GB2321171A

GB2321171A - Portable water displacement system

Info

Publication number: GB2321171A
Application number: GB9701086A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Anthony Wilbert Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-20
Filing date: 1997-01-20
Publication date: 1998-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-20
Also published as: GB9701086D0; GB2321171B

Abstract

The invention provides a water displacement system where elevated plants, can be watered from a bucket 24 on the ground. The system comprises a sealed housing 10 containing a rechargeable battery and a pump. Recharging terminals for the battery are exposed from the housing at a location which will be above the level 25 of water in the bucket, for this purpose the housing 10 having an elongate configuration with a length of about 350 mm. Conveniently the recharging terminals are exposed in a handle for the housing 10 provided by a through opening in its upper end region. This through opening is designed to fit over a male component of the charger unit so as to align the terminals of the charger and housing (figure 3).

Description

"PORTABLE WRITER DISPLIY3DDENr SYSTEM" This invention relates to a portable water displ ement system particularly although not exclusively suitable for use in gardening and horticulture to water plants in containers at a high level, such as hanging baskets.

The arrangement of flowers and ornamental plants in elevated pots and hanging baskets is very pcpular especially on patios, in conservatories and in the urban environment where exposed earth may be unavailable, for example on the frontage of a terraced house. In such environments it nay be impossible or inconvenient for a householder to use a hose connected to a mains supply to water the plants. Available portable sprays using catpressed air would not deliver a sufficient volume of water and therefore he or she is forced to lift to the necessary elevation a watering can or the like water container. Lifting several litres of water above shoulder level and holding it there long enough to water a plant, and doing this repeatedly for a number of plants, is arduous for anyone and nay be beyond the ability of the elderly and infirm. If a bucket of water is placed on the ground near the plants to be watered and then a smaller watering utensil is used, then either the smaller utensil will itself be heavy when filled or else its small size will require such frequent refilling that this exercise will be almost as arduous as lifting the bucket.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this problem, enabling the container for the water to remain on the ground while only the spray nozzle has to be lifted. The user still has to carry a bucket or the like of water to a location near the plants but d does s not have to lift either it or an auxiliary water container and hold it in a raised position.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a portable water displacement system comprising an elongate housing sealed against water ingress except through water inlet and outlet orifices and containing a rechargeable battery and an electrically driven pump which uses the battery as its power source, the housing having recharging terminals for the battery exteriorly exposed in the region of one end of the housing which has a formation to assist picking up the housing, the outlet orifice being connected to a flexible tube through which water may be discharged to a location elevated above the housing and the length of the housing being such that when placed upright in a conventional bucket or similar water container the recharging terminals will be above the water level in the container when filled and the water inlet orifice will be below said water level.

The said formation to assist picking up the housing may be in the form of a through opening in the region of said one end such that the outer boundary of the opening provides a handle, said recharging terminals being exposed fran the housing on the inner boundary of the opening and the arrangement being such that the housing nay be mounted on a battery charger using the opening as a location and suspension means, the recharging terminals being automatically aligned with the respective terminals of the charger when a male formation of the charger is inserted in the opening.

The overall length of the housing is preferably in the range 350mum to 400 mm and the distance between the inner boundary of the opening and the other end of the housing is preferably not less than 300 mm. The housing is preferably generally of oblong cross section, its maximum width not exceeding 80 mm.

The circuit connecting the battery to the pump motor nay include spaced apart switch terminals exposed exteriorly of the housing in a position such that they will be immersed when the housing is placed in the container, the arrangement being such that the pump will be driven only when and as long as the switch terminals are wet.

Alternatively the pump nay be controlled by a switch located in a hand grip located at one end of a flexible tube the other end of which is connected to said outlet opening of the housing. The switch may be connected to the pump motor by wiring which is contained within said flexible tube so as to pass into the housing through said outlet orifice.

In a preferred construction the outlet orifice of the housing is connected to one end of a flexible tube the other end of which is connected to one end of a rigid tube, the end of the rigid tube remote from the flexible tube being cranked to provide a downwardly directed jet when the rigid tube is held upright.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will nowr be described by way of nonlimitative example with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates an entire system in accordance with the invention in use, Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through the pump housing and spray device of the system of Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side and a front elevation of the pimp housing when mounted on a battery charger.

The system illustrated conprises an elongate housing 10 for a rechargeable battery 11 and electrically driven pimp 12. The housing 10 has a water inlet orifice 13 in the region of one end and a water outlet orifice 14 in the region of its other end, but otherwise its interior is sealed against the ingress of water. Within the housing water entering through inlet 13 and exiting through outlet 14 is confined to communicating, internal passages 15 and 15' so that the battery 11 and the pump 12 and its electric motor remain dry when the housing 10 is immersed. The impeller 18 of the pump is located in passage 15 and its shaft penetrates the wall of the passage over a water-seal gland. This is not shown but the technology is well knawn per se and forms no part of the present invention. likewise circuitry whereby a switch 16 controls the operation of the punp 12 includes wires 17 which pass fran the "dry" ccnpartment of the housing to the "wet" passage 15 over a suitable water-seal gland.

