Vehicle wash and dryer

Abstract

An apparatus for both washing and drying an automotive vehicle. The apparatus includes a track gantry that moves along the track and over the vehicle. Water outlets and brushes are on the gantry to wash the car. The apparatus further includes a blower, nozzle, and oscillator. The blower, also mounted on the gantry, expels air onto the vehicle. The nozzle, positioned on the blower, defines an orientation and directs the air from the blower substantially parallel to the orientation. The oscillator periodically changes the orientation of the nozzle and the direction of the air from the blower.

I claim: .[.1. An apparatus for washing and drying an automotive vehicle comprising, in combination: 
     
        said vehicle..]. 2. An apparatus for washing and drying an automotive vehicle comprising, in combination: a gantry for moving along said vehicle, .[.sand.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.gantry separating said apparatus into entry and exit sections;   water outlet means, mounted on said gantry, for wetting said vehicle;   .[.two blowers.]. .Iadd.dryer means.Iaddend., mounted on said gantry, for expelling air;   .[.a nozzle.]. .Iadd.at least two nozzles .Iaddend.on .[.each of said blowers.]. .Iadd.said dryer means.Iaddend., each of said nozzles defining an orientation and directing air from .[.one of said blowers.]. .Iadd.said dryer means .Iaddend.in a direction substantially parallel with said orientation, one of said nozzles oriented toward said entry section of said apparatus and another of said nozzles oriented toward said exit section of said apparatus; and   oscillation means, interconnected to both of said nozzles, for changing said orientation of each of said nozzles and thereby changing said direction of said air from .[.each of.]. said .[.blowers.]. .Iadd.dryer means.Iaddend., whereby air is directed by each of said nozzles toward said vehicle from changing directions in order to substantially dry the   
     
     
        sides and top of said vehicle. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said nozzles is oriented more than 2° and less than 20° toward said entry section and said other nozzle is oriented more than 2° and less than 20° toward said exit section. .[.4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising at least one 
     
     
        brush, mounted on said gantry, for wiping said vehicle..]. 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said gantry defines a lower region, for substantially receiving said vehicle, and an upper region, said blowers being mounted on said gantry substantially in said upper region, whereby said lower region, substantially reserved for said vehicle, is 
     
     
        unobstructed by said blowers. 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said nozzles may oscillate to an upper position and lower position and said nozzles reach said upper positions at different times. 
     
     
           An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said oscillation means oscillates one of said nozzles to reach said upper position and substantially simultaneously oscillates another of said nozzles to reach 
     
     
        said lower position. 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said oscillation means moves said orientation of said nozzle through an arc of 
     
     
        at least 20°. 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said oscillation means moves said orientation of said nozzle through said arc at a substantially regular interval, said regular interval being more than 
     
     
        1 second and less than 9 seconds. 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising motor means for propelling said gantry at a speed less 
     
     
        than 10 inches per second. 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said blowers expels at least 2,500 cubic feet of air per minute.