Patent Application
20110089265
The present invention relates generally to the field of hose couplings. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sprayer and hose coupling system for use with a garden hose.
A booster pump system enhances a household garden hose, generating an increased pressure and flow rate suitable for otherwise difficult cleaning and gardening applications. For example, a water stream generated by a booster pump system may be useful for 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 user of a booster pump system 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 typical of a pressure washer. For example, without boosting, an unassisted garden hose using municipal or well water is limited to water from a faucet or bibcock, typically supplied at a pressure of about 40-60 pounds per square inch (psi), flowing at a rate of about 3-5 gallons per minute (gpm). Conversely, pressure washers generally provide a water stream with a much higher pressure, such as 1400 psi, but with a lower flow rate, such as 1.3-1.4 gpm. Booster pumps are designed to raise the pressure of faucet water to a lesser degree than pressure washers (e.g., by 100 psi), and to raise the flow rate by an amount on the order of 2 gpm. Unlike pressure washers, booster pumps are designed to generate water pressures and flow rates compatible with conventional garden hoses.
Garden hoses may be made from a wide variety of commonly known materials such as vinyl, rubber, composite, synthetic rubber, soft plastic, etc. “Reinforced vinyl” garden hoses are reinforced with internal or external fiber webbings, such as nylon or polyester tire-cords. Due to the variety of design choices and available materials, different commercial garden hoses have different “burst strengths” or “burst ratings,” which are the maximum allowable internal pressures that a hose can withstand before rupture. Some lesser-strength garden hoses have a burst rating of about 200 psi. Other medium-strength garden hoses have burst ratings ranging from about 275 to 350 psi. Still other higher-strength garden hoses have burst ratings from about 350 to 500 psi or higher.
In the United States, standard hose couplings are attached to the ends of a garden hose, such as a male or female threaded fittings, quick connect fittings, etc. Unlike threaded fittings, quick connect fittings allow garden hoses to be coupled without first turning the water off at the faucet. A valve in the female quick connect fitting blocks the water flow when the male fitting is not engaged. The valve also produces a trapped pressure in the hose. To connect or disconnect the fittings, a user must overcome the trapped pressure, such as by manually pulling or pushing back a sleeve coupled to the valve. In the process, the user may get sprayed by a small burst of trapped water that is released when the valve is temporarily opened. Overcoming the trapped pressure to release or engage the coupling is increasingly difficult as trapped water pressure in the garden hose is increased, as may occur with use of a booster pump system.
One embodiment of the invention relates to a hose coupling system that includes a housing, a valve plug, and a locking mechanism. The housing has an inlet and an outlet, and a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The valve plug is positioned within the housing along the flow path, and is rotatable between a closed orientation and an opened orientation. The closed orientation blocks the flow path and the opened orientation unblocks the flow path. The locking mechanism is designed to releasably fasten an instrument to the housing, where the locking mechanism is adjustable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking mechanism and the valve plug are coupled such that adjusting the locking mechanism to the unlocked position rotates the valve plug to the closed orientation.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a hose coupling system that includes a housing, a valve plug, and a locking mechanism. The housing has an inlet and an outlet, and a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet includes a garden hose connector. The valve plug is positioned within the housing along the flow path, and is rotatable between a closed configuration blocking the flow path and an opened configuration unblocking the flow path. The locking mechanism releasably fastens a sprayer to the housing, where the locking mechanism is rotatable between a locked position fastening the sprayer to the housing and an unlocked position releasing the sprayer. Rotation of the locking mechanism rotates the valve plug.
Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a sprayer system for a booster pump for a garden hose. The sprayer system includes a water sprayer, a housing, a locking mechanism, and a valve. The water sprayer has an inlet, an outlet, a handle, and a trigger. The housing has a garden hose connector and a port for the inlet of the water sprayer. The locking mechanism is adjustable between a locked position, fastening the inlet to the housing, and an unlocked position, releasing the inlet from the housing. The valve includes a valve plug positioned within the housing and rotatable between a closed configuration, which blocks water from flowing through the valve, and an opened configuration, which allows water to flow through the valve. Adjustment of the locking mechanism rotates the valve plug.
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.
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The garden hose 118 may be fitted with a sprayer, such as a spray gun 126, a nozzle 128, a sprinkler 130, or other sprayer. The spray gun 126 may be stored in a cavity 132 on the housing 112, or in a storage area 134 within the housing 112. The cavity 132 or the storage area 134 may include mounting clips 136 and a removable tray 138. In some embodiments, the spray gun 126 may include calibrated spray settings 140 having different cross-sectional areas to allow for different exit stream flow rates.
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According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 252 utilizes a flow-sensitive switch that measures, detects, or monitors characteristics of water flow (e.g., flow rate) into the water pump 242, with or without using the sensors 248, 250. When the flow rate exceeds the threshold flow rate, the flow-sensitive switch is closed (i.e., “on”), and when flow rate is below the threshold flow rate the flow-sensitive switch is open (i.e., “off”). Opening the flow-sensitive switch cuts power to and disengages the water pump 242. In some embodiments, sensed pressures may provide control feedback. In other embodiments, the controller includes a flow sensor coupled to a clutch to engage or disengage a power take off from an internal combustion engine. In still other embodiments, the controller may be a manual on/off switch.
In some embodiments, the threshold rate corresponds to calibrated spray settings 140 on the sprayer, where a first setting generates a water flow rate that is above the threshold flow rate, closing the flow-sensitive switch and activating the water pump 242. A second setting reduces the water flow rate below the threshold flow rate, opening the flow-sensitive switch and deactivating the water pump 242. Exemplary threshold flow rate values range from 1-5 gpm, preferably from 2.5-3.5 gpm. According to other embodiments, different commercially available gauges, sensors, meters, etc. may be provided to sense characteristics of the water flow and provide feedback to the controller 252.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the booster pump system 110 may have a maximum pressure capacity (e.g., maximum setting) of less than 1000 psi, preferably less than 500 psi; and a water flow rate capacity of at least 4 gpm, preferably at least 5 gpm. In another embodiment, the booster pump system 110 is designed to raise water pressure by 20-200 psi, preferably between 50-100 psi; and to raise water flow rate by 0.5-5 gpm, preferably between 1-3 gpm. In at least one embodiment, the booster pump system 110 is designed to raise water pressure by about 80 psi and raise flow rate by about 2 gpm from the unassisted pressure and rate.
Referring now to
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To fasten the spray gun 310 to the coupler 312, the control switch 330 on the swiveling top 326 of the coupler 312 may be rotated to the unlocked position, pulling back a locking mechanism to a first position (see, e.g., crow's foot 812 as shown in
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The swiveling top 516 is attached to the housing 512 and is coupled to a locking mechanism. The swiveling top 516 swivels on a pivot 524, shown as a threaded screw that passes through an aperture 518 in the side of the swiveling top 516. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes a crow's foot latch (see, e.g., crow's foot 812 as shown in
The valve plug 514 of the coupler 510 has a spherical body (e.g., ball valve) and rotates about pivots, shown as pegs 530 extending from the body. The pegs 530 are supported by bushings 532 in the housing 512 of the coupler 510. In other embodiments, different types of bearings are used. An aperture 534 extends through the valve plug 514. The valve plug 514 may be rotated such that the aperture 534 intersects or does not intersect a flow path, extending within the housing 512 between the female hose connector 522 and the outlet port 520. The valve plug 514 is in an opened configuration when valve plug 514 is rotated so that the aperture 534 intersects the flow path, such as when the aperture 534 is fully aligned with the flow path. The valve plug 514 is in a closed configuration when the valve plug 514 is rotated so that the aperture 534 does not intersect the flow path, and the body of the valve plug 514 blocks the flow path. In other embodiments, the valve plug does not include an aperture through the valve plug, but instead has a cut in a side of the valve plug. The valve plug may be rotated so that the cut either intersects or does not intersect the flow path. For example, in one embodiment, the valve plug is C-shaped, and in another embodiment, the valve plug has cuts on two opposite sides of the body such that the flow path may pass around the two sides when the valve plug is in the opened configuration.
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In some embodiments, the gearing 536, 538 is arranged to provide a delay or offset between locking of the locking mechanism and opening of the valve plug. For example, the locking mechanism may travel at least 50%, 75%, or 90% of the rotation from the unlocked to locked positions before the valve plug is rotated. According to another embodiment, the gearing 536, 538 is arranged to provide a delay between closing of the valve plug and the unlocking of the locking mechanism. For example, the valve plug may travel at least 50%, 75%, or 90% of the rotation from the opened configuration to the closed configuration before the locking mechanism is rotated. In other embodiments, the degree of rotation of the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position is greater or less than the degree of rotation between the valve plug in the opened and closed configurations, such as by a ratio of about 2:1, 1.5:1, 1:1.5, or 1:2. In some embodiments, the gearing 536, 538 may be disengaged such that rotation of the locking mechanism does not simultaneously rotate the valve plug, or visa versa. For example, in at least one embodiment, the user may press a button or detent to connect the gearing 536, 538.
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The construction and arrangements of the hose coupling 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, configurations, 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.
