US3244376A

US3244376A - Fire hose nozzle

Info

Publication number: US3244376A
Application number: US53474A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Thompson
Original assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co LLC
Current assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co LLC
Priority date: 1960-09-01
Filing date: 1960-09-01
Publication date: 1966-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 1983-04-05

Description

April 5, 1966 w. s. THOMPSON FIRE HOSE NOZZLE 2 Sheeos-SheerI l Filed Sept. l. 1960 INVEN TOR. h// MM 5. 7/1/0/17/50/1/ ATTORNEY gym@ fff April 5, 1966 w. s. THOMPSON 3,244,375

FIRE HOSE NozzLE Filed Sept. l, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q IN VEN TOR. m

Wm /AM 5. @0M/05m.

ATTORNEY United4 States Patent Oiiice This invention relates to improvements in re hose nozzles, and particularly to nozzles adapted to be mounted upon the end of a tlexible hose for use in lighting fires.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a nozzle which is adjustable to provide control of they rate of flow of .liquid therethrough between minimum and maximum settings while the nozzle operates to discharge ,liquid and which provides an indication of the rate of iiow in the various settings without, however, limiting settings to selected values or preventing infinite adjustment within the range between minimum and maximum settings.

A further object is to provide a novel nozzle which combines the advantages of screw-threaded adjustment of the setting of a batiie disk to control rate of flow from the nozzle and of a screw-threaded sleeve for controlling the pattern of ejection of liquid therefrom, and which further includes means for indicating the setting of both of said adjustments.

A further object is to provide a nozzle of this character so constructed as to prevent excessive adjustment of rate of iiow either toward shut-off or toward maximum ow from any desired setting with assurance of maintenance of substantially constant ow rates in the lower range regardless of the spray pattern of ejection of liquid therefrom and with assurance of limitation of variations in the rate of flow incident to changes in pattern setting in the upper range of the rate of ow adjustments provided by the device.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specication.

In the drawings:

FIG. .1 is a view of the nozzle in side elevation with partsV shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an end view` of the nozzle at the discharge end thereof and is seen ,in the direction of the arrows in FIG. l;=

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectionalview taken on line 3-3 of EIG. 1'; f

FIG.v 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FG.1;

FIG. 5 is a-fragmentary view similarto FIG..3, illustrating another adjustment of the device;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the nozzle taken on line 6-6 0f FIG. 1illustrating-the same in one adjustment;

FIG. 7 is a takenon line 6,-6 of FIG. .1 and illustrating the nozzle in a second adjustment;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the nozzle in a third adjustment.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodimentof the invention, the numeral 10 designates the tubular body of the nozzle. The body 10 has a rear portion 12 with a large bore, and alfront portion 16 with a smaller bore. .The front portion terminates in a spider portion 18, for purposes to be described. The exterior of the portion 16 has screw-threads 20.

A swiveladapter 22 is screw-threaded in the rear portion 12 of the body and is provided with a groove receiving a sealing ring 24. A swivel ring 26 is rotatably mounted on the adapter 22 and is retained thereon by swivel retainer balls 28 traveling in registering grooves vfragmentary longitudinal sectional view 3,244,376 Patented Apr. 5, 1966' in the adapter 22 and the ring 26. The swivel ring 26 has a screw-threaded bore portion 30 adapted to removably receive a fitting (not shown) mounted upon the end of a hose or other ilexible conduit.

A seal ring 32 is screw-threaded in the body portion 12 with which it has a sealed connection by means of an O-ring or other annular seal 34. The seal ring 32 mounts an annular sealing member 36 adapted to cooperate with a valve ball 38 having a passage therethrough and being mounted rotatably within the body upon a Valve actuator shaft 40 operated by a handle 42. The handle 42 is mounted upon the shaft 40 and an aligned handle pivot screw 44 at its opposite end and is adapted to be swung from a position, as illustrated in FIG. 6,

providing free passage of liquid through the nozzle body to a position substantially at right angles at which the valve 38 closes the bore of the body.

A center barrel or tubular member 50 encircles the front body portion 16 Iand has internal screw-threads 52 meshing with the threads 20 of the body. An O-ring or annular seal 54 is interposed between the body portion 16 and the center barrel 50. The center barrel 50 projects forwardly beyond the end of the tubular body and terminates in a restricted or reduced diameter end portion 56 in the nature of an annular internal flange having frusto-conical inner and outer surfaces. The spider portion 1S of the body mounts one end of a stem 58 projecting axially forwardly from the body portion and through the reduced center barrel portion 56 to terminate in a disk 60 of larger diameter than the bore of the reduced center barrel portion 56. The disk 60 may have a plurality of small apertures 62 therethrough as seen in FIG. 2. The disk 60 cooperates with theV center barrel reduction 56 to deline or determine the rate of flow of liquid through the nozzle or to constitute a ow modulating valve.

An end sleeve 66 has internal screw-threads 68 which mesh with external screw-threads 70 on the center barrel 50. End sleeve 66 has a sealed iit upon center barrel 50 by means of an annular resilient sealing member 72, here shown as seated in a groove in the center barrel 5t). The end sleeve may be positioned in any selected adjustment upon the center barrel relative to the end of the center barrel to control the spray` pattern of the nozzle as between a laterally directed fog-forming position in which the spray is dellected laterally and radially by means of the disk 60, and a position substantially as shown in FIG. 6 wherein a straight stream is discharged from the nozzle by reason of the stream-directing action of the forwardly projecting portion of the end sleeve relative to the center barrel Sti and the disk 60. The end sleeve 66 may mount a hand grip ring 74 to facilitate rotationthereof upon the center barrel 50 to Vary the discharge pattern of the nozzle.

A locking lever St is pivoted to the rear body portion 12 at 82 and is pressed upon at its rear end portion by spring 84 so as to urge its forward portion radially inwardly, or clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 1. The lever Sii eXtends longitudinally of the nozzle `and at its front portion 86 is substantially V-shaped. The lever is of suiiicient length to project to a position partly overlying the rear portion of the end sleeve 66 in the forward position of adjustment of said sleeve. The end sleeve 66 preferably has an indicator sleeve 90 encircling the same and anchored thereto by set screw 92 or like means. The indicator sleeve 90 may be formed of metal, plastic or any other suitable material and preferably terminates in a rolled or enlarged end 94 which may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches 96, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, into which the portion 86 of the locking lever is adapted to seat. Indicator sleeve 90 may have embossments 98 thereon, for example, of different shapes as illustrated in FIG. l, serving to indicate the shape of the water discharged therefrom at different settings of the indicator sleeve.

A ring lili) encircles the center barrel Si) and is xedly anchored thereto by securing means, such as a set screw i012. The ring 100 preferably has an end portion 104 of greater diameter than the remainder thereof, which portion lit may be provided with a plu'rality of circumferentially spaced notches lit. The locking lever has an elongated intermediate portion Si thereof which has a sharp inner edge adapted to seat in a selected one of the notches 1% as illustrated in FG. 3, when a notch is brought into register therewith. vThe indicator ring i) preferably has a pair of ears 108 projecting therefrom and forming stops engageable with the locking lever 80 to limit the extent of rotation of the center barrel relative to the nozzle body.

It will be apparent that rotation of the center barrel relative to the nozzle body will provide control of the spacing between the restricted or valve seat portion 56 of the center barrel and the disk 60 carried by the stem S8 projecting from the nozzle body, as a means to control the 'rate of iiow of liquid through the nozzle. The provision of the wings 10S on the ring 10d carried by the center barrel serves to limit the rotation of the center barrel by virtue of the engagement thereof with the locking lever Sii. Thus it is possible to predetermine a minimum and maximum liow of water through the nozzle. At the same time there is no necessary limit to the number of settings within those ow limits which can be had if desired. In other words, an infinite adjustment of the 'rate of flow between the two extreme limits can be achieved because of the threaded relation of the center barrel 50 and the nozzle body. At the same time, the

provision of the notches 106 in the ring 100 does provide means for calibration of the rate of flow so that, if the user desires to secure a certain calibrated rate of ow, it is possible to set the ring 100 in a position so that the locking lever seats in a selected notch thereof and to thereby maintain the rate of dow at the calibrated amount. Also, the provision of the notches, when properly calibrated, can be used as a guide for indicating rate of flow between specific calibrated settings when an adjustment is made, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in which the locking lever seats on the ring portion 104 between adjacent notches 106.

