Patent · US Expired

Car wash

US4933016A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 1989
Grant dateJun 12, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 18, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60S3/04
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automatic high pressure, frictionless, water and chemical vehicle washing device is self-contained and has a light weight aluminum frame which can be attached to a floor by adjustable leg supports or suspended from a ceiling, allowing it to be installed easily and quickly into any self-service or automatic car wash bay. The device is powered by relatively low air pressure and the spray washing head is movable in perpendicular directions allowing the spray head to seek any possible location within the boundaries of the machine itself. Photo-electric infra-red beams sense the presence of the vehicle being washed; relay signals to a programmable controller, and direct the spray head to seek the dimensions of various sized vehicles. Once the vehicle dimensions are established via communication between the photo-eye and the programmable controller, the machine maintains a safe but effective washing distance between the spray head and the vehicle surface of approximately fourteen inches. A mechanism is provided for indexing the spray head which causes it to rotate precisely ninety degrees at each corner of the vehicle and then lock in place by the force of a single small hydraulic cyl…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.