Vehicle washing device and vehicle washing method

Abstract

To provide a novel car body washing device and a car body washing method that have improved performance in comparison with a conventional self-running car body washing device and that are suitable for washing a large automobile.SOLUTION: In a car body washing device 10, a first washing brush 14 and a second washing brush 16, which are arranged spaced from each other on the front and rear in a travel direction, are supported by a machine stand base 12 having self-propelled means 18 which self-propels without a track. The first washing brush 14 and the second washing brush 16 are driven to rotate in opposite directions to wash a vehicle body peripheral surface 54.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle body cleaning device and a vehicle body cleaning method that are advantageous for cleaning the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body of large vehicles such as trailers, trucks, and buses.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a cleaning device for small vehicles such as passenger cars, a portal cleaning device as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-7643 (Patent Document 1) has been used. Such a portal cleaning device includes a portal frame that reciprocates along left and right rails laid in a car wash, and a pair of vertical brushes and a single horizontal brush are supported by the portal frame. Then, while the portal frame straddling the small vehicle moves from the front to the rear, the pair of vertical brushes move toward and away from each other in the left-right direction to clean the outer peripheral surface from the front surface of the small vehicle through both side surfaces to the rear surface, and a single horizontal brush moves up and down to clean the upper surface such as the hood and roof of the small vehicle.

[0003] However, such a portal cleaning device is not suitable for cleaning large vehicles such as trailers, trucks, and buses. Because, if a portal cleaning device is applied to a large vehicle, the entire device will become very large, resulting in inevitable high costs, difficulty in securing an installation space, and poor space efficiency because it will become useless dead space except during car washing even if installed. Moreover, since the portal cleaning device is installed at a specific location as a building, it is necessary to move a large vehicle such as a trailer to the specific location each time it is washed and accurately park it at the designated position in the portal cleaning device. Therefore, the driving operation of the large vehicle before washing is troublesome, and a wider surrounding space is also required for turning and the like.

[0004] Therefore, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-64024 (Patent Document 2), the applicant proposed an innovative self-propelled vehicle washing device equipped with vertical car wash brushes that moves without tracks. This self-propelled vehicle washing device can be used to wash the outer surfaces of various large vehicles by steering, and can also be moved to any location by self-propulsion, thus avoiding the space problems associated with gantry-type washing devices. Furthermore, considering the characteristics of large vehicles, such as their high height and the fact that dirt on the upper surface is difficult to see, this self-propelled vehicle washing device specializes in washing the outer surfaces, thereby achieving both high practicality and compactness.

[0005] However, after further investigation by the inventors of the conventional self-propelled vehicle washing device described in Patent Document 2, it was found that there is still room for improvement.

[0006] For example, in the conventional device described in Patent Document 2, if simply driving around the vehicle once is insufficient to achieve a sufficient cleaning effect, it is necessary to drive around it one or more times to clean it, which requires repeated steering operations and has the problem of being relatively time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0007] Furthermore, the conventional device described in Patent Document 2 is equipped with a rotating brush that rotates around a central axis that extends in the vertical direction (approximately vertical direction). There was a concern that the rotational driving reaction force of the rotating brush and the resistance reaction force when the rotating brush contacts the vehicle body surface would have an adverse effect on the device's stability. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-7643 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-64024 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] In this context, the present invention has been made against the background described above, and its objective is to provide a novel vehicle washing device and vehicle washing method that can be suitably used for washing large vehicles, with further performance improvements compared to the conventional self-propelled vehicle washing device described in Patent Document 2.

[0010] More specifically, in the present invention, it is desirable that the time and effort required for washing a vehicle be reduced by, for example, improving the washing capacity compared to the conventional self-propelled vehicle washing device described in Patent Document 2. Furthermore, in the present invention, it is desirable that the stability of the device be improved by reducing the effects of, for example, the rotational drive reaction force of the rotating brush and the vehicle body contact resistance reaction force compared to the conventional self-propelled vehicle washing device described in Patent Document 2. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention can be suitably implemented in the various embodiments listed below in order to solve the problems described above, or the problems that can be grasped from the entire description and drawings of this specification. Furthermore, each of the embodiments and each component described below can be adopted in any combination, provided that there are no technical impediments. It should be understood that the embodiments and technical features of the present invention are not limited in any way to those described below, and can be recognized based on the inventive concept disclosed in the entire specification and drawings.

