Hose winding device

Abstract

The device winds a flat hose onto two arms. The device contains two U-shaped rollers that correct the orientation of the hose as it is wound onto the two arms. When the two arms are rotated by the user by turning a crank handle, the hose travels over the two U-shaped rollers and onto the drum. By placing the device on the ground and stepping on the handle, the hose is released with an opening in the middle, allowing for easy transport.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a device for reeling in a hose and has particular application to fire hoses known as flat-flat hoses. [Background technology]

[0002] Although the description in this application will be directed to lay-flat hoses commonly used in the emergency, mining and agricultural industries, it is not intended that the invention be limited to application to lay-flat hoses.

[0003] The advantage of a lay-flat hose over other types of hose is that it requires less space when stored. Lay-flat hoses are commonly used on fire engines because they are compact and flexible. When using a lay-flat hose, firefighters simply connect it to the pump unit and pull it to the desired location. When it is ready for use, the pump is activated and water is released. When the hose is finished, the water is drained from the lay-flat hose and two staff members reel it in, one holding one end and the other aligning and reeling the hose. Depending on the length of the lay-flat hose used, the staff member aligning and reeling the hose may walk more than 40 meters to do this task. While reeling in the lay-flat hose, the staff member has to hunch over, which is not ergonomically friendly.

[0004] The problem with reeling in a lay-flat hose is that it is poor ergonomics for any staff member and puts strain on the back. When the hose is wet, it can weigh up to 20kg or more, creating safety concerns and causing additional fatigue for the operator.

[0005] To solve this problem, various handheld devices have been developed that work by engaging the hose with a set of forks and rotating the forks, either by power or by hand, until the lay-flat hose is wound onto a reel.

[0006] The problem with this device is that it does not provide the user with an easy place to hold the lay-flat hose after it has been reeled in, and the reeled hose is very tight and not easy to move. Another significant problem with these devices is their size, which typically has a set of wheels or a large centrepiece that houses the electric motor and battery.

[0007] Reels have also been used to reel up lay-flat hoses, but the problem with this is that the hose is fixed to the reel and cannot be easily removed, and reels take up a significant amount of space, making them unsuitable for fire engines where space is limited. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This patent provides, among other things, a solution for a user to roll a lay-flat hose in an ergonomic position where the user can easily grip and handle the hose. The device is also compact and easily stored.

[0009] In a first aspect of the invention, we propose an apparatus comprising an elongate shaft, a drivable drum adjacent a bottom of the shaft and extending transversely to the shaft, a drive mechanism configured to drive the drum in rotation, and a roller located above the drum and supported by the shaft to feed a hose to the drum, the hose being fed to the roller and engaging the drum such that the hose is wound onto the drum when the drive mechanism is actuated.

[0010] Preferably, the rollers include a lower roller and two side rollers on either side of the lower roller.

[0011] Preferably, the side rollers face upwards.

[0012] Preferably, the drive mechanism is rotated by a crank handle and transmits power via a shaft to a drivable drum.

[0013] Preferably, the device further comprises an extendable shaft.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a dividing device on the upper roller that allows the hose to be wound in a double Dutch style.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, the dividing device is on the bottom roller.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, a roller is disposed on the release arm and rolls along the edge of the coiled hose to reduce friction by keeping the hose from contacting the device body.

[0017] It should be noted that any one of the above aspects may include features of any of the other aspects above and may include features of any of the embodiments described below, as appropriate.

[0018] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method that overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings, or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

[0019] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the present invention can be understood from the following detailed description, which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The detailed description is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the foregoing summary in any manner. In the detailed description, reference is made to several drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention showing an apparatus for winding a hole. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus showing the hose partially reeled in. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows the device laid down with the flat hose fully wound. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the flat hose of FIG. 1 rolled up. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows the user stepping on the top handle to detach the device from the hose. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the device placed on the ground with the hose reeled up. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the release arm of the device. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial internal view of the device. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the upper crank. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the drum gear. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a view of the upper crank handle and shaft. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an internal view. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram of the upper roller. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an illustration of an embodiment having a divider on the bottom roller and an additional roller on the release arm. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a hose coiled in the double Dutch style. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a front view of a hose coiled in double Dutch style. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a side view of a hose coiled in double Dutch style. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a hose fully coiled in double Dutch style. [Figure 21]FIG. 21 is a front view of a hose fully wrapped in double Dutch style. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a side view of an embodiment with a divider on the bottom roller and an additional roller on the release arm. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a side view of an embodiment having an additional roller on the release arm and a divider disposed to its side. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is an embodiment having a divider on the bottom roller and an additional roller on the release arm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring specifically to the figure, the layflat hose reel device 5 comprises a lower tube 10 , an upper tube 20 , a crank 40 and a drum 180 .

[0022] The device 5 comprises an upper tube 10. The upper tube 10 is square, but is not limited to this shape, and may be rectangular, triangular or hexagonal, but is not limited to this shape. The upper tube 10 is hollow.

[0023] The material of the upper tube 10 may be, but is not limited to, aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or combinations thereof.

[0024] At the top of the top tube 10 is the top handle 30. The top handle 30 is a shaft that protrudes outward from the top tube 10. The shape of the top handle 30 can be, but is not limited to, a shaft or an ergonomic handle. The top handle 30 is attached to the top tube 10 by welding, but the handle can also be secured by threading into a threaded hole in the top tube 10. At the top of the top tube 10 is a crank 40. The crank 40 is connected to a crankshaft 110 in an upper crankshaft housing 105. A crank handle 45 is connected to the crank 40. The crank handle 45 is circular, although other handle shapes such as a bar or an ergonomic grip can also be used. The crank handle 45 is connected to the crank 40 with a fastener that allows the crank handle 45 to rotate.

[0025] The upper tube 10 internally engages with the hollow lower tube 20. The upper tube 10 is able to slide up and down inside the lower tube 20. The upper tube 10 is fixed in place on the lower tube 20 by a locking pin 22 disposed on the outer surface of the lower tube 20. The locking pin 22 is a spring-loaded pin, an example of which is shown in FIG. 2, and is fixed to the top of the outer tube 20.

[0026] When the locking pin 22 is pulled outward from the lower tube 20, the pin 22 releases the upper tube 10, allowing the upper tube 10 to slide up and down within the lower tube 20. Once the upper tube 10 is in the desired position, i.e., fully extended, the user can release the locking pin 22. When the locking pin 25 is released, it locks into collated holes (not shown) in the upper tube 10.

[0027] Lower tube 20 includes a handle 25 by which a user can hold device 5. Handle 25 is typically a thin bar that protrudes from lower tube 20 into which the user's hand can be inserted and gripped. An example of a handle is shown in FIG.

[0028] A swingarm 50 is connected to the front of the lower tube 20. The swingarm 50 is connected to a swingarm mount 52. The swingarm mount 52 is generally U-shaped and has three faces that are fixed to the outer surface of the lower tube 20. The three faces of the mount 52 protrude outwardly by between 20mm and 40mm. The mount 52 has an opening as shown in FIG. 1, into which the swingarm 50 is attached. The swingarm 50 is attached to the swingarm mount 52 by a fastener 58. The swingarm 50 and the swingarm mount 52 have aligned holes 54, 56 through which the fastener 58 can pass.

[0029] The fastener 58 is also threaded through a helical spring 62, one end of which is attached to the swing arm 50 and the other end of which abuts against the surface of the lower tube 20. As the swing arm 50 extends outward from the lower tube 20, the tension in the spring 62 increases. This exerts a constant pressure on the hose being wound onto the drum 160, as shown in FIG. 1. The swing arm 50 pushes the hose 200 onto the drum 160. The swing arm 50 is a U-shaped bar. Rollers 64, 65, 66 are located on all three sides of the swing arm bar 50, as shown in FIG. 10. Two rollers 64, 65 are located on the sides and one roller 66 is located at the bottom. The distance between the side rollers 64, 65 is adjustable and ranges from 5 cm to 1 m in width. This distance can be adjusted, but is not limited to, by sliding the two arms apart from each other with a telescoping bar, or by removing swing arm 50 and installing a wider swing arm.

[0030] The rollers 64, 65, 66 are rotatable on the swing arm 50. The rollers 64, 65, 66 may be, but are not limited to, bearing or bushing mounted. Fasteners 68 are used to hold the rollers 64, 65, 66 to the swing arm 50.

[0031] On the opposite side of the lower tube 20 from the swing arm 50 is a release arm 80. The release arm 80 is attached to the lower tube 20 by a mount 82. The mount 82 is an outwardly protruding L-bracket. The mount 82 is secured to the surface of the lower tube 20 by welding. The release arm 80 is connected to the mount 82 by a pin 84 having a mechanical bias. The mechanical bias used can be, but is not limited to, a spring or a gas strut. The mechanical bias holds the release arm 80 in the orientation shown in FIG. 9, and as the release arm rotates on the pin 84, pressure is applied to the mechanical bias, returning it to its original position as shown in FIG. 9.

