| CPC B60P 1/36 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00014 (2013.01); B60H 1/00364 (2013.01); B60H 1/00785 (2013.01); B60S 1/64 (2013.01); D06F 58/12 (2013.01); D06F 95/00 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
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1. A laundry transport apparatus, comprising:
a trailer having opposed front and rear ends and an exterior shell extending between said front and rear ends, said trailer defining an opening at said front end and defining an interior area;
wherein said trailer includes a door at said trailer front end for selectively allowing access to said interior area, said door being movable between a closed configuration preventing access to said interior area and an open configuration giving access to said interior area;
a solar assembly that includes at least one photovoltaic panel coupled to said exterior shell and operable to receive solar energy, said solar assembly having an inverter for converting said received solar energy into electricity;
a plurality of laundry carts removably positioned in said interior area, each laundry cart configured to hold laundry;
a conveyor assembly that includes a continuous belt positioned in said interior area and having a first end proximate said trailer front end and a second end displaced into said interior area, said continuous belt being electrically connected to said solar assembly and operably movable when energized for moving said continuous belt, whereby to move said plurality of laundry carts into or out of said interior area;
a self-cleaning assembly positioned in said interior area upwardly proximate said plurality of carts, said self-cleaning assembly including a reservoir containing a cleaning fluid and a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with said reservoir configured for dispensing said cleaning fluid onto said plurality of carts when actuated;
a ventilation network situated in said interior area and configured to pass air to and from said interior area, said ventilation network including:
an intake duct operatively coupled to a top wall of said trailer and extending longitudinally between said front and rear ends, said intake duct configured to for channeling channel air to said interior area;
an outlet duct configured to channel air away from said interior area;
wherein said ventilation network is configured to cause air to pass through either or both said intake duct and said outlet duct;
at least one fan configured to cause air to pass through said intake duct and said outlet duct;
wherein said interior area is airtight apart from said ventilation network when said door is at said closed configuration;
wherein at least a portion of said intake and outlet ducts are immediately adjacent one another to influence temperature of air passing through one of said intake duct and said outlet duct, warmer air passing through one of said intake duct or said outlet duct becoming cooler and cooler air passing through another of said intake duct or said outlet duct becoming warmer;
wherein said intake and outlet ducts include a plurality of branches extending outwardly and downwardly, each branch having a terminal end defining an opening positioned immediately adjacent a top of a respective laundry cart so as to ventilate the laundry in said laundry cart.
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