FR3077000A1 - DEVICE FOR DRIVING FIREFIGHTERS IN HANDLING FIRE PIPES - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (300) for training firefighters in handling fire hoses (380) under pressure, comprising a gas half-connection (330b), an expansion valve (340) having an inlet (341) connected to the half-connection gas, a pressurizing valve (350) connected to an outlet (342) of the expander, and a hydraulic pressurizing half-coupling (360a) connected to the outlet of the expander through the pressurizing valve and for to be connected to a fire hose for pressurizing gas from a gas tank connected to the gas half-connection.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a device intended for training firefighters in the handling of fire hoses during simulated fire attacks.

Prior art

One of the main means used to extinguish a fire is water, brought under pressure to a fire attack site by a pipe and projected towards the flames by a fire hose.

The stiffness of the hose due to the pressure of the water makes it difficult to handle.

Consequently, as illustrated by FIG. 1, the firefighters 150, responsible for handling the lance and the hose are subjected to drives during which they have to bring a hose 130 under water pressure provided at a first end d '' a lance 140

until a website target at course of a progression as illustrated in the figure 1. The second end pipe East connected has a distributor 120 joined at a pump 110 of bet under pressure of water. The distributor and the pump do part of the material

100 of fire fighting ordinarily used in real conditions.

The pump and the distributor can for example equip a fire-fighting vehicle, such as that described in US Pat. No. 7,784,554.

When the progression is done inside a building, the staircases, the angles and the doors form as many obstacles that the firemen must make cross the pipe.

However, the training method described above has the significant disadvantages of water leakage and the damage it can cause, to the point that the method is prohibited on certain sites.

These sites can be buildings not dedicated to

Training, such as historic buildings (museums, castles ...) for which it is however desirable to organize specific training sessions so that firefighters can familiarize themselves with the site.

In addition, the pressurization of the pipes requires the presence of a source of water such as a tank truck or a fire hydrant, and a means of pressurizing the latter, such as a pump, even when maneuvers spraying water is not part of the exercise, which complicates logistics and unnecessarily increases costs.

Statement of the invention

A first objective of the invention is to eliminate the possibility of causing water damage during firefighter training when handling a fire hose under pressure.

A second objective is to simplify the logistics required for the exercise by making unnecessary the presence of a source of water and a means of pressurizing it near the training site.

For these purposes, a first object of the invention is a device intended for the training of firefighters in the handling of fire hoses under pressure, characterized in that it comprises:

- a half gas connection;

- a regulator having an input connected to the gas half-union;

- a pressurization valve connected to an outlet of the regulator; and

- a hydraulic pressurization half-connector connected to the outlet of the regulator through the pressurization valve and intended to be connected to a fire hose for pressurizing gas from a connected gas tank at the gas half-union.

The device can advantageously have the following characteristics:

it may further comprise a pipe isolation device designed to be connected between the hydraulic pressurization half-connector and said pipe,

the isolation device can comprise two hydraulic isolation half-connections, one of the two isolation hydraulic half-connections being complementary to the hydraulic pressurization half-connection so as to be able to form a hydraulic connection; and an isolation valve through which the two hydraulic isolation half-connections are connected,

- it can also include an anti-whip cable designed to link the isolation device to the fire hose,

- it can also include a relief valve connected between the outlet of the pressure reducer and the pressurization valve,

- it may further include a clarinet connecting the regulator to the hydraulic pressurization half-connector, and

- It can include at least two hydraulic pressurization half-connections each connected to the pressure reducer through a pressurization valve.

The invention extends to a kit characterized in that it comprises a transport case and the device intended for training firefighters in the handling of fire hoses, the case containing the gas half-connector, the regulator, and the pressurizing valve.

The kit can advantageously have the following characteristics:

- an orifice can be formed in a wall of the case to allow the pressurizing valve to be connected to the outside of the case and the hydraulic half-connector is connected to the stop valve through the orifice,

- It may include at least two hydraulic pressurization half-couplings each connected to the pressure reducer through a pressurization valve, at least two isolation devices each comprising two hydraulic isolation half-connections, one of which is complementary to one of the hydraulic pressurizing half-fittings and an isolation valve through which the two hydraulic isolation half-fittings are connected, and at least two anti-whip cables designed to be fixed respectively to the at least two isolation devices, and

- It may further comprise a bottle intended to contain pressurized air, constituting the pressurized gas tank, and to be connected to the gas half-connector of the device.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment taken by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional method of firefighter training in the handling of a fire hose;

FIG. 2 illustrates a device for pressurizing air in a fire hose according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a device for pressurizing air from fire hoses according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 illustrates the device of Figure 3 stored in a carrying case.

Description of an embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a device 200 for pressurizing gas from fire hoses according to the invention comprises fluid circuit elements arranged so as to allow a connection between a tank 210 of pressurized gas and a pipe d fire 280 ended with a fire hose 290.

The device comprises a regulator 240 provided with an inlet 241 connected to a gas half-connector 230b and an outlet 242 connected to a hydraulic half-connector 360a through a valve 250 for pressurization.

The pressure tank can for example be designed to contain pressurized air of 300 bars or 200 bars.

The regulator can be designed to lower this pressure to pressures comparable to those at which the fire hoses are pressurized with water, such as 20 bars or 12 bars, or to lower pressures, such as 8 bars or 5 bars.

The gas half-connector 230b is chosen to allow connection to the pressurized gas tank via a second gas half-connector 230a connected to the tank via a stop valve 220. The half gas connection 230b is therefore chosen to be complementary to the gas half-connection 230a to form a gas connection.

The hydraulic half-connector 260a is chosen to allow connection to the fire hose via a second hydraulic half-connector 260b. The hydraulic half-fitting 260a is therefore chosen to be complementary to the hydraulic half-fitting 260b to form a hydraulic fitting. Fire hoses are generally used with standardized fittings, as decided by the national authorities for each country.

These fittings are often symmetrical rotary fittings, such as Guillemin symmetrical fittings called DSP, or even Storz fittings.

More generally, the hydraulic half-connector 260a is not limited to a defined type of connector, provided that it allows connection to a fire hose.

Tubing elements 295 allow the connection of the elements mentioned above between them.

These elements can be flexible, semi-rigid or rigid piping elements without restriction provided that tight and reliable connections can be made.

The use of the device illustrated in Figure 2 is basic and simply requires connecting the pressure tank to the regulator inlet by means of the gas half-connections, connecting the fire hose to the outlet of the regulator by means of the half -hydraulic connections, and open valves 220 and 250 to put the fire hose under air pressure.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a more sophisticated version of the device according to the invention than Figure 2, taking into account the requirements of security, efficiency and versatility when using the device.

In particular, pipe isolation devices and devices for securing the latter can be added to the basic device in the figure.

2. In addition, the device can be adapted to pressurize several pipes in parallel, including pipes of different diameters.

FIG. 3 illustrates a device 300 for pressurizing air on fire hoses according to

1'invention, allowing to pressurize one or more fire hoses 380 by connecting said hoses to a bottle 310 of pressurized air.

It should be noted that other types of gas could be used instead of

1'air.

The device comprises a regulator 340 provided with an inlet 341 connected to the bottle 310 by means of two complementary gas half-connections 330a and 330b and a valve 320.

The valve 320 can be opened or closed by means of a tap 325.

An outlet 342 of the regulator is connected to a distribution device, here a clarinet 342.

It should be noted that the clarinet could be replaced by another type of hydraulic assembly fulfilling the function of distributor.

Two hydraulic pressurization half-connections 360a are connected to the clarinet, two valves 350

put under pressure allowing isolating, respectively, the two fittings hydraulic 36 0a of regulator. A valve discharge 332 went up sure the clarinet. The clarinet allows connect, with a small footprint, leaving the regulator at many

hydraulic half-fittings and therefore several fire hoses.

Thus, each hydraulic half-connector can be individually connected to the outlet of the regulator by one of the pressure relief valves, several pipes can be pressurized independently.

The function of the relief valve is to safely lower the pressure inside the clarinet.

It is possible to connect a fire hose 380 provided with a hydraulic half-connector 360b directly to one of the hydraulic half-connectors 360a.

Alternatively, an isolation device 365 can be interposed between the half-connector 360b of the pipe and the hydraulic half-connector 360a of the device 300.

The isolation device 365 can comprise two hydraulic isolation half-couplings 366a and 366b connected through an isolation valve 367.

One of the two hydraulic isolation half-fittings, 366b in FIG. 3, is chosen to be complementary to at least one of the hydraulic half-fittings 360a for pressurization.

The other of the two hydraulic isolation half-fittings, 366a in FIG. 3, is chosen to be complementary to a half-fitting 360b usually fitted with fire hoses, or, more generally, chosen in the same way as the hydraulic half-connector 260a described above.

When an isolation device 365 is used, the air pressurization of a pipe is effected by connecting the isolation device between the pipe and the clarinet, then by opening a corresponding pressurization valve 350 and the isolation valve 367 of the isolation device.

After pressurization, the two valves are closed and the assembly comprising the pipe 380 and the isolation device 365 can be separated from the pressurization device 300 while keeping the pipe under pressure. Thus, the pressurizing device 300 can be reused to pressurize another pipe, possibly after having been transported to another location of the training site.

An imperfect connection of the isolation device 365 to the pipe 380 can pose a danger when the pipe is under pressure: in the event of involuntary disconnection, there is a risk of projection at high speed of the isolation device.

In order to deal with this possibility, a 370 anti-whip cable designed to be attached to the isolation device and to the pipe can be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a loop of the anti-whip cable can be passed around the half-connector 366a of the anti-whip device and another loop around the half-connector 360b providing the fire hose 380. Thus, the hose and the isolation device can be secured and the danger associated with the projection of the isolation device is greatly limited.

The device 300 for pressurizing air can be designed so that it can be easily transported by means of a transport case 490 provided with a handle 492, thus forming a kit 400 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The kit 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a transport case 490 containing the compressed air bottle 310, the gas half-connections 330a and 330b, the regulator 340, and the clarinet 345.

Spaces are also provided in the case to accommodate isolation devices 365 and 365 'each equipped with a 370 anti-whip cable.

One wall of the case has orifices 494 through which the hydraulic half-connections 360a for pressurizing air, situated outside the case, are connected to the clarinet and to the pressure-setting valves 350.

It should be noted that the hydraulic half-fittings 360a can be moved away from or closer to the orifices 494 in order to facilitate the operation of connecting the pipe to them. The positions of the hydraulic half-fittings 360a can be maintained by means of a locking device 496.

Piping elements 395 allow the connection of the elements mentioned above.

These piping elements can be flexible, semi-rigid or rigid elements without restriction provided that tight and reliable connections can be made.

Isolation devices

365 and 365 'may include identical half-fittings 366b designed to be connected to identical half-fittings 360a, and different half-fittings 366a and 366a' to be connected to pipes provided with different half-fittings 360b.

This in practice makes it possible to respond to various training scenarios involving, for example, fire hoses of different diameters or fitted with fittings according to different standards.

Claims (11)

1. Device (200, 300) for training firefighters in handling fire hoses (280; 380) under pressure, characterized in that it comprises: - a half gas connection (230b, 330b); - a regulator (240, 340) having an inlet (241, 341) connected to the gas half-connector; - a pressurizing valve (250, 350) connected to an outlet (242, 342) of the regulator; and - a hydraulic pressurizing half-connector (260a, 360a) connected to the outlet of the pressure reducer through the pressurizing valve and intended to be connected to a fire hose for pressurizing gas from a gas tank connected to the gas half-connector. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device further comprises a device for isolating (365) the pipe designed to be connected between the hydraulic pressurization half-connector (360a) and said pipe (380 ). 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the isolation device comprises: - two hydraulic isolation half-connections (366a, 366b), one of the two hydraulic isolation half-connections (366b) being complementary to the hydraulic pressurization half-connection (360a) so as to be able to form a hydraulic connection; and - an isolation valve (367) through which the two hydraulic isolation half-connections (366a, 366b) are connected. 4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the device further comprises an anti-whip cable (370) designed to link the isolation device (365) to the fire hose (380). 5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device further comprises a relief valve (332) connected between the outlet (342) of the regulator (340) and the pressurizing valve (350). 6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises a clarinet (345) connecting the regulator (340) to the hydraulic pressurization half-connector (360a). 7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least two hydraulic pressurizing half-couplings (360a) each connected to the pressure reducer through a pressurizing valve (350 ). 8. Kit (400) comprising a carrying case (490) and the device (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the case contains the gas half-connector (330b), the regulator ( 340), and the pressurizing valve (350). 9. The kit according to claim 8, characterized in that: - An orifice (494) formed in a wall of the case makes it possible to connect the pressurizing valve (350) to the outside of the case; and - the hydraulic half-connector (360a) is connected to the stop valve through the orifice (494). 10. The kit according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the kit includes: - at least two hydraulic pressurizing half-connections (360a) each connected to the pressure reducer through a pressurizing valve (350); - at least two isolation devices (365, 365 ') each comprising two hydraulic isolation half-connections (366b, 366a) one of which is complementary to one of the hydraulic pressurization half-connections (360a ) and an isolation valve (367) through which the two hydraulic isolation half-couplings (366b, 366a) are connected; and - at least two anti-whip cables (370) designed to be fixed to at least two isolation devices. 11. The kit according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the kit also comprises a bottle intended to contain pressurized air, constituting the pressurized gas tank, and to be connected to the gas half-connector (230b; 330b) of the device.