BRUSH FOR DRYING AND/OR WASHING VEHICLES

A brush for drying and/or washing a vehicle may include a rotating shaft rotatable around a rotation axis thereof and drying/cleaning means for drying/cleaning the vehicle. The brush may also include a first rotatable support plate for supporting the drying/cleaning means. The first plate may be traversed by the shaft and constrained on the shaft in an operating configuration. In some embodiments, a fictional lying plane of the first plate and the rotation axis form an angle other than 90 degrees. The brush may also include a connector to connect the drying/cleaning means to the first plate and positioning means for positioning the first plate in the operating configuration.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a brush for drying and/or washing vehicles. They are typically used in automatic vehicle washing plants.

BACKGROUND

Concepts for vehicle washing plants are described in EP3500130. EP350013 shows a washing and/or drying brush for washing and/or drying a vehicle. The concepts comprises a rotating shaft on which a tubular support made of plastics is keyed. The tubular support comprises slots to which, by closing inserts, flexible strips are constrainable that are intended to come into contact with the vehicle to perform the cleaning. The tubular support is further tilted relative to the rotation axis of the shaft to increase the axial extension of the action of the brush.

Concepts are known comprising a rotatable shaft to which discs are connected that are arranged orthogonally to the rotation axis and which in turn constrain drying strips perimetrically. Between one disc and the other, along the direction of axial extension of the shaft, circular spacers are present that are keyed on the shaft and made of expanded material. These spacers are obtained by die cutting starting from a block of larger dimensions.

SUMMARY

A brush for drying and/or washing a vehicle may include a rotating shaft rotatable around a rotation axis thereof and drying/cleaning means for drying/cleaning the vehicle. The brush may also include a first rotatable support plate for supporting the drying/cleaning means. The first plate may be traversed by the shaft and constrained on the shaft in an operating configuration. In some embodiments, a fictional lying plane of the first plate and the rotation axis form an angle other than 90 degrees. The brush may also include a connector to connect the drying/cleaning means to the first plate and positioning means for positioning the first plate in the operating configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The object of the present disclosure is to provide a brush that may be cheaper and may have higher performance, permitting at the same time easy maintenance of the cleaning/drying elements, than previous solutions.

The stated technical task and specified objects may be substantially achieved by a brush comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the accompanying claims.

In the accompanying figures, reference number1denotes a brush for drying/washing a vehicle. The brush1comprises a shaft2rotatable about a rotation axis20thereof.

This shaft2can for example be arranged vertically or horizontally or according to another direction. The shaft2extends longitudinally along the rotation axis20. Appropriately, the shaft2is rotated around the rotation axis20by an electric motor. The brush1comprises drying/cleaning means3for drying/cleaning the vehicle. Typically, the means3comprises one or more elements intended to come into contact with the vehicle. They thus perform the action of cleaning and drying mechanically by coming into contact with the surface to be cleaned/dried. Appropriately, the drying/cleaning means3extends in spoke fashion from the first plate4.

The brush1comprises a first rotatable support plate4for supporting said cleaning/drying means3. The first plate4extends substantially parallel to a plane. Appropriately, it is two-dimensional. Appropriately, it extends in thickness between 2 and 30 millimetres. Appropriately, the first plate4is a disc. The outer perimeter of the first plate4could be circular or polygonal (for example hexagonal, octagonal, etc.).

The first plate4is traversed by the shaft2and constrained on the shaft2in an operating configuration wherein:a fictional lying plane40of the disc; andthe rotation axis20;
form an angle different from 90° . Appropriately, the fictional lying plane40and the rotation axis20form an acute angle that is greater than70° (and being acute it is less than 90°).

The drying/cleaning means3comprises positioning means6for positioning the first support plate4in said operating configuration.

The drying/cleaning means3comprises a plurality of flexible vanes30arranged along the outer perimeter of the first plate4and intended to come into contact with the vehicle. These vanes30protrude outside the first plate4. As already indicated previously, this outer perimeter could be circular or polygonal (for example an octagon). The number of said vanes30is advantageously comprised between4and40, preferably between6and18. Appropriately, the vanes30are connected removably to the first support plate4independently of one another. For example, one can be removed, leaving the others connected.

At least one (preferably each) of said vanes30comprises a connecting end301connecting to the first support plate4. The end301comprises two flaps302,303constrained on opposite faces of the first plate4(i.e. constrained on faces facing in opposite directions). Moving away from said end301, at least one or each of said vanes30extends in thickness between a first and a second opposite surface304,305. The first surface304is a drying/washing surface and is intended to come into contact with the vehicle; the first surface304can be made of material that is suitable for the action of drying/cleaning, for example felt, expanded material, microfibre etc. The second surface305defines a concavity306. This concavity306faces in an opposite direction to the advancement direction of the vane30.

