Lighted Vehicle Wash Dryer Assembly for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wash facilities have dark and unattractive environments due to densely populated rotary brush components that block light, leading to poor visibility and an unpleasant experience for vehicle occupants, and lack effective lighting at the exit end to attract customers or market services to passing motorists.
Innovation Solution
A lighted dryer assembly with a translucent housing and integrated LED lights that emit high-velocity air to remove water from vehicles, enhancing visibility and aesthetics, and providing branding recognition by illuminating the exit end of the wash facility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If densely populated rotary brush components are used for washing, then washing effectiveness is improved, but light blocking increases and visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies illuminated elements that emit light in various colors to the rotary brush components and housing. These lights counteract the darkness created by the densely populated brush elements, improving visibility for vehicle occupants while maintaining the effective washing function of the brushes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary element between the densely populated brush components and the vehicle interior. The illuminated components and housing act as mediators that allow the washing function to proceed effectively while simultaneously improving visibility and reducing the darkening effect on the vehicle interior.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lighted arches and signs are placed outside the wash facility, then customer attraction is improved, but overall environment illumination inside the facility remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting function with the dryer assembly structure itself. Rather than having separate lighted arches outside the facility, the illumination is integrated into the dryer housing and components, combining the drying function with internal illumination to improve both customer attraction and overall environment lighting simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the lighting function from the external dimension (lighted arches outside the facility) to the internal dimension (within the dryer assembly). This dimensional shift allows the lights to illuminate the vehicle interior and surrounding environment directly, addressing both customer attraction and overall illumination needs.
3Device complexity
If exit end of wash facility remains dark, then structural simplicity is maintained, but branding recognition and customer experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: drying the vehicle, providing illumination for branding recognition, and improving visibility in the exit area. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to serve both operational and marketing purposes without requiring separate complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The dryer assembly generates its own illumination through integrated lights, making it a self-sufficient branding and visibility solution. The structure serves itself by incorporating the lighting function, eliminating the need for separate external lighting systems while enhancing branding recognition at the exit end.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lighted dryer assembly improves customer experience, enhances branding, and increases visibility and attractiveness of the vehicle wash facility, especially at the exit end, by providing enhanced brightness and a more welcoming environment.
Implementation Method 1
The housing including a nozzle portion configured to emit high velocity air therefrom for removing water from an exterior surface of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The housing being constructed of a translucent material and including a light source disposed therein and configured to emit light that can be seen by a vehicle disposed in the vehicle treatment area
Data Source
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AI summary
A Sighted dryer assembly for a vehicle wash system including a housing portion, having a head portion, a body portion, and an outlet portion. The head portion includes an air inlet portion for drawing air into the head portion and an outlet for passing the sir to the body portion. The outlet portion has a plurality of exit nozzles that are configured to emit high velocity air therefrom for removing water from an exterior surface of a vehicle while disposed in a vehicle treatment area. The body portion includes an upper portion where air is received from the head portion and a lower portion disposed remote from the upper portion. A light source is disposed within the housing portion and configured to emit light that can be seen by a vehicle disposed in the vehicle treatment area.