Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Using solid work treating agents
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2001-07-24
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Using solid work treating agents
C015S053300, C015SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264754
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of cleaning machines and more particularly, to an improved apparatus for washing vertical surfaces on vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle washing services have been known for decades. Often such washing services utilize washing machines that are designed to wash particular portions of the vehicles. For example, one known type of washing machines has a relatively large and long brush rotating about a generally vertical axis that is used to wash vertical surfaces of the vehicle as the vehicle moves past the washing machine. The vehicle is either driven or conveyed past the washing machine. With some washing machines, one or more rotating vertical brushes are stationary and simply wash one or more side surfaces as the vehicle moves past the brushes. With other machines, a rotating brush is located at one side of the vehicle and is moved along a path parallel to the path of vehicle travel.
With still other machines, a brush is mounted at the distal end of a pivot arm having its proximal end pivotally connected to a frame above the vehicle, and the brush is used to wash one side and one or both ends of the vehicle. A critical design decision with such machines is the determination of where to mount the proximal end of the arm with respect to the centerline of the vehicle. In order to best wash the front end of a vehicle, the proximal end of the pivot arm should be mounted in an outside position close to the side being washed. Thus, in washing the front of the vehicle starting at the center, as the vehicle moves forward, the pivot arm extends outward, thereby allowing the brush to move forward as it moves across the front of the vehicle. However, after the brush has washed the side of the vehicle, as the brush moves around the rear of the vehicle, the outside location of the pivot point results in the pivot arm moving the brush away from the vehicle simultaneously with the vehicle moving away from the brush. The net result is that as the brush moves across the rear of the vehicle, the force of its contact with the vehicle is constantly diminishing, thereby producing an equally diminishing washing action and a poorer quality wash.
The ability of the brush to wash the rear side may be improved by moving the pivot point of the arm inward. Therefore, as the brush begins washing from one side of the rear, as the vehicle moves forward, the pivot arm rotates toward the vehicle, thereby maintaining the brush in contact with the rear of the vehicle. While the quality of the washing action on the rear end of the vehicle is improved with the more inward location of the pivot point, the quality of the washing action on the front end of the vehicle is reduced. When washing the front end of the vehicle, when pivot point of the arm is inward, as the pivot arm moves from the center of the front end toward one side, the vehicle is moving forward, but the arc of the pivot arm is moving the brush toward the vehicle. With the brush moving toward the vehicle, the forces between the brush and the front end of the vehicle build up very rapidly, thereby increasing the speed of the brush as it moves across the front end. The speed of the brush may be great enough that the brush loses contact with the vehicle as it moves around the front corner of the vehicle. In other situations, since the brush is rotating on a flexible spindle, the forces may be great enough to propel the rotating brush off of the front end and up over a portion of the hood of the vehicle.
Thus, the location of the pivot point of the arm with respect to the vehicle centerline results in a compromise with respect to the ability of the washing machine to wash either or both the front and rear ends of the vehicle. The user of such a machine has several options. One option is to simply accept the lesser quality washing action on the ends of the vehicle. Another option is to supplement the washing action of the machine with manual washing of the front and/or rear ends either with every vehicle or, as required, based on an inspection of the vehicle. A further option is to choose a pivot point location that provides the desired quality wash at either the front or the rear end of the vehicle and wash the other end of the vehicle with another piece of equipment or manually. Thus, there is a need for an improved vehicle washing machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vehicle washing machine that provides a consistent high quality washing action over the sides and ends of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle washing machine of the present invention has a reduced washing cycle time, thus providing an increase in productivity. The vehicle washing machine of the present invention utilizes minimal floor space, requires no manual labor and thus, is more economical than known vehicle washing machines.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention and in accordance with the described embodiments, the present invention provides a vehicle washing machine having a first, vehicle path of motion and a frame supporting member adapted to be located above the vehicle. A shuttle plate is mounted on the supporting member for movement along a second path of motion, and a proximal end of an arm is pivotally mounted on the shuttle plate. A cleaning element is mounted at the distal end of the arm. The shuttle plate moves the proximal end of the arm between outer and inner positions on the supporting member in response to different locations of the cleaning element with respect to the vehicle, thereby permitting the cleaning element to wash a greater portion of the vehicle.
In one aspect of the invention, a shuttle plate motor moves the shuttle plate between the inner and outer positions, and a conveyor moves the vehicle past the washing machine. A sensor is used to detect the presence of the vehicle, and a controller connected to the sensor, the shuttle plate motor and the conveyor controls the operation of the shuttle plate motors in response to determining particular positions of the cleaning element with respect to the vehicle.
In another aspect of the invention, in the outer position, the shuttle plate supports the cleaning element so that the cleaning element wipes one side of the vehicle as the conveyor moves the vehicle past the cleaning element. When the controller determines a first position of the cleaning element with respect to the vehicle, the controller operates the shuttle plate motor to move the shuttle plate and the arm to an inner position closer to a centerline of the washing machine. With the arm in the inner position, the cleaning element is able to wipe a greater area of the end of the vehicle than would be possible with the arm in the outer position. When the controller determines a second position of the cleaning element with respect to the vehicle, the controller operates the shuttle plate motor to move the shuttle plate back to the starting outer position.
A second embodiment of the invention provides a method of washing a vehicle comprising disposing a cleaning element with respect to one side of the vehicle. The cleaning element is mounted to a distal end of an arm, and the proximal end of the arm is pivotally attached to a shuttle plate located at an outer position with respect to a supporting member. The vehicle is moved in a first direction causing the cleaning element to wipe across a substantial portion of surfaces on a front end and a side of the vehicle. When a controller determines that the cleaning element is at a first position with respect to the vehicle, the shuttle plate is moved from the outer position to an inner position. Continued motion of the vehicle in the first direction causes the cleaning element to wipe across a substantial portion of surfaces on the rear end of the vehicle. When the controller detects that the cleaning element is at a second location with respect to the vehicle, the shuttle plate is moved from the inner position back to the outer position.
These and other objects and advantages of the p
Till Terrence R.
Wood Herron & Evans L.L.P.
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