U.S. patent number 3,608,824 [Application Number 05/023,656] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-28 for high-pressure washing equipment.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lennawill, Inc.. Invention is credited to Milton L. Ballou.
United States Patent |
3,608,824 |
Ballou |
September 28, 1971 |
HIGH-PRESSURE WASHING EQUIPMENT
Abstract
High-pressure washing equipment adapted to deliver either of two
cleaning fluids selectively against hard surfaces to be cleaned and
having for its principal object to provide simplified controls
adapted to be selectively operated to deliver a multiplicity of
cleaning fluids in the form of a high-pressure and high-velocity
spray, said equipment incorporating a sequential valve.
Inventors: |
Ballou; Milton L.
(Gloversville, NY) |
Assignee: |
Lennawill, Inc. (Gloversville,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21816456 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/023,656 |
Filed: |
March 30, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/124; 239/310;
137/115.16; 239/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
7/30 (20130101); B08B 3/026 (20130101); B08B
3/028 (20130101); B05B 7/32 (20130101); B05B
12/1418 (20130101); B60S 3/044 (20130101); B08B
2203/0205 (20130101); B08B 2203/0282 (20130101); Y10T
137/2617 (20150401); B08B 2203/0217 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60S
3/04 (20060101); B05B 7/32 (20060101); B05B
7/30 (20060101); B05B 7/24 (20060101); B08B
3/02 (20060101); B05b 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/61,124,127X,71
;137/115,116X,117 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: King; Lloyd L.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a pressure washer, a power-driven pump having an inlet and an
outlet connected by a flexible conduit to a spray head including a
handle for directing the spray from said head, a first valve
controlling flow through said head; conduit means for supplying
liquid to the inlet of said pump and having a first branch
connected to a source of water and a second branch connected to a
source of cleaning fluid, and a second sequential valve controlling
flow of cleaning fluid through said second branch to said pump
inlet, the improvements which comprise a sequential valve which is
opened and closed in response to the movement of the stem of an
unloader valve for opening and closing the conduit supplying soap
solution to the system.
2. A pressure washer, in accordance with claim 1, in which said
sequential valve is operated by a lever and ratchet in response to
the movement of the stem of an unloader valve which is actuated by
a piston responding to the pressure upon the closing of a shutoff
valve in a spray head.
3. A pressure washer, in accordance with claim 1, in which a toggle
switch is operated in response to the movement of a piston stem of
an unloader valve which opens and closes a circuit for operating
and shutting off a motor-driven pump.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high-pressure washing equipment involving
pressures of several hundred pounds per square inch, and more
particularly relates to a system wherein the multiplicity of
switches, relays, solenoids and related equipment are eliminated
and a more trouble-free and positive control is provided.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In high-pressure cleaning apparatus using fluids ejected at
relatively high pressure and, in particular, to cleaning apparatus
which delivers a multiplicity of different cleaning fluids, such
apparatus has required complicated electrical systems including
relays, solenoids, and related wiring, as exemplified by the
Techler et al. patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,845 and U.S. Pat. No.
3,118,610. Failure of such equipment required extensive repairs,
and loss of production.
Similar systems are shown in the following patents: R. R. Curtis et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,705; K. J. Heinicke et al., U.S. Pat. No.
3,322,350; and H. A. Poppitz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,417.
SUMMARY
As contrasted with the prior art, described above, the present
invention provides a cleaning apparatus for multiple fluids which
are to be ejected under high pressure, particularly for use in
automobile washing and similar applications such as the cleaning of
engines, machinery and the like, which has a positive control that
is triggered hydraulically at the nozzle of a control gun, and
which eliminates most of the control circuits including relays,
solenoids, etc. for operating the system of which the apparatus is
a part.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning
apparatus having a positive mechanical control for the flow of
cleaning fluids, requiring only the availability of conventional
110-volt AC electrical power, and a water supply at conventional
distribution pressure of 35- 90 pounds per square inch for its
operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
cleaning apparatus having a wide range of control of the
proportions of two cleaning fluids to be discharged by the
apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
cleaning apparatus having an accurate means for controlling the
ratio of one cleaning fluid to another introduced into the
apparatus from separate fluid-supply sources.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
cleaning apparatus which eliminates the danger of electrical shock
to the operator by eliminating all electrical wiring at the
operator-manipulated discharge nozzle.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning
apparatus of the type referred to in which the pump, which raises
the pressure of the cleaning fluids to elevated, discharge
pressure, cannot be operated unless the supply-discharge gun is
operating.
