Adjustable firefighting nozzle
View Patent ↗A new firefighting nozzle has a base nozzle with one size or type of orifice and one or more auxiliary nozzles with a different size or type of orifice that a firefighter can easily see. A firefighter can swing the auxiliary nozzle into series with the base nozzle to change the flow. A springy element biases a locking element on the auxiliary nozzle from a retracted position toward an extended position in which it locks the auxiliary nozzle in place.
1. A firefighting nozzle attachable to a fire hose or fire monitor, connectable to a pressurized source of liquid, comprising:
a base nozzle that has an orifice that is configured to deliver a liquid stream at a rate effective for firefighting; and
an auxiliary nozzle that has an orifice of a different size or type;
a pivot that enables the auxiliary nozzle to be swung between (1) an operating position in which the auxiliary nozzle (a) is in series with as well as coaxial with the base nozzle, and (b) a stowed position in which the auxiliary nozzle remains is connected to the base nozzle but is completely out of the path of liquid flow from the base nozzle.
2. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which:
the auxiliary nozzle pivots about an axis that crosses the flow path in the base nozzle; and
the nozzle has one or more locking elements on the auxiliary nozzle that lock the auxiliary nozzle in the operating position with sufficient force to withstand the pressures developed in a firefighting nozzle.
3. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 2 , in which the locking elements include a locking ring that moves between two positions while the auxiliary nozzle is in the operating position, one position in which it fits over a shoulder, locking the auxiliary nozzle in the operating position, and another position in which it retracts from the shoulder, and frees the auxiliary nozzle to swing from the operating position.
4. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which the base nozzle is a smooth-bore nozzle and the auxiliary nozzle is a smooth-bore nozzle.
5. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 4 , in which the base nozzle and the auxiliary nozzle, when connected in series, form an unobstructed, tapered internal flow path.
6. A fire-fighting nozzle as recited in claim 5 , in which the base nozzle and the auxiliary nozzle are each smooth-bore nozzles with fixed walls.
7. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which the auxiliary nozzle modifies shape of the discharge pattern of flow emanating from the base nozzle.
8. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which the auxiliary nozzle has a standard fire hose connection onto which a nozzle tip can be attached without the use of tools.
9. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which a second auxiliary nozzle is mounted to the auxiliary nozzle, and arranged so that it can be successively added in series to a base nozzle or to the auxiliary nozzle.
10. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which both the base nozzle and auxiliary nozzle have unobstructed internal waterways and it is visually ascertainable under firefighting conditions whether the auxiliary pathway is connected for use.
11. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which the size of the orifice that is connected for use can be determined by visual observation of the position of a relatively large element that moves non-axially.
12. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which:
the auxiliary nozzle is rotated between the stowed position and the operating position about an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of flow through the base nozzle;
liquid can be sprayed through the base nozzle while the auxiliary nozzle is in the stowed position; and
the auxiliary discharge nozzle, when in the stowed position, extends generally parallel to and in front of a pistol grip on the base nozzle.
13. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 1 , in which:
the base nozzle is on a base that has a closed stem;
the auxiliary nozzle is a pivoting nozzle that has an inlet that, in the operating position, adjoins the outlet on the base and, in the stowed position, adjoins the closed stem on the base; and
the auxiliary nozzle also has locking elements that move with respect to the inlet on the auxiliary nozzle and selectively lock the pivoting nozzle in the operating position.
14. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 13 , in which at least one of the locking elements is biased toward a locking position in which the pivoting nozzle is locked in position.
15. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 13 , in which the locking elements include:
a retractable sleeve that moves axially within a main body of the pivoting nozzle and locks the pivoting nozzle to the orifice when the pivoting nozzle is in the operating position and locks the nozzle to the closed stem when the pivoting nozzle is in the secondary position;
a collar that rotates about the pivoting nozzle; and
means for retracting the sleeve when the collar is rotated and thereby freeing the pivoting nozzle for rotation between the operating and stowed positions.
16. A firefighting nozzle as recited in claim 15 , in which the sleeve and the pivoting nozzle have:
a stem that travels in an angled track; and
a pin and groove that retain the rotational position of the sleeve with respect to the pivoting nozzle.
17. A firefighting nozzle attachable to a fire hose or fire monitor, connectable to a pressurized source of liquid, comprising:
a base nozzle that has a primary orifice;
an auxiliary nozzle that has a secondary orifice that has a configuration that differs from the configuration of the primary orifice;
a pivot that enables the auxiliary nozzle to be swung between (1) an operating position in which the auxiliary nozzle (a) is in series with as well as coaxial with the base nozzle, and (b) a stowed position in which the auxiliary nozzle remains is connected to the base nozzle but is completely out of the path of liquid flow from the base nozzle; and
a locking mechanism that rotates about one of the two nozzles, causing a locking ring to selectively extend over or retract from a collar on the other of the nozzles, preventing rotation of the two nozzles with respect to each other when the locking ring extends over the collar, and permitting the two nozzles to be rotated with respect to each other when the locking ring extends over the collar.
18. A firefighting nozzle attachable to a fire hose or fire monitor, connectable to a pressurized source of liquid, comprising:
a base nozzle that has an orifice that is configured to deliver a liquid stream at a rate effective for firefighting; and
an auxiliary nozzle that has an orifice of a different size or type;
a ball-in-socket pivot that has an axis of rotation that is coincident with the discharge axis of the base nozzle and enables the auxiliary nozzle to be swung between (1) an operating position in which the auxiliary nozzle (a) is in series with as well as coaxial with the base nozzle, and (b) a stowed position in which the auxiliary nozzle remains is connected to the base nozzle but is completely out of the path of liquid flow from the base nozzle.