Immediate cleaning and recirculation of cleaning fluid and method of using same

• US 8,480,888 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Ashley, Dennis, Checketts, Ben, Taylor, Shannon L., Larson, Bernie L., Frederick, Richard W., Linton, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lithgow, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US12/480,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20100307984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 210/195.1, 210/167.01, 210/167.3, 210/167.31, 210/199, 210/202, 210/205, 210/206, 210/122, 210/400
• US Class Current: 210/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/38 by centrifugal separation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/40 Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/463 by electrocoagulation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/56 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/44 from vehicle washing facilities
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage

Abstract

A system and process for continuously and immediately removing contaminants from wastewater and treating wastewater, where the wastewater is treated to supply fluid that can be reused in the cleaning system or discharged safely into the environment is disclosed. The system and method comprises one or more pumping means for circulating and recirculating fluids captured or collected by the system to one or more of the processes in the system, such as wash water applications or further treatment cycles. According to one embodiment, the wastewater is transported through purification sections of the device. Depending on the system used, these sections could include several of the following: pretreatment to remove debris and certain heavy solids; treatment by methods such as a conductivity solution injection system and/or electrolytic coagulation system, a polymer injection system, and a inline mixer for mixing the polymer in the wastewater stream; and an ozone treatment system. In a preferred embodiment, each of the treatment sections are contained within an enclosure cabinet that includes a controller and feed containers for conductivity fluid and polymers.

Claims

1. A self contained cleaning apparatus for continuously treating wastewater, comprising:

at least one inlet for collecting fluids expelled by a cleaning device of the cleaning apparatus;

wherein the at least one inlet for collecting fluids captures substantially the entire volume of fluids expelled by the cleaning device and continuously transfers these fluids from the inlet to a coagulation module for receiving and processing fluid captured by the at least one inlet, the coagulation module comprising a coagulant for injecting into the fluid, at least one mixing chamber for separating solids from the fluid, a pump for introducing a flow of a polymer solution to the fluid;

at least two tanks for receiving and purging the fluid provided upstream of a belt filter for removing impurities from the fluid, wherein the at least two tanks allow for impurities in the fluid to increase in size prior to filtration;

the belt filter comprising a float sensor for detecting a water level and indexing the belt filter; and

means for storing treated fluid provided in operative communication with a transfer pump for recirculating the treated fluid to the cleaning device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning apparatus includes;

an electrolytic coagulation system comprising one or more electrolytic cells for treating the collected fluids.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the polymer solution is comprised of an organic long-chain high molecular weight emulsion flocculent.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus includes at least one pit system module for separating solid contaminants from the collected fluids.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one inlet is comprised of a trough located in the flooring of a wash area assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pump is selected from the group consisting of a small frame pump, a medium frame fluid pump, a large frame fluid pump, a peristaltic pump, a reversible flow pump, a gravity siphon, and a sump pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising additional pumping devices for transferring fluid from the means for storing treated fluid to either the cleaning device or back to the coagulation module.

8. The self contained cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein two tanks are provided in operable communication with each other, such that when one tank is purging fluid, the second tank is receiving fluid.