Linearly retractable pressure hose structure
Hose ( 70 ) has a biasing spring ( 76 ) extends along the full length. Spring ( 76 ) is covered with hose cover material ( 72 ) on the outside and hose support layer ( 74 ) and hose sealing layer ( 72 ) on the inside to form a sealed hose. The invention comprises the improvement of the hose body (layers ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and ( 75 )) by defining the layers as bowed inward radially between the individual spring coils to create a helical indentation ( 74 b ) around hose ( 70 ). This helical indentation ( 74 b ) causes the hose body materials (layers ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and ( 75 )) move inward radially when hose ( 70 ) is retracted and the coils of spring ( 76 ) are forced close together longitudinally. Thus, layers ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and ( 75 ) are folded substantially with spring ( 76 ) when retracted, greatly reducing the volume of hose ( 70 ) in its retracted position and substantially protecting ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and ( 75 ) from damage by abrasion an puncture.
1. A pressure hose for transporting a fluid material at a pressure substantially greater-than ambient pressure, comprising:
a) a flexible elongated body having a first end, a second end, a central longitudinal axis, and an interior channel for transporting a fluid material from the first end, to the second end, and ultimately into an ambient environment, wherein the flexible elongated body is sufficiently flexible longitudinally to linearly retract and extend between a retracted position and an extended position, respectively, wherein the flexible elongated body has a fluid path-length at least twice as long in the extended position as it does in the retracted position;
b) a biasing means connected to the flexible elongated body in at least two places for generating a first force tending to longitudinally retract the flexible elongated body;
c) wherein the first end is adapted to attach to a source of the fluid material, wherein the second end is adapted to attach to a means for restricting the flow of the fluid material flowing through the interior channel during use, wherein the means for restricting the flow results in a greater internal pressure within the interior channel, wherein the greater internal pressure generates a second force tending to extend the flexible elongated body longitudinally along its length, and
d) wherein the biasing means defines an outside radius centered around the central longitudinal axis, wherein the outside radius defined by the biasing means is substantially larger than an inside radius of the flexible elongated body when in the retracted position, whereby the flexible elongated body is stowed substantially inside the biasing means when in the retracted position.
2. The pressure hose in claim 1 , wherein the inside radius of the flexible elongated body defines a plurality of ring-shaped indents along its length, whereby the flexible elongated body forms an accordion-like structure.
3. The pressure hose in claim 1 , wherein the biasing means is mounted substantially on the exterior of the flexible elongated body.
4. The pressure hose in claim 1 , wherein the hose is a garden water hose with the first end adapted to attach to a water faucet outlet and the second end adapted to attach to a watering attachment, whereby the watering attachment provides the means for restricting the flow.
5. The pressure hose in claim 1 , wherein the biasing means is a hybrid tension wave-spring that is mounted substantially on the exterior of the flexible elongated body.
6. The pressure hose in claim 5 , wherein the hybrid tension wave spring and the flexible elongated body are securely attached to each other primarily at the first and second ends.
7. The pressure hose of claim 1 , wherein the pressure hose further comprises a flexible woven fiber cover having an effective diameter at least about ten percent less than twice the outside radius defined by the biasing means in a relaxed condition, and wherein the flexible woven fiber cover forms a helical indented portion following a helical path around the central longitudinal axis.
8. The pressure hose of claim 7 , wherein the biasing means comprises a helical spring comprising a plurality of coils and wherein the helical indented portion of the flexible woven fiber cover is formed between the coils from the plurality of coils of the helical spring.
9. A pressure hose, comprising:
a) a flexible elongated body comprising a first end, and a second end, and an interior channel defined along its length for transporting a fluid material from the first end to the second end and ultimately into the ambient environment, wherein the first end is adapted to connect to a fluid material source, at a pressure substantially greater-than ambient pressure;
b) a hybrid tension wave-spring connected to the flexible elongated body at the first and second ends for generating a first force tending to longitudinally retract the flexible elongated body and for physically protecting the flexible elongated body from the environment, wherein the hybrid tension wave-spring substantially surrounds the flexible elongated body along its length, whereby the hybrid tension wave-spring provides superior wear protection for the flexible elongated body;
c) wherein said second end is adapted to attach to a means for restricting the flow of fluid material through the interior channel during use, wherein the means for restricting the flow results in a greater internal pressure within the interior channel, wherein the greater internal pressure generates a second force tending to extend the flexible elongated body longitudinally along its length, and wherein the flexible elongated body substantially extends when the magnitude of the second force is increased substantially above the magnitude of the first force.
10. The pressure hose in claim 9 , wherein the hybrid tension wave-spring comprises a helical flat-spring, wherein a multiplicity of bonds between adjacent coils of the helical flat-spring are defined at regular intervals, whereby both radial strength, and the retracting force are increased substantially above what the helical flat-spring could do without the multiplicity of bonds.
11. The pressure hose of claim 10 , wherein the hybrid tension wave-spring is connected to the flexible elongated body at only the first and second ends.
12. The pressure hose in claim 9 , further including a stopping means mounted between the first and second ends for stopping longitudinal expansion of the hose when the hose is pressurized.
13. The pressure hose of claim 9 , wherein the hybrid tension wave-spring comprises a plurality of adjacent spring layers disposed substantially flat against each other when the flexible elongated body of the pressure hose is in a retracted position and arranged along the length of the flexible elongated body, wherein the hybrid tension-wave spring comprises a plurality of substantially regularly spaced bonds between the spring layers from the plurality of adjacent spring layers, wherein the bonds from the substantially regularly spaced bonds alternate between bonds connecting to an adjacent spring layer disposed upstream along the length of the flexible elongated body and bonds connecting to an adjacent spring layer disposed downstream along the length of the flexible elongated body.