Inductive Charging Cleaning Lance for Car Wash Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-service car wash cleaning lances face issues with reliable and efficient electrical energy supply, particularly due to battery replacement requirements, which can lead to operational interruptions and increased maintenance needs, especially in high-use environments.
Innovation Solution
A contactless inductive energy transmission system between the holding device and the cleaning lance, utilizing a transformer with primary and secondary coil windings encapsulated in a plastic housing, allows for continuous charging of the energy storage device, even when the lance is not in operation, ensuring reliable energy supply and minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If batteries or accumulators are used to supply electrical energy to the cleaning lance, then the cleaning lance can operate independently, but the batteries require periodic replacement which causes operational interruptions and maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging action by providing a charging device with primary and secondary coil windings that inductively charge the battery in the cleaning lance before it is needed. The holding device automatically positions the cleaning lance for charging when not in use, ensuring the battery is recharged in advance before depletion occurs, thereby eliminating operational interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a charging device with electromagnetic coil windings as an intermediary between the power source and the cleaning lance battery. This intermediary enables wireless inductive energy transmission through magnetic coupling, allowing the battery to be charged without physical contact or disassembly, thus maintaining system reliability while enabling independent operation.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning lance is equipped with electronics and battery, then washing parameters can be set and displayed on the lance itself, but the battery requires moisture-proof sealing which complicates the device structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery and electronics from the main cleaning lance body into a separate, removable battery compartment. This allows the electronics to be easily accessed for parameter setting and display while the compartment can be separately sealed against moisture. The holding device also provides external protection during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery compartment is designed with a moisture-proof seal using flexible sealing elements that prevent water ingress while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction. This flexible sealing approach protects the electronics without requiring complex rigid sealing structures, simplifying the overall device design.
3Productivity
If the cleaning lance is used continuously in high-use environments, then productivity is maintained, but the battery charge depletes quickly requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuous useful action by implementing automatic inductive charging in the holding device. When the cleaning lance is returned to the holder between uses, the primary coil in the holder and secondary coil in the lance automatically establish magnetic coupling to recharge the battery. This continuous charging process ensures the battery is always full, supporting uninterrupted productivity in high-use environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic charging action through the holding device that automatically recharges the battery during each return cycle of the cleaning lance. This periodic inductive charging, occurring at regular intervals when the lance is docked, maintains adequate charge levels even during intensive continuous operation, extending the effective duration of action between manual interventions.
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 solution provides a robust and reliable electrical energy supply to the cleaning lance, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements and ensuring continuous operation, even during periods of non-use, thus enhancing the availability and reliability of the car wash system.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical energy transmission unit (11) for contactless, in particular inductive transmission of electrical energy between the holding device (2) and the cleaning lance (3) for charging the energy store (9a)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning device (1) with a cleaning lance (3) and a holding device (2) for housing the cleaning lance (3), said holding device containing a rechargeable electric energy storage device (9a) for providing electrical users of the cleaning lance (3) and a charging device (9b) for charging the energy storage device (9a). The invention solves the objective of providing the cleaning lance with electrical energy reliably and in a simple manner, in that the cleaning device (1) comprises an electrical energy transfer unit (11) for non-contact transferring of electrical energy between the holding device (2) and the charging device (9b) for charging the energy storage device (9a).