WO2005002936A1

WO2005002936A1 - Washing underside of vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2005002936A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2004/000143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Trevor Ensor; Trevor Herman Jans
Original assignee: Michael Trevor Ensor; Trevor Herman Jans
Priority date: 2003-06-27
Filing date: 2004-07-02
Publication date: 2005-01-13
Also published as: AU2004100521A4; NZ526773A

Abstract

A boat carried on a trailer has its underside or hull cleaned of salt water, organic matter, etc. by driving a vehicle hauling the trailer through a treatment station. Nozzles (3) arranged on one or more transverse U-shaped tubing (2) spray fluid onto the underside of the boat as the vehicle is slowly driven through. The station may have coin-freed activation means (1) and catchment area (4) for treatment fluid.

Description

WASHING U1\DERSIDE OF VEHICLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of vehicles.

In particular this invention may provide an apparatus for the treatment of water vehicles.

Furthermore, this invention may preferably be used to wash water vehicles (such as boats) while being towed by another vehicle, although this should not be seen to be limiting as the apparatus could also be used for the treatment of land based vehicles if required.

BACKGROUND ART

Vehicles that travel on land or water can pick up a large amount of detritus while in transit. This detritus can include mud, insects, organic matter, and even small animals or fish.

It is often not desirable to allow for the transfer of such material from one region to another. By way of example, in a recent foot and mouth outbreak in the United Kingdom, vehicles were sanitised after each farm visit. This was particularly essential for vehicles belonging to veterinarians or the like where cars were driven from farm to farm. The vehicles were cleaned using high-pressure spray hoses in combination with disinfectant. Some vehicles were taken to local car washes. The British Cattle Veterinary Association recommended at the time that car washes with under car washing be especially sought out and used to clean the vehicles. In the case of water borne vehicles such as boats, the transfer of certain types of water borne weeds are not desirable. In New Zealand, there are a number of aquatic pests including both plants and fish.

A number of the rivers in New Zealand are prone to invasion by introduced plant pests. The oxygen weeds Lagarosiphon and Egeria are among the most established plant invaders along with curly pond weed, water buttercup and horn wart. These plants grow beneath the water surface, sometimes up to six meters tall and crowd out native plants.

Both outboard engines or jet systems are liable to pick up weed, fry or eggs in the propeller or engine system. When the boat is removed from the water those items are then transported with the boat to the next place of use, which may be a lake that is not already infected with those materials. Most boat owners wash their boats on return home; however often the distance between the lake or river where the boat has been used and home is a considerable distance. In that travel distance, weed or the like may flick off the boat and be caught in a run off system and therefore transferred to another water way.

Some boat ramps have hoses available to allow boat owners to hose down boats or other waterborne vehicles before leaving a region. While this is useful, it is time consuming and still does not guarantee that all areas of the boat are hosed down.

It would be an advantage to have an apparatus that allowed for the fast and effective removal of contaminants from a vehicle by a user.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a treatment apparatus adapted to execute a treatment process in relation to a vehicle

wherein the treatment apparatus is adapted to selectively treat at least one region of said vehicle. In some embodiments the vehicle may include trucks, cars, buses, vans, utility vehicles, motorbikes, boats, jet skis or the like.

Where the type of vehicle to be treated is a water borne vehicle, it should be appreciated that such a vehicle may be located on a transportation system such as a trailer or the like.

In preferred embodiments, the vehicle to be treated may be a boat or water borne vehicle secured to a trailer.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a treatment apparatus as described above wherein the treatment process includes the application of at least one treatment fluid to said vehicle.

It should be appreciated that the treatment apparatus may be used to apply at least one treatment fluid to a vehicle in order to provide for the removal of unwanted material, be that material dirt, detritus, living matter or the like.

It should be appreciated that the term 'treatment fluid' can include liquid foam or gas and as such, the apparatus may be configured to transfer what ever fluid is intended for use in the apparatus.

In some embodiments the treatment fluid or fluids to be applied may include water, a combination of water with disinfectant, antibacterial agent, or detergent, high pressure air or foam, although these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

In preferred embodiments the treatment fluid may be water.

Reference throughout the specification will now be made to water as the treatment fluidi although this should not be seen to be limiting in any way as one skilled in the art would realise that other treatment fluids are available.

It should be appreciated that while the majority of the specification will relate to the application of a treatment fluid to a selected region of a vehicle to be treated, the application of that fluid may be by various means including mechanical agitation in the form or brushes or other physical means, or by spray nozzles or jets, although these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a treatment apparatus as described above wherein the treatment apparatus includes at least one pumping device, at least one fluid transfer apparatus, at least one fluid catchment means, and at least one activator.

It should be appreciated that the intention of the treatment apparatus may be used to treat a vehicle to remove unwanted material or contaminants, such as mud, living organisms or plant life, algae or bacteria, so that the vehicle to be treated has the treatment applied to a selected area only.

The application of a treatment to a selected area is highly advantageous when looking to provide an effective selective decontamination or cleaning apparatus to a boat or open topped vehicle for example. When an applied treatment fluid consists of or includes water, it may not be ideal to have water applied to the top or open side of a boat, especially if there are non-waterproof fabrics located on the inside of the boat, or exposed electronic systems.

It should however be appreciated that the interior of most small boats are designed to be either water-resistant or water proof. Accordingly, a number of boat owners do apply water to the inside of boats to wash off sea spray or the like. As such, the fluid transfer device may be configured to provide the treatment fluid to the desired regions of the vehicle to be treated, and this configuration may be adjustable.

In preferred embodiments the treatment apparatus may include at least two fluid transfer apparatus spaced apart from one another.

In such instances, the treatment apparatus may also include either an enlarged fluid catchment means, or two separate fluid catchment means.

In should be appreciated that in the instance that the treatment apparatus includes at least two fluid transfer apparatus, at least one of the fluid transfer apparatus may be for the transfer of treatment fluid such as detergent or disinfectant or the like, and the second fluid transfer apparatus may be for the transfer of a rinsing fluid, such as water, although these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

It should further be appreciated that the treatment fluids may be applied substantially consecutively, or substantially simultaneously to the vehicle's selected region or regions.

The term 'selected area' in accordance with the present invention should be understood to mean an area of a vehicle that may be exposed to a contaminant or may be likely to harbour contaminants.

In some embodiments the selected area, when discussed in relation to a boat, may include the hull, motor and sides of the boat, those areas being the portions of the boat directly or indirectly in contact with water.

In other embodiments however, the selected area to be treated may also include the upper side of a boat, including the front windscreen, exposed interior and upper decking, as these regions are subject to splash, or contamination by the tracking on of water from the boat owner or user, although it should be appreciated that these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

The selected area when referring to vehicles other than those that are water vehicles, should be understood to refer to those regions that may be exposed to contaminants such as mud, organic matter, water or algae, although these also are listed by way of example and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

In some embodiments the fluid transfer apparatus may include ducting or a series of tubes that are configured to allow the transfer of fluid under a high pressure. The fluid may then be released from the fluid transfer apparatus via a series of nozzles, holes, one way flow valves or the like, although these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

In some embodiments the fluid transfer apparatus may include tubing that includes at least one nozzle.

In other embodiments, the fluid transfer apparatus may include more than one shaped tubing, each tubing piece including at least one nozzle.

However, in a preferred embodiment the fluid transfer apparatus may include three or more nozzles.

In further preferred embodiments, each nozzle may be configured to spray the treatment fluid at a desired angle or orientation so as to provide a wide coverage area to the vehicle to be treated. In some preferred embodiments, a plurality of nozzles may be spaced along a tubing line in an array configured to provide significant application of a fluid to a wide area of the selected region.

In further preferred embodiments, nozzles may be spaced to provide significant application of a fluid to the underside, sides, upper regions and rear of a vehicle. Such a configuration would have the advantage of, in the example of a boat, providing treatment fluid to all regions of the boat that may have been in contact with the lake, river or sea water.

In further embodiments, the fluid transfer apparatus may be configured to be extendable or retractable to provide r the treatment of ehicles_ of varying heights. In some instances the height of the fluid transfer apparatus may extend^ to three meters or more on either side, however it should be appreciated that this' height will vary with the type of vehicle to be treated, ,aj,d is capable of being, adjusted as required. This has the advantage of allowing the selected region to be treated to be changeable with the dimensions of the vehicle to be treated. This is an advantage in that if the region to be treated is larger or smaller than normal, adjustments can be made to the treatment apparatus to compensate for this.

In other embodiments the fluid transfer apparatus may be configured to accept an extension section or sections so that the selected region for treatment may be varied according to the configuration of the vehicle to be treated.

In preferred embodiments, the fluid transfer apparatus may be configured to provide nozzles underneath and on upright opposing sides of the vehicle to be treated, although this is listed by way of example only, as a configuration of tubing and nozzles may vary depending on vehicles to be treated and could also include multiple uprights and ground tubing configurations, or as discussed earlier, separate fluid transfer apparatus with varying treatment fluids.

In some embodiments, the fluid transfer apparatus can include a telescoping portion or capability for the addition of further tubing that may allow a user to deliberately extend the fluid treatment apparatus to allow the fluid expelled from the fluid transfer apparatus to enter the upper side of the vehicle to be treated. The ability to adjust the height of the fluid treatment apparatus to vary the height of any side nozzles or jets may allow a user to apply the treatment to the inside of, for example, a boat, where a number of boats are designed to have water or the like applied to the interior anyway. This would allow a boat owner or user to also clean or decontaminate the inside of the boat (where the boat was of an open configuration) when the exterior was being treated, a further advantage over the present art.

In some embodiments, the fluid transfer apparatus may be adapted to be moved along a predetermined track or path. This movement would have the advantage of allowing a vehicle to be held in a stationary position inside the treatment apparatus treatment zone and the fluid transfer apparatus could then move along the track, applying treatment to a vehicle as it moved.

In other embodiments, the fluid transfer apparatus may be located in a fixed position and the vehicle to be treated can be moved past the apparatus. One advantage of providing the fluid transfer apparatus in a fixed position is that manufacture and installation of the apparatus may be simple and the speed of movement of a vehicle being treated through the apparatus determined by the person using the apparatus.

In further embodiments, as discussed earlier, there may be two fluid transfer apparatus located some distance apart from each other, but in a fixed position and the vehicle to be treated can be moved past each fluid transfer apparatus. This configuration has the advantage of allowing a treatment to be applied, and a rinse to follow, although this is listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

In other embodiments, a single fluid transfer apparatus may be configured to varying fluid treatments, particularly in the embodiment where the fluid transfer apparatus is adapted to be moved along a predetermined path or track. In such an embodiment a treatment fluid such as detergent could be applied, followed some time later by a rinse fluid such as water, although again this is listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

It should be appreciated that the fluid transfer apparatus may be connected to a pumping device and a fluid reservoir. The treatment fluid may be stored or temporarily held in the fluid reservoir before being transferred to the fluid transfer apparatus. The fluid reservoir may include a holding tank, lake or river although these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting. It should be appreciated however that any fluid taken from a river or lake may be filtered to remove detritus or material that the treatment apparatus aims to remove from vehicles to be treated.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the fluid transferred from the reservoir to the treatment apparatus may have additives added at any point. Further additives such as antibacterial agents, sterilising agents or flocculants may be added to the treatment fluid after removal from the reservoir, but prior to being pumped into the treatment apparatus. This has the advantage of allowing the treatment fluid to be selected by a user prior to treatment. The pumping device to be used in combination with the reservoir and fluid transfer apparatus may include a standard pump, powerful enough to provide a pressure sufficient to remove material from a vehicle and may be powered from a generator or mains supply. Such a pump appropriate for use with the above described fluid treatment apparatus would be known to those skilled in the art.

An advantage of the present invention is that a vehicle may be selectively treated by a fluid treatment apparatus where a fluid is selectively applied to the vehicle by a series of jets from a water transfer apparatus. The fluid may be pumped from a reservoir or nearby fluid source and applied under sufficient pressure to remove any unwanted material. This apparatus has the advantage of allowing, for example, a boat decontaminating apparatus to be constructed near the entry and exit points of a boat ramp of marina to allow boat owners or users to decontaminate boats prior to entry to or exit from the water. Such a treatment may reduce the transfer of unwanted materials such as oxygen weed, fish or algae between lakes, rivers or the sea.

