An apparatus for cleaning a vehicle having at least one outer surface which is inclined by an inclination angle with respect to the vertical, includes a device for detecting the inclination angle of the at least one outer surface, a cleaning brush which can be passed along the at least one outer surface, a device for setting an inclination angle of the cleaning brush with respect to the vertical corresponding to the inclination angle of the at least one outer surface, a device 20 for monitoring the inclination angle of the cleaning brush, and a device for regulating the inclination angle of the cleaning brush for adjusting to the inclination angle of the at least one outer surface. A method for cleaning a vehicle having at least one outer surface which is inclined by an inclination angle with respect to the vertical is also provided.

A component for a vehicle wash system includes a rotatable stem portion and a backing member in communication with the rotatable stem portion. The backing member is configured to rotate with the stem portion about an axis of rotation defined by the centerline of the stem portion. A plurality of media elements are secured to the backing member with the plurality of media elements being constructed of a generally self-supporting, non-marring material and wherein the plurality of media elements are oriented generally perpendicular to the backing member. The plurality of media elements configured to rotate in a working plane defined by the backing member and the working plane is oriented generally perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. Additionally, the plurality of media elements are configured during a wash process to contact at least an exterior painted surface of a vehicle to effectuate cleaning thereof.

A component for a vehicle wash system includes a rotatable stem portion and a backing member in communication with the rotatable stem portion. The backing member is configured to rotate with the stem portion about an axis of rotation defined by the centerline of the stem portion. A plurality of media elements are secured to the backing member with the plurality of media elements being constructed of a generally self-supporting, non-marring material and wherein the plurality of media elements are oriented generally perpendicular to the backing member. The plurality of media elements configured to rotate in a working plane defined by the backing member and the working plane is oriented generally perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. Additionally, the plurality of media elements are configured during a wash process to contact at least an exterior painted surface of a vehicle to effectuate cleaning thereof.

A brush for a vehicle washing system comprising: flexible elements (2) intended to come into contact with the vehicle for cleaning and/or polishing and/or drying; a central annular support (3) from which the flexible elements (2) extend; a shaft (4) rotating about its own axis (40) of rotation, said shaft (4) crossing said central support (3) and placing said central support (3) in rotation about said axis (40) of rotation.

The central support (3) comprises a lateral surface (35), from which the flexible elements (2) extend, which is inclined with respect to the axis (40) of rotation of the shaft (4).

A method for treating the surface of a vehicle by means of at least one rotating treatment brush. The treatment brush comprises treatment elements, the surfaces of which are brought into frictional contact with the vehicle surface during the treatment. According to the method, a reference measurement is carried out, in which the treatment brush is set in rotation and is moved into a defined position relative to a reference element, such that the surfaces of the handling elements are brought into frictional contact with the surface of the reference element, and in this case the value of the frictional force is measured directly or indirectly. During the treatment of the vehicle surface, the treatment brush is controlled as a function of the value of the frictional force measured during the reference measurement. A system for treating the surface of a vehicle by means of which this method can be carried out.

A method for treating the surface of a vehicle by means of at least one rotating treatment brush. The treatment brush comprises treatment elements, the surfaces of which are brought into frictional contact with the vehicle surface during the treatment. According to the method, a reference measurement is carried out, in which the treatment brush is set in rotation and is moved into a defined position relative to a reference element, such that the surfaces of the handling elements are brought into frictional contact with the surface of the reference element, and in this case the value of the frictional force is measured directly or indirectly. During the treatment of the vehicle surface, the treatment brush is controlled as a function of the value of the frictional force measured during the reference measurement. A system for treating the surface of a vehicle by means of which this method can be carried out.

Embodiments include a vehicle side washer assembly, a shaft assembly, and horizontal cloth brush panels. The side washer assembly includes a retractable angled primary arm, a retractable secondary arm, a shaft assembly having an upright shaft, and horizontal cloth brush panels. The upright shaft is disposed through a shaft attachment region of each of the horizontal cloth brush panels. The shaft assembly includes an upright shaft including notches and protrusions, and retrofit discs each including a shaft opening that matches contours of the upright shaft. Each of the retrofit discs includes rotary notches. The horizontal cloth brush panels each include flat fingers, a contiguous central region, and a brush shaft opening cut to match contours of the upright shaft. The horizontal cloth brush panels rotate in a reverse rotation with a direction of travel of a vehicle, and can be mixed and matches with various sizes and shapes.

The present invention relates to a wheel washing apparatus for cleaning a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a brush device which includes or forms at least one brush that is placeable against the wheel, a drive device for rotatingly driving the at least one brush, and an advancing device with which the brush device is transferable from a rest position remote from the wheel into at least one use position near the wheel, wherein the brush device is lowerable by means of the advancing device upon moving in the direction of the wheel, wherein the brush device is moveable by means of the advancing device along a trajectory having at least one inflection point upon moving from the rest position into the at least one use position. The invention also relates to a vehicle washing installation and a method for cleaning a wheel.

The present invention relates to a wheel washing apparatus for cleaning a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a brush device which includes or forms at least one brush that is placeable against the wheel, a drive device for rotatingly driving the at least one brush, and an advancing device with which the brush device is transferable from a rest position remote from the wheel into at least one use position near the wheel, wherein the brush device is lowerable by means of the advancing device upon moving in the direction of the wheel, wherein the brush device is moveable by means of the advancing device along a trajectory having at least one inflection point upon moving from the rest position into the at least one use position. The invention also relates to a vehicle washing installation and a method for cleaning a wheel.

A brush for drying and/or washing a vehicle may include a rotating shaft rotatable around a rotation axis thereof and drying/cleaning means for drying/cleaning the vehicle. The brush may also include a first rotatable support plate for supporting the drying/cleaning means. The first plate may be traversed by the shaft and constrained on the shaft in an operating configuration. In some embodiments, a fictional lying plane of the first plate and the rotation axis form an angle other than 90 degrees. The brush may also include a connector to connect the drying/cleaning means to the first plate and positioning means for positioning the first plate in the operating configuration.