WO2007118266A1

WO2007118266A1 - Hand held spray and pump device

Info

Publication number: WO2007118266A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/001719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Frederick Finster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-16
Filing date: 2006-11-16
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-16
Also published as: AU2006342387A1; AU2006342387B2; NZ568984A

Abstract

A hand held device for use with a pressurised fluid to remove waste from a site, the device including a body, a drive conduit through which the fluid enters the body, a waste inlet through which waste enters the body from the site, a spray outlet through which the fluid exits the body, a waste conduit through which the fluid and waste exits the body, and a selector to select a mode of operation for the device, the device being operable in a spray mode to discharge the fluid through the spray outlet, and a suction mode whereby the fluid is directed through a venturi, the venturi being in fluid communication with the waste conduit and the waste inlet to create a vacuum adjacent the waste inlet to draw waste from the site and into the waste conduit.

Description

HAND HELD SPRAY AND PUMP DEVICE

This invention relates to a hand held device for use with a pressurised , fluid to remove waste from a site. The invention has a particular commercial application where the fluid is water at mains pressure, and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this particular application. It should be appreciated however that the device may be used with, other pressurised fluids such as liquids pressurised by other means, or a pressurised gas including pressurised air.

It is often preferable to use pressurised water to spray a site for the purpose of cleaning that site. The site may be any site including, a pavement, a vehicle, a house or a pool. It is sometimes possible for the waste water to drain from the site into the stormwater system. It is sometimes preferable to capture the waste water for discharging at a more suitable location, particularly for hazardous waste water. Furthermore some sites such as pools including spas, ponds and baths, or vehicles such as boats and yachts, capture the waste water as a result of their shape. Removing waste water from a site can be a problem.

In some circumstances the waste water can be removed from the site by inverting the pool or vehicle. It will be appreciated that not all pools or vehicle can be easily inverted. Furthermore it is difficult to control the discharge of hazardous waste water when inverting a pool or vehicle. Some pools and vehicles have a drain opening, however these tend to be of small diameter and as such restrict the low volume flow rate. Siphoning is another option, however in practice the siphon conduits tend to be of small diameter which suffer the same problems as drain openings. Siphoning also requires a difference in elevation head between the outlet of the siphon and the waste water, which can be difficult to achieve in practice. Another option is a pump to remove the waste water. However pumps such as centrifugal pumps driven by a petrol or electric ^r motor tend to be relatively expensive and utilised by commercial operators only. Another problem when cleaning a site is that it is often necessary to spray the site more than once. In some circumstances the accumulating waste water covers that portion of the site that needs to be resprayed. Accordingly it is necessary to cease spraying, remove the waste water by the most suitable means, and commence spraying again. It should be appreciated that the process of respraying using existing waste water removal techniques can be time consuming.

The above discussion of acts, devices and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of this invention.

The term spray as herein used in this specification with reference to fluid is intended to encompass a stream of fluid that may be dispersed or focused.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device that addresses at least one of the problems referred to above. It is a preferred object for the invention to provide a relatively cheap alternative, particularly with reference to centrifugal pumps. It is a further preferred object for the invention to provide a device that is simple yet time efficient to use.

According to this invention there is provided a hand held device for use with a pressurised fluid to remove waste from a site, the device including a body, a drive conduit through which the fluid enters the body, a waste inlet through which waste enters the body from the site, a spray outlet through which the fluid exits the body, a waste conduit through which the fluid and waste exits the body, and a selector to select a mode of operation for the device, the device being operable in a spray mode to discharge the fluid through the spray outlet, and a suction mode whereby the fluid is directed through a venturi, the venturi being in fluid communication with waste conduit and the waste inlet to create a vacuum adjacent the waste inlet ^"to draw waste from the site and into the waste conduit. It ought to be appreciated that the device as hereinbefore defined is capable in spray mode of spraying down a site using pressurise water to dislodge dirt from the site, and in suction mode draw the dirt and water from the site into the waste conduit for discharging at a more suitable site.

The drive conduit and waste conduit are preferably integrally formed with the body. However the drive conduit and waste conduit may be formed separately from the body and subsequently connected to the body in an assembly.

It is preferred that the selector be capable of selecting a combined mode of operation for the device, whereby fluid is discharged through the spray outlet and towards the venturi. It is further preferred that the selector be capable of selecting a pause mode, whereby the fluid is not discharged to the spray outlet or towards the venturi.

The selector may take any form however it is preferred that the selector be manually adjustable to enable selection of the mode of operation for the device. In one preferred form the selector takes the form of a valve located within a bore, whereby the valve body is manually rotatable within the bore to select the mode of operation. In this preferred form the valve is preferably a cock valve having at least one discharge aperture through which aperture the fluid passes to the venturi or the spray outlet. It is preferred that the cock valve body include more than one aperture to enable the fluid to pass to both the venturi and the spray outlet when the device is operating in combined mode. It is preferred that the at least one aperture be located radially of the valve body.

It is preferred that the drive conduit extend substantially parallel to the outlet conduit. It is further preferred that the drive conduit is locatable adjacent the outlet conduit, and particularly preferred that the drive conduit and the outlet conduit are fixed in this parallel adjacent arrangement. This arrangement has the advantage of minimising the space occupied by the device in down hole or down pipe operations. It is preferred that the drive conduit have a drive inlet and the waste conduit have a waste outlet whereby the drive inlet and waste outlet are located at one end of the body. It is further preferred that the waste inlet be located at an end of the body remote from the drive inlet and the waste outlet. This will facilitate dead ending the waste inlet in waste having a low depth.

It is preferred that the waste inlet be defined in part by a shroud, and it is further preferred that the shroud is detachable form the body. The shroud may take any shape, however it is preferred that the shape facilitate locating the waste inlet adjacent the waste. It is further preferred that the device include a plurality of shrouds of different shapes. The shroud is preferably attached to the body in a friction fit, however this is not essential. The shroud may alternatively attach by a snap or lock fit.

It is preferred that the venturi include a nozzle and a venturi element, with a gap between the nozzle and the venturi element, which gap is in fluid communication with the waste inlet. While the venturi and nozzle may be formed integrally with the body, it is preferred that the venturi element and nozzie are formed separately from the body and subsequently connected thereto. This allows for changes to be made to the nozzle and venturi to vary the suction characteristics of the device.

The spray outlet preferably includes a nozzle. It is preferred that the spray outlet is located adjacent the waste inlet, particularly at an end of the body remote from the drive inlet and the waste outlet. It is preferred that the nozzle of the spray outlet is shrouded by the shroud to protect the nozzle

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the accompany drawings which show two preferred embodiments of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention. Figure 1 illustrates the device according to one preferred aspect of this invention viewed in long section.

Figure 2 illustrates the device from figure 1 rotated through 90 degrees. •

Figure 3 illustrates a first portion of the device according to another aspect of this invention viewed in long section.

Figure 4 illustrates the first portion of the device from figure 3 viewed from the underside thereof.

Figure 5 illustrates the first portion of the device from figure 3 viewed from the top thereof.

Figure 6 illustrates a second portion of the device for attachment to the first portion as illustrated in figures 3 to 5 viewed in long section.

Figure 7 illustrates the second portion of the device from figure 6 rotated through 90 degrees.

Figure 8 illustrates the second portion of the device from figure 6 viewed from the underside thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the device illustrated in figure 1 includes a body 1 having a drive conduit 2 integrally formed therewith. The drive conduit 2 has a drive inlet 3 which in use is connected to a source of fluid (not shown) under pressure, through which inlet 3 the fluid enters the body 1 of the device. The fluid enters a passageway defined in part by the drive conduit 2 and moves along the drive conduit in the direction of the arrow W.

The device according to the invention includes a selector 4 for selecting the mode of operation for the device. The selector illustrated in figure 1 includes a hand engagable actuator 5 in the form of a turn blade. This form of actuator may vary. The device illustrated in figure 1 is capable of operating in a spray, suction, combination or pause mode of operation. These modes of operation may be achieved by utilising any suitable arrangement, and the preferred embodiments illustrated in the figures are only two of the possible many suitable arrangements.

The device illustrated in figure 1 shows the fluid entering an entry aperture 6 of a valve body 7 forming part of the selector 4. The valve body 7 is located within a bore 8 formed in the body 1. The bore 8 has a longitudinal axis x which in the illustrated embodiment is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis y of the drive conduit 2, however this alignment may be varied. The entry aperture 6 illustrated in figure 1 is located substantially coaxially with the longitudinal axis x of the bore 8, however this location may vary. The entry aperture 6 for example may be located radially of the valve body 7.

The valve body 7 illustrated has a plurality of discharge apertures 9 spaced radially of the valve body 7. The valve body 7 illustrated in figure 1 is rotatable within the bore 8 by a user manually rotating the turn blade 5 relative to the body 1. The valve body 7 is rotated so as to align the discharge apertures 9 with either, both or neither, of a spray nozzle 10 or a jet nozzle 11. This allows the device to operate in a spray, suction, combination or pause mode of operation. The device is illustrated in figure 1 in a combination mode whereby the apertures 9 are aligned with both the spray nozzle 10 and the jet nozzle 11.

When the selector selects a spray mode of operation for the device, the valve body 7 is rotated so that one of the discharge apertures 9 is aligned with the spray nozzle 10 to allow the fluid to pass through the spray nozzle 10. This allows the user to use the device to spray down a site.

When the selector selects a suction mode of operation for the device, the valve body 9 is rotated so that the discharge aperture is aligned with the jet nozzle 1 1 to allow the fluid to pass through the jet nozzle 11. The fluid exits the jet nozzle 11 and enters a venturi element 12 which is spaced from the jet nozzle 1 1 by a gap 13. The venturi element 12 may be formed integrally with a waste conduit 14 of the device, however it is preferred that the venturi element 13 be formed separately of the waste conduit 14 for location in a position in fluid communication with the waste conduit 14. This allows the venturi element 13 to be easily removed. The venturi element 12 is illustrated in a position coaxial and located within the waste conduit 14, being attached to the body 1 by a threaded arrangement 15 between the body and the venturi element. This form of attachment may be varied. The fluid enters the venturi element 12 through a frusto conical passage 16 and passes to a substantially cylindrical passage 17. In use this creates a negative pressure in the gap 13 adjacent the frusto conical passage 16. This negative pressure can in use draw in waste from a waste inlet 18 adjacent the spray outlet 10 through waste passages 19 located either side of the selector 4 as illustrated in figure 2. The waste is then combined with the fluid W in the venturi element 12 and discharged through the waste outlet 20.

The valve body 7, as stated above has a plurality of discharge apertures 9 so as to allow the fluid W to pass to both the spray nozzle 10 and the jet nozzle 11. This allows the device to operate in a combination mode whereby the fluid W is being discharged from the spray nozzle 10 and through the venturi element 12 to create suction at the waste inlet 18. The device illustrated in figure 2 is shown in the combination mode of operation.

The drive conduit 2 and waste conduit 14 as illustrated in figure 1 are preferably parallel so as minimise the space that they occupy. This assists with locating the device or at least the waste inlet 18 of the device down a hole or pipe of limited dimensions.

The drive inlet 3 and waste outlet 20 are illustrated in figure 1 positioned adjacent each other. It is intended in use to connect the drive inlet 3 to a source of fluid under pressure, such as water at mains pressure via a hose. Figure 1 illustrates the drive conduit having a threaded connection 21 adjacent the drive inlet 3 for connection to a hose. However this connection may vary and adopt, for example a barbed connection 22 as shown on the waste conduit 14 adjacent the waste outlet 20. The barbed connection 22 facilitates attachment of a hose to the waste conduit 14, however this connection may vary also. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the waste inlet 18 being defined by a shroud 23. The shroud 23 is shown as being separate from the body 1 , however this is not essential. The shroud 23 may be formed integrally with the body 1 , however by forming the shroud 23 separate allows the shroud to be interchanged with another shroud. It is preferred, but not illustrated, that the device be provided with a plurality of shrouds 23 of different shapes so as to access different sites.

Referring now to the second embodiment illustrated in figures 3 to 8, which illustrates a device that operates in a manner similar to the first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1 and 2. The functional difference resides in the selector. The second embodiment illustrated in figure 3 has a drive conduit 2 in fluid communication wjth the valve body 7 of the selector 4. This permits fluid W to enter an axially aligned inlet aperture 6 of the valve body 7 and pass through discharge apertures 9 spaced radially of the valve body 7. However the valve body 7 of the second embodiment is manually relative in the direction of the arrow K translated to the body 1 of the device to select the mode of operation for the device.

Furthermore the spray outlet has a pair of spray nozzles 10 each having a different cross section, which can be more easily seen in figure 4. This produces two sprays having different characteristics, one being a broad spray the other being more focused.

A further difference is that the second embodiment as illustrated in at least figures 5 and 6 is that the waste conduit 14 is formed separately from the drive conduit 2. The waste conduit 14 and the drive conduit 2 have a dovetail formation 24,25 to allow the waste conduit to slide into connection with the drive conduit, A snap fitting 26,27 as illustrated in figures 3 and 6 holds the waste conduit 14 from axial movement relative to the drive conduit 2, with a grub screw 29 as illustrated in figure 8 locks the conduits in this position.

The device may be formed from any suitable material including metal or plastics. Where the device is to be manufactured from plastics, materials including ABS, Nylon 6 or Glass Filled Nylon have been found suitable for providing some resistance to abrasion.

It will be appreciated that a device as hereinbefore described is relatively simple to use. Furthermore the device provides a pumping capacity that is relatively cheaper to manufacture than a centrifugal pump.

Various alterations and or additions may be made to the device as hereinbefore described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1 . A hand held device for use with a pressurised fluid to remove waste from a site, the device including a body, a drive conduit through which the fluid enters the body, a waste inlet through which waste enters the body from the site, a spray outlet through which the fluid exits the body, a waste conduit through which the fluid and waste exits the body, and a selector to select a mode of operation for the device, the device being operable in a spray mode to discharge the fluid through the spray outlet, and a suction mode whereby the fluid is directed through a venturi, the venturi being in fluid communication with waste conduit and the waste inlet to create a vacuum adjacent the waste inlet to draw waste from the site and into the waste conduit.

2. A hand held device according to claim 1 wherein the drive conduit and waste conduit are integrally formed with the body.

3. A hand held device according to claim 1 wherein the drive conduit and/or waste conduit are formed separately from the body and subsequently connected to the body in an assembly.

4. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the selector is capable of selecting a combined mode of operation for the device, whereby fluid is discharged through the spray outlet and towards the venturi.

5. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the selector is capable of selecting a pause mode of operation for the device, whereby the fluid is not discharged to the spray outlet or towards the venturi.

6. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the selector is manually adjustable to enable selection of the mode of operation for the device.

7. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein • the selector is a valve located within a bore, whereby the valve has a valve body which is manually adjustable within the bore to select the mode of operation for the device.

8, A hand held device according to claim 7 wherein the valve body is manually rotatable within the bore to select the mode of operation for the device.

9. A hand held device according to claim 7 wherein the valve body is manually translated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore to select the mode of operation for the device.

10. A hand held device according to claim 9 wherein the valve body and bore are formed with rotation limiting means to limit movement of the valve body to the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore.

11. A hand held device according to claim 10 wherein the rotation limiting means includes at least one projection formed on the valve body for location in at least one groove formed in the bore.

12. A hand held device according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the bore is formed in the body of the device.

13. A hand held device according to any one of claims claim 7 to 12 wherein valve body valve has at least one discharge aperture through which aperture the fluid passes to the venturi or the spray outlet.

14. A hand held device according to claim 13 wherein the valve body includes more than one discharge aperture to so that the fluid can pass to both the venturi and the spray^' outlet to enable the device to is operate in the combined mode.

15. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive conduit extends substantially parallel to the outlet conduit.

16. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive conduit is locatable adjacent the outlet conduit.

17. A hand held device according to claim 16 when dependant upon claim 15 wherein the drive conduit and the outlet conduit are fixed in the parallel adjacent configuration.

18. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive conduit has a drive inlet and the waste conduit has a waste outlet whereby the drive inlet and waste outlet are located at one end of the body, and the waste inlet is located at an end of the body remote from the drive inlet and the waste outlet.

19. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the waste inlet is defined in part by a shroud which is detachable form the body.

20. A hand held device according to claim 19 wherein the shroud is shaped to facilitate locating the waste inlet adjacent the waste.

21. A hand held device according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the shroud is attached to the body in any one of a friction, snap or lock fit.

22. A hand held device according to any one of claims 19 to 21 including a plurality of said shrouds, each shroud being of a different shape.

23. A hand held device according to any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein the spray outlet includes at least one spray nozzle which is located adjacent the waste inlet, whereby the spray nozzle of the spray outlet is shrouded by the shroud to protect the spray nozzle.

24. A hand held device according to claim 23 wherein the spray outlet includes a plurality of spray nozzles, each spray nozzle being of a different configuration to produce a spray having different characteristics.

25. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the venturi includes a jet nozzle and a venturi element, with a gap between the jet nozzle and the venturi element, which gap is in fluid communication with the waste inlet.

26. A hand held device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the venturi element and jet nozzle are formed separately from the body and subsequently connected thereto to enable variation in the suction characteristics of the device.

27. A hand held device substantially as herein before described with reference to the attached drawings.