Car Wash Portal Crossbar Module for Space-Constrained Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing car wash machines require increased space and longer rail lengths to accommodate additional brushes for improved cleaning, making them unsuitable for existing facilities and reducing capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A crossbar module with additional side brushes is mounted on existing portals, allowing for increased brush count without lengthening the machine, enabling faster washing with reduced space requirements and adaptable capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If additional side brushes are added to improve cleaning of car sides, then washing quality is improved, but machine length and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear arrangement of brushes to a two-dimensional portal structure. Multiple side brushes are arranged vertically along the portal legs rather than extending the machine lengthwise, allowing enhanced side cleaning capability within the same longitudinal footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing machine is segmented into distinct functional modules: portal legs with side brushes, a bearer with top brushes, and spray nozzle assemblies. This modular segmentation allows the side cleaning function to be distributed across multiple brush elements positioned at different heights and locations along the portal structure.
2Productivity
If washing speed is increased to reduce processing time, then productivity is improved, but washing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The washing function is divided into multiple simultaneous cleaning zones with side brushes at different heights and top brushes, allowing the vehicle surface to be cleaned by multiple brush elements concurrently as the portal moves, maintaining quality at higher speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The portal structure enables continuous multi-point contact with the vehicle surface during movement. Multiple brushes engage the vehicle simultaneously throughout the washing cycle, ensuring continuous effective cleaning action rather than intermittent contact, which maintains washing quality even at increased portal speeds.
3Manufacturing precision
If double portal configuration is used to enhance cleaning capability, then washing quality is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cleaning functions (side brushing, top brushing, spray washing) are merged into a single integrated portal structure. The portal legs and bearer work together as one cohesive washing machine unit, combining what would traditionally require separate machines or portal configurations into a unified system.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention concerns a car wash facility (1) including a washing machine in the form of a movable portal (3) constituted by a first and a second leg (5) and a bearer, where along each of the legs there is arranged at least one side brush (2), and where along the bearer is arranged at least one top brush (4). The portal is arranged to move in longitudinal direction of the positioned vehicle (8), and the side brushes (2) are adapted with means for transverse movement on a crossbar relative to the direction of movement of the portal. The new feature of a washing machine according to the invention is that the portal is adapted with a crossbar module (9) including a crossbar extending from an area at a first leg (5) and to an area at a second leg (5), where the crossbar module (9) includes one or more additional side brushes (2). By mounting an additional crossbar module it is possible to provide two side brushes (2) at each side of the portal without the latter become appreciably longer, thereby taking up more of the available space.