WO-2026096889-A1 - VEHICLE WASH SYSTEM WITH BELT CONVEYOR AND BELTLESS ROLLERS

Abstract

A vehicle wash system that includes a tunnel having a length extending between an entrance opening and an exit opening, a vehicle wash path extending along the length of the tunnel, a conveyor extending along the vehicle wash path, a beltless roller deck substantially parallel to the conveyor and separated from the conveyor by a distance sized such that the conveyor can receive a first tire of a vehicle to be washed and the beltless roller deck can receive a second tire of the vehicle to be washed, and wash equipment disposed along the sides and overhead of the vehicle wash path. The vehicle to be washed enters the tunnel through the entrance opening, is transported along the vehicle wash path, is cleaned as it progresses through the vehicle wash path by the wash equipment, and then exits the tunnel through the exit opening.

Inventors

• BULBOFF, Stephen

Assignees

• Montage Vehicle Innovations, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251031

Priority Date

20241031

Claims (20)

1. 1. A vehicle wash system comprising: a tunnel having a length extending between an entrance opening and an exit opening; a vehicle wash path extending along the length of the tunnel; a conveyor extending along the vehicle wash path, wherein the conveyor is driven by a motor to cause a vehicle to be washed to move along the vehicle wash path; a beltless roller deck substantially parallel to the conveyor and separated from the conveyor by a distance sized such that the conveyor can receive a first tire of the vehicle to be washed and the beltless roller deck can receive a second tire of the vehicle to be washed, wherein the beltless roller deck comprises a plurality of idler rollers, wherein each idler roller rotates in response to a vehicle load pressing against the idler roller, and wherein any idler roller that is not under said vehicle load does not substantially rotate as the vehicle traverses the vehicle wash path; and wash equipment disposed along the sides and overhead of the vehicle wash path, wherein the vehicle to be washed enters the tunnel through the entrance opening, is transported along the vehicle wash path, is cleaned as it progresses through the vehicle wash path by the wash equipment, and then exits the tunnel through the exit opening.
2. 2. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein the beltless roller deck extends along substantially the entire length of the vehicle wash path.
3. 3. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor and the beltless roller deck are substantially the same length.
4. 4. The vehicle wash system of claim 1 , wherein the beltless roller deck is located proximate to the entrance opening and is shorter than the vehicle wash path, and wherein the vehicle wash system further comprises a static guideway between the beltless roller deck and the exit opening. DOCKET NO. 265833.000602 PATENT
5. 5. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, the beltless roller deck is located proximate to the exit opening and is shorter than the vehicle wash path, and wherein the vehicle wash system further comprises a static guideway between the entrance opening and the beltless roller deck.
6. 6. The vehicle wash system of claim 1 , wherein the beltless roller deck comprises a first portion located proximate to the entrance opening and a second portion located proximate the exit opening, wherein the vehicle wash system further comprises a static guideway extending between the first and the second portions of the beltless roller deck.
7. 7. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein the beltless roller deck comprises the plurality of idler rollers and: a frame connected to a floor of the tunnel; and a plurality of bushings connected to the frame, wherein the plurality of idler rollers are positioned at intervals from a first end of the frame to a second end of the frame and each idler roller is rotatably connected to at least one of the bushings.
8. 8. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein a flat portion of the second tire contacts only three idler rollers at a time.
9. 9. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is located such that it will receive the driver’s side tire.
10. 10. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is located such that it will receive the passenger's side tire.
11. 11. The vehicle wash system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises: a conveyor frame connected to a floor of the tunnel; a drive roller connected to the conveyor frame at a first end of the conveyor, the drive roller being connected to the motor to rotate the drive roller; DOCKET NO. 265833.000602 PATENT a tail roller connected to the conveyor frame at a second end of the conveyor opposite the drive roller; a belt in contact with the drive roller and the tail roller, wherein the belt rotates over the drive roller and the tail roller as it is driven by the drive roller, the belt rotating in a forward direction along an upper portion of the conveyor from an entrance end of the conveyor to an exit end of the conveyor and in a backward direction along an underside portion of the conveyor from the exit end of the conveyor to the entrance end of the conveyor; a plurality of conveyer idle rollers; and a plurality of conveyor bushings connected to the conveyor frame, wherein each idler roller is rotatably connected to at least one of the conveyor bushings, wherein each conveyor idler roller rotates in response to a vehicle load pressing against the conveyor idler roller, and wherein any conveyor idler roller that is not under said vehicle load does not substantially rotate as the vehicle traverses the vehicle wash system on the moving belt.
12. 12. The vehicle wash system of claim 1 , further comprising a high-pressure system beneath one or more of the conveyor and the beltless roller deck for removing contaminants from an undercarriage of the vehicle.
13. 13. A system for transporting a vehicle through a wash system comprising: a conveyor extending along a vehicle wash path, wherein the conveyor is driven by a motor to cause a vehicle to be washed to move along the vehicle wash path; and a beltless roller deck substantially parallel to the conveyor and separated from the conveyer by a distance sized such that the conveyer can receive a first tire of the vehicle and the beltless roller deck can receive a second tire of the vehicle, wherein the beltless roller deck comprises a plurality of idler rollers, wherein each idler roller rotates in response to a vehicle load pressing against the idler roller, and wherein any idler roller that is not under said vehicle load does not substantially rotate as the vehicle traverses the vehicle wash system.
14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the beltless roller deck extends along substantially the entire length of the vehicle wash path. DOCKET NO. 265833.000602 PATENT
15. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the conveyor and the beltless roller deck are the same length.
16. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the beltless roller deck is shorter than the vehicle wash path.
17. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the beltless roller deck comprises a first and a second portion of the beltless roller deck assembly, wherein each of the first and second portions are shorter than the vehicle wash path.
18. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the beltless roller deck comprises a first and a second portion of the beltless roller deck assembly that are co-linear and separated by a distance.
19. 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the beltless roller deck comprises the plurality of idler rollers and: a frame; and a plurality of bushings connected to the frame, wherein the plurality of idler rollers are positioned at intervals from a first end of the frame to a second end of the frame and each idler roller is rotatably connected to at least one of the bushings.
20. 20. The system of claim 13, wherein the conveyor is located such that it will receive the driver’s side tire.

