction along the vehicle (16), which is in particular stationary. O 99/29547

- H -

2. The method according to claim I, characterized in that the cleaning device (20) has a first portal (21) which, in the process, heats or cools the vehicle exterior to the desired temperature and then applies the cleaning agent by means of a second and preferably a third portal (25, 25 ') in a defined area after cleaning agent has been applied, the front, the leakage, the wall walls and the roof are cleaned by means of brushes (26, 27, 29) and the vehicle exterior ropes are finally closed by a third or the fourth portal (30) is rinsed during its displacement and optionally an aftertreatment of the vehicle door and the outer side ci follows.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the passage hall (12) is closed to the outside during the washing process and thus the waste water and the exhaust air are almost completely collected and filtered by a respective recycling process and impurities are removed from them become.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wastewater accumulating at the portals (21, 25, 25 ', 30, 70) is almost completely collected and passed separately into a collecting channel or the like for the subsequent recycling process.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the degree of soiling of the vehicle is determined by means of a detergent, not shown, and from this the amount per surface of the cleaning agent and / or the feed speeds of the portals are adjusted. O 99/29547

- 15 -

6. Washing system preferably for performing the method according to one of the preceding claims, for cleaning vehicles (16), in particular rail vehicles, mil a passage hall (12) through which one or more vehicles (16) can be passed and at least one the respective vehicle Surrounding cleaning device (20) is provided, the cleaning device having portals (21, 25, 25 ', 30, 70) surrounding the vehicle, characterized in that the cleaning device (20) is formed from at least three portals which are driven independently of one another and are designed to be displaceable one after the other along the preferably stationary vehicle (16), the first portal (2 1) having a device for generating a defined temperature of the vehicle and a device for applying a cleaning agent, on the second portal (21, 25 , 25 ', 70) cleaning brushes (26, 27, 29) and on the third porta l a flushing device is formed.

7. Washing system according to claim 6, characterized in that two blockwcise working cleaning devices (20) are provided for the passage hall (16), which preferably clean one half of the vehicle at a time.

8. A passage hall for a washing installation according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the passage hall (12) has a plurality of collecting channels or the like which are arranged next to one another and extend approximately over the entire range of the portals (21, 25, 25 ', 30, 70) , which are arranged below the support surface for the vehicle, in particular rails (15).

9. transit hall according to claim 8, characterized in that the collecting channels are designed as receiving channels (55, 61, 62) of the waste water and as supply channels (56, 57), the liquids from the latter to ύcw portals (2 1, 25, 25 ', 30) can be removed in a controlled manner.

10. Portal for a washing system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the Porlal (2 1, 25, 25 ', 30) is U-shaped and a catch pan (65) is assigned to it on the underside. by means of which the liquid applied or sprayed onto the Ausscnseilc of the vehicle (16) is collected and a controllable connecting device provided at the outlet (66) of this collecting trough (65) directs the waste water into a selectable collecting channel or the like.

1 I. Portal for a washing system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the brushes (26) used for cleaning the front and leakage of the vehicle (16) are designed in such a way that they correspond to the effective outer shape of the front and leakage wires of the Vehicle can be adapted.

12. Control device for a washing system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a measuring device is preferably provided on the first portal (21) passing the vehicle (16), which measures and stores the external dimensions of the vehicle over the entire length, that the positions of the cleaning brushes (26, 27, 29) in each position of the vehicle are determined on the basis of the stored measurement data.