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Fluid control system for gas/liquidRelated Patent Categories: Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, And Diffusing, Flexible Flow Line Or Outlet Storage Or Retrieval Means, Flow Control Responsive To Flow Line, Outlet Or Storage Means MovementFluid control system for gas/liquid description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070187529, Fluid control system for gas/liquid. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims a priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/823,916, filed Apr. 12, 2004, which claims a benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/462,571, filed Apr. 11, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to fluid systems having hoses and particularly to controlling flow through those hoses. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Pressure washers are commonly used for washing. Typically, a pressure washer has a nozzle attached to one end of a hose and the other end of the hose is attached to a liquid source that supplies a pressurized liquid, normally water. A user can adjust the nozzle to change the velocity of water flowing out of the nozzle. For example, a garden hose may be used for cleaning areas outside of a house. One end of the garden hose is fitted to a faucet (e.g. outside of the house), with a traditional manual spigot or valve for turning the water flow off or on. The other end of the garden hose may have a nozzle, such as a spray gun. The spray gun enables the user to adjust the water sprayed out of the nozzle. Unfortunately, the liquid source (e.g., a faucet) provides a liquid at a generally low pressure which may not be suitable for many sprayers, such a high pressure sprayers. [0006] The liquid source also provides a liquid at a generally constant pressure, thereby limiting the output velocity of the water. Further, the user can not use this configuration to spray air because the typical garden hose configuration supplies only water. On the other hand, there are known devices that have an air source providing pressure for spraying a liquid. The air source may be a conventional air compressor which generates sufficient pressure to spray the liquid. Unfortunately, the user cannot use these sprayers to spray both air and a liquid. [0007] Another approach for cleaning is to use an air hose with a nozzle attached to one end and a blower or air supply attached to the other. Normally, the air supply is an air compressor that provides pressurized air to the air hose. These air pressure devices are commonly used to blow debris in a desired direction. For example, wood or metal shops have these air pressure devices to blow wood chips or metal shavings off of equipment and into disposal systems. These air systems, however, do not supply any water. [0008] Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved device for supplying a fluid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Accordingly, it is a principle object and advantage of the present invention to overcome some or all of these limitations and to provide a control device for providing a fluid and gas. [0010] In one aspect, a hose system comprises a fluid control device and a hose reel device. The fluid control device comprises an inlet and an outlet. The fluid control device is configured to receive liquid at a first pressure through the inlet and to provide liquid at a second pressure through the outlet. The first pressure is less than the second pressure. The hose reel device is in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid control device. The hose reel device comprises a rotatable drum onto which a hose can be spooled and is configured to convey fluid from the outlet to a hose spooled onto the drum. [0011] In another aspect, a fluid control device for a pressure fluid system comprises a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, an outlet, and a valve system. The liquid inlet is configured to be coupled to a hose. The outlet is configured to be coupled to a hose. The valve system is configured to allow into the outlet a liquid flow from the liquid inlet while stopping a gas flow from the gas inlet. The valve system is configured to allow into the outlet the gas flow from the gas inlet while stopping the liquid flow from the liquid inlet. The valve system is configured to allow into the outlet a mixed flow comprising the liquid flow and the gas flow. [0012] In another aspect, a method of providing fluid flow comprises receiving a liquid flow from a liquid inlet. A gas flow is received from a gas inlet. The liquid flow from the liquid inlet is conveyed into an output hose while preventing the gas flow from the gas inlet from flowing into the output hose. The gas flow from the gas inlet is conveyed into the output hose while preventing the liquid flow from the liquid inlet from flowing into the output hose. A mixed flow comprising the liquid flow and the gas flow is conveyed into the output hose. [0013] In another aspect, a hose system comprises a fluid control device, an inlet hose, and an output hose. The fluid control device comprising an inlet and an outlet. The inlet hose is in fluid communication with the inlet, the inlet hose having an inlet hose lumen with a first cross sectional area. The output hose is in fluid communication with the outlet. The output hose has an output hose lumen with a second cross sectional area that is smaller than the first cross sectional area. The fluid control device is configured to receive liquid from the inlet at a first pressure and convey the liquid to the outlet at one of a second and a third pressure. The first pressure is less than the second and third pressures, and the second pressure is less than the third pressure. The second pressure is at about a level sufficient to induce a flow rate in the output hose that is generally equivalent to a flow rate of a similar liquid flowing at said first pressure in a lumen having said first cross sectional area. The third pressure is at least 500 psi. Optionally, the third pressure is at least 1200 psi. Alternatively, the third pressure is within 500-5000 psi. Alternatively, the third pressure is at least 2000 psi. Optionally, the first pressure is within 40-60 psi. [0014] In another aspect, a fluid control device for a pressure fluid system comprises a gas inlet system, a liquid inlet system, an output hose, and a valve system. The valve system is located between the liquid inlet system and an outlet and between the gas inlet system and the same outlet. The valve system is configured to allow liquid flow from the liquid inlet system and gas flow from the gas inlet system into the outlet, separately or together. Preferably, the system is particularly configured to mate with hoses capable of operating at elevated pressures (preferably at least 1200-1500 psi) and can convert ordinary water flow from household taps into a power spray source, while also allowing use of the same system for blower and watering applications. [0015] In another aspect, a fluid control device for a fluid system comprises a plurality of flow paths. The plurality of flow paths comprises a liquid flow path positioned between liquid inlet and an outlet, an air flow path between an air inlet and the same outlet, and a pressurized liquid flow path extending to the outlet. Further, a valve system is configured to selectively allow flow along one of the liquid flow path, air flow path, and pressurized liquid flow path. [0016] In another aspect, a fluid control device for a pressure fluid system comprises a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, an outlet, and a valve system. The valve system is configured to allow into the outlet a liquid flow from the liquid inlet while stopping a gas flow from the gas inlet. The valve system is configured to allow into the outlet the gas flow from the gas inlet while stopping the liquid flow from the liquid inlet, the valve system configured to allow into the outlet a mixed flow comprising the liquid flow and the gas flow. In one arrangement, the fluid control device further comprises a gas inlet system comprising the gas inlet and a gas passage, a gas hose and the gas passage coupled to the gas inlet therebetween. In another arrangement, the fluid control further comprises a liquid inlet system comprising the liquid inlet and a liquid passage, a liquid hose and the liquid passage coupled to the liquid inlet therebetween and an output hose coupled to the outlet. In some embodiments the liquid inlet and the outlet are configured to couple with a conventional garden hose, while in other embodiments they are configured to couple with a hose capable of operating at elevated pressures (e.g., at least 1200-1500 psi). In another arrangement, the valve system is within a single housing, and the gas inlet, the liquid inlet, and the outlet are disposed on the housing and providing fluid communication with the valve system. In one arrangement, the valve system is configured to selectively provide the mixed flow ranging between mostly comprising the fluid flow and mostly comprising the gas flow. Preferably, the fluid flow is water and the gas flow is air. [0017] In one aspect, a fluid control device for a pressure fluid system comprises a gas inlet system, a liquid inlet, an outlet, and a valve system. The valve system is configured to selectively provide one of a liquid flow from the liquid inlet, a gas flow from the gas inlet system, or a pressurized liquid. In one arrangement, the fluid control device further comprising a fluid mixing chamber in communication with the gas inlet system and the liquid inlet, the fluid mixing chamber configured to contain liquid and gas and feed the valve system the pressurized liquid. Preferably, the liquid inlet and outlet are on a device housing, and the valve system and the fluid mixing chamber located within the device housing. In one arrangement, the gas inlet system comprises a gas pressure device. In one embodiment, the gas inlet system includes an external air compressor and a gas inlet on a device housing. Alternatively, the gas inlet system includes an internal gas compressor and an air intake on a device housing. [0018] In another aspect, a fluid control device for a pressure fluid system comprising a housing, an outlet on the housing, and a valve system. The valve system is in fluid communication with a gas source and a liquid source and provides a flow to the outlet. The valve system is capable of selectively switching the flow from among the liquid source, the gas source, and a pressurized liquid source. In one embodiment, the valve system and pressurized liquid source are within the housing [0019] All of these aspects are intended to be within scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the appended claims and from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] These and other aspects of this invention will be readily apparent from the detailed description below and the appended drawings, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which: Continue reading about Fluid control system for gas/liquid... Full patent description for Fluid control system for gas/liquid Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fluid control system for gas/liquid patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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