A number of dolly assemblies are connected in series with chain linkage sections to form an endless conveyor chain for the dolly assemblies to move objects along a track. Each dolly assembly includes a link attachment and a wheel assembly supported by the link attachment. The link attachment includes a base and a body portion. The body portion presents an open-loop partially surrounding an interior and extending between a pair of ends. The ends are spaced from one another to define an opening to the interior therebetween. The pair of ends are also formed in toward the interior to partially surround a respective pocket. Each pocket is configured to receive a portion of an endlink of a respective chain linkage section therein, and each one of the formed ends functions to prevent the endlink of the respective chain linkage section from becoming unhooked from the body portion.
A lighting device is provided for attachment to a component that defines an open area. The lighting device includes a mounting plate and a light emitting diode (LED) assembly. The mounting plate extends longitudinally, and is disposable within the open area. The mounting plate presents a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface. The LED assembly is operatively attached to the first mounting surface, with the LEDs being operatively attached to the first mounting surface, such that the LEDS form at least two columns. Each LED is configured to emit a respective field of light in response to being energized. The LED assembly is configured such that a field of light projected from the LEDs for one of the at least two columns is projected radially away from the field of light projected from the LEDs for the other of the at least two columns.
F21S 4/28 - Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources with light sources held by or within elongate supports rigid, e.g. LED bars
F21V 19/00 - Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
F21V 17/16 - Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening by deformation of parts of the lighting deviceSnap action mounting
F21V 31/00 - Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
F21S 8/00 - Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
F21W 131/40 - Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
B60S 3/04 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles
Vehicle washing machines and structural machine parts therefor; vehicle drying machines and equipment; car washing equipment, namely, automatic machines for washing, cleaning, drying, and polishing the exterior surface of an automobile; component machine parts for vehicle washing machines, namely, washing, drying and polishing wheels, washing, drying and polishing brushes, curtains, sheets and strips made of cloth, polyester or fabric for car washes and wrap around vehicle washers; vehicle drying machines as parts of vehicle washing installations
A drying station for a vehicle wash facility includes at least one rotatable drying wheel positioned adjacent a vehicle treatment area. The at least one rotatable drying wheel has a drying material disposed thereon and is configured to engage an exterior of the vehicle to remove water accumulated thereon. The drying station includes a beater device disposed adjacent the at least one rotatable drying wheel with the beater device and the drying wheel being engageable as the at least one rotatable drying wheel rotates. As the rotatable drying wheel spins, the drying material contacts the beater device to help minimize its level of saturation.
F26B 13/10 - Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materialsControlling movement, tension or position of materials
F26B 5/16 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by contact with sorbent bodies, e.g. absorbent mouldDrying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by admixture with sorbent materials
B60S 3/00 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles
F26B 15/10 - Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movementMachines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound
B60S 3/06 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles with rotary bodies contacting the vehicles
A conveyor assembly is provided for movably supporting a tire of a vehicle. The conveyor assembly includes a track, a dolly, and a trapdoor assembly. The track is configured for supporting the tire of the vehicle. The track terminates at an edge, and a gap is defined beyond the edge. The dolly is configured to move along the track to the edge so as to guide the tire along the track to the edge. The trapdoor assembly is configured to substantially cover the gap when in a closed position and is movable to an open position to uncover the gap and allow the dolly to translate around the edge. The trapdoor assembly includes a device configured to prevent a human from inadvertently opening the trapdoor assembly.
B65G 19/00 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
B60S 3/00 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles
B65G 19/02 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors for articles, e.g. for containers
B65G 19/18 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors Details
A tire coating apparatus for applying fluid to vehicle tires in a vehicle washing system, includes a pair of mechanical applicators, which each have at least one coating applicator disposed thereon for contacting the vehicle tires to apply the fluid. One mechanical applicator is intended to engage the tires on a right side of a vehicle while the other mechanical applicator is intended to engage the tires on a left side of the vehicle. The mechanical applicators also include a guide portion for guiding the vehicle wheel when a patron had elected not to have a coating fluid applied to the vehicle wheels. The mechanical applicators are rotatable between an initial position where the coating applicators are in a non-coating position to a second position where the coating applicators are intended to contact a vehicle tire.
B05C 1/06 - Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length by rubbing contact, e.g. by brushes, by pads
B60S 3/04 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles
A drying station for a vehicle wash facility includes at least one rotatable drying wheel positioned adjacent a vehicle treatment area. The at least one rotatable drying wheel has a drying material disposed thereon and which can engage an exterior of the vehicle to remove water accumulated thereon. The drying station includes a beater device disposed adjacent the at least one rotatable drying wheel with the beater device and the drying wheel being engageable as the at least one rotatable drying wheel rotates. As the rotatable drying wheel spins, the drying material contacts the beater device to help minimize its level of saturation.
F26B 13/10 - Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materialsControlling movement, tension or position of materials
F26B 5/16 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by contact with sorbent bodies, e.g. absorbent mouldDrying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by admixture with sorbent materials
B60S 3/00 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles
B60S 3/06 - Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles for exteriors of land vehicles with rotary bodies contacting the vehicles
F26B 15/10 - Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movementMachines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound
A vehicle wash system having a plurality of vehicle treatment components with one of the plurality of vehicle treatment components including at least one support member. The at least one support member has an exterior surface. A shrinkable sleeve is sized to fit over the exterior surface of the at least one support member. The shrinkable sleeve is slid onto the at least one support member and located in a predetermined position around the exterior surface. Upon application of heat to the shrinkable sleeve, it shrinks and conforms to the shape of the exterior surface of the at least one support member such that it is fixedly attached to the exterior surface of the at least one support member in the predetermined position. The result is a protective covering for the support member that is durable and readily cleanable such that fluid and debris can be easily wiped off of the covering and corrosion of the support member is minimized.
E04F 13/07 - Coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings composed of covering or lining elementsSub-structures thereforFastening means therefor
B62D 65/14 - Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels
A dryer nozzle for a drying unit in a vehicle wash system includes a nozzle portion for emitting high velocity air to an exterior surface of a vehicle passing thereunder. The nozzle portion has an inner nozzle section and an outer nozzle section. The inner nozzle section and the outer nozzle section being configured such that they can be positioned one inside the other during operation. At least one of the inner nozzle section or the outer nozzle section can be extended and retracted as directed towards or away from the surface of the vehicle.
F26B 3/00 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
B05B 1/32 - Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages in which a valve member forms part of the outlet opening
B05B 15/02 - Arrangements or devices for cleaning discharge openings
A vehicle wash system having a plurality of vehicle treatment components includes with at least one support member. The support member is constructed of a base material and has an outer surface. An elongated cover includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the elongated cover has a first color and a size and shape that substantially matches the outer surface of the support member. The elongated cover is readably engageable with the support member to protect it from contact with fluid and debris. The elongated cover is formed of a readably cleanable material such that fluid and debris can be easily wiped off of its exterior surface.
A counter-balanced top wheel assembly for laundering a vehicle includes a frame. A brush support arm having a first end and a second end is pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the first end. A counterweight support arm having a first end and a second end is pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the first end. The second end of the brush support arm is in communication with a brush such that the brush extends over a vehicle bay to launder an exterior of the vehicle. The assembly includes a pulley mechanism with a strap connecting the brush support arm to the counterweight support arm. The brush support arm and the counterweight support arm extend away from the frame in the same direction. The assembly is configured such that the brush applies consistent weight to the exterior of the vehicle throughout its entire arc of travel.
