WO1999059381A1

WO1999059381A1 - Apparatus and method for shrink-fitting fire hose

Info

Publication number: WO1999059381A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/007028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Kirik, Jr.
Original assignee: Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-05-12
Filing date: 1999-05-07
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: AU3742199A

Abstract

Nylon reinforced or polyester reinforced fire hose (31) is placed in an annular (37) between a heating cylinder (22) and a heat barrier (23). The heating cylinder (22) is heated to at least 270 °F. The fire hose (31) shrinks until it engages the heating cylinder (22). The fire hose (31) is then removed and placed over the coupling (3), shank (3) or other connection (3). Shrink fitting the fire hose (31) to the coupling (3) eliminates pinching of the fire hose (31) and prevents leakage.

Description

1

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHRINK-FITTING FIRE HOSE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 08/782,151, filed January 13, 1997. This invention relates to a fire hose which is secured to a coupling or a shank. In particular, this invention relates to fire hose that is oversized with respect to its coupling or shank. Oversized hoses cause leaks. Specifically, the leaks are caused by pinching of the fire hose with respect to the coupling. The pinching is caused as there is more material than is needed to fit around the circumference of the exterior of the coupling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bokros U.S. Patent No. 4,169,477, entitled Anastomatic Couplings, discloses a polymeric material which is heated to 250-300° F and shrinks about a vascular graft to hold the graft on a prosthesis. U.S. Patent No. 5,388,321 to Farrell discloses a hot air chamber to shrink tubing about a hose.

Farrell discloses polyolefin as one material from which the heat-shrinkable material is made. U.S. Patent No. 4,141,576 to Lupke et. al. discloses a heat- shrinkable sleeve made of a thermoplastic material having an unstable state. Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 3,588,150 to Wold discloses a heat-shrinkable material. U.S. Patent Nos. 2,027,962 to Currie and 3,086,242 to Cook et. al. disclose vinyl compounds and cross-link polymers as materials that can be used in heat-shrinking processes. U.S. Patent No. 5,033,775 to Mattie et. al. discloses Polymer hoses which are heated and then cooled to effect the shrinking of the hose. None of the related art, however, is directed toward heat-shrinking a nylon reinforced fire hose or a polyester reinforced fire hose or a combination nylon/polyester reinforced fire hose about a coupling or a shank.

Nor is any of the related art directed toward preshrinking a nylon reinforced fire hose or a polyester reinforced fire hose or a combination 2

nylon/polyester reinforced fire hose about a heated cylinder and then removing same and placing it over a coupling or a shank. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a nylon reinforced or a polyester reinforced fire hose which is secured to a coupling or shank by heating a fire hose to at least 270° F with a wrap around heating apparatus. The heating apparatus heats the fire hose for the period of time necessary to shrink the fire hose to the coupling or shank. Shrink-fitting the fire hose to the coupling eliminates pinching of the fire hose and leakage. It is well known in the fire-fighting industry that fire hose is not always sized perfectly to fit over a coupling or shank. Particularly, the inside diameter of the fire hose may be considerably larger than the exterior diameter of the coupling or shank. There are a variety of coupling types and, as such, they have external diameters which vary as much as 0.200 inches from one type to the other. The mismatch between the inside diameter of the fire hose and the outside diameter of the coupling or shank can be nearly two hundred thousandths of an inch (0.200 inches). Thus, the need for a fitting method is apparent.

When fire hose is damaged in the field, for instance, by falling timbers which burn or rip the hose, it is necessary to reuse that hose by removing the damaged portion of the hose and fitting the still usable portion of the hose to a coupling or shank. Hose that has been in service for some time tends to enlarge. The method disclosed and claimed herein is directed toward resizing damaged hose and sizing a new hose. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method whereby fire hose containing nylon reinforcement, polyester reinforcement or a combination nylon/polyester reinforcement can be fitted to a coupling or shank such that leakage is prevented. The present invention comprises the steps of placing a portion of the nylon or polyester reinforced 3

fire hose over a coupling, wrapping the outer surface of the fire hose over the coupling with a heating apparatus, securing the heating apparatus over the fire hose, heating the fire hose with the heating apparatus to at least 270° F until the fire hose over the coupling engages the coupling, removing the heating apparatus from the fire hose, and sealing the fire hose against the coupling.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a method comprising the steps of placing a fire hose over a coupling, and heating the fire hose to a temperature between 270 -300° F until the fire hose shrinks to engage the coupling. It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which preshrinks nylon or polyester reinforced fire hose or a combination of nylon/polyester reinforced fire hose about a heated cylinder. This enables a hose of a certain size to be fitted to a variety of differently sized couplings or shanks. Different users of fire hose apply the hose to couplings, shanks and connections of different sizes. The apparatus disclosed herein enables the fitting of all hoses to all sizes of couplings within a nominal size range.

It is well known in the fire hose business that couplings and shanks of nominal size vary by as much as one quarter of an inch. For example, a four inch coupling of a certain manufacturer may be 3.95 inches in diameter. Whreas another may be 4.125 inches.

The instant apparatus (Figs 8-12) accommodates two situations. The first situation is where the fire hose is new and its inside diameter exceeds the outside diameter of the coupling, shank or other connection. The second situation is where the fire hose is used. Pressure fluctuations during use cause the fire hose to expand. If the used hose becomes damaged (i.e. cut) its inside diameter is usually too large in comparison to the outside diameter of the coupling, shank or other connection. In both of these instances the apparatus (Figs 8-12) preshrinks the hose to the desired diameter for fitting same over the connection. 4

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus with heated cylinders for preshrinking fire hose. Differently sized heated cylinders may be used to accommodate shrinkage thereabout. Alternatively, a heat conducting sleeve may be placed around the heated cylinder. In this way, the heated cylinder can be used with one or more of a plurality of conducting sleeves. This accommodates differently sized couplings, shanks and connections.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which includes a heated cylinder in combination with a cylindrical heat barrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates the coupling with the nylon or polyester reinforced fire hose placed around the coupling. The flange of the coupling is not shown. Figure 2 illustrates the prior art. Figure 2 illustrates gaps between the coupling or shank and the fire hose caused by pinching of the fire hose due to the oversize nature of the fire hose.

Figure 2A illustrates the fire hose secured about the coupling without any gaps between the coupling and the fire hose. This drawing illustrates the result of the process disclosed by this application.

Figure 3 illustrates the coupling and the fire hose after it has been shrunk to fit the coupling.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the heating apparatus of the preferred embodiment positioned around a nylon or polyester reinforced fire hose.

Figure 5 illustrates a fire hose positioned about a coupling having a single diameter barrel. Figure 5 also illustrates a cross-section of the heating apparatus wrapped around the fire hose.

Figure 6 illustrates a view similar to that of Figure 5 with the 5

exception that another type of shank is used. Particularly, the shank shown in Figure 6 includes raised portions.

Figure 7 illustrates the heating apparatus.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another device which shrinks nylon or polyester reinforced fire hose around a heated cylinder.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device show in Figure 8 illustrating the heated cylinder and heat barrier, among other structure, in cross section.

Figure 9A is a cross-sectional view of the heated cylinder illustrating apertures therein.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 9 together with a nylon reinforced or polyester reinforced fire hose shown in cross-section about the heated cylinder.

Figure 10A is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 10 illustrating fire hose 31 which has been shrunk to fit loosely over the heating cylinder 22.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 9 and, in addition, an adaptor sleeve is illustrated in cross-section. The adaptor sleeve resides about the heated cylinder.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 11 together with a nylon or polyester reinforced hose shown in cross- section about the adaptor sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 illustrates the nylon reinforced fire hose 1. It has been discovered that nylon reinforced fire hose or polyester reinforced fire hose or a combination nylon/polyester reinforced fire hose shrinks upon the application of a heating jacket placed around the fire hose. The heating jacket is a commercially available jacket made by Watt Low located in Columbia, Missouri. The heating jacket is very similar to the heating jackets employed to bend PNC pipe. 6

Figure 1 further illustrates a gap 11 which exists between the fire hose 1 and the coupling or shank 3. As used herein, coupling and shank are used somewhat synonymously. A coupling is a device which enables two halves to be joined by way of the coupling. A shank is a coupling of sorts, however, it is more of a male protrusion which may be fixedly mounted to another device and, therefore, can not be considered as a coupling half. The gap 11 illustrated in Figure 1 is typically on the order of as much as two hundred thousandths of an inch (0.2000 inches).

Figure 2 illustrates the prior art. Essentially the prior art discloses an oversized fire hose which is clamped by way of clamp 5 to the coupling 3.

Clamp 5 typically includes an insert 6 which provides a continuous surface which engages the fire hose and secures it to the circumference of the coupling 3. Clamp 5 includes a threaded member 5' which adjusts the tension of the clamp. However, it has been found that clamp 5 cannot be tightened enough to prevent leakage of the assembly shown in the prior art.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the coupling having an inner surface 14 and an outer surface 8. Additionally, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the fire hose 1 having an inner surface 15 and an outer surface 16. Figure 2, the prior art, illustrates large gaps 4 between the coupling 3 and the hose 1. Reference numeral 2 illustrates the nylon and/or polyester fibers contained in the hose.

Referring again to Figure 2, several gaps 4 are seen which appear due to the oversized nature of the fire hose.

Figures 2' and 3 illustrate the fit of the fire hose to the coupling 3. In particular, when viewing Figure 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the coupling and the fire hose, no gaps can be seen as the fire hose 1 has been shrunk fit to the coupling 3 by the process disclosed and claimed. As illustrated in Figure 3, the inner surface 15 of the fire hose 1 is illustrated as being the same line as the outer surface 13 of coupling 3.

Figures 4 and 7 illustrate the heating jacket 7. The heating jacket of the 7

invention disclosed herein is approximately 12 inches long and 23 inches flat. This is large enough that it can accommodate all sizes of hose. The P with a circle around it illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 is the electric power source which is responsible for providing power to heat the heating jacket 7. Figure 7 further illustrates Nelcro 12 which is used to secure and wrap the heating jacket up around the fire hose. Nelcro is a registered trademark of Nelcro Industries, B.N. located in the Netherlands. Figure 4 illustrates a cross- sectional view of the heating jacket 7. Heating jacket 7 will heat the fire hose 1 to a temperature of between 270-300° F. Figure 5 illustrates a coupling 3 having a flange 9. It will be noted that the coupling 3 has an exterior 8 which is of constant diameter until such point as it reaches the flange 9. Figures 1, 2, 2A, and 3 illustrate the hose 1 applied to the coupling 3 absent the flange 9.

Fire hose 1 is placed over the coupling 3 as illustrated in Figure 5. Next, the heating jacket 7 is wrapped and secured around the fire hose 1. The power source as designated by the letter P in the drawing figures is activated and the fire hose 1 is heated to a temperature of 270-300° F. The heating continues as long as necessary to shrink the nylon or polyester fibers such that there is no gap between the outer surface 8 of the coupling and the inner surface 15 of the fire hose. The amount of time necessary to heat the fire hose varies upon the size and type of the fire hose. For instance, several fire hoses, in addition to containing nylon or polyester reinforcing fibers, also contain other polyurethane and rubbers. The heating time can vary between one minute and 15-20 minutes depending on the type of hose that is being shrunk-fit.

The Watt Low heater is a silicone rubber heater. The heating jacket contains a thermostat to regulate the temperature produced by the heating jacket. The T with a circle around it represents the thermostat.

Figure 6 illustrates another type of coupling or shank 3' having a flange 8

portion 9' and raised portions 10.

Figure 4 illustrates the wrapping of the heating jacket 7 about the fire hose 1 in its free state. By free state it is meant that the fire hose 1 has not been placed over a coupling or a shank. It has been discovered with this process that the burst pressure before and after shrinking the hose is approximately identical. Put another way, there is no significant depreciation of the burst strength before and after shrinking the fire hose.

