MOBILE DISASTER CHATTEL RESTORATION UNIT

Abstract

A mobile disaster restoration unit designed to facilitate cleaning efforts by a crew at a disaster recovery site. The mobile unit comprises a modified trailer designed to be parked by a restoration service provider at a disaster site long term. The trailer is modified to include a storage bin, a cleaning room with a variety of cleaning equipment for use by the restoration crew, and a swing office for combined use of the restoration crew, insurance claims adjuster, and homeowner. The cleaning room stocks an array of restoration equipment including a commercial dishwasher and sink, an ultrasonic cleaning tank, shop vac, etc., all powered by a solar-charging battery bank. The mobile disaster restoration unit avoids the need to pack and transport the contents of a disaster-stricken home or building (after a fire or flood) to a commercial cleaning facility. Instead, all cleaning can be done expeditiously onsite.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application derives priority from provisional application 61/429,531 filed on Jan. 4, 2011 which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to commercial and residential building restoration in the wake of disasters such as house fires, flooding, etc. and, more particularly, to a mobile disaster restoration unit designed to facilitate cleaning efforts by a crew at a disaster recovery site.

(2) Description of Prior Art

Disaster restoration is the process of restoring a property back to pre-loss condition after sustaining some level of smoke, fire, water or other damage. There are currently no government regulations dictating procedures, but two large certifying bodies: the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). A professional restoration service that subscribes to IICRC/RIA guidelines will document the materials which were affected by the disaster and refer to industry standard pricing guides to determine the loss value. Restoration services are rendered in order to dry the structure, eliminate stains from water or smoke, sanitize any affected or contaminated areas, and deodorize all affected area. After the labor is completed a reevaluation of the residence is taken to monitor the drying process, and any equipment not further needed is removed as to keep the charges under control. Part of the restoration effort involves a “pack-out”, which is the inventory, packing, and transport of the contents of the structure (furniture, appliances, office equipment, etc.). These contents are usually transported to the nearest cleaning and restoration facility, which may be hundreds of miles away. Consequently, the pack-out may add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of restoration. Moreover, it adds significant time to the process, and in residential units the homeowners must bear the absence of their personal effects for weeks or months. It is inherently more practical to provide all cleaning and restoration services expeditiously onsite. However, this requires a robust mobile restoration solution.

The concept of a mobile command unit is well-known, though most existing command centers are simply computer and telecommunications hubs. Nevertheless, the concept of onsite restoration services is known. United States Patent Applications 20090115164 by Coy et al. published May 7, 2009, and 20090121509 by Coy et al. published May 14, 2009, both show a mobile restoration vehicle with an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, ozonator, a contaminated material staging area, and drying shelves within the above bed portion of a trailer. The cleaning and restoration facilities in this trailer are somewhat limited, and so what is needed is a comprehensive suite of cleaning and restoration features in a mobile unit. However, with additional on-board cleaning facilities comes additional plumbing and electrical requirements, inasmuch as a full complement of equipment imposes significant electrical production and distribution demands. In addition, a more robust plumbing system is needed for selective use of either on-board or remote water supply, plus pump-out facilities for toxic waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile disaster restoration unit designed to facilitate cleaning efforts by a crew at a disaster recovery site.

It is another object to provide a mobile cleaning room with a comprehensive suite of cleaning equipment for use by the restoration crew, and a swing office for use by insurance claims adjusters and/or homeowners.

It is another object to provide a mobile cleaning room with an advanced plumbing and electrical systems for supporting the foregoing comprehensive suite of cleaning equipment inclusive of selective use of either on-board or remote water supply, plus pump-out facilities for toxic waste.

It is another object to provide a mobile restoration unit as above with onboard electrical system supplemented by a solar-charging battery bank.

It is another object to provide a mobile restoration unit with a suite of cleaning equipment inclusive of a multi-basin commercial grade sink and sprayer faucet used to hand-wash the content items too large to fit into the dish-machine

It is another object to provide a mobile restoration unit with a commercial dishwashing machine that completes a wash cycle in 90 seconds and uses less than 1.5 gallons per load.

