MOBILE VEHICLE WASH FACILITY

The present invention relates to mobile cleaning systems and, more particularly, to relocatable systems adapted to the cleaning of passenger and small commercial road vehicles. BACKGROUND

Water is increasingly becoming a scarce resource so that water restrictions in many jurisdictions prohibit the liberal use of hoses for the cleaning of motor vehicles.

This factor and the increasing constraints of time on many vehicle owners, has seen a growth in so-called hand car washing facilities. Typically these are either at working petrol supply or service stations, or at disused and converted service stations.

A disadvantage of these facilities is that they require considerable fixed infrastructure which is expensive to build and install, requiring underground holding tanks and water collection surface shaping and barriers. If the location then does not generate a sufficient vehicle throughput for financial viability, this infrastructure is wasted or at least under utilized.

A further problem is that the .water used in these facilities is not well contained. The washing area is generally large and open so that evaporation and wind-borne spray lead to considerable water losses.

There is another disadvantage typically associated with fixed location systems in that they are frequently stand-alone businesses or associated with a service station and so may be isolated from facilities where a vehicle owner may usefully spend time while the vehicle is processed. It is also not unusual for the demand on a fixed car wash facility to be such that many people drive away when observing that a number of vehicles are already waiting to be washed.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes 1. The term ''comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of"..

2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a mobile vehicle wash facility; said facility comprising a washing station and a transport vehicle; said washing station including a substructure and a filtration module; said washing station further including hydraulically activated side elements; said side elements operable between a vertical transporting position and a substantially horizontal in-use position.

Preferably, said filtration module projects upwardly from one end of said substructure.

Preferably, said substructure includes a substantially rectangular vehicle supporting platform; said substructure provided at an underside with substructures arranged for engagement with the load bed of said transporting vehicle.

Preferably, said substructure is provided with levelling rams at the four corners of said substructure; said levelling rams arranged to level said substructure when said wash station is located on a sloping or uneven ground surface .

Preferably, an underside of said substructure is provided with a first liquid holding tank and a second liquid holding tank; each said first and said second liquid

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holding tank disposed along opposing sides of said substructure.

Preferably, said vehicle supporting platform includes trafficable grating and a drainage surface arranged beneath said trafficable grating; said drainage surface adapted to draining liquid into said first liquid holding tank.

Preferably, at least one communicating channel is provided between said first liquid holding tank and said second liquid holding tank; said at least one communicating channel arranged to transfer liquid from said first liquid holding tank to said second liquid holding tank when liquid in said first liquid holding tank rises above the level of said communicating channel.

Preferably, said first liquid holding tank is open at it upper side; said first liquid holding tank provided with a mesh or perforated cover adapted for arresting debris; said liquid holding tank accessible by removal of sections of said trafficable grating and said mesh or perforated cover, for cleaning of sludge and accumulated solids.

Preferably, said filtration module is located in ^' a rigid structure; said filtration module provided with at least one pump and a liquid filtration system; said liquid filtration system receiving liquid from said second liquid

holding tank; filtered liquid from said filtration system passing to a high pressure liquid delivery system.

Preferably, said filtration module is further provided with a vacuum cleaning system.

Preferably, said facility further includes at least one hydraulically activated access ramp hingedly attached to one end of said substructure; said access ramp operable between a substantially vertical transporting position and a lowered position whereby vehicles may be driven onto said supporting platform.

Preferably, said side elements are arranged to drain liquid towards and onto said substructure when said side elements are in said substantially horizontal position; liquid draining off said side elements flowing into said first liquid holding tank.

Preferably, said side elements are provided with holding structures at each corner of respective upper edges of said side elements; said holding structures adapted to accept removable support posts when said facility is being prepared for use.

Preferably, said support posts are in a substantially vertical orientation when said side elements are in said substantially horizontal position for use; said support

posts supporting a sheet of shade cloth or other suitable material so as to provide a cover over said substructure and said side elements.

