Hose Reel

Abstract

Hose reel apparatus, systems, and methods for laying down and retrieving long lengths of hose from the ground. Hose reel systems can be pulled behind tractors and moved off center to expose the hose reel past a wheel on one side of the tractor. The move can be performed remotely, from within the tractor. The off center reel can pick up and wind hose. A remotely controlled variable displacement hydraulic motor can drive the reel rotation. The hose can be powered off the reel using the motor or dragged off the moving reel using the motor in zero displacement mode, with the change controlled from within the tractor. Hose can be wound onto the moving reel and the hose tension controlled by monitoring and controlling the hydraulic pressure and motor displacement from the tractor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for transporting, laying down, and picking up a hose, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   at least two wheels coupled through an axle supporting the frame;   a hose reel rotatably coupled to the frame; and   a motor coupled to the hose reel to rotate the hose reel;   where the motor rotation direction and speed is controlled from a location remote to the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the motor is a hydraulic motor coupled to drive the hose reel through a planetary gear. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the hydraulic motor is powered from hydraulic lines extending along the tongue. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the hydraulic pressure to and/or from the hydraulic motor can be monitored and controlled external to the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the hydraulic motor is a variable displacement hydraulic motor where the displacement can be controlled from a location external to the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a communication system remotely monitoring and controlling the variable displacement hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the tongue moveable coupling has a first position and a second position, in which the hose reel extends further sideways past the tractor on one side in the first position than the second position; and
 in which the tongue can be driven between the first position and the second position from a location external to the apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which the tongue moveable coupling is a pivotal coupling where the first position has the tongue disposed substantially perpendicular to the wheel axle;
 where the second position has the tongue hitch is disposed at an acute angle to the wheel axle; 
 in which the tongue can be driven between the first position and the second position through a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the tongue and frame and controlled from a location external to the apparatus. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method for pulling a hose reel behind a tractor having wheels, the hose reel having a first position and a second position, where the hose reel extends further sideways past the tractor in the first position than in the second position, the method comprising:
 moving the hose reel between the first and second positions from within the tractor.   
     
     
         10 . A method for deploying hose onto the ground from a hose reel pulled behind a moving tractor, the method comprising:
 allowing the hose to be pulled off the moving and freely rotating hose reel by the friction of already deployed hose in a first mode;   forcibly rotating the moving hose reel using a motor to force the hose from the hose reel in a second mode; and   switching between the first mode and the second mode from within the tractor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  in which the first mode includes operating a variable displacement hydraulic motor coupled to the hose reel in a first low displacement mode and in which the second mode includes increasing the displacement of the variable displacement hydraulic motor to a second displacement mode greater than the first displacement mode. 
     
     
         12 . A method for taking up hose from the ground onto a hose reel propelled by a moving tractor, the method comprising:
 rotating the hose reel while controlling the tension on the hose.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which the rotating hose reel is rotated by a hydraulic motor, in which the tension is monitored by measuring hydraulic oil pressure, and in which the tension is controlled by controlling hydraulic oil pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  in which the monitoring and controlling is done from within the tractor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the controlling is done using a closed loop automatic controller. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  in which the rotating hose reel is rotated by a variable displacement hydraulic motor, in which the tension is monitored by measuring hydraulic oil pressure, and in which the tension is controlled by controlling hydraulic oil pressure and the variable displacement hydraulic motor displacement.