Vehicle washing apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a frame, a carriage mounted for rotation on the frame about a horizontal axis and disposed in the path of travel of the vehicle as it moves Through the apparatus, liquid ejection means mounted on the carriage and facing to the rear in a direction toward the approaching vehicle for discharging high pressure liquid against the surface of the vehicle, guide means disposed on the carriage and facing to the rear in the direction toward the approaching vehicle and disposed to ride over the surface of the vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, means for mounting the carriage for movement in a vertical plane to permit the carriage to ride over the upper surface of the vehicle, and means for moving the carriage in a generally horizontal plane, said last named means being operable to move the carriage in a first forward stroke of movement as the vehicle approaches the carriage to thereby enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean the forward surfaces of the vehicle, and said last named means being operable as said carriage rides down the rear surface of the vehicle to move the carriage in a second forward stroke of movement to enable the carriage to follow the rear of the vehicle and effectively clean the rear surfaces thereof.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a frame, a carriage mounted for rotation on the frame about a horizontal axis and disposed in the path of travel of the vehicle, liquid ejection means mounted on the carriage and facing rearwardly in a direction towards the approaching vehicle for ejecting high pressure cleaning liquid against the surface of the vehicle, guide means disposed on the carriage and facing rearwardly and disposed to be engaged by the vehicle and ride over the upper surface of the vehicle as the vehicles moves through the apparatus, means for mounting the frame for movement in a vertical plane so that the carriage can follow the contour of the vehicle, means responsive to the vehicle approaching the carriage for moving the carriage forwardly in accordance with forward movement of the vehicle in a first forward stroke of movement to enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean the front surfaces of the vehicle, and means responsive to the carriage riding down the rear of the vehicle to a predetermined position for moving the carriage forwardly in a second stroke of movement to follow the rear surface of the vehicle and enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean said rear surfaces.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a frame, a carriage mounted for rotation on the frame about a horizontal axis and disposed in the path of travel of the vehicle, liquid ejection means mounted on the carriage and facing rearwardly in a direction towards the approaching vehicle for ejecting high pressure cleaning liquid against the surface of the vehicle, guide means disposed on the carriage and facing rearwardly and disposed to be engaged by the vehicle and ride over the upper surface of the vehicle as the vehicles moves through the apparatus, means for mounting the frame for movement in a vertical plane so that the carriage can follow the contour of the vehicle, means responsive to the vehicle approaching the carriage for moving the carriage forwardly in accordance with forward movement of the vehicle in a first forward stroke of movement to enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean the front surfaces of the vehicle, and means responsive to the carriage riding down the rear of the vehicle to a predetermined position for moving the carriage forwardly in a second stroke of movement to follow the rear surface of the vehicle and enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean said rear surfaces.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a series of wheels journaled about horizontal axes.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said wheels are disposed in at least two vertically aligned rows with the axes of the wheels in one row being vertically offset from the axes of the wheels in adjacent rows.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ejection means comprises a series of rotatable spray nozzles.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rotatable spray nozzle comprises a body mounted for rotation with respect to the carriage, a series of arms extending generally radially from the body, a discharge nozzle connected to the outer end of each arm, and means for rotating said body.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the axes of the discharge nozzles are disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation of the body to thereby increase the pattern of discharge of the nozzles.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ejection means includes a series of arms mounted for oscillating motion with respect to the carriage, and a series of rotatable spray nozzles mounted on said arms.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid ejection means comprises a pair of arms mounted for oscillating movement on said carriage, a plurality of liquid spray nozzles mounted for rotation on each arm, drive means on the carriage, first connecting means connecting the drive means to the nozzles to rotate the nozzles, and second connecting means connecting the drive means with each arm for oscillating the arms with respect to the carriage.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a pair of trunnions and the side portions of the carriage are mounted for rotation with respect to said trunnions.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said carriage includes a central supporting structure and a shaft extends outwardly from each end of the supporting structure and is journaled for rotation in one of said trunnions.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11, and including means connected through one of said shafts for supplying cleaning liquid to said liquid ejection means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1, and including counterbalancing means for counterbalancing at least a substantial portion of the weight of the frame and carriage.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a supporting structure, means for mounting the supporting structure for movement in a substantially vertical plane, a carriage mounted on the supporting structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, said carriage including a frame member, a series of rotatable guide members mounted for rotation on said frame member about axes transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, said guide members facing rearwardly in the direction toward the approaching vehicle, a series of rotatable spray nozzles mounted on the frame member of the carriage and facing rearwardly and disposed to discharge a high pressure cleaning liquid against the surface of the vehicle, and drive means mounted on the carriage for rotating said spray nozzles, said carriage arranged to ride over the top surface of the vehicle as the vehicle passes through the apparatus with said liquid being discharged through said nozzles to effectively clean the front, upper and rear surfaces of the vehicle as the carriage rides thereover, said carriage pivoting with respect to the supporting structure as the carriage rides over the vehicle and said carriage being displaced approximately 180* from its original position at the end of the washing cycle, whereby said guide members and said spray nozzles face forwardly.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a supporting structure, means for mounting the supporting structure for movement in a substantially vertical plane, a carriage mounted on the supporting structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, said carriage including a frame member, a series of rotatable guide members mounted for rotation on said frame member about axes transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, said guide members facing rearwardly in the direction toward the approaching vehicle, a series of rotatable spray nozzles mounted on the frame member of the carriage and facing rearwardly and disposed to discharge a high pressure cleaning liquid against the surface of the vehicle, and drive means mounted on the carriage for rotating said spray nozzles, said carriage arranged to ride over the top surface of the vehicle as the vehicle passes through the apparatus with said liquid being discharged through said nozzles to effectively clean the front, upper and rear surfaces of the vehicle as the carriage rides thereover, said carriage pivoting with respect to the supporting structure as the carriage rides over the vehicle and said carriage being displaced approximately 180* from its original position at the end of the washing cycle, whereby said guide members and said spray nozzles face forwardly.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said supporting structure includes a pair of trunnions and a shaft extends outwardly from each end of the frame member of the carriage and is journaled in one of said trunnions, said apparatus also including means connected through one of said shafts for supplying cleaning liquid to the spray nozzles, and means connected through the other of said shafts for supplying hydraulic fluid to said drive means.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14, and including a pair of arms mounted for oscillating movement on the frame member of the carriage, said nozzles being mounted for rotation on said arms, and means interconnecting the drive means and said arms for oscillating the arms with respect to the frame member.

Claim 20

The structure of the apparatus of claim 14, and including a foundation to support the supporting structure and means for positioning the carriage above the foundation at the start and completion of the washing cycle.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 14, and including means for moving the carriage in a generally horizontal plane whereby the carriage can follow ahead of the front of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the apparatus and the carriage can follow the rear of the vehicle as the vehicle as the vehicle moves past the apparatus.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 2, and including means responsive to the vehicle approaching the carriage for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection means.

Claim 23

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a frame, a carriage mounted for rotation on the frame about a horizontal axis and disposed in the path of travel of the vehicle, liquid ejection means mounted on the carriage and facing rearwardly in a direction toward the approaching vehicle for ejecting high pressure cleaning liquid against the surface of the vehicle, guide means disposed on the carriage and facing rearwardly and disposed to be engaged by the vehicle and ride over the upper surface of The vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, means for mounting the frame for movement in a vertical plane so that the carriage can follow the contour of the vehicle, means responsive to the vehicle approaching the carriage for moving the carriage from its original position in a forward stroke of movement in the direction of vehicle travel to a second forward position to enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean the front surfaces of the vehicle, means responsive to the carriage being elevated to a given position for moving the carriage in a rearward stroke of movement to position the carriage in a third rear position to the rear of said original position, and means responsive to the carriage riding down along the rear surface of the vehicle to a predetermined level for moving the carriage in a second forward stroke of movement to return the carriage to its original position and enable the carriage to follow the rear surface of the moving vehicle.

Claim 24

In an apparatus for washing a vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, a frame, a carriage mounted for rotation on the frame about a horizontal axis and disposed in the path of travel of the vehicle, liquid ejection means mounted on the carriage and facing rearwardly in a direction toward the approaching vehicle for ejecting high pressure cleaning liquid against the surface of the vehicle, guide means disposed on the carriage and facing rearwardly and disposed to be engaged by the vehicle and ride over the upper surface of The vehicle as the vehicle moves through the apparatus, means for mounting the frame for movement in a vertical plane so that the carriage can follow the contour of the vehicle, means responsive to the vehicle approaching the carriage for moving the carriage from its original position in a forward stroke of movement in the direction of vehicle travel to a second forward position to enable the liquid ejection means to effectively clean the front surfaces of the vehicle, means responsive to the carriage being elevated to a given position for moving the carriage in a rearward stroke of movement to position the carriage in a third rear position to the rear of said original position, and means responsive to the carriage riding down along the rear surface of the vehicle to a predetermined level for moving the carriage in a second forward stroke of movement to return the carriage to its original position and enable the carriage to follow the rear surface of the moving vehicle.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 14, and including means for rotating the carriage approximately 180* at the completion of the washing cycle to reposition the guide members and spray nozzles in a rearward facing position.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for rotating the carriage comprises a counterweight.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for rotating the carriage comprises a pair of counterweights, one of said counterweights being positioned to initiate rotation of the carriage from the displaced position to the original position and the other of the counterweights being arranged to provide an increased speed of rotation for the carriage after said initial rotation.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 23, and including stop means mounted on the supporting structure and disposed to be engaged by the carriage to limit the return rotational movement of the carriage and locate the carriage in its original position.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 14, and including static balance means for providing a static balance for the carriage when it is in its original position to maintain said spray nozzles in a substantially vertical plane.