Fire Nozzle Extension Assembly With Alignment Sleeve for Attic Reach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighters often face difficulties in extinguishing fires due to inaccessible locations, leading to prolonged extinguishment times, increased property damage, and heightened risks for both firefighters and victims when forced to conduct exterior-only fire suppression.
Innovation Solution
An extension assembly for fire suppression spray nozzles comprising an aluminum tube with hard-coat anodized male and female hose couplers and a stainless steel alignment support sleeve, allowing for extended reach and safer operation from a distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If firefighters conduct exterior-only fire suppression due to inaccessible locations, then firefighter safety is improved, but extinguishment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by extending the nozzle assembly with a long tube (10-20 feet) that projects through the roof opening, allowing firefighters to suppress fires from a safe exterior position while reaching into the attic space. This spatial extension resolves the contradiction by enabling exterior suppression to be as effective as interior suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension tube assembly serves as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between the firefighter's safe exterior position and the fire location in the attic space. This intermediary device allows water or foam to be delivered directly to the fire seat without requiring firefighters to enter dangerous interior spaces.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If firefighters conduct exterior-only fire suppression due to inaccessible locations, then firefighter exposure to hazards is reduced, but property damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the nozzle 10-20 feet through the roof opening, the system enables firefighters to attack the fire from a safe exterior dimension while still delivering suppression agents directly to the fire seat in the attic, thereby preventing property damage without increasing firefighter exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of firefighters physically entering the attic space with a mechanical extension system that delivers water or foam remotely. This substitution eliminates the need for direct firefighter contact with hazardous interior conditions while maintaining effective fire suppression.
3Device complexity
If standard spray nozzles are used without extension, then device complexity is minimized, but reach and accessibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle assembly is segmented into modular components: a standard fire suppression spray nozzle, an extension tube, and coupling mechanisms. This segmentation allows the basic nozzle to remain simple while adding reach capability through the detachable extension tube that can be configured as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension tube assembly is designed to be universally applicable to standard fire suppression nozzles through universal coupling mechanisms. This multi-functionality allows a single extension tube design to work with various nozzle types, maintaining simplicity while extending reach capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables more efficient fire extinguishment from a safer exterior position, reducing extinguishment time, minimizing firefighter exposure to hazards, and optimizing water usage.
Implementation Method 1
an extension assembly for a fire suppression spray nozzle... an aluminum tube welded onto a male hose coupler... The aluminum tube and hose couplers are hard-coat anodized
Data Source
AI summary
An extension assembly for a fire suppression spray nozzle is provided. A tube having a first end and a second end is welded to a female hose coupler at the tube's first end. A male hose coupler is welded to the second end of the tube. A support sleeve connected to the female hose coupler inserts into a fire suppression spray nozzle or another instance of the extension assembly to provide for easy alignment of the threaded connectors and for adding strength to the connection.