A vehicle washing system includes a frame disposed above a vehicle treatment area, and an extendable and retractable scissor mechanism coupled to the frame. A rotatable top brush is coupled to a bottom end of the scissor mechanism, and the scissor mechanism is extendable downward to lower the top brush into engagement with a vehicle body and retractable upward to remove the brush from engagement with the vehicle body. The scissor mechanism may include a brush support flange coupled to a bottom end of the scissor mechanism. An anti-spin member may extend from the support member to the scissor mechanism to prevent bending of the scissor mechanism in response to rotating to the top brush. The anti-spin member may be in the form of a fork that slidably engages a protrusion of the scissor mechanism.

An attachment assembly to convert an existing leaf blower into a device for drying vehicles. The attachment assembly includes several interchangeable modular sections, including an adapter section configured to attach to the air outlet of an existing commercial leaf blower. Other sections include air outlet nozzle sections, an extender section, and a weighted section. The inlet side of the nozzle sections, extender section, and weighted section as well as the outlet sides of the adapter section, extender section, and weighted section are uniform so that any of the outlets may be mated with any of the inlets. This allows any configuration of sections desired to be achieved. The adapter section may have a filter placed in the air stream to prevent debris from being blown into the vehicle and damaging the exterior of the vehicle.

The invention is directed at systems and methods which provide for effective cleaning and drying of vehicles of different shapes and sizes. The invention in one example includes a vehicle washing apparatus comprising a conveyor system to move a vehicle along a path, and a bridge assembly supported above a vehicle and moveable along the length thereof. At least one trolley assembly is operatively supported by the bridge assembly and is moveable in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the bridge assembly. At least one cleaning arm assembly for delivering cleaning fluid to or for brushing the surface of a vehicle is operatively supported by the at least one trolley assembly or bridge. The cleaning arm assembly is moveable with the bridge assembly along the length of the vehicle, and transversely with the at least one trolley assembly to adjust the location of the cleaning arm relative to the vehicle, wherein the bridge assembly moves in association with movement of the vehicle to position the cleaning arm assembly adjacent at least a portion of the front, sides and rear of the vehicle as it moves along the path. A variable impact or patterning spray arm or drying system is also provided.

Described is a blower system. The blower system includes one or more blowers. Each blower has an intake for providing air into an air chamber which houses an impeller. A gate covers each intake. Each gate is movable between a closed position in which it is pulled against the intake and an open position in which the gate is lifted off of the intake. A controller system is included that is operable for causing the gates to move from the closed to the open position when a vehicle is present or approaching and cause the gates to return to the closed position when no vehicle is present or leaving.

A drying apparatus for motor vehicles is provided, which is movable in a treatment direction relative to the surface of a motor vehicle to be dried. The drying apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles suppliable with drying air, a nozzle support device, and a holding device holding the nozzle support device. The nozzle support device includes at least two nozzle supporting parts, each holding at least one nozzle, arranged side by side transversely to the treatment direction. The drying apparatus includes an adjusting device for transferring the nozzle supporting parts relative to one another between at least two relative positions in which the parts are oriented at different angles to one another. The relative positions include an angular position in which air flows exiting the nozzles have or form an apex region on the leading side with respect to the treatment direction. A vehicle wash installation is also provided.

A drying station for a vehicle wash facility includes at least one rotatable drying wheel positioned adjacent a vehicle treatment area. The at least one rotatable drying wheel has a drying material disposed thereon and is configured to engage an exterior of the vehicle to remove water accumulated thereon. The drying station includes a beater device disposed adjacent the at least one rotatable drying wheel with the beater device and the drying wheel being engageable as the at least one rotatable drying wheel rotates. As the rotatable drying wheel spins, the drying material contacts the beater device to help minimize its level of saturation.

A lighted dryer assembly for a vehicle wash system including a housing portion, having a head portion, a body portion, and an outlet portion. The head portion includes an air inlet portion for drawing air into the head portion and an outlet for passing the air to the body portion. The outlet portion has a plurality of exit nozzles that are configured to emit high velocity air therefrom for removing water from an exterior surface of a vehicle while disposed in a vehicle treatment area. The body portion includes an upper portion where air is received from the head portion and a lower portion disposed remote from the upper portion. A light source is disposed within the housing portion and configured to emit light that can be seen by a vehicle disposed in the vehicle treatment area.

An automated parking structure includes a car load bay, a plurality of parking stalls, a car wash compartment, a transport mechanism transporting a car to a designated location in the parking structure and a pallet that is adapted to carry a car thereon. The designated location includes the car load bay, one of the parking stalls and the car wash compartment. The transport mechanism includes a horizontal transport device that transports the pallet horizontally, and a vertical transport device that transports the pallet vertically. The horizontal transport device moves the pallet into and out of the car wash compartment.

A system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle including a chassis, a tank attached to the chassis, a sprayer fluidly connected to the tank, a heating element attached to the chassis, a fan drawing air over the heating element, and a clamp attached to the chassis; and a computer in communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle and programmed to instruct the clamp to attach to an external sensor of a vehicle, instruct the sprayer to spray water and detergent onto the external sensor, and instruct the fan to blow heated air at the external sensor.

An apparatus suitable for drying vehicles, comprising: a base structure (1) for positioning the vehicle (200), a containment structure (2) of the vehicle, associated with the base structure and comprising at least two side walls (22) opposite to the side surfaces of the vehicle once the vehicle has been arranged on the base structure, and a top wall (23) opposite to the top surface of the vehicle once it has been arranged on the base structure, drying means (100) of the vehicle associated with said containment structure and adapted to dry the vehicle. The drying means comprise at least one drying air director element (102) and movement means (103) of said at least one director element which are adapted to move it according to an oscillating movement with respect to the containment structure of the vehicle.