Method and apparatus for pressure washing

• US 6,120,614 A
• Filed: 09/01/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ESD Waste2Water, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EZ Environmental Solutions, Corp.
• Inventors: Eliason, Scott, Damron, Michael D., Garcia, Eduardo M., Driscoll, Rudolph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/145,481
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 134/10, 134/109, 134/110, 134/111, 134/115, 134/182, 134/183, 134/102.1, 210/167
• US Class Current: 134/10
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/00 Methods preventing fouling preventing accumulation of deposits in pneumatic conveyors B65G53/521
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/025 Prevention of fouling with liquids by means of devices for containing or collecting said liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/006 Cabinets or cupboards specially adapted for cleaning articles by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/14 Removing waste, e.g. labels, from cleaning liquid; Regenerating cleaning liquidstreatment of water in general C02F
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/00 Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles cleaning in general B08B; cleaning peculiar to waterborne vessels B63B57/00, B63B59/00; ground equipment for cleaning aircraft B64F5/30

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing a contaminant from an object. According to one aspect, an apparatus for washing an object which has contaminant is arranged to recover the contaminant. The apparatus includes a support floor that supports an object to be washed and a basin mounted below the support floor. The basin is divided into a plurality of chambers which include a clean water chamber, a secondary water chamber, an oil containment chamber, and a contaminated water receiving chamber which receives water which is contaminated after it is flowed over the object to remove the contaminant. The contaminated water received in the contaminated water receiving chamber must pass sequentially through the oil containment chamber and the secondary water chamber prior to entering the clean water chamber. The clean water chamber is flowably coupled to the secondary water chamber by a first flowpath near the operational water level, while the secondary water chamber is flowably coupled to the oil containment chamber by a second flowpath near the bottom of the basin. The oil containment chamber is flowably coupled to the contaminated water receiving chamber by a third flowpath near the operational water level. The apparatus also includes a first pump which draws and filters water from the secondary water chamber and returns the filtered water to the clean water chamber.

Claims

1. A pressure washing apparatus for washing an object having a contaminant comprising:

a subfloor assembly for supporting an object to be washed, and adapted to direct contaminated fluids which are flowed over the object to remove the contaminant towards a run-off portion thereof;

a settling compartment positioned below the subfloor assembly having a collection end, in fluid communication with the run-off portion for receipt of substantially all the run-off contaminated fluids from said subfloor assembly, and an accumulation end, positioned downstream from and flowably coupled to said collection end through a relatively long first flowpath adapted to create a substantially uniform, relatively slow, non-turbulent flow from the collection end toward the accumulation end to separate the relatively lightweight contaminants of the contaminated fluids from the relatively heavyweight contaminants of the contaminated fluids, said light contaminants being caused to substantially rise toward an operational fluid level in said settling compartment while said heavyweight contaminants are caused to substantially settle toward a bottom of said settling compartment during flow along the first flowpath; and

a pump assembly arranged to draw and filter fluid from the accumulation end and return the filtered fluid into a separate clean fluid compartment;

whereby fluid pumped from the clean fluid compartment may be used to wash contaminants from the object and a circulation flowpath defined by the settling compartment promotes the removal of the contaminants from the collected run-off contaminated fluid.

2. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said first flowpath is generally U-shaped having an upstream leg portion and a downstream leg portion separated by a bight portion therebetween, said accumulation end being positioned proximate a distal end of downstream leg portion while the collection end is positioned along the upstream leg portion.

3. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said collection end is positioned proximate a distal end of said upstream leg portion.

4. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 3 further including:

a skimmer assembly positioned proximate a distal end of said downstream leg portion of said settling compartment and in fluid communication with the operational fluid level of the collected fluid in said settling compartment, said skimmer assembly being adapted for removing the lightweight contaminants therefrom.

5. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein

said skimmer assembly includes a belt device adapted to remove floating lightweight contaminants from a top surface of the collected fluid in said settling compartment.

6. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said subfloor assembly includes a support floor adapted to funnel the run-off contaminated fluid toward the run-off portion situated substantially above the collection end of the settling compartment.

7. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein,

said collection end is positioned proximate a distal end of said upstream leg portion.

8. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein,

said support floor defines a plurality of channels, each adapted to funnel collected run-off contaminated fluid toward a respective portion of said collection end positioned along the upstream leg portion.

9. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 6 further including:

a filtering device in fluid communication with the collected run-off contaminated fluid passing from the run-off portion of the subfloor assembly to the collection end of the settling compartment to filter out relatively coarse contaminants.

10. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein,

the filtering device is a mesh basket.

11. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including:

a skimmer assembly positioned proximate the accumulation end of said settling compartment and in fluid communication with the operational fluid level of the collected fluid in said settling compartment, said skimmer assembly being adapted for removing the lightweight contaminants therefrom.

12. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein,

said skimmer assembly includes a belt device adapted to remove floating lightweight contaminants from a top surface of the collected fluid is said settling compartment.

13. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including:

an inlet compartment fluidly coupled between the pump assembly and the accumulation end of said settling compartment through at least one inlet orifice positioned sufficiently below the operational fluid level of the collected fluid in said settling compartment to draw fluid and retain therein.

14. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein,

a second flowpath positioned at a predetermined fluid level in said clean fluid compartment which flowably couples the clean fluid compartment to the inlet compartment at a location slightly above the operational water level for recirculation of the filtered fluid from the clean fluid compartment to the inlet compartment.

15. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein,

said separate clean fluid compartment is separated from said inlet compartment through an interior wall, and said second flowpath is provided by at least one recirculation slot extending therethrough.

16. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 15 further including:

a heating element in fluid contact with the clean fluid in said clean fluid compartment for controlled heating thereof.

17. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including:

an auto-fill device adapted to automatically fill the settling compartment with fluid upon detection of the fluid level falling below the predetermined operational fluid level.

18. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including:

an auto-fill device adapted to automatically fill the settling compartment with fluid upon detection of the fluid level falling below the predetermined operational fluid level.

19. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including:

an ozone generator; and

a gas-liquid mixer arrangement connected to the ozone generator, wherein the gas-liquid mixer is arranged to inject ozone into the fluid proximate the collection end of said settling compartment.

20. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said subfloor assembly includes a base frame assembly movably coupled to said settling compartment between an operational position, situated for operational use over said settling compartment, and a maintenance position, enabling access to said settling compartment.

21. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein,

said subfloor assembly includes a plurality of roller devices mounted to the base frame assembly and movable between a retracted position, when said subfloor assembly is in the operational position, and an extended position, enabling rolling support of the base frame assembly between the operational position and the maintenance position.

22. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein,

said roller devices are provided by pneumatic cylinders selectively movable between the retracted position and the extended position.

31. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein,

said collection end is positioned proximate a distal end of said upstream leg portion.

23. A modular pressure washing apparatus for washing an object having a contaminant comprising:

an independent, first subfloor assembly providing a first platform and including a first support floor under said first platform;

an independent, second subfloor assembly providing a second platform removably coupled to and positioned adjacent the first platform of the first subfloor assembly in a manner cooperating to form an enlarged washing platform area therewith for supporting the object to be washed thereon, said second subfloor assembly further including a second support floor under said second platform;

a settling compartment positioned below the first subfloor assembly and formed to receive substantially all the run-off of contaminated fluids flowed over the object from said first subfloor assembly, and further adapted for fluid communication with the second subfloor assembly for receipt of substantially all the run-off of contaminated fluids flowed over the object from said second subfloor assembly; and

a first pump assembly coupled to said first subfloor assembly, and arranged to draw and filter the contaminated fluids from the settling compartment and return filtered fluids into a separate clean fluid compartment;

whereby fluid pumped from the clean fluid compartment may be used to wash contaminants from the object and a circulation flowpath defined by the settling compartment promotes the removal of the contaminants from the collected run-off contaminated fluid.

24. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein,

said first support floor is adapted to funnel the run-off contaminated fluid of the first subfloor assembly toward a run-off portion thereof situated substantially above a collection end of the settling compartment.

25. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein,

said second support floor being adapted to direct collected contaminated fluids towards and into the run-off portion of the first support floor.

26. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein,

said second subfloor assembly further includes a collection compartment positioned below said second platform, and formed to receive substantially all the run-off of contaminated fluids flowed over the object from said second subfloor assembly, said collection compartment adapted for fluid communication with said settling compartment for receipt of the run-off contaminated fluid of the second subfloor assembly into said settling compartment.

27. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 26 further including:

a transfer pump device coupled between said first subfloor assembly and said second subfloor assembly to draw the run-off contaminated fluid of the second subfloor assembly into said settling compartment.

28. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein,

said second support floor is adapted to funnel the run-off contaminated fluid of the second subfloor assembly toward a run-off portion thereof situated substantially above a collection end of the collection compartment.

29. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein,

said settling compartment further includes an accumulation end, positioned downstream from and flowably coupled to said collection end through a relatively long first flowpath adapted to create a substantially uniform, relatively slow, non-turbulent flow from the collection end toward the accumulation end to separate the relatively lightweight contaminants of the contaminated fluids from the relatively heavyweight contaminants of the contaminated fluids, said light contaminants being caused to substantially rise toward an operational fluid level in said settling compartment while said heavyweight contaminants are caused to substantially settle toward a bottom of said settling compartment during flow along the first flowpath.

30. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein,

said first flowpath is generally U-shaped having an upstream leg portion and a downstream leg portion separated by a bight portion therebetween, said accumulation end being positioned proximate a distal end of downstream leg portion while the collection end is positioned substantially along the upstream leg portion.

32. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 29 further including:

an inlet compartment fluidly coupled between the first pump assembly and the accumulation end of said settling compartment through at least one inlet orifice positioned sufficiently below the operational fluid level of the collected fluid in said settling compartment to draw fluid and retain therein.

33. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein,

a second flowpath positioned at a predetermined fluid level in said clean fluid compartment which flowably couples the clean fluid compartment to the inlet compartment at a location slightly above the operational water level for recirculation of the filtered fluid from the clean fluid compartment to the inlet compartment.

34. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 33 further including:

an auto-fill device adapted to automatically fill the settling compartment with fluid upon detection of the fluid level falling below the predetermined operational fluid level.

35. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 29 further including:

an ozone generator; and

a gas-liquid mixer arrangement connected to the ozone generator, wherein the gas-liquid mixer is arranged to inject ozone into the fluid proximate the collection end of said settling compartment.

36. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 23 further including:

a skimmer assembly positioned proximate the accumulation end of said settling compartment and in fluid communication with the operational fluid level of the collected fluid in said settling compartment, said skimmer assembly being adapted for removing the lightweight contaminants therefrom.

37. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 36 wherein,

said skimmer assembly includes a belt device adapted to remove floating lightweight contaminants from a top surface of the collected fluid is said settling compartment.

38. A method for washing an object, having a contaminant, with water comprising the steps of:

supporting the object over a settling compartment through a subfloor assembly including a support floor having a run-off portion thereof;

passing water over the object to remove the contaminant from the object;

directing the contaminated water collected in the support floor toward the run-off portion thereof and into a collection end of said settling compartment;

flowing the collected contaminated water from the collection end to an accumulation end of the settling compartment along a relatively long first flowpath adapted to create a substantially uniform, relatively slow, non-turbulent flow from the collection end toward the accumulation end;

separating the relatively lightweight contaminants of the contaminated water from the relatively heavyweight contaminants of the contaminated water, said light contaminants being caused to substantially rise toward an operational the level in said settling compartment while said heavyweight contaminants are caused to substantially settle toward a bottom of said settling compartment by the substantially uniform, relatively slow, non-turbulent flow along the first flowpath; and

drawing and filtering the water from the accumulation end for recirculatory use through the passing step.

39. A method for washing an object as recited in claim 38 wherein,

said drawing and filtering step includes the step of returning the filtered water to a clean water compartment to provide a reservoir of clean water for said passing step.

40. A method for washing an object as recited in claim 39 wherein,

said drawing and filtering step further includes the step of, before the filtering and returning step, drawing water from the accumulation end into an inlet compartment.

41. A method for washing an object as recited in claim 38 wherein,

said first flowpath is generally U-shaped having an upstream leg portion and a downstream leg portion separated by a bight portion therebetween, said accumulation end being positioned proximate a distal end of downstream leg portion while the collection end is positioned along the upstream leg portion.

42. A method for washing an object as recited in claim 41 wherein,

said collection end is positioned proximate a distal end of said upstream leg portion.

43. A method for washing an object as recited in claim 42 further including the step of:

skimming the lightweight contaminants from a top surface of the collected water in the accumulation end of the settling compartment.

44. A method for washing an object as recited in claim 42 further including the step of:

injecting ozone into the basin proximate the collection end.

45. A pressure washing apparatus for washing an object having a contaminant comprising:

a settling compartment formed to receive substantially all the run-off of contaminated fluids flowed over the object;

a pump assembly coupled to said settling compartment to draw and filter fluid from settling compartment and return the filtered fluid into a separate clean fluid compartment, wherein fluid pumped from the clean fluid compartment may be used to wash contaminants from the object and a circulation flowpath defined by the settling compartment promotes the removal of the contaminants from the collected run-off contaminated fluid;

a subfloor assembly having a base frame and a platform for supporting the object to be washed thereon, said subfloor assembly being movably coupled to said settling compartment between an operational position, situated for operational use over said settling compartment, and a maintenance position, enabling access to said settling compartment.

46. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein,

said subfloor assembly includes a plurality of roller devices mounted to the base frame and movable between a retracted position, when said subfloor assembly is in the operational position, and an extended position, elevating said subfloor assembly away from said settling compartment for rolling support and movement from the settling compartment to the maintenance position.

47. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 46 wherein,

said roller devices are provided by pneumatic cylinders selectively movable between the retracted position and the extended position.

48. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein,

said subfloor assembly includes a support floor supported by said base frame and positioned under the platform, and adapted to direct contaminated fluids which are flowed over the object to be washed toward a run-off portion thereof for delivery into said settling compartment in the operational position.

49. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 48 wherein,

said support floor is adapted to funnel the run-off contaminated fluid of the subfloor assembly toward a run-off portion thereof situated substantially above a collection end of the settling compartment.

50. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein,

said settling compartment further includes an accumulation end, positioned downstream from and flowably coupled to said collection end through a relatively long first flowpath adapted to create a substantially uniform, relatively slow, non-turbulent flow from the collection end toward the accumulation end to separate the relatively lightweight contaminants of the contaminated fluids from the relatively heavyweight contaminants of the contaminated fluids, said light contaminants being caused to substantially rise toward an operational fluid level in said settling compartment while said heavyweight contaminants are caused to substantially settle toward a bottom of said settling compartment during flow along the first flowpath.

51. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 50 wherein,

said first flowpath is generally U-shaped having an upstream leg portion and a downstream leg portion separated by a bight portion therebetween, said accumulation end being positioned proximate a distal end of downstream leg portion while the collection end is positioned substantially along the upstream leg portion.

52. A pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 51 wherein,

said collection end is positioned proximate a distal end of said upstream leg portion.

53. A modular pressure washing apparatus as defined in claim 50 further including:

a skimmer assembly positioned proximate the accumulation end of said settling compartment and in fluid communication with the operational fluid level of the collected fluid in said settling compartment, said skimmer assembly being adapted for removing the lightweight contaminants therefrom.