Water delivery and vacuum retrieval system

Abstract

A water delivery and vacuum retrieval system includes a rotatable boom for mounting on and rotation over a pressure cleaning apparatus. The boom has a rigid conduit extending from a free end to a freely-rotating housing. The boom also has a flexible conduit loosely fitted in the rigid conduit with the flexible conduit extending from the free end of the rigid conduit to a freely-rotating fluid coupling in the housing. The housing and fluid coupling are configured for independent rotation. In use, air space in the housing is placed in fluid communication with a vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus while the fluid coupling is placed in fluid communication with a water dispensing portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus.

1 . A water delivery and vacuum retrieval system for use in pressure cleaning, comprising a rotatable boom adapted to be coupled to and above a pressure cleaning apparatus for rotation thereover, said boom having a rigid conduit extending from a free end to a freely-rotating housing, said boom having a flexible conduit loosely fitted in said rigid conduit and extending from said free end of said rigid conduit to a freely-rotating fluid coupling in said housing wherein air space is defined between said housing and said fluid coupling, said housing and said fluid coupling capable of independent rotation, said air space in said housing adapted to be in fluid communication with a vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus and said fluid coupling adapted to be in fluid communication with a water dispensing portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1  wherein, when said boom is coupled to the pressure cleaning apparatus, said boom comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, and wherein said housing and said fluid coupling are disposed in said vertical portion. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said housing is rigidly coupled to said horizontal portion. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising tank means coupled to said rotatable boom, said tank means defining at least one interior chamber coupled to said rigid conduit with said interior chamber adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source, said tank means further having a water distribution line for fluid coupling to said flexible conduit, said water distribution line adapted to be coupled to a pressurized water source. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising means for purging said tank means of solids from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising means for automatically purging said tank means of liquid from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising:
 solids removal means for on-demand purging of said tank means of solids from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means; and   liquid removal means for automatically purging said tank means of liquid from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means.   
     
     
         8 . A water delivery and vacuum retrieval system for use in pressure cleaning, comprising:
 a rotatable boom adapted to be coupled to and above a pressure cleaning apparatus for rotation thereover, said boom having a rigid conduit extending from a free end to a freely-rotating housing, said boom having a flexible conduit loosely fitted in said rigid conduit wherein air can move through said rigid conduit and around said flexible conduit, said flexible conduit extending from said free end of said rigid conduit to a freely-rotating fluid coupling in said housing wherein air space is defined between said housing and said fluid coupling, said housing and said fluid coupling capable of independent rotation, said air space in said housing adapted to be in fluid communication with a vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus and said fluid coupling adapted to be in fluid communication with a water dispensing portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus; and   tank means coupled to said rotatable boom and defining at least one interior chamber coupled to said rigid conduit with said interior chamber adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source; and   a water distribution line for fluid coupling to said flexible conduit, said water distribution line adapted to be coupled to a pressurized water source.   
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein said water distribution line passes through a portion of said tank means. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 8  wherein, when said boom is coupled to the pressure cleaning apparatus, said boom comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, and wherein said housing and said fluid coupling are disposed in said vertical portion. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 10 , wherein said housing is rigidly coupled to said horizontal portion. 
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising means for purging said tank means of solids from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising means for automatically purging said tank means of liquid from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising:
 solids removal means for on-demand purging of said tank means of solids from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means; and   liquid removal means for automatically purging said tank means of liquid from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means.   
     
     
         15 . A water delivery and vacuum retrieval system for use in pressure cleaning, comprising:
 a rotatable boom adapted to be coupled to and above a pressure cleaning apparatus for rotation thereover, said boom having a rigid conduit extending from a free end to a freely-rotating housing, said boom having a flexible conduit loosely fitted in said rigid conduit wherein air can move through said rigid conduit and around said flexible conduit, said flexible conduit extending from said free end of said rigid conduit to a freely-rotating fluid coupling in said housing wherein air space is defined between said housing and said fluid coupling, said housing and said fluid coupling capable of independent rotation, said air space in said housing adapted to be in fluid communication with a vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus and said fluid coupling adapted to be in fluid communication with a water dispensing portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus;   tank means defining at least one interior chamber adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source;   a first flexible connecting conduit coupling said interior chamber of said tank means to said free end of said rigid conduit;   a water line passing into a portion of said tank means, said water line adapted to be coupled to a pressurized water source; and   a second flexible connecting conduit coupling said water line to said flexible conduit of said boom, wherein air can move through said first flexible connecting conduit and around said second flexible connecting conduit.   
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 15  wherein, when said boom is coupled to the pressure cleaning apparatus, said boom comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, and wherein said housing and said fluid coupling are disposed in said vertical portion. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said housing is rigidly coupled to said horizontal portion. 
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising means for purging said tank means of solids from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means. 
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising means for automatically purging said tank means of liquid from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means. 
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein a liquid/solid wastewater mixture collected from the vacuum portion of the pressure cleaning apparatus is deposited in said tank means, said system further comprising:
 solids removal means for on-demand purging of said tank means of solids from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means; and   liquid removal means for automatically purging said tank means of liquid from the wastewater mixture that collects in said tank means.