Fire fighting apparatus

• US 4,007,793 A
• Filed: 08/25/1975
• Issued: 02/15/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Lafrance LLC (LD Investment LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fred M. Hux, Thomas Hudson
• Inventors: Hudson, Thomas, Hux, Fred M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, Jr., Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US05/607,851
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 169/24, 169/25, 239/159-166, 239/169, 239/170, 239/172, 239/175, 239/176, 239/587, 239/583, 239/578
• US Class Current: 169/25
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/24 attached to ladders, poles, towers, or other structures with or without rotary heads
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0431 with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0463 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for fighting fires including a plurality of nozzles mounted on an aerial ladder and supplied with water under pressure which is directed onto the fire. Each of the nozzles is controlled from a remote position in a manner such that the direction of the water and the intensity of the water being discharged can be altered as desired.

Claims

1. A fire fighting system mounted on relatively movable sections of an aerial ladder of a fire truck and comprising a first nozzle means mounted on one section of the ladder and a second nozzle means mounted on another section of the ladder, said first nozzle means including a first frame mounted on said one ladder section, a first elongated tubular member carried by said first frame, means for supplying water under pressure to one end of said first tubular member, a first nozzle mounting means movably connected to the other end of said first tubular member, first remotely controlled fluid operating means for moving said first nozzle mounting means in at least one direction, a first adjustable nozzle carried by said first nozzle mounting means for discharging water under pressure, second remotely controlled fluid operating means for adjusting said first nozzle to vary the intensity of the water being discharged, said second nozzle means including a second frame mounted on the other ladder section in spaced relationship to said first nozzle means, a second elongated tubular member carried by said second frame, means for supplying water under pressure to one end of said second tubular member, a second nozzle mounting means movably connected to the other end of said second tubular member, third remotely controlled fluid operated means for moving said second nozzle mounting means in at least one direction, a second adjustable nozzle carried by said second nozzle mounting means for discharging water under pressure, fourth remotely controlled fluid operating means for adjusting said second nozzle to vary the intensity of the water being discharged, whereby said first nozzle mounting means may be adjusted from a remote position to direct the water being discharged from said first nozzle to a first portion of a fire and said second nozzle mounting means may be adjusted from a remote position to direct the water being discharged from said second nozzle to another portion of the fire.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said first nozzle mounting means includes a yoke movably mounted on the other end of said first tubular member and said first remotely controlled fluid operated means includes at least one fluid cylinder mounted on said first frame and having piston rod means connected to said yoke for moving the same.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said second nozzle mounting means includes a housing movably mounted on the other end of said second tubular member, said third remotely controlled fluid operated means including at least one fluid cylinder carried by said second frame and having piston rod means connected to said housing for moving the same relative to said second tubular member.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a hollow member movably mounted on said housing, fifth remotely controlled fluid operated means carried by said housing and connected to said hollow member for moving said member relative to said housing, and said second nozzle being mounted on said hollow member.

5. A remotely controlled fire fighting apparatus for use with a conventional aerial ladder having a plurality of spaced rungs and being mounted for selective movement on a fire truck, said apparatus comprising an articulated frame having first and second portions, each of said frame portions having hook means for selectively engaging spaced rungs of the aerial ladder, an elongated tubular member fixed to said first frame portion and extending outwardly beyond said second frame portion, means for slidably connecting said second frame portion to said tubular member, means for supplying water under pressure to one end of said tubular member, nozzle support means swingably mounted on the other end of said tubular member, said nozzle support means being swingable generally along a vertical plane, first fluid cylinder means mounted on said frame and having piston rod means connected to said nozzle support means for moving said nozzle support means along said vertical plane, an adjustable nozzle having a fixed portion connected to said nozzle support means and a movable portion slidably connected to said fixed portion, second fluid cylinder means carried by said fixed nozzle portion and connected to said movable portion of said nozzle for selectively causing relative movement therebetween to regulate the intensity of the water being discharged, a housing mounted on said frame, a first electrically operated fluid motor carried within said housing for supplying fluid under pressure to said first cylinder means, a second electrically operated fluid motor carried within said housing for supplying fluid under pressure to said second cylinder means, electrical conduits connecting said first and second fluid motors to a source of electrical energy located in a remote position, and switch means at the remote position for controlling the operation of said fluid motors, whereby the ladder is moved to a selected position in which said apparatus is adjacent to a fire and said apparatus is operated from a remote location to direct water under pressure onto the fire.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said nozzle support means includes a hollow rotatable member to which the fixed portion of said adjustable nozzle is connected, third fluid cylinder means mounted on said nozzle support means and connected to said rotatable member for causing selective rotation thereof, a third electrically operated fluid motor carried within said housing for supplying fluid under pressure to said third cylinder means, a third electrical conduit connecting said third fluid motor to a source of electrical energy located in said remote position, and switch means at the remote position for controlling the operation of said third fluid motor.