Improvements in Hose Carriages.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
Improvements in Hose Carriages.
I, LEVI MORRIS JOHNSON, Hillsboro, in the County of Highland and State of
Ohio, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hose carriages,
being particularly adapted for fire hose carriages.
The object of my invention is to provide means for winding up the hose upon the
drum or reel of a hose carriage during the travel of the carriage, and to effect the
automatic slowing down of the reel as the hose is wound thereon, and the diameter
of the winding surface increased. To this end my improvements have reference to
a friction driving mechanism for the reel or drum; have reference to spring-
actuated engaging mechanism, and a friction disc; have reference to a reel or
drum in connection with a consecutive spiral path of travel for said friction disc,
the diameter of the spiral path, increasing according to the diameter of the winding
surface as the hose is wound; have reference to a stepped spiral path, interiorly
located on a reel or drum; and have reference to other points hereinafter fully
described and claimed.
The chief characteristic of my invention is the slowing down of a drum or reel on
which the hose is being wound, so that, as the diameter of the winding surface
increases by the additional layers of hose on the reel, and the length of hose wound
up by one revolution correspondingly increases, the reel will diminish its rotative
speed, and thereby preserve the same winding speed at the surface of the reel and
wind up the hose lying on the ground as fast as, and no faster than, the reel
carriage travels back along the line of hose. Other peculiarities of my invention
will hereinafter appear.
In the accompanying drawings on which like reference letters indicate corre-
sponding parts :
Fig. 1, represents a plan view of the rear end of a hose carriage and my
improvements applied thereto;
Fig. 2, an elevation of the left side of the same, the left wheel being removed;
Fig. 3, an end view and partial section of the machine, parts being broken away
to show the construction;
Fig. 4, a cross section on the line of Fig. 3, looking to the right; and
Fig. 5, an enlarged detail view of the stepped cone of the wheel and a portion of
the friction disc.
The letter A designates the reel axle of a hose carriage on which are rotatably
mounted the carrying wheels B. A frame-work of suitable longitudinal and cross
bars C, is supported by springs D, in the usual manner. Upon this frame-work
is mounted, in bracket bearings E, a reel or drum-shaft F, supporting a reel G, on
which is wound the hose H. The drum or reel is cone-shaped at G³, and
cylindrical the remaining portion of its length. On the interior of the cone-shaped
portion is formed a continuous path, preferably upon steps g. The path is thus a
spiral increasing in diameter by steps; or in other words the path is formed on the
interior of cylinders of different diameters. The difference between those diameters
corresponds with the thickness of the hose wound upon the reel.
That is to say,
a hose that when wound upon the reel increases the size a half an inch with
every layer, will be used in connection with a step of half an inch. The path
is preferably V-shaped with its perpendicular face outward, as shown in Figs. 3
and 5, and adapted to receive a friction disc I, having a matching edge to

page_text: rotatively engage with the stepped cone as it is rotated by means presently to be
described.
The cone formed by these steps of different diameters, also varies in length
For
axially according to the number of widths of hose wound on the reel.
instance the first and the smallest step may have three coils of the path, corre-
sponding to three widths of hose wound upon the reel portion G; the next step
may have three coils, likewise corresponding with the three widths laid upon the
first layer; the next layer of hose may be laid in four widths, extending outward
upon the portion G₁ of the reel, and the next step of the cone will therefore
have four coils or threads of the path formed thereon; and so on till the limit
of the cone and the reel is reached.
i
The reel being driven by the friction disc (as will presently be described)
will rotate slower and slower, as the disc travels further and further away from
the smaller end, and successively from step to step till the larger end is reached.
The points where the disc changes from one step to the next, are opposite each
other on the cone, as indicated in Fig. 5. The perpendicular face of the thread
or path, impinges on the side of the friction disc 1, and forces it outward as
the drum rotates. The disc is kept in engagement with the drum by a spring-
actuated brace J, one end of which is provided with a stem slidingly mounted
in it and having trunnions K' mounted in bearings K, secured to the frame, and
having a spring L coiled thereon; the other end of the brace J is pivoted to
a collar M embracing a shaft I' carrying the disc I.
