AU2009200313A1 - Foam inducting jet nozzle - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98 AUSTRALIA Patents Act, 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: Orion Safety Industries Pty Limited (ACN 002 538 696) ACTUAL INVENTOR: MEYER, David Jeffrey ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: Peter Maxwell and Associates Level 6 60 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 INVENTION TITLE: FOAM INDUCTING JET NOZZLE DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO: 2008 900 437 - I February 2008 Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us: mAdocs\20091002\160401 .doc 2 This invention relates to nozzles for fire fighting equipment and more particularly to a foam inducting jet nozzle. Foam inducting fog nozzles have been available for approximately twenty years. In recent years they have been widely used in Australian mines. 5 In this application, problems have been experienced due to the weight of the nozzles, moving parts and build up of mineral deposits that restrict passages in the nozzle as well as jamming moving parts. It is an object of the invention to provide a lighter weight foam inducting nozzle having no moving parts. 10 According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a foam inducting nozzle having no moving parts comprising a foam inductor body having an inlet coupling adapted to te connected to a source of pressurised water, and an outlet having a branch pipe, a foam concentrate inlet to the body, a foam mixing tube extending from the body within the branch pipe and a jet 15 nozzle at the end of the branch pipe, the arrangement being such that in use, high pressure water flowing through the nozzle creates a low pressure region in the foam inductor body which draws !n the foam concentrate through the inlet which mixes with the water to form a foam concentrate mixture which is discharged from the foam mixing tube into the water leaving the branch pipe. 20 In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I is a perspective view of a foam inducting nozzle according to one embodiment of the invention, 25 Fig. 2 is an exploded view of tt e foam inducting nozzle shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the foam inducting nozzle shown 30/01/09 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. The foam inducting nozzle 10 shown in the drawings includes a foam inductor body 11 having an inlet coupling 12 which includes a coupling bush 15 and a coupling nut 14 for connecting the foam inducting nozzle to a source of 5 pressurised water. The foam inductor body 11 has a foam concentrate inlet 16 which in this instance has a metering orifice 17 which seats on the annular shoulder 18. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the foam concentrate inlet enters into the foam inductor body 11 at right angles to the axis of the foam inductor nozzle 10 and 10 has an end portion 19 which extends along the axis of the nozzle 11. At the downstream end of the foam inductor body 11 there is a branch pipe 21 within which a foam mixing tube 20 is located. The branch tube 21 has a flow conditioner 22 and a jet nozzle 23 at its outer end. The foam concentrate inlet pipe 24 has a proportioner jet 25. In use, the 15 majority of the water flows around the inductor pipes 24 and 19 and the metering orifice 17 regulates the flow of foam concentrate into the nozzle. Water at high pressure (greater than 400 kPa) enters the coupling 12 and as it flows through the foam inductor body 11 creates a low pressure regent within the body and this draws in fire fighting foam concentrate through 20 the inlet 16 and mixes it with water at a predetermined metering rate and then discharges the foam concentrate mixture at the outlet of the nozzle where the pressure is low. The foam concentrate mixes with the majority of the water flow after the flow leaves the outlet of the nozzle. The foam inducting jet nozzle as described above has a number of 25 advantages. For example, there are no moving parts that can be jammed by dirt or mineral deposits or subjected to vibration on a moving vehicle. The foam 30/01/09 4 inducting nozzle is of simple construction that can be easily serviced in the field and it is of lighter weight than a similar foam inducting fog nozzle. Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. 30/01/09

Claims (2)

1. A foam inducting nozzle having no moving parts comprising a foam inductor body having an inlet coupling adapted to be connected to a source of pressurised water, and an outlet having a branch pipe, a foam concentrate inlet to the body, a foam mixing tube extending from the body within the branch pipe and a jet nozzle at the end of the branch pipe, the arrangement being such that in use, high pressure water flowing through the nozzle creates a low pressure region in the foam inductor body which draws in the foam concentrate through the inlet which mixes with the water to form a foam concentrate mixture which is discharged from the foam mixing tube into the water leaving the branch pipe.

2. A foam inducting nozzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 30 day of January 2009 Orion Safety Industries Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL AND ASSOCIATES 30/01/09