US2207758A - Hose nozzle - Google Patents

Description

July 16, y1940.

P. E. REHSE HOSE NOZZLE- Filed A p`ri1 8, ,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1940.

P. E. REHsE HOSE NOZZLE Filed April 8, 1938 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented` July 16,1940

UNITED STATES 'PATENT ori-Ica mais (Granted under the m of Maren s; rasa, n amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. '157) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to hose nozzles, and particularly to nozzles for use with-nre fightingequipment employing water, foam, and other materials, singly or in combination. v

It is very desirable, in the fighting of ce'rtain kinds of fires, especially those in connection with aircraft, that the flre fighting equipment be of such a nature as to permit a man to enter into the lire for such purposes as the saving of lives, shutting olf motors and fuelvalves, or salvaging 15. valuable materials. This can be accomplished by forming the discharge stream in the shape of a cone of sufficient diameter at its base or maximum operating distance portion to envelop a man, and of sufficient wall thickness to protect him as a.

shield against the flames and lire gases. lThis hollow cone-shaped stream is formed bythe use of a conical-shaped core in the center of the dischargevportion of the nozzle, thereby providingv a conical-channel oriiice. -Since the distance of the projection of the discharge streamwill depend on the factors of pressure and degree of the angle of diversion of the opening, it is desirable that the angle of divergence bekept as small as possible, consistent with the operating pressure, and of no greater size than suillcient to form a.

cone with diameter at the projected operating distance sufficient to inclose a man.

Modern re ghting methods, using the principle of smothering fire with foam forming materials, introduce new problems in the proper spraying of such foamformlng materials, diierent from the problems in the spraying of water alone. Foam is usually formed by mixing vwith water, solids producing carbon dioxide, and some solid material or materials to increase the surface tension, thereby forming bubbles of carbon dioxide surrounded by a thin membrane of water solution.

In the case of nres of liquid, such as gasoline and oils, the re area is usually a nat layer, and

it is then desired that the foam should have a vmaximum coverage per unit of material. This maximum coverage for a given quantity of fluid l is to be achieved by the use Aof bubbles of the smallest possible structure. due to the well known fact that the ratio of surface area to volume increases as the volume is'reduced. Another oblective in the case of said liquid lires is that the 'foam should have a-free owin'g characteristic, whichv is likewise .promoted by the smaller size n bubbles since the flow ycharacteristic is dependent upon the wetness of the foam, and the-proportion of water to carbon dioxide is'greater in small size bubbles than in larger size bubbles.

In the case of burning structures, it is desired that the foam be of as dry a nature as possible to s enable the foam to cling to the burning surface, and thereby build an accumulation of volume suflicient to cover the burning surface, and suiilciently dry that it will not now out.

The bubblev size is controlled by the oriiice width 10 of the hosenozzle. There is a break down in the bubble structure of the bubbles formed from carbon dioxide and solid materials-used to produce high surface tension when the stream is being discharged through a. nozzle orifice area less than l5 the cross section area of the foam delivery line. The foam which has been reduced in volume by passing through a restricted orifice composes a.i

greater number of bubbles per unit volume than the foam which does notpass through such a re- 20 stricted orifice and, consequently containsA a higher ratio of liquid to gas. In other words, the volume of liquid to gas is increased and foam becomes wetter as the size of the nozzle orice is decreased and, conversely, the volume of. gas 25 to liquid is increased as thenozzle orice area approaches the cross sectional area of the foam delivery line. Q Y Y There is the further problem, in the discharging of foam forming materials, to obtain for all 30 conditions of suitable bubble structure a maximum projection of discharge. Since foam is of much lighter nature than water, there is a greater tendency for the bubble structure. to dissociate than in the case of a stream of water. It is also well known that the maximum efficiency. in obtaining distance for the projection of the discharge consistent with a given pressure is to be obtained when the discharge stream is compact and of a solid nature beinglaminar in the case of the conical stream, and when all eddy or vortex effects produced in the stream prior to its dis- 'dry foam, and of suflicient length to eliminate the said eddy effects. This problem is further complicated by the need and utility o i using the Adischarging aportion of the fluid material same nozzle for discharging foam, to discharge water alone.

