Patent Publication Number: US-2015059812-A1

Title: Vehicle Wash Rack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure relates to a vehicle wash rack. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Washing systems are known in the art. Improvements to washing systems are continuously being sought in order to advance the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle wash rack according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the vehicle wash rack of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the vehicle wash rack of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the vehicle wash rack of  FIG. 3  according to line  4 . 
       SUMMARY 
       One aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle wash rack. The vehicle was rack includes a plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments, a plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments, and a fluid handling system that is fluidly-connected to both of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments and the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments. 
       In some examples, the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments include at least one platform segment and at least one fluid-collecting trough segment. 
       In some implementations, the at least one platform segment includes a first platform segment, a second platform segment and a third platform segment. 
       In some instances, the at least one fluid-collecting trough segment includes a first fluid-collecting trough segment and a second fluid-collecting trough segment. The first fluid-collecting trough segment is disposed between the first platform segment and the second platform segment. The second fluid-collecting trough segment is disposed between the second platform segment and the third platform segment. 
       In some examples, a distal end of the first platform segment is arranged at a higher elevation than the proximal end of the first platform segment in order to arrange the first platform segment at a pitched angle for directing fluid into the first fluid-collecting trough segment. A proximal end of the third platform segment is arranged at a higher elevation a the distal end of the third platform segment in order to arrange the third platform segment at a pitched angle for directing fluid into the second fluid-collecting trough segment. 
       In some implementations, one or more of the first, second and third platform segments of the at least one platform segment of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments may form at least one perforation for permitting fluid to flow through one or more of the first, second and third platform segment of the at least one platform segment of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments. The at least one perforation is in fluid communication with one or more of the first fluid-collecting trough segment and the second fluid-collecting trough segment. 
       In some instances, one or more of the first, second and third platform segments of the at least one platform segment includes at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle that directs fluid toward an undercarriage of a vehicle. 
       In some examples, the first and second platform segments of the at least one platform segment each includes a plurality of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles that are arranged in a substantially grid-shaped pattern. 
       In some implementations, the first platform segment includes a grid-shaped pattern of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles defined by four columns and eight rows of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles. 
       In some instances, the second platform segment includes a grid-shaped pattern of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles defined by three columns and eight rows of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles. 
       In some examples, the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments are supported by and extend away from the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments. 
       In some implementations, the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments include a distal wall segment and a pair of side wall segments defined by a first side wall segment and a second side wall segment. 
       In some instances, the distal wall segment is attached to and extends away from a distal end of the first platform segment of the at least one platform segment of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments. The first side wall segment is attached to and extends away from a first end of each of the first, second and third platform segments and the first and second fluid-collecting trough segments of the of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments. The second side wall segment is attached to and extends away from a second end of each of the first, second and third platform segments and the first and second fluid-collecting trough segment of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments. 
       In some examples, the pair of side wall segments define an opening or passage along a proximal end of the third platform segment of the at least one platform segment of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments. 
       In some implementations, one or more of the distal wall segment and the pair of side wall segments of the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments includes at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle that directs fluid toward one or more sides of a vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle. 
       In some instances, each of the distal wall segment, the first side wall segment and the second side wall segment includes an upper fluid conduit and a lower fluid conduit. Each of the upper fluid conduit and the lower fluid conduit includes a plurality of vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles arranged in a row. 
       In some examples, the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments are supported by a frame member. 
       In some implementations, a fluid-supplying conduit is formed in a thickness of the frame member. The fluid-supplying conduit is fluidly-couples the fluid handling system to both of at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments and at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments. 
       In some instances, the fluid handling system includes at least one first fluid container and a pump device including one or more pumps and one or more valves. 
       In some examples, a first fluid container of the at least one first fluid container contains a cleaning solvent that is delivered to one or more of the at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle and the at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle by the pump device. 
       In some implementations, the pump device includes a computing device that controls one or more of the one or more pumps and the one or more valves. 
       In some instances, a second fluid container of the at least one first fluid container receives a recovered cleaning solvent from the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments after the cleaning solvent impacts one or more of an undercarriage and one or more sides of a dirty vehicle. The recovered cleaning solvent is delivered to the second fluid container by the pump device. 
