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A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose. A first portion of the hose is disposable about the drum and a guide arm engages a second portion of the hose. An actuator assembly rotates a cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that the hose

A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose. A first portion of the hose is disposable about the drum and a guide arm engages a second portion of the hose. An actuator assembly rotates a cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that the hose is rotated. Relative rotation in one direction causes the first portion of the hose to uncoil from the drum and displace along the guide arm and causes a third portion of the high pressure hose in an output port to displace out of the output port away from the guide arm. Relative rotation in an opposite direction causes the second portion of the high pressure hose to coil about the drum and causes the third portion of the high pressure hose to displace into the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: a housing including an output port;a rotatable cylindrically-shaped cage disposed within the housing;a rotatable cylindrically-shaped drum disposed within the cage;a rotatable guide arm disposed within the cage; and,an a

1. A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: a housing including an output port;a rotatable cylindrically-shaped cage disposed within the housing;a rotatable cylindrically-shaped drum disposed within the cage;a rotatable guide arm disposed within the cage; and,an actuator assembly for rotating the cage and the guide arm, wherein: an end of a high pressure hose is connectable to the cage;a first portion of the high pressure hose is disposable about the drum;the guide arm is for engaging a second portion of the high pressure hose; and,the actuator assembly is for rotating the cage and the guide arm, respectively, so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that:the second portion of the high pressure hose is rotated about a longitudinal axis for the hose;relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in a first rotational direction causes the first portion of the high pressure hose to uncoil from the drum and displace along the guide arm and causes a third portion of the high pressure hose in the output port to displace out of the output port away from the guide arm; and,relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, causes the second portion of the high pressure hose to coil about the drum and causes the third portion of the high pressure hose to displace into the housing. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator assembly is for rotating the cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates at a same rotational rate as the cage such that: the second portion of the high pressure hose is rotated about the longitudinal axis for the hose; and, the third portion of the high pressure hose remains fixed with respect to movement through the output port. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the guide arm includes a plurality of idler rollers forming a curved guide path from the drum to the output port; the second portion of the high pressure hose is disposed in the guide path; the relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in the first rotational direction causes a first portion of the plurality of idler rollers to urge the second portion of the high pressure hose through the guide path in a first direction; and, the relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in the second rotational direction causes a second portion, different from the first portion, of the plurality of idler rollers to urge the second portion of the high pressure hose through the guide path in a second direction opposite the first direction. 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an axial displacement assembly including a first component connected to the drum and a second component engaged with the first component and connected to the cage, wherein: the guide arm and the drum are axially fixed to each other and axially displaceable; the drum is free to rotate with respect to the guide arm; and, the rotation of the guide arm and the cage causes: relative rotation between the drum and the cage; and, the first component to rotate with respect to the second component, to axially displace the guide arm and the drum. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein: the guide arm includes a plurality of idler rollers having respective axes substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation for the guide arm and the cage and having respective outer circumferences substantially radially aligned with a second end of the drum; the cage includes an radially inwardly facing surface including a radially inwardly facing protrusion; and, the plurality of idler rollers, the inwardly facing surface, and the inwardly facing protrusion are for restraining the first portion of the high pressure hose as the guide arm rotates with respect to the cage. 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a first drive shaft fixedly connected to an end of the cage facing the output port; and, a second drive shaft, co-axial with respect to the first drive shaft and non-rotationally connected to a bridging element that is non-rotationally connected to the guide arm, wherein: the actuator system includes: a cage actuation assembly including a first motor connected to a drive gear for the first drive shaft by a first plurality of reduction gears; and, a feed actuation assembly including a second motor, a planetary gear set, and a drive gear for the second drive shaft, wherein: the second motor is connected to a sun gear for the planetary gear set by a second plurality of reduction gears; the drive gear for the first drive shaft is connected to a ring gear for the planetary gear set; and, the drive gear for the second drive shaft is connected to a plurality of planet gears for the planetary gear set. 