U.S. patent application number 09/729615 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for car wash conveyor track section construction and combined chain take up and roller control unit therefor.
Invention is credited to Rietsch, Gilbert J. JR..
Application Number | 20020066389 09/729615 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24931824 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066389 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rietsch, Gilbert J. JR. |
June 6, 2002 |
CAR WASH CONVEYOR TRACK SECTION CONSTRUCTION AND COMBINED CHAIN
TAKE UP AND ROLLER CONTROL UNIT THEREFOR
Abstract
A car wash conveyor including a simplified and improved track
structure using cut out flat support plates for mounting three
tiers of tracks. The support plates allow equal widths of an
intermediate and lower track, and incorporation of integral
stanchions for support of tire guide rollers. The chain take up
mechanism and the roller control mechanism together form an
assembly able to be installed into the conveyor or removed for
service as a single unit.
Inventors: |
Rietsch, Gilbert J. JR.;
(Clarkston, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John R. Benefiel
Suite 100 B
280 Daines Street
Birmingham
MI
48009-6244
US
|
Family ID: |
24931824 |
Appl. No.: |
09/729615 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
104/172.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S 3/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
104/172.3 |
International
Class: |
B61J 003/04 |
Claims
1. In a car washer conveyor of the type including a track structure
and a series of pusher roller assemblies carried along said track
structure from an entrance end to an exit end by a driven chain to
which said roller assemblies are attached which also returns said
roller assemblies back to said entrance end, said track structure
including an upper track along which a car tires elevated an
intermediate track along which unelevated roller assemblies roll,
and a lower return track along which said roller assemblies are
returned to said entrance end of said conveyor, the improvement
comprising support plates supporting said tracks, said support
plates having two cut out areas which accommodate said intermediate
track and said lower return.
2. The car wash conveyor according to claim 1 wherein said
intermediate track is comprised of separated pairs of support
pieces and an overlying plastic attached to each support, said
return track comprised of a pair of pieces, said cut out areas of
differing width to allow said plastic intermediate track pieces and
said return track pieces to be spaced a substantially equal
distance.
3. The car wash conveyor according to claim 1 wherein said upper
track is comprised of a pair of downturned angles having an outer
leg located spaced above a respective upturned leg of each support
piece to form a slot on each side of said conveyor, said plastic
pieces fastened to said support pieces respectively by fasteners
passing through said slot on respective sides of said conveyor.
4. The car wash conveyor according to claim 1 wherein each support
plate has an integral upwardly projecting stanchion on one side, a
support rod connected to said portions.
5. A car wash, conveyor according to claim 4 wherein plastic
rollers are supported on said rod to act as a tire side guide.
6. A car wash conveyor of a type having a three tier track
structure defining an upper track along which car tires and
elevated roller assemblies roll from an entrance end to an exit end
of said conveyor, an intermediate track along which non elevated
roller assemblies roll, and a lower return track along which roller
assemblies are returned to said entrance end of said conveyor, said
movement of said roller assemblies produced by recirculation of a
chain to which said roller assemblies are attached, a chain take up
mechanism for monitoring chain tension and a roller control
mechanism for ramping up rollers on a selected roller assembly to
said upper track, the improvement comprising a support arrangement
separate from said track structure enabling installation and
removal of said chain take up and roller control mechanism into and
out of said conveyor as a separate unit into said conveyor, whereby
installation, removal, and service of said mechanisms is
facilitated.
7. The car wash conveyor according to claim 6 wherein said support
arrangement includes four parallel rods arranged in a rectangular
pattern symmetrical with respect to an axis of said chain, said
rods connected at either end to a pair of end plates with said
chain take up and roller control mechanisms mounted to said four
parallel rods.
8. The car wash conveyor according to claim 7 wherein said take up
mechanism includes a chain take up drive mounted on a cross shaft
rotatably supported on a pair of side plates, each slidable on a
respective pair of said rods.
9. The car wash conveyor according to claim 8 wherein said cross
shaft is supported at either end on a rotary bearing mounted on the
outside of a respective side plate.
10. The car wash conveyor according to claim 7 wherein said roller
control mechanism includes a pair of fork members mounted on a
cross shaft supported on a pair of side plates, each side plate
mounted to a respective pair of said rods.
11. The car wash conveyor according to claim 10 wherein each of
said side plates are slidably adjustable on said respective rod
pairs.
12. The car wash conveyor according to claim 10 wherein a pair of
cushioned stops are associated with each fork members for quieting
movement of said fork members to said raised and lowered
position.
