Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A vehicle washing machine comprising: a machine frame defining an opening for receiving said vehicle; a brushing system mounted to said machine frame and adapted to engage said vehicle upon passage of said vehicle therethrough, said brush system including a pair of said brushes disposed on either side of said opening; brush support means supporting said side brushes so as to engage the vehicle sides as said vehicle passes through said opening said support means including a corresponding pair of swing frames mounting a respective brush in each of said swing frames for rotation about an axis thereon; said support means further including means pivotally mounting each of said swing frames so as to swing into and out of said opening about a pivot axis parallel to said axis of rotation of said brushes means drivingly connecting each of said swing frames to each other, said means being nonextensible under pressure exerted by said brushes, causing said swing frames to pivot together about each of said pivotal support means in a side-to-side movement to accommodate off-centering of said vehicle; means for varying the length of said means drivingly connecting said swing frames, whereby said gap between said brushes may be adjusted and said vehicle washing machine is adapted to accommodate vehicles of varying widths while allowing centering side-to-side movment of said brushes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A vehicle washing machine comprising: a machine frame defining an opening for receiving said vehicle; a brushing system mounted to said machine frame and adapted to engage said vehicle upon passage of said vehicle therethrough, said brush system including a pair of said brushes disposed on either side of said opening; brush support means supporting said side brushes so as to engage the vehicle sides as said vehicle passes through said opening said support means including a corresponding pair of swing frames mounting a respective brush in each of said swing frames for rotation about an axis thereon; said support means further including means pivotally mounting each of said swing frames so as to swing into and out of said opening about a pivot axis parallel to said axis of rotation of said brushes means drivingly connecting each of said swing frames to each other, said means being nonextensible under pressure exerted by said brushes, causing said swing frames to pivot together about each of said pivotal support means in a side-to-side movement to accommodate off-centering of said vehicle; means for varying the length of said means drivingly connecting said swing frames, whereby said gap between said brushes may be adjusted and said vehicle washing machine is adapted to accommodate vehicles of varying widths while allowing centering side-to-side movment of said brushes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said means mounting said swing frames inclines said swing frames at an angle to the horizontal, whereby the weight of said brushes biases said movement of said brushes downwardly and outwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 2 wherein said means mounting said swing frames includes spring means biasing said pivot frame assemblies inwardly towards said central opening, whereby said gravity bias is countered by said spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said means drivingly connecting together said swing frames comprises a cable means and a power cylinder connected to said cable means and wherein operation of said power cylinder causes extension or retraction of said cable means whereby said spacing of said brushes may thereby be varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 4 wherein said cable-cylinder combination includes flexible cable means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 4 wherein said means mounting said swing frames includes means mounting said swing frames for pivotal movement along axes inclined to the horizontal, whereby the weight of said brush assemblies biases said swing frame movement outward from said central opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 6 further including resilient bias means connecting on said swing frames to bias said frames oppositely to said bias produced by said weight of said brushes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 7 wherein said resilient bias means includes damping means damping pivotal movements of said means of said pivot frames about said pivotal mounting, thereby movements of said brush assemblies in response to creations in said vehicle contours may be damped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said swing frames carries drive means for rotating said brush on said swing frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The vehicle washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said swing frame includes means adjustably securing one end of said pivot swing frame on said vehicle washing machine frame, whereby the position of the brush axes may be adjusted.