The present invention relates to a powered hose reel machine for dispensing fluid. For example the powered hose reel machine can be used for irrigation.

On a domestic level water hoses are only required to be as long as is necessary for the hose to reach all corners of a yard. This makes domestic hoses quite manageable in deploying from and taking up on the hose reel on which it is stored. On a larger scale water hoses are required to be longer, which will make them heavy and generally cumbersome to manage, particularly when full of water. Effort is required to take off the hose and an even greater effort is required to wind up such hoses back on to their reels.

Examples of large scale uses for hoses include irrigating expansive lawns such as public gardens, golf courses and sports fields. The hoses often have a large sprinkler head attached at the outlet end. Such hoses are necessarily long, heavy duty and therefore very labour intensive to wind up. It is not recommended nor safe practice to leave hoses unwound. Unwound hoses are unsightly, unsafe and susceptible to deterioration if left lying on the ground.

Many lightweight retractable hose reels have an assisted take-up mechanism that relies on a tensioned coil to retract the hose. It is difficult to control the speed of a winding hose relying on this kind of tensioned coil, which can be dangerous to people in close proximity. Furthermore, this kind of mechanism is unsuitable for retracting longer and heavier hoses because the hose weight overcomes the spring force of the coil thereby rendering the take-up mechanism inoperable. Devices known for retracting long hoses use a hydraulic pump or motor connected to a power source such as a vehicle, power outlet or generator. These devices provide a sufficient force to retract the hose and greater speed control, but they must always be located near a power source. In the case of connection to a vehicle, the vehicle is required to run while the pump or motor is in operation to avoid draining the vehicle battery.

The present invention seeks to overcome the limitations outlined above associated with winding and unwinding hose reels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a powered hose reel machine comprising a machine frame supporting a rotating hose reel; a fluid hose adapted to be wound on to the hose reel and being extendible and retractable relative to the machine frame; piping supported by the frame for supplying fluid from a fluid source to the hose; a turbine generator located in the piping for converting mechanical energy in the fluid flowing therethrough into electrical energy; an electrical energy storage device for storing the electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy storage device powers a motor coupled to the hose reel to rotate the reel thereby extending or retracting the hose.

Preferably, a transformer converts the electrical energy generated by the turbine generator into a voltage suitable for storing in the storage device.

The fluid is preferably water and a valve preferably controls water flow through the piping. The valve can be operated manually, or alternatively, remotely by way of a remote controller transmitting signals that are received by a sensor located on the machine. The valve can be a ball valve or a gate valve but is preferably a solenoid valve powered by the electrical energy storage device.

The hose reel has a central shaft fixed at one end of the hose reel and the motor is preferably coupled in-line with the central shaft to drive the reel shaft.

A clutch coupled between the motor and the reel shaft protects the motor from excessive torsional forces by disengaging the reel shaft from the motor when excessive torsional forces are reached.

The machine further preferably includes a hose guide mechanism to provide even winding and unwinding of the hose onto and off the reel. The guide mechanism includes a threaded pinion shaft driven by a pulley coupled by a belt to a corresponding pulley mounted to rotate with the reel shaft. The guide mechanism may instead be driven by a sprocket and chain arrangement.

A hose guide assembly captures the hose and moves reciprocally along the pinion shaft. The pinion shaft is threaded with a bi-directional thread on which a pinion sleeve of the hose guide assembly, which has a corresponding internal thread, can move along the pinion shaft in both directions. The guide mechanism also preferably includes a stationary guide shaft located parallel to the pinion shaft and having a guide sleeve of the hose guide assembly slideably mounted thereon. Parallel rollers span the gap between the pinion sleeve and guide sleeve to capture the hose to extend between the sleeves and the rollers. There may also be an additional roller on one or both of the pinion sleeve or guide sleeve to assist in smooth extension and retraction of the hose. The hose reel machine is preferably adapted for mounting below the ground's surface and a top of the frame is provided with a lid for accessing the interior of the frame. The lid is adapted to be flush with the ground's surface. The lid is hinged and preferably made of lightweight material such as a light metal, plastic or fibreglass.

A receiver for receiving remote signals from the remote controller is preferably located on the underside of the lid.

The electrical energy storage device is preferably a battery located at the top of the frame. The top of the frame also preferably has a holster for holding water outlet devices attached to the hose such as a hand held hose nozzle, spray gun or a sprinkler attached to the end of the hose. The base of the frame is preferably open.

The piping preferably has a reducer upstream of the turbine generator for reducing the water flow area.

In another embodiment the powered hose reel machine may have multiple hoses wound on the same reel wherein the piping distributes the water through to two or more separate hoses that may be extended in opposite directions from the machine. It is also a possibility to provide an additional one or more reels adjacent and co-axial with the hose reel, where each reel supports a separate hose.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of powering a hose reel machine including: conducting fluid from a fluid source through piping to a hose mounted for winding on a reel, the reel being rotatably mounted on the machine; converting the mechanical energy of the fluid as it flows through the piping into electrical energy by way of a turbine generator; storing the electrical energy in an electrical energy storage device; activating the electrical energy storage device to drive a motor to rotate the hose reel to thereby extend or retract the hose from the machine.

The method preferably includes transforming the converted electrical energy into a voltage suitable for storing by way of transformer.

The method also preferably involves using water as the fluid and controlling the flow of water with a water valve, and preferably a solenoid valve powered by the electrical energy storage device, which is preferably a battery.

Activating the electrical energy storage device to power the water valve is preferably carried out remotely by using a remote controller to send a signal that is received by a receiver located on the machine, the sensor being electrically connected to the electrical energy storage device and/or the valve. Alternatively, activation of the energy storage device and water valve is carried out manually by activating switches on the reel machine itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a front sectional view of a powered hose reel machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention wherein the machine is mounted below the ground's surface;

Figure 2 is a rear sectional view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 viewed from section A-A;

Figure 4 is an end view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 taken at section B-B;

Figure 5 is an underneath view of the machine;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a guide mechanism of the powered hose reel machine; and

Figure 7 is a rear sectional view of a powered hose reel machine in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a powered hose reel machine 10 situated below the surface 11 of the ground. The machine is capable of harnessing and storing its own energy and using the energy to power rotation of a hose reel and thereby mechanize hose take-off and/or take-up. The hose reel machine harnesses the mechanical power of the water flowing under mains pressure through to the hose by converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy, storing it in an electrical energy storage device and, when required, activating a motor powered by the electrical energy storage device to in turn power reel rotation. The process of unwinding and especially winding a hose is thereby assisted by the motor or entirely motorised. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the machine 10 comprises a reel 12 on which a long hose 14 is wound and which during use the hose is unwound by extending upwardly out of the machine 10 and pulling it to a desired location for irrigating the ground. In this embodiment the hose reel machine is designed to be stationary, whether located above or below the ground. Where the machine is to be installed as a long term, permanent fixture it would be more convenient to locate the machine in a dugout hole in the ground and then fill in the spaces around the machine to the ground line. In this way the machine is hidden from view and the ground surface above the machine can be used.

The machine 10 has an encasing frame 16 for housing and supporting the components of the machine. In this embodiment the frame is a rectangular casing and is enclosed at the upper surface 17 and substantially around all four sides 18 to prevent the ingress of soil and moisture into the frame's interior. The bottom of the frame is open to the earth for allowing any water leakages from the hose and piping to leak directly into the ground.

A central portion of the upper surface 17 is trapezoid- shaped and forms a trapezoidal compartment 19. The top of the trapezoidal compartment 19 is provided with an access hatch 20 and hinged lid 21 defining the extreme upper surface of the frame 16 and which when closed is level with the ground surface 11. The frame is ideally made of a lightweight material resistant to corrosion and subsurface wear. Such material includes fibreglass, plastic, galvanized steel, aluminum, etc.

The reel 12 is mounted for rotation about a central shaft 22 supported between internal walls 23 of the frame 16. The end of the hose 14 wound on the reel extends upwards from the reel into the trapezoidal compartment 19 where it is held in storage and easily accessed through the access hatch 20.

In the illustrated machine 10 the end of the hose is attached to a sprinkler attachment having a sprinkler base 26 and sprinkler head 27. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 sprinkler base 26 is supported at an upright inclined angle in a specially designed holster 29 (see Figure 1) .

Piping 30 supported by frame 16 supplies the hose with water obtained from a water source. The water source is usually the water mains. In the embodiment illustrated the piping runs across the length of the frame and then turns downwardly towards and into a water inlet 84 (see Figure 7) of the hose, which is coaxial with shaft 22 of reel 12. A reducer 32 at the most upstream end of the piping 30 allows connection to larger mains pipes and also increases the pressure and flow rate of water passing through into the piping 30 of the machine 10..

