Hose reel assembly
AssigneeFire Science Solutions Inc.
InventorJohn Calkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hose reel assembly includes a frame and a reel rotatably coupled to the frame. The reel can include a drum and four flanges arranged to define three spools, where each spool can be configured to hold a portion of a hose. The third and fourth flanges can include one or more apertures that can allow a portion of a hose to transition from a center spool to one of the outer spools, facilitating storage of a bulky fitting and improving winding and unwinding efficiency. The hose reel assembly can be mounted on a vehicle or transportable support structure. The hose reel assembly can enable multiple hoses or hose segments to be stored compactly while minimizing tangling and easing deployment and retrieval. The flanges and apertures can be sized and spaced to optimize hose storage.
Claims20
A reel assembly, comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a reel rotatably coupled to the frame, the reel comprising:
- a drum;
- a first flange extending radially outward from the drum at a first axial end of the reel assembly;
- a second flange extending radially outward from the drum at a second axial end of the reel assembly opposite the first flange;
- a third flange extending radially outward from the drum and disposed inwardly from the first flange toward the second flange, the third flange including a first aperture;
- and
- the first flange, the second flange, and the third flange defining two spools, each spool configured to hold a portion of a hose.
A hose carriage, comprising:
- a trailer;
- and
- a reel assembly, the reel assembly comprising:
- a frame coupled to the trailer;
- and
- a reel rotatably coupled to the frame, the reel comprising:
- a drum;
- a first flange extending radially outward from the drum at a first axial end of the reel assembly;
- a second flange extending radially outward from the drum at a second axial end of the reel assembly opposite the first flange;
- a third flange extending radially outward from the drum and disposed inwardly from the first flange toward the second flange, the third flange including a first aperture;
- and
- the first flange, the second flange, and the third flange, defining two spools, each spool configured to hold a portion of a hose.
A method of winding onto a reel assembly a first hose coupled to a second hose with a fitting, the method comprising:
- providing the reel assembly, wherein the reel assembly includes
- a frame;
- a reel rotatably coupled to the frame, the reel including
- a drum,
- a first flange extending radially outward from the drum at a first axial end of the reel assembly,
- a second flange extending radially outward from the drum at a second axial end of the reel assembly opposite the first flange,
- a third flange disposed inwardly from the first flange toward the second flange and including a first aperture, and
- the first flange, the second flange, and the third flange, defining two spools;
- rotating the reel to wind a first portion of the first hose onto one of the two spools;
- guiding a second portion of the first hose adjacent the fitting through the first aperture;
- rotating the reel to wind the second portion of the first hose, the fitting, and a first portion of the second hose adjacent the fitting onto another one of the two spools;
- guiding a second portion of the second hose through the first aperture from the another one of the two spools;
- and
- rotating the reel to wind the second portion of the second hose onto the one of the two spools.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.