The device also provides means for indicating the setting of the end sleeve or stream control sleeve 66 as determined by the point of engagement of the end 86 of the locking lever 80 with the rim 94 of the indicator sleeve 90. Here again, the user has a choice of settings which is substantially innite because of the screwtheaded connection of the end sleeve 66 on the center barrel Si). At the same time', the notches 96 and the indicator or indicia 98 upon the indicator sleeve 9i) provide means in correlation with the locking lever Sti for indicating to the user the approximate pattern which will be achieved in any given setting in which a notch receives the locking lever. provide other stream control settings which are interpolations between settings outlined by the respective notches. Thus an infinite setting of stream control adjustment is possible and can be elected rapidly utilizing the indicators as means for guiding the setting.

One of the characteristics of the nozzle is that within the lower limits of adjustment of the rate of flow, a substantially constant rate of ow may be achieved regardless of the setting of the end sleeve 66 to vary the spray pattern adjustment. The device also provides assurance that variations of the rate of ow incident to changes in pattern setting adjustments in the upper range of rate of ow adjustments will be limited. Thus, although the device does not provide uniform control of rate of iiow incident to changes in ow pattern settings throughout the full range of operation, deviations from such full Also, the user is permitted to control are small `and relatively unimportant in their effect in use of the nozzle. This renders the nozzle suitable for use in conjunction with foam eductor apparatus because of the limitation of the range of change of rate of flow 4in the nozzle in full range of adjustment thereof.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it rwill be understood that changes in the Iconstruction may bermade within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A nozzle comprising a tubular body having inlet and outlet ends, a stem carried centrally vby and projecting longitudinally from the outlet end of said body, a tubular central barrel screw-threaded on said body and projecting therefrom and around said "stern, said central barrel having a reduced bore at one end portion, a disk carried concentrically by said stem outwardly of the reduced bore portion ofsaid central barrel, 'anend sleeve screw-threaded on said central barrel and adapted, when projected, to encircle said disk concentrically and with clearance to dene the stream pattern A'emitted from the nozzle, an elongated longitudinal meinber pi'votally carried by said body, stop means carried by said central barrel and projecting for engagement with said last named member for limiting rotative adjustment 'of said central barrel on said body and the spacing between said central barrel and said disk in a predetermined range in which said disk is spaced from said reduced bore at all times to thereby define minimum and maximum rates of flow from said nozzle and a plurality of circumferentially spaced seats on said central barrel between said stop means for releasably receiving said longitudinal member.

2. In a nozzle having a tubularbody with inlet and outlet ends, a stem carried centrally by and projecting longitudinally from the outlet end of said body, a tubular central barrel screw-threaded on said body and projecting therefrom and around 4said stein, said central barrel having a reduced b'o're at one' end portion, `a disk carried concentrically by said stem outwardly of the reduced bore portion o f said central barrel, yan end sleeve screwthreaded on saidv central barrel and adapted, when projected, to encircle said disk concentricallyy and with clearance to define the stream .patternemitted from the nozzle, the improvement comprising an elongated longitudinal member pivotally carried by said body,A laterally projecting stop means on said centralbarrel and projecting there.- from a distance greater than the spacing of s'aid longitudinal member from saidV barrel and engageable with said last named member to limit the range of adjustment of said central barrel relative, to said diskfor controlling the rate of iiow from said nozzle and circumferentially spaced means on said centralgbarrel between said 'stop means and selectively engageableby said longitudinal member to hold said central barrel in" selected flow-controlling adjustment. Y l

3. In a nozzle having a tubular body with inlet and outlet ends, a stem carried centrally by and projecting longitudinally from the outlet end of said body, a tubular central barrel screw-threaded on said bodyand projecting therefrom and around said stem, said central barrel having a reduced` bore at one end portion,V a disk carried concentrically by said stem outwardly of the' reduced bore portion of said central barrel, an end sleeve screw- -threaded on said central barrel andl adapted, when projected, to encircle said disk concentricallyand with clearance to define the streain pattern emitted from the nozzle, the improvement comprising a'n elongated longitudinal member pivotally carried by said body and extending alongside parts of said barrel and e'nd sleeve, and laterally projecting means on 4said central barrel engageable with said last named member to limit the range of adjustment of said central barrel relative to said diskfor controlling the rate ofrow from said nozzle, said central Ybarrel having circumfcrcntially spaced surface parts designating Pre' determined rate of flow settings of said nozzle when engaged by said longitudinal member said end sleeve having circumferentially spaced surface parts designating predetermined nozzle discharge patterns When engaged by said longitudinal member.

4. In a nozzle having a tubular body with inlet and outlet ends, a stem carried centrally by `and projecting longitudinally from the outlet end of said body, a tubular central barrel screw-threaded on said body and projecting therefrom and around said stem, said central barrel having a reduced bore at one end portion, a disk carried concentrically by said stem outwardly of the reduced bore portion of said central barrel, an end sleeve screw-threaded on said central barrel and adapted, when projected, to encircle said disk concentrically and with clearance to define the stream pattern emitted from the nozzle, the improvement comprising an elongated spring urged longitudinal member shiftably carried by said body, and laterally projecting means on said central barrel engageable with said last named member to limit the range of adjustment of said central barrel relative to said disk for controlling the rate of flow from said nozzle, said central barrel having circumferentially spaced recesses designating predetermined rate of flow settings of said nozzle when engaged by said longitudinal member, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses on said end sleeve for designating predetermined flow pattern settings when engaged by said longitudinal member.

5. In a nozzle having a tubular body with inlet and outlet ends, a stem carried centrally by and projecting longitudinally from the outlet end of said body, .a tubular central barrel screw-threaded on said body and prejecti'ng therefrom and around said stem, said central barrel having .a reduced bore at one end portion, a disk carried concentrically by said stem outwardly of the reduced bore portion of said central barrel, an end sleeve screw-threaded on said central barrel and adapted, when projected, to encircle said disk concentrically and with clearance to deiine the stream pattern emitted from the nozzle, the improvement comprising an elongated longitudinal member shifta'bly carried by said body and spring-pressed to normally position a part thereof in engagement with said central barrel, said central barrel and end sleeve each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches selectively receiving said last named part of said longitudinal member, and Wing means projecting radially from said central barrel and engageable with said longitudinal member to limit rotative adjustment of said central barrel on said body.

6. A nozzle comprising a multiple part tubular body having inlet and outlet ends, said body parts having screw-threaded connection, one part having a reduced bore .adjacent said outlet end, a disk carried by another part and positioned outwardly of and concentric of said reduced bore, a third part adapted, when projected, to encircle said disk with clearance to define the stream pattern emitted from the nozzle, means for limiting relative rotation of said two first named parts to thereby control the rate of iiow of said nozzle, said means including an elongated longitudinal member pivoted to one of said parts and extending `alongside the other part and circumferentially spaced projections carried by the other of said parts and engageable by said longitudinal member, the projection carrying part having circumferentially spaced surface parts between said projections and releasably engageable by said longitudinal member to maintain said two iirst named parts in selected flow controlling adjustment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,552,444 5/1951 Nielsen 239-458 2,552,445 5/ 1951 Nielsen 239--45 6 2,763,514 9/1956 Hansen et al 239-458 2,938,673 5/1960 Allenbaugh 239-458 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A NOZZLE COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY HAVING INLET AND OUTLET ENDS, A STEM CARRIED CENTRALLY BY AND PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE OUTLET END OF SAID BODY, A TUBULAR CENTRAL BARREL SCREW-THREADED ON SAID BODY AND PROJECTING THEREFROM AND AROUND SAID STEM, SAID CENTRAL BARREL HAVING A REDUCED BORE AT ONE END PORTION, A DISK CARRIED CONCENTRICALLY BY SAID STEM OUTWARDLY OF THE REDUCED BORE PORTION OF SAID CENTRAL BARREL, AN END SLEEVE SCREW-THREADED ON SAID CENTRAL BARREL AND ADAPTED, WHEN PROJECTED, TO ENCIRCLE SAID DISK CONCENTRICALLY AND WITH CLEARANCE TO DEFINE THE STREAM PATTERN EMITTED FROM THE NOZZLE, AN ELONGATED LONGITUDINAL MEMBER PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY SAID BODY, STOP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CENTRAL BARREL AND PROJECTING FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LAST NAMED MEMBER FOR LIMITING ROTATIVE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID CENTRAL BARREL ON SAID BODY AND THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID CENTRAL BARREL AND SAID DISK IN A PREDETERMINED RANGE IN WHICH SAID DISK IS SPACED FROM SAID REDUCED BORE AT ALL TIMES TO THEREBY DEFINE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM RATES OF FLOW FROM SAID NOZZLE AND A PLUAND MAXIMUM RATES OF FLOW FROM SAID NOZZLE AND A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED SEATS ON SAID CENTRAL BARREL BETWEEN SAID STOP MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RECEIVING SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBER.