Device for winding hoses

Abstract

The device (1) for winding hoses, comprises: one base frame (2) connectable to a supporting surface; one supporting body (5) of a hose, associated with the base frame (2) and rotatable with respect to the latter around an axis of rotation (6) alternately along a first way, to allow the hose to be wound onto the supporting body (5), and along a second way opposite the first way, to allow the hose to be unwound from the supporting body (5); one braking assembly (7) associated with the base frame (2) and adapted to exert a braking force on the supporting body (5) along the first way and comprising one adjusting element (21) adapted to adjust the intensity of the braking force exerted by the braking assembly (7) on the supporting body (5).

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR WINDING HOSES

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for winding hoses.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] To date, the use of hoses made of flexible material for dispensing special working liquids such as, e.g., water, fuel and the like is particularly widespread.

[0006] The operation of hose winding is necessary in order to conveniently and practically store and place hoses when not in use, or to facilitate the transportation thereof.

[0007] In this regard, the use of devices for winding hoses is very common which comprise, in addition to a base frame for ground support, a substantially tubular supporting body, on which the hose can be wound when not in use.

[0008] The supporting body is associated in rotation with the base frame and, in detail, is made to rotate along a first way of rotation, when one wishes to wind the hose onto the supporting body, and along a second way of rotation, opposite the first way, when one wishes to unwind the hose from the supporting body.

[0009] Setting the supporting body in rotation can be manually activated by a user or through appropriate movement means of the motorized type.

[0010] The movement means of the motorized type may be, e.g., of the electric, pneumatic or mechanical type.

[0011] In particular, the use is well known of special spring-loaded winding mechanisms which are provided with a braking assembly associated with the base frame and with the supporting body and adapted to slow down the rotation of the latter along the first way, i.e., during the winding of the hose.

[0012] The use of such a braking assembly is particularly useful in preventing the hose from being wound up too quickly.

[0013] In such a case, in fact, the user may experience some difficulty in controlling the trajectory along which the hose is moving and the spray gun generally associated with the free end of the hose may violently hit any objects and / or people.

[0014] The devices for winding hoses of known type may, however, have some drawbacks, which are mainly related to the fact that it is not possible to adjust the degree with which the supporting body is braked during the winding phase of the hose.

[0015] In actual facts, the devices for winding hoses of known type do not allow the speed of the supporting body to be adjusted in the winding phase of the hose.

[0016] In particular, in the case where there is a spring-loaded winding mechanism, the spring exerts a force of predefined intensity on the supporting body, which cannot be adjusted to the work requirements that may vary from case to case.

[0017] This condition may be very impractical and disadvantageous in some cases, e.g. when the masses involved are large and it is therefore necessary to ensure a gradual winding of the hose.

[0018] Description of the Invention

[0019] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a device for winding hoses which allows adjusting the intensity of the slowing force imparted by the braking assembly to the supporting body.

[0020] Within the scope of this aim, one object of the present invention is to enable effective adjustment of the braking intensity even in existing winding devices.

[0021] A further object of the present invention is to devise a device for winding hoses which allows adjusting the winding force imparted by the spring in the case of devices for winding hoses provided with a spring-loaded winding mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to devise a device for winding hoses which allows the braking level of the supporting body to be adjusted to specific operating requirements.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to devise a device for winding hoses which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the scope of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as inexpensive solution.

[0023] The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present device for winding hoses having the characteristics of claim 1.

[0024] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a device for winding hoses, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a device for winding hoses according to the invention;

[0027] Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device for winding hoses according to the invention;

[0028] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device for winding hoses according to the invention along the plane III-III of Figure 2;

[0029] Figure 4 is a detailed view of some components of Figure 3.

[0030] Embodiments of the Invention

[0031] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a device for winding hoses.

[0032] The device 1 comprises at least one base frame 2 connectable to a supporting surface.

[0033] The supporting surface may, e.g., coincide with the ground, or consist of a wall or of the floor of a vehicle.

[0034] With particular reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the base frame 2 comprises a bedplate 3, associable with a supporting surface, and a pair of uprights 4, which are associated with the bedplate 3.

[0035] The device 1 comprises at least one supporting body 5 of a hose, associated with the base frame 2 and rotatable with respect to the latter around an axis of rotation 6 alternately along a first way, to allow the hose to be wound onto the supporting body 5, and along a second way opposite the first way, to allow the hose to be unwound from the supporting body 5.

[0036] According to the preferred embodiment shown in the figure, the supporting body 5 is of the type of a coil on which the hose is wound.

[0037] The axis of rotation 6 is arranged, in use (i.e., during its use), substantially horizontal.

[0038] In detail, the ends of the supporting body 5 are associated in rotation with the uprights 4 around the axis of rotation 6.

[0039] Setting the supporting body 5 in rotation with respect to the base frame 2 along the second way can be done in a manual maimer, by a user, or in a motorized manner, through the operation of special motor means with which the device 1 is provided.

[0040] Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a spring-loaded winding mechanism (not visible in detail in the figures) adapted to operate the supporting body 5 in rotation along the first way to wind the hose.

[0041] Next, the device 1 comprises at least one braking assembly 7 associated with the base frame 2 and adapted to exert a braking force on the supporting body 5 along the first way.

[0042] In particular, the braking assembly 7 is adapted to adjust the intensity of the winding force imparted on the supporting body 5 by the spring-loaded winding mechanism.

[0043] The use of the braking assembly 7 cannot, however, be ruled out in case the device 1 is provided with different types of winding mechanisms, such as e.g. electric, pneumatic or hydraulic.

[0044] Therefore, the braking assembly 7 is only operated during the winding phase of the hose in order to limit the speed of rotation of the supporting body 5.

[0045] In this way, it is possible to coil the hose more slowly, thus allowing the user to control the trajectory along which the hose itself is being moved and / or to limit the intensity of the force with which the same hose may hit any objects and / or people being present along the relevant trajectory of movement.

[0046] Advantageously, the device 1 comprises at least one connecting shaft 8 rigidly associated in rotation with the supporting body 5.

[0047] The connecting shaft 8 is coaxially mounted to the supporting body 5 around the axis of rotation 6.

[0048] The connecting shaft 8 rotates locked together with the supporting body 5 both during rotation along the first way and along the second way.

[0049] According to the invention, the braking assembly 7 comprises a box-shaped body 12 containing a working liquid and associated with the base frame 2 in a removable manner and comprises at least one adjusting element 21 contained within the box-shaped body 12 and adapted to adjust the intensity of the braking force exerted by the braking assembly 7 on the supporting body 5.

[0050] Preferably, the working liquid is oil.

[0051] Advantageously, the box-shaped body 12 is associated with the base frame 2 by means of threaded members 25 and between them are placed sealing members which are not visible in detail in the figures.

[0052] More particularly, the box-shaped body 12 is associated externally with one of the uprights 4, that is, on the opposite side from the supporting body 5, so that it is accessible from the outside.

[0053] The upright 4 with which the box-shaped body 12 is associated is thus placed between the latter and the supporting body 5.

[0054] The box-shaped body 12 internally defines an oil bath chamber.

[0055] More particularly, the braking assembly 7 comprises at least one cam element 9 associated with the connecting shaft 8 in a removable maimer and locked together therewith during the rotation along the first way.

[0056] The cam element 9 is arranged within the box-shaped body 12.

[0057] More specifically, the connecting shaft 8 has one end protruding externally from at least one of the uprights 4 and the cam element 9 is shod on such protruding end.

[0058] Usefully, the braking assembly 7 comprises at least one bearing element 10 mounted externally to the connecting shaft 8, associated idle with the connecting shaft 8 during the rotation along the second way and locked together with the connecting shaft 8 during the rotation along the first way.

[0059] The bearing element 10 is, therefore, of the type of a one-way bearing, e.g., of the type of a needle roller bearing.

