PROTECTIVE CASING FOR TOOL HOSING AND METHODS
A protective casing for tool hosing includes a bag of a pliable. In one arrangement, first and second end plates are on opposite openings of the bag and accommodate hosing. In another arrangement, the bag is laced closed at opposite ends around the hosing.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/109,257, filed Jan. 29, 2015, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to a protective casing for hoses or flex lances. This disclosure also relates to methods of use.
BACKGROUNDWater jet cleaning systems are a form of pressure washers with pressures ranging from 7,000 psi to 60,000 psi. The systems are often used for cleaning with high pressure streams of water to remove buildup of debris in pipes, vessels, and various surfaces. Common uses are found in industries such as construction, marine, aviation, oil, and manufacturing.
These systems will often include tooling and hosing that runs between the tooling and units. The hosing often sits on the ground, as it runs between tooling and units, creating trip hazards and leaving unsightly spaghetti of hosing. In addition, the hosing is carrying water at very high pressure, which if bursts, can cause severe injury to operators and bystanders. Improvements are desirable.
SUMMARYIn general, this application is directed to a protective casing for tool hosing.
In one example arrangement, the protective casing includes a bag comprising a pliable material having an interior volume and first and second openings providing access to the interior volume. A first end plate is arranged in the first opening of the bag. The first end plate includes an opening arrangement to accommodate hosing. A second end plate is arranged in the second opening of the bag. The second end plate includes an opening arrangement to accommodate hosing.
The protective casing may further include a first end plate clamp associated with the first end plate to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing. There may also be a second end plate clamp associated with the second end plate to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing.
The first end plate opening arrangement may comprise a plurality of openings, and the second end plate arrangement may comprise a plurality of openings.
In some arrangements, the protective casing can further include a first clamp ring removably securing the bag and first end plate. There can be a second clamp ring removably securing the bag and second end plate.
In some embodiments, the bag may include a fastener to permit opening and closing of the bag along a region between the first and second openings.
In some examples, the first and second openings are in opposite ends of the bag.
In example embodiments, the fastener may include one of a zipper, buttons, and a hook and loop fastener.
In example embodiments, the bag includes a pair of opposite longitudinal sides and a pair of opposite end sides between the longitudinal sides.
In one or more embodiments, the fastener is arranged to removably secure opposite longitudinal sides together.
In example embodiments, the first opening can be formed by a first of the end sides, and the second opening can be formed by a second of the end sides.
In example arrangements, a first end plate clamp is associated with the first end plate to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing, and the first end plate opening arrangement will include a plurality of openings. A second end plate clamp will be associated with the second end plate to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing, and the second end plate arrangement will include a plurality of openings. A first clamp ring will removably secure the bag and first end plate. A second clamp ring will removably secure the bag and second end plate.
In one or more example embodiments, the pliable material of the bag includes a plurality of drain holes therethrough.
In one or more example embodiments, the pliable material of the bag comprises an armored pliable material that is one of woven and synthetic material.
In a further aspect, this disclosure is directed to a protective casing and hose system. The system includes a bag comprising a pliable material having an interior volume and first and second openings providing access to the interior volume. A first end plate is arranged in the first opening of the bag, and the first end plate has an opening arrangement. A second end plate is arranged in the second opening of the bag, and the second end plate includes an opening arrangement. At least one hose is in the bag interior volume and extends through the opening arrangement of the first end plate and the opening arrangement of the second end plate.
In some embodiments, the at least one hose includes a plurality of hoses. Each of the hoses in the plurality extend through a respective one of the holes of the opening arrangement of the first end plate and a respective one of the holes of the opening arrangement of the second end plate.
The system can include any of the features for the protective casing as previously characterized.
In another aspect, a method of encapsulating hosing in a protective casing is provided. The method includes providing a bag comprising a pliable material; providing a first end plate including an opening arrangement; providing a second end plate including an opening arrangement; and orienting a hose by extending the hose through the opening arrangement of the first end plate, along the pliable material of the bag, and through the opening arrangement of the second end plate.
The step of providing a bag can include providing a bag with a pair of opposite longitudinal sides and a pair of opposite end sides between the longitudinal sides. A fastener can be provided to removably secure the opposite longitudinal sides together.
After the step of orienting a hose, there may further be a step of securing the hose within an interior of the bag by securing the opposite longitudinal sides together with the fastener.
The method may further include the steps of securing the first end plate to the bag by orienting the first end plate next to a first of the end sides and using a first clamp ring to secure the first end plate and the bag; and securing the second end plate to the bag by orienting the second end plate next to a second of the end sides and using a second clamp ring to secure the second end plate and the bag.
