Curved Trajectory Wheel Brush Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wheel washing devices often fail to achieve optimal cleaning results due to the brush device's inability to accurately align with the wheel axis, especially for vehicles with varying wheel diameters and widths, leading to incomplete coverage and reduced cleaning effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The wheel washing device features an infeed device that moves the brush device along a trajectory with at least one turning point, allowing for adjustable positioning to align closely with the wheel axis, regardless of vehicle width and wheel diameter, ensuring better coverage and cleaning efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the brush device is lowered along a straight inclined plane, then the structure is simple, but the alignment accuracy with the wheel axis deteriorates for vehicles with varying wheel diameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The infeed trajectory is designed as a curved path with at least one turning point instead of a straight inclined plane. This curvature allows the brush device to follow an optimized path that improves alignment accuracy with the wheel axis for vehicles with varying wheel diameters and widths, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Measurement precision

If the brush device follows a curved trajectory with turning points, then the alignment accuracy with the wheel axis is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidtrajectory control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The infeed device is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow the trajectory to be automatically adapted based on the detected wheel position and vehicle dimensions. This dynamic approach enables the system to achieve high alignment accuracy without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple fixed trajectories for different vehicle types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect the wheel position and vehicle characteristics, then automatically adjust the infeed trajectory parameters. This feedback loop enables the brush device to follow the optimal curved path with turning points while keeping the control system complexity manageable through automated adjustment rather than manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3606794B1Wheel washing apparatus and method for cleaning a wheel and also vehicle washing system
Publication Date: 2021.10.13 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3606794B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3606794B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3606794B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a wheel washing apparatus for cleaning a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a brush device (32) which comprises or forms at least one brush (36) which can be placed against the wheel (16), a drive device (42) for rotationally driving the at least one brush, and an adjusting device (34) with which the brush device can be moved from an inoperative position at a distance from the wheel to at least one use position close to the wheel, wherein the brush device can be lowered by means of the adjusting device as said brush device moves in the direction of the wheel, wherein the brush device can be moved along a path curve (106), which has at least one turning point (108), by means of the adjusting device as said brush device moves from the inoperative position to the at least one use position. The invention also relates to a vehicle washing system and to a method for cleaning a wheel.