Lighted Vehicle Wash Hub With Segmented Illumination Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wash facilities have dark and dirty environments due to densely populated rotary brush components that block light, resulting in an unpleasant wash experience for vehicle occupants and limited visibility, which also hinders branding efforts.
Innovation Solution
A lighted vehicle wash component with a rotatable hub featuring grooves for wash media elements and channels for illumination sources, allowing the illumination to be visible between media elements during operation and at rest, enhancing brightness and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a densely populated cylindrical central hub design with a plurality of washing elements is used, then the washing effectiveness is improved, but the hub blocks light and creates a dark environment for vehicle occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The hub is segmented into multiple radial zones with washing elements positioned only in specific radial positions, creating gaps between element groups. This segmentation allows light to pass through the gaps while maintaining adequate washing coverage through the distributed arrangement of elements across different radial zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different radial zones of the hub are designed with different properties: some zones contain washing elements for effective cleaning, while other zones are left clear or contain transparent/illuminated portions to allow light transmission. This local differentiation resolves the conflict between washing effectiveness and light blocking.
2Reliability
If a densely populated hub with washing elements is used, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the visibility for vehicle occupants is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The washing elements are segmented into discrete radial groups with intentional spacing between groups, creating visual gaps that improve visibility while maintaining cleaning coverage through the distributed arrangement of multiple element groups around the hub perimeter.
Solution Approach 2:
Transparent or illuminated portions are introduced as intermediary elements between the washing element groups. These intermediaries allow light to pass through while maintaining the structural integrity and functional coverage of the hub design.
3Illumination intensity
If lighted arches and signs are installed to brighten the environment, then the overall facility illumination is improved, but the lights cannot be seen by vehicle occupants during the wash process
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is extracted from separate arches and signs and integrated directly into the hub structure itself. By placing light sources within the hub's transparent or translucent portions, the lighting is positioned where it can be directly seen by vehicle occupants during the wash process while still providing overall facility illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing function and illumination function are merged into a single integrated hub assembly. The hub simultaneously performs cleaning through its washing elements and provides visible illumination through its transparent/illuminated portions, eliminating the need for separate lighted arches and signs.
4Reliability
If a densely populated hub design is used, then the washing performance is improved, but the aesthetic appeal and brand recognition are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hub design incorporates local aesthetic variations with transparent, translucent, or illuminated portions strategically positioned between washing element groups. These aesthetically enhanced zones do not compromise washing performance since the functional elements are distributed across multiple radial positions, while significantly improving visual appeal and brand visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wash component includes a rotatable hub portion having an outer surface and an axis of rotation. The component includes a plurality of grooves formed in the outer surface of the rotatable hub with the plurality of grooves being spaced about the perimeter of the outer surface of the hub portion. Each of the plurality of grooves includes one or more media elements disposed therein. The outer surface of the rotatable hub includes a plurality of channels formed therein. The plurality of channels are spaced apart from the plurality of grooves such that each of the plurality of channels is visible when the plurality of media elements are disposed in the plurality of grooves. An illumination source disposed in each of the plurality of channels such that the illumination source in each of the plurality of channels can be seen between the plurality of media elements as the rotatable hub portion operates.