Abstract:
A dryer nozzle for a drying unit in a vehicle wash system includes a nozzle portion for emitting high velocity air to an exterior surface of a vehicle passing thereunder. The nozzle portion has an inner nozzle section and an outer nozzle section. The inner nozzle section and the outer nozzle section being configured such that they can be positioned one inside the other during operation. At least one of the inner nozzle section or the outer nozzle section can be extended and retracted as directed towards or away from the surface of the vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for removing water from the surface of a vehicle in a vehicle wash system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for removing water from the surface of a vehicle that yields increased drying capabilities as well as improved longevity of the apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Assemblies for blowing liquids from a vehicle surface are well known. An exemplary assembly includes a support plenum for distributing air and a nozzle system, including a nozzle for directing air toward the top surface of a vehicle. Assemblies of these types are well known and have been utilized in the art for many years. 
     Many such assemblies for blowing liquids (drying) include an air delivery conduit interconnecting the plenum and the nozzle system for delivering air from the plenum to the nozzle system and then to the vehicle exterior. Some assemblies allow the nozzle system to move in an adjustment direction toward and away from the plenum between various-operating positions. Further, other assemblies cause the nozzle to rotate to different directions as the vehicle moves thereby. However, these systems all suffer from operational disadvantages and provide only limited drying capabilities. 
     Additionally, the nozzles of most drying systems are constructed of a solid hard material such that if a vehicle or other structure contacts them it can cause significant damage. For example, if a vehicle contacts a nozzle of these existing drying systems it can cause damage to the vehicle. Moreover, it can also cause damage to the nozzle or the drying system itself, which would be extremely costly to replace or repair. 
     It is therefore a need to overcome these disadvantages and provide an improved drying system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide an improved drying system that has a nozzle that can be extended or retracted. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved drying system that has a nozzle that extends and retracts to the height of a vehicle passing therebeneath to direct the air stream close to the exterior surface of the vehicle. 
     It is still another advantage of the present invention to provide an improved drying system that has an extendable and retractable nozzle that is constructed of a pliable material such that it can move or yield if contacted by a vehicle to minimize damage to both the vehicle and the nozzle. 
     It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide an improved drying system that keeps air directed closer to a vehicle surface to more effectively blow water off the vehicle exterior. 
     It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide an improved drying system that increases the length of relative laminar air flow to increase drying efficiency. 
     In accordance with the above and the other advantages of the present invention, an improved drying system is provided. The system includes a plurality of drying elements, namely at least one forward drying element and a pair of rear drying elements. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that generally map the exterior surface contour of a vehicle passing beneath the drying system. Each of the drying elements includes a nozzle having a first nozzle portion and a second nozzle portion. The first nozzle portion of each drying element is moveable with respect to the second nozzle portion. The second nozzle portion extends and retracts based on feedback from the sensors which detect vehicle height, to provide a high force substantially laminar air flow to the exterior surface of the vehicle to blow water off the exterior and dry the vehicle. The nozzle portions are constructed of a soft pliable material to minimize damage to it or a vehicle in the event of contact between the nozzle and the vehicle. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drying system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view a drying apparatus with a nozzle of one dryer of the drying system in an extended position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a drying apparatus with a nozzle of one dryer of the drying system in a retracted position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a drying system with a vehicle passing therethrough in a first position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a drying system with a vehicle passing therethrough in a second position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a drying system with a vehicle passing therethrough in a third position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a drying system with a vehicle passing therethrough in a fourth position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of a drying system with a vehicle passing therethrough in a fifth position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of a drying system with a vehicle in contact with nozzle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the Figures, a vehicle washing system in accordance with the present invention is illustrated and generally designated by reference number  10 . The vehicle washing system includes a vehicle treatment apparatus. In the embodiments shown and described, the vehicle treatment apparatus is a dryer or drying device that is utilized to blow water off of a vehicle exterior as part of the vehicle washing process. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that air is emitted from the vehicle treatment apparatus to blow water off the vehicle exterior. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, high pressure air is emitted from the device. Additionally, the air can be heated when emitted or may instead be ambient air. The vehicle treatment apparatus is illustrated as disposed above the vehicle to emit air to the upper surface of the vehicle. However, it will be understood that the vehicle treatment apparatus could be oriented to primarily contact other portions of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle washing system  10  includes a frame  12  upon which various vehicle treatment apparatus are disposed. The vehicle treatment apparatus act on a vehicle  5  as it passes within or through the frame  12  to accomplish the various steps of the vehicle wash process. One of the vehicle treatment apparatus disposed on the frame  12  is a drying system  14 . In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the drying system  14  blows water off the exterior surface of a vehicle as it passes thereby. The preferred drying system  14  is coupled to the frame  12  such that it is disposed above the upper surface of the vehicle. The drying system  14  preferably includes three individual drying units  16 ,  18 ,  20 , which operate together to perform the drying process, as discussed in more detail below. It will be appreciated, however, that the drying system  14  can include more or less drying units as required. 
     Each of the drying units  16 ,  18 ,  20  have the same configuration and thus the structure of only one is described in detail herein. Specifically, the drying unit  16  has a blower  22 , which includes a blower housing  24  and a fan or impeller  26  disposed therein. The fan  26  rotates to draw air into the blower housing  24  and then forces it at a high velocity out of a housing exit  28 . The blower  24  is in communication with a power source to effectuate rotation of the fan  26 , as is well known in the art. Further, the blower  24  is actuated by a control system that is part of the vehicle wash system such that it is turned on and off as required. Additionally, the blower  22  can be in communication with a heater or other heating device to heat the air such that warm or heated air exists the blower housing  24  through the housing exit  28 . 
     A nozzle portion  30  is secured to the blower housing  24  such that its upper end  32  is disposed around the housing exit  28 . This configuration ensures that air emitted through the housing exit  28  enters the nozzle portion  30 . As shown, the nozzle portion  30  preferably has an upper nozzle portion  34  and a lower nozzle portion  36 . The upper nozzle portion  34  has a top end  38  that is secured around the housing exit  28 . In accordance with one embodiment, the upper nozzle portion  34  has a slight conical shape such that a bottom end  40  of the upper nozzle portion  34  has a smaller diameter than the top end  38  of the upper nozzle portion  34 . The lower nozzle portion  36  has a top end  42  and a bottom end  44 . The top end  42  of the lower nozzle portion  36  has a larger diameter than the bottom end  40  of the upper nozzle portion  34 , such that the lower nozzle portion  36  surrounds the upper nozzle portion  34 . The lower nozzle portion  36  also preferably has a slight conical shape. Alternatively, each of the nozzle portions  34 ,  36  can be cylindrical in shape or can have a variety of other shapes. The lower nozzle portion  36  preferably has a larger diameter than the upper nozzle portion  34 . 
     As shown, the lower nozzle portion  36  is coupled to the blower housing  24  by a cylinder  50 , such as a pneumatic cylinder. This connection allows the lower nozzle portion  36  to be raised and lowered with respect to a vehicle during the drying process, as discussed in detail below.  FIG. 2  illustrates the lower nozzle portion  36  in a fully extended position such that the bottom end  44  is disposed relatively closer to the exterior surface of the vehicle such that the emitted air is more properly directed to the vehicle exterior and contacts that area at an increased force. In this position, the top end  42  of the lower nozzle portion  36  encompasses the bottom end  44  of the upper nozzle portion  34  to ensure that the air is directed out the bottom end  44  of the lower nozzle portion  36 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the lower nozzle portion  36  in a fully retracted position such that the bottom end  40  is raised up with respect to a vehicle to accommodate a higher vehicle exterior surface. In this position, the upper nozzle portion  34  and the lower nozzle portion  36  are in telescopic engagement with the lower nozzle portion  36  to surround the entirety of the upper nozzle portion  34  when it is retracted. 
     The retraction and extension of the lower nozzle portion  36  is accomplished by the cylinder  50 , which is in communication with the control system to raise and lower it as directed. In the preferred embodiment, the lower nozzle portion  36  only includes two positions, namely a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. However, it will be understood that the control system can be configured to allow the cylinder  50  to position the lower nozzle portion  36  at a variety of different heights and positions with respect to the vehicle exterior, as needed, i.e. partially lowered or retracted. 
       FIGS. 4 through 8  illustrate the operation of the drying system  14  of the present invention as incorporated into a vehicle wash system  10  for drying a vehicle passing therethrough. The present drying system  14  can be incorporated into any known vehicle wash system, including tunnel car washes or roll-over car washes. After a vehicle has passed through the rinse and wash portions of the vehicle wash process, it encounters the drying system  14  as it travels along the conveyer. In accordance with the present invention, the drying system  14 , includes three drying units  16 ,  18 ,  20 . The drying unit  16  is positioned forward (will encounter the vehicle first) while the drying units  18 ,  20  are disposed rearwardly of the drying unit  16 . The drying unit  16  is positioned on the frame  12  such that it is intended to overlie the center of the vehicle so that air emitted therefrom generally contacts the center of the vehicle as well as portions on either side thereof. The drying units  18 ,  20  are disposed outwardly (away from the center of the vehicle) of the drying unit  16  and are intended to overlie the sides of the vehicle and emit air to the side portions of the upper surface of the vehicle as well as the side portions of the vehicle. Thus, in operation, the forward drying unit  16  blows high speed air onto the exterior surface of the vehicle to blow off any water that is located in the middle of the vehicle as well as the areas a couple feet on either side of the vehicle center to leave a dry section. The rear drying units  18 ,  20  then blow off the remaining water located on the exterior surface closer to the sides off of the vehicle as well as any water located on the sides of the vehicle. 
