Fluid stripping apparatus including a strap for interconnecting adjacent airbags

An apparatus (10) for stripping fluids from the surface of a vehicle includes an air distributor (28) and inflatable bags (14-26), each of generally rectangular transverse cross section. The bags (14-26) are supported by the air distributor (28) and each of the bags (14-26) includes an inlet end (40) connected to the air distributor (28) for introducing air under pressure into the bags (14-26) and a nozzle end (42) of smaller area than the inlet end (40) spaced apart from the inlet end (40) for emitting a stream of air while maintaining the bags (14-26) in a nonflailing orientation and substantially rigidly inflated. The invention is characterized by a connector strap (44) having one end portion (46) secured to a first of the bags (14, 18) and a second end portion (48) secured to a second of the bags (16, 20) and spaced along the bags (14-20) from the air distributor (28) for connecting the first bag (14-18) to the second bag (16-20) for properly positioning the second bag (16-20) in relation to a vehicle body when the first bag (14, 18) is deflected by the engaging vehicle (34).

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a fluid stripping apparatus for stripping fluid 
from an object. More specifically, the instant invention provides a means 
for properly positioning a second fluid stripping bag in relation to a 
vehicle body when a first fluid stripping bag is deflected by the engaging 
vehicle. 
BACKGROUND ART 
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,801 to Day et al discloses an apparatus for 
stripping fluids from the surface of a vehicle, the apparatus including a 
plurality of generally rectangular in cross section, flexible and 
inflatable fluid stripping bags. The invention has found great success in 
the carwash industry, since it combines an effective means of drying 
vehicles with an efficient use of energy. The apparatus generally includes 
a plurality of bags hanging vertically from an air distributor system and 
a plurality of bags extending laterally therefrom. More specifically, a 
first laterally extending bag is disposed above and downstream the path 
from a second laterally extending bag. Bags of this configuration are 
generally disposed on each side of the path of the passing vehicle. The 
second bag initially engages the front of the vehicle and is deflected by 
the passing vehicle to engage the side of the vehicle. The first bag is 
positioned to engage the windshield and side windows. A problem arises 
when the passing vehicle is of a height such that the first bag engages 
the hood of the passing vehicle prior to engaging the windshield. In such 
a condition, the corner of the nozzle of the bag undesirably engages the 
top of the front hood of the vehicle. The prior art does not teach a means 
for properly positioning the upper bag to prevent such a condition. 
STATEMENT OF INVENTION 
According to the present invention, an apparatus for stripping fluids from 
the surface of a vehicle includes an air distributor and a plurality of 
inflatable bags, each of generally rectangular transverve cross section. 
The bags are supported by the air distributor. Each of the bags include an 
inlet end connected to the air distributor for introducing air under 
pressure into each of the bags and a nozzle end of smaller area than the 
inlet end spaced apart from the inlet end for admitting a stream of air 
while maintaining the bags in a nonflailing and inflated orientation. The 
invention is characterized by connector means having one end portion 
secured to a first of the bags and a second end portion secured to a 
second of the bags and spaced along the bags from the air distributor for 
connecting the first bag to the second bag for properly positioning the 
second bag in relation to a vehicle body when the first bag is deflected 
by the engaging vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to the drawings, an apparatus for stripping fluid from the 
surface of a vehicle constructed in accordance with the instant invention 
is generally shown at 10. While the instant invention has broader 
application in that it can be used to strip fluids from the surface of a 
variety of objects, it is described herein with reference to a carwash 
system, since it is particularly applicable to such systems. 
The invention generally comprises a plurality in inflatable bags 14 through 
26 supported by an air distributor, generally indicated at 28. The air 
distributor 28 includes fan means 30 for distributing air through an 
overhead duct, generally indicated at 32, which may be supported by the 
ceiling super structure of the building which houses the carwash system. 
Attached to the underside of the overhead duct 32 are three of the bags 
22, 24 and 26 which hang downwardly into the path of the vehicle, 
generally indicated at 34 in FIG. 2. The air distributor system 28 
includes a pair of first and second side ducts 36 and 38. The side ducts 
36 support a first of the laterally extending bags 14 and 18 and ducts 38 
support a second of the laterally extending bags 16 and 20, the second 
bags 16 and 20 being disposed above the first bags 14 and 18 and upstream 
in the path of the vehicle 34. 
The ducts 36 are slightly angled with respect to the vertical and the ducts 
38 are angled to a greater degree than the ducts 36. The significance of 
this positioning of the ducts 36 and 38 will be discussed in greater 
detail below. 
The inflatable bags 14 through 26 each are of generally rectangular 
transverse cross section and are supported by the air distributor 28 in an 
array along the path of the vehicle 34 to strip fluid from the vehicle 34. 
Each of the bags 14-26 include an inlet end 40 connected to the air 
distributor 28 for introducing air under pressure into the bags 14-26. The 
bags 14-26 further include a nozzle end 42 of smaller cross-sectional area 
than the inlet end 40 spaced apart from the inlet end 40 for emitting a 
stream of air while maintaining the bags 14-26 in a nonflailing 
orientation and substantially rigidly inflated. This phenomena and a more 
specific description of the bags are provided in the United States patent 
application 4,161,801 to Day. A more detailed description of the means for 
connecting the bags to the air distributor system are provided in the 
co-pending patent application entitled "Fluid Stripping Apparatus Having 
Adjustable Hinge". 
Due to the restriction at the outlet end of the bags provided by the 
nozzles 42, a bag pressure is created slightly greater than atmospheric 
pressure to keep the bags in an inflated condition. When the bags 14-26 
are inflated, the air pressure within the bags 14-26 causes the bags 14-26 
to be somewhat stiff or rigid. The bags 14-26, however, are sufficiently 
deformable under an applied force so that when the bags 14-26 are engaged 
by the vehicle 34 moving through the carwash, the bags are deflected or 
pushed aside. In this manner, the nozzles are caused to wipe the top and 
sides of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. 
The bags 14, 16, 18, 20 supported by the ducts 36, 38 are canted with 
respect to the vertical and horizontal, the second bags 16, 20 being 
canted towards the horizontal to a greater degree. The bags 14, 16, 18, 20 
are mounted on the respective ducts 36, 38 so as to hinge about an axis 
defined by the ducts. Thusly, the upper second bags 16, 20 hinge about a 
more horizontal axis than the first bags 14, 16. Other means and mounting 
arrangements can be utilized to accomplish the same effect of canting the 
upper bags to a greater degree than the lower bags. 
The instant invention is characterized by connector means, generally 
indicated at 44. The connector means 44 have one end portion 46 secured to 
a first of the laterally extending bags 14, 18 and a second end portion 48 
secured to a second of the laterally extending bags 16, 20. In the 
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector means comprises a first 
strap 50 having one end 46 connected to a first of the laterally extending 
bags 14, 18 and a second strap 52 having one end 48 thereof secured to a 
second of the laterally extending bags 16-20. The connector means 44 
further includes adjustment means, such as a buckle 54 adjustably 
connecting together the free ends of the first and second straps 50, 52 
for adjusting the length of the connector means 44. Alternatively, the 
connector means may comprise a single strap having one end secured to a 
first of the laterally extending bags 14, 18 and a second end secured to a 
second of the laterally extending bags 16, 20. 
In operation, as the vehicle 34 passes through the subject apparatus 10, 
the nozzles 42 of the vertically hanging bags 22, 24 and 26 engage the 
hood, roof and trunk of the passing vehicle. As the vehicle 34 further 
proceeds through the apparatus 10, the front portion of the vehicle 
initially engages the nozzles 42 of the first lower laterally extending 
bags 14, 18. Although the second bags 16, 20 are upstream in the path of 
the vehicle, they are also positioned above the nose of the vehicle so 
that the vehicle nose initially passes below the second bags 16, 20 and 
contacts the lower first bags 14, 18. The vehicle, by engaging the first 
lower bags 14, 18, deflects the flexible bags 14, 18 in relation to the 
side ducts 36. As the bags 14, 18 are deflected, the connector means 44, 
operatively connecting the bags 14, 18 to the bags 16, 20, respectively, 
properly positions the second bags 16, 20 in relation to the vehicle body 
such that the nozzles 42 of the second bags 16, 20 engage the windshield 
of the passing vehicle 34 but do not engage the hood thereof, as shown in 
FIG. 2. More specifically, as the first laterally extending bags 14, 16 
are deflected by the vehicle 34, the bags 14, 18 pivot about a hinging 
axis thereof in relation to the side ducts 36. As the first bags 14, 18 
pivot, the second bags 16, 20 are actuated to pivot along the ducts 38 by 
the connector means 44. The second bags 16, 20 pivot about a hinging axis 
parallel to the axis defined by the side ducts 38. Since the side ducts 38 
are angled in relation to the vertical, the bags 16, 20 are deflected 
sidewards and upwards in relation to the passing vehicle 34 by the 
connector means 44. Thusly, the bags 16, 20 are moved upward and away from 
the hood portion of the vehicle 34 so that the nozzles 42 of the bags 16, 
20 do not engage the hood of the vehicle 34 prior to engaging the 
windshield thereof. Thusly, the connector means 44 of the instant 
invention provide means for properly positioning the upper laterally 
extending second bags 16, 20 in relation to the vehicle body when the 
first bags 14, 18 are deflected by the engaging vehicle 34. 
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are 
possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be 
understood that within the scope of the appended claims wherein reference 
numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in any way limiting, 
the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.