Abstract: A rotating brush assembly is disclosed for a vehicle washing apparatus which is mounted by a single support arm on either or both sides of a vehicle washing apparatus. The brush assembly, which includes a brush, a brush shaft supporting the brush, a brush motor for driving the brush shaft and a flexible spring coupling such as a single coil spring is permitted to swing or tilt in response to the force exerted on the brush by the movement of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing apparatus. The flexing action of the flexible spring coupling which couples the brush shaft to the support arm permits the brush to tilt or swing in any direction. For example, when the brush assembly engages the front of a vehicle, the flexible spring coupling permits the brush to tilt as it passes along the front end of the vehicle. The flex of the flexible spring coupling urges the brush toward its normal operating position.

Abstract: A method for washing a vehicle is disclosed in which a brush assembly, which includes a brush, a brush shaft supporting the brush, a brush motor for driving the brush shaft and a flexible coupling, is permitted to swing or tilt in response to the force exerted on the brush by the movement of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing apparatus. The flexing of the flexible coupling, which couples the brush shaft to the support arm, permits the brush to tilt or swing in any direction. The brush motor rotates the brush in a direction which causes the brush to walk along the front of the vehicle. As a result, the cooperative action of the rotary reaction force of the brush and the flex of the flexible coupling causes the brush to turn the front corner of the vehicle and pass along the side of the vehicle. Similarly, the flex of the flexible coupling together with the rotary reaction force of the brush against the vehicle enables the brush to wash the side and turn the rear corner to wash the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle wrap around type brush cleaning assembly comprised of a single brush support arm pivoted at one end to an overhead frame structure inside a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed. A rotatable brush is mounted on a shaft connected to the opposite end of the brush support arm and is normally positioned adjacent the center line of the path to be contacted by the vehicle. A brush motor rotates the brush in a direction which walks the brush along the front, side and rear surfaces of the vehicle. A flexible coupling may be utilized to couple the brush shaft to the brush support arm to permit the brush to tilt or swing in any direction. Two such brush assemblies may be mounted overhead on the frame structure on opposite sides of the center line of the path to wash both sides of the vehicle. In that instance, one of the brush support arms is of a different length than the opposite brush support arm to position the brush assemblies in an overlapping relationship near the center line of the path.

Abstract: A rotating brush provided with a flexible plastic brush shaft is placed in contact with the front of a vehicle in a vehicle washing apparatus. The combined action of the rotation of the brush and the flex of the plastic brush shaft causes the brush to walk along the front of the vehicle and to turn the front corner of the vehicle and pass along the side of the vehicle. In a similar manner, the brush can be made to turn the rear corner of the vehicle thus enabling the brush to wash the front, side and rear surfaces of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotating brush assembly for a vehicle washing apparatus is disclosed in which the brush assembly, which includes a brush, a brush shaft supporting the brush, a brush motor for driving the brush shaft and a flexible elastic coupling, is permitted to swing or tilt in response to the force exerted on the brush by the movement of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing apparatus. The flexing of the flexible elastic coupling, which couples the brush shaft to the support arm, permits the brush to tilt or swing in any direction. For example, when the brush assembly engages the front of a vehicle, the flexible elastic coupling permits the brush to tilt as it passes along the front end of the vehicle. The brush motor rotates the brush in a direction which causes the brush to walk along the front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotating brush assembly is disclosed for a vehicle washing apparatus. The brush assembly includes a brush and a flexible plastic brush shaft which permit the brush to swing or tilt in response to the force exerted on the brush by the movement of the vehicle relative to the vehicle washing apparatus. The brush motor rotates the brush in a direction which walks the brush along the surfaces of the vehicle. The combined action of the rotary reaction force of the brush against the vehicle and the flex of the flexible plastic brush shaft causes the brush to turn the front and rear corners of the vehicle to wash the front, side and rear surfaces. In addition, a brush assembly pivot mechanism is installed on the brush assembly to permit the brush to pivot in a direction parallel to the path of the vehicle in the event the vehicle is inadvertently driven into the brush while the brush is not rotating. The brush assembly pivot mechanism prevents damage to the vehicle and the brush assembly.