WO2004103479A1

WO2004103479A1 - Fire-fighting apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2004103479A1
Application number: PCT/BR2003/000067
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlos Alberto Fleury Bellandi
Original assignee: Guarany Indústria E Comércio Ltda.
Priority date: 2003-05-21
Filing date: 2003-05-21
Publication date: 2004-12-02
Also published as: AU2003229414A1; BRPI0318341A8; BR0318341A2

Abstract

The present invention refers to a fire-fighting apparatus with a flexible, reinforced configuration, featuring some relevant improvements if compared to the apparatuses normally used for forestall fire-fighting in downhill areas; to prepare wet clearings; as support apparatus on controlled ground-clearings by fire and in ash-quenching. The apparatus of the present invention can also be used in the fighting of early fires in residential, industrial and commercial buildings. The main object of the present invention is to provide a fire-fighting apparatus which features good ergonomy and provides for an easy, quick and safe fill-up operation, facilitating the use of the equipment by the operator even under adverse conditions and improving its performance on fire-fighting.

Description

"FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS" .

The present invention refers to a fire- fighting apparatus with a flexible, reinforced configuration, featuring some relevant improvements if compared to the apparatuses normally used for forestall fire-fighting in downhill areas; to prepare wet clearings; as support apparatus on controlled ground-clearings by fire and in ash- quenching. The apparatus of the present invention can also be used in the fighting of early fires in residential, industrial and commercial buildings.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a fire-fighting apparatus which features good ergono y and provides for an easy, quick and safe fill-up operation, facilitating the use of the equipment by the operator even under adverse conditions and improving its performance on fire-fighting.

State of the Art

The reservoirs of the apparatuses constructed according to the current state of the art are manufactures from a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) blanket which is rolled and glued, thus forming a cylindric tube, which is then submitted to a process of welding of its top and bottom parts. When empty, said reservoirs assume a flat configuration which allows them to be rolled up so as to reduce their total volume and thus reduce the space required for their storage when not in use .

On the top rear part of said reservoir is welded a mouthpiece for the filling of the reservoir, and on the bottom part is attached a "quick lock" (mechanical device that allows a quick coupling and decoupling of a rubber hose at which other end is connected a hand-driven water pump) . Inconveniences of the State of the Art

The present state of the art shows some inconveniences . Due to the fact that when empty the reservoir assumes a flat configuration, and the filling mouthpiece welded on the back of the reservoir lays touching the front part of said reservoir. This makes the reservoir very difficult to completely fill up with liquid, particularly when the operator must perform this operation unaided and/or in places with adverse conditions are present (confined spaces, urgency, etc.); because it is necessary to hold the state of the art reservoir by the mouthpiece, pulling with the other hand the front part of the reservoir to detach it from the back part and at the same time hold the hose that supplies the liquid to be used on the filling of said reservoir.

Furthermore, some of the reservoirs of the current state of the art present filling mouthpieces inadequately designed, with excessively small diameters.

The mouthpiece diameter is paramount to the performance of the apparatus filling-up operation, for too small diameter mouthpieces complicate the introduction of the supply hose, and too large diameter mouthpieces are very hard to hold steady.

Once the apparatus reservoir is filled-up, it must be closed with a cap (typically threaded over the fulfillment mouthpiece) and placed on the back of the operator, to which it is attached by means of a plurality of supporting straps. This step reveals one more inconvenience of the current state of the art, because as the apparatus was manufactured from a cylindric PVC tube, it tends to assume the shape of a cylinder, a notoriously poor shape as far as ergonomics are concerned. Said inadequate shape facilitates the rolling of the apparatus over the back or the operator, from side to side, in stabilizing the system and unnecessarily increasing the effort applied to the supporting straps over the back of the operator and rendering it's use very uncomfortable. The cylindrical shape also increases the potential risk of reservoir piercing by tree branches, pointed corners, etc. that might make contact with the reservoir upon the displacement of the operator in the area of firefighting.

Description of the Invention - Components The present invention solves the inconveniences of the current state of the art through the use of a reservoir manufactured from a flexible PVC blanket previously cut according to specific design and assembled through a sequence of folds and electronic welds . The present invention will be easier characterized based on the attached Drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention placed on the back of the operator, with the reservoir filled-up; Figure 2 is a frontal view of the present invention with the reservoir empty;

Figure 3 is a lateral cross- sectional view of the present invention with the reservoir empty;

Figure 4 is a back view of the present invention with the reservoir empty;

Figure 5 is a perspective view and a transparency of the present invention with the reservoir filled-up .

Based on the annexed Figures, one observes that the present invention comprises a reservoir equipped with dorsal supporting straps (10) ; with adjustment buckles

(11) to adjust the height, and shoulder pads (12) sewed to the straps to avoid injury to the operator shoulders. It also features a chest strap (13) attached transversally to the supporting straps and featuring a quick lock buckle (14) .

The reservoir incorporates upper loops (4) and (5) to facilitate transportation and fulfillment; the loop (5) presents on its back side a Velcro patch that allows the retrieval of said loop (5) and its fastening to another Velcro element attached to the reservoir body, keeping the loop from engaging tree branches during the use of the system. The reservoir presents a fulfillment mouthpiece (6) electronically welded to it, which features an external thread to which is^' mounted the mouthpiece cap (7); over said mouthpiece is coupled a removable filter (8) which prevents the penetration of solid particles, tree branches or leaves during the fulfillment of the apparatus, which could impair its functionality. Attached to the reservoir there is also a resilient and flexible tape (9) that retains the mouthpiece cap (7) making it impossible to loose it during the handling for fulfillment, whereas it still allows easy handling of said mouthpiece cap (7) . The reservoir features also a "label frame" (2) (external, transparent plastic pocket for insertion of labels, such as those for identification of the user, client logo, etc.) .

