Other

Roger C Walsh

Douglas W Eggins

The present disclosure provides a self-draining hose. The self-draining hose includes a flexible hose connected to an inlet end fitting and an outlet end fitting and defines a fluid passage through the flexible hose. The flexible hose is made from an elastomer material having a memory with a cross-sectional flat profile defining a collapsed position closing the fluid passage, and has is expandable to an expanded position opening the fluid passage. In use, upon introduction of a pressurized fluid at the inlet end fitting the flexible hose expands from the collapsed position to the expanded position to permit flow of the fluid through the fluid passage towards the outlet end fitting. Upon termination of the introduction of the pressurized fluid at the inlet end fitting the memory of the elastomer material collapses the flexible hose from the expanded position to the collapsed position expelling the fluid from the fluid passage.

Self-draining hose

An improved cutting filament for use in a rotary trimmer is an extruded resin, being subject to vertical extrusion to sustain true-section profile, and to structural orientation to enhance the strength and toughness of the material. One embodiment, a polygonal extruded section is drawn down in size, being found to possess improved abrasive, herbiage-cutting characteristics. One embodiment has a finned profile with at least one fin in the form of a projecting rib, preferably with a scarified surface, to enhance its abrasive characteristics. In a polygonal section, the fin portions of the section are located at the apices of the polygon. The draw-down molecular orientation process enables the use of an extrusion die of sufficient size that the scarified finning provision is readily incorporated into the die. A mix of plastic resins consisting of 20 to 40 percent by weight of linear low density, or high density polyethylene, with the balance (75-80%) being polypropylene extrudes as a pliable, high strength, impact and abrasion resistant copolymer filament of adequate High Heat Resistance (HHR) to withstand use as a trimmer filament.

True-section extruded plastic cutter filament system

A liquid transfer system for liquids that are subject to solidification uses a pipeline, with compressed gas as the liquid displacement medium. The pipeline comprises a substantially rigid outer line and a flexible inner hose, forming with the outer line an intermediate interstitial zone along the inner hose; a check valve located adjacent each end of the inner hose provides uni-directional flow within the system. A gas compressor connected with the interstitial zone by way of a flow control selectively applies pressurized gas or vacuum to the zone. The three possible phases of operation comprise; a first phase, when vacuum is applied to the interstitial zone, to expand the inner hose and induce liquid from the source to substantially fill the inner hose; a second phase when gas pressure is applied to the interstitial zone, to compress the inner hose and expel the liquid toward the point of delivery. The first and second phases are repeatable, to provide cumulative delivery of the liquid. In the third phase, gas pressure is maintained within the interstitial zone to maintain the inner hose collapsed and substantially 'dry' so as to prevent 'freezing' within the inner hose. A second such pipeline adjoining the first pipeline, working in opposite phased relation, enables substantially continuous flow. The third, purging phase of operation is applied co-extensively to both the pipe-lines. The system can utilize interstitial gas to assist the prime mover on start-up. Liquids other than water can be pumped.

Liquid supply system

A frost-free water supply system drains down to avoid freeze-up during non-pumping periods, its operation being responsive to air pressure within the system. A compound hose used may have an inner hose part co-extruded with the outer hose. The inner hose portion is preferably of flattened section, which facilitates threading of the inner hose within the outer hose, when not co-extruded. The compound hose with a flattened inner section, when its air cavity is sealed at atmospheric pressure conditions, provides an inbuilt air cushion that can generate initial de-watering pressure as high as about 716 gms per square cm (10 psi). The elastic memory, due to its initial flattened shape, also contributes to the de-watering capability of the inner hose. One unepected result, upon draining the liquids, is an unusual 'bump' in the residual pressure of the air trapped within the outer hose, whereby the inner hose is more thoroughly flattened and more completely de-watered. Natural or synthetic rubbers may be used, parcticularly for the inner parts. The sealed enclosure of the pipeline by way of the end-fittings when under atmospheric conditions, ensures that in the drained condition the entrapped air returns substantially to atmospheric pressure. As this state prevails for much of the time, the likelihood of air leakage is greatly diminished, while the adverse effects thereof are minimized.

Compound hose system

In a frost-free water supply system that drains down to avoid freezing, during non-pumping periods, operation of the system is responsive to pressure changes within the system. A pneumatic relay sensitive to changes in one of the fluid pressures operative in the system is located in a portion of the system subject both to water pressure and to the air pressure operating in the system, to provide a pneumatic signal that activates or de-activates one or more system components. One arrangement has a water line discharging into an animal watering bowl within a protected environment. The pneumatic relay is in pressure sensing relation with a localized portion of the water line that remains undrained when the major length of the hose is drained. The pneumatic relay subsequently senses a drop in water pressure, responsive to the re-filling of the bowl. The pneumatic relay is connected to a distant relay, to switch on the pump and recharge the water line, to re-supply the bowl. The relay also may control other system functions, such as reacting to a sharp local rise (or 'bump') in pneumatic pressure that occurs in the system at the moment of closure of a float valve, to actuate a relay operating the water line drain valve, or even to switch off the pump. In another embodiment, a low voltage electric float switch located in a water bowl may be used to actuate a master solenoid, to switch on the water supply. A series of such bowls, each with its own float switch may be used, to achieve individual water supply to each bowl from a common, air-charged, frost-free water supply line. This arrangement generally would have line drain valves, to ensure line drainage and an absence of freze-up potential in the line segments between the bowls.

Liquid drainage system with pneumatic sensor

A system for pumping liquids that are subject to solidification in the line, uses a compressed gas as an expulsion medium for the liquid. A compound hose pipeline is used, having a variable volume gas chamber adjacent a transfer passage, extending the length of the line. The line may comprise an outer hose that provides an air annulus about a collapsible inner hose, through which the pumped liquid can flow. Air or other gas admitted to the annulus operates to expel the liquid from the inner hose, either upon the loss of pressurization of the liquid in the inner hose, or upon the application of adequate pressure within the gas annulus to discharge the liquid from the inner hose. A compartmented hose has a separating disphragm running the length of the hose, where admission of gas to one side of the diaphragm diminishes the adjoining chamber of the hose. When liquid is pumped, the diaphragm is displaced laterally, permitting full flow in the hose. The system may be self priming, using a source of vacuum to remove the air and expand the volume of the liquid transfer hose portion, to induce filling of the transfer flow portion of the hose or pipeline, followed by an emptying phase, by re-applying air pressure. The system can use piston or centrifugal type pumps. A gas compressor can serve as the sole pumping medium. This 'frost-free' water service is suitable for domestic water supply to cottages and the like, and for sprinkler systems.

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Toronto, Canada

Roger C Walsh