Sherman Industries, Inc.

Sherman L Larson

Carl C Beer

Daniel J Del Prato

Anthony J Tomasello

Daniel DelPrato

Robert Klaus

David R McKenna

Ray Hoy

C Lee Hewitt

This invention is an automated system and method for washing automobiles. The invention provides a device which sprays liquid onto the vehicle, while closely following the general contour of the vehicle. The system determines that contour by analyzing and recording patterns of broken light beams when the vehicle passes by an array of photoelectric sensors. The system uses the stored information about the contour of the vehicle to control the movement of a spray bar which contains a set of nozzles. As the vehicle is pulled into the washing area by a conveyor, the spray bar initially moves with the vehicle, spraying the front grille while maintaining a constant distance from the vehicle. Then, the spray bar reverses direction, while the vehicle continues to move forward. The spray bar then travels around the vehicle contour, while adjusting the direction of the nozzles so that the liquid flows in the proper direction. After having traced the entire contour, the spray bar reverses direction again. The spray bar now follows the vehicle, spraying liquid towards the rear fender, until the washing cycle is complete. The spray bar oscillates axially while spraying, to insure that the liquid will reach a large area. The invention also includes a unique shfting mechanism which adjusts the axial position of the spray bar, and thus determines the center of the axial oscillations. The apparatus is preferably controlled by a microprocessor, or its equivalent.

Automated car wash system

A guide rail apparatus to be used within an automatic car wash including two parallel rails for directing the travel of the car tires along the conveyor within the car wash. The gap between the rails is expandable for accepting a range of wide and narrow tires as found on various cars. At least one of the two rails includes a series of rigid tubular rail portions which are attached to a biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus may include a pivot which is supported with respect to a fixed surface by an elastomer material. The portions of the pivoting rail are connected by a flexible member so as to form a continuous rail length and to permit pivoting of one portion of the rail while an adjacent portion along the length remains in its normal inwardly biased position. The biasing apparatus may also include a projecting rod that pivotally supports the ends of the tubular rail positions. The inward bias of the rail of the present invention towards the gap positions a relatively smaller tire in contact with the pusher roller portion of the car wash conveyor and prevents the tire from turning sideways and running out of the conveyor track.

Expandable guide rail for an automatic car wash conveyor

A fluid distribution apparatus is provided which includes a sensor for developing control signals representative of the profile of a vehicle to be cleaned and a tube for distributing fluid. The tube is movable horizontally in directions parallel to the path of a vehicle being cleaned and vertically toward and away from the path of the vehicle. Movements of the tube are controlled to position the tube in front of the vehicle and move the tube in the direction of movement of the vehicle and to position the tube above the vehicle and move the tube in a direction opposite that of the vehicle and simultaneously move the tube vertically to follow the profile of the vehicle. The tube is also positioned behind the vehicle and moved in the direction of the vehicle after the profiling. Oscillatory movement of the tube about a plurality of angular positions is also provided.

Vehicle cleaning system and method

Drying apparatus for an automatic car wash having separate sensing means for detecting the proximity of a nozzle to opaque top portions of vehicles and transparent top portions of vehicles to maintain the nozzle within a preselected proximity range of the top portions of the vehicles. Another sensing means is provided to detect the tailgates of open-bed pick-up trucks to retract the nozzle before it hits a tailgate. Also, the means by which the nozzle is mounted and moved toward and away from the vehicles vary the orientation of the nozzle relative to vertical as the nozzles moves between its uppermost and lowermost positions. Similar mounting and moving means can be used with side drying apparatus. In a second and more preferred form, ultrasonic detectors detect both the opaque parts of a vehicle and the windshield.

Dryer for automatic car wash equipment

This invention is an automated system and method for washing automobiles. The invention provides a device which sprays liquid onto the vehicle, while closely following the general contour of the vehicle. The system determines that contour by analyzing and recording patterns of broken light beams when the vehicle passes by an array of photoelectric sensors. The system uses the stored information about the contour of the vehicle to control the movement of a spray bar which contains a set of nozzles. As the vehicle is pulled into the washing area by a conveyor, the spray bar initially moves with the vehicle, spraying the front grill while maintaining a constant distance from the vehicle. Then, the spray bar reverses direction, while the vehicle continues to move forward. The spray bar then travels around the vehicle contour, while adjusting the direction of the nozzles so that the liquid flows in the proper direction. After having traced the entire contour, the spray bar reverses direction again. The spray bar now follows the vehicle, spraying liquid towards the rear fender, until the washing cycle is complete. The spray bar oscillates axially while spraying, to insure that the liquid will reach a large area. The invention also includes a unique shifting mechanism which adjusts the axial position of the spray bar, and thus determines the center of the axial oscillations. The apparatus is preferably controlled by a microprocessor, or its equivalent.

A self-service product dispensing pivotable cabinet has an open face which is faced forwardly for product dispensing and rearwardly for product restocking. A trigger plunger projects forwardly from the open face of the cabinet through a hole in a fixed faceplate. Pivotal support means for the cabinet include two pivot axis, a first of which comprises a vertical hinge rod mounted on the fixed faceplate for pivotal movement about its own axis. A pair of hinge arms extend horizontally from the vertical rod, one from its upper and the other from its lower end. The second pivot axis comprises an imaginary vertical axis extending between a pair of vertically aligned pivot posts, one each on the top and bottom surfaces of the cabinet, and located at the centers of the surfaces. Each pivot post is received within a recess at the distal end of one of the horizontal hinge arms. The length of the hinge arms and the pivotal movement of the hinge rod allow the cabinet to be initially moved rearwardly along a substantially straight line to effect withdrawal of the trigger plunger from the hole in the fixed faceplate, and then to be moved pivotally through at least 180.degree. to cause the open face to face rearwardly. After restocking, the cabinet is pivoted in the opposite direction and then pushed forwardly along a substantially straight line to cause the head of the trigger plunger to enter and pass through the hole in the fixed faceplate.

Self-service dispensing cabinet

Dryer equipment for an automatic car wash includes at least one proximity sensing system for maintaining a forced-air stripping nozzle within a predetermined range of the surface of the vehicle. Each sensing system includes a pair of associated triple-beam photoelectric switches, each of said triple beams being adjusted to focus at a different focal point at a different distance from the nozzle. Electronic circuitry responds to signals developed by the sensing system to control an air/oil power system which operates hydraulic cylinders to maintain the nozzle within a relatively narrow range from the vehicle surface. The range is determined by the difference between the focal points of the triple beams of the two associated photoelectric switches. Preferably, .at least two proximity sensing systems are provided--one for the top of the vehicle and the other for the passenger side of the vehicle. An ultrasound detector is also provided for the top system for raising the nozzle when a windshield is detected as being proximate.

Vehicle washing apparatus positioned above or at the side of the path followed by a vehicle to be washed. For side washing apparatus, pairs of spaced nozzles are reciprocated in a vertical plane to provide vertical coverage. The nozzles of a pair are angled toward each other, so that one nozzle sprays the front of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches, both nozzles spray the side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes, and the other nozzle sprays the rear of the vehicle as it departs. For top washing apparatus, the pairs of spaced nozzles are reciprocated in a horizontal plane to provide horizontal coverage. The angle nozzles contribute to the washing of the front and rear of a vehicle in addition to washing the top surfaces.

Vehicle reciprocating spray washing apparatus

A scrubbing apparatus for automobiles and other vehicles has three baskets of scrubbing curtains arranged in generally side-by-side relation transverse to the passageway through which the vehicle moves. The width of the curtains of the inner basket is preferably twice the width of each of the outer baskets. The curtain baskets are driven in an oscillatory manner by a single motor having two crank arms and connecting linkages so arranged that the oscillations of the outer baskets are in phase with each other but are out of phase with the oscillations of the inner basket. The preferred out-of-phase relationship between the innerand outer baskets is 90.degree.. In a preferred arrangement, the baskets are driven by reciprocating rods connected to the baskets at a point below the overhead pivot points of the baskets.

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Palmyra, NJ, United States of America

Sherman L Larson