Patent Abstract:
A wash station for a vehicle is provided which includes a wash housing having a base with a platform as an upper surface. The platform has a plurality of spray nozzles laterally mounted across the platform. A tower having at least one spray nozzle therein is positioned on each lateral side of the platform. The towers are pivotable for pivoting into recesses in the base during transport. A drive-up approaching ramp is connected to the platform for directing the vehicle to the wash housing. The base houses a fresh water reservoir communicating with the spray nozzles. A control unit which may be housed in one of the towers activates the water delivery to the spray nozzles. The platform is configured with angled plates to direct waste water to a flush port or drain and into a waste reservoir in the base. The waste water can be either dispersed or filtered for recirculation. The base includes a pair of side sections and a central section. The pair of side sections are hingedly connected to the central section. The side sections are pivotable about the hinges for disposition on the central section for storage or transport.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority of provisional patent applications: Ser. No. 60/612,587 filed Sep. 23, 2004; Ser. No. 60/644,708 filed Jan. 18, 2005; and Ser. No. 60/653,262 filed Feb. 15, 2005 which are each herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a vehicle wash station.  
         [0003]     An important part of a clean environment is to maintain bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, etc. free of undesirable aquatic plants, animals, fish, or water related material.  
         [0004]     Despite precautions, bodies of water have become contaminated with undesirable animals, larvae, eggs, or plants. Since marine vessels are continually moved between bodies of water, one form of spread of contamination is the transfer of a marine vessel, such as a boat and/or its trailer, from one contaminated body of water to another. Minute plants, animals, fish, and debris, such as mud containing such plants, animals, etc. adhere to the marine vessel or trailer. To prevent the transfer of undesirable aquatic life from a contaminated body of water to a non-contaminated body of water, it is necessary that any portion of a marine vessel and that came into contact with the contaminated water be rinsed clean of such water and any water carried contaminants.  
         [0005]     While hoses can be used at lake launch or entry ramps, the water is typically at ambient temperature as it was drawn from the body of water. Further, it is difficult to completely rinse all underside portions of the trailer and vessel, while standing on one side or the other of the trailer.  
         [0006]     Thus, what is needed is a wash apparatus which can be employed at boat launch ramps on bodies of water to assure that any contaminants from the body of water are rinsed free of the marine vessel and its trailer.  
         [0007]     Besides watercraft, it would also be desirable to provide a wash station which can be used to wash equipment or vehicles at construction, land-management, environmental, agriculture, as well as nautical sites. Besides cleaning such equipment or vehicles by removing dirt and other debris picked up at the site, it would also be desirable to provide a means for preventing the transfer of toxins, fertilizers or other biological or chemical components from one site to another as the equipment and vehicles are moved from site to site.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     It is the intent of the present invention to address the aforementioned concerns. In one aspect of the invention, a portable wash station is provided for a vehicle including motorized vehicles or trailered apparatus, such as a watercraft which is pulled by a tow vehicle. The portable wash station includes a wash housing positionable on a boat ramp. The wash housing has a platform with a plurality of nozzles therein for directing fluid, such as water or cleaning solution to an underside of the trailered apparatus. The nozzles are fluidly connectible to a source of water. The portable wash station also includes at least one drive-up approaching ramp for directing the tow vehicle and the trailered apparatus to the wash housing.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, the portable wash station further includes a control unit communicating with the wash housing for activating water delivery to the nozzles during a wash cycle. The control unit may also include means for distinguishing the trailered apparatus from the towed vehicle and means for actuating the water delivery to the nozzles only when the trailered apparatus is on the platform.  
         [0010]     In yet another aspect of the invention, the control unit may include a payment system for authorizing activation of the water delivery to the nozzles.  
         [0011]     Further, the portable wash station may include a clean water reservoir and a pump for directing clean water in a reservoir to the nozzles. A heating system for heating the clean water before directing the clean water to the nozzles may be included in the wash housing.  
         [0012]     In addition, the portable wash station may include a flush port or drain for directing waste water away from the platform. The flush port or drain may be connected to a waste reservoir which captures the waste water in the wash housing. The wash housing may further include filtration means for cleaning the waste water and also include means for recirculating the filtered water back to the nozzles.  
         [0013]     In yet another aspect of the invention, the portable wash station includes a pair of outboard spray towers positionable on lateral sides of the platform wherein each tower includes at least one spray nozzle directed to the opposing tower. The towers may be spring-loaded for selectively allowing each tower to collapse. The wash housing may include at least one recess for receiving each tower for storing the towers during transport.  
         [0014]     In yet another aspect of the invention, the controlling unit may be housed in one of the towers. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0015]     The various features, advantages, and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description of drawing in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one aspect of a wash station;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another aspect of a wash station;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another aspect of a wash station;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a modified aspect of the wash station shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the wash station shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the cleaning of a watercraft;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the wash station shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the use of the spray wand to clean a watercraft;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the wash station shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the use of both wands and a flushing gear attachment on one of the wands to clean portions of a watercraft;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another aspect of the wash station shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the transport and storage position of the wash station shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is perspective view of another aspect of the wash station.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     Although the following description of one example of a wash station described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2  is cleaning watercraft and/or trailers for watercraft, it will be understood that the present wash station may also be employed in other applications to clean other vehicles or equipment, such as construction, land management, environmental or agricultural equipment and/or vehicles and towing trailers for such equipment.  
         [0027]     One aspect of a self-contained, transportable wash station  10  that can be placed and set-up at use sites, such as water access sites for example, is shown in  FIG. 1 . The wash station  10  includes a wash platform  12  with an incorporated water-collecting basin design formed of inward angled plates  13  and  14  which tend to assist in centering the wheels of a towing vehicle and a marine vessel trailer as the vehicle and trailer are driven along the wash platform  12 . Side fold out or stationary clean water tanks  16  and  18  are plumbed to two outboard spray towers  20  and  22  and to platform spray nozzles  24  which may be mounted laterally across the platform  12 . A tank-less water heating system  25  is plumbed serially with a motor-pump  27 , and prior to the spray nozzles  24 . Additional spray nozzles  24  may be mounted in each spray tower  20  and  22 . Each tower  20  and  22 , approximately four foot high, by example, can be stowed for transportation in a recess pocket  26  and  28 , respectively, incorporated in the side clean water tanks  16  and  18 . For set-up, the spray towers  20  and  22  are unlatched and positioned vertically. The towers  20  and  22  are spring loaded, in one direction, or two opposed directions, allowing for storage during transporting and to allow the independent towers  20  and  22  to collapse if the tow vehicle or trailer should come into contact with the tower  20  and  22  during movement through along the platform  12  in one or either direction. Thus, the towers  20  and  22  may also be spring loaded for bi-directional swinging movement, shown in  FIG. 3 , instead of the single spring loaded direction movement shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternately, the towers  20  and  22  maybe removably mounted on the platform  12  by bolts, etc. so as to be removed and shipped loose on the platform  12 .  
         [0028]     In addition, the spray nozzles  24  may include a high pressure wand  200  having one or more discharge nozzles at one end, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The fluid applicator may optionally include a so-called “flushing ear” which is connected to the fluid or water supply and has an attachment which can be coupled to the motor outdrive. This enables clean water to be pumped through the watercraft motor coolant system to remove any aquatic nuisances which may have been picked up during operation of the watercraft.  
         [0029]     The wash station  10  is equipped with low inclined ramps  30  and  32  at one or both ends of the wash platform  12  for the tow vehicle and trailer ascent and descent. Alternately, the two ramps  30  and  32  at each end can be replaced by a single large ramp. The ramps or  30  and  32  may be removable from the wash platform  12  or pivotally hinged to the wash platform  12 .  
         [0030]     The clean water tanks  16  and  18  are equipped with appropriately placed locking fill and flush ports  34  and  36 , respectively. The wash platform  12  houses the closed motor-pump  27 , a power supply  29 , such as a battery or batteries. These are placed subsurface, under the basin near the end of the platform  12 . Secured access covers protect the motor and pump.  
         [0031]     An enclosed fuel tank  38  located within the platform  12  provides fuel to power the motor  27 . The fuel can be any suitable fuel for powering the motor  27 . For example, propane gas, natural gas, diesel, or gasoline may be employed. Further, if a source of electricity is located near the use site of the wash station  10 , the motor  27  can be an electric motor coupled to the electric power source thereby eliminating need for use of fuel in the fuel tank  38 .  
         [0032]     Solar powered collectors, batteries, fuel cells, and an electric motor may also be employed, again depending upon the location of the use site of the wash station  10 .  
         [0033]     The platform  12  is the structure that incorporates the recovery tanks  40 , capturing the used water and the contaminants that are sprayed off of the watercraft hull and trailer. Easy access flush ports  36  are placed on the platform  12  allowing for the pumping, draining and flushing of the recovery tanks  40 .  
         [0034]     All operating directions are appropriately placed on either or both of the towers  20  and  22  and safety reflectors may be adequately placed around, and on the wash station  10 . The wash station  10  is appropriately painted and utilizes weather resistant construction materials and design methodology.  
         [0035]     Although not shown, a handrail may be positioned above the platform  12  and mounted to the platform  12  by mounted legs.  
         [0036]     Alternately, or in combination with the handrail and legs, a side splash curtain formed of plastic, for example, can optionally be mounted on the longitudinal side edges of the platform  12  to contain splash. The upper surface of the curtain or a frame containing the curtain may function as a handrail.  
         [0037]     With the use of an issued magnetic swipe card, bar coded cards or other payment token and a matching reader, an electronic network authorizes the wash cycle by the wash station  10 . Photocell transmitters and receivers or proximity sensors  42  mounted on the towers  20  and  22 , for example, measure the watercraft length for starting and stopping the wash cycle. All electronic circuits and wiring are contained on the interior of the wash station  10  within a weather and water resistant housing. The swipe card system offers a money free activation eliminating any concerns of securing money at remote sites during unpopulated times. Swipe cards may be issued through local authorities along with watercraft registrations or at any predetermined authorized distributor. Swipe cards may be issued or purchased by watercraft owners. Local authorities can monitor the wash station use through the swipe card system and enforce governing laws.  
         [0038]     After set-up of the wash station  10 , the clean water tanks  16  and  18  are filled with clean water and the motor  27  is fueled. The electronic system is then activated, followed by priming of the plumbing system. The tow vehicle operator approaches the wash station  10  with his or her vehicle and trailer in-line. Driving up the approach ramps  30  and  32 , the driver stops at the tower  20  and swipes the assigned swipe card, activating the wash cycle. After swiping of the card, the photocell transmitters and receivers  42  read that the tow vehicle is between the towers  20  and  22 . When the tow vehicle proceeds forward, the photocells  42  read the end of the tow vehicle to start the wash cycle.  
         [0039]     A fixed or oscillating, high pressure, multi-directional spray pattern is created from the tower and platform spray nozzles  24 . This predetermined spray pattern maximizes the direction of heated clean water onto the watercraft and trailer in order to remove most, if not all infectious aquatic nuisances. The driver proceeds forward, pulling the watercraft through the wash station  12 . When the watercraft passes completely through the towers  20  and  22 , the photocells  42  read the open clearance causing termination of the wash cycle. The majority of the water that is sprayed onto the watercraft drops onto the platform  12  where it is then directed by the platform basin design and collected in the recovery water tanks  40 .  
         [0040]     All of the components of the wash station  10  are formed of weather resistant materials and construction. The platform  12  is easily transportable to any use site by a trailer or truck, as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0041]     In using the swipe card, the control in the master tower  20  may also be connected by wireless communication, hard line, etc. through a network to a central location to enable monitoring of the operation of the wash station  10 .  
         [0042]     It will also be understood that other means for authorizing use of the wash station by individual watercraft owners may also be employed. For example, conventional currency or paper money acceptance devices may be mounted on the platform  10  or the tower  20 , such as on the master tower  20 , for accepting currency and bills to enable operation of the wash station  10 .  
         [0043]     In another aspect shown in  FIG. 2 , a wash station/housing  100  is devised as a portable unit that will be placed and set-up at water access sites. The wash station  100  consists of two major components, a control unit  102  and a spray nozzle  104 . The control unit  102  houses a swipe card panel  104 , a motor and pump assembly  106 , tank-less water heater  108 , water filter system  110  and electrical components. The wash station  100  includes a ground placed, low profile housing  105  in which the spray nozzles  104  are contained. The wash station  100  is positioned and anchored at a water access ramp just above the water surface. Wash  100  are able to accommodate various ramp widths by connecting multiple stations  100  together with an end-to-end connection design.  
         [0044]     Plumbing for the wash station  100  consists of a water body draw line  120 . The end of the draw line  120  contains a valve  121 , which is placed in the actual body of water. The draw line  120  feeds water to the control unit  102  where the water is screened for large elements and filtered for finer particles. This clean water is pumped, heated, and fed to the wash station  100  where it is ejected upward through the spray nozzles  114 .  
         [0045]     The wash station  100  is appropriately designed for watercraft trailers to cross over it during removal of watercraft from a body of water.  
         [0046]     With the use of an issued swipe card through a reader, an electronic network authorizes a wash cycle. All electronics and wiring are contained on the interior of the control unit  102 . The swipe card system  104  offers a money free activation, eliminating any concerns of securing money at remote sites during unpopulated times. Swipe cards may be issued through local authorities along with watercraft registrations or at any predetermined authorized distributor. Swipe cards may be issued or purchased by watercraft owners. Local authorities can monitor the wash station use through the swipe card system and enforce governing laws.  
         [0047]     After set-up, the wash station  100  is ready for use. The wash station  100  is designed to be used when watercraft are leaving the water on a trailer. After the watercraft is loaded on the trailer, the tow vehicle driver uses the issued swipe card to activate the cycle. The wash commences and terminates through a photo mass sensor  122  on the control unit  102  reading the vehicle position. The tow vehicle proceeds forward pulling the watercraft and trailer through the water spray. The ejected wash consists of a fixed, spray pattern created from the nozzles  104 . This predetermined spray pattern maximizes the direction of heated clean water onto the watercraft and trailer in order to remove most, if not all of infectious aquatic nuisances. The clean water that is sprayed onto the watercraft and trailer flows back into the original body of water.  
         [0048]     All of the components of the wash station  100  are designed of weather resistant materials and utilize durable weather resistant construction.  
         [0049]     The motor, pump, and water heater system may be powered by any suitable fuel, including propane gas, natural gas, diesel, gasoline, etc. stored in a tank in the control unit  102 . The motor, pump, and heater system may also be electrically powered from an electrical power source, such as batteries, solar power collectors, fuel cells, or hard wired to a local source of electric power.  
         [0050]     Refer now to  FIG. 3 , there is depicted another aspect of a wash station  202 .  
         [0051]     The wash station  202  includes a base or enclosure  204  which may be mounted above, below or partially below ground surface for a permanent installation. It will be understood, however, that the base  204  may also be provided as a transportable, self-contained structure.  
         [0052]     In an above-ground installation, one or more inclined ramps, such as ramps  231  and  233  may be provided at one or both ends of the base  204  to allow bi-directional access of equipment or vehicles to the wash station  202 . The ramp or ramps  231  or  233  may be fixed, pivotally hinged or removably attachable to the base  204 .  
         [0053]     A wash platform  212  is formed on the upper surface of the base  204  and provided with a water-collection basin design formed of inward angled plates  213  and  214  which tend to assist in centering the wheels of a towing vehicle or a piece of equipment on the base  204  as the vehicle or equipment is driven along the wash platform  212 .  
         [0054]     One or more drains  215  are formed on the wash platform  212  and receive water from the plates  213  and  214 . The drains  215  open to the hollow interior of the base  204 . In a permanent installation of the wash station  202 , an outlet  216  is formed in the base  204  and establishes fluid communication between the interior of the base  204  and a water outlet conduit or pipe  218 . The outlet pipe  218  may be connected to any water drainage system, including a private or municipal septic tank, city sewer, separate storage tank, etc.  
         [0055]     One or two side-foldout or stationary spray towers  220  and  222  are mounted on the base  204 , intermediate the opposite longitudinal ends of the base  204 . Each spray tower  220  and  222  may be spring biased for folding movement in one or two opposed directions to enable the spray towers  220  and  222  to move out of the way in the event that either spray tower  220  and  222  is contacted by the equipment or vehicle as the equipment or vehicle moves across the wash station  202 .  
         [0056]     The spray towers  220  and  222  may be identical or provided with different fluid application devices. Stationary and/or oscillating spray nozzles  223  may be provided on each spray tower  220  and  222  and laterally across the base  204 . Alternately, the high pressure wand  200 , described previously, may be mounted in one or both of the spray towers  220  and  222  to enable the user to apply water to any location of the equipment or vehicle on the wash station  202 .  
         [0057]     A flushing ear may be provided in at least one of the spray towers, such as spray tower  222 , for connection to a watercraft motor outdrive for flushing of the motor coolant system.  
         [0058]     Automatic actuation determination devices, such as one or more photocells  224 , may be mounted on one or both of the spray towers  220  and  222 . The photocells  224  activate the water supply system in the wash station  202  upon detecting a forward end of a vehicle or piece of equipment on the wash platform  212 . The photocells  224  also detect the passage of the entire length of the vehicle or piece of equipment beyond the spray towers  220  and  222  to terminate the application of water to the spray devices in the spray towers  220  and  222  at the proper time.  
         [0059]     An actuation means  226  may be provided for the wash station  202  to enable operation of the wash cycle. As described above, a swipe card reader for acceptance of credit cards magnetic stripe cards, a currency receiving unit a bar code reader for a card carrying a bar code, or simply a pushbutton or key actuated, lockable on/off switch may be provided on at least one of the spray towers  220  or  222  to enable activation of a wash cycle.  
         [0060]     Any of the wash stations  10  and  202  and the wash station  100  may include wireless communication transceivers for remotely reporting wash station operation, credit card validation, etc. to a central station.  
         [0061]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , for a permanent installation of the wash station  202 , electrical service is provided to the electrically actuated components of the wash station  202  by connection with electrical power service conductors  230  at the site where the wash station  202  is located. The conductors  230  may be permanent, hard wired conductors from an electrical power source.  
         [0062]     The conductors  230  are connected to components in the wash station  202 , typically mounted within the interior of the base  203  in a water sealed compartment. Such components include a motor pump unit  232  and an optional water heater  234 . A fuel tank  236  may also be mounted within the base  204  to supply fuel to the motor/pump unit  232 . Alternately, the motor/pump unit  232  may be an electrically operated motor/pump unit  232  which receives power from the electrical service conductors  230 . The conductors  230  are also connected to the photocell  224  and the activation unit  226  on at least one of the spray towers  220  or  222 .  
         [0063]     As an option to merely discharging all used water drained through the drains  215  and the interior of the base  204  to the sewer or septic tank during each wash cycle, the wash station  202  may be provided with filters, such as a UV filter, a particulate filter, etc. or a water filtration unit and pump which enables some or all of the water collected in the base  204  during a wash cycle to be filtered and recycled as relatively clean water for the next wash cycle. The recycled water can be coupled in parallel to a fresh water inlet  240  which may be connected to a private or municipal water supply system. The fresh water inlet  240  may be used by itself to supply water to the spray towers  220  and  222  when the water filtration and recycled components are not provided in the wash station  202 .  
         [0064]     The same filters could also be employed in the portable wash station  10  and the wash station  100  to clean the water before it is discharged back into the body of water or surrounding soil.  
         [0065]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is depicted a modified wash station  260  which contains modifications to the wash station  202  described above and shown in  FIG. 3 . The wash station  260  includes a base  204  which acts as a recovery tank for waste water drained through the upper surface of the base, as described hereafter, during a vehicle or watercraft cleaning cycle.  
         [0066]     Since the base  204  and the entire wash station  260  is intended for below or partially below ground surface mounting as a permanent installation at a wash site, the base  204  may be provided as a separate transportable structure, apart from the reminding elements of the wash station  260 .  
         [0067]     A wash platform  262  is mounted on the base  204  and includes a pair of laterally inward inclined plates  264  and  266 . The plates  264  and  266  extend laterally inward from both ends of the base  204  and incline from both ends, inward to opposed center edges  268  and  270 , respectively, which may be covered by a grate or mesh to form a drain opening  269  to the interior of the recovery tank within the base  204 . Each plate  264  and  266  also includes a laterally extending grate  272  and  274  which also opens to the interior of the base  204 .  
         [0068]     A pair of end access plates or panels  276  and  278  are also mounted on the base  204  and incline downward from the longitudinal ends of the base  204  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The side edges of each access panel  276  and  278  may be fixedly joined to the mating side edges of the inclined panels  264  and  266  or formed separately therefrom. At least one of the access panels, such as access panel  278 , may be pivotally mounted on the base  204  to allow access to a waterproof, sealed compartment within the base  204  which houses the incoming electrical power lines  230 , freshwater inlet conduit and conduit connections  240 , water recycling filters  280 , an electrical motor-pump unit  232  and the water heater  234 .  
         [0069]     It will be understood that the grates  269 ,  272 , and  274  may open to a collection chamber in the base  204  which is connected by a pipe or conduit to the filters  280 . The motor-pump unit  232  serves to draw water draining through the grates  269 ,  272 , and  274  and the interconnecting conduit through the filters  280  and then on to the water heater  234  for reapplication via suitable conduits, not shown, to the spray nozzles  223 , wands  200 , or other water discharge devices provided on the wash station  260 .  
         [0070]     An inclined ramp  284  is provided on one end of the base  204 . A second inclined ramp  286  may also be provided on the opposite end of the base  204 . The ramps  284  and  286  may each be formed of a single member or individual ramp sections, each removably or fixedly attached to one end of the base  204 .  
         [0071]     The spray towers  220  and  222  are identical to the spray towers employed in the wash station  200  shown in  FIG. 3  and, as such, will not be described further. It will be understood that clean water may be discharged from the spray tower  220  and  222  and through the nozzles  223  mounted vertically in each spray tower  220  and  222  and/or through nozzles  223  spaced laterally across the inclined plates  264  and  266  on the base  204  for thorough cleaning of any surface on a vehicle or watercraft disposed on the wash platform  262  or moving slowly across the wash platform  262 .  
         [0072]     Further, the spray towers  220  and  222  include suitable actuation means  226  which may include all of the various actuation options described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  
         [0073]     In addition to providing electrical power through the power line  230  to the motor-pump unit  232 , the water heater  234  and the circuitry in the spray towers  220  and  222  for operating the photocells  224  and the wash cycle actuation means  226 , other sources of electrical power, such as on board or adjacent disposed fuel cells, motor-generators, solar powered battery units, etc. may also be employed.  
         [0074]     In operation, water drained through the grates  269 ,  272 , and  274  during a wash cycle will be routed through the filters  280  and the water heater  234  back to the nozzles  223  and the pressure wand  200  or the flushing ear for reapplication to the same or different vehicle or watercraft.  
         [0075]     Waste water from a cleaning cycle may be temporarily stored in the interior of the base  204  of the wash station  260  and cleaned, optionally heated, and then supplied to the spray devices only when needed.  
         [0076]     The various uses of the wash station described above can be better understood by referring now to  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  7 .  
         [0077]     Although the following description will be provided specifically with reference to the wash station  202  shown in  FIG. 2 , it will be understood the same principles of operation apply equally to the other wash stations described herein.  
         [0078]     It will also be understood that although a watercraft, such as a boat  300  mounted on a wheeled trailer  302  attached to a towing vehicle, such as a motor vehicle  304 , shown on the wash station  260 , the same wash station  260 , without any or any significant modification, can also be used to clean other watercraft, and other vehicles, such as construction equipment, etc.  
