Patent GB-1340855-A (GB)
Title: Vehicle cleaning apparatus
IPC: B60S3/06
Filed: 1971-04-19
Abstract: 1340855 Cleaning vehicles R E COX 19 April 1971 [11 Feb 1970] 6612/70 Heading B7J Vehicle cleaning apparatus comprises a rotatable brush 10 connected at its upper and lower ends to one pair of ends of support arms 11, 12 which are connected at the opposite pair of ends to a vertical member 15 to form a frame rotatable mounted on a substantially vertical column 16 secured to the ground or to a wheeled platform, which enables the arms 11, 12 and rotatable brush 10 to pivot about a substantially vertical axis. Power driven means, e.g. an electric motor 13, mounted on arm 11 is provided for rotating the brush, via the driving belts 14. The support arms 11, 12 are so spaced that in use they may pass respectively over the top and beneath the vehicle bodywork to permit the brush to clean one side and one end of the vehicle. Biasing means to urge the brush into contact with the vehicle exterior comprise a falling weight 18 acting on an extension 20 of arm 12, by means of a flexible element 19 and a pulley between the weight and the extension; and a spring 26 tensioned at all times when a fluid-pressure actuated unit 25, e.g. a pneumatic piston and cylinder unit is operated. The apparatus is provided with an apertured pipe (not shown) for supplying detergent liquid to the surface of the vehicle. The piston-rod of unit 25 is attached to one end of a link 24 via a pin-and-slot connection, the other end of the link 24 being pivotally mounted on a pivot 23 fixed relatively to the column 16. One end of a link 22 is pivotally connected to the pivot 23 the other end being pivotally connected to link 21 which in turn is connected to extension 20. The edge of link 24 adjacent to link 22 bears on a lug 27 connected to link 22 limiting the motion of link 24 relative to link 22, the spring 26 being connected between these links. A light source 29 and photo-electric cell 28 are placed at the end of the apparatus through which a vehicle enters and a light source 31 and photo-electric cell 30 are placed at the end of the apparatus through which the vehicle exits. The unit 25 is actuated by an electro-pneumatic valve (not shown) and the arrangement is such that the piston-rod of the unit will always be extended to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 so long as light from the sources 29 and 31 falls on both photo-electric cells 28 and 30. When the front end of the vehicle entering the apparatus interrupts the light source 29 the valves actuate the unit 25 causing the piston-rod to retract and pivot the link 24 about pivot 23 and tension the spring thereby urging the brush 10 against the side of the vehicle, which has been previously wetted, causing the apparatus to clean a side of the vehicle as it moves through the apparatus. When the rear of the vehicle clears the brush the latter and the arm 11 and 12 are swung by the force of the spring and weight thus cleaning the rear end of the vehicle as shown by 10a and 10b. At this time the light source 31 is interrupted by the vehicle. When the rear end of the vehicle clears the light source 31 the valve is actuated causing the parts of the apparatus to assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to await the arrival of the next vehicle to be cleaned.