In addition to the length requirements, the effective area ofthe conical channel must4 be maintained substantially uniform throughout its length, or of progressively decreasing cross sec tion from the inner to the outer end thereof. If the cross section area at the outer end is greater than at some interior point, the flow( is restricted at the point of smallest cross section, andthe maximum effectiveness of the stream controlling channel for the remainder of the distance is lost.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a re lhose nozzle for the discharge of foam material or water that will form a conical discharge stream of predetermined diameter and laminar character for all operative orifice adjustments and of maximum discharge projection for normal operating pressures. In accordance with my invention I have provided a nozzle in which the resistance to the flow of fluid therethrough is reduced to a minimum by gradually changing the direction of ow through the nozzle by a predetermined, minimum angle, and by continuing the flow through, and confining it in, a conical channel of sufficient length to maintain the stream in a desired directed path and to reduce the turbulence created by the change in direction of flow to a minimum, thereby obtaining a flow of laminar quality for the maximum range of operation, consistent with a given pressure.

It is a further object of my invention to provide, in a nozzle of the above type, means for through the center of the nozzle and within the conical shaped outer stream for the purpose of spraying on a man enclosed in the conical shield a stream of cooling liquid.

- Another object of my invention is to provide, in a nozzle of the above type, means for discharging a second uid material through the center of said nozzle and within the conical shaped outer stream for the same purpose as provided in the previous object, or for the purpose of discharging into the conical shield carbon dioxide, dew gas, or carbon tetrachloride. or other re repellent agents which will more completely protect the man within the shield from the flames.

Another object of my invention is to provide,`

in a nozzle of the character described, means for alternately selecting and controlling the discharge of either a portion of the main uid being discharged therethrough, or a second uid material for discharge through the center .of said nozzle and within the conical stream form.

Still another 'object of my invention is to provide, in a nozzle of the character described, means for automatically closing the orifice when the nozzle isnot in use in order to exclude vermin, mud wasps, or the like, from taking possession of the channel so provided when the apparatus is not in use. This feature is particularly 'useful in connection with automatically controlled 1 nre extinguishing systems. l

Fig. 3 is a vertical'section of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of still another embodiment of my invention, showing a dotted line for full' open position of the core; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines Now referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. l shows a hose nozzle unit comprising a main body portion lI0, a flared or conical shaped discharge portion I2, a portion I4 for making connectionl with the hose, and a portion I5 so constructed and arranged as to form a housing concentric with the discharge portion for mounting therein an axially adjustable shaft I8 extending from the discharge portion of the nozzle and proportion 30 so constructed as to provide with the discharge portion I2 a channel progressively decreasing in width from the inner to the outer end of said portion, and a further portion 32 with outer peripheral surface substantially parallel to the interior `surface of the .discharge portion, thereby imparting a conical shape and laminar character to the stream discharged therethrough. In order to give further directive effect to the stream. after it leaves the outlet of the channel, the discharge portion I2 of the nozzle projects beyond the outer end of the core. While assembling the nozzle, after the arrangement of the shaft within the nozzle and before attaching the adjustment wheel 20, the shaft is secured in the nozzle and sealed against leakage of water by means of a packing 34 and packing nut 36.

