Patent GB-719812-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to vehicle washing apparatus
IPC: B60S3/06
Filed: 1952-04-04
Abstract: 719,812. Washing vehicles. COX, R. E. April 2, 1953, [April 4, 1952.] No. 8606/52. Class 138 (1). In a vehicle washing apparatus of the kind including one or more rotatable brushes adapted to engage the exterior of the vehicle, means for supplying a stream of water to the said exterior adjacent the brush or brushes and means for driving the brushes, the brush or brushes and the water supply means are carried by a frame, operating means being provided to move the frame up the front of the vehicle with the brush or brushes in contact therewith and the water directed there against, for retaining the frame in position adjacent the roof of a vehicle whilst the vehicle is moved so that the roof may be traversed by the brush or brushes and for causing the frame to move down the rear of the vehicle with the brush or brushes in contact therewith and with the water directed thereagainst. The frame 10, Fig. 1, is suspended from a garage roof by chains 11 and a cable 12 passing over roof carried pulleys 28 and connected to a winch 29. A counterweight 31 is connected by cables 30 to the frame which is guided in its vertical movement by fixed rods or cables 32 engaging guides 33 carried by the ends of the frame. The inner ends of the shafts 14 for two brushes 15 are carried in a common bearing housing 16 on a link 17 which is adjustably connected, for vertical movement, to the frame 10 as by a bolt 19 passing through a slot 18 in the link. The outer end of the shaft 14 is in each case carried by a bearing housing pivotally supported between the lower ends of a pair of straps 13, the upper ends of which are pivoted to the frame 10. Pivotally connected to each pair of straps 13 is a subframe 20 carrying an electric motor 21 connected through a belt and pulley drive 22 with its respective shaft 14. As the angular relationship of the brushes is altered the relative positions of the shafts 14 and their drives is unaltered. Rotatably carried by brackets 24 on the frame 10 are two water pipes 25 supplied from hoses 34. These pipes each have a single row of apertures 26 and have secured on their sides opposite the apertures a splash shield 36 to which are secured flexible splash shields 37. The inner ends of the pipes 25 are secured to a two-piece bracket 27 carrying at its outer end a feeder wheel 28. Distance wheels 35 are provided on the front of the frame 10 and also at the rear thereof, although the rear wheels are not shown on Figs. 2 and 3. The apparatus is normally retained in a position adjacent the garage roof with bracket 27 and wheel 28 secured by suitable means in a vertical position. To wash a vehicle the frame is lowered and the vehicle is driven to a position where its front contacts the distance wheels 35, Fig. 2. The bracket 27 is released and falls by gravity to engage the feeler wheel 28 with the vehicle front after which the frame is raised with the brushes rotating and with the jets of water directed towards the vehicle front. If the upper part of the front of the vehicle slopes rearwardly it will be necessary for the vehicle to be advanced slightly as the frame is raised. When the feeler wheel engages the vehicle roof the bracket 27, Fig. 3, will be turned by the continued upward movement of the frame and the jets directed towards the vehicle roof. When the brushes reach the roof the winch is stopped and the vehicle is then driven under the frame so that the brushes and water clean the roof On reaching the rear of the vehicle the bracket will be gradually turned through another 90 degrees so that the wheel 28 and brushes engage the rear of the vehicle whereafter the vehicle is stopped and the frame is lowered. During this operation the water jets are again directed towards the vehicle surface. On reaching the lowest position the frame is stopped and the vehicle driven away. The bracket and wheel 28 are now secured in an out of use vertical position in readiness to drop against the front of the next vehicle to be cleaned. The winch may be controlled manually or alternatively automatically by switches and contacts working in accordance with the angular positions of the bracket 27 relative to the frame. This apparatus may be used in conjunction with that described in Specification 692,005 for washing vehicle sides. The frame may be arranged so that it can be swung to one side or moved transversely to the vehicle. This form would be applicable to cleaning the front and rear of electric trolley vehicles where the roof is obstructed by the upstanding collecting poles of the vehicle. Alternatively the apparatus may be arranged above a sloping portion of the garage floor so that the trolley vehicle can move forward by gravity whilst the roof thereof is engaged by the brushes, the collecting poles then being in their out of use position. The adjustment of the common brush bearing housing 16 may be effected by a feeler wheel mechanism associated with the bearing housing which wheel engages the vehicle roof.