GB2219985A - Hose reel - Google Patents

Abstract

A hose reel particularly suited for use as fire safety equipment, has simplified construction to allow easy disassembly and maintenance, and has a frictional braking system by which water pressure in the hose and reel can moderate turning of the reel on its axis. A pair of annular bushes 13, 14 are rotatably mounted on shaft 20 adjacent steps 25, 26. The drum 10 15 supported on the bushes and keyed to bush 13 by a pin 17 which is releasable to allow removal of the drum. When the main valve (not shown) is opened, water will in normal use pass along the conduit 22, into the chamber 16, and through the outlet 12 to the hose. The water provides pressure in the direction of arrow "X" and bush 13 is consequently urged against step 25, and this contact provides a braking force or drag to slow rotation of the drum on the shaft when the main valve is open; but when the main valve is closed, the bush 13 is no longer urged against the step 25, and consequently the reel can be turned more easily. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: HOSE REEL DESCRIPTION FIELD This invention relates to hose reels, and has particular, though not sole, application to hose reels used as part of fire safety equipment installed in buildings.

OBJECT It is an object of the present invention to go at least partway towards providing an improved hose reel, or one which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect, the invention provides a hose reel, including a shaft, at least two bushes in normal use rotatably mounted on said shaft, and a drum in normal use supported on said bushes and secured to at least one of said bushes by securing means, wherein said securing means can be disengaged and said drum slideably demounted from said bushes.

Preferably a conduit for water is provided in said shaft, and a conduit for water is provided in said drum, wherein in normal use said conduits are in communication, and sealing means is provided between said drum and at least one of said bushes and between said shaft and said at least one of said bushes.

Preferably a chamber for water is provided in said drum adjacent an end of said shaft, and a detent is provided on said shaft adjacent at least one of said bushes, arranged so that pressure in said chamber will in normal use bias said bush against said detent, providing resistance to rotation of said bush relative to said shaft.

DRAWINGS These and other aspects of the present invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1: illustrates in side view and cross-section a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hitherto, heavy duty hose reels installed in buildings have caused problems through leakage, and are often of complex construction which is difficult to dismantle for repair and maintenance and/or expensive to produce. Such fire hose reels are required to comply with the appropriate fire safety standard.

The general features of a fire hose reel typically include the presence of a stop valve, for example on the inlet pipe to the reel, and a shut-off nozzle at the end of the hose. The hose is wound about a rotatable hub or drum and is retained on the hub or drum by sideplates. The drum and preferably the associated sideplates are rotatable about a central substantially horizontal shaft or spigot.

The preferred embodiment of the apparatus as illustrated in Figure 1 includes a drum 10 with integral side plates 11, mounted on a shaft 20.

The shaft 20 preferably includes a screw-fitting 21 at one end by which it may be connected to and supported by a wall mounting (not shown). Preferably the shaft 20 is formed from brass or another substantially corrosion resistant material and may be at least in part chrome-plated to provide a good bearing surface.

A conduit 22 is provided along the shaft 20 as shown, leading from an inlet at the screw-fitting 21 to an outlet 23. The outer surface of the inlet 20 is provided with a central portion of increased circumference, having a step 25 and 26 at either end.

A pair of annular bushes 13 and 14 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 20, generally disposed at or towards opposite ends of the shaft 20, adjacent steps 25 and 26. The drum 10 is in normal use supported on the bushes 13 and 14. The bush 14 is preferably provided with one or more O-rings 15 or equivalent sealing means by which a sealing interface is formed between said bush and the drum 10, and similarly a further one or more O-rings 27 are preferably provided on the shaft 20, to form a sealing interface between the shaft 20 and the bush 14.

The drum 10 is preferably comprised of a cylinder having circular side plates 11 fixed at each end. A hose fitting 12 is provided, communicating with the interior of the drum 10, to which in normal use a hose can be fitted and by which water in normal use passes out of the reel. A chamber 16 is preferably provided as shown at one end of the cylinder, by which fluid communication is afforded between the outlet 23 of the conduit 22 and the hose fitting 12.

A securing pin 17 is provided, passing through the drum 10 into a socket 28 in the bush 13, and thereby securing the drum 10 against rotation or sliding movement relative to the bush 13. Preferably the securing pin 17 is screw threaded at least over part of its length, and is held in a complementary housing 18 in the drum 10.

The water passageways and other components are preferably formed of suitable corrosion resistant material(s). It is preferred that the passageways at least are provided with a protective coating on their water contacting surfaces, eg by spin-galvanising or by electroless plating.

Assembly of the apparatus of the present invention can be performed in the following stages. The bushes 13 and 14 are slideably fitted onto each end of the shaft 20, abutting against the steps 25 and 26, and the shaft 20 then screw fitted onto a suitable wall mounting (not shown).

The drum 10 can then be slideably fitted over the bushes 13 and 14, with the pin housing 18 on the drum 10 aligned with the socket 28 in the bush 13. The securing pin 17 can then be fitted, so as to fasten the drum to the bush 13, a hose attached to the outlet 12, and the hose would onto the drum 10. Disassembly can be performed by simple reversal of the steps given above. It should be noted that when the drum 10 is removed, the bush 14 with associated sealing means canals be removed and serviced without unscrewing the shaft 20 from its mounting.

Typical fire safety apparatus with which the reel is used will in normal practice include a main valve associated with a water conduit leading to the inlet at 21, as well as an on-off valve at the nozzle of the hose. When the main valve is opened, water will in normal use pass along the conduit 22, into the chamber 16, and through the outlet 12 to the hose. The water provides pressure in the direction of arrow lixir relative to the shaft 20. The bush 13, secured to the drum 10 is consequently urged against the step 25, and this contact provides a braking force or drag to slow rotation of the drum on the shaft when the main valve is open. In normal use this helps prevent the hose from dragging on the ground while being unreeled, and stops the drum from rotating beyond requirements. When the main valve is closed, and water pressure in the reel and hose relieved, the bush 13 is no longer urged against the step 25, and consequently the reel can be turned more easily. In practice this is found to allow easy rewinding of the hose.

It will be appreciated that various alterations or modifications may be made to the foregoing example within the general scope of the invention, as characterised by the following claims:

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A hose reel, including a shaft, at least two bushes in normal use rotatably mounted on said shaft, and a drum in normal use supported on said bushes and secured to at least one of said bushes by securing means, wherein said securing means can be disengaged and said drum slideably demounted from said bushes.
2. 2. A hose reel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a conduit for water is provided in said shaft and a conduit for water is provided in said drum, said conduits being in normal use in fluid communication, and sealing means is provided between said drum and at least one of said bushes and between said shaft and said at least one of said bushes.
3. 3. A hose reel as claimed in claim 2, wherein a chamber for water is provided in said drum adjacent an end of said shaft, and a detent is provided on said shaft adjacent at least one of said bushes, arranged so that pressure in said chamber will in normal use bias said bush against said detent, providing resistance to rotation of said bush relative to said shaft.
4. 4. A hose reel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said bushes can be slideably demounted from said shaft.
5. 5. A hose reel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said shaft has two ends and is adapted to be secured to a support at a first said end, a first said bush being in normal use rotatably mounted on said shaft at or about said first end, and a second said bush being in normal use rotatably mounted on said shaft at or about the second end, said drum being secured to said first bush by securing means.
6. 6. A hose reel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said shaft is stepped, having end portions of a lesser diameter than intermediate portions, said bushes being in normal use rotatably mounted on said end portions of lesser diameter.
7. 7. A hose reel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.