Mist generator with piercing member

• US 4,697,740 A
• Filed: 12/05/1985
• Issued: 10/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eugene W. Ivy
• Original Assignee: Eugene W. Ivy
• Inventors: Ivy, Eugene W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burkhart, Patrick N.
• Application Number:
  US06/804,789
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 239/222.17, 239/222.19, 239/251, 239/255, 239/261, 239/264, 239/271, 239/272, 239/380, 239/381, 411/493, 411/496, 411/499, 169/70
• US Class Current: 239/271
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/22 specially adapted for piercing walls, heaped materials, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0072 using sprayed or atomised water
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/06 by jet reaction , i.e. creating a spinning torque due to a tangential component of the jet
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/14 using nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/54 Free-cooling systems

Abstract

A mist generating nozzle has a cylindrical bearing member in which a plurality of distribution slots are formed. A cylindrical sleeve member is concentrically disposed about the bearing member, with an annular chamber defined therebetween. The sleeve member has a plurality of orifices communicating with the annular chamber and which extend transversely with respect to the radius of the sleeve member for imparting rotational motion to the sleeve member in response to the discharge of water through the orifices. The centrifugal force acting on the water discharged through the orifices particulates the water droplets into a fine mist or fog, in a substantially spiral pattern around the nozzle. In another aspect of the invention, the mist generating nozzle is incorporated into a firefighting tool, which includes a piercing member for penetrating a building structure.

Claims

1. An improved nozzle assembly comprising, in combination:

a bearing member having a tubular sidewall closed at one end and open at the opposite end, said tubular sidewall defining a fluid passageway and having a distribution opening formed in said sidewall for allowing fluid entering said passageway via the open end to flow outwardly through said sidewall;

a rotor sleeve disposed for rotation about said bearing member and radially spaced therefrom defining an annular chamber therebetween, said rotor sleeve having a plurality of discharge orifices formed through said sleeve and communicating with said annular chamber, said rotor sleeve including first and second annular flange members attached to said sleeve at opposite end portions thereof, respectively, said first and second annular flange members projecting radially inward toward said bearing member and radially spaced therefrom; and

,

first and second annular shoulder members attached to said bearing member on opposite end portions thereof, respectively, said first and second annular shoulder members being axially spaced from said first and second annular flange members, respectively, the axial spacings between the bearing shoulders and sleeve flanges defining first and second radially extending, annular flow passages, and said radial spacings between the annular flanges and said bearing member defining first and second axially extending annular flow passages, each axially extending annular flow passage being in communication with said annular chamber and one of said radially extending flow passages, said annular flanges and shoulder members limiting axial and radial movement of said rotor sleeve relative to said bearing member while permitting flow of pressurized fluid from said rotor chamber through said first and second radial flow passages simultaneously with the flow of pressurized fluid from said rotor chamber through said discharge orifices, whereby pressurized fluid flowing through said rotor chamber defines a radial fluid bearing and pressurized fluid flowing through said first and second radially extending flow passages defines first and second axial fluid bearings.

2. An improved nozzle assembly as defined in claim 1, said bearing member having a first extension shoulder adjacent to the closed end thereof and a second extension shoulder adjacent to the open end thereof, said first extension shoulder and said second extension shoulder each having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said tubular sidewall central portion, said central portion being disposed between the first and second extension shoulders.

3. An improved nozzle assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second extension shoulders limit axial displacement of said sleeve member in response to axial movement thereof, thereby maintaining said sleeve member substantially in alignment with the central sidewall distribution portion of said bearing member.

4. An improved nozzle assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said distribution opening comprises a plurality of axially extending, angularly spaced slots formed in said bearing member sidewall.

5. An improved nozzle assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said orifices are disposed at predetermined locations around said sleeve member, each orifice extending through said sleeve member at an acute angle as measured from the orifice axis to a radius line of said sleeve member.

6. A fire fighting tool comprising, in combination:

a tubular shaft having first and second end portions and a sidewall enclosing a flow passage, a discharge port formed in one end of said tubular shaft, and an inlet port formed in said sidewall between said first and second shaft end portions for admitting pressurized water;

a water discharge nozzle assembly attached to said shaft in communication with the discharge port of said shaft, said water discharge nozzle having a rotary member for discharging water radially outwardly from said shaft;

piercing means connected to said nozzle assembly for penetrating a building structure and simultaneously inserting said nozzle assembly into the building structure;

an impact cap mounted on the opposite end of said shaft for transmitting a driving impact force from a sledge hammer or the like for causing said piercing means to penetrate a building structure; and

,

expansion means carried by said shaft for enlarging an opening in a building structure or the like during foreceable penetration of said piercing means into or withdrawal from a building structure, said expansion means comprising a first annular ring formed on said piercing means at a location forward of said water discharge nozzle assembly, and a second annular ring formed into said tubular shaft at a position aft of said water discharge nozzle assembly.

7. A fire fighting tool comprising, in combination:

a tubular shaft having first and second end portions and a sidewall enclosing a flow passage, a discharge port formed in one end of said tubular shaft, and an inlet port formed in said sidewall between said first and second shaft end portions for admitting pressurized water;

a water discharge nozzle assembly attached to said shaft in communication with the discharge port of said shaft, said water discharge nozzle having a rotary member for discharging water radially outwardly from said shaft, said water discharge nozzle including

a bearing member having a tubular sidewall closed at one end and open at the opposite end, said tubular sidewall defining a fluid passageway and having a distribution opening formed in said sidewall for allowing fluid entering said passageway via the open end to flow outwardly through said sidewall;

a rotor sleeve disposed for rotation about said bearing member and radially spaced therefrom defining an annular chamber therebetween, said rotor sleeve having a plurality of discharge orifices formed through said sleeve and communicating with said annular chamber, said rotor sleeve including first and second annular flange members attached to said sleeve at opposite end portions thereof, respectively, said first and second annular flange members projecting radially inward toward said bearing member and radially spaced therefrom;

first and second annular shoulder members attached to said bearing member on opposite end portions thereof, respectively, said first and second annular shoulder members being axially spaced from said first and second annular flange members, respectively, the axial spacings between the bearing shoulders and sleeve flanges defining first and second radially extending, annular flow passages, and said radial spacings between the annular flanges and said bearing member defining first and second axially extending annular flow passages, each axially extending annular passage being in communication with said annular chamber and one of said radially extending flow passages, said annular flanges and shoulder members limiting axial and radial movement of said rotor sleeve relative to said bearing member while permitting flow of pressurized fluid from said rotor chamber through said first and second radial flow passages simultaneously with the flow of pressurized fluid from said rotor chamber through said discharge orifices, whereby pressurized fluid flowing through said rotor chamber defines a radial fluid bearing and pressurized fluid flowing through said first and second radially extending flow passages defines first and second axial fluid bearings;

piercing means connected to said nozzle assembly for penetrating a building structure and simultaneously inserting said nozzle assembly into the building structure; and

,

an impact cap mounted on the opposite end of said shaft for transmitting a driving impact force from a sledge hammer or the like for causing said piercing means to penetrate a building structure.