Cart Washer With Elevated Wash Chamber and Sump Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cart washing technologies are inefficient, requiring excessive time, water, and labor, and often fail to provide both automatic and manual cleaning modes, leading to unsanitary conditions and liability issues due to inadequate disinfection methods that result in slippery surfaces and caked sanitizing agents.
Innovation Solution
A cart washer with a novel design featuring a wash chamber, automatic and manual mode control panels, a sump system, and a plumbing system that uses pressurized water to efficiently clean shopping carts with minimal water usage, preventing slipping hazards and ensuring thorough sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing washing machines are modified to clean shopping carts, then cleaning function is provided, but wash time is excessive and labor investment is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine is divided into distinct functional zones: a ramp entry section for cart placement, a wash chamber with spray nozzles for cleaning, and a sump area for water collection. This segmentation allows the cart to move through different cleaning stages efficiently, reducing overall wash time while maintaining thorough cleaning capability.
2Loss of substance
If plumbing conduit is placed on the floor, then water drainage is enabled, but passage of wheels over the conduit becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The plumbing conduit is extracted from the floor surface and relocated to the sump area at the bottom of the wash chamber. This allows wheels to pass freely over the floor without obstruction, while the conduit remains positioned to effectively collect and drain water from the cleaning process.
3Ease of operation
If cart is placed directly in sump containing fluid, then washing is enabled, but lower portion of cart is disposed directly in sump which is not desirable
Solution Approach 1:
The wash chamber is positioned at an elevated level above the sump, creating a vertical dimension separation. Water and cleaning fluid flow downward from the wash chamber to the sump via gravity, allowing effective washing without the cart's lower portion being disposed directly in the sump. This dimensional arrangement prevents contamination while maintaining washing efficacy.
4Strength
If lip is placed proximate ramp and entry door, then structural support is provided, but passage of cart over the lip becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing a lip that protrudes upward to provide structural support (which would obstruct cart passage), the support structure is inverted to form a recessed channel or groove in the floor. This inverted configuration provides the necessary structural support while creating a smooth surface that facilitates easy cart passage.
5Extent of automation
If automatic cycle settings are included, then routine cleaning is simplified, but manual cleaning capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to accommodate both automatic and manual cleaning modes. The controller can automatically manage the spray nozzles, water flow, and drain pump for routine cleaning cycles, while also responding to manual inputs from the operator to adjust settings or initiate specific cleaning sequences when needed.
6Reliability
If five gallons of water are used, then sump remains filled, but water consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous water circulation and recycling. The sump collects water from the washing process, and the drain pump continuously recirculates this water back through the spray nozzles for repeated use. This continuous circulation allows the sump to remain filled with a smaller volume of water (2.5 gallons) while maintaining effective cleaning capability and reducing overall water consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cart washer significantly reduces cleaning time and water consumption while providing both automatic and manual operation modes, ensuring effective sanitation and safety by preventing slipping hazards and maintaining cart cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
The pump forces water through a plumbing system at an elevated rate of flow and pressure
Implementation Method 2
A rotating bar with nozzles sprays water onto the cart
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for washing a shopping cart may include a wash chamber with a main door and/or a pivoting ramp under the main door. A platform may be disposed in the wash chamber and may be elevated above a floor of the wash chamber. A sump may be included in the basin. The cart washer may include an automatic and/or a manual mode of operation. During use, the shopping cart may be placed in the wash chamber and may be elevated above the floor while it is washed and/or rinsed. A wash detergent may be used during a wash cycle and/or a rinse solution may be used during a rinse cycle. Dirty water may be drained from the apparatus between carts that are to be washed.