The nozzle is illustrated with the core near its maximum effective opened position, at which point the cross sectional area' at the most interior point of the portion 32 is approximately equal to the cross sectional area of the main body portion. Adjustment of the orifice from the elfective maximum opened position to a closed posif' tion is obtained by rotation of the adjustmentl wheel, causing axial progression of the shaft in the helically threaded housing. It is to be fur, ther noted that. when the nozzle is in either the maximumeflective open, or closed, position, the

annular, stream directing channel is of. sufcent length to provide a laminar ow of the fluid discharged. therethrough in a single directed path substantially corresponding to a maximum cone .projection for the desired field of inclosure; that is, of diameter suflicient to envelop a man. Good results have been obtained throughout auseful range of adjustment by making the length of the shorter wall approximately twice the width of the 1 opening at the maximum effective open adjustment. I am aware that nozzles of the centrally disposed core type are familiar in the art, but the opposing walls of the conical channel so provided are not in effective "opposition for a suflicient length for all adjustments; that is, the relation of length to width is not such as will produce the desired results for all useful adjustments of reducing the bubble structure, and provide as uiilcientlength to vreduce the resistance of flow due to the turbulence or eddy currents caused by direction changes shaft in Fig. 1, but'engages in a correspondingl in passing through the nozzle, and to direct the stream in a single path for all desirable adiustprovide a conical shield, with diameter slightly larger than the height of a man, at the maxi- V mum operating 'point-tconsistent with a given pressure, it is important that vthis angle should be kept as 'small as possible, asv a small angle will enable the attainment of greater4 distance than a large' angle for the same pressure. It

. will be seen that, as the pressure is lowered, the

distancefof projection is shortened with a consequent reduction in diameter of the projected cone, and the angle of deviation would have to be increased to maintain a cone of the specified diameter .at its basel portion. A s the angle is increased, however, the corresponding greater change in direction of the path of the stream being discharged will induce greater turbulence of the fluid as it is discharged through the nozzle and orice, and therefore the annular space in the discharge portion of the nozzle which directs the path of -the stream would have to be lengthened in order to eliminate the greater turbulence produced.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of my invention in which the hose nozzle proper andv discharge portion are similar to that in Fig., 1, but the shaft .housing portionl has been modified to provide for the use of an axially adjustable but non-rotatable tube 38 in lieu of the shaft in Fig. 1. The tube is provided with a helical thread similar to the helical thread f orm in the driving screw member 4I)v contained within the housing portion IIB. Non-rotatability is obtained by provision of the 4 groove 42 in the shaft housing vportion and the fixedy lug 44 on the shaft adapted for engagement with said groove. `'I'he adjustment wheel 48 is mounted on the shoulder 48 provided onthe said member 48 and rigidly secured to said member by a nut 58. In assembling the above appratus, ,before the attachment of the adjustment wheel, thel said member 48 is secured within the housing portion by means of the lock nut 82 and is further protected against leakage by means of the'packing 54 and packing nut 58. The posterior a channel of gradually decreasing width from its inner to its outer end. As shown in Fig. ,2, the core is a single conical section and in its maximum effective opened position, the cross sectional area of the channel at the outlet' end is substantially equal to the effective cross sectional area of the nozzle proper, and of substantially uniform area throughout the length thereof, thereby providing said channel of ashape tomain` tain positive confinement and control throughout its length of 'the liquid being discharged therethrough, and of a sumcient length for all useful adjustments to overcome the turbulence created by change of direction of the stream and to maintain the stream in a singly directed path through a useful range of adjustment. v'There is alsoeliminated one corner in the interior surface o f the nozzle of Fig. 1, thereby reducing the tendency to create turbulence,

The embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except Vthat in lieu of the full' length tubular shaft 38, l I have used a shaft 88 provided with a tubular e end ofthe tube is internally threaded t receive'a connection 58 for a second fluid, and the 4for-- .ward end of the tube to which is mounted,- by a driving lit,l the conical shaped core 88 rigidly secured by means of the nut 8i, is interioriy threadl ed to'receive a nozzle 64 Awith.fconverging oriv lice for directingthe streanibeigdischarged nut,vand hose connection are therethrough. Shaft assembly is accomplished by entering-:the tlireadedshaft', with core dismounted, from the posterior end of said shaft housing, aligning lug 44 in the grooveL :,Ifheinternally threaded member." maybe aced .in position before or after positioning the shaft. Next, the

. core is mounted', 'and the member 40 is secured j and in the housing by the'loclcingV nut, packing packing nut, as aforesaid; Adjustment wheel. thereafter mounted in the order named.

