Patent Application
20050133618
The present invention relates to the field of firefighting monitor lifts. Particularly, the present invention relates to a motorized and/or manual firefighting monitor lift for adjusting the height of a firefighting monitor mounted on a fire truck that can be safely maintained and used in intermediate positions.
Most fire trucks include a firefighting monitor usually mounted on the deck of the truck, which can be used to fight large building or high-rise fires, or in other situations in which a large amount of water pressure is needed. A firefighting monitor is a conduit that is supplied with fluid (usually water) at the inlet and has a nozzle at the discharge end. The monitor's primary purpose is to allow the pressurized fluid exiting the nozzle to be redirected in both elevation and azimuth angles and then remain pointed at the desired target. Firefighting monitors can be mounted anywhere on the fire truck deck, but they are most commonly mounted behind the cab. As fire trucks become larger and include more equipment, it has become difficult to mount the firefighting monitor in a position such that no part of the truck interferes with the flow of water from the firefighting monitor. In response to this problem, hydraulic and manual firefighting monitor lifts have been manufactured. These lifts are mounted directly on the fire truck, and can be used to raise and lower the firefighting monitor in order to clear the high points of the truck. However, there are numerous problems with existing manual and hydraulic lifts.
Manual lifts are dangerous because they require the firefighter to climb onto the deck of the fire truck. In winter, this is particularly dangerous, since the truck deck may be icy. Fire truck decks can sit as high as nine feet off of the ground. Therefore, the potential for serious injury to the firefighter is great in this situation. Moreover, in order to raise the manual lift, the firefighter must be able to unlatch the locking mechanism that secures the firefighting monitor in place with one hand, and lift the firefighting monitor at the same time with the other hand. Once the manual lift has been fully raised, it can be locked into position. Then, to lower the manual lift, the firefighter must reverse the process. If the firefighter is for any reason unable to support the entire weight of the firefighting monitor after unlatching the device for lowering, the firefighting monitor can fall abruptly and cause injury to the firefighter. Additionally, existing manual lifts may only be used in either the fully extended or the fully retracted positions. They may not be used in intermediate positions.
Like the manual lifts, hydraulic lifts can only be used in either the fully extended or the fully retracted positions. They can also become stuck in these positions. If the hydraulics break down when the firefighting monitor is retracted, the firefighting monitor cannot be raised until the problem is fixed. Typically, this renders the firefighting monitor useless, since it was most likely installed to increase the height of the firefighting monitor to avoid some obstruction on the truck itself. Similarly, if the hydraulics break down when the firefighting monitor is in the extended position, the problem may have to be fixed before the fire truck can be pulled back into the firehouse garage. If the hydraulics break down when the firefighting monitor is somewhere in between the fully extended and retracted positions, the firefighting monitor could either be stuck in that position, or it may rapidly or slowly return to its retracted position. Many hydraulic lifts also develop leaks over time, making the entire system less effective or inoperable. The present invention seeks to solve these and other problems.
One aspect of the present invention provides a telescoping waterway for raising and lowering a firefighting monitor comprising a hollow outer tube and a hollow inner tube within the hollow outer tube. An actuator moves the hollow inner tube relative to the hollow outer tube, wherein the hollow inner tube can be maintained in at least one intermediate position between a retracted position and a fully extended position.
Another aspect of the present invention provides that the actuator comprises an internally-threaded nut positioned at the top of the hollow outer tube, and a threaded outer wall of the hollow inner tube, wherein the threaded outer wall engages the internally-threaded nut. A drive mechanism is operably connected to the internally-threaded nut.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a drive motor coupled to the drive mechanism for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides a hand crank coupled to the drive mechanism for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a drive motor coupled to the drive mechanism for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube, and a hand crank coupled to the drive mechanism for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides that the drive motor is mounted on one side of the drive mechanism, and the hand crank is mounted on the other side of the drive mechanism.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides that the drive mechanism comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the drive motor is mounted either on the top surface or the bottom surface of the drive mechanism, and the hand crank is mounted on the other of the top surface or the bottom surface of the drive mechanism.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides that the actuator comprises a gear, and a toothed portion on the outer wall of the hollow inner tube, wherein the toothed portion engages the gear.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a drive motor coupled to the gear for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides a hand crank coupled to the gear for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a drive motor coupled to the gear for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube, and a hand crank coupled to the gear for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides that the drive motor is mounted on one side of the gear, and the hand crank is mounted on the other side of the gear.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a telescoping waterway for raising and lowering a firefighting monitor comprising a hollow outer tube, and an internally-threaded nut positioned at the top of the hollow outer tube. A hollow inner tube is disposed within the hollow outer tube. The hollow inner tube comprises a threaded outer wall that engages the internal threading of the nut to allow relative movement between the hollow inner tube and the hollow outer tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides a drive mechanism operably connected to the internally-threaded nut.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a drive motor coupled to the drive mechanism for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides that the drive motor is an electric gear motor powered by a fire truck electrical system.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a hand crank coupled to the drive mechanism for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides that the hollow outer tube is mounted on a fire truck deck.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides a drive mechanism operably connected to the internally-threaded nut, the drive mechanism comprising a top surface and a bottom surface. There is a drive motor coupled to the drive mechanism for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube, and a hand crank coupled to the drive mechanism for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention provides that the drive motor is mountable either above or below the drive mechanism. The hand crank is mounted (a) above the drive mechanism, when the drive motor is mounted below the drive mechanism; and (b) below the drive mechanism, when the drive motor is mounted above the drive mechanism.
Still a further aspect of the present invention provides that the drive motor is mountable either on the top surface or on the bottom surface of the drive mechanism. The hand crank is mounted (a) on the top surface of the drive mechanism, when the drive motor is mounted on the bottom surface of the drive mechanism; and (b) on the bottom surface of the drive mechanism, when the drive motor is mounted on the top surface of the drive mechanism.
This invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. The specification and drawings describe and depict a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail. This disclosure is to be considered as one example of the invention. This disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to the drawings,
An actuator 11 moves the hollow inner tube 18 relative to the hollow outer tube 12. In
An O-ring 15 is positioned within the hollow outer tube 12 just above the inlet end 19 to prevent fluid leakage. A seal is formed between the hollow inner tube 18 and the hollow outer tube 12 to prevent fluid leakage using a cup seal 17. The cup seal 17 is positioned around the outside of the hollow inner tube 18 such that a seal is formed between the hollow inner tube 18 and the hollow outer tube 12, but relative movement between the hollow inner tube 18 and the hollow outer tube 12 is still permitted.
A drive mechanism 22 is operably connected to the internally-threaded nut 14. Any kind of drive mechanism 22 may be used. The drive mechanism 22 shown in
The telescoping waterway 10 can be mounted anywhere on or in a fire truck, but is preferably mounted in a place where the firefighting monitor can be operated with 360 degrees of azimuth freedom when the telescoping waterway 10 is in its fully extended position. The telescoping waterway 10 is preferably mounted where there are adequate structural supports to counteract the nozzle reaction loads transmitted to the telescoping waterway 10 which could be in excess of 1000 lbf. The mounting is preferably proximate the pump discharge manifold to facilitate interconnection of the plumbing to the inlet end 19 of the telescoping waterway 10. The hollow outer tube 12 can be mounted on a fire truck deck, and bolted in place using U-bolts, or any other sufficiently strong securing means.
A drive motor 32 may be coupled to the drive mechanism 22 for automatically raising and lowering the hollow inner tube 18. In
A hand crank 38 may also be coupled to the drive mechanism 22 for manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube 18. In
The drive mechanism 22 has a top surface 44 and a bottom surface 46. The drive motor 32 and the hand crank 38 are mountable using screws 37 either on the top surface 44 or the bottom surface 46 of the drive mechanism 22 according to the preference of the firefighter or to complement the configuration of the fire truck. Optionally, the drive motor 32 and the hand crank 38 are mounted opposite each other, one on either side of the drive mechanism 22, or one on or above the top surface 44 of the drive mechanism 22, and the other on or below the bottom surface 46 of the drive mechanism 22. This is preferable since both the drive motor 32 and the hand crank 38 need to be operably connected to the drive gear 24 in order for each to be able to raise and lower the hollow inner tube 18. Therefore, if the drive motor 32 is mounted above the drive mechanism 22, the hand crank 38 is preferably mounted below the drive mechanism 22. The reverse is also true, so that if the drive motor 32 is mounted below the drive mechanism 22, the hand crank 38 is preferably mounted above the drive mechanism 22. In
It is also contemplated that the telescoping waterway 10 may have two different kinds of hand cranks 38 and 39, as shown in
Though not shown in the drawings, it is further contemplated that instead of the threaded design discussed above, the actuator 11 can include one or more gears, and a complementary toothed portion on the outer wall of the hollow inner tube 18, wherein the toothed portion engages the one or more gears. As with the threaded design, the gear and tooth design of the actuator 11 prevents the firefighting monitor from extending when water pressure is applied or increased, and also prevents the firefighting monitor from falling when water pressure is removed or decreased. The strength of the gear and tooth arrangement holds the device in place when it is in a retracted position, an intermediate position, or a fully extended position. The drive motor 32 and/or the hand crank 38, 39 may be coupled to the one or more gears for automatically and/or manually raising and lowering the hollow inner tube 18. Optionally, the drive motor 32 is mounted on one side of the gear(s), and the hand crank 38, 39 is mounted on the other side of the gear(s).
It is still further contemplated that the actuator 11 may be any mechanical device that moves the hollow inner tube 18 relative to the hollow outer tube 12, and maintains the hollow inner tube 18 in at least one intermediate position between a retracted position and a fully extended position. Such actuators 11 include, but are not limited to, any one or a combination of the following: a drive pinion driving rack teeth on the outside of the hollow inner tube 18, a drive sprocket and drive chain driving a hollow sprocket that engages with threads on the outside of the hollow outer tube 12, and a drive belt or drive chain rotating a re-circulating ball nut engaged with re-circulating balls onto ball screw threads on the outside of the hollow inner tube 18.
Given all of the above options, the telescoping waterway 10 of the present invention is intended to meet the needs of different users with different fire-fighting needs, and to be adaptable to any type of fire truck. It will be understood that, given the above description of the embodiments of the invention, various modifications may be made by one skilled in the art. Such modifications are intended to be encompassed by the claims below.
