Hose reel assembly

Abstract

A hose reel assembly and a method of using the same is disclosed. The hose reel assembly includes a rotatable drum mounted on a frame and having a groove defined in a sidewall thereof. A swivel assembly is engaged with a first end of the drum. The swivel assembly includes a first section that is selectively connected to a remote fluid source and a second section that is connected to one or more hoses that are wound into the groove or out of the groove on the drum. The second section rotates with the drum while the first section remains stationary. An indexer is provided to feed the hoses onto or off of the. Limit switches on the indexer control the movement thereof and shut off the drum's rotation in the event of a pressure build-up in the hoses which extend outwardly from the indexer.

1 . A hose reel assembly comprising:
 a drum having a first end, a second end and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the first end and the second ends; and wherein the drum is rotatable about a longitudinal axis which extends between the first and second ends thereof;   a swivel assembly engaged with the first end of the drum; said swivel assembly having:
 a first section adapted to be connected to a first hose which is connectable to a remote fluid source; and 
 a second section that is adapted to be connected to a secondary hose which is selectively windable onto and off of the drum; and wherein the second section of the swivel assembly rotates in unison with the drum while the first section of the swivel assembly remains stationary. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the swivel assembly extends in a first direction outwardly away from the first end of the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the drum has an interior surface which defines a bore, and at least a portion of the second section of the swivel assembly extends inwardly in a second direction from the first end of the drum and into the bore. 
     
     
         4 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the swivel assembly defines a fluid passage therethrough, and the fluid passage extends through each of the first section and the second section of the swivel assembly 
     
     
         5 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a groove defined in an exterior surface of the drum, and wherein the second hose is selectively wound into the groove or out of the groove. 
     
     
         6 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the groove is a helical groove and extends from proximate the first end of the drum to proximate the second end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first mounting plate adjacent the first end of the drum;   a second mounting plate adjacent the second end of the drum,;   at least one guide rod extending between the first and second mounting plates; and   an indexer engaged on the at least one guide rod and being movable along the at least one guide rod between the first and second mounting plates.   
     
     
         8 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein an aperture is defined in the drum proximate the second end thereof; and a hose clamp assembly is engaged in the aperture; and wherein the hose clamp assembly is adapted to receive the secondary hose therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising a stop provided on the at least one guide rod, said stop being positioned to limit travel of the indexer along the at least one guide rod. 
     
     
         10 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the indexer further includes at least one limit switch which engages the stop to limit travel of the indexer along the at least one guide rod. 
     
     
         11 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the indexer includes a base, a channel defined in the base; and a door hingedly engaged at one end to the base, said door extending at least partially over the channel and being moveable between a closed position where the door covers the channel and an open position where access to the channel is permitted; and wherein the channel is adapted to receive a portion of the secondary hose therein. 
     
     
         12 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a limit switch provided on the indexer, said limit switch being activated when the door is moved from the closed position to the open position; and wherein activation of the limit switch stops rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising an umbilical clamp extending partially into the channel defined in the base and extending partially out of the channel and away from the drum; and wherein the umbilical clamp is adapted to receive a section of the secondary hose which extends outwardly from the channel of the indexer. 
     
     
         14 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the indexer further includes a finger extending outwardly from the base and into the groove defined in the drum. 
     
     
         15 . The hose reel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first mounting plate adjacent the first end of the drum;   a second mounting plate adjacent the second end of the drum; and   a plurality of support members circumscribing the drum and extending between the first and second mounting plates and adapted to keep a portion of the secondary hose wrapped around the drum.   
     
     
         16 . A hose reel assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a drum operatively mounted on the frame, said drum having a first end, a second end and a cylindrical sidewall extending between the first end and the second ends; and wherein the drum is rotatable about a longitudinal axis which extends between the first and second ends thereof;   a groove defined in the exterior surface of the sidewall; wherein the groove is adapted to windably receive a hose therein;   a guide rod extending from proximate the first end of the drum to proximate the second end thereof;   an indexer engaged on the guide rod and being movable therealong, wherein the indexer is adapted to receive a portion of the hose therethrough; and the indexer moves in a first direction along the guide rod when the hose is wound onto the drum and the indexer moves in a second direction along the guide rod when the hose is wound off the drum   
     
     
         17 . The hose reel assembly as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the indexer includes a finger which extends outwardly from a first end thereof and the finger is received in the groove on the drum. 
     
     
         18 . A swivel assembly for use in a hose reel assembly having a rotatable drum; said swivel assembly comprising:
 a first section having a first end and a second end region; where the first end of the first section is adapted to be connected to a first hose which is, in turn connectable to a remote fluid source; and   a second section having a first end region and a second end; where the first end region of the second section is engaged with the second end region of the first section; and wherein the second section is adapted to be connected to a secondary hose which is selectively windable onto and off of the drum; and wherein the swivel assembly has a longitudinal axis which extends from the first end of the first section to the second of the second section; and wherein the second section rotates relative to the first section and about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         19 . A method of cleaning a tube utilizing a high pressure water jet including the steps of:
 providing a hose reel assembly having a frame upon which a rotatable drum is mounted; where the drum has a first end and a second end and defines an interior bore which extends between the first and second ends; and wherein a sidewall which extends between the first and second ends defines a groove on an exterior surface thereof;   providing a swivel assembly which includes a first section and a second section; where the second section is rotatable relative to the first section thereof;   engaging a hose with the second section of the swivel assembly;   passing the hose through the bore of the drum;   threading the hose through a hose clamp assembly located proximate the second end of the drum;   threading the hose through a section of the groove on the exterior surface of the drum;   threading the hose through an indexer mounted on at least one guide rod which extends between the first and second ends of the drum;   engaging the swivel assembly on the first end of the drum such that the first section of the swivel assembly extends outwardly from the first end of the drum in a first direction; and a second section of the swivel assembly extends into the bore of the drum;   engaging a water hose with a connector provided on the first section of the swivel assembly;   sending a quantity of water down the water hose, through a fluid passageway defined in the swivel assembly and into the hose engaged with the second section thereof;   rotating the drum in a first direction to unwind a length of the hose out of the groove and move the unwound length of hose through the indexer;   cleaning the tube with a jet of water which sprays outwardly from a nozzle at a free end of the unwound length of hose.   
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , further including the steps of:
 switching off the water at a remote water source so that water no longer travels down the water hose;   rotating the drum in a second direction to wind the length of hose back through the indexer and onto the drum.