ES2283193B1 - SYSTEM FOR WASHING VEHICLES. - Google Patents

Abstract

This system comprises a fixed bridge (1) carrying means suitable for washing vehicles, with or without contact, and located on a track (2) that lacks devices for dragging the vehicles to be washed. In said track are distributed light signals (3) that indicate to the driver of the vehicle when it must stop and when it must advance along the track, regulating its forward speed. The signals (3) are commanded by a controller or PLC device (4). The system may have sensors (5), connected to the controller device (4), to detect the position of the vehicles circulating on the track (2).

Description

System for washing vehicles.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a system for washing vehicles, of the type comprising a fixed bridge carrier of suitable means for vehicle washing, with or without contact, and a street or track, located below the bridge, to the passage of vehicles to wash.

Background of the invention

Various systems are currently known and devices for washing vehicles, eliminating dirt deposited in their bodies and improve the appearance Aesthetic of them. Many of these systems are offered at general public so that you can use them upon payment of services offered, operating these systems completely Automated or manually.

An example are the well-known "boxes" of washing that have a soapy water supply gun and pressurized water so that the user can wash the vehicle. In These boxes are the user himself who washes the vehicle, needing considerable time and with the risk of getting wet or stain.

Another system is the washing bridges, in the that the user leaves the vehicle in a specific place on the that a movable bridge can be moved longitudinally. This mobile bridge has adequate means for washing the vehicle with contact or without contact; in the first case the bridge mobile has projectors of water, soap and rollers or bands textiles that rub the body of the vehicle while in the second case the mobile bridge lacks said rollers or bands textiles, applying soap, liquid additives, water on the vehicle under pressure or other suitable fluids for cleaning adequate bodywork, without rubbing it with textile elements.

In each movement the mobile bridge performs One or two functions. However these systems are fragile and expensive, since the means of washing and supply is hung from a mobile bridge that, in each wash, has to move several times by some guides, covering in each route the total length vehicle. In these wash bridges, although the time of cleaning is less, still requires some time for the various passes that the mobile bridge has to make.

Washing tunnels are also known, constituted by a fixed bridge located on a street or track, in the one that enters at one end the vehicles to be washed and leaves washed on the other end. In this bridge are the means suitable for washing the vehicle, with or without contact, including means for applying water to the body, such as jet projectors, means of applying soap or detergent and, optionally, textile rollers or strips for rubbing the bodywork. These washing tunnels have, near the end of outlet, rinsing means and drying means that They project an air curtain over the body. The vehicle is travel inside the tunnel using a drag chain in which one of its wheels fits to move it. These tunnels They require a complex installation and great maintenance. Likewise, the consumption of water and electricity they require is very high. TO please have to be the most automated and those with a higher performance of vehicles washed per hour, since they can be be simultaneously washing several vehicles distributed to along the tunnel stations, although washing a vehicle individual requires considerable time.

Description of the invention

The car wash system of this invention presents a series of technical peculiarities aimed at achieving: greater constructive simplicity and with lower manufacturing costs, lacking the system of the vehicle dragging devices and the device dried up the car wash quickly and economically being the user who drives the vehicle at low speed inside of the fixed bridge installation, using the motor itself vehicle, and lower operating costs by reducing the power required for system operation due to precisely to the elimination of drying devices and of vehicle drag.

The system, consisting of a fixed bridge arranged on a track or street through which the vehicle is traveling wash, includes light signals, arranged along the bridge or track and related to a controller device or PLC The light signals indicate the driver of the vehicle when it must stop and when it must advance along the wash track, so that the speed advance is adequate to ensure a correct washing of the vehicle.

The vehicle runs along the wash track moved by its own engine, lacking said track, unlike the washing tunnels, of devices for dragging the vehicle.

The controller in charge of commanding the signals luminous is preferably composed of a PLC (controller of programmable logic), which can activate the successive signals light on a scheduled basis, so that the vehicle takes a default time to run the wash track, authorizing said light signals the entrance of the next vehicle to the wash track when the previous vehicle is close to the exit.