The drying/cleaning means3is connected to the first plate4by a connector5. The drying/cleaning means5and the first plate4are thus assembled physically. Appropriately, the connector5is a removable connector5. It thus permits a removable connection of the drying/cleaning means3to the first plate4.

As exemplified in the accompanying figures, the connector5comprises/is made of hook & loop fasteners.

For example, the hook & loop fasteners could each connect the two flaps302,303to the first plate4, and in some embodiments to opposite faces of the first plate4. In this connection, the hook & loop fasteners would be connected to both the two flaps302,303and to the first plate4.

But other connectors could be present. For example, the connector5may be clips, buttons, hooks, etc.

These systems permit a fast and easy maintenance intervention. In some embodiments, they do not require the use of tools. In some embodiments, the connector5could also be of irremovable type, for example stitching.

The positioning means6comprises a first annular support61traversed by the shaft2. Appropriately, the first annular support61is made of stiff material.

Appropriately, the first annular support61is made of plastic material. Appropriately, the first support61is a single monolithic body. In some embodiments, the first support61is stiffer than the first disc4. Appropriately, the first annular support61is moulded, i.e. obtained by moulding. Appropriately, the first annular support61extends along a longitudinal axis605(see for example FIG.

3). This longitudinal axis605, in the operating configuration, extends along a direction that forms an angle other than zero with the rotation axis20of the shaft2. This angle is for example comprised between 5° and 30° , is preferably comprised between 15° and 20°.

The first support61extends between a first end nearer first plate4and a second end that is further from the first plate4relative to the first end.

Appropriately, the first support61defines a first face601facing the first support plate4; a direction that is orthogonal to an imaginary plane600defined by said first face601and a direction parallel to that of the rotation axis20forming an angle other than0. This angle is for example comprised between 10° and 25° .

The first annular support61comprises a second face602facing in a direction that is opposite the first face601; the first support61includes an inner surface603facing the shaft2and protruding means604that from the inner surface603protrudes to the shaft2. This protruding means604in the operating configuration tilts the longitudinal axis605of the first support61relative to the rotation axis20of the shaft2.

The first annular support61comprises one or more wedge-shaped dowels610that enable said first support61to be so positioned that a direction of the longitudinal axis605of the first support61and a direction parallel to that of the rotation axis20form an angle other than0. The dowels in some embodiments are made as a single piece with the first annular support61, but could possibly be elements assembled on the first annular support61.

The first support61and the first plate4are advantageously distinct bodies that are assembled together.

As exemplified in the accompanying figures, the shaft2and the first support plate4have one, grooves71and, the other, corresponding reciprocally associated protrusions72.

The brush1can comprise a first discoidal reinforcement81(which in the technical field can also be defined as a “bristle guard”). See, for example,FIG.4.

The discoidal first reinforcement81is appropriately coaxial with the shaft2.

The discoidal first reinforcement81is appropriately traversed by the shaft2.

The discoidal first support81is interposed between the first annular support61and the first plate4.

Advantageously, the brush1also comprises a second discoidal reinforcement82(see for exampleFIGS.2and4). The support disc4is appropriately interposed between the first and the second discoidal reinforcement81,82. Appropriately, the first plate4is packed between the first and the second reinforcement81,82.

Appropriately, the first and the second reinforcement81,82are reciprocally connected mechanically; for example, a connecting element could be present (for example a grub screw or threaded connector) that connects the first and the second reinforcement81,82; for example, the latter ensures that the connecting element traverses the first plate4.

In some embodiments, the first and/or the second reinforcement81,82could be coupled (assembled/solidly constrained) with the first plate4.

Appropriately, the first and the second reinforcement81,82are made of at least partially deformable material. For example, they could be made of expanded material

In some embodiments, the first and the second reinforcement81,82could be unconstrained and independent of one another.

In some embodiments, a first intermediate disc could also be present that is placed between the first reinforcement81and the first plate4. Appropriately, there could also be a second intermediate disc interposed between the first plate4and the second reinforcement82.

The positioning means6comprises a plurality of annular supports.

Appropriately, the positioning means6comprises a second support62(see for exampleFIG.1). One or more of the features previously described for the first support61can be repeated for the second support62. In some embodiments, the first and the second support61,62are identical to one another.

