Mechanism for selectively opening/closing a vehicle wash component inlet opening

• Main Authors: Tognetti, David L, Turner, Barry S, Belanger, Michael J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.06.2020
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; CHECKS FOR WINGS; COCKS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; DRYING; DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; KEYS; LIGHTING; LOCKS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS; SAFES; SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, ORMANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VALVES; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

A dryer assembly for a vehicle wash system for emitting high velocity air onto a vehicle exterior includes a housing having an air inlet and an outlet. The air inlet is in communication with a motor assembly having an operating and a non-operating mode. The assembly also includes a gate mechanism in communication with the air inlet. The gate mechanism includes a plurality of pedals that are each pivotable between a first position and a second position. The gate mechanism is in communication with a controller, which directs movement of the plurality of pedals from the first position where the plurality of pedals surround the inlet opening such that air can flow into the housing and the second position where each of the plurality of pedals covers a portion of the inlet opening such that in their entirety the plurality of pedals obstruct the inlet opening to prevent air for flowing into the housing.