Firefighting Lance Control Pin for One-Handed Additive Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firefighting lances struggle with the difficulty of safely and easily controlling the discharge of additives using both hands, particularly when wearing protective gloves.
Innovation Solution
A lance design with separate and spatially distinct actuating means for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid and additive, allowing one-handed operation, featuring a pivotable control pin and actuating means for ambient air intake control, enabling various jet types and secure additive admixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If controlling means for additive discharge are arranged closely together to allow one-handed operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in selectively operating adjacent controlling means while wearing protective gloves
Solution Approach 1:
The controlling means are segmented into two spatially separate groups: first controlling means for fluid discharge and second controlling means for additive discharge. This segmentation allows each group to be operated independently, preventing inadvertent activation of both controls simultaneously while maintaining one-handed operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A control pin acts as an intermediary element that selectively engages with either the first or second controlling means based on its rotational position. This intermediary mechanism ensures that only one controlling means can be activated at a time, resolving the conflict between close proximity for ease of operation and spatial separation for reliable selective operation.
2Reliability
If controlling means are arranged at a distance from one another, then reliability of selective operation is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in one-handed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control pin merges the functions of selecting between fluid discharge and additive discharge controls into a single rotational motion. This allows the operator to maintain hand placement on the handle while selectively activating different controlling means through rotation of the control pin, achieving both reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control pin provides dynamic positioning that can be rotated to different angular positions, allowing selective engagement with either the first or second controlling means. This dynamic mechanism enables the operator to adapt the control configuration based on operational requirements while maintaining comfortable hand positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a control pin is provided for selective control of ambient air intake, then adaptability of jet types is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control pin serves multiple functions: it selectively engages the first controlling means for fluid discharge, the second controlling means for additive discharge, and the third controlling means for ambient air intake. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single rotational component, providing versatility in jet type control without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control pin utilizes rotational motion in a different dimension (angular position) to provide selective control of multiple functions. Instead of requiring separate linear actuators or switches for each controlling means, the rotational dimension of the control pin efficiently manages multiple control functions, reducing overall system complexity.
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
Facilitates safe and easy one-handed operation of the lance, preventing inadvertent errors and ensuring secure additive admixture, with versatile jet discharge options and easy container replacement.
Implementation Method 1
an additive contained in a vessel may be entrained due to a pressure difference generated by the pressurized fluid in the nozzle arrangement
Implementation Method 2
an additive contained in a vessel may be entrained due to a pressure difference generated by the pressurized fluid in the nozzle arrangement
Implementation Method 3
A Venturi-effect mixing means serves to mix the pressurized fluid and the abrasive powder upon selective activation of the inflow of the fluid and the powder through the second duct
Data Source
AI summary
A lance, in particular for jointly dispensing a pressurized fluid and an additive for penetrating walls, includes a lance body, a handle arrangement, multiple channels and actuator arrangements interacting therewith, a nozzle arrangement as well as at least one container for the additive. The actuator arrangements selectively control the fluid being conducted in the first channel, the additive being conducted in the second channel, and the ambient air being conducted in the third channel to a first nozzle body. The third channel forms a line connection between the ambient air and a mixing chamber of the first nozzle body. The second actuator arrangement with its second actuator directly acts on the third channel and indirectly controls the admixing of the additive via the second channel into the mixing chamber.