US3559659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle cleaning apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-07-31
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-07-31
Abstract
Abstract Vehicle cleaning apparatus including a selectively operable nozzle adapted to provide a high-pressure stream of cleaning fluid to a vehicle''s outer surface and a motor for oscillating said nozzle in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle. The nozzle apparatus takes several forms including a nozzle pivotally supported overhead but movable rectilinearly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In another form a plurality of nozzles are pivotally supported overhead of a vehicle, the support being movable rectilinearly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle so as to provide a highpressure cleaning fluid spray to all portions of the top of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry K Gougoulas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus comprising: first means including selectively operable nozzle means adapted to provide a highpressure stream of cleaning fluid to a vehicle''s outer surface; second means for oscillating said first means transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and third means for moving said second means in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle; and control means including a pair of fluid-operated cylinders adapted to selectively move said third means from a longitudinally forward limit of movement to a longitudinally rearward limit of movement and then forward from said rearward limit of movement to an intermediate poised position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus comprising: first means including selectively operable nozzle means adapted to provide a highpressure stream of cleaning fluid to a vehicle''s outer surface; second means for oscillating said first means transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and third means for moving said second means in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle; and control means including a pair of fluid-operated cylinders adapted to selectively move said third means from a longitudinally forward limit of movement to a longitudinally rearward limit of movement and then forward from said rearward limit of movement to an intermediate poised position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 and further including means for oscillating a high-pressure stream of cleaning fluid vertically with respect to the side of a vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said oscillating means includes drive means for oscillating a plurality of nozzles vertically with respect to the vehicle being cleaned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said drive means is a fluid cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of nozzles are guided in their vertical travel by a contoured member extending upwardly from the ground in substantial parallelism with respect to the side of a vehicle being cleaned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first means includes a spray device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said spray device includes a plurality of nozzles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of nozzles includes a first nozzle means directed rearwardly toward a moving vehicle and a second nozzle means directed forwardly toward a moving vehicle, said second means including means for selecting one of said nozzles for operation at different points of movement of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first nozzle means is initially operatively positioned by the force of a moving vehicle acting against said third means and is later positioned by a force created by said first means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said third means includes a fluid cylinder responding to a pivoting of said second means to hold said second means at a predetermined angle relative to said third means in the travel of said third means from a rearwardmost position to a poised position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said second nozzle meanS is operatively positioned in sequence after said first nozzle means by said first and second means so that said third means moves from a poised position forwardly a predetermined distance, then moves backward past the position to the rear thereof, and finally is repositioned at the poised position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes means for pivoting said first means vertically with respect to a vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes means for pivoting said first means transversely of the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means includes an electric motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes a trolley.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said trolley is carried by a support that is movable with respect to said third means and a vehicle that is moving.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means is fixed with respect to said third means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes means for sensing the configuration of a vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means includes an arm extending toward the vehicle, and roller means mounted thereon adapted to contact the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said arm is supported by said second means in turn pivotable with respect to said third means, said roller means rolling over the top of a vehicle as it passes by the vehicle cleaning apparatus thereby keeping said first means in proximity to each portion of the top of the vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein second means for oscillation includes a rotatable means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said rotatable means includes a crank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said first means includes a member extending therefrom and engageable with said crank to swing said first means to and fro.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said second means is pivotally supported by third means for pivoting both laterally of a vehicle and along the longitudinal axis thereof, said second means including a plate carrying said rotatable means and said first means, said plate being pivotal laterally of a vehicle when said crank swings said first means to two extremes of movement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means for oscillation includes a translational movement generating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said translational movement generating means includes at least one air cylinder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said air cylinder is extendible and contractible to oscillate said first means in two directions from a centered position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said first means includes a pair of spaced nozzles mounted on a trolley of said second means, each of said nozzles having a forwardly and rearwardly directed outlet, said pair of spaced nozzles being driven in an oscillating manner transversely of a vehicle by an air cylinder mounted on a support pivotal with respect to a trolley of said third means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third means carries said first means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third means carries said first and second means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said third means includes a trolley movable along the longitudinal axis of a vehicle and said second means includes a trolley movable perpendicularly with respect to said third means, said first means being pivotable transversely with respect to said Second means and with respect to the vehicle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said first means is fixed with respect to said second means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third means includes a trolley.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
63 words
Vehicle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of fluid cylinders are disposed in parallel and said third means includes a pivotable lever means acting against a rectilinearly movable trolley, a first cylinder of said pair being situated further from the pivot point of said lever than the second cylinder to induce more travel in said trolley than said first cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |