Apparatus for washing trades equipment

Abstract

A small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment of the type comprising a settlement tank in which washout water is collected and treated with coagulant to produce flocked waste solids and relatively clean water. The apparatus further comprising an upper structure removably supported by the settlement tank, the upper structure comprising a wash basket in which to wash the trades equipment, and a filter support for supporting a filter bag integrally disposed within a portion of the wash basket. In use the wash basket extends into said settlement tank and a substantial portion of said filter support extends upwardly above the level of said wash basket.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR WASHING TRADES EQUIPMENT

[0002] TECHNICAE FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a washing apparatus for washing contaminated trade tools and other equipment. The present invention is primarily described with reference to a small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment, that is suitable for use in worksites where limited space is available.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] When a painting task is finished or at the end of a working day, many painters clean their tools of the trade such as paint brushes, paint rollers, spray guns, or other equipment, with a water hose in a basin. The water contaminated with waste from the equipment (the water in this contaminated state is known as “wash-water”) typically drains from the basin into the sewer or onto the ground. This practice is both detrimental to the environment and a waste of water.

[0006] In some jurisdictions it is illegal to allow wash-water used to clean paint equipment and other trades equipment into the sewer. Accordingly, professional painters, building sites and the like who generate large amounts of wash-water, employ third party contractors to remove and dispose of wash-water in an environmentally friendly manner. As it is quite expensive to handle such contaminated wash-water, various prior art devices and systems are known to separate waste from wash-water, thereby allowing contractors to only cart the waste away from site and allow for the treated water to be recycled or disposed of separately.

[0007] Prior art systems such as AU2004100677 (Enviro Solutions Pty Ltd), WO 2010 / 022455 (Geosentinel Pty Ltd), and WO 2012 / 024729 (Geosentinel Pty Ltd) are described in the “Background” of International Patent Publication No. WO2017 / 210744 (Geosentinel Pty Ltd). Commercial embodiments of such systems are typically of a considerable size and require a forklift or pallet jack to lift and carry them around the worksite. One such known commercial apparatus is the “Dulux® Envirowash® ES 800 system” with a built-in pallet and an eight hundred litre capacity. As such it is suited to building, construction, and maintenance sites where there is considerable room to manoeuvre and place the washing apparatus. If you move the apparatus by jack or forklift with water in the supply tank, the water therein may slosh around and be lost. Also, this washing apparatus is not suited for placement at locations in smaller residential and commercial constructions where the only access is through a narrow residential doorway or opening typically less than nine hundred millimetres.

[0008] In the Australian marketplace there are several smaller wash apparatuses such as that marketed under the brand Dulux® Envirowash® ES 160P System, and the WASHBOX® 200T on a trolley, the latter’s operation disclosed in AU2020100290A (Geosentinel Holdings Pty Ltd).

[0009] The Dulux® Envirowash® ES 160P System, has a 160-litre capacity. It utilises a mobile unit that looks like a rubbish “wheelie-bin”, and it has a sink insert as a wash up area and can pass through residential doorways and transported in a ute (pickup truck) or large van. In use it operates in similar fashion to the system described in earlier mentioned AU2004100677, where a flocculant is added to the settlement tank for the purposes of separating the washwater into a sediment of paint solids and relatively clean water. The separation process may take up to twenty-four hours and results in sediment (paint slurry) at the bottom of the settlement tank that may be drawn off and fdtered via fdter bag for disposal, whilst the separated water may be re-used. Despite being mobile it has the disadvantage that it can only be used for cleaning of painting equipment, and is not suited for cleaning other trade equipment, because of limitations with its slurry pumping system. This slurry pumping system pumps the slurry via a hand pump to a flexible hose held by the user and directed to a fdter bag extending into the settlement tank, into which the paint solids are collected. Furthermore, as a result of the flat bottom design and two rear wheels, the unit must be tilted in order to move, meaning that the unit cannot be moved when full of water.

