GB2129462A - Laying hose in a container - Google Patents

Abstract

A hose flaking apparatus incorporates a container 65 for hose carried on a trailer which is towed along the path of the hose. The hose is picked up by the hose flaking apparatus and fed over rollers 88 and 89 to a laying head 76 incorporating rollers 77 and 78. The laying head is caused to run back and forth along guide rails 74 and 75 while these are indexed laterally to deposit hose in a zig-zag path in a series of bights in the container and thus to flake the hose into the container. Arms 82 and 83 follow movement of the laying head and result in a constant length of hose from the entry to the laying head. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hose handling systems The invention relates to hose handling systems.

Fire fighting hoses normally have to be transported to the scene of a fire, connected to a water source and laid out as quickly and conveniently as possible. Normally flexible hoses are employed which can effectively be laid flat so that they take up little storage space. One way of storing hose in a transportable container is to flake the hose into a container. Flaking involves laying the hose in bights extending substantially the length of the container in such a way that the hose runs up and down the length of the container. The normal flaking pattern involves laying the hose in layers with several bights side by side in each layer. An alternative flaking pattern involves laying successive stacks of bights side by side across the container.To discharge the hose from the container the end of the hose is simply pulled from the container and the hose is fed from the container one bight at a time in a regular fashion such that no tangling of the hose occurs.

Where very long hoses might be required it is normal to provide the hose in several lengths which are coupled together by metal couplings.

The couplings clearly take up more space than the hose itself. The hoses are normally stored in a coupled together state and if all the hose is required this can be drawn off from the container in one length. If only part of the hose is needed, it can be uncoupled at or near the required length leaving some hose in the container. Shorter makeup lengths may be added to the unflaked hose if required.

Because flaking is a time consuming operation which must be carried out carefully to ensure that hose does not become tangled, the normal procedure for a fire-fightinging team which has used a hose is to carry the hose back to the fire station in an irregularly packed form and then to flake it into the container at the fire station. The above comments of course apply primarily to long hoses for use in areas where fire hydrants are few and far between. Hose handling problems seldom arise with short hoses.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a hose flaking apparatus comprises a container into which hose is to be flaked, a laying head supported over the container by a guide means and means for causing the laying head to sweep over the container along a path following a flaking configuration. Such an apparatus allows hose to be flaked into a container in a regular and automatic fashion.

Preferably the apparatus also comprises a hose support linkage guiding the hose from an entry guide fixed with respect to the container to the laying head along a path which retains a substantially constant length throughout the sweep of the laying head whereby the hose can be fed over the entry guide and the laying head at substantially constant speed. By this means, it is not necessary to feed hose into the apparatus in a series of steps corresponding to individual bights with the result that sudden accelerations of the hose and the associated loads on the apparatus are not encountered.

Preferably the hose support linkage includes two arms, one extending from the region of the entry guide to an intermediate guide and the other extending from the intermediate guide to the laying head, the arms being such as to allow the laying head to sweep over the container in the flaking configuration.

The guide means may extend longitudinally and the apparatus may then further comprise means for causing the laying head to traverse along said guid emeans whilst laying a bight of hose in the container, means for indexing each end of the guide means individually through a step corresponding to the required lateral distance between bights of the flaking configuration in response to the laying head reaching the end of its traverse remote from the end to be indexed and means to reverse the direction of indexing when the guide means has been indexed to the extremity of its required lateral movement.

Alternatively the hose support linkage may be powered and controlled to act as the guide means for the laying head.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a hose flaking apparatus comprising an open topped container, a laying head supported over the container by longitudinal guide means, means for causing the laying head to traverse along said guide means whilst laying a bight of hose in the container, means for indexing each end of the guide means individually through a step corresponding to the required lateral distance between bights in response to the laying head reaching the end of its travers remote from the end to be indexed and means to reverse the direction of indexing when the guide means has been indexed to the extremity of its required lateral movement.

