CA2591437A1 - Heating system for outdoor conveyors in a carwash - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for heating conveyors which extend outside a wash tunnel of a carwash utilizes concrete structural slabs with heating apparatus embedded in the slab near a top surface and supported adjacent the conveyor. The heating apparatus can be a hydronic system or an electric heating mat embedded in the slabs which prevents water on the slabs or the conveyor from freezing in low ambient temperature conditions.

Description

1 "HEATING SYSTEM FOR OUTDOOR CONVEYORS IN A CARWASH"

2

3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

4 Embodiments of the invention related to systems for heating surfaces and more specifically to heating the sliding surfaces of a carwash 6 conveyor in a wet and potentially freezing environment.

9 It is known to provide one or more conveyors for movement of objects from one place to another. There are many different types and 11 configurations of conveyors which have been known for decades. Conveyors 12 are used in a wide variety of contexts including, but not limited to, 13 manufacturing, transport and loading of objects. Many conventional conveyors 14 operate in relatively controlled environments and thus are not exposed to ambient temperatures which may be below freezing temperatures in 16 combination with high levels of moisture.

17 The conveyors may be single endless-belt type conveyors or side 18 by side synchronous endless belts which engage the object at opposing points 19 or in some cases are synchronous sections of conveyors, single or dual belt type, which feed from one to another.

21 In the case of a carwash, it is known to provide means for moving 22 a vehicle through a wash tunnel. Typically, the vehicle enters an entrance of 23 the tunnel where the vehicle is engaged by a below ground conveyor and guide 24 track having means for engaging at least a single wheel of the vehicle, the vehicle being advanced through the wash by the conveyor, the entirety of the 1 conveying system being enclosed in the wash tunnel where water used to wash 2 the vehicles and heated air prevents the conveying mechanism from freezing 3 during the winter.

4 US Patent 1,484,071 to Memmen teaches a dual belt conveyor for forming runways for the wheels of an automobile to be washed. The 6 conveyor assists in lowering the vehicle into a tank or vat and further assists in 7 agitating the water to wash the undercarriage as the endless belts of the 8 conveyors and the wheels of the vehicle are caused to move.

9 Recently, published US patent application 200601918773 to Horn describes one or more conventional dual-synchronous belt type conveyors for 11 use in a carwash. The conveyors each have a pair of spaced apart belts such 12 as is well know in the art and the belts support the wheels of the vehicle.
A first 13 conveyor is stopped to accept the vehicle and can be sped up to a speed 14 synchronous with the main conveyor which, when the vehicle is transferred from the first conveyor to the main conveyor, moves the vehicle through the 16 wash tunnel. Synchronizing of conveyor belts, single or dual belt types, is well 17 known in a variety of industries. Horn is silent regarding use of the conveyors 18 outside the carwash and at low ambient temperatures.

19 A need still exists within the industry to provide conveyor systems capable of being exposed to the environment outside the wash tunnel while 21 maintaining operability in very low ambient temperatures.

2 Embodiments of the invention teach a carwash reliably operable 3 in all seasons and particularly suited for installation in cold weather climates 4 wherein the carwash provides at least one conveyance system which extends outside a wash tunnel for loading vehicles outside the wash tunnel, the 6 conveyance system being heated for preventing freezing in extreme cold 7 weather conditions.

8 More particularly embodiments of the invention teach a heating 9 system for a carwash conveyance system comprising a plurality of heated concrete slabs which are installed in proximity to the conveyance system for 11 preventing freezing during extreme cold weather conditions.

12 In one broad aspect of the invention, a system for heating a 13 conveyor for supporting a vehicle for movement through a car wash exposed to 14 low ambient temperatures comprises:at least one conveyor adapted for moving the vehicle through the carwash, at least a portion of the conveyor being 16 exposed to the low ambient temperatures; and one or more heated structural 17 slabs supporting at least a portion of the at least one conveyor for transferring 18 heat for preventing fluid at the conveyor from freezing.

19 In one embodiment the conveyor comprises spaced parallel endless belts, such as plastic modular belts, steel slat belts or other suitable 21 belts, the belts being spaced laterally so as to support the wheels on each side 22 of a vehicle on each of the belts. Concrete structural slabs, heated and 23 unheated, sufficiently strong to support the weight of the vehicle being moved 24 thereon, are supported in spaced parallel arrangement under each of the belts.

1 The supporting substructure is designed to suspend the slabs above the floor 2 of a trench in a carwash.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conveyor system according to an 6 embodiment of the invention;

7 Figure 2A is a plan view of an entrance conveyor according to 8 Fig. 1;

9 Figure 2B is a plan view of an entrance conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention;

11 Figures 3A and 3B are partial longitudinal sectional views 12 according to Fig. 1, more particularly 13 Fig. 3A illustrates an entrance conveyor extending 14 outwards from an entrance of wash tunnel and a portion of a main conveyor housed in the wash tunnel; and 16 Fig. 3B illustrates a portion of the main conveyor and an 17 exit conveyor extending outwards from an exit of the wash tunnel;

18 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a heated concrete 19 slab and a conveyor belt installed thereabout;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a frame and heating system for 21 heating the conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention;

22 Figure 6 is a plan view of a frame and a hydronic system for 23 heating a heated concrete slab for use according to Fig. 4;

24 Figure 7A is a perspective view according to Fig. 5;
Figure 7B is and end view according to Fig. 5;

1 Figure 7C is an edge view along lines C-C according to Fig. 7B;

2 Figure 8 is a detailed partial sectional view of the hydronic heating 3 system of Fig. 6, illustrating a connection to a fluid supply and return headers;

4 Figure 9 is a plan view of an electric heating system according to an embodiment of the invention.

6 Figure 10 is a perspective view according to Fig. 5, concrete 7 being added to the frame and tubing as shown in Fig. 6 for forming the heated 8 slabs;

9 Figure 11 is a perspective view of a plurality of heated slabs installed for use at an entrance conveyor of a carwash according to an 11 embodiment of the invention; and 12 Figures 12-18B illustrate details of a support system for 13 suspending heated and non-heated concrete slabs and gratings over the floor 14 of a carwash and more particularly in a trench extending through and outwards from the wash tunnel at the entrance and the exit thereof, more particularly 16 Fig. 12 is an end sectional view of a trench in a car wash 17 illustrating a central open grating supported above a floor therein 18 between concrete structural slabs;

19 Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view of a supporting structure for supporting T-shaped transverse channels and end channels 21 of the structural slabs from the side wall of the trench;

22 Fig. 14 is a side view of adjacent structural slabs a T-23 shaped transversely extending channel supporting end channels of the 24 adjacent slabs;

5 1 Figs. 1 vA -15C illustrate a typical structural panel shown in 2 plan, side and end views;

3 Figs. 16A - 16C illustrate a checker plate used to replace 4 gratings to cover the trench between the parallel spaced structural slabs exterior to the car wash tunnel, shown in plan, side and end views;

6 Fig.17 is a plan view of a typical grating used to cover the

7 trench between the parallel spaced structural slabs; and

8 Fig. 18A is a side view of a slab according to Fig. 9

9 illustrating an electrical conduit for housing electrical connections therein; and 11 Fig. 18B is a detailed view of the electrical conduit of Fig.
12 18A.

2 Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein heat a conveyor 3 for moving a vehicle through a wash tunnel of a carwash. The use of the term 4 "conveyor" is intended to describe any suitable type conveyance system for moving the vehicles therethrough and is not intended to be limited only to the 6 embodiment of conveyor discussed herein.

7 As shown in Figs. 1, 2A and 2B and in an embodiment of the 8 invention, a carwash 1 comprises a wash tunnel 2 and at least one conveyance 9 system 3 extending through the wash tunnel 2 and extending outside the wash tunnel 2 at an entrance 4, for loading vehicles outside the wash tunnel 2. In one 11 embodiment, the car wash 1 comprises a main conveyor 5 installed inside the 12 wash tunnel 2 and at least one additional conveyor which is at least partially 13 exposed to the environment outside the wash tunnel 2. Applicant has described 14 the conveyance system 3 herein as being an endless-belt conveyor. Applicant is aware of single and dual endless-belt conveyors for moving vehicles through 16 at least a portion of a car manufacturing plant and in car wash environments.

