Rotating Brush Fluid Supply Groove for Wetting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle surface treatment methods, such as car washes, face inefficiencies due to insufficient wetting of washing brushes, leading to reduced cleaning effectiveness and dirt accumulation in the brush core, while attempts to improve wetting, like DE 600 17 288 T2, result in high washing fluid consumption.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a groove in the fluid supply device extending over a limited circumferential angular range, connected to separate fluid channels in the rotation device, ensuring fluid supply only where needed, reducing overall fluid consumption and ensuring consistent wetting of treatment elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If washing fluid is sprayed onto the washing brush from the outside, then the washing elements are wetted, but the wetting is insufficient and dirt accumulates in the brush core

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewetting effectivenessVSAvoiddirt accumulation in brush core

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of spraying washing fluid from the outside onto the washing brush, the patent introduces fluid from the inside of the rotating brush body through a groove and multiple fluid channels. This inverted approach ensures the fluid reaches the brush core and all washing elements uniformly, preventing dirt accumulation while achieving thorough wetting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the washing brush is wetted from the inside over a 360° angle, then the brush body is continuously and consistently wetted, but the consumption of washing fluid is relatively high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent wetting of brush bodyVSAvoidwashing fluid consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the fluid supply into multiple separate fluid channels (first, second, third fluid channels) distributed around the rotating brush body. Each channel supplies fluid to specific angular positions, ensuring complete coverage over 360° while segmenting the fluid injection to avoid unnecessary consumption. The groove structure also segments the fluid distribution path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fluid supply system utilizes the periodic rotation of the brush body to sequentially activate different fluid channels. As the brush rotates, different channels come into position to receive and inject fluid, creating a periodic action pattern that ensures continuous coverage while minimizing the number of channels needing simultaneous fluid supply, thus reducing overall fluid consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11498529B2Apparatus and method for treating a vehicle surface with a fluid

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 WASHTEC HLDG

AI summary

An apparatus for treating a vehicle surface with a fluid has a rotation device pivotably mounted about an axis of rotation, and a fluid supply device disposed concentrically with respect to the rotation device and which has an inlet opening for the supply of fluid. The apparatus is characterized in that a groove is formed in the fluid supply device. The groove is fluidically connected to the inlet opening and extends in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation over a limited circumferential angle range of the fluid supply device. The rotation device has a plurality of separate fluid channels, each of which opens into openings. The openings are disposed such that irrespective of the angular position of the rotation device to the fluid supply device with respect to the axis of rotation, and at least one of the openings of the rotation device is fluidically connected to the groove of the fluid supply device.