US3687083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveying systems for automobiles and the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-23
•
Granted: 1972-08-29
•
Expires: 1990-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A system particularly suited for conveying automobiles in automated car washes having a plurality of expansible fluid conduits sequentially positioned along a path which are adapted to receive fluid under pressure. Fluid pressure may be selectedly supplied to the fluid conduits in response to the location of the automobile wheel on the conduit to establish a conveying force acting on the wheel by expansion of the fluid conduit. For example, this may be accomplished by a pressure sensitive valve or a valve operated by a mechanical position sensor. In the former system, a sensing fluid flow is established through the fluid which is restricted when a wheel of the automobile is positioned on the conduit to create a pressure increase upstream of the restriction which is transmitted to the pressure sensitive valve for opening thereof to supply full operational fluid flow to the conduit. In the latter system, an automobile engaging member may be pivotally mounted and operatively connected to a supply valve to operate the valve upon pivotal movement of the engaging member.
Inventors
- 👤 Ced F Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/004; B62; B62D; B62D65/00; B62D65/02; B62D65/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for concurrently conveying a plurality of articles each of which having at least two support locations being spaced along a preselected path with a predetermined distance therebetween comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, said conduits being adapted for positioning of said articles thereon with said support locations along said preselected path for restriction of fluid flow through said conduits at said support locations, the length of said conduits and the disposition thereof along said path being selected in accordance with said predetermined distance so that at least one of support locations being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said articles at all times; and means connected to said inlets which are adapted to be connected operable in combination with said plurality of conduits for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said at least one of said support locations including means for connecting said inlet to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that the positioning of at least one of said support locations on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure increase between said at least one of said support locations and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said one of said support locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for concurrently conveying a plurality of articles each of which having at least two support locations being spaced along a preselected path with a predetermined distance therebetween comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, said conduits being adapted for positioning of said articles thereon with said support locations along said preselected path for restriction of fluid flow through said conduits at said support locations, the length of said conduits and the disposition thereof along said path being selected in accordance with said predetermined distance so that at least one of support locations being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said articles at all times; and means connected to said inlets which are adapted to be connected operable in combination with said plurality of conduits for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said at least one of said support locations including means for connecting said inlet to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that the positioning of at least one of said support locations on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure increase between said at least one of said support locations and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said one of said support locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force includes means for sensing when an article is positioned on one of Said conduits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force supplies fluid to said inlet for said one conduit in response to said article being positioned on said conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force provides a sensing flow through said conduits, said pressure between said at least one support location and said inlet increases in response to said article being positioned thereon, and said means for establishing a conveying force increases said flow of fluid in response to said pressure increase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force includes a pressure valve for each conduit, each of said valves being connected to a respective one of said inlets for delivery of said fluid to the respective one of said conduits when said valve is opened, said valves being openable in response to the pressure increase in the respective one of said conduits so that an article positioned on one of said conduits causing a pressure increase in said one conduit by restriction of said sensing flow to open said valve to increase the flow of fluid to said one conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force further includes a fluid passage bypassing said valve for providing said sensing flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said article is positionable on said conduit at spaced locations along said preselected path, the length of said conduits being disposed along said path being less than the distance between said spaced locations with said length being selected so that at least one of said locations being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said article at all times.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said article is an automobile having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, said conduits being adapted to have said wheels positioned thereon, and spaced locations being at said wheels.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
323 words
A system for concurrently conveying an automobile having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel disposed along a preselected path comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, said conduits being adapted for positioning of said wheels thereon at spaced locations along said preselected path, the length of said conduits being disposed along said path being less than the distance between said spaced locations and being selected so that at least one of said locations being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said automobile at all times; means operable in combination with said plurality of conduits for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said one of said front or rear wheels including means for connecting said inlets to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that the positioning of at least one of said front and rear wheels on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure increase between said at least one of said front and rear wheels and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said one of said front or rear wheels, said means for establishing a conveying force on said one of said front or rear wheels including means for sensing when an article is positioned on one of said conduits; and means disposed between said one of said front and rear wheels and said conduits extending transversely of said conduits for applying a force exerted thereon by said one of said front and rear wheels to substantially the entire transverse dimension of said conduit whereby effective restriction of fluid flow through said conduit is attained.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
