FR2561545A1 - Hose-nozzle, especially for fire fighting - Google Patents

Abstract

Hose-nozzle, especially for fire fighting. A hose nozzle according to the invention is characterised in that the tubular body 10 and the outlet sleeve 15 form between them a hydraulic annular control chamber 16 which is supplied by the liquid travelling through the tubular body 10, the said hydraulic annular control chamber allowing the discharge, towards the outside, of a leak rate 21 associated with a means 22 for regulating this rate, in order to adjust the hydraulic pressure in the said chamber 16, in opposition to a return spring 33 of the sleeve, and thus to define the axial position of this sleeve 15 and of the turbine 40 which it carries, with respect to an annular outlet orifice E formed between the diffuser 12 and the annular seat 10B.

Description

"Launches in particular for fire fighting"
The present invention relates in particular - although not exclusively - the lances for fighting fires.

 In general, the lances in question comprise a body of generally tubular shape having at its front end an annular seat with which cooperates, in approach and in distance, a diffuser mounted axially movable inside the body, and intended to adjust the flow rate of the liquid jet, an outlet sleeve surrounding the body at the front thereof mounted axially movable on the body, this sleeve being intended to regulate the shape of the jet, and a turbine mounted at the front of the sleeve outlet, which is likely to be driven in rotation by the jet to impart wide distribution thereto.

 Such lances are therefore capable of delivering a jet of liquid, the flow rate of which can be regulated by the axial displacement of the diffuser relative to the annular seat, while the shape of the jet can be either straight or broadly distributed depending on the position of the sleeve. outlet and therefore of the associated turbine.

Such a lance is described in particular in the patent for
United States of America No 3,387,791 issued June 11, 1968 (GG ALLENBAUGH.JR) according to which the adjustment of the flow rate of the jet is obtained by axial displacement of a discharge tube whose front end forms an annular seat capable of cooperating rer with a fixed diffuser, so that the annular opening formed between the two bodies in question can be more or less large, and therefore, thus define the volume of the liquid delivered.

 To obtain the adjustment of the flow rate, it is mentioned in the above patent, that the discharge tube carries a cam cooperating with a light of helical profile formed in a ring; the axial displacement of the discharge tube being obtained by rotation of the ring.

 As regards the shape of the jet of liquid, the tubular body carries at the front a ring and a turbine, the said ring having a cam capable of cooperating with a light of helical profile formed on the external surface of the body, so that the rotation of the ring generates a translation of the latter and of the turbine associated therewith; since the turbine can therefore be moved towards or away from the annular orifice formed by the diffuser and the discharge tube, it can form a jet of liquid with wide diffusion or a straight jet.

 I1 was observed gaps in the current lances in particular from the point of view of operator safety, and also from the point of view of robustness.

 In fact, when put into use ot the various operations must be carried out quickly, the operator is not able to determine, before the opening of a stop valve located at the rear of the body tubular, on the one hand, the shape of the jet, and, on the other hand, the flow rate of the liquid since, most often, the aforementioned members determining the flow rate and the shape of the jet, have remained in the position that they occupied during a previous use.

 I1 can result in serious accidents in the case, for example, or the lance delivers a straight jet on electrical conductors still energized, or generally, when such a straight jet does not respond to the desired result.

 Such material being subject to shock during handling, it must therefore be robust in order to resist these shocks.

 However, in current lances, the turbine, given its structure and light construction, is not immune to relatively rapid deterioration, so that the lance is put out of service the time required for repair.

 The present invention relates to lances of the kind considered, and its object is to remedy the drawbacks succinctly set out in the foregoing.

 A lance according to the invention, in particular for fighting fires, comprising a tubular body having at its front end, an annular seat with which cooperates in approaching and moving away a diffuser mounted axially movable inside the body and intended to regulate the flow rate of the liquid jet, an outlet sleeve surrounding the body at the front thereof, mounted axially mobile on the body, this sleeve being intended to adjust the shape of the jet, and a turbine mounted at the front of the outlet sleeve, which is capable of being rotated by the jet to impart wide diffusion thereto, is characterized in that the body and the sleeve provide between them an annular hydraulic control chamber which is supplied by the liquid passing through the body, said chamber being allowed to discharge, towards the outside, a leakage flow rate associated with a means for adjusting this flow rate, to adjust the hydraulic pressure in said control chamber to the enc ontre of a return spring of the sleeve, and thus define, the axial position of this sleeve and of the turbine which it carries, relative to an annular outlet orifice formed between the diffuser and the annular seat.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, the sleeve forms a support for the turbine, which for this purpose has a rear section having an inner surface adapted to surround the sleeve, and a front face - in the extension of the aforementioned rear part - in which are arranged suitably oriented fins, while means are provided for axially immobilizing the turbine on the sleeve while allowing a free rotation thereof.

 According to another characteristic, the diffuser is carried by a tubular element capable of sliding in this body, said tubular element being, for this purpose capable of cooperating with an eccentric associated with an operating button.

The adjustment of the flow rate of the liquid jet can thus be modified at will by controlling the axial displacement of the tubular element and hence of the diffuser, so that the section of the annular passage formed between the diffuser and the body can more or less less important.

 A lance according to the invention has, compared to currently known lances, a certain number of advantages among which one can cite an increased safety for the operators, indeed, during a use, as of the opening of the valve, the lance automatically delivers a jet of liquid in wide diffusion, which decreases as the liquid supply under pressure from the annular hydraulic control chamber.

 The operator therefore has the material time to maintain the shape of the jet, either in wide diffusion, or on the contrary to make an adjustment, by modifying the leak rate -to obtain a desired form of jet.

 As a result, the operator cannot be surprised by the shape of the jet, nor inadvertently direct it on conductors still under tension. In conjunction with increased safety for the operator, a tool according to the invention has the advantage of more convenient handling in order to respond to all specific cases.

 Furthermore, the turbine forming a cylindrical body of revolution, has a robust construction capable of absorbing the various shocks that may occur during handling.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the description which follows, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings in which
Figure 1 shows in elevation a lance according to the invention
Figure 2 is a side view of the lance shown in Figure 1 on the turbine side
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lance along line III-III of Figure 2, the lance being adjusted to deliver a straight jet of liquid
Figure 4 is a view similar to the previous one, the jet of liquid delivered being widely distributed; ;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view passing through the line VV of Figure 2 and showing the manual control of the diffuser
Figure 6 is a detail view of the assembly allowing the rotation of the turbine on the sleeve
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the front face of the turbine
Figure 8 is a partial view of the manual control of the axial displacement of the diffuser
FIG. 9 partially shows an embodiment of an automatic control in axial displacement of the diffuser.

 According to the embodiment chosen and shown in the figures, a lance according to the invention comprises a tubular body generally indicated by 10, having a rear part 10A adapted to be connected to a pipe not shown in the drawings, and a front part forming a 1OB annular seat, with which cooperates in approaching and moving away, a diffuser indicated as a whole by 12.

 Between its rear part and its front part, the tubular body 10 comprises a housing suitable for receiving a valve 13 having a plug 13A rotatably mounted, being able to occupy an open or closed position at will.

 Towards the front of the lance, the tubular body 10 is surrounded by a sleeve 15 which is axially movable on surfaces 10C 10D provided for this purpose on the outer surface of the tubular body.

 The aforementioned sleeve 15 is axially movable on the body from the rear to the front under the impulse of an annular hydraulic control chamber 16 formed between body and sleeve which is supplied by the liquid admitted to circulate in the lance, and this, by means of a passage 17, formed in a tubular element 19 carrying by cross-pieces 19A with a small front section, the diffuser 12, and a passage 10E formed in the body 10 opposite the passage 17.

 The annular hydraulic control chamber 16 is also in communication, in the embodiment shown, by a channel 20, formed in the body 10 with a leakage rate associated with a means for adjusting this rate.

The leakage flow consists of a channel 218 disposed downstream of the means for adjusting this flow, constituted here by a needle screw 22 of which a frustoconical end 22A cooperates with the upper edge forming the seat of a passage 10F formed in the tubular body; ; ee passage 10F itself being in com munisau lon by a chamber 10G with the aforementioned channel 20
the annular hydraulic control chamber 16 is formed between the outer surface of the tubular body 102 1a on the inner face of the sleeve 15, and by two shoulders OH, 15A, formed respectively in the tubular body 10 and the sleeve 15. Joints 30, 31, associated with the sleeve 15 seal between the latter and the tubular body by co-operation with the outer surface of the latter.

 The sleeve 15 is subjected to the action of a return means constituted by a spring 33 with helical coils, one end of which bears on the face of the shoulder 15A which is opposite to the hydraulic control chamber 16, and l 'other end on a face 1OI of the lOD scope.

 A turbine indicated overall by 40 is carried by the sleeve 15 on which it is mounted freely rotating.

 As shown, the turbine 40 comprises a front face 40A with a plurality of teeth 40B regularly spaced and machined in the mass, so as to form therebetween (see in particular in FIGS. 2 and 7) recesses 40C formed by two walls 40D , 40E, vis-à-vis parallel, orientation substantially tangent to the outside diameter of the diffuser 12, and a bottom wall 40F which has an oblique surface diverging from the axis of the turbine to the outside.

 Furthermore, the internal face 40I of the teeth 40Bt has an inclined plane also diverging from the axis of the turbine towards the outside but at an angle more acute than the bottom walls 40F.

 The front face of the turbine 40 is extended towards the rear by a generally cylindrical section of revolution 40G adapted to surround the external surface of the sleeve; the turbine is immobilized axially with respect to the sleeve, while being freely rotatable thereon. To this end, - and as illustrated in particular in FIG. 6, the turbine has two diametrically opposite passages 40H in which are engaged two rollers 45 of axes perpendicular to the lance and which, at one end cooperate with a circular groove 15B formed in the section 40G of the turbine; these rollers are simply held in place by a ring advantageously of O-section 47 made of elastic material.

 As regards the adjustment of the flow rate of the liquid, which is obtained by axial displacement of the diffuser 12, in the tubular body 10, the latter carries a flow variator 50 (FIGS. 5 and 8) mounted rotating on the tubular body; this flow variator is advantageously arranged along a m8- transverse plane that the needle valve 22 regulating the leakage flow, by being angularly offset with respect thereto.

 The aforementioned flow variator 50 comprises a knurled button 50A extended by a rod 50B rotatably mounted in a ring 50C associated with the tubular body, said rod being itself extended by a cylindrical section of revolution 50D carrying a seal 50E and, in part terminal an eccentric 50F adapted to cooperate with an oblong lumen 50G formed in the tubular element 19 carrying the diffuser.

 The flow rate regulator 50 is immobilized relative to the tubular body by pressing the faces of the cylindrical section of revolution 50D on, respectively: the ring SOC, and the tubular element 19.

 The tubular element 19 is therefore capable of axial displacement by the operation of the button 50; it is also immobilized in rotation by its cooperation with the eccentric, so that the passages 17, 182 previously cited, are always opposite, the passage 17 formed in the tubular element being for this purpose provided oblong parallel to the axis of the tubular body.

 In order to allow the operator to know the theoretical flow at a given pressure, the button 50A of the flow variator 50, carries a mark (not shown) which, in combination with a scale (also not shown) provided on the body tubular makes it possible to memorize the angular position of the eccentric 50F and starting: from the tubular element 19. It is thus possible to define the spacing E comprised between the diffuser 12 and the annular seat lOB, and to know the theoretical flow rate of the lance to a given pressure.

 It will be observed that the flow variator 50 being removable, it is possible to replace an eccentric by another with a different profile to obtain another flow range.

 When the lance is not used and the valve 13A of the valve 13 is closed, the liquid does not circulate in the lance, the hydraulic control chamber 16 is not supplied with liquid under pressure; the expanding return spring 33 brings the sleeve 15 and the associated turbine 40 backwards into a withdrawal position not shown in the drawings, but which in fact corresponds to a minimum volume of the annular hydraulic control chamber 16.

 When the lance is put into action, which must generally be carried out quickly, several scenarios may arise, it being understood that, in all cases, the sleeve 15 and the turbine 40 are in the withdrawn position, because that the annular hydraulic control chamber is not supplied with liquid under pressure, and by the action of the return spring 33.

 If the needle valve regulating the leakage flow is closed, the annular hydraulic chamber of the flow adjustment is not allowed to discharge a leakage flow to the outside, at the opening of the valve 13 the liquid jet will spurt out in wide diffusion given the recessed position of the sleeve 15 and of the turbine 40 relative to the annular outlet space E formed between the diffuser 12 and the annular seat lOB. If the needle valve 22 is kept closed, the chamber 16 is supplied with pressurized liquid so that the sleeve 15 and the turbine will be moved axially forwards beyond the annular space E, which will have the effect gradually modify the shape of the liquid jet, which, when widely distributed, will be transformed into a straight jet (Figure 3).

 If, as soon as the lance is put into action, the operator wishes to keep a jet of liquid with wide diffusion, he opens the needle valve 22 so that the annular hydraulic control chamber discharges to the outside via the channels 20, 21; the pressure in said chamber no longer being sufficient to overcome the force of the return spring 33, the sleeve and the turbine remain in the rear position.

 Note that the operator is able to adjust the shape of the jet of liquid as soon as the lance is put into action, simply by observing whether the latter discharges liquid towards the outside.

 In the case where the operator wishes the jet of liquid to have both a relatively long range and a wide distribution (FIG. 4), he acts on the needle valve 22 to regulate the leak rate of the annular chamber 16 and thus place the sleeve 15 and the turbine in an axial position ap appropriate to the annular outlet space E.

 In addition to these possibilities of adjusting the shape of the jet, there is the possibility of regulating the flow rate of the liquid delivered.

 To this end, the operator can act on the flow variator 50, which by its operation makes it possible to drive axially inside the tubular body the tubular element 19 and the diffuser 12.

 As for the turbine 40, monobloc, and advantageously produced by machining, it is capable of improving the quality of the wide distribution. Effectively the jet of liquid exiting through the annular space E, attacks the inclined faces 40, 40E, of the teeth, which causes it to rotate ensuring a spraying of the liquid thanks to the centrifugal force, however in that the inclined bottom wall 40F allows wide diffusion, and that the internal faces 40I of said teeth allow; thanks to their judicious inclination, the projection of part of the liquid in the form of a frustoconical jet more acute than the broad diffusion therefore ensuring an intermediate range between the straight jet and the broad diffusion.

 When the valve 13 is closed, the sleeve 15 and the turbine 40 automatically return to the withdrawn position since the chamber 16 is no longer supplied with liquid under pressure, the return spring 33 can relax and thus cause axial displacement of the sleeve and the turbine backwards.

 As a variant, a valve such as above could be equipped with an automatic device for adjusting the flow in place of the manually controlled flow variator.

 According to one embodiment of an aeronautical device for adjusting the flow rate, represented in FIG. 9, the front end part of the body 10 internally includes stop means for the end of a spring 60 whose other end cooperates with a corresponding edge 61 of the tubular element 19 carrying the diffuser 12, the abovementioned abutment means being able to be formed by an annular shoulder 62, or also by several longitudinal ribs.

The spring 60 being adapted to define a maximum forward movement of the diffuser 12 following the pressure exerted by the fluid on the latter, it is understood that in the event of a pressure drop the spring 60 brings the diffuser 12 backwards , so that the spacing E of the annular outlet orifice can fluctuate as a function of variations in fluid pressure, and thus maintain the desired shape of the fluid jet.

 It should be emphasized that a lance according to the invention represents a factor of safety for the operator because during the actuation there is an impossibility of directly obtaining a straight throw of great range, which limits so notable the risk of accidents. Furthermore, it is specified that the sprayed fluid can be water, or water with an emulsifier added, depending on the nature of the disaster to be fought.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment chosen and shown, which is on the contrary subject to modifications, without however departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus the means for adjusting the leak rate could be located remotely and be in communication with the channel 20 in any suitable manner.

Claims (12)

 1. Lance, in particular for fire fighting, comprising a body of generally tubular shape having at its front end, an annular seat with which cooperates in approach and away a diffuser mounted axially movable inside the body, and intended for adjust the flow rate of the liquid jet, an outlet sleeve surrounding the body at the front thereof, mounted axially movable on the body, this sleeve being intended to adjust the shape of the jet, and a turbine mounted at the front of the outlet sleeve which is capable of being rotated by the jet to impart a wide diffusion thereto, lance characterized in that the tubular body (10) and the outlet sleeve (15) provide a chamber between them annular hydraulic control (16) which is supplied by the liquid passing through the body, said annular hydraulic control chamber being allowed to discharge, towards the outside, a leakage flow (21) associated with an adjustment means (22) of this flow, p or adjust the hydraulic presson in said chamber (16) against a return spring (33) of the sleeve, and thus define the axial position of this sleeve (15) and of the turbine (40) that it bears with respect to an annular outlet orifice (E) formed between the diffuser (12) and the annular seat (lOB).  2. Lance according to XPevendication 1, characterized in that the annular hydraulic control chamber (16) is formed around the body (10) inside the sleeve (15) and is defined between shoulders respectively formed in the body and the sleeve.  Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular hydraulic control chamber (16) is supplied by means of an orifice (18) formed in the body (10), and of an orifice correspondence (18) formed in a tubular element (19) carrying the diffuser.  4. Lance according to any one of the prececlen'ces claims, characterized in that the leakage flow (21) is provided in the tubular body (10) and it is in communication through a needle valve (22) with the chamber hydraulic annular control (16) by means of a channel (20) formed in the tubular body.  5. Lance according to claim 4, characterized in that the needle valve (22) is oriented radially relative to the tubular body, and the needle (22A) which it comprises is capable of cooperating with the upper edge forming seat of the passage (loF) formed in the tubular body (10).  6. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular body (10) and the sleeve (15) form between them a housing suitable for receiving the return spring (33) this housing being provided at the 'front of the body, beyond the annular hydraulic control chamber (16).  7. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turbine (40), in one piece, comprises a front face (40A) with a plurality of oriented teeth (40B), and a rear part (40G) capable of be engaged on the sleeve (15) and to be associated therewith axially while being free to rotate  8. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turbine (40) is associated with the sleeve (15) by its rear part using rolling means (45).  9. Lance according to claim 8, characterized in that the rolling means consist of at least two diametrically opposed rollers (45) which are coupled in rotation with the turbine (40) and able to cooperate with a circular groove formed in the sleeve (15), said rollers being held by an elastic ring (47).  10. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth (40B) which comprises the turbine (40) are delimited by lateral faces (40D), 40E), inclined in a direction substantially tangent to the seat annular (LOB), by a bottom (40F) diverging from the axis of the turbine (40) towards the outside, and by an internal wall (40I) also diverging from the axis of the turbine towards the outside, but at a sharper angle than the bottom wall.  11. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element (19) carrying the diffuser (12) is axially movable inside the tubular body (10) by means of a variator flow (50) comprising an eccentric (50F) capable of cooperating with a light (50G) formed for this purpose in said tubular element (10).  12. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needle valve (22) and the flow variator (50) are located in the same transverse plane of the tubular body (10) by being angularly offset.  13. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (10) comprises at its front end portion and its inner surface abutment means (62) for one end of a spring (60), of which the other end cooperates with the tubular element (19) carrying the diffuser (12).