This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning a vehicle particularly, but not exclusively, intended for installation at the exit of construction sites.

Construction sites are usually very muddy, especially during the early stages of construction. Vehicles leaving these sites inevitably have considerable quantities of mud adhering to their wheels, base and lower sides. Much of this is deposited on the public highway mainly in the vicinity of the site entrance.

GB 2239848 describes an apparatus for washing the wheels of a vehicle exiting a construction site. The apparatus comprises ramps over which the vehicle can be driven to cause the wheels to be raised from the ground, lowered into a water bath, raised from the water bath and lowered to ground level again. This apparatus does not wash the sides of the vehicle which are often caked in mud.

The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle cleaning apparatus which washes not only the wheels of a vehicle, but also at least some of the lower body shell of the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided vehicle cleaning apparatus comprising means over which the vehicle can be driven to cause the wheels to be raised from

the ground, lowered into a water bath, removed from the water bath and lowered to the ground again as the vehicle is driven thereover, wherein the apparatus further comprises a water spraying device.

The apparatus of the invention is thus capable of cleaning both the wheels of the vehicle using the water bath and at least a part of the vehicle body using the water spray. The water spray also reduces the level of dust emitted from the vehicle as it leaves the site.

The apparatus of the invention is ideally readily transportable by a waggon or train. The apparatus would be used on sites which would not have ready access to a mains water supply. Furthermore, it would not be considered environmentally friendly to use considerable amounts of water for washing waggons. Therefore the apparatus of the invention preferably utilises water from the bath for distribution by the spray device. The water is thus recycled. A further advantage is that mains supply and drainage is unnecessary. The apparatus ideally comprises a filter. The filter is provided so as to filter the water before being sprayed onto the vehicle by the spraying device. Clean water from outside the bath may alternatively be used for spraying if required. A mains water supply may not be available and therefore a supply from a tank may be used.

Chemicals cleaning agents such as detergents and/or anti-

freezing agents may be added to the water in the bath.

A pump is required for the water spray. This may be electrically operated.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig.l is a perspective view of one apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig.2 is a perspective view of the ramps used in the apparatus of Fig.l.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a vehicle cleaning apparatus 10 has a pair of ramps 11 and 12 and a water bath 13 arranged such that a vehicle (not shown) is able to drive up the ramps 11,12. The ramps 11 and 12 comprise a series of angle irons which are arranged to break up any mud caked onto the vehicle's tyres. A water bath 13 is arranged to wash off the mud and dirt on the tyres. Raised gantry sections 14 and 15 enable a vehicle to pass from the water bath 13, above the level of the ground so that no further dirt can be accumulated on its tyres. The exit gantry sections 14 and 15 also permit water to be drained from the tyres.

_A pipe ₁ 6 having a plurality of spaced-apart spray nozzles 1 ₇ located thereon is located at the top of one side of the water bath. A similar pipe 18 having nozzles 19 is located on the opposite side of the bath. Water input to the pipes 1 ₇ ,18 is taken via further pipes extending into the water bath. Water is taken from the bath and pumped out through the spray nozzles 17,19 by an electrically operated pump ₍ not shown). Ideally the water from the bath 13 is filtered as it exits the bath 13. Water may alternatively be taken from a header tank 20 located adjacent the water bath which is used to top up the bath at periodic intervals.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment has been described by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible.