Fire hydrant apparatus

Abstract: A fire hydrant apparatus comprising a fire hose (6), a discharge nozzle (8) connected to the front of the fire hose (6), an electrically operated discharge valve (7) for water from a pump to which the base end of the fire hose (6) is connected and a discharging switch (9) on or adjacent the discharge nozzle characterised in that an electrical connection along the hose is provided between discharge switch (9) and valve (7) whereby a person holding the end of the hose can use swithc (9) to operate valve (7) and control the flow of water through the hose.

Description: The present invention relates to improvements in fire hydrant apparatus and, in particular, to an indoor fire hydrant apparatus by which even one person can perform fire fighting activity promptly and smoothly. The known indoor fire hydrant apparatus has a folded hose and requires typically two or more operators to perform fire fighting activity. One operator first pulls a hose from a hose hanger, stretches the hose and holds a discharge nozzle on the head of the hose to direct the nozzle toward a fire point. Thereafter, the other operator operates a pump starting pushbutton provided on the fire hydrant box to start a fire hydrant pump and opens manually a discharge valve provided in the fire hydrant box. Where a fire fighting activity is performed in the above-mentioned sequence, the hose can be stretched relatively smoothly, thereby providing a prompt fire fighting. However, if the starting of the fire hydrant pump and the opening of the discharge valve should be performed before the hose is completely stretched, the folded hose would jump because of water pressure and fill out thereby making it extremely difficult to extend. That is, a prior art indoor fire hydrant apparatus has a problem in that a single person cannot perform fire fighting activity with the apparatus by himself. Even where a plurality of operators are present delays will result. EP-A-0 337 184 discloses a fire hydrant apparatus comprising a hose, a discharge nozzle, an electrically operated discharge valve, an electrical connection along the hose and a switch to operate the valve and to control the flow of water through the hose. The object of the present invention is to provide a less complex arrangement. Accordingly the present invention provides a fire hydrant apparatus comprising a fire hose, a discharge nozzle connected to the front of the fire hose, an electrically operated discharge valve for water from a pump to which the base end of the fire hose is connected, a discharging switch on or adjacent the discharge nozzle and an electrical connection along the hose is provided between the discharge switch and the valve whereby a person holding the end of the hose can use the switch to operate the valve and control the flow of water through the hose characterised in that a relay having a first set of contacts is connected in a series circuit with said electrically operated discharge valve across a supply voltage; in that two electrical conductors extend along said fire hose, said conductors, said relay and said discharging valve being connected in a series circuit across said supply voltage whereby actuation of said discharging switch causes energization of said relay and, in turn, energization of the valve to thereby permit water under pressure to flow into said fire hose; and in that a pump starting push button and a second set of relay contacts of said relay is connecte in parallel with said pump starting push button. An operator pulls the fire hose from a hose hanger, stretches the fire hose while holding the discharge nozzle and thereafter turns on the discharging switch through the connection between the fire hose and the discharge nozzle. A drive signal is supplied through operating conductors provided in the fire hose to the motor driven discharge valve thereby opening the motor driven discharge valve and starting the discharge from the nozzle. The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a front view of an indoor fire hydrant apparatus in accordance with the present invention with a door removed; Figure 2 is an illustrative view showing a connection coupling a fire hose to a discharge nozzle; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the fire hose; Figure 4 is a diagram showing an electrical operation of a motor driven discharge valve; and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment of the present invention. In Figures 1 and 2, 1 indicates a fire hydrant box, 2 a hose hanger, 3 a pump starting pushbutton for a fire hydrant pump, 4 an indicating lamp, and 5 an alarm bell, each similar to those provided in known indoor fire hydrant apparatuses. Also, numeral 6 indicates a fire hose folded and hung on the hose hanger 2, 7 a motor driven discharge valve, 8 a discharge nozzle and 9 a discharging switch. Said fire hose 6, which has a composition substantially similar to that of conventional rubberized or rubber-coated canvas hoses, is different from the conventional hose in that two operating electrical conductors 10 are embedded longitudinally in a wall 6a of said hose. Specifically said operating conductors 10, each in an electrically insulated condition, are embedded and fixed in the wall 6a of the hose; and the head of each operating conductor 10 is connected to the discharging switch 9, and the base end of each conductor 10 to the electric discharge valve 7. Although in this embodiment as shown in Figure 3, both the operating conductors have been embedded in the wall 6a of the hose 6, they may be affixed to the outer face of the wall 6a. Although in this embodiment, the hose is a canvas hose made of natural fibre, it will be appreciated that the hose may be a hose made of synthetic fibre or rubber. The base end of said fire hose is connected through a known insertion type joint or the like to the outlet side of the discharge valve 7, and the front end or head of the hose is removably connected to the discharge nozzle 8. Similarly, the ends of both the operating conductors 10 are connected to the switch 9, and one base end and the other of both the operating conductors 10 are connected to a connector 11 on the discharge valve 7 side and to the power source on the plus side, respectively. Said discharge valve 7 employs a solenoid valve provided with a known, so-called pilot solenoid valve 7a. Turning on the switch 9 causes an exciting current to be supplied to the drive section of the discharge valve 7. As a result, the discharge valve 7 is opened, thereby causing water to be started to flow into the hose 6. Said motor-driven discharge valve 7 is provided with a manual operation handle 7b, whereby the valve can also be manually opened. Said discharge nozzle 8 has substantially the same construction as conventional discharge nozzles. Said discharge switch 9, which is a waterproof type on/off switch, is used to turn on/off the exciting current to the discharge valve 7. Although the switch 9 is provided on the head of the fire hose 6, the switch 9 may be provided on the head of the nozzle 8 or on the connection coupling the hose 6 to the nozzle 8 instead. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the electrical operation system of an indoor fire hydrant apparatus in connection with the present invention. Turning on the discharging switch 9 causes the pilot solenoid valve 7a of the discharge valve 7 to be operated. The current from the discharging switch 9 is supplied to an operating relay 13 to excite, whereby the exciting current be supplied through a contact 13a of said relay to the discharge valve 7, thereby opening the discharge valve 7. At the same time, relay contact 13b is turned on, whereby even if the starting pushbutton 3 for the fire hydrant pump should remain off, the fire hydrant pump could be started. In performing fire fighting activity, one operator first opens the door of the indoor fire hydrant box 1 and pulls and dismounts the fire hose 6 from the hose hanger 2. Then, he pushes the pump starting pushbutton 3, then stretches the fire hose 6 while holding the discharge nozzle 8, and pushes the discharging switch 9 while directing the head of the nozzle 8 toward a fire point. This causes the discharge valve 7 to be opened, whereby a smooth fire fighting activity can be performed even by a single person. Even if the pump starting pushbutton 3 should not be pushed, the pump could be started by turning on the discharging switch 9. The discharge valve 7 may be manually operated by handle 7b. Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, where a shape retaining hose whose sectional shape remains always circular is used as the fire hose 6. In this embodiment, the fire hose 6 as wound up is housed in the fire hydrant box 1, and thus the hose hanger 2 is not used. In Figure 5, numeral 14 indicates a terminal block, 15 a roller, and 16 a hose support plate. It should be noted that the discharging switch 9 is provided on the connection coupling the discharge nozzle to the fire hose, and that operating said discharging switch 9 causes the exciting current to be supplied through the operating conductors 10 provided in the fire hose 6 to the drive section of the discharge valve 7, thereby opening the valve by remote control. As a result, even a single person can perform effective fire fighting activity by stretching the fire hose 6 and then operating the discharging switch 9. The fire hose 6 can be manufactured at a cost substantially equal to that of conventional folding type fibre hoses, thereby causing the manufacturing cost of the indoor fire hydrant apparatus not be largely increased. Even if the fire hose 6 should be stretched without operating the pump starting pushbutton 3, the pump could be started remotely by the operation of the discharging switch 9, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the indoor fire hydrant apparatus.