It is another object to provide a mobile restoration unit with an onboard ultrasonic cleaning tank, and an air compressor for removal of soot and loose debris from contents.

It is another object to provide a mobile restoration unit with all the foregoing connected by freeze-proof plastic water lines.

In accordance with the foregoing and other objects, the present invention is a mobile disaster restoration unit designed to facilitate cleaning efforts by a crew at a disaster recovery site. The mobile unit comprises a modified trailer or self-powered cargo vehicle (collectively “mobile unit”) designed to be parked by a restoration service provider at a disaster site long term. The mobile unit is modified to include a storage bin, a cleaning room with a variety of cleaning equipment for use by the restoration crew, and a swing office with amenities for combined use of the restoration crew, insurance claims adjuster, and homeowner. The mobile unit includes wiring, plumbing and access facilities designed to facilitate 24/7 use of the swing office and amenities independent of the cleaning room and equipment, so that the insurance claims adjuster or homeowner have access with or without presence of the cleaning crew. The cleaning room is design with a robust array of restoration equipment including a commercial dishwasher and sink, an ultrasonic cleaning tank, shop vac, all powered by a solar-charging battery bank, plus staging/storage shelves, cabinets, etc. A robust plumbing system is provided for selective use of either on-board or remote water supply, plus pump-out facilities for toxic waste, and an electrical distribution system serves the equipment power demands.

The mobile disaster restoration unit avoids the need to pack and transport the contents of a disaster-stricken home or building (after a fire or flood) to a commercial cleaning facility. Instead, all cleaning can be done expeditiously onsite by the cleaning crew. Moreover, the swing office and amenities facilitates anytime access and use by insurance claims adjusters and/or homeowner independent of the restoration crew, so that the claims adjuster/homeowner can oversee the effort and tend to their communication needs as will be described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a left-side perspective view of the mobile disaster restoration unit according to a modified trailer embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a right-side perspective view of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right-side perspective view of the mobile disaster restoration unit according to a self-powered cargo truck embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a back-side open-door view of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internal dishwasher of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the internal sink of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the internal contaminated object storage bin 22, ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24, and workbench 25 with tool storage chests 21 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the storage console 46 for storage of both gas tank 48 and air compressor 49 of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the open storage console 46 revealing the nineteen gallon gas tank 48 inside.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the spotlight of the mobile disaster restoration unit.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the swing adjuster office of the mobile disaster restoration unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wall-mounted shop vac of the mobile disaster restoration unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ceiling-mounted dehumidifier of the mobile disaster restoration unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the fuel fill port 64 and fill air vent 66 for the internal gas tank 48 of the mobile disaster restoration unit.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the side-by-side external first water inlet 33 for filling onboard water supply tank 92, and second water inlet 34 for pressurizing the onboard water supply tank 92 and entire on-board trailer water system.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the external drain outlet.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the external waste tank pump-out outlet.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the protected panel with'120 VAC outlet, dual compressed air outlets, and water outlet.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the mobile unit 1 plumbing system for supporting the above-described components.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of the mobile unit 1 electrical system for supporting the above-described components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a mobile disaster restoration unit designed to facilitate cleaning efforts by a crew at a disaster recovery site. Rather than transporting the contents of a disaster site to a distant recovery warehouse, the mobile unit consolidates a broad array of disaster recovery capabilities in as compact and portable a space as possible. In use, the mobile unit is parked at the disaster site long term during the restoration effort, and though it is primarily for use by the restoration team it also includes facilities for an insurance claims adjuster and for the disaster-stricken homeowner to assist them in the restoration process as well.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are opposite side perspective views of a mobile disaster restoration unit 1 according to an exemplary modified trailer embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the mobile unit 1 is built into the footprint of a 30 foot twin-axle gooseneck trailer 2 having the following approximate dimensions: Length: 30′; Width: 7′; Height: 7′. One skilled in the art should understand that the invention may be incorporated in a cargo truck without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a right-side perspective view of the mobile disaster restoration unit according to a self-powered cargo truck embodiment. In this embodiment, the mobile unit 1 is built into the footprint of a 22′ body mounted on a Ford F-550 Super Duty Chassis with a 6.4 L turbo diesel engine, which likewise provides total dimensions of approximately 30′; Width: 7′; Height: 7′.

