GB2129334A

GB2129334A - Fluid discharge device

Info

Publication number: GB2129334A
Application number: GB08327280A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Richard Lockwood; Raymond Whitlock
Original assignee: Chubb Fire Security Ltd
Current assignee: Chubb Fire Ltd
Priority date: 1982-11-04
Filing date: 1983-10-12
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: GB2129334B; GB8327280D0

Abstract

A two-handed discharge "gun" particularly for use in directing and controlling the discharge of pressurised fluid fire extinguishants has forward and rear hand grips 18, 3, and a valve 9, 10 actuated by longitudinal displacement of one of the grips. A hose from the extinguishant tank is connected to a union 5 in the rear hand grip 3 which has a passage 4 leading into the barrel passage 2. Output is controlled by a valve head 9 seating at 10 in the barrel. To open the valve the forward hand grip 18 is pulled back which cams down a transverse link 24. This in turn acts on the valve stem 11 to drive the head 9 rearwardly away from its seat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid discharge device The present invention relates to a hand-held device for use in directing and controlling the discharge of a stream of pressurised fluid (the term "fluid" including where appropriate flowable powders) and aims in particular to provide a device for convenient two-handed use in fire fighting.

In accordance with the invention a device of this character comprises forward and rear hand grips spaced apart along an elongate body, and a valve which can be opened to permit the discharge of fluid from the device by an operating mechanism actuated by displacing one of said hand grips longitudinally with respect to said body. To this end the operating mechanism may comprise an actuating member movable with the one said hand grip and arranged to drive a link member in a direction transverse to the hand grip movement, the link member in turn being arranged to drive a valve member away from its seat in a direction parallel to the hand grip movement.

A preferred embodiment of a discharge device in accordance with the invention is illustrated in longitudinal section in the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a hand-held "gun" A for use in directing and controlling the discharge of a pressurised stream of fire extinguishant. Such a device may be employed in conjunction with any of the usual fire fighting media in current use, thus comprising water, foam solutions, CO2 gas, powder types and vaporizing liquid types. The device has a rear barrel part 1 having a longitudinal passage 2, and integral therewith a first hand grip 3 which is also hollow to provide a passage 4 leading into the passage 2. At its free end the hand grip 3 has an inlet union 5 which in use is connected via a suitable flexible hose (not shown) to the source of pressurised extinguishant, be it eg a fixed water hydrant or hose reel point, the pump of a fire appliance, or a trolley-mounted or other portable pressurised container.Screwed and sealed into the forward end of the barrel part 1 is a second barrel part 6 whose longitudinal passage 7 can communicate with the passage 2 via the control valve which is described below. The front end of the part 6 provides an outlet union 8 to which will be coupled a discharge nozzle (not shown) suited to the particular fire fighting medium with which the device is to be used.

The aforesaid control valve comprises a head 9 which is adapted to engage a seat 10 at the upstream end of the part 6. A stem 11 extends from the valve head coaxially with the passage 7 and is provided at its opposite end with a cruciform arrangement of webs 1 2. The webs 12 serve to guide the stem 11 in the passage 7 when it is shifted upstream to unseat the head 9, the valve stem being further guided in this respect by a disc 1 3 rotatably mounted in a slot 14 in the stem and extending diametrically across the passage 7. A coil spring 1 5 trapped between the webs 12 and an internal shoulder 16 on the part 6 biases the valve stem and head to the illustrated seated position.

Encircling the barrel part 6 and the forward end of the part lisa valve actuator 17 equipped with a second hand grip 1 8. This component can be pulled backwards relative to the barrel parts 1 and 6 to open the control valve, being guided in this movement by track formations 1 9 provided externally on the part 6. Normally the actuator is biased to its illustrated forward position, which corresponds to the "OFF" condition of the control valve, by a light coil spring 20 encased in a shrinkfitted plastics sleeve 21 and trapped between an external flange 22 on the barrel part 1 and a boss 23 carried with the actuator 17.Movement of the actuator 17 is converted into movement of the valve stem and head by means of a flat-sided transverse link 24 sealed by an O-ring 24A against the part 6 and borne to extend across its passage 7 and intersect the valve stem slot 14.

As the actuator 17 is drawn back a shallow cam surface 25 on its interior engages a roller 26 carried at the end of the link 24 to depress the link against a biasing spring 27. A cam surface 28 on the link 24 then presses against a roller 29 borne within the slot 14 to displace the valve stem and head to the right (in the sense of the Figure) and thereby permit the flow of pressurised extinguishant from the passage 2 into the passage 7 whence it is directed in accordance with the operator's will.As will be appreciated, the resultant movement of the valve stem and head when the actuator 1 7 is pulled back is coaxial with, and in the same sense as, the movement of the actuator, the linkage 25/26/24/28/29 providing a low-friction transmission of selected mechanical advantage to shift the valve head 9 against the force of the pressurised extinguishant within the passage 2.

Claims

1. A hand-held device for use in directing and controlling the discharge of a stream of pressurised fluid, comprising forward and rear hand grips spaced apart along an elongate body, and a valve which can be opened to permit the discharge of fluid from the device by an operating mechanism actuated by displacing one of said hand grips longitudinally with respect to said body.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism comprises an actuating member movable with the one said hand grip and arranged to drive a link member in a direction transverse to the hand grip movement, the link member in turn being arranged to drive a valve member away from its seat in a direction parallel to the hand grip movement.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said valve member is part of a valve assembly borne for linear movement within a longitudinal duct provided in said body; said link member extends

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fluid discharge device The present invention relates to a hand-held device for use in directing and controlling the discharge of a stream of pressurised fluid (the term "fluid" including where appropriate flowable powders) and aims in particular to provide a device for convenient two-handed use in fire fighting. In accordance with the invention a device of this character comprises forward and rear hand grips spaced apart along an elongate body, and a valve which can be opened to permit the discharge of fluid from the device by an operating mechanism actuated by displacing one of said hand grips longitudinally with respect to said body. To this end the operating mechanism may comprise an actuating member movable with the one said hand grip and arranged to drive a link member in a direction transverse to the hand grip movement, the link member in turn being arranged to drive a valve member away from its seat in a direction parallel to the hand grip movement. A preferred embodiment of a discharge device in accordance with the invention is illustrated in longitudinal section in the accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing there is shown a hand-held "gun" A for use in directing and controlling the discharge of a pressurised stream of fire extinguishant. Such a device may be employed in conjunction with any of the usual fire fighting media in current use, thus comprising water, foam solutions, CO2 gas, powder types and vaporizing liquid types. The device has a rear barrel part 1 having a longitudinal passage 2, and integral therewith a first hand grip 3 which is also hollow to provide a passage 4 leading into the passage 2. At its free end the hand grip 3 has an inlet union 5 which in use is connected via a suitable flexible hose (not shown) to the source of pressurised extinguishant, be it eg a fixed water hydrant or hose reel point, the pump of a fire appliance, or a trolley-mounted or other portable pressurised container.Screwed and sealed into the forward end of the barrel part 1 is a second barrel part 6 whose longitudinal passage 7 can communicate with the passage 2 via the control valve which is described below. The front end of the part 6 provides an outlet union 8 to which will be coupled a discharge nozzle (not shown) suited to the particular fire fighting medium with which the device is to be used. The aforesaid control valve comprises a head 9 which is adapted to engage a seat 10 at the upstream end of the part 6. A stem 11 extends from the valve head coaxially with the passage 7 and is provided at its opposite end with a cruciform arrangement of webs 1 2. The webs 12 serve to guide the stem 11 in the passage 7 when it is shifted upstream to unseat the head 9, the valve stem being further guided in this respect by a disc 1 3 rotatably mounted in a slot 14 in the stem and extending diametrically across the passage 7. A coil spring 1 5 trapped between the webs 12 and an internal shoulder 16 on the part 6 biases the valve stem and head to the illustrated seated position. Encircling the barrel part 6 and the forward end of the part lisa valve actuator 17 equipped with a second hand grip 1 8. This component can be pulled backwards relative to the barrel parts 1 and 6 to open the control valve, being guided in this movement by track formations 1 9 provided externally on the part 6. Normally the actuator is biased to its illustrated forward position, which corresponds to the "OFF" condition of the control valve, by a light coil spring 20 encased in a shrinkfitted plastics sleeve 21 and trapped between an external flange 22 on the barrel part 1 and a boss 23 carried with the actuator 17.Movement of the actuator 17 is converted into movement of the valve stem and head by means of a flat-sided transverse link 24 sealed by an O-ring 24A against the part 6 and borne to extend across its passage 7 and intersect the valve stem slot 14. As the actuator 17 is drawn back a shallow cam surface 25 on its interior engages a roller 26 carried at the end of the link 24 to depress the link against a biasing spring 27. A cam surface 28 on the link 24 then presses against a roller 29 borne within the slot 14 to displace the valve stem and head to the right (in the sense of the Figure) and thereby permit the flow of pressurised extinguishant from the passage 2 into the passage 7 whence it is directed in accordance with the operator's will.As will be appreciated, the resultant movement of the valve stem and head when the actuator 1 7 is pulled back is coaxial with, and in the same sense as, the movement of the actuator, the linkage 25/26/24/28/29 providing a low-friction transmission of selected mechanical advantage to shift the valve head 9 against the force of the pressurised extinguishant within the passage 2. Claims

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said valve member is part of a valve assembly borne for linear movement within a longitudinal duct provided in said body; said link member extends sealingly through a bore intersecting said duct; the link member has a cam surface adapted to engage the valve assembly within said duct for driving the valve member as aforesaid; and said actuating member has a cam surface adapted to engage the link member outside said duct for driving the link member as aforesaid.

4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the one said hand grip is slidably borne on the exterior of a barrel portion of said body.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the one said hand grip is the forward hand grip which is pulled rearwardly with respect tosaid body to open the valve.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein an inlet union for connection to a source of pressurised fluid is provided at the free end of the rear hand grip and a duct leads through that hand grip from said union to a duct within said elongate body.

7. A hand-held device for use in directing and controlling the discharge of a stream of pressurised fluid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. Fire-fighting equipment comprising a source of pressurised fluid fire extinguishant; a device according to any preceding claim, and hose means communicating the extinguishant from said source to said device.