[0010] WASHBOX® 200T on a trolley is of a narrow profde with a 200-litre capacity, and like that of Dulux® Envirowash® ES 160P System, can pass through residential doorways of the type commonly found in Australia. In addition to being used for cleaning painting equipment, the WASHBOX® 200T can be used for cleaning other trades equipment, such as that used by concreters, Tenderers, and plasterboard installers.

[0011] However, both the Dulux® Envirowash® ES 160P System and the WASHBOX® 200T are still too large for use in older, smaller buildings of the type found in the United Kingdom and Europe, which in many instances have smaller doorways and less available space for the placement of such equipment.

[0012] The present invention seeks to overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0013] In a first aspect the present invention consists of a small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment of the type comprising a settlement tank in which washout water is collected, and treated with coagulant to produce flocked waste solids and relatively clean water, said apparatus further comprising an upper structure removably supported by said settlement tank, said upper structure comprising a wash basket in which to wash said trades equipment, and a filter support for supporting a filter bag integrally disposed within a portion of said wash basket, wherein in use said wash basket extends into said settlement tank and characterised in that a substantial portion of said filter support extends upwardly above the level of said wash basket.

[0014] Preferably said filter support is disposed above twenty to thirty percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

[0015] Preferably said wash basket is substantially made of perforated metal.

[0016] Preferably said filter support has an inner wall extending above said wash basket, said inner wall made of perforated metal.

[0017] Preferably an outer wall of said filter support extends around a portion of its periphery between opposed ends of said inner wall.

[0018] Preferably said outer wall has a concavely shaped upper edge.

[0019] Preferably said settlement tank has a capacity of about eighty litres.

[0020] Preferably a draw off valve is located at about twenty percent the capacity from the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off said relatively clean water leaving a waste slurry.

[0021] Preferably a valve is disposed at or near the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off waste slurry into a bucket; and with said upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank.

[0022] Preferably whilst waste slurry is being filtered, trades equipment can be washed in said wash basket. Preferably said filter support is disposed above about twenty-five percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

[0023] Preferably said settlement tank is mounted to a wheeled trolley.

[0024] Preferably said small washing apparatus has a width of about six hundred millimetres.

[0025] Preferably said trolley has a trolley-base for supporting at least two removable containers.

[0026] Preferably said at two removable containers are a holding tank and a bucket.

[0027] Preferably said holding tank is for storing clean water, and a pump is associated with said holding tank for drawing clean water therefrom for cleaning said trades equipment in said wash basket, and said bucket is for drawing off waste slurry.

[0028] Preferably said holding tank has a lid and said pump is mounted thereon.

[0029] Preferably said holding tank has a capacity of about sixty litres.

[0030] Preferably a first valve is disposed at or near the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off waste slurry into said bucket; and with said upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank.

[0031] Preferably in another arrangement said inner wall has a concavely shaped upper edge.

[0032] In a second aspect the present invention consists of portable washing apparatus for washing trades equipment, said apparatus comprising: an upper structure comprising a wash basket in which to wash said trades equipment, and a filter support for supporting a filter bag; a settlement tank for removably supporting said upper structure, said settlement tank to catch washout water from said wash basket and to contain coagulant for causing the washout water to produce flocked paint solids and relatively clean water; a first draw off valve at about twenty percent the capacity from the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off said relatively clean water leaving a waste slurry; a second valve at or near the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off waste slurry; and with said removable upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank, wherein said filter support integrally disposed within a portion of said wash basket that extends into said settlement tank and a substantial portion of said fdter support extends upwardly above the level of said wash basket.

[0033] Preferably said wash basket is substantially made of perforated metal.

[0034] Preferably said upper structure has a bottom portion shared by both said filter support and said wash basket, and said bottom portion is made of said perforated metal.

[0035] Preferably said filter support has an inner wall extending above said wash basket and made of perforated metal.

[0036] Preferably an outer wall of said filter support extends around a portion of its periphery.

[0037] Preferably either of said inner wall or said outer wall has a concavely shaped upper edge.

[0038] Preferably said settlement tank has a capacity of about eighty litres.

[0039] Preferably whilst waste slurry is being filtered, trades equipment can be washed in said wash basket.

[0040] Preferably said filter support is disposed above twenty to thirty percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

[0041] Preferably said filter support is disposed above about twenty five percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

[0042] Preferably said settlement tank is mounted to a wheeled trolley.

[0043] Preferably said small washing apparatus has a width of about six hundred millimetres.

[0044] Preferably said trolley has a trolley-base for supporting at least two removable containers.

[0045] Preferably said two removable containers are a holding tank and a bucket.

[0046] Preferably said holding tank is for storing clean water, and a pump is associated with said holding tank for drawing clean water therefrom for cleaning said trades equipment in said wash basket, and said bucket is for drawing off waste slurry.

[0047] Preferably said holding tank has a lid and said pump is mounted thereon.

[0048] Preferably said holding tank has a capacity of about sixty litres. Preferably waste slurry is drawn off from settlement tank into said bucket; and with said upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank.

[0049] Preferably said pump is powered by a cordless rechargeable battery.

[0050] Preferably in one arrangement said bottom portion is removable from said wash basket.

[0051] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0052] Fig. 1 is a front schematic view of a small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Fig. 2 is a rear schematic view of the small washing apparatus in Fig. 1

[0054] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the removable upper structure of the small washing apparatus of Fig. 1, when removed therefrom.

[0055] Fig. 4 is a rear view of the removable upper structure shown in Fig. 3.

[0056] Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of a small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of the small washing apparatus shown in Fig 5.

[0058] Fig. 7 is a plan view of the small washing apparatus shown in Fig 5.

[0059] Fig. 8 is an elevation view of the small washing apparatus shown in Fig 5.

[0060] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the small washing apparatus shown in Fig. 5 with the trolley wheels omitted and with a disposable filter bag.

[0061] Fig. 10 is an exploded side view of the components of the small washing apparatus shown in Fig. 9.

[0062] BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0063] In the present specification references to a “small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment”, is a reference to a portable washing apparatus having a settlement tank with a capacity of no more than one hundred litres.

[0064] In the present specification references to “trades equipment” includes but is not limited to painting equipment such as paint brushes, paint rollers, spray gun nozzles and fittings, paint trays and the like, as well as equipment used by concreters, tilers, Tenderers, and plasterboard installers. Figs. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a small washing apparatus 1 for washing trades equipment in accordance with the present invention. Small washing apparatus 1 is particularly suited to washing or cleaning painting equipment (not shown), such as paint brushes and rollers, but it may also be used for washing other trades equipment (not shown).

[0065] Small washing apparatus 1 comprises a settlement tank 2, hereinafter referred to as tank 2, preferably made of plastic and having a capacity of about eighty litres, supported by a wheeled trolley 4, in a manner where bottom end 5 of tank 2 is above the ground. In this embodiment the width of apparatus 1 is about six-hundred millimetres, and the distance from the ground to bottom end 5 is about three-hundred and seventy-five millimetres. Because of its wheeled trolley 4, small washing apparatus 1 is a mobile unit, allowing it to easily be moved around on site, and because of its narrow width, significantly less than the earlier mentioned prior art, minimises the space it occupies on a work site. This makes it ideal for use in older smaller buildings typically found in the United Kingdom and Europe.

[0066] Small washing apparatus 1 has an upper structure 6 comprising a wash basket 7 and a filter support 8 integrally connected thereto. Wash basket 7 has a base 9. Wash basket 7, including its base 9 is substantially made of perforated metal, and more particularly perforated stainless steel sheet. In normal use, when said upper structure 6 is supported by tank 2 as shown in Figs 1 and 2, wash basket 7 extends into tank 2. With the upper structure 6 fitted to tank 2, the overall height of small washing apparatus 1 is about twelve-hundred and ninety millimetres.

[0067] A substantial portion of filter support 8 extends upwardly above the level of wash basket 7. Filter support 8 has an inner wall 10 made of perforated metal like that of wash basket 7, extending above wash basket 7. Filter support 8 also has an outer wall (splashback) 11 that extends around a portion of its periphery between opposed ends 12,14 of inner wall 10. The upper edge 15 of outer wall 10 is concavely shaped.

[0068] Filter support 8 is disposed above about a quarter (twenty-five percent) of base 9 of wash basket 7, leaving the remaining portion 9a, namely about three quarters of base 9 of wash basket 7 which we will refer to as the front section of wash basket 7, to support trades equipment (not shown) to be washed. However, in other not shown embodiments filter support 8 could be disposed in the range of twenty to thirty percent of base 9 of wash basket 7, leaving the remaining portion of bottom 9a of wash basket 7 to support trades equipment (not shown) to be washed. Tank 2 has a frustoconical botom portion 2a with a valve 16 at the very botom for drawing off waste slurry. A conventional fifteen litre cylindrical shaped bucket (not shown), such as for example a fifteen litre “heavy duty” plastic builders’ bucket, can be placed below valve 16 for drawing off waste slurry.

[0069] A first “draw off’ hose connector 17 is disposed (located) at about fifteen to sixteen litres from the very botom of tank 2, namely at about twenty percent the capacity from the very botom of tank 2 for ataching a hose (not shown) and drawing off relatively clean water.

[0070] A flexible hose 18 having a trigger nozzle 19 connected thereto at one end and a second hose connector 20 at the other end is mounted to trolley 4. A conventional water hose (not shown) from a water supply, can be connected to second hose connector 20.

[0071] Trades equipment (not shown) to be washed is supported by, or held above, portion (front section) 9a of wash basket 7 during washing. In use, nozzle 19 operated by a user (not shown) directs a stream of clean water at the trades equipment being washed. Once clean wash water passes over trades equipment being washed it becomes contaminated wash fluid that is contaminated with waste washed off the equipment. “Contaminated wash fluid” means that the wash fluid is in a “contaminated state”. The “contaminated wash fluid” is also known as “wash-water” in water-based cleaning systems.

[0072] After it passes over the equipment being washed, the contaminated wash fluid passes through perforations of wash basket 7 and into tank 2 where it is collected.

[0073] When tank 2 is full, namely the wash-water level has reached just below base 9 of wash basket 7, either upper structure 6 is removed from tank 2. The user will gently stir the wash-water in tank 2 and add a small, amount of coagulant, say in 100ml liquid form or alternatively as a dissolving gel capsule form, which will cause the waste and water to separate. This separation of waste and water may take as quick as ten minutes.

[0074] Once fully separated the relatively clean water disposed above the waste is drained out of tank 2 via “draw off’ hose connector 17, generally to a sewer connector (not shown), the remaining content of tank 2 is the waste slurry (not shown).

[0075] The user will place the earlier mentioned conventional bucket under tank 2 and open valve 16, thus releasing the waste slurry into the bucket, and then close the valve 16. The user will then take upper structure 6 and once again fit it above tank 2. A filter bag (not shown) is then fited to filter support 8. In this embodiment the filter bag is preferably a twenty-five micron needle felt polyester liquid fabric filter bag.

[0076] The user will then lift and empty the bucket containing the waste slurry into the filter bag and allow it to drain back into tank 2. The concavely shaped upper edge 15 of filter support 8 assists the user to tip the contents of the bucket into the filter bag. The water draining from the filter bag can pass through the perforations on both inner wall 10 and through base 9. The waste slurry will continue to drain (dewater) through filter bag and solidify, and the user can continue washing of trades equipment in the front section of wash basket 7.

[0077] The solidified waste can be removed from the filter bag, allowing the filter bag to be used several times, before requiring replacement.

[0078] So, for this above described first embodiment, where small washing apparatus 1 uses mains water for its operation, we summarise its use as follows:

[0079] Step 1: Connect small washing apparatus 1 to a mains water source for washing trades equipment.

[0080] Step 2: As washing of trades equipment takes place, wash water and waste are contained in tank 2.

[0081] Step 3: Once tank 2 is full, remove wash basket 7.

[0082] Step 4: Add coagulant to wash water within tank 2, stir, and wait about ten minutes for the water and waste to separate. The waste material settles at the bottom of tank 2, leaving clean water at the top.

[0083] Step 5: Drain the clean water to the earlier mentioned (not shown) conventional bucket, or to other suitable discharge point using a hose connected to tank 2.

[0084] Step 6: Drain the slurry (waste) via valve 16 into to the earlier mentioned conventional bucket. Then lifting the bucket, transfer the slurry (waste) into the earlier mentioned not shown filter bag (which sits in filter support 8) for dewatering.

[0085] Several advantages of washing apparatus 1 are because of the configuration of the filter support 8 that supports the filter bag and in particular:

[0086] • Filter support 8 is integrated with wash basket 7 within upper structure 6, optimising the space available to upper structure 6 above the “small-sized” tank 2; • Filter support 8 extends significantly above tank 2, and along with base 9 of wash basket 7 only extends a short distance into settlement tank 2, resulting in upper structure 6 (wash basket 7 and integrated filter support 8) not significantly impacting on the maximum level of small tank 2;

[0087] • The inner wall 10 of filter support 8, which is also perforated metal like that of the remaining wash basket 7, allows for water filtered by the filter bag to pass therethrough into the front section of wash basket 7 as it travels under the influence of gravity to tank 2; and

[0088] • Whilst waste slurry is draining the filter bag (supported by filter support 8) and solidifying, the user can continue washing trades equipment in the front section of wash basket 7.

[0089] In addition, because of the overall height of washing apparatus 1, atypical single user can readily lift the bucket of collected waste slurry from below tank 2, and tip it into the filter bag supported by the filter support 8.

[0090] Figs. 5 to 10 depict a second embodiment of a small washing apparatus 21 for washing trades equipment in accordance with the present invention. In a similar fashion to the first embodiment, small washing apparatus 21 is mobile via a wheeled trolley 24. Like that of the first embodiment it retains an upper structure 6a comprising a wash basket 7a and a filter support 8a. Wash basket 7a has a base 9b. Wash basket 7a, including its base 9b, like that of the first embodiment, is substantially made of perforated metal sheet, and more particularly perforated stainless steel.

[0091] Also, in a similar fashion to the first embodiment, a substantial portion of filter support 8a extends upwardly above the level of wash basket 7a. Filter support 8a has an inner wall 10a made of perforated metal extending above wash basket 7a. Filter support 8a also has an outer wall (splashback) I la that extends around a portion of its periphery between opposed ends 12a, 14a of inner wall 10a.

[0092] Also, in a similar fashion to the first embodiment, filter support 8a is disposed above about a quarter (twenty-five percent) of base 9b of wash basket 7a, leaving the remaining portion, namely three quarters of base 9b of wash basket 7, namely the front section of wash basket 7a, to support trades equipment (not shown) to be washed. However, in other not shown embodiments filter support 8a could be disposed in the range of twenty to thirty percent of base 9b of wash basket 7a, leaving the remaining bottom portion of wash basket 7a to support trades equipment (not shown) to be washed. Filter support 8a is able to support a fdter bag 30, see Figs 9 and 10. Like the not shown fdter bag of the first embodiment, filter bag 30 is preferably a twenty-five micron needle felt polyester liquid fabric filter bag.

[0093] Also, in a similar fashion to the first embodiment, upper structure 6a is supported by a settlement tank 22. However, the configuration of this settlement tank 22 and the arrangement below it differs from the first embodiment. Trolley 24 has a trolley base 31 that supports a removable holding tank 32 and bucket 33 adjacent to each other, below tank 22. Holding tank 32 has a capacity of about sixty litres, and a lid 34. A valve 36 is disposed on the offset conical -bottom 38 of tank 22 above bucket 33. A “draw off’ valve 37 is disposed higher up, and on the opposed side, of tank 22, above tank 32. Lid 34 has an opening 39. Draw off valve 37 is disposed above about twenty percent the capacity from the very bottom of tank 22.

[0094] Furthermore, unlike the first embodiment, in this second embodiment a “slight concave edge” assisting the user to tip the contents of the bucket into filter bag 30 within filter support 8a is on the top of inner wall 10a rather than outer wall I la.

[0095] In this second embodiment base 9b may be removable from wash basket 7a, thereby only requiring base 9b to be removed to access settlement tank 22 to stir wash water and add coagulant.

[0096] A low voltage pump 40 is mounted to lid 34 and inlet hose 42 extends from the inlet of pump 40 into holding tank 32. A flexible delivery hose 45 having a trigger nozzle 46 connected thereto at one end is attachable to the outlet 43 of pump 40.

[0097] In use holding tank 32 provides the clean water to wash the trades equipment, and allows small washing apparatus 21 to operate in a self-contained manner.

[0098] Like that of the first embodiment, this second embodiment is also ideal for use in older smaller buildings typically found in the United Kingdom and Europe. It is also ideal in a single trade home renovation project, as the pump 40 is preferably powered with a cordless rechargeable 18 volt battery.

[0099] For this second embodiment, use of small washing apparatus 21, is as follows:

[0100] Step 1: Fill holding tank 32 with clean water (from mains supply or other source). Step 2: Draw water from holding tank 32 via hose 42 and pump 40 to provide clean water to the delivery hose 45 and trigger nozzle 46 to wash trades equipment placed in wash basket 7a, and allow “wash-water” to pass through the perforations of wash basket 7a and into settlement tank 22 disposed there below. The sixty-litre capacity of holding tank 32 allows for about fifteen minutes of washing before settlement tank 22 is filled with wash-water.

[0101] Step 3: Once settlement tank 22 is full, remove wash basket 7a and / or base 9b. Add coagulant to tank 22, stir, and wait about ten minutes for the water and waste to separate. The waste material settles at the bottom of tank 22, leaving clean water at the top.

[0102] Step 4: Drain the clean water from tank 22 via valve 37, through opening 39 in lid 34, into holding tank 32, for re-use.

[0103] Step 5: Drain the slurry (waste) via valve 36 into bucket 33. Then lifting bucket 33 transfer the slurry (waste) into filter bag 30 which sits in filter support 8a for dewatering.

[0104] Like that of the first embodiment, small washing apparatus 21 has similar advantages because of the configuration of the filter support 8a that supports filter bag 30 and in particular:

[0105] • Filter support 8a is integrated with wash basket 7a within upper structure 6a, optimising the space available to upper structure 6a above the “small-sized” settlement tank 22;

[0106] • Filter support 8a extends significantly above tank 22, and along with base 9a of wash basket 7a only extends a short distance into settlement tank 22, resulting in upper structure 6a (wash basket 7a and integrated filter support 8a) not significantly impacting on the maximum level of small tank 2;

[0107] • The inner wall 10a of filter support 8a, which is also perforated metal like that of the remaining wash basket 7a, allows for water filtered by filter bag 30 to pass therethrough into the front section of wash basket 7a as it travels under the influence of gravity to tank 22; and • Whilst waste slurry is draining in filter bag 30 (supported by filter support 8a) and solidifying, the user can continue washing trades equipment in the front section of wash basket 7a.

[0108] Like that of the first embodiment, atypical single user can readily lift bucket 33 of collected waste slurry from below tank 22, and tip it into filter bag 30 supported by the filter support 8a.

[0109] A further advantage of small washing apparatus 21 is that because of its holding tank 32, it is capable of self-contained operation allowing it to be used for washing without being connected to mains water supply.

[0110] An even further advantage is that as pump 40 is preferably powered with a cordless rechargeable 8 volt battery, small washing apparatus 21 can be used without access to worksite mains power.

[0111] The terms “comprising” and “including” (and their grammatical variations) as used herein are used in an inclusive sense and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of’.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A small washing apparatus for washing trades equipment of the type comprising a settlement tank in which washout water is collected, and treated with coagulant to produce flocked waste solids and relatively clean water, said apparatus further comprising an upper structure removably supported by said settlement tank, said upper structure comprising a wash basket in which to wash said trades equipment, and a fdter support for supporting a filter bag integrally disposed within a portion of said wash basket, wherein in use said wash basket extends into said settlement tank and characterised in that a substantial portion of said filter support extends upwardly above the level of said wash basket.

2. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter support is disposed above twenty to thirty percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

3. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wash basket is substantially made of perforated metal.

4. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said filter support has an inner wall extending above said wash basket, said inner wall made of perforated metal.

5. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein an outer wall of said filter support extends around a portion of its periphery between opposed ends of said inner wall.

6. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer wall has a concavely shaped upper edge.

7. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said settlement tank has a capacity of about eighty litres.

8. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first draw off valve is located at about twenty percent the capacity from the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off said relatively clean water leaving a waste slurry.

9. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second valve is disposed at or near the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off waste slurry into a bucket; and with said upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filtersupport for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank.

10. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein whilst waste slurry is being filtered, trades equipment can be washed in said wash basket.

11. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said filter support is disposed above about twenty-five percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

12. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said settlement tank is mounted to a wheeled trolley.

13. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said small washing apparatus has a width of about six hundred millimetres.

14. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said trolley has a trolley-base for supporting at least two removable containers.

15. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at two removable containers are a holding tank and a bucket.

16. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holding tank is for storing clean water, and a pump is associated with said holding tank for drawing clean water therefrom for cleaning said trades equipment in said wash basket, and said bucket is for drawing off waste slurry.

17. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said holding tank has a lid and said pump is mounted thereon.

18. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holding tank has a capacity of about sixty litres.

19. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a valve is disposed at or near the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off waste slurry into said bucket; and with said upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank.

20. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inner wall has a concavely shaped upper edge.

21. A portable washing apparatus for washing trades equipment, said apparatus comprising: an upper structure comprising a wash basket in which to wash said trades equipment, anda filter support for supporting a filter bag; a settlement tank for removably supporting said upper structure, said settlement tank to catch washout water from said wash basket and to contain coagulant for causing the washout water to produce flocked paint solids and relatively clean water; a first draw off valve at about twenty percent the capacity from the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off said relatively clean water leaving a waste slurry; a second valve at or near the bottom of said settlement tank for drawing off waste slurry; and with said removable upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank, wherein said filter support integrally disposed within a portion of said wash basket that extends into said settlement tank and a substantial portion of said filter support extends upwardly above the level of said wash basket.

22. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said wash basket is substantially made of perforated metal.

23. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said upper structure has a bottom portion shared by both said filter support and said wash basket, and said bottom portion is made of said perforated metal.

24. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said filter support has an inner wall extending above said wash basket and made of perforated metal.

25. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein an outer wall of said filter support extends around a portion of its periphery.

26. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein either of said inner wall or said outer wall has a concavely shaped upper edge.

27. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said settlement tank has a capacity of about eighty litres.

28. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein whilst waste slurry is being filtered, trades equipment can be washed in said wash basket.

29. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said filter support is disposed above twenty to thirty percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket, leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

30. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said filter support is disposed above about twenty five percent of the bottom portion of said wash basket,leaving the remaining bottom portion of said wash basket to support said trades equipment to be washed.

31. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said settlement tank is mounted to a wheeled trolley.

32. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said small washing apparatus has a width of about six hundred millimetres.

33. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said trolley has a trolleybase for supporting at least two removable containers.

34. A small washing apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein said two removable containers are a holding tank and a bucket.

35. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein said holding tank is for storing clean water, and a pump is associated with said holding tank for drawing clean water therefrom for cleaning said trades equipment in said wash basket, and said bucket is for drawing off waste slurry.

36. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said holding tank has a lid and said pump is mounted thereon.

37. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said holding tank has a capacity of about sixty litres.

38. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein waste slurry is drawn off from settlement tank into said bucket; and with said upper structure fitted to said settlement tank, said filter bag supported by said filter support for receiving and filtering said waste slurry under the influence of gravity to said settlement tank.

39. A portable washing apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein said pump is powered by a cordless rechargeable battery.

40. A portable wash apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said bottom portion is removable from said wash basket.

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