Whether built into a trailer or truck chassis, the mobile unit 1 is subdivided into a front storage compartment, a rear cleaning room housing a specific array of cleaning equipment for use by a restoration crew, and a swing office there between. The sequence, relative positions, and wiring and plumbing of the swing office and cleaning room are important inasmuch as the swing office is for combined use by the restoration crew as well as an insurance claims adjuster, and the disaster-stricken homeowner, and remains accessible by anyone at all times, whereas the cleaning room is only accessible by the cleaning crew.

In this regard, as shown in FIG. 4 the cleaning room is accessible from the rear by keyed-opening of a large panel door 8, while the swing office is accessible from the side by separate keyed-opening of a separate side door 6. The cleaning room is separated from the swing office by a wall, but the wall is equipped with a viewing window 19 (see FIG. 4) to allow the insurance adjuster and/or homeowner to monitor progress. All three rooms of the mobile unit 1 are heated, cooled and dehumidified by a common roof-mounted heat pump/air conditioner 12.

The mobile unit 1 is designed to facilitate and support a 24/7 hour restoration effort, and toward that end provides a specific array of equipment for accomplishing the effort in any conditions.

Toward this end, and as seen in FIG. 2, a 12′×12′ retractable awning 9 is mounted along the upper edge of trailer 2. Retractable awning 9 includes side stakes 13, and may be pulled out at the jobsite and staked at the corners to provide a roofed working environment partially protected from the elements.

Within the protected work environment there are several exterior amenities to facilitate the restoration effort. A 3×5″ Tungsten Halogen floodlight is mounted in an enclosed sidewell 11 to provide a lighted working area beneath awning 9. The floodlight sidewell 11 resides just beneath the left corner of the awning 9.

A protected outlet strip 14 provides ready access to a 120 VAC electrical dual GFI power receptacle to provide electricity to equipment for exterior cleaning of smoke- or water-damaged chattels in the working area beneath awning 9, plus dual compressed air outlets for powering pneumatic equipment for exterior cleaning, and a water spigot for drawing water either from an onboard tank ‘or external water supply, as will be described. The combination of air compressor lines, GFI receptacles and water spigot is particularly well-suited for fire or flood restoration and greatly facilitates exterior cleaning of chattels. The outlet strip 14 is protected by an aluminum guard having a U-shaped cross-section and described in detail with respect to FIG. 17 below. The aluminum guard protects the air lines, GFI receptacles, and water spigot against the heavy equipment.

A fuel fill port 64 and fill air vent 66 are provided for filling an internal gas tank used in powering the generator. Although both gas tank and generator are portable and can be deployed outside, both are semi-permanently mounted in a protected storage console and can be refilled from the exterior via fuel fill port 64 and fill air vent 66. All the foregoing exterior amenities allow restoration personnel to continue outside work in shifts at all hours in all weather.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the exterior amenities on the driver side include a first water inlet 33 used for filling an onboard water supply tank mounted in the front half-height storage compartment, and a second water inlet 34 connectable to most any commercial or residential water system and utilized in pressurizing the on-board trailer water system, whenever an external system is readily available. In addition, there is a grill 35 for providing a fresh air intake for an on-board electric/gas hot water heater, and a petcock 38 for draining an onboard waste water storage tank 94 when it is possible to dump onsite.

The trailer embodiment of mobile unit 1 (FIG. 1) includes a pair of electronic leveler jacks 15 and side door 39 is an access door to the controllers for these electronic jacks 15, which thereby raise and lower the front end of the trailer 2.

There is an onboard generator 41 enclosed behind a generator door 40, the generator and door 40 being strategically placed in the rear of the trailer away from the swing office for noise control. Door 40 is vented to provide a fresh air intake for the generator. The generator 41 itself (obscured) is an Onan™ brand platinum series generator, preferably a Marquis Platinum 7000 gasoline fueled generator that offers 7 kW of power with an RPM of 2880 and low sound rating, electronic ignition and fuel injection. The 7 kW level is powerful enough to run all other onboard equipment and systems. The generator provides electrical power for the entire trailer 2 excluding the small dome lights, the DC-powered water pump 96 (for the on board water tank), the gas gauge and the amp gauge, as well as the electronic jacks 15 used to raise and lower the trailer.

