Fire monitors

• US 4,607,702 A
• Filed: 12/29/1983
• Issued: 08/26/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The British Hydromechanics Research Association
• Original Assignee: The British Hydromechanics Research Association
• Inventors: Miller, Donald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edelbrock, Daniel R.
• Application Number:
  US06/579,901
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 169/25, 169/14, 239/451, 239/456, 239/461, 239/558, 239/565, 239/587
• US Class Current: 169/25
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/24 attached to ladders, poles, towers, or other structures with or without rotary heads

Abstract

A fire monitor formed by an outer tube that communicates with a water inlet and a coaxial inner tube connected to an outlet nozzle. Water flows from the inlet into the outer tube, and then around a semitoroidal bend formed by a baffle plate and a fairing into the inner tube for discharge through the outlet nozzle. The fairing is provided on the inner surface of the inner tube and the baffle plate has a curved periphery with an inner, continuous flat surface. The semi-toroidal bend minimizes turbulence in the water flow. Swivels are provided to permit horizontal and vertical adjustment of the direction of discharged water.

Claims

1. A fire monitor for projecting water comprising:

an outer tube having an upstream end communicating with water inlet means and a downstream and closed by a baffle plate;

an inner tube located radially within and coaxial with the outer tube, said inner tube having an open end located adjacent to and spaced from said baffle plate;

an outlet nozzle connected to a downstream end of said inner tube and extending coaxially therefrom;

said inner tube having an outer surface which is substantially constant in diameter, and said outer tube having an inner surface which is substantially constant in diameter and is spaced from said outer surface of said inner tube thereby defining a channel therebetween, whereby water flows from said inlet means through said channel, strikes said baffle plate and is deflected into said open end of said inner tube to flow towards said outlet nozzle;

said inner tube having an inner surface and said open end of said inner tube is rounded to provide a continuous surface between said inner and outer surfaces of said inner tube;

said inner surface of said inner tube having a continuous surface defined by a gradual increase in the cross-section of said inner tube from said rounded open end over a portion of said predetermined length and a gradual decrease in cross-section for the remainder of said predetermined length;

said baffle plate having a surface which faces said open end of said inner tube, said facing surfaces having a curved periphery corresponding to the rounded open end of said inner tube and a continuous flat surface extending over the entire remaining area of said facing surface, whereby a semi-toroidal bend is provided at said downstream end of said outer tube and said open end of said inner tube to minimize turbulence in the water flow from said channel into said inner tube;

and said outer tube has an outer surface which has a substantially constant diameter to permit said outlet nozzle to be deflected through a wide range of angles without obstruction.

2. A fire monitor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising swivel mounting means mounted between said inlet means and said outer tube, so as to allow movement of said outer tube about its horizontal and vertical axes.

3. A fire monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inlet means include two coaxially aligned horizontal branches extending in opposite directions, and further comprising swivel mounting means in said horizontal branches permitting adjustment of the axis of said outer tube about a horizontal axis.