Compressive-Only Buffer Mount for Vehicle Washing Brush
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side washing brush mounting devices for vehicle washing systems risk damage to elastic buffer elements during large deflections, leading to reduced service life and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The device uses elastic buffer elements that only exert compressive forces on the holding device, avoiding tensile forces and thus reducing the risk of damage, with a configuration where the buffer elements are supported by a rigid abutment and arranged to apply compressive forces on a holding plate or arms, ensuring they are only subjected to compressive loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the side washing brush is allowed to deflect from the vertical direction to reach angled vehicle parts, then the adaptability and cleaning capability are improved, but the buffer elements are subjected to strong strain and risk of damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force application mode of the buffer elements from bidirectional (tensile and compressive) to unidirectional (compressive only). By configuring the buffer elements to only exert compressive forces on the holding device, the system allows the side washing brush to deflect and adapt to angled vehicle parts while preventing the buffer elements from experiencing damaging tensile forces during large deflections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the force application function by introducing a one-way force transmission mechanism. The buffer elements are configured to transmit compressive forces to the holding device while being prevented from transmitting tensile forces, effectively segmenting the force transmission into directional components. This is achieved through the specific configuration where buffer elements can push the holding device but cannot pull it back, allowing adaptive deflection while protecting against damage
2Strength
If the buffer elements are configured to exert both tensile and compressive forces to provide bidirectional support, then the support capability is improved, but the service life is reduced due to damage risk under strong strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameter of the buffer elements from bidirectional force transmission (tensile and compressive) to unidirectional force transmission (compressive only). This parameter change maintains the support capability during normal operation while eliminating the damaging tensile forces that would occur during large deflections, thereby extending the service life of the buffer elements and the overall vehicle washing system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of tensile forces damaging the buffer elements into a beneficial one-way force transmission system. By preventing tensile force application, the system design transforms the vulnerability of elastic buffer elements into a protective feature, where the buffer elements only experience compressive loads that they can withstand, thereby converting a potential failure mode into a reliability enhancement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design extends the service life of the vehicle washing system by minimizing the risk of buffer element damage during significant deflections, allowing the side washing brush to pivot and reach angled vehicle parts without putting excessive stress on the buffer elements.
Implementation Method 1
The connection between the holding device and the frame takes place via elastic buffer elements which are arranged above and below the holding device and accommodate these between them in some areas. The elastic buffer elements ensure that the side washing brush connected to the drive shaft can be deflected from the vertical direction when cleaning a vehicle without this leading to damage to the bearing device or the frame.
Implementation Method 2
Here, the buffer elements exert elastic compressive forces on the holding device in order to return the holding device to the starting position together with the side washing brush.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for supporting a side washing brush (17; 19) of a vehicle-washing system (10) that can be rotated about a rotational axis (23; 25), wherein the device comprises a bearing apparatus (43) for rotatably supporting a drive shaft (47) and a retaining apparatus (56), which is rigidly connected to the bearing apparatus and which is retained on a frame (30) by means of elastic cushioning elements (64, 65) arranged above and below the retaining apparatus. In order to further develop the device in such a way that the risk of damage to the cushioning elements is reduced, only compressive forces oriented in the direction of the retaining apparatus (56) can be applied to the retaining apparatus (56) by the cushioning elements (64, 65). The invention further relates to a vehicle-washing system (10) having at least one such device, on which a side washing brush is retained.