Preferably, further sheets of shade cloth or other suitable material may be arranged between outer side edges of said cover and outer edges of said side elements to provide side covers for said facility when in use.

Preferably, said wash station conforms substantially in dimensions to a standard transport vehicle load body or shipping container; said wash station transportable by said transport vehicle, when said side elements and said access ramp are in said transporting position.

Preferably, said transport vehicle is provided with hydraulically operated loading and unloading equipment so as to load and unload said wash station onto and off said load bed of said transport vehicle.

Preferably, said loading and unloading equipment comprises a tilt tray and winch; said substructure provide with roller at least at one end of said substructure so as to allow movement along said tilt tray and onto a ground surface.

Preferably, said loading and unloading equipment is an hydraulically activated arm and hook mechanism; said hook

engaging an attachment point located on said rigid structure of said filtration module; said arm and hook mechanism adapted firstly to raising or lowering said forward end of said wash station and secondly, pulling or pushing said wash station onto or off supporting rollers arranged along said load bed of said transporting vehicle.

Preferably, said loading and unloading equipment is a shipping container side-loading mechanism; said mechanism comprising a pair of hydraulically activated lifting arms disposed at a forward and rearward end of said load bed of said transporting vehicle; said wash station provided with attachment points at the four corners of said substructure for attachment of lifting chains depending from said lifting arms; said lifting arms raising or lowering said wash station relative to said load bed and moving said wash station from or onto said load bed.

Preferably, said loading and unloading equipment is an hydraulically operated crane mounted to said load bed of said transporting vehicle; said crane adapted to lifting and swinging said wash station onto or from said load bed.

Preferably, said wash station is integrated with a trailer portion of a semi-trailer or articulated vehicle.

In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a mobile vehicle washing facility for

use at any suitable location; said method including the steps of:

(a) mounting a wash station onto the load bed of a transport vehicle,

(b) providing said transport vehicle with lifting equipment able to unload and reload said wash station,

(c) providing said wash station with levelling jacks so as to level said wash station on sloping or uneven ground,

(d) providing said wash station with side elements hingedly attached to a substructure of said wash station; said side elements operable between a substantially vertical position for transport and a lowered substantially horizontal position for use.

Preferably, said wash station includes a filtration module projecting upwardly from said substructure; said filtration module housed in a rigid structure attached to said substructure.

Preferably, said substructure is provided with first and second liquid holding tanks arranged along opposing sides respectively of said substructure; said first liquid

holding tank forming a settlement tank for collection of sludge and accumulated solids.

Preferably, said method includes the further steps of:

(a) inserting a support pole in each of four - support structures at outer corners of said side elements when said side elements are in a partially lowered position,

(b) attaching a sheet of shade cloth or other suitable material to each said pole,

■ (c) lowering said side elements into said lowered substantially horizontal position thereby stretching said shade cloth or other suitable material into a cover over said substructure and said side elements.

In still a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a mobile vehicle wash facility; said wash facility including a transportable wash station for releasably mounting on a transporting vehicle; said wash station including a substructure for supporting a vehicle for washing; said wash station further including hydraulically operated side elements hingedly attached to opposing sides of said substructure, and an hydraulically

operated vehicle access ramp hingedly attached to a rear end of said substructure.

Preferably, said substructure includes liquid holding tanks located below a vehicle supporting platform; said vehicle supporting platform including a trafficable grating.

Preferably, said liquid holding tanks comprise three side by side tank compartments; a first compartment of said three side by side tank compartments collecting water and particulate matter via a water drainage surface mounted below said trafficable grating; water from said first tank compartment passing to a second tank compartment of said three side by side tank compartments when water level reaches a weir in a first dividing wall; water from said second tank compartment passing to a third tank compartment of said three side by side tank compartments when water level reaches a weir in a second dividing wall. Preferably, said particulate matter is primarily removed from said water through sequential settling action in said first tank compartment and said second tank compartment; water in said third tank compartment substantially free of said particulate matter. Preferably, water for vehicle washing is drawn from said third tank compartment; said water passing through a

filtration system prior to reuse for said vehicle washing.

Preferably, said facility is provided with a high pressure water delivery system. Preferably, said facility is provided with a vacuum system.

Preferably, a control and filtration module is mounted at a forward end of substructure; said module housing at least portions of said filtration system, operator _, controls and an hydraulic system.

Preferably, two units are pivotally mounted at opposing sides of said control and filtration module; a first of said units housing said vacuum system; a second of said units housing portions of said filtration system and water delivery system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a wash station and transporting vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of a mobile vehicle wash facility according to the invention, Figure 2 is perspective view of the principle components of the wash station of Figure 1 when demounted from its transporting vehicle and ready for use,

Figure 3 is a cross section of a substructure of the wash station of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a partially sectioned plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention ready for use,

Figure 5 is a partially sectioned end view of the embodiment of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment

With reference to Figure 1, a mobile vehicle wash facility 10 comprises a wash station 12 releasably mounted on the load bed 14 of a transporting vehicle 16. Wash station 12 is loaded and unloaded from transporting vehicle

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16 by any one of a number of hydraulically operated lifting mechanxsms 18 _/ as will be described in more detail below.

Wash station 12 comprises a substructure 20, with opposite side elements 22 and 24, each hingedly attached to substructure 20. Also hingedly attached to the rearward end of substructure 20 is an access ramp 26. In Figure 1, each of side elements 22, 24 and access ramp 26 are in their closed and substantially vertical positions for transport..

Attached at the forward end of substructure 20, is a filtration module 28. In at least some preferred embodiments of the wash station, filtration module 28 is detachable from the substructure 20, so that once the wash station 12 has been unloaded, filtration module may be lifted off the substructure and mounted adjacent to it. In this arrangement, substructure 20 may be provided with a second hingedly attached ramp (not shown) at the forward end so as to allow vehicles to be driven onto and off from the substructure in a forward manner.

The overall configuration of the substructure 20, side elements 22, 24, access ramp 26 and filtration module 28 as shown in Figure 1, is preferably such as to generally conform to the shape and dimensions of a standard transport vehicle load body or that or a shipping container transportable by a transport vehicle. However in at least some preferred embodiments of the invention, the configuration of the wash station may be made to any

suitable length with the load and unload mechanism of the transport vehicle made to suit.

With reference now to Figure 2, when wash station 12 has been demounted from it transporting vehicle at some desired location, hydraulic or mechanically operated jacks 30 level substructure 20 as required to suit an uneven or sloping ground surface. Side elements 22 and 24 are lowered hydraulically to substantially horizontal positions at either side of substructure 20, and similarly, access ramp 26 is lowered to provide vehicular access to a vehicle supporting platform 32, forming the upper surface of substructure 20.

Again with reference to Figure 2, each of side elements 22 and 24 is provided with holding structures 34 at the corners of the. outer edges 36 and 37 of side elements 22 and 24 respectively. Holding structures 34 are adapted to accept support posts 38 which in turn support a sheet of shade cloth or similar material 40 at a height above vehicle supporting 32 and the surfaces of side elements 22 and 24 to allow personnel to move freely wxthin the working space so created. Additional sheeting of shade cloth or similar material may be affixed between the outer edges 36 and 37 of side elements 22 and 24 and the corresponding outer edges 42 and 43 to provide side curtains at the sides of the working space.

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Turning now to Figure 3, substructure 20 comprises a first liquid holding tank 46 disposed along a first side 47 of substructure 20, and a second liquid holding tank 48 along the opposite side 49. At least one communicating channel 50 provides for a flow of liquid from first liquid holding tank 46 to second liquid holding tank 48 when the level of liquid in first liquid holding tank 48 reaches the level of channel 50. A baffle (not shown) may be installed to prevent liquid entering first holding tank 48 from flowing directly into communicating channel 50.

Located above the level of both first and second liquid holding tanks 46 and 48 is a sloping drainage surface 52 extending from second side 49 to the inner edge

53 of first liquid holding tank 46. Supported above sloping drainage surface 52 and extending over the whole of substructure 20 is a trafficable grating 54 forming vehicle supporting 32.

First liquid holding tank 46 is open at its upper side and is provided with a removable mesh or perforated cover 56, preferably of a shallow "V" shape as shown in Figure 3 and adapted to prevent any debris from entering first liquid holding tank 4.6. It will be appreciated that any liquid falling onto the area covered by trafficable grating

54 will find its way into first liquid holding tank 46. Side elements 22 and 24 are arranged so that their inner surfaces are at a slight slope when elements 22 and 24 are

in their lowered position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thus liquid falling on the inner surface of side element 22 will flow towards sloping drainage surface 52, while liquid deposited on side element 24 will follow into first liquid holding tank 46. The respective junctions between side elements 22, 24 and substructure 20 may be provided with flexible rubber strips 58 to endure liquid from the side elements is captured. Alternatively, water flowing down the inner surfaces of side elements 22 and 24 may collect at their respective inner edges and be conducted by flexible tubing onto drainage surface 52. Side elements 22 and 24 may also be provided with a trafficable grating surface similar to that of substructure 20, with a sloping subsurface for liquid run-off. First liquid holding tank 46 acts as a settlement tank so that dust and mud 60 washed from a vehicle (not shown) positioned on trafficable grating 54 will accumulate at the bottom of the tank and only relatively clean liquid find its way into second liquid holding tank 48 through communicating channel or channels 50. Filtration module 28 draws liquid 61 as required from second tank 48 through supply pipe 62.

Filtration module 28 includes at least one pump and filtering elements adapted to remove any solvents, oil, grease or particulate material suspended in liquid 61. Liquid which has passed through the filtering process of

filtration module 28 is supplied under pressure when required and applied to a vehicle as a high pressure spray as commonly used in fixed location vehicle wash stations.

The structure which houses filtration module 28, may also be provided with a vacuum system for removal of dirt and detritus from within a vehicle being cleaned. This structure may further be provided with storage lockers (not shown) for storage of cleaning materials, including cloths, window cleaning and tyre blacking sprays as well as other equipment associated with vehicle cleaning.

Also provided -within the structure housing the filtration module 28, is an on-board hydraulic power pack (not shown) comprising hydraulic pump, hydraulic fluid supply tank and valving. Transporting vehicle 16 may be provided with any one of a number of on-vehiσle lifting devices such as well known to persons skilled in the technology of transport equipment. In one preferred form of a loading and unloading arrangement, the transport vehicle 16 is provided with a tilt tray and winch mechanism. In this arrangement the substructure 20 is provided at its ends with rollers which allow the wash station 12 to be lowered or raised along the tilt tray when this is brought to its inclined position.

In another example, as shown in Figure 1, the transporting vehicle 16 is provided with an articulated hydraulically activated arm 17. A hook at the end of the

arm engages with an attachment point fixed to the outer wall of the structure housing the filtration module 28. The wash station 12 in this instance is provided with parallel rails 64 (shown in Figure 3) attached at the underside of substructure 20 _r with the load bed 14 of the transporting vehicle provided with rollers 15. To unload the wash station, the arm 17 firstly tilts and slides wash station 12 rearwardly until the rear end of substructure 20 contacts the ground. With the arm 17 supporting the forward end of the wash station, the vehicle 16 moves forward until clear and the arm then lowers the front of the wash station to the ground.