[0060] The cam element 9 is shod externally to the bearing element 10 and locked together with the latter. The bearing element 10 is then placed between the connecting shaft 8 and the cam element 9.

[0061] The bearing element 10 is also arranged within the box-shaped body 12.

[0062] In other words, during the rotation of the supporting body 5 along the first way, the cam element 9 is locked together with the connecting shaft 8 and rotates locked together with the latter around the axis of rotation 6 due to the meshing of the connecting shaft 8 with the bearing element 10.

[0063] Otherwise, during the rotation along the second way, the cam element 9 does not rotate locked together with the connecting shaft 8 by virtue of the idle coupling between the latter and the bearing element 10.

[0064] Advantageously, the braking assembly 7 comprises at least one counteracting element 11 which interacts with the cam element 9 during the rotation of the latter along the first way.

[0065] Preferably, the counteracting element 11 is of the type of a small cylinder.

[0066] The counteracting element 11 is arranged within the box-shaped body 12.

[0067] At least a first volume 13, at least a second volume 14 and at least a connecting duct 16 of the first volume 13 to the second volume 14 are defined within the box-shaped body 12.

[0068] The volumes 13,14 are arranged on the opposite side from the cam element 9.

[0069] The counteracting element 11 is arranged internally to at least one of the volumes 13,14 and is susceptible to be displaced as a result of the interaction with the cam element 9.

[0070] The volume 13,14 wherein the counteracting element 11 is inserted defines a sliding seat 17 wherein the counteracting element 11 is movable in a sliding maimer as a result of the interaction with the cam element 9.

[0071] The sliding seat 17 defines the axis of sliding 18 along which the same counteracting element 11 is movable as a result of the interaction with the cam element 9.

[0072] The axis of sliding 18 is substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation 6 and substantially parallel to the axis of longitudinal development of the counteracting element 11.

[0073] The cam element 9 moves by means of the counteracting element 11 the working liquid between the volumes 13,14 and along the connecting duct 16.

[0074] Precisely, as a result of its displacement due to the interaction with the cam element 9, the counteracting element 11 compresses or expands the relevant volume 13,14 wherein it is contained, consequently causing the working liquid to be displaced. In other words, when the cam element 9 interacts with the counteracting element 11, the latter moves by compressing the relevant volume 13,14, so that the working liquid contained therein moved along the connecting duct 16 until it reaches the other volume 14,13.

[0075] In actual facts, within the box-shaped body 12 the working liquid is moved during the rotation of the supporting body 5 along the first way.

[0076] In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the braking assembly 7 comprises two counteracting elements 11.

[0077] One of the counteracting elements 11 is then inserted into the first volume 13 and the other of the counteracting elements 11 is inserted into the second volume 14. Each of the volumes 13,14 defines a relevant sliding seat 17 of the respective counteracting element 11.

[0078] The counteracting elements 11 are substantially parallel to each other and arranged substantially aligned along their respective axes of sliding 18.

[0079] The cam element 9 is adapted to alternately contact the counteracting elements 11 during the rotation thereof along the first way.

[0080] Each of the counteracting elements 11 has a counteracting surface 19 adapted to interact with the cam element 9 and a thrust surface 20 opposite the counteracting surface 19, wherein a counteracting chamber 24 is defined between the thrust surface 20 and the box-shaped body 12.

[0081] The counteracting surface 19 and the thrust surface 20 of a counteracting element 11 are substantially flat, substantially parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to the axis of longitudinal development of the counteracting element 11 on which they are defined.

[0082] Each of the counteracting elements 11, when contacted by the cam element 9, reduces the volume of the relevant counteracting chamber 24 thereby exerting pressure on the working liquid contained within it.

[0083] Advantageously, the adjusting element 21 is arranged along the connecting duct 16 and is movable with respect to the latter to adjust the flowing section of the working liquid along the connecting duct 16.

[0084] The smaller the flowing section defined by the adjusting element 21, the greater the resistance offered to the flow of the liquid from one volume 13, 14 to the other. Therefore, the smaller the flowing section defined by the adjusting element 21, the more the pressure of the working liquid within the relevant counteracting chamber 24 increases as a result of the displacement of the corresponding counteracting element 11 and, consequently, so does the resistance offered by the working liquid itself to this displacement.

[0085] In other words, as the working liquid flowing section defined by the adjusting element 21 varies, with the same displacement of the counteracting element 11, the pressure within the relevant counteracting chamber 24 and, therefore, the resistance offered by the working liquid to the displacement of the counteracting element itself varies.

[0086] Therefore, the smaller the working liquid flowing section, the greater the braking force exerted on the cam element 9 and vice versa.

[0087] It appears clear how by adjusting the position of the adjusting element 21 with respect to the connecting duct 16, it is possible to adjust the pressure in the counteracting chambers 24 and the consequent degree of slowing down of the rotational speed of the cam element 9 and of the supporting body 5.

[0088] It is easy to appreciate how, thanks to the presence of the adjusting element 21, it is possible to calibrate the force with which the braking assembly 7 slows down the rotational speed of the supporting body 5.

[0089] Usefully, the adjusting element 21 comprises at least a first portion 22, arranged internally to the connecting duct 16 by a variable length, and a second portion 23, accessible from the outside of the box-shaped body 12 to allow the movement of the adjusting element 21 with respect to the connecting duct 16.

[0090] Precisely, by means of the second portion 23 it is possible to increase or decrease the length of the first portion 22 inserted into the connecting duct 16 so as to vary the flowing section of the connecting duct 16.

[0091] Appropriately, the adjusting element 21 is movable by shifting with respect to the box-shaped body 12.

[0092] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the adjusting element 21 is of the type of a threaded element. The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows.

[0093] An operator, when using the hose wound around the supporting body 5, drives the setting in rotation of the supporting body 5 according to the second way until the hose is unwound by a length suitable for the specific needs of the case.

[0094] As soon as the user no longer needs to use the hose or needs a shorter length than the length for which the hose is already unwound, it drives the rotation of the supporting body 5 according to the first way.

[0095] At that stage of hose winding, the braking assembly 7 intervenes by slowing down the rotational speed of the supporting body 5 in the maimer previously described. Preliminarily or during the hose winding phase, the user can change the position of the adjusting element 21 with respect to the connecting duct 16 to adjust and calibrate the force with which the braking assembly 7 slows down the rotation of the supporting body 5.

[0096] In this way, in fact, the resistance offered by the counteracting elements 11 to the rotation of the cam element 9 can be adjusted.

[0097] If the user wishes to further slow the rotation of the supporting body 5 down, he / she operates the second portion 23, so as to move the adjusting element 21 towards the inside of the box-shaped body 12, thus increasing the length of the first portion 22 inserted in the connecting duct 16 and consequently reducing the working liquid flowing section.

[0098] Differently, if the user wishes the winding of the hose onto the supporting body 5 to occur more quickly, he / she operates the second portion 23 so as to move the adjusting element 21 outwards from the box-shaped body 12, thereby decreasing the length of the first portion 22 inserted into the connecting duct 16 and increasing the working liquid flowing section accordingly.

[0099] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that the device for winding hoses according to the invention allows adjusting the intensity of the slowing force imparted by the braking assembly to the supporting body during the hose winding phase.

