Abstract:
A vehicle mounted high pressure water cleaning apparatus includes a water delivery system, and a control system working together to provide, alternatively, high pressure water for a cleaning operation, or recirculation of water within the pump. The high pressure cleaning system includes a high pressure pump driven by the vehicle&#39;s engine through, for example, a driveshaft driven by a pulley system mounted on the engine. The high pressure pump and associated water tank and hose may all be mounted in the interior of the vehicle and heated by the vehicle&#39;s heater system. No separate auxiliary engine, power take off gear box, enclosure or heater is needed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
       [0001]    The present application and inventors claims the benefit of the prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/424,139, filed Nov. 6, 2002 by the present inventor and of the present title. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to systems for clearing sewers using water under high pressure. Specifically, it relates to a vehicle driven high pressure water sewer clearing apparatus.  
           [0003]    Various devices are used for high pressure water cleaning various and particularly clearing objects such as pipes. Such high water pressure systems include apparatus to deliver water to a pipe or sewer or the like to clear and clean debris and blockage from the pipes which may have over a period of time accumulated therein. For example, tree roots frequently invade sewers and help form blockage therein, which can become impacted with typical toilet refuse, ie., toilet paper, sanitary napkins, condoms, etc.  
           [0004]    Such cleaning apparatuses for the cleaning of pipes, sewers, and the like generally use the high pressure water delivered through a hose. The high pressure water cuts through and clears any debris or blockages which may be present. Delivery of water at high pressure can create a number of problems and requires special components such as hoses, nozzles and pumps designed to be used at high pressure.  
           [0005]    It is known to provide such a high pressure water clearing apparatus that can be powered by a vehicle, such as by a hydraulic pump for driving a hydraulic motor which in turn powers the high pressure pump. This type apparatus has the disadvantage of complexity, high cost, and possible environmental leakage problems related to hydraulic fluids.  
           [0006]    Typical high pressure water sewer clearing system uses a length of hose extending from a hose supply, usually mounted on a truck, usually at least a one ton type chassis or larger. The high pressure water is delivered through the hose. The controls for the apparatus are positioned at the vehicle. To properly clean or clear pipes, sewers and the like, the outlet of the hose must be placed into the sewer and is then lead some distance into the sewer or the pipe up to the blockage. Clearing and cleaning the pipe is accomplished by using the emitted high pressure water to cut down and break up the blockage. The hose is fed through the pipe up to and through the blockage. Since the hose end is in the pipe, two operators are required for the clearing process. The first operator places the hose into the pipe to be cleaned and remains in that vicinity to report on how the operation is going, including preventing possible flooding, and/or preventing the high pressure hose from breaking free and whipping about with dangerous consequences, etc. The second operator remains at the controls by the vehicle to operate the same. If only one operator is available, startup and shutdown of the high pressure system is necessary frequently, and such would require numerous trips between the vehicle and the sewer. This one operator process takes extra time due to the frequent starting and stopping of the system.  
           [0007]    Water for a cleaning/clearing operation is typically stored in a supply tank located on the vehicle. Such supply tanks have a fixed capacity. With a single operator making frequent stops and starts and trips between the sewer and the vehicle uses water inefficiently. As water capacity is fixed, water wasted must be replaced and time is lost in having to refill the tank. The water, tank and pressure pump need to be protected from freezing weather.  
           [0008]    High pressure water pumps utilized in cleaning a sewer operate at high pressures such as 3000 psi and require relatively large horsepower input, typically being from 5 to 20 horsepower. In the prior art, these large pumps also generally require a large space because they were run by an auxiliary gasoline or diesel engine sufficient to provide the needed horsepower for their operation. Some prior art sewer clearing vehicles have used a hydraulic pump powered off the vehicle&#39;s power take off transmission, or even a mechanical drive off of a specially installed power take off transmission located behind the vehicle&#39;s regular transmission. Using power from the vehicle transmission has the disadvantage of high costs, requiring a power take off type transmission or auxiliary power take off gearbox. A further disadvantage is that the vehicle&#39;s transmission would generally have to be left “in gear” when doing a sewer clearing job, which could be hazardous.  
           [0009]    As briefly discussed above, hydraulic systems have problems, such as loss of engine power through the hydraulic coupling inefficiency, possible leakage of hydraulic fluid and environmental damage, and the added weight and space requirements.  
           [0010]    It is also known to drive a high pressure pump for clearing a pipe with the pump driven off a power take off (pto) gearbox installed between a vehicle&#39;s transmission and differential. As noted above, due to the nature of a high pressure pump and its close tolerance, it is necessary to protect the pump from freezing. In prior art vehicles where the pump was located sometimes required a separate enclosure, like a pick up truck bed cap and an auxiliary heater, further complicating matters and raising costs.  
           [0011]    Installations using or requiring a complicated pto type gearbox, can be made only on rear wheel drive vehicles, and cannot be made on front wheel drive vehicles. That is because usually it would be prohibitively expensive, if not impossible, to insert a power take off between a front wheel drive transmission and the front wheel differential due to the nature of the front wheel drive, engine, transmission and differential design.  
           [0012]    It would be desirable to provide a high pressure water sewer clearing vehicle which can directly power a large (high horsepower requirement) jet pump of high pressure by the vehicle&#39;s engine, without the use of hydraulics, ptos, gearboxes, auxiliary engines, extra enclosures, and/or extra heaters, and which could be used with any of front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles and their engines.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a vehicle mounted high pressure water sewer clearing apparatus and method which is operable by a single user, and which is driven by the engine of the vehicle. Preferably, the pump is driven by the pulley system on the engine and drives a pump remote from the engine and located in heated portion of the vehicle interior. The pump may be driven by the engine&#39;s pulley system and/or a portion of that system adapted, such as by adding a pulley for driving the pump. The drive pulley in turn may drive a driven pulley, which in turn drives a bearing mounted shaft, or other mechanism, such as belts, which extends from the engine compartment to the vehicle&#39;s heated compartment to drive the high pressure pump located in the vehicle&#39;s heated compartment. In doing so the pump drive passes through the vehicle&#39;s firewall and/or engine cover or body. Thus the pump is protected from the environment and freezing temperature and can be driven without the need for hydraulics, auxiliary engines, or expensive, costly to install power take offs or power take off transmissions. No extra engine, hydraulics, enclosures or heaters are needed. The vehicle need not be of a one ton capacity, but can be much smaller, say of a ½ ton capacity or even smaller. The invention results in substantial savings in initial purchase and in operation. While a prior art vehicle might cost $80,000.00, a vehicle of the present invention is more likely to cost around $40,000.00, these being 2002 costs.  
           [0014]    The present invention is a vehicle mounted high pressure sewer clearing apparatus and method which delivers high pressure water through a conduit or hose to clear/clean pipes, sewers and the like. The water is stored in a reservoir which, is in the vehicle&#39;s heated interior, and is pumped by a high pressure pump located in the vehicle&#39;s heated interior and delivered through a hose extending from the vehicle to a nozzle at the end, and creating the high pressure cutting water spray for clearing a blockage. A valve outside the vehicle and at the end of the hose can cause diversion of high pressure water flow from hose. This valve may be operated by the operator standing at the entrance to the sewer or pipe being cleared. This diversion-control feature can be built into the high pressure pump or constructed outside of the pump circuit.  
           [0015]    A low voltage electrical control system is provided power by the vehicle electrical system. Use of twelve volt vehicle voltage eliminates the risks were household or higher voltage used. The electrical system includes the vehicle battery/alternator or generator as a power source, and switches, to control the operation of the magnetic clutch which connects the high pressure pump to be driven by the engine and also a speed control for the engine. The electrical system also powers a vehicle alarm system which protects the vehicle from theft when the vehicle is running and the operator is remote from the vehicle, and say at the sewer opening.  
           [0016]    As noted, the clearing apparatus of the present invention is driven by the engine of the vehicle by coupling the engine crankshaft to a drive either a pulley integral with the engine&#39;s pulley drive system (including the engine&#39;s harmonic balancer) or a special pulley added to the engine pulley system. By choosing driving and driven pulley diameters, revolution speed ratio of the vehicle engine to that of the high pressure water pump can be controlled, and preferably the pump speed is selected to be higher than engine speed to reduce engine wear and generate high pressure.  
           [0017]    In order to get the pump into the vehicle&#39;s interior in most locations where freezing is of concern at least sometime during the year, and for convenient operation, the high pressure pump is driven by a pump shaft extending from the driven pulley, with the pump shaft extending through the firewall or engine cover into the vehicle interior. The pump shaft is suitably supported by bearings as needed mounted on the vehicle body or frame.  
           [0018]    This method for driving the pump at increased revolution speed results in more efficient operation of the pump of the present invention without the problems associated with a heavy auxiliary engine or an inefficient hydraulic drive system. Without need for an auxiliary engine or hydraulics, the present invention can be mounted in a small vehicle such as a van, pick up truck, and particularly a crew cab version, a SUV, stationwagon or even a passenger car, yet still carry the necessary water and have more storage space than a typical similar size prior art sewer cleaning vehicle which utilizes an auxiliary engine or hydraulic drive or a drive off of a power take off gearbox. Since a smaller vehicle may be used, the expense associated with operation of the vehicle is reduced. As noted, the clearing apparatus may all be placed within the vehicle, so as to be heated by the vehicle heater and no auxiliary heater is needed.  
           [0019]    High pressure water flow through the hose for cleaning operations is generated by coupling the high pressure pump to the engine system of the vehicle on which the present invention is mounted. To this end, the pump shaft is coupled to and driven by the engine of the vehicle and the other end is connected to the high pressure jet pump. Unlike the prior art, in the present invention, the vehicle&#39;s transmission may be placed in “park,” the engine started and the hand brake applied, and the driver compartment locked. A locked driver&#39;s compartment with the vehicle in park or neutral is an added safety feature. When the jet pump high pressure or action is desired, the magnetic clutch control switch may be closed to energize the magnetic clutch which couples the rotating drive pulley, so it drives the driven pulley and the pump shaft to drive the high pressure jet pump. The desired water pressure may be obtained by controlling the speed of the vehicle engine. This may be accomplished using an electrically operated (solenoid) remote throttle and/or a governor. A governor or speed control of a simple nature (solenoid) may be fitted to the engine to increase speed to give a high and lower pressure, say 3000 and 1500 psi.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a rear wheel drive or  4  wheel drive van incorporating the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the vehicle of FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing how the driving pulley and electromagnetic clutch are secured via an adapter to the harmonic balancer of the vehicle&#39;s engine.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a schematic of the flow system for the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of an installation in a vehicle featuring a cross mounted front wheel drive or  4  wheel drive engine.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a partial schematic elevation view of the belt drive of FIG. 4.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of an alternative partial schematic of the belt drive for the vehicle of FIG. 4.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is another alternative partial schematic elevational view of a belt drive for the vehicle of FIG. 4.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the belt drive of FIG. 8.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a schematic elevational view of an alternative shaft drive for a rear drive vehicle with the driveshaft for the pump mounted below the body or chassis.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings in greater detail there is illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4  a first embodiment of the apparatus of and for use with the method of the present invention, generally identified by reference numeral  8 .  
         [0031]    As disclosed, the apparatus  8  includes a vehicle chassis or body  10 , with the body  10  also having mounted thereon left and right front tires  12  and  14 , respectively, and left and right rear tires  16  and  18 , respectively. The rear tires  16  and  18  are mounted on a rear axle  20  including a differential  22 . The differential  22  is mechanically engaged to a driveshaft  24 , which is driven by a transmission  26 , which in turn is driven by an engine  28 . While not shown, the front wheels  12  and  14  can also be driven off the transmission  26  and/or a transfer case, not shown, as is conventional to provide all or  4  wheel drive.  
         [0032]    The engine  28  includes an engine pulley system  30  with a crankshaft  32  of the engine  28  driving a crankshaft pulley  34  of the pulley system  30 . The pulley system  30  further incorporates a harmonic balancer and driven pulley  36  which engages an engine pulley system belt  38  to drive accessories, such as an alternator  37 , power steering pump, etc.  
         [0033]    If the engine&#39;s existing pulleys cannot be utilized to drive the pump, if necessary a second driving pulley  40  can be added. The drive pulley as shown in FIG. 3A is driven by the crank shaft  32 , via an adapter  48  and  35  attached by bolts  37  to the pulley/harmonic balancer  36  of the engine. Rather than directly drive the pulley  40  with the crankshaft, it is connected through clutch means, and in this instance, an electromagnetic clutch  48 , so that by energizing or degenergizing the clutch, causes the rotation or non-rotation of the pulley  40 . The electromagnetic clutch is partially retained by bolt  41 . The clutch  48  is model #MA-7A-C112 made by Ogura Clutch Company, Ltd. While a clutch is very convenient, it is not absolutely necessary. One could remove the belts and reinstall them when they wanted to run the pump. Such practice would be very inconvenient but still within the present invention. Another example would be merely to let the belt idle and engage it only when you want to drive the pump. Neither of these procedures is as convenient as the clutch, and particularly, the electromagnetic clutch. As shown, the driving pulley  40  drives at least one or more secondary belts  42 . In turn, a driven pulley  46  engages with and can be driven by the at least one secondary belt  42 . Various type belts can be used, single (wide)  2  or  3 , or cogged belts. While belts are shown, it should be understood that other equivalent mechanisms could be used, such as gears, etc. This driven pulley  46  can be engaged and disengaged from being driven by the belts  42  through use of an electromagnetic clutch  48 . To regulate the tension on the belts  42 , an adjustable idler pulley mount  50  can be provided and mounted to the chassis or frame, the adjustable idler pulley  51  being within the confines of the loop formed by the belts  42 . Thus depending upon positioning of the idler pulley  51 , tension on the belt  42  may be established. Of course, the clutch means could be located elsewhere, such as on the driven pulley or further down closer to the pump.  
         [0034]    The driven pulley  46  is supported by a front bearing  52  mounted on a front bearing bracket  54 . Preferably, these bearings are of a spherical type to accommodate any misalignment. Mounted within the bearing  52  in a fashion to be rotatable by the driven pulley  46  is a pump driveshaft  56 . The shaft  56  extends rearwardly and has a rear portion  57  thereof again mounted rotatably within a rear bearing  62  mounted on a rear bearing bracket  60 . A rear end  59  of the shaft  56  engages and rotates a first coupling flange  64 A which engages a second coupling flange  64 B of a high pressure water pump  66 , the shaft  56  driving the pump  66  through the joined driven coupling flanges  64 A and  64 B. The coupling flanges, if desired, could be configured to cooperate with a clutch means.  
         [0035]    It will be understood that the pump  66  and the rear portion  57  of the shaft  56  extend past a firewall or engine cover  68  of the vehicle, extending into the interior  69  thereof and particularly the passenger or vehicle&#39;s heated compartment. For this safety and other reason, a shield  70  is provided to keep moving parts extending from the engine cover or firewall into the vehicle&#39;s interior isolated therein and to retain heat therein. If necessary, to make room to run the drive system through the passenger compartment  69 , a seat riser  81  may be provided, with the driveshaft or system passing through or below the riser  81 .  
         [0036]    The pump  66  is provided to pump water from a water tank  72  (say of 100-50 gallon size), positioned interior of the firewall  68  as well, into and through a hose assembly  73  to be described.  
         [0037]    The tank  72  is positioned in the interior or passenger compartment  69  for the purpose of using heat therein to keep water in the tank  72  from freezing. When the vehicle is to be stored outside for several hours or more in freezing temperature, this water tank should be drained. Antifreeze from an antifreeze tank  74 , preferably having a capacity of 5 to 6 gallons, may be purged into the water system of FIG. 4 for keeping the system subsequently operable in cold weather. It being understood that, where for example the vehicle is to be stored unheated overnight, the water tank and water system to the extent possible is first drained and then antifreeze passed through to prevent freeze damage.  
         [0038]    Hose assembly  73  comprises dual reeled hoses  76  and  78 , each say of 100 to 150 feet in length. The first reeled hose  76  is mounted to the vehicle and can be referred to as a vehicle hose  76 . The second reeled hose  78  is portable and can be referred to as a sewer hose  78 . The hose  78  has a jet spray head  79  at a distal end  83  thereof. The vehicle hose reel  78  is fixedly mounted within the vehicle body  10  and has valve V 1  on a free end thereof. This free end can be taken out of the vehicle interior  69  through a hose exit door  80  provided on the vehicle body  10  and in use is taken to or near the sewer or pipe to be cleared/cleaned.  
         [0039]    The sewer hose reel  78  on the other hand is mounted on a wheeled reel  94  and is transportable to a position near sewer opening  85 . The free end  92  of the vehicle hose  76  is engageable to a proximal end  96  of sewer hose  78 , with valve V 1  being available at the site where the sewer opening  85  is located. The position of valve V 1  on the end of hose  76  near the sewer permits the single operator to control delivery of pressurized water to the sewer hose  78 . Connection between the hoses  76  and  78  can be formed in any suitable manner, such as through use of quick connect couplings (not shown).  
         [0040]    In operation, and particularly viewing FIG. 4, the tank  72  is filled with water via a water fill connection  84  and valve V 3  and valve V 4  (both high pressure ball valves) are closed. Connection  84  is designed to be engageable by, for example, a garden hose (not shown) for filling, since a preferred capacity for the tank  50  is 100 gallons or less. Also, a cap  97 , with a vent therein, may be provided for venting the tank of air as it fills. Valve V 2  (ball valve) is opened, switch S 5  is energized to energize the magnetic clutch to connect pump  66  to the operating engine  28 . High pressure water is then provided to reeled hose  76 . As valve V 1  (ball valve) is positioned between reeled hose  76  and reeled hose  78  which is fed into a sewer opening  85  in ground  83 . Valve V 1  may be opened to send high pressure water to reeled hose  78  and into a sewer  86  to clear blockage  87  with the jet spray produced by the pump  66 . Water is run, continuously or pulsed, until the blockage  87  is cleared. To stop the flow of water into the sewer  86  valve V 1  is closed and water harmlessly recirculates in pump  66 . The pump is made by Gorilitz and is a model 3500, rated at 10 gph at 3000 psi.  
         [0041]    When finished, the engine  28  of the vehicle may be stopped. An alarm system  88  of the vehicle is set up to stop the engine  28  of the vehicle if a passenger compartment door  89  (shown in phantom) is opened or the vehicle&#39;s transmission is put in gear. This provides a safe, anti-theft feature, which is desirable as the vehicle operator may be remote from the vehicle and at or near the sewer.  
         [0042]    To disengage the pump temporarily, the vehicle&#39;s operator need only to disconnect via magnetic clutch by opening switch S 5 . Also, temporarily closing valve V 1  will stop water flow out hose  78 . Switch S 6  provides a throttle control (solenoid boosts engine idle speed) to provide two engine speeds, idle plus a higher speed. The various pulleys are sized so idle gives 1500 psi from pump  66  and with switch S 6  closed the throttle control raises engine speed higher so pump  66  delivers 3000 psi. For example, the driving pulley could be from 5 to 10 inches in diameter, while the driven pulley could be from 2 to 5 inches in diameter, respectively. With a large pump, it will be driven slower so that the ratio of drive pulley to driven pulley will be smaller than for a small pump, giving a lower pump speed (and more torque) for a given engine speed.  