A square
socket is
formed in said shaft in which is slidingly mounted a square shaft O, so as to
rotate the shaft I¹ and dise I, while allowing the axial sliding required by the
travel of the disc outward and inward within the reel. A universal joint is
formed by a collar P, to which the outer end of the shaft O and the matching
end of a driving shaft Q, are pivoted as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The driving
shaft is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame, and has a spur
gear R interiorly meshing with a driving gear S, carried on a main shaft T,
driven by a sprocket chain U, connecting sprockets V and V', carried by the
shafts T and A, respectively. A clutch connection between the sprocket V₁ and
the carrying wheel B, is maintained by a spring W, Fig. 3 and disengaged by
a handle a when desired to stop the driving mechanism.
In order that the hose on the ground may be wound up as fast as, and no faster
than, the carriage travels along the line, I form the sprockets V and V₁ of the
same diameter, and the gear S of the same pitched diameter as the carrying
wheel B, so as to give it the same speed; then the gear R and the disc 1, being
likewise of one diameter, will travel at the same rate at their periphery; the
friction disc, thus travelling at the same rate as the carrying wheel B, will
communicate the same peripheral speed to the cone reel, and thus wind up the
hose thereon as fast as, and no faster than, the same is lifted from the ground.
There will thus be no slack or tightness of the line of the hose, but it will be
reeled up uniformly and evenly and automatically, by the form of mechanism above
described.
I wish to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the exact
construction and arrangement of parts, sizes, or detail, herein before shown and
described, but lay broad claim to the means for effecting the above mentioned
result and object aimed at in this invention.
In order to shift the friction disc to different steps of the cone, as will be
required in the operation of the reel, I provide a lever b, pivoted at c, so that it
may be brought down upon a grooved collar d, on the shaft I', and move the shaft
in and out of the reel. A pressure downward will depress the spring-actuated
brace J, thus taking the disc out of its grooved path; it may thus be adjusted
inward and outward, and the brace will throw it into contact with the cone when
the lever b is released.
In the operation of the reel, when the hose is wound thereon, the lever a, will
free the clutch from the driving wheel B and the lever, will allow the reel itself

page_text: to revolve freely as the hose is run off. When the hose is to be wound on the reel,
the end is secured thereon in the usual manner, the friction disc is forced inward
to engagement with the smallest step of the cone, corresponding with the
diameter of the reel portion G, and, the clutch sprocket V being engaged with the
driving wheel B, the travel of the carriage will wind the hose on the reel as before
described.
If the hose be not completely reeled off, and it be desired to wind it up again,
the friction disc is not adjusted to the innermost and smallest step, but to the step
corresponding with the diameter of the wound up hose. For instance, if the hose
is reeled off so that but four layers remain, as shown in Fig. 3, the disc I is
adjusted to the fifth step corresponding with the diameter on which the fifth layer
is to be wound. The succeeding layers will be wound up as the disc travels
the remainder of its path on the larger diameters of the cone. When the disc
reaches the end of the last step it will travel around in the outer groove next to
the larger step, till the clutch sprocket V₁ be thrown out of engagement by
operating the lever a, which stops the connecting mechanism between the driving
wheel B and the disc.
It sometimes happens that a section or strip of hose will be interposed, in a line
of hose, of larger size or diameter than the line generally. In such a case it is
obvious that the diameter of the winding surface will increase more rapidly than
the diameter of the spiral path where the friction disc works. To compensate for
this the operator, in practice, disengages the driving mechanism so as to arrest the
rotation of the drum till such time as the continued advance of the vehicle shall
have caused some slack or surplus of unwound hose, having travelled over so much
hose without winding it. This done he throws the operating mechanism again into
operative position and resumes the rotation of the drum and thereby takes up the
slack so obtained. This slack will be quickly taken up by reason of the rapidly
increasing winding surface, due to the abnormal or unusual size of such strip of
hose. Having passed beyond such strip the usual operation, hereinbefore described,
is resumed and the manipulations become merely automatic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In a hose carriage, the combination with a suitable frame-work and carrying
wheels, of a rotatable reel or drum mounted thereon, provided with a spiral path
gradually increasing in diameter of the spiral corresponding to the layers of hose
wound on the reel, an operating device travelling in said path and intermediate
connections between said disc and the carrying wheels to effect the rotation of the
former.
2nd. In a hose carriage, the combination with a suitable frame-work and carrying
wheels therefor, of a rotatable reel having a series of annular steps formed thereon,
corresponding to the thickness of hose to be wound on said reel, a friction disc
adapted to engage with said steps to travel thereon, and means to rotate said disc
at a speed corresponding to the travel of the carriage on the ground.
