Hydrostatic pressure washer

Abstract

A power washer having a hydrant cap, a water control system and a pressure gauge. The hydrant cap has a first end connected to a first port of a multiport connector and a second end configured to connect to a hydrant port of a hydrant. The water control system has a multiport connector and a shut-off valve system valve, which has a shut-off valve. The shut-off valve is connected to a second port of the multiport connector and is operatively associated with a hose. The pressure gauge is connected to a third port of the multiport connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure washer, comprising:
 a hydrant cap having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to a first port of a multiport connector and the second end being configured to connect to a hydrant port of a hydrant;   a water control system comprising the multiport connector and a shut-off valve system valve, the shut-off valve system comprising a first shut-off valve connected to a second port of the multiport connector and being operatively associated with a hose; and   a pressure gauge, the pressure gauge being connected to a third port of the multiport connector.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure washer of  claim 2 , further comprising a nozzle connected to the hose. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure washer of  claim 2 , wherein the water control system comprises a quick connector having a first end and a second end, the first end being operatively associated with the first shut-off valve and the second end being configured to connect to the hose. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure washer of  claim 1 , wherein the first shut-off valve is a ball valve. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure washer of  claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve system comprises a second shut-off valve connected to a fourth port of the multi-port connector, the fourth port being opposite the third port, the second shut-off valve being operatively associated with a blow-out outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure washer of  claim 1 , wherein the multiport connector comprises a five-way connector having a blow-out nozzle and a hose connection, the first-shut-off valve comprises a ball valve housed within the five-way connector between the blow-out nozzle and the hose connection, the ball valve being connected to a valve control, and the water control system comprises a check valve housed within the five-way connector between the first end of the hydrant cap and the third port. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure washer of  claim 6 , further comprising a swivel adaptor connected to the first end of the hydrant cap. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure washer of  claim 6  wherein the valve control comprises a lever handle. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure washer of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure gauge is secured in the third port of multiport connector with a fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure washer of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener is a brass screw. 
     
     
         11 . A method for cleaning a hydrant using a pressure washer, the pressure washer having a hydrant cap configured to connect to a hydrant port of a hydrant, a shut-off valve system having a shut-off valve, and a pressure gauge, comprising:
 attaching the hydrant cap to a side port of the hydrant;   connecting the shut-off valve to a hose;   positioning the shut-off valve to open water flow to the hose;   turning on the hydrant to start the flow of water through the hose;   cleaning the hydrant with the water from the hose.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein connecting the shut-off valve to a hose comprises connecting the shut-off valve to a hose connected to a nozzle, and cleaning the hydrant comprises cleaning the hydrant with water from the hose using the nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, after the step of attaching the hydrant cap to the side port:
 positioning the shut-off valve to cut off water flow to the hose and open water flow to a blow-out nozzle;   turning on the hydrant to flush turbidity from the line to the hydrant;   once the water through the blow-out nozzle runs clear, repositioning the shut-off valve to stop water flow to the blow-out nozzle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, after the step of turning on the hydrant to flush turbidity from the line, spraying solvent on the hydrant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising monitoring water pressure using the pressure gauge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shut-off valve is a ball valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing an original cap from the hydrant;   after cleaning the hydrant, turning off the water flow from the hydrant;   after turning off the water flow from the hydrant, disconnecting the hydrant cap from the hydrant; and   after disconnecting the hydrant cap from the hydrant, reattaching the original cap back on the hydrant.