Built-in Automobile Washing and Cleaning System

Abstract

An automated vehicle washing and cleaning system which is self-contained within the vehicle and renders the vehicle capable of instantaneous washing without the requirement of stopping at a washing station. The cleaning fluid may be generated via a fluid delivery system, steam clean system or compression system, all of which may be driven by either an electrical or mechanical means, and dispersed via a fluid delivery system.

Claims

1. An automated vehicle washing and cleaning system comprising: a fluid delivery system, wherein the fluid delivery system is located in a trunk portion of the vehicle; and a fluid generation system, wherein the fluid generation system is located in an engine compartment of the vehicle.

2. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 1 wherein the fluid delivery system comprises: a base, wherein the base is secured with the trunk portion; a first arm, wherein the first arm extends from the base; a second arm, wherein the second arm is connected to the first arm and extends outwardly from the first arm over a roof portion of the vehicle; and a spray apparatus attached to one end of the second arm to deliver a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle when the system is in use.

3. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 2 wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises: a piping system located within the fluid delivery system and in communication with the fluid generation system in order to disperse the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle.

4. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the fluid generation system comprises: a water pump; a cleaning solution tank, wherein the cleaning solution tank is connected to the water pump by a conduit; a fluid container, wherein the fluid container stores a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid; a tube, wherein the tube connects the fluid container into the cleaning solution tank;

5. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 4, wherein the fluid generation system further comprises: a cleaning solution tank outlet, wherein the cleaning solution tank outlet extends into the cleaning solution tank; and a valve assembly, wherein the cleaning solution tank is connected to the water pump via the valve assembly.

6. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: a series of delivery nozzles located throughout the vehicle; wherein the series of delivery nozzles are in fluid communication with the fluid delivery system.

7. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: a front nozzle located on a front bumper of the vehicle; and a rear nozzle located on a rear bumper of the vehicle.

8. The automated vehicle washing and cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: a secondary fluid delivery system located on a roof portion of the vehicle, wherein the second fluid delivery system further comprises: a set of secondary delivery nozzles.

9. An automated vehicle washing and cleaning system comprising: a fluid delivery system, wherein the fluid delivery system is located in a trunk portion of the vehicle and comprises: a base, wherein the base is secured with the trunk portion; a first arm, wherein the first arm extends from the base; a second arm, wherein the second arm is connected to the first arm and extends outwardly from the first arm over a roof portion of the vehicle; a spray apparatus attached to one end of the second arm to deliver a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle when the system is in use; and a piping system located within the fluid delivery system and in communication with the fluid generation system in order to disperse the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle; a fluid generation system, wherein the fluid generation system is located in an engine compartment of the vehicle, wherein the fluid generation system comprises: a water pump; a cleaning solution tank, wherein the cleaning solution tank is connected to the water pump by a conduit; a fluid container, wherein the fluid container stores a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid; a tube, wherein the tube connects the fluid container into the cleaning solution tank; a cleaning solution tank outlet, wherein the cleaning solution tank outlet extends into the cleaning solution tank; and a valve assembly, wherein the cleaning solution tank is connected to the water pump via the valve assembly; a series of delivery nozzles located throughout the vehicle, wherein the series of delivery nozzles are in fluid communication with the fluid delivery system; a front nozzle located on a front bumper of the vehicle; a rear nozzle located on a rear bumper of the vehicle; a secondary fluid delivery system located on a roof portion of the vehicle, wherein the second fluid delivery system further comprises: a set of secondary delivery nozzles; and wherein the fluid generation system is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery system to bring a quantity of washing and/or cleaning via the piping system and to be dispersed through the spray apparatus, series of delivery nozzles, front nozzle, rear nozzle, and the set of secondary delivery nozzles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an automated vehicle washing and cleaning system with a trunk mounted fluid delivery system in an operational position.

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a fluid generation system which may be located in either a trunk or engine compartment for use in the automated washing and cleaning system.

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system displaying both the fluid delivery system and the fluid generation system.

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the automatic vehicle washing and cleaning system with a series of delivery nozzles located throughout the vehicle.

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative fluid delivery system located on the roof of the vehicle in the operational position with a series of delivery nozzles located throughout the vehicle.