[0032] The release arm 80 is connected to the mount 82 at the center of the release arm 80, however, the connection position between the release arm 80 and the mount 82 is not limited to this position and can be placed at any position required by the user.

[0033] The release arm 80 can swing within the mount 82, however, there is a limit to the range that the release arm 80 can swing because if the release arm 80 exceeds a certain angle, it will interfere with the release arm mount 82. A release arm upper roller 86 is disposed on the top of the release arm 80. The release arm upper roller 86 is attached to a mount 90 that is also on the top of the release arm 80. The release arm upper roller 86 is fixed to the mount 90. A nut is disposed on a fastener 88 to hold the release arm upper roller 86 to the mount 90.

[0034] The release arm upper roller 86 is formed of a U-shaped bar 92 having two arms that extend in the same direction as the swing arm 50 towards the upper handle 30. An example is shown in FIG.

[0035] The width of the release arm 80 is adjustable, the width of the release arm ranges from 10cm to 100cm, but is not limited to this. It can be adjusted by replacing the release arm 80 with a wider one, or the release arm 80 can be provided with an extendable bar to increase the width.

[0036] A roller 94, 95 is located on each arm of the bar 92. The rollers 94, 95 slide down each arm of the bar 92 and fasteners 98, 100 are used to hold the rollers 94, 95 in place. At the bottom of the U-shaped bend in the release arm upper bar 92 is a larger roller 96. The rollers 94, 95, 96 may be, but are not limited to, bearing or bushing mounts that are free to rotate.

[0037] At the top of the upper tube 10, the crank handle 40 is connected to a crankshaft 110. The crankshaft 110 protrudes through a hole 107 in the upper crank housing 105. The crankshaft 100 is attached to the crank 40 with fasteners. The crankshaft 110 is connected to a crank gear 120 that is attached to a crank bearing 125. The crank gear 120 is connected to a main crank gear 130. The gear ratio of the main crank gear 130 and the crank gear 120 is 1:1. The main crank gear 130 is attached to a main crank gear bearing 132. The main crank gear bearing 132 is fixed to the bottom of the upper crank housing 105. The main crank gear 130 is connected to a main shaft 134, so that when the main crank gear 130 rotates, the main shaft 134 also rotates.

[0038] The main shaft 134 is a shaft inserted into the central space of the upper tube 10 and the lower tube 20. The main shaft 134 can take any shape or profile, including but not limited to square, tubular, hexagonal, triangular, octagonal and fluted, among others. The secondary shaft extension 145 has the same profile as the main shaft 134. Both shafts 134 and 145 must have complementary profiles that allow them to slide up and down while interlocking with each other.

[0039] The secondary shaft extension 145 is inserted into a space in the main shaft 134, an example of which is shown in FIG. 12. The secondary shaft extension 145 can slide up and down within the center of the main shaft 134. The secondary shaft extension 145 is connected to a secondary shaft 150. The secondary shaft 150 enters a drum gear housing 170 where it is connected to a lower shaft gear 155. The lower shaft gear 155 is held in place by a lower shaft gear bearing 158. The lower shaft gear bearing 158 is fixed to the drum gear housing 170. The lower shaft gear 155 is connected to a drum gear 160. The gear ratio of the lower shaft 155 and the drum gear 160 is 1:1.

[0040] The drum gear 160 is connected to a drum gear shaft 164. The drum gear shaft 164 is held in place inside a drum gear housing 170 by a drum gear bearing 162. The drum gear bearing 162 is fixed to the inner wall of the drum gear housing 170. The drum gear shaft 164 extends out of the drum gear housing 170 through a hole 172 in the side of the drum gear housing 170. The drum gear housing 170 is fixed to the bottom of the lower tube 20 as shown in FIG. 10. The drum crankshaft 164 is connected to the drum 180 by the drum gear shaft 164 being connected to a drum rear plate 185.

[0041] The shape of the drum rear plate 185 may be, but is not limited to, circular, square, oval, or rectangular.

[0042] The diameter of the rear drum plate 185 ranges from, but is not limited to, 2 cm to 600 cm.

[0043] The rear drum plate 185 is adjustable and the arms 190, 192 are also adjustable and the diameter at which they are positioned on the rear drum plate 185. This can be accomplished by either replacing the drum 180 with a different size or by using a drum 180 whose diameter can be changed by moving the arms. The drum rear plate 185 has two semi-circular arms 190, 192 that protrude outwardly from the drum rear plate 185.

[0044] The number of arms 190, 192 of the drum rear plate 185 can be 1 to 20, but is not limited to this.