My invention also includes certain other novel features of
construction which will be more fully pointed out in the following
specification and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of my flow system including the
principal elements of my improved controls;
FIG. 2 is a detail showing of the sequential valve and the unloader
valve, illustrating the relationship and cooperation between these
elements;
FIG. 3 is a sectional top view with parts broken away showing the
elements of the sequential valve;
FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevation with parts broken away showing
the sequential valve cooperating with the lever by which it is
actuated in response to the movement of the piston rod on the
unloader valve;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the unloader valve showing the
operating elements;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the injector for the soap
solution;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a two-stage injector.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a suitable
spray-head valve for my control;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the spray head valve; and
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the switch for starting and stopping
the pump.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a schematic
illustration of the flow system, including the principal elements
of the improved controls. As shown in FIG. 1, water is brought in
from a tapline at pressures ranging from 35 to 90 pounds per square
inch and flows through line 12, through check valve 14, through
line 15 into an inlet of pressure reducer 16 where the pressure is
reduced to 30 pounds per square inch. Pressure reducer 16 is a
conventional pressure reducer and may be of any one of several
types which are available commercially. The water then passes
through conduit 17, into liquid injector 18 (FIG. 6). Injector 18
is shown in detail in FIG. 6, and is of simple construction and
with no moving parts. As shown schematically in FIG. 6, a liquid
under pressure enters the injector 18 through the nozzle 19 and is
converted into a jetstream. This high-velocity jet and the
accompanying low pressure create a flow through the suction tube 20
and into the injector 21. The mixture then flows through the
diffuser 22, where pressure is recovered. A portion of the energy
is imparted to the fluid drawn in through the suction tube, so the
reconverted pressure cannot be as high as the supply pressure. For
maximum-pressure recovery, or minimum-pressure loss, a two-stage
injector may be used. (FIG. 7). The small booster stage draws in
fluid at a vacuum and discharges into the intermediate pressure
region of the larger second stage. In this way, approximately only
one-half of the total pressure recovery occurs in each stage.
Consequently, the two-stage injector can operate more efficiently
at high discharge pressures.
Fluid enters the inlet 19 and issues from outlet 23 of the injector
through line 23a to pump 24 which is a motor-driven pump capable of
raising the pressure of the fluid (either water or soap solution)
to 500 pounds per square inch. The fluid then passes through line
25, through unloader valve 26 (FIGS. 1 and 5) to a flexible
high-pressure line, through conduit 27 extending to a spray head
28, having an elongated tube 29 extending to a spray nozzle 29a.
The head 28 has a handle 30 for directing the spray from the nozzle
against the surfaces to be cleaned and a manually operable lever 31
projects from the head 28 adjacent to the handle 30 for operating a
valve contained within the head. A suitable valve for the head 28
is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown, the lever 31 is pivotally
connected to the head 28 by a pin 32 and a plunger 33 is
operatively connected to the lever 31 at one end and has a rod 32a
extending axially from the plunger and a valve closure member 34 is
mounted on the opposite end of the rod 32a extending axially from
the plunger and a valve closure member 34 is mounted on the
opposite end of the rod 32a. An annular seat 35 is formed in a
valve end fitting 36 for the closure member 34. This valve is
normally biased toward closed position by a coiled spring 37 which
surrounds the plunger 33 and is confined between an annular flange
formed thereon and the spray head housing. As shown in FIG. 9, the
closure member 34 is hexagonal in shape so that when the valve is
opened by operation of the level 31, the fluid passes the member 38
through a cylindrical bore in the head 28a containing the member
38. Assuming unloader valve 26 is in the open position and the
trigger 31 of spray head 28 is closed, there will be no flow out of
the spray head and the back pressure on the line 40 will operate
against the piston 62 of the unloader valve 26 to maintain the
unloader valve in the open position. As valve 26 is opened, fluid
is recirculated to bypass line 43 back through conduit 23a to pump
24. As the trigger 31 of the spray head 28 is opened, the pressure
is released on the piston 62 of unloader valve 26 so that valve 21
is closed, thus permitting the flow of fluid through the unloader
valve 26 and the spray head 28 under 500 pounds pressure per square
inch.
Unloader valve 26 has a bypass port 45 connected to a bypass
conduit 43 disposed in continuous communication with the pump-inlet
conduit 23a and a branch 67 of the bypass conduit 43 extends from
passage 63 to a ball-type check valve consisting of a closure
member 68 to normally close the passage 67 at an annular seat 68a.
This check valve prevents flow from the passage 67 to the port 45
when the member 68 is closed at its seat 68a.
Pressure-responsive means are provided for unseating the
ball-closure member 68 and opening flow through the bypass passage
67 and conduit 43 when the pressure in the flexible conduit 27
exceeds a predetermined value. For this purpose a chamber 60 in the
housing 62 is disposed in continuous communication through a
passage 61 with the passage 63 and port 65. Within the chamber 60,
a piston 90 is movable axially and carries a piston head 91 and a
pin 92 projecting beyond the piston for engagement with the check
ball or closure member 68. Projecting axially from the piston 90
through an opening in the housing 62 is a stem 93 carrying
exteriorly of the housing a spring-confining washer 94 and a
spring-tension-adjusting nut 95 for holding a coiled spring 96
under compression. This is a stiff spring 96 which retains the
piston 90 in its retracted position against a predetermined high
pressure in the chamber 60. When pressure in excess of this
predetermined pressure develops in the chamber 60 above the piston
90, the latter forces the pin 92 downwardly to unseat the ball
valve member 68 and allow flow from the outlet of the pump through
the conduit 25, passages 67 and 43, and conduit 23a, to the pump
inlet. This unloader valve prevents damage to the pump when flow
through the spray head 28 is cut off.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, as piston 90 is moved axially,
stem 93 moves downwardly thus actuating lever 75 of the sequential
valve assembly and thereby moving ratchet wheel 76 through latch
77. Ratchet wheel 76 is mounted on the valve stem shaft 96, and is
secured by the setscrew 120. This moves the valve 71 through a
45.degree. angle of rotation, thus opening soap-supply line 110 and
moving a soap supply through line 97 into the injector 18, and
supplying soap solution to the high-pressure line. The next time
the valve stem moves in response to the operation of the trigger
31, the ratchet wheel is moved another 45.degree., thus the
sequential valve is closed, shutting off the flow of soap
solution.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve body 71 has a smoothly
machined tapered seat of approximately 20.degree. included angle
bored through the valve body. At right angles to the valve seat and
on the centerline of the valve body, the flow orifice 115 is
drilled which meets tapped holes 113 to 114 for pipe fittings on
each end of the valve body.
