Abstract: A machine for washing vehicles such as large trucks and tractor-trailer combinations includes a triangular frame at each side of the path of the vehicle during the washing operation. Brushes rotatable about horizontal axes wash the front, top and rear of the vehicle. A first brush is mounted to be pushed upwardly by the front end of the vehicle as it moves through the apparatus and a second brush moves downwardly under its own weight in contact with the rear end of the vehicle. These brushes also engage the top of the vehicle. The first brush may be raised to clear exhaust stacks and the like, and the second brush is retained at an elevated position until the vehicle enters the apparatus sufficiently for it to be lowered onto the top. When the second brush reaches the lower end of its track after the vehicle departs, it is restored to the elevated position.

Abstract: This cable and pulley system is used for controlling transverse movement of side brushes mounted to a gantry-type vehicle wash and includes a compensating mechanism. The compensating mechanism includes a pair of interconnected articulated arms carrying pulley assemblies at the lower end and the arms can be swung in a transverse direction to permit one side brush to continue to move independently into engagement with the vehicle when the other brush engages the vehicle first.

Abstract: A cleaning solution is wiped onto a sidewall of a tire by two straight brushes engaging the sidewall and the brushes confine the solution therebetween and spread it over the side of the tires. The solution is fed from a low gravity head, and a pulse of compressed air is introduced to give a short, measured feed of the solution to the tire.

Abstract: This vehicle washing apparatus includes a pair of side brush assemblies mounted to a gantry, each brush assembly including a shaft carrying upper and lower rotary brush units. The lower brush unit of each assembly is fixedly mounted to its shaft for rotation with the shaft while the upper brush unit is mounted for rotation relative to said shaft by virtue of an adjustable clutch connection between the upper brush unit and the shaft so that said upper unit is subject to slippage when the brush engages a projection on the side of the vehicle. The shaft includes a jointed lower portion carrying an actuating finger which operates a switch to reverse direction of shaft rotation when the lower portion is tilted out of vertical alignment.

Abstract: An apparatus including a brush assembly positionable toward and away from a vehicle wheel which assembly cleans the vehicle tire sidewall by oscillatory brush motion. A base supports extensible carrier means on which the brush assembly moves while actuators impart outward and inward movement to the brush assembly. Continuous means regulates the travel of the telescopic carriers to obviate any tendency of same to bind. A wheel brush cleans the metal wheel and hub cap of each wheel assembly.

Abstract: The system disclosed is a brushing installation for use in scrubbing the front, rear and sides of a motor vehicle. A pair of front/side brushes and a pair of side/rear brushes provide double coverage of these surfaces during a single passage of the vehicle. The brushes are suspended from short, side-mounted pivot arms and displacement of the brushes during operation is a function of vehicle position relative to the brushing installation.

Abstract: In order to prevent entanglement of the bristles of a rotating brush with outside mirrors or other projecting parts of an automotive vehicle being scrubbed, the brush is divided into a lower and an upper section coaxially supported on a common substantially vertical shaft, the lower section being fixed to the shaft whereas the upper one is freely rotatable thereon. Each brush section has a cylindrical core with a body of flexible bristles radiating therefrom; during rotation, the two bristle bodies assume the shape of cylinders with substantially equal diameters.

Abstract: A scrubbing unit for a vehicle-washing station, designed particularly for vehicles with vertically fluted sides, comprises an array of vertically superposed cylindrical brushes corotating on an upright support about horizontal axes which are parallel to the vehicular surface to be washed. The mutual spacing of the brush axes equals the diameter of their cylindrical bodies in the undeformed state of their bristles whereby these, on being urged against the vehicular surface to be scrubbed, are deflected against their direction of rotation to form a nearly continuous working area. Two such units mounted on the support alongside each other, with vertical staggering of their brush axes, insure uniform scrubbing over the height of the engaged surface.

Abstract: A truck wash apparatus wherein the truck is moved through the car wash apparatus which includes a pair of vertical supports mounted along the path of the truck such that the truck moves between the supports. A plurality of rotating spray nozzles for dispensing fluid are mounted on the vertical supports for rotation and for indexing between three positions wherein the plane of rotation of said applicator is parallel to the path of the truck, at an angle facing the truck as the truck approaches the supports, at an angle facing away from the truck as the truck moves away from the supports.

Abstract: Vehicle washing and drying apparatus including an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to roll over a vehicle while it is in a stationary position and having mounted thereon a fluid spray device for spraying cleaning fluid onto the surface of the automobile. A drying device is also mounted on the frame and includes side nozzles for blowing drying air onto the sides of the vehicle and a top nozzle projecting downwardly from the top of the frame and intermediately articulated so the lower portion thereof forms a normally downwardly facing horizontally elongated lower level orifice for directing drying air onto the tops of low profile vehicles. The lower portion of such nozzle may be folded away to clear higher profile vehicles and exposes an upper level horizontally elongated orifice which directs drying air onto the tops of higher profile vehicles.

Abstract: In a wheel cleaner for the cleaning of truck wheels solely by centrifugal action, a weigh beam is incorporated whereby the individual axle loadings and the total weight of the truck can be determined. At the center of a wheel cleaner frame that is set into the ground, pairs of transverse horizontal rollers are provided on which the truck wheels can be spun to throw off mud, stones etc. At the end of the frame a transverse weigh beam, having its top surface substantially at the same level as the tops of the rollers and the frame members, is carried for limited downward travel on end suspension mountings each incorporating a load cell. The load cells give analogue electrical signals that are converted to digital form and processed to derive individual axle loadings and vehicle payload.

Abstract: A unitary frame of an automatic vehicle wash mounts a first and second brush in the path of an advancing vehicle for one brush to scrub the front and one side of the vehicle and the other brush the other side and rear. The frame defines the support and dimensional relationship for the brushes and attendant washing equipment, such as a mitting machine, shampoo applicator and rinsers. The brushes travel in arcs about axes on diagonally opposed posts of the frame and pass beneath elements of the frame. To accommodate this travel along the vehicle path, both the brushes are offset and posts of the frame are staggered. Vehicle contact determines each brush's position along its arc. A tension spring urges the brushes together. The tension in the spring is always maintained to prevent spring sag onto a vehicle, assure positive control of brushes, and prevent brush position reversal.

Abstract: A rocker panel brush is journaled in a bearing supported by an adjustable, clamping universal joint carried by an arm mounted by an arbor on an overhead support.

Abstract: Vehicle washing apparatus having two suspended brushes rotatable about generally vertical axes which are forced apart during passage of the vehicle between the brushes wherein the brushes are initially inclined towards the vehicle and are swung into an oppositely-inclined position by pressure against the vehicle, whereby the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle are more efficiently cleaned.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted to a frame above the path of a car in an automatic car wash system. A plurality of towels are connected to the peripheral surface of the drum at spaced circumferential points to depend downwardly from the drum. A car passing under the drum is thereby successively wiped by the towels. Rotation of the drum positions successive towels for wiping action. A heater is positioned adjacent the upper portion of the drum for warming and drying the towels passing under the heater as a consequence of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A car wash includes a series of modules mounted in an overhead position above the path of cars to be washed. The overhead modules mount brushes, sprays, air nozzles and curtain-like scrubbers so as to keep the ground level clear of this apparatus. The modules also are open to one another to form an air tunnel for drying air to travel to a blower.

Abstract: A car wash apparatus comprising a support frame, a first brush support frame depending from the frame, a second brush support frame depending from the first frame and a horizontal brush carried by the second frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. The double frame permits the brush to contact the top and front and rear end surfaces of a vehicle. Power means in the form of a fluid cylinder are provided for swinging the opposite parallelogram arms of the first frame during engagement of the rotating brush with a vehicle thereby to impart a reciprocating axial displacement to the scrub brush as it contacts a vehicle.

Abstract: Brushes are held in engagement with car wheels on short spinner sections driven at high speeds to spin the wheels, and vertical pusher conveyor chains are guided under the spinner sections to move the car over and past the spinner sections. In one embodiment, the spinner section includes driven rolls bracketing a path of a pusher arm of the conveyor, and, in an alternate embodiment, the spinner section includes outer-timing belts supporting the wheel and having inner teeth meshing with outer teeth of inner-timing belts coursing inside the outer-timing belts.

Abstract: Overhead frameworks suspending cleaning mechanisms into the paths of cars are supported by pairs of side arches connected rigidly thereto and forming portions of frameworks therewith. In a specific embodiment, the framework is made up of modules, and in another truss-like cross frames suspending cleaning mechanisms are secured to side arches.

Abstract: A guide structure straddling the path of a vehicle to be washed carries a vertically movable horizontal rotary brush, a pair of laterally displaceable first vertical rotary brushes moving in a first transverse plane perpendicular to that path, a pair of second vertical rotary brushes with shafts tiltably mounted on horizontally swingable main supporting arms pivoted to the structure downstream of the first pair, and a pair of vertical third rotary brushes mounted on horizontally swingable ancillary arms which intersect the main arms and are also pivoted to the structure downstream of the first pair.

Abstract: A car wash apparatus having inner and outer, counterrotating curtain assemblies of circular configuration. Each curtain comprises strip elements which at rest are suspended in close proximity to those strip elements of the other curtain. The strips are displaced during travel over the car body resulting in the strips from one curtain intermingling with strips of the other curtain to enhance the strips cleaning action. A drive mechanism powers the curtains through concentric drive shafts with a water supply shown provided through same. Curtain confining means are supported adjacent the curtain paths guiding the curtain strips for rotational travel into desired impingement against the vehicle body. The strip elements may include highly flexible fibrous segments to clean irregular surface areas of the vehicle. Rotary brushes within the inner curtain assembly clean the vehicle sides. Said brushes are powered via a continuous cable carried by said curtain assembly reeved through power take-off pulleys.

Abstract: An automobile conveyor for use in conjunction with a wheel spinning device for an automatic wheel washer including an endless chain having a plurality of selectively engageable dogs pivotally secured thereto. The dogs normally travel in a position to urge an auto through the washer whereat the outboard end is in close association with the chain and beneath the automobile first supporting surface. Operating means are included whereby when an automobile is in position at least one of the dogs will be automatically moved to a position where the dog extends above the automobile supporting surface, contacts a wheel, and urges the car through the washer apparatus. At the wheel spinning and washing station the chain is forced downwardly to a position whereat it passes beneath the mechanism necessary to perform the wheel spinning operation while still retaining the outboard end of the dog above the automobile supporting surface.