JP6838540B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a car wash machine provided with a lower cleaning portion for cleaning the lower side surface of the vehicle to be washed.

A conventional car wash machine installed at a gas station or the like is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The car wash machine is equipped with a car wash machine body. The car wash machine main body is formed in a gate shape having two opposite stand portions on the left and right and a ceiling portion connecting the upper ends of the stand portions, and moves in the front-rear direction across the vehicle to be washed. At the lower part of both stands, a lower cleaning part for cleaning the wheels on the lower side surface of the vehicle to be washed is provided.

The lower washing portion has a support portion that is attached to the main body of the car wash machine and can move in the left-right direction, and a wheel brush that is pivotally supported by the support portion.

When the user sets the car wash condition, the car wash machine main body moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle to be washed and starts washing. When the car wash machine body advances and the wheel brush is placed in front of the wheel surface, the car wash machine body stops and the wheel brush moves in the horizontal direction. The wheel brush comes into contact with the wheel to clean the wheel.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-114958

In recent years, an increasing number of users want to clean not only the wheels but also the inside of the tire house that houses the wheels. However, according to the above-mentioned conventional car wash machine, the inside of the tire house cannot be washed by the lower washing device, and there is a problem that the convenience of the car wash machine is poor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine capable of cleaning the inside of a tire house to improve convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a car wash machine in which a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction is provided with a lower washing portion for washing the lower side surface of the vehicle to be washed with high-pressure washing water. Therefore, the lower cleaning portion is rotated on the first rotation axis by the flow of the washing water, and the spin nozzle that injects the washing water from the injection port that is separated from the first rotation axis in the radial direction, and the spin nozzle at least in the vertical direction. It is characterized by having a movable portion to be moved.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the movable portion holds the spin nozzle and rotates on the second rotating shaft, so that the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are separated in the radial direction. It is a feature.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, a plurality of the spin nozzles are provided, and the distance between the first rotation shaft of one spin nozzle and the second rotation shaft is the first rotation of the other spin nozzle. It is characterized in that the distance between the shaft and the second rotation shaft is different.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in a car wash machine having the above configuration, the movable portion holds the spin nozzle and swings up and down on a predetermined swing shaft.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the car wash machine having the above configuration includes a vehicle shape sensor that detects the shape of the vehicle to be washed, and the swing amount of the movable portion is changed according to the shape of the vehicle to be washed.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the spin nozzle has a plurality of injection ports, and the angle between the injection direction of one injection port and the first rotation axis is the injection direction of the other injection port. It is characterized in that it is different from the angle between the first rotation axis and the first rotation axis.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the spin nozzle has a plurality of injection ports, and the distance between one injection port and the first rotation shaft is different from that of the other injection port and the first rotation shaft. It is characterized by being different from the distance from.

According to the present invention, the lower cleaning portion includes a spin nozzle that rotates on the first rotation axis by a stream of washing water, and a movable portion that moves the spin nozzle at least in the vertical direction. As a result, the cleaning water is sprayed over a wide range from the injection port that is radially away from the first rotation shaft, and the inside of the tire house can be cleaned. Therefore, the convenience of the car wash machine can be improved.

Side view showing the car wash machine of the 1st Embodiment of this invention Front view showing the car wash machine of the first embodiment of the present invention Front view showing the lower washing portion of the car wash machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Front sectional view showing a lower washing portion of the car wash machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Front view showing the lower washing part of the car wash machine of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Front view showing the spin nozzle of the lower washing part of the car wash machine of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Front view showing the lower washing part of the car wash machine of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a side view and a front view showing a car wash machine WA according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The car wash machine WA includes a car wash machine main body 1, a traveling rail 2, and a remote panel 7. The car wash machine main body 1 is formed in a gate shape having two left and right opposing stand portions 90 and a ceiling portion 91 connecting the upper ends of the stand portions 90.

A pair of left and right traveling rails 2 are provided on the ground G, and wheels 3 provided on the bottom surface of the car wash machine main body 1 are arranged on the traveling rail 2. As a result, the car wash machine main body 1 is erected on the traveling rail 2, travels on the traveling rail 2 by being driven by a traveling motor (not shown), and moves relative to the vehicle CA to be washed back and forth.

The remote panel 7 is arranged on the approach path of the car wash machine main body 1. The vehicle CA to be washed stops in front of the remote panel 7, and the user sets the car wash conditions by operating the remote panel 7 from within the vehicle CA to be washed. With the buttons provided on the remote panel 7, it is possible to set car wash conditions using a liquid agent used for shampoo, waxing, water repellent coating and the like. It is also possible to set equipment such as front guard, fender pole, side mirror, rear wiper, and roof carrier.

A tank storage unit 25 for storing a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) storing various liquid agents such as detergent and wax is arranged on the side of the car wash machine main body 1. A distribution piping unit 26 for distributing city water and liquids from each liquid storage tank is provided above the tank storage unit 25. The first and second water purification nozzles 11, 13, the first and second detergent nozzles 12, 15, the water repellent coat nozzle 14, and the wax nozzle 16 are led out to the distribution pipe section 26, respectively, via solenoid valves.

The first and second water purification nozzles 11 and 13 are arranged on the front side and the back side of the car wash machine main body 1, respectively, and inject city water onto the vehicle CA to be washed. The first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15 are arranged on the inlet surface 1a side and the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1, respectively, and inject a cleaning liquid such as shampoo onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

The water-repellent coat nozzle 14 and the wax nozzle 16 are arranged on the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1. The water-repellent coating nozzle 14 sprays the liquid agent of the water-repellent coating agent onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The wax nozzle 16 injects wax onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

Further, the car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a blower 20 that generates an air flow to dry the vehicle CA to be washed. The top blower nozzle 21 and the side blower nozzle 22 are connected to the blower 20. The top blower nozzle 21 is provided on the upper part of the car wash machine main body 1 and blows air toward the ceiling surface of the vehicle to be washed CA.

The side blower nozzles 22 are provided on both sides of the car wash machine main body 1 and blow air toward the side surface of the vehicle to be washed CA. The vehicle CA to be washed is dried by blowing air from the top blower nozzle 21 and the side blower nozzle 22.

Vehicle shape sensors 9 are provided on the upper portion and the side portion of the entrance surface of the car wash machine main body 1. The vehicle shape sensor 9 is composed of a photoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like, and detects the outer surface shape of the vehicle CA to be washed that enters the car wash machine main body 1. Thereby, the initial position of each rotating brush, the traveling range of the car wash machine main body 1, and the position and size of the wheel CA1 are determined.

An operation panel 8 is arranged on the entrance surface 1a of one stand portion 90 of the car wash machine main body 1. Like the remote panel 7, the operation panel 8 is provided with an operation button (not shown) for setting the car wash conditions, and accepts the car wash and sets the car wash conditions by the operation of a user or the like who has disembarked from the vehicle to be washed CA.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes that slide and brush on the vehicle CA to be washed. Each rotary brush is rotated by a rotary motor (not shown). The rotating brush consists of a top brush 4 and a side brush 5. The top brush 4 cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and the side brush 5 cleans both sides of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Further, the lower cleaning unit 30 cleans the wheels CA1 and the tire house CA2 of the vehicle CA to be cleaned with the high-pressure washing water W.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the lower cleaning unit 30. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged front sectional view of the lower cleaning portion 30. A pair of left and right lower cleaning portions 30 are provided below both stand portions 90, and are attached to mounting portions 80 arranged in the stand portions 90.

The mounting portion 80 is formed in a box shape, and the rotary motor 42 is mounted on the outer side wall and the support portion 37 is mounted on the inner side wall. The shaft 34 of the movable portion 81, which will be described later, is rotatably supported by the support portion 37.

The support portion 37 holds the bearing 38, and the water supply port 37a opens on the peripheral surface. A water supply pipe 48 is connected to the water supply port 37a. The water supply pipe 48 is connected to the distribution pipe portion 26 (see FIG. 1), and supplies high-pressure washing water W to the shaft 34. A pair of packings 40 are provided on both sides in the axial direction sandwiching the water supply port 37a, and the peripheral wall of the shaft 34 facing the water supply port 37a is kept watertight.

A sprocket 36 is attached to one end of the shaft 34, and a sprocket 41 is attached to a motor shaft (not shown) of the rotary motor 42. A chain 39 connecting the sprocket 36 and the sprocket 41 is arranged in the mounting portion 80. By driving the rotary motor 42, the shaft 34 rotates on the horizontal rotary shaft E2 (second rotary shaft).