The step of providing a first end plate may include providing a first end plate having a first end plate clamp to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing. The step of providing a second end plate may include providing a second end plate having a second end plate clamp to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing.
The step of orienting a hose may include orienting a plurality of hoses, and extending each hose through a hole in the opening arrangement of the first end plate, along the pliable material of the bag, and through a hole in the opening arrangement of the second end plate.
The step of providing a bag comprising a pliable material can include providing a bag of an armored pliable material having a plurality of drain holes therethrough.
In another aspect, a protective casing for tool hosing includes a bag comprising a pliable material having a pair of opposite longitudinal sides and a pair of opposite end sides between the longitudinal sides; the longitudinal sides being releasably secured together to form an interior volume and first and second openings providing access to the interior volume; each of the end sides having a closure arrangement to releasably secure the first and second openings; a fastener arranged to releasably secure the opposite longitudinal sides together; and a plurality of drain holes defined by the pliable material.
In one or more examples, each of the end sides includes a plurality of holes adjacent to the respective end side; and the closure arrangement includes laces threaded through the end side holes.
In one or more example embodiments, the closure arrangement comprises a ratchet tie down strap; or a band clamp; or a belt.
It is noted that not all the specific features described herein need to be incorporated in an arrangement for the arrangement to have some selected advantage according to the present disclosure.
The system 10 includes a bag 14 and at least one hose 16 contained or compartmentalized within the bag 14. The hose 16 can be a flex lance. As depicted, the hose 16 extends between the cleaning tool 12 and the bag 14. The bag 14 functions to bundle one or more hoses 16 to decrease trip hazards and clean-up work areas. The bag 14 encapsulates the one or more hoses 16 in a protective casing 18 to capture any potential burst.
The bag 14 is part of protective casing 18. The protective casing 18 includes the bag 14 comprising a pliable material 20. The pliable material 20 can be a variety of materials. Preferably, the pliable material 20 is made of an armored pliable material. The armored pliable material can be one of either woven or synthetic material. For example, one example armored pliable material 20 that is usable is material made from Kevlar™ armored material.
The bag 14 defines an interior volume 22. There are first and second openings 24, 26 providing access to the interior volume 24. The first and second openings 24, 26 may be on opposite ends of the bag 14.
Attention is directed to
The casing 18 also includes a first end plate 36. The first end plate 36 is illustrated as being arranged in the first opening 24 of the bag 14. The first end plate 36 includes an opening arrangement 38 to accommodate one or more hoses 16. The casing 18 further includes a second end plate 42. The second end plate 42 can be arranged in the second opening 26 of the bag 14. The second end plate 42 includes an opening arrangement 44 to accommodate one or more hoses 16. In the example shown, the second end plate 42 is identical in structure to the first end plate 36; thus, descriptions of the structure of the first end plate 36 also apply to the second end plate 42, in this embodiment. In other embodiments, they can be different.
In the example embodiment, each of the opening arrangements 38, 44 includes a plurality of openings 40 (
In the non-limiting example illustrated, the openings 40 include open slots 71, 72, 73, 74 that extend inwardly or inboard from an upper radial edge 58 of the end plate 36, 42; and open slots 75, 76, 77, 78 that extend inwardly or inboard from a lower radial edge 60 of the end plate 36, 42. The slots 71-78 are depicted as U-shaped, but could be other shapes. The slots 71-78 hold the hoses 16 and are adjustable in size to accommodate different diameters of hoses 16, as further described below.
The casing 18 further includes a first end plate clamp 50. The first end plate clamp 50 is associated with the first end plate 36 to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement 38 to accommodate differing sizes of hosing 16.
The casing 18 further includes a second end plate clamp 51. The second end plate clamp 51 is associated with the second end plate 42 to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement 44 to accommodate differing sizes of hosing 16.
As can be seen in
The upper clamp piece 52 includes a plurality of open slots 81, 82, 83, 84 extending inwardly or inboard from an edge 90 of the upper clamp piece 52 opposite of a radial edge 92. The edge 90 extends in a direction toward the end plate 36, 42 when operably assembled, while the radial edge 92 extends away from the end plate 36, 42. The radial edge 92 forms a portion of an overall radial surface 89 (
The upper clamp piece 52, when operably assembled with the end plate 36, 42 matches or aligns the open slots 81-84 with the open slots 71-74 to form through openings 40 as holes 46 (
Many embodiments are possible. In the example shown, the sizes of the holes 46 are adjustable through elongate bolt holes 94, 95 in the upper clamp piece 52. Bolts 96, 97 (
The lower clamp piece 54 includes a plurality of open slots 85, 86, 87, 88 extending inwardly or inboard from an edge 91 of the lower clamp piece 54 opposite of a radial edge 93. The edge 91 extends in a direction toward the end plate 36, 42 when operably assembled, while the radial edge 93 extends away from the end plate 36, 42. The radial edge 93 forms a portion of an overall radial surface 101 (
The lower clamp piece 54, when operably assembled with the end plate 36, 42 matches or aligns the open slots 85-88 with the open slots 75-78 to form through openings 40 as holes 47. The sizes of the holes 47 are adjustable by where the lower clamp piece 54 is fixed relative to the end plate 36, 42.
