Thanh Thuy Tran

US Patent:

6735884, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jun 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/177034

Inventors:

Daniel Fratello - Golden CO
Dennis R. McCadden - Wheat Ridge CO
Thanh Tran - Aurora CO

Assignee:

Mark VII Equipment, Inc. - Arvada CO

International Classification:

F26B 300

US Classification:

34487, 34666, 34218, 34229, 34232, 239751, 454305

Abstract:

A dryer system for automated car wash systems includes a new and improved air dryer having a fan and a rotatable nozzle at its discharge end with the nozzle orientation being controlled by a rotary actuator whose drive shaft is mounted on the axis of rotation of the nozzle. A method of using the blowers includes the use of two or more blowers that are positioned above the vehicle and oriented so the streams of concentrated air complement each other in moving liquid particles on the vehicle toward the side or end of the vehicle where they drop from the lower edges of the sides and ends of the vehicle.

US Patent:

6807973, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

May 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849763

Inventors:

Daniel A. Fratello - Golden CO
James Johnson - Coeur Dalene ID
Michael W. Mingee - Aurora CO
Jon Leppo - Denver CO
David M. Gauthier - Denver CO
Eric Engen - Bailey CO
Dennis McCadden - Thornton CO
Thanh J. Tran - Aurora CO

Assignee:

Mark VII Equipment LLC - Arvada CO

International Classification:

B08B 302

US Classification:

134123, 134198, 134181

Abstract:

An automatic vehicle washing system is described. The vehicle washing system incorporates an elongated overhead cleaning platform for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of a vehicle. The overhead cleaning platform is attached to a single lift mechanism at a first end and is suspended from a belt at a second end, wherein the belt is also operatively connected to the first end. Accordingly, vertical movement of the lift actuator causes both ends of the platform to uniformly rise or descend. The platform further comprises a pivotal boom with fluid nozzles attached thereto, and a reciprocating pivotal actuator. The reciprocating pivotal actuator is capable of pivotal movement to any number of angular orientations within its operative range of motion. Advantageously, the pivotal and vertical positions of the nozzles can be independently varied, permitting the location of the overhead cleaning nozzles to be optimized for various vehicle profiles.

US Patent:

7056390, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

Feb 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/776092

Inventors:

Daniel A. Fratello - Golden CO, US
James Johnson - Coeur D'alene ID, US
Michael W. Mingee - Aurora CO, US
Jon Leppo - Denver CO, US
David M. Gauthier - Denver CO, US
Eric Engen - Bailey CO, US
Dennis McCadden - Thornton CO, US
Thanh J. Tran - Aurora CO, US

Assignee:

Mark VII Equipment LLC - Arvada CO

International Classification:

B08B 3/02

US Classification:

134 18, 134 26, 134 36

Abstract:

An automatic vehicle washing system is described. The vehicle washing system incorporates an elongated overhead cleaning platform for cleaning the front, top and rear surfaces of a vehicle. The overhead cleaning platform is attached to a single lift mechanism at a first end and is suspended from a belt at a second end, wherein the belt is also operatively connected to the first end. Accordingly, vertical movement of the lift actuator causes both ends of the platform to uniformly rise or descend. The platform further comprises a pivotal boom with fluid nozzles attached thereto, and a reciprocating pivotal actuator. The reciprocating pivotal actuator is capable of pivotal movement to any number of angular orientations within its operative range of motion. Advantageously, the pivotal and vertical positions of the nozzles can be independently varied, permitting the location of the overhead cleaning nozzles to be optimized for various vehicle profiles.