3rd. In a hose carriage, the combination with a suitable frame-work and carrying
wheels, of a rotatable reel mounted thereon and having a series of steps of
increasing diameters, corresponding with the thickness of the hose to be wound
thereon, and each step provided with a spiral path or thread formed thereon for the
purpose described, a friction disc adapted to travel in said path or thread, and
operative mechanism between said disc and carrying wheels to effect the rotation of
the reel.
4th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a frame-work and carrying wheels,
of a reel rotatively mounted thereon provided with a flaring cone portion provided
with interior steps of different diameters and widths, and a rotatable driving piece
adapted to travel on said stepped cone, at a speed corresponding with the travel of
the carriage on the ground.

page_text: 5th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a frame-work and carrying wheels,
of a rotatable reel having a series of stepped rings of different diameters and
widths, according to the thickness and width of hose to be wound on the reel, and
provided with a spiral, grooved path, formed in a continuous line upon said steps, a
friction disc adapted to travel in said grooved path and rotate the reel, connecting
mechanism operatively connecting said disc with a carrying wheel, a spring actuated
device for maintaining the engagement of the disc and reel, and a lever for
disengaging said disc and reel, and adjusting the disc to different steps.
6th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a carrying frame, of a rotatable
reel mounted thereon provided with a spiral path of varying diameter according to
the thickness of hose used,, a friction disc travelling on said cone, a spring actuated
brace to maintain the disc in engagement with the cone, a lever to disengage the
disc and cone and adjust it in and out, a shaft for said disc having an angular
socket, and a matching shaft slidingly mounted in said socket to allow of the
adjustment of said disc, and means to rotate said shaft.
7th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a carrying frame, of a rotatable
reel mounted on said frame-work, a portion of the reel being flared outward and
provided with a continuous grooved path, thus constituting a spiral of varying
diameter, a friction disc matching said path to rotate the reel, a hollow shaft for
said disc, a matching shaft slidingly mounted in said disc shaft to rotate the latter,
intergearing mechanism between a carrying wheel and said inner shaft to effect the
rotation of the latter, and a universal joint between said mechanism and said inner
shaft to allow the axial travel of the disc, and its varying distance from the axis of
the reel during said travel.
8th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a frame-work and a carrying 2
wheel, of a rotatable reel mounted on said frame-work and provided with a series
of steps of different diameters, each step being distinct in itself and corresponding
with a layer of hose wound on the reel, a driving gear wheel operatively connected
to a carrying wheel to be rotated at the same speed, a pinion meshing therewith, a
pinion shaft, a friction device adjustably connected to said pinion shaft to be rotated a
thereby while travelling on said steps of the reel, for the purpose described.
9th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a rotatable reel, of a stepped cone
having a grooved path on said steps, and a matching friction disc adapted to travel
in said path and drive the reel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
10th. In a hose carriage, the combination with a rotatable reel having a spiral a
path thereon, of a friction disc adapted to travel in said path, a path for said disc,
a collar forming a bearing for said shaft, a spring actuated brace connected to said
collar to maintain the engagement of the disc and reel, and means to rotate said
disc shaft.
11th. The hereindescribed adjusting and supporting mechanism for a friction
disc, the same consisting in a shaft for the disc, having an angular socket, a
matching shaft slidingly mounted in said socket at one end and provided with a
universal joint at the other end a collar supporting the disc end of the hollow shaft
and forming a bearing therefor, a spring-actuated brace connected to said collar
and constituting a yielding support therefor and means to depress and axially 4
adjust said disc shaft, for the purpose described.
12th. The combination with a friction disc and an extensible shaft therefor, a
universal joint at one end of said shaft, and a yielding support at the other end, of
adjusting mechanism consisting of a universal and pivoted lever adapted to engage
with said pinion shaft and depress the yielding bearing end thereof, and to adjust
the said shaft axially to vary the position of the disc.
13th. The combination with a friction disc and a hollow shaft therefor provided
with a rectangular socket, of a matching shaft slidingly mounted in said Bocket,
driving means therefor, a universal joint between said driving means and the
outward end of said shaft, a yielding bearing near said friction disc opposite the
universal joint, a driving member for said disc, and means to adjust the disc-shaft
axially, and away from the driven member.

page_text: 14th. The combination with a friction disc and its shaft, of a collar-bearing for
one end of said shaft, a hollow shaft pivoted to said collar bearing, a matching
piece mounted therein having trunnions on one end and adapted to slide in said
hollow shaft, a bearing for said trunnion end and a spring between said trunnion
5 and hollow shaft to effect a yielding support for the collar-bearing.
Dated this 5th day of May 1893.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for Applicant.