A water valve 34 located downstream of the reducer 32 controls the flow of water entering the hose from zero flow to maximum flow and to any flow in between. The water valve is typically an irrigation solenoid valve that can be activated manually by a person reaching through the hatch 20 and activating the valve, or it can be operated remotely. Remote operation includes using a remote controller that transmits a signal received by a receiving sensor, or receiver, located on the machine 10. The signal received by the sensor is then transmitted to activate the water valve 34.

A suitable location for the receiving sensor (not shown) is on the underside of the lid 21. Accordingly, the transmitter and receiving sensor can be configured to communicate in a direct line of sight, for example, by way of infra red frequency, thereby only operating when the lid 21 is hinged open. Hence, activation of the water valve is only possibly when the hose is extended out of the machine and any accidental activation while the hose is still in the machine is avoided. Alternatively, the remote transmitter need not be in a direct line of sight with the receiver, but may operate on proximity, for instance by way of radio frequency. In this case to prevent the water valve from activating while the lid is closed a switch may be incorporated to close the circuit so that the valve is activated only when the lid is open.

Located between the water valve 34 and hose inlet 31 is a turbine generator 36 which incorporates a turbine 37 and an electrical generator 38. Turbine 37 is located directly in the path of the water flow-through piping 30. Vanes (not illustrated) of the turbine rotate under the force of the flowing water. The rotating vanes cause a central shaft extending into the generator 38 to rotate and cause the generator to convert the mechanical energy of the rotating shaft into electrical energy. The electrical energy created by the generator is then conveyed to a transformer 40 at the opposite end of the machine 10 where the electrical energy is converted to a voltage value appropriate for storing in an electrical energy storage device.

The electrical energy storage device in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is a battery 42 mounted in a battery compartment 43 in the trapezoidal compartment 19 of frame 16. A sliding panel 46 provides access to the battery compartment 43. There may be more than one battery connected in series. It is understood that other reasonable means of storing electrical energy may be used, such as transformers. The battery is a rechargeable battery that is charged while water continuously flows through the piping into the hose, and namely during irrigation. Battery charging ceases when the water valve 34 is activated to stop the flow of water. The battery is used to activate both the solenoid water valve 34 and a motor 44 used to rotate the reel 12 to take up or dispense the hose 14 relative to the reel 12. Hence the effort required, in particular, with winding up a long heavy hose is entirely borne by the motor driven rotating reel. It is envisaged that the amount of electrical energy generated during the course of normal irrigation is sufficient to power at least one full retraction of the hose and preferably multiple hose retractions and/or extensions.

A driving shaft 45 of the motor 44 is in-line with the central shaft 22 of the reel. A clutch and preferably a magnetic clutch 47 is disposed between the motor 44 and reel shaft 22 to allow for manual unwinding of the hose if it is desired to not use the motor to unwind the hose. When it is required to take-up the hose the motor is activated and the clutch is engaged by an electrical signal powered by the battery.

During take-up it may be necessary to disengage coupling between the motor and clutch in the event that torsional forces imparted by the reel on the motor are excessive for the motor's capacity. Such forces may occur where on withdrawing the hose back down through the hatch 20 and coiling it back onto the reel 12 the hose becomes caught on an obstruction above ground leaving the motor to continue working against the stopping force of the obstruction. This can potentially burn out the motor. In this scenario a circuit breaker on the machine releases engagement between the motor and clutch. When the obstruction is removed and torsional forces brought back to an appropriate level, the motor and clutch are re¬ engaged.

Activation of the motor may be carried out manually by reaching through the hatch and activating a corresponding switch in the trapezoidal compartment 19 of the machine 10. Alternatively or additionally, the motor may be activated remotely by way of a remote control communicating with a sensor located on the machine 10 which signals, through appropriate circuitry, the motor to switch on or off. The remote control may be the same device used to activate the water valve. The transmission and receiving features described in relation to the remote control and water valve apply equally here in respect of the remote control and motor.

The powered hose reel machine 10 has a guide mechanism 50 that ensures that the hose is wound and unwound relative to the reel in an orderly and even fashion. More importantly when winding up the hose back onto the reel the guide mechanism 50 ensures each wound coil is neatly placed adjacent the one before it.

The guide mechanism 50 is driven by a pulley arrangement in which drive pulley 52 is mounted on reel shaft 22 for rotation therewith. Through a drive belt or chain 53, drive pulley 52 drives pinion 54 which is mounted on one end of a pinion shaft 56 that extends the length of the reel 12. The other end of the pinion shaft 56 is mounted for rotation on an internal wall 23 of frame 16.

As more clearly illustrated in Figure 6, pinion shaft 56 is provided with a hose guide assembly 55 that captures the hose 14 and evenly guides it onto and off the reel 12. Pinion thread shaft 56 is threaded with bi-directional grooves that allow a pinion sleeve 57 of the hose guide assembly 55 to move along the pinion shaft in both directions. Pinion sleeve 57 is mounted around the pinion shaft and has a corresponding internal lug (not shown) to allow it to move along pinion shaft 56 as pinion shaft rotates inside pinion sleeve 57. The lug inside pinion sleeve 57 is guided by the grooves on the pinion shaft to move the guide assembly 55 towards one end of the shaft.

On reaching the end of the shaft the bi-directional threaded grooves guide the lug onto the opposing set of grooves to move it back in the opposite direction. Both ends of the pinion shaft 56 are threaded to reverse the direction of the lug by setting it on the alternate set of grooves. The guide assembly 55 is designed to constantly move in reciprocating directions regardless of the direction the shaft rotates. Accordingly, pinion sleeve 57 is moved along pinion shaft 56 on account of the axial rotation of pinion shaft 56 that is driven by pinion pulley 54. The speed at which guide assembly 55 moves along pinion shaft 56 therefore corresponds to and is dependent on the rotational speed of the reel.

As further shown in Figure 6, the guiding mechanism also includes a stationary guide shaft 60 mounted parallel to the pinion shaft 56. A guide sleeve 61 forming part of the hose guide assembly 55 is slideably mounted on the guide shaft. The guide shaft is smooth and does not contain threads. Parallel rollers 64 span the gap between the pinion sleeve and guide sleeve and one end of each roller is mounted to each one of the pinion sleeve and guide sleeve. The pinion sleeve 57, guide sleeve 61 and rollers 64 comprise the hose guide assembly 55 and move as a single unit along the pinion shaft 56 and guide shaft 60. A space 66 formed centrally of the hose guide assembly 55 receives the hose which is threaded to extend up through the space. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate hose 14 extending up from reel 12 through the space 66 of the guide mechanism 50 and up into the trapezoidal compartment 19 where the hose is attached to the sprinkler base or other water outlets.

The pinion sleeve and/or the guide sleeve may also be provided with a roller that assists the hose to' smoothly deploy off the reel through the guide mechanism and out of the hatch 20. In the example illustrated only the guide sleeve is provided with a roller.

In brief overview, the pinion shaft 56 is configured by the pulley arrangement to rotate when the reel 12 rotates. Rotation of the threaded pinion shaft 56 causes the hose guide assembly 55 to reciprocally move along the shaft the length of the reel. The hose is thereby systemically and orderly taken up from the reel and wound back onto the reel.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention from an part-sectional rear view. In this embodiment the driving means to drive reel shaft 22 is geared compared with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 in which the motor 44 directly drives shaft 22. In the embodiment of Figure 7 the motor 44 is fixed to base plate 70 at a side base of frame 16. Base plate 70 is welded to the base in a side compartment of frame 16 between an internal wall 23 and a side 18 of frame 16.

A similar base plate 70 in this embodiment is also provided in a similar side compartment at the opposite side of frame 16 to support transformer 40. The middle section between two internal walls 23 is not provided with a base in order to allow water leakages from the hose 14 to drain into the ground.

The motor 44 is coupled to a gear box 71 and a belt drive extends between the gear box 71 and clutch 47. The belt drive comprises a drive sprocket 72 mounted to gear box 71 and a drive chain 73 extending between drive sprocket 72 and a second sprocket 74 mounted coaxially with a magnetic clutch 47 to impart rotational drive to the clutch.

Figure 7 shows in more detail the operation of the reel 12 and its relationship with hose 14. Starting at reel shaft 22 this shaft is bearing mounted on frame 16, and specifically internal wall 23, and extends only a short distance into reel 12 where it is encased in bush 75. Bush 75 and reel shaft 22 are welded to an end face 76 of hose reel 12. Hence shaft 22 rotates to cause reel 12 to rotate.

