Mobile trash receptacle cleaning system and method

• US 7,846,263 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barry Tod Phillips
• Original Assignee: Gregory P. Marcantel
• Inventors: Marcantel, Gregory P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin; Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTERHOUT, BENJAMIN LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/799,419
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 134/52, 134/61, 134/78, 134/107, 134/115.R, 134/123, 134/166.R, 134/169.R, 134/8, 134/18, 134/22.1, 134/22.18, 134/24, 134/104.2
• US Class Current: 134/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/093 by the force of jets or sprays B08B9/0813 , B08B9/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/32 Rotating conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 7/005 Devices, mounted on refuse collecting vehicles, for cleaning or disinfecting refuse receptacles

Abstract

A vehicle mountable system for cleaning trash receptacles with wash-water. The system includes an enclosure with an access opening, supported on the vehicle, and a carriage disposed within the enclosure. A spray head is aligned to impinge wash-water against the trash receptacle while it is engaged with the carriage. A basin is aligned to accumulate wash-water drainage from the spraying operation. A spray shield is operated to a closed position that reduces wash-water effluence from the enclosure. The system may include a filter and means for sanitizing wash-water that is accumulated by the basin and recirculated through a holding tank. An automated arm engages a trash receptacle to engage and disengage the trash receptacle with the carriage through the access opening in the enclosure. Plural trash receptacles can be engaged with the carriage and advanced through plural positions within the enclosure. A second spray head aligned to impinge rinse-water against the trash receptacle, and a second basin for accumulating rinse-water drainage may be included in the system. A trash receptacle drying means may also be included within the enclosure.

Claims

1. A vehicle mountable system for cleaning trash receptacles with wash-water, comprising:

an enclosure, configured to prevent the effluence of wash-water therefrom, having an access opening, configured to enable the insertion of the trash receptacles there through, supported on the vehicle;

a carriage, the entirety of which is disposed within said enclosure;

a spray head aligned to impinge wash-water against the trash receptacle while engaged with said carriage;

a basin located within said enclosure and aligned to accumulate wash-water drainage, and

a spray shield operable to a closed position that closes said access opening and prevents wash-water effluence from said access opening in said enclosure by completing the enclosure thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a means for sanitizing wash-water accumulated by said basin.

3. The system of claim 2, and wherein

said means for sanitizing is a wash-water tank having an ozonation recirculation loop.

4. The system of claim 2, and wherein

said means for sanitizing is a chemical additive.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter coupled to remove particulate from the wash-water.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a holding tank containing a volume of wash-water sufficient for cleaning a plurality of trash receptacles, and

a pump coupled in a wash-water circuit consisting of said holding tank, said spray head, and said basin, thereby recirculating the wash-water.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an automated arm having a first end fixed relative to said enclosure and a second end adapted to engage a trash receptacle, and wherein

said automated arm operates to engage and disengage the trash receptacle with said carriage through said access opening.

8. The system of claim 1, and wherein

said carriage is configured to engage plural trash receptacles simultaneously.

9. The system of claim 8, and wherein

said carriage advances the plural trash receptacles through plural positions within said enclosure.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second spray head aligned to impinge rinse-water against the trash receptacle, and

a second basin for accumulating rinse-water drainage.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a trash receptacle drying means disposed within said enclosure.

12. A method of cleaning trash receptacles with wash-water in a vehicle mountable system, while preventing the effluence of wash-water, comprising the steps of:

engaging a trash receptacle with a carriage through an access opening in an enclosure, wherein the entirety of the carriage is disposed within the enclosure, and the enclosure is configured to prevent the effluence of wash-water therefrom;

operating a spray shield to a closed position that closes the access opening and prevents wash-water effluence from the access opening in the enclosure by completing the enclosure thereof;

impinging wash-water against the trash receptacle, and

accumulating wash-water drainage in a basin.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

sanitizing the wash-water accumulated by the basin by using a chemical additive.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

sanitizing the wash-water accumulated by the basin using a wash-water tank having an ozonation recirculation loop.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

filtering particulate matter from the accumulated wash-water, and

recirculating filtered wash-water to said spraying step.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

engaging and disengaging the trash receptacles with the carrier through the opening in the housing an automated arm having an end adapted to engage the trash receptacle.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

engaging plural trash receptacles with the carriage simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

advancing the carriage through plural positions within the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

impinging rinse-water against the trash receptacle, and

accumulating rinse-water drainage in a second basin.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

drying the trash receptacle.