Apparatus for controlling the movements of a roller-like horizontal rotary washing brush in motor vehicle washing apparatus

Claim 1

In an apparatus for controlling the movements of a roller-like horizontal rotary washing brush in a motor vehicle washing apparatus which includes a portal assembly supported for movement relative to a vehicle to be washed, said portal assembly having vertical guide rails, having a carriage guided for vertical movement in each said guide rail, and having rotary mountings which rotatably support respective ends of said horizontal washing brush and are each supported vertically movably by a respective said carriage which is guided in a said vertical guide rail, which includes first means for supporting said washing brush in such a way that it can be deflected in the direction of said relative movement of the vehicle against a return force, and which includes a control motor operatively coupled to said carriages and switching means responsive to said deflection of said washing brush for controlling said control motor which is operatively connected to said carriages, the improvement comprising wherein said first means includes a swinging arm, one of said rotary mountings being arranged at a lower end of said swinging arm and the upper end of said swinging arm being supported on said carriage associated with said one rotary mounting for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis member which extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said washing brush, wherein the other said rotary mounting is rigidly connected to said carriage associated therewith, and wherein said switching means is disposed in the region of said swinging arm and pivot axis member.