Rotatable Tire Coating Applicators Preventing Fluid Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire coating systems in vehicle washing facilities face issues such as wastage of coating fluid, labor-intensive application, and premature wear of applicator pads due to inadvertent contact with tires that have not paid for the service, leading to increased costs and reduced longevity.
Innovation Solution
A tire coating apparatus with rotatable mechanical applicators that include coating applicator brushes, which can be easily replaced and configured to simulate a conveyor guide rail, allowing for controlled application and retraction to prevent unnecessary contact with tires that have not paid for the coating service, and utilizing a dump valve assembly to minimize fluid waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If spray nozzles are used to automatically apply coating fluid to tires, then manual labor is eliminated, but coating fluid is wasted on wheels and areas beyond tire periphery
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is divided into multiple foam pads (first foam pad, second foam pad, third foam pad, fourth foam pad) arranged in a specific pattern. Each pad is responsible for applying coating to specific portions of the tire, preventing overspray onto wheels and areas beyond the tire periphery. This segmentation allows precise control of coating application zones while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the applicator have different properties - the foam pads are positioned and sized to match specific tire regions. The first and second foam pads contact the upper tire portions while the third and fourth foam pads contact lower portions. This local customization ensures coating is applied only where needed on the tire surface.
2Extent of automation
If spray nozzles apply coating fluid to tires, then automation is achieved, but tires must be wiped down to remove excess fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed. The beam portion allows the foam pad applicator to move inward toward the tire and the guide portion can be positioned to contact the wheel. This dynamic positioning enables the system to adapt to different tire sizes and positions, ensuring proper contact without excessive coating application that would require wiping.
Solution Approach 2:
Foam pads serve as an intermediary medium between the coating fluid source and the tire surface. The foam material absorbs and distributes the coating fluid evenly, preventing dripping and excess application. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for post-application wiping while maintaining automated operation.
3Productivity
If applicator pads are positioned to contact tires automatically, then labor is reduced, but pads wear prematurely due to inadvertent contact with tires that have not paid for service
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes sensors and control mechanisms that detect whether a vehicle has paid for the coating service before the applicator pads are activated. The coating application is preliminarily conditioned on payment verification, preventing inadvertent contact and wear on unpaid vehicles. This preliminary action protects the applicator pads from unnecessary wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor vehicle presence and payment status. Based on this feedback, the control system activates or deactivates the coating application. This feedback loop ensures applicator pads only contact tires when service has been paid for, extending pad lifespan while maintaining automated productivity.
4Productivity
If coating fluid is sprayed directly to tires, then application speed is increased, but coating fluid is applied to unnecessary areas including wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is segmented into multiple foam pads positioned to contact only specific tire portions. This segmentation prevents coating fluid from being applied to wheels and unnecessary areas while maintaining efficient automated application speed. Each foam pad is responsible for a specific zone, ensuring precise material distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam pads are positioned and sized to match the specific geometry of the tire. This local customization ensures coating fluid is applied only to the tire surface and not to wheels or surrounding areas. The approach maintains high productivity while precisely controlling the quantity of coating fluid applied to the correct locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire coating apparatus that is intended to apply coating fluid to vehicle tires in a vehicle washing system when selected by a patron. The tire coating apparatus includes a pair of mechanical applicators, which each include one or more coating applicators disposed thereon for contacting the vehicle tires to apply a coating fluid thereto when selected by a patron. One mechanical applicator includes one or more coating applicator members that are intended to contact the tires on a right side of a vehicle while the other mechanical applicator includes one or more coating applicators that are intended to contact the tires on a left side of the vehicle. The mechanical applicators also include a guide portion for contacting and guiding the vehicle wheel when a patron had elected not to have a coating fluid applied to the vehicle wheels. The mechanical applicators are rotatable between an initial position where the coating application brushes are in a non-coating position to a second position where the coating applicators are intended to contact a vehicle tire. After the coating applicators contact the vehicle tires, they then return to the initial non-coating position and a second position where the coating applicators are in a non-coating position.