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US 2006/0218818 A1Published application
Car wash dryer and method
OwnerTodd Christopherinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dryer assembly includes a blower unit having an inlet and an outlet. A restriction mechanism having a plurality of louvers is disposed generally at the inlet of the blower unit with the louvers being moveable between an open position and a closed position. An actuation mechanism is in communication with the restriction mechanism. The actuation mechanism selectively restricts air to the blower unit by moving the louvers into the closed position.
Claims20
A dryer assembly comprising:
- a blower unit having an inlet and an outlet;
- a restriction mechanism having a plurality of louvers disposed at said inlet of said blower unit, said louvers moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- an actuation mechanism in communication with said restriction mechanism and operable to selectively restrict air to said blower unit by moving said louvers into said closed position.
1 more element
A system for drying vehicles comprising:
- a drive mechanism for moving vehicles through the system at spaced intervals;
- at least one dryer assembly including:
- a blower motor disposed within a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said blower motor operable to selectively apply fluid pressure to the moving vehicles at said outlet;
- and
- a restriction mechanism having a plurality of louvers rotatably supported by said housing at said inlet between an open position allowing fluid to said blower motor and a closed position restricting fluid to said blower motor;
- and
- an actuation mechanism operable to selectively toggle said louvers between said open position and said closed position.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- detecting the presence of a moving vehicle;
- opening a series of louvers on an inlet of a dryer assembly when said vehicle is a predetermined distance from said dryer assembly;
- energizing a blower motor associated with said dryer assembly when said vehicle reaches said predetermined distance to impart a fluid force on said vehicle;
- detecting when said vehicle has moved a predetermined distance away from said dryer assembly;
- and
- closing said louvers when said vehicle has moved said predetermined distance away from said dryer assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.