Patent Publication Number: US-2010108781-A1

Title: High pressure washing apparatus on mobile steerable platform

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/197,839, filed Oct. 31, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to high pressure washing systems, and more particularly, to a mobile high pressure washing apparatus which can be maneuvered over flat and irregular surfaces by means of a foldable steering handle in order to gain access to previously unavailable areas. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     High pressure washers are useful and helpful for cleaning all manner of objects such as patios, wooden decks, deck hulls, aluminum and vinyl siding, tennis courts, and even gutters. There are many types of high pressure washing systems, but a basic system includes an engine that powers a high pressure pump. The pump is normally connected to a water source at a low pressure, such as a hose to an outside faucet. The low pressure water when passing through the pump is converted to high pressure outlet water to a high pressure line attached to a wand having multiple interchangeable tips nozzle and controlled by a trigger on the wand. 
     The pump and the engine are oftentimes mounted on a frame having a single axle and a single pair of wheels, and pushed and/or pulled by the operator manually from location to location. The system works well when operating on relatively flat open surfaces. This type of system encounters problems when the terrain or surface area becomes irregular or the path which must be followed is not sufficiently wide enough to permit passage of the equipment. 
     It must be remembered that the pump and the motor can be positioned at one location and a regular lengthy low pressure hose can be used to connect to the pump and a rather lengthy high pressure hose can be used to connect to the wand, which allows wand to cover significant surface area without moving the engine and the pump, but one must also realize that the effectiveness of the system decreases with increasing low pressure and high pressure hose length. 
     Applicant has developed a manually operable platform for mounting the motor and high pressure pump and which also allows mounting of the high pressure hose and wand, together with other accessories, the platform mounted on a plurality of axles, one of which is steerable by means of a handle which allows a single individual to transport a power washing unit with all of its accessories to a location where it can be connected to a low pressure hose regardless of the unevenness of the terrain and the tight quarters which must be passed through. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel power washer in which the motor and high pressure pump are mounted on a platform, the platform being mobile and mounted on a plurality of axles, one of the axles being steerable by a handle member. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel power washer in which the motor and high pressure pump are mounted on a platform mounted on a plurality of axles, one of which axles is steerable by a handle member, the platform further having an upstanding frame for the support of high pressure hose, spray wand, and other accessories thereby permitting the facile transportation of the power washer and accessories to a job site regardless of the terrain or passageways. 
     A still further object of present invention is to provide for a novel power washer which can be easily stored and transported as a unitary unit in a vehicle and be transported from the vehicle to the source of low pressure water with all of the accessories regardless of the terrain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An engine and high pressure pump for a power washer mounted on a platform, the platform being mounted on a wheeled chassis having a plurality of axles, at least one of the axles being steerable by a manual handle member for maneuvering and transport of the high pressure washing assembly to a source of low pressure water, the high pressure water platform also having a plurality of frame members for storage and support of the power washer accessories, including but not limited to high pressure hose and trigger wands. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the high pressure washing apparatus and mobile steerable platform; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the high pressure washing apparatus and mobile steerable platform of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a close up side view of the platform and the engine and pump mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is a close up opposing side view of the platform and the engine and pump mechanism; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the mobile steerable platform without the power wash mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the high pressure washing apparatus of the present invention and its mobile steerable platform,  FIG. 2  is a front view, and  FIGS. 3 and 4  are close up side views of the platform itself and the various elements mounted thereon, and  FIG. 5  is a side view of the platform only. 
     The high pressure washing apparatus and mobile steerable platform  10  of the present invention allows the user to maneuver or transport the high pressure washer to the desired location in order to perform the high pressure washing desired, be it a deck, vinyl siding, driveway, concrete pad, or decorative stone patio. The high pressure mobile washer of the present invention is formed with a platform or deck  12  which has four depending struts  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . The two depending rear struts,  18  and  20 , secure a fixed rigid axle  22  upon which are mounted to pneumatic tires  17 . The forward struts,  14  and  16 , are secured to a swivel axle  24 , also supporting two pneumatic tires, all of the pneumatic tires referred to generally as  17 . 
     Front swivel axle  24  has a foldable pulling or pushing handle  26  hingeably mounted via hinge  28  to a forwardly extending tongue  30  which allows the user to easily pull the platform for transport on the four pneumatic tires  17 , or for maneuvering the power washer  10  to a location where it can be secured to a source of water. 
     The rear end of the support platform or deck  12  is defined by the fixed rigid axle  22  and there is secured to the rear end of support platform or deck  12 , a combination bumper/handle  32 . Bumper/handle  32  is tubular in cross section and serves to allow the user to lift the power washer  10  and also serves as a protective bumper for the structural elements mounted on support platform or deck  12  as more fully described hereafter. 
     Extending from the opposing front end of the platform or deck  12  as defined by swivel axle  24  is a tubular front bumper/handle  34  which extends forwardly and upwardly from one lateral side of the platform of deck  12  and is secured to the opposing lateral side of the deck  12 . This bumper/handle  34  is also utilized in the lifting of the power washer  10  if required from the ground or surface upon which it is traveling onto a vehicle, such as a trailer or a truck or to push washer  10  rearwardly to optimize its position. 
     Front bumper/handle  34  also provides a plurality of hook members  35  which allow for the storage and transport of a coiled high pressure hose  36 . It also has a support on one of its outwardly positioned sides to support a wand  38  which is normally secured to the high pressure hose  36 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, there would be a two cycle engine  40  mounted proximate the rear end of platform or deck  12 , engine  40  driving a pump  42  which pump would have a conduit inlet connector  41  for connection to a source of water. Pump  42  would also have a conduit outlet  43  to which the high pressure hose  36  and wand  38  would be secured during operation. 
     The platform or deck  12  would also have a plurality of receptacles  44  for the storage of multiple tips  46  used on the wand  38  in conjunction with the high pressure hose  36  depending upon the type of power washing being conducted, thus allowing for the tips  46  to be readily available. Still further, in many instances in power washing, it is desireable to inject a chemical cleaner into the flow of high pressure water on a limited basis. The platform or deck  12  allows for the storage of a quick disconnect chemical injector  50  which could be secured to such a cleaner for the siphon introduction into the stream of high pressure water. Normally the cleaning fluid is greatly diluted, and thus would be provided in a separate one gallon container for use when the power washer was operational. 
     The mobile power washer  10  of the present invention is a self-contained unit which allows itself to be transported easily from a transport vehicle to a location be it flat ground, or irregular ground, for power washing. The requirement of a source of water would be met by a normal garden hose being stretched from a faucet to the location of the mobile power washer. The power washing would be conducted utilizing the high pressure hose carried on the mobile power washer, together with the wand and the multiple wand tips. The mobile power washer would be pulled using the foldable pull handle  26 , it could be pushed using the front bumper/handle  34 , and it could be lifted using the front bumper/handle  34  and rear bumper/handle  32  in order to place it in a vehicle or on a trailer. When not in use, handle  26  can be secured to bumper/handle  34  by means of snap clip  55 . 
     Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.