GENERAL
The SUMMIT
from American Cleaning Technologies is a completely automatic
3-brush gantry vehicle washer. It is the most economical
choice to wash transit buses, school buses, vans,
tractor-trailers, trucks, pick-up trucks and cars. The SUMMIT
uses the three brush gantry roll-over principle for wash
operations. The wash height of the SUMMIT
is 12’-0" or 14’-0".
GANTRY PRINCIPLE
Vehicles to be washed are parked
in the wash bay. The SUMMIT
makes two passes over the vehicle on floor-mounted tracks,
washing during the first pass and rinsing during the second
pass.
AUTOMATIC STARTING
The SUMMIT
has an automatic starting system utilizing gantry-mounted red
and green traffic lights and infrared sensors. When a vehicle
enters the wash bay breaking the infrared beam, the
washer starts automatically after a specified safety delay.
TOP BRUSH CONTROL
To
completely and precisely wash any size vehicle, the SUMMIT
uses a programmable logic controller (PLC) with an analog to
digital card. This enables exact control of gantry travel and
horizontal brush position, and accurate cleaning of the
vehicle's front, top and rear surfaces.
SIDE BRUSHES
The vehicle's sides are washed
with large vertical rotating brushes as the gantry travels.
Compressed air flowing through duplex air cylinders extend and
retract the brushes. Flow control regulators maintain
smooth constant brush contact with the vehicle.
UL LISTED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
The main gantry electrical panel
is manufactured from stainless steel. All of the electrical
components are listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The
electrical system utilizes the finest available standard
components, including heavy duty motor starters and overloads,
a cycle totalizer, and proximity type limit switches. Full
protection is provided for all circuitry through safety fuses
and fail-safe wiring design. A programmable logic controller (PLC)
controls all operations.
ALL ELECTRICAL OPERATION
The operation of the SUMMIT
is all electric, with six electrical motors driving heavy-duty
worm gear speed reducers. A chain drive hoists the horizontal
top brush. The three brushes and gantry locomotion are
directly driven. Electrically operated solenoid valves
regulate the water and detergent systems, as well as
compressed air control.
WATER AND DETERGENT SYSTEMS
The water system is constructed
from schedule 80 PVC pipe. Each nozzle comes with an on-line,
easy to remove filter, and is equipped with a check valve that
saves water and chemicals. Two complete integral spray arches
ensure that the brushes are fully flooded with water during
operation, and the vehicle is fully rinsed with clear water.
The detergent is injected directly from a 55 gallon drum. A
venturi type injector mixes the detergent with the water.
OPERATOR CONTROLS
Although the SUMMIT
is automatic in operation, manual controls can be used at any
time. The manual controls are located directly on the door of
the main electrical cabinet. The top brush and gantry
movements are operated by a joystick. The side brushes can be
pulled aside with a push button. The main gantry electrical
panel has a warning light if an overload is tripped.
PROGRAM SELECTORS
Program selectors are located on
the door of the main electrical cabinet . The SUMMIT
has four programs: tractor-trailer, bus/truck, para transit
vehicle, and car/pick-up truck washes. Other operator controls
are the following: selector switches for AUTOMATIC/
MANUAL START and 3-BRUSH/2-BRUSH,
push buttons for POWER,
STOP TRAVEL,
SIDE BRUSHES ASIDE,
START WASH
and START RINSE,
and an EMERGENCY STOP.
BUILT-IN FUNCTIONAL SYSTEMS
AUTOMATIC BACKTRACK
- If the top brush becomes entangled in vehicle accessories
such as an air-conditioning or refrigeration protrusions, the
machine will backtrack until the top brush clears the
accessory, then continues washing over the vehicle.
INTENSIFIED
REAR WASH – This
special feature ensures that the top brush reaches and cleans
the rear door regardless of recessed closures.
LENGTH OF WASH/RINSE
CYCLES –Washer
travel is limited to the length of the vehicle. This saves
time, detergents and water.
HEAVY DUTY FRAME CONSTRUCTION
The steel frame, with no less than 11 gauge steel tube used
throughout, is completely hot dip galvanized after all welding
and machining operations. All machine components, such as
wheels and brackets, are electroplated. The waterproof and
lockable main electrical cabinet is fabricated from stainless
steel and is equipped with waterproof and corrosion resistant
manual operator's controls. All bolts, fasteners and rivets
are plated or made of corrosion-resistant materials.
THREE FULL LENGTH BRUSHES
All three brushes are composed of 12" brush segments.
Each of these segments uses cross-shaped cold processed
polyethylene filaments mounted in a rubber core. The segments
are attached to the 4 ¾" extruded aluminum brush shaft
with self tapping screws. The side brush diameter is 40".
