Patent US3840931A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3840931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Drive through car wash with double pivoted spring connected side brush arrangement
Assignee: BIVENS WINCHESTER CORP
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Filing: 1973-09-26
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-09-26
Abstract
Abstract Vehicle washing apparatus including a pair of wrap-around side brushes pivotally mounted on overhead pivotal support arms which extend across a vehicle wash lane through which a vehicle is caused to progress. The brush pivot arms are interconnected by means of a tension spring and further are resiliently urged toward one side of the wash lane by means of a counterweight and cable assembly. As the vehicle engages the brushes, progress of the vehicle through the wash lane causes the brushes to separate while the vehicle passes therebetween and to remerge across the rear of the vehicle, thus, to wash front, sides, and rear of the vehicle in one pass. The mechanical biasing arrangement completely eliminates any need for electromechanical hydraulic or pneumatic control devices.
Inventors
- 👤 D Bivens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; B60S3/063; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Vehicle washing apparatus of the type for washing the vertical surfaces of a vehicle in a wash lane comprising: a first substantially vertical brush pivotally mounted in the wash lane for displacement across the lane, a second substantially vertical brush pivotally mounted in the wash lane and normally closed adjacent the first brush for displacement across the lane, first biasing means resiliently urging the brushes toward one another, second biasing means resiliently urging the brushes toward a rest position on one side of the wash lane where the first brush engages a side surface of a vehicle in the wash lane and approaching the brushes and the second brush engages the front surface of the vehicle, and means for producing relative displacement between the vehicle and the brushes to cause the vehicle to separate and pass between said brushes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Vehicle washing apparatus of the type for washing the vertical surfaces of a vehicle in a wash lane comprising: a first substantially vertical brush pivotally mounted in the wash lane for displacement across the lane, a second substantially vertical brush pivotally mounted in the wash lane and normally closed adjacent the first brush for displacement across the lane, first biasing means resiliently urging the brushes toward one another, second biasing means resiliently urging the brushes toward a rest position on one side of the wash lane where the first brush engages a side surface of a vehicle in the wash lane and approaching the brushes and the second brush engages the front surface of the vehicle, and means for producing relative displacement between the vehicle and the brushes to cause the vehicle to separate and pass between said brushes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Vehicle washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first brush further comprises a first pivot arm extending over and across the wash lane for providing angular pivotal displacement of the brush, the second brush further includes a second pivot arm extending over and across the wash lane and supporting the second brush in parallel spaced relationship to the first brush, and means for producing rotation of the brushes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Vehicle washing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the first pivot arm is longer than the second pivot arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Vehicle washing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the first biasing means comprises a spring connected between said pivot arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Vehicle washing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second biasing means comprises means for resiliently urging the brushes to a closely spaced position which is substantially on the opposite side of the wash lane as the pivot axes of the pivot arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Vehicle washing apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the second biasing means comprises a counterweight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for producing comprises means engaging the vehicle for displacing the vehicle along the wash lane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
Vehicle washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first brush further comprises a substantially horizontally disposed overhead pivot arm having a pivot axis adjacent one side of the wash lane, said second brush comprises a second substantially horizontal overhead pivot arm having a pivot axis on the same side of the wash lane as the pivot axis for the first pivot arm, but spaced along said wash lane in the direction of vehicle progress therethrough, said first pivot arm being longer than said second pivot arm and said second biasing means being such as to urge the brushes toward a rest position which is opposite the side of the wash lane as the pivot arm axes, the resilient urging force provided by said first biasing means being greater than the force provided by said first biasing means whenever said brushes are fully separated from one another by the presence of a vehicle therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3522619A
Cited
GB1243230A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |