APPARATUS FOR WASHING VEHICLE WHEELS

• US 3,681,805 A
• Filed: 03/16/1970
• Issued: 08/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nordick Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James A. Ballo, Richard J. Shelstad
• Inventors: Shelstad, Richard J., Ballo, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/019,669
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 15/DIG.2,21R,21D 104/172B 134/6,45,123
• US Class Current: 15/53.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/004 Conveyors for vehicle cleaning apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/042 Wheel cleaning devices integral with vehicle B60S1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/02 Car cleaning plants

Abstract

A first conveyor means engages one of the front wheels of a vehicle to convey it along a path of travel until it comes to rest at a wheel washing station with the front wheels positioned adjacent a pair of brush units. The front wheels are then washed with the vehicle in a stationary position by spinning the wheels while in contact with the brush units. The first conveyor means then engages one of the rear wheels of the vehicle and conveys it along the path of travel until the vehicle comes to rest with the rear wheels positioned adjacent the brush units. The rear wheels are then washed by spinning them while in contact with the brush units. The vehicle is then conveyed further along the path of travel away from the wheel washing station by a second conveyor means which engages one of the front wheels of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Wheel washing apparatus for vehicles comprising:

a wheel washing means adapted for washing the wheels of a vehicle while the vehicle is in a stationary position at a wheel washing station;

a first conveyor means for conveying the vehicle to the washing station whereby the vehicle will assume a first stationary position with the front wheels thereof positioned for washing by said wheel washing means, said first conveyor means further adapted to further convey the vehicle after a period of time during which the front wheels are washed by said washing means whereby the vehicle will assume a second stationary position with the rear wheels thereof positioned for washing by said wheel washing means; and

a second conveyor means for conveying the vehicle away from the washing station, said second conveyor means adapted to convey the vehicle after a period of time during which the rear wheels are washed by said washing means.

2. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 1 in which said wheel washing means includes a pair of movable brush units adapted for engagement with the vehicle wheels when the vehicle is in its first and second stationary positions;

said wheel washing means further including a wheel spinning means adapted to spin each pair of wheels while in engagement with said brush units.

3. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 2 in which said wheel spinning means is comprised of a pair of rollers between which the wheels come to rest at the wheel washing station, at least one of said rollers being driven by a source of mechanical power.

4. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 1 in which said wheel washing means further includes a brush actuating means adapted to move said brush units in response to movement of the vehicle by said first and second conveyor means.

5. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 4 in which said brush actuating means includes a pair of pivotally mounted support arms and a wheel engaging assembly mounted on said arms, said wheel engaging assembly adapted for actuation by the vehicle wheels as the vehicle is conveyed by said first and second conveyor means.

6. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first conveyor means includes a drive unit means adapted for engagement with at least one front wheel of the vehicle to convey it to the washing station for washing of the front wheels, said drive unit means further adapted for subsequent engagement with at least one rear wheel of the vehicle to convey it further along the path of travel for washing of the rear wheels.

7. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 6 in which said first conveyor means includes an inclined transfer plate located at the entrance to the wheel washing station and adapted to insure movement of the vehicle into the wheel washing station.

8. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 7 in which said first conveyor means further includes an inclined over-roll plate located at the exit of the wheel washing station and adapted to prevent the vehicle from rolling through the wheel washing station.

9. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second conveyor means includes a drive unit means adapted for engagement with at least one front wheel of the vehicle to convey it away from the washing station after the rear wheels have been washed.

10. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 1 in which the movement of said first conveyor means is synchronized with the movement of said second conveyor means.

11. A wheel washing apparatus according to claim 10 in which said first and second conveyor means are driven from the same prime mover.