[0100] In particular, the braking assembly according to the invention can be applied to any existing braking device, thus enabling it to improve the operation and braking effectiveness thereof

[0101] Again, the device for winding hoses according to the invention allows the braking level of the supporting body to be adjusted to the specific requirements of the case.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Device (1) for winding hoses, comprising: at least one base frame (2) connectable to a supporting surface; at least one supporting body (5) of a hose, associated with said base frame (2) and rotatable with respect to the latter around an axis of rotation (6) alternately along a first way, to allow the hose to be wound onto said supporting body (5), and along a second way opposite said first way, to allow the hose to be unwound from said supporting body (5); at least one braking assembly (7) associated with said base frame (2) and adapted to exert a braking force on said supporting body (5) along said first way; characterized by the fact that said braking assembly (7) comprises a box-shaped body (12) containing a working liquid and associated with said base frame (2) in a removable maimer and at least one adjusting element (21) contained within said box-shaped body (12) and adapted to adjust the intensity of the braking force exerted by said braking assembly (7) on said supporting body (5).2) Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said base frame (2) comprises a bedplate (3), associable with a supporting surface, and a pair of uprights (4), associated with said bedplate (3), by the fact that said supporting body (5) has two ends associated in rotation with said uprights (4) around the axis of rotation (6) and by the fact that said box-shaped body (12) is associated externally with one of said uprights (4), on the opposite side from said supporting body (5), so that it is accessible from the outside.3) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said at least one of said uprights (4) is placed between said boxshaped body (12) and said supporting body (5).4) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one connecting shaft (8) rigidly associated in rotation with said supporting body (5) and by the fact that said braking assembly (7) comprises: at least one cam element (9) associated with said connecting shaft (8) in aremovable maimer and locked together therewith during the rotation of said connecting shaft (8) along said first way; at least one counteracting element (11), said cam element (9) interacting with said counteracting element (11) during the rotation thereof along said first way; wherein said cam element (9) and said counteracting element (11) are contained within said box-shaped body (12) containing a working liquid and containing at least said cam element (9) and said counteracting element (11); wherein within said box-shaped body (12) are defined at least a first volume (13), at least a second volume (14) and at least one connecting duct (16) of said first volume (13) with said second volume (14), said volumes (13,14) being arranged on opposite side from said cam element (9); wherein said counteracting element (11) is arranged internally to at least one of said volumes (13,14) and is susceptible to be displaced as a result of the interaction with said cam element (9), said cam element (9) moving, by means of said counteracting element (11), the working liquid between said volumes (13,14) and along said connecting duct (16); wherein said adjusting element (21) is arranged along said connecting duct (16) and is movable with respect to the latter to adjust the flowing section of the working liquid along said connecting duct (16), wherein the smaller the flowing section defined by said adjusting element (21), the greater the resistance offered to the flow of the working liquid from one said volume (13,14) to the other.5) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said braking assembly (7) comprises two of said counteracting elements (11), one of said counteracting elements (11) being inserted into said first volume (13) and the other of said counteracting elements (11) being inserted into said second volume (14), said cam element (9) being adapted to alternately contact said counteracting elements (11) during the rotation thereof along said first way.6) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said counteracting elements (11) has a counteracting surface(19) adapted to interact with said cam element (9) and a thrust surface (20) opposite said counteracting surface (19), wherein between said thrust surface (20) and said box-shaped body (12) is defined a counteracting chamber (24), as said flowing section decreases by increasing the pressure of the working liquid within said counteracting chamber (24) as a result of the displacement of said counteracting element (11) as a result of the interaction with said cam element (9).7) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said adjusting element (21) comprises at least a first portion (22), arranged internally to said connecting duct (16) by a variable length, and a second portion (23), accessible from the outside of said box-shaped body (12) to allow the movement of said adjusting element (21) with respect to said connecting duct (16).8) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said adjusting element (21) is movable by shifting with respect to said box-shaped body (12).9) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said braking assembly (7) comprises at least one bearing element (10) mounted externally to said connecting shaft (8), associated idle with said connecting shaft (8) during the rotation along said second way and locked together with said connecting shaft (8) during the rotation along said first way, said cam element (9) being mounted externally to said bearing element (10) and locked together with the latter.10) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said bearing element (10) is of the type of a one-way bearing.11) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said connecting shaft (8) has at least one end protruding externally from one of said uprights (4) and by the fact that said cam element (9) is shod on said protruding end.

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