Abstract: A pressure washer including a first container adapted to contain a first liquid, a second container adapted to contain a second liquid, a valve, a first conduit fluidly connecting the first container to the valve, and a second conduit fluidly connecting the second container to the valve. The pressure washer also includes a single engine-powered pump and a mixing device. The pump is adapted to receive water from a water source, and the mixing device adapted to receive water from the pump. The mixing device is adapted to mix at least one of the first and liquids received from the valve with the water received from the pump.

Abstract: A pressure washer includes a chassis as well as a liquid pump, a pump-driving prime mover, plural chemical product containers and a product selecting valve, all supported by the chassis. Each of the containers is attached to a separate valve conduit extending to the valve and the valve is connected to a device conduit extending to the mixing device. A distributor is mounted for movement with respect to the valve body and has a channel for selectively connecting one of the valve conduits to the device conduit. The user may thereby use the pressure washer to dispense any one of plural solutions. A fresh water container facilitates “wash out” of the valve and device conduit before switching to another chemical product.

Abstract: A pressure washer includes a chassis as well as a liquid pump, a pump-driving prime mover, plural chemical product containers and a product selecting valve, all supported by the chassis. Each of the containers is attached to a separate valve conduit extending to the valve and the valve is connected to a device conduit extending to the mixing device. A distributor is mounted for movement with respect to the valve body and has a channel for selectively connecting one of the valve conduits to the device conduit. The user may thereby use the pressure washer to dispense any one of plural solutions. A fresh water container facilitates “wash out” of the valve and device conduit before switching to another chemical product.

Abstract: A pressure washer includes a chassis as well as a liquid pump, a pump-driving prime mover, plural chemical product containers and a product selecting valve, all supported by the chassis. The pump is coupled to a mixing device and has a water inlet port for connection to, e.g., a garden hose. Each of the containers is attached to a separate valve conduit extending to the valve and the valve is connected to a device conduit extending to the mixing device. The product selecting valve includes a valve body with first and second inlet apertures and an outlet aperture. A distributor is mounted for movement with respect to the valve body and has a channel for selectively connecting one of the valve conduits to the device conduit. The user may thereby use the pressure washer to dispense any one of plural solutions involving, e.g., a detergent solution, a deck washing solution, a car washing solution, a car wax solution or the like.

Abstract: A pressure washer is powered by a prime mover, e.g., an electric motor or an internal combustion engine, and has a flow control valve. The valve has a housing containing a piston assembly and the assembly has a mechanism coupled to it for controlling prime mover power. The piston assembly includes a first piston sealing against the housing and dividing the housing interior into two chambers. Such first piston is spring-biased to a first position during periods when no output flow is being demanded from the washer. The assembly also has a second piston spring-biased to seal against the first piston during periods of no flow. When flow is demanded by opening the nozzle, the pressure in the second chamber diminishes. And when the difference between the pressure in the second chamber and that in the first chamber exceeds a predetermined value, the assembly shifts to a second position, causing the mechanism to actuate the prime mover.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piston for a water pump, e.g., a pressure washer pump. The piston includes a piston body and a piston head and in the improvement, the piston body is solid, homogeneous ceramic. That is, the piston body has a generally cylindrical surface and the body is circumscribed by the surface and is homogeneous ceramic. A method for making a piston for a water pump includes the steps of providing a piston body made of a ceramic material, and making a piston head of steel and having a pocket formed therein. The head is heated, the pocket and the body are engaged in overlapping relationship and the head is allowed to cool and "shrink-fit" to the piston body. The piston head is formed to have a relief groove circumscribing the pocket for reducing compression forces resulting from such cooling.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a prime mover and a pump-mount adapter mounted thereto. The adapter includes a central housing and a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly from the housing and coupled to the prime mover. Resilient mounts are used for such coupling and a rigid compression limiter prevents such mounts from being compressed to the degree that substantial resiliency is lost. The housing contains a liquid lubricant for lubricating the pump. A resilient seal device is between the housing and the prime mover and retains the lubricant in the housing. And after assembly, the housing is maintaining in a spaced relationship to the prime mover. The new mounting arrangement permits relatively generous manufacturing tolerances while yet permitting the prime mover and adapter-mounted pump to radially and angularly "self-align" during assembly.

Abstract: A flow-responsive diverting valve is particularly useful with pressure washers of the type having a water pump coupled to an internal combustion engine equipped with a pull-rope starter. The valve provides an "easy-start" feature and has a valving chamber and a fluid inlet and two fluid outlets. A magnet is fixed on the valve body and when fluid flows into the inlet at the low flow rate occurring when operating the starter, a valving device, e.g., a check ball, is restrained by the magnet. When fluid flows into the inlet at a higher flow rate (as when the engine is running and the pump is delivering water at a substantial rate), the device closes the first outlet and diverts water to the second outlet. A method for operating a pressure washer includes magnetically restraining the valving device away from the first outlet while operating the starter and then running the engine, thereby urging the device to close the first outlet.