IP Library Granted Patent US 11,623,617
Granted Patent B2
US 11,623,617 · App. 16/885,180 · Granted Apr 11, 2023

Automatic generation of emergency operation programs for a vehicle washing installation in the case of a fault

Inventor: Bernhard Heinz (Gersthofen, DE)
Assignee: Washtec Holding GmbH
B60S3/04G05B15/02G05B2219/2637
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,623,617
App. No.
16/885,180
Granted
Apr 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic control of a vehicle washing installation in an emergency operation in the case of a fault is provided. The following method steps are carried out: detecting an error message for ascertaining a fault state of the vehicle washing installation. In response to the detected fault state: specifying function blocks, which can be activated in a fault-free manner, on the basis of a read-in equipment data set which represents the current equipping of the vehicle washing installation with machine components for computing emergency operation programs; controlling a vehicle washing installation for carrying out the emergency operation on the basis of the calculated emergency operation programs.

Claims (25)

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling an emergency operation of a vehicle washing installation in the case of a fault, the method comprising:

detecting an error message of a machine component, wherein the error message is component-specific;

after detecting the error message, aggregating all or selected further error messages in order to automatically ascertain a fault state in relation to the vehicle washing installation, wherein the fault state depends upon the configuration of the vehicle washing installation represented in an equipment data set;

in response to the ascertained fault state, specifying function blocks, which can be activated in a fault-free manner, based on a read-in equipment data set which represents current equipping of the vehicle washing installation with machine components for computing emergency washing programs, wherein each function block is a modular component of a washing program, wherein the each function block includes information relating to permitted connectability in a process sequence with other function blocks, wherein the computing of the emergency washing programs for the vehicle washing installation comprises computing of a sequence of selected function blocks, which can be activated in a fault-free manner, for the emergency operation of the vehicle washing installation, and wherein the sequence is effected with accessing of a pre-defined rule base; and

controlling the vehicle washing installation for carrying out the emergency operation based on the computed emergency washing programs.

2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the error message is effected by reading out sensor data of at least one sensor unit of the vehicle washing installation.

3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, after the detecting of the error message, carrying out an automatic diagnosis procedure including processing of a decision tree in order to provide a technical pre-diagnosis for the detected fault state, which the technical pre-diagnosis proposes a replacement component.

4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the automatic diagnosis procedure is self-learning and for the replacement component proposal in response to the error message an evaluation signal is detected which represents an evaluation of a fault fixing measure by the replacement of the component and which is fed back to the automatic diagnosis procedure.

5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a group of emergency washing programs which can be executed in the detected fault state are computed, from which, a user can select a suitable emergency washing program, in that the user inputs a verification signal on a user interface.

6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

carrying out all of the method steps locally at the vehicle washing installation.

7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the specifying of function blocks which can be activated in the fault-free manner comprises specifying sequence variations, which can be executed in the fault-free manner, for the function blocks which can be activated in the fault-free manner.

8. A computer program with program sections for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1 when the computer program is executed on a computer or an electronic device.

9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the function blocks define actions of the vehicle washing installation on a superordinate functional level which is different from a machine component functional level.

10. A fault control device for controlling an emergency operation of a vehicle washing installation in the case of a fault, the fault control device comprising:

a fault interface configured to detect an error message in relation to the vehicle washing installation, wherein the error message is component-specific; and

a controller configured to:

in response to the detected error message, aggregate all or selected further error messages to automatically ascertain a fault state in relation to the vehicle washing installation, wherein the fault state depends upon the configuration of the vehicle washing installation represented in an equipment data set,

specify function blocks, which can be activated in a fault-free manner, for the ascertained fault state based on a read-in equipment data set representing current equipping of the vehicle washing installation with machine components, wherein each function block is a modular component of a washing program, wherein the each function block includes information relating to permitted connectability in a process sequence with other function blocks,

compute emergency washing programs, wherein the computing of the emergency washing programs for the vehicle washing installation comprises computing of a sequence of selected function blocks, which can be activated in a fault-free manner, for the emergency operation of the vehicle washing installation, and wherein the sequence is effected with accessing of a pre-defined rule base, and

based on the computed emergency washing programs, generate control commands to control the vehicle washing installation in an emergency operation state.

11. The fault control module as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a user interface.

12. The fault control module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the communication interface is connected to a plurality of sensor units.

13. The fault control module as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the function blocks define actions of the vehicle washing installation on a superordinate functional level which is different from a machine component functional level.

14. A vehicle washing installation comprising a machine controller comprising a fault control device as claimed in claim 10 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2020
From: HEINZ, BERNHARD
To: WASHTEC HOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 053865/0233 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2017 127 978.4 · Nov 27, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2018082505 · Nov 26, 2018
Related Publication 20200282961A1 · Sep 10, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,393,176