US2752925A

US2752925A - Carwashing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2752925A
Application number: US290273A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Friers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-05-27
Filing date: 1952-05-27
Publication date: 1956-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-03

Description

July 3, 1956 J. G. FRIERS CARWASHING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4! 35a 43 4b 3 1, 35 36b Join? G. 1 216175 y 3, 1956 J. G. FRIERS CARWASHING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I 1 l l I I L J F I I I I 4 llllll y 3, 1956 J. G. FRIERS CARWASHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMay 27, 1952 W M m H 0 1 W W 1 n M Z .m r n A m J I! m United States Patent 2,752325 CARWASHING APPARATUS John G. Friers, Derby, Conn. Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,273 9 Claims. (Cl. 134-123) The present invention relates to carwashing apparatus, and more particularly to the type of washing apparatus which includes a spraying frame from which jets of water or soapy solution may be sprayed onto an automobile.

Carwashing apparatus have been proposed in which an inverted, substantially U shaped frame is guided along a pair of spaced tracks, the car to be washed being placed between the tracks. The frame is then pushed or driven along the length of the caror the car is driven back and forth under the frame. Different supply pipes for soapy solution, and for rinsing or wetting have usually been used. This arrangement has the disadvantage that usually a pair of permanent tracks have to be laid in or on the garage floor, which necessitates fairly expensive cement work; further, that the car has to be brought to the washing station; that only one car can be washed at a time; and also, that the car has to be located fairly accurately between the spaced tracks to prevent damage to the car by the spraying frame. A further disadvantage of such an apparatus is that it takes up considerable space within the garage itself, and that fairly extensive and expensive plumbing connections have to be made.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carwashing apparatus which requires no outside plumbing installation, is entirely self-contained, and is independent of any installed tracks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carwashing apparatus which may be brought to the car, wherever it may be located-rather than the car to the apparatus-and which is portable and can readily be moved about a garage, gasolene station, orparking area.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means which will guide the carwashing apparatus alongside the car to be washed, thereby preventing damage to the same, which means may be removably located with respect to the car. It is yet another object to provide a carwashing apparatus which is capable of washing a plurality of cars in a row, such as may be parked in a parking lot, removed from any permanently installed plumbing or water supply.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a carwashing apparatus in conjunction with a dolly, which is self powered and includes the necessary means to Wash shoe, which may be placed against the appended claims.

panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus in position cars, but which also may be used as a portable source of power about a garage or gasolene station, as a port able compressor or pump, and to which a small snowplough may be attached for power ploughing, or which may be used as a small tractor to pull equipment, or disabled cars, at low speeds.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide means permitting a spraying frame to be swingably mounted and connected to the apparatus. Such a spraying frame should be capable of being taken apart and provided with interchangeable parts of different sizes for use with passenger cars, trucks, and heavy equipment.

According to the present invention, I provide a carwashing apparatus in which a frame has a plurality of wheels. mounted thereon, to support the frame for moveit being broken away;

2,752,925 a patented July 3, 1956 A container for cleaning substance (preferably a liquid 5 detergent) is mounted on the frame, and has a pipe connection to the piping from the main tank to the spray- The motor is also preferably connected to a 1 small transmission, having a forward, neutral, and reverse a connection is made from the transmission. to the wheels, so that the wheels, and with it the whole= apparatus, may be power driven in a selected direction.

According to a feature of the invention, the fluid tank:

its weight counterbalances the weight of the spraying frame, thereby permitting;

ing frame.

position, and

is so located on the frame that the portion of the spraying frame distant from the tank; to be entirely supported by the support frame, and making the location of a track to support this distant portion: unnecessary.

Still another feature of the invention contemplates the use of wheel guide means to guide the wheels of the: support frame (which forms what might be termed a; dolly, or washing cart), so that the dolly, and the spray ing frame secured thereto, are always correctly spaced from the car to be washed. These guide means are pref erably provided with a locating means, such as a wheel to be washed, so that the dolly wheel correctly spaced with respect to the car.

Yet another feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a spraying frame consisting of a single pipe having spraying nozzles secured therein, which frame is guide means are swingably mounted on the dolly so that it may be folded against the dolly, thereby taking up little space in a garage. The frame is preferably so constructed as to be separable into several sections, so that it may be taken apart easily and stored disassembled.

