GB2550895A - A method and apparatus for rolling an elongate flexible member such as a hose - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of rolling an elongate flexible member such as a hose (12, figure 5b) is disclosed. The method involves using an apparatus 10 having a pair of spaced apart tines 46, 48 mounted to a rotatable axle (30, figure 1) and engageable with the hose. The method comprises the steps of laying the hose on a surface and creating a fold so that a first portion (64, figure 5b) of the hose rests on top of a second portion (66, figure 5b). The method further involves inserting a first tine (46, figure 5c) between the first and second portions of the hose, placing a second tine (48, figure 5c) on top of the second portion and then causing the tines to rotate thereby causing the hose to roll up. An apparatus for rolling an elongate flexible member or hose is also disclosed.

Description

A Method and Apparatus for Rolling an Elongate Flexible Member such as a Hose

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for rolling an elongate flexible member such as a hose and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a method and apparatus for rolling a collapsible hose such as a firehose used by firefighters .

It is commonplace for flexible water hoses to be wound or coiled when not in use. Where the hose is a collapsible hose, such as a fire hose, which can be flattened it is almost universal amongst firefighters to roll the hose into a spiral. Such firehoses have large metal connectors at either end joined by a flexible hose typically made from high-grade synthetic rubber. Modern hoses use a synthetic fibre such as polyester or nylon filament which allows them to be flattened when empty of water. When rolled, the spirally wound hoses are self-supporting, that is they are not wound onto a spindle, spool or other supporting device combining compact storage with fast access to the working condition of the hose. Most commonly this rolling is achieved by laying the hose onto a relatively flat surface in a reasonably straight line and rolling the hose from one end to the other. This technique leaves one connector in the centre of the spiral and the other on the outer edge. An alternative technique is to first fold the hose approximately in half and start rolling at the fold leaving the two connector ends free on the outside of the spiral. The rolling of the hose into either of these spiral forms requires an operator to bend to the ground and to walk in this bent position whilst at the same time rotating the hose on itself by hand. Such bending and walking is uncomfortable for the operator, is not good for the spine and can result in musculoskeletal injury.

As a result, devices have been suggested to assist the rolling and allow an operator to create the spirally wound hose primarily from an upright position. One such example is disclosed in US patent US4475698. The device has a series of three tines which engage the hose connector and are rotated, via a chain link drive to a handle. This rotation causes the tines to rotate the connector starting the spiral winding of the hose. However, this device has a series of problems. For example, this type of device is difficult to extract the hose from the apparatus after the spiral is formed as the wound hose grips the tines. Furthermore, the arrangement of the three tines is quite specific to a particular connector meaning that the device is not universally suitable for all types of firehose and can only roll the hose with the connector at the centre of the spiral. It is also the case that, with one hand and arm supporting the weight of the device and the hose and the other one operating the crank handle the distribution of weight and work is uneven and uncomfortable and cumbersome.

Hoses such as those described above are also commonly used by military personnel, in the oil and gas industries and by water companies. Similar problems are also experienced by operators in other industries where elongate flexible members must be rolled into spiral coils for example where a carpet is rolled for transportation.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of rolling an elongate flexible member using an apparatus which includes a plurality of spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines mounted on a rotatable axle, the method comprising the steps :- laying a elongate flexible member on a surface; placing a first portion of said elongate flexible member on top of a second portion of said elongate flexible member to create a fold; inserting a first tine of said apparatus between said first and second portion of said elongate flexible member adjacent said fold; placing a second tine of said apparatus on top of said second portion of said elongate flexible member; and causing rotation of said first and second tines around each other thereby causing the elongate flexible member to roll up.

By creating a fold in an elongate flexible member such as a hose and inserting one tine between the two hose portions and placing the other tine on top of the two hose portions the advantage is provided that a hose rolling apparatus can operate with any form of connector on a hose and still be used to create the spiral. Furthermore, the technique allows the hose to be rolled with one connector at the centre of the spiral and the other at the outside, or by first folding the hose approximately in half and rolling it so that both connectors are on the outside of the spiral.

The fold may be adjacent one end of the elongate flexible member.

This method creates a spiral with one connector at the centre of the spiral one of the outside.

Alternatively, the fold may be adjacent the centre of the elongate flexible member.

This method creates a spiral with both connectors at the outside of the spiral.

