ACTIVE ELEMENT FOR ROTARY BRUSH AND BRUSH

Description

ACTIVE ELEMENT FOR ROTARY BRUSH AND BRUSH On behalf of: Morelite SpA with headquarters in: Via Guardia di Rocca n. 37- 47899 Serravalle RSM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention falls within the sector concerning washing and cleaning in genre and refers to a modular type brush element and a brush comprising a plurality of such brush elements and particularly suitable for washing of vehicles and surfaces in general. Rotary brushes, for example those used in car washes, are known, comprising a 10 rotary shaft to which are fixed elements including attachments for flexible washing elements consisting of, for example, bristles, ribbons or bands fringed or not. One disadvantage of such brushes and known elements is that the assembly of attachments and flexible elements can be extremely laborious and 15 require a lot of time from specialized operators. Another disadvantage is that the repair of the brushes or their replacement of flexible elements are very complex and expensive and often require the dismantling the brush from the washing machine on which it is mounted or, even, they are not possible or are uneconomical. 20 Another disadvantage is that known attacks are generally suitable for a single type of flexible elements. An object of the present invention is to propose an active element for brush assembled through a quick and simple sequence of manual operations. Another aim is to propose an active element that can be equipped with almost 25 any type of flexible washing element made of almost any Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) flexible material that is resistant to the washing environment. Another aim is to propose an active element equipped with an annular attachment in which a brush rotation shaft can be inserted. A further aim is to propose an active brush element in which the elements of 5 washing can be connected to the ring connection directly or via elements connectors. Another aim is to propose a brush comprising a plurality of elements brush attachments quickly and easily. A further aim is to propose a brush that allows the replacement of the elements of 10 flexible washing in a simple and fast way and without dismantling the brush itself from the machine on which it is installed. The features of the invention are highlighted below with particular reference to the attached drawings in which: - figure 1 shows a schematic and axonometric view of the active element for 15 rotary brush object of the present invention; - figure 2 illustrates a plan view of an annular body of figure 1; - figure 3 shows an axonometric and schematic view of one of the members of washing figure 1; - figure 4 illustrates a schematic and axonometric view of the annular body of 20 figure 2 and the washing member of figure 3 mutually coupled; - Figure 5 illustrates a variant of the coupling of the washing member of figure 4; - figures 6 and 7 illustrate axonometric views of the annular body respectively of figure 2 and a variant thereof, associated with a rotation shaft; 25 - Figures 8 to 10 illustrate respective axonometric views of the brush Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) The object of the present invention comprises a plurality of active elements of figure 1. With reference to figures 1 to 7, 1 indicates the active element for rotary brush, object of the present invention. 5 This active element 1 is intended to be combined with other similar active elements 1 and engaged with them to a rotation shaft 51 to make the brush 101 rotary. This brush is intended for brushing and / or washing various types of objects, things or animals. Preferably, but not exclusively, the brush and its active ingredients 10 are intended for washing and possibly drying vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, trailers, railway carriages and / or locomotives, aircraft or parts thereof and for this purpose the brush is installed, in one or more specimens, in a machine able to place the brush or brushes in axial rotation and possibly of move or swing them and at the same time dispense antifreeze and / or washing liquids or 15 water with or without detergents, waxes or similar or drying air. The portion of the active element 1 intended to engage with the rotation shaft 51 consists of an annular body 3 whose central hole is engaged by said shaft of rotation 51 so that the rotation of the latter is transmitted to the whole the active element 1. 20 The annular body 3 has a general shape similar to a short tubular segment or segment of cylindrical wall and has two opposite transverse faces first 5 and second 7, flat or almost flat and perpendicular to the geometric axis longitudinal of said body or of the cylindrical wall. The first transverse face 5 bears a plurality of convex members 9 and the second 25 transverse face 7 bears a corresponding plurality of concave members 11 Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) complementary to the convex members 9. In this way, the convex members 9 of a body ring finger 3 can insert and find accommodation in the concave members 11 of another juxtaposed and adjacent annular body 3. The portion of the active element 1 intended to contact the surfaces to be 5 brushing or washing comprises a plurality of flexible washing members 15 and obtained from sheets of closed-cell