Patent ID: 6161682
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B60S

Abstract:
An apparatus, having washing elements, for washing a vehicle comprising:a continuous conveyor that moves along a conveyor path;one or more roller members, mounted on the continuous conveyor and positioned to engage a portion of a wheel of a vehicle to move the vehicle along the conveyor path; andat least one guide rail having a proximal end and a distal end and an upper surface on which wheels of the vehicle roll thereby moving the vehicle from the proximal end to the distal end upon conveyor movement;said guide rail having a slot, a cover member that selectively covers the slot, and a concave recess on the upper surface, sized to accommodate said vehicle wheel;wherein the slot is disposed proximal to the concave recess of the guide rail and sized such that the roller member enters the slot when the cover portion is not covering the slot, thereby disengaging the vehicle wheel from the roller while the conveyor continues to move; andwherein the cover member is controlled to return to a position covering the slot so that as the conveyor moves, a roller member engages the wheel of the vehicle that is in the concave recess portion.