Car wash washer installation

• US 4,951,340 A
• Filed: 01/23/1989
• Issued: 08/28/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert J. Rietsch Jr
• Original Assignee: Gilbert J. Rietsch Jr
• Inventors: Rietsch, Gilbert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS JR, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US07/300,777
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 15/53 A, 15/53 AB, 15/53 B, 15/97 B, 15/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 15/97.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/063 the axis of rotation being approximately vertical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/02 Car cleaning plants

Abstract

A side washer installation for an automatic car wash line in which each side washer is bottom mounted on a mounting arrangement comprised of a swing arm having upwardly extending drive shaft over which the washer is mounted. An internal web plate is secured within each washer cylinder which rests atop a flange attached to the drive shaft, the flange bolted to the web plate at assembly. The drive motor and associated hardware are located beneath each side washer to remove this componentry from the field of view of the occupants of vehicles passing down the wash line. A subgrade plumbing system for the hydraulic motors and also spray materials is routed through a network of subgrade plumbing chases extending beneath the concrete surfaces and having stubs adjacent each washer for enabling installation of the plumbing system.

Claims

1. An automated car wash line including an array of a plurality of vertically disposed washers, each comprising a cylinder having radially extending flexible wiper strips extending therefrom, said cylinder driven to be rotated to produce a scrubbing action, characterized by a mounting arrangement for each of said washers comprised of a pivotally mounted swing arm located at the bottom of each washer, said swing arm having a drive motor located beneath a respective washer and coupled to an upwardly extending drive shaft, and means connecting said drive shaft to said drive cylinder to enable rotation of said washer;

said means connecting said drive shaft to said cylinder comprising a web plate fixed within said cylinder at a predetermined height therein and a flange attached to said drive shaft, said web plate resting atop said flange and secured thereto.

2. The automated car wash line according to claim 1 wherein washers of varying size are deployed along said line and wherein each web plate is located at the same height within each cylinder of each washer.

3. The car wash line according to claim 1 wherein said motors are hydraulically powered by pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic power source supplied via hydraulic lines and fittings.

4. The car wash line according to claim 3 further including a subgrade plumbing system for said hydraulic motors wherein plumbing lines are routed from each of said motors to said hydraulic power source.