Patent ID: 6277207
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B60S

Abstract:
A vehicle washing system for automatically cleaning a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a side and a profile comprising:a gantry which travels along a track within a vehicle washing area, wherein the gantry further comprises:a gantry pulser which outputs increment signals as the gantry travels from a beginning to an end of the track and outputs decrement signals as the gantry travels from the end to the beginning of the track;an inverter which controls the speed and direction of travel of the gantry; anda structure for supporting at least one vehicle washing apparatus;a vehicle detection system which detects the front end, rear end, and profile when the vehicle is within the vehicle washing area and outputs detection signals indicative thereof;at least one vehicle washing component which dispenses cleaning solutions into the vehicle washing area; anda control unit which controls the travel of the gantry within the vehicle washing area such that upon receipt of the detection signals, determines the location of the front end, the rear end and locations along the profile relative to the track, controls the travel of the gantry along the track such that the gantry travels a pre-set distance beyond the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, and controls the at least one vehicle washing component such that cleaning solutions are dispensed when the component is within a predetermined proximity of the vehicle.