JETTER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY WITH REDUCED THREAD EXPOSURE

Abstract

A jetter nozzle has a body with a plurality of orifices opening to an exterior of the body and adapted to release a pressurized liquid from an interior of the body, and a sleeve extending from one end of the body. The sleeve has an internally threaded portion adjacent to the body and an unthreaded portion adjacent to an end of the sleeve opposite the body. The threaded portion is adapted to engage with some external threads of a hose fitting. The end of the sleeve is adapted to be positioned adjacent a wrench face of the hose fitting and to reside over other external threads of the hose fitting.

Claims

1. A jetter nozzle comprising: a body having a plurality of orifices opening to an exterior of said body, the plurality of orifices adapted to release a pressurized liquid from an interior of said body; and a sleeve extending from one end of said body, said sleeve having an internally threaded portion adjacent said body and an unthreaded portion adjacent an end of said sleeve opposite said body, said threaded portion being adapted to engage with some external threads of a hose fitting, the end of the sleeve adapted to be positioned adjacent a wrench face of the hose fitting and to reside over other external threads of the hose fitting.

2. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said sleeve having an outer diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the hose fitting.

3. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said sleeve having an internal diameter slightly greater than an outer diameter of the other external threads of the hose fitting.

4. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said body having a chamber therein, the plurality of orifices opening to the chamber, the chamber adapted to receive the liquid released from the hose fitting.

5. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said sleeve adapted to extend to an end of the hose fitting.

6. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said sleeve having the end adjacent the wrench face tapered inwardly.

7. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said sleeve covering all of the external threads of the hose fitting.

8. The jetter nozzle of claim 4, the plurality of orifices opening rearwardly of said chamber so as to direct a flow of pressurized liquid in a direction toward the hose fitting.

9. The jetter nozzle of claim 8, the plurality of orifices extending at an angle of between 18 and 45 relative to a longitudinal axis of the jetter nozzle.

10. The jetter nozzle of claim 9, the angle being 35.

11. The jetter nozzle of claim 8, the plurality of orifices comprising three orifices in evenly circumferentially spaced relationship to each other.

12. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, at least one of said plurality of orifices comprising a single orifice formed at a forward end of said body and aligned with a longitudinal axis of the jetter nozzle.

13. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said sleeve being integral with said body.

14. A jetter nozzle assembly comprising: a hose having a hose fitting at one end thereof, the hose fitting having external threads thereon and a wrench face positioned rearwardly of the external threads; a body having a plurality of orifices opening to an exterior of said body, the plurality of orifices adapted to release a pressurized liquid from an interior of said body; and a sleeve extending from an end of said body, said sleeve having an internally threaded portion adjacent to said body and an unthreaded portion adjacent an end of said sleeve opposite said body, the threaded portion engaging with some of the external threads of the hose fitting, the end of said sleeve positioned adjacent the wrench face of the hose fitting and residing over other external threads of said hose fitting.

15. The jetter nozzle assembly of claim 14, said sleeve having an outer diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the hose fitting.

16. The jetter nozzle assembly of claim 14, said body having a chamber therein, the plurality of orifices opening to the chamber, the chamber adapted to receive the liquid released from said hose fitting.

17. The jetter nozzle assembly of claim 14, said sleeve extending to an end of said hose fitting.

18. The jetter nozzle assembly of claim 14, said sleeve covering all of the external threads of said hose fitting.

19. The jetter nozzle assembly of claim 14, the plurality of orifices opening rearwardly of said chamber so as to direct a flow of the pressurized liquid in a direction toward said hose fitting.

20. The jetter nozzle assembly of claim 14, said sleeve being integral with said body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the jetter nozzle assembly of the prior art.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of another jetter nozzle assembly in accordance with the prior art.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the jetter nozzle assembly shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the jetter nozzle assembly in accordance with the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the jetter nozzle assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the jetter nozzle assembly 100 in accordance with the present invention. The jetter nozzle assembly 100 includes a hose 102, a hose fitting 104 and a jetter nozzle 106. The hose fitting 104 is rigidly secured on to the end of the hose 102. The jetter nozzle 106 has a body 108 with a plurality of orifices 110 opening to the exterior of the body 108. The plurality of orifices 110 are adapted to release a pressurized liquid from the interior of the body 108. A sleeve 112 extends from one end of the body 108. As will be described hereinafter, the sleeve 112 will have an internally threaded portion adjacent to the body 108 and an unthreaded portion adjacent to an end of the sleeve 112 opposite the body 108. The threaded portion is adapted to engage with some external threads of the hose fitting 104. An end of the sleeve 112 is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a wrench face 114 of the hose fitting 104 and reside over the external threads of the hose fitting 104.

[0038] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the wrench face 104 has a generally hexagonal configuration adapted to receive a wrench. The sleeve 112, which is integrally affixed to the body 108, has flats 116 thereon so that a wrench can be applied thereto. A rotation of the sleeve 112 (along with the body 108) will cause the internal threads of the sleeve 112 to be threadedly secured to the external threads protruding from the hose fitting 104.

[0039] As can be seen in FIG. 4, there is a very small area 118 formed between the end of the sleeve 112 and the wrench face 114. This very small amount of distance will avoid those instances where the wrench face 114 could become trapped or interfered with by an external object or another surface within the pipe to which the jetter nozzle assembly 100 is applied. The sleeve 112 will be generally flush with the wrench face 114. In other words, the sleeve 112 will have an external diameter generally matching the external diameter of the wrench face 114 and of the hose fitting 104. As such, this smooth configuration will facilitate the ability of the jetter nozzle assembly 100 to slide within the interior of a sewer, pipe, or drain. Under those circumstances where the jetter nozzle assembly 100 is applied to small elbows (of less than three inch radius), the jetter nozzle assembly 100 will smoothly pass through this small area. The length of the assembly including the hose fitting 104, the wrench face 114, the sleeve 112 and the body 108 will be minimal since the end of the sleeve 112 will be positioned adjacent to the wrench face 114 and will not reveal exposed external threads. This smooth configuration will create an improved laminar flow for liquid that is expelled through the plurality of orifices 110. This water will flow without being interrupted by the sharp surfaces associated by the external threads or the wrench face 114. Also, the orifices 110 can be directed at a shallower angle than previous jetter nozzles since there is less interference with the laminar flow of liquid by the structures following the nozzles. This can create a greater and more even pushing force.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the jetter nozzle assembly 100 of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the hose fitting 104 having a threaded section 120. External threads 122 are formed on the threaded section 120. A shoulder 124 is formed at the juncture of the hose fitting 104 and the threaded portion 120. The end 126 of the hose fitting 114 will have a suitable opening therein so as to allow pressurized liquid to be released therefrom and into the interior of the jetter nozzle 128.

[0041] Jetter nozzle 128 includes the body 108 and the sleeve 112 integrally formed together. Internal threads 130 are formed on a portion of the length of the sleeve 112. As such, the portion of the sleeve 112 upon which the internal threads 130 appear will be considered to be the threaded section. There is an unthreaded section 132 that extends rearwardly from the threaded section 130. As such, the inner diameter of the unthreaded section 132 will reside over the peaks of each of the external threads 122 on the threaded section 120 of the hose fitting 104. Ultimately, the end 136 of the sleeve 112 will reside very closely against the shoulder 124 of the hose fitting 104. The end of the sleeve 112 will taper inwardly toward the end 136 so as to create a smooth transition between the external diameter of the sleeve 112 and the external diameter of the wrench face 114 of hose fitting 104.

[0042] The body 108 has a chamber 138 formed in the interior thereof. As water is released from the end 126 of the threaded section 120, it is directed under pressure immediately into the chamber 138. The pressurized liquid is then released through the orifices 110 and 140 at an angle (with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hose fitting 104 or the jetter nozzle 128) of between 18 and 45. In the preferred embodiment the present invention, each of these orifices extend at an angle of 35. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of orifices that face rearwardly will be three in number. However, it is possible that a greater number of orifices or a smaller number of orifices could be used within the present invention. Each of these orifices 110 and 140 opens to the chamber 138. Another orifice 142 can be formed at the forward face 144 of the body 108. Although the orifice 142 is not required, under certain circumstances, a user may desire to have the pressurized liquid directed in a forward manner so as to potentially remove debris forward of the jetter nozzle assembly 100. The orifice 142 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the jetter nozzle assembly 100.

[0043] In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the liquid released from the end 126 of the hose fitting 104 passes immediately into the chamber 138. It is not disrupted by any contact with the internal threads of the sleeve 112. As such, once again, there is no disruption of the laminar flow of liquid into the jetter nozzle assembly of the present invention.

[0044] The present invention provides a jetter nozzle assembly which is a great improvement over the prior art. The present invention minimizes the number of exposed threads on the jetter nozzle assembly. As such, this greatly improves the smooth exterior characteristics of the jetter nozzle assembly. Also, this facilitates the ability of the jetter nozzle assembly to easily slide through pipes, drains, and sewers without being prevented from moving by internal obstructions within such pipe. Furthermore, the improved laminar fluid dynamics associated with the jetter nozzle assembly of the present invention improves the cutting ability of the pressurized stream of liquid emitted by the orifices of the jetter nozzle.

[0045] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.