Optionally the system can arrange at track length of sensors for position detection of the vehicle, said sensors being related to the controller that manages the light signals. In this case the activation of the light signals by the controller, will perform depending on the position of the vehicle or vehicles that advance along the track.

These light signals can be about traffic lights distributed along the track, so that the driver circulates intuitively according to the signals luminous received, since these signals are analogous to the used in road traffic, for example: red to indicate which must stop or slow down, and green to Indicate that you can advance along the track.

The system includes at the exit of the bridge and as the last washing device water projection means demineralized to facilitate the subsequent self-drying of the vehicle when traveling on the roads. Demineralized water, when drying, it does not leave traces or stains on the body of the vehicle, said body being bright. It is also a system cheaper than air drying, which it replaces, since provides a significant reduction in electricity consumption and reduces the costs of assembly and maintenance of the system.

With this system you get one more wash fast, as the vehicle circulates inside the bridge powered by its own engine and driven by the user, and more economic, since the devices that consume more are eliminated electricity, such as the air dryer and the device drag, facilitating the maintenance of the installation, which can Be fully automatic.

Description of the figures

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to facilitate the understanding of characteristics of the invention, is attached herein descriptive a set of drawings in which, for illustrative purposes and not limiting, the following has been represented:

- Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a exemplary embodiment of the system, sectioned longitudinally and provided, in this case, with sensors for the detection of position of the vehicle and textile rollers for rubbing the bodywork.

- Figure 2 shows a plan view of the system of the previous figure, during the washing of a vehicle.

- Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the controller related to the light signals and the sensors

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As can be seen in the figures referenced the system comprises a fixed bridge (1) located on a track (2) for the circulation of the vehicle to be washed, lacking this track (2) of devices for dragging the vehicle, the which circulates moved by its own engine.

In this exemplary embodiment, the bridge (1) It has some means for washing the vehicle with contact, comprising first means (11) for applying water to the vehicle body, means (12) applicators of detergent, textile rollers (13, 14, 15) movable for cleaning of the upper surface, sides and wheels of the vehicle, respectively, water application means (16) for rinsing and a means (17) water projectors demineralized that leaves no traces or traces on the body at self-drying of the vehicle, for example during Circulation after washing.

Among the various devices or means of washing (11 to 17) located on the bridge (1), there are some signs lights (3), such as traffic lights, to indicate to the driver if you must stop or resume the march as you run along the track (2), thus modifying the transit of said vehicle through the installation.

These light signals (3) are related with a controller device (4), such as a PLC, which can perform the activation of the successive signals so programmed, so that the vehicle takes a preset time in running the track (2) or, as shown in the example shown in the figures, in a controlled way, activating the light signals in a controlled manner, based on the information provided by sensors (5) that detect the position of the vehicle along of the track (2).

In this second case, if a vehicle stops on track (2), the controlling device (4) will act on the light signals located behind said vehicle activating the light indication prohibiting the advance of other vehicles until the track is free.

The controller device (4) is also related to the mechanism (6) of starting and stopping the cleaning means (11 to 17) of the bridge (1) and with a purse of previous payment that causes the automatic operation of the PLC controlled system.

Once nature is sufficiently described of the invention, as well as a preferred embodiment, for the appropriate purposes that the materials, form, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, as long as this does not imply an alteration of the essential features of the invention claimed in continuation.

Claims (4)

1. System for the washing of vehicles, of the type comprising a fixed bridge (1) located on a track (2) of passage of the vehicles to be washed, said bridge (1) carrying means suitable for washing vehicles, with or without contact, characterized in that it comprises light signals (3) distributed along a track (2) that lacks devices for dragging the vehicle, and a controller device (4) that selectively controls the light signals ( 3) to indicate to the driver, by means of luminous indications, when he must stop and when he must advance along the track. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises sensors (5) distributed along the track (2) to detect the position of the vehicles circulating on said track (2), and because said sensors (5) they are connected to the controller device (4) responsible for managing the light signals (3) and the operation of the system. 3. System, according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the light signals (3) are composed of traffic lights. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the washing means (17) that occupy the final position at the exit of the fixed bridge (1) are composed of demineralized water projectors to facilitate the subsequent self-drying of the vehicle without remaining Traces or prints on the body.