DE29809426U1 - Entry aid - Google Patents

Description

Applicant:

California Kleindienst Holding GmbH
Argonstrasse 7
D-86153 Augsburg

Representative:

Patent attorneys
Dipl.-Ing. H.-D. Ernicke Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Ernicke Schwibbogenplatz 2b D-8 6153 Augsburg

Date:

File:

25.05.1998
117-923 he

OJ DE-G-298 09 426.6

Note:California Kleindienst Holding GmbH

File: 117-923 er/ge 25.08.1999 DESCRIPTION

Entry aid

The invention relates to a drive-in aid for
&Iacgr;&ogr; Vehicle drivers in car washes, polishing plants or
the like with the features in the generic term of
main claim.

Such a drive-in aid for gantry car washes is known from practice. It consists of a light barrier
and a traffic light system that controls the entry depth of the
vehicle under the washing portal and at
When the desired position is reached it turns green.
This entry aid cannot prevent the vehicle from entering the car wash at an angle. To prevent this, mechanical guidance devices such as rails,
Floating floors or similar are known. However, these devices have the disadvantage that they do not provide active help, but are only intended to prevent driving over. In addition,
These guardrails create tripping hazards for the

They are also not exposed to all the
Vehicle dimensions equally.

DE-A-40 02 480 discloses a sighting device for
precise vehicle steering along optical guideline,

At the same time, the distance to it is measured. Lane guide lines should be arranged at the edge of the road, from which light rays emanate and
Windshield and the driver's eye.
Marking points on the windshield should then be

The lateral distance of the vehicle from the lane guide line can be determined.

DE-A-20 12 350 deals with an optical guidance system for a car wash for trucks. The truck is supposed to drive slowly through the car wash under its own power. The speed being driven and any reference speed required are communicated to it by optical signals.

From DE-A-196 39 054, an indication element for the optical representation of a direction is also known, which is intended to serve as an escape direction indicator in airport buildings, hospitals or the like.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved entry aid.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

The entry aid according to the invention offers the driver at least one optically visible guideline, which he can use as a guide when entering the facility like a target beam. He can use the guideline(s) to determine whether he is entering offset to the side or at an angle and correct his direction of travel accordingly. It is advantageous if the guideline is aligned essentially along the direction of entry and centrally to the facility or in the area of the vehicle's steering wheel.

It is particularly advantageous to project the optical guideline(s) from above onto the vehicle and/or onto the floor of the facility. This allows the driver to initially see the guideline(s) on the floor in front of him when entering the facility. In the facility, he sees the guideline mainly on the hood and windshield and can easily see whether he is off-center to the

- 2a -

desired entry direction.

The entry aid has the particular advantage that it is equally suitable for all vehicle dimensions and does not require any adjustments. In addition, mechanical guide devices on the floor of the facility can be dispensed with, so that there are no more tripping hazards. A visual guide line is also psychologically more beneficial because it does not cause frightening jolts when

&iacgr;&ogr; Directional deviations are produced. The optical entry aid also has the advantage that it does not require a great deal of construction work and can also be retrofitted at any time.

In a further embodiment, a bundle of lines or a network of guide lines can be used instead of a single guide line. Optical spatial guidance effects can also be achieved by projecting a funnel-shaped guide image that appears three-dimensional onto the windshield in front of the driver. These light and/or image effects can appear as a virtual entry aid.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is illustrated by way of example and schematically in the drawings. In detail:

Figure 1: a gantry car wash in

cut top view with a drive-in aid and

Figure 2: a front view of the arrangement

of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a treatment system (1) for vehicles (2) with at least one portal (4) and an optical entry aid (6). The treatment system (1) can be designed in any way. In the embodiment shown, it is a portal washing system for cars or other smaller vehicles with one or more portals (4) that can be moved relative to the stationary vehicle (2). Alternatively, it can also be a polishing system. In a further modification, a design as a so-called cycle system with separate washing and drying zones or any other design of the system with one or more portals (4) is possible. Possible options include car washes, washing systems for large commercial vehicles or the like.

In the embodiment shown, the portals (4) are conventionally designed in a U-shape and run on floor-mounted rails (12). Alternatively, the portal or portals (4) can also run on elevated rails or elevated rails in the manner of a crane or the like. The portals (4) are equipped with vehicle handling devices, e.g.

Washing brushes, spraying devices for chemical products, rinsing water, high pressure washing etc. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, for example, a

-A-

Roof drying nozzle shown. The treatment units can be present in any number and arrangement.

The system (1) is located in a washing hall (13) or the like. This has a floor (14) and a ceiling

or a roof (15). There is an entrance (16) at the front. If necessary, there can be an exit (17) opposite. Alternatively, it can also be driven out again through the entrance opening. The direction of entry is marked by the arrow (18).

The optical entry aid (6) enables the driver to correctly enter the facility (1) along the entry direction (18) and to park the vehicle in front of or under the portal (4). The entry aid (6) has a device that creates one or more optically visible guide lines (7) in front of the driver. Using this guide line (7), the driver can determine whether he is entering with a lateral offset too far to the left or too far to the right or even at an angle and countersteer accordingly.

In the embodiment shown, a single guide line (7) is substantially along the entry direction

(18). In addition, it is preferably aligned in the area of the vehicle steering wheel. A good guiding effect is achieved if the guide line (7) extends approximately centrally to the steering column. Alternatively, the guide line (7) can be arranged essentially centrally to the system (1) according to the drawings Figures 1 and 2.

The optical guide line (7) can be generated in different ways. In the preferred embodiment, it is projected from above onto the vehicle (2) and/or onto the system floor (14). It is therefore visible to the vehicle driver in every entry position in the system (1).

