Abstract:
A cleaning air wand for the cleaning of radiators on automobiles or large tractor trailers includes a tube with a side-mounted discharge aperture which directs a high pressure stream of compressed air to clean surfaces and cooling elements of the radiator. An opposing end of the tube includes a ball valve which connects to a quick-connect compressed air fitting. In such a manner, a user can connect a flexible air hose to the ball valve and clean a motor vehicle radiator without the risk of further clogging as is the case when using a pressure washer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to compressed air blow tools, and in particular, to a compressed air blow wand for cleaning debris from a vehicle radiator. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The proper operation of a cooling system is critical to any internal combustion engine. Those engines which use a coolant-based radiator rely on the fact that air can flow freely through, over, and past the radiator. Should this air flow become restricted, overheating, increased wear, and even complete engine failure can result. Mechanics and do-it-yourselfers often turn to the use of a water hose or pressure washer to help keep these radiators clean. However, in areas with fine dust, this practice is prone to turning the dust into a clogging paste and drive it into the radiator, which actually further restricts air flow instead of helping. This is especially a problem on large tractor trailer style trucks which can have multiple large radiators that frequently operate in extremely dusty environments. Additionally, traditional air guns do not provide proper direction of a compressed air flow to adequately remove the debris from a radiator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The inventor has therefore recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for an apparatus that provides air flow to the surface of radiators such that they are kept clean and operating at an optimum level. In accordance with the invention, it is an object of the present embodiments to solve at least one of these problems. 
         [0005]    The inventor recognized these problems and has addressed this need by developing a radiator cleaning air wand for the cleaning of motor vehicle radiators in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. The inventor has thus realized the advantages and benefits of providing an elongated rigid tube having an open inlet, a hollow interior for the passage of compressed air, and a closed end opposite said inlet. At least one (1) aperture is disposed through the tube perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube and adjacent to the closed end for the dispersal of at least one (1) stream of compressed air from within the tube. A valve is connected to the tube inlet and in fluid communication with tube interior for selectively controlling a flow of the compressed air into the tube. An air hose fitting is connected to the valve and is in fluid communication with the valve. The air hose fitting is coupled to and is in fluid communication with a source of the compressed air. 
         [0006]    In certain embodiments of the invention, the valve is a ball valve having a manually actuated lever for selectively opening and closing the valve. The valve includes a valve inlet threadingly coupled to the air hose fitting and a valve outlet affixed to the tube inlet. The valve lever is positioned at a fixed location relative to the aperture for providing a visual indication of a dispersal direction of the stream of compressed air. 
         [0007]    In certain embodiments of the invention, a locating member is disposed on the tube adjacent to the tube inlet for providing a visual indication of a dispersal direction of the stream of compressed air. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
         [0009]    Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a radiator cleaning air wand in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the radiator cleaning air wand; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the radiator cleaning air wand; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first alternate tube of the radiator cleaning air wand in accordance with the invention; and, 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a second alternate tube of the radiator cleaning air wand in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       [0016]      10  radiator cleaning air wand 
         [0017]      11  operator 
         [0018]      12  vehicle 
         [0019]      13  radiator 
         [0020]      14  existing air hose 
         [0021]      15  debris 
         [0022]      16  air flow 
         [0023]      20  ball valve 
         [0024]      21  lever 
         [0025]      22  valve inlet 
         [0026]      23  valve outlet 
         [0027]      24  air hose fitting 
         [0028]      25  fitting inlet 
         [0029]      26  fitting outlet 
         [0030]      27  tube 
         [0031]      28  tube inlet 
         [0032]      29  closed end 
         [0033]      30  aperture 
         [0034]      31  welding technique 
         [0035]      40  first alternate tube 
         [0036]      41  alternate aperture 
         [0037]      42  second alternate tube 
         [0038]      43  locating member 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0039]    In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3  and alternately within  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0040]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , depicting a radiator cleaning air wand (herein described as an “apparatus”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. In accordance with the invention, the present disclosure describes the apparatus  10  for cleaning debris  15  from a radiator  13  utilizing compressed air  16 . The apparatus  10  cleans the radiator  13  to enable the radiator  13  to function more efficiently in cooling an internal combustion engine in a vehicle  12 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  shows an environmental view of the apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  generally includes a ball valve  20 , an air hose fitting  24 , and a tube  27  which allows an operator  11  to insert and direct the apparatus  10  toward the radiator  13  of a vehicle, such as a car, tractor trailer, or the like to blow debris  15 , such as, but not limited to: mud, insects, pebbles, or the like out of the radiator  13 . The apparatus  10  interconnects to an air hose  14  which is also attached to and in fluid communication with an air compressor or pressurized air reservoir. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the apparatus  10  and  FIG. 3  shows an unexploded opposing perspective view of the apparatus  10 . The ball valve  20  is preferably a quarter (¼) inch dual position flow control device having a lever  21 , a valve inlet  22 , and a valve outlet  23 . The lever  21  positions the ball valve  20  in an open or closed position to allow or restrict air flow  16 , respectively. The valve inlet  22  has internal threads which interconnect to a fitting outlet  26  disposed on an end of the air hose fitting  24 . The air hose fitting  24  is a coupler that interconnects the apparatus  10  to the supply compressed air. Opposing the fitting outlet  26  is a fitting inlet  25  that interconnects to the air hose  14  in an insertion slip-fit manner. The valve outlet  23  opposes the valve inlet  22  and is attached to the tube  27 . 
         [0044]    The tube  27  is an elongated hollow rod that provides a better reach for the operator  11  to direct and dispense the flow of air  16  into the radiator  13 . The tube  27  can be attached to the valve outlet  23  by welding techniques, however; it can be appreciated that other material fastening techniques can be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The tube  72  includes an open end defining a tube inlet  28  that is coupled to the valve outlet  23 . The tube  72  is in fluid communication with the ball valve  20  to provide air flow  16  through the tube  27  when the valve  20  is in the open position. The tube  27  also includes a closed end  29 , opposite the tube inlet  28 , that forces the air flow  16  to exit from and be dispersed through a single aperture  30  disposed adjacent to the closed end  29 . 
         [0045]    The tube  27  is preferably three-eighths (⅜) inch steel tubing measuring approximately between two (2) or six (6) feet in length to accommodate various styles and models of vehicle  12 . The aperture  30  is offset approximately one-quarter (¼) inch from the closed end  29  and measures approximately seven-sixty-fourths ( 7/64) inch in diameter. The relatively small diameter of the aperture  30  provides a high pressure for the air flow  16  to contact the radiator  13 . The ball valve  20  and the lever  21  are used to indicate the direction of the aperture  30  during use. The lever  21  can be directly opposite and aligned with the aperture  30 , the aperture  30  can be positioned radially along the tube  27  ninety degrees (90°) from the lever  21 , or the aperture  30  can be positioned one-hundred-eighty degrees (180°) opposite from the lever  21 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a first alternate tube  40 . The first alternate tube  40  includes a plurality of aligned, spaced apart alternate apertures  41 . The alternate apertures  41  are spaced approximately a quarter (¼) inch to a half (½) inch apart and function in a similar manner as the aperture  30 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of a second alternate tube  42 . The second alternate tube  42  is substantially similar to the tube  27  described herein and includes a locating member  43  to indicate to the operator  11  the position of the aperture  30  or alternate apertures  41  during use. During use, the working closed end  29  and the aperture  30 , or apertures  41 , may be hidden by vehicle components. The locating member  43  allows the user to quickly identify the location of the aperture(s)  30 ,  41  and thus the direction of the air flow  16 . The locating member  43  is depicted as a protruding nub; however it can be appreciated that other external visual indicia can also be used with equal benefit. The locating member  43  can be directly opposite and aligned with the aperture  30 , or apertures  41 ; the aperture  30 , or apertures  41 , can be positioned radially along the tube  27  ninety degrees (90°) from the locating member  43 , or the aperture  30 , or apertures  41 , can be positioned one-hundred-eighty degrees (180°) opposite from the locating member  43 . 
         [0048]    It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles and configurations of the invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure and only three particular configurations have be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0049]    In accordance with the invention, the preferred embodiment can be utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it is installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
         [0050]    The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  can be achieved by performing a series of steps. It can be appreciated that the steps described can be performed in alternative order and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor. Following acquisition of the apparatus  10 , the fitting inlet  25  of the air hose fitting  24  is insertingly interconnected to the air hose  14 . The air hose  14  is connected to a supply of compressed air if not already connected and the supply of compressed air is activated. The tube  27  is inserted into the engine compartment in close proximity to the radiator  13 . Directing the aperture  30  toward the radiator  13  and actuating the lever  21  on the ball valve  20  to the open position to allow the compressed air flow  16  to exit. Utilizing the compressed air flow  16  to clean the radiator  13  by blowing away any residual dirt or debris. Actuating the lever  21  to close the ball valve  20  and prohibit the air flow  16 . 
         [0051]    An alternate embodiment of the apparatus  10  can further be utilized as indicated in  FIG. 4 . In addition to the steps described, in certain embodiments in accordance with the invention, when the first alternate tube  40  is used, the compressed air flow  16  is dispersed through the alternate apertures  41 . 
         [0052]    An alternate embodiment of the apparatus  10  can further be utilized as indicated in  FIG. 5 . In addition to the steps described, in certain embodiments in accordance with the invention, when the second alternate tube  42  is used the following steps are included. After acquiring the apparatus  10  and interconnecting the fitting inlet  25  to the air hose  14  and activating the air flow  16 , the locating member  43  is utilized to determine the direction of the aperture  30 , or apertures  41 . The aperture  30 , or apertures  41  are directed toward the radiator  13  and the lever  21  is actuated to the open position to provide the compressed air flow  16 . The air flow  16  is routed through the second alternate tube  42  and is dispersed through the aperture  30 , or apertures  41 . 
         [0053]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.