High pressure washers - design, principle of operation and selection principles. How automatic (conveyor, portal) car wash works

Let's face it! Most of us own a car or truck and enjoy driving, especially when our car is shiny and clean. For this reason, car washes remain popular to this day.

The first automated car wash appeared in Detroit, USA in 1914. Today, many people wash their cars at home, but the convenience of an automated car wash is relatively low cost These are two benefits that are hard to beat in a home car wash.

In this article, we will focus on the conveyor automatically controlled system of car washes, which are used to wash the exterior (outer parts of the body) of the car. You will learn about each step of the process and see the mechanisms that make it possible. So let's make sure we put the gear in neutral, remove the handbrake, close the car windows and unscrew the antenna, and drive into the tunnel.

Car washes, as a rule, are either contactless or contact. Touchless car wash works with powerful water jets and effective detergents. Only water and cleaning products actually come in physical contact with a car. Contact car washes use a soft cloth and brushes that move along the surface of the car body.

The first thing that happens after entering an automatic car wash is the car entering the conveyor. At the beginning of the pipeline is a device called correlator . It is simply a series of wheels or rollers that allow a car's wheel to slide sideways until it is aligned with the conveyor.

Machine gear is in neutral position. The roller pushes the wheel forward, causing the car to roll through the tunnel. Once the vehicle enters the tunnel, it passes through an infrared beam between two sensors. The sensor on one side emits infrared light, which is identified by the sensor on the other side. Vehicle length is measured by these sensors counting the amount of time the signal is interrupted (while the vehicle is moving between the sensors). After measuring the length of the vehicle, the system adjusts the water supply and the movement of the brushes and jets accordingly.

Immediately after passing the sensors, most car washes have a pre-impregnation system. This is an arch that contains several small nozzles that spray a special solution throughout the car. This solution has several purposes:

1. Wets the car from top to bottom before applying detergents.
2. Contains chemical substances, which begin to corrode the dirt on the car.

Many car washes also have a set of nozzles located on the floor called tire applicators . These nozzles spray tires with a solution designed specifically to remove brake dust and black rubber from tires and rims.

Then the car passes through a special curtain (not all car washes have it). These are a series of long, soft strips of fabric that hang from a frame at the top of the tunnel. The frame is connected to a motorized shaft that moves the structure up and down in a circular pattern. This allows the fabric to slide back and forth along the horizontal surface car. The curtain cleans the hood, roof and top of the car trunk lid.

The next item in our automatic car wash is the applicator. The applicator allows the detergent to deep clean in the form of foam upon contact with the machine. The nozzles on the applicator, as well as many other car wash spray systems, can be adjusted to change the spray angle and orifice size. Foam is created by mixing chemical cleaners with water and air.

scrubbers are large vertical cylinders with hundreds of small strips of fabric sticking out of them. The scrubbers rotate rapidly (between 100 and 500 revolutions per minute), bringing the fabric strips into position until they are perpendicular to the cylinder. Although the cloth strips are quite soft, you will be quite hurt if you get caught in them (whip effect). Scrubbers usually have hydraulic motors. At least one scrubber is located on each side of the tunnel (although more often there are two or more). As the car passes through the scrubbers, the cloth washes it along a vertical surface.

Some car washes also have short boom scrubbers (i.e. shorter cylinders) that move at the front and rear of the vehicle, thus cleaning vertical surfaces in front and behind the vehicle as well. Like most technical means automatic car wash, scrubbers are powered by a combination of electric motors and hydraulics. Typically, one large hydraulic power pack is connected to all the various hydraulic pumps throughout the car wash.

The fabric used in the scrubbers is very soft and is cleaned regularly to ensure there is nothing trapped inside that could scratch the car. In addition, they must be changed frequently, as they quickly become unusable when they become too worn or dirty.

Scrubbers remove dirt that the foam has already softened considerably.

The high pressure system is a combination of rotating water jets that spray concentrated streams of water onto the vehicle. The nozzles, usually arranged in a pinwheel, are at a slight angle from the center of the cylinder on which they are located (see figure below). The force of the water shot out of the nozzle causes the entire cylinder to rotate. This means that the water flow moves in a circular pattern as it hits the machine. The force of the stream and the circular motion combine to provide a powerful cleaning action on the surface of the car. The force of water is incredibly strong - the pressure sometimes reaches hundreds of atmospheres (for comparison, the pressure in the wheel of a car is from 1.8 to 2.2 atmospheres) - enough to easily knock a person down or cause a serious injury with a point hit!

Powerful jets of water remove most of the dirt from the car. The high pressure system uses a lot of water - from 1100 to 1500 liters per car. In order to provide that much water in an expeditious manner, the sink usually has a pressurized tank nearby that holds the water for that particular system. In most systems, almost all of the water is recycled and recycled back into this pressure tank after each use.

Also, many car washes in Russia and other countries with snowy winters also have a device called chassis applicator . This system is at ground level and has several nozzles pointing upwards to wash the dirt off the underside of the car.

The car then passes through the rinse arch. This is a series of nozzles arranged in an arc and using clean water to remove anything left from high pressure washers, scrubbers and curtains, including dirt streaks and detergents in the form of foam.

The standard function of an automatic car wash, which can be found in almost all such car washes, is wax applicator . The wax used in a car wash, which forms a waterproof coating, is quite different from the wax you would apply by hand. One of key differences is that the wax in the car wash is universal, working equally effectively on glass, chrome parts and rubber, as well as painted plastic and metal surfaces car body. In addition, such wax covers the entire car with a thin film, and the latter does not have to be pre-polished. However, the wax used in an automatic car wash does not provide the same level of protection or hide tiny scratches as standard wax does.

The wax applicator uses a system of foam applicators, the most common of which is the triple applicator. Wax foam is applied to the car in a dense shell.

After the car is completely washed, the last step in the automated car wash process is to dry the car. Giant hair dryer heats up a large number of air and forces it to pass through a series of nozzles. These streams of heated air quickly dry out the surface of the car.

The dryer has large, flat, round sections directly in front of the nozzle opening. This section is called the muffler. Working in the same way as a silencer in a gun, a car wash dryer silencer dampens the noise generated by the air. After automatic drying, often maintenance personnel will go around the car with towels and finish drying some hard-to-reach places.

Some car washes use special chemicals after the last rinse, before drying, which speed up the drying process.

car wash management

All equipment in an automated car wash requires heavy power supplies. Each station has its own fuse. Most car washes are designed so that the car wash can continue to operate even if one of the stations fails completely.

From the moment the sensor says the car has entered the tunnel, the system controls every aspect of the car wash. It knows exactly where the car is at every moment of the washing process and activates the appropriate stations as needed and at exactly the right time.

It just so happened that the climate of Russia causes certain inconveniences to all motorists in the country. Agree, our autumn and spring are a real test for a vehicle. Rain, dirt, and with them the global slush in general, will change in a matter of minutes appearance cars, of course not better side. In such weather, you have to visit a car wash almost several times a week, so the smartest ones decide to purchase their own high-pressure apparatus and thus save money. But before you go to the store, it certainly does not hurt you to find out how a pressure washer works, because such information can quite influence your final choice.

Anatomy "Ministry of Internal Affairs"

Car wash equipment, which most of us associate with German Karcher models, is in great demand both in household use and in the service sector, and this is not just. The photo clearly shows all the main components of a high-pressure washer manufactured by the Stihl trademark. Thanks to their design features, the installation produces a powerful pressure of water that can remove any pollution even from the most inaccessible areas. Of course, in some cases, you can not do without chemical cleaners, but today is not about them. So, what makes water move with monstrous force (from 100 atmospheres)?

The pump is the heart of the plant!

In most cases, a piston-axial mechanism with an inclined disk is used. That is, the pistons moving through the cylinders in certain moment, rest against the inclined disk. The hydraulic distributor, on the other hand, takes over the function of switching the output of the cylinders. Thus, the disk, rotating around its axis, presses on each of the pistons in turn and thereby creates high level outlet pressure (100-200 bar). Of course, all this only works if the pump is connected to the engine through a gearbox.

The key part in a movement is without a doubt the pistons, so it is important to find out the type of material they are made from before buying. Ideally, this is ceramics, but hardened steel will also do. No less important is the case, it should by no means be made of plastic, only metal, and any steel will be much more reliable than plastic.

Also pay attention to the minimum jet power. What for? Yes, so that there are no problems using chemicals After all, few sinks are complete without them. The fact is that their use at a pressure of more than 30 atmospheres can be dangerous for the paint layer. Look carefully, since most models do not allow their own device to lower the Bar value.

Engine

This is the main power source for the pump, there are gasoline and electric modifications, but the latter are much more popular. The motor carries out the procedure of switching on and off the pump, which constantly alternate during the use of the car wash. And since the starting voltage is much higher than the nominal voltage, the likelihood of overheating in such an intense rhythm increases significantly. Therefore, as in a car, here you need efficient system cooling.

The bulk of high-pressure devices to lower the temperature use air, but the same German Karcher is already yes, its efficiency is an order of magnitude higher than that of classical scheme. It is possible to mitigate the consequences for the engine from frequent starts with the help of several fans. One, located at the end of the installation, draws air into the middle of the stator, where the second comes into action, with the help of which, already hot air appears on the street.

Automatic toggle switch that stops the engine

The water pressure sensor is an essential attribute of a modern pressure washer. It is installed on the outlet channel of the pump and regulates its inclusion. Look, when we want to start working with a similar mechanism, we pull the trigger and wait for the pressure, thereby starting the engine. When water is no longer needed, the trigger is released and the liquid supply stops.

This is where the pressure sensor enters the arena, which will prevent the engine from overheating, which functions even after the trigger is released. That is, when a critical pressure level is reached, it works, thus excluding a break in the power source. However, as already mentioned, extra engine starts are harmful to him, so popular brands of such devices have come up with another way to protect the engine from high pressure.

In this case, there is no shutdown as such, the sensor simply rearranges the water line to the outlet, allowing the liquid to circulate in a circle. Yes, electricity consumption will increase significantly, but the engine will be able to last much longer.

Hoses

The water supply to the pump is carried out by a special hose, which is easily connected to the water supply network or to any container with water. I explain, a pressure washer is able to pick up H2O from any container:

• Rate, dam or even the sea;
• Chan and various tanks;
• Or even from an ordinary bucket.

High-pressure hoses and a washing gun are used to control the pressure, torque and the actual water supply in general. Please note that rubber lines must withstand a greater load than the pump. At least 10%, which will significantly secure the washing procedure.

The spray gun must be mobile and functional, and most importantly - with a fuse. It needs to cover the effect of clumsy hoses as much as possible, so its rotation around its axis is mandatory, otherwise it will not be possible to reach secluded corners, they will remain dirty.

This is what the main components of a modern pressure washer look like. Of course, there is also a power cable that needs to be protected from the action of water and various “bells and whistles” such as nozzles for changing the type of jet, but there is no point in describing them, you will figure it out yourself! You will have a little highlight.

A high pressure washer creates the impression of such an attraction, splashing water is fun! I warn you, be careful, the jet is so powerful that it can harm the people around you and even animals, I generally keep quiet about children, wash the car at “quiet time”. I wish you a safe wash and excellent result, and finally, I suggest using the video, get acquainted with the Interskol high-pressure washing device. See you later!

Long queues of cars for car washes and mud as a feature of any Ural season serve as a lure for aspiring entrepreneurs to open own business in this domain. But is this business really so promising?

In 2008, five new car dealerships will open in Yekaterinburg, despite the fact that as of January of this year there were already 52 of them. Metallurgists (land area - 1.6 thousand m2, showroom - 800 m2). Two more showrooms will be reconstructed: CJSC Autoland (Blyukhera, 50) plans to expand the Mazda showroom in April; Toyota Center Ekaterinburg South is completing the renovation of the showroom and expanding the service station. Newly built Ford Center with total area 12 thousand m2. And this is not all new buildings in the local automotive industry.

The conclusion suggests itself: more car dealerships - more cars per capita. Although, according to this indicator, we are in second place after Moscow (having even overtaken St. Petersburg). As of January 2008, there are 402 thousand cars, by the end of the year their number will increase to 470 thousand.

The most necessary device at the sink is a pressure washer. They are of two types: with and without water heating. For effective work one device is required for each post. Hot water is used to wash engines and bodies in winter period- it washes off ice better and faster. The price of a heated apparatus ranges from 105 to 120 thousand rubles. depending on power. A similar device without heating will cost 55 - 60 thousand rubles.

The second necessary device is a vacuum cleaner for cleaning the interior. Such machines are produced with one and two turbines. The second one is more powerful. Businessmen are advised to complete each post with a single-turbine machine or install a two-turbine machine for 2-3 posts. The price of a car with one turbine is 10-15 thousand rubles, with two turbines - about 20 thousand rubles.