[0012] A first aspect of the present invention relating to a vehicle body washing device is as follows: The vehicle moves around itself without tracks and under its own power. Vehicle body of A car body washing device that cleans the outer surface, A machine base with running wheels, A self-propelled means that drives the running wheels to propel the machine base without tracks, A steering means for steering the movement of the machine base which is self-propelled by the self-propelled means, Mutually in the front and rear directions of travel A certain distance horizontallyThe machine base is positioned such that it can rotate around each central axis that extends vertically at a distance from the others. Therefore, in a fixed position Supported first cleaning brush and second cleaning brush, A brush rotating means that drives the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush to rotate around their respective central axes and in opposite directions. A car washing system that includes this.

[0013] In this embodiment of the vehicle body washing device, since two washing brushes (a first washing brush and a second washing brush) are provided in a side-by-side configuration, the washing action on the vehicle body is improved compared to conventional devices equipped with a single washing brush, as described in Patent Document 2.

[0014] Furthermore, since these two cleaning brushes rotate in opposite directions, a superior cleaning action can be more consistently achieved against various types of dirt on the vehicle surface. For example, even dirt that is difficult to wipe away with an approach from one direction can be effectively cleaned by the presence of the cleaning brush approaching from the opposite direction. Also, even when the cleaning brush is unable to make contact with the surface of the vehicle due to irregularities such as door handles, locking mechanisms, and rearview mirrors that are obscured by shadows when approaching from one direction, the presence of the cleaning brush approaching from the opposite direction ensures contact with the cleaning brush, allowing for an effective cleaning action.

[0015] Furthermore, by having the two cleaning brushes rotate in opposite directions, the driving reaction force of each cleaning brush and the contact resistance reaction force of each cleaning brush against the vehicle body surface can be easily canceled out or reduced. Therefore, compared to a conventional device equipped with a single cleaning brush as described in Patent Document 2, the stability of the device during rotational driving of the cleaning brushes and during car washing, as well as the driving stability, can be easily improved.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention relating to a vehicle body washing device is, in the vehicle body washing device according to the first aspect, The brush rotating means In the cleaning surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body, the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush are rotationally driven in a direction in which they entangle with each other.

[0017] In the vehicle body cleaning device of this embodiment, even when washing water is supplied to the surface of the vehicle body to be washed, for example, the washing water is entrained by the rotation of the first and second cleaning brushes, so that the scattering of the washing water to the surroundings can be suppressed. Therefore, even if an operator is in the vicinity, for example, the splashing of the washing water onto the operator can be suppressed.

[0018] The third aspect of the present invention relating to a vehicle body cleaning device is in the vehicle body cleaning device according to the first or second aspect, a discharge nozzle for washing water is provided on the machine base, in front of the contact portion of the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush with the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body in the traveling direction, the washing water discharged from the discharge nozzle is sprayed onto the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body.

[0019] In the vehicle body cleaning device of this embodiment, the washing water is sprayed onto the vehicle body surface in front of the contact portion (cleaning portion) of the first or second cleaning brush that first contacts the vehicle body surface in the traveling direction of the device during vehicle washing. Therefore, the contact portion (cleaning portion) of the cleaning brush can be wetted with the washing water in advance, and dust and dirt attached to the vehicle body surface can be floated, thereby improving the cleaning effect by the cleaning brush.

[0020] The fourth aspect of the present invention relating to a vehicle body cleaning device is in the vehicle body cleaning device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the mutual separation distance of the outer peripheral surfaces in the state of the maximum outer diameter of the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush is set within the range of 0 to 30 cm.

[0021] In the vehicle body washing device of this aspect, even when each washing brush is at its largest diameter with the centrifugal force generated by rotation, interference between the first washing brush and the second washing brush is prevented. At the same time, by appropriately approaching the first washing brush and the second washing brush, the overall size of the device can be made more compact. Also, for example, when washing a vehicle by spraying washing water on the vehicle body surface, it is possible to reduce the amount of washing water used by sharing the washing water at the washing parts by each washing brush.

[0022] The first aspect of the present invention related to a vehicle body washing method is as follows. When using a vehicle body washing device equipped with washing brushes that are rotationally driven around a central axis extending in the vertical direction to self-run without tracks along the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body to wash the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body, Loop when using, as the washing brushes, a first washing brush and a second washing brush that are separated before and after in the traveling direction And horizontally, at a certain distance from each other and hand rotationally driven around the central axis respectively, It is supported in a fixed position. a vehicle body washing method in which the first washing brush and the second washing brush are rotationally driven in opposite directions around the central axis, and the outer peripheral surface of the vehicle body is washed simultaneously with the first washing brush and the second washing brush.

[0023] According to the method of the present invention, compared with the conventional self-running washing method using a single washing brush, simply adopting two washing brushes physically not only improves the washing efficiency and washing action on the vehicle body, but also, by simultaneously using the first and second washing brushes that rotate in opposite directions, a more excellent washing action can be exerted on various dirt on the vehicle body surface.

[0024] Moreover, by setting the rotation directions of the two washing brushes to be opposite to each other, it becomes easy to mutually reduce the driving reaction force of each washing brush and the contact resistance reaction force of each washing brush on the vehicle body surface, and it is also possible to improve the stability of the vehicle body washing device during vehicle washing.

[0025] The second aspect of the present invention related to a vehicle body washing method is the vehicle body washing method according to the first aspect,​ The first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush are rotated in a direction that causes them to wrap around each other on the cleaning surface that is in contact with the outer surface of the vehicle body.

[0026] A third aspect of the present invention relating to a vehicle body washing method is a vehicle body washing method relating to the first or second aspect, The car wash water is sprayed onto the outer surface of the vehicle body at a point forward in the direction of travel from the contact points of the first and second washing brushes with the outer surface of the vehicle body, while the outer surface of the vehicle body is washed with the first and second washing brushes.

[0027] A fourth aspect of the present invention relating to a vehicle body washing method is a vehicle body washing method relating to any of the first to third aspects described above, The vehicle body washing device is steered by an operator so that it moves along the outer surface of the vehicle body, while the first and second washing brushes wash the outer surface of the vehicle body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, compared to conventional self-propelled cleaning devices or cleaning methods using a single cleaning brush as described in Patent Document 2, the physically employing two cleaning brushes not only improves the cleaning efficiency and cleaning action on the vehicle body, but also enables even better cleaning action against various types of dirt on the vehicle body surface by simultaneously using the first and second cleaning brushes which rotate in opposite directions.

[0029] Furthermore, by having the two cleaning brushes rotate in opposite directions, it becomes easy to cancel out the driving reaction force of each cleaning brush and the contact resistance reaction force of each cleaning brush against the vehicle body surface, making it easy to ensure the stability of the vehicle washing device during car washing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] This is a front explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a vehicle body washing device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the left side of the vehicle washing device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the top view of the vehicle washing device. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating one aspect of vehicle body washing using the vehicle body washing device shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Hereinafter, in order to further clarify the present invention, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0032] First, Figures 1 to 3 schematically show a self-propelled car wash machine used for washing automobiles, as an embodiment of a car washing device having a structure according to the present invention that can be suitably used to carry out the method of the present invention, in front view, side view, and top view, respectively. As is clear from these figures, the self-propelled washing machine 10 of this embodiment has a frame 12 as a machine base that rises up with a skeletal structure. The first washing brush 14 and the second washing brush 16 are supported by this frame 12 and are rotated. Furthermore, running wheels 18 are attached to the lower part of the frame 12, and it is possible to travel trackless to any location on a substantially flat ground.

[0033] More specifically, the frame 12 has a base portion 20 with a roughly rectangular grid structure that extends roughly horizontally at its lowest point, and the running wheels 18 are mounted protruding downward from this base portion 20. The running wheels 18 are composed of multiple drive wheels 18a to which the driving force is applied and driven wheels 18b that can rotate freely. In this embodiment, the drive wheels 18a are provided in pairs on the left and right, positioned roughly in the center in the front-rear direction of travel, which is the left-right direction in Figure 1. The driven wheels 18b are provided in pairs on each side, totaling four, positioned near both sides in the front-rear direction of travel.

[0034] The drive wheels 18a, 18a are connected to drive shafts 22a, 22b that extend in the left-right direction of travel as shown in Figure 2. The rotational force of the drive motors 24a, 24b is applied via the drive shafts 22a, 22b, causing each drive wheel 18a, 18a to rotate. Furthermore, when traveling in the forward and backward directions, steering is possible to the left and right by the rotational difference between the pair of drive wheels 18a, 18a.

[0035] On the other hand, the four driven wheels 18b arranged on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the base 20 are all freely rotating wheels and are driven casters that can rotate around an axis extending in the vertical direction. Preferably, they are equipped with a compression coil spring or the like to provide a cushioning function against road surface irregularities during travel. Note that in the side view of Figure 2, the flaps and driven wheels 18b are omitted from the illustration in order to clearly show the structure of the drive wheels 18a, 18a.

[0036] Furthermore, a water tank 26 for storing cleaning water and a generator 28 for supplying power to each motor and control system are mounted and fixedly attached to the base 20. The capacity, size, and shape of the water tank 26 are not limited, nor are the engine type or output performance of the generator 28; a battery can also be used as a substitute.

[0037] Furthermore, the mounting positions of the water tank 26 and the generator 28 are not limited, but in this embodiment, the water tank 26 is mounted on one side in the front-rear direction of travel (left side in Figure 1), and the generator 28 is mounted on the other side (right side in Figure 1). Note that since the weight of the water tank 26 changes as the washing water is used, a weight may be placed on the side of the base 20 where the water tank 26 is mounted to consider the weight balance (device stability), for example, when the amount of stored water is almost depleted.

[0038] In addition to the base portion 20 described above, the frame 12 includes a vertical frame portion 30, which is a skeletal structure that rises upward from the base portion 20. The vertical frame portion 30 is integrally constructed by connecting, for example, multiple extruded profiles (steel materials). In this embodiment, the base portion 20 is provided with a grid-like portion 30a located midway in the left-right direction (left-right direction in Figure 2) and extending in the front-back direction (left-right direction in Figure 1). One side of the grid-like portion 30a in the left-right direction (right side in Figure 2) is used as a mounting space for the water tank 26 and the generator 28.

[0039] Furthermore, the other side of the grid-like section 30a (the left side in Figure 2) is designated as the mounting space for the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16.

[0040] Various types of rotary brushes for car washing can be used as the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16. For example, a rotary brush is preferably constructed by having a large number of brush materials, such as synthetic fibers, nonwoven fabrics, or sponges, in the form of fibers or strips, fixed at one end to a rotating shaft and having the other end as a free end. When such a rotary brush for car washing rotates around the central axis of the rotating shaft, the brush materials spread out due to centrifugal force and come into contact with the surface of the car body to exert a cleaning effect.

[0041] While the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 can be made of different materials or sizes, in this embodiment, the same rotating brush is used. The rotating shafts 32 of each cleaning brush 14 and 16 extend in a substantially vertical direction, and their upper and lower ends are supported by the frame 12 so as to be rotatable via bearings. Specifically, the lower end of each rotating shaft 32 is supported by the side surface of the base portion 20 of the frame 12 via a bearing, while the upper end of each rotating shaft 32 is supported by an upper end support portion 30b protruding from the upper end of the lattice-shaped portion 30a of the frame 12 via a bearing.

