Abstract:
A hose connector with adjustable ambient air inlets according to the present disclosure includes a conduit section having a plurality of spaced-apart holes covered by an adjustable outer ring having a similar pattern of spaced-apart holes. Turning the outer ring relative to the conduit section, permits the holes in the conduit section to be either fully opened, fully covered, or at some intermediate condition.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/932,385, filed May 31, 2007, entitled “HOSE CONNECTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE AMBIENT AIR INLETS” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As EPA regulations for diesel engines continue to require cleaner running engines, it is anticipated that these engines will need to run hotter. One technique to try and reduce the amount of particulate in the diesel engine exhaust is to increase the heat of combustion, and this is why it is anticipated that the engines will run hotter. 
         [0003]    Fire response vehicles, such as fire trucks, typically have diesel engines and one further characteristic. Since these vehicles are housed inside a fire station or similar structural enclosure and are started while still within the fire station, an exhaust hose is used to route the vehicle exhaust to the outside. A large exhaust blower is used so as to pull the exhaust from each vehicle and direct it to the outside via the exhaust hose and duct work 
         [0004]    While the sizes and materials that are suitable and used for such exhaust hoses may vary, the most common materials are generally rated for withstanding a continuous operating temperature (exhaust temperature) of approximately 500° F. However, if these types of diesel engines are going to run hotter in order to satisfy the EPA requirements, it is anticipated that this 500° F. rating may be exceeded, and thus there is an obvious problem in terms of the suitability as well as the life expectancy for these exhaust hoses. 
         [0005]    One approach for solving this problem of premature exhaust hose replacement is to introduce ambient air into the exhaust stream so as to reduce the temperature of the exhaust stream. The structure for doing so, according to the present disclosure, is a hose connector with an adjustable ambient air inlet feature. By positioning this hose connector between two sections of the exhaust hose or between the nozzle elbow and exhaust hose, ambient air is able to be introduced into the exiting exhaust stream, thereby lowering the temperature of the exiting exhaust and accordingly lower the temperature that is sensed or experienced by portions of the exhaust hose. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A hose connector with adjustable ambient air inlets according to the present disclosure includes a conduit section having a plurality of spaced-apart holes covered by a moveably adjustable outer ring having a similar pattern of spaced-apart holes. Turning the outer ring relative to the conduit section, permits the holes in the conduit section to be either fully opened, fully covered, or at some intermediate condition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view, in full section, of a hose connector according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, end elevational view of the  FIG. 1  hose connector. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partial, perspective view of the  FIG. 1  hose connector assembled into an exhaust hose for a diesel engine, between two sections of that exhaust hose. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a plurality of diesel-engine vehicles that are commonly connected to the same exhaust blower. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and its use, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a hose connector  20  according to the present disclosure. Hose connector  20  includes a conduit body  21 , an outer slip ring  22 , an inner rubber sleeve  23 , and an interior clamp  24  that is bent slightly at one end so as to apply pressure to sleeve  23 . Clamp  24  is secured in position and attached to body  21  using metal screws  25 . 
         [0013]    Conduit body  21  is an annular, stainless steel or optionally an aluminum member having two generally cylindrical end sections  27  and  28  that are connected together by an external, generally cylindrical sleeve section  29  that is tack welded in place. The combination of end sections  27  and  28  and sleeve section  29  is configured as an integral unit. End section  27  includes a facing end  27   a . End section  28  includes a facing end  28   a . Section  29  spans across the facing ends  27   a  and  28   a  and is generally concentric with end sections  27  and  28 . The outside diameter of each end section  27  and  28  is approximately 5.0 inches. The outside diameter of section  29  is slightly larger than 5.0 inches. Section  29  defines a series of equally-spaced holes  30 , each hole measuring approximately ½ inch in diameter. In the preferred embodiment, there are sixteen (16) holes, but the number of holes and the diameter of each hole can vary depending on the amount of ambient air to be introduced, the degree of adjustability desired, and the specific design constraints. 
         [0014]    The overall length of conduit body  21  measures approximately 8.0 inches with section  29  measuring approximately 2.25 inches in length and being located 2¾ inches in from end  31 . Slip ring  22  also measures approximately 2.25 inches in length and is positioned so as to fit precisely over and around section  29 . Slip ring  22  fits closely around section  29  and defines a plurality of equally-spaced holes  35  that are the same in number and substantially equal in size and spacing to holes  30 . Since slip ring  22  is able to be turned (i.e., rotated) relative to section  29  (i.e., moveable), it will be understood that these two sets of holes  30  and  35  can be placed in complete or total alignment (fully opened), or in complete non-alignment (fully closed), or in any partial alignment condition between these two extremes. 
         [0015]    Rubber sleeve  23  is fabricated from a high-temperature silicone rubber and has an axial length that is just slightly shorter than relief area  36  defined by section  29  in combination with the spacing between ends  27   a  and  28   a . One end of sleeve  23  is tightly clamped against wall  37  of section  29  by the use of clamp  24 . This allows the opposite (free) end or edge  38  to deflect in a radially inward direction, as depicted by the broken line position of edge  38  in  FIG. 1 . One end of clamp  24  is securely attached to body  21 . The opposite end of clamp  24  overlaps one end  39  of sleeve  23  and is used to tightly clamp end  39  of sleeve  23  against inner wall  37 . 
         [0016]    Rubber sleeve  23  is positioned relative to section  29  so as to lay over and completely cover each hole  30 . In order for ambient air to enter conduit body  21 , the free end or edge  38  must deflect inwardly so as to uncover holes  30 . This assumes that at least some portion of each hole  35  overlaps some portion of its corresponding hole  30  so that an air flow path is established from the outside (ambient air) to the interior of conduit body  21 . Rubber sleeve  23  may be slit at a series of spaced-apart locations between the holes  30 . This makes it easier for each segmented flap that is created between slits to defect due to negative pressure so as to uncover its corresponding and aligned hole  30 . The direction of the exhaust flow is represented by arrow  40 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in order to integrate hose connector  20  into a vehicle exhaust hose, the exhaust hose is configured in two sections  42  and  43 . One hose section  42  fits over section  27  and is tightly clamped to and around section  27  with band clamp  44 . The other hose section  43  fits over section  28  and is tightly clamped to and around section  28  with another band clamp  44 . The opposite end of section  42  is connected to a nozzle  54 , which is then connected to the tail pipe or exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The opposite end of hose section  43  is connected to an exhaust blower duct system, see  FIG. 4 . A variety of covering sleeves, sealant compounds, and similar techniques are contemplated for creating a tightly sealed and strong connection of the conduit body  21  to and within the two exhaust hose sections  42  and  43 . 
         [0018]    In use, when the vehicle is started and exhaust is generated, the exhaust begins to flow through the first exhaust hose section  42  due to its connection to the vehicle. This particular approach, including the connection of hose section  42  to the vehicle, is believed to be well known. When the exhaust from the vehicle activates an exhaust duct pressure switch, the exhaust blower  50  is turned on. Between the initial vehicle start up and the activation of the exhaust blower  50 , there will be a positive pressure for a brief period of time. This positive pressure within conduit  21  pushes the sleeve  23  against the holes  30  so that the diesel exhaust does not escape through holes  30  and  35  before the blower starts and creates a negative pressure within the hose. 
         [0019]    When the exhaust blower  50  comes on, a negative pressure (suction) is created in the exhaust hose sections  42 ,  43 , and in the conduit body  21 . This negative pressure causes the free edge  38  of sleeve  23  to deflect radially inwardly so as to uncover at least a portion of each of the holes  30  and allow ambient air to flow into the exiting exhaust stream. This of course assumes that some portion, if not all, of the open area of holes  35  are aligned with all or at least a portion of holes  30 . The entry of ambient air into the existing exhaust stream lowers the temperature of the exhaust stream. Lowering of the exhaust temperature is expected to prolong the life of the exhaust hose/hose sections. 
         [0020]    With further reference to the diagrammatic illustration of  FIG. 4 , the three vehicles  47 ,  48 , and  49  each represent a vehicle with a diesel engine, preferably a fire truck. The exhaust conduit of each vehicle  47 ,  48 , and  49  is connected in parallel to the common exhaust blower  50  by way of exhaust hoses  51 ,  52 , and  53 , respectively. Only vehicle  47  is equipped with hose connector  20 . When the exhaust blower turns on and establishes suction, as previously described, the free end  38  of the rubber sleeve  23  deflects, opening holes  30  for the in-flow of ambient air, assuming that at least a portion of holes  35  are aligned with at least a portion of holes  30  so as to establish an air flow path from the outside to the interior of the conduit body  21 . Vehicle  47  is illustrated in combination with hose connector  20  and hose sections  42  and  43 . The shorter hose section  42  measures approximately 6.0 feet in length or less and may have a 1200° F. temperature rating. The connector  20  is used to connect the 1200° F. hose to the 500° F. hose and is used for adding ambient air to the exhaust stream at that point to prevent damage to the 500° F. hose. The connector  20  could be connected at the nozzle elbow and protect a less expensive hose with a 1000° F. rating. Vehicles  48  and  49  are not equipped with the hose connector  20  simply for purposes of explaining what occurs when the exhaust blower  50  turns on and one of the connected vehicles is not running. 
         [0021]    As vehicle  47  is started and generates exhaust, the exhaust blower  50  is turned on and draws a negative pressure (i.e., suction) on vehicle  47  as well as on vehicles  48  and  49 . Since vehicles  48  and  49  are not running, in this example, the suction created by exhaust blower  50  causes an air flow path of some type to be established in an effort to offset the negative pressure being created by the exhaust blower. It should be understood that the exhaust hoses  52  and  53  still connect the corresponding vehicles to the exhaust blower  50  and those exhaust hoses are tightly connected and sealed around the exhaust (tail) pipe of the vehicle. As such, there is no air inlet into either exhaust hose exterior of the vehicle. 
         [0022]    It has been discovered that negative pressure of this type applied to an exhaust hose can cause the vehicle turbocharger to experience a reverse spin. As noted, this reverse spin of the turbocharger occurs when the vehicle&#39;s diesel engine is not running. This in turn means that the main bearings of the turbocharger are not being lubricated. In time, this can result in premature turbocharger failure. 
         [0023]    From this explanation, it will be appreciated that the disclosed structure offers at least two improvements. One improvement is the introduction of ambient air into the exhaust hose so as to lower the temperature of the diesel engine exhaust, thereby increasing the life of the exhaust hose. The second improvement is to reduce or eliminate turbocharger spinning, thereby increasing or prolonging the life of the turbocharger. 
         [0024]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.