The operating characteristics of this nozzle,

so far as the discharge of the main stream is c oncernedl are similar to those of the nozzle in Fig.

1, but the core is so constructed that itsl outer peripheral surface 6| provides with vthe inner sur'- portion 64 vat theend located within the main bodyportion and extending into the shaft housing portion of the nozzle. A channel 68. has been provided to connect the main body portion of the vnozzle with an aperture 68 in the tubular shaft 10 are constructedv with 'a two-way valve 14 which enables the alternate" selection'of either of the two uid sources for discharge through the central portion. The =aperture 88 in the. tubular 'shaft 63 is of a length sufficient to make contact with the connecting channel portion 18 from the two-way valve for all effective adjustments of the orifice made by extending `or retracting. the core 18, and is arranged s0 as to shut oiI contact with thel connecting channel when the shaft with core mounted thereon has been` retracted to close the main orifice.

Similarly to the tubular shaft'in Fig. 2, the shaft 83 is provided with a helical thread on the solid portion of the shaft engaging in a corresponding helically threaded member 80 contained within the housing portion I1. This member 88 is slightly different from the corresponding member 48.in Fig. 2. Because of the solid construction of the shaft, the member 80 is provided at its posterior end with a turned down 86. In assembling the above apparatus, before v attaihment ofl the control wheel, the said .memberliilis secured `within the housing portion by J l of `the lock nut-52 and is further protected against-leakage by means ofthe packing 54 and packing nutV A58. Full assembly of theshaft is accomplished inthe same manner as provided for the modification in Fig. 2.*-

The core in this modification is similar to the core in Fig. 2 except that it is longer and extends ing the core longer thanthe discharge portion,

the core surface 'is made to give additional directive effect from within to the stream after'it leaves the outlet of the channel.

'Ihe central nozzle *80 as shown in Fig. 3 is for use primarily with carbon dioxide gas.

Since carbon dioxide gas, in expanding from its compressed condition, has a tremendous cooling effect and tends to become solidfupon release, it is necessary for a carbon dioxide nozzle to beconstricted with diverging sides in order torelieve the expanding gas and prevent clogging of the nozzle by the solidiilcation of the gas therein. However, this nozzle'may also be used for the other materials, such as foam, water, carbon tetrachloride, or dew gas, which might be discharged therethrough, although with less ef ciency than with the constriction type of central nozzle shown in Fig. 2. The central nozzles shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 2 are interchangeable, so that the carbon dioxide type of nozzle shown in Fig. 3 may be used with either modification when it is desired to discharge carbon dioxide through the central orilce.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of my invention for use in a ilre sprinkler system or in permanent installations. Here, I have used the same type nozzle discharge portion and core as in Fig. 3, but have modified the core mounting to provide for its closure except when fluid is passing through. The core assembly is mounted on a shaft 92 centered in the nozzle and threadedly attached to a spider 94 in the interior of the nozzle. Automatic closing of the core is provided by the following construction: The core is mount- It is believed that the many advantages of a hose nozzle constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and

although preferred embodiments of the invention are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A -nozzle provided with an outwardly diverg ingvdischarge portion and an axially arranged core concentric with and disposed within said discharge portion, said core extending from substantially the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion, the inner portion of said core and said discharge portion .cooperating to provide an annular channel having throughout the length thereof both a substantially straight mean direction and a substantially constant veiective cross-sectional area Afor the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel having similar configurations in each cross-sectional plane throughout the length thereof and being of suliicient length and so disposed as to aiect a laminar flow of the fluid discharged through said channel in a directed path substantially corresponding to a f maximum distance otuid cone projection for a stantially the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion, the inner portion of` said core and said discharge portion cooperating to provide an. annular channel having throughout the length thereof both a substantially straight mean direction and a substantiallyconstanteiective cross-sectional area for the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel having similar coniigurations in each cross-sectional plane throughout the length thereof and being of suflicient length and so disposed as to effect a laminar flow of the uid discharged through said channel within the range of useful adjustments in a directed path substantially corresponding to a maximum distance of uid vcone projection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure, and the outer portion of said core extending beyond said dis-v charge portion for a distance comparable to the length of the discharge portion to maintainl the laminar ow beyond the point of discharge.

3. A nozzle provided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion'and an axially arranged core concentric with and disposed within said discharge portion, saidv core extending beyond the innerand outerends of said discharge portion, the inner portion of said core cooperating with the said discharge portion to provide an annular channel having throughout the length thereof both a substantiallystraight mean direction and a substantially constant effective crosssectional area for the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel having similar configurations in each cross-sectional` plane throughout the length thereof andv being of suicient length and so disposed as to effect a laminar flow of a iiuid discharged through said channel in the directed path substantially corresponding to a maximum distance. of fluidcone projection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure, and the outer portion of said core extending beyond said discharge portion for a distance comparable to the length of the discharge portion tomaintain the laminar flow beyond the point of discharge., l

4. A nozzle provided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion and an axially arranged core concentric with and disposed within said discharge portion, said core extending from sub'- stantially the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion, and

being mounted upon a tube in communication with a second fluid source and providedwith a discharge nozzle centrally disposed within said core, the'inner portion of said core and said discharge portion cooperating to provide an annular channel. having throughout the length thereof` both a substantially straight mean direction and a substantially constant effective cross-sectional area for the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel having similar congurations in each cross-sectional plane throughoutl the length thereofl and being of suflicient length and so disposed as to effect a laminar flow of the'fluid discharged through said channel in the directed pathsubstantially corresponding to a maximum distance of Afluid cone projection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure,

and the outer portion 'of said core extending beyond said discharge portion for a distance c'omparable to the -length of the discharge portion to maintain the laminar flow beyond the point of discharge.

5. A nozzle having at one end two inlet openings tor communication with two vfluid sources, 75

and atthe other end being provided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion and an axially adjustable core having a central opening extending therethroughv and constituting a further discharge opening, said core being coaxial with and disposed within said outwardly diverging discharge portion and extending from substantially -the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion, the inner portion of said core and said discharge portion cooperating to provide an annular channel having throughout the length thereof both a 'substantially straight mean direction and a substantially constant effective cross-sectional area for the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel having similar configurations inv each `cross-sectional plane throughout theA length thereof and being of suiilcient length and' so disposed as to eiect a laminar ow of the fluid .discharged through said channel within the range of useful adjustments in the directed -path substantially corresponding to a maximum distance of cone projection forl a predetermined elevation of iield enclosure, the outer portion of saidcore extending beyond-7955., discharge portion for a distance comparableffo the length of the discharge portion to maintain"r4 now beyond the point of dischargev means 'for establishing communication? central opening with either of said fluid A 8. A nozzle provided with an outwardly diverging discharge portion and a core slidably mounted upon an axially disposed shaft, said core being coaxial with and disposed in said discharge opening and extending from substantially the inner end of said discharge portion to a point beyond said discharge portion, the inner portion of said core and said discharge portion cooperating to provide an annular channel having throughout the length thereof both a substantially straight mean direction and a substantially constant effective cross-sectional area for the maximum optimum operative position of said core, said channel having similar congurations in each cross-sectional plane throughout the length thereof and being of sufficient length and being so disposed as to eil'ect a laminar flow of the uid discharged through said channel in a directed path substantially corresponding to a maximum distance of fluid cone projection for a predetermined elevation of field enclosure, the outer portion of said core'extendin'g beyond said discharge portion for adistance comparable to the length oi' the discharge portion to maintain the laminar ilow 'beyond the point of discharge.'

and yieldable means for maintaining said core in closed position when the nozzle is not in use.'

Panamanian. u

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