US3297257A

US3297257A - Pressurized washing and rinsing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3297257A
Application number: US433293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roser George Henry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-02-17
Filing date: 1965-02-17
Publication date: 1967-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-10

Description

Jan. 10, 1967 e. H. ROSER PRESSURIZED WASHING AND RINSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17. 1965 INVENTOR George H. Roser BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,297,257 PRESSURIZED WASHING AND RINSING APPARATUS George Henry Roser, 801 Crescent Drive, Boulder, Colo. 80302 Filed Feb. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 433,293 1 Claim. (Cl. 239310) This invention relates to washing apparatus and more particularly to car washing apparatus in which a stream of high pressure air is selectively mixed with a high velocity stream of detergent and water for selectively washing and rinsing.

Included among the objects and advantages of the present invention is a simplified, efiicient, durable wash system for industrial equipment and particularly for washing vehicles. The device includes a detergent supply tank with water and air lines through a valving system for quickly and easily switching from washing detergent to cleansing water. The device of the invention includes a high pressure mixing gun for mixing liquid with high pressure air forming a non-splashing effective spray for washing and rinsing vehicles efiiciently and speedily.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustration in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the equipment showing a mixing gun, detergent tank and air and water lines therefor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the charging side of the detergent holding tank of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tank and v-alving system according to the invention.

In the form of the invention selected for illustration, an enclosed tank is provided with a lower inlet 12 to which is attached a short nipple 14. A valve 16 is mounted on the short nipple and a close nipple 18 is secured on the other side of the valve 16. A T 20 is mounted on the close nipple 18 and a pair of

nipples

22 and 24 is mounted on the free ends of the other ends of the T. A valve 26 is mounted on one side of the T and a valve 28 is mounted on the other side. One valve is the water inlet and the other is the outlet, and as shown the valve 26 is the water inlet. A water conduit line 30 is attached to the valve 26, and only a portion is shown. This line 30 is attached to a cold or hot water outlet. An outlet, flexible line 32 extends from the valve 28 to a gun 34.

A charging valve 40, mounted on the opposite side of said tank, is connected to an opening 42 in the op posite side of the tank, and a short length of pipe 44, with an open end, is attached. to the valve to provide means for charging detergent into the tank. A cross 49 is mounted on an L 46 which in turn is secured in opening 48 in an upper part of the tank above the charging valve 40. An air discharge valve 50 is mounted above and communicates with the cross, and a gauge 52 is mounted on one arm thereof. An air charging valve 54 is mounted on the opposite side of the cross.

A flexible air line 60 is, also, attached to the gun 34 and the two flexible lines provide detergent or water and air under pressure for the gun. The gun mixes the water or detergent solution and air to provide a fine high pressure mist for effectively washing heavy soil and dirt from objects and particularly motor vehicles. The washing of vehicles is normally accomplished by washing with a cold or cool detergent washing solution mixed with air from a gun, and after removal of dirt, then switching to cold water to rinse the vehicle clean. Warm or hot detergent solution may effectively be used to wash greasy industrial equipment.

3,297,257 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 ice The device of the invention is used by initially charging the tank with a detergent, which may either be a liquid detergent or a powder detergent. Sufiicient cleaning agent is added to the tank by charging through the charging valve 40 into the tank. When charging with powder, powder is added with enough liquid to wash the charging inlet clean. The charging valve 40 is closed and the blowotf valve 50 is closed. The outlet valve 28 is closed, and the tank inlet valve 16 is opened. The water line valve 26 is then opened to permit water under pressure to enter the tank at the bottom. The water entering the tank mixes with the detergent. Continued filling of the tank with water increases the pressure in the tank, and water fill is continued until the pressure in the tank reaches about pounds. The tank is only partially filled with water-detergent solution when pressurized to about 80 pounds. The water valve 26 is then closed, and for washing with detergent, the valve 28 is opened. Air is admitted to line 60 and the detergent solution coming in line 32 is mixed with the air in the gun for the washing. When the washing is completed, the valve 16 is closed, cutting off the supply of detergent, and the water line valve 26 is opened so that water is passed through the line 32 to mix with the air in the gun.

In certain instances, it may be necessary to release the pressure on the tank or to repressurize the tank so that the detergent solution will pass from the tank to the gun. For releasing the pressure, the discharge valve 50 may be opened which will relieve the tank of its air pressure. The tank is easily charged by means of the air inlet 54 which is the same type of valve as a tire valve, and the ordinary air line found in service stations may be used to pressurize a tank. The size of the tank 10 determines the amount of detergent to be placed in the tank, the tank being filled to the prescribed level to provide the desired concentration of detergent at the gun for the washing procedure.

The device of the invention is useful for industrial applications and particularly for washing vehicles in service stations and the like. The mixed liquid and air produces a high pressure mist which does not splatter and splash as with a normal washing hose, and the pressurized mist is sufficient to do an effective washing job in a faster manner than an ordinary hose with water under faucet pressure. The gun 34 includes a needle valve 62 for controlling the air to mix with the liquid. The gun 34 also includes a water adjustment 64 for controlling the amount of water that goes through the nozzle. Of course, other types of guns may be used to provide different spray facilities. Various types of cleaning compositions may be used with the tank; in each case the cleaning material should be compatible with the water for the washing.

While the invention has been illustrated with reference to a particular embodiment, there is no intent to limit the spirit or scope of the invention to precise details so set forth, except as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

A system for selectively washing with aqueous detergent solution and water when both are mixed with air comprising:

a tank arranged to be pressurized having a bottom outlet;

a valve having an inlet and an outlet connected to said outlet; a T connected to the opposite side of said valve; a water line connected to said T; first valve means in said water line for selectively opening and closing the same;

a flexible outlet line connected to the opposite side of said T;

second valve means in said outlet line, whereby selective control of said valves permits water to be selectively charged into said tank or passed through said outlet line and aqueous detergent solution may be passed alone from said tank through said outlet line;

a flexible line for air under pressure associated with said outlet line;

mixing means connected to both said air line and said outlet line for mixing liquid with air; and means for descharging mixed liquid and air as a mist from said mixing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1923 Biersdorf 239373 X 1/1943 Johnson 239373 X