Fire hose release device

This invention generally relates to rescue, firefighting, or paying devices and, more particularly, to a fire hose dispensing device and method. The present invention includes a hose box, fire hose, and a hose box release mechanism. The device and method allow firefighters to release and pay hose without leaving the passenger compartment of a fire truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The invention relates generally to the field of firefighting devices and,
 more particularly, to a hose dispenser for a fire apparatus such as a fire
 truck.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 Connecting a fire hose between a fire truck and a water hydrant has
 traditionally been a time consuming and hazardous evolution. With early
 firefighting devices, a firefighter would typically ride on the rear deck
 of a moving fire apparatus, such as a truck or wagon, until a fire hydrant
 was located. The apparatus would stop and the firefighter would jump from
 the apparatus clutching one end of a folded two and one-half inch diameter
 hose. After wrapping the hose several times around the hydrant, the
 firefighter would jump back onto the apparatus. As the apparatus resumed
 its forward motion toward the fire, the hose in the bed of the apparatus
 would unroll. The entire process was moderately expedient, provided the
 firefighter was not injured by fire related hazards, slippery surfaces or
 adverse weather.
 However, due to changes in equipment, coupled with health and safety
 concerns, the traditional method of paying hose from a fire truck became
 less efficient. First, both the diameter and length of supply hoses have
 increased, making the hoses heavier and harder to handle. Second, longer,
 thicker hoses occupied more space, forcing the hoses to be stacked higher
 on the fire truck. Lastly, federal and state safety regulations required
 firefighters, wearing full protective gear, to travel inside of a fire
 truck's passenger compartment. This combination of changes resulted in the
 modern method of paying hose. In the modern method, the fire truck is
 stopped next to an available hydrant. A fully-equipped firefighter jumps
 out of the fire truck's passenger compartment, runs the length of the
 truck to the end of the truck bed, leaps up onto the truck's rear deck,
 physically grabs an end of a hose located at eye level, pulls the hose
 away from the truck without losing his balance and falling backwards off
 of the rear deck, jumps from the rear deck to the ground, runs to a fire
 hydrant, wraps several turns of the hose around the hydrant, runs back to
 the truck, and steps back up into the truck's passenger compartment. Once
 the fireman is inside, the truck restarts and continues toward the fire.
 This modern method is relatively time consuming and tiring for the
 firefighter, who must do all of these procedures wearing full protective
 gear. Valuable time is wasted which could be better spent in actually
 fighting the fire.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Ideally, firefighters should be able to pay hose without having to leave
 the safety of the fire truck. To help solve this problem, the present
 invention is directed toward an automatic supply hose dispensing system,
 generally including an ejection mount and a hose box releasably attached
 to the ejection mount. A supply hose may be positioned adjacent to and
 connectable with the hose box. The present invention allows a firefighter
 to release a supply hose from a fire truck without requiring the
 firefighter to leave the fire truck passenger compartment. In addition to
 saving valuable lifesaving time, the present invention also enhances a
 firefighter's physical safety. Additionally, the present invention alerts
 passing motorists and pedestrians of the possibility of unwound hose
 during darkness, fog or other inclement conditions.
 Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means of
 discharging a supply hose segment, or similar equipment, without requiring
 firefighters to leave the fire truck's passenger compartment.
 Another object of the invention is to decrease the amount of time needed to
 pay hose.
 A further objective is to produce a hose paying system which alerts drivers
 to the exposed hose.
 These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in
 the description of the preferred embodiments taken together with the
 attached drawings in which like reference numerals represent like elements
 throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 FIGS. 1 and 2 show the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In
 general, the hose paying system of the present invention generally
 includes an ejection mount 10 and a hose box 12 releasably attached to the
 ejection mount 10. A supply hose 14 may be positioned adjacent to and
 connectable with the hose box 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the ejection mount
 10 preferably resembles a right triangle when viewed from the side, but
 the actual shape of the ejection mount 10 is irrelevant, so long as the
 hose box 12 can be releasably attached to the ejection mount 10.
 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and with more specificity in FIGS. 3-5, the
 ejection mount 10 has a base 16 and a first sidewall 18 positioned
 substantially perpendicularly adjacent to a first side 20 of the base 16.
 A second sidewall 22 is positioned substantially perpendicularly adjacent
 to a second side 24 of the base 16, substantially parallel to the first
 sidewall 18. A back wall 26, having a first end 28 and a second end 30, is
 positioned substantially perpendicularly adjacent to the first sidewall 18
 and the second sidewall 22, with the second end 30 of the back wall 26
 positioned adjacent a third side 32 of the base 16. A plurality of box
 support legs 34 extend from the back wall 26 and are positioned
 substantially perpendicularly adjacent the back wall 26, substantially
 parallel to the base 16. A rotatable pivot wall shaft 36 is positioned
 adjacent to the first end 28 of the back wall 26, between the first and
 second sidewalls 18, 22, substantially parallel to the base 16. A pivot
 wall 38 is connected to the pivot wall shaft 36, with the pivot wall 38
 having a first box guide rail 40 positioned adjacent a first side 42 of
 the pivot wall 38 and a second box guide rail 44 positioned adjacent a
 second side 46 of the pivot wall 38. The pivot wall 38 also includes box
 support recesses 48 corresponding to or aligned with the box support legs
 34, so that the box support legs 34 protrude through the pivot wall 38
 when the pivot wall 38 is pivoted into a closed or loaded position, as
 shown in FIG. 3, or are completely obscured when the pivot wall 38 is
 pivoted into an open or unloaded position, as shown in FIG. 4. The pivot
 wall 38 is pivoted into an open or closed position by an actuator assembly
 50 connected to the rotatable pivot wall shaft 36. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the
 actuator assembly 50 positioned adjacent the first sidewall 18 of the
 ejection mount 10, while FIGS. 3-5 show the actuator assembly 50 adjacent
 the second sidewall 22 of the ejection mount 10. Either configuration may
 be used depending on the needs of the user.
 The actuator assembly 50, shown in detail in FIGS. 3-5, has a fluid inlet
 52 that is connected to a fluid routing valve 54. The fluid routing valve
 54 has a fluid routing switch 56 that routes a fluid, such as air or
 hydraulic fluid, into a jack 58 and a pressure relief valve 60. The fluid
 routing switch 56 may be controlled, i.e., opened or closed, for example,
 by fluid, electrical signal, or any other conventional means. In
 firefighting applications, a conventional electrical control device having
 an electrical signal switch activated inside the cab of a fire truck is
 the preferred method.
 The jack 58 has a jack body 62 and jack extension 64, with the jack
 extension 64 connected to one end of a lever 66. The other end of the
 lever 66 is connected to one end of a chain 68. The other end of the chain
 68 is connected to a bias spring 70 connected between the chain 68 and a
 spring mount 72. The chain 68 engages a rotatable sprocket 74 connected to
 a first end 76 of the pivot wall shaft 36.
 The ejection mount 10 is preferably mounted on a vehicle, such as the rear
 portion of a fire truck hose bed. In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and
 2, a swing out hinge mount 78 is attached to the rear step 80 of a fire
 truck and the ejection mount 10 is attached to the swing out hinge mount
 78. The swing out hinge mount 78 allows firefighters to swing the ejection
 mount 10 out away from rear of the fire truck, e.g., up to about 170
 degrees of rotational arc, allowing access to compartments accessible only
 from the rear of the fire truck. To prevent the ejection mount 10 from
 swinging out away from the rear of the truck during transit, a slide stop
 82 is provided on either the first or second sidewall 18, 22 of the
 ejection mount 10, opposite the swing out hinge mount 78. The slide stop
 82 engages a hole drilled into the rear bumper or step 80 of the fire
 truck. As an alternative, the back wall 26 of the ejection mount 10 may
 also be securely bolted directly to the fire truck, preferably adjacent a
 rear portion of the fire truck hose bed.
 As shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 2, and explained more fully in the
 several successive paragraphs, the hose box 12 is releasably loaded onto
 the ejection mount 10 and is subsequently expelled from the ejection mount
 10 onto a surface, such as the ground. As shown generally in FIGS. 1-9,
 the hose box 12 has a first end 84, a second end 86 positioned opposite
 the first end 84, a first sidewall 88, formed by a substantially L-shaped
 member 90 and an obtuse shaped member 92 positioned perpendicularly
 adjacent the first and second ends 84, 86, a second sidewall 94 formed by
 a second L-shaped member 90 and a second obtuse shaped member 92 and
 positioned opposite and parallel to the first sidewall 88, a top portion
 96 positioned perpendicularly adjacent the first end 84, the second end
 86, the first sidewall 88, and the second sidewall 94, and a base plate 98
 forming a bottom portion positioned parallel to the top portion 96 and
 connecting the first and second sidewalls 88, 94. The top portion 96 can
 be open or closed and the first end 84, second end 86, first sidewall 88,
 and second sidewall form 94 an internal cavity 102. Although hose box 12
 can assume many different geometrical shapes, sidewalls formed from
 substantially L-shaped and substantially obtuse shaped members 90, 92
 provide two significant advantages. First, the shape of each sidewall 88,
 94 allows pads 100 positioned on the sidewalls 88, 94 to contact the
 ground or other surface and cushion the impact of the hose box 12. Second,
 the obtuse shaped members 92 urge the bottom portion 98 of the hose box 12
 towards the ground when the hose box 12 is ejected from the ejection mount
 10, insuring that the hose box 12 will land with the top portion 96 of the
 hose box 12 facing away from the ground.
 In one embodiment of the hose box 12, shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-8, joining
 members 103 connect the first and second sidewalls 88, 94 or the first and
 second ends 84, 86 adjacent the top portion 96 of the hose box 12. The
 first end 84, second end 86, first sidewall 88, second sidewall 94, base
 98, and joining members 103 form an internal cavity 102 within the hose
 box 12. The internal cavity 102 provides enough clearance to allow a
 folded hose 101, e.g., about 25 feet in length, having a hydrant connector
 C to be inserted into hose box 12. The folded hose 101 is inserted into
 the hose box 12 through a movable gate 104. The gate 104 has a first side
 106 and a second side 108 and is positioned adjacent the second end 86 of
 the hose box 12. In the preferred embodiment, the second side 108 of the
 gate 104 is pivotally connected adjacent the bottom portion 98 of the hose
 box 12, with the first side 106 pivotally movable away from the top
 portion 96 of the hose box 12 into an open position. The gate 104 is held
 in a closed position by a movable latch 110 positioned adjacent the first
 side 106 of the gate 104. In a second embodiment, the first side 106 of
 the gate 104 is pivotally connected adjacent the top portion 96 of the
 hose box 12. The gate 104 is lifted into an open position with the
 assistance of a graspable gate knob 112. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-8, the
 first end 84 of the hose box 12 may contain a dual hose connector 114
 positioned adjacent the first end 84 of the hose box 12 for connecting the
 supply hose 14 to the hose box 12 and then hose box 12, i.e., the hose
 101, to a hydrant or other water source. FIGS. 6 and 7 show an optional
 battery powered light 116 positioned in a protected area of the hose box
 12. The light 116 is connected to a light switch 24 (not shown) that
 activates upon release of the hose box 12 from the ejection mount 10. The
 protected area is preferably adjacent the top portion of the hose box 12.
 FIGS. 1 and 7-8 show tool clamps 27 attached to the sides of hose box 12
 to allow the attachment of various firefighting tools 120, such as a
 hydrant wrench.
 In a second embodiment of the hose box 12, shown in detail in FIG. 9, the
 hose box 12 does not have joining members 103 adjacent the top portion 96
 of the hose box 12. Instead, the top portion 96 of the hose box 12 is
 open, allowing a four-way hydrant valve 122 to be inserted into the
 internal cavity 102 of the hose box 12. In this embodiment, shown in FIG.
 9, the four-way hydrant valve 122 replaces the dual hose connector 114.
 The supply hose 14 is still adjacent the hose box 12, but the supply hose
 4 is connected directly to the four-way hydrant valve 122. Slack in the
 supply hose 14 can be provided by connecting the supply hose 14 to the
 four-way hydrant valve 122, placing the four-way hydrant valve 122 in the
 hose box 12, and pulling a folded layer of supply hose 14 through the
 first end 84 of the hose box 12 and looping a portion of the hose around
 or over a transverse support member 107. Once the hose box 12 has been
 deployed from the ejection mount 10, the four-way hydrant valve 122 can be
 lifted out of the hose box 12, through the open top portion 96 of the hose
 box 12 and carried to the nearest hydrant, fire truck, or other water
 source. The looped portion of the hose provides the slack to permit
 movement of the hydrant valve 122. The hydrant valve 122 can be secured in
 the hose box 12 in any conventional manner, such as straps, quick release
 devices, etc.
 In either the first or second embodiments, hose box 12 should be durable
 enough to withstand a drop from a fire truck, yet light enough for one
 person to lift. Moreover, hose box 12 should be designed to survive an
 impact with concrete or other paved surface. Steel is the preferred
 construction material, but other metals or composites may be used.
 Operation begins by attaching an ejection mount 10 to a fire truck,
 positioning or connecting a supply hose 14 to a releasable hose box 12,
 connecting the releasable hose box 12 to the ejection mount 10, releasing
 the hose box 12 from an ejection mount 10, moving a fire truck in a
 forward motion away from the hose box 12, and paying the supply hose 14
 from the hose bed of the fire truck. To accomplish these steps, any one of
 the aforementioned embodiments of the hose box 12 is attached to the
 ejection mount 10, as shown generally in FIGS. 1-3, by moving the pivot
 wall 38 of the ejection mount 10 into the loaded position. The obtuse
 shaped members 92 on the hose box 12 slide upwardly between the pivot wall
 38 and box guide rails 40, 44. When the hose box 12 is seated in the
 ejection mount 10, a pressure release knob 61 is activated and the pivot
 wall 38 is manually pressed toward the back wall 26. As shown in FIG. 1,
 the hose box 12 then rests on the box support legs 34 and is held in place
 by the box guide rails 40, 44 on the pivot wall 38. A safety interlock
 prevents the hose box 12 from being removed from the ejection mount 10
 until the activation switch is energized. Moreover, a second interlock
 prevents a hose box 12 from being deployed while the ejection mount 10, if
 equipped with a swing out hinge mount 78, is pivoted away from a rear
 portion of the fire truck.
 The actuator assembly 50 is preferably powered by a fluid, such as air. To
 deploy any embodiment of the hose box 12, an operator stops a rear portion
 of the fire truck near a hydrant or other water source and activates the
 actuator assembly 50, preferably by energizing the activation switch from
 inside of the passenger compartment of the truck. Shown generally in FIGS.
 3-5, tripping the activation switch causes the fluid routing switch 56 to
 open, and a fluid such as air is directed into jack 58 and the pressure
 release valve 60. As pressure builds in the jack 58, the jack extension 64
 extends away from the jack body 62, depressing the attached lever 66. The
 downward motion of lever 66 causes the chain 68 to rotate the sprocket 74.
 The bias spring 70, connected to the chain 68 and the spring mount 72,
 creates tension in the chain 68. The rotation of the sprocket 74 attached
 to pivot wall shaft 36 causes a lower end of pivot wall 38 to move in a
 forwardly direction, pivotally away from back wall 26. When the pivot wall
 38 is completely extended and clear of the box support legs 34, as shown
 in FIG. 4, the hose box 12 slides along the box guide rails, preferably
 lined with a low friction material such as plastic 124, past the ejection
 mount 10, and onto the ground or other surface. It should be appreciated
 that any activator means can be employed to pivot the pivot wall 38. While
 an air driven means are preferred, any suitable fluid can be used. In
 addition, other mechanical or electrical devices, such as cables,
 mechanical linkages, levers or motors can be used to rotate pivot wall
 shaft 36.
 In the preferred embodiment, the supply hose 14 is connected to the hose
 box 12 via the dual hose connector 114 and unrolls a length approximately
 equal to the height of the hose box 12 above the ground. Once the hose box
 12 impacts the ground, the weight of the hose box 12 allows the supply
 hose 14 to pay out as the truck resumes its forward motion. Optional light
 116 activates, warning of the deployment of hose box 12 and the payed
 supply hose 14. Additional safety precautions include positioning
 reflective tape 126 on the hose box 12 and painting the hose box 12 a
 bright color, such as yellow. It should be noted that the truck does not
 need to come to a complete stop before discharging the hose box 12, but
 this is the preferred method. The hose 101 is removed and the hydrant
 connector C attached to a hydrant to allow water to flow from the hydrant
 through the hose 101 and dual hose connector 114 into the supply hose 14
 and hence to a conventional firefighting nozzle.
 In a second embodiment, the hose box 12 contains a conventional four-way
 hydrant valve 122 instead of a 25-foot folded hose 101 section. In this
 embodiment, the hose box 12 is discharged in the same manner as described
 in the preferred embodiment. However, the hose box 12 may be discharged
 further than 25 feet from the hydrant, provided there is more than 25 feet
 of supply hose 14 doubled over itself. The hydrant valve 122 may then be
 removed from the hose box 12 and carried to the hydrant.
 Thus, the present invention provides an expedient, safe way for paying fire
 engine supply hose. Hose can be deposited at a precise location from
 inside the fire truck without consuming a firefighter's valuable time or
 exposing the firefighter to non-fire related safety risks. Moreover, once
 the hose has been deployed, its exact location can be determined by
 motorists, pedestrians and emergency personnel.
 The invention has been described with reference to the preferred
 embodiment. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others
 upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is
 intended that the invention be construed as including all such
 modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the
 appended claims or the equivalents thereof.