Abstract:
An improved apparatus for applying fluid to a tire of a vehicle having an applicator pad including a contact surface engageable with at least one tire of a vehicle, the applicator pad being mounted to a frame member for movement between an engaged position, wherein the contact surface engages a sidewall of the tire for applying a fluid thereto, and a disengaged position, wherein the contact surface is spaced apart from the tire, the improvement including a manifold for dispensing fluid to the applicator pad, the manifold being disposed proximate an upper surface of the applicator pad and having a plurality of discharge ports for dispensing fluid onto the applicator pad, such that, during use of the apparatus, fluid from the ports contacts the upper surface of the applicator pad and flows through the applicator pad due to the force of gravity.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    This invention pertains generally to apparatus for applying a fluid to the tires of a vehicle being conveyed within an automatic vehicle washing facility, and more particularly, to an apparatus having a top-feed fluid dispenser for applying a dressing or other fluid to an applicator pad for application on the tires of a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    One apparatus for applying a tire dressing to the tires of a vehicle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,429 issued Oct. 8, 2002 to William Gorra (referred to hereinafter as “the &#39;429 patent”). The &#39;429 patent and the present application are commonly owned. 
         [0003]    The patented apparatus includes left and right dressing applicators positionable adjacent a vehicle conveying track of the type typically used in a car wash facility. Each of the dressing applicators includes applicator pads mounted to a frame member for movement between an engaged position, wherein a contact surface of the applicator pad engages a sidewall of a tire for applying a fluid to the sidewall, and a disengaged position, wherein the contact surface is spaced apart from the tire. 
         [0004]    The applicator pads disclosed in the &#39;429 patent each define a plurality of orifices extending into a rear portion of the applicator pads along a longitudinal center line of the applicator pad. The orifices are in fluid communication with the contact surface of the applicator pad via a porous foam material of the applicator pad. A spray nozzle partially extends into each of the orifices for dispensing fluid to the applicator pad. The fluid dispensed from the spray nozzle is typically delivered in a conical spray into the orifice and absorbed by the porous applicator pad where the fluid remains until the contact surface is engaged with a sidewall of a tire for applying the fluid to the sidewall. 
         [0005]    In the apparatus of the &#39;429 patent, the fluid delivered to the orifices via the spray nozzles is spread through the applicator pad to an upper portion of the pad and an upper portion of the contact surface via capillary action. Thus, during use of the apparatus, fluid sprayed into the orifices must rely on capillary action to reach the upper portion of the applicator pads and the contact surface. If the capillaries are obstructed by dirt or ice, the upper portions of the applicator pads are not effectively saturated for storing fluid and/or applying the same to the sidewalls of the tires. 
         [0006]    Also in the patented apparatus, the foam applicator pads each define a plurality of orifices formed in the rear side of the pads for receiving the spray nozzles, and the orifices must be formed in the pad especially for use with the patented apparatus so that the orifices are alignable with the spray nozzles when the pad is mounted on the apparatus. During use of the apparatus, the applicator pads engage the sidewalls of the tires for applying a dressing to the sidewalls and consequently become worn over time and must be replaced periodically. Accordingly, the required orifices formed in the applicator pads make the applicator pads more expensive to manufacture and thus increase the overall operating cost of the apparatus. 
         [0007]    Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a vehicle tire dressing or other fluid applicator that overcomes the problems and drawbacks of prior art systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    The present invention provides an improved apparatus for applying fluid to a tire of a vehicle having an applicator pad including a contact surface engageable with at least one tire of a vehicle, the applicator pad being mounted to a frame member for movement between an engaged position, wherein the contact surface engages a sidewall of the tire for applying a fluid thereto, and a disengaged position, wherein the contact surface is spaced apart from the tire. The improvement includes a manifold for dispensing fluid to the top of the applicator pad, the manifold being disposed proximate an upper surface of the applicator pad and having a plurality of discharge ports for dispensing fluid onto the applicator pad, such that, during use of the apparatus, fluid from the ports is applied to the upper surface of the applicator pad and flows downwardly through the applicator pad due to the force of gravity. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a top-feed fluid dispenser includes a top plate coupled to the frame member, the top plate defining an edge disposed adjacent a length of the upper surface of the applicator pad and having a manifold coupled to the top plate near the edge thereof such that fluid dispensed from the manifold is applied to the upper surface of the applicator pad. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the present invention comprises a kit for modifying an apparatus for applying fluid to a tire of a vehicle of the type having an elongated applicator pad including a contact surface engageable with at least one tire of a vehicle, the applicator pad being mounted to a frame member for movement between an engaged position, wherein the contact surface engages a sidewall of the tire for applying a fluid thereto, and a disengaged position, wherein the contact surface is spaced apart from said tire. The kit includes a top plate attachable to the frame member such that at least a portion thereof overlies the applicator pad when the apparatus is positioned for use thereof, and a manifold connectable to a fluid supply for dispensing fluid to the applicator pad. The manifold is attachable to the top plate proximate an upper surface of the applicator pad such that, during use of the apparatus, fluid dispensed through the manifold is applied to the upper surface of the applicator pad and flows downwardly through the applicator pad due to the force of gravity. 
         [0011]    One advantage of the present invention tire dressing applicator is that the manifold disposed proximate an upper surface of the applicator pad allows the applicator pad to be more efficiently utilized in that the maximum amount of fluid that the applicator pad can absorb in the porous foam material thereof can be delivered to the applicator pad via the top-feed dispenser and transferred through a height of the pad due to the force of gravity. 
         [0012]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the applicator pads do not require orifices for receiving nozzles and therefore the manufacture thereof does not require any special machining or molding required in the prior art pads. 
         [0013]    Another advantage of the present invention tire dressing applicator is that the relatively simple design of the top-feed fluid dispenser including the manifold and top plate of the present invention provides a fluid dispenser that is less expensive to manufacture than the nozzle assembly of the prior art apparatus. 
         [0014]    A further advantage of the present invention tire dressing applicator is that the top-feed fluid dispenser is arranged such that the fluid ports of the manifold are exposed and visible during operation of the apparatus such that one can quickly determine by looking at the manifold whether or not the manifold is working and that fluid is being dispensed from each of the ports thereof. 
         [0015]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of a tire dressing apparatus according to the present invention shown in a car wash facility with a vehicle approaching the apparatus. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tire dressing apparatus according to the present invention shown with the applicator pads and the top-feed fluid dispenser removed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of a left side applicator in accordance with the present invention including a top-feed fluid dispenser and applicator pad mounted to the frame member. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a top-feed fluid dispenser in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the top-feed fluid dispenser of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a top plate of the top-feed fluid dispenser of  FIG. 4  without the manifold. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the manifold of the top-feed fluid dispenser of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a clamp for securing the manifold to the top plate of the dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a tire dressing apparatus in accordance with the present invention is generally referred to by the reference number  10 . The tire dressing apparatus  10  includes left and right applicators  12  and  14  respectively, shown positioned adjacent a track  20  of a vehicle washing facility (not shown). A vehicle  18  is shown being conveyed along the track  20  in a direction  22  toward the tire dressing apparatus  10 . The track  20  includes standard conveying equipment for moving a vehicle through a vehicle washing facility which is well known in the art. The tire dressing apparatus  10  includes a plurality of floor mounts  23  which are used to secure the left and right applicators  12 ,  14  to the floor of the vehicle washing facility and to level the apparatus. 
         [0025]    The left and right applicators  12 ,  14  are controlled by a controller  24  of the washing facility to apply a fluid to the sidewalls  16 ,  17  of the tires  15  on the left and right sides of the vehicle  18  respectively. The left applicator  12  is operable to apply fluid to the sidewalls  16  of the tires  15  on the left side of the vehicle  18  and the right applicator  14  is operable to simultaneously apply fluid to the sidewalls  17  of the tires on the right side of the vehicle. Each of the left and right applicators  12 ,  14  are movable via extendable cylinders  34  between an engaged position, wherein the applicator pads  36  engage the sidewalls  16 ,  17  on each of the left and right sides of the vehicle  18  respectively, and a disengaged position, wherein the applicator pads are spaced apart from the tires. In the  FIG. 1  embodiment, the cylinders  34  are hydraulic and connected to a hydraulic fluid reservoir  38  and controlled to extend and retract in length in response to commands from the controller  24 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the left and right applicators  12 ,  14  each include elongated frame members  50  which define elongated openings  52  for receiving the applicator pads  36 . The applicator pads  36  are elongated pads preferrably formed of a porous foam material for retaining the tire dressing fluid therein. The applicator pads  36  having a normally rectangular cross-section. In a preferred embodiment, two applicator pads  36 ,  36  are positioned end-to-end in the opening  52  on each of the frame members  50  and secured thereto via bolts  54 . The applicator pads  36  define bolt holes  37  for receiving the bolts  54  and attaching the pads to the frame members  50 . For a more complete description of such an apparatus, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,429 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-8 , the tire dressing applicator  10  includes a top-feed fluid dispenser  58  having a top plate  60  and fluid manifold  62 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the top plate  60  mounts to the frame member  50  such that a forward edge  64  of the top plate overlies the applicator pad  36 . The top plate  60  is secured to the frame member  50  via the bolts  54  with the applicator pad  36  compressed between the top plate and a lower support  66  of the frame member  50 . The fluid manifold  62  is attached to the top plate  60  in a notch  70  defined by the forward edge  64  of the top plate for dispensing fluid to the upper surface  72  of the applicator pad  36 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the top plate  60  defines holes  73  which are alignable with corresponding holes  75  in the frame member  50  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) for receiving the bolts  54  and securing the top plate to the frame member. The top plate also defines a plurality of cut-outs  74  along the forward edge  64  thereof for receiving damps  76  ( FIG. 8 ) or other fasteners for attaching the fluid manifold  62  to the top plate as shown in  FIG. 5 . A recess  77  ( FIG. 3 ) formed in a lower surface of the top plate  60  receives a tube member  80  of the frame member  50  and cooperates with the forward edge  64  to provide a stepped lower surface of the top plate for compressing the applicator pad  36  between the top plate and the lower support  66  and securely mounting the applicator pad to the frame member  50 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in the illustrated embodiment, the top plate  60  is configured such that two applicator pads  36  and two top plates  60  are positionable end-to-end for attachment to the elongated frame members  50  of each of the left applicator and right applicators  12 ,  14 , respectively. In other embodiments of the tire dressing applicator  10 , other configurations of the applicator pads  36  and top plates  60  could be used, e.g., 3 applicator pads; and/or 3 top plates). 
         [0030]    The top plate  60  defines a notch  70  formed in a forward edge of the plate for receiving the manifold  62 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the illustrated embodiment, the notch  70  is formed such that a length L and height H of the notch are larger than the diameter of the manifold  62  so as prevent damage to the manifold in the event the top plate  60  comes in contact with a vehicle or other objects. The manifold  62  defines a plurality of ports  78  on a forward side thereof for dispensing a tire dressing or other fluid to the applicator pad  36 . The ports  78  are located above the applicator pad  36  such that fluid discharged through the ports  78  is dispensed onto the upper surface  72  of the applicator pads  36 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the manifold  62  is formed of ⅜″ diameter steel tubing having a plurality of 1/16″ diameter holes drilled in a forward side thereof forming the ports  78 . In one embodiment of the invention, the ports  78  are spaced approximately six to seven inches apart along the length of the manifold. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the manifold  62  includes an inlet  82  and outlet  84  at opposing ends thereof for connection, one each to a fluid supply reservoir (not shown), and a return line to the supply reservoir. 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, an air powered pump  83  ( FIG. 1 ) such as a Flojet Model G-57V is used to deliver a tire dressing fluid to the manifold at an appropriate time relative to the position of a vehicle in the track  20  for dispensing the tire dressing fluid to the applicator pads  36 . The air pressure to the pump  83  can be adjusted to control the projection of the fluid out of the ports  78  so that the fluid is dispensed to the upper surface of the  72  of the applicator pads  36  and does not squirt beyond the contact surface  38  thereof. In another embodiment of the invention, a nozzle  80  ( FIG. 5 ) can be disposed in each of the ports  78  for preventing fluid from draining from the manifold  62 . Referring still to  FIG. 5 , a fitting  86  is provided at the inlet  82  and/or outlet  84  of the manifold for coupling the manifold to the pump  83  or fluid supply lines (not shown). 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the top-feed fluid dispenser  58  is mounted to the frame member  50  such that the manifold  62  including the outlet ports  78  is disposed above the upper surface  72  of the applicator pad  36 . As set forth above, fluid delivered through the manifold  62  can be controlled via adjusting the air pressure to the pump  83  to reach the upper surface  72  of applicator pad  36 . Upon reaching the upper surface  72  of the applicator pad  36 , the fluid is absorbed and allowed to move downwardly through a height h of the applicator pad  36  due to the force of gravity. As the fluid moves through the applicator pad  36 , the porous foam material of the applicator pad absorbs and retains the fluid until the contact surface  38  of the applicator pad engages the sidewalls  16 ,  17  of the tires  15  ( FIG. 1 ). Positioning the manifold  62  above the applicator pad  36  allows the applicator pad to be efficiently utilized in that the maximum amount of fluid that the applicator pad can absorb in the porous foam thereof can be delivered to the applicator pad  36  via the top-feed dispenser and transferred through the height h of the pad due to the force of gravity. Thus, the top-feed fluid dispenser  58  of the present invention allows for complete saturation of the foam applicator pad  36 . This provides for better coverage of the sidewalls  16 ,  17  of the tires  15  in that a larger amount of tire dressing fluid can be delivered to and retained by the applicator pads  36  of the present invention for application to tires of a vehicle than the prior art applicator pads of the apparatus of the &#39;429 patent. Additionally, the increased capacity of the applicator pad  36  of the present invention without cavities can be an important feature in view of the increasingly larger tires available on current model vehicles. 
         [0033]    The present fluid dispenser  58  is an improvement over the prior art tire dressing apparatus disclosed in the above-identified &#39;429 patent, wherein the tire dressing is delivered to a central area of the applicator pad such that fluid is transferred to an upper portion of the applicator pad only via capillary action sufficient to cause the fluid to move against the force of gravity. 
         [0034]    Further, the applicator pads  36  of the present invention formed as a block having a generally rectangular cross section are much less expensive to manufacture than the applicator pads of the apparatus of the &#39;429 patent. The present invention applicator pads  36  require only the bolt holes  37  drilled perpendicular to the length of the otherwise generally rectangular shaped applicator pads to receive the bolts  54  for mounting the applicator pad  36  to the frame member  50 . Typically, the applicator pads  36  can be drilled at the time of the installation thereof to provide the bolt holes  37  therethrough. Whereas, the above-identified prior art tire dressing applicator requires applicator pads having a plurality of orifices opening through a rear side of the pads for receiving a portion of a spray nozzle in each orifice. Additionally, a longitudinal groove is typically provided in the applicator pads of the prior art apparatus of the &#39;429 patent for receiving a portion of a spray bar therein. 
         [0035]    Additionally, because the orifices required in the applicator pads of the prior art apparatus reduce the overall volume of the foam material of the applicator pads, the present invention applicator pads  36 , without orifices, will retain substantially more fluid than the prior art applicator pads. For example, the dispenser can be designed as a frame structure instead of a plate and the manifold can be designed as a perforated pipe or closed channel member with a series of holes or small nozzles. The applicator pad  36  can be a sponge or formed from a loosely woven or non-woven textile material such as a mop for ready of the dispensed fluid. Additionally, the manifold may overhang the top plate and dispense the fluid directly downward. Although not shown in the drawings, the contact surface  38  of the applicator pads  36  can define a convex or concave shape to better conform to the shape of the sidewalls  16 ,  17  of the tires  15  for applying a dressing thereto. 
         [0036]    Another advantage of the present invention tire dressing applicator  10  is that the simple design of the top-feed fluid dispenser  58  including the manifold  62  and the top plate  60  of the present invention provides a fluid dispenser that is much less expensive to manufacture than the nozzle assembly of the prior art apparatus of the &#39;429 patent. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments described were chosen to best illustrate the principals of the invention and practical applications thereof to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.