A Combined Automatic Coiling Hose Reel and Hydrant.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Automatic Coiling Hose Reel and Hydrant.
I, ARTHUR BRAMHAM PERKINS, of 52 Ash Grove, Bradford, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention for a combined automatic coiling hose reel and hydrant, consists
of a cylinder or fusee, coupled in the ordinary way to a water main, in which is
fixed a propeller or other mechanical arrangement, for the purpose of revolving
a concentrically or eccentrically fitted hollow hose reel working through the
cylinder top by means of an ordinary stuffing box, either directly or by means
of suitable gearing, the coupling to the flexible hose pipe being on the periphery
of the hollow hose reel, or through the axis, as may be deemed advisable.
In operation, the water passes through the reel to the hose pipe, this latter
being drawn off the reel against the counter action of the propeller or other.
mechanical arrangement, and as soon as the pull is released the reel revolves in
the opposite direction, and the hose is automatically coiled thereon, the water in
the meantime playing therefrom.
The flanges of the cylinder or fusee may also serve for a wheel by which the
apparatus may be easily removed, say in the case of street watering, from one valve
to another.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1893.
1. SIDNEY CRITCHLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Automatic Coiling Hose Reel and Hydrant.
J, ARTHUR BRAMHAM PERKINS, of 52, Ash Grove, Bradford, in the County
of York, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention consists of devices and combination of devices for the purposes
hereafter stated and described, reference being made to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, which are provided for the purpose of clearly demonstrating the
invention.
Fig. 1, of said drawings, represents a longitudinal section of my apparatus.
Fig. 2, an end view of same.
The drawings are marked with letters of reference, in which the letter A
indicates a hose reel, and B, the hose coiled thereon. The reel is constructed
after the fashion of a cylinder with flanged ends, and is provided with three
bearings, one at each end and one between. The hose is coupled to the periphery
of the reel by an ordinary coupling, and communication between the two is effected
by an orifice B. The wheel is carried by trunnion C, and spindle C', which in
turn are supported or carried by arms D, and D', respectively. These arms unite
with one common stand pipe or hydrant E, which is prepared for attachment
to a valve F, by means of an ordinary coupling. The reel is shown working
horizontally, but by a mere alteration of the stand pipe, it is obvious, that if
desired, it could be arranged to work vertically. The stand pipe E, and
arm D, are hollow, through which channels the water can pass through the
trunnion C into the interior of the reel A, a stuffing box and bush being fitted to.

page_text: the trunnion to prevent leakage. In the interior of the reel, I have a volute
spring G, which at one end is fixed to the reel, and at the other to a bush H.
When the spring is at its full extent, the bush H is in contact with the flanged
plate I, which forms one of the bearings on the spindle C. The spindle C¹ is
prepared with a keyway K, into which fits a projection formed on the inner
circumference of the bush H, so that when the spring is put into compression, and
the volutes drawn closer together, the bush H may travel on the spindle, and at
the same time hold that end of the spring attached to it rigid. The spindle Clis
fixed by a wing bolt or set screw D' to the arm D', this fixing not being made
permanent, as in using the apparatus it is desirable at certain times to give the
spindle freedom to revolve.
In operation, the water passes_into_the-interior of the reel by the channels
__ previously described, and from thence into the hose through the orifice B'. As
the hose is drawn off the reel, the latter revolves, and the volute spring is put into
compression by its attachment to the reel, the energy thus created and stored in
the spring being utilized to revolve the reel in the opposite direction, and thereby
re-coil the hose on the reel automatically, when desired. On one of the end covers
of the reel I fix pawls P. engaging with corresponding catches e on the arm C.
These pawls and catches are so regulated, that, when it is desired that the water
should play from a certain length of hose, the pawls will prevent the reel from
re-coiling the hose, if allowed to fall gently into the catches, if however, the pull
on the hose be suddenly released, the sudden backward movement causes the pawls
to pass over the catches, and the re-coiling is unchecked. The pawls P work on
their respective fulcrum pins p, and are elongated beyond their fulcrums, whereby
the tendency of the action of their catch or operating ends to take hold of the.
catches c, is to a certain extent reduced, by reason of the pawls P being, by
the elongation before named, more evenly balanced on their fulcrum pins. The
catches c are raised catches, and the pawls P are prepared with indentations for
engagement with same. Owing to this formation of the pawls P and catches c, when
the pull on the hose pipe is suddenly released, and the reel is allowed to revolve
quickly by the action of the spring G, the pawls, by the momentum imparted to
them, pass over the catches c, and the recoiling of the hose is uninterrupted;
however, when the pull on the hose is released gently, and the reel allowed to
revolve backwards slowly, the pawls P do not pass over the catches c, but the
indentations of same engage with said catches, and the reel is kept stationary. If
it is requisite to allow the action of re-coiling to be proceeding the same time as
the water is playing from the hose, the pawls may be turned back, and made
inoperative. When it is desired to move the apparatus, say in the case of street
watering, from one valve to another, it is convenient to use the end flanges of the
reel as wheels. This may be effected by unscrewing the wing bolt which secures
the spindle C, to the arm D', by which operation the whole internal mechanism,
and the spindle are free to revolve bodily with the reel.
Figs. 3 and 4, show an alternative arrangement for putting the spring G into
compression, by means of a small water motor actuated by the water as it passes
to the hose-Fig. 3, being a longitudinal section of a portion of the reel, necessary
to explain this alternative arrangement, and Fig. 4 an end view of the motor.
Referring to the drawings, the reel A revolves on a hollow spindle L, which
passes right through the reel, and is carried by arms D and D', one end however
being only shown in the drawing. The spring G is attached at one end to the reel
as before described, but at its other end it is fixed to a sleeve M, which passes
through the flanged plate I and is also free to revolve on the hollow spindle L.
To this sleeve M I key a water motor N, which may be of the form shown in
Fig. 4. The motor consists of hollow arms, (which form channels for the passage
of the water), radiating from a hollow boss, which arrangement is an adaptation of
the reaction wheel. The water is conveyed to the hollow spindle through channels
previously described, and openings are made in the spindle and sleeve L, for the
passage of the water through the arms of the motor, to the orifice B' in connection

page_text: .
with the hose pipe. By the revolution of the motor, caused by the flowing water, the
sleeve L is revolved, and the spring G compressed to an extent equal to the power
exerted by the water pressure. Attached to the plate I, I pivot pawls O which
engage with corresponding catches on the boss of the motor, whereby the energy
stored in the spring G is, when required, transferred to the reel A, and the backward
revolution of same effected, thereby re-coiling the hose.
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 iş-
First. A hollow hose reel A having an orifice B', a trunnion C, and spindle C
carried by arms D, and D', respectively, with channel for conveying water to the
interior of the reel through the trunnion C, from a stand pipe or hydrant E,
substantially as described.
Secondly. The combination of a hose reel A as above described, with a spring G,
so fixed at its two ends that the action of revolving the reel by uncoiling the hose,
compresses the said spring, the power thus developed being utilized for automatically
re-coiling the hose on the reel, substantially as described.
Thirdly. The combination of a hose reel A with a spring G, spindle C¹, arm D¹,
and bolt D' fixing the spindle C¹ to the arm D¹, one end of the spring G being
attached to the reel, and the other end to a bush fixed on the spindle Č¹, for the
purpose of automatically re-coiling the hose on the reel by the power developed
in drawing off the hose against the spring pressure, the spring G being made
inoperative by untightening the bolt D2, securing the spindle C₁ to the arm D¹, for
the purpose of wheeling the reel on its end flanges, substantially as described.
Fourthly. The combination of a hose reel A revolving on a hollow spindle L
and supported by arms D and D', with a water motor N, spring G, and pawls O,
channels for conveying the water to the said motor, from a stand pipe or hydrant E,
and from thence to an orifice B', such motor by the action of the flowing water
compressing the spring G, and the power thus developed being communicated
through pawls O, to the reel, for the purpose of automatically re-coiling the hose
on said reel, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1893.
I. SIDNEY CRITCHLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.