Abstract: The process according to the invention controls a drying device for a vehicle wash for a vehicle, a travelling portion of the drying device being movable relative to the vehicle with the aid of a travel motor and a lift motor. The travelling portion carries a drying means and a light barrier whose light beam passes with clearance under the drying means and a device controller operating the travel and lift motors guided on a path which keeps a guaranteed clearance from the contour of the vehicle. At the beginning of the drying process the portion of the drying device in a lowered initial position in front of or behind the vehicle is moved. As a result at least the raising and lowering of that portion is controlled by a gating signal. Before beginning each drying process the sensitivity or response threshold of a gating device for the gating signal and/or a conditioning device adjusting the gating signal is adjusted automatically to a value sufficient to define the release of the light beam.

Abstract: A washing apparatus for an automotive vehicle having at least one washing brush with a substantially vertically oriented rotation axis, a brush mechanism for guiding and transporting the washing brush on a course over and around the automotive vehicle to be washed, and a control mechanism including a reversing drive for the washing brush and for the control of the washing apparatus. To avoid damage of the washing brush, a sensing element connected to the control mechanism is provided which responds to a damaging catching of the washing brush during rotation and travel over its course and reverses the rotation direction of the washing brush by acting on the control mechanism. Any of various criteria, including decrease of rotational motion of the brush, changes in brush orientation and torque, and drive-motor current changes are used by the sensing element in determining when to respond, and thus to reverse at least temporarily the rotation direction of the washing brush.