Vehicle cleaning system incorporating novel nozzle apparatus

Abstract

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment set forth herein, a tuned nozzle cleaning system is disclosed for a variety of vehicles. The vehicle cleaning system incorporates upstanding frame members positioned to the left and the right of a vehicle driven along a guided path. The frame supports in a pivoting, sliding, bushing an elongate oscillatory header rod. The header rod is connected at its opposite end to the throw of an eccentric mechanism which imparts rotation to that end of the header rod, thereby moving in reciprocating fashion to describe a regular pattern of movement. The header rod is preferably hollow, conducting water along its length. Water is delivered from a high pressure pump with suitable detergents and is pumped to various spray nozzles along the rod. This system incorporates a water spray nozzle having a novel construction. Each nozzle is supported by a tee so that water flows through the tee and into a short tube made of resilient material. The stiffness of the tube, the length of the tube, the excitation weight on the end of the tube, the pressure of the water, and the size and placement of the orifice at the end of the tube determine the sweeping spray pattern of the tuned cleaning nozzle. When the header is oscillated, the tuned cleaning nozzles, as a function of these factors, oscillate and synchronously sweep out a controlled spray pattern. Several sets of nozzles are incorporated to distribute water under pressure for cleaning over a specified area. The frame can optionally be extended to include overhead and bottom located nozzles for cleaning of the vehicle on all sides.