GB2393377A

GB2393377A - Transportable Washing Apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2393377A
Application number: GB0308554A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peadar Mcenroe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-30
Filing date: 2003-04-14
Publication date: 2004-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-14
Also published as: GB0308554D0; GB2393377B; IE20030569A1

Abstract

A transportable washing apparatus comprises a closed pressurizable tank 1 with a liquid inlet/outlet aperture 5 closed by a valve, a closable air outlet vent 6, and a gas inlet for a pressurizing medium closed by a valve 9. The liquid inlet/outlet aperture 5 is provided adjacent the base of the tank 1 and the gas inlet 9 is located above the level of the air outlet vent 6. Preferably, a pressure gauge 10 and a pressure safety valve 7 are also provided. Advantageously, the tank 1 is a cylindrical tube made from a length of stainless steel pipe. The tube preferably has clamps 12 which may be attached to a vehicle 11. The valve at the liquid inlet/outlet aperture may be a snap-fit connection for a hose attachment, and the gas inlet valve is preferably a spring-loaded needle valve. The air outlet vent has a screw-fitted top. Also claimed is a vehicle to which is attached a transportable washing apparatus.

Description

- 1 - 2393377

TRANSPORTABLE WASHING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a transportable washing apparatus for use in washing down animals, in 5 particular horses, after hacking, field sports, gymkhanas

and the like.

After a horse has been involved in an activity such as hacking, field sports or the like, it is often spattered with

10 mud. While it would be preferable to wash the animal down before it is loaded into a transporting vehicle, such as a horsebox, this is often impractical because no source of running water may be available.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage by providing a transportable washing apparatus which can be attached to a transporting vehicle to provide a ready source of washing water.

20 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a transportable washing apparatus comprising a closed pressurizable tank defining a liquid inlet/outlet aperture closed by a valve, a closable air outlet vent, and a gas inlet for a pressurizing medium closed 25 by a valve, the liquid inlet/outlet being provided adjacent the base of the tank and the gas inlet being located above the level of the air outlet vent.

Preferably, the tank is provided with a safety valve 30 above the level of the air outlet vent.

Preferably also, the tank is provided with a pressure gauge above the level of the air outlet vent.

35 Preferably also, the valve at the liquid inlet/outlet comprises a snapfit connection for a hose attachment, which

- 2 - on attachment automatically opens the valve and on disconnection automatically closes the valve.

Preferably also, the valve at the gas inlet comprises a 5 spring-loaded needle valve.

Preferably also, the air outlet vent can be manually opened or closed by the removal or fitment of a screw-fitted cap. Preferably also, the tank comprises a cylindrical tube, which in use is orientated with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical. Advantageously, the tank is made of stainless steel so that it does not rust. The tank may also 15 be provided with a liquid immersion heater.

Preferably also, the tube is provided with top and bottom clamps which can be secured to brackets to enable it to be attached to the body of a vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle to which is secured a transportable washing apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a horsebox.

Advantageously, the tank is provided with top and bottom clamps secured to brackets provided on the exterior of the vehicle at a location wherein the tank rests on a tow bar of 30 the vehicle.

The various aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- 3 - Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a transportable washing apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus shown in 5 Fig. 1 when mounted on a vehicle.

With reference to the drawings, a transportable washing apparatus comprises a tank 1 made from a length of metal pipe 2, which is capped by top and bottom blank end caps 3 and 4 10 respectively. Conveniently, the pipe 2 has been cut from standard stainless steel, 200 mm diameter dairy piping. A suitable pipe length is 2100 mm but this can be varied dependent on the application. A tank 1 of the specified size and adapted as indicated below, can hold approximately 51.5 15 litres of washing liquid water, which is approximately 11.3 imperial gallons. Stainless steel piping is preferable to other forms of piping because it will not rust and the dairy piping indicated has sufficient strength to withstand the pressures involved in the apparatus and is not easily dented 20 by accidental blows.

The tank 1 is provided with three apertures to which projecting sockets 5, 6, 7 are welded. The first aperture and socket 5 is provided close to the bottom of the tank 1, 25 preferably no more than 50 mm above the base end cap 4, and comprises a liquid inlet/outlet aperture. The socket 5 is fitted with a spring-loaded valve (not shown) which preferably comprises a snap-fit connection for a hose attachment similar to those used in standard garden hose 30 fittings so that on attachment of a hose connector the valve is automatically opened the valve and on disconnection of the hose connector the valve is automatically closed.

The second aperture and socket 6 is provided 35 approximately 1640 mm from the base of the tank 1 and comprises an air vent. The socket 6 has an exterior screw

- 4 thread at its end so that the vent can be closed by a screw cap 8.

The third aperture and socket 7 is provided 5 approximately 1780 mm from the base end cap 4 of the tank 1, which is above the level of the air outlet vent, and is provided with a pressure safety valve that can withstand pressures within the tank 1 of up to 8 bar.

10 A fourth aperture is cut into the pipe 2 approximately 1830 mm from the base cap 4 of the tank 1. This aperture is fitted with a gas inlet valve 9, preferably in the form of a spring-loaded needle valve similar to those used in vehicle Lyres. Such a valve 9 will permit passage of gas both into 15 and out of the tank 1 but is primarily provided in order that the tank 1 can be pressurized with a gaseous medium, typically air once it has been filled to an appropriate level with a washing liquid, as described below. The provision of a standard needle valve 9 similar to those used in vehicle 20 Lyres enables the tank 1 to be pressurized using the compressed air supplies readily available at garages and on petrol station forecourts. However, other conventional means of gas supply can be used, such as a foot-pump.

25 A pressure gauge 10 is also fitted to the tank 1 via an aperture cut into the pipe 2 approximately 1720 mm from the base end cap 4 of the tank 1.

In order that the tank 1 can be attached to the body of 30 a vehicle such as a horsebox 11 or similar, as shown in Fig. 2, the tube 2 is provided with top and bottom clamps 12 which can be secured to brackets 13 provided at a convenient position on the vehicle 11. Preferably, the brackets 13 are provided on the exterior of the vehicle and if the horsebox 35 11 is of the trailer type, are preferably located at the front of the vehicle so that the tank 1 can be located and

- 5 rest on the vehicle's tow bar 14. It will thus be appreciated that, in use, the pipe 2 is orientated with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical.

5 In a modification, the tank 1 may also be provided with an immersion heater (not shown) either to heat washing liquid contained within it or to prevent pre-heated liquid from cooling down. Such a heater may comprise a conventional water immersion heater which can be electrically powered via a 10 battery, such as that of the transporting vehicle.

Alternatively, a heating exchanger coil (not shown) could be provided within the tank 1 and plumbed into the transporting vehicle's watercooling system via the radiator. As the liquid is to be used for washing down animals, it is not 15 necessary for it to be heated to any high temperatures, blood heat being the most suitable.

In use, the cap 8 is removed from the air vent socket 6 and the tank 1 is filled with a washing liquid up to the 20 level of the air vent. This can be accomplished either by feeding a hose through the air vent socket 6 or by attaching a hose to the valve in the socket 5 using a standard a snap-

fit hose connector. Liquid, typically water, can then be pumped into the bottom of the tank 1, for example directly 25 from a tap. It is expected that for most purposes, water alone will be used to fill the tank 1 but it would be possible to add into the water a soap or shampoo product if required. Once the water level has reached the level of the air vent socket 6, the water supply can be cut off and the 30 socket 6 tightly closed using the cap 8. The tank 1 should then be pressurized with a gaseous medium, preferably compressed air by attaching a source of compressed gas to the gas inlet valve 9. The tank 1 should be pressurized to approximately 7 bar. The pressure gauge 10 can be used to 35 ensure that the tank 1 is adequately pressurized and the

- 6 - safety valve will prevent any excess pressurization by venting gas from the tank 1 if necessary.

Once pressurized, the tank 1 can be transported into the 5 field, as required. It can then be used to provide a ready

supply of pressurized washing liquid when required simply by attaching a conventional hose and spray gun attachment to the socket 5. Such liquid can be conveniently used to wash down horses or other animals, such as dogs, after field sports,

10 gymkhanas and the like in locations where there is no readily available supply of running water.

Claims

- 7 - CLAI MS

1. A transportable washing apparatus comprising a closed pressurizable tank defining a liquid inlet/outlet aperture 5 closed by a valve, a closable air outlet vent, and a gas inlet for a pressurizing medium closed by a valve, the liquid inlet/outlet aperture being provided adjacent the base of the tank and the gas inlet being located above the level of the air outlet vent.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tank is

provided with a safety valve above the level of the air outlet vent.

15 3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the tank is provided with a pressure gauge above the level of the air outlet vent.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein 20 the valve at the liquid inlet/outlet aperture comprises a snap-fit connection for a hose attachment, which on attachment automatically opens the valve and on disconnection automatically closes the valve.

25 5. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the valve at the gas inlet comprises a spring-loaded needle valve. 6. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein 30 the air outlet vent can be manually opened or closed by the removal or fitment of a screw-fitted cap.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the tank comprises a cylindrical tube, which in use is 35 orientated with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical.

- 8 - 8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the tube is provided with top and bottom clamps which can be secured to brackets to enable it to be attached to the body of a vehicle. 9. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the tank is provided with a liquid immersion heater.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein 10 the tank is made of stainless steel.

11. A transportable washing apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A vehicle to which is secured a transportable washing apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11.

13. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 11, comprising a horsebox.

14. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the tank is provided with top and bottom clamps secured to brackets provided on the exterior of the vehicle at a location wherein the tank rests on a tow bar of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.