Vehicle Wheel Cleaning Device with Planetary Gear Turntables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel cleaning devices have limited movement and coverage, restricting their effectiveness in cleaning vehicle wheels.
Innovation Solution
A rotary device with a central axis-driven rim washing brush and internal turntables, allowing for rotation around both the central axis and own axis via a gear mechanism, along with a high-pressure cleaning fluid supply system, enhances surface coverage and cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single rotary brush is used for wheel cleaning, then the device structure is simple, but the cleaning coverage and effectiveness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single rotary brush is segmented into multiple independent rotary brushes (at least three) arranged radially around the central axis. Each brush can be independently driven by the drive motor through transmission mechanisms, allowing them to rotate at different speeds and directions. This segmentation increases the cleaning coverage area while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple rotary brushes are nested within a common housing structure, with each brush positioned at different radial distances from the central axis. The brushes are arranged in a nested configuration where inner brushes operate closer to the wheel center and outer brushes cover the rim area, maximizing cleaning coverage within a compact device footprint.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple rotary brushes are added to increase cleaning coverage, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive motor serves multiple functions by simultaneously driving all rotary brushes through a shared transmission system. The housing structure performs multiple roles: supporting the drive motor, mounting the transmission mechanisms, providing bearings for rotary brush rotation, and directing cleaning fluid flow. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive motor and transmission system are merged into a single integrated power transmission unit that drives all rotary brushes. The housing combines structural support, bearing mounting, and fluid distribution functions into one component. This merging of functions and components achieves multiple cleaning brushes with enhanced coverage while controlling overall device complexity through integration.
3Ease of operation
If all rotary brushes rotate at the same speed, then the device operation is simple, but the cleaning effect on different wheel surfaces is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
Different rotary brushes are assigned different rotational speeds tailored to their specific cleaning tasks. Inner brushes rotate at speeds optimized for cleaning the wheel center and hub area, while outer brushes rotate at different speeds suited for the rim and tire sidewall. This local optimization of rotational speed ensures effective cleaning across diverse wheel surfaces while maintaining independent control of each brush.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission system incorporates variable speed mechanisms that allow each rotary brush to operate at dynamically adjustable speeds. This enables the system to adapt rotational speeds to different wheel sizes, contamination levels, and surface types, improving cleaning reliability while maintaining operational flexibility through independent speed control of each brush.
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 device achieves improved cleaning coverage and effectiveness by allowing inner and outer brushes to rotate at different speeds, ensuring thorough cleaning of vehicle wheels with a compact design and efficient fluid distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The drive shaft (21) is mechanically coupled to the rotary body (3) in such a way that rotation of the drive shaft (21) results in rotation of the rotary body (3) about the central axis (2)
Implementation Method 2
Each turntable (8) is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis (9) when the rotary body (3) is rotated, as a result of a planetary gear mechanism (25, 26)
Implementation Method 3
a device for supplying a cleaning fluid is integrated into the rotary body. This device can include supply lines and a rotary feedthrough for the transfer of the cleaning fluid, which is expediently supplied under high pressure, from a stationary part into the rotating rotary body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for cleaning vehicle wheels, comprising a rotating body (3) rotatable about a central axis (2) and driven by a drive motor (1), with cleaning elements (10) arranged at its end faces. Improved cleaning can be achieved by the rotating body (3) including at least one rotary plate (8) equipped with further cleaning elements (11), which, through the rotation of the rotating body (3), is rotated not only about the central axis (2) but also, via a transmission (25, 26), about its own longitudinal axis (9).