Abstract: A vehicle conveyor for conveying a wheeled vehicle along a track using a roller may include a track with an opening for passage of a roller from a surface to an underside of the track. The conveyor may also include a door that is pivotable, about a pivot that is below track level, between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the door may cover the opening. In the open position, the door may uncover the opening. The conveyor may further include a gap in the track, adjacent to the opening, for accommodating the door when pivoted to the open position. A flexible cover may cover the gap and may be free to ride up and onto at least a portion of the door that extends above a surface of the track as the door pivots from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A device for guiding a wheel along a track of a vehicle wash, comprises a support frame, a bracket and a bumper. The bracket is positioned adjacent to the track and has flanges extending upwardly and toward the center of the track defining a channel. The bumper has a mounting portion received in the channel and a wheel contacting portion with a tapered bearing surface. The mounting portion is received in the channel so that the tapered bearing surface extends at an angle upwardly and toward the center of the track.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for are disclosed for cleaning a vehicle wheel surface on a vehicle wheel with a brush. A brush may comprise a plurality of resilient brush elements having varying lengths. The methods may provide for rotating the brush elements such that at any time during at least some of the plurality of brush elements are in engagement with the wheel surface. The wheel surface may be engaged by brush elements that have a length that changes cyclically and the brush elements may also cyclically vary the contact pressure between brush elements and the vehicle surface.

Abstract: A vehicle wash system is disclosed that has a vehicle path for movement of a vehicle. The system comprises a support frame, a first beam member mounted to the support frame and a second beam member mounted to the support frame for vertical movement relative to the support frame. The second beam member is spaced from the first beam member. The first and second beam members each have associated therewith a vehicle treatment apparatus. Each of the first beam member and second beam member are movable between (a) operational positions wherein first and second beam members extend across the vehicle path and the treatment apparatus is operable to apply a treatment to a vehicle on the vehicle path and (b) vehicle release positions wherein the beam members do not extend across the vehicle path.

Abstract: A vehicle conveyor for conveying a wheeled vehicle along a track using a roller may include a track with an opening for passage of a roller from a surface to an underside of the track. The conveyor may also include a door that is pivotable, about a pivot that is below track level, between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the door may cover the opening. In the open position, the door may uncover the opening. The conveyor may further include a gap in the track, adjacent to the opening, for accommodating the door when pivoted to the open position. A flexible cover may cover the gap and may be free to ride up and onto at least a portion of the door that extends above a surface of the track as the door pivots from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A device for guiding a wheel along a track of a vehicle wash, comprises a support frame, a bracket and a bumper. The bracket is positioned adjacent to the track and has flanges extending upwardly and toward the center of the track defining a channel. The bumper has a mounting portion received in the channel and a wheel contacting portion with a tapered bearing surface. The mounting portion is received in the channel so that the tapered bearing surface extends at an angle upwardly and toward the center of the track.

Abstract: A vehicle wash system may have a drying station that may have a frame and a blower mounted on the frame. The blower may be used blowing liquid from the surface of a vehicle and may have a plenum with a cavity opening, an exit port, and an interior cavity. An impeller may be positioned inside the cavity, and when driven by a motor, may be operable to draw air into the cavity compress the air, and then emit an airflow from the plenum through the exit port. The blower may have an inlet region formed proximate the cavity opening and be in communication with the cavity. The inlet region may have a generally tubular inlet opening. A movement apparatus may be provided that is movable axially relative to the inlet opening to vary the size of the tubular inlet opening. The system may also include a sensor system operable to detect the presence and/or absence of a vehicle at drying station.

Abstract: A system for dispensing fluid comprises a first pumping device in communication with, and for supplying a first fluid to, a first pump outlet, a first fluid communication dispensing line for communicating the first fluid from the first pump outlet to a dispensing device, a second pumping device in communication with, and for supplying a second fluid to, a second pump outlet, and a second fluid communication dispensing line for communicating the second fluid from the second outlet to a second dispensing device. A supply sub-system causes the first pumping device to supply the first fluid to the first pump outlet and the second pumping device to supply the second fluid to the second pump outlet. The first and second pumping devices are mechanically coupled such that, when one of the pumping device supplies fluid to a pump outlet, fluid is drawn into the other pumping device through an inlet.

Abstract: A brush station for use in a vehicle wash system includes a support frame. A first brush unit support is mounted to the frame and a first brush mounted on the first brush support member. Also, a second brush support is mounted to said frame and a second brush is mounted on the first brush support. The first brush support is mounted to the frame at a first longitudinal position that is upstream in the direction of vehicle travel from a second longitudinal position where the second brush support is mounted to the frame. The first brush support extends generally from the frame in the direction of travel and the second brush support extends generally from the frame opposite to the direction of travel. An exterior surface of a vehicle moving through the station in the direction of travel will be cleaned by said first and second brushes. Partial or substantially complete longitudinal overlap can be provided between the first and second brush units.

Abstract: A vehicle wash system is disclosed that has a vehicle path for movement of a vehicle. The system comprises a support frame, a first beam member mounted to the support frame and a second beam member mounted to the support frame for vertical movement relative to the support frame. The second beam member is spaced from the first beam member. The first and second beam members each have associated therewith a vehicle treatment apparatus. Each of the first beam member and second beam member are movable between (a) operational positions wherein first and second beam members extend across the vehicle path and the treatment apparatus is operable to apply a treatment to a vehicle on the vehicle path and (b) vehicle release positions wherein the beam members do not extend across the vehicle path.

