Recycling transportable pressure washing system

Abstract

An apparatus for washing and recovering a contaminant from an object. A washing agent flows over the object, and the washing agent and contaminant are received in a basin. A slurry of the washing agent and contaminant are circulated through at least one separator and one filter to produce a cleaned slurry flow. The cleaned slurry flow is recirculated into the basin. A first pump which is used to flow the washing agent over the object has a supply port and a pressurized output port. A pressurized fluid supply is coupled to a variable regulator with a variable pressure output. A second pump driven by the variable pressure output impels the washing agent into the supply port of the first pump.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for washing an object having a contaminant and for recovering the contaiminant  contaminant, comprising: 
       a floor to support said object;  
       means for flowing a washing agent over said object;  
       a basin mounted below said floor for receiving said washing agent and said contaminant, the basin including a plurality of baffle walls to define a plurality of outer chambers positioned at the edges of the basin and at least one inner chamber surrounded by the outer chambers, the floor having at least one channel for directing said washing agent and contaminant into the outer chambers;  
       means for circulating a slurry of said washing agent and said contaminant from the outer chambers to the inner chamber;  
       at least one contaminant separator located in the inner chamber of said basin;  
       means for filtering the contaminant in said slurry to produce a cleaned slurry flow; and  
       means for recirculating the cleaned slurry flow into one of the outer chambers of said basin.  
     
     
       2. An apparatus for washing an object having a contaminant and for recovering the contaminant, comprising: 
       means for flowing a washing agent over said object, wherein said means for flowing includes a fluid pump having a supply port and a pressurized output port;  
       means for optimizing performance of said fluid pump, wherein said means for optimizing includes a pressurized supply of a first fluid, a variable regulator coupled to said pressurized supply having a variable pressure output, and a second pump driven by said variable pressure output for impelling a second fluid into said supply port of the fluid pump;  
       a basin mounted below said object for receiving said washing agent and said contaminant;  
       means for circulating a slurry of said washing agent and said contaminant through at least one contaminant separator in said basin;  
       means for filtering the contaminant in said slurry to produce a cleaned slurry flow; and  
       means for recirculating the cleaned slurry flow into said basin.  
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for filtering includes a pump having an intake coupled to the inner chamber of said basin and having an output coupled to at least one filter. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for circulating includes a pump, the inner chamber in said basin coupled to an intake of said pump and one of the outer chambers in said basin coupled to an outlet of the pump, at least one other fluid containment chamber in said basin, and a plurality of gaps interconnecting said chambers. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said means for recirculation includes a filter output coupled to a pneumatic valve for selectively coupling said filter output to one of the outer chambers. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for enclosing said object to prevent discharge of said contaminant into a surrounding environment. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for warming said washing agent. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for flowing a washing agent includes a pressure washer. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separator further comprises an absorbent sock. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first fluid is a gas and said second fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first fluid is air and said second fluid is a washing agent. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said fluid pump is a pressure washer. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said second pump is an air-driven water pump. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus for recovering contaminants from an object, comprising: 
       a floor to support said object;  
       means for washing said object;  
       a tub mounted in an enclosure around said object beneath said floor and comprising a plurality of outer fluid containment compartments positioned at the edges of said tub and at least one inner fluid containment compartment surrounded by said inner compartments;  
       a circulating pump having an intake coupled to the inner compartment and having an output coupled to one of the outer compartments;  
       a containment  contaminant separator in said tub having a separation intake coupled to said one of said outer compartments and having a separation output coupled to the inner compartment; and  
       a filter having a filter intake coupled to the inner compartment and having a filter output coupled to one of said outer compartments of said tub.  
     
     
       15. An apparatus for recovering contaminants from an object, comprising: 
       a tub mounted in an enclosure around said object and comprising plurality of fluid containment compartments;  
       a circulating pump having an intake coupled to a first compartment and having an output coupled to a second compartment;  
       means for washing said object, wherein said means for washing includes a fluid pump having a low-pressure intake coupled to said output of said circulating pump and having a high-pressure output;  
       means for optimizing performance of said fluid pump, wherein said means for optimizing includes a pressurized supply of a first fluid, a variable regulator coupled to said pressurized supply having a variable pressure output, and a second pump driven by said variable pressure output for impelling a second fluid into said low-pressure intake of the fluid pump;  
       a containment  contaminant separator in said tub having a separation intake coupled to said second compartment and having a separation output coupled to a third compartment; and  
       a filter having a filter intake coupled to said third compartment and having a filter output coupled to said tub.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said tub further comprise a floor having at least one channel for directing said washing agent and contaminant into said compartments. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said means for filtering said contaminant comprises said second pump with an intake coupled to said basin and with an output coupled to at least one filter. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said means for circulating a slurry of said washing agent comprises: 
       said second pump;  
       a first fluid containment chamber in said tub coupled to an intake of said second pump;  
       a second fluid containment chamber in said tub coupled to the outlet of said second pump;  
       at least one other fluid containment chamber in  
       said tub; and  
       a plurality of gaps interconnecting said fluid containment chambers.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said means for recirculating comprises: 
       a filter output coupled to a pneumatic valve for selectively coupling said filter output to the tub.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said separator further comprises an absorbent sock. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said first fluid is a gas and said second fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said first fluid is air and said second fluid is a washing agent. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising means for warming said washing agent. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said second pump is a air-driven water pump. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said fluid pump is a pressure washer. 
     
     
       26. Apparatus for washing an object containing a contaminant and for recovering the contaminant, comprising: 
       a pressure washer for flowing a washing agent over said object;  
       a tub mounted below said object comprising a plurality of baffles defining a plurality of fluid containment compartments;  
       a circulating pump having an intake coupled to a clean water compartment in said tub, and having an output coupled to one of said compartments;  
       a contaminant separator in said tub having a separation intake coupled to one of said compartments and having a separation output coupled to said clean water compartment;  
       a filter having a filter intake coupled to said clean water compartment and having a filter output coupled to said tub; and  
       means for optimizing performance of said pressure washer, comprising a pressurized supply of air; a variable regulator coupled to said air having a variable pressure air output; and a second pump driven by said variable pressure air output for impelling water into said pressure washer.  
     
     
       27. A self- contained portable recycling pressure washing system comprising:    
       
         a floor suitable for supporting an object to be pressure washed and that includes one or more gaps through which a washing agent may drain;  
       
       
         a pressure washing apparatus suitable for flowing the washing agent over the object in a pressurized stream;  
       
       
         a basin mounted below the floor for collecting washing agent that is flowed over the object;  
       
         a plurality of spaced - apart load - bearing longitudinal and lateral beams disposed in a grid within the basin; and    
         a filter arrangement for filtering the washing agent collected by the basin, wherein filtering agent is re - circulated to the pressure washing apparatus.   
     
     
       28. A self contained portable recycling pressure washing system as recited in  claim 27  further comprising walls arranged to help contain the washing agent flowed over the object and wherein the floor is sized suitably for receiving objects at least as large as an automotive engine. 
     
     
       29. A self contained portable recycling pressure washing system as recited in  claim 27  further comprising a heater for heating the washing agent. 
     
     
       30. A self contained portable recycling pressure washing system as recited in  claim 29  wherein the pressure washing apparatus includes a pump for pressurizing the washing agent and a wand for flowing the pressurized washing agent over the object. 
     
     
       31. A self contained portable recycling pressure washing system as recited in  claim 27  wherein the floor, the pressure washing apparatus, the basin, and the filter are all mounted as a single unit. 
     
     
       32. A recycling pressure washing system comprising: 
       
         a floor suitable for supporting an object to be pressure washed, wherein the floor is sized suitably for receiving objects at least as large as an automobile engine and that includes one or more gaps through which a washing agent may drain;  
       
       
         a pressure washing apparatus suitable for flowing the washing agent over the object in a pressurized stream;  
       
       
         a basin mounted below the floor for collecting washing agent that is flowed over the object, wherein the floor and the basin are part of a transportable unit;  
       
         a plurality of spaced - apart load - bearing longitudinal and lateral beams disposed in a grid within the basin;    
       
         a filter arrangement for filtering the washing agent collected by the basin; and  
       
         wherein the pressure washing apparatus is arranged to re - circulate the filtered washing agent.   
     
     
       33. A transportable recycling containment system for use with a pressure washer comprising: 
       
         a floor suitable for supporting an object to be pressure washed, wherein the floor is sized suitably for receiving objects at least as large as an automobile engine and wherein the floor includes one or more gaps through which a washing agent may drain;  
       
       
         a basin mounted below the floor and that is larger in at least one dimension than the floor for collecting the washing agent that is flowed over the object, wherein the floor and the basin are part of a transportable unit;  
       
         a plurality of spaced - apart load - bearing longitudinal and lateral beams disposed in a grid within the basin; and    
       
         a filter arrangement for filtering the washing agent collected by the basin to provide a recirculated source of washing agent for the pressure washer, wherein the transportable, recycling containment system is arranged to facilitate recirculation of the filtered washing agent to the pressure washer. 
       
     
     
       34. A transportable recycling containment system as recited in  claim 33  further comprising: 
       
         walls arranged to help contain the washing agent flowed over the object; and  
       
       
         a heater for heating the washing agent. 
       
     
     
       35. A transportable recycling containment system as recited in  claim 34  wherein: 
       
         the pressure washing apparatus further includes a pump for pressurizing the washing agent and a wand for flowing the pressurized washing agent over the object; and  
       
       
         the floor, the pressure washing apparatus, the basin and the filter are all mounted as a single transportable unit. 
       
     
     
       36. A self- contained portable recycling pressure washing system comprising:    
       
         a floor suitable for supporting an object to be pressure washed;  
       
       
         a pressure washing apparatus suitable for flowing a washing agent over the object in a pressurized stream;  
       
       
         a basin mounted below the floor for collecting washing agent that is flowed over the object, the basin including one or more outer chambers positioned at respective edges of the basin and at least one inner chamber surrounded by the outer chambers;  
       
       
         means for filtering the washing agent collected by inner chamber of the basin; and  
       
         means for re - circulating the filtered washing agent into one of the outer chambers of said basin.   
     
     
       37. A self- contained portable recycling pressure washing system comprising:    
       
         a floor suitable for supporting an object to be pressure washed;  
       
       
         a pressure washing apparatus suitable for flowing a washing agent over the object in a pressurized stream;  
       
       
         a basin mounted below said floor for receiving said washing agent and a contaminant, the basin including a plurality of baffle walls to define a plurality of outer chambers positioned at respective edges of the basin and at least one inner chamber surrounded by the outer chambers, the floor having at least one channel for directing said washing agent and said contaminant into the outer chambers; and  
       
       
         a filter arrangement for filtering the washing agent collected by the basin, wherein the filtered washing agent is recirculated to the pressure washing apparatus. 
       
     
     
       38. Apparatus for washing an object having a contaminant and for recovering the contaminant, comprising: 
       
         means for supporting said object;  
       
       
         means for flowing a washing agent over said object;  
       
       
         means for receiving said washing agent and said contaminant, said receiving means including a means to define a plurality of outer chambers positioned at respective edges of said receiving means and at least one inner chamber surrounded by the outer chambers, said supporting means having at least one channel for directing said washing agent and contaminant into the outer chambers;  
       
       
         means for circulating a slurry of said washing agent and said contaminant from the outer chambers to the inner chamber;  
       
       
         means for separating said contaminant located in the inner chamber of said receiving means;  
       
       
         means for filtering the contaminant in said slurry to produce a cleaned slurry flow; and  
       
       
         means for recirculating the cleaned slurry flow into one of the outer chambers of said receiving means.