Patent ID: 8393277

Claim:
An automatic carriage return for an exhaust removal system having a carriage that is configured to translate along a track tube, the carriage being coupled at a first end to an exhaust extraction hose, the second end of the exhaust extraction hose being coupled to a vehicle exhaust for directing exhaust from the vehicle out the track tube, the automatic carriage return comprising: a drive cable spanning along a path adjacent to and substantially parallel with the track tube; an engagement assembly coupled to the carriage, the engagement assembly having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration with respect to the drive cable; and a drive motor coupled to the engagement assembly, the drive motor being configured to drive motion of the carriage along the drive cable when the engagement assembly is in the engaged configuration; wherein in the disengaged configuration, the engagement assembly is configured to be disengaged from the drive cable while the exhaust extraction hose is attached to the exhaust of a vehicle to allow the carriage to freely follow the path of the vehicle; wherein, upon release of the extraction hose from the vehicle, the engagement assembly is configured to automatically activate to the engaged configuration to engage the drive cable.