Patent Publication Number: US-2023133451-A1

Title: Vehicle wash facility

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/274,980, filed Nov. 3, 2021, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a vehicle wash facility that includes components for cleaning an exterior surface of a vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle wash facility having an upper level structure for supporting various cleaning and drying components. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Commercial vehicle wash systems have been developed to clean and dry passenger vehicles quickly and efficiently. These vehicle wash systems have been developed to include a number of cleaning components that are located and oriented to clean different sections of the vehicle exterior. For example, vehicle wash systems often include spray nozzles that initially coat the vehicle in fluids (e.g., chemicals, soap, and water) and a series of brushes that scrub and clean different surfaces of the vehicle exterior. After the vehicle has been cleaned and rinsed, it is beneficial to dry the vehicle to avoid water streaks and unwanted attraction of dirt and other debris. As such, these vehicle wash systems have also been developed to include a number of drying components that are located and oriented to dry different sections of the vehicle exterior. These drying components may include a combination of drying brushes and blowers. In operation, movement of the various cleaning and drying components may be electrically, mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically driven. Often times, the operable configurations and movements of the various cleaning and drying components become difficult based on packaging limitations, complicated fluid line circuits, fluid reservoirs, electronic circuitry, and other features that have traditionally been required to be located within a bay of the facility. For example, fluid lines often times extend several meters between a reservoir and a spray nozzle. As such, operation of the spray nozzle can be delayed and fluid within the fluid line can be wasted. 
     Accordingly, there is a continuing desire to further develop vehicle wash facilities to include structures for improved packaging of cleaning and drying components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not to be interpreted as a complete and comprehensive listing of all of the objects, aspects, features and advantages associated with the present disclosure. 
     It is therefore an aspect of the disclosure to provide a vehicle wash facility having an upper level structure for supporting various cleaning and drying components. 
     It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a vehicle wash facility having an upper level structure for supporting various fluid reservoirs directly above associated cleaning and drying components. 
     It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a vehicle wash facility having an upper level structure for supporting various fluid line circuits, fluid reservoirs, and electronic circuitry above associated cleaning and drying components. 
     It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a vehicle wash facility that provides a bay having sidewalls extending along a length that are substantially transparent. 
     In another aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle wash facility is provided. The vehicle wash facility comprises a bay extending between a pair of sidewalls and including at least one cleaning component. An upper level structure is located above the bay and supports at least one of a fluid line, electrical line, or air line above the at least one cleaning component. The upper level structure hangs from a ceiling of the car wash facility and is in the form of a grate. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle wash facility including a bay with an upper level structure supporting a variety of cleaning and drying components; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a schematic top view of a frame structure of the vehicle wash facility; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a schematic top view of the upper level structure extending across the bay; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a schematic top view of various components located within the bay and below the upper level structure; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a schematic top view of various components supported on or above the upper level structure; 
         FIGS.  6 A through  6 D  illustrate connections between various components and the upper level structure to the frame structure; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a cross-sectional, side view of the car wash facility; 
         FIG.  8 A  illustrates a first end of the bay and  FIG.  8 B  illustrates a second end of the bay; 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  illustrate side views of the bay showing a series of connectors for associated cleaning components and drying components supported on or above the upper level structure; 
         FIG.  10 A  illustrates a first end of the bay and  FIG.  10 B  illustrates a second end of the bay showing various components supported on or above the upper level structure; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates additional connectors for associated cleaning components and drying components supported on or above the upper level structure; 
         FIGS.  12 A and  12 B  illustrate fluid inputs and outputs extending above and below the upper level structure; and 
         FIG.  13    illustrates additional fluid inputs and outputs extending above and below the upper level structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, the subject embodiments are directed to a vehicle wash assembly including an upper level structure for supporting various cleaning and drying components. However, the example embodiments are only provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a vehicle wash assembly is illustrated. The vehicle wash facility includes an upper level structure for supporting various cleaning and drying components. The vehicle wash facility improves upon the operational framework, packaging, and efficiency of traditional cleaning bay systems that have been used to clean and dry a vehicle body. 
     The present disclosure relates to a vehicle wash facility, the vehicle wash facility includes a vehicle wash system, which may be configured as a rollover type system where the vehicle remains stationary and the various treatment components may be moved with respect to the vehicle, a conveyor type system where the vehicle is moved with respect to the vehicle wash system, or a combination thereof. As is known to one of ordinary skill in the art, a vehicle wash facility utilizes various components that treat a vehicle in a predetermined sequence to both clean and dry the vehicle. It will be appreciated that the various aspects, components, or portions of the disclosed vehicle wash facility may be employed in connection with a variety of other applications outside of a rollover or conveyor vehicle wash system, such as a manual wash or self-service wash process. 
     With initial reference to  FIG.  1   , the vehicle wash facility  10  is shown. The vehicle wash facility  10  may include a bay  12  having a vehicle wash system  14  ( FIG.  4   ). An upper level structure  16  may be located above a vehicle cleaning area (the lower portion of the bay  12 ) in an upper portion of the bay  12 . The vehicle cleaning area is the area through which the vehicle passes. In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may be configured as a mezzanine structure that is supported by a ceiling  18  of the vehicle wash facility  10  and “hangs” via a series of cables or hanging pillars  20  that are supported by the ceiling  18  and extend downward. More particularly, the vehicle wash facility  10  may including a frame structure  22  that includes a plurality of vertical columns  24  and horizontal beams  26  and the upper level structure  16  may be configured as a mezzanine structure that hangs from one or more of the horizontal beams  26  via hanging pillars  20 . In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may be configured as a second floor with conventional frame supports (e.g., joists and girders, which may be formed of metal). The upper level structure  16  may be supported by the floor with pillars or similar structure extending upward from the floor. In one aspect, some portions of the upper level structure  16  may be supported by the floor, with other portions of the upper level structure supported by the ceiling. In another aspect, at least some of the upper level structure  16  may be supported by the walls (including the sidewalls). In some embodiments, at least some of the horizontal beams  26  are configured as I-beams. The bay  12  may include a pair of longitudinal sidewalls  28  that extend between an entry  30  and an exit  32 . The sidewalls  28  may include, at least in part, transparent or translucent walls, such as via glass sections that permit at least partial visibility into the bay  12 . In some embodiments, the vehicle wash system  14  is a conveyor-type system and includes a conveyor assembly  33  ( FIG.  2   ) that extends between the entry  30  of the bay  12  and the exit  32  of the bay  12 . In use, the conveyor assembly  33  moves a vehicle from the entry  30  to the exit  32  and between components and component stations of the vehicle wash system  14 . It will be appreciated that the overall structure of the facility shown in  FIG.  1    may include walls, windows, or other enclosures. For example at the lower level, the sidewalls  28  could alternatively include roll-up doors in some sections (such as shown in  FIG.  7   ), which roll-up doors could be formed from transparent or translucent sections or opaque sections. Above the exit  32  at the upper level, the wall recessed from the exit  32  may be an opaque wall (similar to the sidewalls show along the upper level) configured to support signage or the like. Similarly, the wall above the entry  30 , which is shown generally flush/aligned from the entry, may also be opaque and configured to support signage above the entry  30 . It will be appreciated that the upper wall at the exit  32  could be aligned/flush with the exit  32  and/or the upper wall at the entry could be recessed from the entry  30 . 
     In some embodiments, the ceiling  18  is supported by one or more spaced apart vertical columns  24  and the sidewalls  28  are substantially transparent. For example, the sidewalls  28  may be formed of windows spaced by vertical columns  24  (as shown along the lower level in  FIG.  1   ) and the windows may cover greater than 70%, 80%, or 90% of the sidewalls  28  or less. In some embodiments, the vertical columns  24  are provided in pairs on opposite sides the bay  12 .  FIG.  2    illustrates a schematic top view of the vehicle wash facility  10  illustrating various locations of the vertical columns  24 . In the case of pairs of columns  24 , the inner columns  24  of the pair may be used to define the corresponding sidewall  28 , with the outer columns being spaced away from the sidewall  28 . It will be appreciated that the pairs of columns illustrated in  FIG.  2    could also be single columns, with the outer columns removed. 