The reservoir presents, on its bottom part a connection (15) where is attached a valved brass quick lock (3) - (mechanical device that allows the quick coupling and decoupling of a discharge hose - not illustrated) that immediately cuts-off the exit liquid when disconnected.

The reservoir contains an internal reinforcement (16) made of a flexible PVC blanket but not elastic illustrated on Figure 5; said reinforcement is electronically welded to the front and back walls of the reservoir, keeping them united, preventing that when full the reservoir assume a cylindrical shape. That would happen if the reinforcement would extend and allow the front and back walls to come apart, but that is not so because the reinforcement is rigid. Upon tensioning, said reinforcement (16) allows a uniform distribution of the liquid inside the reservoir, increasing its resistance and contributing as a "wave-breaker" to reduce the shaking of the liquid during the operator displacements. The reinforcement (16) presents a shape such that it dampens the impact of liquid displacement inside the reservoir, a consequence of the movement of the operator.

Said reinforcement also allows that when full the reservoir assume a flat central configuration making it more ergonomic and improving its fit to the back of the operator.

Description of the Invention - Operation When not in use, the reservoir (1) remains rolled-up in order to occupy less space. Upon fulfillment, the operator takes the apparatus with one of his hands by the loop (5) - (B view of Figure 6 ) - and then the bends (18) made during the manufacture of the reservoir are unbent due to the force of gravity, causing the fulfillment mouthpiece (6) to tilt and assume a position around 45 degrees to a perpendicular to the ground plan, which facilitates the introduction of the fulfillment hose (not illustrated) which is held by the operator with the other hand.

Said apparatuses use as extinguished liquid pure water or water mixed with chemicals, either foaming or not, which improves the power of the water to quench the fire.

Upon the development of the fulfillment (C view of Figure 6) , with the increase of weight, the bends proceed on unbending making the mouthpiece assume a position almost horizontal (parallel to the ground) making the fulfilling mouthpiece position ever better.

Once the fulfillment is finished, the operator releases the fulfillment hose (not illustrated) and threads the mouthpiece cap (7) , thus rendering the apparatus ready for use. At this moment the operator dresses up the apparatus, adjusts the length of the dorsal straps with the adjustment buckles (11) , couples the chest strap buckle (14) and is then ready to fight the fire.

The present invention offers multiple advantages if compared to the current state of the art . The most immediate is the speed and simplicity associated to the operation of reservoir fulfillment. As these apparatuses are used for fire-fighting, it is vitally • important that its

• fulfillment be made quickly, because on that may depend

• substantial property or even human lives. The disposition of the fulfillment mouthpiece of the present invention, which allows that the mouthpiece tilt when the operator holds it with one of his hands, place said mouthpiece in a position almost parallel to the ground, thus leaving the other hand of the operator, which is then able to firmly hold the supply hose and therefore agilize the reservoir fulfillment operation. Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that the reinforcement manufactured with the specified shape, with inner welding, prevents the reservoir from assuming a cylindrical shape when full. The disposition and shape of said internal reinforcement imposes on the full reservoir a flat and ergonomic configuration that fits much better to the back of the operator, reducing the discomfort and improving the operator mobility on his/her displacements over rough terrain or amidst thick vegetation. Finally, another advantage of the present invention is the apparatus versatility, which may be applied to other areas different from fire-fighting, such as for example a back reservoir for crop dusting, transportation/delivery of street sale products, etc;

Those with knowledge of the art will observe that the description of one of the preferential examples presented above does not limit the application of the present invention to apparatuses with the characteristics described above, being possible to use it on other similar apparatuses without abandoning the scope and inventive spirit covered by the set of claims herein presented.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. "FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS", comprising a back reservoir manufactured with flexible material (1) , featuring supporting dorsal straps (10) with height adjustment buckles (11) , shoulder pads (12) sewn to said straps, a chest strap (13) transversely fastened to said supporting straps and featuring a quick lock buckle (14) , incorporating two upper loops (4) and (5) for transportation and fulfillment, so that the loop (5) presents on its back side a Velcro patch of a size corresponding to that of another Velcro element fixed on the body of said reservoir, characterized by the fact that said reservoir (1) presents a fulfillment mouthpiece (6) electronically welded to it and featuring an external thread to which is mounted the mouthpiece cap (7)

2. "APARATUS" according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the mouthpiece (7) allows the fitting of a removable filter (8) .

3. "APARATUS" according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized by the fact that the reservoir (1) also presents a resilient and flexible tape (9) which maintains the mouthpiece cap (7) attached to the reservoir (1) without however hampering its handling.

4. "APARATUS" according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the reservoir (1) also presents a label frame (2) made of transparent plastic.

5. "APARATUS" according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that the reservoir (1) also presents on its bottom part a connection (15) where is attached a valved brass "quick lock" (3) that immediately cuts-off the exit of the liquid upon its disconnection.

6. "APARATUS" according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized by the fact that it comprises a mouthpiece tilting system generated by the bend (18) and by a sequence of electronic welds (19) .

7. "APARATUS" according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that it presents an internal reinforcement (16) welded to the inside of the reservoir (1) configured to keep said reservoir (1) from assuming a cylindrical shape when submitted to the loading derived from its fulfillment with liquid.

8. "APARATUS" according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6 or 7 , characterized by the fact that said internal reinforcement (16) welded to the inside of the reservoir (1) presents, when the reservoir is being filled-up with liquid, a shape such that it dampens the impact of the liquid displacements inside the reservoir, due to the movement imposed by the operator.