Vehicle wash system having a vertically operated top brush with a scissor support mechanism

#The present disclosure relates generally to a vehicle wash system for cleaning an exterior surface of a vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle wash system having a vertically operated top brush with a scissor support mechanism and an anti-spin mechanism.

#Vehicle wash systems are in common use to clean passenger vehicles such as automobiles. These vehicle wash systems may include a number of washing components that can be used to clean different sections of the vehicle. For example, wash systems may include a top brush that cleans the top surfaces of the vehicle and side brushes that clean the side surfaces of the vehicle. The top brush is typically raised and lowered relative to the vehicle to clean the varying heights inherent in the top surfaces of vehicles. The top brush may also be moved fore-and-aft to travel along the length of the vehicle, or the vehicle may be conveyed past the top brush to cover the length of the vehicle. The side brushes, similar to the top brush, may be translated fore-and-aft relative to the vehicle to cover the length of the vehicle, either by translating the brush relative to stationary vehicle, or conveying the vehicle past stationary brushes.

#To adjust the height of the top brush with respect to a vehicle treatment area, the brush may be carried on a vertical rail system, with the brush extending horizontally between opposing rails. The rails are disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle, and the brush extends across the width of the vehicle between the rails. During vertical movement of the top brush, the brush will become in the path of the vehicle, either in front of or behind a portion of the vehicle. Accordingly, substantial damage can occur in the event that the vehicle moves when the top brush is in a lowered position and in the path of the vehicle. Similarly, because the top brush is moved relative to the vehicle, either by translating the brush or conveying the vehicle, the top brush may collide with the vehicle in the event the vertical movement of the top brush is not controlled properly relative to the for-and-aft movement relative to the vehicle. Again, such contact with the brush can cause significant damage to the top brush and/or rail system necessitating repair thereof and also causing significant down time of the wash system. Additionally, the rails of these prior systems are fixed and do not retract as the top brush retracts from the path of a vehicle. As such, they are susceptible to unwanted vehicle contact and thus damage. Moreover, because these top brush systems remain in a single vertical position, they require an advanced control system, such as including torque sensors and feedback, to follow the contour of the car as the brush moves relative to the car.

#Other aspects of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art wash system with a top brush that is moveable along vertically mounted rails with the top brush in an upper position;

#FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art system of FIG. 1, with the top brush in an intermediate position;

#The present disclosure relates to a vehicle wash system, which may be configured as a rollover type system where the vehicle remains stationary and the various treatment components may be translated and/or moved with respect to the vehicle to perform the vehicle wash process. As is known to one of ordinary skill in the art, a rollover wash system carries various components that treat a vehicle in a predetermined sequence as the rollover wash system makes passes over the length of a vehicle. It will be appreciated that various aspects, components, or portions of the disclosed vehicle wash system may be utilized or employed as part of a conveyor wash system where a vehicle is conveyed past stationary wash components to treat the vehicle exterior as it travels through the wash facility. It will be appreciated that the various aspects, components, or portions of the disclosed vehicle wash system may be employed in connection with a variety of other applications outside of a rollover or conveyor vehicle wash system, such as a manual wash or self-service wash process.

#FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a prior art vehicle wash system 300, which includes a vehicle treatment area 312 where a vehicle 314 is to be positioned in a vehicle wash for treatment thereof. As shown, the wash system 300 includes a frame 316 supported on a horizontal rail system 318, such that the frame 316 may reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly on the rail system 318 to travel over the length of the vehicle treatment area 312 and the vehicle 314 therein. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the rail system 318 is in the form of ground engaging rails, and the frame extends upwardly from the rail system 318 and passes over the top of the vehicle treatment area 312.

#The frame 316 may include various vehicle treatment components supported thereon, such as a top brush 320 oriented generally horizontal to the ground and disposed for treatment of an upper surface of the vehicle 312. The frame 316 may include a pair of vertical rails 322 attached at laterally opposite sides of the frame 316. The rails 322 may support a horizontal shaft 324 that extends laterally between the rails 322 and that supports the top brush 320 for rotation. The top brush 320 is vertically moveable along the rails 322 in order to be disposed at different vertical heights relative to the vehicle treatment area 312 and the vehicle 314 disposed therein under direction of a control system in cooperation with various feedback devices such as a torque sensor.