         [0079]     In a typical wash cycle, the towing vehicle  304  will drive up the ramps  231  and  232  and across the wash platform  212 . The photocells in the spray towers  220  and  222  will detect the passage of the towing vehicle  304  therepast and then the presence of the forward end of the watercraft  300  to initiate the wash cycle. The drive means, such as the motor-pump  232  will be activated to pump clean water through the discharge nozzle  223  extending vertically along both of the spray towers  220  and  222  and upward from the laterally spaced nozzles  223  in the wash platform  212  of the wash station  202 . This spray pattern as shown by reference number  306  covers substantially all of the exterior surface of the watercraft  300  and even the trailer  302 .  
         [0080]      FIG. 6  depicts the use of the pressure wand  200  mounted in the spray tower  220  for hand, manual cleaning of an exterior or interior surface of the watercraft  300 . The user can stand on the wash platform  212  or on the ground adjacent to the wash station  202  depending upon the size and shape of the watercraft  300 .  
         [0081]     In  FIG. 7 , there is depicted the same hand, manual use of the spray wand  200  along with the connection of the flushing ear  310  mounted in the spray tower  222  to the watercraft motor out drive  312 . The flushing ear  310  enables pressurized, clean, and optionally heated water to be forced through the cooling system of the watercraft motor for flushing of the entire cooling system through a discharge outlet  314 .  
         [0082]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9  there is depicted another aspect of a wash station which will be described primarily in conjunction with wash station  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood, however, that the following features are also applicable to the wash stations  202  and  260  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0083]     The wash station  12  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  is depicted as having the spray towers  220  and  222  described above and shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and carrying a pressure wand  200  and/or a flushing ear  310  housed within an interior cavity or chamber when not in use.  
         [0084]     Vertically spaced spray nozzles  223  and horizontally spaced spray nozzles  223  are respectively mounted in the spray towers  220  and  222  and laterally across the wash platform  12 . The horizontally spaced nozzles  222  project through grates  320  which may be removably mounted in the wash platform  12  or permanently affixed to a central portion of the wash platform  12 .  
         [0085]     The wash platform  12 , in this aspect includes a multisection base formed of a first central base section  330  and a pair of laterally mounted outboard side base portions  332  and  334 . The central base portion  330  forms a closed chamber having side and end walls which are closed by an upper panel  340  which inclines laterally downward from opposed side edges to a central longitudinal edge and, optionally, from both end walls so as to drain water dripping or deflecting off of a watercraft during a cleaning cycle to flow through the grates  320  and into the chamber or reservoir formed internally within the central base portion  330 .  
         [0086]     A sealed compartment is formed in the central base portion  330  for housing the water heater  25 , the power supply  29 , the fuel tank  38  and the motor-pump unit  27  or other fuel sources, a filtration means  342  which may include UV filters, particulate filters, water filtration unit, etc. suitable piping or conduits, not shown, interconnected between the interior water reservoir chamber in the central base portion  330  through the filter means  342 , the motor-pump  27  and the optional water heater  25  to conduits extending to closed chambers formed in each of the side base portions  332  and  334 .  
         [0087]     The spray towers  220  and  222  are movably mounted in the side base portions  332  and  334  in a permanent fixed manner while being bi-directional swingable in the direction of the arrows for downward movement, substantially flush with an upper surface  344  or  346  of either side base portion  332  and  334 , respectively, during storage or transport of the wash station  12 .  
         [0088]     Fluid connections between the conduits extending from the optional water heater  25  can be of the slide in and/or snap together type.  
         [0089]     Each of the side base portions  332  and  334  is pivotally connected by means of one or more hinges  350  to the adjacent side edges of the central base section  330 . This enables the side base sections  332  and  334  to be pivoted from a deployed, use position shown in  FIG. 8  in which the side base sections  332  and  334  are substantially in line with the central base section  330  such that the upper surfaces  334  and  336  together with the upper surface  340  of the central base section  332  form the wash platform to a folded-up, storage and/or transportable position shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0090]     With the clean water reservoirs in the side base sections  332  and  334  drained of water through suitable drains  320  or flush ports  351  formed on the side or bottom of the side base sections  332  and  334  in the central base section  332  similarly drained of waste water, the side base sections  332  and  334  are pivoted about the hinges  350  to a folded up position overlaying the central base section  330  as shown in  FIG. 9 . It will be understood that the spray towers  220  and  222  have previously been folded downward and latched in a substantially flush position with the upper surfaces  344  and  346  of the side base sections  332  and  334 . Alternately, the spray towers  220  and  222  and their respective supporting structure may be physically removed from the side base sections  332  and  334 .  
         [0091]     Suitable latches may be provided to hold the side base sections  332  and  334  in the folded up positions shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0092]     The ramps  30  and  32  at one or both ends of the wash platform  12  are removed and may be mounted on top of the folded up side base sections  332  and  334  and banded or otherwise latched in place for transport or storage with the remainder of the wash platform  12 .  
         [0093]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , wheels  360  may be mounted at one end of the central base section  330  to allow the entire wash platform  12  to be easily moved onto or off of a transport vehicle  362  for transport to or from a use site.  
         [0094]     When the wash platform  12  reaches the use site, the wash platform  12  is unloaded from the transport vehicle  362 . The ramps  30  and  32  are removed from the upper surface of the side base sections  332  and  334  thereby enabling the side base sections  332  and  334  to be pivoted outward to the use position substantially in line with the central base section  330  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The spray towers  220  and  222  may be unlatched and raised and locked in place in the use position shown in  FIG. 8 . The ramps  30  and  32  are then reattached to the ends of the wash station as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0095]     Another optional feature of any of the wash stations described above is shown in  FIG. 10  and constitutes an overhead rail or support apparatus  380  which carries fluid discharge nozzles  382  in vertical and horizontally spaced positions for discharging cleaning fluid onto the top portion of a vehicle disposed on or moving across the wash station.  
         [0096]     The overhead rail apparatus  380  may include a pair of vertically extending side rails  384  and  386  which are interconnected at one end by one or more horizontally extending cross rails  388 . Individual stationary and/or oscillating spray nozzles  382  are mounted in each of the vertically extending side rails  384  and  386  and the horizontal cross rail  388  as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0097]     The side rails  384  and  386  and the cross rail  388  may be hollow to carry a fluid conduit or manifold through the entire overhead rail assembly  380  to provide fluid to the individual nozzles  382 . Alternately, the side rails  384  and  386  and the overhead cross rail  388  may support an exteriorly mounted fluid conduit.  
         [0098]     It will also be understood that the side rails  384  and  386  and the cross rail  388  may be integrally formed as a one piece assembly or of separate components removably or fixedly interconnected by means of fasteners, interconnecting end profiles, etc. The lower end of the side rails  384  and  386  may be mounted on the wash station by separate mounting means, including a lower support fixed to the wash station in which receives the lower end of one of the side rails  384  and  386  or mounting collar on the lower end of the side rails  384  and  386  which can be releasably attached to the wash station.  
         [0099]     Regardless of the mounting means used to mount the overhead rail assembly  380  to the wash station, the mounting means may provide separability of the overhead rail assembly  380  from the wash station to allow for convenient storage or transport of the wash station to and from the use site.  
         [0100]     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the lower ends of the side rails  384  and  386  may be mounted in a fixed or removable manner to the upper ends of the spray towers  220  and  222  by means of slide in, latching or telescoping fittings. The fluid flow conduits or passages extending from the source of cleaning fluid within the wash station base to the spray towers  220  and  222  are sealingly interconnected with the fluid carrying conduit or passage in the side rails  384  and  386  and the cross rail  388  to provide fluid flow from the source of cleaning fluid within the wash station base to the discharge nozzles  382  in the overhead rail assembly  380 . This sealing connection may be implemented by slide in fittings to enable the over head rail apparatus  380  to be easily mounted on and removed from the spray towers  220  and  222 .  
         [0101]     Although the wash station of the present invention is discussed for use with a trailered apparatus being pulled by a tow vehicle, the wash station is usable by any vehicle, motorized or unmotorized vehicles, including, but not limited by, motorcycles, tractors, bicycles, trailers, agricultural equipment, movable construction equipment, land management, environmental and nautical equipment as well as trucks, and automobiles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1