Apparatus for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose for draining cesspools, septic tanks and sewers in general

Abstract: An apparatus for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose for draining or purging cesspools, septic tanks, sewers or the like which comprises, on a truck (11), a reel (13) with which, in a peripheral region, a radial hose guide (14) is associated, the hose guide (14) comprising a composite arm (15) with guiding means (26) for the hose (17), wherein the arm (15) is peripherally articulated to the reel (13) so as to pitch, in an adjustable manner actuated by actuation means (18), about an axis which is parallel to a tangent to the reel (13).

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose for draining cesspools, septic tanks, sewers or the like. Conventional trucks equipped with apparatuses particularly adapted for draining or purging cesspools, septic tanks, sewers or the like substantially comprise a tank and associated equipment adapted to aspirate the sewage and the various residues from the cesspool or septic tank into said tank. In particular, for draining or purging uses a flexible hose is usually lowered from the top of said tank. Since any chokes in the hose can be highly damaging during work, said hose is guided, in its movement, by a particular dedicated apparatus which substantially comprises a reel having a vertical rotation axis and on which the hose is wound; a hose guide, comprising a composite arm with means for guiding said hose, is associated therewith in a peripheral region. In commercially available embodiments, the hose guides are normally associated proximate to the peripheral tangential region of the reel so as to be articulated for movements about a rotation axis which is substantially vertical and lies proximate to the peripheral region of said reel. Although this movement can facilitate hose positioning operations in some cases, it can nevertheless cause choking of the hose, with sometimes severe consequences for said hose. A rotation of the arm in the same direction as the reel is in fact practically safe and therefore can be performed without risk; the opposite action, however, i.e., a rotation of the arm in the opposite direction with respect to any rotation of the reel, may inevitably cause choking of a section of the hose, with consequent malfunction of, and even damage to, said hose. Another example of a know apparatus is disclosed in DE-U-8 807 777, in which the reel is replaced by a rectangular support element on which said hose rests and them creeps during winding and rewinding. This known apparatus comprises all the features of the preamble of claim 1. The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose for draining or purging cesspools, septic tanks or sewers and the like, whose structure solves the drawbacks noted above in equipment having the same functions and is, in particular, able to allow high flexibility in hose positioning but without the risk of choking said hose. In relation to this aim, an important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whose structure allows a simple and functional use which is adapted for the most disparate requirements and fields of application. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whose structure is considerably strong and allows to adequately and effectively guide the hose both during unwinding and during rewinding. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whose structure can be adapted to the different types of truck and tank. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whose structure can be manufactured at competitive costs with respect to apparatuses having a similar functionality. These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose for draining or purging cesspools, septic tanks or sewers and the like according to claim 1. Further characteristics and advantages of the apparatus according to the present invention will become better apparent from the description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an orthographic projection view of an apparatus according to the invention, fitted above the tank of a truck; Figure 2 is another orthographic projection view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an orthographic projection view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is another orthographic projection view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an exploded view of a detail of the apparatus of Figure 1. With reference to the above Figures, an apparatus for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose for draining or purging cesspools, septic tanks, sewers or the like having the structure according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. In particular, the apparatus 10 comprises, on a truck 11 equipped with a tank 12, a reel 13 which has a vertical axis of rotation and with which a hose guide, generally designated by the reference numeral 14, is associated in a peripheral region; said hose guide extends radially and comprises a composite arm 15 with guiding means, generally designated by the reference numeral 16, for the hose, designated by the reference numeral 17. The arm 15 is articulated peripherally with respect to the reel 13 so as to pitch in an adjustable manner, actuated by actuation means, generally designated by the reference numeral 18, about an axis (A) which is parallel to a tangent to said reel 13 (which in this case is substantially horizontal). In particular, the arm 15 comprises by a central tubular longitudinally elongated body 19 to which two reinforcement elements 21 are fixed at the end 20 that is proximate to the reel 13; the free ends 22 of said reinforcement elements are hinged coaxially to said body 19. The reel 13 is associated with a base 23 for connection to an adapted region of the tank 12 of the truck 13 and the arm 15 can rotate as a whole with respect to said tank. In particular, the arm 15 is articulated to the base 23 by means of a composite bracket 24 which is partially fixed to said base. More specifically, the bracket 24 comprises a plurality of welded tubular elements 25. The central body 19 is shaped so as to form a guiding nose 26 for lowering the hose 17. The guiding means 16 comprise by a plurality of rings 27 which are provided with sliding rollers 28 and are spaced one another at preset intervals along the body 19. A roller 29 which has a horizontal axis is also associated with the body 19 at the beginning of the nose 26, where the hose 14 bends sharply. In this embodiment, the actuation means comprise a fluid-actuated cylinder 30 whose ends are hinged respectively to said body 19 and to the bracket 24. In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects. It should in fact be noted that though maintaining high flexibility in application and hose positioning, the apparatus having the structure according to the invention prevents choking in any section of the hose and in any case both during unwinding and during rewinding of said hose. It should also be noted that the apparatus having the structure according to the invention can be applied substantially to any type of tank and truck and optionally even to those that are currently already in use. It should also be noted that the apparatus having the structure according to the invention achieves its application purposes while having a structure which is substantially simple and can be manufactured at competitive costs with respect to apparatuses having a similar functionality. The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. The technical details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The materials and the dimensions may be any according to requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: An apparatus (10) for unwinding/rewinding a suction hose (17) for draining or purging cesspools, septic tanks, sewer or the like, on a truck (11), which comprises a hose guide (14) which is coaxial to said hose (17), said hose guide (14) comprising a composite arm (15) with guiding means (16) for said hose (17), said arm (15) being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis (A) in an adjustable manner actuated by actuation means (18), characterised in that said apparatus (10) further comprises a reel (13) to wrap up said hose (17), said reel (13) being rotatable about an axis of rotation and being associated with a base (23) for connection to an adapted region of the truck (11), and in that said hose guide (14) is associated in a peripheral region with said reel (13) said substantially horizontal axis (A) being parallel to a tangent to said reel (13). The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said arm (15) is pivotally articulated to said base (23), said base (23) being rotatable with respect to said region of the truck (11). The apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that said base (23) is rotatable about a rotation axis which coincides with the rotation axis of said reel (13), said axis being substantially vertical. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that said arm (15) is articulated to said base (23), said arm (15) being rotatable with said base (23) as a whole with respect to said truck (11). The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said arm (15) comprises a tubular central body (19) which is longitudinally elongated and to which two reinforced elements (21) are fixed at the end that lies proximate to said base (23), the free ends (22) of said reinforced elements (21) being hinged coaxially to said central body (19). The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said arm (15) is articulated to said base (23) by way of a composite bracket (24) which is partially fixed to said base (23). The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said bracket (24) comprises a plurality of welded tubular elements (25). The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (19) is shaped so as to form a guiding nose (26) for lowering said hose (17). The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said guiding means (26) comprise a plurality of rings (27) which are provided with sliding rollers (28) and are spaced at preset intervals along said body (19). The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a roller (29) which has a horizontal axis at the hose (17) bends sharply. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said actuation means (18) comprise a fluid-actuated cylinder (30) whose ends are hinged respectively to said body (19) and to said bracket (24).

Inventors: CAPPELLOTTO LUIGI, CAPPELLOTTO, LUIGI
Applicants: CAPPELLOTTO S P A, CAPPELLOTTO S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E03F7
IPC codes: E03F7