Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WATER GUN CLEARING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to water gun clearing apparatus for clearing
residual
water from a water gun and water gun components and in particular to a gun
clearing
apparatus comprising a first air line branch configured to a provide a
continuous supply of
pressurized air at a first flow rate to prevent water moisture accumulation,
and a second air
line branch comprising a gun clearing valve configured to provide a supply of
pressurized
air at a second flow rate in order to clear residual water from the water gun.
Background
[0002] The removal of water from water supply pipes, hoses and other forms
of
water delivery mechanisms is of the utmost importance, given that in winter
months when
temperatures drop below freezing trapped water can freeze, expand and cause
rupture or
other forms of damage. In apparatuses containing many small, intricate
components, even
the slightest moisture build-up within such components can cause significant
damage upon
freezing and expansion, given the small tolerance and clearance between
components.
[0003] Various methods and mechanisms known in the art address the problem
of
residual water build up through the use of periodic blasts of compressed air
to blow
residual water out from hoses, pipes and similar apparatuses. While these
methods and
mechanisms can be effective in removing standing pools of water, they still
allow water
moisture to build-up within small clearances and components between compressed
air
blasts.
[0004] This is particularly problematic in applications such as self-
service car wash
units, where water guns used for car cleaning are constantly exposed to
outdoor sub-
freezing temperatures during winter months. Water guns contain many small
components
and very small clearances, especially in the nozzle portion of the gun. The
slightest
moisture accumulation during winter months can cause the nozzle portion of a
water gun
to become blocked by ice expansion, or in worst case scenario cause
significant damage
to the water gun nozzle.
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[0005] There is therefore a need in the art for an improved water gun
clearing
apparatus, particularly for clearing standing water from hoses, pipes and the
water gun as
well as preventing residual water moisture from accumulating within the water
gun.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a water gun
clearing
apparatus comprising a water gun connected to both a water line and an air
regulation
system. The water line is connected to a water source and the air regulation
system is
connectable to a source of pressurized air. The air regulation system
comprises a first air
line branch configured to provide a continuous supply of the pressurized air
at a first flow
rate and a second air line branch comprising a gun clearing valve configured
to provide a
supply of the pressurized air at a second flow rate. A one-way check valve is
connected to
the water line and is configured to prevent back flow of water from the water
line into at
least the first air line branch when the water gun is in use. The apparatus
further
comprises a timer activatable to provide a supply of the pressurized air to
the water gun at
the second flow rate for a pre-determined time period following use of the
water gun in
order to clear residual water from the water gun.
[0007] In one embodiment, the gun clearing valve is configured to open
when the
timer is activated. Air is then permitted to flow through both the first and
second air line
branches.
[0008] In one embodiment, the first air line branch comprises an air flow
regulator.
In an alternative embodiment, the first and second air line branches may be
connected in
parallel between the sources of pressurized air and the water gun. When the
timer is
activated, the timer causes the gun clearing valve to activate, allowing
pressurized air at
the second flow rate to flow through the second air line branch, and when the
timer is
deactivated, the timer causes the gun clearing valve to deactivate, thereby
preventing
pressurized air from flowing through the second air line branch. When the
timer is
deactivated air flow is channeled entirely along the first air line branch and
through the air
flow regulator. The air flow regulator restricts and decreases the air flow
coming from the
pressurized air source to the first flow rate.
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[0009] The first and second flow rates may be optimized such that air is
supplied at
the second flow rate to clear residual water from within the water gun and a
continuous
stream of pressurized air is supplied at the first flow rate to prevent water
moisture from
accumulating in the water gun. In one embodiment, the flow ratio between the
first and
second flow rates is from 1:100 to 1:4000.
[0010] In an alternative embodiment, the timer may be configured to
activate
automatically following use of the water gun. Additionally, the water gun
clearing
apparatus may comprise a water gun operational switch configured to activate
the water
gun and a relay sensor operatively connected to the water gun operational
switch and the
timer, wherein the relay sensor is configured to cause activation of the timer
upon
deactivation of the water gun operational switch.
