Smart Nozzle Swivel Joint for Wired 360-Degree Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Establishing a quick, reliable, and simple wire connection between a fire truck control center and a nozzle, while maintaining electrical connectivity during the nozzle's movement and high-pressure fluid flow, is challenging due to the need for a fully swiveling coupling that can handle both movement and pressure.
Innovation Solution
A swiveling joint with a slip ring assembly maintains electrical contact during rotation, and hose couplings with locating pins facilitate easy alignment for quick and reliable wired connections, ensuring communication and power transmission between the nozzle and control center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fully swiveling coupling is used to handle nozzle movement and high-pressure fluid flow, then the nozzle can rotate 360 degrees while maintaining electrical connection, but the device complexity increases due to the slip ring assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The slip ring assembly is integrated within the swiveling joint housing, with the rotor nested inside the stator. The electrical contacts are concentrically arranged, allowing the rotor to rotate freely while maintaining continuous electrical connection through the nested slip ring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly acts as an intermediary component between the stationary hose connector and the rotating nozzle. It mediates the transmission of electrical signals and power while accommodating the relative rotational motion, enabling 360-degree swiveling without compromising electrical connectivity.
2Reliability
If wire connection is established between hose and nozzle, then reliable communication is achieved, but the connection time increases due to alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The hose connector features an asymmetric design with a single locating pin on one side and a corresponding recess on the other. This asymmetric configuration provides self-alignment during connection, ensuring that the electrical contacts engage correctly without requiring precise manual alignment, thus reducing connection time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locating pins and recesses are pre-positioned on the hose connectors during manufacturing. This preliminary arrangement of alignment features ensures that when two connectors are brought together, they automatically align in the correct orientation, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment procedures.
3Length of stationary object
If multiple hose connectors are used to reach the fire scene, then the control center can be positioned at a distance, but the number of connection points increases requiring multiple electrical connections
Solution Approach 1:
All hose connectors are designed with identical electrical coupling features, including locating pins, recesses, and electrical contacts. This universal design allows any hose connector to interface with any other hose connector or nozzle, creating a standardized multi-point connection system where the same connection mechanism is repeated along the entire hose assembly, simplifying the 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
Enables real-time data transmission and control of fluid flow parameters from the control center to the nozzle, providing reliable and efficient operation during firefighting scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
The swiveling joint may comprise a slip ring assembly having two or more parts that remain in electrical contact when the swiveling joint swivels.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more systems and/or methods are disclosed for a nozzle with wire connection to a hose, which may allow wired communication between the nozzle and a distant control center. A hose connector with one or more locating pins may be used for easy alignment and quick establishment of electrical connection between the nozzle and the hose. The nozzle may comprise a swiveling joint configured to fully swivel while maintaining electrical connection between the hose connector and an electronic housing. A slip ring assembly may be used in the swiveling joint to maintain the electrical connection.