       In some examples, the computing device controls the one or more pumps for controlling a flow rate of the cleaning solvent jetted from one or more of the at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments and the at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments. 
       In some implementations, the computing device controls the one or more pumps for controlling a fluid pressure of the cleaning solvent jetted from one or more of the at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments and the at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments. 
       In some instances, the computing device controls the one or more valves for controlling a sequencing of the one or more of the at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments and the at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle attached to the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The Figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle wash rack in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Based on the foregoing, it is to be generally understood that the nomenclature used herein is simply for convenience and the terms used to describe the invention should be given the broadest meaning by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     A vehicle wash rack for washing a vehicle (not shown) is shown generally at  10  at  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle may include, but is not limited to: a car, truck, motorcycle, or the like. Although a land vehicle (e.g., a car, truck, motorcycle or the like) may be utilized in conjunction with the vehicle wash rack  10 , the vehicle wash rack  10  may treat other vehicles including, but not limited to: aircrafts or sea vehicles, such as, for example, airplanes, helicopters, boats or the like. 
     The vehicle wash rack  10  may be commercially available from by Riveer Environmental of South Haven, Mich. The vehicle wash rack  10  may be an integrated and self-contained device that performs several functions in the maintenance (e.g., washing) of a vehicle while mitigating corrosion of the vehicle. 
     Referring to one or more of  FIGS. 1-4 , the vehicle wash rack  10  may include a plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  and a plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14 . A fluid handling system  16  is fluidly-connected to both of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  and the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14 . 
     The plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  may be supported by a frame member  18  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1-4 ). The plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  include at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  and at least one fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b.    
     In an implementation, the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  includes a first pervious platform segment  12   a   1 , a second pervious platform segment  12   a   2  and a third pervious platform segment  12   a   3 . In an implementation, the at least one fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b  includes a first fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1  and a second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   2 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1  may be disposed between the first pervious platform segment  12   a   1  and the second pervious platform segment  12   a   2 , and, the second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   2  may be disposed between the second pervious platform segment  12   a   2  and the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a distal end  12   a   1 ′ of the first pervious platform segment  12   a   1  may be arranged at a higher elevation than the proximal end  12   a   1 ″ of the first pervious platform segment  12   a   1  in order to arrange the first pervious platform segment  12   a   1  at a pitched angle for directing fluid into the first fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1 . A proximal end  12   a   3 ″ of the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3  may be arranged at a higher elevation than a distal end  12   a   3 ′ of the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3  in order to arrange the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3  at a pitched angle for directing fluid into the second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   2 . The second pervious platform segment  12   a   2  may be arranged at one or more pitched angles for directing fluid into one or both of the first fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1  and/or the second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   2 ; however, in some implementations, the second pervious platform segment  12   a   2  may not be arranged at a pitched angle and the fluid may randomly flow into either of the first fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1  and/or the second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , in an implementation, one or more of the first, second and third pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  may form at least one perforation  20  for permitting fluid to flow through one or more of the first, second and third pervious platform segment  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12 . The at least one perforation  20  may direct the fluid into a channel (not shown) formed within a thickness, T (see, e.g., FIGS.  1  and  3 - 4 ), of the frame member  18 ; the channel may be in fluid communication with the at least one perforation  20  of one or more of the first, second and third pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  in order to permit the fluid to be directed from the one or more of the first, second and third pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  to the first fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1  and/or the second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , in an implementation, one or more of the first, second and third pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  may include at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle  22  that directs fluid toward an undercarriage of a vehicle (not shown). Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first and second pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2  may each include a plurality of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles  22  that are arranged in a substantially grid-shaped pattern. In an example, the first pervious platform segment  12   a   1  may include a grid-shaped pattern of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles  22  defined by four columns and eight rows of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles  22 . In an example, the second pervious platform segment  12   a   2  may include a grid-shaped pattern of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles  22  defined by three columns and eight rows of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14  may be supported by and extend away from the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12 . In an example, the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14  include a distal wall segment  14   a  and a pair of side wall segments  14   b  defined by a first side wall segment  14   b   1  and a second side wall segment  14   b   2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the distal wall segment  14   a  is attached to and extend away from the distal end  12   a   1 ′ of the first pervious platform segment  12   a   1  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12 . The first side wall segment  14   b   1  may be attached to and extend away from a first end  12   a   1 ′″,  12   a   2 ′″,  12   a   3 ′″,  12   b   1 ′″,  12   b   2 ′″ of each of the first, second and third pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  and the first and second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1 ,  12   b   2 . The second side wall segment  14   b   2  may be attached to and extend away from a second end  12   a   1 ″″,  12   a   2 ″″,  12   a   3 ″″,  12   b   1 ″″,  12   b   2 ″″ of each of the first, second and third pervious platform segments  12   a   1 ,  12   a   2 ,  12   a   3  and the first and second fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b   1 ,  12   b   2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the pair of side wall segments  14   b  generally define an opening or passage  24  along the proximal end  12   a   3 ″ of the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12 . The opening or passage  24  is directly opposite the distal wall segment  14   a.  As a result, the distal wall segment  14   a  and the pair of side wall segments  14   b  generally define the vehicle wash rack  10  to be ‘partially enclosed;’ therefore, a vehicle (not shown) may be said to ‘enter’ and ‘exit’ the vehicle wash rack  10  at the opening or passage  24 . 
     As seen in, for example,  FIGS. 1-2 , the opening or passage  24  is formed as a result of a wall segment not being attached to or extending away from the proximal end  12   a   3 ″ of the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12 . The opening or passage  24  permits a vehicle (not shown) to ‘enter’ or ‘exit’ the vehicle wash rack  10 . In some implementations, a ramp, R, may be disposed adjacent the thickness, T, of the frame member  18  and along at least a portion of the proximal end  12   a   3 ″ of the third pervious platform segment  12   a   3  of the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  in order to permit the vehicle to ‘enter’/‘exit’ the vehicle wash rack  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an implementation, one or more of the distal wall segment  14   a  and the pair of side wall segments  14   b  of the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14  may include at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle  26  that directs fluid toward one or more sides of a vehicle (not shown) and/or wheels of the vehicle. In an example, each of: the distal wall segment  14   a,  the first side wall segment  14   b   1  and the second side wall segment  14   b   2  include an upper fluid conduit  28   a  and a lower fluid conduit  28   b;  each of the upper fluid conduit  28   a  and the lower fluid conduit  28   b  may include, for example, a row of eight vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26 . 
     Fluid may be directed through each of the upper fluid conduit  28   a  and the lower fluid conduit  28   b  and out of the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  attached thereto. Once the fluid is directed out of the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26 , the fluid may be disposed upon a side of a vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle. Fluid that does not impinge upon a side of the vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle, or, alternatively, fluid that deflects off of the side of the vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle may be contained within the vehicle wash rack  10  by the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14 . 
     In an example, if a vehicle enters the vehicle wash rack  10  by being driven forwardly through the opening or passage  24 , the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the upper fluid conduit  28   a  and the lower fluid conduit  28   b  attached to the distal wall segment  14   a  may direct a fluid toward a front side of the vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle. In another example, if a vehicle enters the vehicle wash rack by being driven in reverse (i.e., by being backed through the opening or passage  24 , the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the upper fluid conduit  28   a  and the lower fluid conduit  28   b  attached to the distal wall segment  14   a  may direct a fluid toward a rear side of the vehicle. Depending on if the vehicle is driven forward or backed through the opening or passages  24 , the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the upper fluid conduit  28   a  and the lower fluid conduit  28   b  attached to the first side wall segment  14   b   1  and the second side wall segment  14   b   2  may direct a fluid toward the left and right sides of the vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle. 
     Referring to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 3 , a fluid-supplying conduit  30  may be formed in the thickness, T, of the frame member  18 . The fluid-supplying conduit  30  permits the fluid handling system  16  to be fluidly-connected to both of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  and the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14 . For example, the fluid-supplying conduit  30  may be fluidly-coupled to the at least one vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzle  22  for permitting the fluid handling system  16  to supply fluid to the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12   a  of the plurality of vehicle supporting floor segments  12  for directing the fluid toward the undercarriage of the vehicle. In another example, the fluid-supplying conduit  30  may be fluidly-coupled to the at least one vehicle side fluid spraying nozzle  26  for permitting the fluid handling system  16  to supply fluid to the plurality of fluid overspray containment wall segments  14  for directing the fluid toward one or more sides of the vehicle and/or wheels of the vehicle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an implementation, the fluid handling system  16  may include, for example, a first fluid container  16   a,  a second fluid container  16   b  and a pump device  16   c.  In an implementation, the first fluid container  16   a  may include a cleaning solvent/solution that is delivered by the nozzles  22 ,  26  toward a vehicle for cleaning one or more of the undercarriages and/or sides of the vehicle. In an implementation, the second fluid container  16   b  may receive fluid that was delivered from the nozzles  22 ,  26  and subsequently directed to the at least one fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b.  Accordingly, the first fluid container  16   a  may be referred to as a cleaning solvent/solution holding tank whereas the second fluid container  16   b  may be referred to as a recovered cleaning solvent/solution holding tank. 
     Although a first fluid container  16   a  and a second fluid container  16   b  are shown and described in the present disclosure, an embodiment of the invention may include one fluid container  16   a.  In an embodiment where one fluid container  16   a  is included in the design of the vehicle wash rack  10 , the vehicle wash rack  10  may include one or more fluid filters (not shown) that filters fluid received by the at least one fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b;  accordingly, once the fluid has been filtered of any impurities (e.g., dirt, dust, sand, oil or the like) that was removed from the undercarriage and/or one or more sides of the vehicle, the filtered fluid may be recycled for subsequent use by being returned to the one fluid container  16   a  (rather than being directed to a second fluid container  16   b  that retains non-filtered, recovered cleaning solvent/solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the pump device  16   c  may include one or more pumps  32 . In an example, the one or more pumps  32  may be utilized for delivering fluid from the first fluid container  16   a  to the nozzles  22 ,  26 . In another example, the one or more pumps  32  may be utilized for drawing fluid from the at least one fluid-collecting trough segment  12   b  toward one or more of the first fluid container  16   a  and the second fluid container  16   b.    
     The pump device  16   c  may further comprise a computing device  34  including one or more of a processor (not shown) and memory (not shown) for executing a computer program that controls operation of the one or more pumps  32  and/or one or more valves (not shown). In an implementation, the one or more valves may include one or more solenoid actuated valves. The computer program may be operated in a manner in order to selectively control one or more of the flow rate and pressure of the fluid delivered to/from one or more of the first fluid container  16   a  and the second fluid container  16   b.    
     Another aspect of the computer program may include control of one or more of the valves (not shown) for sequencing of the nozzles  22 ,  26  in order to selectively control actuation of/fluid jetting from the nozzles  22 ,  26  such that some of the nozzles  22 ,  26  dispense the fluid for a selected period of time whereas some of the nozzles  22 ,  26  do not dispense the fluid for a selected period of time. For example, the sequencing of the nozzles  22 ,  26  may include successive de/actuation of one or more valves associated with, for example, each column and/or row of vehicle undercarriage fluid spraying nozzles  22 . Another example of the sequencing of the nozzles  22 ,  26  may include firstly de/actuation of one or more valves associated with, for example, the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the upper fluid conduit  28   a  followed by secondly de/actuation of one or more valves associated with, for example, the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the lower fluid conduit  28   b.  In yet another example of the sequencing of the nozzles  22 ,  26  may include firstly de/actuation of one or more valves associated with, for example, the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the distal wall segment  14   a  and the at least one pervious platform segment  12   a  followed by secondly de/actuation of one or more valves associated with, for example, the vehicle side fluid spraying nozzles  26  of the pair of side wall segments  14   b.  Accordingly, it will be appreciated that any desirable sequencing of the nozzles  22 ,  26  may be included as a result of the computer program of the pump device  16   c  de/actuating of one or more valves (not shown) of the vehicle wash rack  10 . 
     The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.