The shaft 34 is provided with a water passage 34a extending in the horizontal direction. A pipe 35 communicating with the water passage 34a is attached to the end surface of the shaft 34. The pipe 35 is branched in the radial direction, and a spin nozzle 32 is provided at each end. The spin nozzle 32 rotates on a horizontal rotation axis E1 (first rotation axis) radially separated from the rotation axis E2 by the water flow of the washing water W. Therefore, the spin nozzle 32 revolves around the rotation axis E2 and rotates around the rotation axis E1. The pipe 35 and the shaft 34 form a movable portion 81 that moves the spin nozzle 32 in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction by rotation.

The spin nozzle 32 is provided with a plurality of injection ports 33a and 33b that are radially separated from the rotation shaft E1, and the washing water W is injected from the injection ports 33a and 33b. Therefore, the cleaning water W can be injected into a wide range from the injection ports 33a and 33b by the revolution and rotation of the spin nozzle 32.

At this time, the distance between the rotation axis E1 and the rotation axis E2 of each spin nozzle 32 is different. That is, the distance d4 (for example, 90 mm) between the rotation axis E1 and the rotation axis E2 of one spin nozzle 32 is larger than the distance d3 (for example, 55 mm) between the rotation axis E1 and the rotation axis E2 of the other spin nozzle 32. large. Therefore, the cleaning water W is ejected from one spin nozzle 32 to a region farther in the radial direction from the rotation axis E2, and the cleaning water W is ejected from the other spin nozzle 32 to a region closer to the rotation shaft E2. Therefore, the cleaning water W can be sprayed over a wider range.

Further, the injection directions of the injection ports 33a and 33b and the distances from the rotation axis E1 are different. That is, the angle α1 (for example, 32.5 °) between the injection direction of the injection port 33a and the rotation axis E1 is larger than the angle α2 (for example, 15 °) between the injection direction of the injection port 33b and the rotation axis E1. Further, the distance d1 (for example, 39 mm) between the injection port 33a and the rotating shaft E1 is larger than the distance d2 (for example, 35 mm) between the injection port 33b and the rotating shaft E1.

Therefore, the cleaning water W is injected from the injection port 33a to a region farther in the radial direction from the rotation shaft E1, and the cleaning water W is injected from the injection port 33b to a region closer to the rotation shaft E1. Therefore, the cleaning water W can be sprayed over a wider range, and the cleaning residue between the injection regions of the plurality of spin nozzles 32 can be prevented.

In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, the user drives and stops the vehicle CA to be washed in front of the remote panel 7, and sets the car wash conditions of the vehicle CA to be washed from within the vehicle CA to be washed. After setting the car wash conditions, the user moves the car to be washed CA to a predetermined wash start position. Then, the car wash machine main body 1 moves in the front-rear direction and straddles the vehicle CA to be washed, and based on the result of the vehicle shape sensor 9, washing is started by each rotating brush.

When the lower washing portion 30 is arranged in front of the wheel CA1 of the vehicle CA to be washed by the movement of the car wash machine main body 1, the movement of the car wash machine main body 1 is temporarily stopped. Then, the wheel CA1 is cleaned by the lower cleaning unit 30. At this time, a wide range is cleaned by the cleaning water W injected from the injection ports 33a and 33b of the spin nozzle 32, and the wheels CA1 and the tire house CA2 can be cleaned.

When the cleaning by the lower cleaning unit 30 is completed, the car wash machine main body 1 moves to clean the vehicle CA to be washed. The lower cleaning unit 30 cleans the front and rear wheels CA1 respectively. When the cleaning of the vehicle CA to be washed is completed, the car wash machine main body 1 moves and blows air from each blower nozzle to dry the vehicle CA to be washed. When the car wash is completed due to the completion of drying of the vehicle CA to be washed, the vehicle CA to be washed leaves.

According to the present embodiment, the spin nozzle 32 of the lower cleaning portion 30 has injection ports 33a and 33b which are rotated on the rotating shaft E1 (first rotating shaft) by the water flow of the washing water W and are separated from the rotating shaft E1 in the radial direction. Further, the spin nozzle 32 is moved in the vertical direction by the movable portion 81. As a result, the cleaning water W is injected into a wide range from the injection ports 33a and 33b, and the inside of the tire house CA2 can be cleaned. Therefore, the convenience of the car wash machine WA can be improved.

Further, the movable portion 81 holds the spin nozzle 32 and rotates on the rotation axis E2 (second rotation axis), so that the rotation axis E1 and the rotation axis E2 are separated in the radial direction. Thereby, the movable portion 81 that moves the spin nozzle 32 in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction can be easily realized.

Further, the distance d3 between the rotation axis E1 and the rotation axis E2 of one spin nozzle 32 is different from the distance d4 between the rotation axis E1 and the rotation axis E2 of the other spin nozzle 32. As a result, the cleaning water W can be sprayed over a wider range, and the inside of the tire house CA2 can be reliably cleaned.

Further, the angle α1 between the injection direction of the injection port 33a and the rotation axis E1 is different from the angle α2 between the injection direction of the injection port 33b and the rotation axis E1. As a result, the cleaning water W can be sprayed over a wider range, and the inside of the tire house CA2 can be reliably cleaned.

Further, the distance d1 between the injection port 33a and the rotating shaft E1 is different from the distance d2 between the injection port 33b and the rotating shaft E1. As a result, the cleaning water W can be sprayed over a wider range, and the inside of the tire house CA2 can be reliably cleaned.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, FIG. 5 shows a front view of the lower cleaning portion 30 of the second embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the configuration of the movable portion 81 for moving the spin nozzle 32 is different from that in the first embodiment. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

An L-shaped swinging portion 47 is rotatably supported on the stand portion 90 around the swinging shaft 47a. A water passage (not shown) is provided inside the swing portion 47. A spin nozzle 32 communicating with the water passage is attached to the inner end of the swing portion 47. Further, a hose (not shown) for supplying washing water is attached to the swing portion 47 so as to communicate with the water passage.

The tip of the rod 43a of the air cylinder 43 is rotatably connected to the outer end of the swinging portion 47. The upper end of the cylinder tube 43b of the air cylinder 43 is rotatably connected to the stand portion 90. Stroke sensors 46a and 46b that detect the position of the piston 43c are attached to the cylinder tube 43b.

When the air supply direction to the air cylinder 43 is periodically switched, the rod 43a advances and retreats. As a result, the swinging portion 47 swings in the vertical direction, and the spin nozzle 32 swings in the vertical direction. Therefore, the swinging portion 47 constitutes a movable portion 81 that moves the spin nozzle 32 in the vertical direction.

At this time, when the air supply direction is switched by the detection of the stroke sensors 46a and 46b, the rod 43a advances and retreats with a stroke corresponding to the distance between the stroke sensors 46a and 46b. Further, when the stroke sensors 46a and 46b are turned off and the air supply direction is switched at predetermined time intervals, the rod 43a advances and retreats at the maximum stroke. As a result, the swing amount of the swing portion 47 is variable.

Therefore, based on the detection result of the vehicle shape sensor 9 (see FIG. 1), if it is determined that the vehicle height of the vehicle CA to be washed is high and the wheels CA1 are large, the rod 43a advances and retreats with the maximum stroke. Further, when it is determined that the vehicle height of the vehicle CA to be washed is low and the wheel CA1 is small, the rod 43a advances and retreats with a stroke shorter than the maximum stroke.

The spin nozzle 32 is provided with an injection port 33a and an injection port 33b. The distance d5 between the injection port 33a and the rotating shaft E1 is formed to be the same as the distance d6 between the injection port 33b and the rotating shaft E1 (for example, 30 mm). The distance d5 may be larger than the distance d6. Further, the angle α3 (for example, 15 °) between the injection direction of the injection port 33a and the rotation axis E1 is larger than the angle (0 °) between the injection direction of the injection port 33b and the rotation axis E1.

In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, when cleaning by the lower cleaning portion 30 is started, the swing portion 47 swings in the vertical direction about the swing shaft 47a. Then, the spin nozzle 32 rotates, and the high-pressure washing water W is injected from the injection ports 33a and 33b. As a result, a wide range can be cleaned by the cleaning water W injected from the injection ports 33a and 33b of the swinging spin nozzle 32, and the wheels CA1 and the tire house CA2 can be cleaned.

At this time, based on the detection result of the vehicle shape sensor 9, the swing angle of the spin nozzle 32 is increased when the vehicle height of the vehicle to be washed CA is high, and the swing angle is decreased when the vehicle height is low. Therefore, the tire house CA2 can be washed more reliably.

The car wash machine main body 1 may move in the front-rear direction when the lower cleaning portion 30 is washed. As a result, the cleaning range in the front-rear direction by the lower cleaning unit 30 can be widened.

According to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the spin nozzle 32 is held by the swing portion 47 that swings up and down on the swing shaft 47a, the movable portion 81 that moves the spin nozzle 32 in the vertical direction can be easily realized.

Further, since the swing amount of the movable portion 81 is changed according to the shape of the vehicle CA to be washed detected by the vehicle shape sensor 9, the tire house CA2 can be washed more reliably.

