Wearable Fire-Hose Carrier Frame with Curved Abdomen Plate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighters face difficulties in comfortably holding, transporting, and controlling high-pressure fire-hose nozzles due to fixed and non-adjustable devices that shift during use, requiring cumbersome restraints and limiting maneuverability, especially when climbing ladders or in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A wearable frame with adjustable shoulder cuffs and a length-adjustable spine supporting an arcuate abdomen plate, combined with a detachable flow-control module featuring rotatable components, allows for ergonomic control and easy positioning of the nozzle without the need for restraints, enabling hands-free operation and quick disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed chest plate is used to carry the fire hose, then the device structure is simple, but the device shifts and slides on the wearer's abdomen under high-pressure water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the abdomen plate with a curved surface that conforms to the wearer's abdominal contour. This curved geometry provides natural stability and prevents sliding under high-pressure water forces without requiring additional complex securing mechanisms, directly resolving the contradiction between stability and device complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the conduit is permanently attached to the chest plate, then the structure is rigid, but the device is difficult to store or maneuver in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the conduit system into separable components that can be detached from the abdomen plate. This allows the conduit to be rigidly attached during operation for stability, yet easily separated for storage or when maneuvering in confined spaces, resolving the contradiction between structural rigidity and operational ease.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shoulder cuffs are fixedly spaced, then the manufacturing is simple, but the device cannot accommodate varying size wearers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the shoulder cuff attachment adjustable rather than fixed. The cuffs can be repositioned along the spine to accommodate different wearer sizes and preferences, while the attachment mechanism itself remains relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the chest plate has a fixed length, then the manufacturing is simple, but the plate is not adjustable according to the height of the wearer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the spine length adjustable through a telescoping mechanism with locking features. This allows the chest plate assembly to be customized for different wearer heights while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between construction simplicity and height adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A fire-hose carrier includes a wearable frame formed of a horizontal chest bar with a pair of pivotal shoulder cuffs upwardly extending therefrom. Depending from the chest bar is a vertical spine having an arcuate abdomen plate at a distal end. Removably attached to the abdomen plate is a flow-control module having an inlet connected to a fire hose and an outlet connected to a fire-hose nozzle. The frame is supported on a wearer's shoulders with the abdomen plate encompassing a front portion of the wearer's waist. When high-pressure water is discharged through the nozzle, the resulting force is distributed throughout the wearer's body, allowing the nozzle to be more easily controlled.