Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HIGH PRESSURE WATER CLEANER WITH
DETACHABLE WATER TANK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water cleaners and more
particularly to a high pressure water cleaner with detachable
water tank comprising a water cleaner main unit, a detachable
water tank.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
When using a conventional high pressure water cleaner, the
operator will encounter the following two problems in most
cleaning situations. One is that there is no water tap available or
it is restrictive to connect a hose to a water tap. In this case, the
high pressure water cleaner becomes useless. The other problem
is that it is impossible to achieve a satisfactory cleaning effect
just by using high pressure water cleaner only. For example, when
cleaning car tires, car internals, motorcycles or machine, it is
required to use extra cleaning hand tools (such as towels, brushes,
etc.) to perform a further cleaning work.
The present invention provides an efficient solution to the
conventional water cleaner problems described above: a
detachable tank not only provides water to the cleaner directly
without extra water source, but also provides a place to wet and
wash hand cleaning tools as well. Meanwhile, the water cleaner
also can perform normal high pressure cleaner job individually by
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connecting to a tap water, and the water tank could be used as a conventional
water bucket
when detached from the cleaner.
The similar products in the market currently have two features, one is a
pressure
washer plus a separated bucket, it can't work without tap water; another one
is a pressure
washer with an integrated tight tank. Although the tight tank could supply
water to keep the
cleaner working, it only could work under low pressure (under 300psi), low
voltage (12V
DC), and since it cannot work under real high pressure, it couldn't achieve
good cleaning
performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view.
According to the present invention, there is provided a high pressure water
cleaner
with detachable water tank, comprising:
a water container for holding water and supplying water; and
a water cleaner main unit, said water cleaner main unit comprising a hydraulic
pump
mounted therein for enhancing the pressure of supplied water, a regulator for
regulating water
pressure and water flow rate, an electrical drive for driving said hydraulic
pump, a water
outlet disposed at one lateral side thereof in communication with said
hydraulic pump for
connecting to a spray gun, a receptacle located on a top side thereof for
receiving said water
tank, a feed water connector upwardly protruding from a bottom wall of said
receptacle and
disposed in communication with said hydraulic pump for receiving water from
said water
tank upon insertion of said water tank into said receptacle, and a movable
lock adapted for
locking said water tank to said receptacle, wherein said water tank comprises
a top opening, a
check valve mounted in a bottom side thereof and detachably connected to said
feed water
connector, and a retainer located on the periphery for engaging said movable
lock.
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Other aspects, embodiments, variants and/or resulting advantages of the
present
invention, all being preferred and/or optional, are briefly summarized
hereinbelow.
For example, according to one aspect of the present invention, the high
pressure water
cleaner with detachable water tank comprises a high pressure cleaner main
unit, a detachable
water tank and other accessories. Thus, the user can connect the water cleaner
main unit to a
water source by a hose for application. Alternatively, the user can use the
water tank to take
water or other cleaning solution and then attach the water tank to the water
cleaner main unit
to provide water or the cleaning solution to the water cleaner main unit for
application.
Therefore, a high pressure water cleaner with detachable water tank satisfies
different
application requirements.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the water cleaner main
unit
comprises a movable lock for locking the
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water tank to a receptacle. When the movable lock is unlocked
from the water tank, the water tank can be separated from the
water cleaner main unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the
water tank has a check valve located on the bottom side. When the
water tank is inserted into the receptacle of the water cleaner main
unit, the check valve is connected to a feed water connector in the
receptacle of the water cleaner main unit and opened for letting
water or other cleaning solution flow into the water cleaner main
unit for application. When the water tank is separated from the
water cleaner main unit, the check valve is closed, avoiding water
leakage.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the
water tank has rest means for the resting of the nozzle gun that is
connected to the water cleaner main unit.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the
water tank and the water cleaner main unit are configured to fit
each other so that the water tank can be easily inserted into the
receptacle of the water cleaner main unit and positively
positioned in position, and conveniently separated from the water
cleaner main unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a split status of the high pressure water
cleaner with detachable water tank high pressure water cleaner
with detachable water tank in accordance with the present
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=
invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevational assembly view of the high pressure
water cleaner with detachable water tank in accordance with the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the check valve of the detachable
water tank of the high pressure water cleaner with detachable
water tank in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the check valve of the
detachable water tank of the high pressure water cleaner with
detachable water tank in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the check valve of the
detachable water tank of the high pressure water cleaner with
detachable water tank in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a part of the present invention,
showing an operation status of the check valve.
FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing an application example of the high pressure water
cleaner with detachable water tank .
FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing another application example of the high pressure water
cleaner with detachable water tank .
FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic drawing showing a storage
status of the high pressure water cleaner with detachable water
tank in accordance with the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the high pressure water cleaner
with detachable water tank in accordance with the present
invention comprises a water cleaner main unit 1 and a detachable
water tank 2.
The water cleaner main unit 1 can be made in any of a variety
of shapes. According to this embodiment, the water cleaner main
unit 1 has a rectangular shape. The water cleaner main unit 1
comprises a hydraulic pump (not shown) mounted on the inside
and adapted for enhancing the pressure of supplied water, a
regulator 11 for regulating water pressure and water flow rate and
an electrical drive (not shown) for driving the hydraulic pump.
The water cleaner main unit 1 has a water outlet 12 disposed at one
lateral side thereof in communication with the internal hydraulic
pump for the connection of a spray gun, a receptacle 13 located on
the top side thereof for receiving the detachable water tank 2, a
feed water connector 14 upwardly protruding from the bottom
wall of the receptacle 13 and disposed in communication with the
internal hydraulic pump, and a movable lock 15 adapted for
locking the detachable water tank 2 to the receptacle 13. Thus, the
detachable water tank 2 can be detachably secured to the
receptacle 13 of the water cleaner main unit 1.
Referring to FIG. 8, a carrying handle 16 is pivotally
connected to the receptacle 13 of the water cleaner main unit 1 to
facilitate carrying by hand. The movable lock 15 according to this
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embodiment comprises a locking handle 151 pivotally connected
to the water cleaner main unit 1. The locking handle 151 has a
hook 152 at its free end for hooking on the detachable water tank
2. Further, the aforesaid electrical drive can use AC power (city
power) as well as DC power. A rechargeable battery (not shown)
is installed in the water cleaner main unit 1 for providing the
necessary working voltage to the electrical drive. Thus, the high
pressure water cleaner with detachable water tank can be used in
different situations.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the detachable water tank 2
is detachably connected to the receptacle 13 of the water cleaner
main unit 1, having a top opening 21, a check valve 22 located on
the bottom side for connection to the feed water connector 14, and
a retainer 23 for receiving the locking handle 151 of the movable
lock 15. Thus, the detachable water tank 2 can be secured to the
water cleaner main unit 1 for use with the water cleaner main unit
1, or separated from the water cleaner main unit 1 for independent
application.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the detachable water tank 2 has a
drain hole 24 cut through the bottom wall thereof. The check valve
22 is installed in the drain hole 24, comprising a valve body 221,
a valve hole 2211 at the center of the valve body 221 and a
movable plug 222 mounted in and axially movable relative to the
valve hole 2211. As shown in FIG. 6, when the valve hole 2211 of
the check valve 22 is attached to the feed water connector 14, the
movable plug 222 is moved relative to the valve hole 2211 to open
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the passage of the valve hole 2211 for allowing a cleaning
solution (e.g. water) to pass from the detachable water tank 2
through the valve hole 2211 into the water cleaner main unit 1. On
the contrary, when the detachable water tank 2 is removed from
the water cleaner main unit 1, the movable plug 222 is returned to
its former position to close the passage of the valve hole 2211,
preventing the cleaning solution (water) from leaking. Thus,
based on the design of the check valve 22, the detachable water
tank 2 can be secured to the water cleaner main unit 1 for use with
the water cleaner main unit 1, or separated from the water cleaner
main unit 1 for independent application.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5 again, the check valve 22 further
comprises an inside annular flange 2212 suspending in the valve
hole 2211 for the passing of the movable plug 222. The movable
plug 222 has a blind hole 2221 axially extending to its one end,
namely, the bottom end, a plurality of radial holes 2222 disposed
in communication with the blind hole 2221 and spaced around the
periphery, a gasket ring 2223 fastened to the periphery near its
other end, namely, the top end, and a stop flange 2224 extending
around the periphery at the bottom end and stoppable at the
bottom side of the inside annular flange 2212 of the valve body
221. Further, a wire gauze filter 223 is fastened to one end of the
valve body 221, as shown in FIG. 6, for removing solid matters
from the cleaning solution (water) passing through the check
valve 22 toward the water cleaner main unit 1. A lock member, for
example, lock nut 224 is fastened to the other end of the valve
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body 221 to lock the check valve 22 to the drain hole 24 of the
detachable water tank 2. Further, in order to avoid cleaning
solution leakage, one or a number of 0-rings 225 are fastened to
the periphery of the valve body 221 to seal the gap between the
valve body 221 and the drain hole 24. A number of 0-rings 226
may be fastened to the internal wall of the valve hole 221 to seal
the feed water connector 14 of the water cleaner main unit 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the detachable water tank 2
has a bottom flange 25 fitting the receptacle 13 of the water
cleaner main unit 1. By fitting the bottom flange 25 with the
receptacle 13 of the water cleaner main unit 1, the detachable
water tank 2 can be quickly coupled to the water cleaner main unit
1.The retainer 23 of the detachable water tank 2 has a recessed
hole 231 for receiving the locking handle 151 of the movable lock
15, and a transverse rod 232 suspending in the recessed hole 231
for receiving the hook 152 at the free end of the locking handle
151.
Referring to FIG. 2 again, a carrying handle 26 is pivotally
connected to the detachable water tank 2 at the top to facilitate
carrying by hand. By means of the carrying handle 26, a user can
carry the detachable water tank 2 to a water source to take water
and then carry the detachable water tank 2 to the water cleaner
main unit 1 for installation or to any desired place for independent
application.
Referring to FIG. 7, the detachable water tank 2 has a nozzle
gun rest 27 for the resting of the nozzle gun 3. The nozzle gun rest
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27 has a recessed hole 271. When not in use, the nozzle gun 3 can
be rested in the recessed hole 271 of the nozzle gun rest 27.
When using the high pressure water cleaner with detachable
water tank , as shown in FIG. 7, the detachable water tank 2 can be
installed in the water cleaner main unit 1 and moved with the
water cleaner main unit 1 to a water source to take water.
Alternatively, the detachable water tank 2 can be separated from
the water cleaner main unit 1 and carried by hand to a water source
to take water. After the detachable water tank 2 is filled up with
water or other cleaning solution, it is carried to and installed in
the water cleaner main unit 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the
water cleaner main unit 1 can be separately used. When using the
water cleaner main unit 1 separately, connect the feed water
connector 14 to a water source or city water tap by a hose, and then
connect the nozzle gun 3 to the water outlet 12 for high pressure
water cleaning. Further, the detachable water tank 2 can be
separately used for holding a cleaning solution for cleaning, or
for holding water for washing a cleaning tool. Thus, the high
pressure water cleaner with detachable water tank meets different
cleaning requirements, and eliminates the drawbacks of the prior
art high pressure water cleaners.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the high pressure water
cleaner with detachable water tank is not used, the water cleaner
main unit 1 can be received in the detachable water tank 2 to
minimize storage space, thus facilitating movement and storage.
Further, the water cleaner main unit 1 has a stepped structure 17
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on the periphery. Further, the detachable water tank 2 has a
support structure 28 located on the inside corresponding to the
stepped structure 17 of the water cleaner main unit 1. When the
water cleaner main unit 1 is inserted into the detachable water
tank 2, the stepped structure 17 of the water cleaner main unit 1
is stopped and supported at the support structure 28. Thus, the
water cleaner main unit 1 can be steadily positioned in the
detachable water tank 2,
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
