United States Patent FONE USO07258749B2, US 7,258,749 B2 2) (10) Patent No McCormick et al. (43) Date of Patent: Aug. 21, 2007 (64) WASH FLUID CONTAINMENT SYSTEM 4a08237 A 2989. NeComick al ne 13406 S023489 A 79OL. Fene et a. 1057 R (5) inventors: James P. McCormick, Sandy, UT SA98329 A 1996 Lemmings et ines (WS); Alan G. MeCormik, Sands, UP Sd7312 A 81996. Schmit, Be 0s (US); Kerry G. Smith, Kaysville, UT 5397001 A957 Rasmartn eta. 1341042 ws) 5.669982 A 971997 Later B40 73) Assignee: Hydro Engineering Equipment and eee Te nce co eae A nee: A Oe oa ae ei DT US) SI38.139 A 4/998 DeChird 137312 5.785067 A 171998 Kosofsky nwa (1) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the tm ofthis SH03982 AS71908 Kosoiky eta 13010 pate is extended or adjusted under 35 {004782 A + 22000 Peter ea ranith USC. 1540) by 219 days 6.106712 A + 90000 New aioa 6301,848 B1 102001. Whitaker sors G1) Appl Nox 11116977 200NOUITI9L AL 82002 Krenzel 19062 (2) Filed: Apr 28, 2005 5) rior Publication Data + cited by emer [US 200510199268 A1 Sep. 15, 2005 Primary Examiner—3il) Warden Related US. Application Data Assistant Exaniner—Saeed Chaudhry (60). Division of application No, 10833222, filed on Ape, (4) Atom Agent. or Firm-—Lyon G. Foster 26, 2004, which is a continuation of application No. (57) ‘ABSTRACT (08/798,426, fled on Mar. 2, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,799,591 A wash Suid containment system includes an elevated, fuid G1) Tat. CL surface upon which items to be washed are ee ae) hr (52) US. CL. NSAI: 134710, ANte, Mid to flow to an edge ofthe surface and off of the surfoce : to prevent buildup of wash Bud onthe surface. A collecting (58) Field of Classification Search 13410, trough is positioned in fluid flow communication with Ike 13434, 42,123 cages of the surface 0 which the Muid Hows to catch and See application fle fr complete search history collect the uid ast flows from the surface. Used wash fd eo) ee 's taken from the collecting trough for disposal or reveling USS, PATENT DOCUMENTS 4246982 A+ 981 Pranick 8406 and solids and debris canbe easily removed from the ough. 5 Claims, 7 Drawing SheetsU.S. Patent ‘Aug. 21, 2007 Sheet 1 of 7 US 7,258,749 B2 ———— 7, aU.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2007 Sheet 2 of 7 US 7,258,749 B2 8 47 Sey ae TP IP A TP FT] FrU.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2007 Sheet 3 of 7 US 7,258,749 B2US. Patent ‘Aug. 21, 2007 Sheet 4 of 7 US 7,258,749 B2U.S. Patent Aug. 21, 2007 Sheet 5 of 7 US 7,258,749 B2 —————— SJ Ly cr = aoe —_ — = Ln ws ry ram rm Ly LJ Kl mn) " hy L, & ca Ud fl ry |e », _ a SY Ld Ly 5 Pd ec. ~ | ~US 7,258,749 B2 Sheet 6 of 7 Aug. 21, 2007 US. Patent Fig. 7US 7,258,749 B2 1 WASH FLUID CONTAINMENT SYSTEM ‘This application is a division of our U.S. patent applica- tion Ser. No. 10/833,222, fled Apr. 26, 2004, which is a ‘continuation of U.S, patent application Sez. No. 09/798. 426, ‘led Mar. 2, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,551 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ‘The invention is in the field of containment devices and systems for wash Muid, generally wash water, used in ‘washing objects such as vehicles and equipment where the ‘wash water after washing may have contaminants or a high solids content such as when washing dir, offs, and mud from a vehicle, 2 State of the Art ‘Wish increased concen for the environment, washing items, particularly large items such as vehicles, can raise & problem of containment and disposal of wash fluid, usually water, The wash fluid can contain various contaminants ranging from soap, detergent, and wax which may be added to the tid prior to washing; gasoline, oil, and grease that say be washed ffom a vehicle or other piece of equipment; to various other contaminants and solids that build up on & vehicle or other equipment during use and are washed off swith the wash Mui, ‘Permanent wash siles have washing pads which collect the used wash fuid and direct it into a drain or collet it in ‘below grade open tank like structure or holding basin from which it can be pumped for disposal. Usually a grae is placed over the holding tank strocture to form a surface on which the vehicle or other equipment to be washed may be located for washing. The wash fd flows from the abject being washed, through the grate and into the bolding tank ‘With open holding tanks, wastewater builds up wit inevie table formation of bacteria which create health bazards and odor. Holding tanks for hazardous waste may also require Construction of secondary containment systems and alarm systems in many locations. Also, such permanent sites now ‘may require special permiting since they contain what may be considered as hazardous materials. A futher problem is that during washing of an item it may be difficult for en ‘operator to keep the Fi jet used for washing from impact- ing the uid inthe basin. When it does, dint fxd, including ‘oll floating in the fuidbasin, is splashed onthe objecs being ‘leaned and on the operator This not omy requires tha the ‘object be cleaned again, but it also creaies operator hazards because of the chemical and biological apents ‘contained in the basin ‘To clean a permanent holding tank, the access grate or manwey must be removed and the waste extracted by raining, vacuuming, shoveling, or pomping. Such cleaning is ficult, time consuming, and renders the washing pad ‘unusable during such cleaning, 'A number of portable wash water containment devices have been proposed. Most ofthese take the form of an open top tenk or pan over which a gratis placed to forma surface that suppors the vehicle or other item to be washed. The ‘wash mater then fows from the iter heing washed, through {he grate, and into the tank, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,792. A special waffle collecting and drainage pan may be used in the sank as in U.S. Pat. No, 5,738,139. In some cases, the equipment is merely placed in the'tank with no Supponing surface grate and the tank may merely be a ‘waterproof membrane extending over an area hounded by raised sides, the membrane forming the water holding tank, 2» 2 Py so 2 see US. Pat Nos. 5,547,312 and 5,597,001. The fsid may ‘he drained from the tank in various ways such as through a Grain or into a sump from which it can be pumped. As indicated, with vehicle washing, significant amounts of solids may be washed from the vehicle and settle inthe tank. “These solids build up and can easily plug any drain provided ‘or fill up any somp provided. To remove such solids or other debris that may collect, its necessery to remove any grate tor other suppor surface provided to allow access tothe tank. ‘This is iffcult and time consuming and renders the washing pad unusable during the cleaning process. If no surface above the holding tank is provided, the equipment sits in the ‘holding tank with the collected wad fad. The holding tank still has to be cleaned, and probably more often than when ‘surface above the tank is provided, so thatthe item to be ‘wathed does not sit in a puddle of mud and fui. ‘Another problem with portable systems is tht the co lecting tanks are relatively shallow. With relatively sallow tanks, alight variation in elevation, soch as wher placed on fan uneven surface, ean cause one end of the tank to be dry \hile another overflows, defeating the purpose of using the tank. Ifthe deep end does not contain 2 suitable drain, itis virally impossible to remove Dui from the tank. Further, the capacity of the tank is seriously reduced in such situa. tions Which then requires more frequent cleanings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘According 10 the invention, a wash Aid containment system includes an elevated, fd impervious surface upon Which an item is positioned to be washed. The surface is ‘configured to cause the uid to flow toan edge ofthe surface to prevent buildup of fui, solids, or debris on the surface. For this purpose, the surface may include a flange along cedges other than those to which the fluid flows and the surface may be sloped slightly toward the desired cdg. It is presently preferred to configure the surface to cause the uid, sols, and debris to ow toa singe side of the surface, but it could he configured to flow to more than ane side or to all Sides of the surface. A collecting trough is located along the edge ar edges of the surface to which the Nuid Hows and in fluid flow communication therewith so that fiuid flows from the surface into the collecting tough or ‘hroughs where such fuidis received and confined. Washing fBaide may be drained from or purmped from the trough for isposal or teatmen. If treated, the washing fluids may be recieulated. In a preferred embodiment of the system, @ ‘rough is deep enough to hold @ sump pump or an outlet is provided in the tough for connection to the inlet of a pump, ‘such as an in-line pump. Fluid is pumped from the trough to ‘evacuate the Mud from the trough and t dewater any solids that have settled inthe trough. Weis and/or ofl coalescing ‘material may be placed in the trough intermediate its length tw help sete solids from the wash fluid inthe trough. In a presently prefered embodiment of the elevated surface, the surface is formed to havea plrality of suppor- ing rls which support a vehicle or other piece of equipment thereon and a plurality of fluid flow channels located between the rails so that wash Mid, solids, and debris from the vehicle or other item being washed flow into the chan- nels, The channels are open a one end along one sie ofthe evice and may be sloped toward the open end so thatthe ‘wash fid will Sow through the ehannels and out te open ‘ends of the channels into the collecting trough positioned ‘long the side of the device in flow communication with the plurality of channels, Since the collecting srouns i located ‘long the side of the device it is easly accessible forUS 7,258,749 B2 3 cleaning and solide removal during use of the device. The flow channels can be easily cleaned without disassembly (och a5 removal of a covering grate) ofthe device and such cleaning can take place during use ofthe device or as part, of the use of the device. No disassembly of the device is ‘necessary for cleaning or solids and debris removal “The device preferably is constructed in modules which are portable and can be used singly for small vehicles and otber equipment o can he comtined with additional modules to Create a larger device to accommodate large tracks and otber large equipment. Modules of eight feet by eight, ten, welve, ‘or foureen fet have been found satisfactory, although other Sizes canbe used, Such modules can be secured side-by-side fr end-to-end to creat larger washing sutlaces. Walls end, if desired, «roof ean be avached to the collecting devices t0 parilly or fully enclose them to help ensure that all wash fuid says on the device rather than being sprayed or splashed off the device. When enclosed, lighting and ven- tiation can also be provided. PPortahle devices of the invention are preferably strctur- ally rigid and provided with fork if loc and ff points that fallow rapid deployment on unimproved dirt surfaces. Suh portable devices canbe easily leveled as with shims and be ready to use generally in less than a day. Because they are portable, most localities consider them to be personal prop- erty which eliminates any permitting and inspection require= ‘ments which would be preset if permanent washing fac ties were being constricted ‘A method of containing wash fluid according 10 the {invention includes the steps of positioning an item 10 be ‘washed on a substantially fluid impervious elevated surface Which is configured to direct wash fluid used to wast the item, along with any solids and debris washed from the item, to one or more sides of the surface where i lows from the surface, posiGoning a collecting trough slong the one oF ‘ore sides ofthe suzface in flow communication therewith to collect the ud, along with any solids and debris that may be present flowing from the surface, and removing the wash fluid, and any solids and debris, from the collecting wough, ‘THE DRAWINGS “The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention in actual practice is ilusirated in the accom pany drawings, in which: TFG, Lis a front, lel side perspective view of awash fi containment system of the inventions TFIG. 2, «top plan view of the system of FIG. 1 FIG, 3,2 fragmentary end view taken along the line 3:3 of FIG. 2, drawn to # larger scale; FIG, 4, fragmentary transverse scction taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3; FIG. §, a fregmentary pictorial view of the side of the system shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 6, an exploded view of the surface of the system of the otter FIGS. IG. 7, atop plan view of system of the investion using ‘our of the pads of FIGS. 1 through 6 with space between the pad exaggerated for illustrative purposes; and TFIG. 8, a perspective view of a collection trough of the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Ina preferred embodiment, the invention takes the form of esinicualy rigid, portable device, generally efered to 4 ‘asa washing pad, The device provides an elevated, substan tisly water impervious surface upon which items 10 be washed are positioned, Any wash fuid, generally water, sometimes with added soap, detergent, and/or wax, used to wash the item, will flow fom the iter onto the surface and be directed ta side of the surface. Contaminant, solids, ‘and debris washed from te item will generally flow with the wash fluid to side ofthe surface, ot may be washed from the surface with edaitional wash fuid. The wash fluid, with any contaminant, solids, and debris therein, is collected in receiving and collecting trough asi lows from the side of the surface. The pad is placed on the ground (unimproved oF {improved dir surface, asphalt, cmcrete or other surfoee) and ‘is elevated above ground level so thatthe collecting trough is positioned berween the surface and ground level. No excavation is required. ‘While i is currently preferred that the wash fuid be directed 1 a single side ofthe surface, such i not required and the Buid may be directed to more than one oo al sides of the surface. Collecting troughs are provided along all sides from which uid can flow. “The elevated surface may inke many forms such as fat orembossed surface. In a prefered form of the invention, 28 iMlustated, the clevated surface 9 of a wash pad 10 of the invention includes a plurality of supporting rails 1L and a plurality of uid flow channels 12. Each supporting rail 1. has a fluid flow channel 12 between it andthe next adjacent rails. The supporting rails IL and fluid low channels 12, together form 2 substantially uid impervious surface upon which an item to be washed is placed, supported by the Supporting rails on which the item ress. Fluid flow channels {2 extend from one side 15 ofthe pad 10 to the other side 16 and are closed at one end along side 15 of the pad by end pieces 17. The other ends 18 of each channe! along the (Opposite side 16 ofthe pad are open so that fluid in channel {2 wall ow out ofthe channel through the open end 18. A collecting trough 20 is positioned along side 16 in uid ‘commnication with the open ends 18 of channels 12 so that, ‘washing fuid flowing from the channels 12 flow into and collet in collecting ough 20. Washing fuid does not build ‘up or poo] onthe supporting surface. "The surface is suppored in elevated position by structural channels 25 to which wide center pans 26 and narrow end ppan 27 are secured and on which rails 1 are secured Securement may conveniently be by welding, Together, stmacturl chennels 25, pans 26, and rails 11 form a righ self Supporting stactare which can be placed on the ground and Ieveled by placing shims or other supports under channe's 28 in appropriate locations. The stracture has high weight ‘bearing sizength, preferably in the range of twelve to thirty tons per axle of vehicle which may be positioned on the surface or at least about 6000 Thssq. A. so that large, heavy vehicles or heavy pieces of equipmeat can be easily sup- pored on the surface for washing. To help ensure that ‘washing uid will not build up on the surface, eis preferred that the structure be positioned so that it slopes slightly Toward the collecting ough 20. A slope on the order of About one-eighth inch per foot is generally satisfactory, although fai will generally drain ftom the channels without ‘any slope. The pad structure is preferably built so the surface js level on a fit supporting surface. Sloping of the surface is dane in the eld when the pads are installed Collecting rough 20 may be constructed with longitu ‘al sie walls 30 and 31, Bouom 32, and ends 33 and 34. An fpenable top cover 35 may be hinged to side wall 32 by hinges 36. Collecting trough 20 eisns an opening 37 whic 4s positioned adjacent apen channel ends 16.0 allow flow ofUS 7,258,749 B2 5 ‘uid fom channels 12 imto collecting trough 20, A dep lip 38 helps ensure tha fluid from channels 12 flow diecty into ‘ough 20, Outlets 39 are provides in ough ends 38 and 34 for connection to an inline pump inlet so tht fluid can be [purnpe fom collecting trough 20 o evacuate fuid from i Alteratvely, a location ean be provided to locate 2 sump ‘pomp in the collecting trough, For example, oil coalescing material or filters 42 may be provided and spaced apart by ‘wall 43 to form a sump pump well 44, Since trough 20 is comparatively small compared to the surface supporting the iter being washed, it generally wll need wo be continuously evacuated during washing. Weirs 46 may be provided in ‘rough 20 0 aid in setling solids from the wash fui. Upon setting, the solids are dewatered by fui evacuation and can be easily shoveled from trough 20 even during use. Top 35, is opened for removal of solids. 1 desied, automatic rough cleaning systems of various types may ‘be installed for continuous or intermittent removal of solids, Such systems may take the form of & sotew conveyor in the botiom of the tough. In use, an item to be washed is positioned on the clevated surface in many instances the item tobe washed isa vehicle such a6 an automobile, truck, oF road, construction, oF ‘mining vehicles. Removable ramps $0 will be provided so the vehicular equipment can be driven onto the surface. A pressure uid washing system, as is well known in the a, ‘may be provided to supply pressurized washing fluid 10 the washing pad. The washing fui is sprayed onto the item 10 bbe washed. Because ofthe pressurized nature of the wash Mud, it can be defected by the item being washed and spray from the item rather than merely running off te item onto the surface. For this reason, to belp ensure thar all wash Duid is directed onto the surfice, walls 60 may be provided surrounding the wash pad to each spray that would other- wise fall ouside the surface and direct it down onto the surface. The walls may be relatively shor as shown in FIG. 1, or may be of any desired height. If desired, a100f may aso bbe provided so that the walls and roo! together completely, enclose the wash surface, In such instances, lights and & ventilating system may also be provided. As iustated, tbe fiuid collecting troughs are preferably positioned outside the walls 6050 are easily accessible for cleaning. The wash fuid runs through the channels under the encising walls. Also, ‘doors can be provided o close the entrance andor exit othe pad. ‘The washing fuid pumped or drained from collecting ‘wough 20 may be disposed of in any approved or acceptable ‘manner, or may be processed ina recycling system, a8 Known in the art, and be reused ‘The wash pads of the invention preferably form modules ‘hat may be joined together to form larger wash pads when desired. A basic wash pad may conveniently be eight feet ‘wide and between eight and fourteen feet long. These pads ‘may be easily wransponted and can be loaded and unloaded ‘witha fork lift Portis purpose, forklift receiving openings (65 may be provided. Where Jager pad is desired, moltple units may be joined side-by-side as units 70 and 71 or 73 and. TH in FIG. 7 or end-to-end as units 70 and 73 or TA and 74 Jn FIG. 7. With such arrangements, adjacent units are joined So that collecting troughs wil be along an outside edge of the combined units. The pads in FIG. 7 are shown spaced ‘par for ease of illustration, but in practice, the individual ‘modular pads 70, 71.73 and 74 would be joined together. ‘With the rail and ‘channel constriction of the pad as illusteated, the wash pad will act #8, and can be use 88, & rumble sip flexing the lite reads of a Vehicle passing over it to allow rocks and debris to drop away from the treads » s 4 “ 6 ‘This decreases the hazards of fying debris from vehicles, panicularly vehicles exiting construction sites or gravel oad that ret to the high. ‘The surface of the wash pad of the inversion is clevated So that the collecting troughs can be located along and adjacent the sides of the surface from which the wash fluid runs, It has bees Zound that an elevation of eight to ten inches above grade or ground level on which the pad is placed is suficient to place a satisfactonly sized eoiecting trough. The trough significantly reduces the surface area of contaminated fuid over that provided by the usual open holding tank ‘The fluid containment system of the invention can easily include stationary and/or rotating spray bars to provide chemical applications, high pressure, low pressure, hot oF cold washing, and rinse processes that require effuent from. these processes to be recovered, reused, or treated before disposal Toe wash pads ofthe invention can handle washing thet results in high solids loading of the wesh fluid, Since the wash fluid wit solids flows tothe side ofthe surface rather than being collected under the surface, and ae collected in ‘an easly avcessible and cleanable collecting tough, itis easy to clean and remove the solids, Further, the surface may be easily cleaned ofthe solids as most solids will wash off the surface with the wash uid asthe wash pad is being ute. Further, the washing equipment can easily be used 19 wash ‘off solids that might remain on the surface. ‘Whereas this invention is here Wlusizaied and deseribed ‘with reference 10 embodiments thereof presently contem- plated at the best mode of carying out such invention in Aactoal practice, i is to be understood thar various changes ‘may be made in adapting the invention to other embodi- ments without departing from the broader inventive con- ‘eps disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that Tollow. “The invention claimed is 1. Alow profile method by which vehicle wash igud and Aebris are directed across an impervious surface to a perim- eer containment rough, comprising the ects of providing a flat wash pad which comprises ower support siructure which ress upon aground oF floor level surface and top structure spaced above the lower sup- port structure, the (op structure comprising en exposed Tiguid impervious top surface slightly above te ground fr floor level spanning continuous t9 at least one perimeter non-central edge ofthe impervious top sur face; positioning a debris-carrying vehicle or other item 10 be ‘washed upon the impervious top surface; ‘washing the vehicle while on the impervious top surface causing spent wash liquid and debris to be displaced ‘onto the impervious top surface; continuously directing spent wash liguid and debris dur- ‘ing washing to and over the non-central pesimeter edge fof the impervious top surface to prevent buildup of {debts on the top impervious surface; isposing an opening at a top of petimeter containment trough vertically below the perimeter edge and imme ately above the ground or flor leve surface; ausing the spent wash Tiguid and debris 10 fll direcdly ver the perimeter edge off the impervious 10p surface and thereatter vera! diretly throueh the opening into the perimeter containment (rough such tha! vehicle ‘washing ean continue wale debris is simultaneously removed from the containment ough.US 7,258,749 B2 7 2. A method of law profile washing of vehicles compsis- ing the acts of ‘lacing a debrsladened vehicle upon a flat wash pad ‘which rests upon a ground level surface comprising a Suppor bese and a vehicle supporting top above the base, the top compaising an exposed top liguid imper vious surface spanning conti¢mous aa slight slope to at least one peripheral non-central pad edge; washing solid debdis from the vehicle onto the top liquid ‘impervious surface using wash Tiguid and causing the Solid debris and wash liquid on the top impesvious surface collectively flow across the top liquid imper. vious surface to end direcly over the at least one peripheral non-central pad edge and thereafter vert- cally downward directly through an opening a atop of fad inlo a containment ough disposed above the fround level surface and verically directly below the at feast one peripheral nor-central pad edge so thatthe subsequent cleaning of debris from the containment ‘rough does not interfere with continuing simoltaneous vebicle washing 3, 8 wash liquid and debris containment method com- prising the acts of providing an impesvious fat wash pad placing a sold debrs-carrying vehicle on an exposed top ‘impervious surface of the impervious fiat wash pad ‘using wash liquid to remove the solid debris from the vebicle, such that spent wash liguid and removed the solid debris ae displaced frst anto and second sub 0 8 stantially horizontally across but not through the imper- vious fat wash pad to non-contral unobstructed peripheral edge of the impervious flat wash pad! and third verucally downwardly through an opening in top of and into containment though below the periph eral edge. 4. A method according to cls 3 further comprising the act of providing at east one splash containment wall extend ing vericelly a substatil distance above the wash, which splash contsinment walls does not obstruct the flow of the Solid debris and spent wash liguid into the peripheral edge containment trough pad '5.A method of simultaneously cleaning the exterior of vehicle and other item on an impervious wash pad com- prised of @ non-porous top element and preventing accumu lation of debris on the sop element comprising the acts of supporting the vehicle or ther item onthe non-porous op ‘clement while continuously washing solid debris with ‘wash liquid from the exterior ofthe vehicle and other ‘tem nto the non-porous top element; continvoasly flashing substanaly all ofthe slid debris. ‘and wash liguid on the non-porous top element collec tively across the non-porous tom element 10 and ver- tically downward over atleast one perimeter edge of the non-porous top element and thence directly vert- cally through an opening in atop of and into a trough below the at least one perimeter edge been inserted,