[0042] Furthermore, the upper end support portion 30b that supports the upper ends of the rotating shafts 32, 32 of the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16 is equipped with brush motors 34a, 34b that exert rotational driving force on each rotating shaft 32, 32 around the central axis 36. The vertical frame portion 30 of the frame 12 is provided with bracing support portions 30c that rise vertically from the grid-like portion 30a on the opposite side from the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16, thereby improving the rigidity of the frame 12. In addition, it is possible to place cover plates in the grid windows of the grid-like portion 30a for the purpose of suppressing the scattering of car wash water as the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16 rotate. However, considering the effect of strong winds during outdoor car washing, it is desirable not to place cover plates at positions of 2 / 3 or more of the height from the ground, preferably at positions of 1 / 2 or more, allowing wind to pass through the grid portion of the grid-like portion 30a.

[0043] Furthermore, the rotation axes 32, 32 of the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16 are supported by the frame 12 in a state where they rise upward on the outer circumference of the base portion 20. As a result, the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16 rotate with portions extending approximately halfway around the frame 12 protruding to one side (the left side in Figure 2). This ensures that even when the frame 12 moves away from the vehicle, the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16 remain in contact with the vehicle surface and perform their cleaning action.

[0044] In each figure, the centrifugal force due to rotation is shown for the first and second cleaning brushes 14 and 16 when the brush material is at its maximum outer diameter. In this embodiment, each cleaning brush 14 and 16 has a brush structure that can be divided into multiple parts in the vertical axis direction, but this is not limited to this configuration.

[0045] Incidentally, in this embodiment, only the outer diameter of the brush in the uppermost predetermined length section (maximum expanded outer diameter = φA) is larger than the outer diameter of the brush in the middle and lower sections (maximum expanded outer diameter = φB). This allows for, for example, a cleaning action to be expected on the corners connecting the outer circumferential surface of the vehicle body to the ceiling surface, or, for example, even in the upper part of the brush where it is difficult to obtain effective contact pressure with the vehicle body because it is the furthest upward distance from the mounting surface of the running wheel 18, which is located at the lowest point as a support point, the brush can be efficiently brought into contact with the vehicle body for cleaning. Alternatively, if the entire cleaning brush 14, 16 tilts away from the vehicle body at its upper end due to the reaction force of the brush contacting the vehicle body during car washing, it is possible to maintain contact with the vehicle body even in the upper part of the brush where the separation distance is greatest, thereby stabilizing the cleaning action.

[0046] The specific size of the self-propelled washing machine 10, including the first and second washing brushes 14 and 16, is not limited and can be appropriately set considering the size of the vehicle to be washed. For example, when washing the body of a typical large van-type truck, the size of the first and second washing brushes 14 and 16 is preferably about 3.5m to 4.0m in height and about 500mm to 1000mm in maximum extended outer diameter of the brushes.

[0047] Furthermore, since the planar size of the frame 12 is desirable to be compact from the standpoint of handling and storage, it is desirable that the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 are not unnecessarily separated, with both rotation axes 32, 32 being parallel. However, if the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 interfere with each other during rotational operation, there is a concern not only of noise and vibration but also of wear and damage. Therefore, it is desirable that the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 be set such that the separation distance D between the two rotational centers equals the maximum expanded outer diameter A. Note that the requirement of setting D=A for the separation distance between the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 is not mandatory.

[0048] Furthermore, the frame 12 is equipped with discharge nozzles 38 for spraying and supplying car wash water to the washing area of ​​the vehicle body. The number, position, and discharge direction of the discharge nozzles 38 are not limited, but in this embodiment, multiple (for example, 6 to 10) discharge nozzles 38 are installed vertically on both sides of the grid-like portion 30a of the frame 12 in the direction of travel, spaced apart from each other. Each discharge nozzle 38 is installed on a water passage pipe 40 extending from the water tank 26 and discharges car wash water supplied from the water tank 26 via a pump 42. The discharged car wash water may be sprayed toward the first and second washing brushes 14, 16, but preferably the discharge direction of the discharge nozzles 38 is adjusted so that it is sprayed directly toward the vehicle body surface from the outer circumference of each washing brush 14, 16.

[0049] In addition, the self-propelled washing machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with lighting devices 44, 44 using LEDs or the like to illuminate the car washing area, as well as a sensor device 46 for preventing interference with the vehicle body.

[0050] The vehicle body interference prevention sensor device 46 is not limited to a specific mechanism, and may, for example, use infrared or ultrasonic waves to measure the distance to the vehicle body surface and stop the drive wheels 18a, 18a if it detects an excessive approach to the vehicle body. In this embodiment, a contact-type sensor device is used due to concerns about malfunctions caused by car wash water during car washing. Specifically, sensor brackets 48, 48 are provided on both sides in the front-rear direction of travel in the grid-like portion 30a of the frame 12, and contact-type sensors 50, 50 are supported by each sensor bracket 48.

[0051] These contact-type sensors 50, 50 are equipped with contact elements that protrude toward the vehicle body from the grid-like portion 30a at positions separated in the forward and backward directions on the outer circumference of the first and second cleaning brushes 14, 16, and they detect when these contact elements come into contact with the vehicle body surface and output an electrical signal. Therefore, for example, if the frame 12 approaches the vehicle body at an abnormally large angle, the detection signal from the contact-type sensor 50 can be used to stop the drive of the drive wheels 18a, 18a or to emit an audible or visual alarm to alert the operator, thereby preventing the frame 12 from hitting the vehicle body in advance.

[0052] Furthermore, it is desirable that the position of the contact sensor 50 and the position of the discharge nozzle 38 be appropriately adjusted and changed according to the size of the vehicle being washed. For example, the position of the contact sensor 50 can be adjusted vertically on the sensor bracket 48, or the position of the protruding tip of the contact sensor 50 can be adjusted, and the number of contact sensors 50 is not limited. In addition, as the discharge nozzle 38, for example, one that directly discharges car wash water to the first and second washing brushes 14 and 16 can be added, or one that discharges water from the gap between the first washing brush 14 and the second washing brush 16 toward the surface of the vehicle.

[0053] When cleaning the outer surface of a vehicle body using the self-propelled washing machine 10 described above, for example, as shown in Figure 4, the first and second washing brushes 14 and 16 are kept rotating, and the drive wheels 18a, 18a are driven to move the machine around the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body 52 to be washed, thereby cleaning the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body with the first and second washing brushes 14 and 16.

[0054] In this configuration, the self-propelled washing machine 10 is equipped with a control panel 58 that controls the power supply from the generator 28 to various motors, pumps, lighting devices, etc.

[0055] The control panel 58 includes a travel control device that controls the drive motors 24a and 24b for a pair of left and right drive wheels 18a, 18a. That is, the travel control device controls the operation of the pair of left and right drive wheels 18a, 18a by controlling the power supply to the pair of left and right drive motors 24a and 24b based on control signals externally input from the operator via a wireless or wired controller. It is desirable that the control panel 58 also directly includes switches for operation control that can be directly input, even if it has a separate controller, and it is desirable that it also directly includes, for example, an emergency stop button.

[0056] The operation of the pair of drive wheels 18a, 18a by this driving control device not only allows the frame 12 to stop and start, but also steers in accordance with the differential between the left and right pair of drive wheels 18a, 18a, enabling the frame 12 to perform linear forward / backward travel, right turns / left turns, etc., in the longitudinal direction of travel.

[0057] Therefore, as illustrated in Figure 4, when the self-propelled washing machine 10 is positioned at the front end P1 of the left side 54a of the vehicle body 52 to start washing, the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body 52 can be washed by steering the machine to move linearly to the rear of the vehicle along the left side 54a, then turning approximately 90 degrees at the rear end to move around to the rear surface 54b, then moving linearly in the width direction along the rear surface 54b, turning approximately 90 degrees at the right end to move around to the right side 54c, and then moving linearly forward along the right side 54c to reach the front end P2.

