Rollover pressure car wash apparatus and methods of operating same

Abstract

A variable pressure spray type vehicle laundry apparatus in which a carriage is mounted for longitudinal displacement along overhead parallel beams and an inverted L shaped spray arm carrying both horizontally and vertically directed nozzles circumscribes the vehicle to be laundered. In the preferred embodiment two reversely similar L shaped spray arms are used and caused to operate through a butterfly type cycle to spray various fluids at different pressures on the vehicle. For low pressure operations, the twin arm system is centered over the vehicle and both spray arms are supplied with low pressure fluid at the same time. For high pressure operations, the left and right spray arms are operated in sequence and each is maintained at an optimal spray arm to vehicle spacing during its operating cycle. The carriage is provided with a laterally translatable shuttle structure for this purpose.

1 . Apparatus for spraying fluid onto an object in a treatment location having a floor and comprising: 
 a support structure overhead the location    a spray nozzle carrier arm of essentially inverted L-shape having a horizontal spray portion extending from an inboard end generally over the center line of the location to a second end at the periphery of the location; said arm further having a vertical spray portion essentially continuous with the horizontal portion and extending from the second end thereof downwardly toward the floor;    spray nozzles carried by said arm;    a powered pivot structure connecting said arm to said support structure to pivot said arm about a vertical axis passing substantially through the inboard end of the first portion whereby the vertical portion of the arm may be caused to circumscribe at least a portion of the area; and    means for supplying fluid to the nozzles under pressure.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support structure defines a longitudinal path of travel and said apparatus further comprises: 
 a carriage structure mounted for longitudinal movement over and relative to the treatment location;  
 a reversible carriage drive system; and  
 said powered pivot structure being mounted on said carriage.  
 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 3  further including a shuttle structure mounted on said carriage and including a shuttle drive system for selectively causing movement of said shuttle and pivot structure laterally of said support structure and carriage.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 3  further comprising a programmable controller having outputs connected to the pivot structure, said carriage drive and said shuttle drive.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein said programmable controller includes means for programmably controlling the speed of movement of said carriage and shuttle drives.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 5  wherein said programmable controller comprises a variable frequency generator.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 5  wherein said programmable controller comprises a key pad input.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further including a resettable, breakaway joint disposed between and interconnecting said first and second carrier arm portions for permitting nondestructive relative movement between said portions when said second arm is subjected to a force.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said means for supplying said nozzles with fluid comprises a fluid source and has multiple pressure settings.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a pair of spaced parallel hollow beams suspended over the washing area and extending transversely thereof, at least one longitudinal beam extending between and supported by said pair of beams; 
 said apparatus further comprising a carriage mounted for powered reversible travel on said beams, and a shuttle structure mounted for powered reversible movement on said carriage.  
 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  further comprising means for adjusting the lateral spacing between said pair of parallel beams.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  further comprising means for supplying heated liquid to the interior spaces of the beams.  
     
     
         13 . A pressure washer for an object in a washing area comprising: 
 a support structure over said area;    a pair of spray nozzle carrier arms each being of essentially inverted L-shaped configuration and having a first portion extending from a center point toward the periphery of the area and a second contiguous vertical portion disposed adjacent to the area;    spray nozzles carried by the 1st and 2nd portions of each of said carrier arms;    a pivot structure connecting said carrier arms to said support structure at said center point to reversely pivot said carrier arms whereby the vertical portions of said carrier arms may be caused to follow reversely similar, essentially mirror image paths which together circumscribe the area; and    means for supplying fluid to the nozzles under pressure.    
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 13  wherein said support structure defines the longitudinal path of travel; 
 said apparatus further comprising a carriage structure mounted for longitudinal movement over and relative to the washing area, said pivot structure be mounted on said carriage for movement therewith.  
 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  further including a shuttle structure mounted on said carriage structure for bidirectional lateral movement relative to said arms.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 13  further including a resettable breakaway joint disposed between interconnecting each of said first and second carrier portions for permitting nondestructive controlled relative movement between said portions.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 13  further comprising a programmable controller for controlling the movement of said support structure relative to said washing area.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 17  wherein said programmable controller comprises means for controlling the speed of movement of said carriage.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 18  wherein said programmable controller comprises a display.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 19  wherein said programmable controller comprises a key pad.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said means for supplying said nozzles with washing fluid comprises at least two fluid sources.  
     
     
         22 . A pressure washer for an object in a washing area comprising: 
 a support structure over said area;    a pair of spray nozzle carrier arms each being of essentially inverted L-shaped configuration and having a first portion extending from a center point toward the periphery of the area and a second contiguous vertical portion disposed adjacent to the area;    spray nozzles carried by the 1st and 2nd portions of each of said carrier arms;    a pivot structure connecting said carrier arms to said support structure at said center point to reversely pivot said carrier arms whereby the vertical portions of said carrier arms may be caused to follow reversely similar, essentially mirror image paths which together circumscribe the area; and    means for supplying fluid to the nozzles under pressure wherein said means for supplying said nozzles with washing fluid comprises at least two fluid sources.    
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 22  wherein said support structure comprises a pair of spaced parallel beams dispersed over the washing area, at least one cross beam extending between and supported by said pair of longitudinal beams, and a shuttle structure mounted on the support for powered programmably coordinated movement along said beams.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 22  further including means for determining the location of a vehicle in said area.  
     
     
         25 . A method of pressure washing a vehicle which is disposed in a washing area comprising the steps of: 
 providing a spray nozzle carrier arm of essentially inverted L-shape having a first horizontal portion which is disposed over the area and a contiguous, second vertical portion which is disposed adjacent the periphery of the area;    causing said carrier arm to circumscribe at least part of the area and to pivot about an end of the arm which is generally over the center of the area; and    supplying washing fluid to the nozzles under pressure.    
     
     
         26 . A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein the step of circumscribing is carried out so as to maintain a substantially constant spacing between the vertical arm portion and a vehicle in the area.  
     
     
         27 . A method of washing a vehicle having top, front, rear and side surfaces while standing in a washing area comprising the steps of: 
 providing a pair of spray nozzle carriers each of essentially inverted L-shape and each having first horizontal portions which overlie the washing area and second vertical portions which are adjacent the washing area;    causing said carriers to pivot from the inboard distal ends of said horizontal portions in a reversely similar fashion so as to fully circumscribe said area and said vehicle while maintaining a substantially constant spacing from the side surfaces of said vehicle; and    supplying said nozzle carriers with washing fluid under pressure.    
     
     
         28 . A method of washing a vehicle in a washing area comprising the steps of: 
 providing a pair of reversibly similar spray nozzle carriers of inverted L-shaped having a substantially common pivot center over the area;    moving the carriers through a butterfly pattern while moving the pivot center along and over the centerline of the vehicle while simultaneously supplying both carriers with fluid; and    moving each carrier sequentially through a butterfly pattern at a predetermined optimal distance from the vehicle while supplying each carrier independently with fluid.