NOZZLE FOR WATER, ESPECIALLY FOR A WATER CANNON

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a water cannon with a full-jet nozzle, particularly for use in fire extinguishing devices.

[0002] Conventional full-jet nozzles for nozzles at the end of fire hoses or for water cannons for firefighting have a simple bore that forms an outlet. The bore usually represents a taper at the end of the flow channel through the full-jet nozzle. As with a ballistic throw, such a full-jet nozzle can achieve a specific throw distance. In practice, the water impact surface is not a point or a circle, but always a round or oval impact surface. This is because the water sprayed through the full-jet nozzle spreads out during flight due to air resistance and vortex formation. Only in the first few meters behind the outlet does it spread approximately along a cylindrical volume.

[0003] The better and longer the water jet emerging from the full jet nozzle remains focused, the greater the throw distance and the smaller the impact area on the ground.

[0004] The present invention relates to water cannons with such full-jet nozzles, which accordingly have a flow cross-section which has an at least substantially circular base area.

[0005] In addition to these solid-jet nozzles, there are hollow-jet nozzles, also known as ring-jet nozzles, in which the flow cross-section of the outlet surface is essentially ring-shaped. The hollow-jet nozzle can be adjustable to focus the jet more or less. Hollow-jet nozzles create a wider spray angle and allow for adjustability of the jet. With solid-jet nozzles, on the other hand, the water is rotated before it exits to achieve a maximum spray angle of approximately 20°. Therefore, in the fire service sector, a crucial distinction is made between solid-jet nozzles and hollow-jet nozzles. Hollow-jet nozzles have a shorter range than solid-jet nozzles.

[0006] A disadvantage of known water jet nozzles, particularly as a water outlet for a water cannon, is that the throw distance is determined by the design of the nozzle and is limited to a comparatively small water impact area, especially on the ground. This means, for example, in firefighting at airports, especially when cooling or extinguishing aircraft, for which the present invention is intended to be particularly suitable, that not the entire longitudinal area of ​​an aircraft, for example the fuselage, or at least a significant portion thereof, can be cooled and / or extinguished simultaneously.Rather, it has been necessary to vary the impact area along the aircraft fuselage by vertical movements of the nozzle, which allows the position of the water impact on the aircraft fuselage to be changed in practice, but still limits the simultaneous cooling to only a comparatively short section of the aircraft fuselage.

[0007] Furthermore, conventional water jet nozzles cannot create a fire barrier like a water curtain. Nor is it possible to quickly apply water to a larger area on the ground.

[0008] DE 10 2011 077 072 B3 proposes a full-jet nozzle with an outlet chamber and at least one outlet opening in an end face of the outlet chamber. The outlet opening has a smaller cross-section than the outlet chamber, and the end face is provided with at least three pocket-like recesses distributed around the circumference of the outlet opening. These recesses are designed to disperse the full jet emerging from the outlet opening and thereby provide a fine atomization that is intended to cool the fire source better than conventional full jets. The arrangement of the pocket-like recesses creates a fine spray mist around the full jet. However, due to its funnel-like distribution, this spray mist can only produce a low cooling effect per unit area.

[0009] DE A0019987 M AZ discloses a liquid nozzle for foam jet pipes for fire extinguishing purposes for generating a hollow jet, wherein cross-sectional extensions are provided evenly distributed over the circumference of the flow cross-section.

[0010] AT 193182 B discloses a nozzle for sprinklers or irrigation devices, in which a main stream is directed through the sprinkler nozzle with minimal disruption. Furthermore, a secondary stream is generated through a perforation in the nozzle wall, which flows against a deflecting or baffling surface to effect irrigation in the vicinity of the sprinkler. The deflecting or baffling surface is formed in the perforation of the nozzle wall by the perforation being slit-shaped, with a slot angled at an acute angle to the axis of the nozzle orifice.

[0011] DE 10 2011 076 443 B4 discloses a check valve for a spray nozzle and a nozzle tube.

[0012] JP 2004 105312 A describes a water cannon, more precisely a water spray head, with the features summarized in the preamble of claim 1.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a water cannon with a full-jet nozzle which, while maintaining a consistently high throw distance, simultaneously enables the cooling of particularly long objects, the creation of a fire protection wall and the improved cooling of large areas.

