Rotary cloth roll assembly

In an automobile tire wash system having a rotary cloth roll assembly for washing the surfaces of the tires on one side of an automobile as it proceeds along a predetermined horizontal path of travel, comprising:

• an elongated rotary shaft of circular cross-section having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of travel, said shaft having a pair of end portions and an elongated intermediate portion of non-circular cross-section between the end portions;
• a longitudinal key secured upon said intermediate portion;
• a positive stop abutment secured to said shaft adjacent the intersection of said intermediate portion and one of said end portions;
• a series of engaging spacers mounted upon said intermediate portion with the first spacer bearing against said abutment;
• each spacer having at its center a circular opening therein generally conforming to the non-circular cross-section of said intermediate portion of said shaft and a radial key slot for assembly upon the shaft along said axis and in registry with said key for rotation with said shaft and for preventing rotation of said spacers relative to said shaft;
• each spacer having first and second sides, said first side being generally flat;
• said second side having thereon and extending axially therefrom a generally rectangular locating shoulder terminating in a generally flat surface parallel to said first side;
• a series of flexible non-woven cloth discs of synthetic fibers, each disc comprising a unitary, relatively thin, generally cylindrical body having a circumferential outer periphery and having at its center a rectangular opening therein generally conforming to the generally rectangular shoulder on a spacer for assembly upon each of said spacer shoulders respectively for rotation therewith and for preventing rotation of said cloth discs relative to said spacers;
• said discs being disposed so that the circumferential outer periphery of said cylindrical body comes into contact with the surfaces of the tires;
• fastening means on the other end portion of said shaft for securing the spacers against said abutment and to said shaft for retaining the flexible discs between said spacers;
• and
• power operated means for rotating said shaft to thereby cause the cylindrical outer peripheries of said discs as they are rotated against the surfaces of the tires as the automobile proceeds along said path.

A unit cloth roll cartridge for a tire washer apparatus used in a car wash system comprising:

• a series of aligned coaxial engaging spacers, each spacer having a unitary body having a centrally extending axis, said body having first and second sides, the first side being generally flat, there being a centrally located opening extending through the body along said axis between said sides;
• said second side having thereon and extending therefrom a shoulder extending away from said second and first sides, terminating in a generally flat surface parallel to said first side;
• a plurality of flexible non-woven cloth discs of synthetic fibers, each disc comprising a unitary, relatively thin, generally cylindrical body having a circumferential outer periphery and having at its center an opening therein conforming to the shoulder of said spacers and assembled onto said shoulders respectively and secured thereon against rotation relative to said shoulder;
• central portions of said cloth discs being interposed between and coaxially supported by said spacers, the remaining outer portions of said cloth discs being unsupported in the direction of said centrally extending axis and spaced axially apart, defining spaces;
• a layer of adhesive interposed between opposing faces of adjacent spacers and interconnecting adjacent spacers along their length;
• said spacer openings being aligned and defining an axial bore through the cartridge;
• an elongated rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending through the axial bore of the cartridge;
• a positive stop abutment secured to said shaft adjacent one end thereof;
• a plurality of said cartridges being arranged end to end and mounted upon said shaft, and with the first cartridge bearing against said stop abutment;
• interlocking means between said cartridges and said shaft for rotation in unison and for preventing rotation of said cartridges relative to said shaft;
• and
• fastening means upon and adjacent the other end of said shaft retainingly engaging the adjacent cartridge for anchoring all of said cartridges relative to said stop abutment and with respect to said shaft for rotation therewith.

An automobile tire wash apparatus having a rotary cloth roll assembly for cleaning the surfaces of the tires on one side of an automobile as it proceeds along a predetermined horizontal path of travel, comprising:

• an elongated rotary shaft having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of travel, said shaft having a pair of end portions and an elongated intermediate portion between the end portions;
• a positive stop abutment secured to said shaft adjacent the intersection of said intermediate portion and one of said end portions;
• a plurality of replaceable unit cloth roll cartridges arranged end to end and mounted upon said shaft with a corresponding longitudinal axis in alignment, and with the first cartridge bearing against stop abutment;
• each of said unit cloth roll cartridges having a series of aligned coaxial engaging spacers, each spacer having a unitary body having a centrally extending axis, said body having first and second sides, the first side being generally flat with a centrally located opening extending through the body along said axis between said sides;
• said second side having thereon and extending therefrom a generally non-circular shoulder extending away from said second and first sides, terminating in a generally flat surface parallel to said first side;
• a plurality of flexible non-woven cloth discs of synthetic fibers, each disc having at its center a generally non-circular opening therein conforming to the shoulder of a spacer and assembled onto said shoulders respectively and secured thereon against rotation relative to said shoulders;
• central portions of said cloth discs be interposed between and coaxially supported by said spacers, the remaining outer portions of said cloth discs being unsupported in the direction of said centrally extending axis and spaced axially apart, defining spaces;
• and
• a layer of adhesive interposed between opposing faces of adjacent spacers and interconnecting adjacent spacers of each cartridge along their length;
• said spacer openings being aligned defining an axial bore through the cartridges and through which said shaft extends;
• interlocking means between said cartridges and said shaft for rotation in unison and for preventing rotation of said cartridges relative to said shaft;
• and
• fastening means upon and adjacent the other of said end portions of said shaft retainingly engaging the adjacent cartridge for anchoring all of said cartridges relative to said stop abutment and with respect to said shaft for rotation therewith.