JP3138809B2 - Car wash equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car washing apparatus particularly suitable for washing left and right and lower surfaces of a large vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a car washing apparatus for injecting washing water into a vehicle for washing, an automatic car washing apparatus widely installed in a gas station or the like is known. This type of car washer is configured in an arch shape and automatically cleans the left, right, upper and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle by moving in a front-rear direction with respect to a stopped vehicle. It is attached.

Since trucks are often used for traveling on the ground at construction sites and the like, not only a large amount of dust adheres to the body surface, but also a large amount of soil and stones adhere to the underside of the vehicle body. .

However, since the above-mentioned conventional car washing apparatus is intended for a small car such as a passenger car, a large car such as a truck cannot be washed, and a similar car washing apparatus for washing a large car such as a truck has been manufactured. However, since the facilities become quite large, high facility costs, running costs, and a large facility space are required, and it is not practical to provide such car wash facilities. Conventionally, therefore, cleaning of large vehicles such as trucks relies exclusively on artificial work, and there has been a demand for practical use of a car washing apparatus suitable for cleaning large vehicles.

The present invention has been made in response to such a conventional demand, and provides a car washing apparatus which can be implemented at low cost, is excellent in space saving, and is optimum in washing capacity for washing large vehicles such as trucks. With the goal.

[0006]

A car washing apparatus 1a according to the present invention has a plurality of injection nozzles 3 on the peripheral surface and a vertically arranged left injection pipe for injecting the left side of a vehicle C. 2p, a plurality of injection nozzles 3 on the peripheral surface, and a vertically arranged right injection pipe 2q for injecting the right side of the vehicle.
And a lower injection pipe 2d which has a plurality of injection nozzles 3 on the peripheral surface and is horizontally disposed to inject the lower surface of the vehicle C,
The left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2q are sequentially connected by flexible transmission members 9a, 9b, 9c that move in the axial direction and transmit rotation in the circumferential direction, and each injection pipe 2p, 2q, One pipe drive unit 6 having a first drive mechanism 4 for alternately reciprocally moving the 2d in a predetermined stroke range S in the axial direction in the forward and reverse directions and a second drive mechanism 5 for repetitively rotating the 2d in a predetermined circumferential angle range R in the forward and reverse directions.
characterized by having p

In this case, according to a preferred embodiment, the first driving mechanism 4 includes an air cylinder 7 for moving the injection pipes 2p... In the axial direction, and the second driving mechanism 5 controls the injection pipes 2p. An air motor 8 for rotating is provided.

When high-pressure washing water is supplied to the left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2q, the vehicle C is supplied from a plurality of injection nozzles 3 arranged on the peripheral surface.
Washing water is sprayed toward the
p, the lower injection pipe 2d and the right injection pipe 2q are alternately and reciprocally moved forward and reverse in the axial predetermined stroke range S by the first drive mechanism 4, and at the same time, by the second drive mechanism 5 in the circumferential predetermined angle range R. , The washing water injected from each of the injection nozzles 3 turns and performs a wide range of cleaning. In addition, the pipe driving unit 6
A unit including the p and the injection pipe 2p can be formed, and movement, storage, installation, and the like can be easily performed.

[0009]

Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of a car washing apparatus 1a according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

A car washing apparatus 1a shown in FIG. 1 has a pair of left and right opposed injection units 11, 12 for cleaning left and right surfaces of a vehicle.
And an injection unit 13 disposed between the injection units 11 and 12 to clean the lower surface of the vehicle.

The injection unit 11 has a horizontal substrate 21 and a post 22 erected on the horizontal substrate 21 at right angles.
A pipe driving unit 6p is provided on the upper part of 2, and the upper part of the left injection pipe 2p is accommodated inside the pipe driving unit 6p.

The left injection pipe 2p has a pipe member 2pp of a predetermined length, and a water supply port 23 and a plurality of injection nozzles 3 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member 2pp. The pipe member 2pp is sealed except for the water supply port 23 and the injection nozzles 3. Each of the injection nozzles 3...
By providing one side slightly upward and the other side slightly downward, and by directing them in different directions with respect to the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. 4, the washing water injected from each injection nozzle 3. Further, the water supply port 23 is connected to a water supply pump 25 shown in FIG. 3 via a flexible water supply hose 26, and the water supply pump 25 is connected to a water supply source (water pipe) Pw for supplying cleaning water (tap water) W. .

