GB2515103A

GB2515103A - Fluid run-off capture apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2515103A
Application number: GB201310633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harsimranjit Singh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-14
Filing date: 2013-06-14
Publication date: 2014-12-17
Also published as: GB201310633D0

Abstract

Fluid capture apparatus, for capturing fluid run-off from a vehicle whilst being washed, is shown generally at 10, and a vehicle to be washed is shown at 12. The apparatus is in two parts, each of which comprises a substantially laminar substrate 14 of plastics material, and an upstanding perimeter wall 16 which extends all the way around the substrate close to, or at, a perimeter edge thereof, and which in the preferred embodiment is integrally formed therewith. The two parts are shaped so as to be positionable beneath the vehicle 12. The substrate parts 14 include recessed portions 14a for accommodating road wheels of the vehicle 12 when they are placed beneath the vehicle. The two parts may be connected together at the front and rear by clips 18. The perimeter wall 16 may be partly inflatable and may be detachable from the substrate. In use, the apparatus substrate 14 is located under substantially the entirety of the perimeter of the vehicle. A method of use is also claimed.

Description

FLUID RUN-OFF CAPTURE APPARATUS AND NIETHOD

The present invention relates to a fluid run-off capture apparatus and to a method of capturing fluid run-off, and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with apparatus and a method of capturing water and other fluid that runs off a vehic].e during washing.

A nunther of different apparatus exists in the prior art for washing vehicles, such as cars or trucks. Some systems employ sophisticated machinery to clean the vehicle at a specialised site comprising a structure having automated or semi-auLomabod brushes and water jets, through which the vehicle is either driven, or else which is configured to travel over the vehicle whilst it remains stationary.

This kind of installation is permanent and includes built-in drainage to ensure that the water that runs off the vehicle, which may carry foam and may have washing chemicals dissolved therein, is properly captured and does not become an environmental hazard.

In recent times another type of vehicle wash has become more popular, in which a tenporary, or semi-permanent washing station is set up at a location such as a car park of a supermarket. Such washing stations typical iy include one or more pressuriscd hoses and rely upon existing drainage, with no effort to contain the contaminated wash fluid once it has run off the vehicle. 311]

Some prior systems attempt to capture the run off by siting the vehicle on a specialised platform which is arranged to capture the run-off.

However, a key attraction of such temporary wash stations is that customers are able to leave their vehicles to be washed whilst they go shopping. Typically the vehicles are left in a designated part of the car park and are washed where they stand. If the vehicles have to be moved to a dedicated area to be washed the owners are required to leave Lheir vehicl.e keys with an operative, which Lhey may be reluctant to do.

The present invention aims to provide a fluid run-off capture apparatus and method which at least partly addresses this problem.

The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims, to which reference should now be made.

Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided fluid capture apparatus for capturing fluid run-oft from a vehicle, comprising a substrate shaped so as to be positionable at least partly beneath a vehicTLe to capture fluid run off from a peripheral region of the vehicle.

Preferably the substrate is shaped so as to fit at least partly around at least one road wheel of a vehicle.

The substrate preferably comprises two or more parts, each being positionable at least partly beneath a part of the vehicle.

In a preferred arrangement at least some of the parts are connectable together.

Preferably the substrate comprises a substanti.aJ.ly upstanding perimeter wai.J..

The perimeter wall may he integral. with the substrate.

alternatively the wall may be deLachable [rora The substraLc. The wall and/or the substrate may be at least partly inflatable. The wall and/or the substrate may be rigid, or semi-rigid, and may comprise foam or plastics material -In a preferred arrangement the apparatus comprises at least one outlet for fluid, which outlet may be closeable.

The substrate may be adjustable in size so as to accommodate vehicles of different length and/or width.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of capturing fluid run-off from a peripheral region of a vehicle without moving the vehicle, the method comprising positioning a fluid-capturing substrate at least partly beneath the vehicle, The method may include positioning a substrate at least partly beneath the vehicle, which substrate is shaped so as to fit at least partly around at least one road wheel of the vehicle.

In a preferred arrangement, the method includes positioning two or more parts of the substrate at least partly beneath the vehicle. The method may include joining or connecting the parts together.

The invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein, except such a combination of features as are mutually exclusiiie, or mutually inconsistent.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. By way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in plan view a fluid capture apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a first configuration; Figure 2 shows in plan view the fluid capture apparatus of Figure 1 in an alternative configuration.

Figure 3 is a schematic view from the front and one side of the apparatus of Figures 1. and 2; and Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of Figures 1-3. 3(3

Turning to Figure 1, this shows in plan view a preferred embodiment of fluid capture apparatus in a first configuration, prior to use. The apparatus is shown generally at 10, and a vehicle to be washed is shown at 12.

The apparatus is in two parts, each of which comprises a substantially laminar substrate 14 of plastics material, and an upstanding perimeter wall 16 which extends all the way around the substrate close to, or at, a perimeter edge thereof, and which in this preferred arrangement is integra].ly formed therewith. In this example the wail. 16 has a height of approximately 10 cm, but other heights of wall may be used, depending upon the circumstances, such as the volume of water to be captured or contained.

The two parts 14 are shaped so as to be positionabie beneath the vehicle 12. In particular, the substrate parts 14 include recessed portions 14a for accommodating road wheels of the vehicle 12 when they are placed beneath the vehicle.

Arrows A show the direction in which the parts 14 should be slid underneath the vehicle 12 prior to use.

Figure 2 shows the apparatus in a second, opcrativc configuration. The vehicle now shown in broken lines so that the apparatus 10 can be seen clearly, The two parts have been slid underneath the vehicle 12 and joined at the front and rear, using clips 18.

Road wheels 12a of the vehicle 12 have been accommodated n the recesses 14a of the substrate 14, so that the substrate is located under substantially the entirety of the perimeter of the vehicle.

When the apparatus has been configured as shown in Figure 2 any run-off fluid from the vehicle during washing, for example water and cleaning product, will fall from the periphery of the vehicle and land on the substrate 14. The perimeter wall 16 prevents fluid leaving the substrate, so that it becomes contained thereon. Outlet valves, represented at 20, are provided on each of the substrate portions to allow controlled collection of the contaminated run-off fluid, which can then be disposed of in an approved manner, or which may be cleaned and recycled.

The apparatus is portable and can be placed under a stationary vehicle without the need for the vehicle to be Moved. The apparabus nay be rolled up or folded for storage and/or transportation. It may then be deployed by unrolling or unfolding, prior to sliding or otherwise positioning under a vehicle to be washed.

2U Figures 3 and 4 show the apparatus in alternative views, in an operative configuration beneath a car to be washed.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the perimeter side wall 16 comprises an inflatable element, which can be inflated either prior to, or after, the substrate 14 is slid under the vehicle.

The exaimpe shown is of a two-part substrate. however, a single substrate could be used on a part of the vehicle, if only a portion of the vehicle is to be washed at a time.

Alternatively, the substrate could comprise more than two parts, which may be arranged to connect together as necessary to ensure that the complete periphery of the vehicle is accormnodated.

Similarly, whilst the example shows two parts which are slid underneath from the sides of the vehicle, the parts could instead be slid underneath from the front and rear of the vehicle.

In a further alternative embodiment (not shown) the sabstrate 14 could be adjustable in size, for example to accommodate vehfcies of different length or width. This could be achieved by providing two or more substrate parts 14 that are capable of cooperating so as to cover different long Lhs or widths ci vehicle.

S

However, the apparatus need not be an exact fit for the footprint of the vehicle, and accordingly the apparatus may be provided in one general size for accommodating a range of common vehicle sizes, or else several sizes of apparatus may be provided for accommodating different ranges of vehicles.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention bel. i.eved to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features referred to herein, and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Fluid capture apparatus for capturing fluid run-off from a vehicle, comprising a substrate shaped so as to be positionable at least partly beneath a vehicle to capture fluid run off from a peripheral region of the vehicle.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to fit at least partly around at least ono road wheel of a vehicle.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein Lhc substrate comprises two or more parts, each being positionable at least partly beneath a parL of the vehicle.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein at least some of the parts are connectable.
5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the substrate comprises a substantially upstanding perimclcr wall.
6. pparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the permeter wall is integral, with the substrate.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the wall is detachable from the substrate.
8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the wall is at least partly inflatable.S
9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one outlet for fluid.
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate is adjustable in size so as to accommodate vehicles of different length and/or width.
11. A method of capturing fluid run-off from a peripheral region of a vehicle without moving the vehicle, the method comprising positioning a fluid-capturing substrate at least partly beneath the ichiclc.
12. 11 method according to Claim 11, wherein the method includes positioning a substrate at least partly beneath the vehicle, which substrate is shaped so as to fit at least partly around at least one road wheel of the vehicle.
13. A method according to Claim 11 or 123, wherein the method includes positioning two or more parts of the substrate at least partly beneath the vehicle.
14. A method according to Claim 13, including joining or connecting the parts together.