FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a high pressure washer. Especially, the invention relates to a compact high pressure washer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

High pressure washers or pressure washers use high pressure liquid, typically water, to clean surfaces, such as walls, patios, driveways, and the like. Generally, pressure washers include an engine that provides power to a pump. The pump operates to provide high pressure fluid to a gun, that includes a trigger mechanism that is actuated by the user to discharge the high-pressure fluid. The high pressure washer includes a water supply hose connection point allowing the fluid connection of a water supply hose the pump and a high pressure hose, also connected to the pump, so that when a water supply hose is connected to the high pressure washer, the water supply hose is in fluid connection with the pump and the high pressure hose. The high pressure hose may have a length of up to 10 meters or even longer in order to allow the user to move relatively freely. Therefore, the high pressure washer may become somewhat bulky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, an improved high pressure washer would be advantageous, and in particular a more compact high pressure washer. Here, the term "high pressure washer" is meant to denote a cleaning device using high-pressure liquid to clean surfaces and/or objects, such as removing loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, chewing gum and dirt from e.g. buildings, vehicles and concrete surfaces. The pressure. The "high pressure washers" as understood here are cleaning devices that are able to produce pressures up to between 20 and 300 bar.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a high pressure washer comprising a housing with a front side, a pump, a water supply hose connection point allowing the fluid connection of a water supply hose to the pump, a high pressure hose in fluid connection to the pump, wherein the high pressure washer further comprises a hose reel upon which the high pressure hose can be wound, wherein the hose reel is rotatable around a shaft that is substantially perpendicular to the front side of the housing. When a water supply hose is connected to the connection point, the water supply hose is in fluid connection with the high pressure hose. The high pressure hose can be wound up on the hose reel for storage or be unwound for use, whilst the high pressure hose and the water supply hose continues to be in fluid connection. The high pressure hose is in fluid connection with the water supply hose during use, storage and winding-up of the high pressure hose.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, advantageous for obtaining a compact high pressure washer. This is due to the fact that the high pressure hose is wound up sideways, in that it is arranged to be wound up on the hose reel that is mounted rotatably around the shaft and the shaft is substantially perpendicular to the front side of the housing. Thereby, it is possible to have a hose reel which together with the housing provides for a more compact high pressure washer than when the hose reel is wound up on a shaft that is parallel to the front side of the housing.

Another advantage by the present invention is that the water supply hose connection point is in fluid connection with the high pressure hose via the pump both during operation and outside operation of the high pressure washer.

That means that the high pressure hose is in fluid connection with the pump during the winding up of the high pressure hose. The high pressure hose is also in fluid connection with the pump during storage. The high pressure hose is thus uninterruptedly connected to the pump during normal use and storage, unless the high pressure washer is disassembled for repair/maintenance or for other reasons. Thereby, the high pressure washer is ready for use whenever the water supply hose is connected to a water supply and the pump is powered; this provides for easy use of the high pressure washer. The high pressure washer may include a detergent tank for supplying detergent, such as cleaning liquid, to water. In an embodiment, the shaft is fastened to the front side of the housing. Thereby, the hose reel is positioned on the front side of the housing. In an embodiment, the upper side of the hose reel extends above the upper side of the housing.

In an embodiment, the high pressure washer further comprises a covering having a front cover and a rear cover, wherein the covering is arranged to house the hose reel. The covering provides for keeping the high pressure hose positioned upon the hose reel when the high pressure washer is operated by the user and/or during winding up of the high pressure hose on the hose reel. It is not uncommon that the high pressure hose when reeled upon a hose reel can grow in size and some parts of the high pressure hose might fall off the hose reel. The covering ensures that this does not happen and keeps the high pressure hose properly positioned, both when the high pressure hose is wound up on the hose reel and when it is partly wound up on the reel. The covering may be closed, or it may be only partially closed.

In an embodiment, the front cover is removable from the high pressure washer. When the front cover is removable, it is easy for the user or for a service technician to service the high pressure washer and/or to change or upgrade the high pressure hose.

As used herein, the term "front side of the housing" is meant to denote the side facing the user during standard use of the high pressure washer. Moreover, the front side of the housing of the high pressure washer of the invention is the side of the housing from which the high pressure hose exits. Typically, buttons or other user interfaces are positioned on the front side of the high pressure washer, in addition to buttons or other user interfaces positioned on a gun of the high pressure washer.

In an embodiment of the high pressure washer, a gap exists between the front cover and the rear cover of the covering, wherein the gap is smaller than the diameter of the high pressure hose. Thus, even when the front cover is mounted in its position as part of the covering, there is a gap between the front and the rear covers. When the gap is smaller than the diameter of the high pressure hose, the high pressure hose is prevented from exiting through the gap. The gap between the front cover 31 and the rear cover 32 provides for an easy grip when an end user or a service technician wants to remove the front cover 31 from the high pressure washer 10. Moreover, the gap reduces the risk of the front cover 31 touching the rear cover 32 when rotated. Finally, the gap provides for the ability of air to enter the covering 30 and/or humidity to exit the covering 30; thus, even if the high pressure hose has become wet during use, it may dry when wound upon the hose reel 20. The term "diameter of the high pressure hose" is meant to denote the outer diameter of the high pressure hose.

In an embodiment of the high pressure washer, the hose reel comprises a front reel part and a rear reel part, and a handle is fastened to the front reel part, wherein the handle extends through an opening in the front cover.

The handle may be handled by a user for winding up the high pressure hose on the hose reel. In an embodiment, the handle is offset in relation to the shaft of the hose reel in order to ensure a better force transfer to the hose reel.

In an embodiment, the height of the hose reel of the high pressure washer is less than half of the diameter of the hose reel. This provides for a relatively narrow hose reel, which is advantageous since it decreases the risk for the high pressure hose to clutter and/or interlock with itself on the hose reel. It should be noted that the term "diameter of the hose reel" is meant to denote the diameter of the at least substantially cylindrical hose reel, and that the term "height of the hose reel" is meant to denote the extent of the hose reel perpendicular to the diameter.

In an embodiment, the high pressure hose of the high pressure washer extends from the hose reel into the housing and exits the housing on the front side of the housing. Thereby, the high pressure hose is integrated within the housing of the high pressure washer. Hereby, it is possible to obtain a compact design of the high pressure hose. Moreover, the front side of the high pressure user is the side of the high pressure user with which the user interacts during use.

The combination of the sideways positioning of the hose wheel on the housing of the high pressure washer and the fact that the high pressure hose is integrated within the housing of the high pressure washer renders it possible to provide a high pressure washer having a more compact size than high pressure washers having traditional hose reels.

In an embodiment, the high pressure washer further comprises a hose guide for the high pressure hose, where the hose guide is arranged within the housing. This provides for an improved unwinding and winding up of the high pressure hose in that it reduces the strain on the high pressure hose during winding up or unwinding thereof by guiding the hose between the hose reel and a hose outlet on the front side of the housing. In an embodiment, the hose guide is arranged to change the direction of the high pressure hose, so that the high pressure hose 26 exits the front side of the housing. For example, the hose guide is arranged to change the direction of the high pressure hose about 90° so that instead of being directed parallel to the front side of the housing, the high pressure hose exits the front side of the housing substantially perpendicular to it. However, the hose guide may also change the direction of the high pressure hose to exit the front side of the housing in an acute angle in relation to the front side of the housing, such as facing a bit downwards.

In an embodiment, the house outlet is oblong with a longitudinal axis along the front side of the high pressure washer being substantial vertical. In this embodiment, the hose guide changes the direction of the high pressure hose so that the high pressure hose exits the front side of the housing in a plane perpendicular to the front side, where this plane includes the longitudinal axis of the high pressure hose.

In an embodiment, the hose guide comprises a pulley wheel for reducing the friction on the high pressure hose.

In an embodiment, the high pressure washer further comprises an internal high pressure hosepipe in fluid connection with the pump and with the high pressure hose. The internal high pressure hosepipe is e.g. connected in fluid tight connection with one end to the pump and with the other end in fluid tight connection to the high pressure hose. The internal high pressure hosepipe is preferably positioned stationary within the high pressure washer, whilst the high pressure hose is positioned on the reel that is rotatable around a shaft. Therefore, one or more further coupling parts may exist between the connection between the internal high pressure hosepipe and the high pressure hose in order to facilitate the connection between the internal high pressure hose pipe and the movable high pressure hose.

In an embodiment, the internal high pressure hosepipe of the high pressure washer extends within the shaft, in that the shaft is a hollow shaft.

In an embodiment, the high pressure washer further comprises a footrest, where the high pressure washer is arranged to rest upon the footrest during operation. Hereby, a user/an operator of the high pressure washer may position his/her foot on the footrest in order to stabilize the high pressure washer during use. The high pressure washer may thus rest with a lower side of the footrest against the ground during use and the user may stabilize the high pressure washer by stepping on an upper side of the footrest. The high pressure washer may further comprise a top frame to be gripped by the user for transporting, handling and/or lifting the high pressure washer.

It is appreciated that the described embodiments can be intermixed in any way between all the mentioned aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The apparatus and method according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

FIGs. 1 and 2 are schematic views of an embodiment of a high pressure washer according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the high pressure washer along line A- A in Fig. 1; and. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the high pressure washer along line B- B in Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIGs. 1 and 2 are schematic views of an embodiment of a high pressure washer 10 in perspective view. The high pressure washer 10 has a housing 15. In figure 1, the front side of the housing 15 is seen. The high pressure washer 10 also has a hose reel 20 with a covering 30. A handle 40 is fastened to the hose reel 20 and protrudes through a front cover 31 (see fig. 3 or 4) of the covering 30 of the hose reel 20. The handle 40 may be manipulated by a user in order to wind up a high pressure hose 28 on the reel 20. The handle 40 is advantageously mounted pivotably around its own axis on the hose reel 20 so that the covering 30 and thus the hose reel behind the covering can be wound or rotated without the user having to loosen his/her grip on the handle 40.

A high pressure hose (not shown in the figures), exits from a hose outlet 50 positioned at the front side of the housing 15. A knob or button 60 is positioned on the front side of the housing 15 and may be operated to change to output from the high pressure washer, such as on/off, increase/decrease of the intensity/flow/pressure of liquid from the high pressure washer.

A holder 80 is arranged on the side of the high pressure washer 10 in order to receive e.g. a gun or lance for the high pressure washer. The high pressure washer has an upper frame 75 that may be used for transporting the high pressure washer, and wheels 82 for transporting the high pressure washer. Moreover, a footrest 70 is arranged for supporting the high pressure washer 10 during use. A user may rest his/her foot on the footrest 70 during use in order to stabilize the high pressure washer.

In Fig. 2, which is a schematic view the high pressure washer 10 seen from behind, it can be seen that at the back side, opposite the front side of the high pressure washer, a hook 17 is provided. The hook 17 is useful for holding an electric cable (not shown in the figures), when the high pressure washer is not in use. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the high pressure washer 10 along line A-A in Fig. 1. The hose reel 20 is mounted on the front side of the high pressure washer 10; since Fig. 3 shows the hose reel and the high pressure washer 10 as seen the side, it should be noted that the front side of the high pressure washer in figs. 3 and 4 faces the right side of the figures.

The covering 30 (see fig. 1) has a front cover 31 and a rear cover 32, wherein the covering 30 is arranged to house the hose reel 20 (see fig. 1 or 2). The covering 30 is partially closed in that a gap 16 exists between the front cover 31 and the rear cover 32. The hose reel 20 (see fig. 1 or 2) comprises a front reel part 21 and a rear reel part 22 connected to an axial part 23 of the hose reel 20 which is rotatable on a shaft 25 (see fig. 4). Moreover, the handle 40 is fastened to the front reel part 21 and the handle 40 extends through an opening in the front cover 31. When a user winds up the high pressure hose on the hose reel 20 by operating the handle 40, the front cover 31, the front reel part 21 and the rear reel part 22 rotate, whilst the rear cover 32 is stationary.

In fig. 3 it is moreover seen that an opening 34 exists for allowing the high pressure hose to extend from the hose reel 20 towards the hose outlet 50 via a pulley wheel 33. The pulley wheel is a hose guide arranged within the housing and provide for alleviating the unwinding and winding up of the high pressure hose by reducing the strain on the high pressure hose during winding up or unwinding thereof. Moreover, the combination of the pulley wheel 33 and a hose guide bracket 39 is arranged to change the direction of the high pressure hose about 90° so that instead of being directed substantially downwards from the hose reel 20, viz. tangential to the hose reel diameter and thus parallel to the front side of the housing 15 (see fig. 1), the high pressure hose exits the front side of the housing 15 (see fig. 1) through the hose outlet 50, substantially perpendicular to the front side of the housing. Both the pulley wheel 33 and the hose guide bracket 39 are hose guides.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the high pressure washer 10 along line B-B in Fig. 1. In fig. 4, the front reel part 21 and the rear reel part 22 of the hose reel 20 (see fig. 1 or 2) are shown again as well as the front cover 31 and the rear cover 32 of the covering 30 (see fig. 1), with the gap 16 between the front cover 31 and the rear cover 32. The hose reel 20 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 25 that is substantially perpendicular to the front side of the housing 15 (see fig. 1).

An internal high pressure hosepipe 28 is in fluid connection to the pump and receives pressurized liquid, such as water or water with detergent, from the pump, when the high pressure washer 10 is in use. The internal high pressure hosepipe 28 extends within the hollow shaft 25 and is connected to the high pressure hose 26. In fig. 4, only a small part of the high pressure hose is shown; this part is denoted "26". The high pressure hose 26 is of a sufficiently flexible and pliant material so that the high pressure hose 26 may be wound up onto the hose reel 20 and unwound from the hose reel 20 a multitude of times. Fig. 4 also shows a rotatable coupling comprising a rotatable coupling part 27 and an axial coupling part 29. The axial coupling part 29 is fixedly mounted within the shaft 25 and is in fluid connection with the internal high pressure hosepipe 28. The rotatable coupling part 27 is rotatable around the axial coupling part 29 whilst being in fluid connection with the internal high pressure hosepipe 28 via a hose nipple 38 And the axial coupling part 29. In fig. 4, the upper part of the pump is visible and denoted with "24". The conveying of liquid from the pump 24 to the high pressure hose 26 takes place via the internal high pressure hosepipe 28 running through the shaft 25 and is in fluid connection with high pressure hose 26 via the axial coupling part 29 and the rotatable coupling part 27. It should be noted that the internal high pressure hose is not shown in a connected state in fig. 4. The conveying of the liquid through the shaft 25 renders it possible to provide the connection between the axial coupling part 29, the rotatable coupling part 27 and the high pressure hose 26 all the way to the inner side of the front cover 31 as shown by the part 26 of the high pressure hose. At the lower end of the part 26 of the high pressure hose as shown in fig. 4, the high pressure hose is led perpendicular to the plane of fig. 4 so as to be wound around axial part 23 (see fig. 3) of the hose reel 20. When the coupling between the axial coupling part 29 and the high pressure hose is positioned as shown in fig. 4, easy exchange or service of the high pressure hose is achievable.

First and second locking rings or locking mechanisms 35 fastens the front reel part 21 and the rear reel part 22 to the high pressure washer 10. The front cover 31 is removable from the high pressure washer, e.g. by snap mechanism, a screw or other fastening means. When the front cover 31 is removed from the high pressure washer, a service technician or a user has easy access to the high pressure hose and the hose reel 20, and service and/or maintenance of the high pressure washer, such as exchange of the high pressure hose, may be carried out with only few further operations. It should be noted, that even though fig. 4 shows two locking mechanisms 35, it is also conceivable that the high pressure washer 10 only includes a single of the locking mechanisms 35, since the front and rear reel parts 21, 22 could be held in fastened position by use of only the locking mechanism 35 shown to the right in fig. 4, viz. the locking mechanism 35 closest to the front cover 31.

In fig. 4 a locking mechanism 36 is also shown. When the front cover 31 is removed, the locking mechanism 36 may be removed. The locking mechanism 36 may be equipped with a handle for an end user or service technician to remove it without tools. When the front cover 31 is removed, access is provided to the high pressure hose, e.g. the high pressure hose may be exchanged by decoupling the existing high pressure hose from the axial coupling part 27, after removing the locking mechanism 36, and connecting another high pressure hose to the axial coupling part 29.

This enables for maintenance and service of the hose reel 20 and high pressure hose with a minimum of tools and operations. The entire hose reel 20 with the high pressure hose - without the rear cover 32 - can be replaced by removing the front cover 31 and subsequently releasing only two locking mechanisms 35.

The handle 40 is shown in cross section from which a second fastening means 41 is visible. The handle 40 is mounted rotatably around the second fastening means 41 so that a user may rotate the front reel part 21 for winding up the high pressure hose, without loosening the grip of the handle 40.

It should be noted, that in the figures the high pressure hose is not shown except from a part 26 of the high pressure hose in fig. 4, for the sake of clarity of the figures. Throughout the figures, similar reference numbers are meant to denote similar features. Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as "a" or "an" etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.