GB2181705A - Vehicle washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle washing apparatus comprises a carriage unit (1) having a tricycle arrangement of wheels with a pair of rear wheels (2) and single front wheel (3). A platform (4) is mounted on the carriage and this may include a handle (5) enabling the carriage to be drawn forward which handle may further include control means associated with the drive motors. Mounted on the platform (4) is a water tank (5) and an upstanding post (8) of a hollow construction which carries at an upper end an articulated boom (9) which is pivotable about a coupling (10) for horizontal rotation and about a pivot point (11) for vertical movement. An outlet (12) from tank (5) feeds an electric water pump or pumps (13), the outlet of which feeds via pipe (14) which extends upwardly through the hollow post (8) and thereafter extends from an aperture in the upper end thereof to enter the end of the boom (9). The pipe (14) passes along the boom and feeds water through a flexible hose (15) to the washing attachment (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for washing vehicles This invention relates to an apparatus for washing vehicles and it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which is portable and whichfurthermore can be used for washing a numberofvehicles.

According to this invention there is provided a vehicle washing apparatus comprising a wheeled carriage, a water holding tank mounted on said carriage, a boom articulated to the carriage at its one end, the otherendofthe boom carrying aflexible hosewitha vehicle washing attachmentrwater delivery means tofeed waterfrom thetankalong the boom and through the hose to the attachment.

Preferably the boom is articulated to the top of a post upstanding from the wheeled carriage with a flexiblehosefeedingwaterfromthetankandexten- ding through the post and along the boom to couple with the flexible hose. The end of the flexible hose may include a releasable coupling memberbywhich one of a numberofwashing attachments may befitted. The articulated coupling between the top end of the post and the boom may incorporate a fluid coupling or alternatively a hose passing upwardly through the boom may extend from the top end thereofto pass down the other end ofthe boom to the flexible hose.The water delivery means may comprise an electric pump driven from a power source on the carriage which may comprise a battery or an electrical generator or a combination of both.

In a preferred embodiment a washing liquid dispenser is provided together with a pump or other dosing means whereby a liquid such as detergent or the like cleaning fluid may be proportionately dispensed into the water as it is fed along the hose. With such a construction of apparatus vehicles may be cleanedwhilsttheyare in a car parkforexample and the apparatus may be self-powered so that it can be moved easily from vehicle to vehicle. The power source may be derived from the aforesaid electrical storage battery or from the generator by means of direct or indirect drive means.

The arrangement of the boom enables the washing attachments to be positioned to reach all parts of a vehicle without the requirement to move the whole apparatus during the washing process and without the risk of parts of the hose or the like coming into contact with the vehicle and damaging same.

An embodiment according to the invention is shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows schematically a side view of a washing apparatus, Figure 2 shows the water feed and detergent supply arrangement schematically, Figure 3 shows the washing attachments, and Figure4showsthe apparatus in use.

Figure 5shows a plan view of a further embodiment, and Figure 6is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 5.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings a vehicle washing apparatus comprises a carriage unit 1 having a tricycle arrangement of wheels with a pair of rear wheels 2 and single front wheel 3. The wheel 3 may be steerable and the carriage 1 may incorporate motors orthe like means to drive same. A platform 4 is mounted on the carriage and this may include a handle 5 enabling the carriageto be drawnforward which handle mayfurther include control means associated with the drive motors.

Mounted on the platform4isawatertank5prefer- ably of stainless steel or other rustproof construction and to the rearofthetank5 a storage compartment6 is provided for housing washing attachments and other accessories. The forward end of the carriage contains an electrical storage battery (not shown) together with a generator engine 7. At the extreme forward end ofthe platform 4an upstanding post 8 of hollow construction is mounted and this carries at an upper end an articulated boom 9which is pivotable about a coupling 10 for horizontal rotation and about a pivot point 11 for vertical movement.An outlet 12 from tank 5 feeds an electric water pump or pumps 13, the outlet of which feeds via pipe 14 which ex tends upwardly through the hollow post8 and thereafter extends from an aperture in the upper end thereof to enterthe end of the boom 9. The pipe 14 passes along the boom andfeedswaterthrougha flexible hose 15 to the washing attachment 16.

Also mounted on the carriage is a detergent or the like washing fluid dispenser 17 with an outlet 18 feeding an electric pump 19 serving to deliverfluid along a small diameter hose 20 which passes in proximity to the hose 14to the washing head 16. In an alternat ivearrangementwashing liquid delivered bythe pump 19 may be fed through a proportioning device directly into the flow of water along hose 14. The end of the boom 9 may have a length of flexible hosing 21 which then couples with smaller diameter length of piping 15 through which the hoses 14 and 20 pass.

The boom may be counterbalanced by spring means 22.

Figure 2 shows the arrangement in more detail wherein outlets from the water tankS feed two water pumps 13 and 13a which combine into the water supply hose 14. The pumps shown are supplied by a storage battery 23 which may incorporate speed con trol means 24. Battery 23 also supplies the washing fluid pump 19 and here again speed control means may be provided. The washing attachments may be secured to the end of the hose 15 in a detachable manner as illustrated in Figure 3. In this figure there is illustrated a washing brush 25 which may be detachably connected with the coupling 15a atthe end of the hose 1 5. In addition a high pressure spray gun 26 may be provided together with a brush 27 for washing items on a vehicle such as the wheels.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus in use and as may be seen the carriage unit 1 can be positioned between vehicles V whereby the boom 9 can be pivoted so as to extend in the required direction enabling the washing head 16 to be used as required.

In a typical embodimentthewatertankmayhavea capacity of some 500 litres and the two water pumps are provided, one being a main pump and the other a back-up pump. The carriage unit 1 may comprise an electric pedestrian controlled truck which is battery powered and which may be recharged from the gen orator 7 if required. The water pumps 13 may be controlled by micro switches connected to pressure switch units and the overall pressure provided will be similartothatfrom a normal mains water tap. Preferably filters are provided in the water flow and the output hose 14 will be of 30 mm diameter.The cleaning liquid held in tank 17 is fed through the hose 20 which may be of 3 mm diameter and this may conveniently pass through the inside of the water hose 14with the dispensing rate of cleaning fluid being made variable.

Preferably the end of the hose 15 will incorporate a standard water connector 15a thereby enabling a number of commercially available attachments to be connected.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawingsthese show a further embodiment. Referring to these drawings, parts having a similarfunction to those described in conjunction with earlier figures have the same reference numerals and are notfurther referred to.

The construction of Figures 5 and 6 is modified with regard to thefeed pipe 14which isflexibleand extends from the apparatus to pass through the horizontal boom 9 which may be made telescopic through a coupling means 60. A battery compartment 61 may be provided between the wheels 2 and 3. As well asawaterpump 13,a high pressurewashing pump 13a is providedtogetherwith hot water boilers 62 provided within a compartment 63 in the vehicle top structure. Compartments 64 are provided to contain suction cleaning devices 65 or upholstery cleaning means 66. A hot air drying cabinet 67 is provided which includes racks 68 and associated with this cabinet is an air heating means and a blowerfan (not shown).

The front end of the vehicle may include a storage cupboard 69togetherwith control switch gear70 through which the various functions may be operated. In orderto facilitate the cleaning of large vehicles such as vans, foldaway catwalks 71 may be located on one or both sides of the apparatus, these catwalks being dropped down or otherwise extended to enable operating personnel to gain access to a vehicle being cleaned.

The apparatus mayfurther preferably include steam raising equipment to facilitate the steam cleaning of vehicles if required together with a water softening apparatus 72. Washbasin 73 may be prov ided conveniently located atthe rearofthevehicle.

The boom means 9 carrying the washing attachments may be hydraulically or electrically powered and will preferably include a means which ensures thatthe arm cannot contact a vehicle being washed and hence damage it. Means may also be provided to take up any slack on the hose 15.

Claims (15)

1. Avehicle washing apparatus comprising a wheeled carriage, a water holding tank mounted on said carriage, a boom articulated to the carriage at its one end, the other end ofthe boom carrying a flexible hose with a vehicle washing attachment, water de liverymeanstofeedwaterfromthetankalongthe boom and through the hose to the attachment.

2. Avehiclewashing apparatusaccordingto Claim 1,wherein the boom is articulated to the top of a post upstanding from the wheeled carriage with a flexible hose feeding water from the tank and extending through the post and along the boom to couple with the flexible hose.

3. Avehiclewashing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the end oftheflexible hose includes a releasable coupling member by which one of a number of washing attachments may befitted.

4. A vehicle washing apparatus according to Claim2or3wherein the articulated coupling between the top end of the post and the boom incorporates a fluid coupling or alternatively a hose pas sing upwardlythroughtheboom mayextendfrom the top end thereof to pass down the other end ofthe boom to the flexible hose.

5. Avehiclewashingapparatusaccordingtoany preceding claim, wherein the water delivery means comprises an electric pump driven from a power source on the carriage which may comprise a battery or an electrical generator or a combination of both.

6. Avehiclewashing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a washing liquid dispenser is provided together with a pump or other dosing means whereby a liquid such as detergent orthe like cleaning fluid may be proportionately dispensed into the water as it is fed along the hose.

7. Avehicle washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is selfpowered, the power source being derived from an electrical storage battery or from a generator by means of direct or indirect drive means.

8. A vehicle washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a compartment or compartments are provided for housing vacuum cleaning apparatus and/or upholstery cleaning equipment powered from means carried on the apparatus.

9. Avehicle washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein water heating and/or steam raising means are provided, the water heating means preferably comprising an electricthermal storage heater system.

10. Avehiclewashingapparatusaccordingto any preceding claim, wherein a drying cabinet is provided preferably having a hot air circulating means.

11. A vehicle washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the boom and hoses have associated tensioning and retraction means to take up slack and to prevent contact with vehicles.

12. A vehicle washing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a catwalk is provided, preferably folding, to enable large vehicles to be cleaned.

13. Avehiclewashing apparatus accordingto any preceding claim, wherein water softening means is provided.

14. Avehiclewashing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein high pressure water pump means are provided for feeding waterfor washing.

15. Avehiclewashing apparatus constructed and arranged to function as described herein with part icular reference to the drawings.