US3830430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A cleaning vehicle for cleansing the internal surfaces of a totally or partially enclosed chamber. The vehicle includes a base frame having a plurality of wheels driven by a reversible drive mechanism. The vehicle is adapted to be displaced reversibly in a longitudinal direction contiguous to a base surface. A spray mechanism is mounted to the base frame for ejecting liquid to the internal surfaces of the enclosing chamber. The spray mechanism is rotatively moveable with respect to the base frame in at least two planes of motion. A pair of guide mechanisms are mounted on opposing sides of the base frame for aligning the vehicle with respect to opposing transverse walls of the enclosing chamber during the longitudinal displacement of the cleaning vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian C Hartu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:56
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/093; B08B9/0936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A cleaning vehicle adapted to translate in a longitudinal direction contiguous with a base surface comprising: a. a base frame having a plurality of wheel members for translating said cleaning vehicle; b. drive means mounted to said base frame and operatively connected to said wheel members; c. spray means for ejecting liquid to a surrounding environment of said vehicle, said spray means being mounted to said base frame and rotatively moveable in at least two planes of motion with respect thereto; and, d. guide means mounted on said base frame for aligning said vehicle transverse said longitudinal direction with respect to opposing transverse boundary walls external said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A cleaning vehicle adapted to translate in a longitudinal direction contiguous with a base surface comprising: a. a base frame having a plurality of wheel members for translating said cleaning vehicle; b. drive means mounted to said base frame and operatively connected to said wheel members; c. spray means for ejecting liquid to a surrounding environment of said vehicle, said spray means being mounted to said base frame and rotatively moveable in at least two planes of motion with respect thereto; and, d. guide means mounted on said base frame for aligning said vehicle transverse said longitudinal direction with respect to opposing transverse boundary walls external said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 1 including means for rotating said spray means in a plane substantially parallel said base surface defining a base plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said spray means includes a tube member mounted to and rotatable with respect to said base frame, said tube member extending substantially vertical to said base frame and defining a vertically directed through passage, said tube member being secured to said spray means for providing concurrent rotation of said tube member and said spray means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said tube member is rigidly secured to a pulley member passing contiguous on external boundary wall of said tube member, said pulley member passing in a plane substantially parallel said base surface and operatively connected to said drive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 3 including means for rotating said spray means in a plane substantially normal said base surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said spray means in a plane substantially normal said base surface includes: a. a first bevel gear within said tube member, said first bevel gear being secured to said base surface; and, b. a second bevel gear meshed to said first bevel gear and rotationally moveable in a plane substantially normal said base surface, said second bevel gear being rigidly secured to said spray means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 6 wherein said first bevel gear is fastened to a vertically extending rod passing internal said through passage of said tube member and fixedly secured to said base frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 7 wherein said spray means includes: a. means for forcing said liquid external said vehicle at a predetermined angle with respect to said base surface; and, b. means for transporting said fluid to said means for forcing said liquid external said vehicle, said transporting means rotatively meveaBle with respect to said tube member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 8 wherein said fluid transportation means includes a swivel joint element secured to an upper surface of said tube member, said swivel joint element connected on opposing ends thereof to said fluid forcing means and a liquid supply external said enclosed chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for forcing said liquid external said vehicle includes: a. a pipe member secured to said swivel joint on a first end for transporting said liquid; and, b. a plurality of sprayheads connected to said pipe on a second end thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 10 wherein said sprayheads include tubular extensions passing from said pipe member at a predetermined angle with respect to said vertically directed tube member defining a vertical direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein said tubular extensions approximate an angle of 15* with respect to a plane passing normal said pipe member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 1 including liquid container means mounted on said base member for holding said liquid prior to ejection through said spray means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a pair of four bar linkage mechanisms mounted to said base frame on opposing transverse sides thereof, said mechanisms being rotatable about an axis coincident with said longitudinal direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 14 wherein each of said four bar mechanisms include a pair of rollers pivotally mounted to said mechanisms for contacting said opposing transverse boundary walls, said rollers extending in said transverse direction beyond that of any individual component of said linkage mechanisms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said mechanisms includes base link means for longitudinally varying the length of each of said mechanisms with respect to said base frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 16 wherein said base link means inclues: a. a base link member secured to said base frame and having a longitudinally extended through passage of predetermined diameter, and; b. a pair of longitudinally extended link rods insertable within said base link member through passage on opposing longitudinally directed ends thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 1 including actuation control means mounted on said base frame for reversing said longitudinal translation of said vehicle when a boundary wall is sensed, said actuation control means being operatively connected to said drive means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 18 wherein said actuation control means includes: a. a longitudinally extending rod moveably mounted on said base frame, said rod extending forward said vehicle for contacting said boundary wall; and, b. a contact switch actuated by said extending rod when said rod contacts said boundary wall, said contact switch for reversing said drive means for translating said vehicle in a predetermined direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
123 words
A truck body cleaning assembly adapted to wash the interior surfaces of a truck body, comprising: a. a base frame having a plurality of wheels for displacing said assembly in a substantially longitudinal direction contiguous to a floor surface of said truck body; b. motor means securely mounted to said base frame and operatively connected to at least one of said wheels; c. means for ejecting fluid to said interior surfaces of said truck body, said ejection fluid means being operatively connected to said motor means and rotatively mounted to said base frame; and, d. contact sensing means mounted on said assembly for determining boundary surfaces of said truck body, said contact sensing means for reversing said displacemnt direction of said cleaning assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
123 words
A truck body cleaning assembly adapted to wash the interior surfaces of a truck body, comprising: a. a base frame having a plurality of wheels for displacing said assembly in a substantially longitudinal direction contiguous to a floor surface of said truck body; b. motor means securely mounted to said base frame and operatively connected to at least one of said wheels; c. means for ejecting fluid to said interior surfaces of said truck body, said ejection fluid means being operatively connected to said motor means and rotatively mounted to said base frame; and, d. contact sensing means mounted on said assembly for determining boundary surfaces of said truck body, said contact sensing means for reversing said displacemnt direction of said cleaning assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The truck body cleaning assembly as recited in claim 20 including means for rotating said fluid ejection means in a plane substantially parallel said floor surface of said truck body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The truck body cleaning assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said means for rotating said fluid ejection means includes a tube member passing substantially vertical said floor surface and rotatively mounted to said base frame, said tube member having a predetermined internal diameter defining a through passage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The truck body cleaning assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein said rotation means for said fluid ejection means includes a pulley member securely fastened to an outer wall of said tube member and rotational in a plane substantially parallel said floor surface, said pulley member being operatively connected to said motor means through an endless belt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The truck body cleaning assembly as recited in claim 22 including means for rotating said fluid ejection means about an axis passing substantially parallel said floor surface of said truck body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The truck body cleaning assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein said means for rotating said fluid ejection means about said axis includes gear actuation means connected to said tube member within said through passage of said tube member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The truck body cleaning assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein said gear actuation means includes a pair of meshed bevel gears having axes of rotation substantially normal each other, said pair of bevel gears defining a first bevel gear secured to said base frame and a second bevel gear for rotating about an axis substantially normal to the axis of said first bevel gear.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The truck cleaning assembly as recited in claim 26 whrein said second bevel gear is secured to said means for ejecting fluid, said second bevel gear and said means for ejecting fluid having coincident axis of rotation for rotating said fluid injection means about said axis passing substantially parallel said floor surface of said truck body.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The truck cleaning assembly as recited in claim 20 including means for aligning said assembly between opposing transversely opposed sidewalls of said truck body during displacement of said assembly in said longitudinal direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |