US3064754A

US3064754A - Fire fighting apparatus or the like having de-icing means

Info

Publication number: US3064754A
Application number: US46556A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dean E Broderson; Kenneth H Davidson
Original assignee: Pitman Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Pitman Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1960-08-01
Filing date: 1960-08-01
Publication date: 1962-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-20

Description

Nov. 20, 1962 D. E. BRODERSON ETAL 3, 6

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE HAVING DE-ICING MEANS Filed Aug. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y INVENTORS. Dean 5. Erode/"son BY Kenne Th H. Davidson Nov. 20, 1962 D. E. BRODERSON ETAL 3,064,754

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE HAVING DE-ICING MEANS Filed Aug. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Dean Bmde/ son BY Kennefh H. Davidson 3,664,754 FlRE FIGHTING APPARATUS (DR THE LEGS HAVING DE-TQKNG MEANS Dean E. Broderson and Kenneth H. Davidson, Kansas City, Mo., assignors to Pitman Manufacturing Company, Grandview, Me a corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 1, 1%"), Ser. No. 4 6.556 4 Claims. (Ci. 1S22) The present invention relates to a structural unit and more particularly to a structural unit in which means are provided in the unit for heating the same to prevent the formation of ice thereon.

The present invention proposes to provide for a structural unit such as a boom or the like having at least one member movable relative thereto, means in the structural unit for heating a fluid and directing the fluid in a flow through the unit, thereby heating the unit against the formation of ice thereon when the unit is used in conjunction with a water spraying device or the like or when the unit is used in atmospheric conditions such that moisture is deposited thereon. It is further proposed to provide means for directing the fluid flow over the member movable relative to the unit, whereby the movable member is heated against the formation of ice thereon so that it is capable of continuing to move and operate in spite of" the climatic conditions of cold.

While the present invention will be described in its preferred embodiment for use with the boom of a piece of fire fighting apparatus or the like, it should be noted that the same structure could easily be used in many other applications, for instance, by utility company trucks customarily used for replacing the lamps in street lighting systems and the like.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide in a structural unit means for directing a flow of heated fluid therethrough whereby the unit is warmed against the formation of ice thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a structural unit having at least one member relatively movable with respect to another means for directing a flow of heated fluid through the unit and particularly upon the relatively movable member, whereby the entire unit and the movable member are heated against the formation of ice thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a structural unit such as a boom means for directing a flow of heated fluid through the boom to heat the same against the formation of ice thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a structural unit such as a boom having a pair of boom members vertically extendible means for directing a flow of heated fluid through both of the boom members to heat the members against the formation of ice thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in a structural unit having a boom of the type described above wherein the furthermost extendible member has a coupling relatively movable to the second boom member connected at the end of the latter to support a basket or the like, means for directing a flow of heated fluid through the boom members and over the coupling member whereby the boom and coupling are heated against the formation of ice thereon.

Further objects and advantages inherent in the structure of the present invention will become obvious as the description of this invention proceeds and are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of fire apparatus embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with portions broken away to show details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section through a portion of the boom structure in FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the boom support shown in FIG. 2 looking at the support from the opposite side.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown a piece of fire fighting apparatus indicated generally by the numeral 10. The fire fighting apparatus could be of any desirable kind but is in this particular case supplied with a pumper for enabling the unit to spray water at a fire location and for such reason the apparatus may be further referred to in this specification as a pumper.

Pumper it} has a rear carrying portion 12 upon which is mounted a boom support indicated generally by the numeral 14. A vertically extendible boom 16 is mounted upon the support 14 and consists of'a pair of elongated boom members 18 and 2t interconnected at one end of each by a pivotal coupling member 22. At the end of boom member 263 removed from coupling 22 there is pivotally supported a cage or basket 24 within which a man may be supported and raised or lowered by the boom structure described when desired.

In view of the fact that the pumper It} is a piece of fire fighting equipment, a water conduit indicated generally by the number 26 is shown extending from the support 14 longitudinally along the first boom member 18 and second boom member 20 and terminating in a nozzle 28 adjacent to the cage 24.

Referring more specifically now to FIGS. 2 through 4,

' it will be seen that support 14 consists primarily of a platform 30 rotatably mounted on a pivot 32 which is in turn journaled in the rear portion 12 of the fire apparatus 10. Extending upwardly from platform 3t) are a pair of generally

triangular side plates

34 and 36 which are parallel and spaced from each other. A pivot pin 38 is journaled in the

side members

34 and 36 and extends therebetween near the apexes of the

plates

34 and 36. First boom member 18 has a bearing member therein (not shown) which is adapted to fit over the pivot pin 38 whereby the boom member 18 may be pivotally mounted on the support 14.

A pair of vertically spaced parallel horizontal support members extend transversely between

side plates

34 and 36 and are identified by the numbers 40 and 42.

A gas-burning heater identified generally by the numeral 44 is shown mounted on the outwardly facing surface of side plate 36, while a blower 91 is mounted on heater 44 for forcing artificial currents of air therethrough. Heater 44 may be operated from the same fuel source that is provided for the engine of vehicle 10. A conduit 46 extends outwardly from one end of heater 44 and is open to atmosphere at the end thereof indicated by the number 48. A hydraulic ram indicated by the numeral 50 is pivotally supported from support 14 and extends therefrom in the same direction as the boom member 18. The hydraulic ram 50 is of a well-known variety and therefore need not further be described. Hydraulic ram 50 has a piston rod 52 extending therefrom and terminating in a pivotable connection 54 with the underside of boom 18. It can now be seen that boom member 18 can be raised from a position relatively horizontal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pumper It to the limits of the capabilities of the hydraulic ram Boom member 13 can be of any well-known variety and is indicated in FIG. 2 as being an elongated hollow Patented Nov. 29, 1962 member being generally square or rectangular in cross section.

A passageway is provided through the boom member comprising a heater conduit 56 extending longitudinally through'the hollow center portion of boom member 18 and approximately coextensive therewith. Conduit 46 'of heater 44 is connected in any conventional manner (not shown)- with conduit 56, thereby permitting communication of heated fluid from heater 44 through conduit 46 to heater conduit 56. It is of course realized that the coupling between

conduit

56 and 46 must be flexible or pivotable to permit movement of boom member 18.

The second boom member is pivotally coupled to first boom member 18 by coupling 22 as previously described at the end of boom member 18 remote from support 14 and extends back over the first member 18 in overlying relationship thereto. The construction is such that desirably second boom member 20 may be pivoted to'a generally horizontal position in which it rests upon the upper surface of boom member 18 when the apparatus is not used. A second hydraulic ram 57 is pivotally mounted upon the upper surface of boom 18 as indicated at 58 and the piston rod 60 thereof extending from ram 57 terminates in a pivotal coupling 62 connected to links 64 and 66. Link 64 is pivotally joined to boom member 20and link 66 is pivotally connected to boom member 18. The combination of link 64 and 66 and the

boom members

20 and 18 forms a toggle link mechanism operable by the hydraulic ram 57 to pivotally raise and lower boom member 20 relative to member 18.

It will be noted that in order to accommodate the relative pivotal movement of

members

18 and 20 about pivot coupling 22 a pair of

flexible hoses

68 and 70 are provided, hose 68 being connected to the water conduit indicated generally by the number 26 while hose 70 constitutes a flexible continuation of conduit 56.

Secondbo'om'member 20 is shown in FIG. 2 as being hollow and generally rectangular in cross section at the end thereof remote from pivotal coupling 22. However, due to the presence of hydraulic ram 57, certain modifications' are required in the remaining construction of boom member 20 and a typical cross section of the modification is shown in FIG. 3 and will be described. Boom member 20 consists of a pair of elongated, parallel, spaced

side walls

69 and 71 having parallel

upper margins

72 and 74 and parallel lower margins 76 and 78. 'An elongated top wall 80 joins the parallel

upper margins

72 and 74 of side walls 69' and 71 along the entire length thereof. A bottom wall 82 joins

side walls

69 and 71 intermediate their respective top and

bottom margins

72 and 76 and 74 and 78' and is spaced below top wall 80in varying amounts throughout its-length. The inner'surfaces of

walls

69 and 71, top 80 and bottom 82 define a hollow interior passageway throughout the length of second boom member 20, and the inner surfaces of

sides

69 and 71 and the bottom surface of bottom 82 define a receptacle within which hydraulic ram 57 and its associated link structure may be received when second boom member 20 is loweredand resting upon first boom member 18.

Hose 70 which'isthe flexible extension of conduit 56 terminates in an orifice 84 received within the boom member 20 at the rear of the passageway already defined.

A pair of cars 86, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, extend from the ends of the

side walls

69 and 71 ofsecond boom member 20 at the end remote from pivotal coupling 22. Each of the cars 86 has an aperture 88 proximal'to the outer margin thereof which is axially aligned and adapted to receive the pivot pin of an implement such as a cage or basket 24 forpivotal connection with the outer extremity of boom member 20. It will be noted that there is no end plate at the extremity of boom member 20 remote from coupling 22 so that fluid contained within the passageway already defined may be discharged through a discharge outlet 90 over the cars 86 and apertures 88 and the pin of the The operation of the boom has been indicated'by the structural description and as the operation forms no part of the present invention it need not further be explained in this application. Operation of gas heater 44 and blower 91 causes hot air to be forced through

conduits

46, 56,:

78 and the passageway defined by

walls

69, 71, and 82 with such hot air finally being directed outwardly through discharge outlet 90. Air from the ambient atmosphere is drawn in through the inlet opening 48 so that a constant supply is always available. As the heated air flows upwardly through the conduits the boom members are warmed by the flow therethrough to preclude the formation of ice thereon and the outward'flow through discharge outlet over the pivotal connection formed by cars 86, apertures 88,implement 24 and the pivot pin thereof received in apertures 88 will be heated by the flow directed thereover against the formation of ice thereon. where water is being sprayed on surrounding objects during cold weather and would normally freeze on the apparatus, it should also be noted that the structure described and illustrated herein is similarly useful where such structure does not contain its own means for spray-V ing water, for example as protection against freezing of rain or snow falling on to the unit.

Having therefore described the embodiment of the present invention it can be seen that all of the objects of the application are obtained by the structure hereinabove set forth and it can be further seen that various modifications or changes may be made in the structure described without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described theinvention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structural unit, first and second elongated boom members, and means pivotally interconnecting said first and second boom members at proximal ends thereof; a. conduit extending longitudinally through said first'boom member; a passageway extending longitudinally through said second boom member; a flexible hose connected at one end thereof to said conduit atthe proximal end'of said first boom and terminating in an orifice at the opposite end thereof, said orifice being connected to said passageway at the proximal end of said second boom member, said conduit having an inlet open to the atmosphere at the end thereof remote from said proximal end thereof, said passageway having a discharge open to the atmosphere at the end thereof remote 1 from said proximal end thereof; a platform pivotally. coupledto said second boom member at the end thereof remote from said proximal end thereof; a heater within said conduit adjacent said inlet for heating the air in said conduit; and a blower coupled with said conduit for drawing-cool into said inlet for heating by said heater and directing its flowthereby successively through said conduit, said hose, 7

said passageway and out said discharge, said discharge being positioned to direct said flow. of heated fluid over the zone of pivotal coupling of said platform'and said second boom member, whereby. fluid flowing through said second boom member heats the same against formation of ice thereon, and fluid flowing over said zone of coupling heats the latter against the formation of ice thereon.

, 2. The structural'unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second boom member includes a pair 'of spaced, parallel, elongated side walls having parallel top and bottom margins; an elongated top wall joining said top margins of said side walls; and an elongated bottom wall spaced below said top wall and joining the side walls intermediate the top and bottom margins thereof, said side walls, top wall and bottom wall defining a passageway extending longitudinally through said boom member.

3. In a structural unit, a swingable boom including relatively shiftable first andsecond elongated boom members each having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and in thermal interchange relationship therewith; means on said members at proximal ends Although useful in fire fighting apparatus thereof for pivotally interconnecting said members; flexible coupling means for placing one of said passageways in fluid communication with the other of said passageways; structure pivotally coupled with one of said boom members at the end thereof opposite to said proximal end; means coupled with the other of said boom members within the passageway thereof for directing a flow of heated fluid through said passageways and said flexible coupling means toward said one end of said one boom member, there being means in the passageway of said one 10 boom member adjacent said one end thereof for discharging heated fluid over the junction of said structure and said one boom member, whereby said boom members and said junction are heated to prevent the formation of ice thereon.

4. In a structural unit, a swingable boom having a passageway provided with an inlet and a discharge open to the atmosphere, said passageway extending longitudinally of said boom and being in thermal interchange relationship therewith; structure pivotally coupled with the boom at the end thereof adjacent said discharge; a heater within the passageway adjacent the inlet thereof for heating air passing into said passageway; a blower coupled with said passageway for directing air into said inlet and 5 expelling Warm air from said discharge to thereby heat said boom and prevent the formation of ice thereon; and means in said passageway adjacent said discharge for directing heated air over the junction of said structure and said boom to thereby heat said junction and prevent the formation of ice thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS