Abstract: A vehicle dryer includes an energy-conserving rotatable inlet butterfly valve to selectively admit or block air to a fan encased in a blower housing. The valve includes a plate mounted on a shaft that extends across the inlet portion of the blower housing. The plate is rotated by its shaft to either an opened position for admitting air into a blower housing, or a closed position for blocking air from entering into the blower housing. A crank arm is coupled to the valve shaft, and a pneumatic cylinder includes a piston rod for turning the crank arm through a ninety-degree angle, thereby rotating the valve plate between its opened and closed positions.

Abstract: A vehicle dryer includes an energy-conserving rotatable inlet butterfly valve to selectively admit or block air to a fan encased in a blower housing. The valve includes a plate mounted on a shaft that extends across the inlet portion of the blower housing. The plate is rotated by its shaft to either an opened position for admitting air into a blower housing, or a closed position for blocking air from entering into the blower housing. A crank arm is coupled to the valve shaft, and a pneumatic cylinder includes a piston rod for turning the crank arm through a ninety-degree angle, thereby rotating the valve plate between its opened and closed positions.

Abstract: An instrument mounting device includes a first component having a flexible band configured to clamp about an instrument for mounting within an instrument panel. A second component is configured to couple with the first component and includes diagonal ramp surfaces configured to slidingly engage with diagonal ramp surfaces on the first component to adjust the band to a clamping configuration. A method of making instrument mounting devices includes forming first and second elongate bodies such as extrusions, each of which may be divided into a plurality of separate units for assembling into a plurality of instrument mounting devices.

Abstract: A vehicle dryer includes an energy-conserving rotatable inlet butterfly valve to selectively admit or block air to a fan encased in a blower housing. The valve includes a plate mounted on a shaft that extends across the inlet portion of the blower housing. The plate is rotated by its shaft to either an opened position for admitting air into a blower housing, or a closed position for blocking air from entering into the blower housing. A crank arm is coupled to the valve shaft, and a pneumatic cylinder includes a piston rod for turning the crank arm through a ninety-degree angle, thereby rotating the valve plate between its opened and closed positions.

Abstract: An instrument mounting device includes a first component having a flexible band configured to clamp about an instrument for mounting within an instrument panel. A second component is configured to couple with the first component and includes diagonal ramp surfaces configured to slidingly engage with diagonal ramp surfaces on the first component to adjust the band to a clamping configuration. A method of making instrument mounting devices includes forming first and second elongate bodies such as extrusions, each of which may be divided into a plurality of separate units for assembling into a plurality of instrument mounting devices.

Abstract: A vehicle washing apparatus includes a side track extending along a washing bay. A gantry is supported for reciprocal motion along the side track by a gantry motor. Sensors detect the front and rear ends of the vehicle to control movement of the gantry. A retractable carriage extends from the gantry across the washing bay under the control of a carriage motor and a vehicle width sensor. The carriage rotatably supports a spray bar for discharging cleaning fluid. A motor rotates the spray bar to sweep around corners of the vehicle. A cam plate and engagement roller index the spray bar orientation, while limiting spray bar rotation to a single direction. A wheel guide receives the front left vehicle wheel. Treadle switches in the wheel guide, in conjunction with an illuminated display, indicate to the user when the vehicle is properly indexed in the washing bay.

Abstract: A vehicle washing apparatus includes a side track extending along a washing bay. A gantry is supported for reciprocal motion along the side track by a gantry motor. Sensors detect the front and rear ends of the vehicle to control movement of the gantry. A retractable carriage extends from the gantry across the washing bay under the control of a carriage motor and a vehicle width sensor. The carriage rotatably supports a spray bar for discharging cleaning fluid. A motor rotates the spray bar to sweep around corners of the vehicle. A cam plate and engagement roller index the spray bar orientation, while limiting spray bar rotation to a single direction. A wheel guide receives the front left vehicle wheel. Treadle switches in the wheel guide, in conjunction with an illuminated display, indicate to the user when the vehicle is properly indexed in the washing bay.

Abstract: A dual port blowing device for drying a vehicle includes a centrifugal fan powered by a blower motor. The centrifugal fan is rotated upon the motor shaft and surrounded by a housing having a first outlet nozzle for discharging air toward the rear end of the vehicle, and including a second outlet nozzle for discharging air toward the front end of the vehicle. A pivoting damper moves between a first position for sending discharged air through the first outlet nozzle, and a second position for sending discharged air through the second outlet nozzle. An actuator selectively pivots the damper between its first and second positions. The actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder and piston for pivoting the damper. Control circuitry determines when the rear of the vehicle is proximate to the dual port blowing device, and operates the hydraulic cylinder to move the damper from its first position to its second position.

Abstract: A wrap brush assembly includes an elongated, horizontal upper support arm which pivots from an overhead support about a vertical axis. A pivot link is pivotally connected to the free end of the upper support arm about a horizontal pivot link axis for movement forward and rearward relative to the path traversed by a vehicle to be cleaned. A brush support bracket is pivotally connected to the lower end of the pivot link about an axis lying perpendicular to the pivot link axis for allowing the brush support bracket to swing side to side relative to the path traversed by a vehicle to be cleaned. A motor, brush shaft, and wrap brush are supported from the brush support bracket. A shock absorber dampens forward/rearward movement about the horizontal pivot link axis, and a stop limits inward pivoting movement of the brush support bracket relative to the pivot link to prevent the wrap brush from climbing onto the rear deck of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle drying blower assembly includes a series of oscillating centrifugal fans each powered by a blower motor. Each centrifugal fan includes a circular fan rotated upon a driveshaft and surrounded by a housing having a discharge nozzle; the housing that surrounds the circular fan is supported by a rocker arm for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation coaxial with the circular fan driveshaft. The rocker arm pivots about a bearing assembly that lies coaxial with the driveshaft of the blower motor. A drive motor rotates an eccentric crank arm, and link rods coupled between the eccentric crank arm and the housing rocker arms simultaneously oscillate each centrifugal fan to blow moisture from the vehicle.

Abstract: A self-return mechanism for a car wash hose boom swivel assembly includes a cam and a cam follower assembly which counteracts a force caused by the drooping of a flexible hose that extends from an end of a hose boom arm to a spray wand positioned in a wand holder that is attached to a side wall of a car wash bay near an open end thereof. The self-return mechanism returns the hose boom arm to a position such that the drooping portion of the hose is held out of the path of a vehicle as it moves into the bay. If the hose boom arm is within a predetermined 90.degree. arc, the cam follower mechanism produces a self-returning force on the hose boom swivel assembly, but if the hose boom arm is outside of the 90.degree. arc, the swivel assembly rotates without being subjected to any such self-returning force.

Abstract: Method and wrap around car wash apparatus are disclosed for maintaining uniform crush pressure of a rotary brush against a predetermined surface area of an advancing vehicle. A constant counterclockwise torque is produced on an outer arm by means of a rotating gear connected to the outer arm and a rack driven by a first pneumatic cylinder. After the rotary brush passes around the front edge of the vehicle, an inner arm pivotally connected to a support and the outer arm rotates counterclockwise until a maximum knuckled relationship between the inner and outer arms is attained. As the rotary brush, rotating clockwise, passes around the rear of the vehicle, the rotary brush bites into the rear corner producing a reaction force which causes the inner arm to be forced counterclockwise against a compression spring. The compression spring then boosts the inner arm in the clockwise direction, causing the rotary brush to be pushed into the rear end of the vehicle.