The pipe driving section 6p is configured as shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 31 denotes a casing in consideration of waterproofness, and the casing 31 includes the first drive mechanism 4 and the second drive mechanism 5 therein. The first drive mechanism 4 includes a linear air cylinder 7. The air cylinder 7 is connected to a pressure air source (compressor) Pa via an air switching valve 35 disposed below the casing 31. A support plate 32 is attached to the movable portion 7s of the air cylinder 7, and the support plate 3
The pipe member 2pp is rotatably supported by the bearings 33a and 33b provided on the second member 2. Reference numeral 34 denotes an air switching mechanism provided in the first drive mechanism 4, and this air switching mechanism 34
From the switching knob 35n of the air switching valve 35 to the casing 3
The wire 36 (the anti-loosening spring 3)
7), a stopper 38 fixed to an intermediate portion of the wire 36, and a lever 39 protruding from the support plate 32.
The tip of the lever 39 is provided with a stopper 38 and a switching knob 35n.
It is configured so as to be slidably mounted on the wire 36 between them.

The second drive mechanism 5 includes an air motor 8 mounted on the support plate 32. The air motor 8 is connected to a pressure air source Pa via an air switching valve 46. A transmission mechanism 40 is provided between the motor shaft 8s of the air motor 8 and the pipe member 2pp. The transmission mechanism 40 includes a driving pulley 41 attached to one end of the motor shaft 8s, a driven pulley 42 attached to the pipe member 2pp, and the endless timing belt 4 bridged between the driving pulley 41 and the driven pulley 42.
3 and the rotation of the motor shaft 8s is transmitted by the transmission mechanism 40.
To the pipe member 2pp. Reference numeral 44 denotes an air switching mechanism provided in the second drive mechanism 5, and the air switching mechanism 44 includes a switching element 45 attached to the other end of the motor shaft 8s. The switching element 45 has a cutout 45s cut out in an angular range of 90 ° in the circumferential direction, and is configured such that the tip of the switching knob 46n of the air switching valve 46 faces the cutout 45s.

The post 22 is provided with a pair of rails 51 along the post 22, and the rails 51 are loaded with a roller mechanism 52 provided below the pipe member 2pp. The roller mechanism 52 has the same configuration as a roller mechanism 73 in the injection unit 13 (FIG. 4) described later.

On the other hand, the ejection unit 12
1 and a post 62 erected at right angles thereto. The post 62 has a pair of rails 63 along the post 62.
And guide rollers 64 and 65 are rotatably disposed at the upper and lower ends of the post 62, respectively. Also, a right injection pipe 2q is prepared. The right injection pipe 2q is configured in the same manner as the left injection pipe 2p, and roller mechanisms 66 and 67 for loading the rails 63 are provided at two separate locations. The roller mechanisms 66 and 67 have the same configuration as a roller mechanism 73 in the injection unit 13 (FIG. 4) described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the injection unit 13 includes a substrate 71, and a pair of rails 72 are provided on the substrate 71 at intermediate positions in the front-rear direction. Rail 72 ...
Are provided along the left-right direction of the substrate 71, and the rails 72 are provided.
Roller mechanisms 73 and 74 provided at two spaced apart locations on the lower injection pipe 2d are slidably loaded on the upper side. The lower injection pipe 2d is configured similarly to the left injection pipe 2p. The roller mechanism 73 (same for 74) is a pipe member 2pp.
, And a pair of rollers 76 rotatably supported by the support portion 75.
6 are loaded on the rails 72. On the other hand, when the wheels Ct of the vehicle C pass in front of and behind the lower injection pipe 2d, protectors 77, 78,...
Is arranged.

Each of the injection units 11 and 12 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the jet unit 13 is installed so as to face left and right, and the jet unit 13 is installed between the jet units 11 and 12.
In this state, the lower end of the left injection pipe 2p and the lower injection pipe 2
The left end of the lower injection pipe 2d is connected to the right end of the lower injection pipe 2d by the same transmission member 9b that is connected to the guide roller 65, and the left end of the lower injection pipe 2d is connected to the right end of the lower injection pipe 2q. The upper end of the injection pipe 2q and the upper end of the left injection pipe 2p are connected by a transmission member 9c spanning the guide rollers 64 and 55. The transmission member 9c includes transmission members 81 and 82, which are similar to the transmission member 9a, respectively suspended over the guide rollers 64 and 55, a pipe member 83 between the guide rollers 64 and 55, and a coupling portion 84 including a length adjustment mechanism. In this case, the transmission members 9a,
9b, 81, and 82 can use a flexible member capable of transmitting the movement by the first drive mechanism 4 and the rotation by the second drive mechanism 5, for example, a bellows tube or a chain.

