Automatic car wash Car wash

rotating brushes inside conveyor car-wash


conveyorized/tunnel car wash

the first conveyorized automatic car washes appeared in late 1930s. conveyorized automatic car washes consist of tunnel-like buildings customers (or attendants) drive.

some car washes have customers pay through computerized pos, or point of sale unit, known automatic cashier , may take place of human cashier. mechanism inputs wash plu master computer or tunnel controller automatically. when sale automated, after paying car put line-up called stack or queue. stack moves sequentially, wash knows each car purchased. after pulling tunnel entrance, attendant guides customer onto conveyor. @ washes, system send correct number of rollers automatically, based on tire sensors. tire sensor lets wash know wheels , how far apart are. on other systems employee may guide customer on , press send car button on tunnel controller, manually send rollers push car through.

prior entering automated section of wash tunnel, attendants may prewash customers cars. process can consist of wide range of manual cleaning procedures, including applying specialized bug removing cleaning agents various parts of car, performing manual high pressure prewash (possibly focusing on areas tunnel cannot sufficiently clean), , using manual brushes scrub down areas of vehicle difficult equipment clean. manual prewashing may more extensive if vehicle has mud or if customer purchases upgrade.

when customer on conveyor, attendant (or signage) instruct customer put vehicle neutral, release brakes, , refrain steering. failure can cause accident on conveyor. rollers come behind tires, pushing car through photogate, measures vehicle length, allowing controller tailor wash each individual vehicle. car washes may use ultrasonic profiling systems determine height or width of vehicle, or detect open pick-up truck beds. equipment frame, or arches, vary in number , type.

a vehicle exiting friction zone of wash. visible side brushes, wrap-around brushes, conveyor, , high pressure rinse arch.

the car wash typically start cleaning chemicals called presoaks applied through special arches. these arches use nozzles positioned spray chemicals in bi-directional pattern. in many cases, presoak arches designed foam presoak prior application car. may apply higher ph (mild alkali) followed lower ph (mild acid), or order may reversed depending on car wash operator s preference. chemical formulas , concentrations may vary based upon seasonal dirt , film on vehicles, exterior temperature, , other factors. chemical dilution , application works in combination removal systems based on either high pressure water, friction, or combination of both. chemical substances, while industrial strength, not used in harmful concentrations since car washes designed not harm vehicle s components or finish. 1 or more sets ctas, or chemical tire applicators, found near presoak arches. these apply specialized formulations, remove brake dust , build surface of wheels , tires. in many cases, ctas activate if customer has purchased wheel cleaning upgrade. special presoaks may applied if customer purchases upgrade. presoaks typically applied via lava or sheet -style foamer provide more of show customer.

after presoak application, car wash tunnel s layout can vary greatly. in car washes, presoak application followed empty space, or idle zone. provides time presoak loosen dirt on car. in many cases, wheel cleaning equipment, such sill brushes or high pressure wheel blasters, placed in idle zone. sill brush (also known wheel brush or tire brush) consists of 8-foot-long brush assembly pushed against car s wheels , door sill area. sill brushes typically use flagged bristle, dirt heavily concentrated on lower parts of car. material on sill brush may have alternating lengths or use material intentionally mounted off-center allow wheel surfaces of various depths cleaned. sill brushes rely on rotation of customer s car s wheels in order achieve complete wheel contact. ctas, wheel brushes activate when customer buys wheel cleaning upgrade. car washes use wheel-rim disc brushes in addition or in place of sill brushes. these assemblies extend out towards wheel , follow @ same speed conveyor while rotating @ high speeds clean wheels. these devices popular in car washes use belt conveyors, belt conveyor prevents wheels of customer s car rotating , renders sill brushes useless wheel cleaning. car washes feature multiple sets of wheel brushes , offer multiple levels of wheel cleaning. tracking high pressure wheel blasters consist of assemblies multiple nozzles follow car s wheel on distance. while following car s wheel, wheel blaster directs high-pressure water @ wheel. following motion may achieved having nozzles pivot face wheel or having nozzles move alongside car @ same speed conveyor. @ end of car wash s presoak idle zone high pressure arch. high pressure arches direct high pressure water @ vehicle s surface. may done v-jet nozzles, rotating turbo nozzles, spinning manifolds, , oscillating and/or pivoting manifolds. high pressure systems maintain constant distance vehicle provide more consistent results. separate high pressure top, wheel, and/or side blasters may present in place of or supplementary high pressure arch.

a typical tunnel car wash view inside

following idle zone and/or high pressure arch (if applicable) friction zone. in friction zone, variety of brushes used clean of vehicle s surfaces. wrap-around brushes (wraps) clean front, sides, , rear of car. set of wraps consists of 2 offset brushes attached overhead arms mounted on center of tunnel. wrap-around brush designs use jointed side-mounted arms increase brush s front , rear contact time. wraps typically rotate vehicle s direction of travel. wrap-around brushes capable of switching direction while cleaning front of car prevent customers license plates being bent. wraps supplemented side brushes (ranging in size 18 inches [45 cm] 63 inches [160 cm] tall or higher). side brushes may either top or bottom mounted. conserve space, side brushes staggered in space occupied set of wraps or placed under top surface cleaning components, such top brushes or mitters. side brushes rotate against vehicle s direction of travel increase cleaning power. top brushes rotating brush assemblies clean vehicle s top surfaces. top brush can face either entrance or exit of tunnel assist in cleaning car s front or rear. specialized top brushes designed achieve more contact time front or rear of vehicles. prevent damage, top brush can programmed retract if ultrasonic pick-up truck bed detection system detects pick-up truck open bed. in many car washes, top brushes either supplemented or replaced mitters. mitters ribbon-like components suspend cloth strips or sheets on tunnel while utilizing motion increase friction against car s surface. mitter s motion can front back, side side, rotational, circular, or diagonal. friction zone may include specialized front grill , rear brushes. front grill brushes clean front, , in many cases, sides of vehicles. appear side washers unusually long , bent arm. instead of bent arms, front grill brushes use jointed arms. standard side washers, grill brush may either top or bottom driven. rear brushes appear specialized tall side washers long arms face entrance of tunnel. once car s mirror passes rear brush, brush makes contact vehicle s side, continues engage until assembly cleans rear of car. additional high pressure components may present in main friction zone.

a touchless in-bay automatic car wash



a glass car wash building containing inbay automatic , freestanding blowers.

after main friction zone, car washes have dedicated care zone. prior entering care zone, car rinsed fresh water. followed series of services. in many car washes, first of these services polish wax. polish waxes fill in microscopic imperfections in vehicle s clear coat, improving shine. after polish wax application typically retractable mitter or top brush and, in cases, side brushes or wrap-around brushes. next protectant, creates thin protective film on vehicle s surface. protectants repel water, assists in drying car , aiding in driver s ability see through windshield during rain. low-end wax or clear coat protectant follows main protectant. drying agent typically applied @ end of tunnel assist in removing water vehicle s surface prior forced air drying. after drying agent, there may spot free rinse of soft water, has been filtered of salts present, , sent through semi-permeable membranes produce highly purified water not leave spots.

drying done using dryers, and, in many cases, mitters, side brushes, top brushes, and/or wraps outfitted specialized drying material. dryers may present in variety of forms, such stationary gantries contouring roof jet or small circular assemblies nozzles of various shapes , sizes mounted on arches. rest of tunnel s layout, configuration , type of dryers varies based on operator preference. mitters, side brushes, top brushes, and/or wraps outfitted chamois- or microfiber-based material may follow dryers. in many cases, these additional drying components retract if customer not buy upgrade. below dryers or textile drying elements tire shine applicators (also referred tire shiners). tire shiners typically appear box-like assemblies guide rail on entrance sides , brush or sponge pad on side closest vehicle. when active, tire shiner extends out towards vehicle , applies water or silicone-based tire shine product brush, in turn applies product tire. tire shiners activated if customer purchases upgrade.

older automatic washes - majority of built prior 1980 - used use brushes soft nylon bristles, tended leave nylon deposit in shape of bristle, called brush marks, on vehicle s paint. many newer washes use either cloth (which not harmful car s finish, long flushed plenty of water remove grit previous washes) or closed cell foam brush, not hold dirt or water, far less harm painted finish. closed cell foam brushes can, in fact, provide gentle polishing effect shine vehicle s surface during wash.

in order avoid marking paintwork, touchless (aka touchfree or no-touch ) car washes developed. touchless car wash uses chemicals , high water pressure clean vehicle instead of brushes, minimizing chance of surface damage vehicle. there 5 primary factors cleaning vehicle using touchless system. these 5 factors water quality, water temperature, chemistry, time, , water pressure generated equipment. if these factors set properly, vehicles come out clean , shiny without chance of vehicle damage caused brushes.

at full-service car washes, exterior of car washed mechanically conveyorized equipment, hand, or using combination of both, attendants available dry car manually, , clean interior (normally consisting of cleaning windows, wiping front , side dashes, , vacuuming carpet , upholstery). many full service car washes provide detailing services, may include polishing , waxing car s exterior hand or machine, shampooing , steaming interiors, , other services provide thorough cleaning , protection car.