IMPROVED E-EXTINGUISHING LANCE

Abstract

An extinguishing lance for electrical devices that are burning, has a holding portion having a handle part for operation, an extinguishing-agent feed having a coupling device for connecting a pressure hose for extinguishing agent, and a tubular extinguishing portion, from the free end of which extinguishing agent is introduced, under pressure, into the object that is burning. The extinguishing portion tapers to a point at the free end and has a constricted, hollow flow cross-section for extinguishing agent conducted under pressure. The extinguishing portion and its tapered, additionally hardened end are produced from stainless steel. The extinguishing portion has, at least in the region of the holding portion, a voltage-insulating coating, which is electrically insulating for electric voltages U ≥ 500 V. Thus, the minimum legal requirements for protection against thermal hazards, against mechanical overloads, and against electrical hazards are reliably met.

Claims

1. An extinguishing lance (10) for extinguishing electric devices that are burning, such as vehicles equipped with an electric motor, comprising: a holding portion having a handle part (11) for an operator, an extinguishing agent feed having a coupling device (12) for connecting a pressure hose for liquid extinguishing agent, and a tubular extinguishing portion (13) adjoining the holding portion from the free end of which extinguishing portion extinguishing agent, under pressure, can be introduced into a burning object, wherein the handle part (11) of the holding portion has a voltage-insulating coating (11a) which is designed so as to be electrically insulating even for electric voltages U ≥ 500 V, wherein the tubular extinguishing portion (13) is made of a material which has a strength Rm that withstands a mechanical stress σ ≥ 500 N/mm2, and which has a melting temperature tS ≥ 650° C., wherein the tubular extinguishing portion (13) has a geometrically tapering free end and has a constricted, hollow flow cross-section for the extinguishing agent conducted through under pressure, wherein the tubular extinguishing portion (13) and also the tapering free end of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) are made of stainless steel, and wherein the tapering free end of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) additionally is hardened, wherein the tubular extinguishing portion (13) has, at least in the a region of the holding portion also outside the handle part (11), a voltage-insulating coating (13a), which is electrically insulating for electric voltages U ≥ 500 V. wherein the geometrically tapering free end of of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) is a conically tapering free end, and has a maximum outer diameter that is between ⅓ and ¾ of an outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) outside the conically tapering free end, and wherein a transition portion (18) is arranged between the conically-tapering free end and the adjoining tubular extinguishing portion (13), which transition portion (18) is geometrically designed so as to transfer a maximum outer diameter of the conically tapering free end at a cone angle of between 55° and 85° to a full outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion (13).

2. The extinguishing lance according to claim 1, wherein the voltage-insulating coating (13a) of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) has a layer thickness d ≥ 2 mm, at least in a region of the holding portion with the handle part (11), and wherein the voltage-insulating coating (11a) of the handle part (11) of the holding portion and also the coating (13a) of the extinguishing portion (13) are designed to be electrically insulating for electric voltages U up to 1,000 V and above.

3. The extinguishing lance according to claim 1, wherein the tubular extinguishing portion (13) is made austenitic, acid-resistant 18/10 Cr-Ni steel, and the voltage-insulating coating (13a) of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) is made of polyvinyl chloride.

4. The extinguishing lance according to claim 1, wherein the conically tapering free end of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) has a maximum outer diameter that is between ½ and ⅔, of the outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) outside the conically tapering free end.

5. The extinguishing lance according to claim 4, wherein the transition portion (18) is geometrically designed such that the transition portion transfers the maximum outer diameter of the conically tapering free end at a cone angle of approximately 70° to the full outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion (13).

6. The extinguishing lance according to claim 5, wherein, between the maximum outer diameter of the conically tapering free end and the transition portion (18), a cylindrical intermediate portion (19) having an axial length LZA of between 30 mm and 80 mm, is arranged, a diameter of which intermediate portion corresponds to the maximum outer diameter of the conically tapering free end, and which transfers the conically tapering free end to the a beginning of the transition portion (18) at a minimum outer diameter of the transition portion.

7. The extinguishing lance according to claim 5, wherein a cylindrical connecting portion (20) having the axial length LAA of between 10 mm and 30 mm, is arranged between the maximum outer diameter of the transition portion (18) and a beginning of the tubular extinguishing portion (13), the diameter of which connecting portion corresponds to the outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion (13), and which transfers the transition portion (18) to the beginning of the tubular extinguishing portion (13).

8. The extinguishing lance according to claim 5, wherein the conically-tapering free end of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) is formed in one piece with the transition portion (18).

9. The extinguishing lance according to claim 4, wherein the conically-tapering free end of the tubular extinguishing portion (13), is designed as an exchangeable tip (15) with respect to the tubular extinguishing portion (13) and is provided with a screw thread or a bayonet lock for releasable fastening to the tubular extinguishing portion (13).

10. The extinguishing lance according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical connecting portion (20) has a chamfer (21) as an attachment surface for a wrench for easy assembly and disassembly of the interchangeable tip (15).

11. The extinguishing lance according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion at the an operator-side end has a striking portion (14) in extension of the tubular extinguishing portion (13), an operator-side end surface of which is designed as a striking plate (14′) having a large surface area, and has a larger outer diameter than the diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion (13) and wherein the striking portion (14) is made of solid material and is designed so as to be interchangeable, in the form of a striking pin (16) which can be plugged or screwed onto the handle part (11) in extension of the longitudinal axis of the tubular extinguishing portion (13).

12. The extinguishing lance according to claim 11, wherein the striking plate (14′) has a cylindrical shape having at least one, chamfer surfaces (14″).

13. The extinguishing lance according to claim 11, wherein a first grounding device for establishing an electrically conductive connection to the voltage potential of the earth is present on the striking portion (14), said grounding device comprising a grounding screw (14‴) and a grounding cable.

14. The extinguishing lance according to claim 13, wherein the coupling device (12) for connecting a pressure hose for liquid extinguishing agent has a second grounding device for establishing an electrically conductive connection with a voltage potential of the earth, which comprises a grounding nut (12‴) and a second grounding cable.

15. The extinguishing lance according to claim 11, wherein the extinguishing lance (10) is designed to be extendable with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the striking plate (14′), having a large surface area, of the striking portion (14) is arranged at the operator-side end of the holding portion at a variable distance from the tubular extinguishing portion (13), and/or wherein the tubular extinguishing portion (13) in turn is designed to be extendable by means of one or more tubular extension pieces (22) which have the same outer diameter as the tubular extinguishing portion (13).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

[0060] The invention is shown in the figures of the drawing, which are substantially kept rather schematic, and is explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:

[0061] FIG. 1a is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the E-extinguishing lance according to the invention having a voltage-insulating coating of the tubular extinguishing portion in the region of the holding handle;

[0062] FIG. 1b shows the embodiment of FIG. 1a in a partially transparent view from above, in the direction of the axis of the tubular extinguishing portion;

[0063] FIG. 2a is a detailed view of a further embodiment of the E-extinguishing lance according to the invention in the region of the holding handle having bows extending to the tubular extinguishing portion and having a wing nut at the coupling device for extinguishing water;

[0064] FIG. 2b shows the embodiment of FIG. 2a in a vertical, longitudinal sectional view from the side;

[0065] FIG. 2c shows the detail Z of FIG. 2b having a receptacle for a weld bushing on the tubular extinguishing portion;

[0066] FIG. 3a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of a striking pin having a rear striking plate, chamfer surface, and grounding screw for applying to the handle part in extension of the longitudinal axis of the tubular extinguishing portion;

[0067] FIG. 3b is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3a with a view of the chamfer surface;

[0068] FIG. 3c is a side view of FIG. 3b rotated by 90° about the longitudinal axis, with a view onto the grounding screw;

[0069] FIG. 4a is a schematic, three-dimensional view of an interchangeable tip of the tubular extinguishing portion;

[0070] FIG. 4b is a schematic side view of the tip according to FIG. 4a with a view of one of the two opposing chamfer surfaces;

[0071] FIG. 4c shows the embodiment of FIG. 4b rotated by 90° about the longitudinal axis of the tip, with a view in each case from the side onto the two, mutually-opposing chamfer surfaces;

[0072] FIG. 4d shows the embodiment of the tip from FIG. 4c in a vertical longitudinal section;

[0073] FIG. 4e is an enlarged detail view of the nozzle distribution of the tip from FIG. 4c, with a viewing direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tip;

[0074] FIG. 5a is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of an extension piece for extending the axial length of the tubular extinguishing portion;

[0075] FIG. 5b is a side view of the extension piece from FIG. 5a in the viewing direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, having in each case one welding bushing at both ends for installing the extension piece in the tubular extinguishing portion;

[0076] FIG. 5c is an enlarged side view of the left-hand welding bushing of the extension piece of FIG. 5b;

[0077] FIG. 5d is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the welding bushing of FIG. 5c;

[0078] FIG. 5e is an enlarged side view of the right-hand welding bushing of the extension piece from FIG. 5b in a vertical longitudinal section; and

[0079] FIG. 5f shows the welding bushing from FIG. 5e with a viewing direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the right-hand welding bushing.

[0080] FIGS. 1a and 1b of the drawings show an embodiment of the electrically insulating E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention for extinguishing burning objects under electric voltage. Just like the extinguishing lance known from the closest prior art, from the applicant itself, the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention also has a holding portion having a handle part 11 for an operator, an extinguishing-agent feed having a coupling device 12 for connecting a pressure hose for liquid extinguishing agent, and a tubular extinguishing portion 13 which adjoins the holding portion and optionally the coupling device 12, and from the free end of which extinguishing agent can be introduced under pressure into a burning object. The handle part 11 of the holding portion has a voltage-insulating coating 11a which is designed to be electrically insulating for electric voltages U ≥ 500 V, wherein the tubular extinguishing portion 13 is geometrically tapered at the free end thereof and has a constricted, hollow flow cross-section for the extinguishing agent conducted through under pressure.

[0081] Compared to such a known, older extinguishing lance by the applicant, mentioned above, the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention is characterized in that the tubular extinguishing portion 13, at least in the region of the holding portion having the handle part 11, now also has a voltage-insulating coating 13a which is designed to be electrically insulating for electric voltages U ≥ 500 V.

[0082] In particular, this voltage-insulating coating 13a of the tubular extinguishing portion 13 can have a layer thickness d ≥ 2 mm, and in particular between 2 mm and 5 mm, at least in the region of the holding portion having the handle part 11, and the voltage-insulating coating 11a of the handle part 11 of the holding portion and also the coating 13a of the extinguishing portion 13 can even be designed to be electrically insulating for electric voltages U of up to 1,000 V and above.

[0083] Furthermore, the tubular extinguishing portion 13 can be made of stainless steel, and in particular austenitic, acid-resistant 18/10 Cr—Ni steel, and the voltage-insulating coating 13a of the tubular extinguishing portion 13 can be made of polyvinyl chloride.

[0084] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the handle part 11 of the holding portion has two bow handles 11′, 11″ for two-handed operation of the E-extinguishing lance 10.

[0085] The E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention can, on the extinguishing-agent feed, have an actuating valve (not shown) for admitting or stopping an inflow of extinguishing agent into the tubular extinguishing portion 13, and, on the holding portion - preferably on the handle part 11 - a trigger device for manually actuating said actuating valve.

[0086] Furthermore, the embodiment of the E-extinguishing lance 10 shown in FIG. 1a has a preferably interchangeable striking portion 14 at the operator-side end, following the holding portion, in extension of the tubular extinguishing portion 13, which striking portion serves to introduce striking force in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the E-extinguishing lance 10, in order to drive said extinguishing lance into an object to be extinguished. On the side remote from the operator, in this case, the free end of the E-extinguishing lance 10 is designed as a tip 15 which is preferably also interchangeable and in particular hardened.

[0087] FIGS. 2a through 2c show in enlarged detail the region around the holding portion having the grip 11, the extinguishing-agent feed having the coupling device 12 for connecting a pressure hose for liquid extinguishing agent, and the tubular extinguishing portion 13 adjoining the holding portion and the coupling device 12.

[0088] The coupling device 12 has a grounding device for establishing an electrically conductive connection to the electrical potential of the earth, which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a grounding nut 12‴ and a grounding cable (not shown specifically in the drawing).

[0089] In addition, a welding bushing 13′, which enables an extension of the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention, as explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5a-f, is provided in a manner axially following the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

[0090] FIGS. 3a through 3c show in enlarged detail a striking pin 16, which in this case forms the striking portion 14 and which can be plugged or screwed onto the holding portion of the E-extinguishing lance 10, and more precisely onto the handle part 11 in extension of the longitudinal axis of the tubular extinguishing portion 13. Its operator-side end face is designed as a striking plate 14′ having a large surface area and has a larger outer diameter than the tubular extinguishing portion 13 - preferably between 1.5 times and 2.5 times the outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion 13. The striking pin 16 is preferably made of solid material, and in particular metal.

[0091] In this embodiment, the striking plate 14′ has a cylindrical closure having a large, operator-side striking surface. In addition, two chamfer surfaces 14′ opposite one another in parallel are here provided, which can serve as attachment surfaces for tools for easier assembly and disassembly of the striking pin 16 on the handle part 11. Furthermore, a grounding device for establishing an electrically conductive connection to the voltage potential of the earth is present, which in this case comprises a grounding screw 14‴ and a grounding cable (not shown specifically in the drawing).

[0092] The mounting of the striking pin 16 on the handle part 11 can take place, for example, by screwing or plugging in - for example, by means of a bayonet lock.

[0093] FIGS. 4a through 4e show in enlarged detail the tapering free end of the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention, which is designed as an interchangeable, conically-tapering tip 15 in this embodiment, wherein it is possible for different interchangeable tips 15 – preferably having various geometries, diameters, and in particular made of different materials having different material properties - to be kept available for different intended uses.

