Seal for a fire brigade coupling

Abstract

Seal (1) for a fire brigade coupling, in particular a Storz coupling, with a sealing body (2) and with a sealing lip (3), characterized in that at least one data carrier (6) is integrated in the sealing body (2) and / or in the sealing lip (3).

Description

The invention relates to a seal for a fire brigade coupling, in particular a Storz coupling, comprising a sealing body and a sealing lip. German patent DE 10 2015 108 892 A1 discloses a coupling element for connecting at least one fluid-carrying line, comprising a base body with an electronic storage element. This coupling element is fundamentally capable of simplifying the maintenance of fire hoses by storing hose-related data in the electronic storage element. However, the manufacture of this coupling element is quite complex, and it has also been found that, due to the embedding of the electronic storage element in the aluminum material of the coupling element, the data cannot always be read from the electronic storage element without difficulty. EP 2 379 918 B1 describes a method for manufacturing a seal in which an RFID transponder is inserted into a preform made of a crosslinkable elastomeric polymer material. The preform is then crosslinked to form a body and completely embed the RFID transponder within it. From WO 2017 / 136154 A1, a method for manufacturing an RFID tag assembly is known, comprising forming a body from an elastomeric material, providing an RFID tag, forming a patch from an elastomeric material, positioning the RFID tag on a surface of the elastomeric body, covering the RFID tag with the patch, and connecting the patch to the elastomeric body, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in the elastomeric material, which is enclosed by the elastomeric body and the patch covering the RFID tag. US Patent 8,777,112 B2 describes RFID structures that feature a planar sealing layer with a tensile modulus of less than 5 GPa. The sealing layer defines a perimeter containing guide grooves. The RFID structure also includes a loop antenna array located within the sealing layer. EP 2 257 938 B1 describes a device which has a seal with an elastic material which forms a seal in which a conduit is embedded. According to US 7,132,932 B1, one or more RFID tags are integrated into a fire hose. A portable interceptor is used to query the nearest RFID tag. Each RFID tag stores location information, which is decoded by the portable interceptor when queried. This location information helps the person locate the hose. The object of the present invention is to provide a seal for a fire service coupling, in particular a Storz coupling, which in particular simplifies the identification, maintenance, testing and documentation of fire service hoses. According to the invention, this problem is solved by the features mentioned in claim 1. The seal according to the invention for a fire brigade coupling, in particular a Storz coupling, has a sealing body and a sealing lip, wherein at least one data carrier is integrated into the sealing body and / or in the sealing lip. The seal according to the invention, with at least one data carrier integrated in the sealing body and / or in the sealing lip, makes it possible to store a wide variety of data associated with the fire hose coupling, a fire hose connected to the coupling, or a fire hose fitting. This allows the fire hose coupling, the fire hose connected to it, or the fire hose fitting to be easily identified, tested, and maintained. Furthermore, managing the history of the hose or fitting can be significantly simplified by eliminating the need for previously used stamped numbers, barcodes or QR codes applied as stickers, color codes, or similar methods, particularly because the necessary documentation for testing the respective fire hose can be provided very easily.For example, it can read manufacturing date, part identification in the form of master data, inventory records, life cycle and other data relating to the history, as well as sales channels and customer data. Integrating at least one data carrier into the seal of the fire hose coupling offers the advantages of simpler manufacturing and highly reliable data retrieval compared to integrating it into the coupling element itself. Unlike previously used stickers, which can become dirty, damaged, or detach, the data carrier remains reliably within the seal. Nevertheless, access to the data carrier is possible because the seal within the coupling is exposed and the data carrier is not shielded by aluminum or similar materials. This allows for very easy identification and thus trouble-free maintenance, testing, and documentation of the fire hose coupling, the fire hose connected to it, or the fire fitting connected to it. A further advantage of the solution according to the invention is that, by integrating the at least one data carrier into the seal, the data carrier is always carried along with the coupling element and the fire hose to which the coupling element is attached, so that identification of the respective hose, coupling, or fitting, even if required at short notice, is possible at any time, optionally via mobile reading devices. This allows the couplings, hoses, and fittings to be assigned to specific fire departments or, within a fire department, to a specific vehicle. A particular advantage of integrating at least one data carrier into the sealing element is that the seal according to the invention can very easily replace existing seals, thus enabling simple retrofitting without significant effort. An additional advantage arises from the fact that each hose, distributor, collector, and the like has two couplings, each containing its own seal and data carrier, resulting in redundancy and therefore increased safety. Instead of a Storz coupling, the seal could also be designed for an NH, BI, DSP, Uni, Nor or a coupling according to another standard. Special protection of the at least one data carrier is possible if, in an advantageous further development of the seal according to the invention, the at least one data carrier is completely enclosed by a material forming the seal. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention can consist in the at least one data carrier being arranged in at least one groove and / or pocket provided in the sealing body and / or in the sealing lip. This not only allows for easy assembly of the seal, but also ensures a secure hold of the at least one data carrier in the seal. Furthermore, in the unlikely event of a data carrier failure, it can be replaced without replacing the entire seal. Particularly secure placement of the data carrier in the seal is achieved if at least one groove and / or pocket has a taper towards the outside of the seal. In a further advantageous embodiment, if the data carrier is an RFID chip, the user benefits from a very robust solution with sufficient storage capacity. RFID chips or tags are categorized as either passive or active, the latter containing a battery. In the case of a passive RFID tag, it serves to uniquely identify the seal and thus the coupling, and consequently the hoses and fittings. It is possible that such a passive RFID chip stores little or no data. Additionally, the data stored on the chip can be linked to inventory software containing further information about