A vehicle drying assembly has a frame defining a path for movement of a vehicle through the drying assembly and a side brush rotatable about a generally horizontal axis. The side brush includes brush segments that extend radially from the axis to contact a side of the vehicle in a direction generally normal to the path, as the first side brush rotates about its generally horizontal axis. The side brush is mounted at a defined height above the ground and at a distance relative to the vehicle along the path, so as to define a no-contact region on the side of the vehicle in which the side brush does not contact the vehicle as the side brush rotates and the vehicle moves through the drying assembly.

An overhead vehicle wash mitter apparatus is provided. A mitter curtain can include multiple mitters that sway above a vehicle pathway as a vehicle travels along the pathway. Each mitter can include an upper end and a lower end closer to the vehicle pathway, a sheath defining an interior tube and an exterior surface that engages a vehicle surface, and a pad in the sheath. The pad can press outward on the sheath so that the sheath attains a first thickness, which can be at least ? inch, at least 1 inch, at least 1? inch or more, so the sheath is impaired from entering between a wiper and a surface of the vehicle, such as a window. Accordingly, damage to the wiper of the vehicle is prevented when the mitter engages the surface and the wiper. A related method of use is provided.

A treatment installation for treating workpieces, in particular for coating and/or drying of vehicle bodies, having a treatment device with a housing, in which a treatment tunnel is accommodated. A conveyor system having a plurality of trolleys which can convey the workpieces through the treatment tunnel, wherein each of the trolleys has a chassis and a securing device for at least one workpiece which are coupled together by a coupling device. Outside the treatment tunnel a guidance zone with a driving area for the chassis is present. In the guidance zone a gas compartment is configured, arranged between the driving area and the treatment tunnel and delimited by a separate housing. A gas supply device is present which can supply the gas compartment with a gas, such that in the gas compartment a gas barrier is created between the treatment tunnel and the driving area.

A vehicle wash system includes a vehicle treatment area and an overhead frame portion supporting a pair of side brushes. The side brushes are configured to treat the lateral sides of the vehicle and may also treat the front and back of the vehicle. The side brushes are configured to pivot between a vertical position and an outwardly angled position, in which the side brushes are generally aligned with the side glass of the vehicle windows. The side brushes may travel along the side of the vehicle in both the vertical and pivoted orientations. The side brushes may make multiple passes along the side of the vehicle, and the side brushes may change orientation during or between passes to treat different segments of the vehicle. The side brushes may be pivoted at a side mirror location of the vehicle.

A vehicle wash system includes a vehicle treatment area and an overhead frame portion supporting a pair of side brushes. The side brushes are configured to treat the lateral sides of the vehicle and may also treat the front and back of the vehicle. The side brushes are configured to pivot between a vertical position and an outwardly angled position, in which the side brushes are generally aligned with the side glass of the vehicle windows. The side brushes may travel along the side of the vehicle in both the vertical and pivoted orientations. The side brushes may make multiple passes along the side of the vehicle, and the side brushes may change orientation during or between passes to treat different segments of the vehicle.

A vehicle wash system includes a vehicle treatment area and an overhead frame portion supporting a pair of side brushes. The side brushes are configured to treat the lateral sides of the vehicle and may also treat the front and back of the vehicle. The side brushes are configured to pivot between a vertical position, an outwardly angled position, and inwardly angled position. The side brushes may travel along the side of the vehicle in both the vertical and pivoted orientations. The side brushes may make multiple passes along the side of the vehicle, and the side brushes may change orientation during or between passes to treat different segments of the vehicle. The side brushes may be actively pivoted or may pivot in response to contacting the vehicle when shifted laterally into contact with the vehicle.

A vehicle wash system includes a vehicle treatment area and an overhead frame portion supporting a pair of side brushes. The side brushes are configured to treat the lateral sides of the vehicle and may also treat the front and back of the vehicle. The side brushes are configured to pivot between a vertical position and an outwardly angled position, in which the side brushes are generally aligned with the side glass of the vehicle windows. The side brushes may travel along the side of the vehicle in both the vertical and pivoted orientations. The side brushes may make multiple passes along the side of the vehicle, and the side brushes may change orientation during or between passes to treat different segments of the vehicle. The side brushes may be oriented vertically at a location of a vehicle antenna to avoid the antenna.

A vehicle wash system includes a vehicle treatment area and an overhead frame portion supporting a rotational brush that is translatable relative to a vehicle disposed within the vehicle treatment area. The brush may rotate in the same rotational direction during a first translation direction and a second translation direction of the brush along the vehicle. During one direction of translation, the brush rotates at a first rotational speed, and in the opposite direction of translation, the brush rotates at increased rotational speed. The system may include a pair of side brushes, with the brushes rotating in opposite rotational directions, but maintaining their rotational directions during both directions of translation.

A vehicle washing system includes a frame disposed above a vehicle treatment area, and a reciprocal guide system coupled to the frame. The guide system is configured to move vertically relative to the frame, and supports a vehicle treatment component such as a rotatable brush. The brush may be lowered and raised relative to the vehicle treatment area by extending or retracting the guide track. When the guide system is retracted upward, there are no downwardly extending guides or rails that extend downward from the bottom of the guide system. The guide system is collapsible in a vertical direction, and may be a scissors mechanism or a telescoping mechanism or other collapsible mechanism. The guide system may be actuated directly or may be actuated dependent on a separate vertical drive mechanism, such as a windable belt.

A vehicle wash system includes a frame suspended above a vehicle treatment area. A pivotable frame is pivotally coupled to the frame, and an extendable and retractable linear frame is coupled to the pivotable frame and configured to extend downward from the pivotable frame and retract upward toward the pivotable frame. A top brush is coupled to a lower end of the linearly frame, and is extendable toward engagement with a vehicle. The top brush is also pivotable relative to a vertical position via pivoting of the pivotable frame, and the top brush is pivotable at different degrees of extension of the linear frame. The linear frame and the top brush may pivot in response to contact from the vehicle.