GB2249778A

GB2249778A - Automatic hose reel : controlling rotation

Info

Publication number: GB2249778A
Application number: GB9122461A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glyn Ord; Peter Joyce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-25
Filing date: 1991-10-23
Publication date: 1992-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-23
Also published as: GB2249778B; GB9023254D0; GB9122461D0

Abstract

For an automatic hose reel, where reel unwinding turns on a water supply valve, a releasable device for preventing reel rewinding, and thus preventing unwanted valve turn-off, comprises a toothed plate 30 rotatable with the reel 11, and spring-biased plunger 31 which abuts one of the plates' tooth surfaces 34 to prevent (clockwise) reel rewinding. To allow rewinding, plunger 31 is retracted using key-operated lock (36, Fig.2). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Safety interlock for automatic hose reel DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a safety interlock for an automatic hose reel.

Wall mounted automatic fire hose reels are in common use. They comprise a spool on which a flexible hose, with nozzle valve, is wound, which reel is mounted for rotation and water is fed to the hose by way of a valve mechanism. Rotation of the spool acts to open the valve of the valve mechanism thereby supplying the hose with water from a supply line. The valve mechanism is such that the valve is fully open after one rotation and continued rotation in the opening direction has no further affect. Thus water is instantly available to the hose without having to operate a main isolating valve provided in the supply line for servicing requirements.

However, it has been discovered that the arrangement opposes a potential safety hazard insofar as the water supply to the hose could be inadvertently cut off and in a way which could be undetectable leading the user to think that the water supply was exhausted.

In use the operator of the nozzle may be out of view of the reel and slack in the hose may well provide an obstruction to evacuation. For example, in a hospital slack in the line the may obstruct a corridor floor and thereby inhibit exit for patients in wheelchairs or being pushed in beds. For such a scenario is it easy to envisage the slack being wound back onto the reel to clear the corridor floor and here lies a problem which has not been hitherto realised.

That reverse rotation will start to close off the valve and a little over one revolution will close it off completely.

The present invention resides in the realisation of the problem as well as the solution to it.

Perhaps the obvious solution is to redesign the valve mechanism to avoid this problem although it is not immediately apparent how this could be achieved in a manner allowing subsequent closure of the valve since access to the valve is restricted in view of it being at the centre of the reel and largely enclosed by it. The present invention aims to provide a solution.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety interlock for a wall mounted automatic hose reel comprising a mechanism which allows substantially unrestrained rotation of the reel in one direction to play out the hose but inhibits rotation in the other direction for rewinding unless the mechanism is disabled.

The mechanism we have in mind may be retrofitted to existing wall mounted automatic fire hose reels in a simple and economic manner. Such a mechanism is conveniently embodied by a one way ratchet using such as a spring-loaded plunger cooperating with an abutment member mounted for rotation with the hose reel. The abutment member conveniently has alternate ramp and abutment surfaces with the abutment surface cooperating with the spring-loaded plunger to prevent reverse rotation. It is preferred to have several abutment surfaces disposed around a periphery of the abutment member in order to minimise the degree of reverse rotation which is allowed before the abutment comes into play. Conveniently the abutment surfaces may be disposed at 450 intervals around the periphery of the abutment member.

Disabling of the mechanism is preferably by way of key usually held by an authorised person such as a fire officer. Preferably the key is of profiled type and cooperating with plungers of a barrel lock. More preferably the key is disposed radially outwardly of the hose reel for convenience of access by the authorised holder. In one embodiment the spring-loaded plunger is disposed radially and one preferred option is to have the spring-loaded plunger act horizontally.

More particularly the abutment member is constructed as an adapter plate for securing to the hose reel by way of existing threaded connections.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, and Figure 2 is a plan view.

A well known wall mounted fire hose reel comprises a spool 11 on which a flexible hose (not shown) is wound. A water supply line 20 has an isolating valve at 21 but water to the hose is further controlled by a valve mechanism with the hose retracted the valve 23 is closed. Rotation of the spool to unwind the hose (anti-clockwise rotation) gives rise to actuation of a valve flow control member with resulting opening of the valve to supply water to the hose. The hose has a further manually actuable flow control valve of nozzle outlet actuated by rotation of the spool 11.

According to the present invention a safety interlock is provided to prevent reverse rotation of the spool which could cut off a water supply unintentionally. The illustrated embodiment of safety interlock comprises an adaptor plate 30 which is secure to the spool 11 for rotation with it. The plate 30 is provided with a plurality teeth 32 spaced at 450 intervals. Furthermore a spring-loaded plunger 31 is positioned horizontally to act against abutment surfaces 34 formed by the teeth 32 to act as a ratchet thus preventing reverse (clockwise) rotation of the spool.

To rewind the hose after use the plunger 31 is retracted by way of a key operated retraction member acting at lock 36 which is forward facing. Then the adaptor plate 30 can move unimpeded and the hose may be rewound. The retracting member may latch in its retracted position, with key operation to reset, or may spring back on release of the key.

Claims

1. A safety interlock for wall mounted automatic hose reel comprising a mechanism which allows substantially unrestrained rotation of the reel in one direction to play out the hose but inhibits rotation in the other direction for rewinding unless the mechanism is disabled.

2. A safety interlock as claimed in claim 1 in which the mechanism comprises a one way ratchet.

3. A safety interlock as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the mechanism comprises a spring loaded plunger cooperating with an abutment member mounted for rotation with the hose reel.

4. A safety interlock as claimed in claim 3 in which the abutment member has alternate ramp and abutment surfaces with the abutment surface cooperating with the spring-loaded plunger to prevent reverse rotation.

5. A safety interlock as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which there are several abutment surfaces disposed around a periphery of the abutment member.

6. A safety interlock as claimed in any one of claims 3, 4 or 5 in which the abutment surfaces are disposed at 450 intervals around the periphery of the abutment member.

7. A safety interlock as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which the spring-loaded plunger is disposed radially.

8. A safety interlock as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 in which the spring-loaded plunger acts horizontally.

9. A safety interlock as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 in which the abutment is constructed as an adapter plate for securing to the hose reel by way of existing threaded connections.

10. A safety interlock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a key for disabling the mechanism.

11. A safety interlock as claimed in claim 10 in which the key is of profiled type and cooperable with plungers of a barrel lock.

12. A safety interlock as claimed in any one of claims 10 or 11 in which access for the key is radially outwardly of the hose reel.

13. A safety interlock constructed and arranged an adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.