US3973988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer washing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-01-17
•
Granted: 1976-08-10
•
Expires: 1995-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A carriage is driven from the back to the front of the inside of a trailer, either by rotating nozzles which discharge wash water against the inside of the trailer or by an electric motor. The carriage is guided by two laterally spaced rollers on each side. A hose supplying the wash water and later the rinse water, to the nozzles on the carriage, unwinds from a reel while the carriage is driven into the trailer, but the reel is turned by a motor to pull the carriage rearwardly of and out of the trailer. The trailer rests on an inclined ramp, with the rear edges abutting resilient pads for sealing purposes, the pads being placed around an opening in a partition in the building in which the carriage is housed. A wash tank receives liquid draining from the inside of the trailer, both wash water and rinse water, while a boiler heats the wash water. A rinse tank is replenished by an outside water line, while the water from both the wash tank and the rinse tank is pumped to a special connection of the reel for passage through the hose to the nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. McMahan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:44
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
Apparatus for washing an interior space of trailers and the like, comprising: a carriage having support wheels and means for driving said wheels; a rotatable nozzle means for causing an impingement of cleaning fluid on the inner surfaces of said trailer space; means for rotating said nozzle means; lateral rollers for spacing said carriage in the interior of said trailer; a hose for supplying liquid to said nozzle means; a reel exteriorly of said trailer from which said hose is unreeled as said carriage is moved from the back to the front of said trailer; means for rotating said reel to cause said hose to pull said carriage rearwardly in said trailer; a wash tank containing liquid for washing the interior surface of said trailer; heating means for heating the liquid in said wash tank; a rinse tank containing water for use in rinsing the interior of said trailer; pumping means for pumping said washing liquid to said reel and said hose; pumping means for pumping rinse water to said reel and to said hose; an opening in a partition in a building containing said wash tank and said rinse tank; resilient pads surrounding an opening in said partition; and a downwardly sloped ramp on which said trailer may be placed with the rear end engaging said resilient pads, the slope of said ramp imparting a slope to the floor of said trailer so that wash water and rinse water applied to the interior of said trailer will flow down the floor of said trailer and into said wash tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
Apparatus for washing an interior space of trailers and the like, comprising: a carriage having support wheels and means for driving said wheels; a rotatable nozzle means for causing an impingement of cleaning fluid on the inner surfaces of said trailer space; means for rotating said nozzle means; lateral rollers for spacing said carriage in the interior of said trailer; a hose for supplying liquid to said nozzle means; a reel exteriorly of said trailer from which said hose is unreeled as said carriage is moved from the back to the front of said trailer; means for rotating said reel to cause said hose to pull said carriage rearwardly in said trailer; a wash tank containing liquid for washing the interior surface of said trailer; heating means for heating the liquid in said wash tank; a rinse tank containing water for use in rinsing the interior of said trailer; pumping means for pumping said washing liquid to said reel and said hose; pumping means for pumping rinse water to said reel and to said hose; an opening in a partition in a building containing said wash tank and said rinse tank; resilient pads surrounding an opening in said partition; and a downwardly sloped ramp on which said trailer may be placed with the rear end engaging said resilient pads, the slope of said ramp imparting a slope to the floor of said trailer so that wash water and rinse water applied to the interior of said trailer will flow down the floor of said trailer and into said wash tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for washing an interior space of trailers and the like, comprising: a carriage having support wheels and means for driving said wheels; means for guiding said carriage laterally while within said trailer space; a rotatable nozzle means for causing an impingement of cleaning fluid on the inner surfaces of said trailer space; lateral rollers for spacing said carriage in the interior of said trailer; a hose for supplying liquid to said nozzle means; a reel from which said hose is unreeled as said carriage is moved from the back to the front of said trailer; a wash tank containing liquid for washing the interior surface of said trailer; heating means for heating the liquid in said wash tank; a rinse tank containing water for use in rinsing the interior of said trailer; pumping means for pumping said washing liquid to said reel and said hose; pumping means for pumping rinse water to said reel and to said hose; a dock having a drain aperture communicating with said wash tank; and a downwardly sloped ramp on which said trailer may be placed to impart a slope to the floor of said trailer and positioned so that wash water and rinse water applied to the interior of said trailer will flow down the floor of said trailer and into said wash tank through said drain aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for washing an interior space of trailers and the like, comprising: a carriage having support wheels and means for driving said wheels; means for guiding said carriage laterally while within said trailer space; a rotatable nozzle means for causing an impingement of cleaning fluid on the inner surfaces of said trailer space; lateral rollers for spacing said carriage in the interior of said trailer; a hose for supplying liquid to said nozzle means; a reel from which said hose is unreeled as said carriage is moved from the back to the front of said trailer; a wash tank containing liquid for washing the interior surface of said trailer; heating means for heating the liquid in said wash tank; a rinse tank containing water for use in rinsing the interior of said trailer; pumping means for pumping said washing liquid to said reel and said hose; pumping means for pumping rinse water to said reel and to said hose; a dock having a drain aperture communicating with said wash tank; and a downwardly sloped ramp on which said trailer may be placed to impart a slope to the floor of said trailer and positioned so that wash water and rinse water applied to the interior of said trailer will flow down the floor of said trailer and into said wash tank through said drain aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including: a movable ramp means for supporting said carriage for movement over said aperture means from said dock forwardly into said interior space and from said interior space rearwardly onto said dock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including: float controlled means for supplying fresh water to said rinse tank; and overflow means for said wash tank for maintaining a maximum level of liquid therein.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |