Carwash vacuum nozzle holder
OwnerJames Fitzekinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum nozzle holder for a carwash vacuum system includes a housing having an opening configured to receive a vacuum nozzle head and a sliding plug assembly movably supported within the housing. The sliding plug assembly is configured to both rotate and translate in response to vacuum pressure generated when the vacuum system is active. Upon insertion of a vacuum nozzle head into the opening, suction causes the plug assembly to rotate into alignment with a vacuum opening of the nozzle head and to translate toward the nozzle head until a sealing plug engages and occludes the vacuum opening. The plug assembly is movable between multiple positions to accommodate variations in nozzle length, geometry, and wear, thereby maintaining effective airflow restriction when the nozzle is parked in the holder.
Claims20
A vacuum nozzle holder comprising:
- a nozzle holder housing defining a partially enclosed interior with an opening configured to receive a vacuum nozzle head;
- a pair of spaced guides disposed within the nozzle holder housing;
- and
- a sliding plug assembly movably supported by the pair of spaced guides,
- wherein the sliding plug assembly is configured to linearly translate along the guides between a forward position and a rearward position in response to the vacuum pressure suction created by the insertion of the vacuum nozzle head into the opening, and
- wherein the sliding plug assembly is further configured to move into sealing engagement by rotating and translating in response to vacuum pressure suction caused by the insertion of a vacuum nozzle head into the opening of the nozzle holder housing.
A method of sealing a vacuum nozzle when not in use, comprising:
- inserting a vacuum nozzle into an opening of a vacuum nozzle holder having a sliding plug assembly;
- rotating the sliding plug assembly so that an integral sealing plug is aligned with a vacuum opening in the vacuum nozzle;
- translating the sliding plug assembly towards the vacuum nozzle in response to suction provided by the vacuum nozzle;
- sealing the vacuum opening in the vacuum nozzle with the integral sealing plug in response to suction provided by the vacuum nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.