Plastic bristles for the washing brushes of automatic washing equipment

Abstract

The invention is directed towards plastic bristles for the washing brushes of automatic car washes which operate with moving brushes, where the bristles are hollow-profile bristles. The hollow-profile bristles preferably exhibit a diameter of from 0.5 to 5 mm and a round or oval cross section.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to plastic bristles to the washing brushes of automatic car washes which operate with moving brushes.

[0002] Plastic bristles for the washing brushes of automatic washing equipment which operates with moving, generally rotating brushes usually have a cross-shaped profile. Such bristles are described, for example, in the German journal “Beschädigung von Autolack beim Waschen mit synthetischen Borsten” [Damage to car paint during washing with synthetic bristles] (reprint from ATZ Autmobiltechnisch Zeitschrift, Vol. 71, No. 10,/1969). It Is stated that this cross-shaped profile results in the paint surface of a vehicle being stressed less during washing in automatic car washes.

[0003] However, it has been found that, in particular in poorly maintained car washes, dust and dirt particles can collect in the profile grooves, resulting in damage to the paint.

[0004] A significant contribution towards better roll-shaped washing brushes was given by DE-B 39 36 922, which relates to particular cross sections in a particular arrangement with respect to the direction of movement of the washing brushes.

[0005] DE-A 197 41 899.6 discloses plastic bristles for the washing brushes of automatic car washes in which the LDPE usually used has been replaced by the polyester PBT, which may also contain an addition of from 1 to 25% of polyurethane. This is said to prevent the gray haze (polymer abrasion) formed by, LDPE during washing.

[0006] In spite of these improvements, the paint of the vehicles being washed is still easily scratched in car washes.

[0007] The invention thus has the object of solving the abovementioned problem. In particular, the aim is to reduce the risk of scratching of the car paint of the vehicles being washed during washing in car washes.

[0008] This object is achieved by plastic bristles for the washing, brushes of automatic care washes which operate with moving brushes through the use of bristles which are hollow-profile bristles.

[0009] The plastic bristles according to the invention are thus hollow-profile bristles. They preferably have a round or oval cross section. The diameter of these bristles, in the case of an oval cross section this is the extension in the direction of the longest axis, is preferably from 0.5 to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

[0010] Bristles of this type exhibit the following advantages:

[0011] Firstly, these bristles have for the same diameter less weight than the solid-profile bristles usually used (from 1 to 2.0 mm). This means that the impact energy of the bristles on the paint during washing in the car wash is less. Scratches are less probable.

[0012] Secondly, these profile bristles according to the invention have a similar rigidity compared with solid-profile bristles. Such a rigidity is important because most car washes are controlled via the pressure applied by the brushes. If the modulus of elasticity of the plastic bristles, i.e. the rigidity, is thus too low, the control of the equipment no longer operates correctly. The advantage of the hollow-profile bristles according to the invention is thus the significantly lower weight compared with the solid profile at the same time as similar rigidity of the profile bristles.

[0013] Furthermore, hollow-profile bristles deform elastically on impact on the bodywork, in contrast to solid-profile bristles. In combination with the lower weight, this results in less scratching of the car paint.

[0014] The plastic bristles according to the invention can be made of any desired materials usually used, such as LDPE, or polyester, in particular PBT, with an addition of from 1 to 25 by weight of polyurethane.

[0015] Preferred materials for the plastic bristles according to the invention are polyamides or polyesters, more preferably polyamides, which are selected from the group consisting of PA-6 , PA-66, PA-610 and PA-162. Materials of this type can of course also be used in combination with one another. Further preferred materials are polyesters, in particular PBT, preferably with the above-mentioned addition of polyurethane.

[0016] The plastic bristles according to the invention are preferably employed in the brushes in such a way that the alignment of the bristle equipment or of the bristle set is selected transversely to a direction of rotation of the brushes.

[0017] The hollow-profile bristles according to the invention can have all shapes. However, preference is given to shapes as shown in the attached FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, where, for reasons of simplicity, merely the outer peripheral line of the cross section is shown.

[0018] In the figures:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows rectangular cross sections of the bristles;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a symmetrical lenticular cross section. This is preferably an oval or symmetrical cross section. According, to FIG. 3, elliptical cross sections are possible, i.e. cross sections which are not symmetrical, but in which a small and a large axis are clearly formed.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a rectangular cross section with rounded corners;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a loaf-shaped cross section which has a flat base, but a curved upper surface.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a rhombic cross section in which the longitudinal extension is again transverse to the vector of the peripheral speed R′, and

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a curved cross section in which the underside of the cross section has a flat shape. However, a cross section which is curved symmetrically on both sides is also possible.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows a round cross section.

Claims

1. Plastic bristles for the washing brushes of automatic car washes which operate with moving brushes, wherein the bristles are hollow-profile bristles.

2. The plastic bristles as claimed in

claim 1, wherein the hollow-profile bristles have a round or oval cross section.

3. The plastic bristles as claimed in

claim 1 or

2, wherein the hollow-profile bristles have in cross section a diameter in their longest direction of from 0.5 to 5 mm.

4. The plastic bristles as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the hollow-profile bristles is selected from the group consisting of LDPE, polypropylene, polyamides, preferably PA-6, PA-66, PA-610 or PA-612, polyesters, preferably PBT.

5. The plastic bristles as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the alignment of the bristle equipment or the bristle set is selected transversely to a direction of rotation of the brushes.

6. The plastic bristles as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles protrude at their end from a bristle strip or the bristles are gathered in the center into a striplike construction.