Fire Hose Couplings With Integrated Sensors and Attachment Mounts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire hose couplings and adapters in firefighting primarily serve the function of connecting hose pieces, lacking additional features that enhance firefighter safety and operational efficiency, such as providing information, ease of manipulation, and integration of auxiliary devices.
Innovation Solution
Fire hose couplings and adapters are designed with configurations that accommodate auxiliary operational and safety devices, including long-handled attachments, marking indicia, sensors, and indicators, while maintaining ease of use and connection with standard rocker lugs and threaded studs, allowing for integration of sensors and monitors, and providing directional guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fire hose couplings are designed with additional auxiliary devices and features, then firefighter safety and operational efficiency are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is designed to perform multiple functions beyond simple hose connection. It incorporates auxiliary devices such as handles for manipulation, markers for identification, and connection points for additional equipment, allowing a single component to serve multiple purposes in firefighting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the coupling body with integrated auxiliary features including handles, markers, and mounting points for additional devices. This merging of functions into a single integrated component enhances safety and operational efficiency while avoiding the need for multiple separate devices
2Productivity
If fire hose couplings incorporate auxiliary operational and safety devices, then operational efficiency is improved, but ease of operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device incorporates localized features such as handles positioned for optimal grip, markers placed for clear visibility, and auxiliary devices attached at specific locations. These localized quality enhancements improve operational efficiency without requiring the firefighter to manipulate the entire coupling structure
3Adaptability or versatility
If fire hose couplings are designed with standard configurations for rocker lugs and threaded studs, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device incorporates both rocker lug and threaded stud configurations, allowing it to interface with various standard firefighting equipment and hose assemblies. This universal design enables the same coupling body to work with different connection types without requiring multiple specialized components
Data Source
AI summary
Fire hose couplings and adapters are configured to receive, by any of various types of interconnections, a wide range of attachments enhancing the utility of the associated fire hose. The attachments are secured to the coupler or adapter by way of an appropriate locking engagement, such as by a dovetail connector, setscrews, chemical attachment, adhesives and the like. The attachments cover a broad range of handles, reflective and directional devices, analog and digital sensors/monitors/indicators, and carabiners, and both threaded and unthreaded studs adapted for appropriate receipt of any of a broad range of attachments or uses.