GB2217478A - Controlling car washing stations - Google Patents

Abstract

A programmable automaton is provided at each of plurality of automatic car wash stations and is coupled to provide data relating to the operation of its station to a common central processing unit. The processing unit is arranged to process the data received and to monitor and control the washing operations. By this means, faults are detected early and simple faults, for example, such as excess additives in the water, or incorrect temperatures, can be rectified. The method and apparatus also enable early warning of other faults and enable operations presently performed manually to be dispensed with or automated.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS OF MANAGING AND CONTROLLING A PLURALITY OF WASHING STATIONS The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations.

More particularly, the invention concerns a method of automating the operation of washing stations for motor vehicles to enable centralized management of data, and an effective, permanent and remote control.

In this specification we will refer to self service automatic, car wash stations by the simplified term "car wash station". The known stations of this type are generally operated and maintained by operators on site. If necessary, for example, when there are failures, teams of specialized technicians will be sent to that site. In this event, the technicians have to overhaul the station before any analysis, such an overhaul resulting in a diagnosis. Because it is impossible to know in advance the nature of any failure and how serious it is, there can be long delays before a complete repair is possible, particularly if the failure is on a distant site. It is also difficult to foresee which parts might need to be changed or repaired or an adequate method of repair.

Consequently, there is a lack of earnings resulting from the length of the delays evoked, and this is aggravated by the increase in travel expenses.

Furthermore, it is not possible to benefit from precise information about the daily working of installations spread over an area which are dependent upon a main centre, particularly the maintenance operations. Information as to maintenance operations could be very useful for the main centre to know.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations comprising providing in each station a programmable automaton, and coupling each said automaton to a common, central processing unit to form a star connected network, wherein said processing unit is arranged to receive from each automaton information as to the functioning of its respective washing station.

The invention also extends to apparatus for managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations comprising a programmable automaton at each station, said automaton being arranged to monitor the washing operations as its station, and a common central processing unit arranged to receive from each automaton information as to the washing operations, wherein said automatons and said central processing unit are coupled to form a star connected network.

A method of the invention removes these dis-advantages by constantly enabling the making of diagnoses after processing data received from the stations in communication with the main centre.

Moreover, the method allows immediate access to a large amount of data relating to the working#and the management of these stations.

It is possible to collect statistical information about all of the installations in communication with the central processing unit, thus enabling the management to be orientated towards future requirements and also enabling a centralized accountancy. If there is a policy of extension, one could also be aware of this possibility and of the interest to build new installations.

One of the major advantages of the invention is that it is also possible to take action from the central processing unit, after analysis of the transmitted signals, to send back data to modify selected digital parameters which could be taken into account by the automaton. In some cases, a precise definition of a failure is given by the software which can then enable appropriate steps to be taken.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the following examples.

Basically, automatons are installed in each station to control the wash devices, doing away with several operations performed by hand up to the present time. These automatons are specifically configured to be used in car wash stations from standard components.

A telephonic link allows communication with one or several standard personal microcomputers, by way of modems, located in a main centre to process the data.

These microcomputers form the central processing unit.

A single automaton, adaptable and improvable by adding standard modular elements, is installed in each car wash station and processes in parallel the operations in each track, occupied by a vehicle, sending if necessary to the main centre full data relating to the current operations.

In the first example, the transfer of data between the main control centre and the stations is unilateral: automatons on sitte are not arranged to operate with an exchange of signals. The transmitted parameters give a general idea of the manner in which the station in communication with the main centre is functioning.

These parameters are for example: - The washing duration (if it is abnormal, it can be interpreted as signalling an anomaly).

- The takings of each station, furnished at regular intervals.

- The current consumption of water, electricity and gas.

- Information about current failures which are easy to define.

This latter information is made track by track and, for some information, after each operation if necessary.

More precisely, in this first example, it is possible to receive three or four different diagnoses about simple failures. Thus, the more usual problems could be revealed almost instantaneously, before any intervention on site, and this saves time.

In a second configuration, the process is much improved. Each station is automatized to the extreme, individual electrical devices being removed. In addition to data as in the previous example, this system offers many other possibilities which can be for example processed in groups by specialized modular sectors of the machine.

In this case, the amount of data provided by each automaton can be, for example, of the order of one hundred and fifty units. The capacity of the software of the microcomputer enables it, after analysis, to define precisely the failures, and even to effect a more precise interrogation in order to complete the analysis. The next step is to respond directly to the analysized faults, where possible, by sending or modifying appropriate signals. For example, these signals may relate to: - Changing times or delays.

- Modifying the quality of the water employed for washing, by adding or removing one or several components (for example, lustre agents), or by altering the dosage.

- Immediate control of temperature.

All of these parameters are of course easy to digitize and consequently to execute by way of an automaton.

The specific software contained in the automatons and in the central microcomputer enables optimum management of the interconnected network. In this type of configuration, the network for the circulation of information is a star connected network; such a configuration increasing the speed and efficiency of working and enabling a personalized dialogue between the main control centre and each of the stations interconnected therewith.

This type of network provides a further advantage to the#managers working at the stations on site; the aftersales service problems will no longer appear on the same terms as previously. In this configuration, it becomes part of the reality of the construction to take remote but effective action.

Of course, the method of the invention is described above solely by way of illustrative examples, which are not limitative. Variations and modifications to the described method may be made, and the invention may be realised in many forms.

Claims (10)

1. A method of managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations comprising providing in each station a programmable automaton, and coupling each said automaton to a common, central processing unit to form a star connected network, wherein said processing unit is arranged to receive from each automaton information as to the functioning of its respective washing station.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said processing unit is arranged to receive information as to each individual washing operation at each station.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each said automaton is arranged to send to said central processing unit information as to the duration of each wash operation, the takings at the station over a predetermined interval, and the consumption of water, electricity and gas.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said processing unit is arranged to modify the functioning of the washing stations by signalling appropriate automatons..

5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said central processing unit is arranged to control- each automaton to alter the water quality by determining the dosage of any additives, to determine the temperature, and to determine the duration of each respective wash operation.

6. Apparatus for managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations comprising a programmable automaton at each station, said -automaton being arranged to monitor the washing operations as its station, and a common central processing unit arranged to receive from each automaton information as to the washing operations, wherein said automatons and said central processing units are coupled to form a star connected network.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein each automaton is coupled to said central processing unit by way of a telephone link and an appropriate-modem.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein each automaton is arranged to control the washing operations at its station.

9. A method of managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations substantially as hereinbefore described.

10. Apparatus for managing and controlling a plurality of washing stations substantially as hereinbefore described.