The present invention relates generally to the field of booster water pump systems for garden hoses. More specifically the present invention relates to booster water pump systems having housings that support hose reels.
Typically, homes using municipal or well water are limited to water from a faucet or bibcock at a pressure of about 40-60 pounds per square inch (psi), flowing at a rate of about 3-5 gallons per minute (gpm). However, unassisted municipal or well water pressure and flow rate may be insufficient to effectively scrub surfaces, quickly water plants, or controllably spray distant cleaning targets. As such, booster pumps provide extra water pressure and flow for indoor or outdoor applications, such as gardening, cleaning, or other applications. Water pressure levels produced by booster pumps are low enough that conventional garden hoses may be used, but high enough to meet the requirements of various tasks.
Devices other than garden hose boosting pumps, such as powered pressure washers for example, are known to be used to clean dirt, paint, or mold from pavement, brick face, cement, or other surfaces. To achieve such results, these devices may generally provide a water stream with a high pressure (e.g., 1400 psi), but with reduced flow rate (e.g., 1.3-1.4 gpm). Heavy duty pressure washers may provide streams with even higher pressures (e.g., 3000-5000 psi) and possibly greater flow rates (e.g., 3.5 gpm). The high pressure streams of heavy duty pressure washers may facilitate more demanding tasks, such as resurfacing or cutting of materials, which may require extremely powerful flows. High-pressure hose lines and spray guns are used with heavy duty pressure washers.
One embodiment of the invention relates to a booster pump system, for boosting a flow of water from a water source. The booster pump system includes a housing having a retractable handle. The booster pump system also includes a water pump positioned within the housing. The pump has an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to raise the pressure of the flow of water by an amount in a range of 20-200 pounds per square inch. The pump is also designed to raise the flow rate of the flow of water by an amount in a range of 0.5-5 gallons per minute. The booster pump system further includes a hose reel positioned within the housing, where the hose reel supports a garden hose attached to the outlet of the pump.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a booster pump system for boosting a flow of water from a bibcock or faucet coupled to a water source. The booster pump system includes a housing having a cover and a storage area for storing accessories. The booster pump system also include a garden hose fitting attached to the housing. Further, the booster pump system includes a water pump positioned within the housing. The pump has an inlet attached to the fitting, and an outlet, and the pump is designed to raise the pressure of the flow of water by an amount in a range of 20-200 pounds per square inch. The pump is also designed to raise the flow rate of the flow of water by an amount in a range of 0.5-5 gallons per minute. The booster pump system additionally includes a hose reel positioned within the housing. The hose reel supports a hose attached to the outlet of the pump. Also, the hose reel is designed to support the hose when the hose is pressurized with the boosted flow of water flowing through the hose.
Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a powered garden hose reel and booster pump system. The system includes a housing and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The pump is powered by a first electric motor, and the pump is positioned within the housing. The system also includes a hose reel positioned above the pump within the housing. The hose reel supports a hose attached to the outlet of the pump. Also, the system includes a second electric motor for winding the hose onto the reel. The system further includes a moving guide to direct the winding of the hose onto the reel.
Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims.
The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which:
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Some embodiments described herein relate to a booster pump system for a garden hose, as opposed to a pressure washer system. In certain scenarios a user may desire an increased flow rate and pressure beyond the capabilities of an unassisted garden hose, but not with the reduced flow rate and much higher pressures of a pressure washer. Such scenarios may include, for example, removing stuck-on plant debris from a vehicle, removing dried-on bird waste from a window, or removing spider webs from an eve of a high roof line, out of reach of a garden hose having unassisted pressure and flow. A booster pump system powers a water stream from a household water system with an increased flow rate and pressure suitable for everyday-type cleaning and gardening applications.
Referring to
Still referring to
In an exemplary embodiment, the system 110 also includes an automated rewind system (see, e.g., power rewind system 540 shown in
As shown in
Still referring to
Booster pump systems may be better suited to operate with typical garden hoses than pressure washers due to characteristics of the garden hoses, such as their burst ratings. The garden hose 126 may be made from a wide variety of commonly known materials such as vinyl, rubber, composite, and the like. For example, typical garden hose characteristics may vary depending design choice, such as hose dimensions, gauge, material, reinforcement, and the like. Some garden hoses are constructed of a synthetic rubber or soft plastic. These hoses are reinforced with internal or external fiber webbings, such as nylon or polyester tire-cords. Certain hoses are “reinforced vinyl” garden hoses. Due the variety of design choices and available materials, different commercial garden hoses have a broad range of “burst strengths” or “burst ratings,” the maximum allowable internal pressures that a hose can withstand before rupture. Some lower-quality hoses, for use with embodiments disclosed herein, have a burst rating of about 200 psi. Other medium-quality hoses have burst ratings ranging from about 275 to 350 psi. Still other higher-quality garden hoses have burst ratings from about 350 to 500 psi or higher.
Referring to
In addition to the cavity 218, storage areas 240, 242 are shown within the housing 212 and cover 214, respectively. The storage area 240 includes a removable tray 244. The tray 244 has hooks 246 that catch a top edge of the housing 212. The cover 214 closes over the hooks 246. Various items, including garden hose accessories, such as car wax, a scrub brush, an additional length of hose, and other items may be stored in the tray 244. The tray 244 may be lifted out of the housing 212 to access components below the tray 244. In other embodiments, a shelf may be fixed to the housing with glues, hinges, welds, threaded fasteners, or other fasteners. In still other embodiments, a sliding drawer slides into and out of the housing 212, and is accessible from an exterior surface of the housing 212. The storage area 242 includes clips attached to an underside surface of the cover 214. The clips are designed to hold garden hose accessories, such as spray guns, nozzles, and other items.
Still referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The hose reel 416 includes a hub 422 or a drum upon which a hose may be wound. Flange ends 424 of the hose reel 416 form boundaries to the hub 422. The hose reel guide 420 moves back and forth along a track 426 as the hose reel 416 rotates. The hose is laid onto the reel 416 in an orderly manner, such as with side-by-side coils in overlaying rows, with a first row formed as the guide 420 moves in one direction, a second row formed as the guide 420 moves back, and so forth. The pump 414 has an outlet pipe 418 that 418 extends into the center of the hub 422 and includes a hose coupling 454 that rotates within the hub 422, allowing the outlet pipe 418 to remain stationary. The hose coupling 454 connects to a garden hose wound on the reel. The hose reel 416 is a “live” hose reel in that it is configured to support a pressurized hose. For example, the pump 414 may supply higher pressure and flow rate water while the hose is wound on the reel 416, without the hose unwinding from the reel 416. In some embodiments, ratcheting members, pawls, or gears limit rotation of the reel 416 reacting to torque in the reel 416.
Referring to
In
Referring to
In some embodiments, a sprayer, nozzle, sprinkler, or other outlet (e.g., spray nozzle 128 in
Still referring to
The system 510 further comprises the pressure sensor 522, which detects pressure changes through the system 510. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 522 quickly distinguishes between a no-flow condition and a positive-flow condition by measuring back pressure. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 522 is coupled to the switch 528, and power is cut to the motor 524 of the pump 512 when the pressure sensor 522 senses that the sprayer, nozzle, sprinkler, etc. has stopped spraying. In some embodiments, the system includes a pressure sensor, but no flow-sensitive sensor. In other embodiments, the system includes a flow-sensitive sensor, but no pressure sensor.
In
The power cord 526 includes a manually-operated on/off switch 528 and a junction 530 (e.g., splitter). The on/off switch 528 may be provided in series with the flow-sensitive switch 518, such that if the on/off switch 528 is in the off position, the pump 512 will not be activated; but if the on/off switch 528 is in the on position, then the pump 512 may be activated by the flow-sensitive switch 518 or its analog. In another embodiment, the on/off switch 528 is provided in parallel with the flow-sensitive switch 518, such that the on/off switch 528 may override the flow-sensitive switch 518, activating or deactivating the pump 512 regardless flow rate.
The construction and arrangements of the garden hose booster water pump system, as shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110014066 A1 | Jan 2011 | US |