[0045] Two semicircular arms 190, 192 face each other on the drum rear plate 185. The positions of the arms 190, 192 are not limited to these positions and can be placed at any position according to the user's requirements. The shapes of the arms 190, 192 may be, but are not limited to, a semicircle, a circular tube, a flat plate, a circle with a single slot opening, and a square.

[0046] The ends of the arms 190, 192 are rounded. This can be achieved by, but is not limited to, fastening a bar 194 to the ends of the arms 190, 192 or by bending the ends. By rounding the ends of the arms 190, 192, the hose 200 can be easily removed when needed.

[0047] When the crank arm 40 rotates, the crank gear 120, the main crank gear 130, the main shaft 134, the secondary shaft extension 145, the secondary shaft 150, the lower shaft gear 155, the drum gear 160 and the drum 180 rotate simultaneously. The device 5 can rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise.

[0048] The hose 200 preferably used in the present invention is a flat hose. A flat hose is generally a hose that can be folded flat, which is realized by making the hose from a water-resistant material or PVC.

[0049] In a second embodiment of the invention, there is a flange 72 with flange screws for tightening or loosening. The flange 72 is attached to the swing arm 50. Extending from the flange 72 is a flange arm 74 which ends in a split pole 76. The split pole 76 allows the hose to be wound onto two adjacent rolls 202, 204 in a "double Dutch" roll.

[0050] "Double Dutch" roll hose is also known in the art as "double donut" roll hose or "twin donut" roll hose.

[0051] 21, a "Double Dutch" rolled hose 200 is wound on two adjacent rolls 202, 204. This method of winding a fire hose is commonly used for grass fire hoses. Example 1

[0052] The device 5 is capable of winding up a flat hose 200. The diameter of the hose may be from 4 to 300 mm from end to end.

[0053] First, the device 5 is in a compact state, with the upper tube 10 pressed into the lower tube 20. The user then withdraws the spring-loaded pin 22, extending the inner tube 10 from the lower tube 20 until the device is in the operative state as shown in FIG.

[0054] A user first places the hose 200 on the ground. The hose 200 can be folded or laid flat in a single layer.

[0055] The folded end of the hose 200 is wrapped in an S-shape around two arms 190, 192 of the drum 180, as shown in FIG.

[0056] A lower length of hose 200 is wrapped around swing arm 50 as shown in FIG. 2, and the other length of hose 200 is pulled by release arm 80.

[0057] The user then rotates the crank 40 while walking towards the end of the hose 200. As the user walks towards the end of the hose 200 while rotating the crank 40, the hose 200 continues to reel around the drum 180. An example of the hose 200 partially reeled onto the drum can be observed in FIG. 2. The swing arm 50 is constantly applying pressure to the hose 200 via the spring 62. This ensures that the hose 200 is tightly fastened to the drum 180 and prevents the hose 200 from coming loose.

[0058] Once the hose drum 200 is fully wound, the apparatus is laid down as shown in FIG.

[0059] The user may then step on the upper handle 30. When the user steps on the upper handle 30, the release arm contacts the ground and the upper tube 10 and lower tube 20 rotate about the release arm pin 84. When the user steps on the upper handle 30 and the upper tube 10 and lower tube 20 rotate, the drum 180 is forced upward, leaving the hose 200 reeled on the ground as shown in FIG.

[0060] When the device 5 is used to reel in a single layer hose 200, the hose 200 is first laid flat on the ground. Then, the end of the hose 200 is inserted between the two drum arms 190, 192. The user then starts to rotate the crank handle 45, which rotates the drum 180 and reels the hose 200 around the drum 180. At the same time that the crank handle 45 rotates, the user walks towards the end of the hose 200. Once the hose 200 is fully reeled in on the drum 180, the device is laid on the ground as shown in FIG. 5. The user then steps on the upper handle 30. As the user steps on the upper handle 30, the release arm 80 abuts against the ground and the upper tube 10 and the lower tube 20 rotate about the release arm pin 84. When the drum 180 is lifted, the hose 200 remains flat on the ground as shown in FIG. 6.

[0061] Alternatively, a single layer of hose 200 can be wound into a roll in a "double Dutch" style. The two ends of the flat hose are directly adjacent to each other to form two adjacent hose segments 202, 204 with the ends of the hose folded over. The ends of the hose 200 are then inserted between the two drum arms 190, 192 with the hose segments 202, 204 on either side of the split pole 76. The user then begins to rotate the crank handle 45, which, as the crank handle 45 rotates, rotates the drum 180 and winds the hose 200 around it. At the same time that the crank handle 45 rotates, the user walks towards the end of the hose 200. Once the hose 200 is fully wound onto the drum 180, as shown in FIG. 21, the device 5 is laid on the ground, as shown in FIG. 5. The user then steps on the upper handle 30. When a user steps on the upper handle 30 , the release arm 80 abuts the ground and the upper tube 10 and lower tube 20 rotate about the release arm pin 84 .

[0062] 22, in one embodiment of the device, an additional auxiliary roller 68 is mounted adjacent to the side roller 64. The addition of the auxiliary roller 68 reduces friction when winding the hose. The auxiliary roller 68 rolls along the edge of the coiled hose 200, preventing the hose from contacting the device body 20, thereby reducing friction.

[0063] The device 5 reels the hose 200 and leaves a hole in the center of the reeled hose 200. This center hole in the reeled hose 200 allows a user to easily place their hand there for manual handling and ergonomics while handling the hose.

[0064] As an alternative to the crank handle 45, a connector can be used to which a power device, such as an electronic motor, can be attached to drive rotation. For example, the crank 40 can have a socketed end to which an electronic impact wrench can be attached. A user can simply attach the impact wrench to drive the device 5. Alternatively, the upper assembly can be removed and a power source can be attached to the main shaft 134 to drive the device 5.

[0065] Even if the hose is not lying flat on the ground, the swing arm 50 and release arm 80 allow the hose to be reoriented correctly as it is reeled around the drum 180. This allows the user to reel the hose themselves with little preparation. Typically, flat hoses are used on fire trucks where the hose is compact.

[0066] Further advantages and improvements can be made to the present invention without departing from its scope. While the present invention has been shown and described in what are considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the present invention, and it is not intended to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but rather the full scope of the claims should be accorded to encompass all equivalent apparatus and devices. Any discussion of the prior art throughout this specification should not be taken as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the general knowledge in this field.

[0067] Throughout this specification and the claims (where applicable), the word "comprising" and its derivatives, including "comprises" and "comprise", includes each of the listed integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more additional integers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] The drawings include the following integers: 5 Equipment 10 Upper pipe 20 Lower tube 22 Spring-loaded pin 25 Lower tube handle 30 Top Handle 40 Crank 45 Crank Handle 50 Swingarm 52 Swingarm mount 54 Swingarm mounting hole 56 Swingarm hole 58 Fasteners 60 Nut 62 Spring 64 Side Roller 65 Side roller 66 Lower Roller 68 Auxiliary roller 68 End Nut 70 Flange screw 72 Flange 74 Flange arm 76 Split Pole 80 Release Arm 82 Release arm mount 84 Release arm pin 86 Release arm upper roller 88 Upper roller fastener 90 Release Arm Upper Mount 92 Release arm upper bar 94 Release arm upper side roller 95 Release arm upper side roller 96 Release arm upper bottom roller 98 Upper Nut 100 Upper Nut 105 Upper crank housing 107 Upper crank housing roller 110 Crankshaft 120 Crank gear 125 Crank gear bearing 130 Main crank gear 132 Main crank gear bearing 134 Main shaft 136 Main shaft extension cover 145 Secondary Shaft Extension 150 secondary shaft 155 Lower shaft gear 158 Lower Shaft Gear Bearing 160 Drum Gear 162 Drum gear bearing 164 Drum gear shaft 170 Drum gear housing 172 Drum gear housing orifice 180 Dram 185 drum rear plate 190 Drum Side 192 Drum Side 195 Drum Side Edge 200 Horse 202 Double Dutch Roll Hose No. 1 Segment 204 Double Dutch Roll Hose No. 2 Segment

Claims

1. A device for winding a hose, comprising: A long, slender shaft and a drivable drum adjacent a bottom of said shaft and extending transversely relative to said shaft; a drive mechanism configured to drive the drum in rotation; a roller positioned above the drum and supported by the shaft to feed the hose to the drum; Equipped with The hose is fed to the roller and engages a drum, and when the drive mechanism is actuated, the hose is wound onto the drum. Device.

2. The rollers include a lower roller and two side rollers on either side of the lower roller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. The two side rollers face upwards.

3. The apparatus of claim 2.

4. The split pole splits the hose into two segments, allowing the hose to be double dutch rolled.

3. The apparatus of claim 2.

5. The additional auxiliary rollers are disposed adjacent to at least one side roller located on both sides of the lower roller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2.

6. The drive mechanism is rotated by a crank handle and transmits power to the drivable drum via a shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1.

7. Further comprising an extendable shaft, 2. The apparatus of claim 1.

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