Abstract: A valve that switches between open and closed states includes a pivoting body having a reservoir, at least one filling port for filling the reservoir and at least one port for draining the reservoir, and a counterweight. The valve further includes a first conduit separate from the body, connected to the filling port, and having a water intake located at a higher position than the filling port, whether the valve is open or closed.

Abstract: A valve that switches between open and closed states includes a pivoting body having a reservoir, at least one filling port for filling the reservoir and at least one port for draining the reservoir, and a counterweight. The valve further includes a first conduit separate from the body, connected to the filling port, and having a water intake located at a higher position than the filling port, whether the valve is open or closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning the surface of a motor vehicle that includes multiple wash strips that both move along a circular wash path and rotate relative to the vehicle path. The apparatus includes an overhead wash strip mounting disk having a plurality of individual wash strips that extend downward toward the vehicle. The overhead mounting disk rotates relative to an orbital carriage that is supported by an overhead support frame. The orbital carriage is movable along a wash path spaced from a center axis. During operation of the apparatus, the entire orbital carriage moves along a first motion path while the mounting disk rotates along a second motion path to enhance the conditioning of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to continuous transport apparatus whose transport speed is variable. The embodiment illustrated is a moving walkway in which the load-bearing members are plates, adjacent plates overlapping to present a continuous surface. The load-bearing members are mounted on respective supports and the variation in speed is obtained by varying the spacing between adjacent supports. The supports are connected by a flexible link, which is a chain or belt in the preferred embodiment.