Self-powered fire hose fitting for lighting, environmental monitoring, and communications system

• US 8,905,152 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generation Unlimited LLC
• Original Assignee: Generation Unlimited LLC
• Inventors: Kling, Kenneth G., Brown, Arthur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/277,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 169/23, 169/24, 169/52, 169/54, 169/56, 169/60, 169/70, 169/91, 239/18, 239/69, 239/289, 239/525, 362/96, 362/192, 362/194, 362/253, 362/555, 362/800, 700/15, 700/17, 700/283, 340/320, 340/628, 439/191, 174/47
• US Class Current: 169/52
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 33/00 Hose accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

Disclosed is a fire hose coupling apparatus for self powered lighting of an area where a fire fighter is engaged in fires suppression with a fire hose, and for providing real time environmental data to fire fighters.

Claims

1. A hose fitting apparatus, comprising;

A conduit having a fluid entry end and a fluid exit end;

A coupling for releasably attaching the fluid entry end of said conduit to the discharge end of a hose;

Means for generating electric power, whereby electric power is generated by movement of a magnet in proximity to a conductive coil, said movement caused by the flow of fluid through the conduit from the fluid entry end to the fluid exit end;

A battery for storing the electric power generated by said means for generating electric power;

At least one light source in an electrical circuit with said battery;

At least one of sensor for detecting;

At least one means for determining location;

A display for presenting information; and

Means for wireless communication to or receiving communications from a location remote from the fitting.

2. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for generating electric power further comprises an impeller wheel with a plurality of buckets for interfacing with the fluid as it flows through the conduit from the entry end to the exit end causing the wheel to spin.

3. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for generating electric power is mounted in a nozzle releasably attached to the fluid exit end of the conduit.

4. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source further comprises an LED lighting source that illuminates the footing area of the user of the hose.

5. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source further comprises an LED lighting source that illuminates the area forward of the user of the hose.

6. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source further comprises a color status indicator of the condition of the user of the hose.

7. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source further comprises an laser lighting source for determining the distance to a specific object.

8. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source further comprises a switch for changing the condition of the light source from on to off, or to change the color of light from the color status indicator.

9. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a plurality of sensors that monitors the fitting'"'"'s performance, among variable including internal hose pressure, fluid flow rate, power generation, and battery charge level.

10. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a sensor pack placed with a user wherein the at least one sensor is a CO, CO2, smoke particulate composition, air temperature, humidity, user body temperature, heart rate, or breathing rate.

11. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for determining location comprises a global positioning system or a short range radio frequency identification system.

12. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a plurality of sensors that displays geographical terrain, building layout, location and routing information for an exit, escape path to the entry point of the fire or rescue.

13. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dock for docking the display and wherein the display is removable and in wireless communication with the fitting when removed from said dock.

14. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wireless communication is a smart phone in communication with a cellular network, and capable of providing data to other firefighters in the area, including those firefighters that may be on foot, at a fire truck, or at a local command center.

15. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wireless communication is a smart phone in communication with a cellular network, and wherein hazard conditions of the fire environment can be received from the cellular network presented on said display.

16. The hose fitting apparatus of claim, 1, wherein the means for wireless communication is a smart phone in communication with a cellular network, and wherein the user can trigger a distress signal by pressing a distress button on the sensor pack or hose fitting that is communicated to other firefighters in the area, at a fire truck, or at a local command center.

17. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wireless communication is a smart phone in communication with a cellular network and wherein the smart phone receives unique mapping data in response to a distress call, displaying a trail or directional indicators from the current location of the receiving firefighter to the location of the distressed firefighter.

18. The hose fitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for wireless communication is a smart phone in communication with a cellular network, wherein the smart phone is cradled onto the fire hose fitting and includes a display and is capable of providing fire fuel profiles, terrain maps, building layouts, and other useful information, GPS and mapping data and further communicates with similar fitting systems used by other firefighters in the area, displaying the location of each firefighter in a fire area and providing cumulative data representing all firefighters in the firefighting theater that overlay a terrain map or building plan.