Firefighting agent delivery system

• US 20060065411A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Archer, David W., Linsmeier, Eric R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/24
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/24 attached to ladders, poles, towers, or other structures with or without rotary heads

Abstract

A vehicular firefighting system includes a vehicle, a boom pivotally coupled to the vehicle about a horizontal axis and a nozzle pivotally coupled to the boom. In one embodiment, the system includes a linkage having a first end coupled to the nozzle and a second end coupled to the vehicle such that the linkage maintains an orientation of the nozzle as the boom pivots about the horizontal axis. In another embodiment, the boom forms at least one fluid conduit in fluid communication with the nozzle so as to deliver firefighting agent to the nozzle.

Claims

1. A vehicular firefighting system comprising:

a vehicle;

a boom pivotally coupled to the vehicle about a first horizontal axis;

a nozzle pivotally coupled to the boom about a second horizontal axis; and

a linkage having a first end pivotally coupled to the nozzle and a second end pivotally coupled to the vehicle, wherein the linkage is configured to maintain an orientation on the nozzle as the boom pivots about the first horizontal axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage is configured to maintain the nozzle in a horizontal orientation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage has an adjustable length.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the boom forms a conduit configured to deliver a firefighting agent to the nozzle.

5. The system of claim 1 including a base supporting the boom and rotatably coupled to the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is configured to pivot about a vertical axis.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage has a hydraulically adjustable length.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the boom forms a plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the nozzle and is configured to deliver a firefighting agent to the nozzle.

9. The system of claim 1 including an actuator coupled between the vehicle and the boom and configured to pivot the boom.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the boom is pivotally coupled to a top of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the boom pivots between a lowered horizontal orientation and a raised inclined orientation.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle extends beyond a front of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a cab.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cab includes an upwardly facing transparent portion.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the transparent portion faces in a vertical direction.

16. A vehicular firefighting system comprising:

a vehicle;

a nozzle; and

a boom configured to pivot about a horizontal axis relative to the vehicle, wherein the boom supports the nozzle and forms a conduit in fluid communication with the nozzle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the boom is pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first horizontal axis and wherein the nozzle is pivotally coupled to the boom about a second horizontal axis.

18. The system of claim 17 including a linkage having a first end pivotally coupled to the nozzle and a second end pivotally coupled to the vehicle, wherein the linkage is configured to maintain an orientation of the nozzle as the boom pivots about the first horizontal axis.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the linkage is configured to maintain the nozzle in a horizontal orientation.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the linkage has an adjustable length.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle is configured to pivot about a vertical axis.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the nozzle is configured to pivot about a vertical axis.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the boom forms a plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the nozzle and configured to deliver a firefighting agent to the nozzle.

24. The system of claim 16 including an actuator coupled between the vehicle and the boom and configured to pivot the boom.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the boom is pivotally coupled to a top of the vehicle.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the boom pivots between a lowered horizontal orientation and a raised inclined orientation.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the nozzle extends beyond a front of the vehicle.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle includes a cab.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the cab includes an upwardly facing transparent portion.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the transparent portion faces in a vertical direction.

31. A firefighting agent delivery system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

a boom adapted to be pivotally coupled to the vehicle about a first horizontal axis;

a nozzle pivotally coupled to the boom about a second horizontal axis; and

a linkage having a first end pivotally coupled to the nozzle and a second end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the vehicle, wherein the linkage is configured to maintain an orientation of the nozzle as the boom pivots about the first horizontal axis.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the boom forms a conduit configured to deliver a firefighting agent to the nozzle.

33. A firefighting agent delivery system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising:

a nozzle; and

a boom configured to pivot about a horizontal axis relative to the vehicle, wherein the boom supports the nozzle and forms a conduit in fluid communication with the nozzle.

34. A method for delivering a firefighting agent, the method comprising:

pivoting a boom supporting a nozzle;

moving a firefighting agent through a conduit formed by the boom to the nozzle; and

ejecting the agent through the nozzle.

35. The method of claim 34 including maintaining an orientation of the nozzle with a linkage having a first end pivotally coupled to the nozzle and a second end pivotally coupled to a base.

36. A method for delivering a firefighting agent, the method comprising:

pivoting a boom supporting a nozzle; and

maintaining an orientation of the nozzle with a linkage having a first end pivotally coupled to the nozzle and a second end pivotally coupled to a base.