Abstract: A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator assembly comprises a linearly arranged series of toroidally-shaped plastic rollers having one or more beveled edges and reinforced for shape retaining purposes by pins which extend axially through the bodies of the elements outboard of a center opening which is adapted to receive a support shaft.

Abstract: A rotary spray washer for heavy duty applications. Each spray device in the system comprises a rotary coupling and two sets of radially extending spray arms. Each set of arms has nozzles at the distal ends to direct water generally toward a target area but angled enough to produce a rotation-producing reaction torque. One set of arms is longer than the other whereby the shorter arms produce a reaction torque which limits the overall speed of rotation without the need for a friction brake or fluid pump brake.

Abstract: A molded plastic mixing station housing for mixing water and chemical for car wash applications comprises a generally right hexahedron having a deep top recess which visually divides the housing into parallel spaced apart towers. A cylindrical mixing reservoir is recessed into the front of the housing such that a Hyrominder can be mounted in the top recess to overlie the open top of the mixing reservoir. A stand-off welt wraps around the entire housing just below the vertical center line to provide a stand-off feature for both wall mounting as well as the mounting of a control panel on one of the side surfaces of the housing. Mounting bracket slots are provided in the four upper corners of the housing for both wall mounting and control panel mounting. A deep recess runs down the back side to provide space for an overflow tube. The housing is preferably rotocast from high density polyethylene and may be color coded to match with the supply for a particular chemical.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator comprises a support shaft mounted between the ends of a bracket and a plurality of tire dressing applicator foam rollers mounted on the shaft for rotation both with the shaft and in unison with one another and, as necessary when contacting a tire sidewall, relative to the shalt itself to prevent and/or reduce unnecessary roller wear. A drizzle-type system of dressing dispenser pipes drizzles dressing onto the outside surfaces of the rollers and a felt flap spreads the dressing and prevents waste which is characteristic of spray type systems. A quick-release mechanism associated with one end of the roller shaft where it is connected to the bracket permits the shaft to be released for the purpose of replacing worn rollers. Individual rollers are constructed using hard plastic cages which are adhesively bonded in toroidal foam volumes to prevent lateral scrunching or distortion of rollers during use.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel washer comprising a pair of spaced-apart, mirror image, depending spray arms with spray heads mounted at the lower ends and directed inwardly toward the wheels of a vehicle which passes between the spray heads. The spray arms are mounted pendulum-type from an overhead pivotal support to move in unison between angular displacement positions thereby to follow the wheels of the vehicle being washed for a considerable linear distance to increase the effectiveness of the wheel cleaning operation. A bi-directional hydraulic actuator controls the positions of the pendulum arms in combination with gravitational force.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator station for use in car wash installations wherein the applicators are tolerant of large degrees of vehicle misalignment, misorientation and entry contact shock. In each applicator structure, an additional pivot or “knuckle” is placed in one of two support arms which are pivotally connected between floor anchors and an elongate mounting carriage to which the dressing applicator elements are attached. Flared tire guides are located on the entry ends of the applicator structures to make contact with the tires of approaching vehicles whereby one or both of the two applicator structures is/are reoriented as necessary to accommodate the actual location of the vehicle, whether it be on the intended path of travel or off to one side and/or angularly misoriented relative to die intended path of vehicle travel.

Abstract: A vehicle washer of the rollover type especially suitable for washing large vehicles such as buses and trucks. The washer includes an overhead carriage moving along an overhead guide rail structure and including opposed L-shaped spray arms adapted to wash top and side surfaces of the vehicle as the carriage moves along the guide rail and move in butterfly fashion as the carriage reaches a respective end of the vehicle whereby to wash that end of the vehicle.