A vehicle treatment apparatus for a vehicle cleaning system includes a frame structure having a pair of vertical side supports that are secured to the ground and are spaced apart from one another. The pair of vertical side supports have a generally horizontal treatment member extending therebetween. The horizontal treatment member has a first end and a second end and is configured to communicate with a vehicle that passes thereunder. Each of the pair of vertical side supports include a retention mechanism formed therein for engaging a respective one of the first end and the second end of the generally horizontal treatment member. The generally horizontal treatment member is in communication with a controller to allow substantially vertical movement within each of the retention mechanism from a home position to at least one lower position where it communicates with the vehicle. The generally horizontal treatment member is in communication with a sensor to monitor application of a force thereto. If the force applied to the generally horizontal treatment member is greater than a predetermined minimum acceptable force, the generally horizontal treatment member moves vertically upward to the home position and automatically repositions the end in the event the force applied to the horizontal treatment member is sufficient to dislodge the ends from their retention mechanism.
A vehicle washing system includes an overhead car wash mitter assembly. The assembly includes a pair of side support structures and an overhead supporting structure extending between the side support structures. The overhead supporting structure includes a plurality of rows of racks with each row including a left side rack and a right side rack. The left side racks are moveable together and the right side racks are moveable together and independently of the left side racks. A first gap exists between one of the rows of racks. A second gap exists between another of the rows of racks. The first gap and the second gap are offset laterally from one another with respect to the direction of travel of a vehicle to eliminate any break or gap in cleaning coverage.
A cloth-type vehicle laundering implement includes a support mechanism consisting of a rotatable drive shaft and a plurality of generally parallel, adjacently arranged spacers mounted on the support mechanism. Each of the plurality of spacers includes a first face and a second face. The implement includes a plurality of individual circular fabric disk elements disposed between the first face of one of the plurality of spacers and the second face of another of the plurality of spacers. Each of the plurality of individual circular fabric disk elements extends outwardly beyond the spacers. Each of the individual circular fabric disk elements consists of a single piece of non-woven material having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The inner diameter is retained in a single plane by a securing mechanism such that more material is located adjacent the inner diameter than the outer diameter to provide a more rigid element. The outer diameter and the inner diameter consist of substantially the same linear length of material.
A vehicle wash system having a plurality of vehicle treatment components includes with at least one support member. The support member is constructed of a base material and has an outer surface. An elongated cover includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the elongated cover has a first color and a size and shape that substantially matches the outer surface of the support member. The elongated cover is readably engageable with the support member to protect it from contact with fluid and debris. The elongated cover is formed of a readably cleanable material such that fluid and debris can be easily wiped off of its exterior surface.
A vehicle washing system including a frame having an entrance and an exit side. The frame linearly reciprocates along a plurality of rails that extend generally in the direction between the entrance side and the exit side to travel over a stationary vehicle. The frame has a first fluid dispensing device located in the half adjacent its entrance side and a second fluid dispensing device located adjacent its exit side. The first and second fluid dispensing devices include a plurality of manifolds each of which is in communication with a supply of fluid to apply fluid to the vehicle. The vehicle washing system includes a control system that is in communication with each of the manifolds in the first and second fluid dispensing devices to selectively and independently control the type of fluid emitted from each of the manifolds and in what order during the vehicle cleaning process.
A tire coating apparatus that is intended to apply coating fluid to vehicle tires in a vehicle washing system when selected by a patron. The tire coating apparatus includes a pair of mechanical applicators, which each include one or more coating applicators disposed thereon for contacting the vehicle tires to apply a coating fluid thereto when selected by a patron. One mechanical applicator includes one or more coating applicator members that are intended to contact the tires on a right side of a vehicle while the other mechanical applicator includes one or more coating applicators that are intended to contact the tires on a left side of the vehicle. The mechanical applicators also include a guide portion for contacting and guiding the vehicle wheel when a patron had elected not to have a coating fluid applied to the vehicle wheels. The mechanical applicators are rotatable between an initial position where the coating application brushes are in a non-coating position to a second position where the coating applicators are intended to contact a vehicle tire. After the coating applicators contact the vehicle tires, they then return to the initial non-coating position and a second position where the coating applicators are in a non-coating position.
B05C 1/06 - Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to work of indefinite length by rubbing contact, e.g. by brushes, by pads
B05D 1/28 - Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials performed by transfer from the surfaces of elements carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. brushes, pads, rollers
