US 6,279,589 B1 · Container cleaning and disinfecting apparatus utilizing ozone

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting containers, such as elongated, walled containers, such as truck trailers, rail cars, airplane holds, or ship containers, generally comprises a rolling trolley which produces a disinfecting mixture of ozone and water at high pressure and delivers the disinfectant by a hose to a rolling dolly which enters into the container. The trolley supports the dolly at a height conductive for entry into the container. The dolly is manually pushed into the container. Rotating spray nozzles on the dolly deliver the disinfectant at high pressure to the inside walls of the container. The nozzles are directed at an angle fore or aft of their radius of rotation such that the spray strikes the wall of the container at a sheer angle. Hose retrieval apparatus on the trolley retrieves the hose so as to pull the dolly from the container at a desired speed, thereby controlling the cleaning/disinfecting rate. The trolley includes either a water source, an ozone generator, a venturi for combining the generated ozone with the water, a holding tank for containing the combined water and ozone, a recirculating system for recirculating the combined water and ozone from the holding tank through the venturi for increasing the ozone concentration, and a high pressure pump for delivering at high pressure the combined water and ozone from the holding tank to the hose to the dolly.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting a container comprising:

a dolly for entry into the container comprising:
a chassis rollingly supported by wheels;
spray means supported by said chassis for receiving at high pressure combined water and ozone and adapted for directing a stream thereof around the interior of the container;
and
a trolley including:
a hose having:
a first end;
and
a second end connected to said spray means;
means for generating ozone;
means for combining the generated ozone with water from a water source;
a holding tank for containing the combined water and ozone;
and
a high pressure pump for delivering at high pressure the combined water and ozone from said holding tank to said first end of said hose.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container cleaning and disinfecting apparatus utilizing ozone

Life of this patent

Container cleaning and disinfecting apparatus utilizing ozone

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22