323 words
A system for concurrently conveying an automobile having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel disposed along a preselected path comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, said conduits being adapted for positioning of said wheels thereon at spaced locations along said preselected path, the length of said conduits being disposed along said path being less than the distance between said spaced locations and being selected so that at least one of said locations being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said automobile at all times; means operable in combination with said plurality of conduits for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said one of said front or rear wheels including means for connecting said inlets to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that the positioning of at least one of said front and rear wheels on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure increase between said at least one of said front and rear wheels and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said one of said front or rear wheels, said means for establishing a conveying force on said one of said front or rear wheels including means for sensing when an article is positioned on one of said conduits; and means disposed between said one of said front and rear wheels and said conduits extending transversely of said conduits for applying a force exerted thereon by said one of said front and rear wheels to substantially the entire transverse dimension of said conduit whereby effective restriction of fluid flow through said conduit is attained.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 9 further including flexible belt meanS on said conduits and wherein said transverse means are a plurality of rigid, cleats disposed transversely of said conduit and longitudinally spaced along said preselected path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force supplies fluid to each of said inlets for said conduits on which said wheels are positioned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force provides a sensing flow through said conduits, said pressure between said at least one support location and said inlet increases in response to said article being positioned thereon, and said means for establishing a conveying force increases said flow of fluid in response to said pressure increases.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
A system according to claim 12 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force includes a pressure valve for each conduit, each of said valves being connected to a respective one of said inlets for delivery of said fluid to the respective one of said conduits when said valve is opened, said valves being openable in response to the pressure increase in the respective one of said conduits so that pressure increase is established in each of said conduits when said wheels are positioned thereon by restriction of said sensing flow to open said valve to increase the flow of fluid to each of said conduits on which said wheels are positioned.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said means for establishing a conveying force further includes a fluid passage for each valve bypassing said each valve for providing said sensing flow.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
261 words
A system for concurrently conveying a plurality of automobiles each of which having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel disposed along a preselected path, said automobiles having a predetermined range of wheelbase dimensions between said front and rear wheels comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, said conduits being adapted for positioning of said wheels thereon at spaced locations along said preselected path, the length of said conduits and the disposition thereof along said path being selected in accordance with said range of wheelbase dimensions so that said locations for each said front and rear wheels being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said automobiles at all times; and means operable in combination with said plurality of conduits for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said one of said front or rear wheels including means for connecting said inlet to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that the positioning of at least one of said front and rear wheels on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure between said at least one of said front and rear wheels and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said one of said front or rear wheels.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
261 words
A system for concurrently conveying a plurality of automobiles each of which having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel disposed along a preselected path, said automobiles having a predetermined range of wheelbase dimensions between said front and rear wheels comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, said conduits being adapted for positioning of said wheels thereon at spaced locations along said preselected path, the length of said conduits and the disposition thereof along said path being selected in accordance with said range of wheelbase dimensions so that said locations for each said front and rear wheels being always on one of said conduits whereby a conveying force is maintained on said automobiles at all times; and means operable in combination with said plurality of conduits for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said one of said front or rear wheels including means for connecting said inlet to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that the positioning of at least one of said front and rear wheels on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure between said at least one of said front and rear wheels and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said one of said front or rear wheels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein each of said conduits have opposite ends and wherein said conduits are disposed along said preselected path with adjacent ends of said conduits being closely spaced, and wherein the length of said conduits is selected to be different than said range of wheelbase dimensions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said lengths of said conduits is selected to be substantially smaller than said range of wheelbase dimensions.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for conveying an article along a preselected path comprising: a fluid conduit disposed along said path which is expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, said fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet and being adapted for positioning of said article thereon for restricting fluid flow therethrough at said article; and means operable in combination with said conduit for sensing the Positioning of an article on said conduit and for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said article including means for connecting said inlet to a source of fluid for delivering fluid to said inlet so that the positioning of said article on said conduit restricts the flow of said fluid through said conduit to create a pressure increase between said article and said inlet of said conduit causing said conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said article, said means establishing a conveying force providing a sensing flow and a conveying flow through said conduit at selected times with said sensing flow being substantially less than said conveying flow, the restriction of said sensing flow through said conduit providing a pressure increase between said article and said inlet, said means for establishing a conveying force further including means responsive to said pressure increase caused by said article being positioned on said conduit for establishing said conveying flow.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for conveying an article along a preselected path comprising: a fluid conduit disposed along said path which is expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, said fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet and being adapted for positioning of said article thereon for restricting fluid flow therethrough at said article; and means operable in combination with said conduit for sensing the Positioning of an article on said conduit and for establishing a conveying force which is exerted on said article including means for connecting said inlet to a source of fluid for delivering fluid to said inlet so that the positioning of said article on said conduit restricts the flow of said fluid through said conduit to create a pressure increase between said article and said inlet of said conduit causing said conduit to expand to exert said conveying force on said article, said means establishing a conveying force providing a sensing flow and a conveying flow through said conduit at selected times with said sensing flow being substantially less than said conveying flow, the restriction of said sensing flow through said conduit providing a pressure increase between said article and said inlet, said means for establishing a conveying force further including means responsive to said pressure increase caused by said article being positioned on said conduit for establishing said conveying flow.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
According to claim 18 wherein said means responsive to said pressure increase is a pressure sensitive valve means for increasing said flow from said source to said inlet consequent said pressure increase.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
208 words
A conveying system for concurrently conveying a plurality of automobiles, each having at least one wheel disposed along a preselected path comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, and conduits being adapted for positioning of said one wheel thereon and for restriction of fluid flow therethrough at said one wheel, said path being sufficiently long so as to accommodate a plurality of automobiles, said conduits having a predetermined length and being disposed so that the wheels of respective ones of said plurality of automobiles are positioned on separate ones of said plurality of conduits whereby said plurality of automobiles can be concurrently conveyed along said path; means connected to said inlets which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that one of said wheels being positioned on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure increase between said one wheel and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert to conveying force on said one wheel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
208 words
A conveying system for concurrently conveying a plurality of automobiles, each having at least one wheel disposed along a preselected path comprising: a plurality of fluid conduits which are sequentially disposed along said path and are expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits having an inlet and an outlet, and conduits being adapted for positioning of said one wheel thereon and for restriction of fluid flow therethrough at said one wheel, said path being sufficiently long so as to accommodate a plurality of automobiles, said conduits having a predetermined length and being disposed so that the wheels of respective ones of said plurality of automobiles are positioned on separate ones of said plurality of conduits whereby said plurality of automobiles can be concurrently conveyed along said path; means connected to said inlets which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlets so that one of said wheels being positioned on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said one conduit to create a pressure increase between said one wheel and said inlet of said one conduit causing said one conduit to expand to exert to conveying force on said one wheel.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
205 words
A system for conveying an automobile having wheel of predetermined transverse dimension disposed along a preselected path comprising: a fluid conduit disposed along said path which is expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, said conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and conduit being adapted for positioning of said one wheel thereon and for restriction of fluid flow therethrough at said one wheel positioned thereon; said fluid conduit having transverse dimension at least when not expanded which is greater than said wheel transverse dimension, said fluid conduit further including means disposed between said wheel and said conduit extending transversely of said conduit for applying a force exerted thereon by said wheel to substantially the entire transverse dimension of said conduit whereby effective restriction of fluid flow through said conduit is attained; and means connected to said inlet which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlet so that said one wheel positioned on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said conduit to create a pressure increase between said one wheel and said inlet of said conduit causing said conduit to expand to exert a conveying force on said one wheel.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
205 words
A system for conveying an automobile having wheel of predetermined transverse dimension disposed along a preselected path comprising: a fluid conduit disposed along said path which is expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, said conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and conduit being adapted for positioning of said one wheel thereon and for restriction of fluid flow therethrough at said one wheel positioned thereon; said fluid conduit having transverse dimension at least when not expanded which is greater than said wheel transverse dimension, said fluid conduit further including means disposed between said wheel and said conduit extending transversely of said conduit for applying a force exerted thereon by said wheel to substantially the entire transverse dimension of said conduit whereby effective restriction of fluid flow through said conduit is attained; and means connected to said inlet which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid for delivering said fluid to said inlet so that said one wheel positioned on one of said conduits restricts the flow of said fluid through said conduit to create a pressure increase between said one wheel and said inlet of said conduit causing said conduit to expand to exert a conveying force on said one wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3045611A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |