US 2014/0209329 A1 · MECHANICAL REMOTE MONITOR CONTROL

Abstract

A system and method remotely mechanically controls the direction of fluid flow from a firefighting monitor. For example, a control handle mounted in the cabin of a vehicle can be operably mechanically coupled to a pivotable firefighting monitor mounted outside the vehicle (e.g., near the front) by an arrangement of cables. The handle and cables are arranged such that horizontal pivoting of the handle results in a corresponding horizontal pivot of the firefighting monitor, and vertical pivoting of the handle results in a corresponding vertical pivot of the firefighting monitor. The direct mechanical link between the handle and firefighting monitor ensures a rapid and reliable control over the monitor direction and orientation, while providing an intuitive and user friendly operational modality.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A system for remotely directing a flow of firefighting fluid, the system comprising:

a firefighting monitor having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet arranged to point in a first direction, the fluid outlet pivotable away from the first direction along a side-to-side monitor sweep and an up-and-down monitor sweep;
a control mechanism spaced from said firefighting monitor, said control mechanism including a handle positionable to point in the first direction and pivotable away from the first direction along a side-to-side control sweep and an up-and-down control sweep;
and
an arrangement of cables mechanically connected to said firefighting monitor and said control mechanism, such that movement of said handle along said side-to-side control sweep causes corresponding movement of said firefighting monitor along said side-to-side monitor sweep, and such that movement of said handle along said up-and-down control sweep causes corresponding movement of said firefighting monitor along said up-and-down monitor sweep,
said handle facilitates remote manual positioning and control of said monitor by a corresponding positioning and control of said handle with respect to the first direction.

2 more elements

A control mechanism for directing a flow of firefighting fluid, the mechanism comprising:

a base structure;
a turntable rotatably mounted to said base structure about a vertical axis, said turntable having a pair of side-to-side adjustment cables affixed to opposing sides of a radial wall of said turntable, such that rotation of said turntable selectively tensions one of said pair of side-to-side adjustment cables;
a barrel rotatably mounted to said turntable by a support extending upwardly from said turntable, such that said barrel is carried by said turntable and rotates about the vertical axis when said turntable is rotated, said barrel rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a pair of up-and-down adjustment cables affixed to opposing sides of a radial wall of said barrel, such that rotation of said barrel selectively tensions one of said pair of up-and-down adjustment cables, said up-and-down adjustment cables arranged substantially symmetrically about the vertical axis;
and
a handle affixed to said barrel, such that said handle is moveable along a side-to-side direction to rotate said turntable, and said handle is moveable along an up-and-down direction to rotate said barrel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mechanical remote monitor control

Life of this patent

Mechanical remote monitor control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30