Abstract:
What is new about this nozzle is its ability to extend the reach of a fluid stream from a pressurized hose by means of low-friction design and nozzle aperture extension. The combination of low friction design and aperture extension produces an effect which is superior to that which might be anticipated by adding an extension to a hose. The nozzle is made of strong, lightweight, rigid materials. The extended stream reach exceeds the length of the long nozzle itself.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/476,760, filed on Jun. 6, 2003. The priority of the prior application is expressly claimed and its disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    While it is desirable to extinguish fires as quickly as possible, the safety of the firefighter is also a concern. The costs of fire suppression and the losses incurred from fire affect individuals, families, communities, local and national governments, and the public at large. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the costs of fire suppression and the losses incurred from fire while also maximizing the safety of the firefighters.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    One object of this invention is to increase the efficiency, safety and function of a firefighting hose system.  
           [0004]    Another object of this invention is to provide a device that significantly increases the stream reach of a pressurized hose nozzle.  
           [0005]    A further object of this invention is to provide a device that maintains a safe working distance between the fire and the firefighter.  
           [0006]    A still further object of this invention is to achieve the best function in expelling fluid to the greatest height and distance in conjunction with ease of use, safety, portability and durability.  
           [0007]    A lightweight long nozzle is provided for attachment to a pressurized hose. The long nozzle is easily human-portable and usable. The long nozzle provides a significant increase in the throw-range of a water or fluid stream as compared to that of a conventional nozzle. This long nozzle is the solution to the firefighter&#39;s problem of how to most effectively propel water or foam solution to where it is most beneficial for firefighting, while at the same time still maintaining a safe working distance between the fire and the firefighter. The increased reach of this long nozzle will provide dramatic benefit in capability, efficacy, speed and safety of fire suppression efforts, thus resulting in significantly reduced fire damage to homes, personal property, forests and natural resources.  
           [0008]    The above-stated objects of the invention are accomplished by a combination of rigid extension and the creation of an area of least possible friction immediately upstream of the critical fluid acceleration zone at the nozzle aperture. The friction reduction is achieved because the device has no longitudinal bending for the full length of the long nozzle, because it has very low-friction interior surfaces to maintain fluid velocity, and is designed so that mechanical sources of turbulence and friction, such as the hose coupling and shutoff valve are not in close proximity to the fluid acceleration zone near the nozzle aperture. The combination of low friction design and aperture extension produces unexpected results which are superior to that which might be anticipated by adding an extension to a hose. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The nature, principle and utility of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1A is a long nozzle according to a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a long nozzle according to a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a long nozzle according to a third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4A is a long nozzle according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a long nozzle according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a long nozzle according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 7-10 are graphs illustrating the advantages of the long nozzle. 
     
    
       [0019]    The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale. In the drawings, the same numbers are used for the same part or portion throughout the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    The long nozzle is a very long, lightweight, durable and rigid nozzle that comprises a coupling device and a replaceable nozzle tip. The coupling device and the replaceable nozzle tip can be varied as to aperture/diameter, spray pattern, or air-aspirating (in the use of foam). The long nozzle may comprise a full-flow, ball-type shutoff valve. Alternatively, the long nozzle is designed to attach to an existing shutoff valve or nozzle thread. The long nozzle may also comprise a foam solution induction tee.  
         [0021]    The long-nozzle may be manufactured from plastics, composites and/or metals. Preferably, the long nozzle is manufactured from plastics, thereby making the long nozzle more lightweight. In addition, plastics are less electrically conductive, and therefore, safer than metals. Components of the long nozzle are assembled by means of injection molding, extrusion, pultrusion, lamination, casting, machining, material-appropriate glues and/or friction-fit threading. The length of the long nozzle is in the range of approximately 50 inches to 204 inches and the diameter of the long nozzle is in the range of approximately ⅜ inches to 3 inches. The long nozzle may additionally comprise a support leg for ease of operation.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 shows the basic design of a long nozzle. Long nozzle  50  comprises an adapter  1  with rotating hose-coupling device la. Connected to the adapter  1  is a first pipe  52 . A reducer coupling  5  attaches the first pipe  52  to a second pipe  53 . The second pipe  53  has a smaller diameter than the first pipe  52 . A ferrule  7  with external threads is attached to the second pipe  53 . Finally, long nozzle  50  comprises a tapered straight steam nozzle tip  8  with internal threads.  
         [0023]    To make the long nozzle more easily portable, the components of long nozzle  50  are preferably made of thermoplastic and are preferably assembled by gluing. Alternatively, the components of the long nozzle  50  may be made of any other known material, including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, brass, and fiber-reinforced plastic. The length of the long nozzle  50  is in the range of 50 inches to 204 inches. Preferably, the length of long nozzle  50  is approximately 83.5 inches. The lengths, diameters and other dimensions of the individual components are variable.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 1A and 1B show a long nozzle  10  that is similar to the long nozzle  50  shown in FIG. 5, except that long nozzle  10  comprises a ball valve  3 . Long nozzle  10  comprises an adapter  1  with rotating hose-coupling device la. Connected to the adapter  1  is a first pipe  2 . The ball valve  3  is positioned between the first pipe  2  and the second pipe  4 . A reducer coupling  5  is attached to the second pipe  4  on one side and to a third pipe  6  on the other side. A ferrule  7  with external threads is attached to the third pipe  6 . Finally, long nozzle  10  comprises a tapered straight steam nozzle tip  8  with internal threads.  
         [0025]    The components of long nozzle are preferably made of thermoplastic and are preferably assembled by gluing. Alternatively, the components of the long nozzle  10  may be made of any other known material, including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, brass, and fiber-reinforced plastic. The lengths, diameters and other dimensions of the individual components are variable. In this example, the long nozzle  10  is approximately 98 inches long. The first pipe  2  and the second pipe  4  each have an outside diameter of about 1.31 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches. The first pipe  2  is preferably about 18 inches in length and the second pipe  4  is preferably about 26.5 inches in length. The third pipe  6  is about 48 inches in length and has an outside diameter of about 1.05 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches.  
         [0026]    Long nozzle  20  depicted in FIG. 2 is similar to long nozzle  10  in FIGS. 1A and 1 B except that long nozzle  20  comprises a foam induction tee  26  and an air-aspirating foam nozzle tip  21 . Long nozzle  20  comprises an adapter  1  with rotating hose-coupling device  1   a . Connected to the adapter  1  is a first pipe  22 . The ball valve  3  is positioned between the first pipe  22  and the second pipe  24 . The foam induction tee  26  is attached to the second pipe  24  and comprises a threaded ball valve  25 . A third pipe  27  is attached to the foam induction tee  26 . A reducer coupling  5  is attached to the third pipe  27  on one side and to a fourth pipe  29  on the other side. A ferrule  7  with external threads is attached to the fourth pipe  29 . Finally, long nozzle  20  comprises the air-aspirating foam nozzle tip  21  with internal threads.  
         [0027]    The components of long nozzle are preferably made of thermoplastic and are preferably assembled by gluing. Alternatively, the components of the long nozzle  20  may be made of any other known material, including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, brass, and fiber-reinforced plastic. The lengths, diameters and other dimensions of the individual components are variable. In this example, the long nozzle  20  is approximately 101.5 inches long. The first pipe  22 , the second pipe  24  and the third pipe  27  each have an outside diameter of about 1.31 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches. The first pipe  22  is preferably about 12.5 inches in length, the second pipe  24  is preferably about 4 inches in length, and the third pipe  27  is preferably about 24 inches in length. The threaded ball valve  25  preferably has a diameter of about 0.75 inches. The fourth pipe  29  is about 40 inches in length and has an outside diameter of about 1.05 inches.  
         [0028]    Long nozzle  30  depicted in FIG. 3 is similar in design to long nozzle  10  in FIGS. 1A and 1B except that the reducer coupling  5  has been removed and long nozzle  30  comprises an adjustable stream/fog nozzle tip  36 . Long nozzle  30  comprises an adapter  1  with rotating hose-coupling device la. Connected to the adapter  1  is a first pipe  32 . The ball valve  3  is positioned between the first pipe  32  and the second pipe  34 . A ferrule  7  with external threads is attached to the second pipe  34 . Finally, long nozzle  30  comprises an adjustable stream/fog nozzle tip  36  with internal threads.  
         [0029]    The components of long nozzle are preferably made of thermoplastic and are preferably assembled by gluing. Alternatively, the components of the long nozzle  30  may be made of any other known material, including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, brass, and fiber-reinforced plastic. The lengths, diameters and other dimensions of the individual components are variable. In this example, the long nozzle  30  is approximately 90.5 inches long. The first pipe  32  and the second pipe  34  each have an outside diameter of about 1.9 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.145 inches. The first pipe  32  is preferably about 13 inches in length and the second pipe  34  is preferably about 73 inches in length.  
         [0030]    Long nozzle  40  depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B is similar in design to long nozzle  10  in FIGS. 1A and 1B except that the first and second pipes comprise glass-fiber reinforced resin-based tubing. Long nozzle  40  comprises an adapter  1  with rotating hose-coupling device la. Connected to the adapter  1  is a first pipe  42  and tubing  43 . The ball valve  3  is positioned between the first pipe  42 ,  43  and the second pipe  45 ,  46 . A first adapter  47  is attached to the other side of second pipe  45 ,  46 . A second adapter  48  is attached to first adapter  47 . First adapter  47  has interior threads, while second adapter  48  has exterior threads. Third pipe  49  is attached to second adapter  48 . A ferrule  7  with external threads is attached to the third pipe  49 . Finally, long nozzle  40  comprises a tapered straight steam nozzle tip  8  with internal threads.  
         [0031]    The components of long nozzle  40  are preferably made of thermoplastic and are preferably assembled by gluing. Alternatively, the components of the long nozzle  40  may be made of any other known material, including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, brass, and fiber-reinforced plastic. The lengths, diameters and other dimensions of the individual components are variable. In this example, the long nozzle  40  is approximately 122 inches long. The first pipe  42  and the second pipe  45  each have an outside diameter of about 1.33 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.1 inches. The first pipe  42  is preferably about 16 inches in length and the second pipe  45  is preferably about 66 inches in length. Tubing  43  and tubing  46  each have an outside diameter of about 1.05 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches. Tubing  43  is about 18 inches in length and tubing  46  is about 68 inches in length. Third pipe  49  is about 30 inches long and has an outside diameter of about 1.05 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches.  
         [0032]    Long nozzle  60  depicted in FIG. 6 is similar in design to long nozzle  20  in FIG. 2 except that the long nozzle  60  comprises a support leg  71 . Long nozzle  60  comprises an adapter  1  with rotating hose-coupling device  1   a . Connected to the adapter  1  is a first pipe  62 . The ball valve  3  is positioned between the first pipe  62  and the second pipe  64 . The foam induction tee  65  is attached to the second pipe  64  and comprises a threaded ball valve  66 . A third pipe  67  is attached to the foam induction tee  65 . The support leg  71  is attached to the third pipe  67  using a strap  69  with a bolt hole. The attachment end of the support leg  71  comprises a ferrule  70  with a bolt hole. The support leg  71  and the strap  69  are attached through the respective bolt holes using a bolt  72  and a nut  68 . A reducer coupling  5  is attached to the third pipe  67  on one side and to a fourth pipe  74  on the other side. A strap friction catch  75  is attached to the fourth pipe  74 . The friction catch  75  holds the support leg  71  adjacent to the long nozzle  60  when the support leg  71  is not in use. A ferrule  7  with external threads is attached to the fourth pipe  74 . Finally, long nozzle  60  comprises an adjustable-stream nozzle tip  77  with internal threads.  
         [0033]    The components of long nozzle  60  are preferably made of thermoplastic and are preferably assembled by gluing. Alternatively, the components of the long nozzle  60  may be made of any other known material, including, but not limited to, anodized aluminum, brass, and fiber-reinforced plastic. The lengths, diameters and other dimensions of the individual components are variable. In this example, the long nozzle  60  is approximately 154 inches long. The first pipe  62 , the second pipe  64  and the third pipe  67  each have an outside diameter of about 1.66 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.14 inches. The first pipe  62  is preferably about 15 inches in length, the second pipe  64  is preferably about 5 inches in length, and the third pipe  67  is preferably about 80 inches in length. The threaded ball valve  66  preferably has a diameter of about 0.75 inches. The fourth pipe  74  is about 48 inches in length and has an outside diameter of about 1.31 inches. The strap  69  is preferably made of steel and is about 0.75 inches wide. The support leg  71  is preferably made of an aluminum tube with an outside diameter of about 0.75 inches and a length of about 56 inches. The strap friction catch  75  is preferably made of steel and is about 0.5 inches wide.  
         [0034]    The additional stream reach of a fluid from a pressurized hose connected to the long nozzle exceeds the length of the long nozzle itself, as shown by the graphs in FIGS. 7-10.  
         [0035]    The graph in FIG. 7 compares a standard nozzle to two different embodiments of the long nozzle of the present invention. In this example, the nozzles are all connected to an 8 gal/min foam kit. Line  73  represents the vertical height and horizontal distance data from a prior art nozzle. Line  76  represents data from long nozzle A and line  78  represents data from long nozzle B. Long nozzle A and long nozzle B are variations of the long nozzles depicted in FIGS. 1-6. In this example, long nozzle A is 69 inches long and has an outside diameter of 1.05 inches. Long nozzle B is 96 inches long and has an outside diameter of 1.05 inches. Clearly, the long nozzles of the present invention are able to achieve greater height and distance than the prior art nozzle. In this particular example, long nozzle A achieves a height improvement of about 8 feet and a distance improvement of about 17 feet over the prior art nozzle. Long nozzle B achieves a height improvement of about 13 feet and a distance improvement of about 19 feet over the prior art nozzle. Note that the height and distance improvements are much greater than the length of the nozzles. In addition, the data shows that a longer nozzle is preferable since long nozzle B was able to achieve greater height and distance than long nozzle A.  
         [0036]    The chart in FIG. 8 depicts the data of FIG. 7 in terms of area covered. Clearly, the long nozzles cover more surface area than the prior art nozzle. In this particular example, Long nozzle A covers about 4,000 square feet more than the prior art nozzle and long nozzle B covers almost 5,000 square feet more than the prior art nozzle.  
         [0037]    The graph in FIG. 9 compares standard nozzles to three different embodiments of the long nozzle of the present invention. In this example, the nozzles are all connected to a 90 psi water source. Line  91  represents the vertical height and horizontal distance achieved by a standard pistol nozzle. Line  92  represents the distance and height achieved by a standard straight-stream nozzle. Lines  93 ,  94  and  95  represent the distance and height achieved by long nozzles C, D and B, respectively. Long nozzles C, D and B are each attached to a straight-stream nozzle tip. In this example, long nozzle C is a variation of the long nozzles depicted in FIGS. 1-6. Long nozzle C is 96 inches long and has an outside diameter of 1.05 inches. Long nozzle D is depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Long nozzle B is a variation of the long nozzles depicted in FIGS. 1-6. The dimensions of long nozzle B are given above in the discussion of FIG. 7. Clearly, the long nozzles of the present invention are able to achieve greater height and distance than the standard nozzles when used with water as well as foam.  
         [0038]    The chart in FIG. 10 depicts some of the data of FIG. 9 in terms of area covered. FIG. 10 shows that the long nozzles cover more surface area than the standard straight-stream nozzle. In this particular example, long nozzle C covers almost 6,000 square feet more than the standard straight-stream nozzle and long nozzle B covers about 7,500 square feet more than the standard straight-stream nozzle.  
         [0039]    While the invention has been described by reference to the preferred embodiments described above those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention as described and illustrated can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the scope of the invention.