[0011] Additionally, there is herein provided a method of clearing water
from a water
gun using the water gun clearing apparatus described above. An air line
supplying
compressed air to a water line is connected to a water source through a one-
way check
valve, the one-way check valve preventing back flow of water from the water
line into the
air line. A continuous stream of pressurized air is supplied to the water line
at a first flow
rate to prevent water moisture from accumulating in the water line, and a
periodic supply of
pressurized air is supplied at a second flow rate, for a preset time period,
to clear residual
water from the water gun. In one embodiment, the flow ratio between the first
and second
flow rates is from 1:100 to 1:4000.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012] Having summarized the invention, embodiments thereof will now be
described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0013] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a water
gun
clearing apparatus installed in a car wash;
[0014] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged portion of the schematic representation of
Fig. 1;
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[0015] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the
apparatus
of Fig. 1 in a first flow configuration;
[0016] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the
apparatus
of Fig. 1 in a second flow configuration;
[0017] Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the
apparatus
of Fig. 1 in a third flow configuration; and,
[0018] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the
apparatus
of Fig. 1 in a fourth flow configuration.
Detailed Description
[0019] Fig. 1 shows a general schematic illustrating the components of an
embodiment of a water gun clearing apparatus implemented within a car wash bay
to
prevent moisture build-up and corresponding water damage to a pressurized
water gun.
Fig. 1 depicts a manual car wash bay 18 containing a pressurized water gun 2
and soap
brush 3. A user controls operation of the water gun 2 and soap brush 3 through
the use of
a coin operated user interface 4 containing a water gun operational switch 5.
A user
places a coin into the interface 4 and through the operational switch 5 is
able to select
between usage of the water gun 2 or the soap brush 3 during a pre-paid time
period.
[0020] Fig. 1 depicts an air regulation system 7 interposed between a
source of
pressurized air 1 for the car wash facility and the car wash bay 18. The air
supply 7 is
used to provide pressure to the water for use in the spray function of the
water gun 2, as
well as to clear residual water from the gun in accordance with the invention.
A first air line
6 supplies pressurized air from a source of pressurized air 1 to the air
regulation system 7,
and a second air line 13 supplies pressurized air from the air regulation
system 7 to the
water gun 2 (and possibly soap brush 3, as discussed below). Fig. 2
illustrates the
components of the air regulation system 7, which is comprised of a second air
line branch
14 having a gun clearing valve 10 and a first air line branch 15 having an air
flow regulator
12, each of the gun clearing valve 10 and the air flow regulator 12 disposed
upon each
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respective branch. The first and second air line branches 15, 14 are connected
in parallel,
stemming from the first air line connection 6 coming from the source of
pressurized air 1,
and then reconnecting at the second air line connection 13 to supply
pressurized air to the
water gun 2. The second air line connection 13 is connected to the water line
20 supplying
the water gun 2 through a tee comprising a one-way check valve 19 that allows
passage of
pressurized air into the water line 20, but prevents the back flow of water
into the air line.
[0021] A sensor 8 is operably connected to the timer 9, which timer 9 is
operably
connected to the gun clearing valve 10. The sensor 8 may utilize any suitable
method to
determine the activation status of the water gun 2. For example, the sensor 8
may
comprise a relay that is connected to the operational switch 5 through a
connection 16,
that provides current to the relay upon activation of the operational switch
5. The relay of
the sensor 8 energizes or de-energizes according to the state of the
operational switch 5 to
activate, deactivate and/or reset the timer 9 in a manner as will be further
described below.
[0022] Upon activation of the car wash operational switch 5 (i.e. a user
inserts a coin
into the user interface 4), the sensor 8 senses current passing through the
operational
switch 5, activating the relay and signaling the timer 9 to reset. When the
operational
switch 5 deactivates (i.e. the user's wash time runs out), the relay of sensor
8 reacts to a
lack of current passing through the operational switch 5, and accordingly,
causes the timer
9 to activate for a preset time period.