Abstract: An auto-laundry conveyor of three-tier design using upper, lower and intermediate track rails with a narrow slot between them. Dollies are provided in an endless loop conveyor chain and each dolly comprises a combination of a center link, a pair of reversely similar tire engaging rollers, a pair of reversely similar track engaging rollers outboard of the tire engaging rollers and a pair of reversely similar stabilizing rollers outboard of the track engaging rollers. The stabilizing rollers are effectively larger in diameter; i.e., higher than the track engaging rollers so as to prevent rolling contact between the stabilizing rollers and the track surface and to receive the tread surface of an off-center tire and keep the tread surface from interfering with rolling movement of the track engaging rollers. The conveyor is manufactured in 10-foot lengths except for the entry and exit sections which are of lengths X and Y wherein X plus Y equals 10 feet.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel washer comprising a pair of spaced-apart, mirror image, depending spray arms with spray heads mounted at the lower ends and directed inwardly toward the wheels of a vehicle which passes between the spray heads. The spray arms are mounted pendulum-type from an overhead pivotal support to move in unison between angular displacement positions thereby to follow the wheels of the vehicle being washed for a considerable linear distance to increase the effectiveness of the wheel cleaning operation. A bi-directional hydraulic actuator controls the positions of the pendulum arms in combination with gravitational force.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator comprises a support shaft mounted between the ends of a bracket and a plurality of tire dressing applicator foam rollers mounted on the shaft for rotation both with the shaft and in unison with one another and, as necessary when contacting a tire sidewall, relative to the shalt itself to prevent and/or reduce unnecessary roller wear. A drizzle-type system of dressing dispensers pipes drizzles dressing onto the outside surfaces of the rollers and a felt flap spreads the dressing and prevents waste which is characteristic of spray type systems. A quick-release mechanism associated with one end of the roller shaft where it is connected to the bracket permits the shaft to be released for the purpose of replacing worn rollers. Individual rollers are constructed using hard plastic cages which are adhesively bonded in toroidal foam volumes to prevent lateral scrunching or distortion of rollers during use.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein.

Abstract: A tire dressing applicator which reduces wear on the applicator elements comprising a plurality of foam rollers having broad outer circumferential surfaces mounted in parallel coaxial adjacent relationship on a support shaft adjacent a path of tire travel. Tire dressing is dispensed onto the outer circumferential surfaces on demand and an actuator is provided for incrementally rotating the shaft and the rollers in unison therewith as necessary. However, a frictional engagement between the rollers and the shaft permits individual rotation of the rollers relative to the shaft during engagement with a tire sidewall.

Abstract: A molded plastic mixing station housing for mixing water and chemical for car wash applications comprises a generally right hexahedron having a deep top recess which visually divides the housing into parallel spaced apart towers. A cylindrical mixing reservoir is recessed into the front of the housing such that a Hyrominder can be mounted in the top recess to overlie the open top of the mixing reservoir. A stand-off welt wraps around the entire housing just below the vertical center line to provide a stand-off feature for both wall mounting as well as the mounting of a control panel on one of the side surfaces of the housing. Mounting bracket slots are provided in the four upper corners of the housing for both wall mounting and control panel mounting. A deep recess runs down the back side to provide space for an overflow tube. The housing is preferably rotocast from high density polyethylene and may be color coded to match with the supply for a particular chemical.

Abstract: A vehicle washer of the rollover type especially suitable for washing large vehicles such as buses and trucks. The washer includes an overhead carriage moving along an overhead guide rail structure and including opposed L-shaped spray arms adapted to wash top and side surfaces of the vehicle as the carriage moves along the guide rail and move in butterfly fashion as the carriage reaches a respective end of the vehicle whereby to wash that end of the vehicle.

Abstract: An auto-laundry conveyor of three-tier design using upper, lower and intermediate track rails with a narrow slot between them. Dollies are provided in an endless loop conveyor chain and each dolly comprises a combination of a center link, a pair of reversely similar tire engaging rollers, a pair of reversely similar track engaging rollers outboard of the tire engaging rollers and a pair of reversely similar stabilizing rollers outboard of the track engaging rollers. The stabilizing rollers are effectively larger in diameter; i.e., higher than the track engaging rollers so as to prevent rolling contact between the stabilizing rollers and the track surface and to receive the tread surface of an off-center tire and keep the tread surface from interfering with rolling movement of the track engaging rollers. The conveyor is manufactured in 10-foot lengths except for the entry and exit sections which are of lengths X and Y wherein X plus Y equals 10 feet.

Abstract: An automotive wheel washer comprising a circular conduit having a diameter of approximately 12 to 20 inches and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles which direct cleaning fluid and chemicals laterally of the wheel washer and toward the adjacent wheel in an inwardly converging fashion. An additional 360° center nozzle produces an outwardly diverging spray pattern which, in combination with the plurality of spaced outer nozzles, is effective to cause direct application of cleaning chemicals to all surfaces of a wheel and reduce the shadowing effect caused by intricate wheel structure patterns. Foaming is created by a porous material in a foaming chamber serving as a common inlet to all nozzles and further having a high pressure air inlet. The circular conduit may be made of plastic or stainless steel or any of a number of essentially equivalent materials.