In an alternative arrangement, wash station 20 may be provided with attachment points (not shown) at the lower four corners of the substructure. In this arrangement the load bed of the transporting vehicle is set up in the manner suitable for transport of a standard shipping container, with latching of the wash station to the load bed 14 in the same manner as for a shipping container. In this case the transporting vehicle is fitted with a pair of hydraulically activated lifting arms disposed at the forward and rearward ends of the load bed. Chains depending from the lifting arms and attached to the front and rear attachment points, allow the wash station to be lifted off the load bed, swung clear of the vehicle and lowered to the ground.

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In still a further arrangement, the transporting vehicle may be fitted with an hydraulically activated crane at the forward or rearward end of the load bed. Again chains connected to the attachment point and to the jib of the crane allow the wash station to be lifted clear of the transporting vehicle and lowered to the ground.

A sash station according to the invention may be arranged so that it can be loaded onto a transport vehicle with the filtration module towards the front (as shown in Figure 1) or the rear of the vehicle. Loading the wash station* with the filtration module towards the rear of the vehicle allows the wash station to be positioned against a wall or some other limiting feature at a site at which it is to be used. Second Preferred Embodiment

An alternative arrangement of a wash station of a mobile vehicle wash facility is shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As for the first preferred embodiment described above, the wash station 100 includes a substructure 110 and side elements 112 and 114 respectively. As before, the substructure 110 is provided with a working surface or vehicle supporting platform 116 comprising a suitable trafficable grating 118, shown partly cut away in Figure 4 to reveal a tank arrangement below. Substructure 110 is likewise provided with a drainage surface 120 of metal

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sheeting below grating 118, substantially coextensive with vehicle supporting platform 116.

In this second preferred embodiment, the working surfaces of side elements 112 and 114 need not be of trafficable grating with an underlying drainage surface, but may be formed of suitable steel or aluminium plating with raised patterning such as "checker plate" for example.

The surfaces of side elements 112 and 114 are then arranged to slope slightly in towards the substructure 110, with rubber strips covering the hinged connections so as to provide for the relatively small amount of water run-off resulting from overspray, onto these surfaces. The slope of side elements 112 and 114 may be controlled, and the elements supported by, either manual or hydraulic jacks 122 arranged along the outer edges of the elements 112 and 114 once the substructure has been levelled as described above. In this embodiment also, vehicular access to the raised vehicle supporting platform 116 is provides by hydraulically controlled access ramp 124. In this embodiment, the substructure includes a perimeter frame (not shown) supporting a tank structure 126, also substantially coextensive with the vehicle supporting platform 116. Tank structure 126 is divided into three side by side tank compartments 126A, 126B and 126C extending substantially the .length of the substructure 110. Drainage surface 120 is arranged to slope towards first

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tank compartment 126A and drain into that compartment by means of a shallow ^vv V"~shaped gutter 128 arranged over first tank compartment 126A.

As best seen in Figure 5, a first dividing wall 130 between first tank compartment 126A and second tank compartment 126B is provided with a weir 132 which allows water from first compartment 126A to flow into second tank compartment 126B when the water in the first tank compartment reaches a sufficient level. A similar weir arrangement 134 in a second dividing wall 131 between second tank compartment 126B and third tank compartment

126C allows water from second tank compartment 126B to flow into third tank compartment 126C.

By this means, first tank compartment 126A acts as the primary settlement tank in which particulate material washed from a vehicle is allowed to settle. When water reaches to the level of weir 132, water relatively free of particulate matter flows over the weir 132 and into the second tank compartment 126B. Second tank compartment 126B allows a further settling of particulate matter with water now virtually devoid of such material flowing into the third tank compartment 126C over weir 134. It is from this third tank compartment 126C that water is drawn into the filtration system inlet 136 for re-use. Again with reference to Figures 4 and 5, a filtration and control module 140 is permanently mounted at the

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forward end of substructure 110, in effect forming a front wall of the mobile wash station 100. Module 140 houses the working components of the water filtration system 142 including a high pressure water delivery system. Also housed in module 140 are an air compressor and hydraulic system (not shown) and twin hose reels 144 for compressed air and high pressure water delivery. As well the filtration and control module 140 accommodates an electrical control system and operator controls 146. Doors 148 at the outside front of the module provide access to the equipment as well as storage space within.

Two pivoting units are mounted at the opposite sides of module 140; a vacuum supply system 150 at one side, and an enclosure 152 accommodating a part of the water supply system, at the other side.

When not in use and the wash facility is shut down for transport or for secure storage, these units 150 and 152 are swung inboard and secured. When in this position, with the side elements 112 and 114 and rear access ramp 124 raised and access doors 14B locked, the wash facility is largely secure from interference by unauthorized persons. Hydraulic controls for operation of the side elements 112 and 114, access ramp 124 and the levelling jacks are likewise secured behind a lockable panel.

This second preferred embodiment is also provided with support posts 160 to allow a cover such as shade cloth 162 to span the whole working area of the wash station 100.

Third Preferred Embodiment In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the wash station component of the mobile wash facility is as described for the second preferred embodiment above. In this embodiment however, the substructure of the wash station is integrated with the trailer portion of a semi- trailer or articulated transport vehicle. The substructure is in this instance provided with road wheels adjacent the rear end, that is the access ramp end of the wash station. The control and filtration unit in this embodiment may be mounted on the forward raised portion of the trailer. In Use

In use, a transporting vehicle 16 (as shown in Figure 1) delivers a mobile wash facility 12 to a selected location and unloads the wash station by one of the mechanisms described above. Electric power may be connected to the wash station where this is available. Alternatively, power may be supplied from a small generator pack, either contained within the module 140 or transported with the wash station when required.

Where the ground is sloping or uneven, the hydraulic jacks 30 described above are activated to level the wash station. Hydraulic rams (not shown) lower the access ramp

26, and partially lower the side elements 22 and 24, sufficient to allow the insertion of support posts 38 into support structures 34. The sheet of shade cloth or other suitable material 40 is then attached to the outer ends of the posts 38 and the side elements lowered to their full extent, thereby stretching taut the covering shade cloth or other suitable material. Side curtains may now also be attached as described above. As well as providing shade and protection the covering aids in containing overspray of the cleaning liquid thereby minimising loss and any contamination of the surrounding area.

A vehicle to be cleaned may now be driven onto the trafficable grating 54 via access ramp 26 and a normal vehicle washing, vacuuming and polishing process proceed. Liquid, typically water with perhaps an added cleaning agent, is sprayed under high pressure and flows off the vehicle to pass through the grating and thence flow into the first liquid holding tank 46. Liquid loss from _r the system is minimal, but may be replenished with fresh water as required.

The wash station of the invention is compact and integral so as to be readily transportable by means of a transport vehicle. By conforming to the size and configuration of a standard load body or shipping container, the wash station may be transported by a

transport vehicle fitted with one of a number of standard load body or container handling mechanism.

The mobile vehicle wash " facility of the present invention offers a number of advantages over fixed location vehicle wash stations. When demand for vehicle cleaning in a given location is exhausted or too greatly diminished, the wash station is simply readied for transport and moved

• to a new location. Movement between locations may be according to a set itinerary for example, so that motorists in a given area may be made aware that a facility will be available for a given period at a particular location in their area.

A particular advantage is that the vehicle wash facility may be situated at a location where the vehicle's owner or driver may. pursue other .leisure or useful activities without having to waste time waiting for the vehicle to be washed. Thus for example, a facility may be installed at a golf course or other sporting venue, or at a shopping mall, Another advantage of the present invention is that liquid management is within a virtually closed system with no water being discharged to sewer, all water used within the system being recycled through the filtration module. From time to time, part of grating 54 and the mesh cover 56 of first liquid holding tank 46 may be removed and sludge and accumulated solids cleared from the tank.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.