[0023] Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate operation of air regulation system 7 prior
to and during
the preset time period. Prior to activation of the timer 9 during the preset
time period, the
gun clearing valve 10 is closed. As depicted in Fig. 3, a gun clearing valve
switch 11
internal to the gun clearing valve 10 remains in closed position, thereby
causing air flow
from the first air line connection 6 to be channeled entirely along the first
air line branch 15,
through the air flow regulator 12 and out through second air line connection
13 to the water
gun 2. The second air line connection 13 and water line 20 connect at the one-
way check
valve 19, thereby permitting air to pass out through the water gun 2, as well
as into the
water line 20 (as discussed below), but prohibiting water from the water line
20 from back
flowing into the air line. As referenced in Fig. 4, upon activation of the
timer 9 during the
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preset time period, the timer 9 signals the internal gun clearing valve switch
11 to move
into an open position, thereby permitting pressurized air to flow from the
first air line
connection 6 through both the second 14 and first 15 air line branches and out
through the
second air line 13 to the water gun 2. In this embodiment, valve switch 11 is
comprised of
a solenoid valve and coil, which valve opens and closes as the coil and
solenoid valve
contacts are energized. The timer 9 is activated, it energizes the coil
thereby opening the
solenoid valve contacts comprising valve switch 11.
[0024] Fig. 5 illustrates operation of the air regulation system 7
following expiration
of the preset time period. Upon deactivation of the timer 9 following
expiration of the
preset time period, the internal gun clearing valve switch 11 of the gun
clearing valve 10
returns to the closed position. Again, once the gun clearing valve switch 11
returns to the
closed position, air flow from the first air line connection 6 is again
channeled entirely along
the first air line branch 15, through the air flow regulator 12 and out
through second air line
connection 13 to the water gun 2 at the first flow rate.
[0025] During activation of timer 9 during the preset time period, the gun
clearing
valve 10 is opened, allowing full pressure pressurized air at a second flow
rate to flow from
the source of pressurized air 1 through the gun clearing valve 10 to the water
gun 2. As
seen in Fig. 4, during the preset time period of activation of the timer 9,
pressurized air
flowing from the source of pressurized air 1 via the first air line connection
6 passes
through both of the first 15 and second 14 air line branches through to the
second air line
connection 13. As the first 15 and second 14 air line branches are in
parallel, the air
pressure of passing through the second air line connection 13 to the water gun
2 is
approximately equivalent to the air pressure coming from the source of
pressurized air 1
along the first air line connection 6. Similarly, all air flow passes through
the air gun 2 at
the second flow rate.
[0026] Deactivation of the operational switch 5 indicates that the user
has completed
their use of the water gun 2, and as such, activation of the timer 9 and
corresponding
opening of the gun clearing valve 10 during the preset time period permits
full, high
pressure and high flow rate air, at the second flow rate, from the source of
pressurized air
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1 to pass through the air regulation system 7 to the water gun 2. This preset
time period is
a 'blow out' period, whereby full, high flow rate air passes through the first
6 and second 13
air line connections, as well as the water gun 2 to clear residual water out
from the water
lines and the water gun 2.
[0027] Once the timer 9 deactivates following completion preset time
period, the
timer 9 signals the gun clearing valve 10 to close, thereby channeling all air
from the
pressurized air source 1 through the first air line branch 15 and through the
air flow
regulator 12. The air flow regulator restricts and decreases the air flow
coming from the
pressurized air source 1 to the first flow rate. Therefore, at all times when
the timer 9 is
inactive, a continuous flow of low pressure air at the first flow rate passes
from the first air
line branch 15, through to the second air line connection 13 and through the
water gun 2.
This continuous stream of low flow air prevents the build up of water moisture
from
accumulating within the water lines, at the tip and within the components of
the water gun
2.
[0028] Figs. 5 and 6 further illustrate the operation and relationship
between the
relay sensor 8 and the timer 9. The relay sensor 8 contains an internal switch
17, which
signals activation/deactivation of the timer 9. As seen in Fig. 5, during the
period following
expiration of the preset time period, the internal switch 17 of the relay
sensor 8 remains in
a first position. As seen in Fig. 6, upon activation of operational switch 5
(i.e. a user inserts
a coin into the user interface 4), current passing through the operational
switch 5 causes
the internal switch 17 to move to a second position. When switched to the
second
position, the internal switch 17 signals the timer 9 to reset to the preset
time period,
through the use of a relay/switching mechanism internal to the timer 9.