17 In the embodiment shown, the additional conveyor is an entrance 18 conveyor 6 which extends outwardly from the wash tunnel entrance 4, a first 19 end 7 being adjacent to the inside main conveyor 5 and a second end 8 being outside the entrance 4 to a carwash tunnel 2. At least a portion of the entrance 21 conveyor 6 is fully exposed to the elements. The entrance conveyor 6 operates 22 to load a vehicle and transfer the vehicle to the main conveyor 5. The entrance 23 conveyor 6 is typically stopped at the time of loading and the vehicle is driven 24 onto the entrance conveyor 6 and placed in park or neutral. In embodiments of the invention however the vehicle may be loaded while the conveyor 6 is 1 moving. Once the vehicle is positioned on the entrance conveyor 6, the 2 entrance conveyor 6 is operated to achieve a speed synchronous with the 3 speed of the inside main conveyor 5 and the vehicle is transferred to the inside 4 main conveyor 5 for washing inside the wash tunnel 2.

Optionally, a third endless-belt conveyor or exit conveyor 9 is 6 positioned at an exit 10 end of the main conveyor 5 and at least a portion of the 7 exit conveyor 9 extends outside the wash tunnel 2 at an exit 11 from the wash 8 tunnel 2. When the wash cycle is completed, the vehicle is transferred from the 9 main conveyor 5 to the exit conveyor 9, at synchronized speed. The exit conveyor 9 is caused to come to a stop and the vehicle is then driven off.

11 Having reference to Figs. 3A-3B and 12-18B and in one 12 embodiment, a trench 12 (Figs. 3A and 3B) extends through the wash tunnel 2 13 and outside therefrom for receiving at least the main conveyor 5, the entrance 14 conveyor 6 and the optional exit conveyor 9. As shown in Figs. 12-14, the conveyors 5, 6 and 9 are installed inside the trench 12 using support legs 13 16 and a grid structure 14, which elevates the conveyors 5,6,9 sufficiently above a 17 floor 15 of the trench 12 to permit operation thereof. As shown, the trench 18 accommodates conveyors 5,6,9 having spaced parallel belts 16. The belts 16 19 may be slat belts such as modular plastic belts or steel slat chains or other suitable heavy duty conveyor belts. Examples of suitable belts are UniCPB or 21 UniXLB belts available from Uni Chains Manufacturing Inc. of Reading PA, 22 USA.

23 In one embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the floor 15 of 24 the trench 12 is slanted so as to cause liquids therein to flow to a drain or 1 plurality of drains (not shown), typically located inside the wash tunnel 2.
In one 2 embodiment the floor 15 of the trench 12 is slanted about 0.02m/m.

3 In embodiments of the invention, a supporting substructure is 4 provided to support the weight of the vehicle while it is conveyed through the car wash 1. Details of an embodiment of the supporting substructure are shown 6 in Figs. 12-18B. Particularly, replaceable modular concrete slabs 20, including 7 heated slabs 25, are utilized to provide strength sufficient to support the vehicle 8 while also providing thermal mass capable of transferring heat from a heating 9 system to the conveyors 5,6,9 as required. As one of skill in the art would understand, a variety of support systems are possible to support the structural 11 slabs 20,25 relative to a floor of the carwash and permit operation of the 12 conveyance means used.

13 As shown in Figs. 4 and 12, dual endless-belt conveyors 5,6,9 are 14 used, each of the spaced, parallel belts 16 supporting wheels on one side of a vehicle for conveying the vehicle through the car wash. Structural pads or slabs 16 20, typically concrete, are installed between upper and lower portions 21,22 of 17 each of the endless belts 16, the upper portion 21 of the endless belt 16 18 operating in sliding contact with an upper surface 23 of the structural slabs 20 19 when a vehicle is loaded on the conveyors 5,6,9. Steel plates 19 may be used on the upper surface 23 of the slabs 20 to reduce friction between the upper 21 portion 21 of the endless belt 16 and the slabs 20,25. Further, water is typically 22 introduced between the upper surface 23 of the slabs 20 or the steel plates 23 and the endless belt 16 to ensure adequate lubrication therebetween. The 24 heated structural slabs 25 may be heated according to embodiments of the invention particularly when used for the entrance and exit conveyors 6, 9 and 1 may also be used to heat the main conveyor 5 adjacent the entrance 4 and 2 optionally, the exit 11.

