Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02672934 2009-07-22
PORTABLE RECYCLING WASHING FACILITY
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field
The invention is in the field of washing systems and method used in washing
objects such
as vehicles and equipment where the washing fluid, generally water, must be
efficiently
managed.
State of the Art
In the field of washing vehicles and equipment, often is the case where one
must use a
washing fluid, generally water, which washes away contaminants off the
vehicles and equipment.
In such cases, the fluid then contains a certain amount of various
contaminants such as
hydrocarbons, dirt and salts. Often, other contaminants are added to the
washing fluid in the
washing process such as soaps, detergents and waxes. The resulting waste fluid
and the
contaminants it contains are becoming a growing concern to manage as
environmental awareness
and regulations are imposing themselves.
In the past, conventional wide spread washing systems generally consist of a
constructed
permanent structure in which automated or manual washing equipment is used
during the wash.
These permanent facilities have the disadvantage of having a high cost. Adding
recycling systems
to these facilities generally requires excavation and construction, further
increasing their costs.
Additional high real-estate and operating permit costs are incurred by these
types of structures.
Wash water filtering systems are widely known in the art. They generally
include many
water treatment stages and equipment such as a settling tank, a separation
chamber, a media filter
(bag filter, sand filter, cartridge filter, etc...), chemical treatment and
biological treatment. Most
of these systems have the disadvantage of being expensive, being large in size
and requiring
excavation.
Portable washing pads are also known in the art. They usually take the form of
a sloped
surface on which the wash fluid is collected and directed to one of the sides
of the pad. These
pads have the disadvantage of requiring a certain minimum height equal to at
least the total
height required to contain a minimal slope along the length of the pad. These
heights prevent
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these pads from being installed in locations where a minimal clearance is
required for operation,
such as underground parking lots. Furthermore, these higher pads, generally
made from steel,
require more material, are heavier and more costly to produce and transport.
Other portable washing pads known in the art consist of a rigid or non rigid
container in
which the vehicle or equipment is places during the wash. These pads have the
disadvantage of
bathing in the washing liquid, producing a wash of lesser quality and
convenience because of the
splashing and the nature of the contaminants collected. Furthermore, non rigid
pads generally
have a lower mechanical resistance then their rigid counterpart making them
less durable and
reliable.
Conventional washing methods are also known in the art. The conventional
method of
washing for many of these washing facilities consists of the use of high
pressure high flow wash
as well as multiple phases of washing including an initial rinse, the
application of cleaning
product, a final rinse and drying. In some cases more rinses are used between
intermediate stages
of cleaning product applications. This washing method has the disadvantage of
wasting more
water through greater water usage, waste, evaporation and splash losses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main aspect of the present invention is a unique complete portable washing
system
included in a single compact structure. The system is comprised of a water
reclaiming pad,
enclosed by side panels, mounting ramps, enclosed storage area and a rain
water collecting roof.
The system is further comprised of a water recycling system, a pressure
washing system and an
electronic control system. This system has the overall advantage of being a
one product solution
to car washing in minimal spaces at minimal cost within a short installation
time and providing a
complete water recycling solution.
The reclaiming pad is composed of one or more water reclaiming platform units
connected together to produce a desired total wash area on which the vehicle
or equipment is
placed during the washing process. This single water reclaiming platform unit
is composed of a
rectangular raised rigid frame. The bottom of the platform comprises of a
rigid sheet of material,
sloping from two opposite sides towards a depressed gutter at the middle line
of the platform.
This gutter is covered by a fine filtering grating. The bottom of this gutter
is slopped
perpendicularly to the previous slope from the sides toward the center point
of the platform,
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where a drain is located on the sidewall of the gutter. The platform's top
surface is comprised of a
thick rigid grating supporting the vehicle or equipment and through which the
wash fluid can
flow to be collected in the platform. This invention allows a lower profile
water reclaiming pad,
enabling its installation in low clearance areas, such as interior parking
space. It also requires less
material and produces a lesser total weight and cost.
The side panels are comprised of thin rigid material connected directly on the
sides of the
reclaiming pad reinforced by intermediate vertical support beams. The panels
act to contain any
wash fluid from escaping collection via the water reclaiming pad.
The enclosed storage area is either located at the four corner of the pad as
columns or
along one side of the pad. This storage area act as structural support for the
system as well as
provide inner storage space for the water filtering system, the electronic
control system and
several other washing apparatus.
The mounting ramps are connected to each end of the water reclaiming pad
permitting
vehicles to enter and exit the system, on and off the pad. Additionally, the
ramps can be lifted up,
fully enclosing the structure when the system is not in operation.
The top of the structure is covered by a rain water collecting roof. The roof
encloses the
structure to protect and contain the washing activities. The roof also acts as
a rain water
collection system, supplying the washing system with rain water when
additional water is
required and rain water has been collected.
The invention also has an incorporated water recycling system integrated in
integrated
storage area. The water recycling system comprises the following steps and
equipment. The water
reclaim pad collects the used wash water and directs it to a drain. The water
reclaiming pad also
acts as a separation basin where the heavier than water contaminants are
separated, dried and
removed. An oil skimmer can also be placed to remove any lighter than water
hydrocarbon. The
drained water is pumped by a transfer pump from the water reclaiming pad
through the filtering
system. The filtering system is comprised of multiple filtering stages
including a bag filter,
cartridge filter, and oil coalescing chamber and a softening system. The
filtered water is then
reintroduced into the fresh wash water tank for reuse through the pressure
washing system.
New fresh water will have to be periodically supplied to the fresh water tank
following
water loss due to evaporation and marginal operational losses. This fresh
water is supplied from
rainwater collected in the roof. Alternately, fresh water is also supplied on
demand from the local
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supply. Before introduction in the fresh water tank and depending on the
quality of the water
supply, this fresh water supply is treated through a softening system
incorporated in the structure.
This recycling system as the advantage of wasting no water in the washing
process and does so in
a compact manner, within a complete compact washing structure.
A pressure wash system is integrated in the system. An automatic pressure
washing unit is
integrated in the storage area of the structure and pumps water from the fresh
water tank on
demand. A hose and diffuser connected to the pressure washer is used to spray
water on the
vehicle or equipment during the washing process.
The invention is also comprised of an electronic control system. This
electronic control
system monitors the water levels in the water reclaiming pad and the fresh
water tank and
controls the transfer pump, pressure pumps and supply valves accordingly. The
electronic control
system can also control the lighting, the filtering system life cycles and
other operational events,
such as traffic monitoring and data acquisition.
A second aspect of the present invention comprises a washing method that
reduces the
amount of water require during the washing process. This hand washing method
comprises only
an initial low flow rinsing phase, a cleaning agent application phase and a
final dry wipe phase.
The use of special no rinse cleaning agent combined with a minimal water
initial rinsing phase
provides a very water efficient car washing method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is a complete portable recycling washing facility
integrated in a
single compact structure. The structural components of this facility comprises
of a water
reclaiming pad, enclosed by side panels, mounting ramps, four corner storage
columns and a rain
water collecting roof. This facility is further comprised of an integrated
water recycling system, a
pressure washing system and an electronic control system. The preferred
embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated in the drawing section of this document.
CA 02672934 2009-07-22
Structure
The water reclaiming pad is comprised of 3 water reclaiming platform units
bolted
together to produce a total pad area of 16 feet wide by 21 feet long. Each
water reclaiming
platform unit is a raised frame measuring 16 feet wide by 7 feet long by 4 3/4
inches high. The
frame on a unit is comprised of four stainless steel C beams on all four sides
with the concave
side of the beam facing the exterior of the frame. The frame is reinforced by
16 feet internal
stainless steel support beams spaced apart by 2 feet 2 inches. The bottom of
the platform is a
stainless steel sheet sloped from the two opposite 7 feet sides towards the
center, directing the
wash fluid towards a central 9 inches wide gutter. The gutter is sloped from
each 16 feet side
towards the center of the unit where the 1 inch drain is located on the
sidewall of the gutter. The
length of the gutter is covered by a 5/32 inch perforation grating, preventing
large wash residue
from entering the gutter. The horizontal support beams are perforated in the
gutter to allow the
wash fluid to flow from every section to the central drain of the platform.
The top of the reclaiming platform is comprised of two 2 feet stainless steel
tracks, 7 feet
long and 1 1/4 inches thick. These two tracks are spaced apart by 3 feet and
support the vehicle's
weight from the wheel base. The rest of the top area is covered by fiberglass
grating. Fiberglass
beams are fixed along the 7 feet sides on which the side panels are mounted.
The side panels are made of 4mm thick clear thermoplastic sheets supported by
vertical
fiberglass support beams spaced apart by 3 feet 6 inches. The side panels are
connected to the
water reclaiming platform and the rain water reclaiming roof.
The four storage columns are located at each of the four corners of the water
reclaiming
pad. Each column provides an internal storage area of 2 feet wide by 4 feet
long by 6 feet high.
Each column is enclosed by 4 mm thick aluminum composite sheets and reinforced
by vertical
support beams. As well as provide structural support for the system, the
columns enclose the
filtering system, the pressure wash system, the electronic control system and
various equipments.
The rain water reclaiming roof covers the whole structure. It is made from
light rigid
material and shaped in a semi-circular or sloped fashion as to direct rain
water to side gutters.
The gutters direct rain water to storage containers located under the roof,
above each column. The
stored rain water can be used to supply the fresh wash water tank when needed.
The mounting ramps are located at each end of the water reclaiming pad. They
are made
from a combination of stainless steel and fiberglass. They allow vehicles to
enter and exit the
washing facility on and off the raised water reclaiming pad. The mounting
ramps also act as
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doors. They can be pivoted upwards and locked into position to enclose the
facility when not in
operation.
The water recycling system
The water reclaiming pad first collects the used wash water. Large residue is
filtered by a
5/32 inches perforation grate placed over the central gutter. Since a small
amount of water is
used, a long enough period of time will pass before the water reclaiming pas
needs to be drained.
Hence the water reclaiming pad is also used as a settling tank. Lighter than
water contaminants
will be allowed to separate to the surface and will be removed by an oil
skimmer. Heavier than
water contaminants will be allowed to separate to the bottom of the pad and
will be mechanically
removed periodically.
When the water level inside the water reclaiming pad reaches a high point
water level
sensor, the transfer pump activates and pumps the water out the water
reclaiming pad to the
filtering system. The transfer pump deactivates when the low point water level
sensor is reached
above the drain. Since three water reclaiming platforms are used in the
preferred embodiment, the
three drains are connected together through piping directed to the transfer
pump. These
connections also allow water level equilibrium between the three platforms.
The transfer pump required is a stainless steel electrical transfer pump
capable of a 20
gpm flow and an output pressure sufficient to pass through the filtering
system. The filtering
system comprises a 10 micron 20 inches bag filter followed by a 10 micron 20
inches carbon-
briquette cartridges filter. A 30000 grains water softening system is also
provided in the system
to be used if the water quality deems it necessary.
The filtered water is then redirected back to the fresh wash water storage
tank, a 105
gallons polyethylene container. Water enters this tank from the filtering
system, from the rain
water storage tanks and from the local water supply. Water is pumped out of
this tank on demand
through the pressure washing system. Te water level in the tank is controlled
by an ultrasonic
water level sensor. Following washing activities, when a low point water level
is reached inside
the fresh wash water tank, it is refilled by filtered water from the water
reclaiming pad until the
water claiming pads' low water level point is reached. If fresh wash water
tank high point water
level is not, new water is supplied from the rain water storage tanks until
the high point water
level is reached in the fresh wash water tank or until the rain water storage
tanks are empty. If the
high point water level is not reached in the fresh wash water tank, water is
supplied from the local
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water supply until the high point water level is reached. Water loss is
expected in the system
through evaporation and marginal operational losses.
The pressure washing system pumps wash water from the fresh wash water tank
and
sprays it through a hose and diffuser on the vehicle during the washing
process. This is done
manually and on demand of the operator. The pressure washer required is a 30
second automatic
pressure pump allowing a pressure regulation of 200 psi to 1500 psi at a flow
of 2 gmp.
A central wet-dry vacuum system is also enclosed in the storage area of the
facility.
An electronic control system is comprised of an electronic controller and
electrical board.
The water level sensors located in the water reclaiming pad and in the fresh
wash water tank are
connected to the controller and monitored by it. The controller operates
accordingly the transfer
pump, the pressure pump and solenoid valves allowing fresh water supply. The
control system
also monitors the filters life cycles through pressure sensors. When a
specified pressure
differential is measured in the filters, the controller alerts the operator
that maintenance is
required. Other aspects of the washing facility can also be monitored and
controlled by the
controller, such as traffic volume, washing product quantities, the lighting
system, security, etc...
All of these components are seamlessly integrated in a unique compact
structure. This
alone allows many technical advantages over conventional systems, including
reduction in costs,
reduction in space requirement and easy access to green technology.
A second aspect of the present invention comprises of a washing method that
reduces the
amount of water require during the washing process. This hand washing method
comprises only
an initial low flow rinsing phase, a cleaning agent application phase and a
final dry wipe phase.
During the low flow rinsing phase, the operator uses the low pressure low flow
washing system
to spray water to a specific are of the vehicle to wash. Using only 2 gpm at
600 psi and focusing
it on one specific area, water is not wasted through splashing or on areas of
the vehicle that
requires less cleaning. The cleaning agent application phase consists in the
spray application of a
special cleaning agent, focusing on specific areas of the vehicle. The
cleaning agent is applied
evenly, area by area. This special cleaning agent does not require that it be
rinsed off. The last
final dry wipe phase consist in wiping the cleaning agent and water off the
vehicle with micro
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fibers until the vehicle is dried and clean. No other water is used in the
method. This method thus
provides a high quality hand wash while using minimal water.
The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiment only.
Modifications
of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make
or use the invention.
Therefore, it is understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and
described above is
merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the
invention, which is
defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of
patent law, including
the doctrine of equivalents.
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