Abstract:
A firefighting nozzle of the present invention includes a nozzle body with an inlet and an outlet, a passageway having a smooth bore extending between the inlet and the outlet of the nozzle body, and a compressible member defining at least a portion of the passageway. The compressible member has an inner dimension transverse to the longitudinal central axis. The nozzle also includes an adjuster mounted about the compressible member for selectively compressing the compressible member, wherein the pressure of the fluid flowing into the nozzle applies an outwardly directed pressure on the compressible member to thereby increase the inner dimension of the compressible member, and with at least a portion of the pressure being diverted from the passageway for applying an inwardly directed pressure on the compressible member to thereby at least reduce the force needed to be applied by the adjuster to counter-act the outwardly directed pressure when adjusting the flow rate of the nozzle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/332,695 filed Dec. 11, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/013,112 filed Dec. 12, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a nozzle and, more particularly, to a nozzle that has a smooth bore that is adjustable. 
     Smooth bore nozzles are well known in the art and are configured with a gradually diminishing inner diameter from their input end to their discharge or output end to increase fluid flow from a fire hose on which the nozzle is mounted. One disadvantage to smooth bore nozzles is that they typically have a fixed diameter. As a result, they provide a limited flow rate range, with the fluid pressure driving the flow rate change. For example, a one inch diameter smooth bore nozzle will flow approximately 184 gallons per minute at Approximately a 50 psi discharge pressure. However, if the fire hose discharge pressure is increased to 70 psi, the flow rate will increase to approximately 247 gallons per minute. 
     In order to change the flow rate from a fire hose, the smooth bore nozzle is either replaced with a smooth bore nozzle with a different diameter or a fitting or tip, which is typically threaded onto the nozzle, is added to or removed from the nozzle to change in the inner diameter of the nozzle. For example, when a one inch diameter smooth bore nozzle is substituted with a 1.25 inch diameter smooth bore nozzle, the flow will increase to approximately 326 gallons per minute with the same 50 psi discharge pressure. However, this requires the user to shut off the water supply when changing the nozzle or adding or removing a fitting to change the nozzle diameter. As a result, this can create downtime for the firefighter. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a smooth bore nozzle whose flow rate can be adjusted without having to shut off the water flow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a nozzle that has an adjustable bore and, therefore, can vary the flow rate through the nozzle without requiring the flow to be shut off. In other words, the present invention provides a nozzle that is adapted to have its bore diameter adjusted while still in a flow condition. The nozzle may be used in a handheld nozzle assembly, in a master stream nozzle, or in a pipe nozzle. 
     In one form of the invention, an adjustable nozzle includes a nozzle body and a passageway with a central axis and a smooth bore extending between the inlet and the outlet of the nozzle. The inlet is adapted for coupling to a fire suppressant source, such as a fire hose or a pipe. At least a portion of the passageway is defined by a compressible member with an inner dimension transverse to the central axis wherein the inner dimension of the compressible member is adjustable to adjust the flow rate through the nozzle. In addition, the nozzle includes an adjuster to selectively compress the compressible member. When fluid flows through the nozzle, the pressure of the fluid flowing into the nozzle applies an outwardly directed pressure on the compressible member to thereby increase the inner dimension of the compressible member. Further, the nozzle is configured to divert at least a portion of the fluid pressure for applying an inwardly directed pressure on the compressible member to thereby at least reduce the force needed to be applied to the adjuster to counteract the outwardly directed pressure acting on the compressible member when a user is trying to adjust the flow rate of the nozzle. 
     In one aspect, the nozzle further includes a flexible membrane interiorly of the compressible member, which forms a bladder and defines the passageway. 
     In another aspect, the compressible member includes a plurality of compressible members. For example, the compressible members may comprise cantilevered beams. In yet a further aspect, the inward pressure is applied to the distal end portions of the cantilevered beams. 
     According to yet another form of the invention, an adjustable nozzle includes a nozzle body having a longitudinal central axis and a compressible member, which is mounted to the nozzle body. The nozzle body and compressible member have therethrough a passageway, which forms an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet formed at the nozzle body for coupling to a fire suppressant source and the outlet formed at the end of the compressible body portion. The compressible member has an adjustable inner diameter, while the inner diameter of the nozzle body is fixed. In addition, the nozzle includes a tip that is movably mounted to the nozzle body about the compressible member and which is movable along the longitudinal axis and further includes an interface with the compressible member wherein the tip is movable to apply pressure on the compressible member to vary the inner diameter of the compressible member, which is urged outwardly by the fluid pressure of the fluid flowing through the nozzle. In addition, nozzle body includes at least one fluid passage in fluid communication with the fluid passageway through the nozzle body to redirect a portion of the fluid pressure exteriorly of the passageway and further is configured to apply an inward pressure on the compressible member to reduce the force needed to move the tip. 
     In one aspect, the nozzle may include a flexible membrane that forms a bladder interiorly of the compressible member and which defines a portion of the passageway. In a further aspect, the bladder has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, which is less than the inner diameter of the compressible member when in an unpressurized configuration and when the compressible member is uncompressed but expands to a pressurized configuration in response to fluid pressure in the passageway. When in the pressurized configuration, the bladder is compressible and able to maintain its smooth inner surface to provide the nozzle with an adjustable smooth bore. 
     In one aspect, the compressible member includes a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots extending along the central axis to form a plurality of beams. In a further aspect, the beams comprise cantilevered beams. 
     According to a further aspect, the tip comprises a conical-shaped body with a tapered interface with the compressible member. Further, the tapered surface is configured so that when the tip retracts onto the nozzle body, the tip compresses the compressible member. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a smooth bore nozzle with an adjustable diameter so that the flow rate through the nozzle can be achieved during a flow condition and further can be adjusted with greater ease. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of a nozzle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle of the  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the numeral  10  generally designates a nozzle assembly of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, nozzle assembly  10  comprises a handheld nozzle assembly, which is adapted for coupling to a fire hose and includes a nozzle  12  and a shut-off valve assembly  14  to open and close the flow of fluid through the nozzle assembly. As will be more fully described below, nozzle assembly  10  is configured to provide an adjustable smooth bore that can be adjusted while a fluid is still flowing through the nozzle assembly. Although illustrated in reference to a handheld nozzle assembly, it should be understood that the principals of this invention may be used in a master stream nozzle for mounting on a monitor or in a pipe nozzle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , nozzle  12  includes an inlet  16 , an outlet  18 , and a passageway  20  that extends from inlet  16  to outlet  18 . Inlet  16  of nozzle  12  is in fluid communication with the outlet  14   a  of shut-off valve assembly  14  through an adapter  24  so that when the shut-off valve assembly is in its open position, fluid will flow through the shut-off valve assembly into nozzle  12  for discharge through outlet  18 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , nozzle  12  includes a nozzle body  26  and a compressible wall  28 , which is mounted to nozzle body  26  and extends from nozzle body  26  to allow adjustment to the flow of fluid through the nozzle. Nozzle body  26  comprises a cylindrical body with a fixed inner diameter  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, compressible member  28  comprises a compressible wall that extends from nozzle body  26  along the longitudinal axis  12   a  of nozzle  12  and is configured to expand and contract relative to the longitudinal axis  12   a  in response to the pressure of fluid flowing through nozzle  12  and, further, in response to an external pressure applied by a tip  32 , which is movably mounted to nozzle body  26 . Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, compressible wall  34  includes a plurality of slots  36 , which form cantilevered fingers or beams  38 , which are cantilevered from a base  40 , which secures compressible member to nozzle body. Preferably, slots  36  are aligned and generally parallel to the center line or central axis  12   a  of nozzle  12  and are formed, such as by molding or machining, so that they extend through the entire thickness of the cylindrical wall of cylindrical member  28  to thereby create cantilevered beams  38 , which are flexible and act like springs that can be deflected inwardly to reduce the diameter of passageway  20  in the region of compressible member  28 . Though described as separate components, it should be understood that compressible member and nozzle body may be formed as a unitary component. 
     To form a smooth bore through compressible member  28 , nozzle  12  also optionally includes a membrane  42 , which forms a bladder that extends through the compressible member. To secure membrane  42  to nozzle body, membrane  42  includes an annular rim or skirt, which is capture between an annular shoulder  45  formed on nozzle body  26  and compressible wall  34 , which is threaded onto nozzle body  26  ( FIG. 2 ). In this manner, the fluid passageway is formed through nozzle body  26  and membrane  42  with the portion of the passageway  20  formed in bladder  42  inwardly of compressible member  28  having an adjustable diameter. 
     In addition, to maintain a smooth bore in passageway  20 , flexible membrane  42 , such as a rubber flexible membrane, is sized such that its outer diameter is inward of the inner diameter of compressible member  28  when compressible member  28  is in an uncompressed condition. However, when membrane  42  is pressurized, membrane  42  will expand to an expanded configuration until the outer diameter is equal to the inner diameter of compressible member  28  when it reaches the inner surface of compressible member  28 . In this manner, when compressible member  28  is compressed inwardly, membrane  42  will return to a less expanded configuration, which allows membrane  42  to maintain its smooth walled configuration and, hence, smooth bore and prevent membrane  42  from forming folds or ripples in its wall when compressed. Optionally, a metal sleeve may be positioned between membrane  42  and beams  38  to assure that the membrane  42  does not extrude into the gaps between the beams. For further details of membrane  42  and an optional metal sleeve, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,285, issued Aug. 21, 2007, entitled ADJUSTABLE SMOOTH BORE NOZZLE, and copending application Ser. No. 11/894,089, filed Aug. 20, 2007, entitled ADJUSTABLE SMOOTH BORE NOZZLE, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein. 
     As noted above, compressible member  28  is compressed by the movement of tip  32  relative to longitudinal axis  12   a  of nozzle  12 . Tip  32  comprises a generally cylindrical member with a tapered wall, which forms an angled interface surface  46  for compressing compressible member  28 . Angled surface  46  contacts the outer ends of compressible member  28  and forms a ramped or cam interface with compressible member  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, each beam  38  of compressible member  28  includes a ramped surface  50 , which is formed by example by a wedge-shaped end that provides a contact surface for angled surface  46  of tip  32 . In this manner, when adjustment tip  32  is retracted along nozzle body  26 , angled surface  46  will move along ramp surfaces  50 , which will cause beams  38  to compress inwardly when adjustment tip  32  is retracted onto nozzle body  26  but will allow beams  38  to expand radially outward and return to their uncompressed state when adjustment tip  32  is moved to its fully extended position such as shown in  FIG. 2 . It should be understood that the slope angle of the ramps surfaces and angled surfaces may be varied to increase or decrease the amount of adjustment achieved by a given linear movement of the tip along the nozzle. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, tip  32  is mounted to nozzle body  26  by an annular member  52 , which extends into annular member  52  and is threaded to the inner surface of annular member  52 . Annular member  52  is secured to nozzle body by a pair of cam/detent screws  54 , which extend through annular member  52  and into a cam groove or slot  56  formed on outer surface of nozzle body  26  ( FIG. 3 ). Each cam/detent screw  54  includes a threaded hollow pin  58 , which receives a spring  60 , and ball bearing  62  which is urged by spring  60  into engagement with cam slot  56 . In this manner, annular member  52  is rotatably mounted about nozzle body  26  while being laterally retained on nozzle body  26  along longitudinal axis  12   a . Thus, when tip  32  is rotated about longitudinal axis  12   a , annular member  52  will retract or extend tip  32  along axis  12   a , which will either compress member  28 , and reduce the inner diameter of passageway  20 , or will allow compressible member  28  to expand under the force of the fluid flowing through nozzle  12 . However, it should be understood that annular member  52  may be secured to the nozzle body with a threaded connection so that annular member  52  is guided along the threads of the threaded connection. Further, annular member  52  may be moved along the nozzle body by an actuator, such as an electric actuator, thus potentially eliminating the need for a cam groove, a slot, or the threaded connection. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , cam slot  56  is formed on an enlarged shoulder  64  of nozzle body  26 , which is sealed against the inner surface of annular member  52  by a seal  66 , such as an o-ring seal ( FIG. 2 ). Further, annular member  52  includes an inwardly extending radial wall  68  to thereby enclose enlarged flange portion  64  of nozzle body  26  and, further, to define a chamber  70  between nozzle body  26  and annular member  52 , which will be more fully described below. 
     In order to reduce the amount of force required to compress compressible wall  28 , a portion of the fluid pressure in passageway  20  is redirected exteriorly of passageway  20  and, further, is used to apply an inwardly directed compression force on compressible member  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, nozzle body  26  includes one or more fluid passages  74 , which are in fluid communication with passageway  20  and, further, in fluid communication with chamber  70 . To seal chamber  70 , a seal  72 , such as an o-ring seal, is positioned between inwardly extending radial wall  68  and nozzle body  26 . Thus, when fluid pressure is redirected into chamber  70 , the pressure in chamber  70  will apply an axial force on inwardly extending radial wall  68  of annular member  52 , which will urge annular member  52  to move to the right as viewed in  FIG. 2  and thereby act as a piston. To accommodate the longitudinal movement of annular member  52  relative to the longitudinal axis  12   a  of nozzle  12 , annular member  52  includes a recessed annular portion  52   a , which is sized to receive adapter  24  therein. 
     As the pressure inside passageway  20  increases, the pressure on annular member  52  will increase. Thus, when an operator wishes to throttle the outlet  18  of nozzle  12 , the force required to rotate tip  32  about nozzle body  26  will be reduced by the force due to pressure applied to inwardly extending radial wall  68 . Thus, by redirecting a portion of the fluid pressure externally of passage  20 , a mechanical advantage is provided to facilitate throttling of the nozzle. In another application, the annular member may be configured to release pressure on the inwardly extending radial wall to increase the diameter of the base. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, fluid passages  74  comprise circular transverse openings, but it should be understood that passages  74  may also comprise slotted openings or the like. Further, it should be understood that the number and size of the passages may be varied depending, for example, on the size of the nozzle and nozzle bore, and further the desired mechanical advantage. 
     Optionally, mounted about tip  32  is a bumper  76 , such as a rubber bumper, which is secured to tip  32  by a retaining ring  78  and by a plurality of fasteners that extend through retaining ring  78  and into corresponding threaded openings provided in tip  32 . Bumper  76  provides a gripping surface for tip and is optionally formed from an elastomeric material, such as rubber, to protect the tip. 
     As noted above, nozzle  12  is mounted to an on/off valve assembly  14  to control the flow of fluid into the nozzle. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , shut-off valve assembly  14  includes a valve body  80 , which is threaded to adapter  24  and to an inlet adapter  83 . Rotatably mounted in adapter  83  is an inlet coupler  86  for securing a hose to shut-off valve assembly  14 . In addition, assembly  14  includes a pair of spaced apart valve seats  81   a  and  81   b  mounted in adapters  24  and  83 , respectively, and a shut-off ball  82 , which is positioned between seats  81   a  and  81   b . Ball  82  is pivotally mounted in valve body  80  on a shaft (not shown) that is coupled to a handle  84 . In this manner, the orientation of shut-off ball  82  may be adjusted by moving handle  84 . To seal adapters in valve body  80 , seals, such as o-ring seals  82   a  and  82   b , are positioned between adapters  24  and  83  and valve body  80 . Seals are also provided between seats  81   a  and  81   b  and the respective adapters  24  and  83 , as well as between coupler  86  and adapter  83 . Further, coupler  86  includes a ball race  88 , which provides a swivel mount for coupler  86  to adapter  83 . 
     Valve seats  81   a  and  81   b  are respectively positioned adjacent adapters  24  and  83  so that when central passage  82   c  of shut-off ball  82  is aligned between the seats ( 81   a ,  81   b ), nozzle assembly  10  is opened for flow through the nozzle  12 , but when shut-off ball  82  is pivoted by handle  84 , shut-off ball  88  will seat against seat  81   a  and close passage  80   a  and, thereby stop the flow into passageway  20 . 
     Further, assembly  10  may also include a handle  86 , mounted to shut-off valve assembly  14  to facilitate handling of assembly  10 . 
     As would be understood to those skilled in the art, the present invention provides a nozzle that has a smooth bore with an adjustable inner diameter to provide an adjustable flow rate. With this increase in flexibility, the velocity of a fire hose discharge may be varied without having to replace the nozzle or having to add on to the nozzle; therefore, the adjustment can be achieved while the nozzle is still in a flowing condition and, further, with greater ease. 
     While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, as noted, nozzle  12  may be incorporated into a pipe nozzle or a master stream nozzle of a monitor. Further, while described in reference to a segmented compressible member, the compressible member may comprise a solid wall with overlapping edges, which allow the wall to compress. In addition, though described in reference to a nozzle that incorporates a bladder, the bladder may be eliminated. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow as interpreted under the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.