GB2362617A

GB2362617A - Vehicle cleaning trailer

Info

Publication number: GB2362617A
Application number: GB0112722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Burns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-25
Filing date: 2001-05-25
Publication date: 2001-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-25
Also published as: GB0112722D0; GB2362617B; GB0012631D0

Abstract

A trailer for supporting a vehicle whilst it is cleaned comprises a wheeled chassis 52, a ramp 66 and track 70 to support a vehicle over drip trays (figure 8) which channel water and cleaning fluids into tanks (76,86) where it is recycled for further use, and outriggers 54 which collect over-spray of water and provide a raised walkway for an operator cleaning the vehicle. The water and cleaning fluids may drain trough perforations in either the vehicle track or drip trays into settling tank (76) before passing over weirs (80) and through filters (84) into tank (86) from where they may be re-used. There may be ramps at both ends of the trailer, wherein the ramps are foldable or slidable onto the trailer or removable therefrom. The outriggers 54 may be removable or may be folded up on to the trailer for storage. They may also include a step 58, or simply be planar platforms (figure 2). The trailer is intended to provide mobile means for cleaning a vehicle where drainage/storage of water is difficult.

Description

2362617 1 1

DESCRIPTION TRAILER

The present invention is concerned with cleaning of cars and other motor vehicles and more specifically relates to a trailer for use in such cleaning.

In manual or hand cleaning of cars and other vehicles, a significant volume of water, typically containing cleaning fluids, is required to effectively clean the vehicle. The common practice of allowing cleaning fluids to drain onto the ground and hence enter the local surface water without being adequately treated is being legislated against. Additionally the requirement to provide an appropriate volume of water and drainage therefor either prohibit cleaning or restrict the quantity of vehicles that can be cleaned in a site which does not have a supply of water, adequate drainage or any facility to re-use the water.

Published UK patent application 2348119 discloses a trailer intended for use in automatically washing the wheels and lower bodywork of commercial and plant vehicles leaving a muddy construction site. The vehicle to be washed is driven onto the trailer and so positioned between a pair of low walls which are provided along their length with jet nozzles 13 at wheel height to carry out this limited cleaning of the vehicle. A sump is provided for collecting washing water.

The document is not concerned with manual washing of vehicles and it appears that the vehicle being washed would be inaccessible for such washing while upon the trailer.

2 In accordance with the present invention there is a trailer comprising a wheeled chassis, a ramp and track to support a vehicle to be washed over drip trays which channel water and cleaning fluids into a tank where it is recycled for flu-ther use, and outriggers for collecting over-spray of water and providing a raised walk way for an operator cleaning the vehicle.

Thus the trailer according to the present invention provides a transportable facility for washing of cars and other vehicles and for collecting the washing water and avoiding problems involved in drainage thereof The trailer may also be adapted to operate without connection to mains or other water supply.

The outriggers are preferably capable of being folded over the chassis for storage and transportation. Dimensions of the trailer can thereby be minimised for transportation.

Preferably, the outriggers are hingedly coupled to the chassis and can be swung between extended positions in which they provide said raised walkway along the two longitudinal sides of the chassis and folded positions in which they are disposed above the chassis for storage and transportation.

The trailer preferably has a deck disposed longitudinally of the chassis for collecting water falling from the vehicle being cleaned, the deck being angled to direct such water to a collection location. In such an embodiment it is preferred that the collection location is at one longitudinal end of the deck where the deck communicates with a first tank disposed therebeneath.

Preferably the first tank includes a depending weir to trap oil and/or floating 3 solids and one or more upstanding weirs to assist in the settling out of solids from water passing over them.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. I is a perspective illustration of a first trailer embodying the present invention, configured for trailing behind a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of the same trailer, configured for use; Fig. 3 is a side view of the same trailer in use with a motor vehicle thereupon; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same trailer, viewed from the front; Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view upon which the paths taken by draining water are marked; Fig 6 is a perspective illustration of a second trailer embodying the present invention, configured for use; Fig. 7 is a simplified perspective illustration of the second trailer, illustrating the path taken by draining water; and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the second trailer.

The trailer 10 illustrated in Figs. 1-5 is intended for towing behind a motor vehicle and runs upon wheels 12. A towing bar 14 is provided for coupling to the motor vehicle and is in this embodiment removable, in order to avoid fouling the bottom of a vehicle being driven onto the trailer, as a comparison of Figs. I and 2 will make clear.

The trailer provides a pair of longitudinal tracks 16 onto which a vehicle 13 4 to be washed is driven via a pair of detachable inclined ramps 18. To enable the vehicle to be driven forwards off the trailer, as well as onto it, a second pair 20 of detachable ramps is provided at the end of the trailer remote from the first pair.

Between the tracks 16 can be seen tank top 22 having laterally outer portions 24 which are downwardly inclined in order to direct draining water/cleaning fluid into a tank, as will be explained below.

Steadies 26 are provided to ensure that the trailer provides a stable platform in use and are vertically retractable for transportation (compare the positions of the steadies in Figs. 1 and 2).

Hingedly coupled to the trailer along its laterally outer edges are respective outriggers formed as panels 28. For transportation, the outriggers are in this particular embodiment rotated into an upright position (Fig. 1). Width of the trailer is thereby reduced - an important consideration since the trailer must typically be transported on public highways. For use, the outriggers 28 are folded outward so that their upper faces form walkways 30 upon which a person can stand while washing a vehicle.

Turning now in particular to Figs. 4 and 5, it must be appreciated that washing water falling upon the main surfaces of the trailer, having run off the vehicle being washed, is collected and directed to a tank 32 formed by the trailer and disposed beneath the tracks 16. The water may take one of several routes:- i. through perforations 33 in the tracks 16, and so directly downward into the tank, 32; ii. through perforations 34 in the outriggers 28 and so onto inclined splash trays 36 disposed beneath the outriggers themselves, then onto the inclined outer portions 24 of the tank top and so into the 32; or iii. from the tank top 22 to the tank.

As Fig. 5 makes most clear, water is thus directed into laterally outer setting zones 38 of the tank, where larger pieces of dirt settle out, and then flows over weirs 40 into secondary zones 42 of the tank. The water is taken from the secondary zones 42 into a recycling unit 44 where it is filtered and detergent is neutralised before the water is pumped into supply tank 46 for re-use.

Prior to use, the trailer must first be converted from its transport configuration to its use configuration, to which end:the tow bar 14 is removed; steadies 26 are lowered and secured; iii. outriggers 28 are deployed and iv. detachable ramps 18, 20 are secured to the front and rear of the trailer.

A vehicle can then be positioned on the trailer for cleaning as shown in Figure 3. In order to wash the vehicle, clean water is drawn from supply tank 46 eg into a pressure washing system or other washing equipment. A person washing the vehicle can stand upon the walkways provided by the outriggers 28 and thus obtain easy access to the vehicle being washed. Because they project outwardly, the outriggers also collect at least some of any over spray of cleaning water.

The trailer 50 illustrated in Figs. 6-8 represents a development of the version 6 illustrated in Figs. 1-5. Once again the trailer comprises a wheeled chassis 52 with a pair of longitudinally extending outriggers 54 which are rotatably coupled to its laterally outer edges. However the outriggers 54 in this embodiment comprise tubular metal panels to provide both walkways 56 upon which a person stands while washing the vehicle, and steps 58 used in climbing onto the walkways. Projecting downward from laterally outer edges of the steps 58 are a set of legs 60 which support the outriggers 54 when they are deployed for use. Steadies 62 are also deployed when the trailer is in use to reduce rocking of the trailer. Removable ramps 64, 66 allow a vehicle 68 to be driven onto tracks 70 of the trailer for washing, and then off again.

Whereas the trailer is illustrated in Fig. 6 with the outriggers 54 deployed for use, it is to be understood that the outriggers can for transportation be swung upward - that is, rotated about their longitudinal pivotal axis through approximately 180 degrees - to a position in which the walkways 56 lie adjacent the tracks 70 and the legs 60 point upwards.

The path by which washing water is collected and drained is best understood with reference to Fig. 7. As before the outriggers 54 serve to collect overspray of water. Specifically the water falls upon walkways 56 which are downwardly, laterally inclined toward trailer deck 72 in order to direct water onto the trailer deck, which is itself longitudinally downwardly inclined toward a collection slot 74 through which the collected water enters a settling tank 76 formed in the body of the trailer (see Fig. 8).

7 Within the tank 76, a downwardly projecting plate 78 serves as a trap for oil and floating solids in the washing water, which then passes over weirs 80 where small solids settle out. Pump 82 passes water from the settling tank 76 through filters 84, where fine particles are removed, into a recirculation tank 86. Treated water for re-use in cleaning cars is taken from the recirculation tank 86 through a valve 88.

To allow access to the tanks for cleaning, the trailer deck 72 and also the weirs 80 are removable.

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Claims

8 CLAIMS

1. A trailer comprising a wheeled chassis, a ramp and track to support a vehicle to be washed over drip trays which channel water and cleaning fluids into a tank where it is recycled for flirther use, and outriggers for collecting over-spray of water and providing a raised walkway for an operator cleaning the vehicle.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outriggers are detachably mounted to the chassis.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the outriggers fold over the chassis for storage and transportation.

4. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the outriggers swing upward to provide support portions so that goods and/or equipment can be carried as on a conventional trailer.

5. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the outriggers are hingedly coupled to the chassis and can be swung between extended positions in which they provide an extended walkway along the two longitudinal sides of the chassis and folded positions in which they are disposed above the chassis for storage and transportation.

6. A trailer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, having a deck disposed longitudinally of the chassis for collecting water falling from the vehicle being cleaned, the deck being angled to direct such water to a collection location.

7. A trailer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said outriggers are also angled to direct water falling on them to the collection location.

8.

9 A trailer as claimed in claim 7, wherein for directing water falling on to them to the collection point, the outriggers are angled to the horizontal in a lateral direction.

9. A trailer as claimed in any of claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein the collection location is at one longitudinal end of the deck where the deck communicates with a first tank disposed therebeneath.

10. A trailer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first tank includes a depending weir to trap oil and/or floating solids and one or more upstanding weirs to assist in the settling out of solids from water passing over them.

11. A trailer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the weirs are removable to facilitate cleaning of the tank.

12. A trailer as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, having a second tank to which water is pumped ftom said first tank via one or more filters, the second tank having an outlet valve from which clean water can be extracted for use in cleaning a vehicle positioned on the trailer.

13. A trailer as claimed in any of claims I to 12, wherein the ramp is mounted detachably to the chassis.

14. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ramp includes a ramp section at each of the two longitudinal ends of the track.

15. A trailer as claimed in claim 14 wherein the two ramp sections slide or fold onto the chassis for storage or transportation.

16. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim having a removable towing bar.

17. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A trailer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.