Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 This invention rela~es to an emergency air supply
2 assembly for fire fighters which is adapted to provide
3 emergency breathing air through a fire hose to fire
4 fighters and/or rescue teams trapped within a burning
structure or a structure filled with potentially explosive
6 and/or toxic gas.
7 The emergency air supply assembly comprises
8 emergency air snap coupling means provided in association
9 with the fire hose to permit quick coupling of an emergency
air supply unit with the entry end of the fire hose for
11 emergency delivery of breathing air to the trapped fire
12 fighters and/or rescue teams. In such an emergency, the
13 portable air supply unit normally carried by the fire
14 fighters becomes exhausted when the fire fighters become
trapped. Unless the fire fighters can be rescued
16 immediately, they will die of suffocation. The instant
17 invention enables emergency air to be instantly delivered
18 to the trapped fire fighters by easily and quickly
19 converting the fire hose being used by the fire fighters
for normal water delivery to use for emergency air
21 delivery~ In operation during such an emergency, the water
22 supply to the fire hose is shut off and the emergency air
23 ~upply as~embly iB snap connected to the entry end of the
24 fire hose. The trapped fire fighters place the nozzle end
of the fire hose into an emergency air collector member,
26 ~uch as a bag, a boot or even an article of clothing, which
27 traps the emergency air for use by the firemen. The
28 breathing mask tube normally connected to the portable air
29 supply unit (now exhausted) carried by the fire fighter6
is then inserted into the emergency air collector member
31 80 as to provide emergency air to the fire fighter~. If
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1 several fire fighters in an entire crew are trapped, they
2 can insert their respective breathing mask tubes into the
3 emergency air collector member so as to simultaneously
4 receive emergency breathing air therefrom, thereby saving
their collective lives until they are rescued.
6 It is within the scope of the invention that the
7 trapped fire fighting and/or rescue crews can thus be
8 supplied with emergency air if they are located within a
9 closet, ten, tarpaulin covers or any other type of enclosed
space which can act as an emergency air collector member.
11 Another embodiment of the invention is to provide
12 a fire hose which is selectively provided with an entry end
13 closure cap having an air connector snap engagement member
14 provided therethrough for connection to an independent
emergency air supply assembly such as a bank of air tanks
16 or an air compressor. Further, this closure cap embodiment
17 of the invention can enable the fire hose to be
18 independently used to deliver emergency air to persons
19 trapped underwater in sunken boats or in automobiles that
have broken through ice or been inadvertently driven into
21 rivers, lake~ or water filled ditches. An emergency air
22 supply source is snap connected to the air connector
23 provided in the closure cap provided on the entry end of
24 the fire hose. The fire ho~e i8 then pulled underwater to
the trapped vehicle or boat and the nozzle end is placed
26 into the area in which the person~ are trapped so as to
27 supply emergency breathing air to the trapped person or
28 per~on~. The fire hose can thus be u~ed independently of
29 a fire truck thus permitting the fire truck to continue to
be used to deliver water through another fire hose to other
31 areas of the fire.
2 0 ~ 8
1Nowhere in the structures or methods of the prior
2 known art has there been shown an emergency breathing air
3 supply structure and/or method such as the applicant's
4 structure and/or method whereby a fire hose can be easily
and quickly converted from the delivery of water to the
6 delivery of emergency breathing air to trapped fire
7 fighters, rescue teams within structures filled with toxic
8 or explosive gases, or persons trapped in vehicles located
9 under water. Heretofore, persons trapped without a readily
available breathing air supply have been suffocated before
11 resGue teams could reach them.
12~herefore, a need has existed for an emergency
13breathing air supply structure and method whereby persons
14trapped without breathing air can be kept alive and
15prevented from suffocating until they are rescued and
16removed from their trapped positions.
17It iB therefor an ob~ect of this invention to
18provide an emergency breathing air supply structure and
19method whereby emergency breathing air can be easily and
20quickly delivered to fire fighters trapped within burning
21or toxic gas filled structures or to persons trapped in
22sunken boats, vehicles or other space6 located underwater.
23Another ob~ect of this invention is to provide an
24emergency breathing air supply structure and method whereby
25a standard fire ho~e can be easily and instantaneously
26converted from the delivery of water to the delivery of
27emergency breathing air to persons trapped in burning or
28toxic filled ~tructures whose normally carried portable
29supply of breathing air has been terminated or exhausted.