3 Having reference to Figs. 1-11, and in the case of the entrance 4 conveyor 6, the entrance conveyor 6 is installed in a portion 24 of the trench 12 which extends outwards from the wash tunnel entrance 4. Heated structural 6 slabs 25, similar to the un-heated structural slabs 20 used in the wash tunnel 2, 7 are positioned adjacent the entrance conveyor 6. The heated slabs 25 are 8 provided with heating means 26 to prevent water, snow and the like from 9 freezing and hindering operation of the entrance conveyor 6. The heated slabs 25 are similarly supported over the floor 15 of the entrance trench 12 and 11 between the upper and lower portions 21,22 of the endless belts 16 of the 12 entrance conveyor 6. In one embodiment, the heated slabs 25 are suspended 13 using a plurality of support members extending between the slabs 25 and the 14 trench 12. Other such suitable support members which engage and suspend the slabs 25 may be used.

16 Similarly, the optional exit conveyor 9, which may be installed in a 17 portion 27 of the trench 12 extending outwardly from the exit 11 of the wash 18 tunnel 2, is also freeze-protected using heated concrete slabs 25 which are 19 installed in the trench 12 as for the entrance conveyor 6.

In one embodiment, best seen in Figs. 1 and 2A-2B, additional 21 heated concrete slabs 25 are installed inside the wash tunnel 2 adjacent the 22 entrance 4 and the exit 11 and contiguous with the entrance and exit conveyors 23 6,9 to ensure the conveyors 6,9 are protected from freezing inside the wash 24 tunnel 2 when exposed to freezing temperatures adjacent the entrance and the exit 4,11 of the wash tunnel 2. In this embodiment, motors and apparatus used 1 to drive the entrance conveyor 6 and the main conveyor 5 are typically 2 positioned within the wash tunnel 2 adjacent the entrance and exit 4,11 of the 3 wash tunnel 2 to limit exposure to extreme ambient temperatures.

4 In one embodiment, best seen in Figs. 5, 7A-7C and 10, the concrete slabs 20, 25 comprise a frame 31 in which a support grid 32 is 6 formed. The frame 31 and support grid 32 provide sufficient structural strength 7 and rigidity for supporting concrete 35 therein and the weight of the vehicle 8 thereon. In one embodiment the frame 31 comprises end and side channels 9 33,34, inside which the support grid 32 of transverse and longitudinal members 36,37 is supported. In one embodiment, the transverse and longitudinal 11 members 36,37 are rebar having corrosion resistant protection, such as 12 stainless steel, epoxy coating or hot-dip galvanizing.

13 Having reference to Figs. 2A-2B, 5-8 and Figs. 10-11, and in one 14 embodiment, a hydronic system 30 is used for circulating a heated fluid therethrough as the means for heating the heated concrete slabs 25. Hydronic 16 loops of tubing 38, such as %2" cross-linked polyethylene tubing (PEX), for 17 example hePEXT"' available from Wirsbo Company of Apple Valley MN, 55124, 18 USA, are laid in the frame 31 and supported by the grid structure 32.
19 Alternately, the tubing loops 38 can be formed using fittings 39, such as tees and elbows, to create a fluidly connected grid of tubing in the frame 31. An inlet 21 40 and an outlet 41 are connected to opposing ends of the fluidly connected 22 tubing 38 and are supported in the frame 31. Concrete is poured into the frame 23 31 forming a concrete core 35 surrounding the support grid 32 and loops of 24 tubing 38 and is allowed to set.

1 In one embodiment, the heated concrete slabs 25 are about 4 2 inches thick. The hydronic tubing loops 38 are positioned at about 1'/
inches 3 from the surface 23 of the heated slab 25 and the tubing loops 38 are tied to 4 the grid structure 35 using plastic wire ties. The concrete core 35 used can be 35 MPa Class C1 with 3/8" aggregate mix designed to withstand both high and 6 low temperatures and chloride attack from commonly used deicing chemicals.
7 In this embodiment, the hydronic tubing 38 is installed in a reverse-return loop 8 system so as to obtain an even distribution of heat over substantially the entire 9 surface of the heated concrete slab 25.

Once installed, best seen in Fig. 2B, the inlets 40 of the heated 11 concrete slabs 25 are connected through supply lines S to a supply of heated 12 fluid, such as hot water or glycol. The outlets 41 are connected to return lines R
13 which retums the fluid to the heater system for repeated recycling through the 14 heated slabs 25. In one embodiment, each of the outlets 41 are fit with an optional air vent 43 used to bleed air out of the tubing lines 38 when the fluid, 16 such as glycol, is introduced.

17 Heat from the fluid flowing through the tubes 38 is transferred to 18 the concrete 35, a thermally conductive material, which acts as thermal mass to 19 radiate heat for preventing freezing of water between the heated slabs 25, the conveyor belts 16 and in the area of the trench 12.

21 In one embodiment, as shown in Figs. 9 and 18A-18B, the means 22 for heating the concrete slabs 25 is an electric heating system 50. A
heating 23 pad or mat 51 of heating wire is embedded in the heated concrete slab 25 and 24 is connected to a 240 V supply. One such heating system is the Easy-Heat Sno*Melter Mat #G010X36-240-50 series available from Easy Heat Inc. of 20 1 East New Carlisle, Indiana, 46552, USA. The mat 51 is fit to the dimensions of 2 the slab 25, is placed in the frame 31 and tied to the grid structure 35 after 3 which the concrete is poured into the frame 31, embedding the mat 51 in the 4 concrete. A hot-cold joint 52 is installed between a heating lead 53 and a cold lead 54 connected to the mat 51. The cold lead 54 extends through a fiberglass 6 composite conduit 55 and extends about 6 inches beyond the slab 25 for 7 connection to the electrical supply. One suitable fiberglass composite conduit 8 55 is a 1/2 inch diameter conduit available from Fre Composites, St. Andre-9 d'Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada.

In an embodiment shown in Figs. 12-18B, the structural slabs 11 20,25 over which the endless belts 16 of the conveyors 5,6,9 move, are spaced 12 apart in parallel arrangement sufficient to support the wheels on each side of a 13 wide variety of vehicles thereon. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, each of the 14 spaced parallel slabs 20, 25 are supported at an outside side channel 34o of the frame 31 at an upper edge 60 of the trench 12 and at an inside side 16 channel 34i of the frame 31 by support members 61 which extend upwardly 17 from the trench floor 15. In one embodiment, the slabs 20, 25 are supported at 18 substantially the height of the floor of the wash tunnel 2 for providing a 19 contiguous height of flooring throughout.

Further, open removable gratings 62, best seen in Figs 12 and 21 17, are supported between the spaced parallel structural slabs 20, 25 by 22 channel members 63 which extend along the inside side channels 34i of the 23 slab frames 31. Dowels 64 assist in securing the gratings 62 between the 24 structural slabs 20,25. The open removable gratings 62 permit fluid to flow therethrough to the trench 12. Further the removeable gratings 62 permit 1 access to the trench 12 and to the conveyor drive means and connections for 2 the heating means 26 to facilitate maintenance and replacement.

3 As shown in Fig. 14, the end channels 33 of adjacent slabs 20, 25 4 are supported by transversely extending T-shaped channels 65, a portion 66 of which extends upwardly between the adjacent slabs 20, 25.

6 Having reference to Figs 16A-16C, checker plates 70 having 7 hand holes 71 to permit easy removal of the gratings 62 for access to the 8 trench 12 are provided in lieu of the grating 62 intermediate the structural slabs 9 20,25 exterior to the building.

As shown in Fig. 12 and in an embodiment of the invention, the 11 trench is approximately 2.6m in width. Each of the slabs are about 0.9m in 12 width and the grating secured therebetween is about 0.7m in width. A
typical 13 slab 20,25 can be about 1.8m in length from end to end.

Claims (25)

1. A system for heating a conveyor for supporting a vehicle for movement through a car wash exposed to low ambient temperatures comprising:

at least one conveyor adapted for moving the vehicle through the carwash, at least a portion of the conveyor being exposed to the low ambient temperatures; and one or more heated structural slabs supporting at least a portion of the at least one conveyor for transferring heat for preventing fluid at the conveyor from freezing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one conveyor is an endless-belt conveyor further comprising:

an upper belt portion; and a lower belt portion; and wherein the one or more heated structural slabs are positioned between the upper belt portion and the lower belt portion, the one or more heated structural slabs supporting the upper belt portion for movement therealong.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the endless-belt conveyor further comprises two endless belts being spaced apart in parallel arrangement adapted for supporting wheels of a vehicle; and wherein the one or more heated structural slabs are spaced apart in parallel arrangement for supporting each of the endless belts thereon.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein fluid is introduced between the upper belt portion and the one or more heated slabs.

5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising a hydronic system for heating the structural slabs.

6. The system any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising an electronic heat mat for heating the structural slabs.

7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the structural slabs are supported above a floor of the car wash.

8. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein at least a portion of the at least one conveyor is positioned within a trench in a floor of the car wash, the structural slabs being supported above a bottom of the trench.

9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the at least one conveyor further comprises:

a main conveyor positioned within a car wash tunnel; and an entrance conveyor extending outwards from an entrance of the car wash tunnel, a portion of which is exposed to low ambient temperatures, wherein the one or more heated structural slabs support at least the entrance conveyor.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

an exit conveyor extending outwards from an exit of the car wash tunnel, a portion of which is exposed to low ambient temperatures, wherein the one or more heated structural slabs support the exit conveyor.

11. The system of claim 9 or 10 further comprising at least one of the one or more heated structural slabs support the main conveyor adjacent the entrance of the wash tunnel.

12. The system of any one of claims 9 to 11 further comprising at least one of the one or more heated structural slabs support the main conveyor adjacent the exit of the wash tunnel.

13. The system of claim 5 wherein the hydronic system comprises:

a plurality of fluidly connected loops of tubing formed within the structural slab;

an inlet to the plurality of loops; and an outlet from the plurality of loops, wherein a heated fluid is flowed through the plurality of loops from the inlet to the outlet for transferring heat to the structural slab.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the heated fluid is glycol.

15. The system of claim 13 or 14 wherein each of the structural slabs further comprises:

a frame having a plurality of grid members formed within the frame upon which the plurality of fluidly connected loops of tubing are supported; and a concrete core for accepting heat from the heated fluid for heating the structural slab for transferring heat therefrom.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of fluidly connected loops of tubing are embedded in the concrete core adjacent a top surface of the structural slab.

17. The system of any one of claims 1 to 16 further comprising a metal plate supported between the structural slab and the at least one conveyor.

18. A system for supporting a vehicle for reliable movement through a car wash exposed to low ambient temperatures comprising:

at least one endless-belt conveyor having an upper belt portion and a lower belt portion adapted for moving the vehicle through the carwash, at least a portion of the endless-belt conveyor being exposed to the low ambient temperatures;

a plurality of structural slabs suspended between the upper and lower belt portions for supporting at least a portion of the upper belt of the at least one endless-belt conveyor; and heating apparatus embedded in the structural slabs supporting the at least a portion of the endless-belt conveyor being exposed to the low ambient temperatures.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one endless-belt conveyor further comprises two endless belts positioned in spaced and parallel arrangement adapted for supporting wheels of the vehicle thereon, the plurality of structural slabs being spaced apart in parallel arrangement for supporting the two endless belts thereon.

20. The system of claim 18 or 19 wherein the heating apparatus is a hydronic system for heating the structural slabs.

21. The system of claim 18 or 19 wherein the heating apparatus is an electronic heat mat for heating the structural slabs.

22. The system of any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein the at least one endless-belt conveyor further comprises:

a main conveyor positioned within a car wash tunnel; and an entrance conveyor extending outwards from an entrance of the car wash tunnel, a portion of which is exposed to low ambient temperatures, and wherein heating apparatus are embedded in structural slabs supporting at least the entrance conveyor.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

an exit conveyor extending outwards from an exit of the car wash tunnel, a portion of which is exposed to low ambient temperatures, wherein heating apparatus are embedded in structural slabs supporting the exit conveyor.

24. The system of claim 22 or 23 further comprising heating apparatus in structural slabs supporting the main conveyor adjacent the entrance of the wash tunnel.

25. The system of claim 23 or 24 further comprising heating apparatus in structural slabs supporting the main conveyor adjacent the exit of the wash tunnel.