Vehicle cleaning system

Claim 1

Apparatus for cleaning the exterior surfaces of a vehicle or the like traveling along a path extending through first and second spaced-apart locations therein, comprising heating means containing a supply of water heated to a preselected temperature and subject to a relatively low pressure, a detergent tank interconnected with said heating means and containing a supply of detergent liquid, deionizing means for establishing a supply of de-ionized water, a first manifold fixedly straddling said path at said first location for presenting a curtain of heated detergent liquid to said vehicle, a second manifold movably disposed above said path and between said locations for circumambulating said vehicle, a third manifold movably interconnected and disposed with said second manifold above said path and between said locations for circumambulating said vehicle, a presoak fluid control valve interconnecting said heater and tank with said first manifold, a first pressuring means interconnected with said heater, a second pressuring means interconnecting said tank and said first pressuring means, a third pressuring means interconnecting said deionizing means and said third manifold, a cleaning fluid control valve interconnecting said first pressuring means and said second manifold, fIrst switch means for opening said presoak fluid control valve in response to the approach of said vehicle to said first location, second switch means for closing said presoak fluid control valve in response to the arrival of said vehicle at said second location and opening said cleaning fluid control valve and for energizing said first, second and third pressuring means in predetermined operating sequence in response to the arrival of said vehicle at said second location, and traveling means responsive to said second switch means for lowering and raising said second and third manifolds about said vehicle in correlation with said operating sequence.