Description

DOCKET NO. 265833.000602 PATENT VEHICLE WASH SYSTEM WITH BELT CONVEYOR AND BELTLESS ROLLERS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/714,527, filed on October 31, 2024, entitled “System and Method for Vehicle Washing,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure pertains to the field of vehicle washing systems, including conveyor and roller technologies for moving a vehicle through a wash system. BACKGROUND [0003] Automotive vehicles are exposed to a variety of environmental contaminants such as dirt, dust, road grime, grease, bird droppings, etc., necessitating frequent cleaning to preserve their aesthetic and functional integrity. Traditional systems for cleaning and treating these vehicles often operate on conveyor systems for moving the vehicles through wash equipment. However, there exist significant limitations in current technologies. [0004] Conventional conveyor systems in vehicle washing facilities are generally designed for a narrow range of vehicle types and sizes, primarily standard passenger vehicles. They frequently lack versatility to accommodate larger or specially modified vehicles like dualwheeled trucks, sprinter vans, tractor-trailers, and the like. Additionally, these systems often require manual adjustments for wheel misalignments and frequent maintenance activities, such as lubrication and parts replacements, particularly for bearings, bushings, and other mechanical components. This leads to operational inefficiencies, wear and tear, and increased susceptibility to degradation and corrosion over time. [0005] Given these constraints and limitations, there is an unmet need for a versatile, low- maintenance conveyor system capable of handling a wide array of vehicle sizes, shapes, dimensions, and alignments. SUMMARY [0006] Disclosed herein is a vehicle wash system with at least one conveyor. In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle wash system includes a tunnel having a length extending between an entrance opening and an exit opening, a vehicle wash path extending along the length of the tunnel, a conveyor extending along the vehicle wash path, a beltless roller deck substantially parallel to the conveyor and separated from the conveyor by a distance sized such that the conveyor can receive a first tire of a vehicle to be washed and the beltless roller deck can receive a second tire of the vehicle to be washed, and wash equipment disposed DOCKET NO. 265833.000602 PATENT along the sides and overhead of the vehicle wash path. The conveyor is driven by a motor to cause a vehicle to be washed to move along the vehicle wash path. The beltless roller deck includes idler rollers that only rotates in response to a vehicle load pressing against them such that any idler roller that is not under the vehicle’s load does not substantially rotate as the vehicle traverses the vehicle wash system. The vehicle to be washed enters the tunnel through the entrance opening, is transported along the vehicle wash path, is cleaned as it progresses through the vehicle wash path by the wash equipment, and then exits the tunnel through the exit opening. [0007] In some embodiments, the beltless roller deck extends along substantially the entire length of the vehicle wash path. [0008] In some embodiments, the conveyor and the beltless roller deck are substantially the same length. [0009] In some embodiments, the beltless roller deck is located proximate to the entrance opening and is shorter than the vehicle wash path, and the vehicle wash system further includes a static guideway between the beltless roller deck and the exit opening. [0010] In some embodiments, the beltless roller deck is located proximate to the exit opening and is shorter than the vehicle wash path, and the vehicle wash system further includes a static guideway between the entrance opening and the beltless roller deck. [0011] In some embodiments, the beltless roller deck includes a first portion located proximate to the entrance opening and a second portion located proximate the exit opening, and the vehicle wash system further includes a static guideway extending between the first and the second portions of the beltless roller deck. [0012] In some embodiments, the beltless roller deck includes the idler rollers, a frame connected to a floor of the tunnel, and bushings connected to the frame. The idler rollers are positioned at intervals from a first end of the frame to a second end of the frame, and each idler roller is rotatably connected to at least one of the bushings [0013] In some embodiments, wherein a flat portion of the second tire contacts only three idler rollers at a time. [0014] In some embodiments, the conveyor is located such that it will receive the driver’s side tire. [0015] In some embodiments, the conveyor is located such that it will receive the pass