30Another ob~ect of this invention is to provide
31emergency breathing air to persons trapped underwater 80
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1as to prevent their suffocation until they can be rescued.
2Other objects and advantages found in the
3construction of the invention will be apparent from a
4consideration of the following specification in connection
5with the appended claLms and the accompanying drawings.
6The aforementioned objects and advantages of the
7invention will be appreciated from the following
8description and accompanying drawings wherein:
9Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a portion
10of a fire truck with a fire hose attached thereto and
11showing the emergency breathing air supply assembly
12attached thereto.
13Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the
14emergency breathing air supply assembly and associated
15control valves.
16Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fire fighter
17receiving emergency breathing air from an air collector
18bag supplied by the emergency air from the nozzle end of
19the fire hose.
20Figure 4 i8 a partial enlarged schematic perspective
21view of the emergency air collector member showing the
22nozzle end of the emergency air delivery fire hose and
23the fire fighter's fire mask air tube positioned therein.
24Figure 5 is a schematic end sectional view showing
25the air collector bag with the fire hose nozzle and three
26fire fighter air tubes receiving air therefrom.
27Figure 6 is a schematic view ~howing a fire
28fighter's boot utilized as an emergency air collector
29member.
30Figure 7 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view
31of a fire truck showing another embodiment of the
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1 emergency breathing air ~upply assembly integrated into
2 the fire truck body and water outlet tube in association
3 with the fire hose attached externally thereto.
4 Figure 8 is a partial schematic perspective view
showing another embodiment of a fire hose provided with
6 an entry end clo~ure cap having an air connector
7 therethrough for selective ~nap attachment with emergency
8 air supply means.
9 As shown in Figure 1, a fire truck 11 is provi~ed
with a fire hose control panel area 12. The fire truck is
11 provided with water shut off control levers 13 and 14 which
12 are connected to water supply tanks and associated water
13 pumps tnot ~hown) which are internally provided in the fire
14 truck. A fire truck water outlet 15 is provided for
selective threaded engagement by a fire truck water outlet
16 adapter 16 which engages an air connector collar 19 having
17 an air connecter quick coupler assembly 20 provided
18 therethrough and which is connected to the entry end 17 of
19 the fire hose 18. The emergency air connector quick
coupler a~sembly 20 is adapted to deliver emergency
21 breathing air through the air connector collar 19 into the
22 fire hose 18 when it is connected to an emergency breathing
23 air ~upply as~embly 21.
24 The emergency air ~uick coupler assembly 20 includes
a pre~ure check valve 22 and air connector quick coupler
26 unit 23. The air connector affsembly 20 i~ connected to a
27 high pressure to low pressure regulator unit 24 having an
28 ad~ustment control handle 25. The regulator unit 24 i8
29 provided with an air s~pply tank pressure gage 26 and an
exit air pressure gage 27. A high pressure air supply hose
31 28 supplies air to the regulator 24 from the air supply
201 9 ? ~8
1 assembly 21.
2 As shown in greater detail in Figure 2, the high
3 pressure air supply hose 28 is connected to a high pre~sure
4 tee connector 29 provided for selective connection to one
or more air supply tanks 39 and 40. The tee connector 29
6 is provided with minimum 2500 pound high pressure check
7 valves 31 and 32 which are in turn connected by couplers
8 33 and 34, respectively, to high pressure tank supply hoses
9 35 and 36, respectively. The opposite ends of the hoses
35 and 36 are connected to air tank coupler 37 and 38
11 provided on air tanks 39 and 40, respectively. Each air
12 tank, 39 and 40 is provided with air pressure gages 41 and
13 42 and shut off valves 43 and 44 respectively.
14 In an emergency involving fire fighters or other
trapped persons needing emergency air, the appropriate fire
16 truck water shut off control lever 13 or 14 is lifted to
17 shut off delivery of water to the fire hose 18.
18 The emergency breathing air supply assembly 21 as
19 shown generally in Figure 1 and more specifically in Figure
2 is uniquely designed to provide a continuous supply of
21 breathing air into the fire hose 18 from the air tanks 39
22 and 40 because of the critically positioned air check
23 valves 31 and 32 provided between the inlets of the tee 29
24 and tank supply hoses 35 and 36 connected to the air supply
tanks 39 and 40, respectively. In use, the shut off valve
26 43 is opened on tank 39 and air flows therefrom into the
27 hose 35 through the check valve 31 into hose 28 to the
28 regulator 24 and thence through the emergency air connector
29 quick coupler assembly 20 into the fire hose 18 for
delivery of the emergency breathing air to the trapped
31 persons. A~ tank 39 nears empty, the shut off valve 44 on
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1 tank 40 is opened and the air supply continues to flow
2 without interruption through the tee 29 into the fire hose
3 18 as described above. The check valve 31 prevents the air
4 from tank 40 from entering the tube 35 and the near empty
tank 39. The check valve 31 also permits the near empty
6 tank 39 to be disconnected from tube 35 so as to be
7 replaced by a full tank 39 without interruption of the flow
8 of air from tank 40 to the trapped fire fighters. The same
9 procedure is followed when tank 40 becomes nearly empty.
Thus, the shut off valve 43 on the now full new replacement
11 tank 39 is opened so as to maintain a continuous flow of
12 air ~o the fire hose 18. The check valve 32 prevents air
13 from tank 39 from flowing back into the hose 36 to the now
14 nearly empty tank 40 and permits replacement of tank 40
without any interruption of the air flow from the now full
16 tank 39 to the trapped persons. This process is repeated
17 as required. It is within the scope of the invention to
18 increase the bank of air supply tanks with similarly placed
19 check valves in as~ociation therewith ~o that a continuous
flow of emergency breathing air i~ maintained at all times
21 during the emergency.
22 AB shown in Figure 3, the trapped fire fighter 45
23 whose portable air supply tank 46 has run out of air
24 quickly disconnects his breathing tube 47 from portable air
tank supply regulator unit 48 and places it into an air
26 collector bag 49. The fire fighter 45 has also inserted
27 the nozzle end 50 of the fire hose 18 into the collector
28 bag 49 80 that the emergency air passes th0reinto. This
29 is shown in greater detail in Figure 4.
In this manner the fire fighter is able to breathe
31 emergency air from the collector bag 49 through the
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1 breathing tube 47 into his mask 51. Thusl the fire fighter
2 does not suffocate while waiting to be rescued.
3 As shown in Figure 5, several members of a trapped
4 crew can simultaneously insert their respective breathing
tube 47 into the air collector member 49 80 as to save
6 their lives.
7 As shown in Figure 6, it is within the scope of the
8 invention to selectively use a boot 52 as an emergency air
9 collector member. The air collector member can also be a
coat pocket, the person's shirt, a closet or the confines
11 of a sunken automobile if the person is trapped therein.
12 Another embodiment of the invention as shown in
13 Figure 7 wherein the air regulator 24 and a~sociated
14 controls and gages are incorporated into the fire truck
control panel wall 12a and a remote air supply assembly or
16 air compressor (not shown) is utilized to supply emergency
17 air through the air supply tube 53 the regulator 24. An
18 air connector check valve 54 tran~mit~ the air into the
19 water outlet tube 15 and hence into the fire hose 18 (not
shown). Thus in an emergency, the water lever 13 i8 lifted
21 to shut off the water supply from the water tank 55 and
22 associated water pump (not shown). Then the air regulator
23 24 and emergency air means are actuated to supply emergency
24 breathing air into the fire ho~e 18 as previously
described. Thi~ could be mounted elsewhere on the truck
26 or constitute a multiple bank of air tanks or an air
27 compressor.
28 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
29 Figure 8 whereby a fire hose closure cap 56 is provided
with an air connector ~nap engagement member 57 mounted
31 through the end wall thereof. It is within the scope of
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1 the invention to provide the air connector member 57
2 through ~he side of the closure cap 56 as desired. The
3 cap 56 is selectively mounted at the entry end 58 of the
4 fire hose 18 so as to effect closure thereof. Thus
mounted, the closure cap 56 permits emergency air to be
6 introduced therethrough by connection thereto of air supply
7 means of any type, i.e. air tanks, compressors and the like
8 to the air connector 57 which delivers the air through the
9 closure cap 56 into the fire hose 18. ~s previously
described, the emergency breathing air is then delivered
11 to the trapped persons so as to keep them alive. The
12 closure cap embodiment of the invention permits the fire
13 hose 18 to be disconnected from the fire truck for
14 emergency air supply use permitting the fire truck to use
another hose to deliver water as needed. It is also within
16 the scope of the invention to modify the air supply means
17 for direct mating engagement with the fire hose 18 so as
18 to deliver breathing air thereinto without the need for
19 closure caps and the like.
