Abstract:
A pressure washer including a first container adapted to contain a first liquid, a second container adapted to contain a second liquid, a valve, a first conduit fluidly connecting the first container to the valve, and a second conduit fluidly connecting the second container to the valve. The pressure washer also includes a single engine-powered pump and a mixing device. The pump is adapted to receive water from a water source, and the mixing device adapted to receive water from the pump. The mixing device is adapted to mix at least one of the first and liquids received from the valve with the water received from the pump.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/999,421, filed Nov. 15, 2001, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/246,886, filed Feb. 8, 1999, now abandoned. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to fluid handling and, more particularly, to fluid handling systems, e.g., pressure washers, of the self-proportioning type.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Pressure washers are widely known and widely used for such tasks as washing and wax-coating motor vehicles, preparing a building for painting, washing walkways and a host of similar tasks. Examples of pressure washers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,409,032 (Berfield) and 5,718,255 (Gilpatrick et al.).  
           [0004]    While pressure washers can be used with water alone (and are quite effective when so used), it is often desirable to mix a chemical product, e.g., a detergent, with water. The resulting solution is even more effective than plain water for certain purposes.  
           [0005]    While certain types of pressure washers include a container for a chemical product, such pressure washers are disadvantageous for certain uses. Particularly, the user of the washer may, at different times, desire to use a detergent solution, an auto wax solution, a deck wash solution, as but a few examples. If the user desires to switch from one chemical product to another, it is preferred that the product container and all of the related tubing be first washed out with water. In other words, it is not a good idea (and may be self-defeating) to place an auto wax product into a container having detergent residue in it.  
           [0006]    But insofar as is now known, there are no pressure washers which offer the product features and configuration which permit the user to quickly switch from one chemical product to another while yet avoiding diluting or impairing the quality of a product with residue from a previously-used product. And insofar as is now known, there is no selector valve suitable for use on such a pressure washer.  
           [0007]    Another disadvantage of certain types of pressure washers arises from the mechanism used to control pump output pressure. A typical arrangement uses a pressure control knob which bypasses water in the pump. The knob is less than entirely convenient to use and its rotational position gives no indication of pressure or is only casually related thereto.  
           [0008]    A multi-container pressure washer and related product selecting valve which addresses shortcomings of the prior art would be a distinct advance in the field of pressure washers.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-container pressure washer addressing shortcomings of prior art pressure washers.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-container pressure washer which permits a user to quickly switch between different chemical products.  
           [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-container pressure washer having a product selecting valve facilitating quickly switching between different chemical products.  
           [0012]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multi-container pressure washer which includes an easy-to-use pressure control. How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    A first embodiment of the present invention includes a pressure washer having a first container adapted to contain a first liquid, a second container adapted to contain a second liquid, a valve, a first conduit fluidly connecting the first container to the valve, and a second conduit fluidly connecting the second container to the valve. The pressure washer also includes a single engine-powered pump and a mixing device. The pump is adapted to receive water from a water source, and the mixing device adapted to receive water from the pump. The mixing device is adapted to mix at least one of the first and liquids received from the valve with the water received from the pump.  
           [0014]    In a specific, highly preferred embodiment, the pressure washer has a total of four containers, three for chemical products and one for fresh “conduit rinse-out” water.  
           [0015]    To set up the pressure washer for use, a relatively small quantity of a different chemical is poured into each of the three chemical product containers. Herein, each such undiluted chemical is referred to as a “concentrate.” A specified amount of water is then added to each such container (and to the chemical therein) and herein, each such moderately diluted substance is referred to as a “product.” The fourth container is filled only with water.  
           [0016]    The multi-container, valve-equipped pressure washer permits the user to select (by valve manipulation) any one of several products, e.g., a detergent product, a car wash product, a deck wash product, an automobile wax product, or a multi-purpose cleaning product to be mixed with water from the pump. Herein, when a product is mixed with water from the pump, the resulting liquid delivered to the spray wand is referred to as a “solution.” The new pressure washer also permits the user to wash a product out of a conduit with fresh water from a separate water container before selecting another product to be mixed with the pumped water.  
           [0017]    In more specific aspects of the invention, each of the containers includes a top fill neck and a neck cap or closure. The closures are “top-exposed,” thereby providing free access to the containers closures for container filling. (Top-exposed closures means closures which are accessible without moving or removing any other component of the pressure washer.) And in a specific embodiment, the containers are of the same size and shape and the closures are in registry with the same horizontal plane.  
           [0018]    In another aspect of the invention, the pressure washer has a third container—and, most preferably, a fourth container. Each of the first, second and third containers includes a different chemical product. And the fourth container holds only water.  
