Vehicle Washing Apparatus (Patent No: 876202)

Inventor: Carroll, James A.

Location: Edmonton

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a vehicle washing apparatus of the type wherein the vehicle to be washed is advanced through the apparatus along a predetermined path, the combination of a carriage; a rotary cleaning device; means supporting said cleaning device on said carriage for rotation about an at least generally upright axis; drive means operatively connected to said cleaning device to rotate the same; means mounting said carriage at one side of the predetermined path for rectilinear movement toward and away from the predetermined path along a line which diverges from the predetermined path; rectilinear power means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the same toward the predetermined path at a predetermined rate; and control means for energizing and deenergizing said power means.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the disposition and freedom of rectilinear movement of said carriage is such that said rotary cleaning device can engage the central portion of the front of a vehicle approaching along the predetermined path, and said drive means is operative to rotate said cleaning device in a direction such that, when said cleaning device is engaged with the front of the vehicle, rotation of said cleaning device tends to cause the same to travel along the vehicle in a direction to move said carriage away from the predetermined path.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said rectilinear power means comprises a fluid pressure-operated motor equipped with first means for supplying fluid at a higher pressure, to cause said motor to drive said carriage toward' the predetermined path, and second means for supplying fluid at a lower pressure to bias said motor in the opposite direction, whereby said motor can overcome frictional forces tending to resist movement of said carriage and engagement of said cleaning device with the vehicle can cause said carriage to move away from the predetermined path when said motor is not operated to drive said carriage.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said means supporting said cleaning device comprises an arm, pivot means mounting said arm on said carriage for swinging movement about an at least generally upright axis, said arm extending from said carriage toward the predetermined path, and bearing means located at the end of said arm opposite said pivot means and rotatably supporting said rotary cleaning device; the apparatus further comprising first means for limiting swinging movement of said arm in that direction which is generally the direction of movement of the vehicle being washed; and second means for limiting swinging movement of said arm in the opposite direction.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said second means comprises means yie1dab1y resisting swinging movement of said arm in said opposite direction and thereby assuring positive engagement of said rotary cleaning device with the vehicle being washed.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein the combined effective lengths of said carriage and said arm are such that, when said carriage has been moved toward the predetermined path to a predetermined extent, said rotary cleaning device will engage the central portion of the front of a vehicle approaching along the predetermined path, such engagement resulting in swinging movement of said arm generally in the direction of travel of the vehicle, followed by movement of said carriage away from the predetermined path until the rotary cleaning device rounds the corresponding corner of the vehicle and said control means is operative to energize said power means, to initiate movement of said carriage toward the predetermined path, in response to swinging movement of said arm in said opposite direction, such swinging movement resulting as said cleaning device rounds the corner of the vehicle and engages the side of the vehicle.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said line of rectilinear movement of said carriage diverges from the predetermined path at an angle of 15-85°.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein said line of rectilinear movement of said carriage diverges from the predetermined path at an angle of approximately 45°.

9. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said drive means is operative to rotate said cleaning device in a direction such that, when said cleaning device is engaged with the front of the vehicle, rotation of said cleaning device tends to cause the same to travel along the vehicle in a direction to move said carriage in said opposite direction.

10. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said second means is constructed and arranged to move said arm to the limit established by said first means, whereby when the vehicle being washed has advanced to a point where said rotary cleaning device is at the corresponding rear corner of the vehicle, said second means swings said arm to maintain said rotary cleaning device in engagement with the rear of the vehicle until said rotary cleaning device has reached the central portion of the rear of the vehicle.

11. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said second means is a fluid pressure-biased expansible chamber device connected between said arm and said carriage.