Pressure Washer

Abstract

A pressure washer device or system that includes various control protocols associated providing an engine powered pressure washer that is convenient to operate and configured for multiple desired uses. The control protocols are preferably configured to maintain the operational integrity of the engine and pump of the pressure washer if undesirable operating conditions, such as a low oil level condition or low water flow conditions, occur during use of the pressure washer.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A pressure washing system comprising:
 an engine;   a pump configured to be driven by the engine and having an output that provides a fluid flow at a higher pressure than an inlet; and   a control connected to the engine and configured to manipulate operation of the engine to generate more than one pump output pressure wherein each of the more than one pump output pressure are associated with a desired use of the pressure washing device.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure washing system of  claim 1  wherein the control includes a plurality of indicia of different uses of the pressure washing device and each indicia is associated with a respective operating speed of the engine. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure washing system of  claim 2  wherein each indicia is further defined as at least one of a pressure indication, at least one activity icon, or a power bar indication. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure washing system of  claim 2  wherein the control and each indicia are in supported by a dashboard in a common vicinity relative to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure washing system of  claim 4  wherein the dashboard is supported by a chassis associated with supporting the engine. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure washing system of  claim 1  wherein the control includes a dial that is rotatable and axial translatable to manipulate a fuel system of the engine. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure washing system of  claim 6  wherein rotation of the dial manipulates a throttle system and an ignition system associated with operation of the engine. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure washing system of  claim 1  wherein the control further comprises at least one of a tactile or audible indication associated with the orientation of the control. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure washing device of  claim 1  wherein the control includes one of a rotatable dial or a mechanical lever and each indicia is provided as at least one of a pressure indication, at least one activity icon, or a power bar indication. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure washing device of  claim 1  wherein the control manipulates at least two of a choke, a throttle, and an ignition system associated with operation of the engine. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure washing device of  claim 10  wherein the control includes a dial and translation of the dial along an axis of rotation of the dial manipulates the choke and rotation of the dial relative to the axis of rotation manipulates at least one of the throttle and the ignition system associated with operation of the engine. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure washing device of  claim 11  wherein the dial is at least one of rotatable or axial translatable to effectuate electric starting of the engine. 
     
     
         13 . A pressure washing device comprising:
 a pump connected to a fluid path and having an inlet and an outlet and operable to provide a pressurized flow at the outlet;   a sensor configured to monitor a pressure of the fluid path; and   an indicator connected to the sensor and configured to provide an indication of an undesired pressure condition of the fluid path.   
     
     
         14 . The pressure washing device of  claim 13  wherein the sensor monitors a pressure proximate the inlet of the pump and the indicator provides the indication if the undesired pressure condition is below a minimum threshold intake pressure associated with desired operation of the pump to achieve a desired output pressure at the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The pressure washing device of  claim 13  wherein the desired output pressure is variable and determined by a user control setting. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure washing device of  claim 15  wherein the user control setting manipulates operation of an engine. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure washing device of  claim 13  further comprising a control that automatically manipulates an engine operational speed during generation of the indication. 
     
     
         18 . The pressure washing device of  claim 13  wherein the indication is at least one of audible and/or visual. 
     
     
         19 . The pressure washing device of  claim 13  further comprising another sensor connected to an internal combustion engine connected to the pump, the another sensor configured to monitor an oil condition of the internal combustion engine and provide an indication of a low oil condition. 
     
     
         20 . The pressure washing device of  claim 19  further comprising a control connected to the internal combustion engine, the control being movable to manipulate at least two of a choke, a throttle, and an ignition system associated with operation of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         21 . The pressure washing device of  claim 20  wherein the control is rotatable and axially translatable to manipulate the at least two of the choke, the throttle, and the ignition system of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         22 . The pressure washing device of  claim 20  wherein the control further comprises a plurality of indicia associated with different operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         23 . The pressure washing device of  claim 22  wherein each of the plurality of indicia are further defined as at least one of a pressure indication, at least one activity icon, or a power bar indication. 
     
     
         24 . A pressure washer comprising:
 an internal combustion engine;   a pump connected between a water source and a wand and driven by the internal combustion engine to generate a pressurized flow; and   a sensor connected to the internal combustion engine and configured to monitor an oil condition of the internal combustion engine and provide an indication of a low oil condition.   
     
     
         25 . The pressure washer of  claim 22  wherein the sensor is further defined as one of a hall-effect sensor or a fluid/oil level sensing device. 
     
     
         26 . The pressure washer of  claim 22  further comprising a controller configured to terminate operation of the internal combustion engine during the low oil condition. 
     
     
         27 . The pressure washer of  claim 24  further comprising a user control configured to manipulate operation of at least two of a choke, a throttle, and an ignition system of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         28 . The pressure washer of  claim 25  wherein the user control includes a dial that is rotatable and axially translatable relative to a body wherein rotation of the dial manipulates an ignition system and a throttle of the engage and axial translation of the dial manipulates the choke associated with operation of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         29 . The pressure washer of  claim 25  further comprising a plurality of indicia that are positionally associated with respect to the user control, each indicia providing an indication of a water pressure generated by the pressure washer. 
     
     
         30 . The pressure washer of  claim 27  wherein each indication is associated with an image indicative of at least one of a pressure indication, at least one activity icon, or a power bar indication. 
     
     
         31 . A pressure washer comprising:
 an engine;   a pump driven by the engine to convert a low pressure flow to a high pressure flow;   a sensor configured to monitor a parameter associated with operation of at least one of the engine and the pump; and   a controller connected to the sensor, the controller configured to manipulate operation of one of the engine and the pump in response to a signal received from the sensor, the controller being further configured to execute a debounce operation that includes providing a delay before reacting to the signal and to confirm existence of the signal after the delay.   
     
     
         32 . The pressure washer of  claim 31  wherein the parameter is one of an engine oil condition and a condition of the low pressure flow. 
     
     
         33 . The pressure washing device of  claim 31  further comprising a control dial that is at least one of rotatable or translatable relative to the axis of rotation to effectuate ON/OFF of ignition of the engine. 
     
     
         34 . An engine powered pressure washer comprising:
 an engine;   a magneto configured to generate a charge during operation of the engine and a pump connected to the engine;   a power storage device charged by the magneto; and   at least one indicator configured to indicate an operation status associated with operation of at least one of the engine and the pump and powered by one of the magneto and the power storage device.   
     
     
         35 . The engine powered pressure washer of  claim 34  wherein the at least one indicator can be powered by the magneto during operation of the engine and can be powered by the power storage device when operation of the engine is suspended. 
     
     
         36 . The engine powered pressure washer of  claim 34  further comprising a limiter associated with suspending discharge of the power storage device to operate the indicator after a preset duration.