Patent classifications
B65H2701/332
Coilable extendible member and methods
The invention provides an extendible member (10) which is configurable between a coiled form (11) and an extended form (12). The extendible member (10) comprises: a primary member (14) comprising a sheet of material resiliently biased in a slit tube form, wherein the slit tube can be opened out at the slit to assume an open form in which it has a flattened cross section; at least one resilient secondary member (15) having first and second connections to the primary member (14) at respective different circumferential positions on the primary member (14), wherein in the extended form, the primary member (14) is in its slit tube form and the resiliency of the secondary member (15) causes at least part of the secondary member (15) to displace towards the slit in the primary member (14) to provide torsional and axial stiffness to the primary member (14), and wherein in the coiled form (11), the primary member (14) is in its open form and the secondary member (15) conforms to the flattened cross section of the primary member (149) so that primary and secondary member can be co-coiled. Corresponding methods are also provided.
Firehose Winding Apparatus
A portable mechanical firehose winder is described. The firehose winder comprises a foldable structure which can be stored and readily transported in a compact, stowed configuration, but can be unfolded in the field to place the firehose winder into a deployed configuration. The firehose winder has a winder mechanism having two pins for securing a firehose connector is mounted on a plate that can be rotated by hand with a crank arm. The firehose winder also has a firehose hold-down mechanism for holding down a firehose as it traverses the winder as well as an adjustable width mechanism for laterally guiding the firehose into the firehose winder mechanism.
HOSE-REELING APPARATUS
A hosed-reeling apparatus comprising a hose reel and a rack having a front opening for demountably receiving and supporting the hose reel. The hose reel has two sidewalls, a connection member concentrically coupling the two sidewalls, and two spindles extending laterally outward from the centers of the two sidewalls, respectively. The rack has at least a base framework, and a locking structure configurable between an unlock position and a lock position. The base framework has two upward facing channels on opposite sides thereof for demountably receiving the hose reel spindles. The channels are accessible from thereabove when the locking structure is at the unlock position, and the channels are inaccessible from thereabove when the locking structure is at the lock position. Each of the sidewalls of the hose reel may have at least one straight outer edge, allowing the hose reel sit stably on a horizontal surface or a ramp.
Large diameter lay-flat hose spool apparatus and method
A large diameter lay-flat hose spool apparatus has a mobile platform with a chassis and wheels. Side supports extend up from the chassis. An axle bears on the side supports, spanning a gap therebetween. Plural spools are rotatably mounted on the axle. Each spool has at least one rim and a length of lay-flat hose wound thereon. A driver rotates the individual spools about the axle independently of the other spools. The driver has a first actuator that moves a drive wheel into and out of contact with a rim of one of the spools. The driver has a second actuator that moves the drive wheel from one of the spool rims to another of the spool rims. A motor rotates the drive wheel. A controller system operated the motor, the first actuator and the second actuator.
Sanitary Sleeve Applicator for Hoses
The conceived invention provides both a film applicator and a method for placing a continuous film sleeve around a hose, or a grouping of a plurality of hoses. The sleeve thickness is approximately mil to 20 mils thick, which is suitable for cleanliness protection and reducing the possibility of ripping when the hoses are dragged across a floor.
The embodied invention includes a plastic sleeve payout tube, that surrounds and encompasses the hose/hoses. The hoses are routed through the sleeve payout tube when they are hauled into a building to be cleaned. The payout tube stores a compacted length of an enclosing plastic sleeve, and the sleeve pays off as the hoses are dragged into the facility to be cleaned. The initial attachment of the plastic sleeve and hoses is by use of an adhesive tape or an outer clamping strap.
Hose winding device
The hose winding device has an open rectangular parallelepiped skeleton frame made of tubular members. The upper cross members at opposite ends of the frame include a lower wringer roller mounted on a shaft fixed to opposite sides of the frame and an upper wringer roller spaced above the lower wringer roller. The wringer rollers compress and flatten the fire hose as it is cranked through the wringer rollers, thereby removing any water left inside the hose. A pair of spaced apart, vertical guide rollers are mounted closely behind the wringer rollers, the four rollers being configured similar to a winch's roller fairlead, permitting the hose to be smoothly wound on the device without first straightening the hose. A hand crank is removably mounted to opposite sides of the frame halfway between opposite ends of the frame. The crank has a hose coupler retainer extending parallel to the crank's axle.
COILABLE EXTENDIBLE MEMBER AND METHODS
The invention provides an extendible member (10) which is configurable between a coiled form (11) and an extended form (12). The extendible member (10) comprises: a primary member (14) comprising a sheet of material resiliently biased in a slit tube form, wherein the slit tube can be opened out at the slit to assume an open form in which it has a flattened cross section; at least one resilient secondary member (15) having first and second connections to the primary member (14) at respective different circumferential positions on the primary member (14), wherein in the extended form, the primary member (14) is in its slit tube form and the resiliency of the secondary member (15) causes at least part of the secondary member (15) to displace towards the slit in the primary member (14) to provide torsional and axial stiffness to the primary member (14), and wherein in the coiled form (11), the primary member (14) is in its open form and the secondary member (15) conforms to the flattened cross section of the primary member (149) so that primary and secondary member can be co-coiled. Corresponding methods are also provided.
Fire Hose Pack Roller
The fire hose pack roller includes a first embodiment where the device is held in place by a bracket positioned under a vehicle's tire and the weight of the vehicle secures the device for use or in a second embodiment where the device is removably mounted to the vehicle. The hose pack roller device includes a pair of collapsible arms that are unfolded and the fire hose is would around pegs mounted on the arms. The device further includes a set of rollers that squeezes air and water from the hose as it is wound. Once wound the hose is easily folded into a Gansner type pack for storage of the hose. The arms of the device may be folded closed such that the device forms a compact unit for storage. No external power supply is required.
Fire Hose Pack Roller
The fire hose pack roller includes a first embodiment where the device is held in place by a bracket positioned under a vehicle's tire and the weight of the vehicle secures the device for use or in a second embodiment where the device is removably mounted to the vehicle. The hose pack roller device includes a pair of collapsible arms that are unfolded and the fire hose is would around pegs mounted on the arms. The device further includes a set of rollers that squeezes air and water from the hose as it is wound. Once wound the hose is easily folded into a Gansner type pack for storage of the hose. The arms of the device may be folded closed such that the device forms a compact unit for storage. No external power supply is required.