Vehicle washing installation

• US 6,679,275 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Heinze, Michael, Berger, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/178,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56.R, 134/57.R, 134/58.R, 134/45, 134/94.1, 134/95.1, 134/123, 134/181, 134/198, 239/550, 239/556, 239/557, 239/562, 239/563, 239/566, 239/225.1, 239/264
• US Class Current: 134/56.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/04 for exteriors of land vehicles B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006

Abstract

In order to further develop a vehicle washing installation comprising at least one nozzle arrangement which is movable past a vehicle to be cleaned in the longitudinal and transverse directions thereof and is adapted to be supplied with a cleaning liquid for cleaning the vehicle, so that it is of structurally simpler design and is less susceptible to failure, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the nozzle arrangement comprise at least two groups of nozzles, with a first group of nozzles facing the vehicle to be cleaned during a transverse movement of the nozzle arrangement and a second group of nozzles facing the vehicle to be cleaned during a longitudinal movement of the nozzle arrangement.

Claims

1. Vehicle washing installation comprising at least one nozzle arrangement which is movable past a vehicle to be cleaned in a longitudinal and a transverse direction of said vehicle and is adapted to be supplied with cleaning liquid for cleaning said vehicle, wherein said nozzle arrangement comprises at least two groups of nozzles, with a first group of nozzles facing said vehicle to be cleaned during a transverse movement of said nozzle arrangement and a second group of nozzles facing said vehicle to be cleaned during a longitudinal movement of said nozzle arrangement.

2. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said nozzle arrangement comprises three groups of nozzles, with a first group of nozzles facing said vehicle during a transverse movement in front of said vehicle to be cleaned, a second group of nozzles facing said vehicle during a longitudinal movement along a longitudinal side of said vehicle, and a third group of nozzles facing said vehicle during a transverse movement behind said vehicle to be cleaned.

3. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said nozzle arrangement is movable at a predeterminable distance from said vehicle.

4. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein a sensor unit is associated with said nozzle arrangement for controlling said nozzle arrangement during a longitudinal movement.

5. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 4, wherein said nozzle arrangement and said sensor unit are held on a transport unit which is movable in a transverse direction.

6. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 5, wherein a drive unit arranged on said transport unit is associated with said nozzle arrangement for moving said nozzle arrangement in a transverse direction.

7. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein a sensor arrangement is associated with said nozzle arrangement for detecting the rear end of said vehicle.

8. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 7, wherein said sensor arrangement comprises a light barrier oriented at an incline to the horizontal.

9. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein a transport device is associated with said nozzle arrangement for moving said nozzle arrangement in a longitudinal direction.

10. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle washing installation comprises a transport device at each of the two sides of said vehicle, both of said transport devices being movable synchronously in a longitudinal direction and being connected to each other by a traverse beam on which said nozzle arrangement is displaceably mounted.

11. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle washing installation comprises a further nozzle arrangement which is movable along said vehicle and comprises a group of nozzles facing said vehicle.

12. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle arrangement is held on a nozzle carrying arm.

13. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 12, wherein additional applicators are held at least on one nozzle carrying arm for applying foam and/or a chemical cleaning agent to said vehicle to be cleaned.

14. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least on one nozzle carrying arm said applicators comprise several spray nozzles oriented in different directions.

15. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle washing installation comprises a blower for drying said vehicle, and a flow channel coupled with said blower and opening in the direction towards said vehicle, and a nozzle arrangement is held on said flow channel.

16. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least one mouth area of said flow channel is movable at a predeterminable distance from said vehicle.

17. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 16, wherein said flow channel is held on said transport unit which is movable in a transverse direction.

18. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 17, wherein said blower is held on said transport unit.

19. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle washing installation comprises a nozzle beam adjustable in height and oriented transversely to said vehicle.

20. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 19, wherein a sensor arrangement is associated with said nozzle beam for moving said nozzle beam at a predeterminable distance from said vehicle.

21. Vehicle washing installation in accordance with claim 19, wherein said nozzle beam is held on both of said transport devices so as to be adjustable in height.