Hose reel assembly

Abstract

A reel assembly includes a rotatable member that rotates about a first axis to wind and unwind a hose from the rotatable member, where the rotatable member also rotates about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A housing substantially encloses the rotatable member and has a first aperture that receives the hose therethrough and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture. A conduit assembly is at least partially disposed within the housing and extends between a first end and a second end, the first end being releasably and operatively coupleable with a liquid source, the first end being accessible through the second aperture and positioned substantially along the second axis. The second end is in fluid communication with a connector on the rotatable member that releasably couples to the hose. The conduit assembly also has a flow control valve coupled to a conduit portion of the conduit assembly and configured to selectively allow fluid flow through the conduit assembly from the liquid source to the connector. The conduit assembly and the rotatable member can move together about the second axis relative to at least a portion of the housing during operation of the rotatable member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hose reel assembly comprising:
 a rotatable member configured to rotate about a first axis to wind a hose onto the rotatable member or unwind the hose from the rotatable member, the rotatable member also configured to rotate about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;   a housing substantially enclosing the rotatable member, the housing comprising a first aperture configured to receive the hose therethrough and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture; and   a conduit assembly at least partially disposed within the housing and extending between a first end and a second end, the first end configured to releasably and operatively couple with a liquid source, the first end being accessible through the second aperture and positioned substantially along the second axis, and the second end being in fluid communication with a connector on the rotatable member that releasably couples to the hose, the conduit assembly further comprising a flow control valve coupled to a conduit portion of the conduit assembly, the flow control valve configured to selectively allow fluid flow through the conduit assembly from the liquid source to the connector;   wherein the conduit assembly and the rotatable member are configured to move together about the second axis relative to at least a portion of the housing during operation of the rotatable member.   
     
     
         2 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit assembly further comprises a hollow shaft portion in fluid communication with the second end and extending along the first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a hose fitting on the rotatable member, the hose fitting configured to be coupled with the hose that may be wound upon the rotatable member, the hollow shaft portion being connected to the hose fitting so that fluid may flow from the conduit assembly through the hose fitting into the hose coupled to the hose fitting. 
     
     
         4 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the hollow shaft portion extends along the first axis into an interior of the rotatable member. 
     
     
         5 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising the hose. 
     
     
         6 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the conduit assembly extends through the second aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control valve is disposed proximate the second end of the conduit assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control valve is disposed proximate the first end of the conduit assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A hose reel assembly comprising:
 a rotatable member configured to rotate about a first axis to wind a hose onto the rotatable member or unwind the hose from the rotatable member, the rotatable member also configured to rotate about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;   a conduit assembly extending between a first end and a second end, the first end at least partially extending along the second axis and configured to releasably and operatively couple with a liquid source, and the second end being in fluid communication with a connector on the rotatable member that releasably couples to the hose, the conduit assembly further comprising a flow control valve coupled to a conduit portion of the conduit assembly, the flow control valve configured to selectively allow fluid flow through the conduit assembly from the liquid source to the connector; and   a housing substantially enclosing the rotatable member and conduit assembly, the housing comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, the upper housing portion being movable relative to the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion defining a first aperture configured to receive the hose therethrough, the housing comprising a second aperture aligned with the first end of the conduit assembly,   wherein the conduit assembly and the rotatable member are configured to rotate together about the second axis relative to at least a portion of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a hollow shaft portion in fluid communication with the hollow conduit assembly at said second location and extending along the first axis into an interior of the rotatable member. 
     
     
         11 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a hose fitting on the rotatable member, the hose fitting configured to couple with the hose that may be wound upon the rotatable member, the shaft portion being connected to the hose fitting at an interior of the rotatable member so that fluid may flow from the hollow conduit assembly through the hose fitting into the hose coupled to the hose fitting; 
     
     
         12 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a reciprocating mechanism configured to produce relative reciprocating rotation between the rotatable element and the housing about the second axis. 
     
     
         13 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a support frame configured to support the rotatable element, wherein the reciprocating mechanism is pivotally connected to the support frame to produce relative reciprocating rotation between the rotatable element and the support frame about the second axis. 
     
     
         14 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a ring centered about the second axis, and a support frame coupled to the conduit assembly, the support frame supported by the ring such that the rotatable member, the conduit assembly, and the support frame rotate together, relative to the ring, about the second axis. 
     
     
         15 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first axis is substantially horizontal, and the second axis is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         16 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the lower housing portion comprises a second aperture for accessing the first end of the hollow conduit assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the hollow conduit assembly extends through the second aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a generally curvilinear shape, and the hollow conduit assembly comprises a curved section extending generally along a curved inner portion of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a generally spherical shape. 
     
     
         20 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the housing comprises an upper housing portion, wherein the conduit assembly and the rotatable member are configured to rotate together about the second axis relative to the first aperture 
     
     
         21 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the flow control valve is disposed proximate the second end of the conduit assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the flow control valve is disposed proximate the first end of the conduit assembly.