Abstract: A vehicle washing apparatus includes a brush mounted to a drive shaft, a position locator for positioning the brush relative to a vehicle to be washed and a motor for rotating the drive shaft. A controller positions the brush proximate the vehicle for washing. A load sensor, for sensing the load on the drive shaft, is connected to the controller so that the controller may react to the sensed load exceeding a threshold by controlling a retraction of the brush from the vehicle. Additionally, parameters related to the operation of the brush may be determined based on information related to the size of the vehicle to be washed, where the size information is obtained by sensors.

Abstract: A pump station comprising includes a motor and pump arrangement, a tank for holding a liquid; and a frame for supporting the tank generally above the motor and pump arrangement. The motor and pump arrangement includes a motor having a drive shaft rotatable about a first longitudinal axis and a pump having a drive shaft rotatable about a second longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the first longitudinal axis. A drive mechanism interconnects the drive shaft of the motor and the drive shaft of the pump. A mounting assembly is provided and includes a lower portion mounted to a portion of one of the motor and the pump; and an upper portion to which the other of the motor and the pump is mounted. The lower portion and the upper portion are configured and selectively movable in such a manner that the drive shaft of the motor and the drive shaft of the pump, during translation movement relative to each other, are constrained from rotational movement relative to each other.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for are disclosed for cleaning a vehicle wheel surface on a vehicle wheel with a brush. A brush may comprise a plurality of resilient brush elements having varying lengths. The methods may provide for rotating the brush elements such that at any time during at least some of the plurality of brush elements are in engagement with the wheel surface. The wheel surface may be engaged by brush elements that have a length that changes cyclically and the brush elements may also cyclically vary the contact pressure between brush elements and the vehicle surface.

Abstract: A vehicle wash system may have a drying station that may have a frame and a blower mounted on the frame. The blower may be used blowing liquid from the surface of a vehicle and may have a plenum with a cavity opening, an exit port, and an interior cavity. An impeller may be positioned inside the cavity, and when driven by a motor, may be operable to draw air into the cavity compress the air, and then emit an airflow from the plenum through the exit port. The blower may have an inlet region formed proximate the cavity opening and be in communication with the cavity. The inlet region may have a generally tubular inlet opening. A movement apparatus may be provided that is movable axially relative to the inlet opening to vary the size of the tubular inlet opening. The system may also include a sensor system operable to detect the presence and/or absence of a vehicle at drying station.

Abstract: A brush station for use in a vehicle wash system includes a support frame. A first brush unit support is mounted to the frame and a first brush mounted on the first brush support member. Also, a second brush support is mounted to said frame and a second brush is mounted on the first brush support. The first brush support is mounted to the frame at a first longitudinal position that is upstream in the direction of vehicle travel from a second longitudinal position where the second brush support is mounted to the frame. The first brush support extends generally from the frame in the direction of travel and the second brush support extends generally from the frame opposite to the direction of travel. An exterior surface of a vehicle moving through the station in the direction of travel will be cleaned by said first and second brushes. Partial or substantially complete longitudinal overlap can be provided between the first and second brush units.

Abstract: A nozzle for an air blower of a car wash installation is designed to be adjustable to vary the direction of the air flow delivered by the blower. The blower has a tapered frusto-conical nozzle that is oblique and is rotatably mounted at its base about an outlet of the blower. Upon rotation of the nozzle the direction of the delivered air flow moves in a conical path. Automated controls are provided to direct air flows from blowers in predetermined directions in the dryer section of an automated vehicle wash.

Abstract: A nozzle for an air blower of a car wash installation is designed to be adjustable to vary the direction of the air flow delivered by the blower. The blower has a tapered frusto-conical nozzle that is oblique and is rotatably mounted at its base about an outlet of the blower. Upon rotation of the nozzle the direction of the delivered air flow moves in a conical path. Automated controls are provided to direct air flows from blowers in predetermined directions in the dryer section of an automated vehicle wash.

Abstract: A wash spray apparatus that is particularly suitable for use in automatic car washes comprises an array of nozzles on a nozzle head. Water is supplied to the nozzle head through one or more flexible hoses, and the nozzle head is driven so that the spray from the nozzles moves through a conical path. The drive is effected by an hydraulic motor connected to the nozzle head through a nutating mechanism which produces the desired movement of the spray without rotation of the nozzle head.

Abstract: A sectional door installation comprises a series of horizontal door panels mounted on opposite ends on scissors linkages to move between a deployed generally vertical position closing the doorway to a withdrawn position wherein the panels are arranged generally horizontally at the upper end of the doorway. The panels are transparent and are detachably connected to the scissors mechanism at their opposite ends so that they can readily disengage therefrom when impacted by an object such as an automobile, without damaging the object or themselves being damaged.

Abstract: Wire from a coil is drawn off generally axially thereof through a wire guide that is mounted to rotate about the periphery of the coil. Pivotal movement of the wire guide in response to demand for wire energizes a pneumatic linear motor which through a ratchet mechanism drives the spindle on which the coil is supported.