Safety Device for Vehicle Wash Tunnel and Method of Operation

Abstract

A method and safety device for a vehicle wash tunnel with a support structure with two parallel rails for the placement, by means of corresponding carriages, of the arms of an arch which incorporates a horizontal brush capable of linear movement along the arms of the arch and the rails. The safety device includes a rotation shaft, for fastening the arms of the arch to the carriages, and an extendable cylinder, spaced from the rotation shaft, which joins each carriage to the corresponding arch, such that the arch can rotate with respect to the carriages, and the extension of the extendable cylinder causes the rotation of the arch.

Claims

1. A safety device for a vehicle wash tunnel comprising: a support structure with two parallel rails for the placement by means of corresponding carriages of the arms of an arch which incorporates a horizontal brush for washing the vehicle, capable of linear movement along the arms of the arch and the rails, the safety device comprising: a rotation shaft integral with each carriage for fastening each arm of the corresponding arch; and an extendable cylinder spaced from the rotation shaft which joins the carriage to the arch by means of supports whereon it can rotate, wherein the arch is capable of rotating with respect to the carriages and the extension of the extendable cylinder causes the rotation of the arch.

2. The safety device for a vehicle wash tunnel, according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device comprising: a locking hook integral with the carriage, capable of tilting; and an interlocking support integral with the arch; wherein the rotation of the arch causes the contact of the interlocking support with the locking hook, which tilts until it reaches a limit position wherein it loses contact with the interlocking support in order to move on to lock it and, with it, the movement of the arch, which is retained.

3. A safety method for a vehicle wash tunnel, by means of the safety device of claim 2, wherein once an operating anomaly has been detected in the wash tunnel, the method includes: extending the extendable cylinder in order to elevate the arch with the horizontal brush to a certain height.

4. The safety method for a wash tunnel, according to claim 3, further including: maintaining the arch retained in height by means of a locking device.

5. The safety method for a wash tunnel, according to claim 4, wherein the unlocking of the arch is produced intentionally.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] To complete the description of the invention, and for the purpose of helping to make the features thereof more readily understandable, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, a set of figures is included wherein, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following figures have been represented.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows side views during the operating process of a vehicle wash tunnel with technology of brushes with linear movement;

[0030] FIG. 2 represents the operating process of a vehicle wash tunnel with the safety device of the invention when detecting an emergency situation;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the washing machine with the device of the invention in normal working conditions;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the washing machine with the device of the invention in emergency conditions in order to free the lane through which the vehicle runs;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the washing machine, showing the elements of the device of the invention which enable the angular movement of the horizontal brush in the initial position of the emergency operation;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the washing machine, showing the elements of the device of the invention which enable the angular movement of the horizontal brush in the final position of the emergency operation;

[0035] FIG. 7a shows a perspective view of the detail of the locking system of the invention with the arch of the brush in the conventional operating position;

[0036] FIG. 7b shows a detail view of the locking system of the invention starting to perform the angular movement;

[0037] FIG. 7c shows a detail view of the locking system of the invention with the interlocking support pushing to make the locking hook rotate; and

[0038] FIG. 7d shows a detail view of the locking system of the invention once the interlocking support has surpassed the locking hook, which returns to the initial position locking the angular position of the arch of the brush;

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1 represents the operating process of a vehicle wash tunnel with technology of brushes with linear movement. Four representative phases are represented in the figure: [0040] Rest position of the machine, wherein the horizontal brush (7) is at the lower end of the Z-axis, awaiting the approach of the vehicle to be washed; [0041] Approach of the vehicle towards the horizontal brush (7), and start of the rotational movement of the brush (7), until it contacts a lower portion of the front of the vehicle; [0042] Vertical movement of the brush (7) along the arch (5) supporting it in order to copy the height of the vehicle and simultaneously, depending on the speed of the vehicle, movement of the carriage (4) supporting the arch (5) of the horizontal brush (7) according to the direction of the vehicle, performing tracking of the vehicle in order to scrub the vehicle correctly; and [0043] Displacement of the carriage (4) with the brush (7), once all the longitudinal scrubbing of the vehicle is finished, until they reach the initial rest position in order to receive the next vehicle.

[0044] FIG. 2 represents the operating process of a vehicle wash tunnel with the safety device of the invention when detecting an emergency situation wherein the rotation of the arch (5) of the horizontal brush (7) to a certain angle is required in order to free the lane through which the vehicle moves: [0045] The system detects an anomalous operation, such as excessive pressure in the brush (7) or a speed of the vehicle above the speed of the dragging chain. [0046] The safety procedure is started by proceeding to the angular movement of the arch (5) of the horizontal brush (7). [0047] The arch (5) reaches the suitable position to free the lane through which the vehicle runs and the position thereof is locked by means of a mechanical locking device.