[0014] The object of the invention is achieved by a water cannon having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and particularly useful embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0015] A water cannon according to the invention with a full-jet nozzle comprises an outlet opening having an outer circumference enclosing an outlet surface for forming a flow cross-section. The flow cross-section has an at least substantially circular base area. The base area is, in particular, the at least substantially circular flow cross-section that forms the largest part of the outlet opening.

[0016] According to the invention, at least one radial cross-sectional widening of the exit surface is now provided exclusively in an angular range of the outer circumference of the exit opening, wherein the angular range is a maximum of 180°.

[0017] Accordingly, according to the invention, at least one single cross-sectional widening is provided on the outer circumference of the outlet opening, or several cross-sectional widenings are provided on the outer circumference of the outlet opening. However, these widenings are not distributed over the entire outer circumference of the outlet opening. Instead, a region of at least 180°, i.e., at least half of the outer circumference, remains in which no radial cross-sectional widening is provided. This means that in this region, the outer circumference exclusively follows a circular shape.

[0018] When a full jet nozzle is referred to as a flow cross-section with a circular base area, this means a fully circular base area.

[0019] The full-jet nozzle of the water cannon according to the invention has or encloses a flow channel running along an axial direction, wherein the outlet opening is provided at the outlet end of the flow channel. The at least one radial cross-sectional widening is formed by a slot running with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axial direction of the flow channel and opening perpendicular to the base surface, or by a recess running with its longitudinal axis parallel to the axial direction of the flow channel and opening perpendicular to the base surface. In this case, the slot or the recess runs in particular exclusively along the axial direction of the flow channel; accordingly, no inclination, for example to create an impact surface, is provided. Rather, the slot or the recess merely enables a corresponding widening of the jet flowing through the flow channel without deflecting it laterally in the axial direction.

[0020] If a slot is provided according to the invention, it extends to the radially outer circumference of the full-jet nozzle, i.e., the slot is also open-edged in the radial direction. If, however, a recess is provided, the radial cross-sectional expansion does not extend to the outer surface of the nozzle; instead, the outlet opening and the recess are completely enclosed by an outer circumference, i.e., a wall or edge.

[0021] Particularly advantageously, the angular range of the outer circumference of the outlet opening, in which the at least one radial cross-sectional widening is provided, extends over a maximum of 90° and in particular over a maximum of 60° or 45° or 30°.

[0022] In this context, radial cross-sectional expansion refers to any local bulge of the exit surface extending radially outward from the base surface, regardless of the shape of the bulge. This can be rounded, essentially round, or pointed, or have other curved or angled shapes.

[0023] The angular range of the outer circumference of the outlet opening with the at least one radial cross-sectional expansion is provided, during intended use of the full-jet nozzle, at least temporarily along a lower half of the outer circumference of the outlet opening, so that the full jet advantageously opens up from the cylindrical shape only downwards relative to the jet's trajectory. This allows for concentrated cooling of the area below the jet, particularly from a few meters behind the water outlet from the nozzle to the jet's impact surface on the ground or the burning object.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the full-jet nozzle comprises a multi-part nozzle body comprising an axial end section in which the outlet opening is provided and which is rotatable relative to an adjoining axial section in order to rotate the angular range of the outer circumference with the at least one radial cross-sectional extension about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the outlet surface, in particular by at least 180°. The adjoining axial section is in particular directly adjacent to the end section.

[0025] It is advantageous if the at least one radial cross-sectional expansion forms a flow cross-section that amounts to a maximum of 25% of the base area of ​​the flow cross-section of the full jet, in particular a maximum of 20% or even a maximum of 10%. This can prevent any impairment of the throw distance of the full jet. In the case of multiple radial cross-sectional expansions, their total flow cross-section, in particular, amounts to a maximum of 10% of the base area.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one radial cross-sectional extension is at least substantially triangular, i.e., it has a flow cross-section that can be described by a triangle. One side of the triangle naturally follows the outer circumference of the base area, thus essentially following a circular path.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one radial cross-sectional widening is at least substantially trapezoidal, i.e., it has a flow cross-section that can be described as a trapezoid. The base of the trapezoid naturally follows the outer circumference of the base area, thus essentially following a circular path. The term "base" refers to the side line of the trapezoid that encloses the cross-section and is positioned radially inside the jet nozzle, i.e., an imaginary line that separates the circular base area from the cross-sectional widening, i.e., the trapezoidal area. The outer side of the trapezoid can be straight or curved, in particular, in the form of a circular path.

