Segmented Vehicle Brush With Torsion Spring Pivoting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle treatment brushes face difficulties in adapting to vehicles with irregular contours, leading to suboptimal cleaning results due to complex constructions and limited adjustability, particularly with sports cars and minibuses.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle treatment brush with axially divided segments, each equipped with a rotary body that can pivot relative to the carrier part via a torsion spring-based restoring device, allowing for contour-specific adjustment and maintaining effective cleaning contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle cleaning brush is tilted relative to the vertical to adapt to vehicle contours, then cleaning quality is improved, but the number of design variations increases and adaptability to different vehicle shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The brush is divided into multiple axially adjacent brush segments that can pivot independently relative to the carrier part. Each segment can adapt to different vehicle contours independently, allowing the entire brush to handle various vehicle shapes without requiring multiple fixed-angle brush designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush segments are made dynamically adjustable through the pivoting mechanism. Each segment can change its angle relative to the carrier part during operation, transitioning from a static fixed-angle design to a dynamic adaptive structure that automatically adjusts to different vehicle contours.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a joint is added to the drive shaft to create angled sections, then adaptability to vehicle contours is improved, but washing elements are left out in the joint area and cleaning quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a joint in the drive shaft that creates a gap without cleaning elements, the brush is segmented into multiple independent brush segments. Each segment maintains continuous cleaning element coverage and can pivot independently, ensuring no gaps in the cleaning area while achieving contour adaptation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bearings are provided for the angled shaft, then the angled position is maintained, but material costs and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple fixed bearings to maintain a specific angled position, the invention uses a dynamic pivoting mechanism with return devices. Each brush segment can achieve and maintain its optimal angle dynamically during operation, eliminating the need for complex bearing arrangements and reducing manufacturing costs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cleaning elements are formed in a concave contour to match vehicle shape, then adaptability to average vehicle contour is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and adaptability to extreme vehicle shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing expensive custom-shaped cleaning elements for each vehicle type, the brush is segmented into multiple independent segments. Each segment can pivot to adapt to different contours, providing a cost-effective solution that achieves contour adaptation through mechanical adjustment rather than custom manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning elements maintain a simple basic shape but achieve contour adaptation dynamically through the pivoting motion of the brush segments. This dynamic adjustment is more cost-effective than manufacturing static cleaning elements in complex concave contours, while providing superior adaptability to extreme vehicle shapes.
5Device complexity
If a friction roller drive is used for rotating bodies, then the structure is simplified, but reliability deteriorates due to penetration by dirt or cleaning fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The friction roller drive is replaced with a gear drive system. The gear drive provides positive mechanical engagement that is not susceptible to slippage or failure from dirt and cleaning fluid penetration, significantly improving reliability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through enclosed gear housings.
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
The brush achieves improved cleaning results by evenly adjusting to various vehicle contours, ensuring consistent and efficient cleaning across different vehicle shapes without excessive wear or material complexity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one brush segment comprises a pivoting device with a rotating body on which the cleaning elements of the brush segment are held indirectly or directly and which is operatively connected to the drive device for driving the rotating body about an axis of rotation of the brush segment different from the pivot axis, wherein the rotating body is pivotable about the pivot axis relative to the carrier part via the pivoting device, wherein the brush segment comprises at least one return device with a return element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle treatment brush for washing and/or polishing purposes in a vehicle treatment system, comprising a carrier part (30), which has a longitudinal extent and which defines a pivot axis (34), a plurality of brush segments (40), which are arranged axially adjacent to each other and which each comprise cleaning elements (58), and a drive device (56), wherein at least one brush segment (40) comprises a pivot device (42), which has a rotary body (44), on which the cleaning elements (58) of the brush segment (40) are indirectly or directly held and which is operatively connected to the drive device (56) for driving of the rotary body (44) about an axis of rotation (54) of the brush segment (40), which is different from the pivot axis (34), wherein the rotary body (44) can be pivoted relative to the carrier part (30) about the pivot axis (34) by means of the pivot device (42), wherein the brush segment (40) comprises at least one restoring device (122, 124) having a restoring element (126), against the action of which restoring element the pivot device (42) can be pivoted relative to the carrier part (30) in a pivot direction (106, 108). The restoring element comprises or forms a torsion spring (130), which couples to the pivot device (42) at one end and to a stationary holding element (136) at the other end in order to pivot the pivot device (42) and the holding element (136) relative to each other. The invention further relates to a vehicle treatment system.