Wrap-around vehicle wash component
AssigneeWashMe Properties, LLC
InventorsMichael J. Belanger, David L. Tognetti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle treatment system for a vehicle wash system includes a frame portion in communication with a brush assembly for treating front and rear vehicle surfaces. The brush assembly is rotated about an axis of rotation such that its associated wash media elements rotate therewith. The brush assembly includes a support carrier that is moveable with respect to the frame portion. The brush assembly includes a biasing mechanism that switches the brush assembly axis of rotation from a vertical orientation to a non-vertical orientation. A control system communicates with the support carrier to move the brush assembly along the front surface of the vehicle in a substantially vertical position and along the rear surface of the vehicle in a non-vertical position.
Claims33
An automated vehicle treatment system, comprising:
- a frame portion to be disposed adjacent a vehicle treatment area;
- a brush assembly configured to treat at least front and rear surfaces of a vehicle in the vehicle treatment area;
- a motorized shaft in communication with the brush assembly to effectuate rotation thereof about an axis of rotation;
- a plurality of media attachment mechanism in communication with the motorized shaft;
- a plurality of wash media elements extending generally outward from the plurality of media attachment mechanism and rotatable about the axis of rotation;
- a biasing mechanism for urging the motorized shaft from a substantially vertical position to a non-vertical position;
- a control system in communication with the brush assembly and configured to control its movement such that it traverses the front surface of the vehicle with the shaft in a substantially vertical position and traverse the rear surface of the vehicle with the shaft in a non-vertical position.
A vehicle treatment system, comprising:
- a support portion configured to be disposed adjacent a vehicle treatment area;
- a brush positioning portion coupled to the support, and
- a brush portion coupled to the brush positioning portion, the brush portion including:
- a motorized shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- and
- a plurality of wash media elements in communication with the motorized shaft;
- a control system in communication with the brush portion and configured to pivot the brush portion between a first position where the axis of rotation is oriented generally perpendicular to ground and a second position where the axis of rotation is oriented at a non-ninety degree angle with respect to ground;
- whereby the control system is configured to orient the brush portion in the first position for treating a front portion of a vehicle in the vehicle treatment area and further configured to orient the brush portion in the second position in for treating a rear portion of the vehicle in the vehicle treatment area.
A brush assembly for a vehicle treatment system, comprising:
- a generally vertical support portion configured to be disposed adjacent a vehicle treatment area;
- a track portion in communication with the vertical support portion;
- a brush assembly coupled to the track portion, the brush assembly having a plurality of wash media elements in communication with a drive shaft having an axis of rotation;
- a support carrier in communication with the brush assembly and is moveable communication with the track portion to translate the brush assembly between a washing position and a retracted position;
- an actuator in communication with the brush assembly and configured to pivot the brush assembly between a first position where the axis of rotation is oriented generally perpendicular to ground and a second position where the axis of rotation is oriented at an angle with respect to ground;
- whereby the actuator is in communication with a controller, which is configured to orient the brush assembly in the first position for treating a front surface of a vehicle in the vehicle treatment area and in the second position for treating a side surface and a rear surface of a vehicle in the vehicle treatment area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.