Gutter cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Gutter cleaning apparatus is disclosed comprising a housing having a first and second opening therein for delivering fluid under pressure into a rain gutter mounted on a building. The openings are diametrically opposed and the flow of fluid through the openings is controlled by a valve that alternately opens one opening and closes the other. The valve is controlled by increasing and decreasing the fluid pressure in the housing. When fluid pressure is at a pre-determined lower level, the valve is in a neutral position between the two openings. A stream deflector plate extends from the bottom of the valve and depending on which direction the deflector plate is positioned, increasing the pressure in the housing will cause the valve to move into one of the openings. Once the valve is positioned in one of the openings the direction of the stream deflector plate is changed since it is mounted on the valve in a manner so as to engage the housing when the valve is closing one of the openings. When the pressure within the housing is reduced, the valve plate returns to a neutral position and with the stream deflector plate positioned at a different angle, the valve will close the opposite opening when fluid pressure in the housing is again increased.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to apparatus comprising a hollow housing having an influent port and an effuent port. A flow path is defined in the housing between the influent port and the effluent port. The effluent port has a first opening and a second opening therein. A valve is mounted in the housing, the valve extending along a longitudinal axis displacable to project into the flow path. The valve is arranged to swing in the housing for alternately closing the first opening and the second opening. The valve terminates in a stream deflector member, the stream deflector member being operatively connected to the valve by a stream deflector hinge. The stream deflector extends along a longitudinal axis, the axis of the stream deflector being displacable to project into the flow path at a first angle with respect to the axis of the valve when the valve is positioned to close the first opening or the second opening. The stream deflector hinge holds the valve and the stream deflector so that the axes of each is at the first angle when the valve is displaced into the flow path and the axis of the value projects into the flow path. The axis of the stream deflector is displacable to project into the flow path at a second angle with respect to the axis of the valve when the valve is positioned to close the other of the first openings or second openings. The stream deflector hinge holds the valve and the stream deflector so that the axes of each is at the second angle when the valve is redisplaced into the flow path and the axis of the valve projects into the flow path. When fluid under pressure is passed through the flow path, fluid will impinge on the stream deflector to force the valve into one of the openings and allow fluid to flow through the other of the openings. The axis of the stream deflector will be displaced at first angle into the flow path, and when fluid pressure is reduced, the axis of the valve will be aligned substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow in the flow path. The stream deflector will then remain at the first angle to the valve so that by increasing fluid pressure, the valve will be deflected by the stream deflector to close the other of the openings and the first angle between the stream deflector and the valve will be changed to the second angle.The stream deflector may comprise a stream deflector plate having a first and second face opposed to one another, the axis of the stream deflector and the valve being at an angle to align the first face into the flow path when one of the openings is closed and then to align the second face into the flow path when the other of the openings is closed.The first and second openings may be insertable in a rain gutter, the first and second openings being diametrically opposed to one another to clean the gutter.The housing member may be mounted on a rigid tube to extend upwardly to a rain gutter mounted on a building.Apparatus is also provided for delivering fluid to an aperture comprising a resilient member having an influent port and an effluent port. A tube is removably insertable into the influent port to form a substantially fluid tight seal between the tube and the resilient member and for delivering fluid under pressure into the resilient member.The hollow resilient member may comprise a hollow cone member.A rigid pipe may be secured to the tube affixed to the hollow resilient member or the hollow resilient cone member to extend upwardly to a rain gutter downspout mounted on a building so that fluid under pressure may be delivered to the downspout to clean the downspout.

Description

Claims

1. Valve apparatus comprising hollow housing means having influent port means and effluent port means, a flow path being defined in said housing means between said influent port means and said effluent port means, said effluent port means having first opening means and second opening means, valve means mounted in said housing means, said valve means extending along a longitudinal axis displaceable to project into said flow path, said valve means arranged to swing in said housing means for alternately closing said first opening means and said second opening means, said valve means terminating in stream deflector means, said stream deflector means operatively connected to said valve means by stream deflector hinge means, said stream deflector means extending along a longitudinal axis, said axis of said stream deflector means being displaceable to project into said flow path at a first angle with respect to the axis of said valve means when said valve means is positioned to close said first opening means or said second opening means, said stream deflector hinge means holding said valve means and said stream deflector means so that the said axis of each is at said first angle when said valve means is displaced into said flow path and said axis of said valve means projects into said flow path, said axis of said stream deflector means being displaceable to project into said flow path at a second angle with respect to the axis of said valve means when said valve means is positioned to close the other of said first opening means or said second opening means, said stream deflector hinge means holding said valve means and said stream deflector means so that the said axes of each is at said second angle when said valve means is redisplaced into said flow path and said axis of said valve means projects into said flow path whereby when fluid under pressure is passed through said flow path, fluid will impinge on said stream deflector means to force said valve means into one of said first openings or second openings and allow fluid to flow through the other of said first openings or second openings said axis of said stream deflector means being displaced at said first angle into said flow path, and when fluid pressure is reduced, the axis of said valve means will be aligned substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow in said flow path, said stream deflector means will remain at said first angle to said valve means so that by increasing fluid pressure said valve means will be deflected by said stream delector means to close the other of said first openings or said second openings and said first angle between said stream deflector means and said valve means will be changed to said second angle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said stream deflector means comprises stream deflector plate means having a first and second face opposed to one another, said axis of said stream deflector means and said valve means being at an angle to align said first face into said flow path when one of said first openings or second openings is closed and to align said second face into said flow path when the other of said first openings or second openings is closed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where said first opening means and said second opening means are insertable in a rain gutter, said first opening means and said second opening means being opposed to one another for alternately cleaning said gutter in the direction of each of said openings.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 where said housing means is mounted on a rigid tube to extend upwardly to a rain gutter mounted on a building.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first opening means and said second opening means are insertable in a rain gutter said first opening means and said second opening means being opposed to one another for alternately cleaning said gutter in the direction of each of said openings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 where said housing means is mounted on a rigid tube to extend upwardly to a rain gutter mounted on a building.