[0028] It is advantageous if the full-jet nozzle has a flow channel extending in the axial direction, which opens directly into the outlet opening, and if the last axial section of the flow channel in the flow direction is reduced in diameter compared to the immediately preceding upstream axial section of the flow channel. This allows the flow velocity of the water or water jet emerging from the outlet opening to be increased.

[0029] It is advantageous if the at least one radial cross-sectional widening is provided exclusively in the last axial section of the flow channel, i.e. the upstream axial section is free of such a radial cross-sectional widening and in particular is rotationally symmetrical or is enclosed by a circular or substantially circular circumference.

[0030] In order to reduce turbulence in the flow and thus increase the throw of the nozzle, a jet guide profile can be provided in the upstream axial section of the flow channel, which divides the flow cross-section into individual circular sectors, wherein the jet guide profile extends in the axial direction like a guide vane.

[0031] A water cannon according to the invention with a jet nozzle can be manufactured particularly easily by simply attaching a full jet nozzle of the known

[0032] Design with a fully circular flow cross-section of the outlet opening, in particular by milling, a radial cross-sectional expansion is introduced into the outlet opening. This allows existing jet nozzles to be easily retrofitted according to the invention.

[0033] The invention advantageously allows the full jet to be applied across the entire throw length. This not only achieves a single, distant impact area, but also a very long and narrow impact area on the ground, beginning a few meters behind the nozzle and ending at the maximum throw distance. For example, the following values ​​can be provided or provided by the jet nozzle according to the invention: 5000 l water flow per minute, 8 bar water pressure at the jet nozzle inlet, and a throw distance along the jet nozzle in the range of 8 to 60 m.

[0034] The nozzle can, for example, be screwed onto a jet pipe using a thread and then, by appropriate rotation, brought into a position in which the at least one radial cross-sectional expansion lies at least partially below the base area of ​​the flow cross-section, in particular vertically below the lowest point of the base area. According to one embodiment, the nozzle or the outlet opening is fixed in this position on the jet pipe. Another embodiment provides for optional rotation to switch the irrigation effect on and off.

[0035] The radial cross-sectional expansion can be switched off by rotating it between an active and an inactive position. In the active position, the flow cross-section of the radial expansion is free for the passage of water. In the inactive position, the flow cross-section is covered so that no or essentially no water can pass through and only the base area of ​​the outlet opening is available for the water jet to emerge. The active position is particularly intended below, for example, vertically below the lowest point of the base area. Of course, the radial cross-sectional expansion could also be kept stationary and instead be optionally covered by a rotatable or movable cover in order to switch the irrigation effect on and off.It is also possible that although the flow cross-section of the radial extension is always open, the radial cross-section extension can be rotated to a position above the base area of ​​the flow cross-section of the nozzle to switch off the irrigation effect and is therefore ineffective because the full jet emerging from the base area simply carries along the water emerging from the cross-section extension when this water rains down onto the full jet.

[0036] If the nozzle according to the invention is used to apply water to a larger area on the ground or from above onto burning material, the nozzle only needs to be aligned at a suitable angle of attack relative to the horizontal, for example from 25 to 30°, and pivoted horizontally, whereas with the conventional jet nozzles both horizontal and vertical pivoting was necessary, the latter in order to vary the throw distance.

[0037] If the nozzle is swiveled over 360°, a complete round area can be covered in the shape of a full circle.

[0038] If the nozzle according to the invention is positioned at an angle of attack close to 90° relative to a horizontal plane, a water-jetted radius is created around the water exit point, for example, around a vehicle with a mounted water cannon. This can be life-saving in vegetation fires.

[0039] The invention will be described below using exemplary embodiments and the figures.

[0040] They show: Figure 1 shows an exemplary design of a full-jet nozzle according to the invention for a water cannon according to the invention in a three-dimensional view; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the outlet opening of the full-jet nozzle of the Figure 1 ; Figure 3 a longitudinal section through a full jet nozzle of the Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an embodiment with a jet guide profile; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the outlet opening of a full-jet nozzle designed according to the invention for a water cannon according to the invention; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the outlet opening of a full-jet nozzle designed according to the invention with a trapezoidal cross-sectional extension for a water cannon according to the invention.

[0041] In the Figure 1 For a water cannon according to the invention, a full-jet nozzle designed according to the invention is shown, which can be mounted, for example, on a firefighting arm or at the end of a jet pipe of a fire engine or airfield firefighting vehicle. The nozzle has an outlet opening 1 for the water jet. The outlet opening 1 is provided in the region of one axial end of the nozzle, opposite a second axial end through which water enters the nozzle.

[0042] How to get out of the Figures 1 and 2As can be seen, the outlet opening 1 has an outer circumference 2 that encloses the outlet surface to form the flow cross-section 3 for the water. The flow cross-section 3 has an at least substantially circular base area 3.1 and a radial cross-sectional expansion 3.2. Thus, the total flow cross-section in the outlet opening 1 for the water, composed of the base area 3.1 and the radial cross-sectional expansion 3.2, could also be described as keyhole-like.

[0043] However, the invention is not limited to a single radial cross-sectional expansion 3.2. Rather, several radial cross-sectional expansions could also be provided, wherein Figure 2schematically, a second radial cross-sectional extension 3.2' and a third radial cross-sectional extension 3.2" are indicated in dashed lines. However, it is crucial that all intended radial cross-sectional extensions 3.2 and, if applicable, 3.2', 3.2" are connected to the base surface 3.1 only in a predetermined angular range 2.1 of the outer circumference 2, whereby the angular range 2.1 is a maximum of 180°.

[0044] According to the invention, the angular range 2.1 extends as shown in the Figure 2 shown, exclusively along a bottom side or lower half of the outlet opening 1.

[0045] In the sectional view in the Figure 3It is further shown that the full-jet nozzle has a flow channel 5 extending in the axial direction 10, which opens into the outlet opening 1. A final axial section 5.1 of the flow channel 5 in the direction of water flow through the full-jet nozzle is reduced in diameter compared to an immediately adjacent upstream axial section 5.2 of the flow channel. This accelerates the water before exiting the outlet opening 1 and thus achieves a greater throw distance of the water jet. The longitudinal axis 11 of the cross-sectional extension 3.2, here in the form of a recess 13, runs parallel to the axial direction 10.

[0046] As can also be seen from the Figure 3As can be clearly seen, the nozzle has a web 6 at the water outlet end, which protrudes at least slightly in the axial direction relative to the end face 7 in which the outlet opening 1 is provided and encloses the outlet opening 1.

[0047] While in the Figures 1-3 only one axial end section 8.1 of the nozzle body is shown, the Figure 4 furthermore, an adjoining axial section 8.2 of the nozzle body, relative to which the axial end section 8.1 is rotatable in order to vary the position of the at least one radial cross-sectional extension 3.2 over the outer circumference 2 of the outlet opening 1, such that the at least one radial cross-sectional extension 3.2 can be moved from its downwardly oriented position into a laterally or upwardly oriented position, in steps or continuously.

[0048] Furthermore, the Figure 4It is shown by way of example that a jet guide profile 9 can be provided in the flow channel 5, in particular the upstream axial section 5.2 with a comparatively larger diameter, in order to reduce turbulence in the flow.

[0049] The jet guide profile 9 divides the flow channel 5 into at least individual circular sectors. In the aforementioned embodiment, the jet guide profile 9 further divides the flow channel 5 into a core bore enclosed by the circular sectors.

[0050] In the Figure 5In the illustrated embodiment of a full-jet nozzle according to the invention, it is again clearly evident that the radial cross-sectional widening 3.2, which adjoins the annular base surface 3.1 of the flow cross-section 3 to form the outlet opening 1 of the flow channel 5, is provided in a lower half 4 of the full-jet nozzle. Here, too, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, a single cross-sectional widening 3.2 is provided, which is connected centrally at the bottom to the annular base surface 3.1.

[0051] The cross-sectional widening 3.2 is formed by a recess 13, the longitudinal axis 11 of which runs parallel to the axial direction 10 of the flow channel 5. The recess 13 does not extend to the radially outer surface of the nozzle or nozzle body, here the axial end section 8.1. However, the dashed line indicates that the cross-sectional widening 3.2 could also extend to the radially outer surface of the nozzle or end section 8.1, in this case in the form of a slot 12. Advantageously, the slot 12 tapers radially from the inside to the outside, so that it has approximately the cross-section of a triangle or at least approximately the cross-section of a trapezoid.

[0052] In the Figure 6shows what a cross-sectional expansion 3.2 in the form of a recess 13 with a trapezoidal cross-section could look like. Here, too, the flow cross-section of the cross-sectional expansion 3.2 tapers, particularly radially from the inside to the outside. List of reference symbols

[0053] 1 Outlet opening 2 Circumference 2.1 Angular range 3 Flow cross-section 3.1 Base area 3.2 Cross-sectional extension 4 Lower half 5 Flow channel 5.1 Last axial section 5.2 Upstream axial section 6 Web 7 End face 8.1 Axial end section 8.2 Axial section 9 Jet guide profile 10 Axial direction 11 Longitudinal axis 12 Slot 13 Recess

Claims

1. Water cannon having a full jet nozzle which encloses a flow channel (5) running along an axial direction (10), having an outlet opening (1) provided at an axial end of the flow channel (5), which has an external circumference (2) which encloses an outlet area to form a flow cross-section (3), wherein the flow cross-section (3) has an at least substantially circular base area (3.1), wherein at least one radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) of the outlet area is provided exclusively in an angular range (2.1) of the outer circumference (2), wherein the angular range (2.1) is a maximum of 180°, the at least one radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) is formed by a slot (12) which extends with its longitudinal axis (11) parallel to the axial direction (10) and opens perpendicular to the base area (3.1) or by a recess (13) which extends with its longitudinal axis (11) parallel to the axial direction (10) and opens perpendicular to the base area (3.1), characterized in that in a usage of the jet nozzle as intended, the angular range (2.1) extends along a lower half (4) of the external circumference (2) of the outlet opening (1).

2. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the angular range (2.1) is a maximum of 90°.

3. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a single radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) is provided in the angular range (2.1).

4. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the jet nozzle comprises a multipart nozzle body having parts which can be adjusted relative to one another in order to optionally close the radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) or optionally bring it into a position above the base area (3.1), in particular comprising an axial end section (8.1) in which the outlet opening (1) is provided and which can be turned with respect to an adjoining axial section (8.2) in order to turn the angular range (2.1) of the external circumference (1) with the at least one radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the outlet area, advantageously by at least 180°.

5. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) forms a flow cross-section which is a maximum of 25%, a maximum of 20% or a maximum of 10% of the base area (3.1).

6. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) is at least substantially triangular.

7. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) is at least substantially trapezoidal, having a curved base running along the external circumference of the base area (3.1), in particular in the form of an equilateral trapezium.

8. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a last axial section (5.1) of the flow channel (5) in the flow direction is reduced in diameter compared with a directly adjoining axial section (5.2) of the flow channel (5) located upstream.

9. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one radial cross-sectional extension (3.2) is provided exclusively in the last axial section (5.1).

10. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that a jet guiding profile (9) is provided in the axial section (5.2) of the flow channel (5) located upstream, which divides the flow cross-section of the flow channel (5) at least into individual circular sectors and extends in the axial direction.

11. The water cannon having a full jet nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one last axial section (5.1) of the flow channel (5) in the flow direction is mirror-symmetrical along a vertical plane running through a central axis of the flow channel (5), or the full jet nozzle or at least the flow-guiding parts of the same is / are mirror-symmetrical to the vertical plane.