| BELANGER, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120090540 | AUTOMOTIVE TIRE DRESSING APPLICATOR - A tire dressing applicator assembly comprises a linearly arranged series of toroidally-shaped plastic rollers having one or more beveled edges and reinforced for shape retaining purposes by pins which extend axially through the bodies of the elements outboard of a center opening which is adapted to receive a support shaft. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20110277797 | SPRAY-TYPE CAR WASH SYSTEM WITH BREAKAWAY SPRAY ARMS - A car wash system comprising at least one rotatable spray arm depending from an overhead carriage. The arm is equipped with a detent-type compound breakaway knuckle which permits the arm to be displaced upwardly from a lowest potential energy orientation by disengaging the detent but thereafter permitting a smooth essentially unresisted movement whereby when the force tending to cause angular displacement and the arm is removed, the arm returns to the normal operating, low potential energy position. A shaker function or a high pressure spray burst may be used to complement the gravitational resetting function as needed. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110277792 | CAR WASH SYSTEM WITH LIGHTED SPRAY ARMS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A touchless, automatic spray-type car wash system includes one or more arms delivering washing fluids wherein the arms are constructed with translucent plastic sleeves which can be illuminated from within by LEDs. Different colors for the arm or arms can be coordinated with wash process steps. Signage can be provided in the bay and can include panels which are illuminated in a sequential fashion coordinated with arm illumination colors to inform the driver as to each step being performed. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110197935 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE TO CENTER THE VEHICLE IN A WASH BAY - A vehicle washing system associated with a bay in which a vehicle is parked during the washing operation is equipped with a centering target which can be selectively deployed upon entry of a vehicle to assist the driver in placing the vehicle on the longitudinal centerline of the effective washing area in the bay. The target may be provided by a vertically-depending spray arm having internal LEDs which are illuminated in a flashing effect during vehicle entry and in constant colors during the washing program. Several alternative target arrangements are described. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197924 | TOUCHLESS CAR WASH SYSTEM - A carwash system is disclosed wherein a spray arm dependingly mounted to an overhead longitudinally movable carriage for dispensing fluids onto the exterior surfaces of a vehicle in a wash bay unidirectionally circumnavigates the vehicle for multiple circuits while performing one or more wash functions by coordinating longitudinal and rotational movements of the arm through the selective operation of two independent motor drives. Electrical power and/or data is carried to and from electrical devices on the arm by way of a slip ring conductor which is mounted coaxially with the arm pivot on the bottom side of the carriage. The fluid supply conduit also passes concentrically through this pivot. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197922 | VEHICLE SPRAY WASHER WITH LIGHTING FOR POSITION ASSISTANCE - A spray-type car wash system includes an overhead carriage which can move longitudinally the length of a wash bay. A pair of laterally opposed spray arms depend from the carriage. During vehicle entry into the bay, LED-based lights running down the length of each arm are caused to flash to help the driver center a vehicle between the arms. Cushioning and breakaway features protect the arms from damage. A single-arm system is also disclosed. A double-light, stationary support system is also disclosed. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110119844 | Angular Travel Restraint for Wraparound Brush - A car wash brush comprising a motor and a rotatable vertically-depending brush shaft is provided with a spherical bearing which allows universal swivel movement of the brush shaft away from a normal, essentially vertical orientation. To limit the degree of swivel permitted, a plate with three angularly spaced bumpers is attached to the top of the swivel bearing and a C-shaped stop plate is arranged on a brush mount over the bumpers in fixed spaced relationship to the bearing seat such that excessive swivel motion brings one or more of the bumpers into contact with the under surface of the C-shaped plate. The bearing support structure is attached to a swing arm by means of an extra pivot which provides a breakaway function. An alarm and/or event recorder is provided to trigger an inspection in the event the breakaway function is brought into play. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110023917 | FLOOR MAT WASHER WITH FRAGRANCE - A combination automotive floor mat cleaning and fragrance applying system comprising an elongate conveyor, an infeed station made up of opposed rollers, a wet scrubber station, a hot air drying station downstream of the wet scrubber station and a fragrance applying station for applying one of several selectable fragrances to the floor mats after they are cleaned and dried. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20100326467 | Tire Treatment Device with Shock Absorption and Vehicle Misalignment Tolerance - A tire dressing applicator station for use in car wash installations wherein the applicators are tolerant of large degrees of vehicle misalignment, misorientation and entry contact shock. In each applicator structure, an additional pivot or “knuckle” is placed in one of two support arms which are pivotally connected between floor anchors and an elongate mounting carriage to which the dressing applicator elements are attached. Flared tire guides are located on the entry ends of the applicator structures to make contact with the tires of approaching vehicles whereby one or both of the two applicator structures is/are reoriented as necessary to accommodate the actual location of the vehicle, whether it be on the intended path of travel or off to one side and/or angularly misoriented relative to die intended path of vehicle travel. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100243007 | CAR WASH ARCH - A car wash arch of inverted U-shape with a centrally mounted pendant on the overhead horizontal section, the pendant being of such size and shape as to accommodate a logo or other indicia therein. Light tubes, preferably containing LEDs extend upwardly along the vertical sections of the arch, inwardly along the horizontal section of the arch and into the pendant so as to at least partially frame and illuminate the pendant. A fluid conduit feeding a system of nozzles can be mounted to the arch and supply car wash fluids to spray nozzles inwardly from the vertical and horizontal arch sections. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100242785 | CAR WASH CONVEYOR DOLLY AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A car wash dolly of the type used in connection with multi-tier car wash conveyors comprises, in mirror image arrangement, first and second pairs of stainless steel journals having external bearing surfaces and polymeric rollers mounted for rotation on said bearing surfaces wherein the journals are nitro carburized and mechanically polished prior to assembly. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100206961 | CONCEALED FLUID DISTRIBUTION CONDUIT SYSTEM - A structural member as designed to define a fluid distribution conduit receiving cavity within its interior volume. An elongate extruded plastic cover snap-fits onto the member to conceal the conduit but permits nozzles and the like to extend therethrough so that fluid may be distributed from the conduit and/or serviced as necessary without removing the cover. The cover effectively supports the conduit by trapping it against the cavity floor. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100192991 | Speed Coaching System for Drive-Through Vehicle Wash Tunnel - A vehicle wash system using a light ribbon running along an adjacent wall to coach vehicle drivers as to the speed they should when transiting a multistation wash system. The light ribbon is made up of one or more rows of LED's and can be operated in any of several modes including multicolored displays as well as a “rabbit” mode. Sensors, timers, and digital processors are used to monitor vehicle location and speed and cause appropriate activation of the lighting system. An event log is maintained. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20090308417 | Rollover Car Wash for Large Vehicles - A vehicle washer of the rollover type especially suitable for washing large vehicles such as buses and trucks. The washer includes an overhead carriage moving along an overhead guide rail structure and including opposed L-shaped spray arms adapted to wash top and side surfaces of the vehicle as the carriage moves along the guide rail and move in butterfly fashion as the carriage reaches a respective end of the vehicle whereby to wash that end of the vehicle. A recirculating arrangement insures that the hot water arriving at the carriage from the equipment room is at a predetermined hot temperature; a flexible carrier folds and unfolds in a trough along the rail structure and threadably receives the various supply conduits to provide effective transport of the required wash elements to the carriage; a compound bearing structure on the carriage efficiently journals the pivotal ends of the very large and heavy spray arms required to process large vehicles; a unique splicing arrangement allows the provision of a long guide rail structure having an uninterrupted upper surface to allow smooth carriage movements; and a customized windshield washer assembly on the carriage allows effective washing of even the recessed windshields of large vehicles having long hoods. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090252882 | Automotive Tire Dressing Applicator - A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250993 | ROTARY CAR WASH BRUSH AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A car wash brush is constructed by sliding multi-layered, wheel-shaped foam plastic cartridges onto a hub with three keyways formed in the outer surfaces thereof. The cartridges use spacers interspersed with foam layers and adhesively bonded to the foam layers. The spacers have keys which fit into die hub keyways to prevent relative rotation while allowing, longitudinal sliding motion. Multiple cartridges are used to produce a brush of desired length. Old style hubs can be salvaged for use in this construction. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250086 | Control system for vehicle washing system - A vehicle washing system. The vehicle washing system includes a vehicle washing system component. Also, provided is an apparatus for moving the vehicle relative to vehicle washing system component. The speed of the relative motor of the vehicle is selected either by an operator automatically or may be varied to vary the vehicle throughput through the vehicle wash. A control unit is provided. The control unit senses the speed of movement of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle washing system. The control unit adjusts the vehicle washing system component for coordinating the vehicle washing system component in accordance with the speed of the vehicle. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250002 | Automotive Tire Dressing Applicator - A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090250001 | AUTOMOTIVE TIRE DRESSING APPLICATOR - A tire dressing applicator comprises a support shaft mounted between the ends of a bracket and a plurality of tire dressing applicator foam rollers mounted on the shaft for rotation both with the shaft and in unison with one another and, as necessary when contacting a tire sidewall, relative to the shalt itself to prevent and/or reduce unnecessary roller wear. A drizzle-type system of dressing dispensers pipes drizzles dressing onto the outside surfaces of the rollers and a felt flap spreads the dressing and prevents waste which is characteristic of spray type systems. A quick-release mechanism associated with one end of the roller shaft where it is connected to the bracket permits the shaft to be released for the purpose of replacing worn rollers. Individual rollers are constructed using hard plastic cages which are adhesively bonded in toroidal foam volumes to prevent lateral scrunching or distortion of rollers during use. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090020138 | PLEATED CAR WASH ELEMENT, METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF ATTACHMENT - A car wash brush is constructed using permanently pleated synthetic water-carrying material. In one form, radially-pleated fabric discs are stacked on a shaft. In another form, a single length of material is laterally pleated and punched to form a continuous pattern of holes along one edge, and assembled onto a spring or flexible cable which can be wrapped around a rotatable drive shaft. The brush so constructed is quiet in operation contact-washing a vehicle. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20080232958 | SPIRAL BLOWER - A dryer blower for carwash facilities comprising a volute housing for an impeller having an axial intake and a tangential air outlet. The volute housing is characterized by a spiral channel of increasing cross-sectional area as a result of an increasing width and substantially constant radial dimension. The spiral housing terminates in a long, narrow output to create an air knife which effectively strips water from the surfaces of a just washed vehicle. The housing can be asymmetric or symmetric and housings can be arranged in side by side tandem to create additional length in the air outlet. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080230539 | CHEMICAL MIXING STATION - A molded plastic mixing station housing for mixing water and chemical for car wash applications comprises a generally right hexahedron having a deep top recess which visually divides the housing into parallel spaced apart towers. A cylindrical mixing reservoir is recessed into the front of the housing such that a Hyrominder can be mounted in the top recess to overlie the open top of the mixing reservoir. A stand-off welt wraps around the entire housing just below the vertical center line to provide a stand-off feature for both wall mounting as well as the mounting of a control panel on one of the side surfaces of the housing. Mounting bracket slots are provided in the four upper corners of the housing for both wall mounting and control panel mounting. A deep recess runs down the back side to provide space for an overflow tube. The housing is preferably rotocast from high density polyethylene and may be color coded to match with the supply for a particular chemical. | 09-25-2008 |