Hose reel 12 comprises a central hollow spool 78 on which the hose 14 winds. The spool 78 is located between two reel end flanges 79 which are made of fiberglass, plastic or the like and fixed to the spool 78 by way of grub screws 80. End flanges 79 are inclined to assist in guiding the hose 14 onto reel 12 and to accommodate a large volume of winded hose. The spool is also made of fiberglass, plastic galvanized steel or aluminum, or the like.

At the opposite end of the spool 78 to the driving reel shaft 22 the spool end rotates with respect to the frame 16 on bearings 81 mounted between hollow spool 78 and a circular flange 82. Circular flange 82 is fixed to frame 16 to extend concentrically with and internally of hollow spool 78 so as to provide support for bearings 81.

The water inlet 84 of the hose 14 is located at the opposite end of reel 12 to reel shaft 22. Water inlet 84 is coupled to the piping 30 extending through the axial center of hose reel 12 and at the axial center of circular flange 82. A rotary union 85 is fixed to the main frame and couples the piping also fixed to the frame to hose 14, which is permitted to rotate. Accordingly, as reel shaft 22 is driven to rotate hollow spool is also caused to rotate in one or the other rotational direction depending on whether the hose is being taken up or being deployed. The opposite end of the hollow spool 78 to that containing shaft 22 rotates with respect to the frame 11 on bearings 81. Hose 14 which is connected to the piping 30 by way of rotary union 85 extends from an axial center and internally of spool 78 to an exterior of spool 78 through an opening (not shown) in the wall of the spool. With the hose positioned at the exterior of spool 78 reel 12 can be rotated to wind or unwind the hose onto the spool.

While not shown in the embodiments demonstrated by the drawings the machine may also include a reed switch that automatically turns off the motor when the hose is fully retracted in the machine. The reed switch would comprise a magnetic ring, tape or other device fitted to the end of the hose and immediately before the hose attachment. As the hose nears the end of full retraction into the machine the magnetic device, ring etc triggers a switch located in the upper compartment (e.g. trapezoidal compartment 19) of the machine. The triggered switch sends a signal to turn the motor off because the hose is fully retracted.

The reed switch allows the machine to be automatically switched off when hose retraction is finished. If in automatic mode the reed switch fails the circuit breaker discussed earlier will turn the motor off when the current caused by the increased torsional forces on the none- rotating reel reach an unacceptable level.

While the present powered hose reel machine has been illustrated as being installed underground it could be just as reasonably installed above ground free standing or enclosed within a shed. In this scenario machine maintenance is easier because when above ground the machine can be accessed from all sides. However, in installing the machine below ground it is envisaged that reasonable access to the internal components of the machine is achievable through the access hatch. To carry out any major repair work the machine is pulled out of the ground by first removing soil on top of the machine. Work can then be carried out on the machine by, for example, removing side panels 24 to gain access to the transformer and turbine generator. The hose reel machine 10 is lifted and lowered into the ground by handles 25 located on the upper surface 17 of frame 16.

The advantage with installing the machine underground is that the machine can be installed in the most convenient position with respect to irrigating an entire area, even if this position is in the middle of an expanse of lawn or on a golf course. Because the machine is below ground it does not need to be positioned out of the way behind a shed or trees, etc.

In the embodiment described above where the hose reel machine 10 is located above ground, the exit point for the hose 14 would not be through an access hatch at the top of the machine but through an opening in the frame at one side of the machine. The trapezoid compartment 19 may be undipped from the main frame 11 in this situation. The machine may be provided with wheels to allow an amount of mobility limited only by the length and flexibility of the supply hose or piping from the mains.

In the embodiment illustrated the machine is provided with only one hose. It is envisaged that the machine could have more than one hose. For example, the machine may be provided with two hoses wound side by side on the reel with the piping diverting the water equally to two hose inlets. Two hoses would thus be pulled from the access hatch and could be directed in opposite directions to cover a wider irrigating area.

It is also envisaged that the hose reel machine may be used to dispense a fluid other than water, such as petrochemical fluids or a fluid composition containing water and other fluids. In these circumstances minor modifications to the machine would be required to compensate for differences in pressure and other parameters, for example corrosion, resulting from the change in fluid characteristics.

It is further understood that the hose reel machine may be computer operated and programmable to, for example, allow irrigation for a predetermined duration at a selected flow rate, to operate on a timed basis, etc.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.