Heavy-Duty Vehicle Washing Modules With Cleaning Agent Recirculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated washing units for heavy-duty vehicles lack efficient cleaning agent management, as cleaning agents are often discharged in a scattered manner and not collected for reuse, leading to resource inefficiency and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
The automated washing unit features two mobile sub-units forming a gantry-shaped tandem with washing modules that discharge and collect cleaning agents, allowing for concentrated cleaning and recirculation of used agents through extraction means, minimizing waste and optimizing resource use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If cleaning agents are discharged in a scattered manner without collection, then the washing coverage area is increased, but the loss of substance (cleaning agents) increases and resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and collects cleaning agents from the washing area using extraction means positioned at the discharge points. The extraction system captures cleaning agents before they are lost to the environment, separating the collection function from the discharge function to prevent scattered distribution while maintaining effective washing coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recovery system that captures discharged cleaning agents and recirculates them back to the cleaning agent supply system. This prevents the traditional discard approach by recovering valuable cleaning agents after use, thereby reducing substance loss while maintaining adequate washing coverage through controlled discharge and recovery.
2Productivity
If cleaning agents are discharged without extraction and collection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity of the washing system decreases due to resource inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discharge function and extraction function into an integrated system where cleaning agents are discharged and immediately collected in close proximity. This combination of functions within a unified structure achieves efficient cleaning agent management while avoiding the complexity of separate, distributed extraction systems throughout the washing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces extraction means as an intermediary component between the cleaning agent discharge points and the environment. This intermediary system captures cleaning agents before they are lost, acting as a mediator that enables efficient resource management without requiring complete system redesign or excessive complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning agents are discharged in a scattered manner, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to environmental contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful scattered discharge of cleaning agents into a beneficial recovered resource. By positioning extraction means to capture discharged cleaning agents, the system transforms what would be environmental contamination into recoverable material that can be recirculated, thereby eliminating harm while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts cleaning agents directly at the point of discharge before they can cause environmental contamination. This localized extraction approach prevents harmful factors by removing cleaning agents from the environment before they can spread, while keeping the discharge system simple through targeted extraction at specific discharge points rather than complex environmental containment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an automated washing unit of a heavy-duty vehicle comprising two mobile sub-units (2) which are coupled to one another forming a gantry-shaped tandem for being moved synchronously along the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein each sub-unit (2) has washing modules (7) for washing the body (4) of the heavy-duty vehicle which are facing and separated from one another by a distance substantially similar to the width of the body (4), and wherein each mobile sub-unit (2) comprises a main body (13) which is attached by its free end to one of the modules (7), the module (7) comprising a casing (30) with an opening oriented towards the heavy-duty vehicle, and being arranged inside the casing (30) means for discharging cleaning agents and means for removing the cleaning agents discharged on the heavy-duty vehicle.