Appropriately, the first plate4is interposed between the first and the second support61,62. Appropriately, the first and the second support61,62clamp between them the first plate4. In some embodiments, they maintain the lying plane40of the first plate tilted relative to the rotation axis20.

Appropriately, the brush1comprises a second rotatable support plate402for supporting additional cleaning/drying means390. The additional cleaning/drying means390is constrained on the edge of the second plate402. One or more of the features described with reference to the first plate4can also be repeated for the second plate402. Similarly, what was described relative to the cleaning/drying means3can be repeated for the additional cleaning/drying means390.

Appropriately, the first support61is interposed between the first and the second plate4,402. The first support61thus acts as a spacer between the first and the second plate4,402.

The first support61is made by moulding and thus enables material waste to be minimised relative to solutions in which it is made by die cutting from a workpiece of larger dimensions. Further, it is impermeable and permits an easy passage of air, enabling the brush1to be dried faster.

In some embodiments, the brush1comprises a plurality of annular supports60comprising said first support61and/or said second support62; appropriately, for each of said annular supports60what has been described for the first support61can be repeated; and a plurality of rotatable support plates400each supporting corresponding drying/cleaning means3of the vehicle. For the sake of clarity, it is pointed out that this plurality of support plates400comprises the first plate4and/or the second plate402and alternates along the shaft2with corresponding annular supports60. Appropriately, what is indicated for the first plate4can be repeated for each of said support plates400.

The first plate4and the first support61set can thus be repeated in a modular manner along the rotation axis20.

Let reference now be made to the some embodiments illustrated inFIGS.5and6. Appropriately, the first support61is directly coupled with the first plate4. Appropriately, in this case the first support61and the first plate4are glued reciprocally. Appropriately, a surface of the first support61facing the first plate4is glued to the first plate4. Interposed elements are not present between the first support61and the first plate4(except for the layer of adhesive that allows gluing). Similarly, the second support62is directly coupled with the first plate4. In this case, the first plate4and the second support62are glued together. Appropriately, a surface of the second support62facing the first support61is glued to the first plate4. Interposed elements are not present between the second support62and the first plate4(except for the layer of adhesive that allows gluing).

The first and/or the second support61,62are made of die-cut or moulded material. In some embodiments, the first and the second reinforcement81,82are absent.

Appropriately, the first and the second intermediate disc are absent.

Appropriately, the second plate402is interposed between a third and a fourth positioning support63,64of the second plate402. The third and the fourth support63,64enable the second plate402to be positioned non-orthogonally to the rotation axis20of the shaft2. In some embodiments, the second plate402is glued to the third and to the fourth support63,64. Appropriately, the third support63is adjacent to the first support61. Appropriately, the first and the third support61,63have the same tilt and the same orientation relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the rotation axis20of the shaft2.

Appropriately, one or more of the features previously indicated for the first support61can be repeated for the third support63and/or for the fourth support64. Advantageously the first and the third support61,63could also have the same shape and dimensions. Also the third and the fourth support63,64have appropriately the same shape and dimensions.

In some embodiments, the third support63is annular and traversed by the shaft2. Appropriately, the third support63defines a third face631facing the second support plate402; a direction that is orthogonal to an imaginary plane defined by said third face631(on which it lies) and a direction parallel to that of the rotation axis20forms an angle other than 0. This angle is for example comprised between 10° and 25°.

The third annular support63comprises a fourth face632facing in a direction that is opposite the third face631. The third and the fourth face631,632are advantageously parallel. The fourth face632is intended to come into contact with the first support61.

The present disclosure achieves some advantages.

First of all, the present disclosure enables the components to be optimised. Using a disc facilitates supporting the cleaning/drying means and enables the production of material to be optimized. It further enables connecting systems to be used for connecting to the cleaning/drying means that are faster and more rapid, facilitating maintenance. For example, a Velcro system permits very rapid replacement. Further, using a tilted disc is important because it enables the rotation of the shaft to “simulate” alternate cleaning/drying backwards and forwards along the axis In some embodiments, it enables an oscillating movement to be simulated that optimises washing/drying. The tilted positioning of the disc is assigned to a support that is distinct from the support plate. This facilitates the creation and optimization of the components. Further, a single component enables the support plates of the cleaning/drying means to be both spaced apart and positioned tilted.

The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterised thereby. Further, all the details can be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any whatsoever, according to need. For example, in accordance with common practice, the various features illustrated in the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., device) or all operations of a particular method.