Patent US4788993A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4788993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicle reciprocating spray washing apparatus
Assignee: Sherman Industries LLC
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Filing: 1986-06-23
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2006-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Vehicle washing apparatus positioned above or at the side of the path followed by a vehicle to be washed. For side washing apparatus, pairs of spaced nozzles are reciprocated in a vertical plane to provide vertical coverage. The nozzles of a pair are angled toward each other, so that one nozzle sprays the front of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches, both nozzles spray the side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes, and the other nozzle sprays the rear of the vehicle as it departs. For top washing apparatus, the pairs of spaced nozzles are reciprocated in a horizontal plane to provide horizontal coverage. The angle nozzles contribute to the washing of the front and rear of a vehicle in addition to washing the top surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl C. Beer
- 👤 C. Lee Hewitt
- 👤 Sherman Larson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
Vehicle washing apparatus for washing a moving vehicle comprising: a support frame; a first member longitudinally elongated and mounted on said support frame for pivotal movement about a first transverse axis; first and second nozzles secured to said first elongated member at spaced apart points; a second member longitudinally elongated and mounted on said support frame for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis; third and fourth nozzles secured to said second elongated member at spaced apart points; drive means for reciprocating said first and second elongated members about said first and second transverse axes, respectively, to move each entire nozzle vertically along a path defined by an arc; a fluid source; and means for conducting fluid from said fluid source to said nozzles whereby the nozzles are positioned on the respective first and second members and the first and second members are pivoted so that the fluid substantially covers a portion of the vehicles three dimensional surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
Vehicle washing apparatus for washing a moving vehicle comprising: a support frame; a first member longitudinally elongated and mounted on said support frame for pivotal movement about a first transverse axis; first and second nozzles secured to said first elongated member at spaced apart points; a second member longitudinally elongated and mounted on said support frame for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis; third and fourth nozzles secured to said second elongated member at spaced apart points; drive means for reciprocating said first and second elongated members about said first and second transverse axes, respectively, to move each entire nozzle vertically along a path defined by an arc; a fluid source; and means for conducting fluid from said fluid source to said nozzles whereby the nozzles are positioned on the respective first and second members and the first and second members are pivoted so that the fluid substantially covers a portion of the vehicles three dimensional surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second elongated members reciprocate within a common vertical plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first and third nozzles are aligned vertically and said second and fourth nozzles are aligned vertically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said center lines of said first and third nozzles are parallel and said center lines of said second and fourth nozzles are parallel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said drive means include: (a) a source of rotary movement, (b) a first linkage between said source of rotary movement and one of said elongated members, and (c) a second straight-line linkage between said elongated members which is parallel to and of equal length with a straight line between said first and second axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said support frame includes a splash plate having cut-outs corresponding to the paths of movement of said reciprocating nozzles and through which said nozzles project.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drive means are mounted on said support frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said elongated members are tubular, said nozzles are connected to open ends of said elongated members, and said fluid is conducted to the interiors of said elongated members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drive means are mounted on said support frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A car washing system comprising: a first and a second vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 2 positioned on both sides of a path along which a vehicle to be washed moves; said second vehicle washing apparatus facing said first vehicle washing apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A car washing system according to claim 10 wherein said first and second vehicle washing apparatus are positioned opposite one another and said system includes means for synchronizing the reciprocations of opposed nozzles to be 180° out of phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A car washing system according to claim 11 further including a third vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 13 positioned above said path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second elongated members reciprocate within a common horizontal plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first and third nozzles are aligned horizontally and said second and fourth nozzles are aligned horizontally.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said center lines of said first and third nozzles are parallel and said center lines of said second and fourth nozzles are parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said drive means include: (a) a source of rotary movement, (b) a first linkage between said source of rotary movement and one of said elongated members, and (c) a second straight-line linkage between said elongated members which is parallel to and of equal length with a straight line between said first and second axes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said elongated members are tubular, said nozzles are connected to open ends of said elongated members, and said fluid is conducted to the interiors of said elongated members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the center lines of said first and second nozzles angle toward each other in a plane perpendicular to the plane within which said first elongated member mover and the center lines of said third and fourth nozzles angle toward each other in a plane perpendicular to the plane within which said second elongated member moves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-06 | 1992-06-06 | 1992-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-06 | 1996-06-06 | 1996-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-06 | 2000-06-06 | 2000-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |