Method and apparatus for wet conveyor car wash and detail

摘要

A hand wash cash wash system for motor vehicles based on a fully-wet belt conveyor through a plurality of stations including a manual hand-wash station. The conveyor is adapted for continuous operation in a wet environment and indeed relies on the water from the wash stations for lubrication. The adaptations for wet-belt design include a concrete foundation formed with a recessed drainage pit for runoff. A superstructure is seated atop the foundation and this comprises a framework of galvanized steel legs and struts. The continuous conveyor is mounted on the superstructure further comprises a conveyor belt formed of Acetyl™ links and rollers rotatably mounted in the superstructure. Vehicles approach the car wash, wait in a queue, advance to an entry point, drive onto the conveyor and then leave the car in neutral with foot on the brakes. The conveyor belt moves vehicles through the car wash in assembly line format through a plurality of stations, including a pre-wetting station, a hand-washing station, a rinse station, and a drying station. All the water from the various stations lubricates the links and rollers of the conveyor to create a low-friction continuous wet belt conveyer for low-maintenance and longevity. The wash conveyor extends parallely to an adjacent detail conveyor, and the two conveyors move in opposing directions. Upon completion of the wash, the vehicle moves off the wash conveyor and loops back onto the detail conveyor for interior detailing. A semi-automated system arranged in the foregoing format with dual wash conveyors and dual detail conveyors is capable of 1000+ vehicles per day throughput, and since the entire conveyor path uses a low-friction continuous wet belt conveyer, with specific interlinked belt configuration, infrastructure and materials, there is low-maintenance and longevity despite heavy volume.