Modular high pressure spray system for vehicle washing apparatus and method of construction

• US 5,280,855 A
• Filed: 07/29/1991
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbert J. Rietsch Jr
• Original Assignee: Gilbert J. Rietsch Jr
• Inventors: Rietsch, Gilbert J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAINOR, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US07/737,171
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 134/123, 239/225.1, 239/264, 239/242, 239/263, 239/237, 239/550, 239/556
• US Class Current: 239/264
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0405 with reciprocating or oscillating spray heads B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0468 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0421 with rotating spray heads
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0452 the conveyed articles being vehicle bodies

Abstract

A spray nozzle system for vehicle washing apparatus is disclosed featuring a modular construction in which nearly identical base oscillating nozzle spray units are used for the sides, top, and front and rear nozzle sets. Each spray unit includes a bracket module and attached motor-drive module, and an additional bracket module can be connected end to end to create a doubling of nozzle sets in the unit. The bracket module rotatably supports a nozzle set mounting spray nozzle manifold shaft of either single or double length, supplied by a rotary fluid coupling clamped in a bracket included in each bracket module. The spray nozzle module shaft is oscillated by the motor drive module.

Claims

1. A vehicle washing spray system for directing a spray pattern of washing solution at a vehicle moved along a path, said system comprising:

an arch structure defining a pair of side sections and an overhead section extending between the side sections and connected to an upper end of each side section;

a trough extending along said path below the level along which said vehicle moves;

a plurality of spray units arrayed about said path, mounted on said arch structure and in said trough, including at least one spray unit on each side section, at least one spray unit on said overhead section, and at least one spray unit in said trough to be positioned below the vehicle moved along said path;

each of said spray units incorporating a substantially identical base spray unit comprised of a bracket module separate from said arch structure and adapted to be mounted thereto, including a spray nozzle manifold shaft having a longitudinal axis and an internal passage, a series of nozzles mounted on said spray nozzle manifold shaft to receive pressurized liquid flow via said passage, a base plate, and bracket means on said base plate rotatably supporting said spray nozzle manifold shaft for rotation about said longitudinal axis, each of said spray units also including a motor module including an oscillation motor mounted above said manifold shaft on said base plate having an output shaft extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said manifold shaft, and linkage means interconnecting said motor output shaft and said spray nozzle manifold shaft to cause oscillation of said spray nozzle manifold shaft in said bracket means of said base plate of said bracket module;

means mounting said base plate of said bracket module of each of said base spray units to a respective one of said arch side sections, overhead section, and in said trough;

at least one of said spray units configured in a double spray nozzle configuration, said configuration provided by incorporation of a second bracket module identical to said first mentioned bracket module, said second bracket module including a base plate and bracket means thereon, a connector base plate connecting said first mentioned bracket module base plate and said second bracket module base plate end to end, and wherein said spray nozzle manifold shaft comprises a double length spray nozzle manifold shaft rotatably mounted by said first mentioned and second bracket module base plate, and two sets of spray nozzles mounted on said double length spray nozzle manifold shaft.

2. The vehicle washing spray system according to claim 1 wherein said base spray unit mounted in said trough has said base plate of said bracket module thereof arranged so that said spray nozzle manifold shaft extends vertically, and wherein said base spray units mounted to said arch side sections and said arch overhead section have said base plate of said bracket modules thereof arranged so that said spray nozzle manifold shaft included in each of said bracket modules extends horizontally.

3. The vehicle washing spray system according to claim 1 wherein each of said bracket modules includes a clamping bracket at one end of said spray nozzle manifold shaft and further includes a rotary fluid coupling for connection to a supply, installed on said one end of said spray nozzle manifold shaft and clamped in said clamping bracket.

4. A spray unit for use in a vehicle washing system comprising:

a bracket module including a base plate having spaced apart brackets affixed thereto;

a spray nozzle manifold shaft having a longitudinal axis and mounted in said brackets for rotation about said longitudinal axis, said shaft being formed with an internal passage extending lengthwise within said shaft and adapted to receive liquid flow therein;

a spray nozzle set mounted to said spay nozzle manifold shaft in communication with said passage to receive the liquid flow therefrom;

a motor module connected to said bracket module and including an oscillation motor mounted above said base plate and having an output shaft extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spray nozzle manifold shaft, and also including crank-linkage means drivingly connecting said motor output shaft and said spray nozzle module shaft to cause oscillation of said spray nozzle and aligned therewith module shaft by rotation by said motor;

a second bracket module substantially identical to said first bracket module and means connecting said second bracket module aligned with said first mentioned bracket module, said second bracket module including a base plate and spaced apart brackets aligned with the brackets in said first mentioned bracket module, and wherein said spray nozzle manifold shaft comprises an elongated spray nozzle manifold shaft rotatably mounted in both of said bracket modules, said shaft having an internal passage extending inwardly from both ends of said shaft, and a second spray nozzle set mounted to said spray nozzle manifold shaft in communication with said internal passage to receive the liquid flow therefrom;

each of said first mentioned and second bracket modules including a clamping bracket, each located at an opposite end of a respective bracket plate, a rotary fluid coupling secured in each clamping bracket, each rotary fluid coupling mounted in a respective end of said spray manifold shaft, said internal passage blocked intermediate said ends to establish independent fluid supply to each of said spray nozzle sets.

5. The vehicle washing spray system according to claim 4 wherein said means for connecting said base plates comprises a connector plate extending beneath each of said base plates and fastened thereto.

6. A method of fabricating a spray nozzle system in a car wash apparatus in which vehicles are conveyed along a path, through an arch structure including two side sections and a connecting overhead section, including the steps of:

constructing a series of identical base spray units, each base spray unit forming a separate assembly from said arch structure and including a spray nozzle set and drive means for oscillating said spray nozzle set;

constructing substantially identical bracket modules incorporated in each base spray unit, constructing each bracket module to include a spray nozzle manifold shaft, a base plate separate from said arch structure, and a series of brackets affixed to said base plate, said brackets rotatably mounting said spray nozzle manifold shaft, said manifold shaft formed with an internal passage and said spray nozzle set mounted thereto to receive liquid flow therefrom;

mounting said base spray units on said arch structure, alongside and extending over the path of said vehicles passing through said apparatus by attaching said base plate of each bracket module to said arch sections to install said spray units on each of said side and overhead sections of said arch.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 further including the step of constructing at least one substantially identical additional bracket module including a base plate and connecting said base plate of said additional bracket module end-to-end to said base plate of said first mentioned bracket module of at least one of said plurality of base spray units, and installing a single spray nozzle module shaft extending through both of said connected bracket modules.