Terrible deficiency or slight disadvantage?

All these cars need to wash somewhere in the dirty Ural weekdays. In 2007, about 20 car washes were opened, now their total number is 127. And, according to official data from the press service of Vice Mayor Viktor Konteev, another 200 car washes are needed to properly service the number of cars available in the city. Today, a three-station car wash is taken as the basis in Yekaterinburg, and there are 40 such projects in the construction project. The main limiting factor in the development of this industry is the lack of free land plots, the city administration claims, it is necessary to allocate up to 40 plots a year.

However, Mikhail Babin, president of the Resource Technologies group of companies, argues that the opinion about the super-profitability of the car wash business is nothing more than a myth. It was created by just those aspiring entrepreneurs who looked at the long lines of foreign cars at an elite car wash one spring day and multiplied the average revenue of the most successful hour by 24 and 365 days a year.

Nevertheless, Babin himself intends in 2008 to "scatter" a network of 60 car washes in four megacities: Samara, Tyumen, St. Petersburg and Moscow - and close up to 20% of the market in each of the cities. Today, under Babin's Fast Clean brand, there are 9 car washes on the Yekaterinburg market, by the end of this year there will be 20 of them. a future network and staff that the businessman refuses to describe. Which is fair: to get the secret of success, you need to either invent it yourself or shell out impressive money for it. Babin's team opted for the first option—brainstorming combined with years of expert observation of the market and human nature.

“Counting income without taking into account expenses is a hallmark of a Russian businessman,” Mikhail Ivanovich slightly ironically. - We were preparing to open this business for two years, and it turned out to be the most troublesome of all that the company created (in its arsenal - a cargo transportation service, an information desk, a home-service, a taxi, a credit and consulting service. - Approx. ed.). If we didn’t have our resources, the necessary base, if we didn’t ensure the night loading of our car washes, we would hardly enter this market segment.”

The businessman points out that if the market were truly profitable, it would be much more saturated, and car washes, like cell phone retailers, would be neon on every corner. On the other hand, he considers the figure named by Viktor Konteev to be absolutely incorrect: in his opinion, Yekaterinburg needs not 200, but only 30 car washes. This will be enough; at other growth rates, companies will start operating at a loss.

This business cannot be super-profitable, if only because it is subject to seasonality and, in general, weather conditions. No one will go to wash a car in frost under 30, no one will go to wash it in rain and mud, because it is pointless. As a result, the loading of car washes is very uneven, moreover, it is difficult to calculate it: theoretically, it can be 30%, in fact, only 15%. On average in the city today, the annual load is 40%, and this is the second answer to the question why this business does not promise crazy profits. Car washes are a small business, and by definition, big money cannot turn around here. How many washes does oligarch Roman Abramovich have? As they say, no comments.

“The population of Russia got its first idea of ​​a car wash from the famous comedy The Diamond Arm. The exotic car washing enterprise was hidden from the masses of motorists in a dense forest, which, coupled with numerous rotating mechanisms, created an aura of some kind of elitism, mystery and even danger. Most owners of four wheeled vehicles, without further ado, washed their pets with a banal washcloth and water from an enameled bucket.
Journal "Autoinstruction"

How to Become a Purifier

So, you are still determined to create a business in this area. The image of the beautiful warms your soul, people need carrying the comfort and beauty of a car wash. What do you need to consider?

A businessman can consider two strategies: building a facility and renting it. The first, of course, requires large investments, and the payback of such a project is from five to seven years, while a rented car wash pays off from six months to three years.

For the construction of a car wash, it is necessary to solve a rather difficult issue in any city with a million population - to find and register a land plot. In Yekaterinburg, as you know, there is catastrophically little free land. Of course, car washes located near the gas station are the most profitable. However, you must take into account the mandatory requirement of the municipality on the maximum allowable distance to a residential area - 200, and preferably 300 meters. The choice of location depends on both the level of profit and the payback period, as well as the amount of the initial investment. For example, a car wash at a large business center or an elite shopping mall will be loaded by almost 100%, even if it works around the clock, such as, for example, a car wash at the famous Antey complex. The cost of a building also directly depends on the value of the land (even the quality of the soil is taken into account). The construction of an empty washing building for 3 posts from metal structures (without equipment) is estimated at about 100 thousand dollars. The average market investment in a car wash in Yekaterinburg is about 2 million rubles.

According to Tatiana Manchakidis, director of the Zakonoff law firm, there are no special permits or licenses for running a car wash business. However, this does not mean that everything is done easily and quickly. First you need to analyze technical requirements city ​​legislation to this business, then draw up a specific project; at the same time, it is better to seek help from special design organizations that already have experience in coordinating plans for this particular type of business with the municipality. Of course, you can simply apply to the mayor's office for land for a car wash, but in this case you can not count on a quick response. It is easier to apply for a certain piece of land and bring a specific project, which takes into account, among other things, special equipment cleaning Wastewater. By the way, the municipality today gives priority to car washes full cycle: dirty water passes here internal system cleaning and goes back to work. An additional plus of the full cycle is that you do not have to conclude a special agreement with the city water utility, which cleans dirty water will take over. In addition, it is necessary that the SES, the fire inspection, environmental services, the traffic police, technical inspections, the improvement department, and the architecture department give the go-ahead. Documents can be collected for a year and a half, and four, businessmen say.

Land plot, of course, you can simply buy from a private owner, or acquire a business share in the owner company and thus become the owner of part of its land holdings. However, all the same, coordination with the authorities and various regulatory bodies cannot be avoided.

No less “sore” problem is personnel. Work at a car wash belongs to the category of low-skilled, it is paid low, the contingent is employed here appropriate. Hence the staff turnover, theft, negligence, absenteeism. To resolve this issue, it is necessary to invest considerable funds in the personnel training system, in additional motivational schemes, and not every entrepreneur has the opportunity and patience for this. It is very difficult to control quality standards at several points, especially when it comes to a network. Federal networks in Russia today do not exist precisely for this reason; what is often referred to as a network of car washes is in fact nothing more than a network of car workshops or car shops with associated car washes.

Hands or hooks?

In addition, you need to ask yourself which car wash you want to open - manual or automatic. Of course, an automatic one will cost you much more and will pay off twice as slowly. For the minimum set, designed for washing one car, you will have to pay about 40 thousand euros. However, the matter is not even in the high cost, but in the peculiarities of the consumer behavior of a Russian person. He is equally characterized by both perfectionism and unwillingness to pay for a high service. The Russian motorist is not satisfied with the automatic car wash: it launders worse, scratches, is able to cover only certain areas of the car, but paying big money for washing for the same consumer is nonsense. So it turns out that for a more expensive automatic car wash, you will have to ask for almost a smaller check than for a manual one: you need to compensate for the “sloppiness” of the machine in the eyes of capricious motorists.

Therefore, manual car washes prevail in Russia now: cars are washed using high-pressure cleaners, then wiped with a sponge, and if necessary, manually polished with wax. Foreign reality, where the classics of the genre are automatic portal or tunnel car washes, and self-service car washes are in special demand, most likely not for us. And besides, this Spanish climate allows you to simply water the car with a hose to wash off the settled dust, but not the Ural climate, when you have to literally scrape off the dirt even from the roof of the car.

Of course, in this business, in addition to directly washing the car and cleaning the interior, you can come up with many attractive nuances. Lounges at car washes, where free coffee and tea with sweets are served, are no longer an additional attraction for anyone. In Moscow, there are car washes where only women work, and with appearance professional models. Demand justifies the higher cost of their wages compared to regular washers. Often found during car washes are shops selling spare parts, auto accessories, auto cosmetics, and small workshops for quick car diagnostics and minor repairs. All of this property can be rented out. An additional service can bring up to 20% of the total profit, if properly organized and interesting to your client.

Mikhail Babin, President of Resource Technologies Group:

Yekaterinburg needs not 200, but only 30 car washes. This will be enough; at other growth rates, companies will start operating at a loss. And the super-profitability of the car wash business is nothing more than a myth. It was created by aspiring entrepreneurs who looked at the long lines of foreign cars at a luxury car wash one spring day and multiplied the average revenue of the best hour by 24 and 365 days a year.

Marina Zhivulina

The cleanliness of the car is not only an aesthetic indicator, but also protects the product from damage. negative factors external environment. After all, adhering and dried dirt may contain aggressive elements that damage paintwork. Also, long-term and regular pollution of the body can lead to irreversible damage to the metal, up to through corrosion on individual elements.

In this case, regular visits to a car wash or home water procedures. But in the second case, you need to buy a washing device or a car wash must be made with your own hands from improvised means. Prices in stores generally start at 5 thousand rubles. The upper threshold may not stop at 20 thousand. Therefore, we will do it ourselves.

Pump and electrical part

The main part of any water supply unit is the pump. For our product, it will need a sufficiently powerful one, capable of developing a pressure of at least up to 150 atmospheres. When choosing a finished pump, it is necessary to take into account the materials from which the working units are made.

Preference should be given to products with a high-strength metal or ceramic piston.

It is desirable to select an electric motor with a voltage of 220 V. Reliable start is provided by an additional capacitor unit. A higher RPM will provide more performance.

You need to know that a too high-speed pump with a large number speed may lose power at maximum operating speed and is subject to intense wear.

Consumers of 2-3 kW and rotation up to 2000 rpm are considered optimal.

Rotation transmission

A designed do-it-yourself high-pressure washer must have in the circuit necessary elements security to save important nodes. This link is the coupling connecting the pump and the engine.

It is desirable to install a coupling that can compensate for small axial misalignments between the shafts.

You can also install a belt drive with one stage. Such a gearbox will balance the speed and load between the engine and the pump. The gear ratio is selected based on their required output parameters in terms of rotation frequency.

Reservoir and performance regulator

The mini sink must be equipped with a sufficient water tank. A tank is suitable, which can be additionally powered from a permanent source of water: a water tap, a deep well or a small water tower.

What to make a sink

It is advisable to install coarse and medium filters at the inlet to the tank. So, unnecessary rubbish will not get into the pump and will not interfere with the operation of the entire system.

Car shampoo or other approved car cosmetics can be added to the main water tank. The process will run more efficiently.

The performance regulator is usually combined with an unloading autovalve, which redirects unused pressure back to the tank, reducing the load on the pump.

External elements

All units are mounted on a frame made of shaped or round curved pipes. Often, a pair of wheels are attached to the down pipes to help transport the unit. Stops for fixing and a handle are also installed so that the entire structure can be moved.

The appearance of a do-it-yourself car wash

For a high pressure hose, you can use a plastic or rubberized reinforced hose. Be sure to ensure the tightness of the connections using high-quality clamps or hydraulic seals.

The design must be collapsible and maintainable. Therefore, it is desirable to use threaded connections where possible.

Also, in places of contact with water (fittings, valves), low-corrosion alloys should be used: brass and bronze.

Car wash scheme

Direct water supply is carried out through a gun with a nozzle installed in it. It bears a visual resemblance to a pistol at a gas station. A jet of water is formed only after pressing the key. This method helps to save the prepared working fluid with consumable additives. You can simply buy a gun at any hardware store.

Operation of a do-it-yourself sink

Details for assembling the sink

When using, you need to follow a few tips:

• need to be checked periodically connecting nodes and tighten the threaded connections with a wrench;
• the filters installed in the device need to be inspected before each connection so that the throughput does not decrease;
• the electrical part must be grounded to avoid accidents during operation, for this a cable with three copper cores is used, and the plug must have a ground terminal;
• during the washing process, it is not necessary to fix the jet at one point on the machine body for a long time, so as not to damage the paintwork with strong pressure.

Foam generators for car wash

A device for high-quality contactless washing is called a foam generator. With it, you can completely envelop the machine with small bubbles of washing slurry and carry out high-quality cleaning surfaces from dust, dirt and adhering small particles.

The process of foaming with a home foam generator

Do-it-yourself foam generator for washing can be made even in the garage. It is necessary to be patient and prepare all the nodes and elements.

The principle of operation of the foam generator

The device performs two main functions in the car wash process:

1. the formation of fine-meshed foam from prepared reagents;
2. uniform application of foam on the desired surface of the vehicle.

Homemade foam generator

To perform such a process, a jet of water mixed with car cosmetics (shampoo or other specialized preparations) is sprayed using an air stream passing through installed channels, and together form a coarse foam.

The mixture is then passed through a blowing tablet block. Now such a mass can be applied to the surface.

The flow control plates provide a fine atomizing spray to distribute the working foam to all the irregularities in the exterior of the body.

The difference between homemade equipment and professional

The quality of professional washing with a foam generator can be higher than when using a device made by yourself. For this, there are several criteria that determine the final result.

The main parameter is the size of the formed foam. An important characteristic is a homogeneous structure and minimum bubble diameter.

When using professional sinks, specialized industrial shampoos are used.

Also, professional equipment allows you to pump a significantly higher fluid pressure than that which can be achieved in garage conditions. This reduces the consumption of detergents.

But with all these factors, the result of self-washing turns out to be quite worthy, especially since the final price for one session speaks in favor of a home-made device.

Self-made foam generator

Making a foam generator will require the creators to stock up on a set of keys, a grinder, a pre-purchased repair kit with spare parts for a professional installation, consisting of a nozzle, a gun, a compressor, and a flushing hose.

How a car wash works

In addition to the listed elements, it is necessary to take an inch pipe about 70 cm long. From it you need to make a filter. To do this, fill the cavity with pieces of fishing line. It is advisable to use it of different diameters, so foam will form more efficiently.

After stuffing, you will need to install metal filters on both sides to prevent pieces of fishing line from falling into the shampoo container.

The principle of operation of the foam generator

Next, threaded plugs are placed on both ends of the pipe. Now a T-junction is screwed to one of the plugs. A compressor is screwed to such an adapter, and a hose from the liquid reservoir is screwed onto the second thread. The free end of the line tube will be the outlet for the foam. A hose is attached to it through a fitting for spraying the finished foam.

You need to know that the quality of the resulting foam depends on the quality of the stuffing in the tube with the fishing line.

You can achieve the desired result by changing the packing in the tube with fishing line. It is also allowed to empirically select the required length of such a pipe and the texture of the stuffed fishing line.

A clean car, like clean shoes, is a sign of a real man. Car washes have become a must-have for every service station. This is wonderful, only the price of washing in them ranges from 300 to 1200 rubles. Wash the car, at least outside, at least three times a month. The expense is quite substantial. Yes, and you want to leave your car in the wrong hands as little as possible, but you can’t wash the car manually with the same quality.

The problem is solved by purchasing a high-pressure washer - a mobile household specialized unit for obtaining a high-pressure water jet. With it, it is quite possible to bring the appearance of the car in order.

High pressure washer

The high pressure washer includes:

• electric motor
• Pump
• Automatic engine shutdown
• water supply hose
• nozzles
• Network connection cable
• Frame

High pressure washer motor

A collector electric motor is usually used, whose device allows you to develop significant power at small sizes. The specifics of the high-pressure car wash are the frequent switching on and off of the engine. In this case, the starting currents exceed the nominal ones by 6 times. To avoid overheating and failure, the engine is equipped with a system air cooling. end mounted axial fan supplies air from the surrounding atmosphere into the internal volume of the stator, and installed on the shaft centrifugal fan creates an additional vacuum and throws the heated air back into the atmosphere. In this way, it is possible to mitigate the re-start mode, which is difficult for the electric motor.

High pressure washer pump

The output shaft of the engine through the gearbox puts into operation the axial piston pump, capable of developing pressure up to 200 bar at the outlet. In fact, this pressure is not used in domestic car washes, it is usually limited to a range of 100 to 160 bar. 1 bar = 0.986923267 atmosphere, a more familiar unit of measurement. When comparing different models sinks for this parameter, you can take them equal.

The most commonly used axial piston pump with an inclined disk. A cylinder block is installed in the cast housing, along which the pistons move. They rest against an inclined disk rotated by an electric motor. The output of the cylinders is switched by a hydraulic distributor. As the disk rotates, the disk alternately presses and releases the pistons, creating a high pressure at the pump outlet. In some designs of axial axial pumps, the disk is stationary, and the cylinder block rotates, but the principle of operation remains the same.

When buying a pressure washer, you should find out what material the pump housing and pistons are made of. Plastic pumps can't stand long-term operation. The body must be made of some metal or alloy (for example, for NILFISK sinks - aluminum), and the pistons must be made of specially hardened steel. In professional units, there are even ceramic-metal pistons, so there is hope that they will soon appear in household models.

IN last years there was a whole arsenal of chemical detergents for cars. Sold special nozzles with containers for high pressure washers. The use of auto chemicals requires a pressure of 20-30 bar at the pump outlet. Unfortunately, the minimum pressure is not always indicated in the washing passport. Usually it lies in the range of 30-70 bar, and this is too much to work with detergents. When buying a sink, it is imperative to find out this parameter, otherwise it will later turn out that it is impossible to use detergents.

Automatic engine shutdown

A mandatory part of the pressure washer is a water pressure sensor installed at the outlet of the pump. When you turn on the sink, it starts working almost instantly after pressing the trigger on the handle. When the trigger is released, the jet closes, but pressurized water remains in the pump chamber. If the engine continues to run, the pump may simply break. The machine switches off the engine when the maximum pressure in the pump chamber is reached.

Given that the start-stop mode for the electric motor is highly undesirable, some models of pressure washers are equipped with "by-pass" systems, that is, "bypass". In this case, the machine does not turn off the engine, but switches the pump output to the input, forcing it to simply drive water in a circle, maintaining pressure in the chamber. This increases energy consumption, but dramatically extends the life of the engine. Such a scheme is used, for example, in KARCHER sinks.

Most models of high pressure washers are equipped with a temperature sensor that prevents overheating of the engine, and a water seal that relieves pressure in the pump chamber when it is exceeded.

water supply hose

High pressure washers can operate both from an open container (for example, a bucket) and from a water supply network. In the latter case, between the water supply and the hose must be installed check valve to prevent pressure peaks.

High pressure hose with pistol grip

The high-pressure hose supplied with the sinks undergo mandatory factory tests and have the appropriate certificates. It is desirable that the hose be designed for a pressure greater than that created by the pump. In NILFISK car washes, for example, the working pressure of the hoses is 10% higher than that of the pump.

The washing gun has two functions - it opens and closes the water jet and directs it to the right place. A quality washing gun should have a fuse. It is important that it has as many degrees of freedom as possible - it is better that it can rotate in all three planes. The high-pressure hose is rigid and clumsy, without the freedom of rotation of the gun, it will never be possible to reach nooks and crannies where dirt accumulates.

nozzles

Pressure washers are usually equipped with a nozzle that creates a flat jet, very convenient for cleaning large areas. With its help, you can wash not only the car, but also garden path. Another nozzle, the so-called “mud blaster”, creates a focused jet that perfectly cleans even old dirt. NILFISK sinks are equipped with a patented nozzle for detergents, which allows you to achieve maximum effect with minimal consumption.

Network connection cable

Keep away from water network cable when operating a high pressure washer will never succeed. Hence the increased requirements for its security. The socket for connection must be grounded.

Is it worth buying a pressure washer?

Inquiring about high pressure washers, potential buyers often ask questions about their motor resources. It should be well understood that such units have a short lifetime. Piston blocks wear out quickly, engines overheat. Household pressure washers are typically rated for 30-60 hours of operation. Is it a lot or a little?

Suppose the car is washed once a week. There are 52 weeks in a year, but this operation can be done at home only in the warm season. There are 26 weeks left. The average car wash time is a quarter of an hour. That is, 6.5 hours will be spent per year. Even with a minimum motor resource of 30 hours, it will last for 4 and a half years.

Now the economy. 26 rides to the car wash will cost at least 7,800 rubles. This is more than the price of a middle-class car wash NILFISK C120.3-6. That is, a pressure washer pays for itself in the first year after its purchase.

High Pressure Washer Safety Precautions

A pressure washer is one of the most dangerous household appliances, both for the owner and for those around him. A jet of water at 100 bar pressure can shatter windows, mirrors or headlights, or damage eyes or ears. To hold the gun in your hands requires a force of about 15 kilograms. When working with a high pressure washer, it is necessary to strictly observe following rules safety precautions:

• Never allow children to use the sink.
• Never direct the jet at people or animals, operating machinery or the sink itself.
• Never clean clothing with a high pressure washer, especially if it is worn by a person.
• Hold the washer gun firmly in your hands.
• Wear protective goggles to protect your eyes from dirt flying out from under the jet.
• Do not use the sink at temperatures below 0 degrees.
• Unwind the power cable completely from the drum, otherwise it may overheat.
• The socket for connection must have a grounding contact. It is desirable to equip the connection point with a residual discharge current protection device.
• Connecting the sink to the water supply should be done through a non-return valve.

conclusions

A high-pressure washer is undoubtedly a useful unit in everyday life, but it requires increased attention. When used correctly, it saves money and helps keep the car clean. Her purchase justifies itself in the first year. The range of such devices on the Russian market is wide enough to satisfy any category of consumers.