Dual guide rail system for a vehicle washing apparatus

Abstract

A dual guide rail system for a vehicle washing apparatus having a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed includes standard curb rails mounted on both sides of the path at a first height and upper curb rails mounted outside of the standard rails at a second height greater than the first height of the standard curb rails. The upper curb rails are skewed inwardly in a direction of travel of a vehicle being washed with respect to a standard curb rail. Each of the standard and curb rails is provided with a plurality of rollers along its length thereof which tend to rotate inwardly when contacted by a wheel of a vehicle.

1 . A dual guide rail system for a vehicle washing apparatus having a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed comprising: 
 a first standard curb rail mounted adjacent an outer edge of said path at a first height above a vehicle supporting surface;    a second standard curb rail mounted adjacent an opposite outer edge of said path at said first height above the vehicle supporting surface;    a first upper curb rail mounted outside of said first standard curb rail and positioned at a second height higher than said first height above the vehicle supporting surface;    a second upper curb rail mounted outside of said second standard curb rail and positioned at said second height higher than said first height above the vehicle supporting surface; and    wherein each of said standard and upper curb rails is provided with a plurality of rotatable rollers along its length thereof.    
   
   
       2 . A dual guide rail system according to  claim 1 , wherein both said standard curb rails and said upper curb rails are disposed at an outward angle away from said path adjacent an entrance thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A dual guide rail system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said auxiliary curb rails is disposed outwardly at a greater angle than each of said standard curb rails.  
   
   
       4 . A dual guide rail system according to  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of first brackets for mounting said standard curb rails at said first height and a plurality of second brackets for mounting said upper curb rails at said second height, each of said brackets comprising: 
 a base,    a flange mounted to and upstanding from said base; and    means fixed to an upper end of said flange for rotatably mounting an end of one of said rollers.    
   
   
       5 . A dual guide rail system according to  claim 4 , wherein said means comprises a tubular member.  
   
   
       6 . A dual guide rail system according to  claim 4 , wherein said flange is angled inwardly toward said path.  
   
   
       7 . A dual guide rail system according to  claim 1 , wherein each upper curb rail is skewed inwardly with respect to a standard curb rail in a direction of travel of a vehicle being washed.