Hose storage and drainage apparatus

Details Hose storage and drainage apparatus Hose storage and drainage apparatus

1999-05-07

2001-05-08

Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

With casing, support, protector or static constructional...

With hose storage or retrieval means

C137S355120, C137S355280, C137S360000, C251S149600

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227237

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a hose storage and drainage apparatus, and more specifically to a wall mountable apparatus that may be used to conveniently store and at the same time drain one or more hoses commonly used to convey liquid substances such as hydraulic liquids, fuels, coolants and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hoses are frequently employed in industrial and automotive equipment to transport a wide variety of liquids from one component and/or system to another in order to accomplish various functions. For example, automotive equipment will employ hoses to transport fuels such as gasoline and diesel from one or more fuel storage tanks to fuel pumping devices and carburetion systems of internal combustion engines. Hoses will also be employed to transport hydraulic liquids within power braking and steering systems and other systems as may be required to perform tasks including lifting, pushing, pulling, tilting or the like. Coolants may also be conveyed between heat generating and dissipating components and systems of engines and production machinery. In many instances, the hoses used in applications like those just described, and others, will be provided with means for connecting the their ends to fluid supply reservoirs, equipment components which utilize or consume the fluids, etc. The connecting means may be male or female, sleeve-like metallic fittings provided with threaded interior or exterior surfaces for making secure, leak-proof engagement with other connecting hardware like metal tubing or any of a number of other known connecting devices. A commonly encountered hose and hardware combination is one where one end of the hose will be provided with a quick connect/disconnect fixture and the other end will be provided with a very simple connection means which, when it is disengaged from the equipment, will leave the end of the hose with which it is associated fully open and in communication with the atmosphere. The opposite end of the hose, i.e., the end having the quick connect/disconnect fixture, will not be open in a like manner to the atmosphere when it is disconnected, as the quick connect/disconnect fixture includes a spring biased closure member that, when the fixture is disengaged from the equipment, seals off a fluid flow orifice leading into the hose. It should be evident that hoses having the described hardware combination will not be self-draining. They will require that the spring biased closure member be depressed by some external means before any fluid present within the hose at the time of its disengagement from the equipment may freely drain therefrom. Storage and drainage of hoses having the described hardware configuration are most likely to be required when the equipment with which the hoses normally are employed is in need of maintenance and/or repair, and such maintenance and/or repair necessitates the disassembly of equipment parts, including the hoses. In such a situation a need exists for an apparatus which not only is capable of securely and neatly storing the hoses, but also allows the hoses to be quickly drained of fluid present within them and for that fluid to be captured with little or no mess and to be efficiently disposed of.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a wall mountable hose storage and drainage apparatus comprised of a rack-like structure formed from thin sheet metal. The main body of the rack has a top portion that extends in a generally horizontal fashion from the top end of a vertically extending back portion. The rack further has a horizontal bottom that projects outwardly from the bottom end of the vertical back portion and parallel to the rack's top portion. Extending vertically upward from the bottom portion is a front member that is generally parallel to the back portion of the rack. A horizontal bracket having a plurality of projections that define a number slots capable of receiving an end portion of a hose is fastened to the back portion. The horizontal bracket is spaced at a vertical distance below the top portion of the rack. The distance is selected so that metal hose end couplings having spring-biased, quick connect/disconnect valves may be snugly inserted between the bracket and the top portion. When the hose end couplings are inserted between the bracket and the top portion, the tip of the spring biased valve engages the top portion and is depressed, thereby opening the valve and allowing any liquid within the hose to downwardly drain to the horizontal bottom of the rack. The horizontal bottom is provided with an elongated, centrally located opening through which the drained liquid may flow into a receptacle located below.


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