Control system for vehicle washing system

• US 6,277,207 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark VII Equipment, LLC. (Washtec AG)
• Original Assignee: Mark VII Equipment, LLC. (Washtec AG)
• Inventors: Gauthier, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US09/365,519
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 134/18, 134/34, 134/45, 134/57.R, 134/123
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/002 Vehicle drying apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/04 for exteriors of land vehicles B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/042 Wheel cleaning devices integral with vehicle B60S1/00

Abstract

A control system for a vehicle washing system is provided. The control system utilizes a plurality of sensors to determine the length of a vehicle, the position of a vehicle relative to a fixed track upon which a gantry travels, and the profile of a vehicle relative to the track. The control system preferably begins a vehicle washing routine by commanding a gantry to travel from a beginning of the track to the end of the track while awaiting the interruption of an photoelectric beam for an entrance eye which first detects the front end of a stationary vehicle within the vehicle washing area. The gantry continues to move towards the end of the track while awaiting detection of a portion of the vehicle which is higher than a preset distance from ground. Upon detection of such vehicle portion, the control system establishes parameters setting a front safe tilt zone. In similar manner, the control system determines a rear safe tilt position for the vehicle washing system. Thereby providing a vehicle washing system which may process along a length of vehicle with deployed washing members while ensuring contact between such members and the vehicle is avoided.

Claims

1. A vehicle washing system for automatically cleaning a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a side and a profile comprising:

a gantry which travels along a track within a vehicle washing area, wherein the gantry further comprises;

a gantry pulser which outputs increment signals as the gantry travels from a beginning to an end of the track and outputs decrement signals as the gantry travels from the end to the beginning of the track;

an inverter which controls the speed and direction of travel of the gantry; and

a structure for supporting at least one vehicle washing apparatus;

a vehicle detection system which detects the front end, rear end, and profile when the vehicle is within the vehicle washing area and outputs detection signals indicative thereof;

at least one vehicle washing component which dispenses cleaning solutions into the vehicle washing area; and

a control unit which controls the travel of the gantry within the vehicle washing area such that upon receipt of the detection signals, determines the location of the front end, the rear end and locations along the profile relative to the track, controls the travel of the gantry along the track such that the gantry travels a pre-set distance beyond the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, and controls the at least one vehicle washing component such that cleaning solutions are dispensed when the component is within a predetermined proximity of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle washing system of claim 1 wherein positions of said gantry along said track are related to a reference position periodically calibrated and saved by said control unit by moving said gantry to said reference position, assigning a value to said position, and identifying all other positions along said track relative to said reference position as a sum of increment and decrement signals transmitted by said gantry pulser as said gantry travels along said track from said reference position to a second position.

3. The vehicle washing system of claim 2 wherein said vehicle detection system further comprises an entrance sensor mounted on said gantry wherein said entrance sensor detects the presence of said sides of said vehicle as said gantry travels along said track.

4. The vehicle washing system of claim 3 wherein, as said gantry travels from said beginning towards said end of said track, said entrance sensor transmits a vehicle detect signal when said entrance sensor passes a point which is parallel with said front end of said vehicle, continues to transmit said vehicle detect signal while said gantry travels along said sides of said vehicle, and stops transmitting said vehicle detect signal when said entrance sensor passes a point which is parallel with said rear end of said vehicle.

5. The vehicle washing system of claim 4 wherein said control unit records the position of said gantry along said track as a beginning of said vehicle when said entrance sensor begins transmitting said vehicle detect signal and records the position of said gantry along said track as an end of said vehicle when said entrance sensor stops transmitting said vehicle detect signal.

6. The vehicle washing system of claim 5 wherein said vehicle detection system further comprises a clearance sensor mounted to said gantry wherein said clearance sensor detects locations along said side profile of said vehicle which is above a clearance height as said gantry travels along said track.

7. The vehicle washing system of claim 6 wherein said clearance sensor is mounted such that said clearance height is 44 inches above ground.

