1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an assembly for removing liquids from surfaces of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such an assembly is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,461 to McElroy et al. wherein a support defines a top plenum for distributing air disposed along a top plenum axis defining an attachment opening and a pair of legs are disposed in a support plane extending through the top plenum axis from the top plenum to a support end. The attachment opening is disposed radially from the top plenum axis at an attachment angle relative to the support plane and a bag having an opening is attached to the attachment opening of the top plenum to extend downwardly from the top plenum to a distal end in an inflated and down position while being movable relative to the top plenum in an arc between the down position and an up position. A nozzle is disposed on a nozzle centerline at the distal end of the bag to define a nozzle opening disposed in a nozzle plane transverse to the nozzle centerline.
It has long been recognized as desirable to remove liquids from the surface of a vehicle coming out of a car wash be at the highest degree of liquid removal at the lowest possible horse power in generating the air to remove the liquid. At the same time, it is desirable to remove liquid from large vehicles such as vans and pick-up trucks.
The invention provides for such assembly for removing liquids from the surface of a vehicle wherein the nozzle plane of the nozzle is slanted open toward the support plane of the legs at a first nozzle acute angle in the down position and is slanted open from the support plane of the legs at a second nozzle acute angle in the up position.
The present invention provides for a faster surface drying rate per vehicles and a more complete drying of the back of the vehicles, especially for the back surface of vans and the back windows of pick-up trucks.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an assembly for removing liquids from surfaces of a vehicle is generally shown in
The assembly includes a support 20, as generally indicated, and having an inverted U-shape defining a top plenum 22 for distributing air and extending along a top plenum axis X and a pair of legs 24 extending downwardly from the top plenum 22 in a spaced and parallel relationship to support ends 26 for engaging a floor. The legs 24 of the support 20 being vertically disposed in a support plane ρ extend through the top plenum axis X to define a drive through-lane indicated by an arrow 28.
One of the legs 24 defines an air supply 30, as generally indicated, including a duct 32 for supplying air to the top plenum 22 and a blower 34, comprising a propeller and an electric motor, in fluid communication with the duct 32 for providing a flow of air to the supply duct 32 and the top plenum 22.
The top plenum 22 of the support 20 defines an attachment opening 36 with a rectangular periphery 38 centered to face radially from the top plenum axis X at an attachment angle α of 30° relative to the support plane ρ. A bag 40, as generally indicated, of flexible material defines an opening 42 of rectangular configuration attached about the periphery of the attachment opening 36 to extend downwardly at the attachment angle α from the top plenum 22 to a distal end 44 of the bag 40 while in an inflated and down position (shown in solid lines in n (shown in solid lines in
n extends at a nozzle centerline distance n of six (6) inches from the distal end 44 of the bag 40 to define a nozzle opening 48. The nozzle opening 48 is disposed at a down position height d in a parallel direction forty seven (47) inches and from the support ends 26 in the down position in a parallel direction to the legs 24. The bag 40 at the down position defines a measured distance m of fifty four and three quarter (54¾) inches between the opening 42 of the bag 40 and the nozzle opening 48.
The bag 40 includes front and rear panels 50, 52 and bag gussets 54 to establish a width w of eight (8) inches between the panels 50, 52. The front and rear panels 50, 52 of the bag 40 with the bag gussets 54 wraparound the top plenum 22 and a plurality of bag bands 56 clamp over the bag 40 and the top plenum 22 to secure the bag 40 to attach the top plenum 22 of the support 20. The bag bands 56 define an attachment 58 for attaching the bag 40 to the attachment opening 36. The attachment 58 includes a plurality of sponge tapes 60 disposed about said attachment opening 36 of the top plenum 22 extending along said top plenum axis X and a plurality of bag clamp pipes 62 defining pipe ends 64 are disposed on the sponge tape 60 extending along the top plenum axis X. A rubber spacer 66 extends between each of the bag clamp pipes 62 sealing the front and rear panels 50, 52 of the bag 40 between the sponge tape 60 and the bag clamp pipe 62 to prevent air leakage. A plastic end plug 68 is disposed at each of said pipe ends 64 of said bag clamp pipes 62,
The bag gussets 54 extend into the nozzle 46 to divide the bag 40 into sections and define bag sides 70 and the nozzle 46 extends between the bag sides 70 of the bag 40. The front and rear panels 50, 52 of the bag 40 converge in the nozzle 46 at a first inwardly inclined angle β of 60° to define the nozzle opening 48 extending at a nozzle opening distance o of three quarters (¾) of an inch along a nozzle plane σ.
The lateral extent of the nozzle 46 includes a center portion 72 extending parallel to the top plenum 22 and two end portions 74 (shown in phantom lines in
A horizontal beam 76 is disposed on the top plenum 22 and extending perpendicularly to the top plenum axis X to an incoming side length 78 and an exiting side length 80. A plurality of truss beams 82 extend from the top plenum 22 to the horizontal beam 76 to support 20 the horizontal beam 76. A vehicle recognition system 84 (VRS) is disposed on the incoming side length 78 of the horizontal beam 76 for detecting the surface of a vehicle. An electric motor 86 is disposed on the exiting side length 80 of the horizontal beam 76. A cord 88 connects the bag 40 to the motor for raising and lowering the bag 40 in an arc R from the down position (shown in solid lines in
The bag 40 includes a major length 90 disposed along a major centerline a (shown in solid lines in
a and the nozzle 46 to position the nozzle centerline
n at a second bag acute angle ζ of 70° relating to a horizontal plane τ disposed perpendicularly to the legs 24 in the inflated position. The major centerline
a of the major length 90 extends at a major centerline distance a of thirty one and one half (31½) inches from the attachment opening 36 of the top plenum 22 to the first joint 92. The bag 40 includes at least one D-ring 96 attached to the bag 40. The cord 88 attaches to the D-ring 96 for raising and lowering the bag 40 from the down position (shown in solid lines in
The curved portion 94 of the bag 40 includes a minor length 98 disposed on a minor centerline i (shown in solid lines in
a extends between 2.4 and 2.5 times longer than the minor centerline
i. The minor centerline
i extends at a minor centerline distance i between twelve and three quarters (12¾) inches and thirteen and one eighth (13⅛) inches from the major centerline
a to a second joint 100 at a first inclined angle η of 160° relative to the major centerline
a in the down position (shown in solid lines in
f (shown in solid lines in
i extends between 1.3 and 1.4 times longer than the filler length centerline
f and the filler length centerline
f extends between 1.5 and 1.6 times longer than the nozzle centerline
n.
The filler length centerline f extends at a filler length centerline distance f between nine (9) inches and nine and three quarters (9¾) inches between trapezoidal shaped ends 104 of the filler length 102 and disposed between the minor length 98 and the nozzle 46 at a second inclined angle θ of 156° relative to the second centerline and at a third inclined angle ι of 159° relative to the nozzle centerline
n. The filler length centerline
f intersects the nozzle plane σ at a fourth inclined angle π of 69° for positioning the nozzle 46 slanted open at a first nozzle acute angle κ of 20° forwardly relative to the horizontal plane τ disposed perpendicularly to the legs 24 of the support 20 in the down position (shown in solid lines in
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. That which is prior art in the claims precedes the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word “said” in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word “the” precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5901461 | McElroy et al. | May 1999 | A |
5950324 | McElroy et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5960564 | McElroy et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
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Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
07293799 | Nov 1995 | JP |
WO 9829309 | Jul 1998 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20120291308 A1 | Nov 2012 | US |