Abstract:
A washing station and method for removing debris and oil from landscape maintenance equipment vehicles includes a self-contained pressurized washing system that separates the washing water from solids, washes the solids, captures the oil and debris, recycles the filtered water and prevents contamination of the surrounding area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a pressurized washing system and apparatus, and more particularly, to a self-contained washing system that is capable of simultaneously washing a plurality of vehicles used for landscape maintenance, removing the debris and oils from the vehicles, while separating and removing the oil from the debris and the wash water, utilizing recycled and filtered water, without contaminating the surrounding area.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Relevant Art  
           [0004]    The prior art discloses many devices for providing a pressurized washing system suitable for washing the underside and top of lawnmowers and the like. However, a pressurized washing system that is capable of simultaneously washing the debris from of a plurality of vehicles, filtering the liquids, separating the water from the oils and having a storage medium for holding the removed oil and debris for disposal elsewhere, thereby avoiding contamination of the environment proximate the washing station, does not appear in the related art and there is no showing or suggestion that such an environmentally protective apparatus is capable of performing the same functions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a pressurized washing system, suitable for simultaneously washing a plurality of vehicles, that is safe for the environment.  
           [0006]    It is an object of the present to provide a self-contained, pressurized washing station that filters the liquid used in the washing of a plurality of vehicles for re-use and captures the debris contained in the liquid for disposal without contaminating the environment.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive self-contained pressurized washing apparatus for a plurality of vehicles that may readily be moved and installed in another location.  
           [0008]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a self-contained, pressurized washing station that filters and re-uses the washing water that washes a plurality of vehicles and stores the debris contained in the water for disposal without contaminating the environment.  
           [0009]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a pressurized washing station that may simultaneously accommodate a plurality of vehicles of different sizes, re-uses the washing water, cleans and stores the debris contained in the water for disposal, without contaminating the environment.  
           [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pressurized washing station that is self-contained, does not require an external source of water or electricity or requires a sewer system and is powered by a diesel power pneumatic source that provides the required water pressure for operation.  
           [0011]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system that captures and uses available rain water to replace and supplement needed water.  
           [0012]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. Like-reference characters are utilized to designate like or corresponding components in the various views, in order for the reader to better understand features of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a washing station for a plurality of landscape maintenance equipments, according to the principals of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the power and control portion of the washing station described in FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the washing station showing the flow, recycling of the water and the storage and the disposal of the waste materials accumulated after washing the vehicles. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    Referring to the figures and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a top plan view of a washing station  10  suitable for washing a plurality of landscape maintenance equipment, not shown. Provision is made to accept up to eight different pieces of equipment of different sizes for simultaneous washing. Each piece of equipment is placed in a different parking location  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d ,  12   e ,  12   f ,  12   g  and  12   h . Preferably each parking location  12   a  through  12   h  is approximately eight feet (2.4 meters) wide ( 14 ) by eleven feet (3.3 meters) long ( 16 ), spaced side by side, in two rows  18  and  20 , with a walking space  22 , preferably about four feet (1.2 meters) wide, provided between each station  12   a  thru  12   h . The total area of the washing station  10  being approximately 1400 square feet (126 square meters), excluding the area  34  used for the power generator and compressor  24  and the wash drums or tanks  26 ,  28 ,  30  and debris receptacle  32  (see FIG. 3), which require an area of approximately 24 feet (7.2 meters) long and 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide or approximately 192 square feet (17.28 square meters) of reinforced concrete.  
         [0018]    The circumference of the washing station  10  is provided with a raised portion  38  and a surface  11  sloped towards the drain or sump tank  42 , disposed proximate one edge  40  thereof, to insure that the water and debris washed from the vehicles will flow towards the drain or sump tank  42 . The drain or sump tank  42  is adapted to receive all of the debris and grease and oil filled dirty water from the vehicles, as well as, any natural rain water that may have fallen when no washing was being done. The sump or receiving tank  42  is covered with a heavy duty porous grate or cover  44  that has a plurality of openings therein to prevent large pieces of debris from entering the sump or drain tank  42 . Drain tank  42  has disposed therein an inner removable basket  46 , that can be lifted out of the tank  42  with the aid of the overhead motorized trolley, winch and pulley system  47 , that is suspended from an overhead I-beam track  48 . The overhead winch and pulley system  47  is also capable of tilting the basket  46  to empty the contents therein, as needed.  
         [0019]    Each parking station  12   a  thru  12   h  is provided with underground pressurized water hose lines  52  having release nozzles  54  disposed thereon, via ten stanchions  50  placed on either side of the parking locations  12   a  thru  12   h  in the walking space  22  provided between the parking locations  12   a  thru  12   h.    
         [0020]    Appended to the parking station area  11  is an area  34  of reinforced concrete approximately 8 feet wide ( 36 ) by 24 feel long ( 37 ) onto which the power generator and compressor  24  is placed, as well as, the washing drums  26  and  28 . Also included in the area  34 , is the inlet tank  62  and the outlet tank  64 . Preferably, each tank is capable of holding 1300 gallons of liquid and may reverse functions as needed. The bank of filters  68 , includes filter housings and the filter bags  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  and  70   d , each provided with similar input and output control valves  72 , that permit water to flow into and out of the filter vessels, inlet and outlet tanks or drums  62  and  64  and open wash tanks or drums  26  and  28 . Also included are pressure pumps  74 ,  76  and  78  and their associated control valves  72 . The function of each of these components will be set forth hereinafter.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 2, which is an enlarged and separated for clarity, plan view of the power and control area  34  of the washing station  10 , that is fabricated of reinforced concrete and FIG. 3, which is a flow diagram of the washing station showing the flow, recycling of the water, the storage and the disposal of the waste materials accumulated after washing the vehicles.  
         [0022]    In operation, the waste water and debris enters the below grade receiving sump  42 , which has disposed therein a mesh receiving drum or basket  46  that may be removed from the sump  42  by the overhead trolley with motorized hoist  47  affixed on the overhead I-beam  48 . The sump  42  is drained of water by suction pump  76  and discharges the water obtained into inlet tank  62 . The grass debris, with oils thereon, in the basket  46  is then moved to the open wash tank  26  or  28 . A valved compressed air wand, not shown, is inserted into basket  46 , while it is immersed in tank  26  or  28 , while the tank is filled with water and detergent. The compressed air wand is inserted into the tank and the air bubbling up from the wand washes off the oil attached to the grass. The basket  46  is raised out of the tank by the winch and pulley system  47 , moved to the grass dumping station  32  where it is tilted and emptied by the winch and pulley system  47  and aided by the compressed air wand. The debris may be dumped into a container at station  32 , spread on the ground, to be used as mulch, or dumped on the ground elsewhere, since it will not harm the environment.  
         [0023]    With the aid of pump  74  and the proper positioning of valve  72 , the water may be washed, filtered and pumped by pump  74  through filter  70  to the open wash tank  26  or  28 , which may be repeated as needed. The filter bank  68  has three valve  72  positions and with the aid of pumps  76  and  78  and its interconnections, provides the wash water under pressure for all the wash hoses, aerates and re-filters the wash water and discharges sour or excess rain water or completely drains the tanks. Once the grease and oil are separated from the water by the filter bank  68 , the filter bags, not shown, may be removed and properly disposed of The filter housings  70   a  thru  70   h  all include removable filter bags, not shown, that are readily replaceable. The liquid disposed in wash tanks  26  and  28  have their own filter housing and filter bag  70   e , associated therewith and do not utilize the filter bank  68 . The liquid in wash tanks  26  and  28  may be disposed of by directing a hose  73  connected to an outlet valve, not shown, towards the drain or sump  42 . The valves disposed on housing  70   e  are normally set to discharge water into or out of wash tank  26  or  28 , but may also be used to direct the water, via the hose  73 , into the sump  42 .  
         [0024]    Hereinbefore has been disclosed a self-contained washing station for landscape maintenance equipment suitable for washing a plurality of vehicles that is efficient, saves time and is favorable to the environment.