Cleaning machine

Abstract

A vehicle cleaning unit comprising a container and a cleaning hose connected to the container. The container has a stock holding compartment, a servicing compartment and a revenue compartment. The container also includes at least three compartment doors providing access to an interior of the container, with each compartment door providing access to only one compartment of the container. Each compartment door includes a lock for locking the door in a closed position, whereby the servicing compartment can be accessed without allowing access to revenue in the revenue compartment. The vehicle cleaning unit can also include a low voltage detection unit for notifying a low or zero voltage condition in the unit. The vehicle cleaning unit can further include a circuitry chassis including circuitry comprising a plurality of circuits. The chassis can further include a plurality of indicators that will provide visual indication when a circuit associated with the indicator is activated.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A vehicle cleaning unit comprising: 
 a container having a stock holding compartment, a servicing compartment and a revenue compartment;    at least one vehicle cleaning hose connected to the container;    the container including at least three compartment doors providing access to an interior of the container, with each compartment door providing access to only one compartment of the container;    each compartment door including a lock for locking the door in a closed position to enclose the compartment.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one vehicle cleaning hose further comprises a vacuum hose.    
     
     
         3 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the container includes at least one vacuum motor fluidly connected to the vacuum hose.    
     
     
         4 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the at least one vacuum motor comprises three vacuum motors.    
     
     
         5 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the compartment door for the revenue compartment includes a first button and a second button;    two of the vacuum motors are activated when the first button is pressed; and    three of the vacuum motors are activated when the second button is pressed.    
     
     
         6 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the at least one vehicle cleaning hose comprises a vacuum hose.    
     
     
         7 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the container includes a vacuum motor connected to the vacuum hose.    
     
     
         8 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the revenue compartment includes a coin vault and a paper money stacker; and    the compartment door providing access to the revenue compartment includes a coin slot and a paper money slot.    
     
     
         9 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the coin vault is fixed to the container and includes a coin door, with the coin door including a lock providing selective access to an interior of the coin vault for retrieval of coins therein.    
     
     
         10 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the paper money stacker is fixed to the container and includes a paper money door, with the paper money door including a lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein.    
     
     
         11 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the paper money stacker is fixed to the container and includes a paper money door, with the paper money door including a lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein.    
     
     
         12 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the container includes at least one panel having a slit therein;    the locks include a lock cam having a first slot and a receiving plate having a second slot; and    the lock cam is adapted to be inserted into one of the slits and the first slot is adapted to be engaged with the second slot to lock a respective one of the compartment doors in the closed position.    
     
     
         13 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the lock cam of each of the locks is adapted to rotate into engagement with the receiving plate when the respective compartment door is in the closed position.    
     
     
         14 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the compartments are vertically stacked.    
     
     
         15 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the servicing compartment includes circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit thereon, the servicing compartment further including a plurality of indicators;    the circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit includes a plurality of circuits, with each circuit being connected to one of the indicators; and    an individual indicator will give a visual indication when the circuit associated with the indicator is activated.    
     
     
         16 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the circuitry and the indicators are positioned on a chassis removably located within the servicing compartment.    
     
     
         17 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the indicators are LEDs.    
     
     
         18 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a low voltage detection unit for sensing a voltage of a source of power of the vehicle cleaning unit;    wherein the low voltage detection unit logs a low voltage alarm condition if the voltage is non-zero and below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time; and    wherein the low voltage detection unit logs a zero voltage alarm condition if the voltage is zero.    
     
     
         19 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the low voltage detection unit includes memory and a notification signal;    the low voltage detection unit logs the low voltage alarm condition by activating the notification signal and storing a low voltage alarm signal in the memory;    and the low voltage detection unit logs the zero voltage alarm condition by activating the notification signal and storing a zero voltage alarm signal in the memory of the low voltage detection unit.    
     
     
         20 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the low voltage detection unit includes a reset switch configured to turn off the notification signal and clear the memory of the low voltage detection unit when the reset switch is activated.    
     
     
         21 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the notification signal includes an LED.    
     
     
         22 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the container includes an L-shaped flange adjacent each side of the compartment doors when the compartment doors are in the closed position.    
     
     
         23 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the container includes a reinforcement rod located between an outer side of the container and the L-shaped flange for fortifying the L-shaped flange to prevent vandalism of the container.    
     
     
         24 . A vehicle cleaning unit comprising: 
 a container having a servicing compartment adapted to contain cleaning components therein and a revenue compartment adapted to hold revenue;    a vacuum hose connected to the container;    the container including a vacuum motor functionally connected to the vacuum hose and a receptacle adapted to collect items vacuumed into the receptacle through the vacuum hose;    the container including a servicing door providing access to an interior of the servicing compartment, the servicing door including a servicing door lock for locking the servicing door in a closed position to enclose the servicing compartment;    the container further including a revenue door providing access to an interior of the revenue compartment, the revenue door including a revenue door lock for locking the revenue door in a closed position to enclose the revenue compartment;    whereby the servicing compartment can be accessed without allowing access to the revenue in the revenue compartment.    
     
     
         25 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the revenue compartment includes a coin vault and a paper money stacker; and    the revenue door includes a coin slot aligned with the coin vault and a paper money slot aligned with the paper money stacker.    
     
     
         26 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the coin vault is fixed to the container and includes a vault door, with the vault door including a vault lock providing selective access to an interior of the coin vault for retrieval of coins therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the coins in the container.    
     
     
         27 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the paper money stacker is fixed to the container and includes a stacker door, with the stacker door including a stacker lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the paper money in the container.    
     
     
         28 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the paper money stacker is fixed to the container and includes a stacker door, with the stacker door including a stacker lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the paper money in the container.    
     
     
         29 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the container further includes a stock holding compartment;    the container also including a stock door providing access to an interior of the stock holding compartment, the stock door including a stock door lock for locking the stock door in a closed position to enclose the stock compartment.    
     
     
         30 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the container includes at least one panel having a slit therein;    the locks include a lock cam having a first slot and a receiving plate having a second slot; and    the lock cam is adapted to be inserted into one of the slits and the first slot is adapted to be engaged with the second slot to lock a respective one of the compartment doors in the closed position.    
     
     
         31 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 the lock cam of each of the locks is adapted rotate into engagement with the receiving plate when the respective compartment door is in the closed position.    
     
     
         32 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the compartments are vertically stacked.    
     
     
         33 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the servicing compartment includes circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit thereon, the servicing compartment further including a plurality of indicators;    the circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit includes a plurality of circuits, with each circuit being connected to one of the indicators; and    an individual indicator will give a visual indication when the circuit associated with the indicator is activated.    
     
     
         34 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the circuitry and the indicators are positioned on a chassis removably located within the servicing compartment.    
     
     
         35 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 34 , wherein: 
 the indicators are LEDs.    
     
     
         36 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , further including: 
 a low voltage detection unit for sensing a voltage of a source of power of the vehicle cleaning unit;    wherein the low voltage detection unit logs a low voltage alarm condition if the voltage is non-zero and below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time; and    wherein the low voltage detection unit logs a zero voltage alarm condition if the voltage is zero.    
     
     
         37 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 the low voltage detection unit includes memory and a notification signal;    the low voltage detection unit logs the low voltage alarm condition by activating the notification signal and storing a low voltage alarm signal in the memory;    and the low voltage detection unit logs the zero voltage alarm condition by activating the notification signal and storing a zero voltage alarm signal in the memory of the low voltage detection unit.    
     
     
         38 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the low voltage detection unit includes a reset switch configured to turn off the notification signal and clear the memory of the low voltage detection unit when the reset switch is activated.    
     
     
         39 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 38 , wherein: 
 the notification signal includes an LED.    
     
     
         40 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the container includes an L-shaped flange adjacent each side of the compartment doors when the compartment doors are in the closed position.    
     
     
         41 . The vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 the container includes a reinforcement rod located between an outer side of the container and the L-shaped flange for fortifying the L-shaped flange to prevent vandalism of the container.    
     
     
         42 . A method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit having a container with a vacuum motor within the container for providing a sucking force to a vehicle cleaning hose connected to the container, the method comprising: 
 connecting a source of motor power to the vehicle cleaning unit;    connecting a low voltage detection unit to the source of power, the low voltage detection unit having a reset switch, memory and a notification signal;    measuring a voltage of the source of power;    activating the notification signal and storing a low voltage alarm signal in the memory of the low voltage detection unit if the voltage is non-zero and below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time;    activating the notification signal and storing a zero voltage alarm signal in the memory of the low voltage detection unit if the voltage is zero;    turning off the notification signal and clearing the memory of the low voltage detection circuit if the reset switch is triggered.    
     
     
         43 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 42 , further including: 
 providing the vehicle cleaning unit with a container having a servicing compartment adapted to contain cleaning components therein and a revenue compartment adapted to hold revenue;    connecting the vehicle cleaning hose to the container;    fluidly connecting the vacuum motor to the vacuum hose and to a receptacle adapted to collect items vacuumed into the receptacle through the vacuum hose;    providing a servicing door adapted to allow access to an interior of the servicing compartment, the servicing door including a servicing door lock for locking the servicing door in a closed position to enclose the servicing compartment; and    providing a revenue door adapted to allow access to an interior of the revenue compartment, the revenue door including a revenue door lock for locking the revenue door in a closed position to enclose the revenue compartment;    whereby the servicing compartment can be accessed without allowing access to the revenue in the revenue compartment.    
     
     
         44 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 43 , further including: 
 providing the revenue compartment with a coin vault and a paper money stacker; and    providing the revenue door with a coin slot aligned with the coin vault and a paper money slot aligned with the paper money stacker.    
     
     
         45 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 44 , further including: 
 fixing the coin vault to the container; and    providing the coin vault with a vault door, with the vault door including a vault lock providing selective access to an interior of the coin vault for retrieval of coins therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the coins in the container.    
     
     
         46 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 45 , further including: 
 fixing the paper money stacker to the container; and    providing the paper money stacker with a stacker door, with the stacker door including a stacker lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the paper money in the container.    
     
     
         47 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 44 , further including: 
 fixing the paper money stacker to the container; and    providing the paper money stacker with a stacker door, with the stacker door including a stacker lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the paper money in the container.    
     
     
         48 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 43 , further including: 
 providing the container further includes a stock holding compartment;    providing a stock door adapted to allow access to an interior of the stock holding compartment; and    providing a stock door lock for locking the stock door in a closed position to enclose the stock compartment.    
     
     
         49 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 43 , further including: 
 providing the container with at least one panel having a slit therein;    providing the locks with a lock cam having a first slot and a receiving plate having a second slot; and    locking a respective one of the compartment doors in a closed position by inserting the lock cam into one of the slits and the first slot, and engaging the first slot with the second slot.    
     
     
         50 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 49 , wherein: 
 the step of locking a respective one of the compartment doors in the closed position includes rotating the lock cam into engagement with the receiving plate.    
     
     
         51 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 43 , wherein: 
 the compartments are vertically stacked.    
     
     
         52 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 43 , wherein: 
 the container includes an L-shaped flange adjacent each side of the compartment doors when the compartment doors are in the closed position.    
     
     
         53 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 52 , wherein: 
 the container includes a reinforcement rod located between an outer side of the container and the L-shaped flange for fortifying the L-shaped flange to prevent vandalism of the container.    
     
     
         54 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 42 , further including: 
 providing circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit;    connecting indicators to circuits of the circuitry;    providing an visual indication when the circuit associated with the one of the indicator is activated.    
     
     
         55 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 54 , further including: 
 positioning the circuitry and the indicators on a chassis removably located within the vehicle cleaning unit.    
     
     
         56 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the indicators are LEDs.    
     
     
         57 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 42 , wherein: 
 the notification signal includes an LED.    
     
     
         58 . A method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit having a container with a pump and/or vacuum motor within the container for cleaning a vehicle, the method comprising: 
 providing a source of power to the vehicle cleaning unit for powering the motor;    sensing a voltage of the source of power;    logging a low voltage alarm condition if the voltage is non-zero and below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time; and    logging a zero voltage alarm condition if the voltage is zero.    
     
     
         59 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 58 , further including: 
 providing the vehicle cleaning unit with a container having a servicing compartment adapted to contain cleaning components therein and a revenue compartment adapted to hold revenue;    connecting the vehicle cleaning hose to the container;    fluidly connecting the vacuum motor to the vacuum hose and to a receptacle adapted to collect items vacuumed into the receptacle through the vacuum hose;    providing a servicing door adapted to allow access to an interior of the servicing compartment, the servicing door including a servicing door lock for locking the servicing door in a closed position to enclose the servicing compartment; and    providing a revenue door adapted to allow access to an interior of the revenue compartment, the revenue door including a revenue door lock for locking the revenue door in a closed position to enclose the revenue compartment;    whereby the servicing compartment can be accessed and the cleaning components serviced without allowing access to the revenue in the revenue compartment.    
     
     
         60 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 59 , further including: 
 providing the revenue compartment with a coin vault and a paper money stacker; and    providing the revenue door with a coin slot aligned with the coin vault and a paper money slot aligned with the paper money stacker.    
     
     
         61 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 60 , further including: 
 fixing the coin vault to the container; and    providing the coin vault with a vault door, with the vault door including a vault lock providing selective access to an interior of the coin vault for retrieval of coins therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the coins in the container.    
     
     
         62 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 61 , further including: 
 fixing the paper money stacker to the container; and    providing the paper money stacker with a stacker door, with the stacker door including a stacker lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the paper money in the container.    
     
     
         63 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 60 , further including: 
 fixing the paper money stacker to the container; and    providing the paper money stacker with a stacker door, with the stacker door including a stacker lock providing selective access to an interior of the paper money stacker for retrieval of paper money therein, thereby providing a double level of security for access to the paper money in the container.    
     
     
         64 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 59 , further including: 
 providing the container with a stock holding compartment;    providing a stock door adapted to allow access to an interior of the stock holding compartment; and    providing a stock door lock for locking the stock door in a closed position to enclose the stock compartment.    
     
     
         65 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 59 , further including: 
 providing the container with at least one panel having a slit therein;    providing the locks with a lock cam having a first slot and a receiving plate having a second slot; and    locking a respective one of the compartment doors in a closed position by inserting the lock cam into one of the slits and the first slot, and engaging the first slot with the second slot.    
     
     
         66 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 65 , wherein: 
 the step of locking a respective one of the compartment doors in the closed position includes rotating the lock cam into engagement with the receiving plate.    
     
     
         67 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 59 , wherein: 
 the compartments are vertically stacked.    
     
     
         68 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 59 , wherein: 
 the container includes an L-shaped flange adjacent each side of the compartment doors when the compartment doors are in the closed position.    
     
     
         69 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 68 , wherein: 
 the container includes a reinforcement rod located between an outer side of the container and the L-shaped flange for fortifying the L-shaped flange to prevent vandalism of the container.    
     
     
         70 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 58 , further including: 
 providing circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit;    connecting indicators to circuits of the circuitry;    providing a visual indication when the circuit associated with the one of the indicator is activated.    
     
     
         71 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 70 , further including: 
 positioning the circuitry and the indicators on a chassis removably located within the vehicle cleaning unit.    
     
     
         72 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 71 , wherein: 
 the indicators are LEDs.    
     
     
         73 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 58 , wherein: 
 the step of logging a low voltage alarm condition includes activating a notification signal and storing a low voltage signal in memory of the low voltage detection unit.    
     
     
         74 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 73 , wherein: 
 the step of logging a zero voltage alarm condition includes activating a notification signal and storing a zero voltage signal in memory of the low voltage detection unit.    
     
     
         75 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 74 , wherein: 
 the memory is non-volatile.    
     
     
         76 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 74 , wherein: 
 the notification signal includes an LED.    
     
     
         77 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 58 , wherein: 
 the step of logging a zero voltage alarm condition includes activating a notification signal and storing a zero voltage signal in memory of the low voltage detection unit.    
     
     
         78 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 77 , wherein: 
 the memory is non-volatile.    
     
     
         79 . The method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit of  claim 77 , wherein: 
 the notification signal includes an LED.    
     
     
         80 . A vehicle cleaning unit comprising: 
 a container having a machine circuitry compartment including a chassis with circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit thereon, the chassis further including a plurality of indicators; and    a vacuum hose connected to the container;    the container including a vacuum motor functionally connected to the vacuum hose and a receptacle adapted to collect items vacuumed into the receptacle through the vacuum hose;    wherein the circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit includes a plurality of circuits, with each circuit being connected to one of the indicators; and    wherein an individual indicator provides a visual indication when the circuit associated with the indicator is activated.    
     
     
         81 . A method of providing notification of a low voltage condition in a vehicle cleaning unit having a container with a pump and/or vacuum motor within the container for cleaning a vehicle, the method comprising: 
 providing a circuitry chassis for the vehicle cleaning unit, the chassis including circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit thereon, the circuitry for the vehicle cleaning unit includes a plurality of circuits, the chassis further including a plurality of indicators;    connecting each circuit to one of the indicators; and    providing visual indication when the circuit associated with the indicator is activated.    
     
     
         82 . A vehicle cleaning unit comprising: 
 a container having at least one door providing access to an interior of the container;    at least one vehicle cleaning hose connected to the container;    each door including a lock for locking the door in a closed position to enclose the compartment;    the container includes an L-shaped flange adjacent each side of the door when the doors are in the closed position; and    the container includes a reinforcement rod located between an outer side of the container and the L-shaped flange for fortifying the L-shaped flange to prevent vandalism of the container.