Abstract:
An automatic boat washing system including several brush assemblies mounted on a vertically movable cage supported by a mainframe assembly and side ballast tanks is disclosed. The vertical position of the movable cage and brush assemblies may be adjusted in relation to the mainframe and ballast tanks during operation of the system. Rollers are used for supporting and drawing boats through the automatic boat washing assembly. The automatic boat washing assembly of the present invention may be used to clean powerboats in areas below the waterline in order to improve boat performance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/893,707 filed Mar. 8, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to boat washers, and more particularly relates to an automatic boat washing assembly. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   Boat hulls need to be periodically washed to remove debris such as algae, bacteria, barnacles, minerals, oil, dirt and other marine materials. Various types of boat washing devices have been proposed. However, a need still exists for an automatic boat washing system that effectively cleans boat hulls and is easy to use and operate. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an automatic boat washing system including several brush assemblies mounted on a vertically movable cage supported by a mainframe assembly and side ballast tanks. The vertical position of the movable cage and brush assemblies may be adjusted in relation to the mainframe and ballast tanks during operation of the system. Rollers are used for supporting and drawing boats through the automatic boat washing assembly. The automatic boat washing assembly may be used to clean powerboats in areas at and below the waterline in order to improve boat performance. Typical boats that may be cleaned are inboard and inboard/outboard stern drive boats having beams of from about 8 to about 13.5 feet. 
   An aspect of the present invention is to provide an automatic boat washing assembly comprising: a main frame including side frames having at least one generally vertical guide member, a movable cage located between the side frames and contacting the at least one generally vertical guide member, wherein the height of the movable cage with respect to the main frame is adjustable, a plurality of brush assemblies mounted on the movable cage structured and arranged to contact and clean a boat as it passes through the boat washing assembly, and a plurality of keel drive assemblies mounted on the movable cage structured and arranged to contact the keel of the boat and to move the boat through the boat washing assembly. 
   This and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an automatic boat washing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the automatic boat washing assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the automatic boat washing assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the automatic boat washing assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a main frame of an automatic boat washing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom isometric view of a vertically movable cage of an automatic boat washing assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an end view of the movable cage of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the movable cage of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the movable cage of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a portion of a keel drive system including multiple keel drive wheels mounted in housings in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a keel brush assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a mid brush assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a bow brush assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is an isometric view of a waterline brush assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of a rotary brush in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is an isometric view of an automatic boat washing assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  but equipped with roller brush assemblies instead of rotary brush assemblies. 
       FIG. 17  is an end view of the automatic boat washing assembly of  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a top view of the automatic boat washing assembly of  FIG. 16 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an automatic boat washing assembly  5  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The boat washing assembly  5  includes a main frame  10  including generally vertical side frames  11  and  12  connected at their lower ends by a base frame  13 . A vertically movable cage  30  upon which several brush assemblies  40 ,  50 ,  51 ,  60  and  61  are mounted is adjustably supported by the main frame  10 . 
   As shown most clearly in  FIG. 5 , the main frame  10  includes gussets  14  connected between each of the side frames  11  and  12  and the base frame  13 . Two vertical cam follower guides  15  are mounted on each of the side frames  11  and  12 . The side frames  11  and  12 , base frame  13 , gussets  14  and cage guides  15  are typically made of metal such as steel and are connected to each other by any suitable means such as welding and mechanical fasteners. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , several disconnectable shipping split connections  16  are provided between each of the side frames  11  and  12  and the base frame  13  and gussets  14 , which allow for easier transportation of the main frame  10 . The main frame  10  also includes ballast tank mounting bars  17 , as well as mounting plates  18  for bow guide assemblies  26  and waterline brush assemblies  70  and  71 , as described in more detail below. 
     FIG. 5  also illustrates a winch mounting plate  20  secured to the top of the side frame  11 . Several sheaves  21  are provides on the main frame  10  for guiding wire rope which is used in conjunction with a winch to adjust the height of the movable cage  30 , as more fully described below. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , ballast tanks  24  and  25  are provided on opposite sides of the main frame  10  and connected to the side frames  11  and  12 . Bow guides assemblies  26  including bow guide wheels  27  and gas-assisted springs  28  are pivotally connected to the side frames  11  and  12  of the main frame  10 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 - 9 , the automatic boat washing assembly  5  includes a cage  30  that is vertically movable with respect to the main frame  10 . The vertically movable cage  30  includes a lateral undercarriage  31  section and a longitudinal undercarriage  32  section. The lateral undercarriage  31  section includes laterally extending arms  33  and  34  having cam followers  35  mounted at the ends thereof. A ballast tank  29  may be provided near one end of the longitudinal undercarriage section  32  in order to help maintain the cage  30  in a horizontal orientation during the cleaning operation. As shown most clearly in  FIG. 6 , several disconnectable shipping split connections  36  may be provided between the lateral and longitudinal undercarriage sections  31  and  32 , which allow for easier transportation of the movable cage  30  in a disassembled condition. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  10 , keel drive assemblies  37  comprising wheels rotatably mounted on housings are mounted on the longitudinal undercarriage  32  of the movable cage  30 . In the embodiment shown, two sets of four wheels are provided on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of the longitudinal undercarriage  32  in order to contact the keel of a boat and move it through the assembly  5 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , each keel drive assembly includes a series of housings and their associated wheels. A hydraulic motor  38  is provided at the base of at least one of the keel drive assemblies  37 . The motor  38  drives a continuous drive belt  39  connected between all of the assemblies  37  in order to drive the wheels of the assemblies and/or to drive brush assemblies mounted on or near the assemblies  37 . 
   As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , several brush assemblies are mounted on the movable cage  30 . A keel brush assembly  40  including two disk-shaped rotary keel brushes  42  is mounted near the center of the movable cage  30 . Opposing mid brush assemblies  50  and  51  are mounted above the lateral arms  33  and  34  of the movable cage  30 . Each mid brush assembly  50  and  51  includes two disk-shaped rotary mid brushes  52 . Opposing bow brush assemblies  60  and  61  are also mounted on the movable cage  30 . Each bow brush assembly  60  and  61  includes two disk-shaped rotary bow brushes  62 . Opposing waterline brush assemblies  70  and  71  are mounted on the side frames  11  and  12  of the main frame  10 . Each waterline brush assembly  70  and  71  includes a single disk-shaped rotary waterline brush  72 . The rotary brush assemblies are described in more detail below. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the keel brush assembly  40  includes two rotary brushes  42 , each of which is powered by a hydraulic motor  43 . The rotary brushes  42  are mounted on a frame  45  which is fastened to the movable cage  30 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the mid brush assembly  50  includes two rotary brushes  52  powered by hydraulic motors (not shown). The assembly  50  includes a base  54  mountable on the movable cage  30  and a frame  55  pivotally mounted on the base  54 . Gas-assisted springs  56  are used to move and bias the frame  55  and rotary brushes  52  against the mid section of a boat hull during the cleaning operation. Adjustable wheeled outriggers  57  are used to help position the rotary brushes  52  in relation to the boat hull during the cleaning operation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , the bow brush assembly  60  includes two rotary brushes  62  powered by hydraulic motors (not shown). The assembly  60  includes a base  64  mountable on the movable cage  30  and a frame  65  pivotally mounted on the base  64 . Gas-assisted springs  66  are used to pivotally move and bias the frame  65  and rotary brushes  62  against the bow of a boat during the cleaning operation. Adjustable wheeled outriggers  67  are used to help position the rotary brushes  62  in relation to the boat hull. 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , the waterline brush assembly  70  includes a rotary brush  72  driven by a hydraulic motor  73 . The assembly  70  includes mounting brackets  74  which are mounted on the side frame  11  of the main frame  10 . A rotary brush frame  75  is pivotally mounted on the mounting brackets  74 , and gas-assisted springs  76  are used to move and bias the frame  75  and rotary brush  72  in the desired position against the waterline of the boat hull during the cleaning operation. 
     FIG. 15  illustrates one of the rotary brushes  72  driven by the hydraulic motor  73 . The rotary brush  72  includes an elastomeric backing disk  78  onto which multiple brush segments  79  are mounted. In the embodiment shown, the rotary brush  72  has four brush segments  79 , each of which extends approximately 90 degrees around the circumference of the backing disk  78  brush. The brush segment  79  includes bristles made of any suitable material such as polypropylene. The other rotary brushes  42 ,  52  and  72  may be constructed similarly to the rotary brushes  72 . However, in some circumstances, it may be desirable to use different types of brushes on the different brush assemblies. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a controller  80  is used to control the operation of the automatic boat washing assembly  5 . A winch assembly  81  drives a wire rope that is used to adjust the vertical position of the movable cage  30  in relation to the main frame  10 , as more fully described below. The controller  80  comprises conventional circuitry and may be programmed by means known in the art to operate the automatic boat washing assembly, e.g., to run the keel drive assemblies  37 , raise and lower the winch  81 , and run the brush assemblies  40 ,  50 ,  51 ,  60 ,  61 ,  70  and  71 . In one embodiment, the controller  80  may be powered by a diesel or gas generator in order to avoid running electrical lines thereto. 
     FIGS. 16-18  illustrate another automatic boat washing assembly  105  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic boat washing assembly  105  shown in  FIGS. 16-18  is similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , except several of the disk-shaped rotary brush assemblies have been replaced with roller brushes. The automatic boat washing assembly  105  includes a main frame  110  and vertically movable cage  130 . A series of stationary keel brushes  140  and  141  are mounted on the movable cage  130  adjacent to two of the keel drive assemblies  37 . Opposing mid brush assemblies  150  and  151  are mounted on the movable cage  130 . Each mid brush assembly  150 ,  151  includes a single roller brush  152  having multiple rows of bristles located around the circumference of the brush. Bow brush assemblies  160  and  161  are also mounted on the movable cage  130 , each of which comprises a roller brush  162 . Opposing waterline brush assemblies  170  and  171  are mounted on opposing sides of the main frame  110 . Each waterline brush assembly  170  and  171  includes a roller brush  172 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 16-18 , three sets of hydraulically driven roller brushes and two sets of fixed position brushes clean the underside of the boat in four different regions in order to clean the boat while conforming to the specific profile of the boat. 
   The automatic boat washing assemblies of the present invention may be installed in any desired waterway such as a lake, river, bay or ocean. For example, the boat washing assemblies may be installed at or near a marina or any other desired boat washing location. In one embodiment, the boat washing assembly may be fastened to a dock or other similar structure. In another embodiment, the boat washing assembly may be free-standing and anchored to the bottom of a lake, river, etc. 
   To provide safe utilization of the boat washing machine, the captain should be the only person on the boat as it goes through the machine—all other passengers should be on shore. The boat washing machine also requires a machine operator. After dropping off all passengers the boat captain lines up the bow of the boat to the inlet of the boat washing machine. Two flags may be mounted on the bow guides to provide navigational beacons for the captain. The captain navigates the boat between the beacons at idle speed. The bow guides are spring-loaded and will center the bow of the boat in to the cleaning position as the boat passes through them. As the boat enters the machine under idle boat power through the bow guides it will engage the rotary mid brush assembly. Such engagement may activate a “boat in-place” indicator on the control cabinet  80 . The operator may then instruct the captain to secure all drives and trim all submerged components such as stern drives and trim tabs. The operator also inspects the boat and boat washing machine to ensure that nothing such as mooring lines are over the side which could be caught in the rotating brushes. 
   The cleaning operation begins once the captain has secured and trimmed all components and the operator has inspected the boat and cleaning machine. The operator presses a “start sequence” button on the control panel  80  and the cleaning operation begins. 
   The hydraulically driven winch  81  raises the movable cage  30  until the pneumatic wheels of the keel drive assemblies  37  engage the keel of the boat. Once the appropriate pressure is reached by the keel drive assemblies  37 , the keel drive wheels start to rotate forward and move the boat. The ballast tank  29  in the cage  30  may be filled or emptied to provide tilt compensation for the assembly when the center of gravity of the cage  30  changes as a boat passes through the wash cycle. 
   Once the keel drive assemblies begin to move the boat, the rotary brush assemblies  40 ,  50 ,  51 ,  60 ,  61 ,  70  and  71  are rotated and contact the boat as it travels through the assembly. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the keel brush assembly  40  with its brushes  42  and the opposing mid brush assemblies  50  and  51  with their brushes  52  are the first brushing assemblies encountered. The keel brushes  42  clean the keel of the boat, and the mid brushes  52  clean an area from the waterline to mid-way to the keel. The mid brush assemblies  50  and  51  pivot toward the boat hull and their brushes  52  press against the hull under the force of the gas-assisted springs  56 . 
   The next set of brushes encountered are the rotary bow brush assemblies  60  and  61  and their brushes  62 . The bow brushes  62  are pivoted forward to conform to the bow and as the boat moves forward. The gas-assisted springs  66  press the bow brushes  62  against the hull to clean an area below the rotary mid brush assembly and above the boat keel area. 
   The last set of brush assemblies are the waterline assemblies  70  and  71 . The waterline brushes  72  clean above the waterline and an area below the waterline down to the mid area. The rotary waterline brush assemblies  70  and  71  are attached to gas springs to allow conformity to the shape of the boat. 
   After the waterline brushes have cleaned the waterline and have cleared the stern of the boat, the winch  81  lowers the movable cage  30  back to the rest position and the boat will be clear of the boat washing machine and can re-engage and re-trim all drives and accessories. The cleaning operation is complete and the boat can leave under its own power. 
   The alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 16-18  operates in a similar manner as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . However, after the bow brush assemblies  160  and  161  are encountered, the boat encounters the fixed keel brush assemblies  140  and  141 . The keel brush assemblies are non-rotating and are attached to the one or two last pairs of keel drive wheel mounts  37 . These non-rotating brushes clean the keel as the boat is moved across them. The keel brushes may adjust to the boat draft angle using gas springs. 
   Additional features include an emergency stop wherein the operator can immediately shut down the system with one switch in the event of any problem. A system reverse may be included, wherein the operator can run any or all sub-systems in reverse at any time from the control panel. Furthermore, a maintenance position may be provided, wherein the system has a maintenance switch, which will raise the birdcage above the waterline and thus expose all sub-systems. This will allow for cleaning and maintenance as necessary. 
   Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.