The switch 16 is mounted on a moulding 19 adapted to be held in the hand.

Fram one side of the moulding 19 projects a rigid tube 20 cranked at its distal end 21 where there is a spray head or rose 22. Fran another side of the moulding 19 there extends a flexible tube 23 which connects the outlet orifice 14 of the housing with the moulding 19.

As is clear fran Figures 2, 3 and 4 the elongate housing 10 is generally of oblong cross section with a maximum width of a approximately 80 mn. The overall length of the housing 10 is approximately 350 itrn. With these dimensions, when the housing 10 is placed upright in a conventional bucket 24 an upper region A of the housing will be above the level 25 of water filling the bucket. By a "conventional bucket" is meant an open-topped container approximately 250 mm high designed for carrying approxImately 10 litres of water.

Within its upper region A the housing 10 is formed to have a through opening 26. With one or more fingers inserted through this opening its outer boundary 27 provides a convenient handle for lifting and carrying the housing 10. Exposed at the inner boundary 28 of the opening are recharging terminals 29 which, when contacted by the exposed terminals 30 of a charger unit 31, will enable the battery 11 to be recharged. The terminals 30 of the charger unit 31 are mounted on a male component 32 of the charger which fits the opening 26, assisting in the alignment of the terminals 29 and 30.

The male component 32 thus also serves as a peg on which the housing 10 can hang by its handle 27 while the battery is being charged.

In use of the apparatus illustrated it is taken with a full bucket 24 of water to a location near the elevated plants to be watered and the housing 10 is placed upright in the bucket. By operating the switch 16 the user controls the flow of water fran the rose 22 and manipulates the rigid tube 20 to position the rose 22 for watering. When the job is finished or the battery 11 is exhausted the housing 10 is rehung on the battery charger 31, inserting the opening 26 over the peg 32, to recharge the battery.

In an alternative emoodinent (not shown) the switch 16 is dispensed with as well as the wiring 17 within flexible tube 23. Instead the housing 10 is provided with additional exposed terminals (not shown) at a position where these will be inmersed when the housing 10 is placed in the bucket 24.

These "switch" terminals are designed to complete the circuit of the battery and pump when they are wet but break it when they are dry. Thus the pump 12 runs whenever the lower end of the housing 10 is imnersed and stops only when the housing 10 is taken out of the bucket. Either a continuous flow fran the rose 22 can be tolerated or the moulding 19 or rigid tube 20 italy be provided with a tap (not shown) to control the flow of water when the pimp 12 is operating.

It will be appreciated that the invention takes advantage of the recent advances in rechargeable battery technology. It is contemplated to use a 7.2 volt 1200mAh Nickel Cadmium battery to operate a 6 volt pump motor over a 2 amp circuit.

Claims

CIAIMS:

1. A portable water displacement system comprising an elongate housing sealed against water ingress except through water inlet and outlet orifices and containing a rechargeable battery and an electrically driven purtp which uses the battery as its power source, the housing having recharging terminals for the battery exteriorly exposed in the region of one end of the housing which has a formation to assist picking up the housing, the outlet orifice being connected to a flexible tube through which water may be discharged to a location elevated above the housing and the length of the housing being such that when placed upright in a conventional bucket or similar water container the recharging terminals will be above the water level in the container when filled and the water inlet orifice will be below said water level.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said formation to assist picking up the housing is in the form of a through opening in the region of said one end such that the outer boundary of the opening provides a handle, said recharging terminals being exposed from the housing on the inner boundary of the opening and the arrangement being such that the housing may be mounted on a battery charger using the opening as a location and suspension means, the recharging terminals being automatically aligned with the respective terminals of the charger when a male formation of the charger is inserted in the opening.

3. A system as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the overall length of the housing is in the range 350 rrrn to 400 itra.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 as appendant to claim 2, wherein the distance between the inner boundary of the opening and the other end of the housing is not less than 300 urn.

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is generally of oblong cross section, its maximum width not exceeding 80 urn.

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit connecting the battery to the pimp motor includes spaced apart switch terminals exposed exteriorly of the housing in a position such that they will be immersed when the housing is placed in the container, the arrangement being such that the purrp will be driven only when and as long as the switch terminals are wet.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the pump is controlled by a switch located in a hand grip located at one end of a flexible tube the other end of which is connected to said outlet opening of the housing.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the switch is connected to the pump motor by wiring which is contained within said flexible tube so as to pass into the housing through said outlet orifice.

9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet orifice of the housing is connected to one end of a flexible tube the other end of which is connected to one end of a rigid tube, the end of the rigid tube remote from the flexible tube being cranked to provide a downwardly directed jet when the rigid tube is held upright.

10. A portable water displacement system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.