Extendable nozzle for a vehicle drying apparatus
AssigneeMotor City Wash Works, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Wentworth, Lionel Belanger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dryer nozzle for a drying unit in a vehicle wash system includes a nozzle portion for emitting high velocity air to an exterior surface of a vehicle passing thereunder. The nozzle portion has an inner nozzle section and an outer nozzle section. The inner nozzle section and the outer nozzle section being configured such that they can be positioned one inside the other during operation. At least one of the inner nozzle section or the outer nozzle section can be extended and retracted as directed towards or away from the surface of the vehicle.
Claims39
A dryer nozzle for a drying unit in a vehicle process system, comprising:
- a nozzle portion for emitting high velocity air to an exterior surface of a vehicle passing thereunder;
- said nozzle portion having an upper nozzle section and lower nozzle section, said upper nozzle section and said lower nozzle section configured such that they can be positioned one inside the other during operation;
- said lower nozzle section having an exterior upper end that is connected to a bottom portion of an actuator so as to extend and retract said lower nozzle section with respect to said upper nozzle section as directed towards or away from said exterior surface of the vehicle, such that when said lower nozzle section is retracted away from said exterior surface of said vehicle, said upper nozzle section is telescopically disposed within said lower nozzle section.
A drying system for a vehicle process system, comprising:
- a drying unit including a housing portion and a nozzle portion;
- said housing portion for generating a supply of high velocity air;
- said nozzle portion for emitting a stream of high velocity air to an exterior of a vehicle passing thereunder;
- said nozzle portion having an upper nozzle section and a lower nozzle section, said upper nozzle section and said lower nozzle section configured such that said upper nozzle section can be telescopically disposed within said lower nozzle section during operation, at least said lower nozzle section being formed of a flexible material;
- wherein said lower nozzle section can be extended and retracted with respect to said upper nozzle section as directed towards or away from said exterior surface of the vehicle to accurately deliver said stream of high velocity air to said vehicle exterior;
- an upper end of said lower nozzle section being open to air surrounding the drying system such that air can enter said lower nozzle section and can be emitted to said vehicle exterior without passing through said housing portion.
A drying system for a vehicle process system, comprising:
- a first drying unit generally disposed over a center portion of a vehicle passing through the vehicle wash system to blow water off said center portion;
- a pair of drying units located rearwardly of said first drying unit;
- each of said pair of rearward drying units located outwardly from said center portion of said vehicle to blow water off side portions of said vehicle;
- each of said drying units having a downwardly extending nozzle portion that delivers high velocity air to said vehicle to dry said exterior thereof;
- each of said nozzle portions including an upper section and a lower section that are configured such that said upper section can be telescopically positioned inside said lower section, said upper sections and said lower sections of said nozzle portions do not form an air tight seal such that air external to the drying systems can be drawn directly into said lower nozzle portions as said high velocity air is delivered to said exterior surface of the vehicle;
- wherein said lower section of said nozzle portions can be extended and retracted with respect to said upper nozzle section as directed towards or away from said exterior surface of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.