Vehicle washing system

Abstract

An automotive vehicle washing system includes a frame comprising a bridge member end opposed and support sections mounted for linear reciprocating movement on spaced apart support rails. Pivoting washing nozzle support arms are mounted on the bridge section and are interconnected by a drive motor and drive pulleys to move in opposite directions to wash the sides and opposite ends of a vehicle. Each arm includes movable arm sections supporting spaced apart nozzle assemblies which may move toward each other or away from each other to size a vehicle according to its width. Each arm includes opposed elongated beam members which also provide fluid conducting passages for conducting washing fluids to the nozzle assemblies. Certain ones of the nozzle assemblies are drivenly connected to an oscillating servomotor. The servomotor is also used to position the pivoting arm sections through a lost motion coupling and a gear drive unit.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A vehicle washing system comprising: 
 a frame including opposed support sections adapted for traversing said frame along a driveway;    an enclosure for enclosing at least a portion of said support sections; and    a low pressure air pressurization system including a blower for providing low pressure air to pressurize the interior of said enclosure to minimize the entry of water into said enclosure.    
   
   
       29 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 28  wherein: 
 said frame is disposed on spaced apart support rails extending along said driveway on opposite sides thereof and above a surface of said driveway.    
   
   
       30 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 29  wherein: 
 said rails are elevated high enough above said driveway to avoid a collision with a vehicle and for linear and reciprocal motion of said frame in parallel travel with the sides of a vehicle to be washed.    
   
   
       31 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 28  wherein: 
 said blower is mounted remote from a wash bay containing said vehicle washing system, and said air pressurization system includes flexible conduit means operably connected to said blower and to said enclosure for conducting low pressure air to said enclosure to minimize wetting of components of said vehicle washing system supported on said frame.    
   
   
       32 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 28  including: 
 a bridge section disposed between said opposed support sections of said frame, said enclosure enclosing at least part of said bridge section.    
   
   
       33 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 32  wherein: 
 said support sections extend beyond said bridge section on opposite sides thereof, respectively, and parallel to support rails for said frame extending along said driveway.    
   
   
       34 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 33  including: 
 at least one drive motor operably connected to an elongated drive shaft supported on said frame, said drive shaft spanning a major portion of the length of said bridge section and operably connected to respective drive wheel means engaged with said rails, respectively, for linear traversal of said frame therealong.    
   
   
       35 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 34  wherein: 
 said support sections are supported on wheels spaced apart on opposite sides of said bridge section, respectively, and engaged with said rails, respectively.    
   
   
       36 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 28  including: 
 at least one arm mounted on and supported by said frame for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis;    plural nozzle assemblies carried by said arm for directing pressure fluid at a vehicle to be washed; and    at least one servo motor carried by said arm and drivingly connected to said nozzle assemblies for positioning said nozzle assemblies to direct wash fluid onto a vehicle in a predetermined direction and pattern.    
   
   
       37 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 36  wherein: 
 said at least one arm includes at least one beam member including an elongated fluid conducting passage formed therewithin and operable to be in fluid flow communication with said nozzle assemblies.    
   
   
       38 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 37  wherein: 
 said nozzle assemblies include respective manifold members supported for rotary oscillating movement on said arm, and said nozzle assemblies include respective nozzles mounted on said manifold members and in communication with passages formed in said manifold members respectively, for receiving washing fluid therefrom.    
   
   
       39 . A vehicle washing system comprising: 
 a frame including opposed spaced apart end support sections, each end support section being supported and guided by a respective one of spaced apart parallel support rails disposed along and above a driveway and adapted for linear traversal of said frame along the length of a vehicle to be washed;    said rails being mounted on spaced apart support means and elevated high enough above said driveway that a motor vehicle bumper will not collide into said rails;    a bridge section of said frame disposed between and connected at its opposite ends to said end support sections; and    said end support sections extend beyond said bridge section on opposite sides thereof, respectively, and parallel to said beams, respectively.    
   
   
       40 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 39  including: 
 at least one rotatable arm mounted on and supported by said bridge section for dispensing wash fluids.    
   
   
       41 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 40  including: 
 plural nozzle assemblies carried by said arm for directing pressurized wash fluids at a vehicle to be washed; and    at least one servomotor carried by said arm and drivingly connected to said plural nozzle assemblies for positioning said nozzle assemblies to direct wash fluid onto a vehicle in a predetermined direction and pattern.    
   
   
       42 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 41  including: 
 a daisy chain arrangement of a timing belt or chain and coupling said nozzle assemblies together and to said servomotor.    
   
   
       43 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 42  wherein: 
 at least one nozzle assembly includes a manifold member including a row of nozzles attached thereto, said manifold member includes a trunnion disposed at each end;    said manifold member pivots upon an axis of said trunnions and a port is provided through one of said trunnions for receiving wash fluids and for conducting said fluids to said nozzles.    
   
   
       44 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 39  including: 
 at least one drive motor operably connected to an elongated drive shaft, said drive shaft spanning a major portion of the length of said bridge section and operably connected to respective drive wheel means engaged with said rails, respectively, for linear traversal of said frame therealong.    
   
   
       45 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 39  wherein: 
 said end support sections are supported on wheels spaced apart on opposite sides of said bridge section, respectively, and engaged with said rails, respectively.    
   
   
       46 . The vehicle washing system set forth in  claim 39  including: 
 an enclosure for said frame; and    a low pressure air pressurization system for pressurizing an interior space defined by said enclosure to minimize wetting of said frame and components carried thereon by vehicle washing fluids