JETTER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A jetter nozzle has a body with the shape of a prolate spheroid. The body has an internal bore opening at one end thereof. The bore is adapted to receive an end of a hose therein. The body has an internal shoulder in the bore. A plurality of orifices communicate with the bore and open at an exterior of the body. An internal seal is juxtaposed against the shoulder such that a coupling of a hose can be compressed in sealing relation against.

Claims

1. A jetter nozzle comprising: a body having a shape of a prolate ellipsoid, said body having an internal bore opening at one end of said body, said internal bore adapted to receive an end of a hose therein, said body having an internal shoulder in said internal bore, said body having a plurality of orifices communicating with said bore and opening at an exterior of said body; and an internal seal juxtaposed against said internal shoulder.

2. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said internal bore having a first portion extending from said shoulder to the end of said body and a second portion extending from said shoulder toward an opposite end of said body.

3. The jetter nozzle of claim 2, said first portion of said internal bore having a diameter greater than a diameter of the second portion of said internal bore.

4. The jetter nozzle of claim 3, at least some of said plurality of orifices having a first end opening to the second portion of said internal bore and a second end opening at the exterior of said body rearwardly of the first end.

5. The jetter nozzle claim 4, each of the at least some of said plurality of orifices extending at an approximately twenty-five degree angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said body.

6. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said body having a planar surface at an opposite end of said body, one of said plurality of orifices opening at the planar surface.

7. The jetter nozzle claim 1, the exterior of said body having a wide diameter portion and a narrow diameter portion rearwardly of the wide diameter portion, at least some of said plurality of orifices open at the narrow diameter portion.

8. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said plurality of orifices comprising three fluid passageways circumferentially spaced approximately 120 from each other or four fluid passageway circumferentially spaced approximately 90 from each other.

9. The jetter nozzle claim 1, one of said plurality of orifices opening at an opposite end of said body.

10. The jetter nozzle of claim 1, said internal seal being of a thermoplastic material.

11. The jetter nozzle of claim 2, said first portion of said internal bore being internally threaded.

12. A jetter nozzle comprising: a body a body having an internal bore opening at one end of said body, said internal bore adapted receive an end of a hose therein, said body having an internal shoulder in said internal bore, said body having a plurality of orifices communicating with said bore and opening at an exterior said body, said interior bore having a first portion extending from said shoulder to the end of said body and a second portion extending from said shoulder toward an opposite end of said body, said first portion of said internal bore having a diameter greater than a diameter of the second portion of said internal bore, at least some of said plurality of orifices having a first end opening to the second portion of said internal bore and a second end opening at the exterior of said body rearwardly of the first end; and an internal seal juxtaposed against said shoulder.

13. The jetter nozzle of claim 12, each of the at least some of said plurality of orifices extending an approximately twenty-five degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body.

14. The jetter nozzle of claim 13, said plurality of orifices comprising three orifices circumferentially spaced from each other by approximately 120 or four orifics circumferentially spaced approximately 90 from each other.

15. The jetter nozzle of claim 12, one of said plurality of orifices opening at an opposite end of said body.

16. The jetter nozzle of claim 12, said body having a shape of a prolate ellipsoid.

17. A jetter assembly comprising: a nozzle having a body with the shape of a prolate ellipsoid, said body having an internal bore opening at one end of said body, said body having an internal shoulder in said internal bore, said body having a plurality of orifices communicating with said bore and opening at an exterior of said body; an internal seal juxtaposed against said shoulder; and a hose having a coupling at one end thereof, said coupling received in said internal bore and compressively a bearing against said internal seal.

18. The jetter assembly of claim 17, said internal bore having a first portion extending from said shoulder to the end of said body and a second portion extending from said shoulder toward an opposite end of said body, said first portion of said internal bore having a diameter greater than a diameter of said second portion of said internal bore, at least some of said plurality of orifices having a first end opening to the second portion of said internal bore and a second end opening at the exterior of said body rearwardly of the first end.

19. The jetter assembly of claim 18, each of the at least some of said plurality of orifices extending at an approximately twenty-five degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body, the at least some of said plurality of orifices comprising three orifices circumferentially spaced by approximately 120 from each other, or four orifices circumferentially spaced by approximately 90 from each other, one of said plurality of orifices opening at an opposite end of said body and aligned with the longitudinal axis of said body.

20. The jetter assembly of claim 17, said internal bore being internally threaded, said hose having external threads engaged with the internal threads of said internal bore.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the operation of the jetter nozzle assembly of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view showing the jetter nozzle assembly of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the jetter nozzle of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the jetter nozzle of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the jetter nozzle assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention. The jetter nozzle assembly 10 includes a hose 12 that has a coupling 14 at one end thereof. The hose 12 is adapted to be connected to a supply of pressurized water (or other fluid). In particular, the hose 12 will have a coupling at an opposite end thereof which allows the hose 12 to be connected to a pump or other source of pressurized water. The coupling 14 of hose 12 is engaged with jetter nozzle 16. In particular, in the present invention, the coupling 14 will have external threads at an end thereof which engage the internal threads on the internal bore of the jetter nozzle 16.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows that the jetter nozzle 16 has a prolate spheroid shape. This prolate spheroid shape allows the jetter nozzle 16 to better penetrate through material within a pipe, sewer or drain. Additionally, it has been found, after experimentation, that the prolate ellipsoid shape of the jetter nozzle 16 facilitates the ability of the jetter nozzle 16 to travel further within the drain, pipe or sewer. This shape allows the jetter nozzle to pass through various sizes of elbows and traps. This prolate ellipsoid shape further facilitates the ability of the jetter nozzle 16 to have improved cornering ability in rough and small diameter pipe elbows. Unlike prior jetter nozzle assemblies, the present invention is particularly adapted for use by consumers and for use with household pressure washers.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows that there is a first jet of fluid 18, a second jet of fluid 20 and a third jet of fluid 22. The jets 18 and 20 are directed rearwardly at an approximately twenty-five degree angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the jetter nozzle 16. This twenty-five degree angle is optimized so as to create greater pulling force by the jetter nozzle 16 within the drain, pipe or sewer. This twenty-five degree angle has also been found to create a greater shearing force with respect to any debris that may be on the wall of the pipe, drain or sewer. As such, the pressurized release of fluids through orifices (described hereinafter) from the jetter nozzle 16 greatly improves the ability of the jetter nozzle 16 to travel within the pipe and to better clean the surfaces of the pipe. It is important to note that there will be three or four streams of fluid that are directed rearwardly from the jetter nozzle 16. Since the three orifices will be spaced circumferentially 120 from each other or four orifices spaced circumferentially 90 from each other, the third and/or fourth streams of water would be obscured from view in FIG. 1 by the hose or by the streams of water 18 and 20.

[0034] The stream of fluid 22 is projected from the forward end 24 of the jetter nozzle 16. This forward jet of fluid 22 is intended to removed soft obstructions that lie in front of the moving jetter nozzle 16. Although the stream of fluid 22 can facilitate the ability to better move the jetter nozzle 16 within the pipe, it is been found that the jetter nozzle assembly 10 can operate efficiently and effectively without the forwardly-projecting fluid stream 22. The jetter nozzle 16 is moved forwardly within the drain, pipe or sewer by the force of the fluid streams 18 and 20 and by moving the hose 12 forwardly.

[0035] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the jetter nozzle assembly 10 of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the hose 12 has coupling 14 with external threads 26. A fluid passageway 28 opens at the end of the coupling 10 and is of a reduced diameter so that fluid flows outwardly of the fluid passageway 18 with great force. An internal seal 30 is illustrated as being of a generally annular shape. This internal seal 20 can be in the nature of a washer. Internal seal 30 works as a compression seal when the jetter nozzle 16 is threaded onto the external threads 26 of the coupling 14. The internal seal 30 can be formed of a thermoplastic material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, TEFLON, or similar materials. The internal seal 30 will have an opening 32 formed centrally thereof. Fluid can flow through this opening 32.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows that the jetter nozzle 16 has a prolate ellipsoid shape. The forward end 24 is generally flattened. The jetter nozzle 16 has a wide diameter portion 34 and a narrow diameter portion 36. As will be described hereinafter, the orifices will open at this narrow diameter portion 36. A widened end portion 38 is located at the rearward portion of the jetter nozzle 16.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the jetter nozzle 16. The jetter nozzle 16 has a body 40 with the prolate ellipsoid shape. The body 40 has an internal bore 42 that opens at end 44 of body 40. It can be seen that the internal bore 42 is adapted to receive an end of a coupling or hose therein. The body 40 has an internal shoulder 46 within the internal bore 40. The body is illustrated in FIG. 3 as having orifices 48, 50 and 52 formed therethrough. Each of the orifices 48, 50 and 52 has one end communicating with the internal bore 42 and an opposite end opening at the exterior surface 54 of the body 40. The internal seal 30 is juxtaposed against the interior shoulder 46.

[0038] The internal bore 42 has a first portion 56 and a second portion 58. The first portion 56 extends from the shoulder 46 to the end 44 of the body 40. The second portion 58 extends from the shoulder 46 toward the opposite end 24 of the body 40. The first portion 56 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second portion 58.

[0039] In FIG. 3, it can be seen that orifices 48 and 50 have a first end opening to the second portion 58 of the internal bore 42. Each of the orifices 48 and 50 also open to the exterior 54 of the body 40 rearwardly of the second portion 58 of the internal bore 42. In one embodiment, orifices 48 and 50 are circumferentially spaced by 120 from each other. In another embodiment, there are four streams of water spaced circumferentially 90 from each other. Each of the orifices 48 and 50 (along with the orifice(s) that were not shown) extends at an approximately twenty-five degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body 40.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows that the end 24 of the body 40 has a generally planar surface. In one embodiment, the orifice 52 has one end opening to the second portion 58 of the internal bore 42 and an opposite end opening at the end 24 of the body 40.

[0041] The body 40 has the wide diameter portion 34 and a narrow diameter portion 36. Each of the orifices 48 and 50 open at the narrow diameter portion 36. When a fluid, such as water, is introduced under pressure into the internal bore 48, it will flow through the opening 32 of the internal seal 30 and into the second portion 58. The water will then be ejected, under pressure, from the second portion 58 of the internal bore 42 and outwardly through the orifices 48, 50 and 52. The fluid passing outwardly of the orifices 48 and 50 creates a strong pulling and shearing force. The fluid that is ejected through the orifice 52 is intended to remove obstructions. Within the concept of the present invention, it is possible to omit orifice 52. The removal of orifice 52 will increase the pressure passing through the orifices 48 and 50 (along with the orifice that is not shown). As such, there is a greater pulling and shearing force emitted by these orifices. The omission of orifice 52 would avoid a counter force (caused by the forwardly projecting fluid) to the pressure from the orifices 48 and 50.

[0042] FIG. 4 is an end view of the jetter nozzle 16 of the present invention. The end 44 of the jetter nozzle 16 has an annular shape. The internal seal 30 is shown as located within the internal bore 42. The wide diameter portion 34 is shown with the narrow diameter portion 36 extending therefrom. Importantly, orifices 48, 50 and 60 are shown on this narrow diameter surface 36. Orifices 48, 50 and 60 are spaced circumferentially by about 120 from each other. The orifice 52 is illustrated as longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body 40.

[0043] 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.