JPS589017B2 - Movement control device for injection nozzles for cleaning the lower part of automobiles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a technique for cleaning the lower part of an automobile as a pre-process for periodic inspection and maintenance of automobiles, and particularly for inspection and maintenance of the undercarriage area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In conventional automobile lower part cleaning techniques, there are techniques in which an injection nozzle that injects cleaning liquid to an automobile lower part is moved along a predetermined path, and the injection nozzle is oscillated or drawn in an arcuate trajectory.

In this prior art, a vehicle is generally provided with a truck that is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and this truck carries an injection nozzle.

In addition, the injection nozzles are swingably mounted on the truck and are arranged in large numbers in the width direction of the vehicle.On the other hand, there are configurations in which one or two injection nozzles are used to make a predetermined arc movement. Some do.

However, the vehicles to be cleaned have different lengths and widths.

In conventional lower part cleaning technology, the movement range of the injection nozzle is not determined according to the length or width of the car to be cleaned, but is uniquely determined by the internal configuration of the cleaning device itself. It is something that

Therefore, in the case of large vehicles, complete cleaning may not be possible, and in the case of small vehicles, the cleaning fluid is sprayed far beyond the width of the vehicle, resulting in wasted cleaning fluid and the spraying of cleaning fluid and muddy water around the vehicle. There were drawbacks.

On the other hand, in the conventional technology, it is difficult to align the central axis of the cleaning device with the central axis of the vehicle to be cleaned in the reciprocating path of the cleaning device in the vehicle length direction. There is also the drawback that the cleaning liquid is sprayed out to the side, on the one hand, and the cleaning liquid is not sufficiently sprayed onto the lower part of the vehicle on the other hand.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and controls the movement range of the injection nozzle according to the dimensions of the vehicle, such as length and width, so that the cleaning liquid can always be sprayed to the required part of the lower part of the vehicle. The purpose is to make it possible.

In the present invention, at least one of the vehicle width and/or vehicle length of the vehicle is detected, and the cleaning liquid injection nozzle is moved in an arbitrary direction within a predetermined area determined from the vehicle width and/or vehicle length thus detected. It cleans the entire surface.

That is, in the present invention, the width and length of the vehicle to be washed are detected, the range in which the injection nozzle should move is determined in that state, and the injection nozzle is moved in any direction within the determined predetermined area. to spray the cleaning liquid.

Therefore, even when lifting a car onto the floor to clean the lower part, the range of movement of the injection nozzle is determined only by the dimensions of the car, so the cleaning liquid is not sprayed in areas other than the necessary areas. Injection is always performed.

On the other hand, the present invention provides a detection means for detecting a vehicle and/or a vehicle length, a bogie that can reciprocate along a rail laid on a floor surface, and a bogie that moves on the bogie in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bogie. an injection nozzle that is reciprocally movable and capable of injecting cleaning liquid to the lower part of the vehicle; a direction changing means that changes the moving direction of the truck and/or the injection nozzle in response to the detection means; a drive that drives the truck and the injection nozzle; This is a configuration having means.

That is, in order to move the injection nozzle in any direction within a predetermined area, the device of the present invention is equipped with a bogie that can reciprocate along rails and a bogie capable of reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the bogie. It has a jet nozzle configuration.

The movement range of the injection nozzle is limited within a predetermined area determined by cooperation between the detection means and the direction change means.

Furthermore, considering that this device is used submerged in water, a turbine (impeller) is used instead of an electric motor to utilize the flow energy of the pressure cleaning fluid to minimize the cause of failure. It is said that

Note that this does not exclude the use of an electric motor in this device.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of the device of the present invention, illustrating the overall configuration.

An automobile 2 is held at a predetermined height above the lower part cleaning device 1.

The automobile 2 may be held suspended from above, or may be lifted by a lift or other appropriate method.

The lower part cleaning device 1 has a vehicle width detecting means 3 and a vehicle length detecting means 3' for detecting the vehicle width and vehicle length of the automobile 2.

A pair of vehicle width detecting means 3 and a vehicle length detecting means 3' are provided on the left, right, front and rear sides.

Each of the vehicle width detection means 3 has a detection ball 4 that comes into contact with the side surface of the body of the automobile 2, and a regulation member 5 to which the detection ball 4 is fixedly attached.

The detection ball 4 is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber so as not to damage the body.

Further, normally two detection balls 4 may be provided on each side, but the number of detection balls 4 may be changed as desired.

A pair of approaching/retracting moving means 6, 6 is provided connected to the regulating member 5.

The approaching and separating means 6 includes a pressing arm 5a rotatably connected to the regulating member 5 with a pin, and a rotating shaft 6 having one end fixed to the other end of the pressing arm 6a and a driving arm 6b fixed to the other end.
cs and a cylinder device 6e in which the tip of a rod 6d is connected to a drive arm 6b.

On the other hand, in the other approaching/retracting moving means 6', an intermediate arm 6f is interposed between the regulating member 5 and the pressing arm 6a, and both ends of the intermediate arm 6f are rotatably connected with pins.

Vehicle length detection means 3' are provided at the front and rear positions of the automobile 2, respectively.

A detection ball 4' for detecting vehicle length is fixed to a regulating member 5', and the regulating member 5' is operatively connected to a drive arm 6'b rotatably supported on the main frame 7.

The tip of a rod 6'd of a cylinder device 6'e is connected to the middle of the drive arm 5/b, and operates to move the detection ball 4' back and forth.

Therefore, after the automobile 2 is positioned at a predetermined height above the lower part cleaning device 1, the detection balls 4 and 4' are moved by applying a desired pressure to the cylinder devices 5e and 6'e, and the automobile 2 is moved. The position of the regulating member 5 in the vehicle width direction according to the vehicle width of the automobile 2 and the regulating member in the longitudinal direction according to the length of the vehicle are brought into contact with the side surface of the body and the front and rear surfaces of the body (usually the front and rear bumpers of the body). It is possible to determine the position of 5'.

In this case, the vehicle 2 is not necessarily on the same center line as the device 1.

Even when the vehicle 2 is oriented somewhat diagonally with respect to the center line of the device 1, since the present detection means uses the intermediate arm 6f, the regulating member 5 in the width direction is parallel to the side surface of the vehicle 2 body. It is possible to locate

This state can be easily understood by referring to the principle diagram of the guide means shown in FIG.

However, it goes without saying that the use of the intermediate arm 6f can be easily replaced with other equivalent means, such as connecting the pressing arm 6a and the regulating member 5 via a spring.

Next, the mechanism for spraying the cleaning liquid of the present device 1 will be explained.

A pair of rails 8, 8 are fixedly installed on the main frame 7, and a truck 9 is supported on the rails 8, 8 so as to be able to move back and forth.

As shown in FIG. 3, the truck 9 has wheels 9a.
rolls on the rails 8, causing the bogie 9 to reciprocate in the vehicle length direction.

A pair of injection nozzles 10, 10 are provided on the truck 9 and are fixed to a sensing member 11.

The sensing member 11 is made of a plate bent into a predetermined shape, and reciprocates on the truck 9 to reciprocate the injection nozzle 10 in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, the injection nozzle 10 is moved in the vehicle length direction by the movement of the truck 9, and is also moved in the vehicle width direction by the movement of the sensing member 11.

Incidentally, the injection nozzle 10 simultaneously makes a rocking motion in the vehicle length direction, and this point will become clear from the description below.

While the injection nozzle 10 is moved as described above, the pump,
Pressurized cleaning liquid from an external cleaning liquid supply source (not shown) such as a water heater is transferred from the connecting portion 12 shown in FIG. 3 to the pipe line 13a,
After being introduced into the truck 9 via the tube 13b and driving the turbine installed in the truck 9 to rotate, it passes through the pipe 13c to the injection nozzle 10 and is injected toward the lower part of the vehicle.

On the other hand, it goes without saying that a configuration in which the fuel is directly supplied to the injection nozzle 10 from an external supply source is also possible.

The sensing member 11 that moves in the vehicle width direction on the truck 9 collides with the regulating member 5 and changes its moving direction, so that the cleaning liquid sprayed from the injection nozzle 10 crosses the vehicle width and moves upward. There is no gushing.

Further, a pair of second sensing members 14, 14 are provided on the truck 9, and these are in collision engagement with vehicle length regulating members 5', 5', respectively, which are positioned according to the vehicle length of the automobile 2. The movement range of the truck 9 in the vehicle length direction is restricted.

Therefore, since the injection nozzle 10 does not move beyond the length of the vehicle, there is no possibility of spraying cleaning liquid or muddy water.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9, a detailed example of a drive mechanism for moving the injection nozzle 10 in the lower cleaning device 1 and a control mechanism for controlling the movement range in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle will be explained. Please explain.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the drive unit mounted inside the truck 9. FIG.

The cleaning liquid supplied from an external cleaning liquid supply source is connected to the pipe 13b.
The water passes through the nozzle 15 attached to the tip and is ejected toward the blades of the turbine 16.

The relationship between the nozzle 15 and the turbine 16 is clear from FIG.

Therefore, the cleaning liquid jetted from the nozzle 15 drives and rotates the turbine 16 and the drive shaft 17 integrally connected thereto.

The rotation of the drive shaft 17 rotates the worm gear 18 via the worm 17a.

The crank arm 19 is integrally connected to the worm gear 18, and the crank arm 19 is operatively connected to a bracket 21 via a connecting rod 20.

The bracket 21 is a guide rod 2 rotatably supported by a bearing 23 attached to a frame 22 of the truck 9.
4 is fixed at one end.

Further, a swing rod 25 is fixed to the bracket 21 in the middle thereof.

Therefore, the rotational movement of the worm gear 18 is transmitted to the bracket 21 via the crank arm 19 and the connecting rod 20, causing the swinging rod 25 to swing around the guide rod 24.

As will become clear from the description below, this rocking motion is used for rocking the injection nozzle 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

A first bevel gear (not shown) is integrally coupled with the worm gear 18.
is provided, and the second bevel gear 26 meshes with the first bevel gear.

A first sprocket 27 and a second sprocket 28 are provided integrally with the second bevel gear 26.

The first sprocket 27 is operatively connected to the third sprocket 29 by a hinge, and the third sprocket 29 is configured to rotate together with the crankshaft 30.

The clutch lever 30 is slidable left and right on a clutch shaft 31 to which a third sprocket 29 is fixed.

The control lever 33 is rotated via the control shaft 32, and the clutch 30 operatively connected to the control lever 33 is moved left and right.

Therefore, the clutch 30 is selectively engaged with the third bevel gear 34 or the fourth bevel gear 35.

Incidentally, the position of the clutch 30 shown in FIG. 4 is shown in a neutral position where neither of the bevel gears is engaged.

The third and fourth bevel gears 34 and 35 are always in mesh with the fifth bevel gear 36, and the fifth bevel gear 36 is connected to the fourth bevel gear via a shaft 37.
It is integrally constructed with the sprocket 38 and the fifth sprocket 39.

The fourth and fifth sprockets 38 and 39 are operatively connected to wheel sprockets 40 and 40, which are integrally formed with the wheels 9a and 9a for running the truck 9, respectively, by means of screws.

Therefore, the clutch 30 is connected to the third bevel gear 34 or the fourth bevel gear 3.
5, the rotational force of the drive shaft 17 is transmitted to the wheels 9a to move the truck 9 forward or backward, and by meshing the clamper 30 with the other bevel gear, the rotational force of the drive shaft 17 is transmitted to the wheels 9a to move the truck 9 in the opposite direction. It can be moved.

As is clear from the above description, it is possible to control the forward and backward movement of the truck 9 by controlling the control shaft 32, and one example of its actual implementation is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, a sliding rod 42 is slidably provided on a grip 4L41 fixed to the frame 22 of the truck 9.

Sensing members 14.14 are fixed to both ends of the sliding rod 42.

A protruding arm 44 is fixed to one of the sensing members 14 at a suitable position, and the protruding arm 44 is provided with a notch 44a, into which one end of a toggle switch 45 is engaged.

Further, a locking portion 42a is integrally formed at a suitable position of the sliding rod 42, and the other end of the toggle switch 45 is engaged.

The sensing member 14.14 can collidingly engage with regulating members 5', 5' positioned apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle shown in FIG.

Therefore, the toggle switch 45 is operatively connected to the control shaft 32 (
For example, by connecting the end of the toggle switch 45 that is engaged with the locking portion 42a with the operating lever 33,
Each time the sensing member 14.14 collides with the regulating member 5', 5', the clutch 30 moves to the left or right and the wheels 9a, 9a
The direction of rotation of is transformed.

As described above, it is clear that the forward and backward movement of the truck 9 is limited depending on the length of the automobile 2.

Next, FIGS. 7 to 9 show specific configurations regarding the movement of the injection nozzle 10 in the left and right directions on the trolley 9 and its control.
This will be explained with reference to the figures.

In Fig. 7, the second sprocket 28 (see Fig. 4)
A wheel 50 is stretched across the idler sprocket 28, and the wheel 50 is constantly driven in the direction indicated by the arrow X.

The sensing member 11 in the vehicle width direction is bent and formed from a plate material, and a guide rod 24 is loosely inserted into a through hole 11a formed in a part of the sensing member 11.

A first control lever 51 is rotatably supported on the sensing member 11 around a shaft 51a, and a second control lever 52 is supported on the shaft 52.
It is rotatably supported around a.

A pin 53,54 is provided upright on the second control lever 52, and in a normal state is engaged with a side of the first control lever 51 to define the relative positional relationship of the lever 51,52.

Further, a spring 55 is installed between an appropriate position of the head of the second control lever 52 and the protrusion 11b formed by bending a part of the sensing member 11.
is installed.

As shown in FIG. 8, a part of the naene 50 has an engaging pin 5
6 is provided protrudingly, and the retaining pin 56 is connected to the first control lever 5.
1 and the upper and lower parts thereof.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the retaining pin 56 is engaged with the first control lever 51 at its upper portion.

Therefore, the driving force of the naene 50 in the X direction is
6 to the sensing member 11, the sensing member 1
1 is guided by a guide rod 24 and moved in the X direction (vehicle width direction).

As shown in FIG. 7, an injection nozzle support member 11' is provided in operative connection with the sensing member 11, and as the sensing member 11 moves, the support member 11' is also moved along the guide rod 24. , the injection nozzle 10 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the truck 9, that is, in the vehicle width direction.

A bifurcated protrusion 11'a is protruded from the lower part of the support member 11', and a swing rod 25 is engaged with the protrusion 11'a.

Therefore, as described above, the swinging rod 25 is connected to the guide rod 24.
As the support member 11' swings around, the injection nozzle 10 swings in the direction of movement of the truck 9, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

On the other hand, since a portion of the sensing member 11 is inserted into the groove of the guide 57 fixed to the frame of the truck 9, the sensing member 11 does not swing.

Next, in the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG.
This will be explained with reference to the diagram.

9A and 9B show the sensing member 11, first control lever 51, second control lever 52, and chain 50 shown in FIG.
This is a diagrammatic representation of the operational relationship between the engagement pin 56 and the engagement pin 56.

That is, in FIG. 9A, as the chain 50 is driven in the X direction, the retaining pin 56 engages with the upper part of the first control lever 51, and attempts to rotate the lever 51 clockwise about the shaft 51a. .

The lever 51 is connected to the pin 54 of the second control lever 52.
, the lever 52 attempts to rotate counterclockwise around the shaft 52a.

However, since the spring 55 is stretched between the head of the lever 52 and the projection 1Ib, both the levers 51 and 5
2 is prevented from rotating, and as the engagement pin 56 moves, the sensing member 11 and the support member 11' are moved along the guide rod 24.

Therefore, the spring 55 is connected to the sensing member 11 and the supporting member 1.
1' and of sufficient size to overcome the frictional forces on guide rod 24.

On the other hand, the state shown in FIG. 9B shows a state in which the injection nozzle 10 has reached one of the extreme positions of the vehicle width.

That is, the sensing member 11 is in a collisionally engaged state with the regulating member 5, which is positioned according to the width of the automobile 2.

As explained with reference to FIG. 1, the regulating member 5 is kept stationary by applying a predetermined pressure (cylinder device 6e), so even if the engagement pin 56 moves forward, the sensing member 11 will not touch the regulating member 5. Its movement is prevented by.

The spring 55 then succumbs to the force of the engagement pin 56, and the levers 51 and 52 are rotated as shown by the arrows.

When the lever 51 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the engagement pin 56 is disengaged from the lever 51, and the floating runaette 28'
progress towards.

On the other hand, the lever 5L52 receives the return force of the spring 55 and rotates in the opposite direction to the arrow, so that the side surface of the lever 51
It comes into contact with the second pin 53 and returns to its original state.

After the engagement pin 56 moves around the floating runaette 28', it comes into contact with the lower part of the first control lever 51, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 9A, and causes the sensing member 11 to move in the direction of the arrow Y.

In this case, if the abutting position of the engagement pin 56 is symmetrical with respect to the shaft 51a as in the above case, the force relationship acting on the levers 51, 52 is exactly the same.

Then, the sensing member 11 is collidingly engaged with the other regulating member 5, which is positioned according to the vehicle width, so that the movement of the sensing member 11 is prevented, and the same effect as that described in FIG. 9B is performed.

As described above, since the movement range of the injection nozzle 10 is controlled according to the width of the vehicle, cleaning liquid can always be sprayed within a predetermined area regardless of the size of the vehicle.

Furthermore, this device has a simple mechanical configuration using levers 51 and 52, and is not only easy to manufacture, but also prevents failures as much as possible even under humid conditions in which this device is used.

Furthermore, in this device, since the sensing member 11 is temporarily stopped near the inner side of the vehicle width limit, it is possible to thoroughly clean the tire house, which is the part of the lower part of the car that needs cleaning the most. Contributes to improving cleaning effectiveness.

In the above description, the restriction member 5 has been described as a part of the vehicle width detection stage 3 shown in FIG.

However, the regulating member 5 is not limited to this, and can be provided separately, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible, such as configuring the sensing member 11 itself to be able to detect the vehicle width. It is.

Further, in the above description, the case where the sensing member 11 is used to detect the vehicle width of the automobile and the sensing member 14 is used to detect the vehicle length direction is explained, but the present invention is not limited to these. , the sensing member 11 is used to detect the vehicle length, and the sensing member 1 is used to detect the vehicle length.
It goes without saying that a configuration in which 4 is used for detecting the vehicle width also falls within the technical scope of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a specific embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a principle diagram showing the operating principle of the vehicle width and vehicle length detection means, and Figs. 3A, B, and C are the bogie and injection nozzle. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing the drive mechanism inside the bogie, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the nozzle and the turbine, and FIG. 6 is a sensor for controlling movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism for moving the injection nozzle in the vehicle width direction; FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7; FIGS. 9A and B FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing movement range control in the vehicle width direction. Explanation of symbols of main parts, 1: Lower cleaning device, 3: Vehicle width detection means, 3: Vehicle length detection means, 4.4': Detection ball, 5
．． 5': Regulation member, 6.6': Proximity moving means, 9: Dolly, 10: Injection nozzle, 11, 14: Sensing member, 24: Guide rod, 50: Chain, 51, 52: Control lever,
55: Spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sensing member is provided so as to be able to reciprocate along a predetermined trajectory together with the injection nozzle, and a pair of regulating members are provided so as to be arbitrarily installed at positions that determine the reciprocating range of the sensing member. Movement of an injection nozzle used for washing the lower part of an automobile, characterized in that a chain is stretched between a pair of ranae arranged at both ends of a track, and the sensing member and the chain can be detachably held. Control device. 2. The injection nozzle movement control device according to item 1 above, characterized in that an engagement pin is provided protrudingly on the naene, and a lever mechanism that is freely engageable and detachable from the engagement pin is provided on the sensing member.