In some embodiments the pressure required to pump the treatment fluid through the treatment apparatus to the vehicle being treated may be in the range of 50 to 1600psi, although this should not be seen to be limiting in any way, as one skilled in the art would recognise that a wide range of pressures may be applicable, depending on the vehicle to be treated.

In preferred embodiments, the pressure required to pump the treatment fluid through the treatment apparatus to the vehicle being treated may be in the range of 80 to 800psi.

It should further be appreciated that the fluid treatment apparatus may be_.. positioned over a catchment region which may be configured to allow any fluid landing on it to be directed to a catchment tank, although it should be appreciated that this catchment region relates to the embodiment where that fluid may be a liquid.

In preferred embodiments the catchment region may be a concrete pad configured to provide a drainage means where the fluid applied to the vehicle may accumulate and drain away.

In further embodiments, the catchment region may include a filtering means, configured to catch or trap any detritus removed from the vehicle being treated.

In preferred embodiments that filtering means may include a grating and water filtration system that is able to be cleaned and monitored by either humans, or by sensors that provide an indication to a monitoring system that the filtering means required cleaning, although this is listed by way of example and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

In further embodiments, the fluid used to treat a vehicle may be filtered through the filtering means and then recycled back into the fluid reservoir, ready for application to another vehicle. Such a recycling system may have the advantage of minimizing the use of the treatment fluid, where that fluid is a liquid. This would be an advantage over the prior art in that, in the embodiment where the treatment fluid were water, the water could be recycled, particularly where the water was allowed to settle prior to reuse, or were filtered or treated prior to reuse.

In other embodiments however, the fluid used to treat a vehicle, where the fluid is water may be filtered through the filtering means and then returned to the river or lake and fresh water taken into the reservoir. Such system would have the advantage of not concentrating the level of algae, bacteria or fry found in the treatment fluid.

In some embodiments the treatment apparatus may include an activator, where the intention of the activator is to initiate the fluid treatment process.

The term 'activator' in accordance with the present invention should be understood to mean a device for the activating or deactivating of a process, device or system. Such activation systems are available to the general public and a general activation system is envisaged by the inventors, however, this should not be seen to be limiting as one skilled in the art would recognise that various activation means may be appropriate for activating the treatment apparatus.

In preferred embodiments the activator may be positioned at some distance away from the treatment apparatus so that, for example, a 4-wheel drive vehicle towing a boat may enter the treatment apparatus, drive through it and allow the driver to trigger the activator without leaving the vehicle. The position of the vehicle towing the boat would be such that the boat would be positioned prior to the treatment apparatus and the vehicle towing the boat position past the treatment apparatus. This would have the advantage of allowing the treatment to be applied to the boat and not to the towing vehicle, meaning that the towing vehicle may not have fluid applied to it.

In some embodiments, the activator may be initiated by the introduction of coins, a prepaid card, tokens or by the pressing of an activation button.

In preferred embodiments, the activator may be initiated by the introduction of a coin or coins into the activation device. In preferred embodiments the activator may be an activation system as known to those skilled in the art and may be coin operated or prepaid card operated or the like, however, these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

It should also be appreciated that the treatment apparatus may include a sensor that senses when the treatment apparatus no longer contains a vehicle to be treated, and may therefore stop the flow of water or treatment fluid to the treatment apparatus.

Furthermore, the activator may also be on a timer, so that water or treatment fluid will only flow for a set period of time and on expiration of that time, the water or treatment fluid will cease to flow, although this is listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the treatment apparatus may also include a remote access device. Such a device is well known to those skilled in the art and would allow a person, computer, or monitoring service of some kind to access the treatment apparatus remotely. This is an advantage as the treatment apparatus may be configured to include multiple sensors that provide an indication of the level of treatment fluid available, an indication of any blockages in the apparatus or the level of other treatment fluid held in a reservoir, although these are listed by way of example only and should not be seen to be limiting in any way.

