Touch-free loading system for an in-bay, automatic vehicle wash system

A vehicle wash system for washing a vehicle positioned within a wash bay, the system comprising:

• an overhead gantry movable along the length of the vehicle, the overhead gantry including a spray arch for washing the vehicle positioned within the wash bay;
• a front sensor array positioned to detect the front end of the vehicle as the vehicle enters the wash bay;
• and
• a control unit coupled to the front sensor array to receive an indication of the presence of the vehicle from the front sensor array;
• wherein the control unit generates a signal to direct the position of the vehicle based upon the signal from the front sensor array.

A vehicle wash system for washing a vehicle positioned within a wash bay, the system comprising:

• an overhead gantry movable along the longitudinal length of the vehicle when the vehicle is positioned within the wash bay, the overhead gantry including a spray arch operable to wash the vehicle within the wash bay;
• a control unit for controlling the movement of the overhead gantry and operation of the spray arch during washing of the vehicle;
• a first vehicle position sensor operable to determine the distance from the first vehicle position sensor to a first side of the vehicle as the vehicle enters into the wash bay, the first vehicle position sensor being connected to the control unit;
• a second vehicle position sensor operable to determine the distance from the second vehicle position sensor to a second side of the vehicle as the vehicle enters into the wash bay, the second vehicle position sensor being connected to the control unit;
• an overhead sensor mounted to the overhead gantry, the overhead sensor being operable to determine the distance from the overhead sensor to the top of the vehicle positioned within the wash bay, the overhead sensor being coupled to the control unit;
• and
• a first front sensor and a second front sensor spaced from each other and connected to the control unit, the first and second front sensors being operable to detect the presence of the vehicle, wherein the control unit signals the proper positioning of the vehicle when only the first front sensor detects the vehicle and the control unit signals the improper positioning of the vehicle when both the first front sensor and the second front sensor detect the presence of the vehicle;
• wherein the control unit controls the operation of the overhead gantry and the operation of the spray arch based upon the sensed distance of the vehicle from the first vehicle position sensor, the sensed distance of the vehicle from the second vehicle position sensor, and the sensed distance of the top of the vehicle from the overhead sensor.

A method of controlling the operation of an overhead gantry and a spray arch of a vehicle wash system, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining the position of a first side of the vehicle as the vehicle enters into the wash bay;
• determining the position of a second side of the vehicle as the vehicle enters into the wash bay;
• and
• operating the overhead gantry and the spray arch based upon the position of the first side of the vehicle and the position of the second side of the vehicle within the wash bay.