Finally, once the
operational switch 5 again deactivates, and accordingly, current no longer
passes through
the operational switch 5, this lack of current causes the internal switch 17
to return to first
position, thereby signaling the timer 9 to activate and operate for the
duration of the preset
time period, and causing the air blowout cycle to repeat.
[0029] One skilled in the art would appreciate that any standard relay
switch would
be suitable for the operations described above, such as those manufactured by
Schneider
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Electric which are utilized in the preferred embodiment. Furthermore, any
variety of
timers may selected. In the preferred embodiment, a CHiNTO timer capable of
connection
to a standard AC electrical outlet is utilized. The required technical
specifications of the
selected relay sensor 8 would depend on the current/voltage requirements of
the particular
operational switch 5 and the timer 9 used. Selection and configuration of the
relay sensor
8 as well as the timer 9 are well within the purview of one skilled in the
art.
[0030] Figs. 3 - 6 illustrate the repeating blowout cycle, whereby the
relay sensor 8
senses current through the operational switch 5, and based on this current
signal, sets
and/or activates the timer 9, which in turns activates the gun clearing valve
10. When the
preset time period of the timer 9 expires, and the timer 9 deactivates, the
gun clearing
valve 10 closes and all pressurized air from the source 1 is channeled through
air flow
regulator 12 and air pressure flow rate is reduced to the first flow rate,
with the air at the
first flow rate being channeled to the water gun 2. This cycle continuously
repeats with
activation and deactivation of the operational switch 5. Following use of the
water gun 2,
the blow out cycle begins with air at the second flow rate being channeled
through the air
line connection 13 to remove residual water from the line 13, and through the
one-way
check valve 19 and out to the water gun 2 in order to blow out residual water
in the water
line 20 as well as the water gun 2. Following completion of the blow out cycle
(i.e.
following expiration of the preset time period), the continuous low flow
stream of air flowing
at the first flow rate through the air lines and water gun 2 ensures that
water residue does
not accumulate at the tip of the water gun 2 and within the water gun 2
components.
[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the full air pressure of air flow from
the source
1 can be anywhere within the range of 50-200psi, which is the corresponding
air pressure
during the blow out cycle. The preset time period for the blow out cycle can
range from
thirty (30) seconds to six (6) minutes, depending on the total length of the
first and second
air line connections 6, 13. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the air
flow regulator
12 reduces the full air pressure to 0.1psi for the continuous, low pressure
stream of air
passing through the water gun 2. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the
flow ratio
between the first and second flow rate can range from 1:100 to 1:4000.
However, one
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skilled in the art will appreciate that the pressure values during the blow
out cycle and for
the continuous, low pressure stream, as well as the time duration of the
preset time period,
can all be readily and easily varied depending on the particular
specifications of the system
in use, such as the length first and second air line connections 6, 13, the
characteristics of
the hose used for the air and water line connections, the characteristics of
the water gun 2
and the outdoor temperature in the car wash bay 18.
[0032] In practical implementation, as many air regulation systems 7 can
be
implemented as there are car wash bays 18 within a particular car wash
facility. Each air
regulation system can 7 can be interposed upon each individual first 6 and
second 13 air
line connections carrying pressurized air from the source 1 to the water gun 2
in each
individual water gun 2 in each bay 18, by connecting the second air line
connection 13 to
the water line for each individual bay 18. Furthermore, two separate
relay/timer
configurations, and any number of relay configurations can be connected as
required.
[0033] Additional variants, equivalents, embodiments and features of the
invention
can be conceived by persons of skill in the art and are intended by the
inventor to be
encompassed by the following claims. The invention is defined only as set out
in the claims
hereof and such claims are intended to be construed broadly within the meaning
supported
by the specification.
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