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US 2002/0000720 A1Published application
Washdown system
OwnerL. James Knowlesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A washdown system with a hose, nozzle fitting and water supply connection assembly. The hose includes a generally helical central portion and end portions extending generally axially from the central portion. The water supply connection assembly may include female and male portions. The male portion connects to a water supply fitting. When connected to the female portion, the male portion can be swiveled substantially 360°. The female portion may include a quick-disconnect assembly to reversibly couple the male portion.
Claims34
A hose assembly, comprising:
- a hose body defining an inner passageway and comprising a central portion and first and second end portions, the central portion in a resiliently helical conformation, the first and second end portions extending from the central portion in first and second orientations, the first and second orientations substantially departing from the helical conformation of the central portion;
- and
- a fluid supply connection assembly attached to the hose body first end portion and comprising a female connector, the female connector with an interior surface defining a passageway, the female connector passageway in fluid communication with the hose body passageway, the female connector comprising a sliding member biased in a first position, said hose assembly detachable from a fluid source by moving the female connector sliding member to a second position.
A method of dispensing a pressurized fluid from a fluid supply source, comprising:
- providing a hose assembly comprising a hose body, a fluid supply connection assembly, and a nozzle fitting, the hose body defining an inner passageway and comprising a generally resiliently and helically configured central portion and first and second end portions extending from the hose body central portion, the first and second hose body end portions configured in orientations substantially departing from the helical configuration of the hose body central portion, the fluid supply connection assembly and the nozzle fitting attached to the respective first and second hose body end portions, the fluid supply connection assembly including male and female connectors, the male connector attachable to a fluid supply fitting and comprising a tubular member and a seal disposed about the tubular member, the female connector displaying an inner surface defining an inner passage in fluid communication with the hose body inner passage, at least a portion of the female connector inner passage accommodating the male connector tubular member, the female connector comprising a mechanism for reversibly locking the male connector tubular member into a rotatively sealing contact;
- attaching the male connector to the fluid supply fitting;
- locking the male connector tubular member in a rotatively sealing contact within the female connector inner passage;
- and
- passing the pressurized fluid through the hose assembly.
2 more elements
A method of making a hose assembly, comprising:
- providing a hose body with a resiliently coiled central portion and first and second end portions extending from the central portion;
- connecting a nozzle fitting to the hose body second end portion;
- connecting a female connector to the hose body first end portion, the female connector comprising a female connector body and a sliding member, the female connector body defining an inner passage, the sliding member defining adjoining first and second openings with respective first and second cross sectional dimensions, the first cross sectional dimension greater than the second cross sectional dimension, the sliding member generally radially disposed in the female connector body and biased in a position in which the first opening is generally coaxial to the female connector inner passage;
- and
- providing a male connector attachable to a pressurized fluid supply fitting and comprising a tubular member and a seal disposed around the tubular member, the tubular member rotatively accommodated in the female connector passage and displaying an engaging surface, the male connector locked in the female connector passage by contacting the engaging surface and the female connector sliding member.
2 more elements
A fluid supply connection assembly comprising:
- a male connector comprising a threaded cylindrical member, a tubular member, and a sealing member disposed about the tubular member, the cylindrical member for connecting the male connector to a source of pressurized fluid, the tubular member displaying an exterior surface and an interior surface, the exterior surface further displaying a beveled surface portion and a generally radial engagement surface portion proximate the beveled surface portion, the tubular member interior surface defining an inner passage;
- and
- a female connector connectible to a hose and comprising a body and a sliding member radially biased in a first position in the body, the female connector body displaying an inner surface defining an inner passage in fluid communication with the male connector tubular member inner passage and rotationally accommodating at least part of the male connector tubular member, the male connector sealing member contacting the inner surface of the female connector to form a fluid-tight seal, the male connector engagement surface portion contacting the female connector sliding member to reversibly lock the male connector tubular member in the female connector passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.