An apparatus for treating a vehicle surface with a fluid has a rotation device pivotably mounted about an axis of rotation, and a fluid supply device disposed concentrically with respect to the rotation device and which has an inlet opening for the supply of fluid. The apparatus is characterized in that a groove is formed in the fluid supply device. The groove is fluidically connected to the inlet opening and extends in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation over a limited circumferential angle range of the fluid supply device. The rotation device has a plurality of separate fluid channels, each of which opens into openings. The openings are disposed such that irrespective of the angular position of the rotation device to the fluid supply device with respect to the axis of rotation, and at least one of the openings of the rotation device is fluidically connected to the groove of the fluid supply device.

An apparatus for treating a vehicle surface with a fluid has a rotation device pivotably mounted about an axis of rotation, and a fluid supply device disposed concentrically with respect to the rotation device and which has an inlet opening for the supply of fluid. The apparatus is characterized in that a groove is formed in the fluid supply device. The groove is fluidically connected to the inlet opening and extends in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation over a limited circumferential angle range of the fluid supply device. The rotation device has a plurality of separate fluid channels, each of which opens into openings. The openings are disposed such that irrespective of the angular position of the rotation device to the fluid supply device with respect to the axis of rotation, and at least one of the openings of the rotation device is fluidically connected to the groove of the fluid supply device.

An inline vertical tack-off system for cleaning vehicular bodies that eliminates the need to spatially dispose rotating brushes and thereby enhance the cleaning efficiency while reducing the space occupied by the apparatus by vertically aligning a plurality of cleaning brushes to clean the full height of a vehicle body. Additionally, the apparatus includes a positioning system which allows the tack-off brushes to move in relation to any of a variety of vehicular bodies by adjusting the distance between the brushes and the vehicle body under the control of a program, as well as by controlling the tilt of the brushes match the vehicle contours and thereby optimize the contact force applied by the brushes to the vehicular surface being cleaned. Also, the system includes a vortex enhanced plenum utilized to evacuate ambient air and contaminant particles.

An inline vertical tack-off system for cleaning vehicular bodies that eliminates the need to spatially dispose rotating brushes and thereby enhance the cleaning efficiency while reducing the space occupied by the apparatus by vertically aligning a plurality of cleaning brushes to clean the full height of a vehicle body. Additionally, the apparatus includes a positioning system which allows the tack-off brushes to move in relation to any of a variety of vehicular bodies by adjusting the distance between the brushes and the vehicle body under the control of a program, as well as by controlling the tilt of the brushes match the vehicle contours and thereby optimize the contact force applied by the brushes to the vehicular surface being cleaned. Also, the system includes a vortex enhanced plenum utilized to evacuate ambient air and contaminant particles.

A method and apparatus for cleaning surfaces of an object. A platform may be moved along a path relative to the object using a robotic device. A liquid may be applied onto the plurality of surfaces of the object using an applicator associated with the platform. The liquid may be worked into the plurality of surfaces using a plurality of cleaning elements associated with the platform to dislodge undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. A plurality of flexible members may be moved along the plurality of surfaces to dry the plurality of surfaces and remove the undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. An airflow may be generated that moves the undesired material into a vacuum duct in a vacuum system.

A method and apparatus for cleaning surfaces of an object. A platform may be moved along a path relative to the object using a robotic device. A liquid may be applied onto the plurality of surfaces of the object using an applicator associated with the platform. The liquid may be worked into the plurality of surfaces using a plurality of cleaning elements associated with the platform to dislodge undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. A plurality of flexible members may be moved along the plurality of surfaces to dry the plurality of surfaces and remove the undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. An airflow may be generated that moves the undesired material into a vacuum duct in a vacuum system.

A wash equipment assembly for a car wash and method of operating the equipment are described. For example, the assembly includes a cleaning element configured to clean a vehicle, an arm assembly operably attached to the cleaning element and configured to move the cleaning element to a vehicle cleaning position, the arm movably fixed to a support at a first end and the cleaning element mounted on the arm at a second end, a controlled locator for positioning the arm relative to the support such that the cleaning equipment is moved to the vehicle cleaning position, and a sensor for evaluating an actual orientation of the cleaning element relative to a default orientation of the cleaning element. In certain implementations, the controlled locator can modify the position of the arm in response to a signal from the sensor, thereby providing a closed loop control system.

A wash equipment assembly for a car wash and method of operating the equipment are described. For example, the assembly includes a cleaning element configured to clean a vehicle, an arm assembly operably attached to the cleaning element and configured to move the cleaning element to a vehicle cleaning position, the arm movably fixed to a support at a first end and the cleaning element mounted on the arm at a second end, a controlled locator for positioning the arm relative to the support such that the cleaning equipment is moved to the vehicle cleaning position, and a sensor for evaluating an actual orientation of the cleaning element relative to a default orientation of the cleaning element. In certain implementations, the controlled locator can modify the position of the arm in response to a signal from the sensor, thereby providing a closed loop control system.

Provided is a robot including a chassis; a set of wheels coupled to the chassis; a plurality of sensors; a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations. The operations include capturing, with an image sensor disposed on the robot, a plurality of images of an environment of the robot as the robot navigates within the environment; identifying, with the processor, an obstacle type of an obstacle captured in an image based on a comparison between features of the obstacle and features of obstacles with different obstacles types stored in a database; and determining, with the processor, an action of the robot based on the obstacle type of the obstacle.

A method of controlling wash equipment in an automated vehicle wash system having a conveyor includes, measuring one or more contours of a vehicle as the vehicle moves thorough an entry area of the automated vehicle wash system on the conveyor; tracking the distance a fixed point relative to the conveyor moves; associating the one or more contours of the vehicle with the position of the fixed point; determining, based on the one or more contours of the vehicle and the position of the fixed point, commands for operating the wash equipment; delivering the commands to the wash equipment; and operating the wash equipment in accordance with the commands.