A method for operating a vehicle treatment system, in particular a vehicle washing system, includes treating at least one vehicle surface with at least one rotating brush with a brush material at an immersion depth of the brush, and controlling during the treatment of the vehicle surface, the rotating brush based on a setpoint value for the friction of the brush material on the vehicle surface, the immersion depth of the rotating brush on the vehicle surfaces treated therewith being monitored at the setpoint value during the treatment of the vehicle surface in order to determine the state of the brush material. In addition, a vehicle treatment apparatus, a use thereof, and a computer program product are provided.

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.

A fluid flow actuated tool including a housing, a tool and an actuating mechanism. The housing includes a housing interior. The housing interior receives a flow of fluid. The actuating mechanism includes a fluid wheel structure. The fluid wheel structure is connected to the tool. At least a portion of the fluid wheel structure is arranged in the flow of fluid for rotating the fluid wheel structure. The tool is actuated based on rotation of the fluid wheel structure.

A plastic clip core assembly is disclosed for use in a rotary brush in a carwash. The plastic clip core is comprised of a plastic clip core, a plurality of longitudinal washing elements (“LWE”) and an equal plurality of plastic clips. The plastic clip core assembly is mated to a rotational hub, creating a rotary brush. The plastic clip core has a plurality of semi-cylindrical void cavities, each with an adjoining cylindrical void cavity. Each plastic clip has two parallel members, a first member and a second member. Each LWE has an upper edge, lower edge, free edge, and a cylindrical mount. A first member of a plastic clip fits into the cylindrical mount of the LWE and the semi-cylindrical void cavity. The second member of the plastic clip fits into the cylindrical void cavity, thus securing the LWE to the plastic clip core. The plastic clip core mates with the rotational hub in a no-slip condition.

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 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, the shaft (4) crossing the central support (3) and placing the central support (3) in rotation about the axis (40) of rotation;
the central support (3) comprising 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 rotary vehicle wash component for a vehicle wash facility is provided. The vehicle wash component includes a hub disposed about and rotatable about a center axis. A plurality of media elements extend outwardly from the hub for rotation with the hub. Each of the media elements has a centerline that is positioned offset relative to the center axis such that the centerline does not intersect the center axis. The media elements may be fixed to the hub or they may be pivotable relative to the hub. The media elements may pivot between two offset positions in response to rotation in opposite directions. The media elements may include a plurality of treatment heads secured to the media elements.

A carwash station receives a vehicle being conveyed in a direction of travel in a carwash having a ground pathway. The carwash station includes a frame supported by the ground pathway, a four-bar linkage attached to the frame and a side washing brush attached to the four-bar linkage and having an axis of rotation being perpendicular to the direction of travel and perpendicular to the ground pathway.

A cleaning tool including a holding rod and a first tool assembly, wherein the holding rod is curved to form an inner curve and an outer curve. The first tool assembly is rotatably connected to a first end of the holding rod. The first tool assembly includes a first side and a second side which face opposite directions, wherein the first side or the second side is controllably fixed relative to the holding rod to make either the first side or the second side faces a direction to the same as the inner curve. When a high surface of a subject has obstacles, the user could easily clean up the dead corners around the obstacles by using the cleaning tool with curving holding rod provided by the present invention.