13. The car wash conveyor according to claim 7 wherein said
intermediate and lower track sections terminate at said separate
unit.
14. The car wash conveyor according to claim 13 wherein said
intermediate track comprises an end section of spaced angles
diverging and sloping down to recapture rollers passing off said
separate unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns car wash conveyors of the type using
a chain driven pusher rollers selectively elevated to engage a tire
of a vehicle to advance the vehicle along a track on which the
vehicle tires roll.
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,936 describes a particular roller
assembly, conveyor track section, and chain tensioner-ramp assembly
for a car wash conveyor of this type. The conveyor track sections
have intermediate and lower tracks for idle and return travel of
the rollers, so that three tracks are provided including the upper
track on which the activate rollers roll.
[0003] The track structure described therein has a frame of upright
angles welded to longitudinal steel angle members forming upper and
lower tracks. An intermediate track comprised of thick plastic
angles resting on steel angles and are bolted through holes in the
upper and vertical leg of the steel angle. Separate upper pieces
support lateral tire guides.
[0004] The use of vertical angles as the main frame support
establishes that the intermediate and lower tracks to be of equal
width. Since the intermediate track is defined by the combination
of a single steel angle and a plastic angle, the lower track, which
is constructed of a steel angle alone, is somewhat wider. This
allows the chain to wander, increasing chain wear by the lack of
confinement of the chain rollers.
[0005] This construction also involves extra labor in locating and
drilling holes for the plastic angles, as well as in separately
constructing and attaching the upper tire guide support pieces. The
longitudinal members also vary in length, adding to the complexity
of fabricating the track structures.
[0006] The entrance section of such conveyors includes a chain
tension take up mechanism, including a take up drum around which
the conveyor chain passes the take up drum mounted on slides and
spring urged outwardly to establish proper chain tension. A roller
control mechanism is also located at the entrance section for
causing a selected roller to move up a ramp onto the upper track
where it can engage a vehicle tire. The roller control includes a
pair of ramp members connected to form a pivoted fork, which when
raised by an actuator, diverts the rollers on one end of the next
roller assembly to be guided up to the upper track for engagement
with the next vehicle's tire.
[0007] These mechanisms are mounted to two of the longitudinal
frame pieces extending between vertical angle pieces. If
maintenance is required on either mechanism, this location makes it
difficult to work on, and/or to remove the mechanisms for
service.
[0008] The fork member in the roller control mechanism has rubber
cushions installed on impacting portions to quiet the operation,
but these cushions typically become dislodged such that noisy
operation results.
[0009] The take up drum is mounted on bearings which are located
within the frame and are difficult to reach for routine maintenance
and subjects them to water and dirt dripping down from the car wash
sprays and dirt curved down with the spray water.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a simpler, track construction for a car wash conveyor which
can also easily provide properly spaced track sections for the
lower track.
[0011] It is another object to provide a tension take-up and roller
control fork mechanisms for a car wash conveyor which allows easier
access for maintenance, and improves the performance of those
mechanisms in service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] These and the other objects of the present invention which
will become apparent upon reading of the present specification and
claims are achieved by constructing the track structure with the
use of support frames cut out from plate stock to have webs for
supporting the top, intermediate, and lower tracks.
[0013] The support frames allow the opening for the intermediate
track to be wider to compensate for the thickness of the plastic
angles and the lower track opening narrower to provide close
guidance of the conveyor chain and rollers.
[0014] The support frames have integral tire guide roller supports
to eliminate the need for separate pieces.
[0015] The upper track comprises inverted angles which are spaced
from an upper leg of an intermediate track support angle to form a
lengthwise slot on each side of the track structure.
[0016] The plastic track angles are fastened by bolts passed
through the slot and holes in the plastic tracks to eliminate the
need for drilling holes in the metal pieces aligned with the holes
in the plastic track angles.
[0017] The roller control and chain take up mechanisms are mounted
at the entrance of the conveyor as a self contained a unit
comprised of two pairs of parallel rods connected at each end to a
respective end plate. The entrance track section is configured to
allow easy removal of this unit without disturbing the track
structure.
[0018] The take up drum support shaft is rotatably mounted on a
pair of side support plates each slidable on journals received on
respective one of the pairs of the rods. Bearings for the drum
support shaft are installed on the outside of the side support
plates to enable ready access and to minimize exposure to the water
spray and drippage.
[0019] The fork of the roller control mechanism is carried on a
pair of support side plates which are adjustably mounted on the
four rods of the unit assembly. Two sets of cushioning stops are
securely mounted to side and end plates located to engage fork
members to quiet the operation thereof.
[0020] The entire assembly is readily detachable to be removed from
the entrance track section as a complete unit for convenient
servicing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an entrance conveyor section
of an auto wash conveyor incorporating the improvements of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an intermediate conveyor
section of an auto wash conveyor according to the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a reverse side prespective view of an exit
conveyor section for an auto wash conveyor.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an end view of an auto wash track structure
incorporated in each of the conveyor sections shown in FIGS.
1-3.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an end view of the auto wash track structure shown
in FIG. 3 with the chain and pusher rollers installed.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of an
intermediate track structure showing the chain and pusher rollers
installed thereon.
[0027] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a take up and
roller control mechanism unit installed in the conveyor entrance
section.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the conveyor entrance
section from above, with the chain take up and roller control unit
removed.
[0029] FIG. 9 is an enlarged frontal perspective view of the
conveyor entrance section as shown in FIG. 8 with the unit
removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] In the following detailed description, certain specific
terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a
particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements
of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not
intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as
the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within
the scope of the appended claims.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, an entrance section 10 for an auto wash
conveyor is shown, which includes a three tier frame structure 12.
A chain take up mechanism 14 and roller control mechanism 16 are
mounted as a unit 15 at the entrance end of the entrance conveyor
section 10 as will be described below in additional detail.
[0032] An upper track 18 is defined by two separate angles 20
separated to form a slot 22 through which an elevated roller
assembly 80 extends. A car's tires roll along the flat surface
defined by the top of each angle 20, pushed along by an elevated
roller assembly having one roller set moving along on the top of
the angles 20 as to engage the car's tire to push the same down
track by the pull of the roller chain.
[0033] U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,936 describes one type of suitable
roller assembly, while pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/260/321
filed Mar. 1, 1999 describes another roller assembly design. Other
roller assembly designs are commercially available and well
known.
[0034] A lower track 24 provides a return track for the roller
assemblies 80, and an intermediate track 26 receives roller
assemblies 80 which are being pulled in a forward direction but
have not been activated by causing one end to be diverted up to the
top track by selective operation of the roller control mechanism 16
in the well known manner.
[0035] The nature of the track structure is best understood by
reference to FIGS. 2-4. An intermediate conveyor section 28 (FIG.
2) is used between the entrance conveyor section 10 and an exit
conveyor section 30 (FIG. 3) each having the upper track 18, lower
track section 24, and intermediate track 26.
[0036] A series of flat steel support plates 32 are cut out by such
processes as plasma cutting, water jet cutting, etc. into the
modified "H" contour shown, comprised of a pair of legs 34
connected at the bottom by a lower web 36 and an intermediate web
38.
[0037] The upper track 18 includes the pair of steel angles 20,
each having one leg lying horizontally and spaced apart to define
the slot 26. The angles 20 extend between two support plates 32
located at a respective end of a track segment of the entrance
conveyor section 10, the entire length of the intermediate conveyor
section 28, and a mid point location of the exit conveyor section
30. Modified flat plate supports 32A and 32B are used in the
entrance section 10 on either end of the chain take-up mechanism 14
and roller control mechanism 16.
[0038] Each support plate has a series of holes 42 for bolting
adjacent conveyor sections together, and in the case of supports
32A, 32B to mount the unit 15.
[0039] The entrance section 10 has a transition segment 44
supported by a flat plate support 32A and 32C, which transition
segment has a downwardly sloping lower track 24A to properly
position the roller assemblies (not shown) to be able to pass
around the chain take up mechanism 14.
[0040] The intermediate conveyor section 28 has an additional plate
support 32 at a point intermediate the ends of the section 28
(which does not require the holes 42).
[0041] The exit conveyor section 30 (FIG. 3) has a straight segment
46 and a transition segment 48 to a chain drive mounting structure
50, comprised of a welded angle/plate construction for housing a
conventional chain sprocket drive and exit trap door (neither
shown).
[0042] The flat plate supports 32 are welded to lengthwise
extending downturned angles 20 defining upper track 18, upturned
angles 52 supporting UHMW plastic angles 54 forming the
intermediate track 26 (FIG. 4), and upturned angles 56 forming
lower track 24.
[0043] The downturned legs 58 of angles 20 and upturned legs 60 of
the angles 52 are spaced to form a longitudinal slot 52 which is
able to receive screw and nut attachments 65 for the UHMW angles 54
without the need for locating and drilling holes in the steel
structure.
