Segmented monitor
AssigneeTask Force Tips, Inc.
InventorsRobert Steingass, David Kolacz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A firefighting segmented monitor for redirecting a trajectory of a pressurized fluid discharge towards a target comprises a flowpath with minimum convolutions. The monitor flowpath comprises in series a stationary segment and three rotating segments including a lower segment, a middle segment and an upper segment connected in series each of which comprises a predetermined curvature. The lower segment swivels in one axis about the stationary segment. A nonorthogonal swivel is arranged on each end of the middle segment at the interfaces with the lower segment and the upper segment, and the swiveling of the middle and upper segments are synchronized with a single rotary input to produce an approximately planar elevational motion of the fluid discharge end of the monitor.
Claims50
A firefighting monitor for redirecting a flow of fluid from a pressurized fluid source through a conduit, said conduit comprising four consecutive segments rotatably connected in series wherein an axis of rotation is provided at each connection between said four segments.
A firefighting monitor for redirecting a flow of fluid from a pressurized fluid source through a conduit comprising:
- a stationary segment connected to said fluid source;
- a lower segment of said conduit having a predetermined curvature between an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being rotatably connected to said stationary segment, said lower segment including means for enabling azimuth rotation of said monitor;
- a middle segment of said conduit having a predetermined curvature between an inlet end and an outlet end, said middle segment being rotatably connected to said lower segment;
- an upper segment of said conduit having a first curvature extending from an inlet end and a second curvature extending to an outlet end of said upper segment, said upper segment being rotatably connected to said middle segment;
- and
- means for performing an elevation positioning of said monitor by synchronizing the simultaneous rotation of said upper segment and said middle segment in opposite directions with respect to said lower segment.
A firefighting monitor for redirecting a flow of fluid from a pressurized fluid source through a segmented conduit comprising:
- a stationary segment connected to said fluid source;
- a lower segment of said conduit having a predetermined curvature between an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being rotatably connected to said stationary segment, said lower segment including means for enabling azimuth rotation of said monitor;
- a middle segment of said conduit having a predetermined curvature between an inlet end and an outlet end;
- means for connecting said middle segment to said lower segment wherein the middle segment rotates on said lower segment;
- means for rotatably connecting a first ring gear on an inlet end of said middle segment, said rotatably connecting means provides for rotating said first ring gear on said middle segment;
- an upper segment of said conduit having a first curvature extending a predetermined distance from an inlet end and a second curvature extending over a predetermined distance from the end of said first curvature distance to an outlet end of said upper segment;
- a second ring gear connected on an inlet end of said upper segment;
- means for connecting said upper segment to said middle segment wherein said upper segment rotates on said middle segment and said second ring gear connected to said upper segment engages with said first ring gear;
- a half-ring gear, attached to a predetermined outside surface of said middle segment;
- means, positioned adjacent to said middle segment and extending from a housing on a side of said lower segment, for driving said half-ring gear and said first ring gear in counter rotating directions;
- and
- means, coupled to said means for driving said half-ring gear and said first ring gear, for adjusting an elevation discharge position of said monitor.
A method of providing a firefighting monitor for redirecting a flow of fluid from a pressurized fluid source through a conduit comprising the step of providing a conduit having four consecutive segments rotatably connected in series wherein an axis of rotation is provided at each connection between said four segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.