Patent Publication Number: US-2009229675-A1

Title: In-line filter/flow regulator/anti-siphon device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Distributing fluid through a hose can create a host of different problems. For example, contaminants within the hose can backflow into a water source, polluting the water source (such as the water supply of a house). 
     Also, filtering fluid within a hose can be important to protect hose nozzles, hose-end sprinklers, and other hose-end products from becoming clogged due to debris within the hose. Furthermore, fluid distributed via a hose can often have uneven water pressure, particularly when the fluid is initially turned on, causing sprinklers and hose nozzles attached to the hose to perform erratically. 
     Addressing each of these problems independently would require a cumbersome and awkward conglomeration of devices, making it very difficult to utilize the devices together. Further, assembling a number of different devices to address these problems could be expensive, and the operation of one of these devices may interfere with the operation of the other devices. 
     Accordingly, an integrated solution that is compact and streamlined is desirable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An in-line, hose-end anti-siphon/filter/flow regulator device that addresses these problems is disclosed. This device uses a unitary, or integral, body that may be positioned between a fluid source and a fluid component. This hose-end device is streamlined and compact, having a generally linear side profile—without large protrusions or extensions that could easily be broken off or subjected to severe blows during normal operation. 
     The unitary body includes a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The device further includes an inlet hose-end receptor that may be coupled to a mating interface from a fluid source and an outlet hose-end receptor that may be coupled to a fluid component. The inlet hose-end receptor is disposed on the first end of the device, while the outlet hose-end receptor is disposed on the second end of the hose-end device, making the device an “in-line” device. 
     In one embodiment, the inlet hose-end receptor includes female threads for receiving a mating interface from a fluid source. Similarly, the outlet hose-end receptor may include male threads for receiving mating female threads of a fluid component. 
     The device further includes an anti-siphon section, a filter section, and a flow regulator section, each of which are positioned between the first and the second end. The inlet hose-end receptor, the anti-siphon section, the filter section, the flow regulator section, and the hose-end receptor are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the body. Further, the anti-siphon section, the filter section, and the flow regulator section are sequentially disposed along the longitudinal axis of the body, though the function of each section may slightly overlap with an adjacent section making the device more compact than a connection of individual components. The body also defines a flow path in which fluid flows through the anti-siphon section, the filter section, and the flow regulator section. 
     In one embodiment, the anti-siphon section, the filter section, and the flow regulator section are in immediately adjacent positions. This means that there are no intervening connectors between each of these sections, regardless of the order in which these sections are arranged. 
     The anti-siphon section includes an anti-siphon opening defined by an inlet hose-end cap. An anti-siphon seal surrounds the anti-siphon opening. An anti-siphon plunger includes a head and an arm. The anti-siphon plunger is biased by an anti-siphon spring, such that the head of the anti-siphon plunger abuts the anti-siphon seal to close the anti-siphon opening. When the incoming fluid force is sufficient to overcome the biasing effect of the spring, fluid passes through the opening and through the hose-end device. When the incoming fluid force is insufficient to overcome this biasing effect, the anti-siphon plunger prevents fluid from “backflowing” and potentially contaminating the fluid source from which the incoming fluid originated. 
     The filter section comprises a filter chamber defining one or more openings for fluid entry and one or more openings for fluid exit. It further includes a mesh filter disposed within the filter chamber. The filter may utilize stainless steel mesh webbing and may be self cleaning. 
     The flow regulator section includes a flow regulator piston disposed within a flow regulator chamber. The flow regulator piston has a narrow region, a frusto-conical region, an external groove, and a pressure lip. The flow regulator chamber defines one or more openings for fluid entry disposed proximate the narrow region of the flow regulator piston. A flow regulator spring biases the flow regulator piston in an open state. When the fluid flows through the flow regulator section, the flow regulator piston applies sufficient pressure to the pressure lip to counterbalance the biasing effect of the flow regulator spring, thus the flow regulator piston is pushed towards a closed state, at least partially blocking the opening for fluid entry to the flow chamber and decreasing fluid flow and pressure within the flow regulator section. Alternatively, if the fluid pressure within the flow regulator section decreases, the piston moves further towards an open state, widening the opening for fluid entry and allowing more fluid to pass through the flow regulator section. The flow regulator piston thus regulates the flow of fluid through the hose-end device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective, exploded view of one embodiment of an in-line hose-end filter/flow regulator/anti-siphon device shown together with the embodiments of a fluid source and a fluid component; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the in-line hose-end device of  FIG. 1  displaying a longitudinal axis of a unitary body thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating a path through which fluid may flow through the device; 
         FIG. 4A  is a exploded view of the hose-end device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the hose-end device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views of an anti-siphon portion of the hose-end device in a closed and open state, respectively; 
         FIGS. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a filter section of the hose-end device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C are cross-sectional views of a flow regulator section of the device of  FIG. 1  shown in an open, partially closed, and closed state, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, as represented in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     As used herein, the term “in fluid communication with” means that fluid, if present, could pass from a first identified fluid passageway, object, opening, or aperture to a second fluid passageway, object, opening, or aperture. This term does not require that fluid be actually present within any of the identified fluid passageways, objects, openings, or apertures. 
       FIG. 1  is a side, exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an in-line hose-end filter/flow regulator/anti-siphon device  100 .  FIG. 1  also illustrates embodiments of a fluid source  102  and a fluid component  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the hose-end device  100  includes a unitary, or integral, body  106  that has a generally linear side profile. The unitary body  106  is a single integral component, although it may comprise multiple components fused, secured, or welded (e.g., sonic welded) together. The in-line hose-end device  100  also includes a first end  108  and a second end  110 . 
     The unitary body  106  includes a series of support ribs  112 . The support ribs  112  strengthen the device  100  against warping or undesirable bending or lateral flexing without the need to utilize additional material. The unitary body  106  may be made, for example, from a polymer-based material (such as Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS)), a metallic material, or any other suitable material. 
     The first end  108  of the device  100  includes an inlet hose-end receptor  114 . The inlet hose-end receptor  114  may be embodied in a number of different ways, such as female threads  116  or a quick coupling interface (not shown), which is known to those of skill in the industry. The inlet hose-end receptor  114  receives a mating interface  115  from a fluid source  102 . The fluid source  102  could be coupled to the device  100  in a number of different ways. For example, the device  100  could be in fluid communication with the fluid source  102  via a hose  118 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or a spigot (not shown). 
     The device  100  also includes an outlet hose-end receptor  120 , and could include male threads  122  or a quick connect interface (not shown). As explained in connection with the inlet hose-end receptor  114 , the outlet hose-end receptor  120  may be embodied in a number of different ways. The outlet hose-end receptor  120  may interface with any type of fluid component  104 , such as a hose  119 , a hose nozzle, or a sprinkler. 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the inlet hose-end receptor  114  includes female threads  116  for receiving mating male threads  124  from a fluid source  102 . In contrast, the outlet hose-end receptor  120  includes male threads  122  for receiving mating female threads  126  of a fluid component  104 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the hose-end device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The illustrated embodiment includes the unitary body  106 , the inlet hose-end receptor  114 , an anti-siphon section  136 , a filter section  138 , a flow regulator section  140 , and the outlet hose-end receptor  120 . The body includes a longitudinal axis  142 . The anti-siphon section  136 , filter section  138 , and flow regulator section  140  will be described in greater detail in connection with subsequent figures. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the inlet hose-end receptor  114 , the anti-siphon section  136 , the filter section  138 , the flow regulator section  140 , and the outlet hose-end receptor  120  are coaxial with the longitudinal axis  142  of the body  106 . This configuration makes the device  100  streamlined, enabling it to be utilized without adding unnecessary bulk to a fluid line. This streamlined configuration also makes it less likely that the device  100  will be broken or damaged in that there are no bulky outwardly projecting parts that could be broken off or easily subjected to heavy blows during normal usage. 
     The inlet hose-end receptor  114  is disposed on the first end  108  of the unitary body  106 . The outlet hose-end receptor  120 , in contrast, is disposed on the second end  110  of the unitary body  106 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the anti-siphon section  136 , the filter section  138 , and the flow regulator section  140  are sequentially disposed along the longitudinal axis  142  of the body  106 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-siphon section  136 , the filter section  138 , and the flow regulator section  140  are in immediately adjacent positions. This means that these sections  136 ,  138 ,  140  are adjacent to each other without intervening connectors (e.g., threaded interfaces). Further, the function of each section  136 ,  138 ,  140  may slightly overlap with an adjacent section  136 ,  138 ,  140  (for example, a portion of the anti-siphon plunger  154  may move within the filter section  138 ) making the device  100  more compact than a connection of individual components. 
       FIG. 3 , like  FIG. 2 , is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the in-line hose-end filter/flow regulator/anti-siphon device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The embodiment of  FIG. 3  illustrates a flow path  152  with arrows by which fluid may flow through the device  100 . Fluid initially enters the device  100  via the inlet hose-end receptor  114  on the first end  108  of the device  100 . Fluid passes around an anti-siphon plunger  154 , when the plunger  154  is in an open state, and through openings  155  in an anti-siphon cup  156 . Of course, if the anti-siphon plunger  154  is in a closed state, fluid will be precluded from passing the point at which the anti-siphon plunger  154  contacts an anti-siphon seal  158  surrounding an anti-siphon opening  160 . 
     Thereafter, the fluid passes through a filter  162 , which may be self-cleaning filter  162 . After passing through the filter  162 , fluid proceeds into openings  164  formed in the body  106  of the device  100  so long as the anti-siphon plunger  154  is not in the closed position. The fluid then passes through the flow regulator piston  166  and out of the end cap  168 , simultaneously passing through the outlet hose-end receptor  120  disposed on the second end  110  of the device  100 . 
       FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of the embodiment of the hose-end device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , while  FIG. 4B  is an exploded sectional view of the hose-end device  100 . With reference to both of these figures, the device  100  includes an inlet hose-end cap  178 , the anti-siphon seal  158 , the anti-siphon plunger  154  with a head having a dome-shaped side  180  and a flat side  182  and an arm  184 , an anti-siphon spring  186 , and an anti-siphon cup  156 . The anti-siphon cup  156  includes openings  155  through which fluid may pass when the anti-siphon plunger  154  is in an open position. 
     The device  100  also includes a filter  162 . In one embodiment, the filter  162  is made from a stainless steel mesh. The filter  162  may include seals  190  on each end of the filter  162  such that fluid cannot circumvent the filter  162 . As indicated above, the filter  162  may be self-cleaning. The self-cleaning feature of the filter  162  will be explained in connection with  FIG. 6 . 
     The body  106  includes one or more anti-siphon vents  192  and flow regulator vents  194 . The purpose of the vents  192 ,  194  will be discussed below. 
     The device also includes a flow regulator  0 -ring seal  196 , a flow regulator retainer  198 , a flow regulator spring  200 , a flow regulator piston  166 , a flow regulator U-cup seal  202 , and an end cap  204 . 
     The hose-end device  100  may be assembled in the following manner. The filter  162  is positioned on the anti-siphon cup  156 . The anti-siphon cup  156  with the filter  162  is inserted and secured (e.g., sonic welded, press fit, or threaded into) into an anti-siphon recess  208  and a filter recess  206 . The arm  184  of the anti-siphon plunger  154  is inserted through an opening  210  in the anti-siphon cup  156  with the anti-siphon spring  186  surrounding the arm  184  of the anti-siphon plunger  154 . The anti-siphon seal  158  is positioned to engage the anti-siphon plunger  154  in a sealing relationship. The inlet hose-end cap  178  is secured to the unitary body  106  to retain the anti-siphon plunger  154  and anti-siphon seal  158  within the anti-siphon recess  208 . 
     The flow regulator O-ring seal  196  is placed on the flow regulator retainer  198 . The flow regulator retainer  198  with the flow regulator O-ring seal  196  is inserted into the flow regulator recess  214 . A flow regulator U-cup seal  202  is positioned into an external, annular groove  201  on a flow regulator piston  166 . A flow regulator spring  200  and the flow regulator piston  166  with the flow regulator U-cup seal  202  are inserted into the flow regulator recess  214 . An outlet end cap  204  is secured to the unitary body  106  to retain the flow regulator spring  200  and the flow regulator  216  with the flow regulator U-cup seal  202  within the flow regulator recess  214 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a sectional view of the anti-siphon section  136  of the hose-end device  100 .  FIG. 5A  illustrates the anti-siphon plunger  154  in a closed state, while  FIG. 5B  illustrates the anti-siphon plunger  154  in an open state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the anti-siphon spring  186  is disposed about the arm  184  and biases the anti-siphon plunger  154  in a closed state. In this closed state, the anti-siphon plunger  154  abuts the anti-siphon seal  158  preventing fluid from flowing through the device  100  toward the first end  108  of the device  100 . In this state, pressure within the anti-siphon section  136  will exert a force on the flat side of the head  182 , more securely pressing the anti-siphon plunger  154  into the anti-siphon seal  158 . The anti-siphon plunger  154  thus decreases the possibility that contaminants in the fluid in the device  100  will flow toward and potentially contaminate the fluid source (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), such as culinary water supply in fluid communication with the device  100 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows the anti-siphon plunger  154  in an open state. As fluid enters the device  100  from the fluid source (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the pressure of the fluid exerts a force on the dome shaped side  180  of the head and counteracts the biasing effect of the anti-siphon spring  186 . This enables fluid to pass through a gap created between the anti-siphon plunger  154  and the anti-siphon seal  158 . 
     When the pressure of the fluid entering the device  100  is insufficient to counteract the biasing effect of the anti-siphon plunger  154 , the anti-siphon plunger  154  moves back into the closed position, preventing fluid from moving past the anti-siphon plunger  154 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the filter section  138  (with the anti-siphon plunger  154  shown in a closed state). The filter section  138  includes a filter chamber  218  defining one or more openings  155  for fluid entry and one or more openings  164  for fluid exit, and a filter  162  disposed within the chamber  218 . The filter  162  captures debris within the fluid and prevents the captured debris from exiting the device  100  through the outlet hose-end receptor  114  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the filter  162  may comprise stainless steel mesh webbing. 
     As indicated above, the filter  162  may be self-cleaning. The self-cleaning operation is performed in the following manner. When the anti-siphon plunger  154  is in an open state, the anti-siphon seal  158  is positioned toward the filter  162  and blocks the anti-siphon vents  192 . As the downstream pressure becomes greater than the upstream pressure, the anti-siphon plunger  154  proceeds into a closed state, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The anti-siphon seal  158  is repositioned toward the first end  108  of the device  100  such that the anti-siphon seal  158  no longer obstructs the anti-siphon vents  192 . 
     Closure of the anti-siphon plunger  154  creates a pressure spike within the device  100 . The pressure spike within the device  100  pushes fluid and debris within the filter  162  downstream of the filter  162  exiting out of the device  100  through the anti-siphon vents  192  shown on the body  106 . As such, the contaminants in the filter  162  are pushed out of the filter  162 , effectively cleaning the filter  162 . This cleaning action will take place each time the anti-siphon plunger  154  is transitioned from an open state to a closed state, i.e., when fluid pressure from the fluid source (not shown) is insufficient to maintain the anti-siphon plunger  154  in an open state. 
       FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C are cross-sectional views of the flow regulator section  140  of the device  100  of  FIG. 1  shown in different states. In particular, in  FIG. 7A  shows the flow regulator piston  166  in an open state;  FIG. 7B  shows the flow regulator piston  166  in a partially closed state; and  FIG. 7C  illustrates the flow regulator piston  166  in a closed state. 
     With respect to  FIGS. 7A-C  the flow regulator piston  166  includes a narrow region  246 , a frusto-conical region  248 , and a pressure lip  250 . A flow regulator chamber  252  defines one or more openings  164  for fluid entry. The openings  164  are disposed proximate the narrow region  246  of the flow regulator piston  166 . The flow-regulator spring  200  biases the flow regulator piston  166  in an open state. The flow regulator vent  194  enables atmospheric gas to pass through the vent  194  as the flow regulator piston  166  changes position. 
     With respect to  FIG. 7A , the flow regulator piston  166  is in an open state. In this state, the flow regulator piston  166  is in its closest position to the end cap  204 , within its range of motion. Fluid passes through the openings  164  for fluid entry into the flow regulator piston  166  and exits out of the device  100  through the end cap  204 . 
     With respect to  FIG. 7B , when the flow of fluid through the flow regulator section  140  achieves a sufficient pressure, pressure is exerted on the pressure lip  250  of the flow regulator piston  166 . This pressure results from the greater surface area of the pressure lip  250  (applying greater “closing” pressure) relative to opposing surfaces on the flow regulator piston  166  (such as the narrow lip  256  on the narrow region  246  of the flow regulator piston  166 ). This pressure counters the biasing effect of the flow regulator spring  254 , driving the flow regulator piston  166  toward a closed state and at least partially occluding the openings  164  for fluid entry, as shown in  FIG. 7B . The partial occlusion of the openings  164  for fluid entry thus decreases fluid flow through the flow regulator piston  166 , causing the flow regulator piston  166  to shift toward an open state. The position of the flow regulator piston  166  will thus change in response to pressure within the device  100  to “regulate” the flow of fluid through the device  100 . 
     If pressure flowing through the device  100  achieves a sufficient level, the flow regulator piston  166  may be driven to a fully closed state, as shown in  FIG. 7C . Of course, this would only occur for a brief period of time, because fully closing the openings  164  for fluid entry would effectively stop fluid flow through the device  100  and at least dramatically reduce the pressure of fluid within the flow regulator section  140 . In response to this reduction in pressure, the pressure applied to the pressure lip  250  would decrease and the flow regulator spring  254  would bias the flow regulator piston  166  toward an open state, allowing fluid to pass through the openings  164  for fluid entry again. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.