         [0043]    To drain water from the tank  72  valve V 3  is opened and water will drain out of tank  72  via an overflow drain  90  below the vehicle chassis  10 . To protect pump  66  and hoses  76  and  78 , antifreeze from tank  74  is run through these structures. To do so, valve V 2  is closed and valve V 1  is connected via connector  91  to tank  74  for antifreeze return. Valve V 4  is opened and pump  66  is used to circulate antifreeze from tank  74  via valve V 4  through pump  66 , through hose  76  and back to tank  74 . When antifreeze can be seen to return through a clear section of an antifreeze return line, pumping antifreeze is stopped and the system is freeze protected. To restart or reuse the system, merely supply water from tank  72  through valve V 2  to pump  66  (with valves V 2  and V 4  closed) to pump the small amount of antifreeze back into the tank  72 . Then valve V 1  is disconnected from the antifreeze return line and the system is ready for another job.  
         [0044]    Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment is shown therein which may be considered a front wheel drive or cross mounted engine system. In this embodiment, as in the following embodiments, like items are similarly numbered but given a number 100, or 200 higher, (40 becomes 240 or 340, etc.), and for the sake of brevity will not be redescribed, with changes in each embodiment only being pointed out.  
         [0045]    Thus, in FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that pump  166  is driven by a driven pulley  146  which in turn is driven by a driving belt  142  which in turn is driven by a driving pulley  136  of engine pulley system  130 .  
         [0046]    Adjustable idler pulleys  150  are seated along the flight of the driving belt  142 , to decrease the normal amount of clearance for and distance between the belt runs which would be required. That is, the distance between the two belt runs are reduced to an inch or two, reducing the size of any openings required in the vehicle structure. Of course if possible, a more conventional belt run like that shown in FIG. 7 could be used.  
         [0047]    Thus, again, the pump  166  is mounted within the interior  69  of the vehicle  8 .  
         [0048]    Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a driving pulley  240  could be added and would be driven by a belt  241  which would in turn be driven by driving pulley  236  of the engine pulley system  230 . This type installation could be used where engine compartment crowding required the pump drive to be moved elsewhere.  
         [0049]    Still a further alternative is shown in FIG. 10 wherein the drive system and its pump shaft for the pump  366 , which is substantially similar to the first embodiment, is suspended below the vehicle chassis  10 , between the front wheels  14  and  16  (not shown) thereof.  
         [0050]    Here the belt  342  driven by the driving pulley  336  of the engine pulley system  330  extends downwardly under the engine compartment, and engages a driven pulley  346  which has a pump driveshaft  356  engaged thereto in a manner to rotate therewith. The other end of the shaft  356  engages a pulley  390  which in turn engages a drive pulley  394  used to drive the pump  366 . At this end of the drive system, the belt  392  passes through an opening (not shown) in the underside of the vehicle body  10  so the pump  366  remains positioned within the interior compartment of the vehicle body  10 .  
         [0051]    The pump driveshaft  356  is suspended from the vehicle chassis  10  and is carried by front and rear bearings  352  and  362  respectively, which in turn are suspended from the vehicle chassis  810  by front and rear bearing brackets  354  and  360  respectively.  
         [0052]    Thus it will be seen from the exemplary embodiments presented that the drive systems for the pump  66 ,  266 ,  366  are not limited in nature.  
         [0053]    In one concept of the invention, the pump and water tanks may be positioned within the warmable interior compartment  69  of the vehicle body  10 , and the pump driven directly off the engine of the vehicle.  
         [0054]    While an electromagnetic clutch is shown, other type connecting of clutch means could be used. While ball valves are used, other type valves could be used.  
         [0055]    While preferably high pressure quick disconnects are used where a fast connection is used, other type connections, such as threaded connections could be used.  
         [0056]    While the invention is described with respect to a mechanical device in the form of a high pressure water pump, the inventive concept could be utilized to drive other forms of mechanical devices than a high pressure water, such as other types of pumps, a blower for moving air or other gases or for creating a vacuum, an air compressor for operating tools, or other type mechanical devices. In such instance, the mechanical device could be located in the heated or interior compartment, but yet be driven by the vehicle&#39;s engine. Other modifications including any equivalent elements and steps may be made and are considered to be within the scope of the invention.