US3823356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for car washing machines
Assignee: Kone Lamminen Oy
•
Filing: 1972-09-05
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1992-09-05
Abstract
Abstract System for controlling the functions of a car washing machine, having a carriage of portal construction, movably mounted on a base on rails and the like on which the machine performs a washing procedure, moving longitudinally over the car to be washed, the machine being provided with rotatable brushes for washing the top and the side surfaces of the car, said brushes being provided with means controlling the pressure of said brushes against the surfaces of the car being washed, while variations of the pressure are also used to control the longitudinal movements of the machine relative to the car, wherein the forces affecting said brushes are sensed and measured by strain gages, for measuring the strain, torque and elongation on the brushes, and wherein the differences determined by the strain gages are arranged to control the bushing pressure against the car as well as the longitudinal movements of the machine so that the brushing pressure is maintained within preset limits, in spite of varying contours of the car, as well as of the varying mains voltage and other parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 J Paavola
- 👤 L Julita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for controlling the functions of a car washing machine, the latter having a carriage of portal construction, movably mounted on a base on rails and the like on which the machine performs a washing procedure, moving at least once longitudinally over the car to be washed, the machine being provided with mechanically rotatable brushes for washing the top and the side surfaces of the car, said brushes being provided with means controlling the pressure of said brushes against the surfaces of the car, while variations of the pressure are also used to control the longitudinal movements of the machine relative to the car, wherein the forces affecting said brushes are sensed and measured by measuring units in the form of strain gages, for measuring at least one of the strain, torque and elongation on said brushes, and wherein the differences determined by said measuring units are arranged to control the brushing pressure against the car being washed as well as the longitudinal movements of the machine so that the brushing pressure is maintained within preset limits, inspite of varying contours of the car, as well as of the varying mains voltage and other parameters, drive means for rotating said brushes, a control circuit electrically connected between at least one of said strain gages and said drive means, a constant-current generator for energizing said strain gage, and at least one electrical comparator means intercalated between said strain gage and said control circuit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for controlling the functions of a car washing machine, the latter having a carriage of portal construction, movably mounted on a base on rails and the like on which the machine performs a washing procedure, moving at least once longitudinally over the car to be washed, the machine being provided with mechanically rotatable brushes for washing the top and the side surfaces of the car, said brushes being provided with means controlling the pressure of said brushes against the surfaces of the car, while variations of the pressure are also used to control the longitudinal movements of the machine relative to the car, wherein the forces affecting said brushes are sensed and measured by measuring units in the form of strain gages, for measuring at least one of the strain, torque and elongation on said brushes, and wherein the differences determined by said measuring units are arranged to control the brushing pressure against the car being washed as well as the longitudinal movements of the machine so that the brushing pressure is maintained within preset limits, inspite of varying contours of the car, as well as of the varying mains voltage and other parameters, drive means for rotating said brushes, a control circuit electrically connected between at least one of said strain gages and said drive means, a constant-current generator for energizing said strain gage, and at least one electrical comparator means intercalated between said strain gage and said control circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said measuring units are electrical transducers whose measuring method is based on the alteration of the ohmic resistance, caused by the alteration of their lengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said measuring units are located on supporting parts of said brushes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said measuring units are located on at least one shaft of said brushes to measure the torque of said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for washing the top surfaces of the car, said means including at least one of said brushes, wherein at least one of said strain gages is located on at least one movable part of said top washing means, for measuring at least one parameter, such as the strain, torque and elongation, between said brush and the contacted portions of the car.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for washing the side surfaces of the car, said means including at least one of said brushes, wherein at least one of said strain gages is located on a swingable part of said side washing means, for measuring at least one parameter, such as the strain, torque and elongation, between said brush and the contacted portions of the car.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for longitudinally moving the car washing machine with respect to the car, in operative connection with said control circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control system as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for elevating and lowering said brushes, in operative connection with said control circuit, and means fOr measuring at least one parameter, such as the strain, torque and elongation, between said brushes and the contacted portions of the car.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, further comprising electrical compensator means for voltage balancing between said strain gage and said comparator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said comparator means includes two units, respectively responsive to components of parameters, such as the strain, torque and elongation, and respectively associated with lowering and elevating movements of said brushes, for supplying said control circuit with respective, separate voltages, each being proportional to one of said components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control system as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for presetting limits of the parameters, and feeding the same to said comparator units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The control system as defined in claim 10, wherein said strain gage is set to react to horizontal forces, and further comprising a separate unit for measuring vertical forces, and integrating means fed by the outputs of said horizontal-force strain gage and said vertical-force measuring unit, the output of said integrating means being fed to both said two comparator units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system as defined in claim 12, further comprising a constant-current generator for said vertical-force measuring unit, and electrical compensator means for voltage balancing between said vertical-force measuring means and said integrating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |