Portable Vehicle Washer Process
- The circulatory process of the vehicle wash system begins with a 550 gallon capacity holding tank.
- Water gravity flows from the tank into an industrial high pressure, high volume pump (maximum flow 1000 psi at 18 gpm).
- The pump pushes the water out to a manifold system which directs flow to the hand-held wands and underbody wash.
- Operators use two high-pressure wands with turbo nozzles to wash the entire vehicle, concentrating on the sides, wheels, and wheel wells.
- A high-pressure, high-volume nozzle system washes the vehicles underbody.
- An industrial rubber mat with foam-filled barriers on all sides confines the wash water.
- The used wash water is pumped from the mat to two 175-gallon settling tanks.
- Large particulate matter sinks to the bottom of the tanks.
- The effluent from the settling tanks is pumped through two filters.
- The filters have felt bags that can remove particulate as small as 3 microns.
- After the water has passed through the filters, it continues its flow back into the holding tank.
- The washer does not use hot water nor does it use any soaps, chemicals, or detergents.
- The components are mounted on a twin-axle, 8 by 18 foot trailer that can be towed by a three-quarter ton pickup truck (when the water tanks are empty).
- The pumps, generator, tanks, and filter housings are mounted on the trailer.
- The trailer also carries the mat, hoses, and miscellaneous equipment.
Wands and Underbody Washers
- The portable vehicle washer uses two hand wands and one underbody washer.
- The two hand wands operate at a pressure of 1000 pounds per square inch.
- Each wand sprays about 4 gallons of water per minute.
- The wand has a rotating, turbo nozzle that does a better job of cleaning than standard fan nozzles.
- The underbody washer is one of the few components of the vehicle-washing system that is not commercially available.
- Six high-pressure fan nozzles attached to each underbody washer to provide complete coverage under the vehicle.
- The six nozzles operate at about 800 pounds per square inch of pressure and use a total of 18 gallons of water per minute.
- During a typical washing operation, a vehicle drives slowly onto the mat and over the underbody washer.
- Once the vehicle has been driven completely over the underbody washer, operators close a valve on the wash systems manifold, stopping the flow of water to the underbody washer.
- Operators wash the vehicle with the two high-pressure wands, removing all mud and dirt on the sides, top, wheels, wheel wells, and bumpers.
Containment Mat
- The containment mat is of industrial grade.
- The standard size of the rubber mat is 19 feet wide and 33 feet long. However, custom sizes are available.
- Cylindrical pieces of foam are inserted into sleeves along the sides of the mat, forming raised sides that contain the wash water.
- The mat is very durable, but users should ensure that sharp debris is not underneath it.
- Rubber-tired vehicles will not puncture or rip the mat unless the mat is placed over an extremely sharp object.
- A felt liner the same size as the mat helps protect the mat from cuts or punctures.
- A reel has been fabricated in-house and mounted to the deck on the back of the trailer to make the felt pad and mat easier to set up and store.
- Tracked vehicles, such as dozers or small excavators, require special attention.
- Place industrial strength belting under their tracks to prevent them from damaging the mat.
- Long vehicles, such as school buses, also require special handling.
- Typically, half of the vehicle is driven on the mat and washed, then the vehicle is moved to wash the other half.
- Although rare, there is a possibility that the mat can be damaged with punctures or holes. A kit is supplied that can successfully make the necessary repairs or mends.
Holding Tank and High-Pressure Pump
- Water is stored in a 550-gallon tank mounted on the deck of the trailer.
- A high-pressure, high-volume industrial pump supplies water to the underbody washer and wands at a pressure of 1000 pounds per square inch and a flow of 18 gallons per minute.
- The pump is powered by a 24-horsepower, Honda engine.
- A 40-micron strainer between the tank and the pump prevents particulate from damaging the pump.
- An overflow bypass valve protects the pump.
- Between washes, when no water is needed, the bypass valve routes unused water back to the holding tank to prevent damage to the pump.
- The industrial pump can be easily serviced.
Sump Pumps and Settling Tanks
- An electrically powered sump pump moves wash water collected on the mat into two 175-gallon,cone-bottom settling tanks.
- The water flow enters the settling tank through large PVC pipes near the bottom of the tanks.
- The water flow enters near the bottom to minimize flow velocities and turbulence, increasing the likelihood that particulate will settle in the tanks.
- A 2-inch connector near the top of each tank allows over-flow water from the first settling tank to flow into the next settling tank.
- Water enters the second settling tank near the bottom of the tank through PVC pipe attached to the overflow connector between the two tanks.
- The overflow from the second settling tank flows into a smaller open-barrel tank.
- A large-mesh strainer is attached to the overflow pipe, trapping debris such as needles or leaves and most large seeds.
- Another sump pump in this open tank moves the water through two filters and back to the main 550-gallon holding tank.
Filter Housings and Filters
- The wash water is pumped through two filter housings and back to the main holding tank.
- Each filter housing uses felt filter bags rated at sizes ranging from 800 microns down to 3 microns to remove particulate matter or seeds larger than the bags rating.
- Any combination of bags can be used, depending on the size of seeds or spores that are targeted.
- A 100-micron filter bag should catch all seeds, while bags with smaller mesh sizes could be used to trap spores.
- Each housing is equipped with pressure gauges to determine when the filters are clogging.
- A pressure of 15 to 20 pounds per square inch indicates that the filters are nearly full.
- The filters can be stored for analysis or backwashed to remove all the debris and reused.
Electrical Power
- A 5,500-watt gasoline generator provides electrical power to operate the two sump pumps.
- The generator can also be used to power lights and any other electrical accessories.
Mat Reel
- A manually operated reel has been fabricated to help set up, transport, and store the mat.
- A 12-volt electrical reel is available upon request.
- The reel is designed so that the mat and felt pad can be unrolled easily when the washing station is being set up.
- An operator holds one end of the mat down, releases the reels locking mechanism, and pulls the trailer forward over the mats felt underlayment.
- Once the mat is in place, it can be unfolded for use.
- Before storage, the mat should be thoroughly washed to remove any rocks and debris, dried as thoroughly as possible, and folded to a width of 66 inches.
- The front end of the mat can be lifted, locked into the reel, and reeled in.
- A locking mechanism prevents the reel from unwinding.
- Tie downs and straps hold the mat in place.
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BKB Enterprises LLC