Next, a method of using the car wash apparatus 1a according to the present embodiment and the operation of each unit will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, washing water (tap water) W is supplied to a water supply pump 25 from a water supply source (tap water pipe) Pw. Further, the washing water (tap water) W, which has been pressurized by the water supply pump 25, is supplied to the left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2q through each of the water supply ports 23. It is injected.

On the other hand, the pressure air supplied from the pressure air source (compressor) Pa is supplied to the air cylinder 7 through the air switching valve 35 and the air switching valve 46
Is supplied to the air motor 8 via the. Now, the air switching valve 35 is switched to one side, and the air cylinder 7 moves in the forward direction,
That is, it is assumed that the movable portion 7s is moving downward in FIG. In this case, the left injection pipe 2p moves downward, the lower injection pipe 2d moves rightward, and the right injection pipe 2q moves upward. Then, when the lever 39 is lowered and the switching knob 35n is switched to the lower position shown by the imaginary line, the air switching valve 35 is switched to the other side, and the air cylinder 7 is in the opposite direction, that is, the movable portion 7s is in FIG. , Move up. Accordingly, the left injection pipe 2p moves upward, the lower injection pipe 2d moves leftward, and the right injection pipe 2q moves downward. When the lever 39 is raised and the stopper 38 and the wire 36 are displaced upward to switch the switching knob 35n to the upper position shown by the solid line, the air switching valve 35 is switched to one side, and the air cylinder 7 is In the forward direction, that is, the movable portion 7s moves downward in FIG. Therefore, the left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2q alternately and reciprocally move forward and backward in a predetermined axial stroke range S (about 50 cm) determined by the selected positions of the air switching valve 35 and the stopper 38. I'm sullen.

Further, the air switching valve 46 is switched to one side, and the air motor 8 moves in the forward direction, that is, the motor shaft 8.
It is assumed that s is rotating clockwise in FIG. As a result, the left injection pipe 2p also rotates clockwise through the transmission mechanism 40, and the lower injection pipe 2p also rotates.
d and the right injection pipe 2q also rotate in the same direction. And
When the notch 45s of the switching element 45 switches the switching knob 46n to the right position shown by the imaginary line, the air switching valve 46 is switched to the other side, and the air motor 8 is turned in the opposite direction, that is, the motor shaft 8s is turned to the position shown in FIG. Medium, rotate counterclockwise. Thus, the left injection pipe 2p also rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the lower injection pipe 2d and the right injection pipe 2q also rotate in the same direction. The cutout 45s of the switch 45
Switches the switching knob 46n to the left position indicated by the solid line,
The air switching valve 46 is switched to one side. Therefore, the left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2d
q is repeatedly rotated alternately in the forward and reverse directions within a predetermined circumferential angle range R (approximately 90 °) determined by the shape of the cutout portion 45s of the switch 45.

As described above, the washing water W injected from each of the injection nozzles 3 sprays on the vehicle C while turning, so that the pair of injection units 11 facing the left and right while driving the vehicle C such as a truck is provided. If the vehicle slowly passes through the space between 12, the wide and effective cleaning of the left and right surfaces and the lower surface of the vehicle C is performed.

FIG. 5 shows a car wash apparatus 1b according to a reference example to which the present invention can be applied. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the configuration is clarified, and the detailed description is omitted.

In the reference example, the left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2q are independently arranged,
The left injection pipe 2p, the lower injection pipe 2d, and the right injection pipe 2q are connected to corresponding independent pipe driving units 6p, 6d.
And 6q.

That is, the reference example includes a pair of injection units 91 and 92 arranged on the left and right, and an injection unit 93 arranged between each of the injection units 91 and 92. Injection unit 91
Has a horizontal substrate 101 and a post 102 erected at a right angle on the horizontal substrate 101, and a pipe driving unit 6 p is provided at the upper end of the post 102. The injection unit 93 is configured by providing a pipe driving unit 6d on one side of the upper surface of the substrate 103. On the other hand, the injection unit 92 can be configured the same as the injection unit 91. The basic operation of each of the units 91, 92 and 93 is the same as that of the injection unit 11 having the pipe driving section 6p and the injection pipe 2p of this embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, the reference example is different from the present embodiment in that:
Although the number of the pipe driving units 6p increases in accordance with the number of the injection pipes 2p, since each of the injection units 91 is independent, the transmission member becomes unnecessary and the flexibility in use is enhanced. That is, each injection unit 91, 9
Since 2 and 93 can be used without being fixed to the installation surface, the interval, position, direction, and the like of the injection units 91 can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the installation location, the size and shape of the vehicle C, and the like. Each of the injection units 91, 92 and 93 can be easily moved, stored and installed.

