GB2549396A

GB2549396A - Fire-fighting lance

Info

Publication number: GB2549396A
Application number: GB1704815.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cristanini Adolfo
Original assignee: CRISTANINI SpA
Current assignee: CRISTANINI SpA
Priority date: 2016-04-13
Filing date: 2017-03-27
Publication date: 2017-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-27
Also published as: SE1650501A1; NL2018684A; DE202017102090U1; NL2018684B1; FR3050118A1; SE539812C2; GB201704815D0; FR3050118B1; GB2549396B

Abstract

A fire-fighting lance comprising at least one first duct 18; a second supply duct 8 that includes a misting nozzle (9, figure 2); a first diverting valve 10 having a first and a second outlet (12,13, figure 2) respectively connected to the first and to the second ducts and a first selecting means 14 to convey a pressurized fluid selectively and alternatively towards the first or second outlets; a third supply duct (5, figure 2); and second selecting means 19 to alternatively and selectively convey the fluid flowing from the first outlet 12 towards the first supply duct 18 or towards the third supply duct 5. The lance further comprises a cylindrical slider (40, figure 3a) configured so as to intercept the jet flowing from the first duct 18 to modify the width thereof.

Description

FIRE-FIGHTING LANCE DESCRIPTION

Field of application

The present invention is generally applicable to the technical field of fire-fighting systems and equipment, and it particularly relates to a fire-fighting lance for the supply and pointing of a liquid flow on flames.

Background of the invention

Numerous embodiments of fire-fighting lances are known. In particular, the patent CN201939919 whose owner is Shaanxi Yinhe Fire Fighting Technology and Equipment Co. Ltd describes a lance having a handle, a controlling lever acting upon an inner valve for the selective supply of a flow of water to be directed on the fire, an inlet of pressurized water and a duct with an opening for the exit of the flow of water. The duct is provided with a nozzle to spray the water, placed near the opening for the exit of the duct.

An evident drawback of the known solution is the fact that a single duct with a single nozzle for the supply, even if it is adjustable, it may not be suitable for different types of fires. Moreover, even during the extinguishment of the fire thereof the optimal conditions of water supply may vary rapidly during the extinguishment . Therefore, a further drawback of the known solution is the fact that it does not allow a fast and safe adjustment of the flow of water. A further drawback of the known solutions lies in the fact of not comprising an outlet nozzle of the water designed to obtain a misting and a dispersion of the optimized droplets of water.

Another drawback of the known solutions lies in the fact of not allowing to generate a jet of sprayed water with finely dispersed droplets and subsequently to generate in an easy manner a jet of not misted water.

From documents EP1930083, FR2930167 and FR2741540 further fire-fighting lances are known.

Moreover, such known solutions provide lances hardly movable and not suitable for the use in narrow spaces.

Summary of the invention

Object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a lance that allows to supply different types of jets of liquid to extinguish a fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lance that allows to select the type of flows supplied during the use thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lance that allows an optimum misting and dispersion of the particles of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lance that allows to adjust in an easy manner, besides the type of jet of the liquid, even the longitudinal flow range and the amplitude of the supplied jet of fluid. A further object of the invention is to provide a lance that may be used in narrow and / or restricted spaces. A further object of the invention is to provide a lance that may be used by an operator using only one hand.

These objects, as well as others that will appear more clear hereinafter, are fulfilled by a lance according to claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined according to the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more evident by reading the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a firefighting lance according to the invention, shown by way of non-limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, wherein: FIGs. la and lb are a perspective view of a lance according to the invention in two different operating phases; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lance of FIG. 1; FIGs. 3a, 4a and 5 are a partially sectioned view of a lance according to the invention in different operating positions; FIGs. 3b and 4b are an enlarged view of certain details, respectively, of FIG. 3a and FIG. 4a; FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the lance of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a further detail of the lance of FIG. 1.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the above mentioned figures, it is described a fire-fighting lance, generally indicated with the reference number 1, for the supply of a jet of fluid on the flames to be extinguished. The lance 1 comprises a handle 2 for the grabbing by the user and an inlet line 3 of the pressurized fluid that may be supplied by a suitable supply hose, not shown in the drawings. The lance 1 may include a coupling 4 placed near the handle 2 to connect the supply hose.

