Remote control for hose operation

• US 7,503,338 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Stuff, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Great Stuff, Inc.
• Inventors: Koebler, Martin, Harrington, Jeffrey M., Kozar, Norbert, Lee, Michael J., Caamano, Ramon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Cloud K
• Application Number:
  US10/799,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/355.19, 13735516-35518, 137/355.2, 137/355.26, 251/129.04, 251/129.05
• US Class Current: 137/355.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/162 Sequential operation
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2551/13 Remote control devices, e.g. speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/33 Hollow or hose-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4484 Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4486 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6918 With hose storage or retrieval means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6932 With retrieval means

Abstract

A hose control system comprising a receiver and a transmitter by which one can remotely control both the flow of water through a hose and the winding or unwinding of the hose onto a reel. The system preferably has power saving advantages, for example, by the use of a power control unit that reduces the power consumed by the electronics of the devices, but does not unreasonably disrupt the use of the devices. The receiver may be used with different aspects or all of the hose control system.

Claims

1. A hose control system comprising:

a flow controller including an inlet, an outlet, a fluid flow path defined between the inlet and outlet, and an electrically actuated valve positioned to selectively close the fluid flow path, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the flow controller are configured to mate with ends of hose sections;

a hose reel device in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow controller, the hose reel device comprising a rotatable reel onto which a hose can be spooled, and an electrical motor connected to rotate the reel;

electronic components in communication with said valve and said motor, the electronic components comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless command signals for controlling the valve and the motor, the wireless receiver being capable of receiving the wireless signals only when the wireless receiver is in a powered state, the electronic components configured to convey electrical power to drive the valve and the motor, and

a power control unit configured to repeatedly switch the wireless receiver between powered and unpowered states in a cycle; and

a remote control comprising manual controls and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the wireless receiver for controlling the valve and the motor, the manual controls connected to the wireless transmitter to permit control of the wireless transmitter.

2. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is integrated with the flow controller.

3. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic components include integrated circuit (IC) chips.

4. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is a radio frequency (RF) receiver.

5. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic components further comprise an electronic logic unit configured to receive the wireless command signals from the wireless receiver and process said command signals to control the valve and the motor.

6. The hose control system of claim 5, wherein the logic unit comprises an IC decoder unit.

7. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic components are configured to position the valve at any of a plurality of positions between a completely closed position in which the fluid flow path is completely closed and a completely open position in which the fluid flow path is completely open.

8. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the flow controller is configured to mate with an outlet of a water faucet, the outlet being configured to mate with a hose.

9. The hose control system of claim 1, further comprising a water hose having a proximal end in fluid connection with the outlet of the flow controller, the remote control being mounted proximate a distal end of the hose.

10. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the manual controls of the remote control comprise one or more motor controls for transmitting command signals to the wireless receiver for controlling the motor, and one or more valve controls for transmitting command signals to the wireless receiver for controlling the valve.

11. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a detection unit configured to detect and receive wireless command signals and an electronic logic unit configured to receive the command signals from the detection unit, the logic unit further configured to process said command signals to control at least one of the motor and the valve, wherein the power control unit is configured to keep the logic unit in an unpowered state until the wireless receiver receives a wireless signal.

12. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the power control unit comprises an operational amplifier.

13. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver.

14. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the power control unit is configured to keep the wireless receiver in its unpowered state for no more than a set time period during each cycle, and wherein the remote control is configured so that each signal is transmitted for a duration at least as long as said set time period.

15. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable reel comprises a cylindrical drum.

17. The hose control system of claim 1, wherein the power control unit keeps the wireless receiver in its powered state between about 2-20% of the time of the cycle.

18. The hose control system of claim 17, wherein the power control unit keeps the wireless receiver in its powered state between about 3-10% of the time of the cycle.

16. A hose control system, comprising:

a flow controller having an inlet, an outlet, a fluid flow path defined between the inlet and outlet, and an electrically actuated valve positioned to selectively close the fluid flow path;

a rotatable hose reel onto which a hose can be spooled;

an electrically controllable motor connected to rotate the reel;

electronic components in communication with said valve and said motor, wherein said electronic components comprise;

a wireless receiver being capable of receiving the wireless signals only when the wireless receiver is in a powered state, and

a power control unit configured to repeatedly switch the wireless receiver between powered and unpowered states in a cycle; and

a remote control configured to transmit a wireless command signal to the wireless receiver for controlling the motor and opening and closing the valve, wherein the remote control is configured so that a single command from the remote control both moves the valve to close the fluid flow path and operates the motor to rewind the reel onto which a hose can be spooled.

19. The hose control system of claim 16, wherein the wireless receiver is integrated with the flow controller.

20. The hose control system of claim 16, wherein the electronic components are configured to position the valve at any of a plurality of positions between a completely closed position in which the fluid flow path is completely closed and a completely open position in which the fluid flow path is completely open.

21. The hose control system of claim 16, wherein the inlet of the flow controller is configured to mate with an outlet of a water faucet, the outlet being configured to mate with a hose.

22. The hose control system of claim 16, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the flow controller are configured to mate with ends of hose sections.

23. The hose control system of claim 16, further comprising a water hose having a proximal end in fluid connection with the outlet of the flow controller, the remote control being mounted proximate a distal end of the hose.

24. The hose control system of claim 16, wherein the power control unit keeps the wireless receiver in its powered state between about 2-20% of the time of the cycle.

25. The hose control system of claim 24, wherein the power control unit keeps the wireless receiver in its powered state between about 3-10% of the time of the cycle.

26. The hose control system of claim 16, wherein the power control unit is configured to keep the wireless receiver in its unpowered state for no more than a set time period during each cycle, and wherein the remote control is configured so that each of the wireless signals is transmitted for a duration at least as long as said set time period.

27. A method comprising:

repeatedly switching a wireless receiver between powered and unpowered states in a cycle, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control, wherein the wireless receiver is capable of receiving the wireless signals only when the wireless receiver is in its powered state,

transmitting a wireless command signal from a remote control to the wireless receiver, and in response to the wireless receiver receiving the wireless command signal from the remote control while the wireless receiver is in its powered state, ceasing to switch the wireless receiver to its unpowered state;

closing a valve to prevent fluid flow through a hose system in accordance with said wireless command signal; and

rewinding a hose reel device in accordance with said wireless command signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein closing a valve comprises closing an electrically actuated valve, and wherein rewinding a hose reel device comprises controlling an electric motor.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising keeping the wireless receiver in its powered state between about 2-20% of the time of the cycle.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising keeping the wireless receiver in its powered state between about 3-10% of the time of the cycle.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

keeping an electronic logic unit in an unpowered state, the electronic logic unit configured to receive command signals from the wireless receiver and process said signals to control at least one of the motor and the valve;

in response to the wireless receiver receiving a wireless signal, switching the logic unit to a powered state.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless command signal lasts for a duration at least as long as a set time period;

the method further comprising keeping the wireless receiver in its unpowered state for no more than said set time period during each cycle.

33. A hose control system comprising:

a flow controller including an inlet, an outlet, a fluid flow path defined between the inlet and outlet, and an electrically actuated valve positioned to selectively close the fluid flow path, wherein the inlet of the flow controller is configured to mate with an outlet of a water faucet, the outlet being configured to mate with a hose;

a hose reel device in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow controller, the hose reel device comprising a rotatable reel onto which a hose can be spooled, and an electrical motor connected to rotate the reel;

electronic components in communication with said valve and said motor, the electronic components comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless command signals for controlling the valve and the motor, the wireless receiver being capable of receiving the wireless signals only when the wireless receiver is in a powered state, the electronic components configured to convey electrical power to drive the valve and the motor, and

a power control unit configured to repeatedly switch the wireless receiver between powered and unpowered states in a cycle; and

a remote control comprising manual controls and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the wireless receiver for controlling the valve and the motor, the manual controls connected to the wireless transmitter to permit control of the wireless transmitter.

34. A hose control system comprising:

a flow controller including an inlet, an outlet, a fluid flow path defined between the inlet and outlet, and an electrically actuated valve positioned to selectively close the fluid flow path;

a hose reel device in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow controller, the hose reel device comprising a rotatable reel onto which a hose can be spooled, and an electrical motor connected to rotate the reel;

electronic components in communication with said valve and said motor, the electronic components comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless command signals for controlling the valve and the motor, the wireless receiver being capable of receiving the wireless signals only when the wireless receiver is in a powered state, the electronic components configured to convey electrical power to drive the valve and the motor, and

a power control unit configured to repeatedly switch the wireless receiver between powered and unpowered states in a cycle;

a remote control comprising manual controls and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the wireless receiver for controlling the valve and the motor, the manual controls connected to the wireless transmitter to permit control of the wireless transmitter; and

a water hose having a proximal end in fluid connection with the outlet of the flow controller, the remote control being mounted proximate a distal end of the hose.