Abstract:
An automatic vehicle washing apparatus wash brush includes a cover encircling a rotatable shaft. Spokes extending radially from the shaft fix the cover relative to the shaft. Upon rotation of the shaft, centrifugal forces urge the cover radially outwardly away from the shaft toward a vehicle being washed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable. 
   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an automatic vehicle washing apparatus, and particularly to a wash brush suitable for use in an apparatus for automatically washing the exterior of an automobile or other similar vehicles. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Automatic vehicle washing apparatus are well known. The apparatus typically takes one of two generic forms. In one form, an automobile is moved by a conveyor through successive stations at which various washing operations take place, such as wetting, scrubbing and rinsing. The second approach is to automatically perform these same operations upon a stationary vehicle. The present invention is adaptable to both forms of washing apparatus. 
   Brushes in known automatic vehicle washing apparatus include elongated wash strips formed of a flexible fabric material, such as cotton, synthetic resin, and the like, having one end fixed to a rotating shaft. The shaft is rotated to impinge the opposing end of the wash strips against the vehicle. As the wash strip engages the vehicle, dirt and grime are scrubbed off of the vehicle exterior surface. Unfortunately, as the shaft is rotated, the end of each wash strip slaps against the vehicle which can create a loud noise and be disconcerting to the vehicle occupants. Moreover, as the wash strip is slapped against the vehicle being washed, the end of the wash strip can wrap around parts of the vehicle, such as an antenna, and rip the vehicle part off of the vehicle. 
   One solution to this problem is a “touchless” vehicle wash apparatus that does not use brushes that contact the vehicle being washed. In a “touchless” vehicle wash apparatus, high pressure liquid, such as water, is sprayed onto the vehicle to remove dirt and grime. By not using brushes, nothing can wrap around a vehicle part and tear the part from the vehicle. Unfortunately, a “touchless” vehicle wash apparatus does not remove dirt and grime as effectively as a vehicle wash apparatus incorporating brushes. Moreover, the high pressure liquid directed at the vehicle is also noisy which is disconcerting to the vehicle occupants. Therefore, a need exists for a wash brush suitable for use in an automatic vehicle washing apparatus that does not slap against the vehicle or wrap around vehicle parts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an automatic vehicle washing apparatus wash brush including a cover encircling a rotatable shaft. In one embodiment, spokes extending radially from the shaft fix the cover relative to the shaft. Upon rotation of the shaft, centrifugal forces urge the cover radially outwardly away from the shaft toward a vehicle being washed. 
   A general objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic vehicle washing apparatus wash strip which cleans a vehicle without slapping the vehicle or causing damage to the vehicle. This objective is accomplished in by providing an automatic vehicle washing apparatus wash brush having a cover that encircles the shaft. The cover does not have wash strip ends that can slap or damage the vehicle being washed. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an end view of a vehicle wash apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an automatic vehicle washing apparatus  10  includes wash brushes  12 ,  14  that scrub a vehicle  16 , such as a car, truck, and the like, moving past each brush  12 ,  14  along a vehicle path. Water is sprayed onto the vehicle  16 , and in cooperation with the brushes  12 ,  14 , dislodges and rinses away dirt and grime on the vehicle  16 . In  FIG. 1 , two rotating side brushes  12  and a single rotating top brush  14  are shown. However, any number and combination of brushes having a rotating, reciprocating, or static action can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the vehicle  16  can be stationary and the brushes  12 ,  14  can be moved relative to the vehicle  16  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   The side brushes  12  are substantially identical. Accordingly, only one of the side brushes  12  will be described with the understanding that the description applies to the other side brush  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 2–4 , the side brush  12  includes a vertically extending rotating shaft  26  mounted adjacent to the vehicle path. The shaft  26  can be rotated about a vertical axis  18  using any methods known in the art, such as belt driven, chain driven, gear driven, direct drive, and the like. Clamp bars  28  substantially parallel to the shaft axis  18  are detachably fixed to the shaft  26  using methods known in the art, such as bolts, screws, straps, and the like. The clamp bars  28  secure spokes  32  to the shaft  26 . 
   The spokes  32  extend radially from the shaft  26  and radially support a flexible cylindrical cover  34  that engages the vehicle  16  to remove dirt and grime from the vehicle  16 . Each spoke  32  includes a proximal end  38  and a distal end  40 , and is fixed to the shaft  26  by securing the proximal end  38  between one of the clamp bars  28  and the shaft  26 . Of course, other methods for securing the spoke  32  to the shaft can be used, such as bolts, screws, hooks, straps, and the like without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the distal end  40  of each spoke  32  is fixed to the cover  34  using methods known in the art, such as sewing, ultrasonic welding, snaps, hooks, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and the like, to fix the cover  34  relative to the shaft  26 . In an alternative embodiment, both ends  38 ,  40  of each spoke  32  are secured to the shaft  26 , and the cover  34  is fixed to the spoke  32  anywhere along the length of the spoke  32 . 
   In one embodiment, each spoke  32  is formed from a non-stretching flexible material, such as a polyester vinyl material, However, the spokes  32  can be formed from any material that can radially support the cover  34 , such as a composite material, rubber, cotton, foam, and the like. Moreover, the spokes  32  can be formed from a non-flexible material, such as a metallic frame fixed to portions of the cover  34  that do not contact the vehicle  16  being washed, such as a top and bottom end of the cover  34 , without departing from the scope of the material. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , the cover  34  encircles the shaft  26  and is radially supported by the spokes  32 . The shaft  26  rotatably drives the cover  34  to centrifugally force the cover  34  radially outwardly against the vehicle  16  being washed. In one embodiment, the cover  34  is formed from a four sided strip of material  36  having two opposing sides  48  joined together using methods known in the art, such as sewing, ultrasonic welding, snaps, hooks, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and the like, to form an endless strip. Advantageously, by forming a cover  34  which is an endless strip, there are no strip ends that can slap the vehicle  16  or wrap around vehicle parts. In certain embodiments, a substantially cylindrical cover  34  substantially coaxial with the shaft axis  18  may be preferred. However, a cover  34  that is not substantially cylindrical or has a longitudinal axis offset from the shaft axis and/or not parallel to the shaft axis can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   The cover  34  can be formed from any flexible material known in the art for washing a vehicle, such a microfiber fabric, cotton, foam, nylon, polyester, and the like. In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the cover  34  is a composite material including a core  42  sandwiched between an outer material  44  and an inner material  46 . Although a cover  34  formed from three layers of material is disclosed, the cover  34  can include one or more layers without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   The core  42  is preferably formed from a nonstretching material, such as a polyester vinyl that stiffens the cover  34 . Although a core  42  formed from a vinyl coated polyester is preferred, other flexible material, such as leather which is another nonstretching material, cotton which can stretch, and the like, can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the core  42  can include a sponge, or be formed solely from a sponge, that retains liquids used to wash the vehicle  16  to more evenly distribute the liquid on the vehicle  16  being washed. 
   The outer material  44  forms the radially outer side  52  of the cover  34 , and is formed from a microfiber fabric including multi-filament fibers having a diameter of less than 1.0 denier per filament to provide a nonabrasive fabric which does not damage a vehicle finish. Preferably, the microfiber fabric contains between approximately 70% and 80% polyester and between approximately 20% and 30% polyamide which resists stretching and is nonabrasive, such as available from Edge Tech Industries, San Diego, Calif. Most preferably, the microfiber fabric is woven using a waffle weave which inhibits the cover  34  from stretching during using. Of course, the outer side  52  of the cover  34  can be formed using other materials, such as cotton without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   The inner material  46  forms the radially inner side  54  of the cover  34  and prolongs the life of the cover  34 . Preferably, the inner material  46  is a polyfilter cloth, such as poly pro filter cloth 7001-3 available from Astrup Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Of course, a separate inner material  46  forming the radially inner side  54  of the cover  34  can be omitted and the radially inner side  54  can be formed from the core  42  or material forming the radially outer side  52  of the cover  34  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the top brush  14  includes a horizontally extending rotatable shaft  60  mounted above the vehicle path by support structure  62 . As in the side brush shaft  26 , the horizontal shaft  60  can be rotated using any methods known in the art, such as belt driven, chain driven, gear driven, direct drive, and the like, and include clamp bars substantially parallel to the shaft axis. A cover  64  encircling the horizontal shaft  60  is radially supported by spokes substantially identical to the spokes  32  of the side brushes  12 , and thus will not be described in further detail. 
   In the embodiment disclosed herein, the top brush cover  64  is formed from a plurality of adjacent cover sections  68  encircling the shaft  60  to form the elongated top brush cover  64 . Each top brush cover section  68  is constructed substantially identical to the cover  34  described above. Advantageously, each cover section  68  can be independent of the adjacent cover sections  68  to simplify replacement of a worn or damaged cover section  68 . Of course, the cover sections  68  can be fixed relative to each other using methods known in the art, such as sewing, ultrasonic welding, snaps, hooks, hook and loop fasteners, and the like, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   In use, the vehicle  16  being washed moves along the vehicle path, and is sprayed with a liquid, such as a soap solution. The shafts  26 ,  60  of the top and side brushes  14 ,  12  rotate to centrifugally force the cover  34 ,  64  of each brush  12 ,  14  against the vehicle  16  and remove dirt and grime. Advantageously, by providing a brush  12 ,  14  having a cover  34 ,  64  that encircles, and is fixed relative to, a rotating shaft  26 ,  60 , the cover  34 ,  64  does not slap against the vehicle  16  or wrap around vehicle parts. 
   While there has been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, short strips can be fixed to the cover outer surface to more aggressively remove dirt and grime from the vehicle. The strips can be provided with a length that minimizes slap and vehicle damage. In addition, the cover can be fixed directly to the shaft without the use of spokes.