     With reference now to  FIG.  3   , a schematic top view of the upper level structure  16  extending across the bay  12  is illustrated, in this case with the ceiling remove for clarity. The upper level structure  16  may include a longitudinal section  34  that extends at least partially along a length of the bay  12  between the entry  30  and the exit  32 . The longitudinal section  34  may include a width extending between and spaced from one or both sidewalls  28  along at least a portion of the length. The spacing between the longitudinal section  34  and the sidewalls  28  may provide locations for cleaning components, drying components, or the like. The upper level structure  16  may further include a lateral section  36  that includes a width larger than that of the longitudinal section  34 . In some embodiments, the lateral section  36  extends between doors on sidewalls  28  for providing access to a pair of control and/or service rooms  38  located on opposite sides of the bay  12 . The control and/or service rooms  38  may include controllers, processors, and the like for dictating various functionalities of the cleaning components and drying components. The control and/or service rooms  38  may include fluid (e.g., water) input and output from the vehicle wash facility  10 . The control and/or service rooms  38  may include additional features, such as user interfaces, power panels, fluid levels, pressure controls, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may be configured in a grid pattern (e.g., of grate-formed material) such that fluid is not accumulated thereon and airflow is improved above the upper level structure  16 . The grid pattern may also permit fluid lines and power lines to extend through openings of the grid pattern (e.g., a fiberglass grid). In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may be formed of a transparent or translucent material (e.g., Plexiglas). In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may formed of a combination of grate material and translucent material, wherein the grate material is located above one or more cleaning and drying components. In some embodiments, the grate material (or translucent material) may be configured in panels to open and close (e.g., be completely removed, open on a hinge or the like, etc.) to provide further access and serviceability to the one or more cleaning and drying components. In some embodiments, lights that provide visual stimuli are including on an upper surface of the translucent material and shine therethrough.  FIG.  3    illustrates the upper level structure as a plurality of interlocked hinged grate-like structures, and it will be appreciated that such illustration is also representative of hinged or fixed translucent panels or the like, and that other sizes or arrangements of the panels are possible to suit the layout of associate vehicle was components located throughout the was facility. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a schematic top view of various components located within the bay  12  and below the upper level structure  16 , with the upper level structure  16  removed for clarity. These various components may hang from a bottom surface of the upper level structure  16  or be supported from a floor of the bay  12 . These various components may include a plurality of cleaning components  40  (e.g., wet brushes, water sprayers, soap sprayers, and/or the like) and a plurality of drying components  42  (e.g., drying brushes, blowers, and/or the like). In  FIG.  4   , the cleaning components  40  are arranged upstream of the drying components  42 . In correspondence with  FIG.  3   , it is clear that one or more of the cleaning components  40  or drying components  42  may be located directly beneath the upper level structure  16 . In the section adjacent the entry  30 , there may be no upper level structure  16  (as shown in  FIG.  3   ). Similarly, the upper level structure  16  may terminate ahead of the exit  32 . As shown, not all components are necessarily located directly below the upper level structure  16 , as in  FIG.  4    for example where some of the drying components  42  are not covered by the upper level structure  16 . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a schematic top view of various components supported above the upper level structure  16 .  FIG.  5    is partially cut off relative to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , and does not illustrate the entry  30  or exit  32 . These components, as shown in  FIG.  5   , may include supportive components  44  (e.g., electric wires, fluid lines, electric motors, fluid tanks, chemical tanks, soap tanks, fans, exhaust pipes, spare parts, generators, emergency lighting, and/or the like). However, the upper level structure  16  may also support a plurality of cleaning components  40  and/or a plurality of drying components  42 . In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may include a supportive component  44  supported directly above an associated cleaning component  40  and/or drying component  42  (e.g., an electric motor and nozzle, a fluid tank and a sprayer, fluid lines and a sprayer, electric wires and brushes, and/or the like). In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may be configured with hatch doors above the cleaning components  40  and the drying components  42  for providing access (e.g., even while the other components and the car wash facility  10  are still in service). The upper level structure  16  may also support cleaning equipment, such as cleaning components  40  and/or drying components  42  below the upper level support structure via hanging support from the upper level structure  16 . Supportive components  44  may also be supported in hanging or depending manner below the upper level structure. Cleaning components  40  and drying components  32  are not explicitly shown in  FIG.  5   , but can be seen in  FIG.  4    (with the upper level structure removed for clarity), and it will be appreciated that the upper level structure  16  can be overlaid over  FIG.  4    to illustrate how the components  40 / 42  may be disposed below the upper level structure and supported in a hanging or depending manner. 