[0044] The plate supports 32 and 32B each have upwardly projecting
portions 64 (FIG. 4) serving as stanchions for steel rods 66 on
which are received a series of UHMW plastic rollers 68 serving as
tire guides extending alongside the conveyor sections.
[0045] A series of extra intermediate stanchions 74 are welded to
the downturned leg 58 of the upper track angles 20 to provide
additional support.
[0046] An upright angle 710 is welded atop the other side of the
supports 32, to which a steel bar 72 is welded, serving as an
inside tire guide.
[0047] The use of the plate supports 32, 32A, 32B, 32C for the
tracks 18, 24, 26 has a particular advantage in that the width of
the upper cut out 76 can be made greater than the width B of the
lower cut out 78 (FIG. 4), since straight angle members are not
used and any contour can be cut in fabricating the supports 32,
32A, 32B, 32C. Thus, the inside spacing C between the angles 52 may
be set to be slightly wider than the width B of the lower cut out
78 to set the track width A the same, and to closely confine the
chain 82 and roller assemblies 80 (FIGS. 5, 6, 8) along both the
intermediate track 26 and lower track 24, which in turn reduces
chain wear.
[0048] Also, as seen in FIG. 5, a toe plate 84 is welded to the
inside of the projections 64 stanchions 74 to block a person's toes
from entering the space above the track 18, needed for safety
considerations.
[0049] FIG. 7 shows the separate unit 15 removed from the conveyor
track structure as a self contained unit.
[0050] Four parallel stainless steel rods 86 are arranged in a
rectangular pattern symmetrical with respect to the axis of the
chain 82, attached at either end to H-shaped end plates 88 by
couplings 90 having cross bolts (not shown) to secure the shaft
ends therein.
[0051] The chain take up mechanism 14 includes a take up driver 94
rotatably mounted by a shaft 96 supported on bearings 98 located on
the outer side of a respective one of a pair of mounting plates
100.
[0052] The mounting plates 100 are each slidable on the shafts 86
by means of pairs of slider journals 102 on each shaft 86 (using
UHMW bearing sleeve 104).
[0053] A tension spring 106 is compressed between spring seat 108,
fixed to a plate 110 extending between the side plates 100 to move
therewith, and spring seat 112 fixed to end plate 88.
[0054] The roller control mechanism 16 selectively raises the
unattached end of a roller assembly 80 to the upper track 18 to
engage the tire of a car to be driven in the well known manner.
[0055] The roller control mechanism 16 includes a pair of fork
members 114 mounted on a cross shaft 116 pivotally supported with
bearings 117 on side plates 118. Side plates 118 are each
adjustable on the rods 86 by pairs of collars 120 secured in an
adjusted position by set screws installed in the collars 120.
[0056] A direct drive actuator 122, as described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,864,936, is directly connected to shaft 116 with a coupling 122
so that power pivoting of the shaft can be executed to move the
fork members 114 to the up position shown, which causes the set of
free end rollers to be routed up through the trap door 124 (FIG. 1)
onto the upper track section 18.
[0057] The fork members 114 have lightening openings 126 to reduce
their mass.
[0058] Cushioning stops 128 and 130 are located to quiet the impact
of the fork members 114 moving to the up and down positions.
[0059] A handle (not shown) can be placed over exposed lever 132
for manual operation.
[0060] The entire unit 15 can be installed or removed from the
conveyor for easier maintenance.
[0061] FIGS. 8 and 9 show that the entrance section 10 is specially
configured to allow removal of the unit 15 without disturbing the
track structure. The intermediate track 26, and lower track 24 both
terminate at the entrance end to create a cavity 134 bounded by
support plates 32A, 32B. The upper track 18 extends over the cavity
134 and is supported by plate 32B. An opening 136 is provided
overlain by the trap door 124 (FIG. 1). The chain 82 solely
supports the roller assemblies 80 in this region.
[0062] A short segment 26A is supported of support plates 32A, 32C,
is configured to slope downwardly and with the angles 52, 54
diverging from each other as shown in FIG. 9. This geometry insures
recapture of the roller assemblies 80 as they move onto the
intermediate track 26A after being supported solely by the chain 82
in passing over the unit 15. Thus, the slight sag of the chain 82
in that region can be accommodated.
[0063] The absence of the intermediate track section 26 and lower
track 24 in that region allows a completely separate packaging of
the chain take up and roller control in the unit 15, to enable its
removal together as a separate assembly.
[0064] Accordingly, a lower cost fabrication cost can be achieved
with the above described features by a reduction in labor. At the
same time, improved performance in several respects also results as
described.
* * * * *