sponge or other synthetic material, in felt or in woven or comprising bristles, threads or strips of flexible materials free of or almost free of elasticity and water resistant. These washing members 15 are equipped with corresponding connections 17 bearing a 10 at least a first set of holes 19, each intended to receive a member convex 9 of an annular body 3. In an operating condition, where the active elements 1 are coupled to the shaft of rotation 51 forming the brush 101, the convex members 9 of an active element 1 they are engaged in the 19 holes, through and predictably circular, of the 17 connections 15 of the plurality of washing members 15 and are also engaged in the concave members 11 of a further and adjacent active element 1. Thus, in this condition, the attachment 17 of each washing member 15 is confined or clamped between a first face 5 of an annular body 3 and a second face 7 of a another annular body 3 and is blocked there by at least one or more convex members 9 20 protruding from the first face 5 of the first annular body 3 where such convex members 9 pass through the holes 19 of the attachment 17 and are inserted into the corresponding members concave 11 made starting from the second face 7 of the second annular member 3, lodging in them. Preferably the inner edge of the attachment 17 follows, or reproduces, the perimeter 25 inside of the annular body 3. Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) Preferably, each concave member 11 consists of a cylindrical, blind or passing through, as illustrated in the figures, and each of the convex members 9 consists of a pin with proximal 10 and distal 12 cylindrical portions having respective diameters first and second where the first is greater than the second and is equal or slightly 5 less than the diameter of the holes of the first set of holes 19 of the attachments 17 and the second diameter is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole of each concave member 11. This configuration of the convex members 9 provides a excellent and stable orientation of the attacks 17 and possibly allows for set the minimum distance between the two adjacent annular bodies that delimit the 10 space for attacks in the operational condition. The 17 connections can be made as a single body with the respective members of washing 15 or, as illustrated in figure 5, they 15, 17 are mutually fixed, for example by gluing, welding, nails, clips, plastic clips, screws or similar. Still referring to the variant of figure 5, each attachment 17 fixed 15 to the respective washing member 15 consists of a connector 18, e.g. in plastic, having one end equipped with the first set of holes 19 and the seats 23 and the opposite end provided with a housing 20 for the washing member 15 flexible where said ends are mutually coplanar, inclined or, as illustrated, orthogonal for respective orientations washing member 15 compared 20 to the longitudinal geometric axis of said body 3. Now referring to all the forms of the attacks, the first face 5 of each annular body carries a set of shaped pins 21 spaced from the convex members 9 and intended, in the operational condition, to engage in respective 23 concave seats obtained in said attacks 17. Preferably but not necessarily, to each 25 convex member corresponds to a respective shaped pin placed on the same Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) geometric radius passing through this convex member. The cross-section of the rotation shaft 51 is shaped and has a set of anti-rotation shapes, for example corresponding to longitudinal ribs of the tree angularly spaced in a regular manner, and the internal perimeter of 5 each annular body 3 has a set of shapes complementary to those of the cross-section of rotation shaft 51; preferably and as illustrated in the figures, such internal perimeter of each annular body 3 presents at least two sets of shapes complementary to those of the rotation shaft cross-section 51 staggered, for example by an angle smaller than that subtended by two adjacent ribs; 10 this duplication of the external perimeter shapes allows to engage the annular bodies 3 adjacent in the rotation shaft 51 with their respective members wash 15 angularly staggered. The shaped pins 21 intended for an attachment 17 of a washing member 15 and the seats 23 of such attachment 17 are shaped in at least two different cross-section shapes 15 transverse, e.g. circular and rectangular, for positioning and fixing of each washing member 15 in a specific position relative to the annular body 3 to whose convex members 9 and shaped pins 21 this washing member 15 is engaged. Preferably each attachment 17 has a plurality of circular seats 23 and a rectangular seat 23 and the shape and arrangement of the shaped pins 21 of the body 20 annular 3 reflects the said arrangement and shape of the seats 23. The first transverse faces 5 of the annular bodies 3 bearing two sets of shapes, bear references, for example two different letters, such as A and B, or other symbols, for the mutual coupling with the respective pluralities of washing members 15 angularly staggered and with the alignment of two respective sets of shapes. 