     The drying system  14  also includes a plurality of sensors located on either side of the frame  12  through which the vehicle passes. As shown, the preferred embodiment preferably includes three sets of sensors  52 ,  54 ,  56  located on the frame  12 . The sensors are preferably photo eyes. However, other suitable types of sensors, such as Sonar sensors, may instead be utilized. Each set of sensors  52 ,  54 ,  56  preferably include a pair of sensors with each sensor positioned on opposite sides of the frame  12  from one another with each sensor set spaced apart from another along the length of the frame. Each sensor set  52 ,  54 ,  56  is intended to determine whether or not clear visual contact exists between the sensors of each set. The control system is in communication with the sensor sets  52 ,  54 ,  56  to monitor this condition throughout the vehicle drying process. In the event, the line of sight is broken or interrupted between the sensors of any set  52 ,  54 ,  56 , i.e. a vehicle passes therebetween, this condition is also sensed by the control system. The sets of sensors  52 ,  54 ,  56  are preferably located forwardly of the individual drying units  16 ,  18 ,  20  to properly control their operation. 
     In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the lower nozzle portions  36  of each of the drying units  16 ,  18 ,  20  is in the normal extended position. As the vehicle enters the drying system  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the hood of the vehicle is positioned beneath the first sensor set  52  and thus the line of sight between the individual sensors is not interrupted. Thus, all three drying units  16 ,  18 ,  20  remain in the extended position and are closer to the exterior surface of the vehicle to provide increased drying efficiency. This extended nozzle position delivers focused relatively laminar air to the exterior surface of the vehicle and better drying as a higher force of air is provided to the desired area. This is compared to other drying systems where the nozzles are located further from the exterior surface of the vehicle and thus the air emitted therefrom expands and becomes turbulent and does not encounter the vehicle with the same force as the dryer of the disclosed drying system  14  and thus provides decreased drying capabilities. It will also be understood that some vehicles have higher hood heights and thus will break the communication between the sensors of the first, second, and third sets of sensors, thereby causing the lower nozzle portions  36  to be retracted when the vehicle is in this position shown in  FIG. 4 . The forward drying unit  16  is positioned to blow water off the middle portion of the vehicle (with reference to the direction of travel) while the rear drying units  18 ,  20  blow the water of the side portions of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , as the vehicle continues forward through the drying system  14 , the increased height of the car will break the line of sight between the first set of sensors  52 . As the vehicle continues to travel, it will break the line of sight between the second set of sensors  54 . When the line of sight to both sensor sets is broken, the control system will send a signal to the cylinder  50  associated with the forward drying unit  16  to cause it to raise the lower nozzle portion  36 . The lower nozzle portion  36  of the forward drying unit  16  is thus raised to blow water off the windshield. In this position, the lower nozzle portion  36  of the rear drying units  18 , are still in the lowered positions to blow water off the side areas of the hood. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 6 , as the vehicle breaks the line of sight with the third set of sensors  56 , such that all three sets of sensors have interrupted the line of sight, the rear drying units  18 ,  20  are retracted by their respective cylinders  50  based on signals received from the control system. In this position, the drying units each can blow water off the roof of the vehicle. The drying unit  16  remains in the retracted position even if the first sensor set  52  line of sight is reestablished. 
     As the vehicle continues its motion forwardly, and its height decreases, the line of sight of both the first set of sensors  52  and the second set of sensors  54  is reestablished, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this position, the forward drying unit  16  is lowered to the extended position to blow air off the rear window and back of the vehicle. The rear drying units  18 ,  20  remain in the retracted position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , as the vehicle progresses, and the second set of sensors  54  and the third set of sensors  56  have unblocked line of sight, the rear drying units  18 ,  20  are also lowered. In accordance with the present invention, two adjacent sets of sensors must have visible line of sight for a drying unit to be lowered to the extended position. It will also be understood that more or less sensor sets may be utilized and that a variety of other control methods for raising and lowering the nozzles can be utilized. The drying units remain in the extended position until the next vehicle approaches the drying system  14  and then the same process is repeated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a vehicle is illustrated as contacting the nozzle portion  30  of a drying unit. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle portion  30  is constructed of a fabric material that is relatively compliant or soft. The material is preferably non-absorbent. This relatively soft material allows the nozzle portion to bend, collapse or move if contacted by a portion of a vehicle or other object. This prevents damage to either the nozzle or the vehicle. After the vehicle or other object contacts the nozzle portion  30 , it returns to its normal position, either on its own or when air is forced therethrough. It will be appreciated that a variety of other flexible materials can be utilized that allow the nozzle portion  30  to bend or move away to prevent damage to the nozzle structure of the vehicle. In fact, the nozzle structure can be positioned to travel along an upper surface of the vehicle and due to its flexible composition will not cause any damage. 
     The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.