Furthermore, the lance 1 comprises at least one first duct 18 defining a first longitudinal axis L for the supply of the jet of fluid and a main valve 6 to selectively put the inlet line 3 in fluid communication with the first supply duct 18. The main valve 6 may be actuated by a first controlling lever 7 placed near the handle 2, so as the user may easily grab the handle 2 with one hand and with the hand thereof activate the first controlling lever 7 when he wants to release the jet of fluid.

Moreover, the lance 1 comprises at least one second supply duct 8 having a misting nozzle 9 and a first diverting valve 10 to suitably divert the flow rates of fluid directed towards the first and the second supply duct 18, 8. The second supply duct 8 is configured to generate a jet of finely dispersed droplets and it defines a second longitudinal axis L', that may be substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis L.

Suitably, the two supply ducts 18 and 8 may be superimposed therebetween.

The first diverting valve 10 comprises an inlet section 11 fluidly connected to the main valve 6 and two outlet sections 12, 13 connected respectively to the first and to the second duct 18, 8. First selecting means 14 are provided to convey the flow rate of the fluid through the outlet sections 12, 13 towards the first or the second supply duct 18, 8. Thanks to this arrangement, the first diverting valve 10 is placed fluidly downstream with respect to the main valve 6 so as to receive the flow of fluid when the latter is open, and upstream with respect to the first and to the second supply duct 18, 8 so as to convey in the latter the flow rate coming from the main valve 6.

As shown in the annexed drawings, the first selecting means 14 may comprise a slider 16 housed in a threaded seat 15 of the first diverting valve 10 so as to selectively obstruct the outlet sections 12, 13. The displacement of the slider 16 allows to divert the flow of fluid towards the first and the second supply duct 18, 8. In particular, the user acting upon the first selecting means 14, may completely obstruct the flow of fluid towards the first duct 18 and divert it towards the second duct 8. Conversely, the user always acting upon the first selecting means 14, may completely obstruct the flow of fluid towards the second duct 8 and divert it towards the first duct 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first selecting means 14 may comprise a controlling knob 17 fastened on the slider 16, so as the user may easily move the slider 16.

The lance 1 may comprise a third supply duct 5 coaxial with the first duct 18 and inner thereto. Moreover, second selecting means 19 may be provided interposed between the first diverting valve 10 and the first and third supply duct 18, 5 to put the latter alternatively in fluid communication with the first outlet section 12 of the first diverting valve 10. In this way, the second selecting means 19 direct alternatively and selectively the flow of fluid flowing from the section 12 of the first diverting valve 10 towards the first or the third supply duct 18, 5.

The second selecting means 19 may include a second controlling lever 20 rotatable between a first working position wherein the outlet section 12 of the first diverting valve 10 is in fluid communication with the first duct 18, shown in FIG. 4a, and a second working position wherein the outlet section 12 of the first diverting valve 10 is in fluid communication with the third duct 5, shown in FIG. 3a.

The first supply duct 18 may be coaxial to the third supply duct 5 and it may have a substantially annular transverse section, while the third supply duct 5 may be inner to the first supply duct 18 and it may have a substantially circular transverse section.

Suitably, the first supply duct 18 may comprise a first spraying nozzle 24' that, as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a plurality of holes 26 to increase the turbulence of the pressurized fluid and to spray a jet with a relatively high dispersion flowing from the first supply duct 18.

On the other hand, the third supply duct 5 may include a second spraying nozzle 21' to spray a jet with a reduced dispersion flowing from the third supply duct 5.

Suitably, the first spraying nozzle 24' may encompass the second spraying nozzle 21'.

The lance 1 may comprise a single central hole 23 placed substantially along the first longitudinal axis L in correspondence to the ends of the first and third duct 18, 5.

Possibly, the lance 1 may comprise an outlet end member 21 placed in correspondence to the free longitudinal end 22 of the third supply duct 5 and provided with the single central hole 5.

On the other hand, the spraying nozzle 24' may further comprise an annular element 24 placed in correspondence to the terminal end 25 of the first supply duct 18 and peripherally provided with longitudinal holes 26, the latter being in fluid communication with the single central hole 23.

In this way, the fluid that flows from the first supply duct 18 enters in the longitudinal holes 26, that are transversely misaligned with respect to the first longitudinal axis L, and subsequently it converges towards the central hole 23 that, instead, is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis L.

This particular configuration determines an increase of the turbulence and it allows to generate a jet of fluid with a relatively high transverse dispersion when the flow of fluid passes through the first supply duct 18, that is, when the controlling lever 20 is in the second working position shown in FIGs. 4a and 5.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first duct 18 may have a variable length. In particular, the latter may include a tubular slider 40 substantially coaxial with the first duct 18 susceptible to intercept the flow flowing therefrom.

In particular, the tubular slider 40 may slide on the first duct 18 between a first working position wherein the lance 1 has a minimum length LUmin (FIG. lb) and a second working position wherein the lance 1 has a maximum length LUmax (FIG. la).

Suitably, when the tubular slider 40 is in the first working position the jet flowing from the first spraying nozzle 24' may have a maximum transverse dispersion (FIG. 5), while when the same first spraying nozzle 24' is in the second working potion the jet flowing from the first spraying nozzle 24' may have a minimum transverse dispersion and maximum flow range (Fig. 4a).

On the other hand, when the flow of fluid passes through the third supply duct 5, that is, when the controlling lever 20 is in the first working position shown in FIG. 3a, the fluid passes exclusively through the second spraying nozzle 21' and the single central hole 23 that, advantageously, may be substantially aligned to minimize the turbulence so as the jet has a reduced dispersion.

Advantageously, in this case, the flow flowing from the central hole 23 does not intercept the tubular slider 40 so as the jet flowing from the second spraying nozzle 21' has a high flow range.

In particular, the tubular slider 40 may be dimensioned in such a manner that it does not intercept the jet flowing from the third duct 5 nor in the first working position nor in the second working position to allow the flowing jet thereof to have a maximum flow range. To this end, the tubular slider 40 may have suitable length and inner diameter.

In an preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the lance 1 according to the invention, shown in FIG. 2, the annular element 24 may be screwed directly on the free longitudinal end 22 of the third supply duct 5, while the outlet end member 21 may be screwed on the annular element 24.

The misting nozzle 9 may have a wall 27 converging towards an outlet 28 substantially aligned with the second longitudinal axis L' and it may comprise a dispersion element 29 of the fluid placed upstream of the outlet 28. In particular, this dispersion element 29 may have a longitudinal channel 30 substantially aligned with the outlet 28 and a curved wall 31 faced towards the convergent wall 27 and provided with a plurality of radial slots 32 to allow the displacement of a fraction of fluid in the radial direction and to increase the turbulence and the misting of the jet of fluid.

In an embodiment of the lance according to the invention, shown in FIG. 7, the radial slots 32 of the dispersion element 29 may be angularly spaced therebetween by a predetermined angle and substantially equal to 45°. In another embodiment of the lance according to the invention, not shown in the annexed drawings, the predetermined spacing angle between the radial slots 32 may be of 15° to 30° sexagesimal. The misting nozzle 9 may also comprise a bush 33 to keep the dispersion element 29 in position.

Furthermore, the maximum length LUmax and the weight of the lance 1 may be particularly reduced so as to allow an operator to easily handle the lance 1 thereof with one hand in narrow spaces.

For example, the lance 1 may have a maximum length LUmax lower than 70 cm, and more preferably lower than 65 cm.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the lance 1 may have a minimum length LUmin of 57 cm and maximum length LUmax of 64 cm.

Furthermore, the lance 1 may be manufactured in such a way so as to have a weight lower than 3 kg, preferably lower than 2,6 kg, and more preferably of 2,2 kg to 2,6 kg in order to facilitate the handling thereof by the user.

Thanks to such a configuration, the user may handle the lance 1 in an easy manner ensuring high effectiveness of a fire extinguishment.

In particular, the lance 1 may be easily handled and moved with one hand so as to facilitate the use thereof during the extinguishment of a fire and / or in a dangerous situation. Moreover, the user with the other hand and without stopping the operation of the lance 1 thereof may act upon the first selecting means 14 and / or the second selecting means 19 and / or upon the tubular slider 40 to vary the type of jet flowing from the lance 1.

In the light of the aforementioned, it is understood that the invention fulfils the intended objects.

The fire-fighting lance according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the inventive concept expressed in the appended claims. All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to requirements, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Afire-fighting lance comprising: - a handle (2) having an inlet (3) for a pressurized fluid; - at least one first supply duct (18) defining a first longitudinal axis (L), said first supply duct (18) including a first spraying nozzle (24'); - a second supply duct (8) superimposed on said first supply duct (18), said second supply duct (8) defining a second longitudinal axis (L') substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis (L), said second supply duct (8) comprising a misting nozzle (9) to generate a jet of finely dispersed droplets; - a first diverting valve (10) having an inlet (11) fluidly connected to the inlet (3) of said handle (2) and a first and a second outlet (12, 13) connected respectively to said first and said second duct (18, 8); - first selecting means (14) acting upon said first diverting valve (10) to convey the pressurized fluid selectively and alternatively towards said first outlet (12) or to said second outlet (13); - at least one third duct (5) coaxial with said at least one first supply duct (18) and inside thereto; said third supply duct (5) comprising a second spraying nozzle (2Γ) with high flow range; - second selecting means (19) placed downstream with respect to said first diverting valve (10) movable between a first operating position wherein said first outlet (12) of said first diverting valve (10) is in fluid communication with said first supply duct (18) and a second operating position wherein said first outlet (12) of said first diverting valve (10) is in fluid communication with said third supply duct (5); - a tubular slider (40) configured in such a way so as to intercept the jet flowing from said first duct (18) to modify the width thereof; wherein said tubular slider (40) is substantially coaxial with said at least one first duct (18) and sliding thereon between a first working position wherein the jet flowing from said first spraying nozzle (24') has maximum width and minimum flow range, and a second working position wherein the jet flowing from said first spraying nozzle (24') has a minimum width and maximum flow range; wherein said tubular slider (40) has a predetermined length and inner diameter so as to not intercept the jet flowing from said third duct (5) nor in said first working position nor in said second working position to allow the jet thereof to have a maximum flow range; wherein said first selecting means (14), second selecting means (19) and said tubular slider (40) are configured so as to be controllable by a user with a hand during the functioning of the lance (1), the latter having a maximum length (LUmax) and a weight such as to allow an operator to move the lance thereof with the other hand.

2. Lance according to claim 1, wherein said first spraying nozzle (24') encompasses said second spraying nozzle (21'), said first spraying nozzle (24') comprising a plurality of axial holes (26) transversely misaligned with respect to said first longitudinal axis (L) and in fluid communication with said single central hole (23) so as when said second selecting means (19) are in said first working position the flow of fluid passes exclusively through said third duct (5) to minimize the turbulence of the fluid and to spray a jet with reduced dispersion, and so as when said second selecting means (19) are in said second working position the flow of fluid passes exclusively through said first duct (18) to increase the turbulence of the pressurized fluid and to spray a jet with a relatively high dispersion.

3. Lance according to claim 2, wherein said first selecting means (14) comprise a slider (16) screwable on a threaded seat (15) of said first diverting valve (10) to selectively obstruct said outlet sections (12,13).

4. Lance according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second selecting means (19) include a controlling lever (20) rotatable between said first and second working position, said controlling lever (20) being connected to a second diverting valve (19') so as the rotation of the former corresponds to the rotation of the latter to alternatively and selectively convey the fluid flowing from the first outlet (12) of said first diverting valve (10) towards said first supply duct (18) or towards said third supply duct (5).

5. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an outlet end member (21) placed in correspondence to the free longitudinal end (22) of said third supply duct (5) and provided with said single central hole (23) placed along said first longitudinal axis (L).

6. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first spraying nozzle (24') further comprises an annular element (24) placed in correspondence to the terminal end (25) of said first supply duct (18) and peripherally provided with said axial holes (26).

7. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said misting nozzle (9) has a wall (27) converging towards an outlet (28) substantially aligned with said second longitudinal axis (L'), said misting nozzle (9) further comprising a dispersion element (29) of the fluid placed upstream with respect to said outlet (28), said dispersion element (29) having a longitudinal channel (30) substantially aligned with said outlet (28) and a curved wall (31) faced towards said converging wall (27) and provided with a plurality of radial slots (32) to allow the displacement of a fraction of fluid in the radial direction and to increase the turbulence and the misting of the jet of fluid.

8. Lance according to claim 7, wherein said radial slots (32) of said dispersion element (29) are angularly spaced therebetween by a predetermined angle of 15° to 30°.

9. lance according to any one of the preceding claims, having a maximum length (LUmax) lower than 70 cm, and more preferably lower than 65 cm.

10. Lance according to any one of the preceding claims, having a total weight lower than 3 kg, preferably lower than 2,6 kg, and even more preferably of 2,2 kg to 2,6 kg, so as the operator may move the lance thereof with one hand.