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US 9,802,579 B2Granted
Vehicle wash system
OwnerPeter J. Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle wash system includes a track system positioned above a wash area and a movable body coupled to the track system. The movable body is movable along at least two axes and includes a gripping mechanism to selectively hold and release one or more wash tools.
Claims18
A vehicle wash system for washing a vehicle positioned within a wash area, the wash area defined by a forward boundary, a rear boundary, and a pair of side boundaries extending between the forward and rear boundaries establishing a wash area perimeter to surround the vehicle, the system comprising:
- a track system positioned above the wash area;
- a movable body coupled to and suspended from the track system above the wash area, the movable body operable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;
- at least one or more wash tools selectively attachable to the movable body, wherein the one or more wash tools is attached to the movable body in the first mode of operation such that the one or more wash tools extends from the movable body into the wash area, and wherein the one or more wash tools is detached from the movable body in the second mode of operation;
- a controller configured to move the movable body over the wash area along a first axis in a longitudinal direction and rotate the movable body about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- wherein when the movable body is in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to move the movable body along at least the first axis and rotate about the second axis such that substantial rotation of the movable body only occurs adjacent the forward or rear boundaries to position the one or more wash tools along the wash area perimeter, and when the movable body is in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to move the movable body along the first axis and rotate about the second axis such that substantial rotation of the movable body occurs at any position between and including the forward or rear boundaries.
3 more elements
A vehicle wash system, comprising:
- a support system positioned above a wash area;
- a controller;
- a movable body coupled to and suspended from the support system above the wash area, wherein the movable body moves on the support system along at least two axes and rotates about a third axis perpendicular to the at least two axes;
- and
- at least one stab shaft for insertion into a corresponding receptacle to selectively attach at least one or more wash tools to the movable body in a first mode of operation, wherein when the one or more wash tools is attached to the movable body, the one or more wash tools extends at least partially into the wash area as the movable body moves along the at least two axes, and when the one or more wash tools is detached from the movable body in a second mode of operation, as the movable body moves along the at least two axes, no wash tools extend from the movable body into the wash area;
- and
- wherein when the movable body is in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to move the movable body along at least the first axis and the second axis and rotate about the third axis such that substantial rotation of the movable body only occurs in front or behind the vehicle, and when the movable body is in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to move the movable body along the first axis and the second axis and rotate about the third axis such that substantial rotation of the movable body occurs at any position between the front and rear of the vehicle.
4 more elements
A vehicle wash system for washing a vehicle positioned within a wash area, the wash area defined by a forward boundary, a rear boundary, and a pair of side boundaries extending between the forward and rear boundaries establishing a wash area perimeter to surround the vehicle, the system comprising:
- a support system positioned above the wash area;
- a controller;
- a movable body coupled to and suspended from the support system above the wash area, wherein the movable body moves on the support system above the wash area along at least two axes in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction;
- at least one shaft for insertion into a corresponding receptacle to selectively attach at least one or more wash tools to the movable body in a first mode of operation, wherein when the one or more wash tools is attached to the movable body, the one or more wash tools extends at least partially into the wash area as the movable body moves along the at least two axes, and when the one or more wash tools is detached from the movable body in a second mode of operation, as the movable body moves along the at least two axes, no wash tools extend from the movable body into the wash area;
- and
- wherein when the movable body is in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to move the movable body in response to a first set of instructions, and when the movable body is in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to move the movable body in response to a second set of instructions different from the first set of instructions.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.