The latest generation of pneumatic products from Parker Hannifin, a manufacturer of motion and control technology, are helping Smith Bros & Webb, a supplier of commercial vehicle washing systems, to offer bus and truck companies a faster and more reliable cleaning method.
The Streamline bus washing system from Smith Bros & Webb is capable of cleaning between 60 and 80 vehicles per hour at optimum drive through speeds, and with a garage typically needing to wash between 80 and 140 buses per night, to ensure they are ready for service each morning, the speed and reliability of the equipment are crucial. With brand perception now being an important factor for private bus companies, vehicles must be seen to be consistently clean.
John Bennett, managing director of Smith Bros & Webb, commented, “We have been using Parker’s pneumatic components in our entire vehicle washing product range for over 15 years. With our customers requiring washing solutions that not only clean quickly and effectively but that also offer impeccable reliability, the pneumatic components behind the products are an essential element of our success.
All of our vehicle cleaning equipment is offered with a service contract of up to seven years, with the equipment effectively guaranteed for this period. Having complete confidence in both the Parker products and the support that they offer enables us to provide this level of service to our customers.”
An integrated control panel used in the vehicle washing systems offers closed loop control of the Parker pneumatic cylinders in the brush arms, enabling more thorough and efficient washing. The cylinders act as dampers, reducing bounce as the brushes come into contact with the vehicle, and ensure that the correct degree of overlap of the brushes is maintained in order to ensure effective cleaning. As a result of this high level of control, the system is able effectively to cater for undulations and changes in direction, for instance, from the front to the sides of a vehicle or around protruding mirrors.
Other Parker products used in the equipment are B Series valves, featuring the company’s Wear Compensating System (WCS); dynamic spool seals designed for operating pressures of up to 10 bar. The seals have a specially developed profile so that valve pressure causes them to expand radially to maintain optimum sealing contact with the valve bore, minimising friction and wear.
Also incorporated are Parker’s rugged Viking Xtreme valves, which have been designed for use in particularly aggressive conditions, and able to withstand extreme temperatures as low as -40°C, and pressures of up to 16 bar. The compact dimensions of these valves, together with their ability to withstand being blasted with high pressure and temperature sprays of water and cleaning chemicals, makes them ideally suited to the bus washing environment.
From its base in Alcester, incorporating a dedicated manufacturing plant, Smith Bros & Webb currently supports 750 of its vehicle cleaning systems that have been supplied to the major truck and bus companies in the UK. In addition, they have a global presence, for instance providing 99% of the bus cleaning systems in Hong Kong. This international scope makes global parts availability essential, and with each Parker component having a universal part number, ordering is simplified.
In addition, Parker supplies its components in pre-assembled units so that they can be easily and quickly installed and replaced. The units also feature Parker’s Prestolok fittings, simplifying installation and maintenance even further.
John Bennett, explained, “Parker’s leading edge components enable us to offer vehicle washing systems that are capable of excellent quality cleaning day in and day out. The partnership allows us to provide the best possible global support and maintenance package to our customers wherever they are in the world.”