the respective hose or fitting. In a method for producing the seal according to the invention, at least one data carrier can be placed in an injection mold and then a material forming the seal can be injected into the injection mold. The process can be carried out relatively simply, provided the injection mold meets the relevant accuracy requirements and is equipped with vacuum channels or vacuum technology, by inserting at least one data carrier into the injection mold before injecting the sealing material. It has been found that when the sealing material flows into the injection mold, the data carrier essentially remains in its position and is thus integrated into the seal with a consistently precise positioning, determined, for example, empirically. It can be provided that at least one data carrier is inserted into each of several cavities of the injection mold, with the sealing material being injected into the cavities of the injection mold via a central sprue. In this way, several seals can be produced in a single injection molding operation, which significantly increases the yield resulting from the process. In another possible method for producing the seal according to the invention, a material forming the seal is injected into an injection mold. The seal produced by injection molding has at least one groove and / or at least one pocket, and at least one data carrier is inserted into the at least one groove and / or into the at least one pocket. This embodiment of the method for manufacturing the seal for the fire service coupling is also very simple to implement, requiring only at least one groove and / or at least one pocket in the seal into which the at least one data carrier can be inserted. It is possible to utilize existing grooves in such seals and deepen them either completely or at one or more points, so that the data carrier can be accommodated. As mentioned above, housing the at least one data carrier in the seal of the fire service coupling offers the advantages of simpler manufacturing and highly reliable data retrieval compared to housing it in the coupling element. This method also does not differ significantly from the known procedure for manufacturing such a seal. It is merely necessary to insert at least one data carrier into at least one groove and / or into at least one pocket. The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in principle with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a seal according to the invention in section; Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a seal according to the invention in section; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the seal according to the invention; Fig. 4 an injection mold for producing a seal; and Fig. 5 a section along line V - V from Fig. 4. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a seal 1 for a fire service coupling (not shown), in particular a Storz coupling, which is intended for attachment to a fire hose. The seal 1 can also be designed for an NH, BI, DSP, Uni, Nor or a coupling according to another standard. The seal 1 comprises a sealing body 2 and a sealing lip 3 formed integrally with the sealing body 2. In this case, the sealing body 2 and the sealing lip 3 contain several pockets 4 that open towards the outside of the seal 1 and have corresponding tapers 5 on the outside of the seal 1. In other words, the pocket 4 is formed as an undercut of the taper 5. The outside of the seal 1 refers not only to its outer circumference but also to its inner circumference and its flat surfaces. Instead of the pockets 4, which are limited to the circumference, it would also be possible to provide at least one groove extending over a larger area of ​​the outer or inner circumference of the seal 1, or around the entire outer or inner circumference of the seal 1, which could preferably also have an outward taper or one or more undercuts. These undercuts would then have the same effect as the pockets 4, as explained below. Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the seal 1, in which the pockets 4 with the tapered sections 5 opening towards the outside of the seal 1 are also provided. However, the pockets 4 have different shapes than those of the embodiment in Fig. 1, in that they open towards the planar surface of the seal 1 and not, as in Fig. 1, towards the outer circumference of the seal 1. Fig. 3 shows the seal 1 in a perspective view. It can be seen that the seal 1 is designed as a sealing ring. Furthermore, it can be seen that the pockets 4 contain respective data carriers 6. In this case, the data carriers 6, designed as RFID chips or RFID tags, can store information relating to the fire hose coupling in which the seal 1 is located and / or the fire hose to which the fire hose coupling is attached. This allows specific data relating to the fire hose coupling and / or the fire hose to be read using appropriate reading devices. Figures 4 and 5 show an injection mold 7 used to produce the seal 1 shown in Figures 1, 2, or 3. The injection mold 7 is designed in two parts, comprising an upper half 7a and a lower half 7b. Between the two halves 7a and 7b is a cavity 8 into which the material forming the seal 1 (not shown) is injected. The injection mold 7 can have several cavities 8; in this case, it has 16 cavities 8, arranged in groups of four. However, a different number of cavities 8 is also possible. Each cavity 8 has a central hole on its male side for the vacuum supply of the seal 1 material via a main runner 9. In the case of multiple cavities 8, the material forming the seal 1 is injected into the cavities 8 of the injection mold 7 via a central sprue. The seal 1 is manufactured by injection molding or insert molding using vacuum fixation, as described in more detail below. The at least one data carrier 6 is inserted into the respective cavity 8 before injection and is preferably positioned opposite the main gate 9. A micro-vacuum system (not shown) in the injection mold 7 creates a local vacuum in the area of ​​the data carrier 6 and temporarily fixes the data carrier 6 before injection. After the material forming the seal 1 has solidified, several ejector pins 10, actuated by an ejector plate 11, push the finished seal 10 out of the injection mold 7. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature DE 10 2015 108 892 A1

[0002] EP 2 379 918 B1

[0003] WO 2017 / 136154 A1

[0004] US 8,777,112 B2

[0005] EP 2 257 938 B1

[0006] US 7,132,932 B1

[0007]

Claims

Seal (1) for a fire brigade coupling, in particular a Storz coupling, with a sealing body (2) and with a sealing lip (3), characterized in that at least one data carrier (6) is integrated in the sealing body (2) and / or in the sealing lip (3). Seal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one data carrier (6) is completely enclosed by a material forming the seal (1). Seal (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one data carrier (6) is arranged in at least one groove and / or pocket (4) present in the sealing body (2) and / or in the sealing lip (3). Seal (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one groove and / or pocket (4) has a taper (5) towards the outside of the seal (1). Seal (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data carrier (6) is an RFID chip.

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