Patent Publication Number: US-6907939-B1

Title: Fire hose storage and deployment system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention generally relates to fire hoses, and in particular it relates to a system and method for quickly deploying internally stored fire hoses to selected floors of a high-rise commercial or residential building. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   People around the world watched in shock and horror as the tragic events of Sep. 11, 2001 in America unfolded before their eyes. As the World Trade Center towers collapsed into massive piles of rubble and human suffering, the citizens of an entire nation were turned numb by the overwhelming depth and range of their emotions. Any American old enough to understand the significance of those murderous terrorist attacks felt, among other emotions, disbelief, anger, fear, hate and pity. While unsuspecting thousands were brutally and senselessly killed that fateful day, one particular group of individuals suffered grave losses by choice. Hundreds of firefighters rushed headlong into the blazing towers, fully aware of the possible consequences of their bravery, and paid the ultimate price. This bravery sharpened the public&#39;s recognition of, and appreciation for, the heroic and selfless work performed by firefighters every day. The attacks taught us many other lessons as well, including the reality that occupants of high-rise buildings are especially vulnerable to fire-related disasters, whether they result from terrorism or other causes. Well-equipped firefighters are the best defense against the ravages of fire-related crises. 
   However, firefighters currently face a particularly acute difficulty when responding to incidents in high-rise buildings. Conventional ladder trucks cannot come close to delivering hoses and water to the upper stories of extremely tall buildings. Consequently, firefighters have no choice to pull fire hoses from their trucks or inside the building up and down staircases and around corners. This task is especially challenging since the amount of time that is needed to effectively combat fires often determines the extent of the subsequent human toll and property damage. Hence, there is a pressing need for a system that quickly deploys several water-filled fire hoses to selected floors of a high-rise building upon activation and stores the hoses under the building upon deactivation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,948 to Kessinger (“Kessinger”) teaches a fire hose cabinet that can be mounted on or in a wall with a fire hose wound on a spool therein. However, the fire hose cabinet of Kessinger would not expedite the task of fighting a fire on an upper floor of a high-rise building in any way. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,931 to Brooks (“Brooks”) discloses a container adapted to be secured to a wall of a bathroom vanity that has a fire hose stored therein. However, the container of Brooks is primarily designed for cosmetic purposes and of minimal utility to firefighters when responding to an emergency. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,657 to Jensen (“Jensen”) teaches a service unit comprising a hollow body within which power distribution means, power metering means, lighting means, water equipment and telephone equipment can be mounted. However, the service unit of Jensen is impractical since its electrical components could well be severely damaged when a fire hose is in use. 
   While these devices may be suitable for the particular purposes employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a system that conveniently stores deflated fire hoses in a building for future use. Accordingly, the system provides reel assemblies with reels around which deflated fire hoses are compactly wrapped. The reel assemblies are located in an underground storage area directly beneath the building. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a system that allows water from outside of the building to travel through the hoses in order to combat a fire. Accordingly, the system has an integrated piping network that connects the hoses to an underground pump which increases flow and pressure from an independent source of water. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that can be used by firefighters to effectively quell a fire anywhere in a high-rise commercial or residential building. Accordingly, the system includes mechanical tracks that vertically extend along the side walls of the building from the roof to the underground storage area through which the hoses are propelled by rotating rollers. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that can be activated and deactivated by an authorized operator inside the building. Accordingly, an electronic control panel that the operator can use to selectively deploy and retract the hoses is present in the lobby of the building. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that can be used by firefighters to combat a fire in the building when the sprinkler system is disabled. Accordingly, the system includes standpipes on the roof of the building that are connected to the piping network. Firefighters can land on the roof with a helicopter and attach their hoses to the standpipes there. 
   The invention is a system for storing and deploying fire hoses to combat a fire on a selected floor of a high-rise building. The system includes an underground storage area directly beneath the building, a plurality of reel assemblies located inside the storage area, an underground pump, an integrated piping network, a plurality of mechanical tracks and a station located on the roof that has a pair of roof standpipes extending therefrom. Each reel assembly has a reel, a fire hose and an underground standpipe. Each track extends vertically along side walls of the building. In use, an operator uses an electronic control panel in communication with the reels and the rollers to specify the floor of the fire. The hoses unravel from their reels and are propelled up the tracks by rotating rollers. The pump turns on and transports water from an independent source, through the piping network and to the hoses. 
   To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view with parts broken away of a high-rise building equipped with a fire hose storage and deployment system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded elevational view of a fire hose extending vertically from a reel assembly through a track according to the present invention. The portion of the hose that is inside the track is shown with hidden lines. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded elevational view with parts broken away of the fire hose of  FIG. 2  being propelled through the track by rollers. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  depicts a high-rise commercial or residential building  12  equipped with a fire hose storage and deployment system  10  according to the present invention. The building  12  is shown as having five rectangular floors for illustrative purposes only; the system  10  can be employed with buildings of all sizes and configurations. A storage area  14  is present below ground level  16  directly beneath the building  12 . The storage area  14  can be larger than any floor of the building  12  if sufficient excavation space is available in the immediate vicinity. A plurality of reel assemblies  18  is present inside the storage area  14 . 
   As  FIG. 2  shows in detail, each reel assembly  18  consists of a circular reel  26 , a fire hose  20  and an elbow-shaped underground standpipe  24  that has an inlet  25  and an outlet  23 . The reel  26  has outer frame that is anchored to the underground standpipe  24  and a concentric inner core that rotates about its central axis. The hose  20  compactly wraps around the reel  26  and has a rear end  22  that mechanically fastens to the outlet  23  of the underground standpipe  24 . Preferably, every reel assembly  18  is built to the same specifications and is consequently capable of handling about the same water load. The inlet  25  of every underground standpipe  24  attaches to an integrated piping network  28  that connects all of the hoses  20  to an underground pump  30 . The engineering design of the piping network  28  can be as elaborate as necessary to accommodate the locations and capacities of the reel assemblies  18  and the pump  30 . A plurality of mechanical tracks  32  vertically extend along the side walls of the building  12  from the roof to the storage area  14 . The number and configuration of the tracks  32  depend upon the size and shape of the building  12  and can vary widely, although at least one track  32  should be present on each side wall. Each of the reel assemblies  18  is located below the lower end of a track  32 . Every track  32  has a cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross-sectional area, a closed upper end and an open lower end. Preferably, the tracks  32  are constructed from a durable and non-corrosive metallic alloy or polymer. 
   An electronic control panel is in electrical communication with the reel  26  and with two columns of circular rollers  34  that line the inner walls of every track  32 . The control panel regulates operation of the system  10  and is present inside the lobby of the building  12 . An authorized operator, such as a building manager who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the fire code or a member of the local fire department, can access the panel and utilize it to activate and deactivate the system  10 . When activating the system  10 , the operator specifies the floor on which the hoses  20  are needed. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , each hose  20  then automatically unravels from its reel  26  at a constant rate and travels up its corresponding track  32 . The rollers  34 , which have a low coefficient of friction, propel the hose  20  up the track  32  until it arrives at the designated floor, completely unravels and becomes taut. In order to do so, the left column of rollers  34  rotates counterclockwise while the right column of rollers  34  rotates clockwise. The pump  30  turns on and transports a regulated quantity of filtered water from an independent source such as a local river through the piping network  28 . The water travels in laminar flow and distributes evenly to each reel assembly  18 . Thus, the flow rates of water through the hoses  20  are approximately equal. 
   When firefighters respond to the scene, they ascend to the appropriate floor, open the nozzle  36  on the front end of each hose  20  and spray water onto the fire. Alternatively, the firefighters can utilize a helicopter to land on the roof of the building  12  and attach their own hoses to a station  38 . A pair of standpipes  42  extends from the station  38  and feeds into the piping network  28  through a substantially vertical connection pipe  40 . When the operator activates the system  10 , water travels from the pump  30 , through the connection pipe  40 , into the station  38  and, when fire hoses are connected thereto, through the standpipes  42 . After the firefighters have completed their work, the operator deactivates the system  10 . The pump  30  turns off and any residual water in the system  10  returns to the water source through the piping network  28 . If the hoses  20  have been utilized, they descend the tracks  32  at a constant rate. Inside each track  32 , the left column of rollers  34  rotates clockwise while the right column of rollers  34  rotates counterclockwise. Each hose  20  returns to its reel assembly  18  in the storage area  14  and compactly wraps around the reel  26 . 
   In conclusion, herein is presented a fire hose storage and deployment system and method. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.