Fire hose coupling release tool and release method using same

Abstract

To allow one person to easily and quickly release fittings.SOLUTION: A jig 1 for releasing fire hose fittings includes a pair of shaft parts 11 and 11' to be positioned in respective connected fittings 2 when releasing connection of the fire hose fittings 2, The jig 1 for releasing fire hose fittings includes support parts 13 for supporting the pair of shaft parts 11 and 11', a locking part 15 for locking a stopper part 26 of the fittings 2, and a lever part 14 for rotating one shaft part 11' around the other shaft part 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool for releasing a fire hose fitting and a method for releasing the fitting using the tool. [Background technology]

[0002] Fire hoses used in firefighting operations are equipped with metal fittings at their ends, and are configured so that multiple fire hoses can be connected and separated by connecting and disconnecting the metal fittings. Metal fittings are disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. Metal fittings have the same structure regardless of male or female, from the viewpoint of speed and reliability of firefighting operations.

[0003] The fastening members have a plurality of projections and fittings provided around the circumferential direction of the end portions. When fastening the fastening members, the projections and fittings of one fastening member are fitted into the projections and fittings of the other fastening member, and the tip surfaces of the fastening members are brought into contact with each other.

[0004] Furthermore, each protrusion has a convex portion and a concave portion extending in the circumferential direction of the connecting fitting. When each connecting fitting is rotated (twisted) in the circumferential direction in the normal direction with the tip faces of the connecting fittings in contact with each other, the convex portion and the concave portion provided on the protrusion of each connecting fitting are fitted together, so that each connecting fitting cannot move in the axial direction.

[0005] The connecting fittings also include a stopper portion for maintaining the connected state. The stopper portion is configured to restrict rotation so that the connecting fittings, whose tip faces are abutted against each other, do not rotate in the circumferential direction in the opposite direction (are not twisted). The stopper portion is configured to be movable between a locked position and an unlocked position in the fitting engagement portion of the connecting fitting. The stopper portion is normally biased to the locked position by a biasing member such as a spring.

[0006] When the stopper is placed in the locked position, the protrusion fitted into the fitting cannot move, preventing the metal fitting from rotating in the reverse direction (twisting). This allows the convex and concave parts of the protrusion to fit together, maintaining each metal fitting unable to move in the axial direction, preventing the metal fitting from being released, and as a result preventing the fire hose from being separated.

[0007] On the other hand, when the stopper is placed in the unlocked position, the projection fitted in the fitting is allowed to move, causing the metal fitting to rotate in the opposite direction (twist). This separates the convex and concave parts on the projection, allowing each metal fitting to move in the axial direction, disengaging the metal fitting from the connection, and allowing the fire hose to be separated.

[0008] In this way, when separating the fire hose, the stopper portion, which is biased to the locked position by the biasing member, must be placed in the unlocked position, and then the connecting fitting must be reverse-rotated (twisted) with the stopper portion in the unlocked position. This requires the work to be done by two people, resulting in a problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive work. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-119577 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a fire hose coupling disconnecting tool and a disconnecting method using the same, so that a single person can easily and quickly disconnect the coupling of the coupling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the fire hose fitting disconnecting tool of the present invention has a pair of shafts that are positioned on each of the connected fittings when disconnecting the fittings of a fire hose. The fire hose fitting disconnecting tool has a support part that supports the pair of shafts, a locking part for locking the stopper part of the fitting, and a lever part for rotating one shaft part around the other shaft part.

[0012] By using the fire hose fitting release tool of the present invention, one person can easily and quickly release the fitting and separate the fire hose.

[0013] Also, preferably, the support portion and the lever portion are made of an integrally formed metal member.

[0014] It is preferable that the lever portion extends in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary line connecting the pair of shaft portions.

[0015] Furthermore, the locking portion may be configured in a curved shape formed between the support portion and the lever portion.

[0016] As a method for releasing the coupling of the coupling fitting according to the present invention, it is preferable to use the above-mentioned fire hose coupling fitting releasing jig to release the coupling of the coupling fitting. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The fire hose fitting release tool and release method using the same according to the present invention allow one person to easily and quickly release the fitting. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the coupling fittings separated. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4]4A is a side view of the stopper portion, FIG. 4B is a view taken along arrow B in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a view taken along arrow C in FIG. 4A. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B show a fire hose coupling release tool, with FIG. 6A being a side view and FIG. 6B being a front view. [Figure 7] 13 is a side view illustrating a method for releasing the coupling of the coupling fittings. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fire hose coupling releasing jig (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "jig") according to the present invention and a releasing method using the same will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] <Connecting hardware> The connector 2 of the fire hose H will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. The connecting fitting 2 is attached to the end of the fire hose H, and two fire hoses H are configured to be connected and separated via the connecting fitting 2. The connecting fitting 2 is made of a metal member and has a cylindrical main body 20 with approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the fire hose H.

