Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-13
2001-03-06
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S402210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195865
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fire hose which is secured to a coupling or a shank. In particular, this invention relates to fire hose that is oversized with respect to its coupling or shank. Oversized hoses cause leaks. Specifically, the leaks are caused by pinching of the fire hose with respect to the coupling. The pinching is caused as there is more material than is needed to fit around the circumference of the exterior of the coupling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bokros U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,477, entitled Anastomatic Couplings, discloses a polymeric material which is heated to 250-300° F. and shrinks about a vascular graft to hold the graft on a prosthesis. U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,321 to Farrell discloses a hot air chamber to shrink tubing about a hose. Farrell discloses polyolefin as one material from which the heat-shrinkable material is made. U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,576 to Lupke et. al. discloses a heat-shrinkable sleeve made of a thermoplastic material having an unstable state. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,588,150 to Wold discloses a heat-shrinkable material. U.S. Pat. No. 2,027,962 to Currie and U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,242 to Cook et. al. disclose vinyl compounds and cross-link polymers as materials that can be used in heat-shrinking processes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,775 to Mattie et. al. discloses Polymer hoses which are heated and then cooled to effect the shrinking of the hose.
None of the related art, however, is directed toward heat-shrinking a nylon reinforced fire hose or a polyester reinforced fire hose or a combination nylon/polyester reinforced fire hose about a coupling or a shank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a nylon reinforced or a polyester reinforced fire hose which is secured to a coupling or shank by heating a fire hose to at least 270° F. with a wrap around heating apparatus. The heating apparatus heats the fire hose for the period of time necessary to shrink the fire hose to the coupling or shank. Shrink-fitting the fire hose to the coupling eliminates pinching of the fire hose and leakage.
It is well known in the fire-fighting industry that fire hose is not always sized perfectly to fit over a coupling or shank. Particularly, the inside diameter of the fire hose is usually considerably larger than the exterior diameter of the coupling or shank. The mismatch between the inside diameter of the fire hose and the outside diameter of the coupling or shank can be nearly two hundred thousandths of an inch (0.200 inches). Thus, the need for a fitting method is apparent.
When fire hose is destroyed in the field, for instance, by falling timbers which burn or rip the hose, it is necessary to reuse that hose by removing the damaged portion of the hose and fitting the still usable portion of the hose to a coupling or shank. Hose that has been in service for some time tends to enlarge. The method disclosed and claimed herein is directed toward resizing damaged hose and sizing a new hose.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method whereby fire hose containing nylon reinforcement, polyester reinforcement or a combination nylon/polyester reinforcement can be fitted to a coupling or shank such that leakage is prevented. The present invention comprises the steps of placing a portion of the nylon or polyester reinforced fire hose over a coupling, wrapping the outer surface of the fire hose over the coupling with a heating apparatus, securing the heating apparatus over the fire hose, heating the fire hose with the heating apparatus to at least 270° F. until the fire hose over the coupling engages the coupling, removing the heating apparatus from the fire hose, and sealing the fire hose against the coupling.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide a method comprising the steps of placing a fire hose over a coupling, and heating the fire hose to a temperature between 270-300° F. until the fire hose shrinks to engage the coupling.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3159402 (1964-12-01), Nichols
patent: 3382121 (1968-05-01), Sherlock
patent: 3393297 (1968-07-01), Hart
patent: 3567259 (1971-03-01), Benson et al.
patent: 4131788 (1978-12-01), Fulbrook
patent: 4169477 (1979-10-01), Bokros
patent: 4288107 (1981-09-01), Schwartze
patent: 4578855 (1986-04-01), Van Der Hagen
patent: 4664423 (1987-05-01), Rowley
patent: 5009730 (1991-04-01), Tozier
patent: 5507532 (1996-04-01), Mitsui
patent: 5714738 (1998-02-01), Hauschulz et al.
patent: WO 93/17272 (1993-09-01), None
Hughes S. Thomas
Snap-Tite Technologies, Inc.
Woodling Krost & Rust
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