Fire engine with horizontally-arranged hose reel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire engine having a hose reel, characterized in that the hose reel (10) is mounted so as to pivot about a vertical axis.

Description

fire truck equipped with a horizontally mounted hose reel Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of firefighting vehicles equipped with a hose reel,

[0002] These include fire engines known as fire engines (abbreviated FPT), whose primary purpose is firefighting. This type of fire engine is equipped with both a pump and a tank, meaning a water reservoir. Its equivalents in other countries include the Tanklöschfahrzeug (TLF) in Germany, the multi-functional fire engine (APMF) in Belgium, the Engine in the United States, and the Tonne-pompe in Switzerland.

[0003] The fire engine is equipped with a pump with a flow rate of 1,000 to over 3,000 L / min, driven by the engine via a clutch, and a water tank (the "ton") with a capacity of 1,000 to 6,000 L. It can also be fitted with a foam concentrate tank (up to 500 L) for producing foam.

[0004] The side lockers contain a large amount of equipment; mainly firefighting equipment (nozzles, hoses, fittings and dividers, foam, fire extinguishers, chimney fire kit, electrical fire), operational ventilation and rescue equipment.

[0005] At the rear there are often two mobile hose reels, each equipped with 200m of 70mm hose. There is also a rotating hose reel nozzle (called "LDT" or "pissette" in firefighter jargon) supplied directly by the water reserve, equipped with four 20m semi-rigid hoses plus an additional 2m length.

[0006] The FPT is the main truck used for firefighting. It can operate alone on fires of a certain size, since it can also deploy and supply three large hoses up to 400 m, connected to a water source, a fire hydrant or a pump in a watercourse, isolated reservoir, swimming pool, etc. State of the art

[0007] Prior art patent FR2710273A1 describes an intervention van, intended for intervention and the transport of equipment to the scene of an incident, whose chassis supports an equipment module fitted with at least one hose reel, accessible from the outside and mounted on support arms. This van is characterized in that the equipment module is protected by a bodywork element partially covering the reels, so as to make its overall length independent of the position of the support arms.

[0008] Patent JP6840440B2 also describes a hose reel mounted on a rotating shaft extending vertically on a base installed in a vehicle. A hose with a retaining feature on the hose reel is mounted on the rotating shaft. The hose is wound in a spiral, its lower end connected to a water pump installed behind the vehicle, and its upper end passes through the hose reel's axis of rotation and is mounted on top of the vehicle. It is characterized by its connection to a nozzle. The patent provides for remote control of the vehicle and the discharge nozzle, which is particularly useful in environments where physical intervention is dangerous (such as in a nuclear reactor).

[0009] Patent EP2756870 describes a hose rewinding device for fire trucks, designed to quickly and efficiently rewind long hoses after use, while being more compact and easier to operate than existing systems. The hose is wound around a drive cylinder with a high-friction surface, allowing the hose to be held and moved without the need for additional rollers or complicated mechanisms. The drive cylinder uses a high-friction material layer, simplifying the mechanism and reducing the system's dimensions. The motor drives the cylinder, enabling the hose to be rewound without manual intervention. The system is designed for operation by a single person without requiring additional effort.

[0010] Patent GB 541369 describes a firefighting motor vehicle equipped with a motorized pump and hose connections at the front and an engine at the rear that drives both the vehicle and the pump. The body surrounds the pump and engine, and the hose connections are located on a forward-facing end panel. The suction hose is supported by brackets and can be pulled forward.

[0011] Patent CN 108 201 669 describes an automatic, remote-controlled fire truck designed to improve firefighting efficiency while reducing resource consumption and risks to firefighters. This vehicle is equipped with a fire extinguishing agent preparation system, dispensing devices, and a nozzle. The system operates autonomously, with a remote control for managing the preparation and injection of the extinguishing agent. It uses a solar or rechargeable battery for power and includes a rotary control for adjusting the nozzle position, thus improving the safety and effectiveness of firefighting operations.

[0012] Patent CN 205 198 755 relates to a two-phase compressed jet foam fire extinguisher designed to improve the efficiency of firefighting operations. This system uses both a liquid and a compressed gas jet to produce a high-energy jet, enabling rapid fire suppression. The extinguisher consists of a chemical cylinder, a compressed gas cylinder, and a jet nozzle, where the compressed gas and liquid are mixed in a chamber to create a high-pressure foam jet. This system offers better coverage, less residue, and is particularly effective for liquid fires and early-stage fires. Disadvantage of prior art

[0013] Prior art solutions typically describe conventional configurations where the hose outlet is connected to a fixed nozzle mounted on the vehicle. This nozzle extends to allow connection to the water supply and smooth dispensing of the extinguishing agent. Such a configuration is poorly suited to situations where the area surrounding the fire is inaccessible to vehicles, preventing firefighters from approaching the fire in a proactive and strategic manner. Solution provided by the invention

[0014] To remedy these drawbacks, the present invention relates to a fire truck comprising a hose reel mounted pivoting around a vertical axis characterized in that said hose reel has at its lower part an axial connection for the fluid supply of said hose, the fluid outlet of said hose having a fluid connector for the connection of one of the ends of the hose.

[0015] The said reel is advantageously arranged horizontally on the roof of the said van.

[0016] According to one variant, the said fluidic outlet is extended by a segment passing axially through the hose reel and ending with a second fluidic connector for connection to a water pump.

[0017] Advantageously, the hose reel is motorized.

[0018] According to a particular method of implementation, the said hose reel supports a two-phase double-conduit hose.

[0019] Advantageously, the device comprises a pipe having connectors at both ends and a segment extending between said two connectors having two coaxial sections, one for supplying a nozzle with water and the other for supplying this nozzle with air.

[0020] Detailed description of a non-limiting example of implementation

[0021] The present invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, concerning a non-limiting example of an embodiment illustrated by the accompanying drawings where:

[0022] The figure represents a top view of a fire truck

[0023] fire truck according to the invention

[0024] The figure represents a three-quarter rear view from below of a fire truck according to the invention.

[0025] The figure represents a rear view of a fire truck according to the invention Principle of the invention

[0026] To address the drawbacks of the prior art, the invention proposes a fire truck formed by a motor vehicle (1) whose roof (2) supports a hose reel (10) pivoting around a vertical axis, the hose (10) unwinding to allow the removal of its exit end (11).

[0027] The hose reel (10) has a diameter that corresponds approximately to the width of the vehicle, ± 10%, in order to maximize the length of hose that can be wound onto the hose reel (10) on the one hand, and to reduce the radius of curvature and consequently the pressure losses on the other hand.

[0028] In the example described, the fluidic outlet (11) has a fluidic connector for connecting one end of the hose (15) which can be moved away from the reel (10), while the inlet (13) is fixed and allows the connection of a fluidic supply hose.

[0029] This fluid outlet (11) is extended by the pipe having a segment (12) passing axially through the pipe reel (10) and ending with a second fluid connector (13) for connection to a water pump.

[0030] It also allows the implementation of a two-phase system, illustrated by the, with pipes (15), connectors (16, 17) and a segment (12) having two coaxial sections, one for supplying a nozzle with water and the other for supplying this nozzle with air.

[0031] The hose reel (10) is optionally motorized, with a torque sensor ensuring the control of the motor in order to assist the unwinding or rewinding of the hose (15) around the reel (10).

[0032] The reel (10) mounted pivoting around a vertical axis is configured to keep the connection point of the hose (15) to a supply hose fixed via a fluidic connector, and to allow the end bearing the connector (11) for connecting a nozzle or hose extension to be unwound in order to allow a flexible and reactive approach to the fire, even when the surroundings are impassable by a vehicle, without endangering the relatively unmaneuverable vehicle by being too close to the fire.

[0033] The configuration of the invention, in which the hose reel has an axial connection at its lower end for fluid supply, reduces the reel's overall size compared to conventional systems where the entire hose must be unwound to connect to the nozzle. This design allows the hose outlet to be positioned further away while keeping the fixed section close to the vehicle, thus enabling better space management and easier connection to a supply point.

[0034] The proposed axial connection system is innovative because it allows for more precise control of fluid flow and a reliable fluid connection to the vehicle, with easier hose connection. Prior art systems do not include this specific arrangement, making the invention technically novel. This also helps prevent excessive pressure losses and facilitates hose deployment.

Claims

Fire truck comprising a hose reel (10) mounted pivoting about a vertical axis characterized in that said hose reel (10) has at its lower part an axial connection (12) for the fluid supply of said hose, the fluid outlet (11) of said hose (10) having a fluid connector for the connection of one of the ends of the hose (15). Fire truck according to claim 1 characterized in that said hose reel is arranged horizontally on the roof (2) of said truck (1). Fire truck according to claim 1 characterized in that said fluid outlet (11) is extended by a segment (12) axially passing through the hose reel (10) and ending with a second fluid connector (13) for connection to a water pump. Fire truck according to claim 1 characterized in that said hose reel is motorized. Fire truck according to claim 1 characterized in that said hose reel supports a double-conduit two-phase hose. Fire truck according to the preceding claim characterized in that it comprises pipes (15), connectors (16, 17) and a segment (12) having two coaxial sections, one for supplying a nozzle with water and the other for supplying this nozzle with air.

Images