It should be appreciated also, that where the activation means of the treatment apparatus may be coin operated, sensors may detect when the coin receptacle is full, and the remote access device may then signal to a monitoring service, such as a computer, fax machine or phone messaging system that the coin receptacle is full. It should also be appreciated that such a signal may also be sent when the treatment apparatus encounters other problems or operational errors. As such, the treatment apparatus has the advantage of being low maintenance and capable of signalling for assistance or restocking as required.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treating a vehicle using a treatment apparatus to execute a treatment process

characterised by the steps of a) positioning the vehicle with respect to the treatment apparatus, b) initiating an activating means, c) allowing the treatment process undertake the treatment process, and d) removing the vehicle from the treatment apparatus.

It is an advantage of the present invention that a boat owner or user may remove their boat from the water by running the boat up on to a boat trailer attached to a towing vehicle.

The towing vehicle may then be driven up to the treatment apparatus and the towing vehicle driven across the treatment apparatus and up to the activation means usually positioned on the opposing side of the entry point of the treatment apparatus.

If required, the driver may then exit the vehicle and ensure that the fluid transfer apparatus are situated at the correct height to provide the treatment to the selected regions.

The driver may then activate the treatment apparatus and slowly drive forward, towing the boat through the water jets that have subsequently started to release water at pressure.

Once the boat has been adequately treated, the driver may then drive on, leaving the treatment apparatus free for the next user.

It is an advantage of the present invention that the treatment apparatus may provide a way of avoiding the application of treatment fluid to a towing vehicle. Treatment fluid applied to the underside of a hot engine, brake pads or other undesirable regions of the vehicle may be undesirable. Boats are often heavy, and any subsequent braking of the towing vehicle after the treatment has been applied may result in the partial failure or slow response times.

It is also an advantage of the present invention that owners or users may be more inclined to treat their boats after use if the process is made simple, fast and automated. The driving of the towing vehicle and boat through a treatment apparatus without the need to exit from the towing vehicle to undertake the selective treatment would mean that it would be easy to pack up from, for example, a day boating, decontaminate and clean the vehicle and drive home. There would be no need for cleaning of the boat once home, further providing a positive incentive to use the treatment apparatus and therefore providing the key advantage of minimising the transfer of unwanted material or contaminants around the countryside, potentially to uncontaminated areas.

It is a further advantage of the present invention that the use of the fluid treatment apparatus may provide for the reduction in use of water. Using the boating example again, a number of boat owners or users decontaminate their boats after use with a hose. Such hosing down can take a significant amount of time and use a greater amount of water than that used by the vehicle treatment apparatus. While hosing does provide for a treatment of a selected region of a vehicle, such a method is slow, wasteful and is limited to the height of the person holding the hose (or the limit of their reach) and may be less likely to be undertaken when weather conditions are unfavourable, or if the person is in a hurry.

It is also an advantage of the present invention that the decontamination provided by the selective treatment apparatus also provides a rinsing effect to the vehicle, and in the case of a boat, to the boat trailer. As a number of boat trailers are made of galvanised steel, where a boat has been used in salt water, corrosion may eventually become an issue. By taking the boat through the treatment after every use, the effect of corrosion may be minimised, especially for boat owners or users that are not as vigilant about decontaminating, rinsing and maintaining their boats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 An artistic impression of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 An artistic impression of one embodiment of the present invention in use;

Figure 3 a diagrammatic representation of one configuration of a treatment apparatus without treatment fluid flowing, and

Figure 4 a diagrammatic representation of one configuration of a treatment apparatus with treatment fluid flowing.

Figure 5 a diagrammatic representation of another configuration of the treatment apparatus with treatment fluid flowing.

Figure 6 a diagrammatic representation of another configuration of the treatment apparatus with treatment fluid flowing.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 1 depicts an artist's impression of the treatment apparatus which includes an activation means (1 ), tubing (2), nozzles or water jets (3) a catchment region (4) and safety features (5) in the form of upright poles.

Figure 2 depicts an artist's impression of the treatment apparatus in use and includes a towing vehicle (6), a vehicle to be selectively treated (7), in this case, a boat, the nozzles or water jets (3) in operation and the catchment area (4) which catches the treatment fluid.

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of one configuration of the treatment apparatus and includes upright tubes (8) in an opposing configuration, at least one ground level tube (9), both upright and ground level tubes including water nozzles (10) in a set configuration. Also shown is the drainage means (11) which allows the treatment fluid caught by the catchment region (4) to drain away to a reservoir (not shown) or back into a lake or river (not shown).

Figure 3 also shows one preferred embodiment of the present invention where the rear of the catchment region (4a) is shorter than the front of the catchment region (4b). The variance in length of each side of the catchment region (4) with respect to the ground tubes (9) and drainage means (1 ) is so that as the vehicle to be treated is moved through the treatment apparatus, the treatment fluid that drains off the vehicle will still be caught by the catchment region (4).

Figure 4 shows the same treatment apparatus as illustrated in figure 3, but with the treatment fluid (12) flowing through the nozzles (10). The treatment fluid is expelled from the nozzles under pressure and may fan out at an angle predetermined by the nozzle (10) tip. The ability to change the spray angle may be provided by rotation of the nozzle tip, as is usual with most spray nozzle tips, providing for a fine slower spray, or a narrower higher pressure spray.

Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of the treatment apparatus which includes two sets of upright tubes (8) in opposing configurations, at least two ground level tubes (9), with both sets of upright and ground level tubes including water nozzles (10) in a set configuration. Also shown are the drainage means (11) which allow the treatment fluid caught by the catchment regions (4) to drain away to a reservoir (not shown) or back into a lake or river (not shown).

Figure 6 shows the same treatment apparatus as illustrated in figure 5, but with the treatment fluid (12) flowing through the nozzles (10). The treatment fluid is expelled from the nozzles under pressure and may fan out at an angle predetermined by the nozzle (10) tips. The ability to change the spray angle may be provided by rotation of the nozzle tips, as is usual with most spray nozzle tips, providing for a fine slower spray, or a narrower higher pressure spray.

The treatment apparatus may consist of tubing (2) or ducting with nozzles (3) or jets that provide a treatment fluid (12) in most cases water, to a vehicle (7) to be treated. In preferred embodiments the vehicle (7) to be treated is a boat and the aim of the treatment apparatus is to decontaminate the exposed regions of the boat, thereby seeking to remove unwanted materials such algae, weed, plant or marine life or bacteria, although these are listed by way of example only.

As an advantage, the removal of such material also provides a general clean to the vehicle to be treated, which has an additional benefit when the vehicle, being in most cases a boat, has been used in salt water. The rinsing action of the treatment fluid may remove any materials that may increase the rate of corrosion.

In the example of a boat as the vehicle of choice, a towing vehicle will tow a boat secured to a trailer up to the entrance point of the treatment apparatus. In some embodiments, but not shown here, the side arms of the treatment fluid application system may be adjusted in length, either by telescoping means, or by the attachment of further lengths of tubing, and may also be adjusted in angle to allow a user to more specifically define the selected area to be treated. Should the boat (7) be of a greater height or more contoured in shape, the side arms can be adjusted to accommodate for this.

The driver may drive the towing vehicle forward into the treatment apparatus and position the towing vehicle along side the activation means. The tubing side arms may be adjusted if required at this point, or may have been adjusted prior to entry to the treatment apparatus. The activation means may then be activated by the preferred method which may be by coins, prepaid card or just the simple pressing of a GO or START button.

Once the activation means has been initiated, the treatment fluid, usually being water, will then begin to flow through the treatment apparatus and out the nozzles at a predetermined pressure due to the activation of the pumping device (not shown). If the treatment apparatus had the facility for adding anti-fungal, anti-bacterial or sterilizing agents, this treatment would also be expelled with the water or treatment fluid coming out of the nozzle.

The driver would then slowly begin to move the boat forward through the treatment apparatus and out the other side.

The treatment apparatus may include a sensor or sensors that detect when the treatment apparatus is no longer in use and may therefore cease the pumping action and therefore the fluid flow. Alternatively, the flow of treatment fluid may be on a timed mechanism and as such it may be possible for the driver to drive through, reverse and drive through again the treatment apparatus to ensure a complete decontamination of the vehicle being treated.

It should be appreciated that the positioning of the nozzles on the tubing are aligned in such an array as to provide a full and complete coating of the treatment fluid to the vehicle.

In further preferred embodiments the catchment region is configured to provide a greater catchment area on the towing vehicle side of the treatment apparatus so that as the vehicle, once treated, is removed from the treatment apparatus the water or treatment fluid dripping off the vehicle will be caught by the catchment region and returned to the reservoir at the drainage point. The extension of the catchment region at the exit region of the treatment system has the advantage of keeping the treatment liquid substantially limited to a confined area and therefore should anti-bacterial, sterilizing agents or anti-fungal treatments be added to the treatment fluid, their entry to the surrounding environment may be minimised or contained. It should further be appreciated that while figures 3 & 4 illustrate a single ground level tubing system and a lone pair of upright tubes, any number of tubes may be added to the system to provide for an increased treatment selection region, as is illustrated by figures 5 and 6 where there are two fluid transfer apparatus, one for one type of fluid application, and the second for another type of fluid application, such as the combination of detergent and then a water rinse, although this is listed by way of example only.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A treatment apparatus adapted to execute a treatment process in relation to a vehicle wherein the treatment apparatus is adapted to selectively treat at least one region of said vehicle.

2. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the treatment apparatus includes the application of at least one treatment fluid to the vehicle.

3. A treatment apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the vehicle is a water borne vehicle.

4. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the waterbome vehicle is located on a transportation system.

5. A treatment apparatus as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the water borne vehicle is a boat.

6. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the treatment apparatus includes at least one pumping device, at least one fluid transfer apparatus, at least one fluid catchment means, and at least one activator.

7. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fluid transfer apparatus is configured to apply at least one treatment fluid to the vehicle.

8. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the treatment fluid includes at least one of the follow components: water, disinfectant, detergent, antibacterial treatment, foam or flocculant.

9. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the treatment fluid is water

10. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the treatment fluid is applied to at least one selected area of the vehicle.

11. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the selected area of the vehicle has been exposed to contamination.

12. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the contamination includes lake or seawater.

13. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the selected area of the vehicle includes at least one side of the vehicle.

14. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the selected area of the vehicle includes at least one portion of the underside of the vehicle.

15. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 14 wherein the fluid transfer apparatus includes at least one length of tubing adapted to receive treatment fluid.

16. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the fluid transfer apparatus includes at least one nozzle connected to the length of tubing.

17. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the at least one nozzle is adapted to emit treatment fluid.

18. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the length of tubing is adapted to be adjusted.

19. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the length of tubing is configured to receive at least one additional length of tubing.

20. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the treatment apparatus is stationery.

21. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the treatment apparatus is configured to be moved along a pre-determined path.

22. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the treatment apparatus includes at least two fluid transfer apparatus configured to apply a treatment fluid substantially consecutively to the vehicle.

23. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the treatment apparatus includes at least two fluid transfer apparatus configured to apply a treatment fluid substantially simultaneously to the vehicle.

24. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 23 wherein the at least one pumping device is adapted to provide water pressure in the range of 50-1600psi.

25. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 23 wherein the at least one pumping device is adapted to provide water pressure in the range of 80-800psi

26. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 25 wherein the treatment apparatus includes at least one reservoir.

27. A treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the at least one reservoir is adapted to be connected to at least one fluid catchment means.

28. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 27 wherein the treatment apparatus includes at least one activator configured to initiate at least the pumping device and the fluid transfer apparatus.

29. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 28 wherein the activator is initiated by payment of a fee.

30. A treatment apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the treatment apparatus includes a remote access device.

31. A method of treating a vehicle using a treatment apparatus to execute a treatment process characterised by the steps of a) positioning the vehicle with respect to the treatment apparatus, b) initiating an activating means, c) allowing the treatment process undertake the treatment process, and d) removing the vehicle from the treatment apparatus.

32. A treatment apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings and/or examples.

33. A method of treatment a vehicle using a treatment apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings and/or examples.