[0048] The safety device with all the elements and functionalities thereof and the safety method of the wash tunnel are described in detail below.

[0049] As represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wash tunnel comprises a support structure basically formed by a rear structure (1) and a front structure (2) joined by rails (3) to which carriages (4) are fastened, which can move along the rails (3) in a synchronized manner.

[0050] The rails (3) define the X-axis of movement of the carriages (4), which is the same as the axis of the direction of movement of the vehicle to be washed. On the other hand, the Z-axis defines the vertical and the Y-axis defines the remaining transverse direction of the three-dimensional orthogonal system.

[0051] It must be considered that the structure is symmetric with respect to the XZ plane which passes through the center of the structures (1, 2).

[0052] The wash tunnel also incorporates an arch (5) for fastening the horizontal brush (7). The arch (5) is formed by a crossbar and two parallel arms by means of which it is joined to the rails (3) through the carriages (4).

[0053] The carriage (4) incorporates a rotation shaft (9) to which the corresponding arm of the arch (5) is joined.

[0054] In this manner, the arch (5) moves jointly with the carriages (4) and, therefore, can move in the same direction as the vehicle, while it can also rotate with respect to the carriages (4).

[0055] Each of the ends of the shaft of the horizontal brush (7) is joined to a guide (6) which is housed in each of the arms of the arch (5).

[0056] These guides (6) are responsible for guiding the movement of the brush (7) along the Z-axis, copying the height of the vehicle during normal operating conditions.

[0057] When, either through the machine, by means of sensors, for example, or by an operator, an anomaly is detected, the safety device of the invention is activated, which enables the arch (5) to move angularly, together with the brush (7), from the vertical position shown in FIG. 3, to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4, freeing the lane through which the vehicle runs.

[0058] The mechanism by which the detection of anomalies is received and the activation device of the safety device are known in the state of the art and do not form part of the invention, therefore they have not been described or represented in the figures.

[0059] The safety device comprises an upper support (11) integral with each of the carriages (4) and, optionally, a counter support (12) with the aim of providing stiffness to the device, also integral with each carriage (4). Furthermore, it also comprises a lower support (10) integral with each of the arms of the arch (5).

[0060] The supports (10, 11) are intended to fasten, with the possibility of rotation, the ends of an extendable cylinder (8) by means of which the movement of the safety device is carried out from a normal situation with the arch (5) being vertical, as shown in FIG. 5, to an emergency situation, with the arch (5) in an elevated position, as shown in FIG. 6. The extendable cylinder (8) can be extended in order to increase the distance between the upper support (11) and the lower support (10), causing the angular movement of the arch (5) around the rotation shaft (9), until it reaches the appropriate angle corresponding to an elevation of the horizontal brush (7) wherein it enables the movement of the vehicle through the lane of the wash tunnel and does not interfere with it. Typically this situation is that of the XY plane, in other words, with the arch (5) in the horizontal position.

[0061] The rotational capacity of the extendable cylinder (8) with respect to the supports (10, 11) is fundamental, such that the different positions can be absorbed during the rotational movement.

[0062] Once the arch (5) reaches the final position for freeing the lane, a locking mechanism acts which enables the arch (5) to be maintained in this final elevated position. The locking mechanism is made up of a locking hook (13), joined to the carriage (4), for example, through the counter support (12), at a point whereon it has the possibility of tilting, and an interlocking support (14), integral with the arch (5), the locking mechanism operating like a ratchet.

[0063] In this manner, in the rotational movement of the arch (5), the interlocking support (14) moves together with the arch (5) which, when it contacts the locking hook (13), it starts to push it, making it rotate. In this manner, the locking hook (13) starts to be inclined, pushed by the interlocking support (14) until it reaches the maximum inclination position wherein the interlocking support (14) surpasses the locking hook (13), which returns to the initial position, locking the interlocking support (14) and maintaining the arch (5) in the elevated position wherein the lane is free.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 7a-7d the locking system (13) can only be freed intentionally by means of the operation on the locking hook (13), such that it is inclined in order to free the interlocking support (14).

[0065] The safety method for a vehicle wash tunnel, by means of the safety device described, once an operating anomaly has been detected in the wash tunnel, comprises the following phase: [0066] Extending the extendable cylinder (8) in order to elevate the arch (5) with the horizontal brush (7) to a certain height.

[0067] Furthermore, it can also comprise the following phase: [0068] Maintaining the arch (5) retained in height by means of a locking device.

[0069] It must be taken into account that the unlocking of the arch (5) can only be produced intentionally.