The invention relates to a decontamination system for transport means. The invention is directed particularly, but not solely, towards a decontamination system for vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Decontaminating vehicles such as cars, trucks, vans, caravans and trains etc is carried out by manual processing. This is time consuming creating expensive labour costs.

Manual processing is not effective in removing all decontaminates in that not all areas of a vehicle are covered nor is the application necessarily strong enough at those areas that are being cleaned.

Individual washing techniques can be very different and inconsistent. Therefore it is extremely difficult to provide a guarantee that certain decontamination standards have been reached. Quality control is difficult to provide.

Decontamination also requires the use of expensive chemicals and detergents which can be dangerous to users. This sort of system is not able to readily handle high volumes of vehicles that now require decontaminating.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved decontamination system which at least ameliorates some of the aforementioned problems and/or provides the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention consists in a decontamination system for vehicles comprising a moveable carriage and fluid spray means wherein the fluid spray means is connected to the carriage and the carriage is moveable past the underside of a vehicle, to spray thereon to decontaminate said vehicle.

Preferably the carriage includes support means which includes a moving means connecting the spray means to support means. Preferably the moving means includes a rotating mechanism.

Preferably a fluid supply means is connected to the carriage to supply fluid wherein the supply means is fluidly connected to the fluid spray means.

Preferably the carriage is moveably supported within a frame to allow movement with respect to the frame wherein the frame supports at least one vehicle.

Preferably the rotating mechanism is a triple rotating mechanism including a main rotating arm and twin secondary rotating arms wherein the main arm is centrally located between the secondary arms.

Preferably the main arm is defined as a first arm, each secondary arm being second and third arms respectively.

Preferably each arm is pivotally rotatably supported on a rotatable shaft wherein there is a first, second and third shaft.

Preferably the spray means are rotatably supported at a distal end of the second and third arms.

Preferably the spray means comprise dual nozzles rotatably mounted.

Preferably the carriage is a framed structure being a cradle connected within the frame, the structure having a length parallel with the length of a vehicle having an underside which carriage transports the cradle horizontally along the length of the underside of a vehicle.

Preferably the fluid supply means can be a pump which can deliver a specifically calculated combination of fluid volume at a certain pressure.

Preferably the fluid supply means has cleaning agents or chemicals therein.

Preferably the pump is a high volume water pump.

Preferably the system is hydraulically operable wherein the shafts are moveable by a chain mechanism. Preferably the first arm is centrally rotatably supported about the first shaft at an upper end wherein the first shaft lower end is connected to the cradle.

Preferably the cradle includes at least one horizontal transverse beam having ends which is supported at each end by vertical supports wherein each vertical support is slidably connected and supported by the frame.

Preferably the nozzles are supported by the second and third arms which are rotatably supported and mounted on the second and third shafts respectively.

Preferably the second and third shafts are rotatably mounted and supported by the first shaft.

Preferably the frame is rectangular in shape being sized to support a vehicle.

Preferably the frame is supported by any substrate or support surface that enables a vehicle to be either driven onto the frame or lifted onto the frame for decontaminating.

Preferably the main beam does not touch the support surface.

Preferably the system includes a decontaminating means for the decontaminating a lower part of a vehicle having an outer portion and inner portion wherein the outer portion can include the wheels, rim, side wall, tyres, arches, treads, and the inner portion can include the wheels, rim, side wall, tyres, arches, tread, and suspension components.

Preferably the lower vehicle part decontaminating means is adapted to decontaminate all of the lower part components such that the wheels are caused to spin while the vehicle is stationary wherein the means includes spray means to spray said components.

Preferably the means include rollers positioned having a space therebetween for one wheel to rest on each roller wherein at least one roller is rotatably connected to the chain mechanism, to cause the roller to rotate and in turn rotate each wheel.

Preferably the spray means include a first spray mean being positioned to spray the outer portion and a second spray means being positioned to spray the inner portion.

Preferably the first spray means is adapted to spray in the vertical plane and the second spray means is adapted to spray in the horizontal plane. Preferably the first and/or second spray means are adapted to spray in a swivelling motion.

Preferably the lower vehicle part decontaminating means can decontaminate two wheels at once.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the system.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the system.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the system.

Figure 4 is a lower vehicle part decontamination means.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

As shown in figures 1 to 4 the decontamination system 1 can be used for any type of vehicle such as car, caravan, truck or bus, train or whatever transport means is possible. The system comprises a moveable carriage 2 supported by a frame 3. The vehicle is supported by the frame 3 which is generally rectangular in shape and sized to adequately decontaminate the vehicle according to any desired standard.

The carriage 2 is constructed to slideably move and be supported by and through the frame 3 and past the underneath or underside of at least one stationary vehicle. The frame 3 can have any dimensions depending on what size the vehicle is or how many are required to be decontaminated. The frame can be fabricated from any suitable materials such as galvanized steel that is structurally sufficient to support the vehicle and be robust to resist chemical attack from any decontaminating material or weathering.

The frame 3 can be rectangular in overall shape, having longitudinal members connected to transverse members. The longitudinal members define the length 4 of the frame in the horizontal plane and transverse members define the width 5. For example the length could be 10600mm and the width 2100. The frame 3 and carriage 2 can be portable or in kit form thereby enabling transportation to any location. The carriage 2 includes a cradle 6 that can be transported horizontally along the length 4 of the frame or underside of the vehicle. The cradle houses a decontamination mechanism.

The decontamination mechanism includes a support means having a moving means. The moving means including a rotating mechanism as better seen in figure 3. The rotating mechanism includes an in use vertical main shaft 7 centrally mounted on at least one horizontal transverse beam 8. As shown in figure 1 carriage can have two beams 8. The frame 3 or the entire system can be supported on any substrate or support surface 9. In another variation the frame 3 and carriage 2 can be located over a pit (not shown). The pit can be sized to allow the carriage to pass along while allowing the frame to be located on existing or artificial ground level.

The main shaft can be termed a first shaft 7 having an upper 10 and lower end 11. Shaft upper end 10 is connected to a first arm 12. The lower end 11 of the main shaft 7 is connected to and supported by the transverse beams 8. The beams 8 have distal ends 13 and 14. The beam distal ends 13 and 14 are supported by the lower end 17 and 18 of vertical support members 15 and 16 which are operatively and slideably connected to the frame at their upper end 19 and 20. The transverse support beam 8 is not directly supported by the ground 9.

First shaft 7 is rotatably connected to the rotatable first arm 12. The rotatable first arm 12 is located at the upper end 10 of the first shaft 7. The rotating first arm 12 has distal ends 21 and 22 from the central first shaft 7. At the distal ends 21 and 22 there is located a second and third rotatable shaft 23 and 24 respectively. Each rotating shaft 23 and 24 has a centrally rotating arm 25 and 26 at their upper end there. These arms 25 and 26 being second and third arms having distal ends 27, 28 and 29, 30. Each rotating arm 25 and 26 has spray means at their distal ends. Each spray means comprises nozzles 31-34. As shown in the figures the nozzle can provide any spray arc shape required.

The decontamination system can be operated hydraulically as shown in figure 4. The hydraulic system can be sourced to move the central shaft at its upper end 10 which in turn operates all the other mechanisms which are operateably connected thereto. This interconnection of all the components of the decontamination system can be by way chain and cog mechanisms as shown though equally other operating systems can be used where appropriate such as electrical and pneumatic. Also the system can be manually or automatically operated. For example automatic detection can be used so that the carriage can automatically operate.

The system may also include various operating means such as manual actuation and or control means which can be interlinked by way of computer or in a wireless mode. Other variations of the system include more than one carriage, with the carriage able to at least travel part of or all of the length of the frame. Additionally the system may include a fixed arch wash 35 to decontaminate the rest of the vehicle besides the underside.

In another variation a vehicle may be allowed to move over the frame while the carriage moves. The frame can be adjustable to allow for raising and lowering the frame to allow the carriage to move without a pit. The frame 2 includes longitudinal beams 36, transverse beams 37 and posts 38 in any combination or shape. The system is adapted to be attached to a drainage system such as a sump 39 and filtered or non filtered water or fluid supply that can be reticulated or portable. In yet other variations, the rotating arms can be allowed to be non-rotating or act together or independently.

Figures 1 and 4 show further parts of the frame and carriage that enable the carriage to operate. Transverse beam 8 can be one of many that are joined to longitudinal beams 13 and 14 to form a supporting lower carriage frame. An upper frame is formed by further longitudinal members 40 and 41 being connected to the vertical supports 15 and 16 with transverses upper frame members 42 and 43 and 44 and 45. The upper frame transverse members of the carriage are slidably supported by longitudinal members 36 of the frame 2. As shown members 36, for example being a RSJ member have a lower horizontal flange member which provides a horizontal sliding surface to allowing the ends of the transverse members to be slidably supported whereby the carriage can move freely above the ground. Other methods of support are also possible such as rollers and tracking.

There are further frame members 46-49 that form a chain driven frame (figure 1) which are separately joined or connected or supported by the frame 2. There are also limiting members 50 that provide both safety and a longitudinal limit to the travel of the carriage. On top of the long members 36 there can be a ramp or running board for the wheels or rollers of any vehicle to run on and be supported while being decontaminated. This ramp can be in the form of a grating or plate 51. The decontamination mechanism can include decontaminating means 52 and 53 as shown in figure 4 for the lower part of any vehicle. For example the lower part can be defined as being an outer portion and an inner portion. These portions can include the wheels, tyres, rims, arches, suspension or tread components or any lower portion of the vehicle that needs careful attention. This lower vehicle part decontaminating means can be situated at each wheel or for only two wheels. In principle the vehicle is kept stationary while the means moves the two wheels. The lower vehicle part decontaminating means includes wheel moving means such as two rollers 54 and 55 per wheel and spray means 56, 57, 58 and 59. The two rollers are spaced apart to provide a space there between for the placement of a wheel.

The spray means includes a first spray means able to spray in the vertical plane and a second spray means able to spray in the horizontal plane. The first spray means can be located such that the outer portion for example wheel rim, tyres, tread or side wall can be sprayed. Optionally another spray means can be located to spray the wheel, wheel rim and tyre side wall. The second spray means is adapted to decontaminate the inner portion, for example the wheel arch, rims, tread or suspension and any other exposed portion or underside of a vehicle and/or the lower portion of the vehicle.

Any number of spray means can be used for all or some of the lower vehicle part and the spray means of any part of the system can include any number of nozzles at different angles or having rotating nozzles etc as necessary. The lower vehicle part decontaminating means can be operated with or without the rest of the carriage. The wheel and suspension spray means and any other spray means can be interconnected via stationary or rotating shafts that can be actuated by any means such as hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically etc

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. The decontamination system can have at least one the following advantages. 1. Rapid operating times. 2. Economic for any number of vehicles. 3. Safe use. 4. Level of decontamination is able to be set as desired. 5. Simple operation. 6. Automatic or manual or remote operation. 7. Able to decontaminate the wheels and/or underside of a vehicle.