           [0019]    A highly preferred pressure washer has features which make the washer very easy to use. As examples, the washer has a control console with a product selector device and a pressure selector device mounted with respect to such console. In a specific embodiment, the product selector device is a rotary knob and the pressure selector device is a linearly-actuated lever controlling the throttle of the prime mover engine. On the console, the lever is identified by mnemonic symbols (e.g., L, M and H) and/or by graphic symbols related to pressure. (Since the pump rotates at engine speed, changing such engine speed will also change output pressure at the spray wand.)  
           [0020]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the valve has a body with first, second, third and fourth inlet apertures formed in it. First, second, third and fourth conduits, respectively, are connected to such apertures. The valve body also has an outlet aperture having a device conduit attached to it and extending from the outlet aperture to the mixing device. A distributor is mounted for movement, e.g., sliding or rotary movement, with respect to the valve body and has a channel for selectively connecting one of the conduits to the device conduit.  
           [0021]    When the distributor is set to connect a particular inlet conduit to the device conduit, it is preferred that the distributor be restrained from moving from the selected position. To that end, the valve includes a position retention mechanism coacting between the distributor and the valve body. In an exemplary embodiment, the position retention mechanism includes a plurality of shallow detent pockets and a pocket engagement member, e.g.. a ball or the like, which is spring biased toward the pockets.  
           [0022]    In more specific aspects of the invention, the distributor is mounted for rotational movement about an axis of rotation. The first, second, third and fourth inlet apertures extend along first, second, third and fourth aperture axes, respectively. Such aperture axes have a fixed positional relationship with respect to the axis of rotation. In a highly preferred embodiment, such positional relationship of the aperture axes to the axis of rotation is substantially parallel thereto.  
           [0023]    More particularly, such aperture axes define an arc of a circle. The outlet aperture extends along an outlet axis coincident with the circle center. (It is to be appreciated that in other valve embodiments involving, for example, a rotary or linearly sliding distributor, the positional relationship of the aperture axes to the axis of rotation may be angular thereto.  
           [0024]    Yet other aspects of the invention involve additional features of the product selecting valve. As to one such feature, the valve has a dynamic sealing surface coacting between the body and the distributor. At least the first aperture axis is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and the sealing surface is on an O-ring lodged between the body and the distributor. Such  0 -ring extends around the first aperture axis.  
           [0025]    Other details of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description and in the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is representative perspective view of the new pressure washer. Parts are broken away.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the primary operative components of the pressure washer of FIG. 1. Parts are broken away.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of components shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is an elevation view of aspects of the operating console of the pressure washer of FIG. 1.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the rotary product selecting valve shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the housing of the product selecting valve shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is an elevation view, in full representation, of the housing shown in FIG. 6 taken in the viewing plane  7 - 7  thereof.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is an elevation view, in full representation, of the housing shown in FIG. 6 taken in the viewing plane  8 - 8  thereof.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the cover of the product selecting valve shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is an elevation view, in full representation, of the cover shown in FIG. 9 taken in the viewing plane  10 - 10  thereof.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is an elevation view, in full representation, of the cover shown in FIG. 9 taken in the viewing plane  11 - 11  thereof.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the rotatable distributor of the product selecting valve shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 13 is an elevation view, in full representation, of the distributor shown in FIG. 12 taken in the viewing plane  13 - 13  thereof.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 14 is an elevation view, in full representation, of the distributor shown in FIG. 12 taken in the viewing plane  14 - 14  thereof.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 15 is a representative perspective view of another embodiment of a rotary product selecting valve which is similar to the product selecting valve shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 16 is a representative perspective view, in exploded form, of a linear, sliding type of product selecting valve.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 17 is a sectional elevation view of a typical container used with the pressure washer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0043]    Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, aspects of the invention involve a pressure washer  10  having a wheeled chassis  11  as well as a liquid pump  13 , a pump-driving prime mover  15  (e.g., an internal combustion engine), and a liquid container (such as container C 1 ), all supported by the chassis  11 . The pump  13  has a water inlet port  17  and is coupled to a mixing device  19  such as a venturi-type eductor mixer.  
         [0044]    A highly preferred washer  10  has first, second, third and fourth containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , respectively. All of the containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  as well as the product selecting valve  21  are supported on and by the chassis  11 . The multi-container, valve-equipped pressure washer  10  permits the user to select (by valve manipulation) any one of several chemical products, e.g., a detergent product, a car wash product, a deck wash product, an automobile wax product, or a multi-purpose cleaning product. In a specific embodiment of the washer  10 , each of the first, second and third containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3  contains or is intended to contain within it a different washing or waxing product (and, preferably, is suitably marked to designate such product). The fourth container C 4  has “rinse-out” water in it and is so designated. In the pressure washer console  23  depicted in FIG. 4, the products (rather than the containers) are identified by the designators A, B and C adjacent to the selector device  25 .  
         [0045]    The mixing device  19  mixes the selected product with high-pressure water (flowing from the garden hose and pressurized by the pump  13 ) in appropriate proportion to form a washing or waxing solution of proper “strength.” The solution is then directed along a hose  27  to a spray wand  29 . Notably, the new pressure washer  10  is configured to permit one to use the rinse-out water in the fourth container C 4  to wash a product out of a conduit  31  and the valve  21  using fresh water. Such “washing out” is highly preferred before selecting another product to be mixed with the pumped water.  
         [0046]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and  17 , each of the containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  includes a top fill neck  33  and a neck cap or closure  35 . The closures  35  are “top-exposed,” thereby providing free access to the containers closures  35  for easy container filling. (Top-exposed closures  35  means closures  35  which are accessible for removal and pouring into the related container C 1 , C 2 , C 3  and/or C 4  without moving or removing any other component of the pressure washer  10 .) And in a specific embodiment, the containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  are of the same size and shape and the closures  35  are in registry with the same horizontal plane  37 .  
         [0047]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 17, a container such as container C 1  has a pair of mounting ears  173 , a lower tank connection bushing  175  and an outlet filter  177 . It has been found that when the prime mover  15  is an internal combustion engine, the modest vibration causes a chemical product to splash past a closure  35 . To substantially prevent this eventuality, at least each of the chemical product containers has therewithin a flexible, free-floating baffle member  179 . Such baffle member, a pad made of rubber-like foam or the like, has a density well less than that of water (or of a chemical product) and floats thereon. The member  179  is placed in the container by crumpling it into a ball and pushing it through the neck  33 , whereupon it resumes its original size and shape.  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, a highly preferred pressure washer  10  has features which make the washer  10  very easy to use. As examples, the washer  10  has a control console  23  with a constituent selector device  25  and a pressure selector device  39  mounted on such console  23 . In a specific embodiment, the constituent selector device  25  is a rotary knob and the pressure selector device  39  is a lever, e.g., a linearly actuated lever, which moves along a slot  41  and controls the throttle of the prime mover engine. Most preferably, the console  23  includes a graph  43  just above the pressure selector device  39  that visually indicates increasing pressure even though such device  39  controls the engine throttle. (Pressure along the hose  27  and at the wand  29  is generally proportional to the speed at which the pump  13  is driven.)  
         [0049]    Further details of the product selecting valve  21  will now be set forth. Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 5- 14 , the valve  21  has a housing  45  and a housing cover  47 . The housing  45  has a generally cylindrical cavity  49  formed in it and as further described below, a distributor  51  rotates in the cavity  49 . Formed in the cavity floor  53  are first, second, third and fourth inlet apertures  55 ,  57 ,  59 ,  61 , respectively. Each aperture  55 ,  57 ,  59 ,  61  is surrounded by a separate  0 -ring groove and such grooves are identified as first, second, third and fourth grooves  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  71 , respectively. The housing  45  also has an outlet aperture  73  surrounded by another O-ring groove, i.e., a fifth groove  75 . The cavity  49  is bounded in part by a circumferential lip  77  and an O-ring groove  79  is formed in such lip  77 . When the cover  47  and the housing  45  are assembled to one another as shown in FIG. 5, the O-ring  81  in the groove  79  seals between the housing  45  and cover  47 .  
         [0050]    In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 14, the inlet apertures  55 ,  57 ,  59 ,  61  extend along respective inlet axes  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89  and such axes  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89  are equidistant from the outlet axis  91 . To state it another way, the inlet axes  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89  define an arc  93  of a circle and the outlet axis  91  is at the circle center. And the axes  83 ,  85 ,  86 ,  89  are parallel to one another.  
         [0051]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 12- 14  the valve distributor  51 , sometimes referred to as a rotor in the illustrated embodiment, is lodged between the housing  45  and cover  47  and is rotatable with respect to both. The distributor  51  has a generally planar face  95  which bears against the housing  45  and the O-rings  81  in the grooves  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  71 ,  75  and such face  95  is substantially perpendicular to the distributor axis of rotation  97 . The distributor  51  also includes a circular shoulder  99  which bears against the cover  47 . A ring-like, circumferential bearing surface  101  extends generally between the shoulder  99  and the face  95 . The face  95 , shoulder  99  and bearing surface  101  may be considered to be dynamic sealing surfaces since they seal during movement of distributor  51  with respect to the housing  45  and cover  47 .  
         [0052]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 and 12- 14 , the distributor  51  has an aperture connection channel  103 , comprising paths  105 ,  107  and  109  which selectively connects one of the inlet apertures  55 ,  57 ,  59 ,  61  to the outlet aperture  73 , depending upon the particular position to which the distributor  51  has been rotated. (Those portions of the paths  107 ,  109  at the locations  111 ,  113 , respectively, do not form part of the channel  103  and play no role in aperture interconnection.)  
         [0053]    Referring also to FIGS. 2, 3,  5  and  12 - 14 , the distributor stem  115  has the selector device  25  mounted thereon. When the distributor  51  is set to connect a particular container C 1 ,  02 , C 3 , C 4  to the mixing device  19 , it is preferred that the distributor  51  be restrained from moving from the selected position. To that end, the valve  21  includes a position retention mechanism  117  coacting between the distributor  51  and the cover  47 . In an exemplary embodiment, the position retention mechanism  117  includes a blind hole  119  (“blind” in that such hole  119  is open at only one end) in which is lodged a compression spring  121  and a ball  123  urged toward the cover  47  by such spring  121 . The cover  47  has a plurality of shallow detent pockets  125 ,  127 ,  129 ,  131  and when the path  105  is aligned with a particular inlet aperture  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61 , the ball is aligned with a corresponding pocket  131 ,  129 ,  127 ,  125 , respectively. When the selector device  25  is in the OFF position (see FIG. 4), the ball  123  is aligned with the pocket  133 .  
         [0054]    Conveniently, the new valve  21  also includes structure which limits angular rotation of the distributor  51 . Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, the distributor  51  has a tang  135  protruding in the direction of the stem  115  and the cover  47  includes an arcuate stop groove  137  into which the tang  135  extends and in which the tang  135  moves. In a specific embodiment, the stop groove  137  has an arc length of about 210°. That is, radii extending from the cover center through respective ends of the groove define an arc of about 210° therebetween. When the valve  21  is so configured, the tang  135  and groove  137  cooperate to limit rotational travel of the distributor  51  to about 210°.  
         [0055]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4  is attached to a separate valve conduit extending to the valve  21 . Herein, such conduits are referred to as first, second, third and fourth conduits  139 ,  141 ,  143 ,  145 , respectively, and in the assembled ready-to-use valve, the conduits  139 ,  141 ,  143 ,  145  are attached to the inlet apertures  55 ,  571   59 ,  61 , respectively. And the output or device conduit  31  is connected to and extends between the outlet aperture  73  and the mixing device  19 .  
         [0056]    In use, each of three different constituents is placed in the containers C 1 , C 2  and C 3  and water is placed in the container C 4 . The selector device  25  is rotated to select one of containers and a constituent or water flows from one of the containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3  or C 4  along one of the conduits  139 ,  141 ,  143  or  145  is mixed in the device  19  with water from the pump  13  and delivered to the wand  29  for washing, waxing or the like. Before selecting another constituent, the device  25  is rotated to select the water container C 4  to wash out the channel  103  and the outlet aperture  73  and conduit  31 . Thereafter, another constituent may be selected by device rotation. (No doubt, it is appreciated that the pressure washer  10  can be used with but a single constituent in any one of the containers C 1 , C 2 , C 3 . Preferably, no liquid other than water is placed in container C 4 .)  
         [0057]    As described above, the highly preferred valve  21  is a rotary valve having axially-oriented inlet apertures  55 ,  57 ,  59 ,  61 . Referring to FIG. 15, the rotary valve  21   a  may also be configured with radially-oriented inlet apertures  55   a ,  57   a ,  59   a ,  61   a  and an axial outlet aperture  73   a.    
         [0058]    But a rotary valve  21 ,  21   a  is not the only type of valve suitable for use with the pressure washer  10 . Referring to FIG. 16, a simplified, linearly-actuated slider valve  21   b  has a manifold plate  149  in which each inlet aperture  55   b ,  57   b ,  59   b ,  61   b  connects via a right-angle channel represented by dashed lines to a corresponding port  151 ,  153 ,  155 ,  157 . An output plate  159  has an elongate channel  161  which is in registry with the ports when the valve  21   b  is assembled.  
         [0059]    A selector plate  163  is mounted for sliding movement between the plates  149 ,  159  which are not relatively movable with respect to one another. The selector plate  163  has a pickup aperture  165  which is in registry with one of the ports  151 ,  153 ,  155 ,  157 , depending upon the position of the plate  163 . Irrespective of the position of the selector plate  163 , the pickup aperture  165  is always in registry with the channel  161 . Liquid entering any one of the apertures  55   b ,  57   b ,  59   b ,  61   b  is thereby connected vi the channel  161 , to the outlet aperture  167  in the plate  159 .  
         [0060]    While the principles of the invention are shown and described in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood clearly that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.