| 摘要 |
1,102,930. Vehicle washing apparatus. ROBO-WASH Inc., and CITATION MANUFACTURING CO. Inc. 25 Oct., 1965 [13 Nov., 1964], No. 45104/65. Heading B7J. A wheeled carriage 1 is driven around a closed track by an electric motor 38 and belt 41 connected to shafting and rear wheels 43. The front wheels are mounted in a guide support 46 and are rotatable about a vertical axis 51, Fig. 4 (not shown), and a wheeled leg 52 engages with the underside of the slotted track. A post 57 and arm structure 58 supports an adjustable spray unit 2 which comprises sprays 70, 72 and a plastic tubular cover 71. The post is preferably rotatable by linkage, Fig. 7 (not shown), connected to the guide support 46 and an electrical conduit 75 and a hose 76 for detergent and water lead to a swivel connector 77 and to a hose 80 and conduit 81. Whilst the apparatus may be controlled by manual switches it is preferred that the operation be automatic and to this end a coin-actuated mechanism is included in a housing 82 transversely adjustable on rollers and rails 58, 87 by means of a motor 98, Fig. 8 (not shown), pivotally mounted at 99 and provided with a drive wheel 96. In operation, the vehicle is positioned with its front wheels just about to enter the washing area 17 so that the wheels operate a tubular pressure member 102, Fig. 1 (not shown), which operates to interrupt the electrical controlling circuit of the apparatus until the vehicle is in the washing position. Bumper-rails on the carriage also interrupt the circuit to stop the sprays should the carriage hit an obstruction. When a coin actuates the mechanism the motor 98 is energized by operation of the relay switch 140, Fig. 9 (not shown), to rotate the wheel 96 and retract the housing 82 on its rails which then operates to stop the motor 98 and start a timer 156 and the drive motor 38. The guide member 5 engaging the track also steers the front wheels of the carriage so that it is orbited several times around the vehicle. The motor 117 is also energized to drive the pump 118, and solenoid valves 136, 133 are operated to deliver detergent and hot water to the spray unit 2. On completion of the second orbit, during which time the guide 5 and guide support 46 also swing the spray 2 on its post 57 and arm 58 see Fig. 7 (not shown), the hot water and detergent valves are turned off and the cold water valve 131 is opened to rinse. After completion of the last orbit the liquid valves are closed and the motors 38, 117 stopped, but the motor 98 is again energized to move out the housing 82 which shuts off the motor 98 and thus completes the cycle.
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