Abstract:
A device is provided that is adapted for selective interconnection to a conduit, thereby providing protection to cleaning hoses. More specifically, a mechanism that employs a plurality of rollers, and roller support arms, which act as stand-offs on which the hose may freely travel while being protected from damage potentially imparted by the lip of the conduit is provided.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/673,684, filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a hose protection device. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is adapted for interconnection with a conduit, such as a storm drain culvert, in order to protect expensive hoses that are employed within the conduit for cleaning or other maintenance operations.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to a device and a method for protecting hoses employed to clean conduits, such as culverts. Conduits, especially those with small internal diameters, tend to become obstructed by debris thereby reducing, or eliminating their flow capacity. For example, debris such as tree limbs, mud, gravel, moss, trash, etc. often find their way into storm sewers after a heavy rain, wherein the conduit becomes completely clogged, or severely restricted, thereby potentially exacerbating flooding. In addition, often local ordinances or standard maintenance procedures dictate that conduits be cleaned at predetermined intervals to remove any buildup of trash and debris, and hence help maintain a desirable flow rate through the conduit.  
         [0004]     Currently, the cleaning of conduits, such as concrete culverts, is generally accomplished with a high-pressure nozzle that is interconnected to a hose. Typical nozzles of the art are often able to discharge pressures up to 2000 psi, and are designed to blast the inner wall of a conduit to remove debris. Further, some nozzles emit high pressure fluid in a plurality of directions, and many nozzles use a rearward-directed high pressure stream to propel itself through the conduit while it is performing its cleaning operation.  
         [0005]     Cleaning operations are typically performed by a one or two man crew that arrive at a conduit opening, deploy the nozzle and fluid supply hose from a delivery vehicle, feed the nozzle and hose into the conduit, and initiate cleaning by directing fluid through the nozzle. After cleaning, the hose is rewound and stored in the delivery vehicle. A similar process may also be used to treat the inner surface of a conduit, such as adding a sealant thereto.  
         [0006]     The major downfall of this process is the previously described hose removal. More specifically, the hoses used are very expensive due to their ability to carry extremely high pressures. In addition, hoses are also often difficult and time consuming to construct and handle. The hoses are usually constructed of rubber, plastic, braided flexible metal hose, or a combination thereof. When the hose is removed from the conduit it is dragged across the edge, or lip, of the conduit opening, thereby potentially damaging the hose. Frictional damage alone is generally enough to impart localized thinning of the hose. Once the hose thickness is reduced, it may be un-reparable and/or impractical to use because of the risk that the hose may fail under extreme pressures.  
         [0007]     Thus, there is a long felt need in the field of conduit maintenance, for a device adapted to selectively engage with the hose used in the cleaning or treatment operations that provides protection to the hose during removal from the conduit. The following disclosure describes a device that is adapted to interconnect to conduits of various diameters, and which provides protection to hoses used during maintenance processes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a hose protection device that is adapted for selective interconnection with various sizes of fluid conduits. Often, the same nozzle and hose combination will be utilized in many locations to treat a variety of conduits of various dimensions. One embodiment of the present invention provides a device that quickly and easily interconnects to an opening of most conduits. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a clamp that is adapted for interconnection to a conduit opening, and be secured thereto via threaded bolts. Other embodiments of the present invention may be easily scaled to fit specific pipe lines, or a range of similar conduits or openings with a variety of different geometric configurations.  
         [0009]     It is a related aspect of the present invention that the hose protection device is easy to install. One embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a hand actuated clamp securement mechanisms, for example set screws. To install, a user slides the clamp onto the lip of the conduit opening. The securement devices are then used to hold the device in place. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other securement means maybe used to achieve the objectives of the present invention, such as shimming, or hingedly interconnecting the clamp portion halves. The user then selectively engages the hose onto the hose protection device by placing the hose on rollers positioned about the clamp. The rollers provide a stand-off from the lip of the conduit and a reduced friction path on which the hose is adapted to travel when inserted and retracted to and from the conduit.  
         [0010]     As briefly mentioned above, it is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide rollers that are adapted to support and protect the hose. Preferably, one embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of support arms that are interconnected to the clamp at predetermined locations. Rolling members, such as a cylindrical shafts, are operably connected to the support arms to provide supporting locations for the hose. During insertion and removal of the hose from the conduit, the rollers are adapted to rotate thereby preventing damage to the hose. The rollers may be constructed from a tubular member with a rod or screw positioned therethrough that is interconnected to the support arms. Alternatively, linear bearings may be employed that are interconnected to the roller support arms to allow rotation of the rollers. Another related embodiment of the present invention employs rollers that are at least partially constructed from a compliant material, for example foam rubber, to reduce bearing loads imparted on the hose by the rollers.  
         [0011]     It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a hose protection device that is easy to manufacture. The present invention may be constructed from a plurality of materials, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, iron, Inconel, aluminum, plastic, carbon fiber composite, etc. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, steel or aluminum is used, because of their weldability and their resistance to corrosion. Corrosion resistance is important due to the high moisture content working environment in which the present invention is used, thus the present invention may also be painted, or otherwise treated, to ensure at least some resistance to corrosion. However, one may alternatively forgo corrosion resistance and choose to replace the device when it becomes apparent that material failure may occur.  
         [0012]     Thus, it is one aspect of the present invention to provide a hose protection device comprising:  
         [0013]     a clamping means adapted for selective interconnection to an opening of the conduit;  
         [0014]     at least one guide means having a first end and a second end, said first end interconnected to said clamping means while said second end extends beyond the opening of the conduit;  
         [0015]     a hose engagement means operably interconnected to said at least one guide means that is adapted to receive and support the flexible hose a predetermined distance from the opening of the conduit.  
         [0016]     The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general Summary of the Invention given above and the Detailed Description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a partial front cross sectional view of the present invention shown interconnected to a lip of a conduit such as a pipe. 
     
    
       [0020]     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.  
         [0021]     To assist in the understanding of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
        # Component      2  Hose protection device      4  Clamp      8  Conduit opening      12  Conduit      14  Securing mechanism      16  Roller      18  Roller support arm      20  Hose      22  Shaft      24  Fluidjet      26  Nozzle      28  Stops      30  Ground        
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of a hose protection device  2  that is adapted for interconnection to a conduit  12 . The hose protection device  2  is generally constructed of a clamp  4  and a plurality of rollers  16  that ensure the hose is sufficiently offset from the lip of a conduit opening  8 . Upon engagement of the clamp  8  to the conduit opening  8 , one or more clamp securement mechanisms  14  are employed, to secure the hose protection device  2  to the conduit  12 . The rollers  16  of the device are operably interconnected to a plurality of roller support arms  18 , and are adapted to receive and support a hose  20 , thereby allowing the hose  20  to bend freely while reducing friction and wear on the hose  20  when it is inserted and removed from the conduit  12 .  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The present invention generally includes the clamp  4 , the plurality of roller support arms  18 , and the plurality of rollers  16 . More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is adapted for interconnection to the lip of a conduit and secure thereto. The plurality of rollers  16  are supported by a plurality of roller support arms  18  and adapted to receive and hold a hose away from the lip of the conduit  8 , and thus provide a reduced friction path for travel when the hose is moved within and out of the conduit  12 . One embodiment of the present invention employs generally planar roller support arms  18 , that are interconnected in pairs to opposite sides of the clamp  4 , and are adapted to secure the rollers  16  a predetermined distance from the conduit opening  8 . Preferably, the roller support arms  18  are adapted to receive a shaft  22 , such as a bolt that is threaded through the roller  16 . Alternatively, linear bearings that allow for smooth rotation of the rollers  16  may be employed. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be scaled, or otherwise altered, to accommodate various sizes and types of conduits. For example, the support arms  18  and placement of the rollers  16  thereon may be altered to produce varying offsets. The angles between support arm pairs may also be altered to accommodate different sized hoses. For example, larger diameter hoses will require a larger offset to yield a large bend radius to prevent hose kinking.  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the present invention as employed on a conduit opening  8  is shown. More specifically, a fluid nozzle  26  and hose  20 , which is adapted selectively engage the rollers  16  of the present invention, are shown in operation inside the culvert  12 . Within the culvert, a plurality of jets  24  are used to perform high pressure treatment or cleaning of the culvert  12 . The high pressure fluid  24  is created by a nozzle  26 , wherein the fluid is supplied from a truck, or other fluid supply source, via the hose  20 . The rearward force of some of the jets  24  propels the nozzle  26  further into the culvert  12  and directs waste out of the conduit  8 , thereby cleaning the selected portion of the conduit  12 . Once complete, a spool on the truck is activated, thereby rewinding the hose  20  and removing the hose  20  and nozzle  26  from the culvert  12 .  
         [0039]     In one embodiment of the present invention, a user selectively secures the clamp  4  to the conduit opening  8 . The nozzle  26  and hose  20  are then placed onto the rollers  16 . During deployment, the high pressure fluid  24  will tend to straighten out the hose  20 . Thus, a plurality of stops  28  are also incorporated on the roller support arms  18  to prevent disengagement of the hose  20  from the present invention  2 . The rollers  16  also allow the hose  20  to bend as designed, yet offset it from the opening  8  of the conduit  12 . Upon completion of the task, the spool on the truck is activated, thereby removing the nozzle  26  and hose  20  from the conduit  12 . The rollers  16  of the present invention are designed to maintain the hose a predetermined distance from the lip  8  of the culvert  12 , while providing a smooth travel path, and thus substantially reducing frictional damage to the hose  20 .  
         [0040]     While various embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.