Claims: A fire hydrant apparatus comprising a fire hose (6), a discharge nozzle (8) connected to the front of the fire hose (6), an electrically operated discharge valve (7) for water from a pump to which the base end of the fire hose (6) is connected, a discharging switch (9) on or adjacent the discharge nozzle and an electrical connection along the hose is provided between discharge switch (9) and valve (7) whereby a person holding the end of the hose can use switch (9) to operate valve (7) and control the flow of water through the hose characterised in that a relay (13) having a first set of contacts (13a) is connected in a series circuit with said electrically operated discharge valve (7) across a supply voltage; in that two electrical conductors (10) extend along said fire hose (6), said conductors (10), said relay (13), and said discharging valve (7) being connected in a series circuit across said supply voltage whereby actuation of said discharging switch (9) causes energization of said relay (13) and, in turn, energization of the valve (7) to thereby permit water under pressure to flow into said fire hose; and in that a pump starting push button (3) and a second set of relay contacts (13b) of relay (13) is connected in parallel with said pump starting push button (3). A fire hydrant apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein a plurality of electrical conductors (10) are embedded in the interior of the hose wall (6a). A fire hydrant apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the fire hose is of a shape retaining type in which its sectional shape is always kept circular.

Inventors: YOKOI SHIN, YOKOI, SHIN, YOKOI, SHIN, C/O YOKOI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Applicants: YOKOI MANUFACTURING CO LTD, YOKOI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A62C35
IPC codes: A62C37, A62C35