Further, since the structure of each of the present embodiment and the reference example is simple, it can be implemented at low cost and is excellent in space saving, and in particular, effectively removes dust on the body surface and soil and stones on the lower surface of the vehicle body. Because it can be washed off,
Optimum for washing large vehicles such as trucks in terms of car wash performance. Also, in this embodiment and the reference example, the pipe driving unit 6p ...
As the air cylinder and air motor were used,
Leakage due to the use of the electric actuator and oil contamination due to the use of the hydraulic actuator are avoided.

The embodiment has been described in detail above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment,
The detailed configuration, shape, used parts, materials, and the like can be arbitrarily changed, added, or deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, also in this embodiment, the substrates 21 and
By selecting the size and weight of 61, the injection units 11 and 12 can be installed without being fixed to the installation surface.
Further, if the pipe member 83 between the guide rollers 64 and 55 in the present embodiment is configured similarly to the injection pipe 2p, the upper surface of the vehicle C can be cleaned, and this configuration is also applied to the reference example. it can. Further, although the truck is exemplified as the vehicle C, it is needless to say that the vehicle C can be similarly used for other vehicles such as a small car.

[0032]

As described above, the car washing device according to the present invention has the following features.
A vertically arranged left injection pipe having a plurality of injection nozzles on the peripheral surface and injecting on the left side of the vehicle, and a vertically arranged right injection pipe having a plurality of injection nozzles on the peripheral surface and injecting on the right side of the vehicle Injection pipe, having a plurality of injection nozzles on the peripheral surface, and comprises a horizontally arranged lower injection pipe that injects on the lower surface of the vehicle,
The left injection pipe, the lower injection pipe, and the right injection pipe are sequentially connected by a flexible transmission member that moves in the axial direction and transmits rotation in the circumferential direction, and each injection pipe is alternately repeated in the axial direction within a predetermined stroke range. The provision of the single drive unit having the first drive mechanism for moving and the second drive mechanism for repetitively rotating forward and backward alternately in a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction provides the following remarkable effects.

[0033] Since it can be configured simply, it can be implemented at low cost and is excellent in space saving.

The washing water sprayed from the spray nozzles swirls, and by cleaning a wide area, dust on the body surface and soil and stones on the lower surface of the vehicle body can be effectively washed off. Ideal for car washing.

According to the most preferred embodiment, if an air cylinder and an air motor are used as the pipe driving unit,
Leakage due to the use of the electric actuator and oil contamination due to the use of the hydraulic actuator can be avoided.

According to the most preferred embodiment, a unit including the pipe driving unit and the injection pipe can be provided, and the unit can be used without being fixed to the installation surface.
The spacing, position, direction, and the like of the units can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the installation location, the size and shape of the vehicle, and the like, and each unit can be easily moved, stored, and installed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a car wash device according to the present embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a specific configuration diagram of a pipe driving unit in the car washing device;

FIG. 3 is a control system diagram of pressurized air and wash water in the car wash apparatus,

FIG. 4 is a side view of an injection unit for cleaning a lower surface of the vehicle in the car wash apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of a car wash device according to a reference example,

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a Car wash device 2p Injection pipe 2d Injection pipe 2q Injection pipe 3 ... Injection nozzle 4 First drive mechanism 5 Second drive mechanism 6p Pipe drive unit 7 Air cylinder 8 Air motor 9a Transmission member 9b Transmission member 9c Transmission member S Axial predetermined stroke range R Circumferential angle range C Vehicle

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vertically arranged left injection pipe having a plurality of injection nozzles on a peripheral surface thereof and injecting on a left surface of a vehicle, and having a plurality of injection nozzles on a peripheral surface thereof and injecting the same on a right surface of the vehicle. A right injection pipe disposed vertically, and a lower injection pipe having a plurality of injection nozzles on a peripheral surface and horizontally disposed for injection on a lower surface of the vehicle, wherein the left injection pipe, the lower injection pipe, and the right injection are provided. The pipes are sequentially connected by a flexible transmission member that transmits the movement in the axial direction and the rotation in the circumferential direction, and a first drive mechanism and a predetermined circumferential direction that repeatedly and reciprocally move each injection pipe alternately in a predetermined stroke range in the axial direction. A car washing apparatus comprising: a single pipe driving unit having a second driving mechanism that repeatedly rotates alternately forward and backward in an angle range. 2. The car washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first drive mechanism includes an air cylinder that moves the injection pipe in an axial direction. 3. The car washing device according to claim 1, wherein the second drive mechanism includes an air motor that rotates the injection pipe in a circumferential direction.