Rotary foam nozzle

Details Rotary foam nozzle Rotary foam nozzle

2000-02-29

2001-12-11

Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3752)

Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing

Distributor continuously moves relative to support during...

Distributor with diversely shaped or oriented terminal...

C239S251000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06328225

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to nozzles, and more particularly to a rotary nozzle suitable for distributing a stream of fire-extinguishing compressed-air foam, sufficient to extinguish or control a fire in the path of the foam stream.
In the art of fire-fighting, it is known to use foam produced from a solution of a foam concentrate in water. The volume of the solution is expanded by the addition of air and mechanical energy to form a bubble structure resembling shaving cream. The bubble suffocates and cools the fire and protects adjacent structures from exposure to radiant heat.
Foam can be generated using an air aspirating nozzle which entrains air into the solution and agitates the mixture producing bubbles of non-uniform size. With an aspirating system, the foam is formed at the nozzle using the energy of the solution stream.
Foam can also be generated by injecting air under pressure into the solution stream. The solution and air mixture is scrubbed by the hose (or pipe) to form foam of uniform bubble size. The energy used in this system comes from the solution stream and the air injection stream. This system produces a so-called “compressed-air foam” (CAF) which is capable of delivering the foam with a greater force than a comparable aspirated system described above.
When delivered from a hose, CAF is ejected as a “rope” of foam with a high forward momentum through a smooth bore nozzle. An attempt to widen the delivery angle using a conventional nozzle (such as e.g. a water sprinkler) results in collapsing the bubble structure of the foam and degenerating the foam back into a solution and air.
A published Canadian patent application No. 2,131,109 describes a foam nozzle having a stationary barrel and a rotary distributor with three tubular angled outlets. The design of the nozzle is such that the combined cross-sectional areas of the outlets are not less than the cross-sectional area of the barrel and not larger than twice the cross-sectional area of the barrel.
While the nozzle of the above application is useful, there is still need for a nozzle affording higher efficiency, lower profile, larger ground coverage and a more reliable rotational arrangement or bearing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a nozzle for distributing an expanding stream of compressed-gas foam, the nozzle comprising:
a supply conduit for supplying a foam-making solution, said conduit having a cross-sectional area,
a rotary chamber in fluid communication with said supply conduit and defining an axis of rotation, said chamber having a cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the conduit, and
at least two orifices in said rotary chamber, said orifices disposed on the opposite sides of the axis or rotation in a manner effective, upon a forced flow of fluid therethrough, to distribute each a stream of foam in a direction at an angle and tangentially to the axis of rotation such as to cause a rotational movement of the rotary chamber (in a direction counter to the direction of the streams of foam).
Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the chamber is between 150% and 300% of the cross-sectional area of the conduit.


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