U.S. patent number 3,628,727 [Application Number 04/887,235] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-21 for high-pressure spray device.
Invention is credited to Harlan T. Gjerde.
United States Patent |
3,628,727 |
Gjerde |
December 21, 1971 |
HIGH-PRESSURE SPRAY DEVICE
Abstract
A high-pressure spray device utilizing a pump delivering through
a conduit to a remote spray head which spray head is provided with
control means including on and off and controlled spray selections
with valving means arranged in the conduit which are controlled by
the selective valve controls at the spray head and which valving
means include a complete shutoff and bypass arrangement and a
partial flow arrangement during which time an additive is delivered
to the spray head. The spray head control system allows complete
control of the system through common hydraulics rather than
requiring auxiliary control systems.
Inventors: |
Gjerde; Harlan T. (Minneapolis,
MN) |
Family
ID: |
25390731 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/887,235 |
Filed: |
December 22, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/124;
239/571 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B
3/02 (20130101); B05B 7/32 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
7/32 (20060101); B05B 7/24 (20060101); B08B
3/02 (20060101); B05b 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/124-127,569,571
;222/424 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: King; Lloyd L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A high-pressure fluid spray system including the combination
of:
a. a high-pressure fluid pumping element having an inlet and an
outlet;
b. a first valving member arranged to receive high pressure fluid
from said pumping element having pressure actuated control means
therein to direct fluid to a first discharge in a first position
and to a second discharge in a second position, said second
position directing fluid to said inlet of said pumping element,
said control means being responsive to pressure at said first
discharge shifting to discharge to said second discharge upon
shutoff of said first discharge;
c. a spray head receiving fluid from said first discharge of said
first valving member and having valving means thereon shiftable
from a first full flow position to a second controlled partial flow
position and a third closed position;
d. at least one second valving member arranged to receive fluid
from said pumping element, being pressure responsive to allow flow
therethrough when said spray head valving member is shifted to said
second position;
e. a venturi-type injector receiving fluid under pressure from said
second valving member and communicating with said inlet of said
pumping element; and,
f. means for supplying fluid to be included in the system
communicating with said injector.
2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and the pressure required to
allow flow through said second valving member being less than the
pressure required to shift said first valving member from said
first to second position.
3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said second valving
member being arranged and constructed to permit limited flow
therethrough.
4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and said second valving
member permitting limited flow therethrough while maintaining a
predetermined pressure in said system.
5. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said control means in
said first valving member arranged and constructed to maintain
fluid under pressure in said first discharge when the same is
shifted to said second discharge.
Description
Various high-pressure spraying devices are, of course, well known
in the art. The difficulty with most of these systems is that the
spray head is often manually controlled and manually directed and
in order to control the various flows which the user will require
an auxiliary or additional control system is necessary. One example
of such a system is, of course, a simple manual system which
requires the user to return to a control station to manually
actuate the various controls of the unit while another system is an
electrical system which requires that an electrical conduit be
provided at the spray head for use by the operator to control the
various elements of the system. This latter system presents certain
use difficulties to the operator as the presence of the electrical
handle does not allow for complete flexibility of movement and
further, that in using the spray head the user will often pull on
the spray-containing conduit and when he does so, he may exert a
breaking, pulling force on the electrical conductor.
Applicant has provided herein a unique combination of elements
which permits the user of a spray head to control all of the
applicant necessary for spraying and cleaning simply by controlling
the pressure in the system by manipulating valves which are located
at the spray head. The applicant provides a system wherein upon
shutting off flow from the spray head the pump and valving
arrangement included herein will completely bypass the spraying
conduit while if the user selects a controlled spray valve, the
combination of elements responsive to the pressure developed in
this controlled situation selects a flow pattern through a chemical
additive line, which is then directed to the spray head held by the
operator. This particular system as developed by applicant permits
complete control of the system through hydraulic sensing of
pressures being controlled by the operator.
It is therefore an object of the applicant's invention to provide a
high-pressure spraying system wherein the operator is permitted to
select a variety of processes simply by controlling the pressure
developed in the spraying conduit.
It is a further object of applicant's invention to provide a
high-pressure system which permits the user thereof to select from
a variety of flow conditions and more particularly, from a flow
condition which permits an additive to be introduced to the
spray.
It is a further object of applicant's invention to provide a
combination of elements which permits controlled flow of fluids
under pressure simply by controlling the outlet system thereof.
It is a further object of applicant's invention to provide a
high-pressure washing system wherein the user is permitted to
select from a waterflow condition under pressure or a waterflow
with chemical cleaning additive under pressure.
These and other objects of the invention will more fully appear
from the following description made in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the arrangement of the
various components in utilizing applicant's concept;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially through V.sub.1
;
FIG. 3 is a cross section taken substantially through V.sub.2 ;
and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through V.sub.4.
In accordance with the accompanying drawings, applicant's device
provides a high-pressure spray system. A spray head 11 is provided
with a pair of control valves respectively designates 12-13 which
include an on/off valve 13 and a flow control valve 12 which flow
control valve permits and provides for the addition of chemicals or
other additives into the fluid being sprayed. It should be noted
that applicant's system does not provide any other control devices
and that these two control valves 12-13 provide a hydraulic control
arrangement for the entire system.
In order to provide applicant's control system an inlet line 14 is
provided which is directed into a pump 15 which pump in order to
provide the spraying and cleaning action which applicant envisions
as the logical use for his device is a high-pressure pump. Exiting
from the pump is an outlet conduit 16 directed through a first main
control and unloading valve 17 which first valve 17 has an outlet
conduit 18 directed to the spray head and a bypass conduit 19 which
bypasses the system in the form shown and returns to the inlet side
14 of the pump 15. A second chemical additive conduit 20 is
provided intermediate the pump 15 and the first main control and
unloading valve 17 which conduit 20 includes a pressure limiting
valve 21 which has its outlet 22 directed to an injector 23 which
injector outlet 24 is bypassed to the inlet side of the pump 15.
The injector 23 is connected at its inlet side to a chemical
additive reservoir 25 and the conduit 26 from the reservoir is
controlled through a check valve 27 to prevent flow from the
conduit 22 into the reservoir 25.
The spray head valves 12-13 include, in the form presently used by
applicant, valves which embody the structure as illustrated in FIG.
4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, valve 12 is illustrated having a body
30 with a longitudinal passage 31 therethrough with what is known
as a ball flow control 32 seated therein for control of the flow
through the passage 31. Obviously, an external control means such
as handle 33 must be provided to control the position of this ball
32. In the form shown, valve 12 includes a ball member 32 which has
two individual and different size passages therethrough. The first
such passage 34 in a full flow passage which does not restrict the
flow of the medium through the valve in any manner, while the
second passage 35 is of substantially reduced cross-sectional
diameter to substantially reduce the flow of the medium
therethrough. Obviously, when the valve is in the position shown,
the flow through the valve is restricted and, therefore, there is a
pressure buildup in the system therebehind. The function of this
valve 12 is to control the chemical additive bypass arrangement and
the functioning thereof will be discussed hereinafter.
Valve 13 in the form shown may be similar in construction to valve
12 with the exception that the ball portion 32 thereof is only
provided with the full flow aperture therethrough and in its second
position, no flow is permitted through the valve and therefore,
this second position serves as a shutoff. Valve 12 basically
controls the shutoff bypass circuitry of the device as will be
discussed hereinafter.
Unloader valve V.sub.2 designated 17 in this description is
illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a body 40 providing an inlet 41
which the inlet conduit 16 will be connected with a first discharge
designated 42 to connect with conduit 18 and the bypass or second
discharge being designated 43 to connect to the shutoff bypass
conduit 19. Extending from the inlet passage 41, are a pair of
passages designated respectively 44-45 the first of which 44 is
provided with a valving member 46 directly thereabove normally
seated through spring loading member 47. Upon flow of fluid through
the inlet 41, this valving member 46 is forced open and liquid
flows through the outlet port 42 and through the discharge conduit
18. It should be noted that a secondary passage 48 is provided in
position whereby fluid under inlet pressure may be diverted
downwardly into a control chamber 49 defined in the housing.
The second of the aforementioned flow chambers 45 is directed to a
bypass valve chamber 50 which is provided with a seat 51 having a
bypass ball valve 52 mounted thereon and thereagainst which in
normal operating position prevents flow therethrough. A piston and
spring loaded rod arrangement generally designated 53 is provided
within the control chamber 49 and the piston member 54 is arranged
on the control shaft 55 which control shaft is spring loaded
through an external spring member 56. The shaft 55 is in position
and smaller than the seat 51 upon which the ball valve 52 is
normally seated such that when the shaft 55 is urged upwardly to
unseat the ball valve 52 flow may pass through this seat and
thereafter from the valve through the outlet or shutoff bypass
outlet 43. Upward movement of the plunger 54 is controlled by the
fluid flowing into the control chamber 49 through passage 48. When
this pressure reaches a predetermined point in chamber 49 below the
piston 54 and the associated rod 55 is forced upwardly to push the
bypass valve ball 52 completely off the valve seat. At this release
of pressure, the outlet valve 46 closes against the seat 44 thereby
trapping all of the fluid in the outlet conduit 18 while permitting
flow from the pump to be bypassed through the bypass passage 45
valve seat 51 and the outlet 43. This arrangement allows the entire
pump outlet to bypass the system and basically unloads all pressure
from the pump. Obviously, with this trapping arrangement obtained
by closing of the first valving member 46 fluid is maintained in
the outlet conduit 18 and when this pressure is released by opening
valve 13 there is an immediate flow of fluid through the
system.
When opening valve 13 the pressure is reduced in the control
chamber 49 and the external spring member 56 will provide closure
of the ball 52 upon its seat 51 and the main control valve 46 will
open. This particular type of valve is known as an unloader valve
and serves to reduce the load placed upon the pump 5.
