Above-Ground Conveyor Chain Towing Device for Car Washes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing devices for motor vehicles in car washes are costly to assemble and maintain, with complex designs requiring recesses in the floor and leading to high maintenance and repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A towing device with a conveyor chain that rotates between two deflection devices with vertical axes of rotation, allowing horizontal chain movement and mounting above ground, featuring a driver system with rotatable rollers and a guide track for efficient towing and easy maintenance, and rim protection to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the conveyor chain is arranged horizontally between deflection devices with vertical axes of rotation, then the towing device can be mounted above ground without floor recesses, but the chain configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the deflection devices from horizontal to vertical axes of rotation, allowing the conveyor chain to be arranged horizontally between them. This dimensional change enables the towing device to be mounted above ground level without requiring floor recesses, simplifying installation while managing chain configuration complexity through the vertical orientation of support structures.
2Device complexity
If the chain return is arranged below the load side, then the towing device requires floor recesses for installation, but the chain path becomes simpler
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the chain return at the same horizontal level as the load side, rather than below it. This inversion is achieved through vertical deflection devices that redirect the chain horizontally, eliminating the need for floor recesses while maintaining a manageable chain path through strategic horizontal routing.
3Device complexity
If drivers are fixedly arranged on the conveyor chain, then the towing device is simpler in structure, but maintenance and repair costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the driver arrangement dynamic by allowing drivers to be pivotably connected to the conveyor chain rather than fixedly attached. This dynamic connection enables drivers to be easily detached and repositioned along the chain, significantly reducing maintenance and repair costs while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of standardized pivot connections.
4Ease of manufacture
If the towing device is mounted above ground without floor recesses, then installation is more cost-effective, but accessibility for maintenance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the towing device into modular components including separately mounted deflection devices, drivers, and conveyor chain sections. This segmentation allows individual components to be accessed and maintained independently while keeping the overall structure mounted above ground, balancing installation cost savings with maintenance accessibility through modular design.
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
Enables cost-effective installation and maintenance by eliminating the need for floor recesses, reducing maintenance and repair costs while ensuring efficient towing and protecting vehicle rims.
Implementation Method 1
a driver (32) for a motor vehicle tire, connected to an associated chain lock (48) arranged on the conveyor chain (20), for towing a motor vehicle along the conveyor section (30)
Implementation Method 2
The driver can have a support roller (50) which can support the driver in a horizontal position, as a result of which contact between the driver, in particular the first guide roller (66), and the ground can be avoided
Implementation Method 3
the driver can have a first and a second guide roller (66, 68) for guiding the driver, wherein the first guide roller (66) can make contact with the guide track (86) on the outside
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The device has a conveying chain (20) revolving between a deflecting device and another deflection device (16) i.e. driving station, where the deflection devices comprise a rotational axis and another rotational axis (18). A conveying section is arranged along a load strand (24). A driver (32) is connected to a chain lock (48) that is arranged on the chain. The driver comprises a supporting roller, and an encircling guide track guides the driver, where the axes are arranged vertically. The load strand and an empty strand (28) of the conveying chain are arranged in a horizontal plane.