Preferably the laying head comprises at least one roller over which the hose can run. There may be two such rollers. The rollers may be driven by pinions which engage with a rack extending along the guide means. There may be two pinions, one coupled to each roller through a one-way clutch in such a way that the rack drives one roller through a one-way clutch during traverse in one direction while the other clutch freewheels, and such that the rack drives the other roller through the other clutch in the opposite direction of traverse while the first mentioned clutch freewheels.

Each means for indexing one end of the guide means may comprise two indexing trolleys coupled together by means for alternatively driving the trolleys apart and subsequently drawing them together, one of the trolleys carrying the guide means, and means for restraining the trolleys alternately so that one trolley may be driven through the desired indexing distance by driving the trolleys apart while the other trolley remains fixed and subsequently drawing said other trolley towards the first trolley while the first trolley remains fixed.

The apparatus may incorporate a pair of squeeze rollers intended to squeeze water from the hose as it reaches the apparatus. The apparatus may further comprise rotary cleaning brushes for cleaning the hose before it is fed to the laying head. Means may be provided for sensing the arrival at the apparatus of a hose coupling and for parting laying head and/or squeeze rollers and/or cleaning brushes to allow passage of the couplings.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a complete apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the laying head of the apparatus of figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view corresponding to figure 2; Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the transverse indexing mechanism for the longitudinal guide means of figure 1; and Figure 5 is a view corresponding to figure 1 showing a modified apparatus.

The general layout and broad operating principles of the apparatus will first of all be described with reference to figure 1 and important details will then be explained with reference to figures 2 to 4.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle trailer incorporating a body in the form of an open top rectangular container 11, a pair of road wheels 1 2 and a towbar 13. Along the front and rear edges of the open top of the container 11 are two fixed transverse guide rails 14 and 1 5. A longitudinally extending guide means 1 6 incorporates two longitudinal rails 1 7 and 1 8 and is supported at its ends on the fixed transverse guide rails 14 and 1 5.

A hose laying head 1 9 incorporating two rollers 21 and 22 is supported on the longitudinally extending guide means 1 6.

Pneumatic cylinders or similar displacement units, not shown in figure 1, are provided to move the hose laying head 19 along the guide means in the directions indicated by arrows 23 and 24.

Other displacement units are provided to move each end of the guide means independently along the associated fixed rail 14 or 1 5 as indicated by arrows 25 and 26. Further details of these movements will be described subsequently in relation to the operation of the apparatus.

A pair of squeeze rollers 27 and 28 is provided on the side of the container 11 near the forward end thereof and immediately behind the squeeze rollers there is a set of cleaning brushes 29.

Although two brushes are shown, more may be provided if required.

A temporary storage bin 31 is provided at the rear of the trailer and is mounted to the body 11 by weight sensing means (not shown). A further guide roller 32 is provided to feed hose into the bin 31.

Squeeze rollers 27 and 28 are rotated continuously from a power source (not shown) as are the cleaning brushes 29. Guide roller 32 may also be powered if necessary but alternatively it may be an idling roller. Rollers 21 and 22 are also power driven from a source which will be described subsequently in such a direction as to feed hose into the container 11.

In operation, when it is desired to collect a long length of hose and flake it into the container 11, an end of the hose is fed between squeeze rollers 27 and 28, past cleaning brushes 29, over guide roller 32 and into the temporary storage bin 31. A length of slack hose is retained in the bin-31 and the hose end is fed from the bin down between rollers 21 and 22 of the laying head. At this stage the laying head 1 9 should be at the forward righthand corner of the container 11 and this position can of course be achieved by suitable positioning of the guide means 1 6 and of the laying head on the guide means.

The trailer is then towed along beside the length of hose which is to be flaked into the container 11. At the same time, the squeeze rollers and cleaning brushes are set into motion and together with the guide roller 32 they feed hose into the bin 31.

Prior to this, the guide means 1 6 has been set with its forward end at the rightward extremity of its movement on guide rail 14 and with its rearward end offset to the left from its rightward extremity by a distance equal to half the distance required between adjacent bights of the flaked hose. The laying head is then set in motion along the guide means 1 6 towards the rear of the trailer in the direction of arrow 23.As will be explained subsequently, the rotation of rollers 21 and 22 is coupled to movement of the laying head in such a way that it pays out hose into the container at the speed of longitudinal traverse of the laying head along the guide means 1 6. In this way, one bight of hose is laid along the floor of the container, generally longitudinally of the trailer but at a very slight angle as is normally employed in flaking.

When the laying head 1 9 reaches the rearward extremity of its movement, it triggers lateral indexing of the forward end of the guide means 1 6 along guide rail 14 in a leftward direction by a distance equal to the required pitch between adjacent bights of the flaked hose. Because the rear end of the guide means remains half a pitch from the leftward position, the guide means is at this stage at an equal but opposite inclination to its original position. The laying head is then traversed to the forward end of the guide means along this new path, continuing to feed hose into a flaked position on the floor of the container. On reaching the forward end of its traverse, it triggers an indexing movement of the rear of the guide means through a distance of one pitch to the left and then lays a further bight of hose along this path. In due course one complete layer of flaking has been laid on the floor of the container.

Reaching the leftward edge of the container triggers a reversal of the direction of indexing of the guide means along its guide rails 14 and 1 5 and in this way a second and further layers of hose may be flaked into the container 11. The procedure continues until the whole of the hose has been loaded into the container.

In order to correlate the speed at which hose is fed into the bin with the speed of laying from the laying head, the quantity of hose in the bin is sensed from the weight responsive mounting of the bin on the trailer and when this weight exceeds a predetermined value, the laying is speeded up. Similarly, if the weight in the bin reduces to a predetermined value the laying head is slowed down. In this way, apart from minor fluctuations, the laying speed is maintained at the same speed as that at which hose is- being collected.

In addition to the hose as such, it may be necessary to feed hose couplings through the apparatus if it is desired to flake a hose incorporating one or more such couplings along its length. To allow these couplings to pass the squeeze rollers 27, 28, laying head rollers 21,22 and brushes 29, these pairs of rollers and brushes may be parted to allow a sufficient gap for the coupling to pass. For roller 22 a signal indicating the need for retraction of the roller may be given by the substantial and sudden reduction of weight in the bin as the connector leaves the bin.

Further details of the laying head and the drive mechanism for the rollers 21 and 22 will now be described with reference to figures 2 and 3. The laying head incorporates a frame incorporating two side members 33 and 34 in which rollers 21 and 22 are mounted in bearings 35 and 36. The side members are joined together by a bridge structure 37 which projects up above the rollers 21 and 22, leaving space between the rollers and the bridge member for hose and hose couplings.

The bridge member carries a longitudinal driving bracket 38 which is connected to drive cable 39 which is in turn driven from a pneumatic cylinder 41 which is mounted, by means not shown, to the longitudinal guide means depicted in figures 2 and 3 by rails 17 and 18. By this means, the laying head can be traversed longitudinally along the guide rails 1 7 and 18.

Lengths of chain 42 and 43 are fixed to guide rails 1 7 and 1 8 and co-operate with four sprockets 44, 45, 46 and one which is not shown.

These sprockets are mounted on the axes of rollers 22 and have pitch circle diameters corresponding to the diameter of the rollers. The sprockets co-operate with the chains to form in effect a rack and pinion mechanism.

At least one of the sprockets associated with each roller incorporates a oneway clutch such as that shown at 47 for sprocket 44. The driving and freewheeling directions for the oneway clutches are such that in each case a sprocket is capable of driving its associated roller in such a direction as to feed hose down between the rollers and also allows the roller to freewheel in the same direction despite rotation in the opposite direction by the sprocket. By this means, when the laying head is travelling forward (the left in figure 2) roller 22 is positively driven by one of its sprockets in a clockwise direction as viewed in figure 2 while sprocket 21 can freewheel in an anti-clockwise direction. Because the pitch chord diameter of the sprocket is equal to the roller diameter, the rate of feed of hose is equal to the rate of traverse of the laying head.Similarly, when the laying head is travelling in a rearward direction, roller 21 is positively driven in an anti-clockwise direction by a sprocket and roller 22 can freewheel in a clockwise direction. By this means, regardless of the dieection of travel of the laying head along the guide means 1 6 (see figure 1) hose is fed by rollers 21 and 22 down into the container 11.

Figure 4 illustrates the mechanism by which the rear end of the guide means 16 can be indexed transversely along guide rail 15. The indexing mechanism at the opposite end of the guide means corresponds to that shown. The guide means 1 6 is illustrated in figure 4 by the longitudinal rails 17 and 1 8 and a transverse end member 48.The end of the guide means is carried by a first indexing trolley 49 on the transverse guide rail 1 5. Trolley 49 incorporates two sprockets 51 and 52 which run on a chain 50 extending along the guide rail 1 5. A second indexing trolley 53 also runs by means of sprockets 54 and 55 on the chain 50 on guide rail 1 5. A pneumatic cylinder 56 is connected between the trolleys 49 and 53 in such a way as to enable it to drive the two trolleys apart along the guide rail 1 5 or to draw them together.

As will be described below, for indexing in one direction it is necessary to ensure that neither trolley is free to move in the direction opposite from the desired indexing and that each trolley individually is free to move in the direction of indexing. One way of achieving this is to equip at least one sprocket of each trolley with a oneway clutch, both clutches for example allowing clockwise rotation of the sprockets and preventing anti-clockwise rotation. This would allow each trolley individually to move to the right but would prevent it from moving to the left. This is the requirement for indexing to the right. For indexing to the left, an additional set of sprockets and an additional chain rack should be provided together with means for disengaging the sprockets shown from their rack and engaging the other set of sprockets in the rack which is not shown.The sprockets for the other rack should be provided with oneway clutches allowing free rotation in an anti-clockwise direction but prevent sprocket rotation in a clockwise direction.

Indexing to the right will be described with reference to figure 4 as drawn, indexing to the left utilising those components described above but not shown in the drawing. The first stage in indexing to the right is to expand the pneumatic cylinder 56 through a distance equal to the required indexing distance. Trolley 49 cannot move to the left and thus acts as a reaction member so that trolley 53 moves to the right through the full indexing distance. Cylinder 56 is then retracted. Because trolley 53 cannot move to the left, trolley 49 together with the longitudinal guide means 1 6 is indexed to the right through the whole stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 56. This completes the indexing movement which can be repeated as required.

As previously described, the traverse of the laying head 19 along its longitudinal guide means 1 6 in conjunction with the indexing movement of the guide means causes the laying head to lay a regular flaked pattern of hose in the container 11.

In order to withdraw hose for subsequent use, the end of the hose which was laid last during the flaking operation is drawn out from the rear of the trailer. If necessary a guide roller can be provided at the rear of the trailer to guide the hose during its unflaking over the rear of the trailer.

In connection with the development of the invention shown in figure 5, those parts of the apparatus not described in detail correspond to details of figures 1 to 4.

The vehicle trailer shown in figure 5 incorporates a fabricated steel chassis 61 supported by springs 62 on an axle 63 carrying two road wheels 64. The chassis supports a boxlike structure 65 which has an open top and an opening rear board 66. A pallet (not shown) may be inserted from the rear on to the floor of the boxlike structure 65 and then together with this structure forms a container into which hose is to be flaked. With this arrangement, the capacity of the hose flaking apparatus is not limited to the capacity of the container as such because several pallet loads can be flaked one at a time in succession, making use of the same basic apparatus.

The chassis 61 incorporates a forward extension 67 which in addition to providing a connection for a tow hitch 68 provides a mounting for a pair of rotary cleaning brushes 69. In this embodiment, there are no squeeze rollers corresponding to rollers 27 and 28 of figure 1 so the brushes 69 constitute an entry guide to the apparatus. This entry is along the centre line of the trailer and of a vehicle towing the trailer. For this reason, the vehicle and trailer run astride the hose while it is being collected and flaked instead of running alongside it.

The container constituted primarily by structure 65 has transverse guide rails 71 and 72 corresponding to rails 14 and 1 5 of figure 1. A longitudinally extending guide means 73 incorporates longitudinal rails 74 and 75 which together provide guidance for a hose laying head 76. The hose laying head 76 is caused to follow a flaking pattern across the top of the container in a manner similar to that described with reference to the first embodiment.

The laying head 76 incorporates one power driven roller 77 which is fixed with respect to the laying head and a second roller 78 which normally lies close to roller 77 to pinch hose between these rollers but can swing away on a pivot arm 79 to allow passage of a hose coupling such as that shown at 81.

A hose support linkage for feeding hose from the entry guide (brushes 69) to the laying head is constituted primarily by two arms 82 and 83. The lower forward end of arm 82 is mounted pivotally to a support 84 carried on an upward extension of the chassis. Pivot block 85 is pivotal about a vertical axis in support 84 and thus allows arm 82 to swing from side to side. A horizontal pivot 86 in block 85 allows arm 82 to swing up and down.

The two arms 82 and 83 are pivoted to each other at 87. Arm 82 carries ahose guide roller 88 at its lower end and a further hose guide roller 89 is carried at the junction between the two arms 82 and 83. The lower end of arm 83 is connected to the laying head 76. In use, hose from the entry guide (brushes 69) is fed to the laying head over rollers 88 and 89 while the hose support linkage constituted by arms 82 and 83 as well as these roller pivots to follow movement of the laying head over the top of the container in a flaking configuration. Because of the fixed lengths of the two arms 82 and 83, the length of the path along which the hose is guided remains substantially constant.This ensures that the requirement for a supply of hose at the flaking head 76 is matched to a steady rate of supply of hose from the entry guide to the apparatus with the result that no temporary storage of a length of hose is needed and there is no need for sudden acceleration of the hose which could otherwise tend to overload the apparatus.

In order to accommodate the angular movement of arm 83 with respect to the laying head as the laying head swings from side to side, the laying head is in two parts which are pivoted to each other. A lower guide part 91 runs in the guide rails 74 and 75 while the rollers 77 and 78 are carried by arm 83 and a pivot 92 allows the necessary articulation between the guide part and the carrier for the rollers.

Power to drive the cleaning brushes is derived from the axle 63 as the trailer is in motion by means of a differential unit 93 connected to a gear drive 94 which in turn is connected to a chain drive mechanism 95. The gear drive 94 also drives roller 88 trhough an enclosed flexible drive shaft 90. A belt drive represented diagrammatically by dotted line 96 drives rollers 77 and 89 in unison with roller 88. The drive belt 96 also acts as a conveyor belt which supports and drives the hose.

The drives for moving the laying head may be hydraulic or pneumatic or mechanical and if coupled to and driven from the differential unit 93 the movement of the flaking head is automatically synchronised with the rate of supply of hose which in turn is automatically synchronised with the progress of the trailer along the ground.

In a modification of either embodiment, the layer on layer flaking configuration may alternatively be achieved by maintaining the longitudinal guide means 1 6 or 73 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and traversing this guide means at a slow steady speed across the container instead of indexing it in steps. This steady traverse in conjunction with faster longitudinal movement of the laying head can result in the same flaking configuration as with the above described indexing movement.

In a further modification to either embodiment, the flaking configuration may be such that several bights are laid one on top of another at one edge of the container with the guide means parallel to the longitudinal axis and stationary. When a required number of bights have been laid, the guide means is indexed to a position where several more bights can be laid next to the first stack of bights. This procedure is continued across the whole width of the container. With this flaking configuration the container may be filled completely in one traverse of the guide means.

Alternatively the depth of each stack of bights may be half or some other proportion of the full depth of the container and a second and possibly subsequent composite layer of stacks may be laid above the first composite layer.

In a further modification of the embodiment of figure 5, the articulating movement of the arms 82 and 83 may be powered and controlled directly so that the arms control the position of the laying head. The guide rails for the laying head and the associated drive mechanism would then no longer be required.

Several alternative forms of hose support linkage may be employed. For example, instead of pivoting about a vertical axis, the hose support linkage as a whole may be indexed or move continuously across the container while remaining parallel to its longitudinal axis. In another alternative, three or more arms may be employed.

In a still further modification the hose may be guided to a fixed roller arranged centrally over and high above the container so that the roller is approximately equidistant from all parts of the container top surface and a single arm may guide the hose from this roller to the laying head.

Claims (16)

1. A hose flaking apparatus comprising a container into which hose is to be flaked, a laying head supported over the container by a guide means and means for causing the laying head to sweep over the container along a path following a flaking configuration.

2. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a hose support linkage guiding the hose from an entry guide fixed with respect to the container to the laying head along a path which retains a substantially constant length throughout the sweep of the laying head whereby the hose can be fed over the entry guide and the laying head at substantially constant speed.

3. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hose support linkage includes two arms, one extending from the region of the entry guide to an intermediate guide and the other extending from the intermediate guide to the laying head, the arms be such as to allow the laying head to sweep over the container in the flaking configuration.

4. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide means extends longitudinally, the apparatus further comprising means for causing the laying head to traverse along said guide means whilst laying a bight of hose in the container, means for indexing each end of the guide means individually through a step corresponding to the required lateral distance between bights of the flaking configuration in response to the laying head reaching the end of its traverse remote from the end to be indexed and means to reverse the direction of indexing when the guide means has been indexed to the extremity of its required lateral movement.

5. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the hose support linkage is powered and controlled to act as the guide means for the laying head.

6. A hose flaking apparatus comprising an open topped container, a laying head supported over the container by longitudinal guide means, means for causing the laying head to traverse along said guide means whilst laying a bight of hose in the container, means for indexing each end of the guide means individually through a step corresponding to the required lateral distance between bights in response to the laying head reaching the end of its traverse remote from the end to be indexed and means to reverse the direction of indexing when the guide means has been indexed to the extremity of its required lateral movement.

7. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the laying head comprises at least one roller over which the hose can run.

8. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the laying head comprises two rollers between which the hose can run.

9. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the rollers are driven by pinions which engage with a rack extending along the guide means.

1 0. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are two pinions, one coupled to each roller through a one-way clutch in such a way that the rack drives one roller through a one-way clutch during traverse in one direction while the other clutch freewheels, and such that the rack drives the other roller through the other clutch in the opposite direction of traverse while the first mentioned clutch freewheels.

11. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein each means for indexing one end of the guide means comprises two indexing trolleys coupled together by means for alternately driving the trolleys apart and subsequently drawing them together, one of the trolleys carrying the guide means, and means for restraining the trolleys alternately so that one with trolley may be driven through the desired indexing- S distance by driving the trolleys apart while the other trolley remains fixed and subsequently drawing said other trolley towards the first trolley while the first rolley remains fixed.

12. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims incorporating a pair of squeeze rollers intended to squeeze water from the hose as it reaches the apparatus.

13. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising rotary cleaning brushes for cleaning the hose before it is fed to the laying head.

14. A hose flaking apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means for sensing the arrival at the apparatus of a hose coupling and for parting the rollers of the laying head and/or other pairs of rollers in the apparatus and/or cleaning brushes to allow passage of a coupling.

1 5. A hose flaking apparatus substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A hose flaking apparatus substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.