GB1140927A - Vehicle washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,140,927. Vehicle washing apparatus. CECCATO & C. S.p.A. 23 Nov., 1967 [10 March, 1967], No. 53461/67. Heading B7J. Vehicle washing apparatus comprises a horizontal (or vertical) rotating brush connected via ropes 2 and pulleys 3 to at least one counterweight 4 disposed in at least one water tank 5 to which water is adjustably supplied to vary the effective weight of the counterweight. In an embodiment, Fig. 1, the horizontal brush 1 is connected to a single counterweight 4 disposed in the single tank 5 communicating with a pressure vessel 6 to, and from, which compressed air is supplied via 7 and 8, and vented via 9, 10, to vary the water level in the tank 5 and hence the immersion of the counterweight 4. The counterweight 4 is heavier in air than the brush 1, but the upthrust on the fully-immersed counterweight 4 renders the brush 1 heavier than the counterweight. Alternatively, a pump may be used to feed and discharge water directly into and from the tank 5, the vessel 6 being omitted. Alternatively, water can be fed directly into the tank 5 through a tap and discharged through a valve at the tank bottom. In another embodiment, a vertical brush is mounted on a carriage slidable along a transversely-extending frame and connected via ropes and pulleys to two counterweights. One counterweight is heavier in air and is disposed in the water tank and the other is guided in a further (empty) tank, so that the brush may be urged against either side of a vehicle with equal force. Alternatively, the counterweights are equal in weight and are each disposed in a separate water tank. The frame supporting the brushes may be moved relative to the vehicle, or vice-versa.