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system with the fluid delivery system and the series of delivery nozzles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

[0036] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10, wherein a fluid delivery system 12 is preferably located within a trunk portion 14 of the vehicle. In operation the fluid delivery system 12, includes a base 16 which may be mounted and/or secured within the trunk portion 14 to allow for deployment when in operation. The fluid delivery system 12 further includes a first arm 18 which extends from the base 16, and a second arm 20, wherein the second arm 20 is connected to the first arm 18 and extends outwardly from the first arm 18 and preferably over a roof portion 22 of the vehicle. Preferably a spray apparatus 24 is attached to one end of the second arm 20 to deliver a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle when the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10 is in use. Additionally, a piping system 26 located within the fluid delivery system 12 is in communication with a fluid generation system 28 (see FIG. 2) in order to disperse the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates the fluid generation system 28, wherein the fluid generation system 28 may comprise several components, the function of which in unity, is to bring a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid to the fluid delivery system 12 via the piping system 26, such as fresh water, to some external portion of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the fluid generation system 28 may comprise a compression system or a pressure based washing system, both of such systems as known in the fluid movement arts.

[0039] Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the fluid generation system 28 may be housed within an engine compartment 30 (see FIG. 3) or the trunk portion 14 of the vehicle within a protective compartment and not exposed to outside elements and/or the human eye unless the compartment is uncovered.

[0040] The fluid generation system 28 is designed to be in fluid communication with the fluid delivery system 12 to deliver cleaning fluids and solutions, in numerous combinations, for cleansing of the exterior of a vehicle. The fluid delivery system 28 may exit the internal portion of the vehicle at any number of areas, including the truck and the roof of a vehicle.

[0041] In one embodiment, utilizing a typical steam, compression or water pumping system, the fluid generation system 28 may comprise a water pump 40 which is connected to a cleaning solution tank 42 by a conduit 44. Preferably, the cleaning solution tank 42 is utilized for storing the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid to be eventually dispersed over the vehicle by the fluid delivery system 12. In this embodiment, a quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid may be located in a fluid container 46, and is drawn through a tube 48 into the cleaning solution tank 42 via the water pump 40. The piping system 26 allows for fluid communication between the fluid generation system 28 and the fluid delivery system 12. In this embodiment, the piping system 26 allows for the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid to be pumped from the cleaning solution tank 26 to be dispersed through the spray apparatus 24.

[0042] Additionally, a cleaning solution tank outlet 50, which extends into the cleaning solution tank 42 is also connected to the water pump 40 through a valve assembly 52. In operation, the valve assembly 52 is disposed to provide the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid to the water pump 40. In one embodiment, the valve assembly 52 includes a known in the art solenoid valve assembly to open and close the water pump 40 in response to an electrical signal.

[0043] In one embodiment the valve assembly 52 are operated by a switch (not shown) wherein in operation, a user may depress the switch to engage the fluid generation system 28 thereby pumping the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid through the piping system 26 to the fluid delivery system 12 and finally being dispersed through the spray apparatus 24.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10 wherein the fluid delivery system 12 is located in the trunk portion 14 of the vehicle and the fluid generation system 28 is located in the engine compartment 30 of the vehicle.

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10, wherein a series of delivery nozzles 60 are located throughout the vehicle. In this embodiment, the series of delivery nozzles are in fluid communication with the fluid generation system 28 via the piping system 26 to further disperse the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid over the vehicle in conjunction with the fluid delivery system 12.

[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10, wherein a front nozzle 62 and a rear nozzle 64 are located on a front and a rear bumper of the vehicle respectively. Additionally, a secondary fluid delivery system 66 may be located on a roof portion 68 of the vehicle, wherein the secondary fluid delivery system 66 includes a set secondary delivery nozzles 70 to further dispense the quantity of washing and/or cleaning fluid from via the piping system 26.

[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10, wherein the fluid delivery system 12 is shown in the trunk portion 14 with both the series of delivery nozzles 60, along with the front nozzle 62 and the rear nozzle 64 in operation.

[0048] Furthermore, the automated vehicle washing and cleaning system 10 comprises many economic advantages, including better water consumption efficiency as the system is disposed to consume 20-30 gallons of water, unlike the 60-70 gallons of water consumed at a typical car wash. Not only is water being saved, electricity and power consumption is less that the consumption of the car washing outlet as the system may utilize auxiliary power from the vehicle engine.

[0049] Additionally, it is estimated that the system may also cut washing time by at least 33% which allows the system to operate in a cost-effective manner and is the best possible option for washing the least amount of water in reaching goals to clean and wash a vehicle.