Patent US4124194A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3650281A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3650281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic carwash apparatus
Assignee: Malsbary Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1968-12-24
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1988-12-24
Abstract
Abstract An automatic carwash apparatus of the type having a spray carriage moving around the vehicle on an oblong overhead track, with part or all of the spray onto the car being applied from a spray manifold attached to the carriage. All forms of the invention apply the spray in varying spray volume according to the particular surface portion of the vehicle being sprayed, and all are adapted to change from one spray fluid to another as the carriage circumnavigates the vehicle, for such steps as prewetting, soaping, rinsing and waxing. In a number of the embodiments, the spray means used for the top portions of the vehicle is independent of the spray means used for the sides and ends, with one such form having a reciprocal pivoting motion, another having a separate carriage reciprocating along a second track, and then having a second carriage moving along the same track as the first, and still another having spray arms rotating in a horizontal plane about a fixed point. In still another form, a single spray manifold is used, attached to the spray carriage and extending in a straight line in a plane generally normal to the path of the portion of the track being traversed. In the single straight line manifold form, the manifold may be horizontal, vertical, slanted, or swingable between vertical and horizontal positions. The straight line manifold is adapted in all forms of the invention to be pivoted for swinging reciprocation about its longitudinal axis to produce a swashing action of the spray against the car.
Inventors
- 👤 Mowatt M Hurst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles, comprising an overhead closed loop track, a carriage traversing said track to circumnavigate the vehicle, a first spray means carried by said carriage and having a plurality of spray nozzles arrayed thereon in a substantially straight line for impingement of spray against the sides and ends of the vehicle, and a second spray means not carried by said carriage and separate from said first spray means, said second spray means being suspended above the vehicle and formed for traversing and washing the top portions of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles, comprising an overhead closed loop track, a carriage traversing said track to circumnavigate the vehicle, a first spray means carried by said carriage and having a plurality of spray nozzles arrayed thereon in a substantially straight line for impingement of spray against the sides and ends of the vehicle, and a second spray means not carried by said carriage and separate from said first spray means, said second spray means being suspended above the vehicle and formed for traversing and washing the top portions of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 1 and wherein said first spray means includes valve control means responsive to movement of said carriage along said track, and formed to cause said first spray means to discharge a greater amount of fluid against a portion of the vehicle during traverse of said carriage of one portion of said track than during traverse of said carriage of another portion of said track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 2 and wherein said valve control means is formed to cause said first spray means to discharge a greater amount of fluid against a desired portion of the vehicle during said traverse of one portion of said track than said second spray means discharges against said top portions of said car.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 1 and wherein said plurality of nozzles on said first spray means are disposed within a substantially vertical plane, and said second spray means includes a plurality of nozzles arrayed thereon such that their array as translated through space during the washing operation describes a substantially horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 1, and wherein said second spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles all arrayed along a substantially straight line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 5 and wherein said second spray means includes a mechanism formed for changing the angle at which the spray is directed against the vehicle in a reciprocating fashion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for washing moTor vehicles as described in claim 6 and wherein said second spray means includes an elongated manifold supplied with fluid to be sprayed and having said nozzles arrayed therealong and communicating therewith, and said mechanism oscillates said nozzles about the longitudinal axis of said manifold for effecting said changing of the angle at which the spray is directed against the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 7 and wherein said manifold is mounted in a fixed but swingable position so that the spray therefrom impinges against the entire upper surface of the vehicle during one cycle of oscillation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 7 and wherein said second spray means includes a plurality of elongated manifolds oriented parallel to each other and having said nozzles arrayed therealong, said manifolds communicating with said nozzles to supply fluid thereto for spraying.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 7 and wherein said second spray means includes a second track supported above the vehicle, said second track having a substantially straight line path, a second carriage mounted on said second track for traversing motion to and fro therealong, and reversing mechanism for reversing the direction of motion of said carriage at each end of said second track, said manifold being carried by said second carriage for movement therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 10 and wherein said manifold extends substantially transversely to said second track.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 11 and wherein said manifold extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 11 and wherein said manifold extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 1 and wherein said spray means includes an elongated manifold suspended above the vehicle for freedom of rotation about a substantially vertical axis and bearing said spray thereon and communicating therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 14 and wherein said spray means includes a plurality of elongated manifolds each suspended above the vehicle and formed for rotation about a substantially vertical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 7 and wherein said second spray means includes a second carriage traversing said track to circumnavigate the vehicle, an elongated manifold carried by said second carriage and extending outwardly over said vehicle, and spray nozzles arrayed along said second manifold and communicating therewith to impinge a spray of liquid against the vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 16 and wherein said second carriage is kept spaced substantially halfway around said track from said first carriage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for washing motor vehicles as described in claim 17 and wherein said apparatus includes a drive means for moving said first and second carriages along said track, said drive means comprising a drive motor and a flexible loop member driven by said motor and disposed along said track, said first and second carriages being attached to said loop member for simultaneous advancement thereby.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |