Belanger, Inc.

Other

James A Belanger

Robert J Wentworth

Graham J Astley

Barry S Turner

James M Lapham

Douglas J Calvin

Astley: Graham J

Brian K Thompson

A rotary cloth roll assembly for treating the surfaces of the tires on one side of an automobile as it proceeds along a predetermined path of travel comprises a rotary shaft having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of travel, a positive stop abutment secured to the shaft and a plurality of aligned replaceable cartridges mounted upon the shaft for rotation therewith and bearing against the abutment. Each cartridge includes a series of engaging spacers, with each spacer having at its center an opening generally conforming to the shaft for rotation therewith and for preventing rotation of the spacers relative to the shaft. Each spacer has first and second sides, the first side being generally flat and having an annular groove therein and the second side having thereon a generally rectangular locating shoulder and an annular locating rim. A series of flexible non-woven cloth discs of synthetic fibers are disclosed, each disc having at its center a non-circular opening conforming to the generally rectangular shoulder of the spacers for assembly upon each of the spacer shoulders respectively and rotation therewith and for preventing rotation of the discs relative to the spacers. A removable fastener on the shaft secures the spacers to the shaft with the locating rim on each spacer interlocked with an annular groove of an adjacent spacer and for securing the flexible discs between the spacers. The invention further includes the method of making a cloth roll cartridge.

Rotary cloth roll assembly

Combined car wash and lighted archway

An apparatus and method are disclosed that aid an accessory of an automobile wash system in being positioned accurately with respect to a particular automobile's width. The system consists of an abutment that is positioned within the path of the conveyed automobile and which will be pivoted out of the path by contact with the automobile. The extent of the pivoting of the abutment from the path of the automobile will give an indication of the width of the automobile. A hydraulic circuit communicates this information to a hydraulic cylinder that controls the positioning of the accessory and can position the accessory to account for the width of the individual automobile. An electronic sensor system is positioned downstream of the accessory and will sense when the automobile has left the automobile wash assembly, at which time the sensor will initiate a signal that returns the members to their original position.

Side nozzle tracer system

Blower nozzle for drying vehicles

A portable and highly maneuverable nozzle dryer for assisting in the drying of vehicles and for covering difficult-to-reach areas and surfaces of the vehicle. The dryer includes a free standing support and a self-contained air nozzle assembly which is rotatably mounted to the support by a universal joint assembly. By combining the blower and nozzle housing into a one-piece design, efficient air movement is made possible. The booster dryer is portable and may be positioned at any location along the wash line to add drying power during high volume wash days. Moreover, the maneuverability of the dryer permits the positioning of the air outlet at any desired location to reach difficult drying areas or surfaces thereby reducing manpower requirements.

Booster nozzle dryer

A rotary cloth roll assembly for treating the surfaces of the tires on one side of an automobile as it proceeds along a predetermined path of travel comprises a rotary shaft having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of travel, a positive stop abutment secured to the shaft and a plurality of aligned replaceable cartridges mounted upon the shaft for rotation therewith and bearing against the abutment. Each cartridge includes a series of engaging spacers, with each spacer having at its center an opening generally conforming to the shaft for rotation therewith and for preventing rotation of the spacers relative to the shaft. Each spacer has first and second sides, the first side being generally flat and the second side having thereon a plurality of spaced disc support projections. A series of flexible non-woven cloth discs of synthetic fibers are disclosed, each disc having at its center a non-circular opening with a plurality of radial notches conforming to the projections of the spacers for assembly upon each of the spacer projections respectively and rotation therewith and for preventing rotation of the discs relative to the spacers. A removable fastening means on the shaft secures the spacers to the shaft and for securing the flexible discs between the spacers. The invention further includes the method of making a cloth roll cartridge and the method of cleaning an automobile tire.

Air blower housing

A top air nozzle for blowing water off a washed moving vehicle in a car wash includes a unit nozzle housing of molded plastic material having an arcuate top wall, laterally diverging side walls, a pair of laterally spaced mount blocks, an upright rear wall, an upper front wall portion inclined downwardly and outwardly of the rear wall and terminating in a lower front wall portion inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the rear wall. The walls and wall portions define an air chamber of laterally increasing width from its top with the rear wall, lower front wall portion and side walls defining a laterally elongated throated air outlet. A plurality of spaced threaded insert fasteners arranged in a circle are molded, interlocked and enclosed within one of the upper front wall portion and rear wall. A plurality of spaced fasteners are arranged in a row, are molded, interlocked and enclosed within each mount block. The wall or wall portion mounting the first fasteners is adapted to have an opening cut therein inwardly of the fasteners to receive a pressurized air inlet.

Method of making a unit nozzle housing

A bearing assembly for a shaft comprises a body having a cylindrical bore open at one end, a mount bracket extending from the one end and an annular stop flange at the other end of the bore. An apertured bearing of a hardened plastic material is enclosed within the body and at one end has an annular stop shoulder bearing against the stop flange and defining a cylindrical extension of reduced diameter extending outwardly of the body adapted to journal a shaft. In a modification, an annular groove in the cylindrical extension outwardly of the stop flange receives a snap ring to restrain the bearing against endwise movements relative to the body.

Bearing assembly for a shaft

Nozzle for vehicle air drying apparatus

A blower compries a unit blower housing of molded plastic material having a circular outer wall and laterally spaced front and rear walls, defining an impeller chamber and a trangential outlet upon a first axis adapted to receive a flexible hose. The outlet defines with an end portion of the outer wall a reverse curved cut off edge extending between the side walls. An opening in the front wall is arranged upon a second axis at right angles to the first axis and receives an air inlet cone secured to the housing by a plurality of threaded inserts molded into the housing. An electric motor upon a support has a drive shaft extending through the rear wall. The rear wall is mounted upon and secured to the motor and an impeller is positioned within the housing and axially mounted upon the motor shaft and has an air intake receiving the air inlet cone. The second axis is so arranged relative to the first axis that the impeller defines with the cut off edge an optimum gap of reduced dimension for a smooth non-turbulent, substantially noiseless airflow through the outlet.

Blower housing construction

A blower comprises a unit blower housing of molded plastic material having a circular outer wall and laterally spaced front and rear walls, defining an impeller chamber and a tangential outlet upon a first axis adapted to receive a flexible hose. The outlet defines with an end portion of the outer wall a reverse curved cut off edge extending between the side walls. An opening in the front wall is arranged upon a second axis at right angles to the first axis and receives an air inlet secured to the housing by a plurality of threaded inserts molded into the housing. An electric motor upon a support has a drive shaft extending through the rear wall. The rear wall is mounted upon and secured to the motor and an impeller is positioned within the housing and axially mounted upon the motor shaft and has an air intake receiving the air inlet cone. The second axis is so arranged relative to the first axis that the impeller defines with the cut off edge an optimum gap of reduced dimension for a smooth non-turbulent, substantially noiseless airflow through the outlet.

Method of making a unit blower housing

An air nozzle for blowing water off a vehicle moving through a car wash comprises a unit nozzle housing of molded plastic material having opposed front and rear walls and a side wall, with the front and rear walls terminating in opposed concave converging sides defining a lateral nozzle having a series of elongated throated orifices. The walls and sides define an elongated air chamber communicating with the orifices. An air inlet at one end of the housing is a part thereof and is adapted to receive a flexible hose connected to a pressurized air source. The front and rear walls have molded therein spaced mount plates or pads adapted for connection to a support arm and to a sensor respectively. A plurality of spaced threaded insert fasteners are molded, interlocked and enclosed selectively within one of the front and rear walls and the corresponding mount pads. The method of making a unit nozzle housing of molded plastic material is also disclosed.

Nozzle construction

In an apparatus for drying vehicles having a framework upon a floor surface adapted to receive a moving vehicle, a transverse lift rod is guidably mounted upon the framework for controlled vertical adjustments and mounts a transverse top nozzle housing having an inlet, an air chamber and laterally diverging sidewalls terminating in an elongated throated air outlet. A pair of opposed upright side nozzle housings are mounted upon opposite sides of the framework with each housing having an inlet, an elongated air chamber, and an elongated lateral nozzle inclined rearwardly at an acute angle toward the vehicle. A plurality of motor-operated air blowers are mounted upon the framework with each blower having an air outlet, with a plurality of flexible hoses interconnecting the outlet of each blower with one of the housing inlets. A remote-controlled power device is connected to the lift rod for successively raising and lowering the top nozzle housing to prevent any contact with a vehicle moving through the framework.

Growing community of inventors

Northville, MI, United States of America

James A Belanger