Vehicle side panel contour mapping device for car wash

摘要

The car wash portal is fitted with several sensors (13,14) which map the side contour of the vehicle when the portal is moved along the vehicle. A safe measuring spacing (22) prevents physical contact with the side panel of the vehicle e.g. the wing mirrors. The contour is stored in a memory (15) and is used to control a closer spacing for the working pass of the portal. The cleaning/drying fittings on the portal can be operating during the measuring pass e.g. contour mapping can proceed when the portal is stopped with the wheel scrub brushes (17) held onto the wheels. The contour is checked by light beams between the top and bottom of the portal and angled w.r.t. the vertical. The contour mapping is provided for both sides of the portal and also identifies if the vehicle is not aligned parallel to the portal travel.