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a first drive shaft for rotating the cage; and, a second drive shaft for rotating the guide arm, wherein; the actuator system includes: a cage actuation assembly including a first motor connected to a drive gear for the first drive shaft by at least one first gear; and, a feed actuation assembly including a second motor, at least one second gear, a planetary gear set, and a drive gear for the second drive shaft; the second motor is connected to the planetary gear set by the at least one second gear; the drive gear for the second drive shaft is connected to the planetary gear; and, the drive gear for the first drive shaft is connected to the planetary gear set such that rotation of the drive gear for the first drive shaft affects rotation of the drive gear for the second drive shaft. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein to rotate the cage and the guide arm without relative rotation: the second motor is deactivated; and, the first motor rotates the second drive gear via the planetary gear. 9. The system of claim 7 wherein the ratio of the gears in the actuation system is such that when the first motor is actuated and the second motor is deactivated the first and second drive shafts rotate at first and second rates, respectively, the second rate greater than the first rate. 10. A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: a housing including an output port;a rotatable cylindrically-shaped cage disposed within the housing;a rotatable guide arm disposed within the cage and including a plurality of idler rollers forming a guide path; and,an actuator assembly for rotating the cage and the guide arm, wherein: a first end of a high pressure hose is connectable to the cage; the guide arm is for engaging a portion of the high pressure hose in the guide path; and,the actuator assembly is for rotating the cage and the guide arm, respectively, so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that: the portion of the high pressure hose is rotated about a longitudinal axis for the hose;relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in a first rotational direction causes the plurality of idler rollers to urge the portion of the high pressure hose toward the output port; and,relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, causes the plurality of idler rollers to urge the portion of the high pressure hose away from the output port. 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the actuator assembly is for rotating the cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates at a same rotational rate as the cage such that: the portion of the high pressure hose is rotated about the longitudinal axis for the hose; and, the portion of the high pressure hose is fixed with respect to movement toward or away from the output port. 12. A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: a housing with an output port;a rotatable guide arm including a plurality of idler rollers forming a guide path;a rotatable drum; and,an actuator assembly for rotating the guide arm, wherein: the drum is free to rotate relative to the guide arm;the plurality of idler rollers is for engaging a first portion of a high pressure hose in the guide path;a second portion of the high pressure hose is disposable about the drum; and,the actuator assembly is for rotating the guide arm relative to the cage such that: the first portion of the high pressure hose is rotated about a longitudinal axis for the hose; relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the drum in a first rotational direction causes the plurality of idler rollers to draw the second portion of the high pressure hose into the guide path and to push a third portion of the high pressure hose through the output port of the housing; and,relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the drum in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, causes the plurality of idler rollers to wrap the first portion of the high pressure hose about the drum and to draw the third portion of the high pressure hose through the output port into the housing, further comprising a cage disposed within the housing, wherein the actuator assembly is for rotating the guide arm and the cage at a same rotational rate such that: the first portion of the high pressure hose is rotated about the longitudinal axis for the hose; and, the third portion of the high pressure hose remains fixed with respect to movement through the output port. 13. A method for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: rotating a cylindrically-shaped cage disposed within a housing for a system;rotating a guide arm disposed within the cage such that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage; and,in response to the relative rotation of the guide arm and the cage: rotating a first portion of a high pressure hose, engaged with the guide arm, about a longitudinal axis for the hose, wherein an end of the high pressure hose is fixed to the cage;for relative rotation of the guide arm and the cage in a first rotational direction, uncoiling a second portion of the high pressure hose from about the drum, displacing the first portion of the high pressure hose through the guide arm, and displacing a third portion of the high pressure hose through an outlet port in the housing and out of the housing; and,for relative rotation of the guide arm and the cage in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, coiling the first portion of the high pressure hose about a rotatable drum and displacing the third portion of the high pressure hose through the outlet port and into the housing. 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: rotating the cage and the guide arm at a same rotational rate; rotating the first portion of the high pressure hose about the longitudinal axis for the hose; and, fixing the third portion of the high pressure hose with respect to movement through the output port. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein: the guide arm includes a plurality of idler rollers forming a curved guide path from the drum to the output port; the first portion of the high pressure hose is disposed in the guide path; and, in response to the relative rotation of the guide arm and the cage, urging, with the plurality of idler rollers, the first portion of the high pressure hose through the guide path. 16. The method of claim 13 wherein: the guide arm and the drum are axially fixed to each other and axially displaceable; the drum is free to rotate with respect to the guide arm; and, rotating the guide arm with respect to the cage includes rotating the cage relative to the drum, the method further comprising axially displacing the guide arm and the drum in response to the relative rotation of the cage and the drum. 17. The method of claim 13 wherein: the guide arm includes a plurality of idler rollers having respective axes substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation for the guide arm and the cage and having respective outer circumferences substantially radially aligned with a second end of the drum; and, the cage includes a radially inwardly facing surface including a radially inwardly facing protrusion, the method further comprising using the plurality of idler rollers, the inwardly facing surface, and the inwardly facing protrusion to restrain the first portion of the high pressure hose as the guide arm rotates with respect to the cage. 18. The method of claim 13 wherein: the system includes: a first drive shaft for rotating the cage; and, a second drive shaft for rotating the guide arm; the actuator system includes: a cage actuation assembly including a first motor connected to a drive gear for the first drive shaft by at least one first gear; and, a feed actuation assembly including a second motor, at least one second gear, a planetary gear set, and a drive gear for the second drive shaft; the second motor is connected to the planetary gear set by the at least one second gear; the drive gear for the second drive shaft is connected to the planetary gear; and, the drive gear for the first drive shaft is connected to the planetary gear, the method further comprising rotating the drive gear for the first drive shaft to control rotation of the drive gear for the second drive shaft. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein rotating the cage and the guide arm without relative rotation includes: deactivating the second motor; and, rotating the second drive gear with the first motor via the planetary gear. 20. The method of claim 18 further comprising: actuating the first motor; deactivating the second motor; rotating the first drive shaft at a first rate; and, rotating the second drive shaft at second rate, greater than the first rate. 21. A method for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: rotating a cylindrically-shaped cage within a housing; rotating a guide arm, disposed within the cage, such that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage, the guide arm including a plurality of idler rollers forming a guide path; and,in response to the relative rotation of the guide arm and the cage: rotating a portion of a high pressure hose, disposed in the guide path, about a longitudinal axis for the hose, wherein one end of the hose is connected to the cage; for relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in a first rotational direction, urging, with the plurality of idler rollers, the portion of the high pressure hose toward an output port in the housing; and,for relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the cage in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, urging, with the plurality of idler rollers, the portion of the high pressure hose away from the output port. 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising: rotating the cage and the guide arm at a same rotational rate; rotating the portion of the high pressure hose about the longitudinal axis for the hose; and, fixing the portion of the high pressure hose with respect to movement toward or away from the output port. 23. A method for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, comprising: engaging a first portion of a high pressure hose in a guide path formed by a plurality of idler rollers on a guide arm located in a housing;disposing a second portion of the high pressure hose about a rotatable drum within the housing;rotating the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates with respect to the drum rotate at first and second rates, respectively, the first rate greater than the second rate; and,in response to the relative rotation of the guide arm and the drum: rotating the first portion of the high pressure hose about a longitudinal axis for the hose;for relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the drum in a first rotational direction, urging, via the plurality of idler rollers, the second portion of the high pressure hose into the guide path and feeding a third portion of the high pressure hose through an output port out of the housing; and,for relative rotation of the guide arm with respect to the drum in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, wrapping, via the plurality of idler rollers, the first portion of the high pressure hose about the drum and urging the third portion of the high pressure hose through the output port into the housing further comprising: rotating the guide arm and a cage disposed within the housing so that the guide arm rotates at a same rotational rate as the cage; rotating the first portion of the high pressure hose about the longitudinal axis for the hose; and, fixing the third portion of the high pressure hose with respect to movement through the output port.