In a preferred embodiment the elongate flexible member comprises a hose.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for rolling a elongate flexible member, the apparatus comprising :- an elongate body; a first axle adjacent a first end of said body; a plurality of handles attached adjacent opposing ends of said first axle for causing rotation thereof; a second axle adjacent a second end of said body; a drive transfer for transferring rotational drive of said first axle to said second axle; and an elongate flexible member rotator connected to said second axle so as to rotate in response to rotation of said second axle, said elongate flexible member rotator comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines .

By forming an elongate flexible member or hose rolling apparatus with a pair of handles attached adjacent to either end of an axle the advantage is provided that the apparatus is easier to operate and has more control than devices of the prior art. Furthermore, the work undertaken by the operator is evenly distributed on either side of the body. The apparatus disclosed in US4475698 uses one handle for holding and supporting the apparatus and the other for cranking the handle. This appears to be essential to the successful operation of the device since one hand appears to be needed to control and steer the apparatus. However, this is not the case and utilising two handles which provide rotational drive to the first axle both eases the work required to operate the apparatus without any loss of control.

In a preferred embodiment the hose rotator comprises a maximum of two spaced apart hose engaging tines.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for rolling an elongate flexible member, the apparatus comprising:- an elongate body; a first axle adjacent a first end of said body; drive means for causing rotation of said first axle; a second axle adjacent a second end of said body; a drive transfer for transferring rotational drive of said first axle to said second axle; and an elongate flexible member rotator connected to said second axle so as to rotate in response to rotation of said second axle, said elongate flexible member rotator comprising a maximum of two spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines.

By providing the device with just two tines on the elongate flexible member rotator the advantage is provided that the apparatus can operate with any form of connector on the hose to create a spiral. Furthermore, two tines allow the hose to be rolled in either of the preferred techniques either with one connector in the centre of the resulting spiral one on the outside or with both connectors on the outside of the spiral.

In a preferred embodiment the drive means comprises at least one handle, movement of which results in rotation of said first axle.

In another preferred embodiment the drive means comprises a plurality of said handles.

In a further preferred embodiment the handles further comprise steering plates located towards an end of said handle closest to said body, the plates allowing a force to be applied to the apparatus substantially parallel to an axis of said handle .

By providing the handles with steering plates the advantage is provided that a force can be applied to the handles very easily in a direction parallel to the axis of the handle. This makes it easier to apply lateral forces to the apparatus allowing the apparatus to be steered and therefore ensuring an even and compact spiral is formed. Furthermore, the steering plates prevent the operator's hands from catching on the cranks which join the handles to the apparatus when they are trying to apply such a steering force.

In a preferred embodiment the elongate flexible member rotator is offset from said body.

In another preferred embodiment the elongate flexible member rotator is offset from said body by said second axle extending outside said body by more than its length inside said body.

By extending the second axle to offset the elongate flexible member rotator from the body the advantage is provided that the apparatus can be used with hose connectors which have lugs sticking out of the side of the connector, thereby making it suitable for use with even more types of hoses with different connectors .

The second axle may be marked with an indicator showing if it is in the correct starting orientation. The starting position being as close to the ground level as possible i.e. the initial position of the folded hose.

The tines may be angled such that distal ends of said tines are closer together.

By having the distal ends of the tines slightly closer together the advantage is provided that the tines of the hose rotator are easily extracted from the spirally rolled up hose once the rolling is complete.

In a preferred embodiment the elongate flexible member comprises a hose.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a front view of a rolling apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a close-up view of a portion of the apparatus of figure 3;

Figures 5A to 5F are a series of images illustrating steps included in the operation of the method of the present invention using the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 7 and 8 are views of embodiments of the present invention incorporating additional optional features.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, an apparatus 10 for rolling and elongate flexible member, for example a hose 12 (see figures 5), is provided with an elongate body in the form of an outer casing or housing 14. Typically the housing 14 is formed from sheet metal material in order to provide the required strength but could be formed from other suitably strong materials. A first axle 16 is located adjacent a first end 18 of housing 14.

The first axle 16 is perpendicular to an axis of the elongate housing 14 and is provided with a drive mechanism in the form of driving handles 20 and 22 which are attached to axle 16 via cranks 24 and 26. A first belt drive wheel 28 is also fixed to axle 16. As a result, rotation of the handles 20 and 22 results in rotation of the axle 16 and wheel 28. A second axle 30 is provided adjacent a second end 32 of housing 14. Both the first and second axles 18 and 30 are preferably connected to the housing 14 via bearings which are familiar to a person skilled in the art and not shown in detail in the drawings. A second belt drive wheel 34 is connected to the second axle 30 in a manner similar to the connection between the first axle 16 and first belt wheeled 28. A drive belt 36 runs around the two belt drive wheels 28 and 34 and as a result any rotation of the first belt wheel 28 will result in similar rotation of the second belt wheel 34 via the drive belt 36. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 the first and second belt wheels are the same size and therefore a full rotation of the first belt wheel results in a full rotation of the second belt wheel. However, by varying the size of the belt wheels 28 and 34 the gearing between these wheels can be changed to result in slower or faster rotation of the second axle in response to the equivalent rotation of the first axle. This will then result in a change of torque and/or speed.

An extension portion 38 of second axle 30 extends outside the housing 14 and is connected to a hose rotator 40. The length of the extension portion 38 is dependent on the type of connector used on the hose 12 that the apparatus 10 is designed for use with. In the examples shown in figures 5 the hose 12 has a connector 42 which has quite large connector lugs 44. In order to prevent these lugs 44 from catching on the housing 14, when the apparatus is in use, a longer extension portion 38 ensures that the hose rotator 40 is kept sufficiently far away from the housing 14 to prevent interference. It is therefore possible to have an apparatus 10 with a very short extension portion 38 if a smaller connector is being used. However, the device shown in figure 1 can be used with almost any hose.

The hose rotator 40 includes a pair of tines 46 and 48 which are spaced apart from each other and connected to the extension 38 of axle 30 by a tine support 50. The shape of the tine support 50 varies between the two embodiments shown in figures 1 and 2 and that shown in figures 3 and 4. However in both cases the shape of the tine support 50 allows the tines 46 and 48 to be rotationally asymmetrical about the second axle 30. In figure 4 the tine support 50 is shown as a triangle and in figure 2 the tine support 50 is a pair of arms extending perpendicular to the axis of axle 30 and at an angle of very roughly 160° relative to each other. The tines 46 and 48 are not quite parallel to each other or the axis of axle 30 and are slightly angled inwards so that the distal ends of the tines, that is, the ends furthest away from the axle 30, are closer together. Between the tine support 50 and the axle extension portion 38 a marker 52 is indicated which is used to assist the operator in ensuring that the hose rotator 40 is in the correct orientation for starting the rolling of the hose 12.

The driving handles 20 and 22 are provided with steering plates 54 which are located at the ends of the handles closest to the housing 14 and allow an operator to apply a force to the handle that is parallel to the axis of the handle (this axis being parallel to the axis of the axles 16 and 30). The handles 20 and 22 are formed from a grip portion and an axle portion with the grip portion being free to rotate around the axle portion thereby allowing the operator to rotate the handles around the axle 16. The steering plates 54 are fixed to the grip portions so that rotation of the grip portion of the handle around the axle portion also results in rotation of the steering plates. The steering plates 54 therefore allow forces to be applied parallel to the axis of the handle without the operator's hands risking coming into contact with the cranks 24 and 26. This allows the operator to easily steer the apparatus and form a compact and even spiral.

The apparatus 10 is also provided with a catch 56 which is sprung loaded and able to extend into an aperture in crank 24 thereby locking the crank and handle 20 in the position shown in figures 1 and 2. This also ensures that the hose rotator 40 is fixed in the position shown thereby allowing the apparatus 10 to fit into small spaces for storage or for fixing to a wall or backplate. The apparatus 10 is also provided with a second catch 57 which is sprung loaded and able to extend into an aperture in crank 24 thereby locking the crank and handle 20 in the resting position when in use, so to prevent the tines coming into contact with the ground and preventing damage to the tines. A pair of lifting handles 58 and 60 are also provided. The first of these handles 58 is located approximately at the centre of gravity of the apparatus 10 to allow the apparatus to be lifted and carried easily. The second lifting handle 60 is provided adjacent the second end 32 of housing 14 and is used to help separate the apparatus 10 from a rolled up hose 12.

Operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described with particular reference to figures 5A to 5F. Figure 5A shows the operation of the catch 56 which must be released to allow the handles 20 and 22, the cranks 24 and 26 and the first axle 16 to rotate .

When a hose has just been used and disconnected from other hoses it will generally still contain a significant volume of water. This water needs to be removed before the hoses rolled into a spiral coil. Traditionally this is done by lifting one end of the hose and then walking towards the other end of the hose passing the hose over your shoulder as you go therefore causing the water to drain out of the hose ahead of you and eventually expelling all of the water from the hose. Because the driving handles 20 and 22 are able to freely rotate these handles can be used to assist in the process of expelling the water from the hose. In particular, the hose is placed over one of the handles 20 or 22 and the apparatus 10 is lifted so that the hose is at shoulder level. As the operator then walks forward towards the other end of the hose the handle freely rotates to assist in pushing the water from the hose.

Once any surplus water has been removed the hose is laid in a flattened state. In figure 5B the hose 12 is shown having been laid onto the floor surface in the manner that is standard for existing manual techniques for rolling a hose, but now the hose is divided into two portions by creating a fold 62 shown in figure 5c. In the example shown the first portion 64 is very short compared to the much longer second portion 66 which makes up the vast majority of the hose. Preferably, the fold length of the first portion 64, from the back of the connector 42 to the fold 62, is approximately 20cm.

Once folded the apparatus 10 is engaged with the hose 12 as shown in figure 5C. In particular, the first tine 46 is inserted between the first and second portions 64 and 66 of hose 12 adjacent to, and preferably engaged with the inside of, the fold 62. The second tine 48 is then placed on top of the first portion 64 of hose 12 which is itself on top of the second portion 66. In figure 5C the marker 52 is pointing uppermost indicating that the hose rotator 40 is in the correct orientation. In this embodiment the marker 52 is a tick mark and on the other side there is a cross indicating that the hose rotator 40 is in the incorrect orientation. The apparatus 10 is now ready to roll the hose 12.

As seen in figure 5D, the operator lifts the first end 18 of the apparatus 10 and grasps each of the handles 20 and 22.

The operator positions the end 18 at the lowest point while standing in an upright position. By rotating the handles 20 and 22, in an anticlockwise direction when looking at the apparatus as viewed in figure 2, the first axle 16 rotates in an anticlockwise direction which results in the second axle 30 also rotating in an anticlockwise direction with the connection via the belt drive wheels 18 and 34 and the belt 36. This in turn causes rotation of the hose rotator 40. In particular, the first tine 46, together with the fold 62 in hose 12, moves over the second tine 48 in an arc until it comes back into engagement with the hose. For the first rotation of the hose rotator 40 this is typically either by the fold 62 coming into engagement with the hose connector 42 or, if the first hose portion 64 is long enough, with more of the first hose portion. Continuing rotation of the handles 20 and 22 results in the rolling of the hose 12 into a spiral around the hose rotator 40. As a result, the operator must walk forwards as the hose rolls up. When the rolling of the hose is complete, as shown in figure 5D, the hose 12 and apparatus 10 are tipped onto their side so that the plane of the spiral of the hose 12 is parallel to the plane of the surface it is sitting on. The operator then grasps the second lifting handle 60 and lifts the apparatus 10 from engagement with the spirally wound hose 12. The final result of the hose winding, the spiral, is shown in figure 5F. For the most effective operation of the device when forming the hose into a spiral, the operator holds the handles as low as comfortably possible and allows the apparatus to drive itself forward after rotation of the handles, that is that the operator only moves forward when the hose becomes tight and forces that forward movement the procedure is carried out without trying to lift the hose or the role from the ground. As the spiral coil forms its rotation drives it forward.

The alternative form of winding is to fold the hose approximately in two so that the first and second hose portions 64 and 66 are approximately the same length. The first tine 46 of the hose rotator 40 is inserted into the fold as described above and the same remaining steps are undertaken. A further and preferable alternative embodiment is shown in figure 6. This embodiment is similar to that shown in figures 1 and 2 with some additional features or variations on features. For example, an additional carrying handle 68 is located at the end adjacent the driving handles 20 and 22 and these driving handles have additional driving plates 70 located at the outer ends of the handles. Further variations are seen in the hose rotator 40 in which the tines 4 6 and 48 have a cross-shaped cross-section which reduces the surface area of the tine which is in contact with the hose once it is wound thereby making the process of extracting the device 10 from the wound hose easier. It will be apparent to person skilled in the art that other cross-section shapes for the tines will also reduce the contact surface area. It is also the case that the tine support 50 in the embodiment shown in figure 6 is T-shaped which produces the same rotational offset in the tines 46 and 48. A further important aspect of this embodiment in figure 6 are the tine extensions 46A and 48A which extend back roughly 20mm through the tine support 50 towards the main body of the apparatus 10. These tine extensions ensure that the hose can be easily removed from the hose rotator 40 as they prevent the hose from wrapping slightly behind the tine support 50 which can be a problem if they are not present.

Figures 7 and 8 show further embodiments of the present invention incorporating optional features in the form of hose guides indicated generally at 72. These guides help to ensure that a nice even roll is formed and attached to the housing 14 using an attaching bracket 74 a guide bar 76 is attached to a sliding member 78 which can slide in a slot 80 in a guide body 82. The guide bar 76 is fitted with a length adjuster 84 and is associated with a pair of guide flange is 86. In the embodiment shown in figure 8 the two guide flanges 86 are attached to the guide bar 76 and their separation is determined by the length adjuster 84. In the embodiment shown in figure 7 the guides 86 are different in their construction with one of the guides attached to and movable with the guide bar 76 whilst the other guide is fixed to the guide body 82. In use the hose guides 72 acts to ensure that one layer of the hose binds directly on top of the previous layer to create an even spiral. As the hose is rolled up the outer edge of the roll touches the guide bar 76 causing it and the sliding member to move upwards in the slot 80. The two guide flange is 86 help to prevent lateral movement of the hose as it is wound onto the roll. Once the rolling is complete the guide bar 76 is moved slightly further upwards to allow the rolled hose to be released from the apparatus 10.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the protection which is defined by the appended claims. For example, the drive transfer for transferring the drive from the first axle to the second axle can be any suitable transfer including, but not limited to, the use of gears and rods. This can be achieved by a connecting rod extending between the first and second axles and pairs of bevelled gears converting the rotation through 90° and then back again. Furthermore, the means for providing drive to the first axle could be a single handle whilst the operators other hand grasps a handle that is fixed to the housing and does not provide drive to the first axle . Indeed a non-operator driven drive means could be provided to directly or indirectly drive the second axle and the hose rotator. For example, a battery-operated device could be used to undertake the method of the present invention. It is also the case that the device described above is not limited to use on water hoses but can be used to assist in the rolling of any flexible elongate member. For example, a pair of such devices may be used to roll a carpet by attaching a device to either side of a length of carpet.

Claims (17)

Claims

1. A method of rolling an elongate flexible member using an apparatus which includes a plurality of spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines mounted on a rotatable axle, the method comprising the steps :- laying an elongate flexible member on a surface; placing a first portion of said elongate flexible member on top of a second portion of said elongate flexible member to create a fold; inserting a first tine of said apparatus between said first and second portion of said elongate flexible member adjacent said fold; placing a second tine of said apparatus on top of said second portion of said elongate flexible member; and causing rotation of said first and second tines around each other thereby causing the elongate flexible member to roll up.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said fold is adjacent one end of said elongate flexible member.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said fold is adjacent the centre of said elongate flexible member.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said elongate flexible member comprises a hose.

5. An apparatus for rolling an elongate flexible member, the apparatus comprising:- an elongate body; a first axle adjacent a first end of said body; a plurality of handles attached adjacent opposing ends of said first axle for causing rotation thereof; a second axle adjacent a second end of said body; a drive transfer for transferring rotational drive of said first axle to said second axle; and an elongate flexible member rotator connected to said second axle so as to rotate in response to rotation of said second axle, said elongate flexible member rotator comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said elongate flexible member rotator comprises a maximum of two spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines.

7. An apparatus for rolling an elongate flexible member, the apparatus comprising :- an elongate body; a first axle adjacent a first end of said body; drive means for causing rotation of said first axle; a second axle adjacent a second end of said body; a drive transfer for transferring rotational drive of said first axle to said second axle; and an elongate flexible member rotator connected to said second axle so as to rotate in response to rotation of said second axle, said elongate flexible member rotator comprising a maximum of two spaced apart elongate flexible member engaging tines.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said drive means comprises at least one handle, movement of which results in rotation of said first axle.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said drive means comprises a plurality of said handles.

10. An apparatus according to claims 5, 6, 8 and 9, wherein said handles further comprise steering plates located towards an end of said handle closest to said body the plates allowing a force to be applied to the apparatus substantially parallel to an axis of said handle.

11. An apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein said elongate flexible member rotator is offset from said body.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said elongate flexible member rotator is offset from said body by said second axle extending outside said body by more than its length inside said body.

13. An apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 12, wherein said second axle is mark with an indicator showing if it is in the correct starting orientation.

14. An apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 13, wherein said tines are angled such that distal ends of said tines are closer together.

15. An apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 14, wherein said elongate flexible member comprises a hose.

16. A method of rolling a elongate flexible member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .

17. An apparatus for rolling a elongate flexible member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .