Method and apparatus for pulling hose

Abstract

A hose puller that includes puller wheels that are motorized and configured to grip, among other things, a high pressure water hose. The hose puller further includes an idler wheel that is positioned to oppose the puller wheels. The idler wheel is spring loaded to help ensure that the hose maintains frictional relation with the puller wheels. Alternatively, the hose puller may have puller wheels shaped to grip a high pressure water hose. The hose puller also includes a camera that is configured to show images that enable the operator to control the hose puller from a remote location.

1 . A portable hose puller, said hose puller comprising, 
 a frame;    a pair of handle bars connected to the frame;    a pair of ground wheels connected to the frame;    a pair of puller wheels connected to the frame, wherein the puller wheel are operably positioned with respect to each other to grip a hose;    an idler wheel operably located with respect to the puller wheels; and    a motor operably connected to the puller wheels.    
     
     
         2 . The hose puller of  claim 1 , wherein the puller wheels have a gripping surface.  
     
     
         3 . The hose puller of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the gripping surface is rubber.  
     
     
         4 . The hose puller of  claim 3 , wherein the gripping surface is rounded.  
     
     
         5 . The hose puller of  claim 4 , wherein the idler wheel is spring loaded to secure a hose in frictional association with the gripping surface of the puller wheels.  
     
     
         6 . The hose puller of  claim 5 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a clutch operably connected to the motor and puller wheels.  
     
     
         7 . The hose puller of  claim 6 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a control panel configured to control the speed of the motor.  
     
     
         8 . The hose puller of  claim 7 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a camera positioned with respect to the puller wheels to capture images of hose puller in operation.  
     
     
         9 . The hose puller of  claim 7 , wherein the hose puller can be controlled remotely.  
     
     
         10 . The hose puller of  claim 9 , wherein the hose puller further comprises an upper and lower hose guide connected to the frame.  
     
     
         11 . A portable hose puller, said hose puller comprising, 
 a frame;    a pair of handle bars connected to the frame;    a pair of ground wheels connected to the frame;    an upper puller wheel and a lower puller wheel connected to the frame, wherein the puller wheel are operably positioned with respect to each other to grip a hose; and    a motor operably connected to the puller wheels.    
     
     
         12 . The hose puller of  claim 11 , wherein the puller wheels are shaped to receive a hose.  
     
     
         13 . The hose puller of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the gripping surface is rubber.  
     
     
         14 . The hose puller of  claim 13 , wherein the gripping is shaped to fit around a hose.  
     
     
         15 . The hose puller of  claim 14 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a chain connecting the puller wheels to the engine.  
     
     
         16 . The hose puller of  claim 15 , wherein the puller wheels each have a sprocket for receiving said chain.  
     
     
         17 . The hose puller of  claim 16 , wherein the puller wheels and sprockets are sized such that puller wheels are traveling at the same rate.  
     
     
         18 . The hose puller of  claim 17 , further comprises a tensioning wheel.  
     
     
         19 . The hose puller of  claim 18 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a clutch operably connected to the motor and puller wheels.  
     
     
         20 . The hose puller of  claim 19 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a control panel configured to control the speed of the motor.  
     
     
         21 . The hose puller of  claim 20 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a camera positioned with respect to the puller wheels to capture images of hose puller in operation.  
     
     
         22 . The hose puller of  claim 21 , wherein the control panel can be controlled remotely.  
     
     
         23 . The hose puller of  claim 22 , wherein the hose puller further comprises an upper and lower hose guide connected to the frame.  
     
     
         24 . A method of using a hose puller, said method comprising, 
 positioning a hose puller with respect to a manhole;    running a hose from a water source to the hose puller; and    gripping the hose with hose puller wheels.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of connecting the hose puller to an electrical power source.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of positioning the hose in frictional engagement with the hose puller.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of engaging the hose puller to feed the hose into a manhole.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of positioning a camera to view the hose as it is fed into the manhole.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of connecting a cleaning nozzle to the end of the hose.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of feeding the cleaning nozzle and hose into a portion of pipe to be cleaned.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of feeding the hose into the pipe using the hose puller and the cleaning nozzle.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of remotely monitoring the speed and progress of the hose.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of remotely controlling the speed and progress on the hose.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of retracting the hose.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the hose puller comprises, 
 a frame;    a pair of handle bars connected to the frame;    a pair of ground wheels connected to the frame;    a pair of puller wheels connected to the frame, wherein the puller wheel are operably positioned with respect to each other to grip a hose; and    a motor operably connected to the puller wheels.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the puller wheels have a gripping surface.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein a portion of the gripping surface is rubber.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the gripping surface is rounded.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a clutch operably connected with the motor and puller wheels.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a control panel configured to control the speed of the motor.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the hose puller further comprises a camera positioned with respect to the puller wheels to capture images of the hose puller in operation.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the control panel can be controlled remotely.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the hose puller further comprises an upper and lower hose guide connected to the frame.