Further, the air cylinder 43 connected to the swing portion 47 is driven by switching between the stroke detected by the stroke sensors 46a and 46b and the maximum stroke. Thereby, the movable portion 81 in which the swing amount is variable can be easily realized.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, FIG. 7 shows a side view of the lower cleaning portion 30 of the third embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same parts as those in the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals. The configuration for driving the swing portion 47 is different from that of the second embodiment in this embodiment. Other parts are the same as those in the second embodiment.

A swing motor 45 is installed on the stand portion 90, and a disc-shaped crank 44 is attached to the rotating shaft 45a of the swing motor 45. A rod 44a connected to the swinging portion 47 is rotatably supported on the peripheral portion of the crank 44.

When the crank 44 is rotated by the drive of the swing motor 45, the swing portion 47 swings in the vertical direction. Further, when the rotation direction of the swing motor 45 is reversed within a predetermined angle range, the swing amount of the swing portion 47 becomes small.

Based on the detection result of the vehicle shape sensor 9, the swing angle of the spin nozzle 32 is increased when the vehicle height of the vehicle to be washed CA is high, and the swing angle is decreased when the vehicle height is low. As a result, the tire house CA2 can be reliably cleaned.

According to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the swinging portion 47 is connected to the crank 44 via the rod 44a, the movable portion 81 that moves the spin nozzle 32 in the vertical direction can be easily realized.

Further, by changing the rotation amount of the swing motor 45, it is possible to easily realize the movable portion 81 in which the swing amount of the spin nozzle 32 is variable.

According to the present invention, it can be used in a car wash machine provided with a lower washing portion for washing the lower part of the vehicle to be washed.

1 Car wash machine body 1a Entrance surface 1b Exit surface 2 Traveling rail 4 Top brush 5 Side brush 7 Remote panel 8 Operation panel 9 Vehicle shape sensor 20 Blower 21 Top blower nozzle 22 Side blower nozzle 25 Tank storage part 26 Distribution piping part 30 Lower cleaning Part 32 Spin nozzle 33a, 33b Injection port 34 Shaft 34a Water passage 35 Piston 36, 41 Sprocket 37 Support part 37a Water supply port 38 Bearing 39 Chain 40 Packing 42 Rotating motor 43 Air cylinder 43a Rod 43b Cylinder tube 43c Piston 44 Shaking motor 45a Rotating shaft 46a, 46b Stroke sensor 47 Swinging part 47a Swinging shaft 80 Mounting part 81 Moving part 90 Stand part 91 Ceiling part CA Washed vehicle CA1 Wheel CA2 Tire house E1 Rotating shaft (1st rotating shaft)
E2 rotation axis (second rotation axis)
G Ground W Washing water WA Car wash machine

Claims (6)

A car wash machine in which a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction is provided with a lower washing portion that cleans the lower side surface of the vehicle to be washed with high-pressure washing water. possess spin nozzle for injecting wash water from the injection port away from the first rotational axis together with the rotation at the first rotation axis by the water flow in the radial direction, and a movable portion that moves the spin nozzle least vertically, the movable A car wash machine characterized in that a unit holds the spin nozzle and rotates on a second rotation shaft, and the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft are separated in the radial direction. A plurality of the spin nozzles are provided, and the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis of one spin nozzle is different from the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis of the other spin nozzle. The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the car wash machine is characterized in that. A car wash machine in which a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction is provided with a lower washing portion that cleans the lower side surface of the vehicle to be washed with high-pressure washing water. It has a spin nozzle that rotates on the first rotation axis by a water flow and injects cleaning water from an injection port that is radially away from the first rotation axis, and a movable portion that moves the spin nozzle at least in the vertical direction. A car wash machine characterized in that a portion holds the spin nozzle and periodically swings up and down on a predetermined swing shaft to perform washing. The car wash machine according to claim 3 , further comprising a vehicle shape sensor that detects the shape of the vehicle to be washed, and the swing amount of the movable portion is changed according to the shape of the vehicle to be washed. The spin nozzle has a plurality of injection ports, and the angle between the injection direction of one injection port and the first rotation axis is different from the angle between the injection direction of the other injection port and the first rotation axis. The car wash machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A claim, wherein the spin nozzle has a plurality of injection ports, and the distance between one injection port and the first rotation shaft is different from the distance between another injection port and the first rotation shaft. The car wash machine according to any one of 1 to 4.

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