[0058] Furthermore, during the car washing operation, the control panel 58 controls the operation of the pump 42 so that the car washing water stored in the water tank 26 is discharged from each discharge nozzle 38. The discharge of this car washing water may be performed continuously or intermittently during the car washing operation, taking into consideration, for example, the degree of dirt on the car being washed and the outer surface 54 of the car body, and the amount of water discharged per unit time can also be adjusted. In addition, taking into consideration the car washing environment, the lighting of the car washing area by the lighting device 44 can also be turned ON / OFF by the control panel 58.

[0059] Furthermore, the control panel 58 includes a brush control device that drives and controls the motors 34a and 34b for the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16, respectively. This brush control device controls the operation of the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 in terms of rotation ON / OFF, rotation direction, rotation speed, etc., and allows the operating state to be set or adjusted as needed.

[0060] The first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 are designed to be driven independently of each other by their respective motors 34a and 34b. However, the brush control device can control the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 to rotate in opposite directions during car washing. Particularly preferable, as shown in Figure 3, the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 are designed to rotate in a direction that wraps around each other at the cleaning surface that contacts the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body.

[0061] As a result, by simply moving the self-propelled washing machine 10 around the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body from P1 to P2, as shown in Figure 4, the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body can receive substantially two brush washes from the first washing brush 14 and the second washing brush 16.

[0062] Furthermore, since the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 rotate in opposite directions, a further improvement in cleaning performance is achieved compared to simply washing the car with two brushes. In other words, since the rotation direction of the cleaning brush is the direction in which the brush material wipes against the outer surface of the car body, wiping off various types of dirt adhering to the outer surface of the car body by sequentially applying the brush material from both directions is more efficient and provides a more stable cleaning performance than wiping it off by applying the brush material from only one direction. In particular, when there are specific irregularities such as mirrors or lock bars on the outer surface of the car body, attempting to wipe by applying the brush material from only one direction tends to result in areas that are difficult for the brush material to make contact with due to the irregularities. However, by sequentially applying the brush material from both directions, the areas that are shaded by the irregularities can be reduced or eliminated, making it possible to stably exhibit excellent cleaning performance.

[0063] In addition, in this embodiment, the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 rotate in opposite directions on the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body, winding around each other. As a result, the cleaning brush that is located on the front side in the direction of travel of the self-propelled washing machine 10 and is the first to contact the vehicle body has its brush material in contact with the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body from the front to the rear in the washing direction (the direction of travel of the self-propelled washing machine 10). This allows for efficient removal of dirt adhering to the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body toward the rear (avoiding an operation that would cause dirt to accumulate toward the front), and also allows for further improvement of the cleaning action by efficiently drawing in the car wash water sprayed onto the surface of the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body toward the cleaning area. Furthermore, since the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 rotate in opposite directions on the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body, the car wash water sprayed onto the vehicle body surface can be drawn inward in the direction of rotation of both cleaning brushes 14 and 16, thereby suppressing the amount of car wash water scattered outward in the forward and backward direction of travel from both cleaning brushes 14 and 16.

[0064] Furthermore, since the first cleaning brush 14 and the second cleaning brush 16 rotate in opposite directions, compared to driving a single cleaning brush or rotating both cleaning brushes 14 and 16 in the same direction, it is possible to mutually cancel out rotational driving reaction forces and mutually cancel out contact resistance reaction forces associated with the rotational contact of each cleaning brush with the outer surface of the vehicle body. As a result, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the reaction force acting on the self-propelled washing machine 10 during car washing, and the stability of the operation, including the movement of the self-propelled washing machine 10, can also be improved.

[0065] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the above specific descriptions. For example, in addition to manual control by an operator, the movement control of the frame 12 can also be achieved by automatically steering it using control means such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-264676, thereby controlling movement along the outer surface 54 of the vehicle body.

[0066] Furthermore, depending on the object to be cleaned and the circumstances, a cleaning detergent may be used as cleaning water or separately. The cleaning detergent may, for example, be dissolved in the cleaning water and discharged from the discharge nozzle 38, or it may be discharged separately from the cleaning water to the cleaning area on the outer surface of the vehicle body or supplied to the cleaning brush.

