APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING A VEHICLE IN THE WASH AREA OF A VEHICLE WASH SYSTEM

1 . A method of washing the exterior of vehicle positioned within a wash system having an entry end and an exit end, comprising the steps of:

locating a first sensor adjacent the entry end to sense the presence of a moving vehicle entering the wash system,

locating a second sensor adjacent the exit end to sense the presence of the vehicle,

providing a stop signal operatively connected to the first sensor to signal a driver of the vehicle to stop when the rear end of the vehicle clears the first sensor, and

washing the exterior of the vehicle while the vehicle is positioned within the wash system between the first and second sensors.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a signal operatively connected to the second sensor to signal the driver of the vehicle to back up when the second sensor senses the presence of the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the driver is signaled to stop at a predetermined time after the rear of the vehicle passes the first sensor.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second sensors are operatively connected to the vehicle washing system to transfer data to the system to confirm the vehicle is located in the wash system between the first and second sensors.

5 . The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of determining that the vehicle is too long for the wash system when both the first sensor and the second sensor simultaneously detect the presence of the vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the front and the rear positions of the vehicle with the second sensor after the vehicle has stopped between the first and second sensors.

7 . A vehicle wash system for positioning a vehicle within a wash area having an entry end and an exit end comprising:

a first sensor positioned adjacent the entry end of the wash area to sense the presence of a moving vehicle entering the wash area; and

a signal operatively connected to the first sensor to signal a driver of the vehicle to stop when the rear end of the vehicle clears the first sensor.

8 . The device of claim 7 further comprising a second sensor positioned adjacent the exit end of the wash area and operatively connected to the signal to indicate to the driver of the vehicle to back up when the second sensor senses the presence of the vehicle.

9 . The device of claim 7 wherein the driver is signaled to stop at a predetermined time after the rear of the vehicle passes the first sensor.

10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second sensors are operatively connected to the vehicle wash system to transfer data to the system to confirm the vehicle is located in the wash area between the first and second sensors.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein data is transferred from the first and second sensors to the wash system to determine that the vehicle is too long when both the first sensor and the second sensor simultaneously detect the presence of the vehicle.

12 . The device of claim 8 wherein the second sensor is positioned on the wash system and determines the front and rear positions of the vehicle after the vehicle has stopped between the first and second sensors.

13 . A vehicle wash system for positioning a vehicle within a wash area having an entry end and an exit end comprising:

a first and a second sensor positioned adjacent the entry end of the wash area in spaced relation that senses the presence of a moving vehicle entering the wash area; and

a signal operatively connected to the first sensor to signal a driver of the vehicle to stop when the rear end of the vehicle clears the first sensor.

14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the signal is operatively connected to the second sensor to indicate to the driver of the vehicle to back up when a beam from the second sensor is restored.

15 . The device of claim 13 wherein the driver is signaled to stop at a predetermined time after the rear of the vehicle passes the first sensor.