Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
APP~RATUS FOR WIPING WASH~D V~HICLES
The present invention relates to vehicle wiping ap-
paratus for use in automatic carwash systems, and primarily
relates to apparatus for wiping and drying vehicles emerging from
the wash area of an automatic carwash system and which results in
more ef~icient wiping of the vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The following patents all relate to wiping and drying
assemblies for use in automatic carwash systems:
Canadian Patent 872,346 June 1, 1971 Weigele et al
Canadian Patent 1,012,711 June 28, 1977 Evans
U.S. Patent3~683,441 August ].5, 1972 Fromme
U.S. Patent3,765,043 October 16, 1973 Lesser
U.S. Patent3,914,818 October 28, 1975 Fromme
U.S. Patent4,166,302 September 4, 1979 Kim
U.S. Patent4,166,303 September 4, 1979 Fromme
The apparatus described and claimed in U.S. Patent
~,166,302 is yenerally similar to the arrangement of the present
invelltion and over which the present invention is an improvement.
In the assembly of U.S. Patent 4,166,302, the width of the path
of wip.ing movement is only the width of the sequentially aligned
wlping towels with the result that to ensure that all of the ve-
hicl.e is contacted by the towels, the rate of the movemen-t of the
towels and/or rate of movement of the vehicles must be relatively
slow.
With the apparatus of this U.S. Patent, and to provide
as wide a wiping sweep as possible, the wiping towels are relatively
wide which increases their bulk wi.th the result that the necessary
Elexibility to contact and wipe all portions of a vehicle is
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lost. Additionally, the excess bulk of the towels may on occasion
result in damage to portions, hood ornaments, antennas, of the
vehicles being wiped.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides an improvement to known
apparatus which will enable increased rate of movement of drying
towels and/or increased rate of movement of vehicles through the
wash while at the same time ensuring that all possible portions
of the vehicle are wiped.
The present invention accomplishes these advantages
by increasing the width and area of wiping sweep for each pass of
the drying towels by staggering the positioning of various of the
towels laterally with respect to the path of movement of the towels.
Additionally, and by staggering the positioning of the
various of the towels laterally with respect to the path of move-
ment, each towel may be of less width (and hence less bulk) than
towels conventionally used and this ensures that each towel more
easily conforms to the shape of the vehicle for better wiping while
minimizing the possibility of damage to windshield wipers and
~0 antennas, and with the added advantage of increased visibility
for the occupant of the car and the carwash attendant.
Moreover, and by maximizing the sweep for each path
of movement of the towel, it is possible to minimize the space
re~uired for the installation of the assembly with reduced cost
for installation and maintenance.
BRIEF ~ESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
__ _ _ _
Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view the wiping and
drying assembly of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the
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suspension arrangement for the hanging of wipiny towels;
Figure 3 is a top schematic view illustrating the
staggered positioning of various of the drying towels;
Figure 4 illustrates projecting support rod means for
suspending a wiping towel lat,erally offset with respect to its
related chain link;
Figure 5 illustrates center support rod means for posi-
tioning a wiping towel centrally with respect to its related
chain link; and
Figure 6 illustrates in perspective view a drying towel
assembly suitable for use in association with the present appar-
atus or with other apparatus of this general type.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings will now be described in
detail and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.
The assembly consists of an endless track 2 of oblong
configuration having rounded ends which is elevated to a height
to permit the passage of washed vehicles thereunder and which is
supported in such elevated position by suitable frame members 4,
~0 cxtending downwardly from the ceiling of the carwash building.
Carried by the endless track 2 are chain link support
brackets 6 having roll,ers 8 which engage with the endless track.
A rod 10 (see Figure 2) extends vertically downwardly from each
bracket 6, and each rod 10 pivotally carries the respective ends
of links 12 which together form an endless chain shown generally
at 14 in Figure 1.
Each link 12 has a number of vertically elongate openings
16 which conveniently have a two-fold purpose, the first providing
means Eor supporting the drying towels (which will be discussed
in detail below) and the second for providing means for imparting
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movement to the endless chain 14 in the direction of arrows 18 as
shown in E~igure 1. The elevated framing 4 carries a motor 20 with
related speed reduction mechanism 22 which drives a cogged wheel 24
(shown only partially in Figure 1) which is ro-tatable about a
vertical axls and whose cogs (not specifically shown) engage in
the top portions of the openings 16 to cause movement of the
endless chain. A similar cogged wheel (not shown) which is not
motor driven is provided at the other end of the endless track to
provide support and guidance for the endl~ss chain 14.
Suspended from the links 12 are a plurality of vertically
elongate drying cloths or towels shown generally at 26. With res-
pect to Figure 6, each towel may conveniently consist of an upper
strip of carpet (or the like) material 28 which carries two
individual lengths, upper 30 and lower 32, of chamois material,
or chamois~type material, secured thereto. For replacement and
cleaning, the lengths 30 of chamois material are preferably re-
movably secured to the strip of carpet material 28 and this can
conveniently be done through the use of hook-and-eye fastening
matcrial of the type well known as VELCO (registered trade mark).
~he upper length 30 of chamois material is secured only at its
top to the strip oE makerial 28 and the VELC~O securement may be
overlaid by a flap 34 of carpet material which covers the joint
to yuard against the chamois length being pulled away from the
carpet strip as it is drawn over a vehicle. Conveniently, the
lower end of the upper length 30 of chamois material overlies the
top edge of the lower length 32 avoiding the necessity of having
to provide a related flap of carpet material.
When the towels are all suspended in the manner as
shown in Figure 17 and the endless chain 14 is driven for move-
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ment in ~he direction of arrows 18, an automobile to be wipedand dried is then moved or drawn in the direction of arrow 35
through the moving towels to e~fect the wiping and drying as is
convenkional.
During their drying contact with a vehicle, the chamois
lengths 30, 32 remove moisture from the vehicle and this mo.isture
can conveniently be extracted from the chamois lengths by conven-
tional.ly passing the strips over a vacuum tube 36 which is connected
to a vacuum source 38. The portion of the tube facing the oncoming
towels may be provided with an elongate slip or openings ~not
specifically shown) through which moisture from the towels is
drawn by suction action as the towels pass over and in contact
with the vacuum tube as shown in Figure 1.
By positioning various of the towels 26 in relatively
staggered relationship with respect to the endless chain 14 a
broad path of wiping sweep can be obtained using relatively narrow
towel strips to obtain the advantages ouf the invention as dis-
cu.ssed above.
One suitable method of positioning the towels in re-
latively staggered relati.onsh.ip is shown in Figures 2, 4, and5, and as shown in Figures 2 and 5, a carpet strip 26' can be
centrally positioned with respect to its supporting chain link
12 by means of a center support rod 40 carried by the chain link
and which extends on each side thereof to be received within
openings provided on each side of the strip as shown in Figure 5.
Towelling strips 26" are then positioned on each side of the
chain links as shown in Figures 2 and 4, by the provision of pro-
jecting support :rods 42 having inner ends secured to the chain
links with the strips 26" being suspended adjacent the outer ends
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of the rods in convenient fashion such as by inserting the rods
42 through upper openings 44 provided in the strips as shown in
Figure 6. The projecting support rod ~2 may be threaded to receive
washers ~4 and nuts 46 to hold the strips in position as shown in
Figure ~.
Figure 3 is a top schematic view illustrating a pre-
Eerred sequential positioning of adjacent strips on the endless
chain, but it will be appreciated that other sequential position-
ing could be employed without departing from the scope of inventive
concept. In Figure 3, two strips 26' are centrally positioned with
respect to the endless chain 14 followed by a strip 26" positioned
laterally offset to one side of the chain, followed by two further
centrally positioned strips 26', then followed by a further strip
26" laterally offset from the chain on the other side; this
repeating secluential order being followed throughout the length
of the chain.
It will be appreciated, however, that other sequential
arrangements could be employed such as by providing only one
centrally positioned strip 26' between laterally offset strips
~0 ~6".
The relatively narrow width of the chamois lengths (which
may be of the order of 6" wide by 21" long) allows them to have
less bulk to more easily conform to the shape of the automobile
for better wiping and drying. By way of example, each link 12
of the chain may be approximately 12" long, carrying three strips
28 with six lengths 30, 32, with the strips being approximately
equally spacecd. The first strip on each link is centered, the
seconcl strip is laterally offset to one side of the link about
lQ" Erom center and the third strip is centered. In the next link
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the offset strip is on the other side and this arrangement provides
a wiping path having a width in the neighbourhood oE 20" which
provides for greater flexibility in wiping and visibility as
discussed above.
In practical application, the endless track 2 may be of
the order of 14' long by 2' wide from which 90 towelling strips 28
each carrying two chamois lengths 30, 32, are suspended, providing
180 chamois wiping lengths.