Many embodiments are possible. In the example shown, the sizes of the holes 47 are adjustable through elongate bolt holes 102, 103, in the lower clamp piece 54. Bolts 104, 105 (
The protective casing 18 of
Many embodiments are possible. In the example illustrated, the first clamp ring 110 can be a form of an over-center band clamp 112.
The protective casing 18 can further include a second clamp ring 114. The second clamp ring 114 can be used to removably secure the bag 14 and the second end plate 42. In the example shown in
The bag 14 further includes a fastener 120 (
In the example embodiment shown, the fastener 120 includes at least one of a zipper, buttons, or hook and loop fastener. The
The bag 14 may further include a drainage system 124. The drainage system 124 is to allow for drainage of water or other moisture from the bag 14. Many embodiments are possible. In the illustrated embodiment, the pliable material 20 of the bag 14 includes a plurality of drain holes 126 (
As can be seen in
A method of encapsulating flex lances or hosing 16 in a protective case 18 can include providing the bag 14 comprising pliable material 20. First end plate 36 is provided including an opening arrangement 40. A second end plate 42 is provided including an opening arrangement 44. The method includes orienting a hose 16 by extending the hose 16 through the opening arrangement 40 of the first end plate 36, along the pliable material 20 of the bag 14, and through the opening arrangement 44 of the second end plate 42.
The step of providing bag 14 includes providing bag 14 with a pair of opposite longitudinal sides 28, 30 and a pair of opposite end sides 32, 34 between the longitudinal sides 28, 30. A fastener 120 is arranged to removably secure the opposite longitudinal sides 28, 30 together.
After the step of orienting a hose 16, there is a step of securing the hose 16 within an interior 22 of the bag 14 by securing the opposite longitudinal sides 28, 30 together with the fastener 120.
The method further includes securing the first end plate 36 to the bag 14 by orienting the first end plate 36 next to a first of the end sides 32 and using a first clamp ring 110 to secure the first end plate 36 and the bag 14. The method includes securing the second end plate 42 to the bag 14 by orienting the second end plate 42 to a second of the end sides 34 and using a second clamp ring 114 to secure the second end plate 44 and the bag 14.
The step of providing a first end plate 36 includes providing a first end plate 36 having a first end plate clamp 50 to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement 40 to accommodate differing sizes of hosing 16. The step of providing a second end plate 42 includes providing a second end plate 42 having a second end plate clamp 51 to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement 44 to accommodate differing sizes of hosing 16.
The step of orienting a hose 16 includes orienting a plurality of hoses 16 and extending each hose 16 through a hole 46 in the opening arrangement 40 of the first end plate 36, along the pliable material 20 of the bag 14 and through a hole 47 in the opening arrangement 44 of the second end plate 42.
The step of providing a bag 14 can include providing an armored pliable material having a plurality of drain holes 126 there through.
Another embodiment of a protective casing for tool hosing is illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment of
Each of the end sides 32, 34 in the casing 130 includes a plurality of holes 134, 135 adjacent to the respective end side 32, 34. The closure arrangement 132 includes laces 138, 140 threaded through the end side holes 134, 135.
In
In the embodiment of
A method of encapsulating a hose in a protective case can use the casing 130 of
The above represents example principles. Many embodiments can be made using these principles.
Claims
1. A protective casing for tool hosing; the protective casing comprising:
- (a) a bag comprising a pliable material having an interior volume and first and second openings providing access to the interior volume;
- (b) a first end plate arranged in the first opening of the bag; the first end plate including an opening arrangement to accommodate hosing; and
- (c) a second end plate arranged in the second opening of the bag; the second end plate including an opening arrangement to accommodate hosing.
2. The protective casing of claim 1 further comprising:
- (a) a first end plate clamp associated with the first end plate to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing; and
- (b) a second end plate clamp associated with the second end plate to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing.
3. The protective casing of claim 2 wherein:
- (a) the first end plate opening arrangement comprises a plurality of openings; and
- (b) the second end plate arrangement comprises a plurality of openings.
4. The protective casing of claim 1 further comprising:
- (a) a first clamp ring removably securing the bag and first end plate; and
- (b) a second clamp ring removably securing the bag and second end plate.
5. The protective casing of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) the bag includes a fastener to permit opening and closing of the bag along a region between the first and second openings.
6. The protective casing of claim 5 wherein:
- (a) the first and second openings are on opposite ends of the bag.
7. The protective casing of claim 6 wherein:
- (a) the fastener includes one of a zipper, buttons, and a hook and loop fastener.
8. The protective casing of claim 6 wherein:
- (a) the bag includes a pair of opposite longitudinal sides and a pair of opposite end sides between the longitudinal sides;
- (b) the fastener is arranged to removably secure the opposite longitudinal sides together; and
- (c) the first opening is formed by a first of the end sides, and the second opening is formed by a second of the end sides.
9. The protective casing of claim 8 further comprising:
- (a) a first end plate clamp associated with the first end plate to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing; the first end plate opening arrangement comprising a plurality of openings;
- (b) a second end plate clamp associated with the second end plate to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening arrangement to accommodate differing sizes of hosing; the second end plate arrangement comprising a plurality of openings;
- (c) a first clamp ring removably securing the bag and first end plate; and
- (d) a second clamp ring removably securing the bag and second end plate.
10. The protective casing of claim 9 wherein:
- (a) the pliable material of the bag includes a plurality of drain holes therethrough.
11. The protective casing of claim 10 wherein:
- (a) the pliable material of the bag comprises an armored pliable material that is of one of woven and synthetic material.
12. The protective casing of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) the pliable material of the bag includes a plurality of drain holes therethrough.
13. The protective casing of claim 1 wherein:
- (a) the pliable material of the bag comprises an armored pliable material that is of one of woven and synthetic material.
14. A protective casing and hose system, the system comprising:
- (a) a bag comprising a pliable material having an interior volume and first and second openings providing access to the interior volume;
- (b) a first end plate arranged in the first opening of the bag; the first end plate including an opening arrangement;
- (c) a second end plate arranged in the second opening of the bag; the second end plate including an opening arrangement;
- (d) at least one hose in the bag interior volume and extending through the opening arrangement of the first end plate and the opening arrangement of the second end plate.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein:
- (a) the first end plate opening arrangement comprises a plurality of openings;
- (b) the second end plate arrangement comprises a plurality of openings; and
- (c) the at least one hose includes a plurality of hoses; each of the hoses in the plurality extending through a respective one of the openings of the first end plate and a respective one of the openings of the second end plate.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
- (a) a first end plate clamp associated with the first end plate to permit adjustment of the first end plate opening to accommodate differing sizes of hosing; and
- (b) a second end plate clamp associated with the second end plate to permit adjustment of the second end plate opening to accommodate differing sizes of hosing.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:
- (a) a first clamp ring removably securing the bag and first end plate; and
- (b) a second clamp ring removably securing the bag and second end plate.
18. The system of claim 14 further wherein:
- (a) the bag includes a fastener to permit opening and closing of the bag along a region between the first and second openings; the first and second openings being on opposite ends of the bag;
- (b) the fastener includes one of a zipper, buttons, and a hook and loop fastener;
- (c) the bag includes a pair of opposite longitudinal sides and a pair of opposite end sides between the longitudinal sides;
- (d) the fastener is arranged to removably secure the opposite longitudinal sides together;
- (e) the first opening is formed by a first of the end sides, and the second opening is formed by a second of the end sides; and
- (f) the pliable material of the bag includes a plurality of drain holes therethrough.
19. A protective casing for tool hosing; the protective casing comprising:
- (a) a bag comprising a pliable material having a pair of opposite longitudinal sides and a pair of opposite end sides between the longitudinal sides; the longitudinal sides being releasably secured together to form an interior volume and first and second openings providing access to the interior volume; (i) each of the end sides having a closure arrangement to releasably secure the first and second openings;
- (b) a fastener arranged to releasably secure the opposite longitudinal sides together; and
- (c) a plurality of drain holes defined by the pliable material.
20. The protective casing of claim 19 wherein:
- (a) each of the end sides includes a plurality of holes adjacent to the respective end side; and
- (b) the closure arrangement includes laces threaded through the end side holes.
21. The protective casing of claim 19 wherein:
- (a) the closure arrangement comprises one of: ratchet tie down strap; a band clamp; and a belt.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 20, 2016
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2016
Inventor: Anthony Leon Washington (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 15/001,736