Vehicle wash systems and methods
AssigneePetit Auto Wash, Inc.
InventorThomas J. Petit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided systems and methods for effective cleaning and drying of vehicles of different shapes and sizes. In an example, a conveyor system may move a vehicle along a path, and a bridge assembly supported above a vehicle is moveable along the length thereof. At least one trolley assembly is moveable in a direction transverse to the movement of the bridge assembly. At least one cleaning arm assembly delivers cleaning fluid to or for brushing the surface of a vehicle. The cleaning arm assembly is moveable in association with movement of the vehicle to position the cleaning arm assembly adjacent at least a portion of the front, sides and rear of the vehicle as it moves along the path. A variable impact or patterning spray arm or drying system is also provided.
Claims19
A fluid spray system comprising:
- a plurality of spray nozzles arranged in spaced apart relationship on an elongated spray bar, the spray bar fixed in position in relation to an adjacent surface that moves relatively laterally to the spray bar and plurality of spray nozzles with the distance of the surface from the spray bar changing as it moves, and with each spray nozzle configured to produce a variable spray coverage on the adjacent surface, at least one sensor that provides information on the varying distance of the plurality of spray nozzles from the moving surface, and
- a controller configured to control the spray coverage of each of the spray nozzles in the spray system to produce a predetermined varying spray coverage from each spray nozzle in real time corresponding to the information from the at least one sensor regarding the changing distance between the plurality of spray nozzles and the surface.
A fluid spray system comprising:
- a plurality of spray nozzles that produce a spray pattern that traverses a portion of an adjacent surface at a speed as the adjacent surface moves relative to the plurality of spray nozzles,
- at least one sensor that provides information on the varying distance of the plurality of spray nozzles from the adjacent surface, and
- a controller configured to use the information from the at least one sensor to control the operation of the plurality of spray nozzles to vary the spray pattern from each of the plurality of spray nozzles to substantially maintain the speed at which the spray traverses the surface as the distance between the plurality of spray nozzles and the surface varies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.