Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090199880 | MULTIPLE MANIFOLD SYSTEM FOR A ROLLOVER VEHICLE WASH SYSTEM - A vehicle washing system including a frame having an overhead section and a pair of generally opposing side support sections. The vehicle washing system includes an entrance and an exit side. The vehicle washing system also includes a plurality of rails that extend generally in the direction between the entrance side and the exit side. The frame linearly reciprocates along the plurality of rails to travel over a stationary vehicle. The frame has a first fluid dispensing device located in the half adjacent its entrance side and a second fluid dispensing device located adjacent its exit side. The first fluid dispensing device includes a plurality of manifolds each of which is in communication with a supply of fluid to apply fluid to the vehicle. The second fluid dispensing device includes a plurality of manifolds each of which is in communication with a supply of fluid to apply fluid to the vehicle. The vehicle washing system includes a control system that is in communication with each of the manifolds in the first fluid dispensing device and each of the manifolds of the second fluid dispensing device to selectively and independently control the type of fluid emitted from each of the manifolds and in what order during the vehicle cleaning process. | 08-13-2009 |
20090205148 | COUNTER-BALANCED TOP WHEEL FOR A VEHICLE WASH SYSTEM - A counter-balanced top wheel assembly for laundering a vehicle includes a frame. A brush support arm having a first end and a second end is pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the first end. A counterweight support arm having a first end and a second end is pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the first end. The second end of the brush support arm is in communication with a brush such that the brush extends over a vehicle bay to launder an exterior of the vehicle. The assembly includes a pulley mechanism with a strap connecting the brush support arm to the counterweight support arm. The brush support arm and the counterweight support arm extend away from the frame in the same direction. The assembly is configured such that the brush applies consistent weight to the exterior of the vehicle throughout its entire arc of travel. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205149 | VEHICLE WASH MITTER ASSEMBLY WITH OFFSET RACKS - A vehicle washing system includes an overhead car wash mitter assembly. The assembly includes a pair of side support structures and an overhead supporting structure extending between the side support structures. The overhead supporting structure includes a plurality of rows of racks with each row including a left side rack and a right side rack. The left side racks are moveable together and the right side racks are moveable together and independently of the left side racks. A first gap exists between one of the rows of racks. A second gap exists between another of the rows of racks. The first gap and the second gap are offset laterally from one another with respect to the direction of travel of a vehicle to eliminate any break or gap in cleaning coverage. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205150 | CAR WASH CLOTH ROLL ASSEMBLY - A cloth-type vehicle laundering implement includes a support mechanism consisting of a rotatable drive shaft and a plurality of generally parallel, adjacently arranged spacers mounted on the support mechanism. Each of the plurality of spacers includes a first face and a second face. The implement includes a plurality of individual circular fabric disk elements disposed between the first face of one of the plurality of spacers and the second face of another of the plurality of spacers. Each of the plurality of individual circular fabric disk elements extends outwardly beyond the spacers. Each of the individual circular fabric disk elements consists of a single piece of non-woven material having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The inner diameter is retained in a single plane by a securing mechanism such that more material is located adjacent the inner diameter than the outer diameter to provide a more rigid element. The outer diameter and the inner diameter consist of substantially the same linear length of material. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205261 | PLASTIC BEAM COVER - A vehicle wash system having a plurality of vehicle treatment components includes with at least one support member. The support member is constructed of a base material and has an outer surface. An elongated cover includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the elongated cover has a first color and a size and shape that substantially matches the outer surface of the support member. The elongated cover is readably engageable with the support member to protect it from contact with fluid and debris. The elongated cover is formed of a readably cleanable material such that fluid and debris can be easily wiped off of its exterior surface. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205691 | HIGH PRESSURE ARCH FOR A VEHICLE WASH SYSTEM - A vehicle treatment apparatus for a vehicle cleaning system includes a frame structure having a pair of vertical side supports that are secured to the ground and are spaced apart from one another. The pair of vertical side supports have a generally horizontal treatment member extending therebetween. The horizontal treatment member has a first end and a second end and is configured to communicate with a vehicle that passes thereunder. Each of the pair of vertical side supports include a retention mechanism formed therein for engaging a respective one of the first end and the second end of the generally horizontal treatment member. The generally horizontal treatment member is in communication with a controller to allow substantially vertical movement within each of the retention mechanism from a home position to at least one lower position where it communicates with the vehicle. The generally horizontal treatment member is in communication with a sensor to monitor application of a force thereto. If the force applied to the generally horizontal treatment member is greater than a predetermined minimum acceptable force, the generally horizontal treatment member moves vertically upward to the home position and automatically repositions the end in the event the force applied to the horizontal treatment member is sufficient to dislodge the ends from their retention mechanism. | 08-20-2009 |
20100212242 | PLASTIC BEAM COVER - A vehicle wash system having a plurality of vehicle treatment components includes with at least one support member. The support member is constructed of a base material and has an outer surface. An elongated cover includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the elongated cover has a first color and a size and shape that substantially matches the outer surface of the support member. The elongated cover is readably engageable with the support member to protect it from contact with fluid and debris. The elongated cover is formed of a readably cleanable material such that fluid and debris can be easily wiped off of its exterior surface. | 08-26-2010 |
20100275459 | EXTENDABLE NOZZLE FOR A VEHICLE DRYING APPARATUS - A dryer nozzle for a drying unit in a vehicle wash system includes a nozzle portion for emitting high velocity air to an exterior surface of a vehicle passing thereunder. The nozzle portion has an inner nozzle section and an outer nozzle section. The inner nozzle section and the outer nozzle section being configured such that they can be positioned one inside the other during operation. At least one of the inner nozzle section or the outer nozzle section can be extended and retraced as directed towards or away from said the surface of the vehicle. | 11-04-2010 |
20110033652 | PROTECTIVE BEAM COVERING - A vehicle wash system having a plurality of vehicle treatment components with one of the plurality of vehicle treatment components including at least one support member. The at least one support member has an exterior surface. A shrinkable sleeve is sized to fit over the exterior surface of the at least one support member. The shrinkable sleeve is slid onto the at least one support member and located in a predetermined position around the exterior surface. Upon application of heat to the shrinkable sleeve, it shrinks and conforms to the shape of the exterior surface of the at least one support member such that it is fixedly attached to the exterior surface of the at least one support member in the predetermined position. The result is a protective covering for the support member that is durable and readily cleanable such that fluid and debris can be easily wiped off of the covering and corrosion of the support member is minimized. | 02-10-2011 |
20110081849 | FLAP-TYPE ROTARY FINISHING DEVICE - A rotary finishing device including a generally circular hub having an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The outer periphery includes a plurality of slots formed thereabout, which are defined by a pair of side portions. The plurality of slots are generally uniformly spaced about the outer periphery of the hub. Each of the slots has at least one finishing sheet secured therein by an adhesive. | 04-07-2011 |
20120222328 | VEHICLE WASH DRYING SYSTEM - A drying station for a vehicle wash facility includes at least one rotatable drying wheel positioned adjacent a vehicle treatment area. The at least one rotatable drying wheel has a drying material disposed thereon and which can engage an exterior of the vehicle to remove water accumulated thereon. The drying station includes a beater device disposed adjacent the at least one rotatable drying wheel with the beater device and the drying wheel being engageable as the at least one rotatable drying wheel rotates. As the rotatable drying wheel spins, the drying material contacts the beater device to help minimize its level of saturation. | 09-06-2012 |
20130081569 | VEHICLE TIRE COATING APPARATUS - A tire coating apparatus for applying fluid to vehicle tires in a vehicle washing system, includes a pair of mechanical applicators, which each have at least one coating applicator disposed thereon for contacting the vehicle tires to apply the fluid. One mechanical applicator is intended to engage the tires on a right side of a vehicle while the other mechanical applicator is intended to engage the tires on a left side of the vehicle. The mechanical applicators also include a guide portion for guiding the vehicle wheel when a patron had elected not to have a coating fluid applied to the vehicle wheels. The mechanical applicators are rotatable between an initial position where the coating applicators are in a non-coating position to a second position where the coating applicators are intended to contact a vehicle tire. | 04-04-2013 |