In summary, an emergency air supply assembly is
21 provided for delivery of emergency breathing air to trapped
22 fire fighters. A fire truck is provided having a water
23 supply outlet. The water supply outlet has a water shut-
24 off valve in association therewith. Air connector collar
means i8 provided for selective operative engagement with
26 the water outlet. The air connector collar means is
27 provided with an emergency air connector quick coupler
28 check valve aseembly provided therethrough. The air collar
29 means i~ adapted for selective operative engagement with
the entry end of a fire hose having nozzle at the opposite
31 end thereof. Emergency air supply means are provided in
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1 association with the fire truck. The emergency air supply
2 means are adapted for snap engagement with the air
3 connector quick coupler assembly so as to permit delivery
4 of emergency breathing air through the fire hose to trapped
fire fighters positioned proximate to the nozzle end of the
6 fire hose upon selective clo~ure of the water shut off
7 valve. The emergency air connector quick coupler assembly
8 includes a pressure check valve and an air connector quick
9 coupler unit for selective operative engagement with the
air connector collar means. The emergency air supply means
11 include a high pressure to low pressure air regulator unit
12 for selective engagement with the emergency air connecter
13 quick coupler assembly. The emergency air supply means
14 include a regulator high pressure air supply hose
lS operatively connected at one end thereof to the air
16 regulator. The emergency air supply means include a high
17 pressure tee connector operatively connected at the outlet
18 end thereof to the regulator high pressure air supply hose.
19 The high pressure tee connector is provided with a pair of
inlet ends. Each of the inlet end6 i6 provided with an
21 inlet high pressure check valve. Each of the inlet high
22 pres6ure check valves are operatively connected to their
23 own separate air supply tank, re6pectively. Each of the
24 air supply tanks are provided with a shut off valve. The
high pressure check valves cooperate with selective
26 actuation of the air tank shut off valve6 to provide a
27 continuou~ 6upply of emergency air. An air collector
28 member is provided for selective engagement with the fire
29 hose nozzle. The air collector member is adapted to
collect emergency air received through the fire hose
31 nozzle. The air collector member is adapted to
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1 simultaneously selectively receive a fire fighter's
2 breathing tube therein for u~e of emergency air by the
3 trapped fire fighter.
4 Another embodiment of the emergency air supply
assembly for trapped fire fighters comprises a fire truck
6 having a control panel provided with water supply outlet.
7 The water supply outlet is provided with a water shut-off
8 valve in association therewith. A high pressure to low
9 pressure air regulator unit is provided in the control
panel. The air regulator is provided with a remote air
11 supply inlet tube in operative engagement therewith. The
12 air regulator is provided with an air supply check valve
13 outlet tube in operative engagement with the water supply
14 outlet. The air regulator, upon selective closure of the
water shut off valve, is adapted to selectively supply
16 emergency breathing air through the water supply outlet
17 into a fire hose operatively connected thereto for
18 sub~equent delivery to trapped fire fighters.
19 Yet another embodiment of the emergency air supply
assembly for delivery of emergency air to trapped person~
21 comprises a fire hose having an entry end. The fire hose
22 has a nozzle end opposite the entry end. An entry end fire
23 hose closure cap is provided for selective operative
24 engagement with the entry end of the fire hose. The
closure cap is provided with a snap-engagement air delivery
26 connector therethrough. The air connector i8 adapted for
27 selective snap engagement to an emergency air supply source
28 BO aB to delLver emergency air through the closure into the
29 fire hose for delivery of emergency air to trapped persons
po~itioned proximate to the nozzle end of the fire hose.
31 Variou~ other modifications of the invention may be
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1 made without departing from the principle thereof. Each
2 of the modifications is to be considered as included in the
3 hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their
4 language expressly provide otherwise.
