Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~6332~
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to portable apparatus for collecting
run-off fluids from a vehicle comprising a plurality of slidingly
telescopic trough sections which are adapted to contact the side
of a vehicle ~or collecting said run-off fluid.
B~CRGROUND OF ~E INV~NTION
Various washing apparatus and methods have heretofore been
devised in order to wash the exterior of vehicles and trucks.
For example, United States Patent No. 1,842,099 discloses
a pair of gutters having their outer ends closed and their inner
ends opened and downwardly inclined, which are hung below the
lower edges of the sides of the car. These gutters discharge
into a third gutter which in turn discharges into a drum.
Moreover, United States Patent No. 4,979,536 relates to a
portable tire washing apparatus which is mounted onto a towable
trailer bed and trackable rollers for rotating truck tires while
they are sprayed by jets of water. Additional roller assemblies
or bumpers are provided to prevent sideways movement of the
tires.
Yet another arrangement is shown in United States Patent No.
3,658,590 which illustrates a vehicle washing apparatus mounted
in a filling station bay comprising a pneumatically operated
system of a moving truck which carries a spray bar and travels
parallel to a vehicle, a distance equal to the vehicles wheel
base and causes the spray bar to rotate downwardly at the end of
each travers of the vehicle wheel base.
Yet another arrangement is shown in United States Patent No.
4,378,755 which discloses apparatus for *leaning aircraft.
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Finally, United States Patent No. 4,300,721 teaches a system
for collecting liquid spillage at rail facilities comprising
relatively small and light weight collector pan modules supported
by the ties of a railroad track and sealing them together so as
to extend along the side and between the rails of the track.
These and other prior art devices present inefficient
washing devices. Furthermore, many of such prior art devices do
not provide for an efficient means of collecting run-off wash
water for recycling or for preventing harmful products from being
discharged into the environment.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide
an efficient apparatus for collecting run-off fluids.
The broadest aspect of this invention relates to portable
apparatus for collecting run-off fluids from a vehicle comprising
a plurality of slidingly telescopic trough sections adapted to
contact said vehicle for collecting said run-off fluid.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide portable
apparatus for washing and collecting wash water from a truck
comprising: a plurality of slidingly telescopic trough sections
adjustable to the size of the truck and adapted to contact the
sides of said truck; structure for supporting said trough
sections; a reservoir for containing said wash water; structure
for applying said wash water from said reservoir to said truck;
and structure for recycling water collected in said plurality of
trough sections to said reservoir.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a
portable apparatus for washing and collecting wash water from a
truck comprising: a plurality of slidingly telescopic trough
sections adjustable to the size of said truck and adapted to
contact the sides of said truck; means for moving said plurality
of trough sections against the four sides of said truck and means
for moving said plurality of trough sections from a first
.
,
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position above said truck to a second position below said truck;
reservoir for containing said wash water; structure for applying
said wash water from said reservoir to said truck; and structure
for recycling water collected in said plurality of trough
sections to said reservoir.
DE~CRIPrION OF T~B DRaWING8
These and other objects and features shall now be described
in relation to the following drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a side elevational view of one
embodiment of the portable apparatus illustrating supporting
legs.
Figure 2 shows the top plan view of a stationary truck.
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the truck and
portable apparatus illustrated in figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the plurality of
slidingly telescopic trough sections.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment
of the invention illustrating the cables.
Figure 6 is a top elevational view of the truck illustrated
in figure 5.
Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the truck illustrated
in figure 5.
Figure 8 i9 a side elevational view of the plurality of
trough sections.
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4 --
Figure g is a side elevational view of a third embodiment
of the invention wherein the plurality of trough sections are
supported by cables.
Figure 10 is a top elevational view of the truck illustrated
in figure 9.
Figure 11 is an end elevational view of the truck
illustrated in figure 9.
Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a fourth embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 13 is a top elevational view of the truck illustrated
in figure 12.
Figure 14 is an end elevational view of the truck
illustrated in figure 12.
20Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the fifth embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 16 is a top elevational view of the truck illustrated
in figure 15.
Figure 17 is an end elevational view of the truck
illustrated in figure 15.
Figure 18 is a side elevational view of a truck illustrated
30in figure 15.
Figure 19 is an end elevational view of the truck
illustrated in figure 18.
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DlE8CRIPTIO~I OF TI~B INVENq!ION
Like parts shall be given like numbers throughout the
figures.
Figure 1 generally illustrates a stationary truck 2 having
wheels 4 and a stationary support 6.
The portable apparatus for collecting run-off fluids from
lo the truck 2 is generally depicted by the numeral 10.
The portable apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of trough
sections 12 which are slidingly telescopic relative to one
another as best illustrated in figure 4.
The plurality of telescoping trough sections 12 are
adjustable so as to accommodate the length of the truck as
illustrated in figure 1.
The plurality of trough sections 12 are supported by a
plurality of legs 14 whereby each leg 14 is adapted to contact
the trough sections 12 at one end thereof and the ground 16 at
the other end thereof.
The other end of the legs 14 includes a wheel 18 which
facilities the movement of the trough sections 12 along the leg
of the truck 2 as illustrated in figure 1.
In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1 the trough
sections 12 may be manually moved or displaced so as to
; accommodate the leg of the truck 2. It should be apparent that
the trough sections 12 illustrated in figure 1 may be collapsed
by pushing the trough sections together when not in use.
Figure 3 shows that the trough sections 12 are adapted to
be disposed adjacent the sides 20 of the truck 2 as well as just
below sides 20.
:
2~6~325
The trough sections 12 are manually moved so as to extend
along the length o~ the truck as illustrated in figure 1 on both
sides 20 as shown in figure 3. Furthermore, trough sections 12
are also manually placed so as to contact the front 22 of the
truck 2 whereby trough sections 24 are in contact with the front
of the truck 22 so as to collect wash water flowing down the
front of the truck. Likewise, trough sections 26 are placed at
the rear 28 of the truck shown in figure 1. In this way, the
wash water from all four sides of the truck may be collected by
the trough sections 12.
A tow motor 30 or other moveable or discplaceable means is
provided having forks 32 which are engageable to support the
trough sections 12.
The trough sections 12 may be inclined at a slight angle so
as to facilitate the drainage of collected wash water to one end
thereof to be recycled into a reservoir to be more fully
particularized herein.
The trough sections 12 may include sealing means at the ends
of the trough sections 12 so as to prevent any leakage of water.
The trough sections 12 may be comprised of a variety of
materials such as plastic or the like which makes the trough
sections 12 light weight and durable.
Pigure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention
whereby the trough sections 12 are supported by a plurality of
cables 32. The cables are supported by a support 34 which
projects upwardly from the tow motor 30.
Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention
whereby the plurality of trough sections 12 are supported by the
cables 32. However, the trough sections 12 illustrated in figure
9 includes troughs 12a and a second set of trough sections 12b.
.
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The trough sections 12b are much shallower in depth than the
trough sections 12a.
Figure 12 illustrates another embodiment of the invention
whereby the cables 32 which support the trough sections 12 extend
from a horizontal support 38 which is connected to the vertical
support 34. The vertical support 34 may in turn be stabilized
by cable 36.
Figure 15 illustrates yet another embodiment of the
invention whereby the means to support the trough sections 12
includes a truss 40. The truss 40 extends along a portion of the
plurality of trough sections 12 or in the alternative may extend
along the full length thereof.
The trough section 40 is adapted to support the trough
sections 12 as well as engage the forks of a tow motor 30. The
tow motor 30 includes a reservoir 40 which is adapted to contain
wash water to be applied to the sides of the truck in the manner
well known to those persons skilled in the art and accordingly
is not disclosed in the drawings herein.
The forks of the tow motor 30 are displaceable between a
first positi.on illustrated in figure 18 whereby the trough
sections are disposed in a first position above the truck 2 to
a second position shown in figure 15 whereby the truss section
40 and trough sections 12 are disposed in a second position below
the sides 20 of the truck 2.
.
Furthermore, the forks of the tow motor 40 are displaceable
or moveable relative one another as shown by arrows A in figure
17 so as to accommodate the width of the truck 2. More
particularly, the trough sections 12 are moveable by the tow
motor 20 so that the troughs 12 can be disposed just under the
sides 20 of the truck 2.
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2~325
Accordingly, the use of the embodiment illustrated in
figures 15-19 inclusive shall known be described. The tow motor
40 may be moved close to the position of a stationary truck 2.
Thereafter, the forks of the tow motor 40 are moved sufficiently
wide apart so that the trough sections 12 may easily be moved
along the outside of the sides 20 of the truck 2 until the trough
sections 12 occupy a position best illustrated in figure 15.
Thereafter, the forks of the tow motor 40 may be moved
towards one another in the direction marked by A as shown in
figure 17 so that the trough sections 12 contact the sides 20 the
truck 2. Thereafter, the wash water may be applied to the sides
of the truck in a manner well known to those persons skilled in
the art and any wash water will be captured by the trough
sections 12. The wash water may then be recycled back into the
reservoir 40 where it is filtered.
Once the truck 2 is wash, the forks of the tow motor 40 may
be moved apart relative one another again in the direction of
arrow A so that the trough sections 12 move away from the sides
20 of the truck 2. Thereafter, the forks of the tow motor 40 may
be displaced from the second position shown as figure 15 to the
first position shown in figure 18 by movement in the direction
of arrow B. The tow motor 40 may then be moved away fxom the
washed truck 2.
It should be apparent that troughs 50 and 60 may be used
against the rear 52 and front 62 of the truck 2.
Although the preferred embodiments as well as the operation
and use have been specifically described in relation to the
drawings, it should be understood that the variation and
preferred embodiment could easily be achieved by a man skilled
in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Accordingly, the invention should not be understood to be limited
to the exact form revealed by the drawings.
.
