The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1992
Filed:
Nov. 30, 1990
Michael J Belanger, Walled Lake, MI (US);
Graham J Astley, Novi, MI (US);
Belanger, Inc., Northville, MI (US);
Abstract
The apparatus and method is utilized in a drive-through vehicle washing system of the type in which a vehicle is moved by conveyor along a longitudinal path across a floor surface, past a series of washing stations. The apparatus attaches to a parallelogram linkage such as that of a tire washing station and includes a manifold for spraying pressurized liquid at the vehicle wheels from an outlet nozzle. The manifold is carried by a drive mechanism which translates the manifold longitudinally to follow the vehicle wheel passing thereby for a distance sufficient for the stream of liquid to claims the entire wheel circumference. A flow control valve for regulating the flow of liquid is provided along with a sensor for detecting wheel position. A control mechanism regulates the movement of the manifold and the flow of pressurized liquid causing the manifold to move at a speed substantially equal to that of the vehicle. The method of operation in a specific linear actuator for translating the manifold is also disclosed.