Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2001-12-04
El-Arini, Zeinab (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Combined
C134S034000, C134S042000, C134S045000, C134S123000, C134S172000, C015S053100, C015S097300, C015SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325863
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle washing apparatus for washing vehicles of different sizes, and more particularly, to a vehicle washing apparatus movable on an internally heated track to wash a vehicle while the vehicle remains stationary within the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automatic vehicle washing systems come in two general types including movable washing systems and stationary washing systems. With the movable washing systems, a vehicle remains stationary in a car washing bay while the vehicle washing apparatus moves around the vehicle while washing the vehicle. In contrast, in stationary vehicle washing systems, the vehicle is moved by a motorized track through the stationary washing apparatus. The stationary washing systems may include a plurality of stations, such as, a washing station, a rinsing station, a wax application station, and a drying station. These stationary washing systems with multiple stations are generally larger and take up more space than the movable systems.
One example of a movable vehicle washing system includes an overhead track of a generally rectangular shape which is sized to correspond to the general size of the vehicles to be washed. A washing tower is movable on the overhead track and includes spray nozzles and/or brushes for cleaning the vehicle. The tower extends downward from the track and moves around the vehicle by wheels which travel along the rectangular shaped overhead track. However, these systems employing a movable tower for vehicle cleaning have a fixed track configuration and a single rectangular path along which the tower travels. Therefore, the track must be sized to accommodate the largest vehicle which is to be cleaned by the vehicle washing apparatus. Accordingly, when a vehicle is cleaned which is substantially smaller than the size of the track, the tower and spray nozzles will travel along a path which is much larger than the vehicle. With this system, some surfaces of the vehicle may not be adequately be cleaned. Particularly, the front and back of the vehicle will not be cleaned well if they are too far from the high pressure spray nozzles and/or brushes. In addition, some large vehicles may not be able to be accommodated in the movable washing system because the track size is too small for these vehicles.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to accommodate vehicles of different lengths in a movable vehicle washing system by adjusting the system for different vehicle lengths.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle washing apparatus which can accommodate vehicles having a wide variety of different lengths and does not require a motorized system to move the vehicle through the vehicle washing apparatus. The vehicle washing apparatus includes a movable washing member mounted for movement in a continuous path around a track. The entire track having the washing member mounted on the track is movable in a longitudinal direction along the length of a vehicle to accommodate vehicles of different lengths. The longitudinal movement of the track and the washing member are controlled based on a sensed length of the vehicle.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle washing apparatus includes a plurality of fixed rails, a track forming a continuous loop, the track mounted on the fixed rails and movable along the rails, and a movable washing member including a plurality of spray nozzles. The movable washing member is mounted for movement in a continuous path along the track.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of washing a vehicle includes the steps of positioning a vehicle stationary within a vehicle washing apparatus, and washing the vehicle with a movable washing tower which moves around four sides of the vehicle by moving the washing member 360 degrees on a continuous track and moving the track longitudinally on a plurality of fixed rails.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method of washing a vehicle includes positioning a vehicle stationary within a vehicle washing apparatus, and moving a washing tower in a substantially rectangular path to wash the vehicle. A length of the substantially rectangular path is adjusted based on a size of the vehicle.
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Oltmann Kent
Zamensky Andrew
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
El-Arini Zeinab
Miracle Industries, Inc.
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