[0067] Furthermore, the drive mechanism used in a self-propelled car wash machine is not limited; for example, in addition to having two drive wheels as in the embodiment, it is also possible to have one, three, or four drive wheels, and as for the steering mechanism, in addition to differential driving of the left and right drive wheels as in the embodiment, it is also possible to employ a steering wheel that can rotate left and right in a swivel-like manner around the axis to actively or directly control the direction of travel.

[0068] Furthermore, if the intended normal car washing operation cannot be expected for any reason, such as when the driving resistance of the drive wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold, the rotational resistance of the washing brushes exceeds a predetermined threshold, or the car washing water runs out, an emergency fail-safe mechanism may be provided to stop the car washing operation or issue an alarm to the outside.

[0069] Furthermore, although not listed individually, the present invention can be implemented in various forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and it goes without saying that such embodiments are all included within the scope of the present invention, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 10 Self-propelled pressure washer 12 frames 14. First Cleaning Brush 16. Second cleaning brush 18 wheels 18a Drive wheels 18b Driven wheel 20 Base 22(a,b) Drive shaft 24(a,b) Drive motor 26 water tanks 28 Generators 30 Vertical frame section 30a Grid section 30b Upper end support part 30c Retaining support section 32 Rotation axis 34(a,b) Motor for brushes 36. Central axis (brush) 38 Discharge nozzles 40 Water pipe 42 pumps 44 Lighting equipment 46. ​​Sensor device for preventing interference with the vehicle body 48 Sensor Bracket 50 Contact Sensors 52 Vehicle Body 54(a,b,c) Outer surface of the vehicle body 58 Control Panel

Claims

1. A vehicle body washing device that self-propels around a vehicle body without tracks to wash the outer surface of the vehicle body, A machine base with running wheels, A self-propelled means that drives the running wheels to propel the machine base without tracks, A steering means for steering the movement of the machine base which is self-propelled by the self-propelled means, A first cleaning brush and a second cleaning brush are supported in a fixed position by the machine base, in a state in which they are rotatable around their respective central axes that extend vertically, while being separated horizontally by a certain distance from each other in the front and rear of the direction of travel, A brush rotating means that drives the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush to rotate around their respective central axes and in opposite directions. A car washing system that includes this.

2. The brush rotating means The vehicle body washing device according to claim 1, wherein the first washing brush and the second washing brush are rotated in a direction that causes them to wrap around each other on the washing surface in contact with the outer surface of the vehicle body.

3. The machine base is equipped with a nozzle for discharging water for car washing. The car washing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the car washing water discharged from the discharge nozzle is sprayed onto the outer surface of the vehicle body at a point forward in the direction of travel from the contact points of the first washing brush and the second washing brush with the outer surface of the vehicle body.

4. The vehicle body washing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the outer surfaces of the first washing brush and the second washing brush at their respective maximum outer diameter states is set within the range of 0 to 30 cm.

5. When cleaning the outer surface of a vehicle body by having a vehicle body washing device equipped with a washing brush that is driven to rotate around a central axis extending in the vertical direction, and which is trackless and self-propelled along the outer surface of the vehicle body, The cleaning brushes consist of a first cleaning brush and a second cleaning brush, which are horizontally separated by a certain distance from each other in the forward and backward directions of travel, and are rotated around the central axis and supported in a fixed position. A method for cleaning a vehicle body, wherein the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush are driven to rotate in opposite directions around their respective central axes, thereby simultaneously cleaning the outer surface of the vehicle body with the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush.

6. The vehicle body cleaning method according to claim 5, wherein the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush are rotated in a direction that causes them to wrap around each other on the cleaning surface that is in contact with the outer surface of the vehicle body.

7. A car body cleaning method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein car wash water is sprayed onto the outer surface of the car body at a point forward in the direction of travel from the contact points of the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush with the outer surface of the car body, and the outer surface of the car body is cleaned with the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush.

8. The vehicle body washing method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the operator steers the vehicle body washing device so that it moves along the outer surface of the vehicle body, and the outer surface of the vehicle body is washed with the first washing brush and the second washing brush.

Images