WO2008022657A1

WO2008022657A1 - System for washing wheels of vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2008022657A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/065699
Authority: WO
Inventors: Urs Frutiger
Original assignee: Frutiger Company Ag
Priority date: 2006-08-25
Filing date: 2006-08-25
Publication date: 2008-02-28

Abstract

The present invention provides a washing system for washing wheels and underside of a vehicle comprising a framework (1) with a basin (1') providing the bottom part of the framework (1), a grid (3) covering at least a part of the opening of said basin (1'), water nozzles arranged at the framework; ramps (2) to be connected to the framework (1) to form part of a drive-through track (T) for said vehicle; pumping means (9) for pumping used water out of said basin (1') and at least two pumping chambers (5,6), each arranged at one side of said basin (1'), each comprising at least one intake (9') of said pumping means (9). This washing system may be installed practically on any location, having a flat surface area and suitable access for the vehicles to enter and to leave the drive-through track (T).

Description

System for washing wheels of vehicles

The present invention relates to a washing system for washing wheels and the underside of vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wheel-washing systems are known in a wide variety of designs. Such systems may for instance be divided into two generic groups, one group of immovable installed washing systems and one group of mobile washing systems.

The first group is typically not bound to any dimension restrictions and may use the underground for installation purposes such as subterrestrial water and waste tanks and machine rooms.

The second group is designed to be located at ground level with only small amounts of excavations to be performed or even without any excavations.

For a fast washing process and high operational capacity, such systems regularly are of the type of drive-through systems, i.e. the vehicle will be driven through a drive- through track with water nozzles arranged at the side and underneath the track to spray water onto the wheels and the underside of the vehicle. The used water will usually be collected and conducted into a recycling tank to be attended and used again to feed the water nozzles. Therefore, the drive-through track has to be designed such as to comprise a basin to collect the water containing the mud from the wheels.

As this basin should not be arranged within a hole in the ground for said second group of washing systems, ramps have to be provided to enable the vehicle to climb onto the track arranged over the basin at a certain level above the ground.

As the ramps should have only a low ascending slope, the depth of the basin should be as low as possible.

Consequently, as lower the depth is, the lower the water containing capacity of the basin is and thus the capacity of receiving the water from the water nozzles. Thus, the operational capacity of the system is influenced by the capacity of the basin.

A further problem arises from the mud and dirt coming from the vehicle and thus being comprised in the water used for the washing process. The mud will be composed at the floor panel of the basin, especially if the basin only shows a small depth in relation to its width and length. The mud will then be collected at the floor panel of the basin, thereby on one hand currently reducing the collecting capacity for further water and on the other hand increasing the risk of plugging the pump for pumping the water and mud out of the basin. Such a system will need periodically cleaning interrupts for removing the mud out of the basin. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing system with high and complete pumping capacity of the used water containing mud from the retention basin of the washing system.

The present invention provides a washing system for washing wheels of a vehicle comprising a framework with a basin providing the bottom part of the framework, a grid covering at least a part of the opening of said basin, water nozzles arranged at the framework; ramps to be connected to the framework to form part of a drive-through track for said vehicle; pumping means for pumping used water out of said basin and at least two pumping chambers, each arranged at one side of said basin, each comprising at least one intake of said pumping means. This washing system may be installed practically on any location, having a flat surface area and suitable access for the vehicles to enter and leave the drive-through track. Thus, there is practically no need of any additional preparation of the location destined for receiving the inventive washing system. For instance there is no need for preparing an excavation for receiving any tank or basin of the washing system as required by known semi-mobile washing systems.

The arrangement of at least two pumping chambers sideways of the framework allows a high pumping capacity even with flat basins. Thus the basins may be designed very flat although providing a high washing capacity, i.e. with a high amount of water used for the washing process of the vehicle. A flat basin further results in a low elevation of the framework, and thus results in a low climbing rate for the vehicle for ascending the drive-through path over the washing area of the washing system. A further benefit is that the amount of space needed for the ramps may be kept low and thus the layout of the whole washing system is not substantially bigger compared to an in-plane built-in washing system. In one embodiment, the washing system further comprises at least one tank for receiving working water for the washing system and pumping means, such as electrical pressure pumps, for supplying said water nozzles with water from said tank. Thus, a high capacity washing system may be provided with optimum recycling potentiality.

In one embodiment, said basin is provided by at least two separate receiving chambers, with at least on pumping chamber associated to each of said receiving chambers. This reduces the layout of the receiving chamber and thereby reduces the risk of the deposition of the mud contained in the water entering said receiving chamber. The pumping means in said pumping chambers will thus reliably pump out the water together with the mud out of said receiving chambers preventing any plugging of the intake of said pumping means by deposited mud or any overflow of said receiving chambers. The two receiving chambers may be arranges completely separated from each other on the framework of the washing system, or may be provided by a fragmentation of a single basin into several discrete chambers.

In another embodiment, the floor panel of said basin is at least partially inclined with respect to the bottom of said framework. This inclination is designed such as to automatically let the water flow into the direction of the location of the intake of the pumping means. If the layout of the basin is small, e.g. by the division of said basin into at least two separate chambers, this inclination may be chosen rather steep even with a low elevation of the framework.

In a further embodiment thereof, said floor panel is being composed of plane panels. This enables an easy and cost- effective production the basin and thus of the framework. In another embodiment, the pumping chambers forming an integrated part of said basin. Such a design allows a smooth and edge-free flow of the mud water towards the inlet of the pumping means, thus preventing the deposition of the mud and plugging of the receiving chamber. In another embodiment, the bottom of said framework is provided as a plane rectangle. The preparation of the ground of the location for receiving the washing system is very easy and may for instance performed by simply using a road roller. In a further embodiment, said pumping means comprise of electrical suction pumps arranged within said pumping chambers. If the suction pumps are arranged immediately within the pumping chambers, the pump intake is directly arranged at location of the collected mud water which minimizes again the risk of deposition of mud. Furthermore, the suction pumps are easily accessible from the outside of the washing system for maintenance.

In another embodiment, said washing system comprises spray walls connectable to said framework to form a spray protection along the sideway of said drive-through track. Such spray walls on one hand prevents the surrounding of the washing system from being sprayed by mud water and on the other hand prevents the water from the washing system of being drained off the closed water system of the washing system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For purpose of facilitating and understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof to be considered in connection with the following description. Thus the invention may be readily understood and appreciated. Fig. 1 is a schematic view onto an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment according Figure 1; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic longitudinal section of the framework of the embodiment according Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

Referring to figure 1, the oversight onto an inventive washing system is shown. The rectangular framework 1 has two ramps 2 on each small side, enabling a vehicle to drive onto the grids 3 covering a part of the top of framework 1.

The ramps 2 and grids 3 form parts of the drive-through track for any vehicle. Water nozzles (not shown in Figure 1) are arranged in a known manner laterally and below of grids 3 for washing the underside and wheels of the vehicle .

Cover panels 4 are arranged between the grids 3 for covering a further part of the framework 1. Those panels 4 have a roof-like surface to enable the water running down into the grids 3, as may be seen in the cross-section shown in Figure 2.

Within framework 1, a basin 1' provided by two separated receiving chambers 5, 6 is arranged at the bottom of framework 1; each receiving chamber 5 and 6 being arranged just below of one of the grids 3. A pumping chamber I₁ 8 is assigned to each of the receiving chambers 5 and 6 respectively. The pumping chambers 7, 8 are arranged laterally with respect to framework 1, each comprising an electrical suction pump 9. The suction pumps 9 are therefore easily accessible from outside of the framework 1 for maintenance purposes.

Spray walls 10 are arranged sideways of the grids 3 along the length of framework 1. Those spray walls 10 may be plugged into recesses in the sidewalls of framework 1 or attached in any other suitable manner.

A tank 11 is arranged in the vicinity of framework 1 comprising pumping means 12 for supplying the nozzles of the washing system with water stored in tank 11. The outlet of the suction pumps 9 are as well fed into tank 11, i.e. by water pipes (not shown) , thus forming a closed system of water to be used in the washing system. Tank 11 is designed in known manner to be used as a recycling water tank. It therefore comprises known means for digging out mud and slit collected within this tank 11.

The dimensions of tank 11 may be chosen according the designed system performance of the washing system and may be put onto any ground without the need of any extensive preparation.

Figure 3 depicts the longitudinal section through framework 1. Basin 1' or receiving chamber 5 respectively is arranged at the bottom of framework 1, comprising floor panels 13 (depicted in dotted lines) forming the bottom of the receiving chambers 5 and 6 and being gently inclined with respect to the bottom level of framework 1. The pumping chamber 7 is arranged in the middle part of basin 1^? with its intake 9' just at the lowest part of basin 1^?. It is thus clear that any water dropping down from above grid 3 will flow along the inclined floor panels 13 within the respective receiving chamber 5 in direction of intake 9' of suction pump 9 and will therefore be pumped out of basin I¹ or receiving chamber 5 respectively. One spray wall 10 is as well shown with vertical and horizontal bars arranged at its inner side for strengthening purposes.

In an exemplary embodiment, the dimension of framework 1, ramps 2 and tank 11 are chosen such as to match the receiving dimensions of a standard framework used for transportation.

Due to the arrangement of the pumping chambers 7 and 8 sideways of the receiving chambers 5 and 6, the height of framework 1 may be even less than βOcm, preferably about 50cm, thus allowing the ramps 2 having a length of about only 4m for instance. The length of framework 1 and thus the length of the washing drive-through track may be between 4m and 12m, allowing two revolutions of each wheel of a standard truck. With such dimensions, the transportation of the components of the washing system only needs a width capacity of about 200cm and the components may thus easily be stored within a standard container used for transportation. The dimensions of the water tank 11 may be 220cm in width, 180cm in height and about 700cm in length, thereby providing a water capacity sufficient for a continuous wheel-washing activity.

The present washing system enables the providing of a washing facility on construction sites for vehicles such as trucks for washing their underside and wheels just by placing the elements on a flat ground. Therefore, the installation time is very short and the system is immediately ready for action. After use, the washing system may be easily displaced or removed and stored with only little storage room needed.

Claims

1. Washing system for washing wheels and underside of a vehicle comprising a framework (1) with a basin (I¹) providing the bottom part of said framework (1) , a grid (3) covering at least a part of the opening of said basin (I¹)_/ water nozzles arranged at said framework (1) ; ramps (2) to be connected to said framework (1) to form part of a drive-through track (T) for said vehicle; pumping means (9) for pumping used water out of said basin (I¹); and at least two pumping chambers (7,8), each arranged at one side of said basin (I¹), each comprising at least one intake (9^f) of said pumping means (9).

2. Washing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one tank (11) for receiving working water for the washing system; pumping means (12), such as electrical pressure pumps (12), for supplying said water nozzles with water from said tank (11) .

3. Washing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said basin (I¹) is provided by at least two separate receiving chambers (5;6), with at least on pumping chamber (7;8) associated to each of said receiving chambers (5; 6).

4. Washing system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the floor panel (13) of said basin (I¹) is at least partially inclined with respect to the bottom of said framework (1) .

5. Washing system according to claim 4 with said floor panel (13) being composed of plane panels.

6. Washing system according to one of claims 1 to 5, with the pumping chambers (7; 8) forming an integrated part of said basin ( 1 ' ) •

7. Washing system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bottom part of said framework (1) is a provided as a rectangle.

8. Washing system according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said pumping means comprise of electrical suction pumps (9) arranged within said pumping chambers (7; 8).

9. Washing system according to one of claims 1 to 8 further comprising spray walls (10) connectable to said framework to form a spray protection along the sideway of said drive-through track (T) .