       FIGS.  6 A through  6 D  illustrate connections between various components and the upper level structure  16  to the frame structure  22 .  FIG.  6 A  illustrates a horizontal cross beam  46  (which extends longitudinally along the bay  12 ) connected between horizontal beams  26  (which extend laterally across the bay  12 ). In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  is connected to the cross beam  46  and the cross beam  46  is connected to the at least two horizontal beams  26  via four L-shaped brackets  48  that are bolted through apertures  50 . In some embodiments, the crossbeam  46  may be configured as an I-beam. 
       FIG.  6 B  illustrates a cross beam  46  connected between a pair of horizontal beams  26  and a hanging pipe and/or tube support  52  for pipes and/or tubes of the system. The pipe and/or tube support  52  includes a clamping bracket  54  and a hanging cable  56  extending from the clamping bracket  54  to a looped support end  58  that includes a roller  60  on a bottom portion thereof for feeding a pipe and/or tube therethrough. The roller  60  may include a circularly shaped depression that closely matches an outer diameter of the pipe and/or tube, which are showing in different orientations in  FIG.  6 B . 
       FIG.  6 C  illustrates the vertical columns  24  connected between horizontal beams  26  in accordance with another configuration.  FIG.  6 D  illustrates a connection between the cables or hanging pillars  20  (which support the upper level structure  16 ) and the horizontal beams  26  and/or cross beams  46 . In embodiments wherein the upper level structure  16  is configured as a mezzanine structure, a mezzanine support  62  may include at least one (e.g., a pair) of hook shaped members  64  that slide onto a top surface of the bottom flange of the I-beam of beams  26  and/or  46 . Each hook shaped member  64  may include a vertical tail portion  66  that connects to the cables or hanging pillars  20  via additional bolts, clamps, and/or the like. 
     Thus, it is apparent from  FIGS.  6 A- 6 D  that the beams  26  and  46  can be interconnected to define the upper portion of the frame structure  22 , thereby providing a plurality of possible attachment locations for the both the upper level structure  16  as well as associated tubes and/or pipes extending both above and below the upper level structure within the bay  12 , with examples of such pipes and/or tubes being illustrated through the figures. 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a cross-sectional, side view of the car wash facility  10 . In some embodiments, mezzanine cross-supports  68  may be located along an undersurface of the upper level structure  16 . In some embodiments, the cables or hanging pillars  20  may connected to the cross-supports  68  and the cross-supports  68  may cradle the upper level structure  16  and support its weight.  FIG.  7    illustrates the upper level support  16  terminating short of the exit. As shown, the area adjacent the exit has a lower ceiling than the middle portion of the bay  12  and, accordingly, the upper level structure  16  does not extend into this lower ceiling area. Of course, it will be appreciated that different roof structures and ceiling arrangements may be used, and the upper level structure  16  within the bay may have various shapes to conform to the overall interior shape and space of the bay  12 . 
       FIG.  8 A  illustrates an area adjacent the exit  32  of the bay  12  looking toward the entry and  FIG.  8 B  illustrates an area adjacent the entry  30  of the bay  12  also looking toward the entry. In some embodiments, vertical column members  70  support the lateral section  36  shown in  FIG.  8 B , which is shown extending wider across the bay  12  relative to the longitudinal section  34  shown in  FIG.  8 A . A channel  72  is located below a floor of the bay  12  for capturing and routing fluids sprayed from various cleaning components  40 . 
       FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  illustrate side views of the bay  12  showing a series of tubes and connectors  74  for associated cleaning components  40  and drying components  42  supported on or above the upper level structure  16 . The series of tubes and connectors  74  may include a manifold of water tubes, exhaust tubes, additional tubes, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the tubes extend over a length of the upper level structure  16  and the connectors are located in spaced groupings over at least one of the cleaning components  40  and drying components  42  for connection thereto.  FIG.  9 B  illustrates the exit end of the bay  12 , and  FIG.  9 A  illustrates the entry end. 
       FIG.  10 A  illustrates the entry  30  of the bay  12  and  FIG.  10 B  illustrates the exit of the bay  12  showing various components ( 40 ,  42 ,  44 ) supported on or above the upper level structure  16 . In some embodiments, various components may be located in the space between the longitudinal section  34  and the sidewall  28 , such that the various components may extend both above and below the upper level structure  16 . The various components ( 40 ,  42 ,  44 ) may articulate vertically from a first position at least partially above the upper level structure  16  to a second, operable position that is lower than the first position. For example, the component may include a drying component  42  (e.g., a brush) that is located in the first (upper) position until a vehicle is located in a predetermined part of the bay  12  or car wash facility  10  whereat the brush may be articulated into the (lower) second, operable position. 
       FIG.  11    illustrates additional connectors for associated cleaning components  40  and drying components  42  supported on or above the upper level structure  16 .  FIG.  11    is cut off and does not illustrate the area below the upper level structure, or the entry or exit. Put another way,  FIG.  11    illustrates the area above the upper level structure  16 . As illustrated, numerous hanging pipe and/or tube supports  52  (see  FIG.  6 B ) may hang from the frame structure  22  to support the tubes extending along the area above the upper level structure  16  and provide fluid, electricity, and/or the like to one or more cleaning components  40  and drying components  42 . 
       FIGS.  12 A and  12 B  illustrate fluid inputs and outputs extending above and below the upper level structure  16 . More particularly,  FIG.  12 A  illustrates a recycling tube  76  extending from the channel  72  below the floor of the bay  12  to a location above the upper level structure  16 . In some embodiments, the recycling tube  76  may extend from the channel  72  through a water-cleaning filter and into a water tank supported on or above the upper level structure  16 , which may be located above a cleaning component  40 .  FIG.  12 B  illustrates a fluid control system for increasing or decreasing fluid flow to the vehicle wash facility  10 .  FIG.  13    illustrates additional fluid inputs and outputs extending above and below the upper level structure  16 . In some embodiments, drainage pipes  78  may extend from the channel  72  to remove excess fluid from the vehicle wash facility  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the upper level structure  16  may support and/or organize: overhead utilities from ceiling drop to configurations mounted thereon; stationary and localized configurations run therefrom to car wash equipment (e.g., washing and drying components) below; electric panels and connections to motors and lights; chemical delivery instruments and chemical storage; water lines to wash equipment and supporting configurations; air lines to wash equipment and supporting configurations; pneumatic controls; hanging signage and equipment from underside thereof; and heating elements and lighting fixtures supported thereon. The upper level structure  16  may further include pass-through channels for utilities that need to run across an underside of mezzanine. The upper level structure  16  may further provide visibility to wash operations below for observation on adjustments (see-through flooring). The upper level structure  16  “stacks” above the vehicle treatment area extending through the bay  12  to minimize footprint of overall vehicle wash facility  10 , and also permits the use of optional garage doors on both sidewall areas of the bay  12  by removing “back room” items. Put another way, the use of the upper lever structure  16   
     In some embodiments, the car wash facility  10  may include a processor and a memory that contains instructions that cause the processor to, upon sensing a presence in a vehicle, lower a cleaning or drying component from a first position at least partially above the upper level structure to a second, operable position. The specific sensing mechanisms and mechanism for raising and lowering the device may vary and need not be described in detail herein. The spacing between the upper lever structure  16  and the sidewalls  28  of the bay  12  permits such selective vertical introduction of the vehicle wash components into the area adjacent the vehicle to be washed. 
     Note that not all of the activities described above in the general description or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific activity may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed in addition to those described. Still further, the orders in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed. 
     The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The specification and illustrations are not intended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such that a structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     Certain features are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any sub combination. Further, reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every value within that range. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims. 
     The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any and all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.