AU624656B2 - Cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 T STR P r T F T A T N C M P T.

1 FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: JAMES NORMAN LEAHY Address of Applicant: 6 Eighth Avenue, Jannali, New South Wales 2226, Australia Actual Inventor: James Norman Leahy Address for Service: SHELSTON WATERS, 55 Clarence Street, Sydney Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "CLEANING EQUIPMENT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known me:- (Complete of PJ1748 dated 2nd December, 1988) 1 so II 17u3 30/ I I /1E%

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The present invention relates to cleaning equipment and more particularly to equipment using a high pressure fluid to clean.

A problem with present cleaning equipment, particularly in relation to cleaning of vehicles such as refrigerated food carrying vehicles, is that the cleaning equipment is normally fixed in location. This requires the vehicle to be driven to the location of the cleaning equipment which may be unsatisfactory if the facilities are unavailable where required or a considerable distance from the point of need. One typical example relates to the conveying of meat from remote country abbatoirs. The vehicle is usually required by Government Health Regulations to be cleaned thoroughly between loads. As 15 suitable cleaning facilities are not always available in remote locations or those fucilities available are a a unsuitable for adequate cleaning of the vehicle, the a a vehicle must either be used in an unsatisfactory condition, driven to a location having suitable cleaning o, 20 equipment or the load refused.

The present invention seeks to overcome or at least ameliorate these problems by providing cleaning equipment which can be attached to the vehicle and used when and where required.

The present invention, provides a cleaning apparatus for attachment to a power take-off of a vehicle gearbox, said cleaning apparatus comprising a high pressure positive displacement pump having inlet means connected 2

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to a supply of cleaning fluid and outlet means for delivery of said cleaning fluid under pressure, said pump being selectively and drivably coupleable to said power For preference, the apparatus is mounted in a frame or housing attachable to said vehicle gearbox.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a simplified plan view of the 10 apparatus according to the invention; and a Figure 2 shows a meter and access panel layout for Suse with the invention of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view showing a first embodiment ^oo* of a housing for the apparatus of figure 1 according to the invention; o Figure 4 is a side elevation of the housing of So figure 3; o Figure 5 is a left hand end elevation of the housing of figure 3; Figure 6 is a right hand end elevation of the housing of figure 3; Figure 7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment -of a housing according to the invention; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the housing of figure 7; Figure 9 is a left hand end elevation of the housing of figure 7; and Figure 10 is a right hand end elevation of the houjing of figure 7.

-3fllP M^ tl -3- Referring to the drawings, the cleaning apparatus comprises a housing or frame 5 for mounting the apparatus to the gearbox 6 of the vehicle. A standard power take-off 7 is coupled to the gearbox d ives a high pressure positive displacement pump 8 through a drive coupling 9. The power take-off 7 is selectively disengageable from the gearbox 6 by means of an electrically operated solenoid device (not shown) which may be coupled to a control panel located in the vehicle driver's cabin.

A pressure gauge 10 and snap-on hose fittings 11, 12, as shown in Figure 2, may be located in an easily usable and accessible position. These fittings provide for connection of a fluid supply to the apparatus either So o from an external source and/or a container on the vehicle Soa oo and the connection of a high pressure hose 13 and spray orjet cleaning gun to the output of the pump 8. The ingoing supply fitting 11 is preferably provided with a one-way safety valve 14 to prevent pressure blow-back from the pump 8 to the supply source. Pump pressures typically o"*a used are between 1000 6000 p.s.i.

It will be appreciated that the cleaning apparatus spray may be used in a variety of applications where a portable high pressure cleaning system is required. These include truck cleaning, internal cleaning of food carrying 0 9 vehicles, driveway cleaning, roof cleaning, stone 4 0 cleaning, drain cleaning, degreasing, abbatoir cleaning, boat cleaning, aircraft cleaning, swimming pool cleaning, 4 t ifuel tank cleaning, hatchery cleaning etc.

The apparatus may be attached to any vehicle with standard power take-off facilities.

The cleaning fluid used by the apparatus would typically be water, however mixtures of detergents or other cleaning agents may be used according to the particular required application. The cleaning fluid may be provided to the pump from an external source or from a storage supply on the vehicle.

The vehicle engine speed and thus pump pressure may also be controlled from a location adjacent the outlet of the pump.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art S that further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the oo invention described.

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Claims (10)

1. 2. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a frame adapted for attachment to said vehicle gearbox.
2. 3. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 a a wherein the pump is selectively disengageable from the a gearbox by means of an electrically operable solenoid O assembly.
3. 4. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the o preceding claims wherein said inlet means and said outlet a o a a.a means include snap-on hose fittings. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the o preceding claims and further including a pressure gauge o ang to provide an indication of the pressure of said cleaning fluid downszream of said pump.
4. 6. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cleaning fluid is supplied from an external source.
5. 7. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said cleaning fluid is supplied from a reservoir on the vehicle. 6 •AL 41/ r 02
6. 8. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and further including one way valve means associated with said pump inlet means to prevent pressure blow-back from the pump to the supply of cleaning fluid.
7. 9. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cleaning fluid is water. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cleaning fluid is a mixture of detergents and water.
8. 11. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the o 00 preceding claims and further comprising control means o 4 permitting selective adjustment of the pump pressure from oo r\ °a location adjacent an outlet of the pump. 000 0 Do"o 12. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said outlet means is connected with high pressure nozzle means to direct the flow of said cleaning fluid. o 0
9. 13. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pump delivery pressure is between 1000 psi and about 6000 psi.
10. 14. A cleaning apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings t DATED this 12th day of March 1992 JAMES NORMAN LEAHY Attorney: PETER HEATHCOTE Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS 7- i-