Vehicle wrap-around cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

A vehicle washing apparatus comprising a. supporting frame means along a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed, b. a first arm pivotally mounted at one end to said frame means at a point outside the path of the vehicle, c. a second arm pivotally connected adjacent one end to the opposite end of said first arm, d. rotatable brush means mounted at the opposite end of said second arm, said brush means being adapted to move across the front, along the side and across the back of a vehicle, e. a first tension means connected to said first arm and said frame means to normally maintain said first arm in a position extending generally along said path at one side thereof, f. a second tension means connected to said first arm and said second arm to normally maintain said second arm in a position extending generally transversely of said path whereby said brush means is in a position to be contacted by a vehicle moving along said path, g. and compression bearing means positioned between said one end of said second arm and said first arm to limit the relative movement between said arms in one direction and to urge said second arm back towards its normal position with respect to said first arm after said second arm has been moved out of its normal position through initial contact of said brush means by a vehicle moving along said path.

Claim 3

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second tensioning means comprise tension springs.

Claim 4

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 2 which includes means for adjusting the tension of each of said first and second tension springs.

Claim 5

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said compression biasing means comprises a compression spring attached to one of said arms.

Claim 6

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a damping cylinder connected between said first arm and said second arm.

Claim 7

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 5 which includes a plate having an elongated slot therein mounted on one of said arms and means connecting one end of said cylinder to said slot to permit said second arm to move a distance corresponding to the length of said slot prior to said damping cylinder taking effect.

Claim 8

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arms when in their normal position prior to contact with a vehicle are in generally perpendicular relation with respect to each other.

Claim 9

A vehicle washing apparatus comprising a. a supporting frame means extending along each side of a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed, b. a pair or rotary brush assemblies disposed directly opposite each other along said path, c. each said brush assembly including a first arm pivotally mounted at one end to said frame means at a point outside said path, d. a second arm pivotally connected adjacent one end to the opposite end of said first arm, e. rotatable brush means mounted at the opposite end of said second arm, said brush means being adapted to move across the front, along the side and across the back of a vehicle, f. a first tension means connected to said first arm and said frame means to normally maintain said first arm in a position extending generally along said path at one side thereof, g. a second tension means connected to said first arm and said second arm to normally maintain said second arm in a position extending generally transversely of said path whereby said brush means is in a position to be contacted by a vehicle moving along said path, h. and compression bearing means positioned between said one end of said second arm and said first arm to limit the relative movement between said arms in one direction and to urge said second arm back towards its normal position with respect to said first arm after said second arm has been moved out of its normal position through initial contact of said brush means by a vehicle moving along said path.

Claim 10

A vehicle washing apparatus comprising a. a supporting frame means extending along each side of a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed, b. a pair or rotary brush assemblies disposed directly opposite each other along said path, c. each said brush assembly including a first arm pivotally mounted at one end to said frame means at a point outside said path, d. a second arm pivotally connected adjacent one end to the opposite end of said first arm, e. rotatable brush means mounted at the opposite end of said second arm, said brush means being adapted to move across the front, along the side and across the back of a vehicle, f. a first tension means connected to said first arm and said frame means to normally maintain said first arm in a position extending generally along said path at one side thereof, g. a second tension means connected to said first arm and said second arm to normally maintain said second arm in a position extending generally transversely of said path whereby said brush means is in a position to be contacted by a vehicle moving along said path, h. and compression bearing means positioned between said one end of said second arm and said first arm to limit the relative movement between said arms in one direction and to urge said second arm back towards its normal position with respect to said first arm after said second arm has been moved out of its normal position through initial contact of said brush means by a vehicle moving along said path.

Claim 11

A vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said brush means are normally in overlapping relation with respect to each other prior to being contacted by a vehicle moving along said path.