As seen in FIG. 2, the exterior amenities also include some rooftop features. A solar panel 50 charges the onboard battery bank 93. A plurality of vents provide fresh air ventilation for the trailer occupants and equipment. There is also a roof-mounted heat pump/air conditioner 12 that serves as the climate control system for all trailer occupants and equipment.

FIG. 3 is an open end view of the trailer 2 showing the internal restoration amenities within the cleaning room.

From the adjuster viewing window 19 and continuing along the right side, the internal amenities include a contaminated object storage bin 22, an ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24, a workbench 25 with tool storage chests 21, a compressor 27, a wall mount 26 for mounting a shop vac, and a fire extinguisher 28.

Along the left side, the internal amenities include a commercial sink 30 with spray wand 32, a commercial dishwasher 72, and an on-board electric/gas hot water heater 74 (obscured). The electric/gas hot water heater 74 is mounted directly behind the dishwasher 72 and partially under the sink 30.

The wall separating the cleaning area and the customer care center is a steel-studded insulated wall for improved sound isolation, which carries window 19 at about 4′. The lower half of the wall is protected by a 3′ molding strip of stainless steel sheet. The roof-mounted air conditioner/heater 12 is fed in through an AC/Heat outlet 62, and a separate vent fan 64 is provided at the other end of the mobile unit 1.

The two side-by-side tool storage chests 21 may be commercially-available three drawer units such as, for example, Sears Craftsman Evolv™. These chests are used for storage of tools used to dismantle homeowner items. The tool storage chests 21 are topped by a #4 finish commercial grade stainless steel counter top.

The ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24 is preferably a large industrial unit such as a Mettler™ brand 18 Gallon Cavitator™ Ultrasonic Cleaner having outside dimensions of 23.7″×17.7″×31″. The ultrasonic cleaning bin 24 is used to clean soot and other contamination from contents.

The air compressor 27 is enclosed within a stainless steel storage console 46 along with gas tank 48. The air compressor 27 is seated/mounted directly above the gas tank 48 in the same storage compartment. The air compressor 27 is used to remove soot and debris from contents and feeds an air supply conduit as will be described.

All of the foregoing (compressor 27, ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24 and side-by-side tool storage chests 21) are topped by a #4 finish commercial grade stainless steel counter top and front to provide a staging area for items, and the trailer 2 is paneled interiorly using PVC or other waterproof panels.

The air compressor 27 and generator (the latter enclosed behind generator door 40) are each connected to both internal and external outlets for ease of access. The air compressor 27 is connected to a dual outlet port 42 fitted with quick-connect pneumatic receptacles located just over the staging area 29 above. Similarly, as seen in FIG. 17, the air compressor 27 is connected to a dual outlet port 62 fitted with quick-connect pneumatic receptacles located in the exterior protected outlet strip 14. Likewise, as seen in FIG. 17, the generator is connected to a dual outlet 120 VAC electrical dual GFI power receptacle 63 located in the exterior protected outlet strip 14, as well as several internal dual GFI power receptacles 43. This dual internal and external connection of both air compressor 27 and generator greatly facilitates the ease of access and working convenience of a team of restoration professionals and is considered to be an essential aspect of the present invention.

On the right wall there is a wall mount 26 for mounting a commercial shop vac, and a fire extinguisher 28 is also provided for safety.

On the left side, a commercial dishwasher-machine 72 is provided (obscured) that is capable of completing a wash cycle in 90 seconds using less than 1.5 gallons of water per load. This is important in comparison to residential dishwashers which average between 1 to 2 hours, and use 8 to 12 gallons of water per load. Adjacent the dishwasher is a combination gas and/or electric hot water heater 74 enclosed behind the stainless cabinetry. Preferably, the hot water heater is a large volume (10-12 Gallon) gas and electric heater with 12,000 BTU burner to heat quickly.

Adjacent the dishwasher and also connected to the water heater 74 is a triple-basin commercial grade sink 30 and sprayer faucet 32, which are provided to hand-wash the content items too large to fit into the dishwasher.

Again, the sink 30, dishwasher 72 and hot water heater 74 are built into a #4 finish commercial grade stainless steel counter top and front to provide a staging area for items.

The cleaning room is illuminated by two double tube fluorescent lights.

The floor is covered by waterproof Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) commercial floor tile.

Although removed in FIG. 3, the rear opening is covered by PVC strip curtains to create a climate barrier between the interior cleaning area and the outside.

All the foregoing equipment is powered by an on-board solar-charging battery bank located in the front half-height storage compartment.

Collectively, the mobile restoration unit 1 avoids the need to package and/or transport any water or smoke-damaged chattels from a disaster-stricken home or building (e.g. after a flood or fire) to a commercial cleaning facility. Instead, all cleaning can be done expeditiously onsite.

In addition, the mobile restoration unit 1 provides a swing customer care office to provide a temporary office for an insurance adjuster or homeowner to conduct business. The cleaning room of FIG. 3 is separated from the swing office by a wall, but the wall is equipped with a viewing window 19 to allow the insurance adjuster/homeowner to watch restoration progress. The swing office is accessible from the side of the trailer 2 by opening side door 6, and provides a desk, light, heat and power, and telecommunication abilities (including both computer networking and phone service) to the appointed insurance claims adjuster or homeowner.

The foregoing amenities will now each be disclosed in more detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the internal dishwasher 72 of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIGS. 1-3. Dishwasher 72 is a commercial unit preferably capable of completing a wash cycle in 90 seconds and using less than 1.5 gallons of water per load by recirculation and filtering. For example, a Hobart LX40 hot water dishwasher is suitable. Though not typically suitable for use in trailers or RVs, the commercial dishwasher 72 is made so herein by connecting it to a high-capacity combination gas and/or electric hot water heater 74 having a large volume (10-12 GPM) throughput with 12,000 BTU burner to heat more quickly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internal sink 30 of the mobile disaster restoration unit of FIGS. 1-3. Sink 30 is a triple-basin commercial grade sink 30 with sprayer faucet 32, such as available from Hobart™.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the internal contaminated object storage bin 22, ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24, and workbench 25 with tool storage chests 21 of FIG. 3.

The contaminated object storage bin 22 is a framed enclosure with stainless desktop providing a work surface, and a rectangular storage space occupied by up to four stacking steel storage boxes 23 for storage of damaged chattels.

The workflow flows from the contaminated object storage bin 22 to ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24 which, as stated previously, is a large industrial unit such as a Mettler™ brand 18 Gallon Cavitator™ The freestanding ultrasonic cleaning bin 24 is mounted on castors for mobility, but the castors are seated in pockets in a stationary tray which allow portability of the ultrasonic parts cleaning bin 24 when necessary.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the storage console 46 closed (FIG. 7) and open (FIG. 8), the latter showing storage of the gas tank 48 and the rack-location for the air compressor 49 which is seated immediately above. The gas tank 48 is a nineteen gallon marine gas tank.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the spotlight 11 of the mobile disaster restoration unit, which encloses a 3×5″ Tungsten Halogen floodlight directed outwardly to provide a lighted exterior working area. Just below spotlight 11 and over the staging area 29 a dual air outlet port 42 with quick-connect pneumatic receptacles provides a pneumatic coupling to air compressor 27 for use of pneumatic tools. The dual air outlet port 42 is monitored by a pressure meter 45.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the swing adjuster/homeowner office of the mobile disaster restoration unit 1. The swing office is accessible from the side of the trailer 2 by opening side door 6 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 10, once the adjuster or homeowners enters, they have ready access to a 24″×36″ table/desk 72 to allow them to continue to conduct business. The swing office is lighted and heated by the battery bank in the same manner as the cleaning room. In addition, immediately behind the desk 72 is a power and communication panel to provide complete power and telecommunication abilities to the appointed insurance claims adjuster or homeowner, including computer networking and phone service. The swing office is well-furnished with waterproof Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) commercial floor tiles, and waterproof PVC panels for the interior walls. Behind the desk is a complete control panel 80 with many of the main equipment controls as well as the power and telecommunication ports for the claims adjuster/homeowner. This allows the swing office to double both as a command and control center for the restoration effort as well as the swing office for the claims adjuster/homeowner. Specifically, the control panel 80 includes the main generator control 82 at top left, which is provided with the Onan™ brand platinum series generator and including an on/off switch and ammeter). At top right, a trickle charger 83 for the battery bank is mounted. The battery bank preferably comprises a series of eight 12 VDC lead acid auto batteries stored in the front half-height storage compartment. These are connected to the trailer wiring system via the trickle charger 83, which may be a commercially-available BatteryMINDer® Model 12248 12-Volt 2, 4, or 8 Amp Charger-Maintainer-Desulfator-Conditioner. The trickle charger 83 is connected to the solar panel 50 located on the trailer roof, which may be a commercially-available BatteryMINDer 12 Volt 5 Watt Solar Battery Charger (Part#: VDC-SCC005). On the control panel 80 between the trickle charger 83 and generator control 82 resides an electronic level gauge 84 for indicating the waste tank level (the waste water tank is mounted immediately beneath the commercial sink 30 of FIG. 5).