In the preferred embodiment, the insertion aid (6) has one or more optical beam generators (8), e.g. lamps, laser devices or the like, which generate a bundled light beam, in particular a laser beam or the like. Figures 1 and 2 show different embodiments as variants in the same drawing.

The optical guide line (7) preferably extends from the entrance (16) to the correct parking position under the portal (4). Alternatively, it can also extend continuously to the end of the hall or to the outlet (17). The guide line (7) can be created as a continuous line or as a point-by-point line. The line or its points can also have any geometric shapes, symbols or the like.

In the simplest embodiment, one or more beam generators (8) are arranged on the hall ceiling (15) and/or on the upper cross beam (5) of the portal (4), which direct a light beam (9) vertically or diagonally downwards. The beam generators (8) can be arranged so that they can move, so that the light beam (9) moves back and forth along the desired guide line (7). If the beam moves quickly enough, the points of impact appear to the patient eye as a line (7). It is also possible for several beam generators (8) to be arranged one behind the other, preferably in the middle and above the desired guide line (7), and for the points of impact of their light beams (9) to mark the guide line (7) point by point or in line.

Figure 1 also shows a further variant, which has, for example, a laterally arranged and rotating beam generator (8), whose light rays (9) are directed downwards to the

Generation of the guideline (7). The beam generator can be, for example, a rotating laser head with a light output that is compatible with health.

In a further modification, the beam generators (8) can also be arranged at any other location, e.g. near the floor or in the hall wall, with the light beams (9) being deflected by suitable mirrors (10) or the like. Likewise, one or more beam generators

The light beam (8) can also be arranged at the entrance (16) and emit light beams (9) in the direction of entry (18). An arrangement is also possible at the end of the hall and the exit (17), whereby the beam projection is directed from the front towards the vehicle (2) without glare.

Due to the preferred projection of the light rays (9) or the guide line (7) they generate from above onto the vehicle (2), the driver can see the guide line (7) on the hood and also on the windshield (3). Since most vehicles are designed to be symmetrical, the symmetry can also tell whether the guide line (7) is outside the center of the vehicle or at an angle to the vehicle's longitudinal lines and can correct the steering angle accordingly.

The optical guide line (7) can also be used to determine and signal the retraction depth if necessary. Its length can be limited accordingly for this purpose. When the guide line (7) is no longer visible at the front end of the bonnet, the retraction position has been reached.

In further modifications of the embodiments shown, the guide line (7) can also be formed, for example, stationary in the system floor (14) by a light strip. In a further modification, instead of one, several optical guide lines (7) can be present, which e.g. are arranged in parallel

■ * « I

run next to each other. A further modification is also possible in that several point-shaped light sources are present, which also produce only one point of light on the front part of the vehicle (2) or on the floor of the system (14), whereby these points optically move with the movement of the vehicle compared to the stationary light sources.

In a further variation, several guidelines in the form of complex images can be displayed in front of the driver, e.g.

onto the windshield. These images can provide three-dimensional optical effects and, for example, provide the driver with a kind of entrance funnel with a spatial effect. Such multidimensional and virtual images can be created, for example, with one or more corresponding laser devices. Any other suitable projection devices can also be used.

The entry aid (6) can be combined with a position monitoring system, which consists of light barriers, distance sensors or the like, for example, and determines the vehicle position during entry and at the end. Further signals can then be transmitted to the driver via the guide line (7), for example by the beam generators (8) pulsating and the light beams (9) or the guide line (7) formed by them flashing or otherwise showing clear differences in brightness. Such optical effects can, for example, signal a dangerous situation to the driver if he does not react correctly to the guide line (7) alone and makes steering errors when entering. When projecting several guide lines or three-dimensional images with entry funnels or the like, the projected guide lines or images can also be changed depending on the vehicle position and can be optically

Changes can cause the driver to change his steering angle. The spatial and optical entrance funnel or entrance tunnel can then appear to be slanted for the driver and cause him to make a corrective steering movement.

The entry aid (6) or the beam generators (8) can be switched on and off in a suitable controlled manner. They are automatically switched on when a car (2) enters by an entry sensor, e.g. a light barrier, an induction loop, a proximity switch or the like, and are automatically switched off again after a predetermined time or when a correspondingly controlled vehicle end position is reached.

• ... t · it

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Washing system, polishing system 2 vehicle 3 Windshield 4 portal 5 Cross yoke &bgr; Entry aid 7 optical guideline 8th Beam generator 9 light beam 10 Deflection device, mirror 11 Guide rail 12 Running rail 13 Car wash 14 Floor 15 roof, ceiling 16 entrance 17 exit 18 Entry direction

Claims (9)

1. Entry aid for vehicle drivers in car washes, polishing systems or the like with at least one portal, characterized in that the entry aid ( 6 ) has a device for generating at least one optically visible guide line ( 7 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide line ( 7 ) is aligned substantially along the entry direction ( 18 ). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide line ( 7 ) is arranged substantially in the region of the vehicle steering device or centrally to the system ( 1 ). 4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the entry aid ( 6 ) projects the guide line(s) ( 7 ) from above onto the vehicle ( 2 ) and/or onto the ground ( 14 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the entry aid ( 6 ) projects the guide line(s) ( 7 ) as a two- or three-dimensional image onto the windshield ( 3 ) in front of the vehicle driver. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insertion aid ( 6 ) has at least one optical beam generator ( 8 ). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the beam generator ( 8 ) has one or more deflection devices ( 10 ) for the light beam ( 9 ). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the jet generator ( 8 ) is arranged on a portal ( 4 ) and/or on the ceiling ( 15 ) of the system ( 1 ). 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the beam generator(s) ( 8 ) is/are designed as laser device(s).