It has been discovered that for fire hose which includes nylon, polyester, or a combination of nylon and polyester, the fire hose can be shrunk fit to the outside diameter of a coupling or a shank. Particularly, the following steps comprise the shrinking process: placing a portion of the fire hose over the coupling, wrapping the outer surface of the portion of the fire hose over the coupling with a heating jacket, securing the heating jacket over the fire hose, heating the fire hose with the heating jacket to at least 270°F until the inner surface of the fire hose over the coupling engages the outer surface of the coupling, removing the heating jacket from the fire hose and sealing the fire hose against the coupling.

An alternate method employs the same steps absent the step of placing of the fire hose over the coupling.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another device which shrinks nylon or polyester reinforced fire hose around a heated cylinder. Reference numeral 30 illustrates the assembly. The assembly 30 is shown without a hose. The hose, which is generally cylindrical, resides in the area which is indicated by reference numeral 37. An aluminum cylinder 22 or other material having a high thermal conductivity is illustrated in Figure 8. The aluminum cylinder is surrounded by heat barrier 23. Heat barrier or heat reflector 23 is also made of aluminum and has a high thermal conductivity. Sometimes herein the terms heat barrier and heat reflector may be used interchangeably. The heat barrier 9

23 sits atop cover 27. Cover 27 has a top portion 28.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 8. Figure 9 illustrates the heated cylinder 22 and the heat barrier 23 in cross section. The heat barrier 23 is a cylinder. Heating rods 21 which are electrically powered in the preferred embodiment reside in cylindrical apertures38 (FIG. 9A) within the aluminum heated cylinder 22.

The heated cylinder 22 is affixed to a base plate 24. In the preferred embodiment screw 25 interlocks with threads found in base plate 24 and heated cylinder 22. A cover 27 is affixed to the base plate 24 by screw 39. Cover 27 includes a top portion 28 and a bottom portion 29. Commercially available heating rods 21 are electrically powered and reference numeral 26 indicates an electrical interconnection between a temperature control 34 and an electrical power source 35. The electrical interconnection 26 is shown schematically in Figure 9 as are the temperature control 34 and the electrical power source 35. In practice as is well known in the art the heating rods are powered by a power source and the heating rods are in parallel with the power source necessitating two leads extending to each of the heating rods.

Figure 9A is a cross-sectional view of the heated cylinder illustrating apertures therein. Apertures 38 in the preferred embodiment are bores. These apertures received the heating rods 21. Heating rods 21 are fitted into the bore. A very close tolerance is maintained between the heating rods and the heated cylinder so as to effect a large heat transfer between the rods and the heating cylinder 22. The preferred embodiment employs four heating rods but other embodiments with more or less heating rods may be employed. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view illustrated in

Figure 9 together with the nylon reinforced or polyester reinforced hose shown in cross section about the heated cylinder. Reference numeral 31 is used to denote the hose. The hose may also be a combination of a nylon/polyester reinforced fire hose. 10

Figure 10 illustrates the positioning of the hose intermediate the heating cylinder 22 and the heat barrier 23. When the heating cylinder 22 and heat barrier 23 reach a certain temperature by virtue of heat conduction between the heating rods 21 and the heating cylinder 22, heat is radiated away from the cylinder and the heat barrier 23 and into the fire hose.

It is preferred that the heated cylinder (sometimes referred to herein as the heating cylinder) and the heat barrier be preheated to 270 °F before a hose is placed between them as illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 10A illustrates the hose which has been shrunk or preshrunk against the heating cylinder 22. The preshrunk hose is then placed over the coupling, shank or other connection.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 9 and, in addition, an adaptor sleeve 32 is illustrated in cross section. The adaptor sleeve 32 resides about the heated cylinder. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the size of the adaptor sleeve may vary. For instance, a thicker cylinder may be used. The inside diameter of all adaptor sleeves 32 will be the same as they must reside adjacent to the heated cylinder 22. The thickness, however, will change. Put another way the outside diameter of the adaptor sleeve 32 may be larger if required. It well known in the art that differently sized couplings, shanks, and/or connections are used by different customers. For instance a nominal 4-inch coupling may only in reality be 3.95 inches in diameter. Another nominal 4- inch coupling may only be 3.9 inches in diameter. Therefore, the fire hose must be preshrunk for use in connection with various nominally sized couplings. Couplings run in different sizes and can vary from 1 inch to 6 inches in diameter or even larger. Employing differently sized adaptor sleeves 32 permits use of one assembly 30. More specifically, it permits use of one assembly 30 having a heated cylinder 22 of fixed dimensions. Naturally, if a larger adaptor sleeve 32 is used then a larger diameter heat barrier 33 must 11

also be used. This is because as the size of the adaptor increases so must the size or the diameter of the heat barrier increase so as to permit sufficient room for the hose to reside between the adaptor sleeve 32 and the heat barrier 33. Figure 11 illustrates a larger diameter heat barrier 33. Figures 9, 10, and 10A illustrates a smaller diameter heat barrier 23 in use. When referring to the diameter of the heat barrier it is usually meant the inside diameter of the heat barrier that is the diameter that must be large enough so as to permit the hose to reside between the heat barrier 33 and the adaptor sleeve 32.

Alternatively, devices having larger or smaller diameter heated cylinders may be used to preshrink hoses whose inside diameters approximate the diameter of the heated cylinder. Put another way, the diameter of the heated cylinder can be made to accommodate the application.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 11 shown together with a nylon or polyester reinforced hose about the adaptor sleeve 32. Reference numeral 36 indicates a larger diameter hose which is being used with the adaptor sleeve 32. The hose could also be a combination of nylon/polyester reinforced hose.

In practice the heating cylinder 22, adaptor sleeve 32 and heat barriers 23, 33 are made from aluminum or other material which has similar characteristics. Aluminum is known to have a high thermal conductivity and a high emissivity. The heat barrier could also be made from a material which is an insulator.

In the preferred embodiment temperature of the heating cylinder and the adaptor sleeve is regulated to approximately 270 degrees by temperature controller 34. Depending on the materials used for the heating cylinder 22, adapter sleeve 32 and heat barriers 23, 33 different temperatures may be used.

It will be understood to those skilled in the art that the foregoing description of the invention is exemplary only and is not intended and does not limit the claims which follow.

Claims

12I claim:

1. An apparatus for shrinking fire hose comprising: a heating cylinder, and, a heat barrier.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat barrier is cylindrical and includes an inner diameter, said heating cylinder includes an outer diameter, said inner diameter of said heat barrier is larger than said outer diameter of said heating cylinder.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said heating cylinder includes at least one aperture.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a heating element which resides in said heating cylinder.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said heating element is an electrical heating element.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cover and a base; and, said heating cylinder and said cover being affixed to said base.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a temperature controller and an electrical power source.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical sleeve which resides adjacent said heating cylinder.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating cylinder has a high thermal conductivity.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said heating cylinder and said cylindrical sleeve have a high thermal conductivity.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating cylinder is aluminum.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said heating barrier is aluminum.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 where said heating cylinder has 13

a high thermal conductivity and said heat barrier has a low thermal conductivity.

14. A process for shrinking fire hose having an inner and outer surface using a cylindrical heating cylinder and a heat barrier residing circumferentially about said heating cylinder and forming an annulus therebetween, comprising the steps of: preheating said heating cylinder and said heat barrier; placing said fire hose in said annulus formed between said heating cylinder and said heat barrier; heating said fire hose until said inner surface of said fire hose engage said heating cylinder; and, removing said hose from said apparatus.

15. A process for shrinking fire hose a claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of preheating said heating cylinder includes raising the temperature of said heating cylinder to 270 ┬░F.

16. A process for shrinking fire hose as claimed in claim 15 wherein said fire hose is a nylon reinforced fire hose.

17. A process for shrinking fire hose as claimed in claim 15 wherein said fire hose is a polyester reinforced fire hose.

18. A process for shrinking fire hose as claimed in claim 15 wherein said fire hose is a combination polyester and nylon reinforced fire hose.