Abstract: A power operated elevator ramp for use in an automobile conveyor having an endless conveyor chain within a framework having top plates to support the tire of an automobile and a plurality of roller dollies spaced along the length of the chain normally positioned for movement within the framework, the ramp having a solenoid controlled valve, air cylinder assembly and related linkage mechanism, for selectively deflecting a dolly onto the top plates for movement thereover and for advancing the vehicle tire thereon. An elongated flexible belting overlies the framework throughout its length and protectively covers the top plates, roller dollies and conveyor chain and provides a protective cover for personnel. A deflected roller dolly forms a transverse wave in the belting for operative pushing engagement with the vehicle tire.

Abstract: A reloading apparatus for automatically supplying staples to a stapler. A supply of staples is retained on a plurality of rails which are fixed to a cylindrical support member which is rotatably mounted on a common frame with the stapler. The staples are sequentially fed from the rails of the reloading apparatus to the stapler by a pneumatically powered follower which moves toward the stapler on a feeding stroke and returns to the opposite side of the rails after the staples on a rail have been fed into the stapler. An indexer then rotates the cylindrical support to align another rail with the follower to feed the staples on the other rail into the stapler. A pneumatic control coordinates the stapler and the reloading apparatus.

Abstract: In a car wash apparatus for automatically scrubbing, washing and polishing the sides, rocker panels and wheels of a vehicle during movement along a predetermined path upon a floor, there is provided a pair of laterally spaced free standing longitudinally staggered scrubbing side wheel assemblies. Each assembly includes a base plate upon the floor and mounting an upright side frame. Parallel spaced first and second side wheel arms at their one ends are pivotally mounted upon the frame and extend forwardly at an acute angle toward the path of movement. Each arm at its free end mounts a bearing housing which supports the hydraulic motor whose drive shaft is journaled through the bearing housing and mounts upon a vertical axis, a scrubbing, washing and polishing wheel of cloth material. The side arms are interconnected for movement in unison.

Abstract: The power operated bi-fold strip curtain door assembly is well-suited for doorways and openings to conserve energy and has applications, as an example, in the car wash industry and in industrial plants. A pair of strip curtain supporting inboard and outboard sections are hinged together at next adjacent side edges in side-by-side relation. The inboard section of each pair is suspended from an overhead track by a carriage guidingly engaged with the track. A fluid power actuator is provided for each pair of sections and, when energized, operates to fold and extend the door sections to respectively open and close the door assembly. One of the door sections of each pair has a side edge strip curtain upper horizontal hem portion reinforced such that its vertical border portion extends laterally in the plane of the strip door section a predetermined distance therebeyond.

Abstract: The power operated bi-fold strip curtain door assembly is well-suited for doorways and openings to conserve energy and has applications, as an example, in the car wash industry and in industrial plants. Strip curtain supporting inboard and outboard sections are hinged together at next adjacent side edges in side-by-side relation. The inboard section is suspended from an overhead track by a carriage guidingly engaged with the track. A fluid power actuator, when energized, operates to fold and extend the door sections to respectively open and close the strip curtain door. One of the door sections has a side edge strip curtain upper horizontal hem portion reinforced such that its vertical border portion extends laterally in the plane of the strip door section a predetermined distance therebeyond. With the bi-fold door extended, the border portion is moved into overlapping flush relation to the neighboring strip curtain section providing a seal therebetween.

Abstract: As a car moves along a path through a wash area, it engages a pair of rotating cloth scrubbing wheels. Each wheel depends from a carriage movable along a horizontal boom pivotally mounted at one end upon a standard located at each side of the wash area. Each boom is pivoted upon a vertical axis and is swingable in a horizontal plane between a first position angular to the path and a second position parallel to the path. Each carriage is biased towards the free end of the boom whereby engagement of the car causes the boom to rotate outwardly while the wheel moves over and engages the front of the car, until the wheel engages the front corner of the car thereby operating a limit switch as a result of car movement which shifts a three-way valve to release the pressure on the carriage cylinder. The carriage moves up the boom towards the pivoted end thereof as the boom swings into a path generally parallel to the car whereby the wheel operatively engages the side of the car to the rear corner thereof.

Abstract: A retractable wax, buff and polish apparatus for cars includes an open framework upon a floor through which a vehicle is adapted to pass. A vertically adjustable carriage is guidably mounted upon the framework and suspends therefrom a pair of coplanar horizontal racks, each rack having a plurality of parallel spaced fabric panels at their upper ends depending therefrom, defining a segmented friction curtain adapted on lowering of the carriage and oscillation of the racks for buffing and polishing engagement with a car. A vertically adjustable counterweight is mounted upon the framework and connected by a chain and sprockets to the carriage whereby selective raising or lowering of the counterweight respectively lowers or raises the curtain. Pressurized canisters mounted upon the framework are activated on lowering of the curtain for delivering a foam of wax or detergent and water onto the car.

Abstract: A pack unit containing fill material is mounted on a hub structure of a rotary finishing wheel having a rotary axis. The pack unit includes a rigid unitary elongated clip member to which the fill material is secured and a flexible plastic unitary elongated link member coextensive in axial length with the clip member and fill material and which includes inner and outer end portions connected by an intermediate flexible solid web portion. The end portions of the link member are provided with enlarged head portions, the inner head portion being adapted to be carried by a slot formation in the hub structure and the outer head portion being received in a mating slot provided in the clip member.

Abstract: The friction curtain apparatus is for washing a motor vehicle which is moved through an opening in the frame of the apparatus having a longitudinally extending axis between the opening's entrance and exit. A least a pair of swingable scrubbing units are pivotally carried by the frame on each side of the axis and are capable of turning or swinging in alternate directions forward and then backward with respect to the entrance and exit. Each of the units comprises an elongated rack having a plurality of transversely extending slot-defining apertures which are parallel to one another. A pack unit containing fill material is received in each of the apertures and forms a curtain. The racks of each pair of units are connected by tie bars which are pivotally connected to upstanding arms carried at opposite ends of the racks.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically performing an operation such as washing, drying, buffing, polishing, finishing or the like on a motor vehicle as it is transported through a frame having an entrance, an exit, and an intermediate portion vertically spaced above the vehicle between the entrance and the exit. A support member extends across the intermediate portion of the frame and pivotally supports a pair of arms about a central portion thereof. One end of each of the arms pivotally supports a first rack on one side of the support while the opposite end of each of the arms pivotally supports a second rack on the opposite side of the support. Each of the racks has one or more pack units of finishing material suspended therefrom for washing, drying, buffing, polishing or otherwise finishing the motor vehicle. A rotating element is driven by a motor.

Abstract: A pack unit adapted to be mounted on the hub structure of a rotary finishing wheel. The hub structure includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, elongated slots about the periphery thereof and each of the slots has an inner portion, a restricted neck passage opening outwardly therfrom, and a longitudinal slot axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the finishing wheel. The pack unit includes at least one flap-like member of finishing material having a radially outer portion adapted for engaging a workpiece and a radially inner portion adapted to be clampably secured. The pack unit includes an improved mounting apparatus which includes a unitary, integrally-formed, elongated clip member which includes a clip body and a pair of radially outwardly extending clamping arms adapted for clampably receiving the radially inner portion of the flap-like member therebetween.

Abstract: A modular pack unit is adapted to be replaceably mounted to a support structure having one or more quasi-cylindrical, key-hole-type, slot-defining formations disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support structure. The pack unit includes a substantially solid, elongated, head-forming and pack-reinforcing support element made from a resiliently firm yet flexible material including a generally cylindrical, solid, bulb-like portion having an integrally formed, radially outwardly extending solid fin portion. A first sheet or ply of generally flexible material has a first portion draped or looped tightly over the elongated element so as to conform closely to the contours thereof and a second portion extending outwardly from the support element. The looped portion has a first section closely overlying the bulb-like portion and second and third sections integrally contiguous with the respective opposite ends of the first section tightly overlying corresponding opposite sides of the fin portion.

Abstract: A hub structure for a rotary finishing wheel having a rotational axis and being adapted for replaceably mounting a plurality of circumferentially-spaced pack units each of which includes a flap-like member of fill material having a radially outer finishing portion for engaging a workpiece and a radially inner slot-engaging portion for mounting the pack unit. The hub structure includes a plurality of substantially identical hub sections which may be fitted together to form a generally cylindrical hub wall whose outer surface is provided with a plurality of integrally formed, circumferentially-spaced, quasi-cylindrical, key-hole-type slot formations each having a longitudinal slot axis parallel to the rotational axis. Each slot is adapted to telescopically and replaceably receive the slot-engaging portion of a flap-like member for mounting the pack units for limited hinge-type pivotal movement about the slot axis.