Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
VEHICLE AIR DRYER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to vehicle air dryers used in
car washes, and more
particularly, relating to a vehicle air dryer having an improved design
providing an
elongated high pressure air stream with a low horsepower blower.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Vehicle air dyers are commonly used in car washes to dry vehicles as
they exit the car
wash. Conventionally, vehicle air dryers include one or more high flow blowers
arranged
around the exit of the car wash. Each blower is connected to one or more
nozzles that are
designed to direct air toward the surface of the vehicle to remove the water
from the
surface as the vehicle exits the car wash. Numerous constructions have been
provided
that are aimed toward solving the problem of removing water from the vehicle
surface
rather than merely blowing the water around the surface. In an attempt to
increase water
removal, a trend has been to use larger, more powerful blowers to increase air
flow and
improve drying. While using high powered blowers may increase water removal
and
improve drying, they also have large energy consumption, which is undesirable.
Accordingly, a need exists for a new vehicle air dryer construction that is
capable of
using smaller, more energy efficient blowers while providing effective vehicle
drying.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[003] Embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle air dryer construction
address the
foregoing need by providing an improved vehicle air dryer construction that is
capable of
using smaller horsepower blowers while providing elongated high pressure air
stream.
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[004] In one aspect, a vehicle dryer is provided that has a plenum
extending a length along an
axis between opposite ends and has an annular wall extending about the axis.
The plenum
defines an interior cavity and is configured to hold air at a pressure greater
than
atmospheric pressure. The plenum also defines inlet and outlet ports
communicating with
the interior cavity. A source of pressurized air is connected in fluid
communication with
the inlet port of the plenum. A slot nozzle has an outlet in fluid
communication with the
outlet port, an inlet spaced from the outlet and in fluid communication with
the interior
cavity and an interior passageway extending between the outlet and the inlet.
A screen is
disposed between the inlet of the slot nozzle and the interior cavity.
[005] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention
in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better
understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
[006] Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
be readily
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following
detailed
description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments
of the
present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried
out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology employed
herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as
limiting.
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[007] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other
structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as
including such
equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and
scope of the
present invention.
[008] For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages
and the specific
objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and
descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included
to provide further
understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of
the
embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of
the
embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding
of the
invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the
art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
Identical
reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather,
the same
reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with
similar
functionality. In the drawings:
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[010] Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a vehicle air dryer
constructed in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention;
[011] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle air dryer taken
along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
[012] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle air dryer taken
along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;
[013] Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a plenum of a vehicle
air dryer
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[014] Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a slot nozzle of a
vehicle air dryer
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[015] Figure 6 is an overhead schematic view of a vehicle car wash drying
system constructed
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[016] Figure 7 is a front schematic view of a vehicle car wash drying
system constructed in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[017] With reference to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, there is
representatively illustrated a vehicle
air dryer 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle air
dryer 10 is
particularly useful in carwash drying systems to dry vehicles as they exit the
carwash.
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Further, as discussed below, the vehicle air dryer 10 has a particular
construction that
provides an elongated, high pressure air stream while utilizing a relatively
low
horsepower blower when compared to existing vehicle air dyers that require
high
horsepower blowers to operate as effectively.
[018] As depicted, in the representative embodiment, the vehicle air dryer
10 includes a plenum
12 constructed to be connected to a source of pressurized air, such as a
blower 14 (seen in
FIGS. 6 and 7) and a slot nozzle 16. The plenum 12 is generally elongated and
extends a
length 20 along axis 22 between opposite ends 24 and 26 and has width 42 along
axis 44.
The plenum 12 has an annular wall 28 that extends about axis 22. The annular
wall 28
and the ends 24 and 26 define an interior cavity 30 in which the plenum 12 is
capable of
holding air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
[019] In the representatively depicted embodiment, the plenum 12 has a
circular cross-section.
While the plenum is shown here to have a circular cross-section, in
alternative
embodiments, the plenum 12 could be formed to have other cross-sectional
shaped, such
as, for example square, rectangular, triangular, or elliptical, etc. Thus, the
plenum 12
should not be limited the depicted circular cross-sectional shape. The plenum
12 and the
other components of the vehicle air dryer 10 can be constructed from many
suitable
materials, including, but not limited to stainless steel, sheet metal,
galvanized metal,
copper, or plastics.
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[020] As representatively shown end 26 is open. It should be noted,
however, depending upon
application, end 26 may be closed while end 24 is open, both ends could be
closed, or
both ends could be opened. The plenum 12 defines an elongated outlet port 34
that is
formed through the annular wall 28 of the plenum. The outlet and inlet ports
34 and 36
fluidly communicate with the interior cavity 30. The exemplary outlet port 34
of the
plenum 12 is a slot or slit formed through the annular wall 28, open at the
bottom end 24
and closed at the opposite end. The exemplary outlet port 34 can be generally
rectangular
shaped, with a width 38 (FIG. 2) and a length 40 (FIG.1).
[021] The slot nozzle 16 has a pair of spaced sidewalls 15 and 17 and end
plates 19 and 21 that
are connected to opposite ends of the sidewalls 15 and 17, there by forming a
passage
way 50 extending between an outlet 46 and an inlet 48. The inlet 48 spaced
from the
outlet 46 and is in fluid communication with the interior cavity 30. The
exemplary slot
nozzle 16 extends along the vertical axis 22 and is inserted into the outlet
34, slid into
position through the bottom end 24, for example, and positioned at least
partially within
the plenum 12. The slot nozzle 16 extends through outlet 34 and flanges 37 are
sealed
against the plenum with a seal or sealing compound. The exemplary outlet 46
and the
exemplary outlet port 34 are positioned closer to one another than either is
positioned
relative to the inlet 48.
[022] The slot nozzle 16 further includes a screen 18 that disposed between
the inlet 48 of the
slot nozzle 16 and the interior cavity 30. The screen 18 can define a
perforation pattern of
fifty percent open space. The perforations can be any shape. The exemplary
screen 18 is
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defined by first and second screen halves 52, 54. Each screen half 52, 54 can
be
substantially planar. Each screen half 52, 54 extends along axis 22. The
screen halves 52,
54 can be inserted into the interior cavity 30 through the bottom end 24.
[023] The slot nozzle 16 divides the interior cavity 30 into a primary
chamber 55 and a
secondary chamber 56. The secondary chamber 56 can be defined fluidly between
the
screen 18 and the inlet 48. Defined fluidly between refers to the fact that
air will pass
from the primary chamber 55, through the screen 18 and into the secondary
chamber 56,
out of the secondary chamber 56 and into the inlet 48 of the slot nozzle 16.
The
secondary chamber 56 is sized smaller than a volume of the interior cavity 30
and larger
than a volume defined by the interior passageway 50 of the slot nozzle 16.
[024] The slot nozzle further includes a plate 58 that connects the ends of
the screen halves 52,
54 that are distal with respect to the inlet 48 to close the secondary chamber
56. The plate
58 can be solid or perforated. Alternatively, the ends of the screen halves
52, 54 that are
distal with respect to the inlet 48 can be joined to the inner surface of the
annular wall 28
to close the secondary chamber 56. An upper cap 19 encloses a top of the
secondary
chamber 56 and a top of the interior passageway 50. A lower cap 21 encloses a
bottom of
the secondary chamber 56 and a bottom of the interior passageway 50. It is
noted that the
slot nozzle can be assembled together and then inserted into the interior
cavity 30. A
blocking plate 64 is attached to the plenum 12 to close off and seal the
portion of the
outlet port 34 that the slot nozzle 16 does not extend through when in its
installed
position, i.e., after inserting the slot nozzle into the plenum.
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[025] The secondary chamber 56 is thus positioned within the interior
cavity 30. As best shown
in FIG. 2, the exemplary secondary chamber 56 can narrow in width in a plane
perpendicular to axis 22 (the viewing perspective of FIG. 2) from a widest
width spaced
from the inlet 48 of the slot nozzle 16 to a narrowest width proximate to the
inlet 48 of
the slot nozzle 16.
[026] In a representative embodiment, the width 42 of the plenum 12 can be
sixteen inches and
the length 20 of the plenum 12 can be ten feet. The width 38 of the outlet
port 34 and
outlet 46 can be between one-half to three-quarter of an inch. The length 40
of the outlet
port 34, outlet 46, the slot nozzle 16, and the screen 18 can be eight feet.
The width 38 of
the outlet port 46 can thus be less than five percent of the length 40 of the
outlet port 46.
[027] Further, the plenum 12 defines a plenum planar profile (best seen in
FIG. 1) equal to the
width 42 multiplied by a length 20. The outlet port 46 also defines an outlet
planar
profile equal to the width of the outlet port 46 multiplied by the length 40.
The outlet
planar profile can thus be less than ten percent of the plenum planar profile.
The width 38
of the outlet port 46 can be less than twenty percent of the width 42 of the
plenum 12.
[028] The dimensions of the outlet port 46 relative to the plenum 12 are
not a matter of design
choice. The dimensions were determined as result of testing and development.
The
dimensions represent a compromise between the size of the plenum 12,
pressurized air
availability, and desired spraying power. The larger the outlet port 46
relative to the
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plenum 12, the lower the speed of the air coming out of the outlet port 46.
The larger the
outlet port 46 and the plenum 12, the larger the size of the necessary
pressurized air
source 14. The dimensions of the exemplary allow for a single fan powered by a
twenty
horse-power engine to cause air flow at a velocity of 10,000 ¨ 12,000 feet per
minute
(fpm). No system in the art is capable of generating this performance. The
arrangement
of the screen 18 results in an even velocity of air leaving the slot nozzle 16
along the
entire height of the slot nozzle 16. The outlet velocity can be about 10,000
fm, while the
pressure inside the primary chamber 55 is at about 10 to 12" of water column.
[029] Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown an overhead schematic view of a
car wash dryer
system incorporating a plurality of vehicle air dyers 10. The structures shown
in FIG. 4
can be positioned at the exit of an automatic car wash. Plenum 12 is
positioned to blow
air from a passenger side of a vehicle. The air stream is directed along the
axis 66. A
second plenum 12b similar to the plenum 12 is positioned to blow air from a
driver side
of the vehicle, with an air stream directed along the axis 66b. The plenums
12, 12b can be
a distance 72 apart, such as ten feet. The plenum 12a is positioned to blow
air from a top
of the vehicle. The source 14 is a blower drawing air through an inlet 68 and
delivering
the air to a manifold 70. Air is communicated to the plenums 12, 12b from the
manifold
70. Air is communicated from the manifold 70 through a conduit 74 to the
plenum 12a.
Thus, a single source such as a twenty horsepower blower can satisfactorily
deliver air to
three plenums at one time. The two vertical plenums 12 and 12b can be ten feet
apart in
order for the cars to pass through and the direction of the axes 66, 66b can
each be at
angle of about five degrees away from collinear. The top horizontal plenum 12a
can be
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situated about four feet in front of the vertical plenums 12 and 12b, meaning
the car can
encounter the horizontal plenum 12a first.
[030] Turning now to FIG. 6, there is there is shown a front schematic view
of a car wash dryer
system incorporating a plurality of vehicle air dyers 10a, 10b, 10c. As
depicted, a pair of
vehicle air dryers 10 are vertically oriented and disposed in a horizontally
spaced
relationship at a distance sufficient to create a passage way for a vehicle to
pass between
the air dryers. A further depicted a horizontally oriented vehicle air dryer
is elevated and
extends between the two vertically oriented air dryers. Each vehicle air dyer
10 is
fluidically connected to a blower 14 by ducting 78a, 78b, 78c so as to receive
air
discharged from the blow by the plenum 12. The air is then discharged from the
slot
nozzle 16 as an elongated high pressure air stream 80 that is directed toward
the vehicle.
One or more vehicle air dyers, such as vehicle air dryer 10c may be
constructed to bend
to match the profile of a vehicle exiting the car wash.
[031] While it is not illustrated, it is worth noting that each vehicle air
dryer 10 could be
individually connected to a separate blower that can be connected to either
end of the
plenum 12, e.g., in a vertical orientation, the blower could either be a floor
mounted
blower or a ceiling mounted blower (FIG. 3).
[032] A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described.
Nevertheless, it
will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing
from the
spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the description herein
is made in
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connection with a vehicle air dryer for use in drying a vehicle exiting a car
wash, the
basic principle described herein can readily be employed in other
applications. Such other
applications may include an air curtain system supplying air across various
building or
vehicle openings. In one example, the structures described herein, are readily
adaptable
for use in an air curtain system supplying air across overhead door systems in
industrial
buildings. In another example, the structures described herein, are readily
adaptable for
use in an air curtain system in a larger freezer installation to prevent goods
stored in the
freezer from being affected by opening and closing a freezer door. In yet
another
example, the structures described herein, are readily adaptable for use in an
air curtain
system on an aircraft hangar door opening. Accordingly, other embodiments are
within
the scope of the following claims.
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