Vehicle washing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle washing device comprising in combination:
- lateral vehicle profile detection means;
a horizontal spray bar adapted to distribute wash liquids;
spray bar vertical positioning means;
spray bar rotation means;
supporting structure for the preceding, anda logic control unit,wherein said profile detection means comprises at least two photoelectric cells, the components of which are mounted on, and at opposite ends of said spray bar, and which are adapted to detect the presence of an intervening, lateral vehicle surface, wherein when such presence is detected, electronic signals are sent from said cells to said logic control unit which is adapted to receive said input signals and to process them based on instructional logic contained in said unit, and based upon said processing, to generate and transmit output signals to said spray bar vertical positioning means which includes movable spray bar supporting structure adapted to be activated thereby, and raised or lowered according to said logic, and wherein said spray bar has a plurality of spray nozzles attached thereto and is connected to rotation means for rotating said spray bar in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said spray bar relative to said spray bar'"'"'s movable supporting structure, said rotation means also being controlled by output signals received from said logic control unit, thereby positioning the direction of said spray bar, and therefore of the nozzles attached thereto, at a predetermined, substantially constant perpendicular angle relative to the exposed upper vehicle surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the sides of said vehicle, wherein further, said cells are said spaced apart laterally from the longitudinal axis of said spray bar, and from each other, and wherein still further, said supporting structure comprises two vertical stanchion members mounted on base members and being pivotable thereabout by pivot means governed by instruction logic contained in said logic control unit which is responsive to signals received by said unit from said photoelectric cells, said stanchion members being connected together at their upper ends by a support beam to form a horizontal top structure, said spray bar supporting structure extending from, and being pivotally attached to said top structure.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for washing automobiles, vans, and other vehicles is shown which comprises a movable spray bar with high velocity spray nozzles mounted thereon, as well as associated supporting structure, and motion inducing means, In the washing process, the lateral profile of the vehicle is tracked by an array of photoelectric cell detectors mounted on the spray bar. Based on electronic output signals from the detectors, which are processed by a preprogrammed logic control unit and relayed to the motion inducing means, the spray bar is maintained at a predetermined height above, and the nozzles at a constant angle to, the vehicle surfaces being washed.
27 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A vehicle washing device comprising in combination:
-
lateral vehicle profile detection means; a horizontal spray bar adapted to distribute wash liquids; spray bar vertical positioning means; spray bar rotation means; supporting structure for the preceding, and a logic control unit, wherein said profile detection means comprises at least two photoelectric cells, the components of which are mounted on, and at opposite ends of said spray bar, and which are adapted to detect the presence of an intervening, lateral vehicle surface, wherein when such presence is detected, electronic signals are sent from said cells to said logic control unit which is adapted to receive said input signals and to process them based on instructional logic contained in said unit, and based upon said processing, to generate and transmit output signals to said spray bar vertical positioning means which includes movable spray bar supporting structure adapted to be activated thereby, and raised or lowered according to said logic, and wherein said spray bar has a plurality of spray nozzles attached thereto and is connected to rotation means for rotating said spray bar in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said spray bar relative to said spray bar'"'"'s movable supporting structure, said rotation means also being controlled by output signals received from said logic control unit, thereby positioning the direction of said spray bar, and therefore of the nozzles attached thereto, at a predetermined, substantially constant perpendicular angle relative to the exposed upper vehicle surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the sides of said vehicle, wherein further, said cells are said spaced apart laterally from the longitudinal axis of said spray bar, and from each other, and wherein still further, said supporting structure comprises two vertical stanchion members mounted on base members and being pivotable thereabout by pivot means governed by instruction logic contained in said logic control unit which is responsive to signals received by said unit from said photoelectric cells, said stanchion members being connected together at their upper ends by a support beam to form a horizontal top structure, said spray bar supporting structure extending from, and being pivotally attached to said top structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification