Abstract:
A blower assembly for an automatic car wash is provided. The blower assembly includes a housing, an impeller, a fan motor, an oscillation motor and an oscillation linkage assembly. The impeller is rotatively disposed in the housing. The housing includes an egress spout. The fan motor is rigidly connected to the housing. The linkage assembly mechanically relates the oscillation motor to the fan motor and housing and oscillates both. In the preferred embodiment, the motor and housing are rotatably supported on both axial sides of the motor and the motor shaft and motor housing drive substantially the same axis of rotation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicle washing facilities and, in particular, the present invention relates to a blower assembly to dry vehicles cleaned in washing facilities. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Washing assemblies to automatically wash and dry vehicles normally provide a series of wetting, washing, and rinsing cycles. At the conclusion of these cleaning cycles, drying equipment is frequently included to remove moisture from the surface of the cleaned vehicle. 
     The washing facility owner has an incentive in drying each automobile as quickly as possible to move the maximum number of vehicles per unit of time through the car wash. For customer satisfaction and return business the car must be dried in minimum time. Thus, a drying system that is fast and efficient is extremely important. 
     Washing facility operators have found that a highly focused and oscillating blast of air is highly efficient for removing water remaining on vehicle surfaces after washing cycles. Attempts have been made to focus air discharges by putting blower outlet nozzles close to the surface of the vehicle. Presently there are many designs which focus and oscillate air discharges for vehicle washing facilities. Moreover, similar designs are present for other applications, such as those which direct focused and oscillating (or rotating) air discharges toward textile equipment. The most relevant of these designs known to the Applicants are discussed hereinbelow. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,801, issued to Day et al. Jul. 24, 1979, discloses a fluid stripping apparatus. The apparatus includes a flexible, inflatable bag with a generally rectangular transverse cross-section. The inflatable bag includes an inlet and an elongated opening. The inlet is present to admit pressurized air into the bag. The elongated opening is present at one end of the bag and defines a nozzle and an air distributor. The nozzle emits a stream of air from the bag onto the vehicle. The air distributor supplies the air to the bag and supports the bag so that the bag extends toward the object being dried. The nozzle end of the bag lies in the path of motion of the vehicle, thereby causing physical engagement between the nozzle end of the bag and the vehicle to bring the stream of air emitted from the nozzle into close spatial relationship with the surface of the vehicle. This can cause problems such as causing potential damage to the vehicle surface by contact of the blower output nozzle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,602, issued to Smith Jul. 19, 1983, discloses a vehicle drying machine and method. The vehicle drying machine includes a set of round nozzles. All nozzles are supplied with pressurized air from a plenum to dry the sides and top of a motor vehicle departing the washing apparatus. Each nozzle is employed at an angle and is oscillated for thorough coverage. Preferably the nozzles are slender and cone-shaped so that the air blast remains concentrated at a high velocity for a significant distance away from the nozzle outlet. One disadvantage is that air hoses are required to convey pressurized air from a source to the nozzles. Another disadvantage is that an extensive linkage apparatus is necessary to oscillate the nozzles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,688, issued to Gougoulas May 13, 1986, discloses a proximity detector system for automatic car washer/dryer equipment. The system includes an apparatus for maintaining close proximity between a vehicle surface and a forced air water stripper, without contacting the vehicle surface. Air is supplied to a plenum box from a blower/turbine via a trunk tube. The air is conveyed from the plenum box via a tube to a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle is preferably provided with small plastic wheels. The wheels are operative only during that portion of the drying cycle when the windshield and backlight of the vehicle are proximate to the nozzle and function to prevent the nozzle from directly contacting, and potentially damaging, the vehicle. However, contact with the vehicle in this manner can nonetheless create the perception of potential damage to the vehicle. An ideal drying system will provide a focused blast of air with the blower nozzle sufficiently separated from the vehicle to eliminate any perception of risk of damage by contact with the vehicle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,169, issued to Nelson Aug. 11, 1987, discloses a vehicle washer and dryer. The apparatus includes a track gantry that moves along a track and over a vehicle being washed. Water outlets and brushes are present on the gantry to wash the car. The apparatus further includes a blower with a nozzle and an oscillator. A flexible coupling connects the nozzle to the fixed blower housing. The nozzle directs air expelled from the blower onto the vehicle. The oscillator periodically changes the orientation of the nozzle and thus alters the direction of the air expelled from the nozzle. One disadvantage is the necessity of an extensive linkage system to oscillate every nozzle. Another disadvantage is that the flexible couplings will need to be replaced if they become brittle due to exposure to light, water, and detergent. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,739, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, issued to Johnson Nov. 29, 1994, discloses oscillating air blowers for drying vehicles. Prior art FIG. 6 illustrates the Johnson configuration. A vehicle drying blower assembly disclosed therein includes a series of oscillating fan housings, each with a discharge nozzle. A centrifugal fan is disposed in each fan housing. Each fan is powered by a blower motor and rotated by a drive shaft. The blower motor is stationary with respect to the fan housing. The fan housing is supported by a rocker arm to pivot the fan housing coaxially with the circular fan drive shaft. The rocker arm further pivots about a bearing assembly which is also coaxial to the drive shaft of the blower motor. A drive motor rotates an eccentric crank arm. Link rods coupled between the eccentric crank arm and the rocker arms simultaneously oscillate each fan housing. Thus, a rather complex, bulky cantilevered rocker arm-link rod assembly is necessary to oscillate the fan housing with respect to the stationary motor. The cantilevered design makes the overall fan housing structure susceptible to damages and misalignment which can present a significant hazard considering the high rate of rotation of such blower motors and fans. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,117, issued to Gleaton Aug. 25, 1970, discloses an apparatus for cleaning textile looms. Said patent is incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus includes an overhead crane, a carriage, blower units, means for indexing the carriage on the crane, and means for rotating the blower units. Each blower unit includes a motor disposed between a pair of centrifugal blowers. A single motor shaft extending from the motor rotates both blower fans. Oscillating fan housings are connected to the stationary motors to vary the direction of air streams from the fan housings. A bearing is disposed generally around the motor drive shaft and is used to connect the motor to each fan housing. An inner race of the bearing is fixed to the motor and an outer race of the bearing is connected to the fan housing. The structural support of the fan housing is quite limited and is almost exclusively provided through said bearings. Thus, the assembly may be quite susceptible to damage or misalignment. An oscillating motor is secured to the underside of a plate. An output shaft of the oscillating motor turns a belt which rotates a crank. The crank in turn, rotates a pair of rods. The remote ends of the rods are pinned to the blower crank arms. Actuating the oscillating motor reciprocates the push rods to oscillate the fan housings through limited angular distances. Thus, to provide an oscillating air flow, the fan housing and fan motor are coupled by a bearing which must support the entire weight of the fan housing. Moreover, because the motor is stationary, an extensive linkage system must be present to oscillate the fan housing. Prior art FIG. 5 illustrates the Gleaton configuration. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,976,557, issued to King Mar. 28, 1961, discloses a traveling cleaner for textile machinery. The traveling cleaner includes one or more motors attached to brackets. Each motor includes a horizontal drive shaft extending from each end of the motor casing. A fan is secured to each end of the drive shaft. Blower casing elements surround their respective fans. Each of the blower casing elements has an axial air intake and at least a single, and preferably a pair of, tangential oppositely directed outlet nozzles disposed 180° apart about the axis of the blower. The nozzles direct air streams in opposite directions in a vertical plane. A horizontal shaft is arranged parallel with each motor shaft and extends through the bracket structure on which the motor is mounted. Sprockets are mounted on opposite ends of each shaft and a chain connects each sprocket with a larger companion sprocket in alignment therewith to oscillate or rotate the blower casing. Hence, an extensive additional support frame is necessary to oscillate or rotate the casing with respect to the stationary motor. 
     There is then a need for a simplified, yet effective and durable, linkage between an oscillating or rotating fan housing and a fan motor and the support frame. There is a particular need for a system which generates an oscillating or rotating air flow, which has an efficient air flow design, and is more robust than known configurations. In one such robust system, the fan housing and fan motor would be held in a substantially rigid relationship and oscillated as a unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment, this invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing a cleaning facility with a washing assembly and an apparatus for generating and directing a flow of air by a centrifugal fan with the fan housing substantially fixed to the motor housing and the pair oscillated. 
     The apparatus for generating and directing a flow of air is typically adjacent to the washing assembly and includes a fan housing, an air flow generating member, and a fan motor. The fan motor may include a motor body and a drive shaft. The fan housing may define a spout with an egress for directing the generated air flow. The air flow generating member may be an impeller and is disposed in the fan housing. The fan motor drive shaft is coupled to the impeller. The fan motor body is substantially rigidly connected to the fan housing and both are moveable, for example rotatable, with respect to a support frame. A reciprocating powered member may be coupled to one of the motor body and housing for oscillating the housing. 
     Also provided is a method of making an apparatus for generating and directing a reciprocating flow of air. The method may include: 
     1) disposing an air flow generating member such as an impeller in a fan housing, the fan housing defining a spout with an opening for air flow egress; 
     2) substantially rigidly connecting a fan motor to the fan housing, the fan motor including a drive shaft; 
     3) attaching the fan motor drive shaft to the impeller such that the impeller will generate the flow of air when rotated within said fan housing; 
     4) rotatably mounting the fan housing and fan motor to a support frame; and 
     5) securing a reciprocation assembly to one of the fan motor and fan housing for oscillating the fan housing. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a fan or blower assembly with a fan motor, a fan housing substantially rigidly connected to the fan motor, an impeller disposed in the fan housing and rotated by the fan motor to generate an air flow, and an oscillating assembly oscillating the connected fan motor and fan housing. 
     One advantage of this invention is the elimination of extensive, cantilevered fan housing supports otherwise required when the fan housing is oscillated in combination with a stationary fan motor. 
     A further advantage of this invention is the elimination of bearings previously necessary if a pivoting fan housing is connected directly to a stationary motor. In some configurations, such bearings must bear the weight of the entire fan housing and must also accommodate the fan drive shaft therewithin. This problem is overcome. 
     Another advantage is the availability of a narrower gap between the fan housing and the impeller in this invention. When a fan housing is oscillated in an assembly with a stationary motor, the gap between the impeller and fan housing interior surface must be large to accommodate vibrations and movement between the impeller and the fan housing. A large gap decreases the amount of air directed into the desired air flow and the fan efficiency. The narrower gap of this invention maximizes the amount of air directed into the air flow and, thereby enables the air flow to be generated more efficiently. 
     It is another advantage of this invention that the fan housing and the substantially rigidly connected fan motor are oscillated by a relatively simple oscillating linkage assembly. 
     It is a further advantage of this invention that the utility of the substantially rigidly connected fan motor and fan housing is more flexible and can be used in a greater variation of equipment than previous designs. The design of this invention includes the fan motor being rotationally supported between two support structures. However, as shown herein, the support structures can be located to accommodate virtually any contemplated structural geometry. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a blower assembly of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the blower assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the blower assembly of FIG. 1 operatively installed in a vehicle washing facility; 
     FIG. 4 is fragmentary front view of the washing facility of FIG. 3 in which a housing of the blower assembly of this invention is being oscillated; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of one embodiment of the prior art; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the prior art; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of the blower assembly of this invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of a third embodiment of the blower assembly of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of the prior art denoted as blower assembly  10 . In this prior art embodiment, motor  12  is fixed to support  14 . Motor shaft  16  rotates fan  18  within fan housing  20 . Bearing  22  rotatably attaches motor  12  to fan housing  20 . An inner race of bearing  22  is fixed to member  24 . Member  24 , in turn, is fixed to motor  12  and houses a portion of motor shaft  16  extending between motor  12  and fan housing  20 . An outer race of bearing  22  is attached to bracket  26 , which is attached to fan housing  20 . Arm  28  extends from fan housing  20  and is coupled to a linkage  30 . The linkage  30  is reciprocated by a separate motor (not shown) to oscillate fan housing  20 . Hence, the fan motor is fixed and the fan housing is rotatably attached to the fan motor. In order to rotate the fan housing with respect to the stationary motor, the bearing must support the entire weight of the fan housing as well as provide a passage for the drive shaft. Failure of the bearing could conceivably damage the drive shaft or disconnect the fan housing from the motor. 
     In FIG. 6, another embodiment of the prior art is depicted as blower assembly  40  and includes a motor  42 , a fan  44 , a fan housing  46 , and a rocker arm assembly  48 . The motor  42  includes a drive shaft  50 , which extends through an opening in fan housing  46  and rotates fan  44 . The motor  42  is fixed to a support  52 . The fan housing  46  is supported and reciprocated by the rocker arm assembly  48 . The rocker arm assembly  48  includes a generally L-shaped rocker arm  54 , a plurality of hinges  56 , and a frame member  58 . One end of the rocker arm  54  is attached to the fan housing  46  and the other end is fixed to hinges  56 . Hinges  56  connect the rocker arm  54  to the frame member  58  and allow the rocker arm to be reciprocated with respect to the stationary motor  42 . The hinges  56  are also aligned with drive shaft  50 . An arm  60  attaches the rocker arm to a reciprocating source of power via linkage  62 . Because the fan housing is attached to the rocker arm, reciprocating the rocker arm reciprocates the fan housing as well. And because the hinges are aligned with the drive shaft, the housing is reciprocated about the drive shaft. Hence, this prior art embodiment also features a fixed fan motor and a reciprocating fan housing. In order for the fan housing to rotate about the drive shaft of a fixed motor, the fan housing must be both supported and oscillated by a rocker arm. The rocker arm must be cantilevered from the hinges to extend around the fan motor to support the fan housing, yet must pivot such that the fan housing is oscillated about the drive shaft. In this design, the entire weight of the fan housing and all or most of the weight of the cantilevered rocker arm must be supported by bearings. 
     The present invention provides a solution to the problems inherent in supporting a fan housing which directs an oscillating air flow and which houses a fan rotated by a stationary motor. This invention also avoids the need to cantilever the fan housing or rotatably couple the fan housing to the motor with a bearing unit. This invention advantageously provides a simple robust design in which the fan motor and the fan housing are substantially, rigidly coupled, the fan motor and the fan housing are oscillated as a unit, and the fan motorfan housing unit is rotatably supported on a support surface. An additional advantage of rigidly coupling the fan motor and fan housing is that a closer tolerance can now exist between the impeller and the adjacent interior surfaces of the fan housing than was heretofore possible. The closer tolerance enables enhanced efficiencies when generating air flows. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary blower assembly of this invention is depicted generally by the numeral  100  and includes a fan (blower) housing  102 , an impeller  104  (FIG.  2 ), a fan motor  106 , and an oscillating assembly  108 . With respect to the housing  102 , an egress member  114  depends from the housing main portion  116  and terminates in a spout  118 . The spout  118  defines an egress opening  120 . The main portion  116  of housing  102  has a shaft opening  124  and a suction opening  126 . A bracket  128  fixes a screen  130  over suction opening  126 . 
     In this embodiment, the impeller  104  has a plurality of blades  136  bonded between respective first and second members  138  and  140 . A mounting element  142  is attached to the second member  140  in this embodiment and defines a bore  144 . When the impeller  104  is rotated, an air flow is centrifugally generated by action of blades  136  and exits the fan housing at spout  118 . 
     The exemplary fan motor  106  has a drive shaft  152  and a motor body  154 . Threads  156  are formed on an outboard portion of drive shaft  152 . Drive shaft  152  is connoted to the impeller  104  by being accommodated in bore  144  and secured therein by a nut  158 . The fan motor  106  is suitably a 15 horsepower conventional electric motor. A gap  160  is defined between the fan housing  102  and the impeller  104 . 
     Referring mainly to FIGS. 1 and 2, oscillating assembly  108  includes an oscillator motor  170 , a gear box  172 , a linkage assembly  174 , and respective first and second connecting assemblies  176  and  178 . The oscillator motor  170  includes a drive shaft (not depicted) rotating substantially about longitudinal axis  180 . The oscillator motor is operably coupled to a gear box  172  such that the rotary motion generated by the oscillator motor drive shaft is translated generally transversely to rotate shaft  182  of gear box  172 . The gear box  172  may also effect a reduction in rotation speed as rotary motion from the oscillator motor drive shaft is translated to rotate the shaft  182 . 
     With respect to the linkage assembly  174 , a first end of arm  186  is affixed to shaft  182 . The second end of arm  186  is pivotally attached proximate a first end of a first oscillator member  188 . The second end of the first oscillator member is pivotally attached to a first end of a second oscillator member  190 . 
     The first connecting assembly  176  includes a plate  202 , a shaft  204 , and a bearing  206 . The plate  202  is rigidly coupled to an outboard end of the motor body  154  by a plurality of fasteners such as bolts  203 . The shaft  204  may unitarily, or otherwise rigidly, extend from the plate  202  and is rotatably (pivotally) accommodated within an inner race  208  of bearing  206 . The second end of the second oscillator member  190  is rigidly coupled to a portion of the shaft  204  at a location outboard of bearing  206 . Rigidly coupled or connected is contemplated to include structures which are either directly or indirectly connected or which are otherwise in a substantially rigid relationship. 
     The second connecting assembly  178  includes a spool  216  and a bearing member, such as yoke  218 . The spool  216  is substantially unitary in this embodiment, but may be considered to include respective first and second plate members  220  and  222  and axial member  224 , which extends between plate members  220  and  222 . Spool  216  has a generally axial bore  226  therewithin. First plate member  220  is mounted to an inboard end of motor body  154  by fasteners such as bolts  228 . Second plate member  222  is affixed to the main portion of housing  102  by fasteners, such as a plurality of bolts  230  and nuts  232 . The spool affixes to housing  102  such that the bore  226  aligns with the shaft opening of housing  102 . The drive shaft  152  extends through the bore of spool  216 , through the shaft opening  124 , and into housing  102 . Thus, the spool substantially rigidly connects motor  106  to housing  102  and further accommodates the portion of the drive shaft extending between the motor  106  and the fan housing. 
     The axial member of spool  216 , in turn, may be pivotally disposed within the yoke  218 . Respective first and second members  238  and  240  of yoke  218  cooperate to define an aperture  241  accommodating axial member  224  therewithin. Optionally, the spool may be accommodated within a bearing inner race (not shown) and the bearing may be secured in the yoke aperture. First and second members  238  and  240  of the yoke may be secured together by fasteners such as bolts  242  and nuts  244 . In a preferred embodiment, the supports, such as bearing  206  and yoke  218  are generally aligned with the fan motor drive shaft to minimize rotational or gyrational torque effects from the fan during operation. The yoke may be secured to a support member as described below. 
     The blower assembly of this invention may be advantageously utilized in connection with a vehicle washing (cleaning) facility such as depicted in FIG. 3 at  280 . In addition to the blower assembly of this invention, the washing facility may include mechanical cleaning equipment. By non-limiting illustration, the blower assembly  100  is shown mounted on support (frame) member  284  of the washing facility. Obviously blower assembly  100  may be disposed at one or more other locations on washing facility  280  as well. The oscillator motor  170 , gear box  172 , bearing  206 , and yoke  218  may be substantially rigidly affixed to support member  284  by respective brackets  286 ,  288 ,  290 , and  292  (FIG.  1 ). 
     In operation, the fan motor  106  is actuated, thereby rotating the impeller  104 . In response to the impeller rotation, air enters the suction opening of the housing in the direction of arrows  296  and an air flow in the direction of arrows  298  is centrifugally generated. The air flow exits housing  102  at spout  118  and is indicated in FIG. 3 at  300 . 
     To oscillate the air flow  300 , the oscillator motor  170  rotates shaft  182  of gear box  172 . The shaft  182 , in turn, rotates arm  186 . The rotary motion of arm  186  is translated into oscillatory motion of shaft  204  by a cooperation between pivotally coupled first and second oscillator members  188  and  190 . The shaft  204  is unitary to plate  202  in this embodiment and plate  202  is rigidly connected to fan motor  106 . The fan motor, in turn, is rigidly connected to the fan housing via the spool. Hence, oscillating shaft  204  simultaneously oscillates both the fan motor and the fan housing. The oscillation of the fan housing is depicted in FIG. 4 in phantom and by arrow  302 . The angle of oscillation may be determined, e.g., by relative lengths of arm  186  and first and second oscillator members  188  and  190 . The fan housing (as well as the fan motor) may be rotated rather than oscillated when minor modifications to the described embodiments are performed. Moreover, the fan housing may also be oscillated by simply connecting linkage assembly  174  directly to the fan housing. 
     Operatively, a vehicle  306 , having been washed by washing facility  280 , is driven slowly forward as the air flow from one or more blower assemblies  100  removes and evaporates remaining moisture from external surfaces thereof. The oscillation of the fan housing provides a sweep angle to direct the air flow for complete coverage of vehicle  306 . 
     Two further embodiments illustrative of this invention are depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, the fan motor  106  and fan housing  102  are rigidly connected together by spool  216  and are rotatably supported by a bearing  206  and a bearing  320 . As in a previous embodiment, the shaft  204  is rotatably supported in bearing  206  and is rigidly coupled to the second oscillator member  190 . An inner race of the bearing  320  may enclose the spool to rotatably support the fan motor and fan housing when they are oscillated as indicated by arrow  322 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the shaft  204  is supported within the bearing  206  in a manner similar to that described above. However, a support element  330 , a bracket  332 , and a bearing  334  are present in place of the yoke  218 . The support element  330  is generally L-shaped in this embodiment and is rigidly coupled to the fan motor  106  and the fan housing  102 . The bracket  332  includes a plurality of bracket elements  338 , which converge at shaft  340 . In this embodiment, shaft  340  generally aligns with drive shaft  152 . The shaft  340  is rotatably supported by a bearing member, such as a bearing  334 . The bearing  334 , in turn, is affixed to a stationary support  344 . The fan motor and fan housing are substantially rigidly connected by the support element  330  and the bracket  332  rigidly extends from the fan housing. Thus, the fan motor and fan housing are substantially rigidly connected, or otherwise in a substantially rigid relationship, and are rotatably supported by bearings  206  and  334  as the fan motor and fan housing are oscillated as indicated by arrow  348 . 
     In a still further embodiment, the shaft  204  may be rotatably supported by bearing  206  and the spool may be rotatably supported by a bearing such as yoke  218 . However, bearing  206  and yoke  218  are affixed to an underlying plate. The underlying plate is hinged to support  284 . Second arm  190  is coupled to the plate in a manner allowing the plate to be oscillated. Thus, the fan motor and the fan housing are fixed in a substantially rigid relationship and are oscillated along with the underlying plate. 
     Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of this invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of this invention is to be determined by appended claims and their equivalents. 
     When used herein, connected, attached, linked, coupled, and similar connective words do not require direct physical contact or direct connection between the respective components. Intermediate components may also be present.