[0094] Particularly preferably, the conically-tapering free end of the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention has a maximum outer diameter which is between ⅓ and ¾, and preferably between ½ and ⅔, of the outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

[0095] As a rule, at least one, and preferably three, nozzles 17, arranged so as to be uniformly distributed about the longitudinal axis of the tubular extinguishing portion 13, for the exit of pressurized liquid extinguishing agent are integrated in the tapering free end of the tubular extinguishing portion 13 (see, in particular, FIG. 4e), wherein the nozzles preferably are shaped such that they inject extinguishing agent optimally into the burning object and/or distribute said extinguishing agent on the surface of said object.

[0096] Between the conically-tapering free end and the adjoining tubular extinguishing portion 13, a transition portion 18 is arranged, which is geometrically designed such that it transfers the maximum outer diameter of the conical free end at a cone angle of between 55° and 85° – in the exemplary embodiment shown, approximately 70° – to the full outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

[0097] Between the maximum outer diameter of the conical free end and the transition portion 18, in this case, a cylindrical intermediate portion 19 having an axial length L.sub.ZA of between 30 mm and 80 mm, and preferably approximately 50 mm, is arranged, the diameter of which intermediate portion corresponds to the maximum outer diameter of the conical free end and which transfers the conical free end to the beginning of the transition portion 18 at its minimum outer diameter.

[0098] When the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention is driven, by means of the tip 15, into a solid object to be extinguished - often, an electrical battery - the tip initially penetrates into the object quickly, up to the operator-side end of the cylindrical intermediate portion 19. However, the transition portion 18 then ensures an increasing mechanical resistance. As a result, the operating firefighter detects that the tip 15 has now already penetrated into the object over somewhat more than the length of the conical end piece and the cylindrical intermediate portion 19. Said firefighter will therefore at this moment quickly terminate the application of force to the striking portion 14, in order to not completely penetrate the object and then end up having the extinguishing tip and the nozzles 17 outside the object, which would make effective extinguishing significantly more difficult or even impossible.

[0099] Between the maximum outer diameter of the transition portion 18 and the beginning of the tubular extinguishing portion 13, in the embodiment shown, a cylindrical connecting portion 20 having an axial length L.sub.AA of between 10 mm and 30 mm, and preferably approximately 20 mm, is arranged, the diameter of which connecting portion corresponds to the outer diameter of the tubular extinguishing portion 13, and which transfers the transition portion 18 to the beginning of the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

[0100] The cylindrical connecting portion 20 and optionally also a smaller part of the transition portion 18 has two, mutually-opposing chamfers 21 which can serve as attachment surfaces for a wrench for easier assembly and disassembly of the interchangeable tip 15.

[0101] The interchangeable tip 15 can be provided with a screw thread (not shown in the drawing) or a bayonet lock for releasable fastening to the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

[0102] FIGS. 5a through 5f show, in part in enlarged detail, auxiliary devices for axial extension of the E-extinguishing lance 10 according to the invention with respect to its longitudinal axis.

[0103] For this purpose, the tubular extinguishing portion 13 can in turn be designed to be extendable - in particular, by means of one or more tubular extension pieces 22, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, and which have the same outer diameter as the operator-side first part of the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

[0104] For installing an extension piece 22 in the tubular extinguishing portion 13, in the embodiments shown, connection means are provided at one or both axial ends of the extension piece 22.

[0105] FIGS. 5e and 5f are detailed views of a first welding bushing 13′, which can also already be seen in FIGS. 1a, 2a, and 2b. In the case of the extension piece 22 shown in FIG. 5b, this first welding bushing 13′ is arranged at the right-hand end of the extension piece 22.

[0106] A further welding bushing 22′ at the left-hand end of the extension piece 22 shown in FIG. 5b is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5c and 5d.

[0107] Additionally or alternatively, the striking plate 14′, having a large surface area, of the striking portion 14, can also be arranged at the operator-side end of the holding portion at a variable distance from the tubular extinguishing portion 13.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 10 extinguishing lance 11 handle part 11′, 11″ bow handles of the handle part 11a voltage-insulating coating of the handle part 12 coupling device 12‴ grounding nut 13 tubular extinguishing portion 13a voltage-insulating coating of the tubular extinguishing portion 13′ first welding bushing in the tubular extinguishing portion 14 striking portion 14′ striking plate 14″ chamfer surfaces 14‴ grounding screw 15 tip of the tubular extinguishing portion 16 striking mandrel 17 nozzles 18 transition portion 19 intermediate portion 20 connecting portion 21 chamfer 22 extension piece 22′ further welding bushing in the extension piece