Retractable wax, buff and polish apparatus for cars

Abstract

A retractable wax, buff and polish apparatus for cars includes an open framework upon a floor through which a vehicle is adapted to pass. A vertically adjustable carriage is guidably mounted upon the framework and suspends therefrom a pair of coplanar horizontal racks, each rack having a plurality of parallel spaced fabric panels at their upper ends depending therefrom, defining a segmented friction curtain adapted on lowering of the carriage and oscillation of the racks for buffing and polishing engagement with a car. A vertically adjustable counterweight is mounted upon the framework and connected by a chain and sprockets to the carriage whereby selective raising or lowering of the counterweight respectively lowers or raises the curtain. Pressurized canisters mounted upon the framework are activated on lowering of the curtain for delivering a foam of wax or detergent and water onto the car. An opposed pair of side wheel arms each mounting a power operated buffing and polishing wheel assembly are mounted upon the framework and are biased for operative engagement with the car as it passes through the framework. Hydraulic and pneumatic circuits are employed including a plurality of valve assemblies, which when activated are adapted for controlling, raising and lowering of the curtain and activation of the canisters, and the buffing and polishing wheels. A safety circuit is interposed into the pneumatic circuit for automatically raising the curtain under conditions which would otherwise damage the curtain or vehicle.