The function of valve 12 is to provide control for the chemical
additive bypass line and to permit the inclusion of certain
chemical cleaning additives to the medium being sprayed while still
maintaining substantially high pressures for cleaning with the
additive. By shifting valve 12 into its position as illustrated in
FIG. 4 wherein a reduced orifice is provided, a throttling effect
and resulting pressure buildup will occur in the conduit 18. This
pressure is transmitted through valve 17 and conduit 16 to likewise
be introduced to the conduit 20 feeding the valve 21 as illustrated
in FIG. 2. The valve as illustrated in FIG. 2 is a commercially
available unit which includes a lower receiving end 60 to which the
conduit 20 is attached and provides a body 61 extending therefrom
to a closure end 62 which closure end is provided with means for
attaching the body 61 and particularly within cavity 62 a first
floating valving member 64 is provided having a sealing ring 65
about the exterior surface thereof to seal against the interior
wall 61a of the body 61. The inner wall of the chamber 63 also
includes a valve seat 66 against which a sealing member 67 carried
by the valving member 64 may seat. Also provided through the front
surface 64a of the valving member 64 are apertures 68 which permit
a certain limited flow therethrough into the area behind the
valving member 64 which therefore permits flow through the body
cavity 63 and into the outlet conduit 22. A biasing member such as
spring 69 is provided to normally urge the sealing member 64 into
sealing relation with the seat 66. The function of this valve is as
follows:
When the pressure in the conduit 20 reaches a predetermined
pressure which is sufficient to overcome the pressure of spring 69
the sealing member 64 slides from the sealing position against seat
66 thereby permitting flow of fluid from conduit 20 into the
aforementioned limiting apertures 68 and through the outlet conduit
22. These limiting-flow passages 68 along with the greater area of
the entire face 64a of the sliding member 64 as compared to the
limited area of the seat 66 and seal 67 permit the sliding valving
member 64 to remain in opened position even though there is a flow
of fluid therethrough. In operation then, there must be a
correlation between the valving member 12 and this valving device
21, such that whenever the valving member 12 is shifted into its
restricted flow position the pressure created thereby in the system
will be sufficient to hold the sliding valving member 64 in open
flow position.
Exiting from the limiting valve 21 the flow passes through conduit
22 into an injector device 23. This injector device is basically a
venturi which draws chemicals from the chemical reserve 25 through
conduit 26 and through the check valve 27. The check valve 27 is
simply to prevent rearward flow of fluid into the reserve tank 25.
As the concept of venturis is well known in the art, it would seem
that no further description of this device must be made. The
chemical additive bypass line continues to the inlet side of the
pump 15 where it is then pumped along with the normally supplied
medium through the unloaded valve 17 and out of the spray head 11.
Obviously, with a constant displacement pump, a certain amount of
fluid will continually be recycled through the chemical additive
line and the concentration of additive passing from the spray head
will thereby be constantly increased.
When a sufficient amount of cleaning additive has been utilized,
shifting valve 12 to its full flow position will now drop the
pressure in the line such that valve 21 will again, through the
action of the biasing member 69 close. At this point, the raw inlet
fluid will simply be pumped through the pump 15, the valve 17 and
the spray head 11.
It should be obvious that there is a certain correlation of
functions between the valves 17-21 and the limiting ball valve 12.
Obviously, the units will operate in proper sequence if properly
selected. The optimum situation is that when valve 12 is shifted to
its limiting or throttling position, the increase in pressure in
the system caused thereby will be sufficiently great to open the
valve 21, but will not be sufficiently great to cause the unloader
valve 17 to close and permit bypass.
It should also be obvious that upon closing of valve 13, the
pressure buildup in the system will cause tripping of valve 21, but
that the pressure rise will be so rapid that the opening of valve
17 to bypass position will occur very rapidly to thereby return
valve 21 to closed position.
It should be also obvious that applicant has provided a device
wherein one chemical additive bypass line is arranged and the
pressures correlated thereby are determined by the control valve
12, but that additional chemical bypass additive lines could be
incorporated simply by providing another control valve at the spray
head which would control and provide pressure in the line at a
different value than that necessary to open valve 21. In other
words, if a slightly larger orifice than the restricted orifice 35
as provided in valve 12 were provided in an additional valve, then
the raise in pressure upon closing such additional valve would not
be as great as presently obtained and another valve similar to
valve 21 could be provided to open under this particular pressure.
It should be obvious then that a multitude of such valves could be
arranged which would function in the same manner as that provided
herein to thereby provide a wide variety of chemicals or other
additives to be used at the spray head.
The basic concept of applicnat's device is to provide a
controllable system wherein no exterior controls are necessary to
provide on/off and additive flow through a spray head, but rather
that a hydraulic pressure buildup is utilized to provide all of
these functions. This system then, provides a unique controllable
arrangement for high-pressure spraying systems responsive to the
pressure of the system without requiring additional equipment.
* * * * *