Abstract:
A high pressure car wash apparatus providing economy of both water and detergent by the recirculation of a portion of the water and detergent being utilized to a holding tank for reintroduction into the system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS 
     This Application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/469,532, filed Dec. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,063. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a high pressure, wand type car wash apparatus and a method for using the same which provides for water conservation. 
     2. Art Relating to the Invention 
     The wand type car wash apparatus differs markedly from the conventional car wash which functions on an assembly line principle wherein a plurality of spaced stations are provided, each station carrying out a different preassigned task on a moving vehicle. The wand type device is a compact unit by means of which all washing functions may be carried out in situ on a stationary vehicle. The wand type device is by design small, compact and readily movable if a change of location is desired. 
     Present wand type units make no provision, however, for basic economies, such as that of water and detergent. With the increasing frequency of water shortages, water economy is essential and water consuming devices, such as the one under consideration, have been the subject of criticism and even prohibition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a high pressure wand type car wash apparatus which provides for certain economies, particularly that of water, while maintaining its compactness and mobility. The present invention also conserves detergent, thereby lowering the amount of detergent used and the amount of detergent released into the environment. 
     High pressure spray type car wash apparatus for saving water according to the present invention comprising a motor driven pump having an inlet and an outlet, a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, a first supply conduit for conducting water from a tap, a second supply conduit for conducting liquid from the reservoir, said first and second supply conduits being in communication with the pump inlet, the pump outlet being in communication with two discharge conduits, a first discharge conduit in communication with the reservoir and a second discharge conduit in communication with a high pressure dispenser, a first valve means for regulating the flow of fluid from said pump outlet to said reservoir, means for injecting cleaning agents into the system, and a second valve means for automatically shutting off the flow of liquid from the reservoir to said pump inlet when pressurized tap water is entering the system. 
     Preferably, the reservoir is positioned to permit a gravity flow of liquid to the pump. A fitting is interposed in the line between pump outlet and the discharge conduits to split the flow of liquid from the pump. The first valve means is suitably a conventional valve for regulating the flow of liquid passing through the respective discharge conduits which are either manually or electronically controlled. 
     The reservoir is suitably positioned directly above the pump and interconnecting parts and the apparatus is housed within a protective casing with a portion of the discharge conduits with dispenser extending outwardly of the casing. 
     In particular, the apparatus is coin operated, the coin acting in association with an electrical switch which first actuates the pump motor and, after a predetermined period of time, stops it. The injection of detergent into the system being independently controlled by the operator by means of a soap switch or manually or by the coin apparatus to regulate the detergent. 
     The method of the present invention involves the use of the apparatus of the present invention to recirculate a portion of the water from the pump outlet to the reservoir. Preferably, about 50 to 90% of the output is recirculated to the reservoir. The method comprises dividing wash water from a pump into two streams, a first stream directed to a nozzle for washing the car and a second stream directed to a reservoir, storing said second stream in said reservoir during said washing thereby conserving some of said wash water, and returning some of said second stream from said reservoir to said pump to be used as said wash water. 
     Other objects and advantages of the device of the present invention may become more apparent from an examination of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the apparatus mounted within a housing, and 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1 wherein elements are shown schematically for clarity. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1 the device is shown housed within casing  10  provided with port  12  permitting access to its interior. Casters  14  depending from the bottom wall permit the unit to be readily moved about. 
     The device consists of a high pressure pump  16  interposed within a fluid system which terminates in a high pressure spray which may be used for car washing. In this instance the pump generates 500 lbs. per square inch and delivers 2 gallons of liquid per minute, the capacity of the pump and its delivery rate being a matter of choice. 
     The pump is powered by electric motor  18  housed in the lower portion of the casing, a power source  19  being exterior of the casing for powering motor  18 . 
     A liquid reservoir  20  is supported in the upper portion of the casing by brackets  22 . Supply conduit  24  puts the reservoir in communication with the pump on its upstream side while discharge conduit  26  puts the pump in communication with the reservoir on its downstream side. Thus, a first complete fluid circuit is provided. 
     A second supply conduit  28  puts the pump in communication with an external source of tap water, already somewhat pressurized by the system providing it. A second discharge conduit  30  puts the pump in communication, on its downstream side, with a cleaning wand  32  exteriorly mounted on an outside wall of the casing. Thus a second fluid circuit is provided. 
     The supply conduits combine at  34  at the pump inlet and the discharge conduits separate from a common duct  36  at the pump outlet. It may thus be seen that downstream the pump the two circuits share a common duct  36  and are in communication with one another. 
     When tap water is introduced into the system it will flow to pump  16  where it is further pressurized and, exiting pump  16 , it will flow into each of the discharge conduits. Thus a portion of the pressurized water will flow to the cleaning wand  32  while the remaining portion will flow to reservoir  20  where it is reintroduced into the system through conduit  24 . 
     A valve  38  is provided to control the quantity of water returning to reservoir  20 . If the valve is completely closed there will be no recirculation of water. The valve may be a spring loaded release valve and may be manually controlled. Valve  38  will control the amount of water that is recycled to reservoir  20 . This can be controlled manually or through conventional electric circuitry. 
     A check valve  40  is provided to close off the flow of liquid from the reservoir. This valve may be of the vertical flap type and is designed to close under pressure when tap water is introduced into conduit  28 . 
     A solenoid valve  42  associated with conduit  28  opens and closes the system to tap water. 
     A detergent injection device  44  is employed to inject detergent, preferably liquid detergent, into pump inlet  34  by means of conduit  45 . Alternatively, conduit  45  can be connected to pump outlet  36 , however, it is preferred to be connected to pump inlet  34  to allow the action of pump  16  to mix the detergent and water. Such injectors as used with high pressure washers are well known and will not be described further, however, such a device can also be positioned downstream of the pump and can be controlled by soap switch or manually or the coin operating mechanism. 
     The instant high pressure washer may be advantageously employed as a car wash and when used as such may be electrically activated by the introduction of a coin into a receptacle  46  designed for that purpose. Timers are employed in conjunction with the electrical system to permit a predetermined period of use. Details of such circuitry are well known and, accordingly, are not shown. However, it will be recognized that a single processor (computer) can be used to control all of the pumps and the cycles employed by the device of the present invention. Such processors allow for programming of the cycles and for adjustment depending on the water pressure from the tap, the detergent used, the amount of water to be conserved, etc. The timer and coin receptacle  46  control the apparatus through the electric motor  18 . 
     The unit offers a rinse cycle and a wash cycle, the choice and duration being controlled by the user through the valves (or by the device through the processor). In both cycles water is recirculated to the reservoir. In the rinse cycle, however, detergent is not introduced into the system and the flow of “soapy” water from the reservoir is prevented by valve  40  and from device  44 . Detergent injector  44  is electrically coordinated with the system and injects during the wash cycle and cuts off during the rinse cycle. 
     It may thus be seen that the device of the present invention offers economies not only of water but of detergent, amongst other things, in addition to offering a compact, self-contained package ideally suited for use as a high pressure washer, particularly a coin operated wand type car wash.