Wash fluid containment system

Abstract

A wash fluid containment system includes an elevated, fluid impervious surface upon which items to be washed are placed for washing. The surface is configured to cause wash fluid to flow to an edge of the surface and off of the surface to prevent buildup of wash fluid on the surface. A collecting trough is positioned in fluid flow communication with the edges of the surface to which the fluid flows to catch and collect the fluid as it flows from the surface. Used wash fluid is taken from the collecting trough for disposal or recycling and solids and debris can be easily removed from the trough.

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         19 . A method of cleaning vehicles and other items, comprising the acts of: 
 supporting the vehicle and other items upon first portions of a low profile impervious structure while pressure washing debris from any external location of the vehicle and other items placed on the impervious structure using a cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid carrying essentially all of the debris from the impervious structure in spaced streams above second portions of impervious structure thereby substantially preventing accumulation of debris on the impervious structure.    
     
     
         20 . A method of cleaning debris from any exterior location of a vehicle and from other item, comprising the acts of: 
 placing the vehicle and/or other item to be cleaned on higher portions of an impervious uneven surface;    cleaning debris from selected external locations of the vehicle and/or other item using a cleaning liquid;    using the cleaning liquid as a carrier to displace essentially all of the debris primarily along lower stream-defining portions of the impervious uneven surface to an edge of the surface thereby preventing accumulation of any significant amount of debris on the impervious surface.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  further comprising the act of collecting the displaced cleaning liquid and debris in a container located below and adjacent to the edge of the surface.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  further comprising the act of removing the accumulated cleaning liquid and debris from the container without interfering with the placing, cleaning and using acts.  
     
     
         23 . A method of simultaneously cleaning the exterior of a vehicle and other item on an impervious pad comprised of a impervious top and preventing accumulation of debris on the top, comprising the acts of: 
 supporting the vehicle or other item on higher parts of the top while spray washing debris from the exterior of the vehicle and other item in such a way that the spray wash acts as a carrier thereby flushing substantially all of the debris with the spray wash along sloped lower parts of the top, in conjunction with gravity to at least one edge of the impervious pad and into a container below the at least one edge.    
     
     
         24 . A wash liquid dual usage method, comprising the acts of: 
 washing, on an impervious pad, an exterior of a vehicle or other item carrying external debris to remove the debris with wash liquid and causing the wash liquid on the top of the impervious pad to also carry the removed debris to an edge of the impervious pad whereby removed debris accumulates adjacent to the edge and does not materially accumulate on the pad.    
     
     
         25 . A low profile wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 a top liquid impervious surface upon which to position a debris-carrying vehicle or other item to be washed, said surface being configured to provide areas upon which the vehicle is supported and other areas accommodating flow of wash liquid and debris to an outside edge thereof to prevent buildup of debris on the surface;    a collecting trough extending along and in liquid and debris communication with the outside edge of the surface to which liquid and debris flow from the surface.    
     
     
         26 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 25  wherein the surface is slightly above ground level accommodating placement of the collecting trough below the edge of the surface and above ground level.  
     
     
         27 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 26  further comprising a drip edge positioned between the edge of the surface and the collecting trough.  
     
     
         28 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 27  wherein the collecting trough comprises at least one weir positioned within the collecting trough to facilitate settlement of solids in the collecting trough.  
     
     
         29 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 28  further comprising oil coalescing material positioned in the collecting trough to collect oil, if any, in the wash liquid.  
     
     
         30 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 29  wherein the collecting trough comprises an outlet for attachment to the input of an inline pump, the outlet being located with respect to the pump so that liquid pumped from the outlet will evacuate liquid from the trough accommodating retention of debris in the trough.  
     
     
         31 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 29  wherein the trough comprises an internal sump pump-receiving segment.  
     
     
         32 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 26  wherein the collecting trough comprises an outlet for attachment to the input of an inline pump, the outlet being located with respect to the pump so that liquid pumped from the outlet will evacuate liquid from the trough leaving debris in the trough.  
     
     
         33 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 26  wherein the trough comprises an internal sump pump-receiving segment.  
     
     
         34 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 26  wherein the collecting trough comprises an open top and at least one openable cover adapted to cover and uncover the open top.  
     
     
         35 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 25  wherein the top surface is formed of a plurality of modules which are joined together.  
     
     
         36 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 25  wherein the top surface is in the form of a plurality of rails separated by flow channels.  
     
     
         37 . A low profile wash liquid and debris containment system for vehicles comprising: 
 a plurality of spaced, elongated, parallel rails for supporting a vehicle;    a plurality of liquid flow channels between the rails to direct liquid and debris flow between said rails in the direction of said rails to an outside edge of the system;    a containment trough extending along and below the outside edge of said plurality of rails and in liquid and debris flow communication with the effluent from plurality of fluid flow channels.    
     
     
         38 . A wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 a plurality of supporting rails;    a plurality of liquid and debris flow channels between the rails, each flow channels comprising at least one open end;    a liquid and debris containment trough in flow communication with the liquid and debris effluent from the open ends of the plurality of flow channels, said trough being located adjacent to the discharge ends of the flow channels to receive and contain substantially all liquid and debris deposited on the rails and in the channels.    
     
     
         39 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 38  further comprising a drip edge disposed between the open ends of the channels and the containment trough.  
     
     
         40 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 38  further comprising walls extending vertically above the rails and the channels so as to direct any wash liquid striking any one of the walls onto the rails and channels.  
     
     
         41 . A wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 an elevated liquid impervious rectangular surface upon which to position a vehicle or other item to be washed of external debris, said surface configured to cause liquid and essentially all washed debris to flow to an edge thereof to prevent buildup of debris thereon, said edge having a length; and    a containment trough in fluid flow communication with liquid and debris effluent and extending along the entire length.    
     
     
         42 . A wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 a plurality of structurally rigid modules each providing a substantially liquid impervious module surface positioned with respect to other modules of the plurality of modules to together form an elevated, substantially liquid impervious system surface over which a vehicle to be washed is positioned, said module surface of each module configured to cause substantially all liquid and removed debris to simultaneously flow to an edge thereof to prevent buildup of debris thereon, from the system surface having outside edges; and    at least one containment trough positioned with respect to the plurality of structurally rigid modules to be in liquid and debris flow communication with the edge of the at least one module surface to which effluent liquid and debris flows from the at least one module surface.    
     
     
         43 . A wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 a plurality of portable structurally rigid low profile modules for placement on substantially flat supporting surface, each module providing a substantially liquid impervious module surface positioned with respect to other modules of the plurality of modules to together form an elevated, substantially fluid impervious system surface upon which to position a vehicle or other item to be washed, said module surface of each module configured to cause liquid and substantially all removed debris to flow to an edge thereof to prevent buildup of debris thereon, the system surface having outside edges;    at least one separate portable containment trough positioned in liquid and debris flow communication with the edge of at least one module surface to which effluent liquid and debris flow to receive and confine the liquid and debris as it flows from the at least one module surface.    
     
     
         44 . A wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 a low profile liquid impervious surface upon which to position a vehicle or other item to be washed, said surface configured to cause wash liquid and substantially all removed debris to flow to an edge thereof to prevent buildup of debris thereon, said edge having a length;    a trough in liquid and debris flow communication with the edge of the surface to receive the liquid and debris as it flows from the surface.    
     
     
         45 . A wash liquid and debris containment system comprising: 
 a portable low profile washing pad removably placed on a supporting surface to provide a low profile top liquid impervious surface upon which to position a vehicle or other item to be washed, said surface configured to cause wash liquid and substantial all removed debris to flow to an edge thereof to prevent buildup of debris thereon, said edge having a length;    a trough in liquid and debris flow communication with and extending along the entire length of the edge of the surface to which liquid and debris flows.    
     
     
         46 . A wash liquid and debris containment system according to  claim 25  wherein the elevated impervious surface is formed from a plurality of spaced elevated surfaces, each formed as part of a separate module, which are joined together to increase the size of the resulting elevated impervious surface.