25 As illustrated in figure 7, each annular body 3 may comprise two portions Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) coaxial 31, 33, each in the shape of a circular crown, which can be coupled so as to transmit rotation to each other, where the external portion 31 carries the members convex 9 and the shaped pins 21 and the internal portion 33 bears the internal perimeter with the set of shapings and is replaceable for the coupling of the body 3 to shafts of 5 rotation 51 of a different type. In the variant of figure 7, the internal portion 33 consists of a reducer for coupling the external portion 31 consisting in the usual body 3 to a rotation shaft of smaller diameter but it is also foreseen that the internal perimeter of the external portion 31 is intended only to the coupling with an internal portion 33, among various, selected for 10 the coupling to a specific type of rotation shaft. In this variant of figure 7, each annular body 3 comprises a respective external portion 31 and a respective interchangeable internal portion 33. In alternatively, the invention also provides that each annular body 3 comprises a respective external portion 31 and that the corresponding internal portion is 15 longitudinally elongated and is common to a set of annular bodies 3 mating with the corresponding external portions. For example, the internal portion 33 may consist of a sleeve of length equal to that of the shaft or its fractions and that it is committed to all or a fraction of the external portions 31. A further variant of the invention, the understanding of which does not require specific 20 figures, provides that the annular body 3 is made up of two distinct portions semicircular and complementary whose ends are equipped with respective mutually mating interconnections to allow for body application 3, and therefore of the active element 1, to the rotation shaft 51 at any point thereof, without having to slide from one end. It is also foreseen that two ends of such 25 portions are hinged to each other and the others have their respective Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) mating interconnections. With reference to figures 8 to 10, the rotary brush, the subject of this invention, is indicated with the number 101. This brush 101 comprises a plurality of active elements 1 as previously described, and a tree of 5 rotation 51 for the support and rotation of said plurality of active elements 1. The rotary brush 101 comprises a first flange 53, for example metallic and circular crown shape, with dimensions similar, smaller or slightly larger than those of the annular body 3 and fixed, for example by screws, welding or other removable or fixed connections, to a first end portion of the shaft 10 rotation 51. This first flange 53 is intended to block the sliding and to prevent the disengagement of the annular bodies 3 applied to the rotation shaft from such first end portion and, if it 53 is of the removable type, to allow the insertion or disassemble the annular bodies of the active elements in the shaft from said corresponding end. 15 The rotary brush 101 further comprises a push member 54 having a second flange 55 fixed, removable or fixed, to the opposite second portion of the end of the rotation shaft 51 and a movable flange 57 sliding along the rotation shaft 51 is connected to the second flange 55 by means of translation 59 intended to translate the movable flange 57 towards the first flange 53 and in 20 opposite direction to bring the active elements 1 against each other and to allow their mutual distancing, where the excursion of the mobile flange 56 operated by the translation means 57 is equal to or greater than the maximum projection of the shaped pins 21 and convex members 9. The second flange 55 and the movable flange 57 are also circular crown shaped and are similar to the first flange 53. The 25 translation means 59 may consist of screws or threaded rods whose rotation Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others) involves the second flange 55 moving closer or further away from each other and of the movable flange 57 or they can be equipped with respective sleeves with helical principles so that the rotation of one of such flanges 55, 57 with respect to to the other 57, 55 involves their approach or separation or of cams 5 of moving away and approaching. At least one of the first flange 53 and the thrust member 54 must be of the type removable from the rotation shaft 51 for the insertion and removal of elements active 1 unless the latter are equipped with annular bodies 3 of the two-sector type semicircular. Agazzani & Associates Srl Engineer Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration no. 604BM) (for oneself and for others)

Claims

1) Active element (1) for a rotary brush (101) intended to be associated with other similar active elements (1) and engaged with them on a rotation shaft (51) to form such brush (101) and characterised by the fact that it comprises at least: - an annular body (3) having two opposite transverse faces, first (5) and second (7), respectively carrying a plurality of complementary convex members (9) and concave members (11); - a plurality of washing members (15) equipped with corresponding attachments (17) carrying a first set of holes (19), each intended to receive a convex member (9); in an operating condition, the convex members (9) of an active element (1) are engaged in the holes (19) of the attachments (17) of the plurality of washing members (15) and in the concave members (11) of a further and adjacent active element (1). 2) Element according to claim 1 characterised in that each concave member (11) consists of a hole and that each of the convex members (9) consists of a pin with cylindrical proximal (10) and distal (12) portions having respective first and second diameters where the first is greater than the second and is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the holes of the first set of holes (19) of the attachments (17) and the second diameter is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the hole of each concave member (11). 3) Element according to claim 1 or 2 characterised by the fact that the connections (17) are made in a single body with the respective washing members (15) or are fixed to them and / or by the fact that the first face (5) of each body Agazzani & Associati Srl Ing. Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration in the Register η.604BM) (in its own right and for others) annular has a set of shaped pins (21) spaced from the convex members (9) and intended, in the operating condition, to engage in respective concave seats (23) obtained in said connections (17) where each connection (17) not obtained in the respective washing member (15) consists of a connector (18) having one end equipped with the first set of holes (19) and seats (23) and the opposite end equipped with a housing (20) for the washing member (15) where said ends are mutually coplanar, inclined or orthogonal for respective orientations of the washing member (15) with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis of the body (3). 4) Element according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the cross-section of the rotation shaft (51) is shaped and has a set of anti-rotation shapes and the internal perimeter of each annular body (3) has a set of shapes complementary to those of the cross-section of the rotation shaft (51) or such internal perimeter of each annular body (3) has at least two sets of shapes complementary to those of the cross-section of the rotation shaft (51) staggered and intended to engage in the rotation shaft (51) adjacent annular bodies (3) with their respective angularly staggered wash members (15). 5) Element according to the previous claims characterised in that the shaped pins (21) intended for an attachment (17) of a washing member (15) and the seats (23) of such attachment (17) are shaped in at least two different cross-sectional shapes for the positioning and fixing of each washing member (15) in a specific position with respect to the annular body (3) to whose convex members (9) and shaped pins (21) such washing member (15) is engaged. Agazzani & Associati Srl Eng. Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration No. 604BM) (on his own behalf and for others) 6) Element according to claims 4 and 5 characterised in that the first transverse faces (5) of the annular bodies (3) bearing two sets of shapes, bear references for mutual coupling with the respective pluralities of angularly staggered washing members (15) and with the alignment of two respective sets of shapes. 7) Element according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that each annular body (3) comprises two coaxial portions (31, 33), each in the shape of a circular crown, which can be coupled so as to transmit rotation to each other, where the external portion (31) has the convex members (9) and the shaped pins (21) and the internal portion (33) has the internal perimeter with the set of shapes and is replaceable for coupling the body (3) to rotation shafts (51) of a different type. 8) Element according to claim 7 characterised by the fact that each annular body (3) comprises a respective external portion (31) and a respective internal portion (33) which is interchangeable or by the fact that each annular body (3) comprises a respective external portion (31) and that the corresponding internal portion is longitudinally elongated and is common to a set of annular bodies (3) coupling with the corresponding external portions. 9) Element according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that each annular body (3) comprises two distinct semicircular and complementary portions whose ends are provided with respective coupling interconnections or two ends of such portions are hinged to each other and the others have respective coupling interconnections 10) Rotary brush (101) comprising a plurality of active elements (1) of any of the preceding claims and a rotation shaft (51) for the Agazzani & Associati Srl Ing. Giampaolo Agazzani (Registration in the Register η.604BM) (in itself and for others) support and rotation of said plurality of active elements (1); said rotary brush (101) being characterised by the fact that it comprises a first flange (53) fixed to a first end portion of the rotation shaft (51) and intended to block the sliding and disengagement of the annular bodies (3) from said first end portion and of comprising a thrust member (54) equipped with a second flange (55) fixed to the opposite second end portion of the rotation shaft (51) and a movable flange (57) sliding along the rotation shaft (51) and connected to the second flange (55) by means of translation means (59) intended to translate the movable flange (57) towards the first flange 10 (53) and in the opposite direction to bring the active elements (1) together and to allow their mutual distancing.