Still other features of the invention relate to structures used in the construction of the dolly, and the spraying frame, and the elements thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best i be understood fromthe following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accomto wash a car;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, showing the water supply connection to the tank of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing, i

the fluid supply connection to the spraying frame;

Fig. 6 is a top sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing;

a wheel connection to an axle;

Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the connection of' the wheel guides;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a wheel guide, part of wheels of the car lz isaacross-sectional-elevational view of a onetQy-EigS; L to13;; Lgenerally. indicates the car to -be wa'shed. Two wheels of the car are indicated at 2a and 215, since the.-.apparatus. is :designed tocooperate'with alignedwheels of.- the-car to? be washed. S generallyindicates a-dolly,

on. small-cart; having-wheels 4;"5, 6, and 7 located-on.

opposite sides,=and= atopposite ends-ofthe dolly 3. 'The dolly :is built rip-of a frame-8 and -is-preferably-provided witht-a; platform, ror'support 9, on which the various elements .-f :ithe apparatus -may be conveniently mounted.

Secured to the frame is a handle 8-so that the=dolly may be conveniently-manipulated. -A motor I 10 is mounted on the platform 9- of the dolly 3 the motor is connected to;.a.-pump 11.byany suitable and wellknown means, such asta flexible coupling. A gearbox- 12 is connected tovthe. motor drive shaft,*for' example by being secured tothe main shaftof thepump 11,- asshown. The gearbox preferably has a high speed reduction, and is provided with: a shift"lever-having a handle- 13 permitting shifting thewgearsto a'forward (F), neutral (N) and reverse (R) direction. At the output side of the gearbox 13,-.,a sprocket-wheel 60 is mounted and connected as will appear hereafter.

--A:tank 14 (which-may be a standard, 55, gallondrurn) is mounted onplatform 9 inany suitable and well known manner; for example bywelding, by;a circumferential strap, orthe like. This tank-may beilfilledin any suitable manner, e. g.-by filling it with a gardenjhose. .(If it is de'sired to fillthe tank whilethe ,dolly is in motion, a hose may be connected to a'fillerpipe'17 (see Fig. 4) which is-placed-within'an'inlet pipe 15 secured-.to the tank. Inlet-pipelS is split at the far end thereof, as shown at16,-and a tightening nut 18 is placed over the'split-end. --When it is desired to store themachine, filler pipe 17 is pushed into inlet15.as far as itwill go, thereby taking up no space beyond the outline of the dolly; however, when -the;dolly'3 is moving, a hose connected to pipe 17--when pushed in. might get tangled

withthe wheels

6 and 7 of dolly3,'unless.a rigid clearance memberisprovided. 'When"fill er pipe17 isextended, a hose will clear the wheels of the dolly.

The tank-'14 is connected to the pump by rneans ofla pipe 20. A soap vessel, or detergent. container, 21 is secured to theplatform in any. suitablemaunerand connected to the pipe bymeans of asupplypipeiZZfind an injector connection'24. in pipe 22 to control theflow of soap or detergent, ior othercleaning substance. 'The cleaning substancemay be a liquid, and may be gravity fed. as shown irfFigQZ.

The car 1 is wetted and washed'by a spraying frame 25. This frame essentially consists of a pipe having nozzles 26 screwed therein. The frame is'secured to the: dolly'3 at-one side of the dolly. -An upright-fastening member. is mounted on theframe of the dolly 3 and the frame; 25 .is secureduto this fastening-member 27':by= anysuitablemeans, fOII BXMTlPlfi' .by straps encircling the frame 25 and welded to member 27. The frame 25. .is;.preferably,secured so as :10 be;swingablezabout --its upright portion 28 adjacent the member 27,,1s as to;take up less space in a garage. -In1Fig.- 1,;251; dicatespzin dotted lines the position, offrame. 25 whenswung into storage position. The frame 25 is preferably-made .of two sections; one, consisting, ofvan uprightpipe portion 28* and a horizontal pipe portion 29a; the other of a generally qriz n l g pep r nn-221 andatdepending pipe poftionfil. "The two sections aregjginedfltggether,

A shutoff co'ck v23 is placed by a union 30. In order to take mechanical strain otf -theeooperating-facesofthe union,"I prefer to makethe pipe portion 29b of smallerkdiameter than the pipe portion 29a. The part of the union secured to the smaller pipe may then be bored out so that pipe portion 2% may extend beyond the face of the union part and can slide into the pipe portion 29a up to the first nozzle adjacent the union. The union may also be located on the upright portion 28 of theupipe frame'Zi-andthe horizontal portion 29 made in one piece. By having various sizes of pipe frames it.istvthereforenpossibletorwash small cars, as well,..a lflfge t1;u cl;s,..and ,still haveraspraying frame which is close enough to "the surface of the car to be washed for efficient cleaning. The .;spraying frame 25 is preferably made of lightweight pipe, such as aluminum, and it can be entirely self supporting. It is to be noted that the weight of the spraying frame 25 can be entirely balanced by the weight of .the tank. When'a standard *55 gallon ,steel jdrurn' is used it. must ,be ,so

mounted that its center of gravity falls betweena median line; of thedolly and the sideopposite the fastening member 2,7,in order to" balancea sprayingframe of standard 1" galvanized iron pipe sufficientlydarge. to .clearthe largest passenger cars currently made. If thespraying frame is made ,of-alurninum pipe of ,similar size, nounbalanceofthedjolly will resultueven, if the tank 14 is mounted, centrally ofthe dolly 3. Whencomputing .the amount" of off-center mounting of tank 14, the weight of the watergin .the sprayingfrarne25 has to be .considered; as .well as the weightof the frame itself.

'The dolly 3, together with the spraying frame 125, is guided along the length of the. car. 1v ,bymeans vof...whe el guides'35. 'These wheelguidesarepreferably madewin gether bystraps 37. The wheels of the dolly .3 can then ride on the surface onwhichthewheel guides are placed. The wheel guidesrare joined. loosely: together so as to accommodate uneven .surfaces,- such .as would beencountered at parking. areas. The: angles 36a, 136b, .are notched as at 45, near one .end, a. plurality ,of notches being preferably provided so. that thetotallength of the wheel guide maybemade .longenor shorter. The:other endof each section. is, providedwith. an, extension-43, set off, as at44, and providedwith studs 46 fittinginto the notches, of j'the next adjacent. section.

In order tolocateihe .wheelguide 35-with respect .to the car 1, .one, ,or severalof the sections are provided with wheeljshoes fitting against the wheels. 2a,-2b ofcar 1. These wheel, .shoespreferably have a forked section 38,. secured. to asupport member .39 spacing the =-fork 38'from ajfasteningplate 40..which. may be secured to one of the wheeL guide,angles,,.36a. The wheelshoes are preferably adjustablealongthe length of the wheel guide, to accommodate cars or trucks-of differing-wheel bases; abolt and nut combination, slidablein a notch 42.and having a bolt v4l securedttothe fastening platev40 forms a simple means ,.of.,mounting the: wheel shoes .adjustably on the wheel, guide.

As noted above,,.,the.spraying frame 25- is; preferably mountedgonfthe. dol1y3 to swing from an extended posi- 'over the ient sleeve 50. The split sleeve has an outlet stub pipe secured thereto. The outlet stub pipe 53 is then secured by means of a nut 54 to pipr 47 as is well known in the plumbing art. The split sleeve 52 has a clamping extension 55, and can be tightened together by screws 55'. When the screws 55 are loose, the frame 25 can be swung readily from extended into storage position. Tightening of the screws 55 when the frame is in extended position will line up the outlet stub 53, holes 51 and 49, and permit flow of fluid from the pipe 47 into the frame 25, without danger of leakage, due to resilience of the interposed sleeve 50. The split sleeve may be secured to the upright member 27 of the dolly 3, for example by means of screws 56, and form in itself an attaching means for the frame to the dolly.

The dolly 3 may be pushed along the length of the car 1, or it may be driven along under its own power. The sprocket wheel 60, connected to the gear box 12 (which is connected to the motor drives a sprocket chain 61. Chain 61 is in engagement with a second sprocket wheel 62 which is fast on an axle 64, for example by means of set screw 63. The axle 64 is secured to frame 8 by means of bearing 65 and connects the two wheels 4 and 6 of dolly 3. Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, I have there shown a simple driving connection of the wheel 6 to the axle 64. The wheel 6 is provided with a hub 66 and a rim support 67, having holes 67 therein. The hub is freely rotatable on the shaft 64; an attaching member having a hub 68 is located on the shaft adjacent the wheel 6. The attaching member is provided with a radially extending strap 69, having axially extending pins 70 secured thereto, fitting into the holes 67. Both the shaft and the attaching member have a radial hole bored therethrough, through which a cotter pin is passed, connecting the shaft 64 and the hub of the attaching member, 68, together, as shown at 71. The pins '70, engaging the wheel 6, will then drive the same, when the shaft or axle 64 is being driven.

The motor 10 driving the pump and the dolly may be either a gasolene or electric motor, two horsepower being an adequate size. For some purposes it may be preferred to use a gasolene motor, since it is entirely independent of any cables or power connections and the dolly may then be used as a small tractor. Small gasolene engines are usually started by means of a starting rope, as is well known. To facilitate starting such a motor, and winding the rope around a starting drum, I provide a one-way clutch, particularly illustrated in Fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings. 80 is a central shaft which may turn in either direction; a driven shaft (which will turn in one direction only) 81 has an axial bore drilled therein, and the shaft 80 is placed into the bore, which should be of such size that shaft 80 can just turn freely within shaft 81. The shaft 81 has a depression, or relief formed therein, as shown at 83. A substantially tangential bore extends from the outside of shaft 81 to the depression, as shown at 82. The outside end of this bore 32 is tapped to receive a holding screw 86. A roller 84 (which may be a small ball, or a rolling pin, depending on the axial length of the depression 83) is placed into depression 83, between the

shafts

81 and 80. A spring 85 holds the roller 34 in position and urges roller 34 to a location where it will engage both shafts. It is to be noted that the depression or relief 83 is so formed as to merge smoothly into the circular contour of the bore of shaft 81. When the central shaft 80 turns in a counterclockwise direction, it will take along the roller 84, which will become wedged between the

shafts

80 and 81, thereby turning shaft 81. However, when shaft 80 is turning in a clockwise direction, roller 84 will turn and roll away from the position where it becomes wedged between

shafts

80 and 81, and shaft 81 will remain stationary. The small holding screw 86 may be screwed in or out of bore 6 82, thereby adjusting the tension of spring and controlling the backlash of the one-way clutch.

The depression may also be formed in the central shaft, and the outside shaft 81 may be left round, or the depression may be formed in both shafts, 80 and 81, as desired. In such cases the bore 82 has to be formed in the central shaft, and care must be taken in assembling the shafts together.

The nozzles 26 screwed into the spraying frame have generally a very small central duct through which the spraying water, or washing solution, is being forced. Small solid particles which may become lodged near the outside of the nozzles may deflect the stream of water towards undesirable directions. In order to keep the streams of water from the nozzles always: directed on the car, I prefer to enclose the pipe with a baffle, or splashguard, 9i]. Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, the splashguard essentially consists of sheet metal which has a trough shaped portion 92, partly encircling the

pipes

28, 29a, 29b, and 31, and two projecting flanges 93, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 14. The baffle 90 is held on the pipes by means of screws 91, clamping the trough shaped portion 92 securely around the pipes. The baflles may be made either in small, individual guards located over the pipes in the region of the nozzles, or they may be made substantially continuous along the lengths of the pipe sections. At the junction of the horizontal and the vertical sections, the splashguards may then be interconnected as shown at 94 and 95 (Fig. 13), thereby adding to the stiffness and rigidity of frame 25.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a modified form of pipe connection which is also suitable. The main water valve, 48, is here placed in pipe 2t) leading from the tank 14 to the pump 11; the detergent solution is injected at point 97, at the high pressure side of the pump. If this arrangement is used, a suctioninjection device (such as a venturi tube, for example) is necessary in order to prevent the water under pressure from escaping into the detergent vessel 21.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The wheel shoes are placed along aligned wheels of the car to be washed, with their forked section 38 against the wheels 2a and 2b. The wheel guide sections 35 are then as sembled as shown in Fig. 9, and secured to the wheel shoes. In the meanwhile, the tank 14 of the dolly can be filled. The dolly is then brought to the car, and wheels 4 and 5 thereof substantially aligned with the Wheel guide.

Valves

23 and 48 are closed, the handle 13 set on neutral (N), and the motor started. The spraying frame is then extended to the solid line position shown in Fig. l, valve 48 is opened (valve 23 remains closed) and the handle 13 moved to engage the gearing in the appropriate direction to drive the dolly 3 along the length of the car 1 to Wet the same. A detergent (which is preferably liquid) is then placed in vessel 21. The valve 4-6 is partially closed (less pressure and less water being necessary for the soaping operation) and valve 23 opened. The gearshift handle 13 is then moved in the direction opposite to its previous setting, and the dolly 3 will travel again along the length of car 1, soaping the car by the soapy spray from frame 25. Then the direction of travel of the dolly again is reversed, valve 48 opened fully, and valve 23 closed, and the car is rinsed. It is usually advantageous to permit the dolly to travel back and forth along the car when rinsing to wash off any soap or dirt which may lodge in crevices or moldings.

I have found that a SS-gallon drum is sufficient to wash one car, about 40 to 45 gallons of water being necessary for one washing operation. About 1 /2 pints of a commercial detergent, such as Immunol Solvent (manufactored by the Haas Miller Corp, Philadelphia, Pa.) are sufficient for thorough soaping.

The dolly itself may be quite small, about 2 /2 ft. wide by 4 /2 ft. long, and about 3 ft. high. frame should have a minimum horizontal clearance of The spraying 7 /2.:ft.,tand :may' be about 6 to 8 ft. high, if it is intended to wash the now :current passenger automobiles. Bymakingxthe-Itra'ck guide sections about ft: -long,-- and of light weight,'imetal,'"they can-.easily be stored on -top of the dolly.

Theap'paratus: is entirely independent ofany'permanent'plumbing connections,=and"by placinga larger tank on the dolly, a number of cars in a row (-such aswould be: found on r a parking place)- can-be '-wa shed,' without disturbing. their position, and' withoutdriving "them to a predetermined washing-station. The wheel guides will keep the. dolly and the frame properly spaced-from=the cars to benwashed, and 'willguide the dolly along the cars, even ifv the: surface on which thedolly runs is uneven. ilfdesired, the 'inletpipe '17 may be extended, and the tank may. be continuouslyfilled-whilethe apparatus iswashing. "This:may-prove advantageous, wherethe source of -watercan supply more-water-than is needed for soaping, butnot enough; for-wetting,-.andrinsing.

It will be understood that each of the elements de-' scribed above, -or two or'more together,--mayalsofind a useful application in other types ofwashing apparatus, difiering from the type describedabove.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a small, movable carwashing apparatus, it is not intended to be limited tor the'details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made. By applying current knowledge, the invention, including the features that fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects -thereof,-may be'adaptedto various applications-and such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalenceof the following claims.

, I claim:

1. In washing apparatus for bulky objects a liquid supply having an outlet; means'for supplying liquid at said outlet under pressure; and a spray frame connected to saidv outlet and comprising a pipe'bent'into substantially inverted U-shaped form adapted to be secured'at one leg of the U only-and having a substantially vertical section, a horizontal section having one end integral with said vertical section and secured to the upper end thereof,'and a depending section secured to the free' end of the horizontal section; and stiffening members secured to said sections,.said stiffening members having a troughshaped portion and a projecting 'flange'portion, the troughshaped portion being secured over the pipe fromthe outside thereof with the flange portion projecting parallel to the sections inwardly ofthe- U; and connection means securing the flange portions together adjacent the respective junction points of the vertical section, the horizontal section, and the depending section.

2. A car washing apparatus comprising a'dollyhaving a substantially rcctangularframe and a plurality of wheels secured to said frame to support the same-for rolling movement over a surface; a fluid tank having: a predetermined center of gravity secured to said frame, said tank being so located-that the vertical projection of the center of gravity falls in the region between a longitudinal median line of the frame and one side thereof; a pump mounted on said frame; fluid connection means from said fluid tank to saidpump; a drivingmotor mounted on said frame. and operatively connected to said pump; means selectively connecting the driving motor toat least one wheel of the dolly; a spraying pipehaving a substantially upright portion, a substantiallyhorizontal portion secured to said upright portionat its upperend; and a depending portion secured =at the upper-end thereof to said substantially horizontal: portion, the lower end of said depending portion-being freeuto 'formzan inverted U frame secured at one leg-only tothe frame, said spraying pipe having its upright portion secured to'the'other side of the dolly in substantially vertical direction so that theweight of the spraying pipeincluding the upright, the. horizontal,- and the dependingtportionstwill be counter- 8 balancedbythe weight of the tank; and conduit means removably" connecting said pump and said spraying pipe.

3. A car washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the horizontal portion is-divided intoa first pipe .section and asecond pipe section,andthe second pipe section is ofslightly smalleroutside-diameter than the inside diameter of thefirst pipesection; and a u'nionis provided'to join said sections together, saidunion' having a pair of parts formed withcooperating faces and having one part mounted'on the first-pipe section and the other part 'onthe second pipe section; said second'section having a projecting stub extending through'andbeyond the part of the: unionassociated-therewith and disposedin telescoping relation withinthe inside of the first pipe section whereby mechanical strain due to the-bendingmoment of the depending section is taken up by the projecting stub and mechanical strain is taken oif'thegcooperating faces of the union.

4. "A car washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the uprightportion of the spraying pipe is secured to the dolly for swinging movement-*about' the axis of. the pipe to provide for-movement of the horizontal portion and the free depending portion secured thereto without disturbing the position of the=dolly so that the spray pipe may be swung to be located in an upright planesubstantially coinciding with the-other side of the dolly.

5. A carwashing' apparatus according to claim 2 including stiffening and spray directing members secured to the portions of thesprayingpipe,-said stifiening and spray'directing members comprisinga trough shaped portion anda projecting flange portion, the itrough-shaped portion being secured'over the spray pipefrorn the outside thereof with the flange portion projectingparallel to the pipe portions inwardlyof the, U, and connection means securing the flangeportions together adjacent the respective junction. points of ,the upright lpipe portion,the"ho'rizontalpipe portion and the depending pipe portion.

6. An independently movable car washing :apparatus comprising a wheeled frame;,a fluidtankmounted thereon, a spraying frame securedtosaid wheeled frame connected to said tank; wheel: guide means todefineathepath of said wheeled frameand beingadaptedto cooperate with the wheels of the "car to :be:washedtand'comprising a' pair of substantially; parallel elongated! members idefining. a guide trough for the wheels of the-apparatus;and':locating shoes secured to. one of saidfmernbers= opposite theside of the other member and extendingtoward the-carto be washed and adapted to' -be'removably; placed'against-the wheel of the car to be washed; whereby, when the wheels on one side of the apparatus are :dispose'd'between said elongated members, vand the. locating shoes are placed against the wheels of the car to be washed,'the apparatus may travel along the lengthof'thecar without danger of collision therewith.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein. the 10- cating shoes comprisea holding section extending transversely of the length of the elongated members; connection means associated with said elongated members and securing said holding sectionto one of said members; and a forked section extending substantially parallel to the length of said elongated members andsecured to said holding section, and adapted to partly embrace a wheel of the car to be washed.

8. An apparatusaccording to claim? wherein, theconnection means are slidablealongithe. lengthof ,theelongated member, .whereby the .locating. shoes are. adjustable for different lengths of wheel-bases of carsto be washed.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 including spacing means secured to.said elongated-members .to maintain said members .in predetermined,.spacedtparallel relation.

' (References 011 following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Oliver Nov. 27, 1906 Mason May 16, 1916 Brown July 1, 1924 Lostetter Aug. 14, 1928 Gibson Sept. 4, 1928 Badger Sept. 22, 1931 Cunningham July 5, 1932 Walton Feb. 13, 1934 Mackin Oct. 13, 1936 Rauen May 4, 1937 10 Vaszin Aug. 17, 1937 Borenstein Aug. 24, 1937 Heinz Dec. 7, 1937 Schroeder Aug. 8, 1939 Elliott May 27, 1941 Griifith Dec. 26, 1944 Gore Dec. 9, 1947 Potts Nov. 23, 1948 Hopper Mar. 29, 1949 Baggott Aug. 28, 1951 Hanson May 20, 1952 McNair Feb. 3, 1953 Vani Aug. 11, 1953