8. The vehicle washing system of claim 6 wherein, as said gantry travels from said beginning towards said end of said track, said clearance sensor transmits a clearance detect signal when said clearance sensor detects a side of said vehicle which is above said clearance height, continues to transmit said clearance detect signal while said gantry travels along sides of said vehicle which are higher than said clearance height, and stops transmitting said clearance detect signal when said clearance sensor no longer detects sides of said vehicle which are higher than said clearance height.

9. The vehicle washing system of claim 8 wherein said control unit records the position of said gantry along said track as a front safe tilt position when said clearance sensor begins transmitting said clearance detect signal and records the position of said gantry along said track as a rear safe tilt position when said clearance sensor stops transmitting said clearance detect signal.

10. The vehicle washing system of claim 9 wherein said control unit deploys said washing apparatus into said vehicle washing area when said gantry is positioned at specific locations along said track and at all other times stowes said washing apparatus.

11. The vehicle washing system of claim 10 wherein said vehicle washing apparatus further comprises a top boom.

12. The vehicle washing system of claim 11 wherein said control unit deploys said top boom at a pre-set minimum distance from at least one of said front end and said rear end, commands said gantry to travel towards said vehicle, and sends commands to said top boom to incrementally return said top boom to a stowed position as said gantry travels along at least one side of said vehicle.

13. The vehicle washing system of claim 12 wherein said top boom further comprises a top boom pulser which outputs a pulser signal as said top boom is raised and lowered wherein said pulser signal is summed to represent a data value associated with a position of said top boom relative to a reference position.

14. The vehicle washing system of claim 12 wherein said top boom further comprises a top boom safety switch which provides a top boom stowed signal when said top boom is stowed.

15. The vehicle washing system of claim 13 wherein said control unit controls the travel of said gantry along said track such that said top boom is stowed before said gantry reaches said front safe tilt position, when said gantry is traveling from said front end to said rear end of said vehicle, and before said gantry reaches said rear safe tilt position, when said gantry is traveling from said rear end to said front end of said vehicle.

16. The vehicle washing system of claim 15 wherein said vehicle washing apparatus further comprises side wands.

17. The vehicle washing system of claim 16 wherein said control unit deploys said side wands at a pre-set minimum distance in front of said front end and behind said rear end, and stowes said side wands before said gantry reaches the relative position along said track of at least one of said front end and said rear end and while said gantry travels along said sides of said vehicle.

18. The vehicle washing system of claim 17 wherein said side wands include a side wand safety switch which transmits an output signal to said control unit when side wands are stowed.

19. A control system which adjusts the operation of a vehicle washing system based upon a length and side profile of a vehicle such that cleaning solutions are applied directly to those areas of a vehicle wash within which a vehicle is located and not elsewhere wherein said vehicle washing system utilizes at least one vehicle washing component attached to a gantry traveling along parallel tracks, said control system comprising:

an entrance eye sensor which detects a side of said vehicle and generates an entrance eye sensor signal whenever said gantry is along a side of said vehicle;

a clearance eye sensor which detects a location along a side profile of said vehicle and generates a clearance eye sensor signal whenever said gantry is along a side of said vehicle and a portion of said vehicle extends higher than a pre-set distance from ground;

a gantry pulser which transmits gantry pulser signals sending an increment signal when said gantry travels along said track in a forward direction and a decrement signal when said gantry travels in a reverse direction, wherein a sum of said gantry pulser signals represents a position of said gantry along said track relative to a fixed reference; and

a control unit wherein said control unit receives and sums said gantry pulser signals, receives said entrance eye sensor signal, receives said clearance eye sensor signals and generates output signals which control the operation of said vehicle washing system based upon said inputs such that vehicle washing apparatus deploy and stowe based upon a profile of a vehicle and such that said gantry travels only a pre-set distance past either end of said vehicle when said vehicle washing apparatus are dispensing cleaning solutions.

20. The control system of claim 19 wherein said control system further comprises:

an air switch which transmits a signal when a vehicle enters said vehicle washing area;

a treadle switch which transmits a signal when a vehicle has traveled into said vehicle washing area to a predetermined stopping point;

a gantry speed inverter signal which outputs a current speed for said gantry;

a top boom pulser signal which output a current relative position of a top boom;

a top boom safety switch signal which outputs a signal when said top boom is stowed; and

wash select signals which indicate which of at least two wash options a customer has selected.

21. A method of determining the length and features of a side profile of a vehicle within an automated vehicle washing system and controlling operation of said system based upon said determination comprising:

moving a gantry along a track substantially parallel to said vehicle;

recording the position of said gantry when a first sensor attached to said gantry detects an end of said vehicle;

recording a second position of said gantry when a second sensor attached to said gantry first detects a portion of said vehicle which extends higher than a preset distance above ground;

recording a third position of said gantry when said second sensor no longer detects a portion of said vehicle which extends higher than said preset distance above ground;

recording a fourth position of said gantry when said first sensor detects a second end of said vehicle;

designating the range of track between said first position and said fourth position as a length of said vehicle relative to said track;

designating the range of track between said second position and said third position as a profile of said vehicle relative to said track;

controlling the operation of said gantry such that said gantry travels only a preset distance beyond said first position and said fourth position respectively while activating wash cycles while said gantry travels between said first position and said fourth position;

controlling the deployment of a top boom such that said top boom deploys as said gantry travels from said third position towards said fourth position and from said second position towards said first position;

controlling the stowing of said top boom such that said top boom stowes as said gantry travels from said first position towards said second position, remains stowed between said second position and said third position, and as said gantry travels from said fourth position towards said third position;

controlling the deployment of side wands such that said side wands deploy only when said gantry is positioned beyond at least one of said first position and said fourth position but not when said gantry is positioned along said length of said vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

controlling the rate of travel of said gantry along said track at the rate said top boom rises from a deployed position to a stowed position and vice versa such that top boom is fully deployed when said gantry is at said first position and said fourth position, and said top boom is completely stowed when said gantry is at said second and said third position.

23. A system for detecting the location and profile of a vehicle within an automated vehicle washing area and providing the detections thereof to a controller of a vehicle washing system, the vehicle washing system including a gantry that travels along a side of a vehicle located within the vehicle washing area, wherein the vehicle has a front end, a rear end, a side and a profile, the system comprising:

an entrance eye sensor, connected to the gantry, which detects the presence of a first end location and a second end location of a vehicle relative to the vehicle washing area; and

a clearance eye sensor, connected to the gantry, which detects a profile of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing area;

whereupon entrance of a vehicle into the vehicle washing area, the controller commands the gantry to travel along a side of the vehicle while the entrance eye sensor detects the first end location and the second end location of the vehicle and the clearance eye sensor detects the profile of the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first end location is the front end of the vehicle and the second end location is the rear end of the vehicle.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the entrance eye sensor is located on the gantry at a height such that the entrance eye sensor can detect the front end of the vehicle as the gantry travels along a side of the vehicle.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the clearance eye sensor is located at a fixed location forty-four (44) inches from a floor of the vehicle washing area.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the clearance eye sensor operates at a frequency such that the operation of the clearance eye sensor is not susceptible to interference from the entrance eye sensor.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the system further comprises an exit eye sensor which detects whether the vehicle is improperly positioned within the vehicle washing area.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the controller determines whether the vehicle is improperly positioned within the vehicle washing area by determining whether the exit eye sensor signal is obscured by the vehicle when a signal is initially received from a treadle switch.

30. A method of detecting the location and profile of a vehicle within an automated vehicle washing area and providing the detections thereof to a controller of a vehicle washing system, the vehicle washing system including at least one apparatus for cleaning a vehicle within the vehicle washing area, the apparatus being mounted to a gantry that travels along a side of a vehicle within the vehicle washing area, wherein the vehicle has a front end, rear end, a side and a profile, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of a front end location and a rear end location of a vehicle relative to the vehicle washing area; and

detecting a profile of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing area;

wherein the detection of the front end location, rear end location and profile are accomplished as a gantry, upon which are mounted a first sensor for detecting the front end and rear end locations and a second sensor for detecting the profile, travels along a side of a vehicle within the vehicle washing area.

31. A vehicle washing system for automatically cleaning a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a side and a profile comprising:

a gantry which travels along a side of a vehicle located within a vehicle washing area;

a vehicle detection system, which detects a front end, a rear end and a profile of the vehicle and outputs detection signals indicative thereof, further comprising;

an entrance eye sensor, which detects the front end and the rear end of the vehicle; and

a clearance eye sensor, which detects the profile of the vehicle;

a vehicle washing component which dispenses at least one cleaning solution utilized to clean the vehicle; and

a control unit which controls the travel and operation of the gantry and the vehicle washing component;

whereupon receipt of the detection signals from the vehicle detection system, the control unit determines the location of the front end, the rear end and the profile of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing area, controls the travel of the gantry along the side of the vehicle such that the gantry travels a preset distance beyond the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, and controls the vehicle washing component such that cleaning solutions are dispensed when the apparatus is within a predetermined proximity of the vehicle.

32. The vehicle washing system of claim 31, wherein the entrance eye sensor is located on the gantry at a height such that the entrance eye sensor can detect the front end of the vehicle as the gantry travels along a side of the vehicle.

33. The vehicle washing system of claim 31, wherein the clearance eye sensor is located at a fixed location forty-four (44) inches from a floor of the vehicle washing area.

34. The vehicle washing system of claim 31, wherein the clearance eye sensor operates at a frequency such that the operation of the clearance eye sensor is not susceptible to interference from the entrance eye sensor.

35. The vehicle washing system of claim 31, wherein the vehicle detection system further comprises an exit eye sensor which detects whether the vehicle is in an improper location within the vehicle washing area.

36. The vehicle washing system of claim 35, wherein the controller determines whether the vehicle is improperly positioned within the vehicle washing area by determining whether the exit eye sensor is obscured by the vehicle when a signal is initially received from a treadle switch.

37. The vehicle washing system of claim 31, wherein the gantry further comprises a gantry pulser which outputs signals as the gantry travels along the track, wherein the output signals are utilized by the control unit to determine the location of the front end, the rear end and the profile of the vehicle relative to the track.

38. The vehicle washing system of claim 31, wherein the gantry further comprises an inverter which controls the speed and direction of travel of the gantry.

39. A vehicle washing system for automatically cleaning a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a side and a profile comprising:

a gantry, which travels along a track within a vehicle washing area, further comprising a gantry pulser which outputs a signal as the gantry travels along the length of the track;

a vehicle detection system, which detects a front end, a rear end and a profile of the vehicle when the vehicle is within the vehicle washing area and outputs detection signals indicative thereof; and

a control unit which, upon receipt of at least one signal indicating a location of the front end, the rear end and the profile of the vehicle, determines the position of the gantry relative to the track based upon a reading of the gantry pulser, controls the travel of the gantry along the track such that the gantry travels a pre-set distance beyond the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, and controls a vehicle washing component such that cleaning solutions are dispensed when the component is within a predetermined proximity of the vehicle.

40. A method of automatically cleaning a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a side and a profile comprising:

traveling a gantry along a side of a vehicle located within a vehicle washing area;

detecting a location of the front end and the rear end of a vehicle by utilizing an entrance eye sensor connected to the gantry, wherein the entrance eye sensor generates a signal indicating a location of at least one of the front end and the rear end when the entrance eye sensor is interrupted by the presence of the vehicle within the vehicle washing area;

determining the profile of the vehicle by utilizing a clearance eye sensor that generates a signal indicating the profile of the vehicle when the clearance eye sensor is interrupted by the presence of the vehicle within the vehicle washing area; and

automatically dispensing cleaning solutions onto the vehicle by controlling the travel of the gantry along the side of the vehicle and the dispensing of cleaning solutions during the travel of the gantry such that cleaning solutions are dispensed onto the vehicle within an area identified by the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, and at least one cleaning apparatus is positioned above the vehicle according to the profile of the vehicle.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the method further comprises:

determining the position of the gantry along the side of the vehicle based upon an accumulation of at least one signal received from a gantry pulser, wherein the gantry pulser outputs positive signals as the gantry travels in a first direction along a track and, the gantry pulser outputs negative signals as the gantry travels in an opposite direction along the track.