A TRANSPORTABLE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING STATIONARY VEHICLES

Abstract: A transportable apparatus for cleaning stationary vehicles may comprise a lorry having a drivers' cab (2) and chassis (4). A vehicle cleaning bridge (8) comprising rotatable cleaning brushes is pivotally supported about a vertical axis on a carriage (12). The carriage (12) is movably supported on a track (14) extending in a longitudinal direction of the lorry. The bridge can be pivoted about the vertical axis to lie substantially parallel to the track for facilitating transportation of the vehicle cleaning apparatus. The bridge (8) can be pivoted about the vertical axis so as to extend perpendicularly to the direction of the track thereby enabling translational movement of the carriage (12) and the bridge (8) along the track (14) for facilitating cleaning of a stationary vehicle.

Description: A TRANSPORTABLE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING STATIONARY VEHICLES This invention relates to a transportable apparatus for cleaning stationary vehicles1 and in particular, but not exclusively, a truck or rail-car having such an apparatus constructed thereon. Transportable apparatuses for cleaning vehicles are known in the art. Such apparatuses suffer from numerous practical disadvantages. For example, in many such apparatuses, it is necessary for the vehicle to be driven through the cleaning apparatus. This has the disadvantage that at least two operators are required, one for driving the vehicle, and the other for controlling the apparatus. Other conventional vehicle washing plants are those built on the forecourts of garages and petrol filling stations. Although these vehicle washing plants, in particular car washing plants, operate while the vehicle is stationary, the plant nevertheless relies upon the driver of the vehicle taking the vehicle to the plant. This type of car-wash facility gives rise to the disadvantage that the vehicle driver, when arriving at the car-wash station, may have to wait his/her turn before been able to use the car washing facility. This type of car-wash facility is not practical for cleaning fleets of vehicles which are often parked in a group out of normal working hours. In many cases, the owner of the vehicle fleet may be unable to afford the installation of a stationary vehicle cleaning facility On the other hand, the owner would be reluctant to allow the vehicles of his fleet to be cleaned on other different commercial premises during normal working hours since this would distract the employees from their normal working duties. Such a vehicle fleet owner is therefore left with the dilemma of permitting his employees to clean their vehicles during working hours, or installing his own vehicle washing facility which may be out of use for most of the time, particularly in cases where the overall size of the fleet is not great. It is an aim of the present invention to overcome this difficulty by providing a transportable apparatus for cleaning stationary vehicles which eliminates the need for the vehicles of the fleet to be driven through the car-wash individually during normal working hours. Conventional vehicle cleaning facilities also suffer the disadvantage that they tend to leave portions of the vehicle sides unwashed. This is particularly so in facilities which comprise vertical rotatable brushes which are pivotally supported at one end. There is a tendency, in such arrangements, for the brush to pivot away from the vehicle at its lower end, thereby leaving the lower part of the vehicle unwashed. In other conventional arrangements, both the upper and lower ends of the rotatable brushes are linked to the machine. This type of machine suffers the disadvantage that it cannot be incorporated into a transportable apparatus for cleaning vehicles. It is therefore a further aim of the present invention to provide a transportable apparatus which is capable of cleaning stationary or moving vehicles more efficiently without leaving areas of the vehicle unwashed. According to the present invention, there is provided a transportable apparatus for cleaning stationary vehicles, the apparatus comprising a pivotally supported bridge provided with one or more rotatable cleaning devices for extending along the vehicle to be cleaned, characterised in that the bridge is pivotally supported on a carriage, which carriage is movably supported on a track extending in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus, whereby the bridge can be pivoted about a vertical axis to lie substantially parallel to the track for facilitating transportation of the apparatus, and can be pivoted about the vertical axis to extend in a perpendicular direction to the track thereby enabling translational movement of the carriage and the bridge along the track for facilitating cleaning of the stationary vehicle. The bridge is preferably locked into position so that it does not move about the pivot during cleaning or transportation. Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that they can be transported from one fleet vehicle park to another in order to clean the vehicles at the park while they are idle at a time suitable and convenient for the owner of the fleet. This may typically take place outside normal working hours so as to avoid wasting the time of the individual drivers and losing profitable utilisation of the vehicle. Embodiments of the present invention also have the advantage that they may be positioned on a rail-car chassis for transportation to different railway sidings where trains within the siding can be cleaned whilst stationary and whilst they are out of service, without the need for train drivers to be present in order to supervise the cleaning or to move trains. In embodiments of the invention, the bridge preferably comprises a pair of arms disposed for extending vertically along the sides of the vehicle to be cleaned, and an arch portion for extending horizontally over the vehicle, wherein each arm and the arch portion has one of the rotatable cleaning devices associated with it. In order that the apparatus is suitable for cleaning vehicles of different dimensions, the size of the bridge can be made relatively large and the rotatable cleaning devices can be mounted on tracks so that they can be moved to positions appropriate for cleaning the vehicle, The axes of two of the rotatable cleaning devices are disposed vertically, the devices being suspended from the bridge at one end, In preferred embodiments of the invention, the rotatable cleaning devices are suspended via respective couplings which restrain the vertically disposed devices from pivotal movement with respect to the couplings. This restraint prevents the rotatable cleaning devices from pivoting so that the lower free end thereof is prevented from pivoting away from the lower portions of the vehicle. The coupling is nevertheless such as to permit a limited amount of translational displacement of the axis of the device in directions parallel and perpendicular to the sides of the vehicle and axially with respect to the cleaning device. Similar couplings are provided at each end of the horizontally disposed rotatable cleaning device which is also translationally movable along tracks positioned on the bridge. The horizontally disposed device can be driven to a position appropriate for cleaning the upperside, front and rear of the vehicle. Each coupling may be associated with damping means so that the limited translational displacement permitted by respective couplings takes place under forces exerted on the cleaning devices as they move across the relatively irregular surface of the vehicle. The damping may be adjustable so that the limit.of displacement is generally not reached until a control operation is required. The rotational and/or translational drive of the rotatable cleaning devices are controlled by means of a control means co-operating with sensor means positioned in the vicinity of the couplings. The sensor means, which may be in the form of limit switches may be positioned for sensing the movement of the devices as they reach their displacement limit. The appropriate control signals can then be supplied to the control means depending upon which limit switch is activated. The control means can therefore sense the progress of the movement of the rotatable cleaning devices over the vehicle and can direct the drive means accordingly. In embodiments of the invention, a multiple load bearing wheel contact is provided between the carriage and the track. Such a multiple load bearing contact enables a reduction in the size of rails required to support the translational movement of the bridge. The apparatus may be provided with outrigger supports for contact with the ground so as to enhance the stability of the apparatus during operation thereof. Stays may be provided for restraining the bridge in position during transportation and during use of the apparatus. Services, such as water, detergent, electrical or hydraulic power are preferably supplied between the bridge and the main body of the apparatus via a single umbilical linkage. Such a linkage has the advantage that the apparatus is uncluttered with wires, cables, ducts and the like and the operator does not need to make any connections of services between the bridge and the remainder of the apparatus in order to set up the apparatus for the cleaning operation. Further optional but preferred features which may be incorporated into embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims of the present application. The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is an end elevational view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 for showing the distribution of services on the apparatus; Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a modified version of the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7; Figure 9 is a plan view of a carriage which may be incorporated into embodiments of the invention; ; Figure 10 is an end elevational view of the carriage of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a drawing used for the purposes of explaining the operation of the coupling illustrated in Figures 12 to 14; Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the coupling for coupling a rotatable cleaning device to a movable carrier in embodiments of the invention; Figure 13 shows features of the coupling in more detail; and Figure 14 is a plan view of the coupling. Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for cleaning stationary vehicles, which apparatus is mounted on the chassis of a lorry. The lorry comprises a driver's cab 2 and a chassis 4 on which is mounted the apparatus 6 (which comprises a bridge 8 and appropriate stores and control space) according to the first embodiment. The apparatus 6 comprises the bridge 8 which is shown in its operating position, that is, extending perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The bridge 8 is pivotally supported about an axis 10 on a carriage 12. The carriage 12 is supported on a plurality of load bearing wheels (which will be described in detail below) on a pair of rails 14. The rails 14 extend along the length of the chassis 4 thereby enabling translational movement of the carriage 12 and bridge 8 along the length of the chassis 4 so that the bridge can pass over and along at least part of the length of the vehicle to be cleaned. The bridge 8 comprises a pair of arms 16 disposed in a vertical direction and an arch portion 18 for joining the two arms Each of the arms 16 and arch portion 18 has a rotatable cleaning device, which in this case is in the form of a generally cylindrically shaped brush 20. The brushes 20 associated with the arms 16 hang from one end so as to be disposed vertically. The lower end of each of the vertical brushes 20 is free. Each of the arms 16 is provided with a guard 22 for containing water within the cleaning area. A third brush 20 is rotatably supported at each end and can be moved in a vertical direction so that the third brush 20 can be moved towards or away from the upperside of the vehicle to be cleaned. Detergent and water tanks are stored within the apparatus 6. such tanks can provide a water supply thereby enabling use of the apparatus at locations away from a main water supply, Power for driving the bridge 8 and associated pumps (not shown) and other equipment requiring power can be derived from the engine of the vehicle or an auxiliary power unit provided on the chassis. Outrigger supports 24 are provided at each of the four corners of the lorry or trailer 4 for providing additional stability during operation of the apparatus. The outrigger support 24 are also suitable for adjusting the level of the vehicle in order to ensure that the tracks 14 are level thereby ensuring that the bridge 8 moves over the vehicle and cleaning area 26 uniformly. As can be seen from Figure 1, the apparatus can be driven to the site where it is to be deployed, and the vehicle can be cleaned without the need to move the vehicle to be cleaned. The apparatus can be shut down simply by pivoting the bridge about the pivots 10 so that the longitudinal axis of the arch portion 18 lies parallel to the longitudinal direction of the trailer 4. Before pivoting the bridge 8 to lie in this position, the carriage 12 is moved to the rear end of the trailer 4 so that the bridge 8 can fit within the limits of the trailer 4. Once the bridge 8 is secured in this position, the outrigger support 24 can be lifted out of deployment and the apparatus can simply be driven to another location where it is required. Figure 2 illustrates a modified version of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, a longer trailer 28 having rails 30 extending between each end is employed, This embodiment provides for a greater degree of translational movement of the bridge 8 during operation of the apparatus, In this embodiment, a tailgate 31 is pivotally attached to the rear end of the trailer 28. The tailgate 31 is provided with rails (not shown) which provide for an extension of the rails 30. When the tailgate 31 is deployed in a horizontal position, the distance through which the bridge 8 can be traversed is extended by a length corresponding to that of the tailgate rails. A supporting leg 33 is provided at the free end of the tailgate for supporting the tailgate 31 in the horizontal position. Tanks 32 may be positioned below the trailer for storing water, detergents and other materials for the cleaning operation. A control panel (not shown) may be conveniently located at the rear end of the trailer for manual control of the apparatus. A diesel powered generator may be located on the trailer 4 for providing electrical and/or hydraulic power for the bridge 8, pumps and other powered devices. Figure 2 illustrates support of the carriage 12 on the rails 30 by multiple load bearing wheels 34. The position of the bridge 8 when pivoted to lie parallel to the longitudinal direction of the trailer 4 during transportation is shown by chain dotted lines. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the embodiment of Figure 2 in the operating position. The brushes 20 are schematically indicated as being in the operating position, that is to say, the bridge extends perpendicularly from the side of the trailer 4. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention in which the apparatus is adapted for use on a rail car, thereby enabling the cleaning of railway engines and carriages. In this embodiment, the general constructions and operation of the bridge is the same as that in the first embodiment described with reference to Figure 1, the difference being in that the rails are supported on a rail car 38 instead of a trailer 4. The bridge 8 of Figure 5, when in the transportation position is shown by chain dotted lines. A facility for cleaning a pair of railway carriages disposed on either side of the rail-car may be provided for by additional bridges 8" on the same or on both sides of the rail-car (see Figure 5), So that the bridge 8, 8" can clear low bridges, arches, or signals during transportation along a railway. the bridge 8, 8 may be pivotable about a central point 43 or its base 45. The pivot position of the bridge 8 about point 43 is illustrated in Figures in chain dotted detail. The bridge of the road vehicle embodiments of the invention may also be pivotable so that the apparatus can clear low bridges and the like. Figure 7 is a plan view of the second embodiment showing the distribution of services on the trailer. This view will be described in detail below. Figure 8 shows a modified version of the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6 in which a bridge 8, 8' and corresponding carriage is positioned at each end of a rail car 40. One of the bridges 8'is an additional arch provided without brushes. Instead, the additional bridge 8' is fitted with pipes and nozzles for providing for the application of chemical cleaning agents This application of chemical agents may take place instead of or in addition to the brush cleaning provided by the other bridge 8. This arrangement permits cleaning of a pair of railway carriages disposed on either side of the rail car 40. A water supply 42 may be provided in an adjoining tank thereby enabling operation of the apparatus at a site which may be far from a main water supply. Water treatment facilities may be stored on a following rail-car 44. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a carriage which may be used in embodiments of the invention. The carriage 12 comprises a frame 46 which comprises cross members 48 for providing additional strength to the carriage. The bridge 8 (not shown) is pivotally mounted to the end of an extended arm 50 about pivot point 52. Four pairs of wheels 54 are povided on the side of the carriage 12 which supports the main load of the bridge 8 and associated equipment. Three pairs of wheels are provided at the end of the carriage closest to the pivot point 52 as these support the greatest load. Referring to Figure 10, an end elevational view of the carriage 12 is shown. Each wheel of respective pairs of wheels 54 is supported by a separate rail 58 of the track 14, 30. It is these rails 58 which support the main load of the bridge 8. A central wheel 60 is provided between the rails 58 for providing lateral stability of the carriage 12 on the rails 58. A hook 62 is provided for securing the bridge 8 and carriage 12 against being lifted from the rails 58. The fixed rail 64 is secured to the trailer 4 or rail-car 38, 40. Wheels 66 are provided underneath the fixed rail 64 for preventing tilting of the carriage 12 about the rails 58. The insert drawing of Figure 10 shows the configuration of wheels 66 as seen in the direction of arrow X. The insert shows a rail 64 which is fixed to the trailer 4. There are four wheels 66 divided into two pairs. Each pair is coupled to one end of a bar 65 which itself is fixed to the carriage 12. The coupling of each pair of wheels 66 to the bar 65 is via a triangular brace which is pivotally mounted at each end of the bar 65. This helps to ensure that an even load distribution is applied to the bar 65 by the wheels 66. The axles on which the wheels 54 are mounted comprise rubber bushes (not shown) for enabling some degree of resilient movement of the axles. This serves to ensure that there is an even load distributed between the wheels 54 and the rails 58. The carriage illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 and its mounting onto the rails is ideally suited for ensuring one degree of freedom of movement for the carriage 12 and bridge 8. This helps to ensure the smooth operation of the apparatus. The coupling end support of the rotatable cleaning devices will now be described with reference to Figures 11 to 14. The ends of the two vertically disposed rotatable cleaning devices 20 which are suspended from the bridge 8 are coupled to the bridge via a coupling which restricts pivotal movement of the axis of the brush or device 20 about the coupling. The coupling is suitable for permitting translational displacement of the axis of the brush or device 20 through a limited distance in directions.which are perpendicular and parallel to the sides of the vehicle to be cleaned, and axially with respect to the device 20. This coupling itself is linked to a carrier which is supported on rails provided in the arch portion 18 of the bridge 8. These rails (not shown in the figures) enable translational movement in a vertical plane of the two suspended brushes or devices 20 so that the apparatus can clean relatively narrow vehicles. The horizontally disposed brush or device 20 is coupled to a carrier at each end by a similar coupling. The carrier at each end of the horizontally disposed brush or device 20 is also mounted on rails, which rails are located on each of the arms 16. This arrangment enables the horizontally disposed brush or device 20 to be translationally driven in a vertical plane to account for variations in the height of the vehicle to be cleaned. Suspension of the two vertical brushes or devices 20 from one end enables efficient construction of transportable apparatuses embodying the present invention. In order to prevent pivoting of the vertical brushes or devices 20 about the coupling, and consequent reductions in the cleaning efficiency of the apparatus, the coupling is configured to restrict movement as described above The principal behind the construction of the coupling will be described below with reference to Figure 11. The coupling generally indicated by the reference numeral 70 comprises an upper plate 72 which is fixed to a carrier movably supported by rails positioned on the bridge 8. The plate 72 is coupled to a lower plate 74 to which the brush or device 20 is rotatably attached to an axis 76. Four linkages 78 provide the coupling between the two plates 72 and 74. Each of the four linkages 78 is of similar construction, one linkage being provided in each quadrant for strength and stability. Relative movement between the plates 72 and 74 in the direction of arrows A is enabled by virtue of a coupling link 80 which is rotatably supported about an axis 82 to a flange 84 projecting from the plate 72. The other end of the coupling link 80 rotatably supports a rod 86. The rod 86 is coupled to a second coupling link 88 which in turn is coupled via axis 90, which axis is perpendicular to the axis 86, to a third coupling link 92. The third coupling link 92 rotatably links the axis 90 with a second flange 94 which is fixed to the lower plate 74. As can be seen from Figure 11, the third coupling link 92 provides for relative movement between the plates 72 and 74 in the direction of arrows B. As displacement in the direction of either arrows A or B takes place, there will be some displacement in the direction of arrows C which is axial with respect to the rotating axis of the brush or device 20, The construction of the coupling 70 is such as to provide for limited displacement in the directions of the arrows A, B and C. The purpose of providing this limited displacement is to enable sensing and control of the rotation of the brushes or devices 20 and their translational movement along the rails provided on the bridge 8. As the brushes or devices 20 are moved towards and progressively closer towards the sides of the vehicle to be cleaned, the brushes or devices 20 will eventually be displaced transversely so as to give rise to relative movement between the plates 72 and 74 in either or both of the directions A and B, Limit switches (not shown) can be positioned close to a peg 96 which projects from the lower plate 74, As the peg 96 moves with respect to the plate 72, an appropriate limit switch can be activated when a predetermined degree of movement has taken place. This limit switch may be coupled to the control device which in turn switches off the drive means giving rise to translational movement of the brush or device 20 along the rail of the bridge 8. Corresponding limit switches are provided for enabling sensing and control of the displacement of the brush or device 20 in the other directions. The relative displacement between the plates 72 and 74 may be restrained or damped by means of a bias means, which may specifically be in the form of a hellical compression spring 98 provided between a pressure plate 100 and an adjustable plate 102. The compressive force of the compression spring 98 can be adjusted by means of a screw 104. As the lower plate 74 moves in the direction of arrow A, a second peg 106, projecting from the plate 72, moves towards or away from a nose 108 provided on the pressure plate 100. As the second peg 106 moves towards the left in Figure 11, the peg 106 will engage the nose 108 and move against the action of the spring 98. This will serve to dampen the relative movement between the plates 72 and 74 in this direction. Other adjustable damping means may be provided to provide a similar damping facility in each of the other directions. The reference numerals of Figure 12 which are the same as those of Figure 11 represent features which perform the same function as those reference numerals of Figure 11. Also Figure 13 and 14. Figure 12 illustrates wheels 110 which ride along tracks (not shown) positioned on the bridge 8. In Figure 13, a motor for providing the translational drive of the brushes or devices 20 is provided in a housing 112. Stays may be incorporated into embodiments of the invention for securing the bridge 8 in position both during transit and use of the apparatus. Deployment of the bridge 8 and stays may be manual. At least two stays may advantageously be provided for securing a point of the bridge 8 to fore and aft locations of the trailer 4, This support provides more securing of the bridge in both forward and backward directions. A diesel generator may be provided at the rear of the trailer 4 generating electrical power and/or hydraulic power. The weight of the generator would also help to provide additional stability for the apparatus. Incorporation of tanks for water and detergent can, in addition to the diesel generator permit the apparatus to perform its cleaning function at any site regardless of the availability of external supplies of water and cleaning equipment. A centralised control positioned at the rear of the trailer can provide for convenient operation of the apparatus by the driver. Braking capstans may be provided on the trailer, and a further capstan may be provided on the bridge, which capstans may be linked via a rope so that during deployment of the bridge 8, the rope may be looped around the capstans so as to prevent uncontrolled swinging of the bridge 8 from taking place. A flexible working table of rubber may be provided, the table being unfolded from a suitable depositing area of the trailer. The working table may have inflatable kerbs, which can be inflated from a vehicle compressor, which, when inflated enable the collection of water used in the cleaning operation. This water can be returned to a separation tank, where the water is separated from dirt and detergent thereby enabling recycling of the used water. Referring back to Figure 7, the plan view showing services which include a diesel generator 120 positioned at the rear of the trailer 4. A control panel 121 is conveniently positioned at the rear of the trailer from which the operator can control operation of the apparatus. Stays 122 are shown in dotted detail for illustrating a possible way of securing the bridge 8 in the transport position. In Figure 7, the bridge 8 is shown to be secured in the deployed position by means of stays 123. Motors 124 are shown for providing drive for the cleaning devices 20 along the arms of the bridge 8. Reference numeral 125 illustrates the carrier of the vertically disposed devices 20 (not shown in Figure 7). The corresponding carriers 126 of the horizontally disposed cleaning device 20 are disposed either side of the arch 18. A motor 127 provides for the drive of the horizontally disposed device 20. On the trailer 4, water tanks 128 are shown together with a dirt separator and filter 129 for recycling used water. Pumps 130 are used for pumping water to the cleaning devices 20 from the tanks. These pumps can be used for draining used water from a mat 131 on which the vehicle to be cleaned stands, and for pumping the used water to the tank and filter. The single flexible umbilical supply is indicated by reference numeral 133 and extends along the trailer so as to permit translational movement of the carriage 12 along the trailer. The mat 131 has a kerb 134 which can be inflated for acting as a boundary and to enable collection and drainage of used water. The apparatus embodying the invention my be transported to a railway platform and supported thereon. When in this position, the apparatus can be used to clean trains brought alongside the platform.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A transportable apparatus for cleaning stationary vehicles, the apparatus comprising a pivotally supported bridge provided with one or more rotatable cleaning devices for extending along the vehicle to be cleaned, characterised in that the bridge is pivotally supported on a carriage, which carriage is movably supported on a track extending in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus, whereby the bridge can be pivoted about a vertical axis to lie substantially parallel to the track for facilitating transportation of the apparatus, and can be pivoted about the vertical axis to extend in a perpendicular direction to the track thereby enabling the translational movement of the carriage and the bridge along the track for facilitating cleaning of the stationary vehicle. 2. A transportable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable cleaning device(s) is/are coupled to the bridge by a coupling configured for restraining the device from pivotal movement about the coupling but for permitting translational displacement thereof through a limited distance in directions parallel and perpendicular to the sides of the vehicle to be cleaned. 3. A transportable apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bridge comprises a pair of arms for extending vertically along the sides of the vehicle to be cleaned, and an arch portion linking the pair of arms for extending horizontally over the vehicle, wherein a different one of the rotatable cleaning devices is supported from each of the arms and the arch portion. 4, A transportable apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotatable cleaning devices associated with the pair of arms are each suspended at one end thereof from the bridge so as to lie substantially parallel to their respective arm, while being free at the other end, by a respective carrier mounted on tracks for allowing translational movement of the rotatable cleaning device in a vertical plane towards or away from the vehicle to be cleaned. 5. A transportable apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotatable cleaning device associated with the arch portion is coupled to the bridge at each end of the device, so as to lie substantially horizontally, via respective carriers mounted on tracks for allowing translational movement of the device in a vertical plane towards or away from the vehicle to be cleaned. 6. A transportable apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotatable cleaning device is coupled to the respective carriers by respective couplings configured for permitting translational displacement thereof through a limited distance in directions parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of the vehicle to be cleaned, and axially with respect to the device. 7. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising drive means for effecting translational and rotational drive of the rotatable cleaning devices. 8. A transportable apparatus according to claim 7, comprising sensor means responsive to the translational movement of the rotatable cleaning devices, and control means operative for controlling the rotation and translational movement effected by the drive means when one or more of the devices has been translated through said limited distance. 9. A transportable apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each coupling is associated with bias means for damping at least part of the translational displacement through said limited distance. 10. A transportable apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the damping force applied by the bias means is adjustable. 11. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a multiple load bearing wheel contact is provided between the carriage and the track of the apparatus. 12. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of stays for restraining the bridge in said substantially parallel position and for restraining the bridge in said perpendicular direction. 13. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein supplies, including one or more of water, detergent, electrical or hydraulic power are supplied between the bridge and the body of the apparatus via a single umbilical linkage, 14. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising water storage tanks for use during the cleaning operation, and for enhancing stability of the apparatus. 15. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a generator for producing electrical power. 16. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising floodlights which are extendable from the apparatus so as to enable illumination of the cleaning area at night. 17. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising safety means for preventing excessively fast swinging of the bridge during deployment or shutting down of the apparatus. 18. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a flexible mat which may be unfolded from the apparatus and disposed so that the vehicle to be cleaned can be driven onto the mat, the mat including kerbs for enabling the collection of water drained from the vehicle during the cleaning operation, and retrieval means for returning the water to a storage tank from the mat. 19. A transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a tailgate pivotally attached to a trailer or chassis of the apparatus for providing an extension of the track, 20. A rail car, truck or trailer for a truck comprising a transportable apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: JONES CYRIL EDWARD, PEREGRINE EDGAR PHILLIPS, PIZZEY FRANCIS JOHN, JONES, CYRIL, EDWARD, PEREGRINE, EDGAR, PHILLIPS, PIZZEY, FRANCIS, JOHN
Applicants: TRANSPORT CLEANING SERVICES LI, TRANSPORT CLEANING SERVICES LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B60S3
IPC codes: B60S3