Abstract: In this method for washing motor vehicles in a gantry-type washing installation with two movable gantries, washing is performed with a single pair of vertical brushes which wash between two horizontal brushes and are located on one of the two gantries. During a forward movement of the gantries, the washing process is commenced with the first horizontal brush in the front third of the vehicle, while the nose is washed with the two vertical brushes. Then the nose and the top of the vehicle approximately up to the rear third of the vehicle are washed with the second horizontal brush. The direction of travel of the gantries is reversed as soon as the tail wash has been executed with the two vertical brushes and before the second horizontal brush has reached the tail of the vehicle.

Abstract: With this device for positioning motor vehicles (F) in front of vehicle washing plants, especially portal washing plants, at least one transmitting-/receiving device (5, 6) in the portal is assigned to each terminating plane (E1, E2), which portal has a clear space of a predetermined clearance width (D), which clear space is delimited laterally by imaginary, substantially vertical terminating planes (E1, E2) extending in the direction of movement. Said transmitting-/receiving device emits signals, which extend substantially in the terminating plane (E1, E2) in the space in front of the portal (1), and receives said signals.

Abstract: In this method for washing motor vehicles in a gantry-type washing installation with two movable gantries, washing is performed with a single pair of vertical brushes which wash between two horizontal brushes and are located on one of the two gantries. During a forward movement of the gantries, the washing process is commenced with the first horizontal brush in the front third of the vehicle, while the nose is washed with the two vertical brushes. Then the nose and the top of the vehicle approximately up to the rear third of the vehicle are washed with the second horizontal brush. The direction of travel of the gantries is reversed as soon as the tail wash has been executed with the two vertical brushes and before the second horizontal brush has reached the tail of the vehicle.

Abstract: In this underbody washing device for motor vehicles, on a frame which is movable relative to the vehicle (F) in the latter's longitudinal direction (L) there are provided two pairs of spraying arms (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) fitted with multiple spray nozzles, which arms are each pivotably disposed about a vertical pivoting axis (A1, A2) near to the ground on opposing sides (1a, 1b) of the frame. To the spraying arms (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) are assigned actuating motors (6a, 6b), by means of which the spraying arms can be swung in under the base of the vehicle into their swung-in position running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (L) and swung out into a second, swung-out position running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (L).

Abstract: The vehicle washing installation comprises at least one conveyor chain (1) in the form of a sprocket chain, by means of which the vehicles are moved through the installation, and a plurality of treatment units arranged along the path of movement of the vehicle for washing and optionally drying the vehicle. At least one of the treatment units is mounted in a carrier adapted to move forwards synchronously with the vehicle over a path length and to be moved back by means of a resetting device to its starting position. The carrier can be coupled mechanically to the conveyor chain (1) for the forward movement. The coupling device comprises a coupling member (8) which can be brought into direct engagement with the conveyor chain (1). The coupling member (8) is of comb-like form and comprises a plurality of teeth (8a) spaced in the longitudinal direction (L) of the chain at a distance (b) from one another, with gaps (8b) therebetween.

Abstract: The vehicle drying or polishing apparatus is equipped with device moving the vehicle relative to the apparatus. A flexible, drivable, endless conveyor member (3) is guided in a horizontal plane above the path of the vehicle by a plurality of deviating wheels (7, 8) arranged on both longitudinal sides of the apparatus and rotating about vertical axes (V), and is provided with a plurality of narrow strips (5) of absorbent material, connected to the conveyor member and hanging down vertically therefrom, being movable by means of the conveyor member transverse to the path of relative movement of the vehicle. The conveyor member (3) has two strip-free sections (3a) whose respective lengths (L) correspond at least to the greatest vehicle width.