Patent Application
20240042494
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The disclosure relates to pressure-washing devices and more particularly pertains to a new pressure-washing device for pressure-washing a support surface while operating a vehicle on the same support surface.
The prior art relates to pressure-washing devices which utilize a vehicle driven by the user to pressure-wash the surface on which the vehicle is driving. The prior art discloses vehicles equipped with enclosed pressure-washing elements, including one device that mounts both an enclosed rotating pressure-washing element and an unenclosed linear pressure-washing element at the front of a zero-run radius (ZRT) vehicle. Another device mounts an enclosed rotating pressure-washing element below a carriage of the vehicle, which is not a ZRT vehicle. However, the prior art does not disclose a device which repositions the enclosed pressure-washing element for improved maneuverability before and after the pressure-washing task.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a vehicle with a lift arm pivotably coupled to and extending forwardly from the vehicle. The lift arm pivotably raises and lowers a spray deck with a top wall and a perimeter wall circumscribing and extending away from the top wall. A spray arm is positioned within the perimeter wall of the spray deck and is rotatably coupled to the top wall of the spray deck. The spray arm is configured for dispensing a flow of a fluid at force against a support surface, thereby removing a debris from the support surface.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The back section 34 has a top surface 38 and a front surface 40, the top surface 38 of the back section 34 opposing the bottom side 30 of the body 14. The front surface 40 of the back section 34 is convex and extending from the platform section 36 to the top surface 38 of the back section 34. The platform section 36 has a top surface 42 which opposes the bottom side 30 of the body 14. The platform section 36 has a height between the top surface 42 of the platform section 36 and the bottom side 30 of the body 14 less than a height of the back section 34 between the top surface 38 of the back section 34 and the bottom side 30 of the body 14. The front section 32 has a top surface 44 which opposes the bottom side 30 of the body 14. The front section 32 has a height between the top surface 44 of the front section 32 and the bottom side 30 of the body 14 greater than the height of the platform section 36 and less than the height of the back section 34. The front section 32 has a back surface 46 which extends from the top surface 44 of the front section 32 to the platform section 36.
The pair of drive wheels 16 is rotationally coupled to the body 14 and is rotatable about a drive axis that is positioned away from the bottom side 30 of the body 14 and perpendicular to each lateral side 28 of the body 14. Each drive wheel 16 is positioned proximate an associated lateral side 28 of the body 14. The pair of drive wheels 16 is configured for moving the vehicle 12 over a support surface 48. The pair of casters 18 is coupled to the front section 32 of the body 14 on the lateral sides 28 of the body 14, extending away from the bottom side 30 of the body 14. The pair of casters 18 is also configured for supporting the vehicle 12 on the support surface 48.
The chair 20 is positioned proximate the top surface 38 of the back section 34 of the body 14 and the front surface 40 of the back section 34 of the body 14. The chair 20 faces toward the front end 24 of the body 14. The roll bar 22 is coupled to the top surface 38 of the back section 34 of the body 14 proximate the chair 20. The roll bar 22 arcs away from the body 14 between the lateral sides 28 of the body 14.
Each of a pair of lift arms 50 has a first end 52 and a second end 54. The first end 52 of each lift arm 50 is pivotably coupled to the front end 24 of the body 14 of the vehicle 12, each lift arm 50 is pivotable such that an elevation of the second end 54 of each pair of lift arms 50 relative to the body 14 of the vehicle 12 is adjustable. A crossbar 56 extends between and couples the pair of lift arms 50 proximate each second end 54 of each lift arm 50.
A spray deck 58 has a top wall 60 and a perimeter wall 62 circumscribing and extending away from the top wall 60 to a rim end 64 of the perimeter wall 62. The top wall 60 has an outer surface 66 facing away from the perimeter wall 62 and an inner surface 68 opposing the outer surface 66 of the top wall 60. The perimeter wall 62 has an inner surface 70 facing within the perimeter wall 62 and an outer surface 72 opposing the inner surface 70 of the perimeter wall 62. The top wall 60 is elongated between a pair of lateral ends 74. The top wall 60 also has a pair of lateral edges 76 which each extend through an associated lateral end 74 of the top wall 60. Each lateral edge 76 is arcuate and has a pair of ends 78. The top wall 60 has a first edge 80 and a second edge 82 opposing the first edge 80. Each of the first edge 80 and the second edge 82 extend between the pair of lateral edges 76 and is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the top wall 60.
The outer surface 66 of the top wall 60 is pivotably coupled to the second end 54 of each lift arm 50 such that the second ends 54 of the pair of lift arms 50 are aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the top wall 60. The spray deck 58 is configured to be positionable in a spraying position 84 wherein the perimeter wall 62 is positioned between the top wall 60 and the support surface 48 and the first edge 80 is closer to the vehicle 12 than the second edge 82.
A plurality of spray deck casters 86 is coupled to the spray deck 58 and is configured for movably supporting the spray deck 58 on the support surface 48 when the spray deck 58 is in the spraying position 84. Each spray deck caster 86 includes a caster bracket 88 and a caster wheel 90. A first portion 92 of each caster bracket 88 is coupled to the outer surface 66 of the top wall 60 of the spray deck 58 and extends away from the outer surface 72 of the perimeter wall 62 perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the top wall 60. A second portion 94 of each caster bracket 88 extends away from the inner surface 68 of the top wall 60. Each caster wheel 90 is coupled to an associated second portion 94 of each caster bracket 88 and is configured for movably supporting the spray deck 58 on the support surface 48 when the spray deck 58 is in the spraying position 84. Each spray deck caster 86 is positioned such that the first portion 92 of each caster bracket 88 extends across an associated lateral edge 76 of the top wall 60 proximate a respective end 78 of each pair of ends 78 of each lateral edge 76. The plurality of spray deck casters 86 is equidistant from a center of the top wall 60.
A winch 96 is coupled to the back surface 46 of the front section 32 of the body 14 of the vehicle 12. A winch line 98 is coupled to and wound about the winch 96 and is coupled to the crossbar 56. The winch line 98 pulls the second ends 54 of the pair of lift arms 50 in a lifting direction 104 when the winch 96 is rotated in a first direction 100. The winch line 98 is configured for lifting the spray deck 58 away from the support surface 48 when the winch 96 is rotated in the first direction 100. The winch line 98 facilitates a gravitational force moving the second ends 54 of the pair of lift arms 50 in a deployment direction 106 when the winch 96 is rotated in a second direction 102 opposite the first direction 100, the deployment direction 106 being opposite the lifting direction 104. The winch line 98 is configured for deploying the spray deck 58 onto the support surface 48 when the winch 96 is rotated in the second direction 102.
A fluid supply line 108 is coupled to the body 14 of the vehicle 12 and is configured for receiving a flow of a fluid from a pressure washer 110. A fluid supply valve 112 is operationally coupled to the fluid supply line 108 which is configured for permitting the flow of the fluid to travel through the fluid supply line 108 when the fluid supply valve 112 is open and for preventing the flow of the fluid from traveling through the fluid supply line 108 when the fluid supply valve 112 is closed. Each of a plurality of fluid branch lines 114 is in fluid communication with the fluid supply line 108 and is configured for selectively receiving the flow of the fluid from the fluid supply line 108. The plurality of fluid branch lines 114 includes a pair of spray arm branch lines 116 and a manifold 132 branch line 118. Each of a plurality of fluid branch valves 120 is operationally coupled to a respective fluid branch line. Each fluid branch valve 120 is configured for permitting the flow of the fluid to travel through the respective fluid branch line when each fluid branch valve 120 is open and for preventing the flow of the fluid from traveling through the respective fluid branch line when each fluid branch valve 120 is closed.
Each of a pair of spray arms 122 is rotatably coupled to the top wall 60 of the spray deck 58 via an associated spindle 124. Each spray arm 122 is positioned within the perimeter wall 62 of the spray deck 58 and is rotatable about the associated spindle 124, each associated spindle 124 being perpendicular to the top wall 60. Each spray arm 122 is in fluid communication with a respective spray arm branch line 116 of the plurality of fluid branch lines 114. Each spray arm 122 has a pair of ends 126 with a pair of spray arm nozzles 128 positioned proximate an associated end 126 of each spray arm 122. Each pair of spray arm nozzles 128 of each spray arm 122 faces away from the top wall 60 and opposite a respective rotational direction 130 of a pair of rotational directions 130 of the pair of spray arms 122. Each spray arm 122 is configured for selectively receiving the flow of the fluid from the respective spray arm branch line 116 and dispensing the flow of the fluid through each spray arm nozzle 128, thereby forcibly removing a debris from the support surface 48 and propelling each spray arm 122 to rotate about the associated spindle 124 in the respective rotational direction 130.
A manifold 132 is coupled to the outer surface 72 of the perimeter wall 62 of the spray deck 58 between the rim end 64 of the perimeter wall 62 and the second edge 82 of the top wall 60 of the spray deck 58. The manifold 132 has a set of four manifold nozzles 134 facing away from the perimeter wall 62 and the top wall 60. The manifold 132 is in fluid communication with the manifold 132 branch line 118 of the plurality of fluid branch lines 114 and is configured for selectively receiving the flow of the fluid from the manifold 132 branch line 118 and dispensing the flow of the fluid through each manifold nozzle 134, thereby forcibly removing the debris from the support surface 48.
In use, a user operates the vehicle 12 while sitting in the chair 20. The vehicle 12 may be operated with the spray deck 58 is lifted away from the support surface 48, thereby facilitating the maneuvering and storage of the vehicle 12 in smaller spaces than when the spray deck 58 is in the spraying position 84. To deploy the spray deck 58 in the spraying position 84, the user rotates the winch 96 in the second direction 102, thereby facilitating a gravitational force urging the second ends 54 of the pair of lift arms 50 in the deployment direction 106 and deploying the spray deck 58 onto the support surface 48.
The user may then clean the support surface 48 using the spray arms 122 by opening the fluid supply valve 112 and the pair of fluid branch valves 120 coupled to the pair of spray arm branch lines 116, thereby facilitating the pressure washer 110 to supply each nozzle on each spray arm 122 with the flow of the fluid, propelling each spray arm 122 in its respective rotational direction 130, and forcibly removing the debris from the support surface 48. To clean or rinse the support surface 48 using the manifold nozzles 134, the user closes the fluid branch valves 120 coupled to the pair of spray arm branch lines 116 and opens the fluid branch valve 120 coupled to the manifold 132 branch line 118, thereby facilitating the pressure washer 110 to supply each manifold nozzle 134 with the flow of the fluid and forcibly removing debris from the support surface 48.
To lift the spray deck 58 away from the support surface 48, the user rotates the winch 96 in the first direction 100, thereby pulling the second ends 54 of the pair of lift arms 50 in the lifting direction 104 and lifting the spray deck 58 away from the support surface 48.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