The top brush diameter is 52" for the center segments and
54" for both end segments.
EASY INSTALLATION
The SUMMIT's
compact frame allows installation in narrow wash bays and
outdoors. A standard electrical connection, compressed air and
city water is all that is required. These services are carried
to the SUMMIT
via a wall mounted festoon system.
DIMENSIONS
ACT
SUMMIT
Bus Washer Dimensions
|
14' Model
|
12'
Model
|
| Gantry
Height |
16'-10.5" |
14'-10.5" |
| Gantry
Width |
14'-6" |
14'-6" |
| Gantry
Length |
7'-8.5" |
7'-8.5" |
| Gantry
Drive Through Opening Width |
12'-0" |
12'-0" |
| Width of
One Gantry Side Section |
1'-8" |
1'-8" |
Recommended
Wash Bay Dimensions
|
14'
Model
|
12'
Model
|
| Height |
18'-6" |
16'-6" |
| Width |
18'-0" |
18'-0" |
| Length |
13'-0"
+ longest vehicle |
Maximum
Vehicle Dimensions
|
14' Model
|
12' Model
|
| Height |
14'-0" |
12'-0" |
| Width |
11'-0" |
11'-0" |
UTILITY SERVICES
Electrical
208/460 volt, 3 phase, 60 Hz, 40 amps wall mounted NEMA 4X
fused service disconnect must conform to all applicable codes.
To be furnished by customer.
Water Service
Minimum 1" water line, 30 - 80 psi, 15 - 25 GPM;
consumption approximately 70 - 90 gallons per wash. Wall
mounted ball valve and 1" FPT connection to be furnished
by customer. Backflow preventer may be required by
local codes.
Compressed Air Service
Minimum 1/4" line, 85 - 100 psi, 1 - 2 CFM; consumption
approximately 2 - 3 cubic feet per wash. Wall mounted ball
valve and 1/4" FPT connection to be furnished by
customer.
SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
TO START:
With the SUMMIT
washer in its starting position at the exit end of the wash
bay, the horizontal brush in its full upper position,
electrical service, water service and compressed air on, and
the vehicle to be washed parked in front of the machine
cutting the infrared sensor beam activating the red traffic
light, you are ready to start. When the AUTOMATIC/MANUAL
selector switch is in the
AUTO position the machine
will start automatically after a set delay. When it is in the MANUAL
position, the operator has to press the START
WASH button.
POWER ON:
Press the POWER
button once for the first start of the day, or after the STOP
button is pressed to enable all subsequent operation.
VEHICLE TYPE SELECTION:
The program type is now selected - TRACTOR-TRAILER,
BUS/TRUCK, PARA TRANSIT or
CAR PICK-UP wash.
THREE BRUSH/SIDE
BRUSHES ONLY SELECTION:
Place the brush selector in the 3-BRUSH
position for standard 3-brush operation.
START WASH:
Press the START WASH
button.
WASH CYCLE BEGINS:
After a one second pause, the brushes begin rotating, and the
horizontal or top brush begins its descent. Ten seconds later,
the reclaim water solenoid opens, spraying reclaimed water
mixed with detergent through the gantry spray arch. When the
top brush reaches its lowest position, the machine begins
traveling towards the vehicle. The vertical brushes now extend
toward the center of the gantry making contact with the
vehicle.
The brushes may extend or
rotate differently in each program. For example, during the CAR/PICK-UP
program, the vertical brushes extend farther center than
during the truck or bus program.
VEHICLE WASHING STARTS:
As the top brush contacts the front of the vehicle, the
pressure applied is determined/controlled by an on-board PLC.
From this point, the PLC controls the top brush movements up
or down and the machine movements forward or backward. The PLC
maintains an even, constant brush pressure against the vehicle
as it is washed from front to rear.
AUTOMATIC BACKTRACK:
Should the top brush sensor (Analog to Digital Card) find a
higher pressure reading than its adjusted range, such as when
the brush is washing upwards and contacts the underside of a
reefer unit on the front of a trailer, the machine will
automatically retract the vertical brushes and reverse travel
until the top brush pressure is once again sensed to be in
normal range. The vertical brushes extend again as the machine
continues its forward travel.
INTENSIFIED REAR WASH:
When the top brush reaches the end of the vehicle, it begins
descending, and the side brushes automatically retract. If
there is no load sensed within three seconds of descent, the
machine begins the "rear wash" cycle. The top brush
is brought back to the rear of the vehicle as the gantry
reverses travel, and washes down the rear of the vehicle to
its lowest position completing the wash cycle.
END OF WASH CYCLE:
At this point, the gantry travels forward for approximately
two seconds so that the top brush clears the rear of the
vehicle. The reclaim water solenoid closes and the clear water
solenoid opens as the rinse cycle begins.
RINSE CYCLE BEGINS:
The gantry now reverses travel and rinses the vehicle from
rear to front.
REAR RINSE SCRUB:
The gantry stops when the top brush contacts the rear of the
vehicle. The top brush begins scrubbing the rear of the
vehicle during its ascent.
SIDE RINSE SCRUB:
When the top brush finishes the rear rinse scrub, the gantry
begins its return to the front of the vehicle. The vertical
brushes re-extend to rinse scrub the vehicle's sides.
TOP BRUSH STAYS UP:
The top brush no longer descends automatically. It remains at
its highest point during the rest of the operation.
END OF RINSE CYCLE:
When the gantry reaches its starting point at the front of the
vehicle, the fresh water solenoid closes, the top brush
ascends to its full upper position, the vertical brushes
retract into the machine and all brushes stop rotation. When
the STOP
button is pressed stopping the machine during the rinse cycle,
press the START RINSE
button to re-start.
READY FOR A NEW
VEHICLE:
The fully washed and rinsed vehicle may now exit, and the
machine is ready to wash the next vehicle. This entire process
requires approximately four minutes for a bus.
USING SIDE BRUSHES
ONLY:
When the brush selector is placed in the 2-BRUSH
position, the top brush is maintained in its full upper
position and does not rotate. The vertical brushes rotate and
extend, the reclaim water and detergent are turned on, and the
gantry travels forward over the vehicle. Once the gantry
travels past the vehicle and the infrared sensor re-connects,
the machine automatically stops traveling, retracts the side
brushes and stops brush rotation. After a two second pause,
the side brushes reverse rotation and start again. The gantry
travels forward rinse scrubbing the sides of the vehicle using
clear water.
MANUAL OVERRIDE
CONTROLS:
The manual controls can be used at any point during the wash
or rinse cycles. These allow greater flexibility in washing
oddly-shaped vehicles and those requiring special attention to
particular areas, such as loose exhaust stacks.
PROGRAMS:
THREE-BRUSH WASH:
During the wash cycle, the top brush descends to the front
bumper and follows the contours of the vehicle to the rear,
while side brushes wash the sides. At the rear during the
beginning of the rinse cycle, the top brush reverses rotation
as tit double cleans the rear. The machine moves to the front
of the vehicle, the side brushes rinsing the sides, while the
top brush remains at the highest point of the vehicle
completing the full wash/rinse cycles.
TWO-BRUSH WASH:
The two side brushes perform the wash and rinse cycles. The
top brush remains stationary in the up position and does not
rotate. This program is used for vehicles with obstacles on
the roof or open top trailers.
TRACTOR/TRAILER WASH:
Same as THREE-BRUSH
WASH except the
top brush jumps from tractor to trailer
BUS/TRUCK WASH:
Same as THREE-BRUSH
WASH
PARA TRANSIT WASH:
Same as THREE-BRUSH
WASH except the
side brushes extend farther toward the vehicle
CAR/PICK-UP WASH:
This program automatically
compensates for the different width of vehicles and
automatically adjusts the extension of the side brushes and
brush rotation. After washing a small vehicle, the machine
automatically returns to the large vehicle wash mode. The top
brush pressure against the vehicle automatically adjusts so
that smaller vehicles are washed/rinsed with appropriate brush
pressure.
OPERATOR’S CONTROL PANELS
POWER ON
push button:
Press to reactivate the PLC when the electricity
has been turned off.
START WASH
push button:
Press to start the machine if AUTO/MANUAL
selector is in MANUAL
position
STOP
push button (red mushroom head):
Emergency stop button. Press to suspend all operation.
START RINSE
push button:
Press START RINSE
to complete the rinse cycle when machine operation is
suspended during the rinse cycle by the STOP
button.
STOP TRAVEL
push button:
Press and hold this button to stop gantry travel at any point
in either wash or rinse cycles to allow extra scrubbing
action. Gantry continues automatically when button is
released.
FOUR-WAY JOYSTICK:
This stick lifts and lowers the
top brush manually during any part of the wash/rinse cycles,
and moves the gantry forward/backward. The joystick is
also used during maintenance procedures.
SIDE BRUSHES RETRACT
push button:
Press this to retract both side brushes during any part of the
wash/rinse cycles if needed to avoid obstacles (mirrors,
etc.).
THREE BRUSH/TWO BRUSH
selector switch:
Two-way selector switch that enables 2 or 3 brush washing
TRACTOR-TRAILER,
BUS/TRUCK, PARA TRANSIT, CAR/PICK-UP selector
switch:
Four-way selector switch that matches program to vehicles.
