Contact Obstacle Sensor With Torque Reset for Vehicle Wash Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for vehicle handling systems, such as vehicle wash systems, struggle to reliably distinguish between the non-actuating and actuating positions of impact devices, leading to potential damage or injury due to unintentional deflections.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with a holding device, impact device, sensor device, and reset device that utilizes torque transmission through a coupling mechanism, allowing for precise detection and reliable resetting of the impact device to the non-actuating position, using inductive and capacitive detection for contactless sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tension spring is used to reset the impact device, then the impact device can be restored to the non-actuation position, but the device structure becomes more complex and oscillation around the non-actuation position occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tension spring from the system and replaces it with a torque motor that directly couples the reset device to the impact device. This extraction of the elastic element eliminates the oscillation problem while maintaining the reset function, and reduces structural complexity by removing unnecessary components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based restoring system with an electrically-driven torque motor system. This substitution allows for precise control of the impact device's position and eliminates the oscillation inherent in spring-based systems, while providing more reliable resetting.
2Reliability
If the reset device is rigidly connected to the impact device, then the impact device can be reliably transferred to the non-actuation position, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reset device with the impact device by directly coupling them, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, fasteners, and alignment mechanisms. This integration achieves rigid connection for reliable positioning while simplifying the overall structure by reducing the number of discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The torque motor serves multiple functions: it acts as both the reset mechanism and the actuator for positioning the impact device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the device structure while maintaining reliable positioning capability.
3Reliability
If additional restoring elements are added to maintain the impact device position, then positioning reliability improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The torque motor inherently maintains the impact device in the non-actuation position through its controlled output torque, eliminating the need for additional restoring elements like springs or dampers. The system serves itself by using the same actuator for both movement and positioning, reducing structural complexity.
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
Ensures rapid and accurate detection of impact device positions, preventing unintentional deflections and damage by maintaining the impact device in the non-actuating position, enhancing operational reliability and safety of vehicle handling systems.
Implementation Method 1
via the coupling of the reset device the impact device, a torque can be transferred between the reset device and the impact device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a safety device (108) for contact-based detection of an obstacle, in particular a vehicle (118), at a vehicle handling system (100), in particular a vehicle wash system, comprising: - a holding device (120), which can be fixed to or is fixed to a support device (102) of the vehicle handling system (100), for movably fixing the safety device (108) to the support device (102); - an impact device (122), which is held by the holding device (120) and which can be deflected by a contact from a non-actuating position (130) to at least one actuating position (150, 15a, 150b); - a sensor device (126), which is operatively connected to the impact device (122) and with which the impact device assumes at least one non-actuating position (130) and/or one actuating position (150a, 150b). (122) detectable, and - a reset device (124),which is coupled to the impact device (122) and can be coupled to or is coupled to the vehicle treatment system (100) in order to move the impact device (122) into the non-actuating position (130) without contact with the obstacle, wherein a torque can be transmitted between the resetting device (124) and the impact device (122) via the coupling of the resetting device (124) to the impact device (122) and/or a torque can be transmitted between the resetting device (124) and the vehicle treatment system (100) via the coupling of the resetting device (124) to the impact device (122).