Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROTARY BRUSH CONSTRUCTION FOR WASHING SYSTEMS,
PARTICULARLY FOR WASHING VEHICLES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotary brush
construction for washing systems, particularly for
washing vehicles.
As is known, automatic motor-vehicle washing
systems conventionally comprise washing brush
W assemblies.
Prior washing brush assemblies generally
comprise a support tube coupled to a rotary element.
On an outer surface of the support tube are
applied a plurality of flexible cleaning elements
adjoining one another and coupled, at a respective end
portion thereof, to said support tube, perpendicularly
thereto.
The automatic cleaning and washing, for example
of a motor-vehicle body, are carried out by rotatively
driving the above disclosed washing brush assemblies,
to cause the flexible elements thereof, held at a
preset configuration by the centrifugal force generated
by the rotary brush assemblies, to impact the vehicle
body, through washing water and/or suitable washing
water solutions or emulsions.
The above cleaning elements are made in
different configurations, generally of polyethylene, in
the form of threads or strips, fringes or straps.
Washing brushes made of brush straps usually
comprise a plurality of strips or bands formed by
partially cutting through the washing brush straps.
Said strips are arranged perpendicularly to the
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axis of the shaft thereon the washing brush straps are
restrained.
The above disclosed straps are usually made of
a foamed material and the clamping elements for
clamping said straps to their support may comprise
rivets, bars and so on.
A main problem of the above construction is
that of properly clamping the straps to their support,
to cause said straps to be neither excessively spaced
away from one another nor excessively near one another.
A further problem is that of providing the
clamping system with deforming characteristics, to
prevent the strap base from being prematurely broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the aim of the present invention
is to provide such a washing system rotary washing
brush construction overcoming the above mentioned prior
art drawbacks.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a
main object of the invention is to provide such a
washing brush construction providing an optimum
distribution of the washing brush straps through the
support tube surface.
Yet another object of the present invention is
to provide such a washing brush construction which may
be easily assembled.
Yet another object of the present invention is
to provide such a washing brush construction which
washing straps may be reliably clamped thereby
preventing them from deteriorating or breaking, thereby
providing a long duration washing brush strap assembly.
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Yet another object of the present invention is
to provide such a washing brush construction which,
owing to its specifically designed structural features
is very reliable and safe in operation.
According to one aspect of the present
invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well
as yet other objects, which will become more apparent
hereinafter, are achieved by a washing system rotary
washing brush construction, characterized in that said
W rotary washing brush construction comprises a rotary
washing brush construction platform made of an elastic
and/or flexible material, thereby said platform may be
wound about a support tube.
Said platform comprises a plurality of
recesses, each formed by a barrel projection, having an
inner base with at least two holes formed therethrough,
an inlet and an outlet hole, for allowing a thread to
pass therethrough.
In said seat, said thread encompasses and binds
a folded flap of a strap element, thereby encompassing
or threading it as a stitching arrangement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the
following disclosure of a preferred, though not
exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is
illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not
limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings,
where:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a
portion of the rotary washing brush construction
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according to the present invention, in which a strap is
shown in a position thereof partially withdrawn from
its recess or seat;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but
showing the construction during the assembling
operation thereof;
Figure 3 is a partially cross-sectioned
perspective view of a recess or seat and a portion of
the respective strap element;
Figure 4 is a longitudinally cross-sectioned
side elevation view of a portion of the rotary washing
brush construction according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an embodiment of
the elastic or resilient platform including a plurality
of parallel longitudinal recesses or seats;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of an embodiment of
the elastic or resilient platform including diagonal
recesses or seats;
Figure 7 is yet another top plan view of
another embodiment of the elastic or resilient
platform, including a plurality of parallel cross
recesses or seats;
Figure 8 is yet another top plan view of a
further embodiment of the resilient or elastic
platform, including a plurality of combined
longitudinal and cross recesses or seats;
Figure 9 is a further perspective partially
see-through view showing a binding system for binding a
strap element the thread of which in its recess or seat
encompasses and binds a folded flap of the strap
element, thereby encompassing it in two half elongated
slots arrangement;
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Figure 10 is a further perspective partially
see-through view showing another binding system for
binding a strap element having a band strap thread
which, in its recess, engages a folded flap of the
5 strap element, with a stitching arrangement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the number references of the
above mentioned figures, the washing system rotary
washing brush construction, particularly for washing
vehicles, according to the present invention, which has
been generally indicated by the reference number 1,
comprises a platform 2, made of an elastic or resilient
and/or flexible material, which may be wound about a
support tube, not shown in the figures.
Said platform 2 comprises a plurality of
recesses or seats 3, each including a barrel projection
having an inner base or bottom 5 therethrough two holes
4 are formed, that is a thread 6 inlet hole and a
thread outlet hole.
In said recesses 3, said thread 6 encompasses
and binds a folded flap portion 7 of a strap element 8.
An advantageous binding system is shown in a
detailed manner in Figure 9, showing that the thread 6
encompasses the folded flap portion 7 at suitable half
elongated slots 9, formed on the sides of the flap
portion 7.
Said two elongated slots provide a perfectly
sealed coupling while preventing one of the two flap
portions from slipping outward, after having located it
in its recess.
A further advantageous binding system is shown
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in a detailed manner in Figure 10, showing that the
thread 6 enters the flap portion 7 and exits it through
the holes 10, as a stitching arrangement.
In each said recess 3, said thread 6 enters and
exits the inlet and outlet holes thereby restraining
the strap element bottom without any tension and
allowing, during the assembling operation, the operator
to tension or stretch said thread without any risk of
cutting or damaging the folded flap portion of the
strap element.
In this connection it should be pointed out
that the recesses or seats 3 are so shaped as to
prevent any damages under a cutting stress, like on the
contrary, it occurs in prior systems for clamping the
strap element bottoms.
It has been found that the invention fully
achieves the intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention has provided a rotary
washing brush construction which may be easily
assembled and is very reliable in operation and has a
long operating duration.
In fact, the flexible platform structure, with
barrel recesses therein, allows to arrange the washing
strap elements in several manners, according to
requirements.
Figures 5-8 show only few of different possible
arrangements for the strap element recesses.
In practicing the invention, the used
materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes
can be any, depending on requirements.