Beneath that resides on/off switches 86 for the lights, a fuel gauge 87 and battery volt meter 88 for the battery bank, and a switch panel 89 with at least two on/off switches, one for the pump 96 for the onboard water storage tank 92 and one for main 12 VDC power. Immediately beneath control panel 80 is a 60 ampere electrical circuit breaker panel for the equipment. There is also at least one electrical outlet 91 for powering devices such as the claim adjuster's computer and other items. On the adjacent left side wall (obscured) is an HDTV with built-in DVD Player for the homeowner to view the insurance company claims processing DVD, and/or for the homeowner's children to watch while their parents conduct business with the claim adjuster. The window opening from the swing office to the cleaning room is fronted by vinyl curtains.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wall-mounted shop vac 26 of the mobile disaster restoration unit. The wall mounted shop vac 26 is preferably a commercial shop vac, such as a Kobalt™ 5 gal/5 L shop vac.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the internal vent and control unit 57 of the ceiling-mounted heater/cooling/dehumidifier of the mobile disaster restoration unit 1, which may be a commercial grade heat pump such as a Dometic™ Penguin Heat Pump with external unit 12 (FIG. 1) and internal outlet and control unit 57 to provide 13,500 BTUs of heating and cooling.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the fuel fill port 64 and fill air vent 66 for the internal gas tank 48. The fuel fill port 64 can be externally accessed even though the gas tank 48 itself resides internally.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the side-by-side external water inlets. The first water inlet 33 used for filling onboard water supply tank 92 mounted in the front half-height storage compartment, and second water inlet 34 connectable to most any commercial or residential water system for pressurizing the onboard water supply tank 92 and entire on-board trailer water system.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the external drain petcock 38 for draining the onboard clean water storage tank 92 when it is possible to dump onsite.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the external waste tank pump-out outlet 59 for pump-out of the waste tank. The waste water tank is mounted immediately beneath the commercial sink 30 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the protected panel 14 with dual outlet 120 VAC electrical dual GFI power receptacle 63, air outlets 62, and water spigot 65.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the mobile unit 1 plumbing system for supporting the above-described components. The on-board freshwater storage tank 92 is mounted in the head space 2 and is connected by conduit through a one-way valve and pump 96 to water heater 7. Tank 92 may be emptied directly by water spigot 65 and filled via first inlet 33. The second water inlet 34 for pressurizing the onboard water supply tank 92 and entire on-board trailer water system is coupled into the system downstream of the pump 96 in advance of water heater 7. The water heater 74 is in turn connected by conduit to the spray wand 32 and dishwasher 72. The drains from sink 30 and dishwasher 72 are connected by conduit to the onboard wastewater storage tank 94, which can be emptied via external waste tank pump-out outlet 59 or by petcock 38 when it is possible to dump onsite. Again, the waste water tank 94 is mounted immediately beneath the commercial sink 30 of FIG. 5. All water lines between gas and/or electric hot water heater 74, sink 30, water spigot 65, waste water tank 94 and fresh water tank 92, are fabric-stranded plastic tubing, e.g., flexible plastic encased in a frost-proof insulating jacket. This is important to allow for expansion due to temperature variation (CPVC is prone to cracking as a result of freezing).

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the mobile unit 1 electrical system for supporting the above-described components. The generator 41 (enclosed behind a generator door) provides the bulk of electrical power for the entire mobile unit 1 and feeds the external protected outlet strip 14 as well as the several internal dual GFI power receptacles 43. Solar panel 50 charges an onboard battery bank 93 via trickle charger 83. The roof-mounted heat pump/air conditioner 12 that serves as the climate control system for both cleaning room and swing office.

The generator 41 also powers all of the commercial dishwasher 72, electric/gas hot water heater 74, and ultrasonic cleaning bin 24. The control panel 80 in the swing office includes trickle charger 83 controls, generator 82 controls, an electronic level gauge 84 for indicating the waste tank level, and all power and telecommunications jacks provided for the insurance adjuster/homeowner's convenience. Beneath that resides on/off switches 86 for the lights, a fuel gauge 87 and battery volt meter 88 for the battery bank, and a switch panel 89 with at least two on/off switches, one for the pump 96 for the onboard water storage tank 92 and one for main 12 VDC power. Immediately beneath control panel 80 is a 60 ampere electrical circuit breaker panel for the equipment. There is also at least one electrical outlet 91 for powering devices such as the claim adjuster's computer and other items. Above is the HDTV with built-in DVD Player.

It should now be apparent that the foregoing embodiments offer a robust array of restoration equipment supported by a robust plumbing and electrical system for selective use of either on-board or remote water supply, internal or external cleaning efforts, plus pump-out facilities for toxic waste. The mobile disaster restoration unit avoids the need to pack and transport the contents of a disaster-stricken home or building (after a fire or flood) to a commercial cleaning facility. Instead, all cleaning can be done expeditiously onsite by the cleaning crew. Moreover, the swing office and amenities facilitates anytime access and use by insurance claims adjusters and/or homeowner independent of the restoration crew, so that the claims adjuster/homeowner can oversee the effort and tend to their communication needs as will be described.

Therefore, having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mobile cleaning and restoration unit comprising:

a wheeled enclosure having a pair of end walls, a pair of sidewalls, and a roof, said wheeled enclosure being further subdivided by two intermediate walls into a front storage compartment, a rear cleaning room, and a swing office between said front storage compartment and rear cleaning room;

a first door with first lock for providing keyed access into said cleaning room;

a second door with second lock for providing keyed access into aid swing office;

a dishwasher mounted in said cleaning room;

a sink with sprayer wand mounted in said cleaning room proximate said dishwasher;

a water heater mounted in said cleaning room proximate said dishwasher;

a freshwater storage tank mounted in the front storage compartment and connected by conduit through a pump to said water heater, said freshwater storage tank having a first inlet and valved-outlet;

a wastewater storage tank connected by conduit to said sink and to said dishwasher;

an external wastewater storage tank pump-out outlet in fluid communication with said wastewater storage tank;

a second water inlet connected downstream of said pump;

an ultrasonic parts cleaning bin mounted in said cleaning room;

a workbench with tool storage chests mounted in said cleaning room;

a generator compartment in one of said sidewalls accessible by a vented door;

an internal combustion electrical generator in said compartment;

a wiring system electrically connecting said internal combustion electrical generator to said water heater, dishwasher, and ultrasonic parts cleaning bin;

interior lighting including first overhead lighting for illuminating said swing office and independent second overhead lighting for illuminating said cleaning room;

a battery bank for providing power to said interior lighting; and

a solar panel for trickle-charging said battery bank.

2. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, wherein said a generator compartment is proximate said first door.

3. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a shop vac mounted on one if said sidewalls inside said cleaning room.

4. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a fire extinguisher mounted on one if said sidewalls inside said cleaning room.

5. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a retractable awning mounted exteriorly of said mobile cleaning and restoration unit.

6. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 5, wherein said retractable awning includes deployable side stakes for support when in a retracted position.

7. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 5, further comprising a floodlight mounted exteriorly beneath said retractable awning.

8. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a storage console inside said cleaning room, a portable internal combustion air compressor seated inside said storage console, and a fuel tank seated inside said storage console for providing fuel to said portable internal combustion air compressor.

9. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 8, wherein said internal combustion air compressor is in fluid communication through a conduit to a first compressed air outlet inside said cleaning room and a second compressed air outlet exterior of said mobile unit beneath said retractable awning.

10. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 8, wherein said fuel tank seated inside said storage console is in fluid communication to said portable internal combustion air compressor, and is in fluid communication to a fuel fill inlet mounted exteriorly of said mobile unit.

11. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a roof-mounted heat pump/air conditioner for providing climate control to said cleaning room and swing office.

12. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of external leveling jacks.

13. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 8, wherein both of said air compressor and generator are connected in parallel to both internal and external outlets for ease of access.

14. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, wherein all of said pair of end walls, a pair of sidewalls, and roof are interiorly paneled with waterproof Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) tiles.

15. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, wherein said swing office is furnished with a desk, light, heat and power, and a television and DVD player.

16. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a stationary floor tray inside said cleaning room, said floor tray having receptacles, said ultrasonic cleaning bin being mounted on castors seated in the receptacles of said stationary floor tray for portability of the ultrasonic parts cleaning bin when necessary.

17. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a control panel inside said swing office, said control panel comprising controls for said generator, solar panel trickle charger for said battery bank, and a level gauge for said waste tank.

18. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, wherein said freshwater storage tank is mounted in said storage space and is connected by conduit through a one-way valve and pump to said water heater.

19. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 18, wherein said water heater is connected by conduit to said spray wand and dishwasher, and said sink and dishwasher drain by conduit to the onboard wastewater storage tank.

20. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 18, wherein all of said conduits comprise fabric-stranded plastic tubing to prevent cracking as a result of freezing.

21. A mobile cleaning and restoration unit comprising:

a trailer having a pair of end walls, a pair of sidewalls, and a roof, said wheeled enclosure being further subdivided by two intermediate walls into a cleaning room, and a swing office adjacent to said cleaning room;

a first door with first lock for providing keyed access into said cleaning room;

a second door with second lock for providing keyed access into said swing office;

a commercial dishwasher mounted in said cleaning room;

a sink with sprayer wand mounted in said cleaning room proximate said dishwasher;

a water heater mounted in said cleaning room proximate said dishwasher;

a freshwater storage tank connected by conduit to said water heater;

a wastewater storage tank connected by conduit to said sink and to said dishwasher;

an ultrasonic parts cleaning bin mounted in said cleaning room;

an electrical system electrically connecting said water heater, dishwasher, and ultrasonic parts cleaning bin to a power source;

interior lighting including first overhead lighting for illuminating said swing office and independent second overhead lighting for illuminating said cleaning room;

a battery bank for providing power to said interior lighting; and

a solar panel for trickle-charging said battery bank.

22. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 21, further comprising a generator compartment in one of said sidewalls, and said power source being an internal combustion electrical generator in said compartment.

23. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 22, further comprising a shop vac mounted on one if said sidewalls inside said cleaning room.

24. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 23, further comprising a fire extinguisher mounted on one if said sidewalls inside said cleaning room.

25. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 22, further comprising a retractable awning mounted exteriorly of said mobile cleaning and restoration unit.

26. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 25, further comprising a floodlight mounted exteriorly beneath said retractable awning.

27. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a portable internal combustion air compressor in fluid communication through a conduit to a first compressed air outlet inside said cleaning room and a second compressed air outlet exterior of said mobile unit beneath said retractable awning.

28. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 21, further comprising a roof-mounted heat pump/air conditioner for providing climate control to said cleaning room and swing office.

29. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 21, further comprising a pair of external leveling jacks.

30. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 21, wherein said swing office is furnished with a desk, light, heat and power, and a television and DVD player.

31. The mobile cleaning and restoration unit according to claim 21, wherein all of said conduits comprise fabric-stranded plastic tubing to prevent cracking as a result of freezing.