The valve stem 72 has the same taper as the valve body. An orifice
74 is drilled at right angles to the valve stem at a point that
will coincide with the valve-body orifice when the stem is inserted
in the tapered valve seat. Another orifice 73 is drilled through
the valve stem which will intersect orifice 74 at 90.degree. from
it.
An eight-point ratchet wheel 76 is mounted on the valve stem shaft
and is secured by the setscrew 120.
The valve stem 96 with ratchet wheel 76 is held in place by the
compression spring 79 and pressure plate 111.
The valve 71 is opened or closed by a 45.degree. rotation of the
valve stem. The rotation of the valve stem is accomplished by the
vertical motion of the lever arm 75 and latch 77 working as engaged
with the ratchet wheel 76. Part 100a is the mounting plate for the
valve assembly.
OPERATION
In operation, water enters from a city waterline through a
ball-check valve and a pressure-regulating valve which cuts the
pressure to a standard 30 pounds per square inch. From the
regulator, the water flows through an injector 18 which employs the
Venturi principle to induct a soap solution into the waterline. The
twin-piston pump 24, driven by a 3/4-HP motor (not shown), develops
500 p.s.i. at 2 gallons per minute.
In the high-pressure line, there is an unloader valve 26. When the
nozzle 29, at the end of the high-pressure line is closed, the back
surge of pressure causes the unloader valve 26 to open, bypassing
the 2 gallons per minute of water or soap back to the inlet line of
the pump. When the unloader valve unloads, the piston in the valve
travels downward against an external coil spring. A lever arm
hooked to the top end of this downward-travelling piston rod,
operates the ratchet wheel of the sequential valve causing it to
rotate 45.degree.. This closes the valve if it is open or opens it
if it is closed. As the valve is in the soap solution line which is
connected to the suction arm of the injector, it either permits or
prohibits the flow of soap. Thus, the valve provides both soap and
rinse cycles triggered hydraulically at the nozzle by a control
gun. When the nozzle is reopened, the unloader valve closes, moving
the piston shaft upward, and the latch downward so that it engages
the next succeeding notch in the ratchet wheel ready for the next
cycle.
To adapt my invention for use in self-service carwash
installations, I provide a lever-operated switch having a housing
indicated generally by the numeral 180 in FIG. 10. A toggle switch
181 within the housing 180 is of the conventional type which is
closed when the gun is not operating, for holding the power circuit
closed. When the switch circuit is closed by the movement of lever
75, the circuit is energized and remains energized throughout the
cycle of operation. As indicated in FIG. 10, upon the closing of
the switch 181, the circuit is closed thereby energizing the motor.
Assuming that upon the closing of the switch 181, the manual valve
under control of the lever 31 at the spray head 28 is closed,
either water from the inlet 12 or cleaning solution from the
container 190 is drawn into the pump inlet through conduit 23a and
passes through the outlet conduit 25 until the pressure in the
chamber 60 rises to a point where the piston 90 is moved downwardly
as seen in FIG. 5 to unseat the check-ball member 68 and open flow
through the bypass passage 67, conduit 43 and pump-inlet conduit
23a.
If at the time of the closing of the switch by the movement of
lever 75, the circuit is energized, water will be fed to the pump
inlet, and cleaning solution will be withdrawn from the reservoir
to the pump inlet and will be recirculated through the unloader
valve from the pump outlet to the pump inlet as hereinbefore
described. A bay area is indicated generally by the broken line 83
(FIG. 5). The automobile or other vehicle to be washed is parked in
the bay area within reach of the spray head at the end of the
flexible conduit 27.
It will be evident that my improved pressure washer has no
electrical control switches at the handle of the spray head. The
shift from supplying soap solution to supplying rinse water under
pressure through the flexible conduit 27 is accomplished merely by
the pressure drop in the line acting on the pressure-responsive
piston 90 each time the lever 31 is released. Thus, in order to
change from soap solution to rinse water at the nozzle or from
rinse water to soap solution, it is only necessary to release the
lever 31 and then squeeze it again.
For installations where alternating current is not available, or
where it is desirable to make the washer readily portable, the pump
24 may be operatively connected to an internal combustion engine,
and electric current for operating the solenoid valve, signal and
pressure switch circuits may be supplied from a battery carried by
the washer carriage.
* * * * *