[0021] The fastening fitting 2 has a plurality of protrusions 22, which are provided integrally with the main body 20. The protrusions 22 are configured in a shape that protrudes in the axial direction 2a from the tip surface 200 of the main body 20 and protrudes in the radial direction 2b from the circumferential surface 201 of the main body 20, and are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction 2c of the main body 20. To enable an operator to work safely when holding the fastening fitting 2 and fastening it, the protrusions 22 are configured with inclined surfaces so that the tip and base ends of the rectangular parallelepiped do not have sharp edges.

[0022] The connecting fitting 2 also includes a plurality of fitting portions 23, which are formed between the protrusions 22 provided on the main body portion 20 and are constituted by the opposing end edge portions 220 of the adjacent protrusions 22 and the circumferential surface portion 201 of the main body portion 20. Therefore, the fitting portions 23 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction 2c of the main body portion 20.

[0023] The width of the mating portion 23 (the distance between each protrusion 22) is configured to be wider than the width of the protrusion 22, and when each connecting fitting 2 is connected, the protrusion 22 of one connecting fitting 2 is fitted into the mating portion 23 of the other connecting fitting 2.

[0024] The connecting fitting 2 also includes a plurality of protrusions 24. The protrusions 24 are configured in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, protruding from an end edge portion 220 on one side of the projection 22 in the circumferential direction 2c of the main body portion 20, and protruding from a peripheral surface portion 201 of the main body portion 20 in the radial direction 2b, so as not to protrude in the axial direction 2a from a tip surface portion 200 of the main body portion 20. Therefore, one protrusion 24 is provided for each projection 22.

[0025] The fastening fitting 2 has a plurality of recesses 25. The recesses 25 are formed in each protrusion 22 and, as described below, are configured in a rectangular parallelepiped shape so that a protrusion 24 of one fastening fitting 2 is fitted into a recess 25 of the other fastening fitting 2. Therefore, one recess 25 is provided for each protrusion 22.

[0026] The convex portion 24 and the concave portion 25 are provided on one end side portion 220 of the protrusion 22. The convex portion 24 and the concave portion 25 are configured to have shapes that allow them to fit together when the respective fastening fittings 2 are joined.

[0027] When the connecting fittings 2 are connected, the protrusion 22 of one connecting fitting 2 is fitted into the fitting portion 23 of the other connecting fitting 2, and the tip surface portions 200 of the connecting fittings 2 come into contact. The connecting fittings 2 are then rotated (twisted) forward in the circumferential direction 2c, and the convex portion 24 of one connecting fitting 2 is fitted into the concave portion 25 of the other connecting fitting 2, and the convex portion 24 of the other connecting fitting 2 is fitted into the concave portion 25 of the one connecting fitting 2. As a result, the convex portion 24 and the concave portion 25 are caught, preventing the connected connecting fittings 2 from moving in the axial direction 2a.

[0028] Here, rotating the connecting fitting 2 forward in the circumferential direction 2c means rotating it in the direction in which the convex portion 24 and the concave portion 25 of the connecting fitting 2 are fitted together (direction R1 in Figure 5), while rotating the connecting fitting 2 reversely in the circumferential direction 2c means rotating it in the direction in which the convex portion 24 and the concave portion 25 of the connecting fitting 2 are separated from each other (direction R2 in Figure 5).

[0029] <Stopper part> The stopper portion 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the connected connecting fittings 2 are rotated (twisted) in the circumferential direction 2c in the reverse direction, the projections 24 and recesses 25 of the connecting fittings 2 are disengaged, and the connected connecting fittings 2 become movable in the axial direction 2a and are separated. Therefore, to prevent the connected connecting fittings 2 from being separated, the connecting fittings 2 are provided with stopper portions 26, which are configured to restrict the connected connecting fittings 2 from being rotated (twisted) in the circumferential direction 2c in the reverse direction. In this embodiment, one stopper portion 26 is provided on each connecting fitting 2.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 4, the stopper portion 26 is provided on the protrusion 22 and configured to protrude from the end edge portion 220 of the protrusion 22 opposite to the end edge portion 220 of the protrusion 22 on which the convex portion 24 is provided. The stopper portion 26 includes a rotating shaft portion 260 having a torsion spring as a biasing member. Therefore, the stopper portion 26 is configured to be movable between a locked position (solid line in Fig. 4) and an unlocked position (two-dot chain line in Fig. 4) by rotating around the rotating shaft portion 260. The stopper portion 26 is normally biased by the torsion spring of the rotating shaft portion 260 so as to be disposed at the locked position.

[0031] Stopper portion 26 is made of an L-shaped metal member (FIG. 4A) and includes a contact portion 261 and a base portion 262 connected to contact portion 261, with rotation shaft portion 260 provided on base portion 262. Contact portion 261 protrudes from end portion 220 of protrusion portion 22, while base portion 262 is configured not to protrude from end portion 220 of protrusion portion 22.

[0032] Stopper portion 26 moves between a locked position (solid line in FIG. 4) and an unlocked position (double-dashed line in FIG. 4) as a result of base portion 262 rotating about rotation shaft portion 26. Stopper portion 26 of one connecting fitting 2 is disposed so that abutment portion 261 abuts against protrusion 22 of the other connecting fitting 2 in the locked position, and is disposed so that abutment portion 261 does not abut against protrusion 22 of the other connecting fitting 2 in the unlocked position.

[0033] 4B, the abutment portion 261 is configured with a curved surface that is curved in an arc shape on the peripheral surface portion 201 side of the main body portion 20, and when the connecting fittings 2 are connected, the protrusion portion 22 of one connecting fitting 2 abuts against the curved surface of the abutment portion 261 of the stopper portion 26 provided on the other connecting fitting 2, thereby allowing the stopper portion 26 to be smoothly moved to the unlocked position while resisting the biasing force of the torsion spring of the rotating shaft portion 260 of the stopper portion 26, and the protrusion portion 22 of one connecting fitting 2 can be fitted into the fitting portion 23 of the other connecting fitting 2. Thereafter, the connecting fitting 2 is rotated (twisted) in the forward direction (direction R1 in FIG. 5), whereby the stopper portion 26 returns to the locked position.

[0034] As will be described later, when the stopper portion 26 is placed in the locked position, the abutment portion 261 protrudes from the end face portion 200 of the protrusion 22 and is placed in the fitting portion 23. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, the protrusion 22' of the other connecting fitting 2' fitted into the fitting portion 23 of one connecting fitting 2 comes into contact with the abutment portion 261 of the stopper portion 26, and the connecting fitting 2 is restricted from rotating in the reverse direction (direction R2 in Fig. 5) (twisting).

[0035] On the other hand, when the stopper portion 26 is disposed in the unlocked position, the abutment portion 261 is separated from the protrusion 22 and is not disposed in the fitting portion 23. As a result, the protrusion 22 of one connecting fitting 2 fitted into the fitting portion 23 of the other connecting fitting 2 does not abut against the abutment portion 261 of the stopper portion 26, and the connecting fitting 2 is configured to be rotated (twisted) in the reverse direction (direction R2 in FIG. 5).

[0036] <Fire hose coupling release tool> The fire hose coupling releasing jig 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The jig 1 has a pair of shafts 11, 11' which are positioned on each of the fastening fittings 2 when the fastening fittings 2 are released. In this embodiment, the positioning portion 27 for positioning the shafts 11, 11' is configured as a notch 27 (FIG. 5) formed in the protrusion 22, and the shafts 11, 11' are positioned by being fitted into the notch 27. The notch 27 is configured so that the end edge portion 220 of the protrusion 22 opposite the stopper portion 26 is cut out and recessed. The shafts 11, 11' are configured from metal members such as bolts.

[0037] The jig 1 includes a support portion 13 that supports each of the shaft portions 11, 11', and a lever portion 14 connected to the support portion 13. In this embodiment, the support portion 13 and the lever portion 14 are made of an integrally formed metal member, which allows for rational design of the support portion 13 and the lever portion 14, and allows for easy manufacture, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0038] Furthermore, lever portion 14 extends in a direction 14a perpendicular to imaginary line 11a connecting the pair of shaft portions 11, 11'. As a result, as described below, when connecting fitting 2 is released from its connection, one shaft portion 11 is rotated around the other shaft portion 11', and at that time, one shaft portion 11 serves as a fulcrum and the other shaft portion 11' serves as a point of application, so that the rotational force from lever portion 14 is effectively transmitted to shaft portions 11, 11'.

[0039] The jig 1 has a locking portion 15 that locks the stopper portion 26 of the connecting fitting 2 to hold it in the unlocked position. In this embodiment, the locking portion 15 is made up of a portion where the support portion 13 and the lever portion 14 are connected, and is adapted to lock the stopper portion 26 at this portion. The width W1 of the support portion 13 is configured to be larger than the width W2 of the lever portion 14, and the locking portion 15 is formed at the portion where the support portion 13 and the lever portion 14 are connected. The locking portion 15 is configured in a curved shape, so that the stopper portion 26 can move smoothly while being locked to the locking portion 15 while the lever portion 14 is being rotated.

[0040] <How to release connecting bracket 2> A method for releasing the fittings 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, in order to make it easier to understand the positional relationship between the fittings 2, 2' and the jig 1, the jig 1 is represented by a two-dot chain line and the fittings 2, 2' are represented by a solid line.

[0041] 7, the operator positions the pair of shaft portions 11, 11' of the jig 1 in the positioning portions 27, 27' of the connected fastening fittings 2, 2'. The positioning portions 27, 27' are provided on the protrusions 22, 22' having stopper portions 26, 26', and are composed of notched portions 27, 27' formed by cutting away the edge portions 220 of the protrusions 22, 22'.

[0042] The notch 27, 27' is formed by cutting out the edge 220 of the protrusion 22, 22' on the opposite side to the edge 220 of the protrusion 22, 22' on which the stopper 26, 26' is provided. Therefore, when the fasteners 2, 2' are connected and the protrusions 22, 22' of the fasteners 2, 2' are in contact with each other, the opening of the notch 27 provided in the protrusion 22 of one fastener 2 faces the edge 220 of the protrusion 22' of the other fastener 2'. Then, the pair of shafts 11, 11' of the jig 1 are fitted into the notch 27, 27' of the respective fasteners 2, 2'. At this time, the jig 1 is disposed at the first position 1A.

[0043] In addition, the operator uses one hand to move the stopper portion 26 of one of the connecting fittings 2 from the locked position to the unlocked position. Then, the operator hooks and locks the stopper portion 26 onto the locking portion 15 of the jig 1 held in the other hand, thereby making it possible to hold the stopper portion 26 in the unlocked position even if the torsion spring of the rotating shaft portion 260 tries to return the stopper portion 26 to the locked position. This allows the operator to release one hand from the stopper portion 26 of one of the connecting fittings 2 while maintaining the stopper portion 26 in the unlocked position.

[0044] Then, with one hand, the operator moves the stopper portion 26' of the other connecting fitting 2' from the locked position to the unlocked position. At this time, the stopper portion 26 of one connecting fitting 2 is held in the unlocked position by the engaging portion 15 of the jig 1 that the operator is holding with the other hand. As a result, the stopper portions 26, 26' of both connecting fittings 2, 2' are placed in the unlocked position.

[0045] In this state, the operator uses the other hand to rotate the lever portion 14 of the jig 1 around one of the shaft portions 11 of the jig 1 so as to move the jig 1 from the first position 1A to the second position 1B. At this time, by rotating the jig 1 in a direction toward the stopper portion 26 held by the locking portion 15 of the jig 1, the jig 1 can be moved from the first position 1A to the second position 1B while maintaining the stopper portion 26 in the unlocked position.

[0046] As a result, one shaft portion 11 of the jig 1 serves as a fulcrum and the other shaft portion 11' of the jig 1 serves as a point of application, so that the shaft portion 11 presses the protrusion portion 22' through the opening of the notch portion 27 of the protrusion portion 22, and the shaft portion 11' presses the protrusion portion 22 through the opening of the notch portion 27' of the protrusion portion 22'. In this manner, with the stopper portions 26, 26' maintained in the unlocked position, the shaft portions 11, 11' press the protrusions 22, 22', causing the coupling fittings 2, 2' to rotate in the reverse direction (direction R2 in FIG. 5) (to be twisted), causing the convex portions 24 to separate from the concave portions 25, and allowing the coupling fittings 2, 2' to move in the axial direction 2a, thereby enabling the fire hose H to be separated.

[0047] In this way, the operator holds the lever portion 14 of the jig 1 with one hand, positions the pair of shaft portions 11, 11' on each of the joined fittings 2, 2', and holds the stopper portion 26 in the locked position with the engaging portion 15 of the jig 1. Then, the operator places the stopper portion 26 in the unlocked position with the other hand, and in that state, rotates the lever portion 14 held with one hand so that one shaft portion 11' rotates around the other shaft portion 11. As a result, the fittings 2, 2' can be rotated (twisted) in the reverse direction (direction R2 in FIG. 5) while the stopper portions 26, 26' are maintained in the unlocked position, so that the fittings 2, 2' can be easily and quickly released by one person to separate the fire hose H.

[0048] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the following modifications are possible.

[0049] In this embodiment, the stopper portion 26 is configured as a rotation mechanism in which the abutment portion 261 is biased by a torsion spring, but for example, the stopper portion 26 may be configured as a sliding mechanism in which the abutment portion 261 is slidable and biased by a coil spring.

[0050] The locking portion 15 of the fire hose connecting fitting releasing jig 1 may be configured to be capable of locking the stopper portion 26, and may be configured, for example, as a protrusion that protrudes from the support portion 13 or the lever portion 14 so as to reduce the possibility that the stopper portion 26 will come off the locking portion 15 when the lever portion 14 is rotated.

[0051] The support portion 13 and lever portion 14 of the fire hose coupling release jig 1 may be constructed as separate parts, and may be configured so that, for example, the lever portion 14 can be attached and detached from the support portion 13 so that it can be easily rotated.

[0052] For example, the lever portion 14 can be extended in any direction relative to the pair of shaft portions 11, 11' in accordance with the position of the stopper portion 26 so that the stopper portion 26 can be easily engaged.

[0053] In this embodiment, the fire hose coupling releasing jig 1 has a pair of shafts 11, 11' configured in a cylindrical shape, but this shape is not limited to this and as long as one shaft can be rotated around the other shaft, the tip may be configured in a hemispherical shape and the entire structure in a spherical shape, for example.

[0054] In this embodiment, when the pair of shaft portions of the fire hose connecting fitting releasing jig 1 are positioned on each connecting fitting 2, 2', they are fitted into notches 27, 27' provided on the protrusions 22, 22' of the connecting fittings 2, 2', but they may also be recesses or protrusions provided on the main body portions 20, 20' of the connecting fittings 2, 2'.

[0055] Next, the effects of the present invention will be described.

[0056] The fire hose fitting disconnecting tool of the present invention includes a pair of shafts that are positioned on each of the connected fittings when disconnecting the fittings. The tool further includes a support portion that supports the pair of shafts, a locking portion for locking the stopper portion of the fitting, and a lever portion for rotating one shaft portion around the other shaft portion.

[0057] Therefore, the operator holds the lever portion with one hand, positions the pair of shaft portions on each of the connected fittings, and locks the stopper portion with the locking portion. Then, with the other hand, the operator can place another stopper portion in the unlocked position and hold the stopper portion in the unlocked position with the locking portion. In this state, the operator rotates the lever portion held with one hand so that one shaft portion rotates around the other shaft portion. As a result, the fitting can be rotated in the opposite direction (twisted) while keeping the two stopper portions unlocked, so that one person can easily and quickly release the fitting and separate the fire hose.

[0058] Furthermore, at this time, since the other hand is free to be used, even if there are two stopper portions on the connected connecting fittings, one stopper portion can be held in the unlocked position with the engaging portion of the jig and the other stopper portion can be maintained in the unlocked position with the other hand, so that the connecting fittings can be released by one person.

[0059] In addition, it is preferable that the jig is made of a metal member in which the support portion and the lever portion are integrally formed. By integrally forming the support portion and the lever portion from a metal member, a rational design is possible, and the jig can be easily manufactured, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0060] In addition, when one shaft portion rotates around the other shaft portion, one shaft portion serves as the fulcrum and the other shaft portion serves as the point of action, so it is desirable that the lever portion extend perpendicular to the imaginary line connecting the pair of shaft portions so that the rotational force from the lever portion is effectively transmitted to the shaft portions.

[0061] In addition, since the locking portion is configured in a curved shape formed between the support portion and the lever portion, when the lever portion is rotated, the stopper portion and the locking portion can move smoothly while remaining engaged.

[0062] By using the fire hose disconnecting tool of the present invention to disconnect the connecting fittings, one person can easily and quickly disconnect the connecting fittings and separate the fire hose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Fire hose coupling release tool 11,11' Shaft 13 Support part 14 Lever section 15 Locking part 2,2' Connector 26,26' Stopper section H Fire Hose

Claims

1. A pair of shaft portions that are positioned on each of the connected fittings when the fittings of the fire hose are released from each other; A support portion that supports the pair of shaft portions; a locking portion for locking the stopper portion of the connecting fitting; and a lever portion for rotating one of the shaft portions around the other shaft portion. A tool for releasing a fire hose coupling.

2. The support portion and the lever portion are integrally formed from a metal member.

2. The fire hose coupling release tool according to claim 1.

3. The lever portion extends in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary line connecting the pair of shaft portions.

3. A fire hose coupling release tool according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The locking portion is configured with a curved shape formed between the support portion and the lever portion. A fire hose coupling release tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The fire hose fitting is released using the fire hose fitting release tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A release method comprising:

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