U.S. patent application number 11/338168 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for water dispensing system for vehicles.
This patent application is currently assigned to Leonard Cooper. Invention is credited to Michael Anthony, Leonard Cooper.
Application Number | 20070170281 11/338168 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38284577 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070170281 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cooper; Leonard ; et
al. |
July 26, 2007 |
Water dispensing system for vehicles
Abstract
A water dispensing system adapted for fully integrated
installation within a vehicle for use in a wide variety of water
dispensing applications and uses is disclosed. The system includes
a water storage tank, a pump having an inlet in fluid communication
with the water storage tank, a water hose having an inlet in fluid
communication with the pump outlet, and a manually actuated flow
control nozzle in fluid communication with the hose outlet. A
vehicle fuel tank is partitioned so as to provide dual compartments
capable of holding both fuel for the vehicle, and water for use
with the system. The pump is preferably electrically connected to
the vehicles electric power system. In an alternate embodiment, a
compressed gas functions as the pumping source thereby eliminating
the need for an electric pump. It has been found that using a
partitioned tank to hold both water and fuel results in heating the
water thereby providing the user with a source of warm water for
use in any of a wide variety of purposes, such as washing the
vehicle, bathing, and fire extinguishing.
Inventors: |
Cooper; Leonard; (North
Miami, FL) ; Anthony; Michael; (Coral Springs,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark D. Bowen;Stearns Weaver Miller
Suite 2100
200 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale
FL
33301
US
|
Assignee: |
Leonard Cooper
|
Family ID: |
38284577 |
Appl. No.: |
11/338168 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/172 ;
239/332; 239/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C 3/07 20130101; A62C
31/005 20130101; B60K 15/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/172 ;
239/332; 239/526 |
International
Class: |
E01H 3/02 20060101
E01H003/02 |
Claims
1. A vehicle fluid dispensing system for installation within a
vehicle, said system comprising: a fluid tank; a pump having an
inlet in fluid communication with said fluid tank and an outlet;
said pump electrically connected to a power source; an on/off
control switch for activating said pump; a hose having a first end
in fluid communication with said pump outlet and a second end; and
a flow control nozzle in fluid communication with said hose second
end.
2. A vehicle fluid dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein
said water tank comprises a fuel tank with an internal partition
forming first and second liquid tight compartments.
3. A vehicle fluid dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein
said flow control nozzle is manually actuated.
4. A vehicle fluid dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein
said flow control nozzle comprises a fire sprinkler.
5. A vehicle fluid dispensing system for installation within a
vehicle, said system comprising: a pressure vessel having an inlet
and an outlet, said pressure vessel at least partially filled with
a fluid and pressurized; said outlet in fluid communication with a
conduit; said conduit in fluid communication with a normally closed
valve having an outlet, said valve incorporating means for opening
said valve in response to impact; at least one normally closed
sprinkler in fluid communication with said valve outlet, said
sprinkler including means for opening said sprinkler in response to
heat.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] N/A
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] N/A
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to water dispensing systems,
and more particularly, to a vehicle-mounted water dispensing system
for permanent installation and full integration into a vehicle for
the purposes of washing and fire extinguishing by delivering water
expelled under high-pressure.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art
[0007] Pressurized water dispensing systems are relatively common.
Attempts have been made to minimize the weight of these systems and
make them portable. Accordingly, the prior art reveals a number of
smaller portable pressure washing systems known to incorporate
lighter motors, thereby providing a significantly less powerful
stream of water than may often be desired for a given purpose. One
application and desired use for a pressurized water dispensing
system is for washing vehicles such as trucks and motor homes that
require frequent cleaning of dirt and insects. These devices remain
heavy, however, particularly when filled with water and fully
fueled.
[0008] Because of the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art
in this field, there is a need for a pressurized water dispensing
system for use with vehicles such as trucks, which can be
permanently mounted and incorporated within such vehicles
eliminating the burdensome transportation, unpacking, and setting
up required by the portable systems of prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention overcomes the limitations and
disadvantages in the art by providing a water dispensing system
adapted for fully integrated installation within a vehicle. The
system includes a water storage tank, a pump having an inlet in
fluid communication with the water storage tank, a water hose
having an inlet in fluid communication with the pump outlet, and a
manually actuated flow control nozzle in fluid communication with
the hose outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle fuel tank
is partitioned so as to provide dual compartments capable of
holding both fuel for the vehicle, and water for use with the
system. The pump is preferably electrically connected to the
vehicles electric power system. In an alternate embodiment, a
compressed gas functions as the pumping source thereby eliminating
the need for an electric pump. It has been found that using a
partitioned tank to hold both water and fuel results in heating the
water thereby providing the user with a source of warm water for
use in any of a wide variety of purposes, such as washing the
vehicle, bathing, and fire extinguishing.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved portable water dispensing system.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
water dispensing system adapted for full integration within a
vehicle.
[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a vehicle mounted water dispensing system wherein water is
contained within a partitioned fuel tank.
[0013] In accordance with these and other objects, which will
become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be
described with particular reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a truck adapted with
a water dispensing system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partial detail view of the water dispensing
system;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the truck adapted with the
water dispensing system depicting a detailed view of the hose and
manually actuated flow control nozzle;
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial perspective views of the mounting
configuration for the tank and pump components;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the system;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle adapted with an
alternate embodiment fire extinguishing system; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 depict a
vehicle 10, adapted with a water dispensing system, generally
referenced as 20, fully integrated and installed within vehicle 10.
Water dispensing system 20 generally includes a tank 30, a pump 40,
a hose 50, and a flow control nozzle 60. In a preferred embodiment,
tank 30 comprises a partitioned fuel tank of the type commonly
found on commercial trucking vehicles. Accordingly, tank 30
includes first and second internal fluid tight compartments,
generally referenced as 32 and 34, adapted for holding liquids.
First and second compartments, 32 and 34, typically contain fuel
and hydraulic fluid. It has been found, however, that truckers
hauling loads rarely use the hydraulic compartment. Accordingly,
the present invention makes use of the hydraulic fluid compartment
32 to store water.
[0022] The present invention further includes a means of pressuring
the water for dispensing. In a preferred embodiment an electric
pump 40 is disclosed. Pump 40 is preferably an electrically powered
centrifugal pump, having an inlet pipe 42 in fluid communication
with the water filled compartment 32 of tank 30. Pump 40 further
includes an outlet 44 adapted for connection to an inlet 52 of
flexible hose 50. Pump 40 is further connected to a suitable power
source, such as the vehicle battery 12, by a manual switch 46.
Switch 46 is preferably mounted on vehicle 10 within proximity to a
storage 14 compartment for pump 40 and hose 50. Hose 50 is
preferably sufficiently flexible to allow for ease of use and
coiled storage, while being sufficiently strong to contain
pressurized water provided thereto by pump 40. Pump 40 is
preferably an electrically powered centrifugal pump, electrically
connected to a suitable power source such as the vehicle battery 12
as shown in FIG. 7. In an alternate embodiment, pump 40 may be
replaced by a source of compressed gas in fluid communication with
fluid compartment 32 so as to force water from the compartment by
pressure.
[0023] As discussed above, hose 50 has an inlet 52 in fluid
communication with pump outlet 44, and further includes a hose
outlet 54 adapted for mating connection with a manually actuated
flow control nozzle 60. Manually actuated flow control nozzle 60 is
preferably a normally closed flow control device including a pistol
grip structure having an inlet 62 adapted for connection to hose
outlet 54, an outlet 64 adapted for emitting a spray of liquid, a
handle 66, and a manual actuator 68.
[0024] Thus, to use the system, the user first fills fluid
compartment 32 with water, then activates pump 40 by closing on/off
switch 46 thereby providing a pressurized flow of water to hose 50
and manually actuated flow control nozzle 60. The user is then able
to direct a controlled stream of water from flow control nozzle 60
by manual actuation of actuator 68. It has been found that using a
partitioned tank to hold both water and fuel results in heating the
water thereby providing the user with a source of warm water for
use in any of a wide variety of purposes, such as washing the
vehicle, bathing, and fire extinguishing.
[0025] FIGS. 8 and 9 depict an alternate embodiment, generally
referenced as 70, for use in extinguishing vehicle fires. In this
embodiment, a pressure vessel 72 adapted with a charge valve 73 is
mounted within the vehicle. Pressure vessel 72 is filled with a
suitable extinguishing agent, such as water or foam, and then
pressurized with a pressurizing agent, such as air or any other
suitable gas. Pressure vessel 72 is in fluid communication with a
conduit 74 having at least one fire sprinkler head module 76. A
heat sensor integrated within module 76, controls the discharge of
the fire extinguishing agent from pressure vessel 72 in response to
temperature. In addition, the system may further include an
integrated impact sensor (e.g. accelerometer) to activate the
device in response to impact. The primary purpose of this
embodiment is to provide a system capable of automatic actuation in
the event of a vehicle fire.
[0026] The water dispensing system according to the present
invention functions to dispense pressurized water for a variety of
purposes. It has been found that using a partitioned vehicle fuel
tank, and particularly a compartment thereof designed to contain
hydraulic fluid, as a water tank provides a tank suitable for
storing a sufficient volume of water for use in a wide variety of
applications.
[0027] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in
what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
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