TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to fire hoses and, in particular, to double-jacketed fire hoses.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Many different types of fire hoses are known in the art. One type of fire hose is a double-jacketed fire hose. This fire hose has two jackets (i.e. an inner jacket and an outer jacket) as well as an inner tube ("waterway" or "lining") for carrying water or other firefighting fluid. The inner and outer jackets thus form a two-layered outer sheath that envelops and protects the inner tube (waterway) from wear. The inner tube may be may of any suitable polymer or elastomer. The inner and outer jackets may be made of any suitable abrasion-resistant woven fabrics.

[0003] One problem, discovered by Applicant, that arises when these fire hoses are folded or rolled when wet is that air may become trapped between the inner jacket and the outer jacket. This air makes it difficult to properly fold or roll the fire hose after usage as the hose will not lay flat.

[0004] A solution to this technical problem is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY [0005] The present invention thus provides a double-jacketed fire hose having an inner tube (waterway) for conveying fluid, an inner jacket surrounding the inner tube and an outer jacket surrounding the inner jacket. The outer jacket is made of an abrasion-resistant woven spun yarn material that includes four longitudinal, spaced-apart and generally parallel stripes formed each of a bundle of longitudinally aligned filament yarns. This outer jacket is less prone to trapping air between the outer jacket and the inner jacket because the filament yarns do not absorb water like spun yarn. [0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a double-jacketed fire hose comprising an inner tube for conveying fluid, an inner jacket surrounding the tube, and an outer jacket surrounding the inner jacket, the outer jacket being made of an abrasion-resistant woven fabric made of spun yarn, the fabric comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned, spaced- apart and generally parallel stripes formed of bundles of longitudinally aligned filament yarns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a novel double-jacketed lay-flat fire hose in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fire hose of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a novel double-jacketed lay-flat fire hose generally designated by reference numeral 10. This fire hose has an inner jacket 20 and an outer jacket 30. The fire hose is attached to a coupling (or coupler) 40 such as for example a threaded coupling or a Storz- type coupling. [00010] In FIG. 1, the outer jacket is shown to be shorter than the inner jacket for illustrative purposes only. It will be appreciated that the outer jacket will generally be as long as the inner jacket. The inner and outer jackets together form a double-layered jacket that protects the inner tube over substantially its entire length. Likewise, it should be understood that the length, diameter, annular gap between the inner and outer jackets, and other dimensions and ratios are intended to be exemplary only. The inventive concept may be applied to fire hoses of any length, diameter, annular gap, etc.

[00011] As depicted in FIG. 1, the fire hose 10 has an outer jacket having two spaced- apart, generally parallel stripes 50. Each of these stripes is formed of a bundle of longitudinally aligned filament yarns. The two bundles (or stripes) of filament yarns are woven directly into the spun yarn of the outer jacket to provide the desired effect of inhibiting air from becoming trapped in the inter-jacket space between the inner and outer jackets.

[00012] Although the illustrated embodiment contains four stripes (bundles), it will be appreciated that variants may include more than four such stripes (bundles). In other words, in another embodiment, there may be six stripes of filament yarns. In yet another embodiment, there may be eight or more stripes of filament yarns.

[00013] In the main embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the filament yarns extend over substantially a complete length of the outer jacket. In a variant, however, the filament yarns may extend over less than the complete length of the outer jacket. The stripes may be formed of bundles of continuous filament yarns or they may be formed of adjoining segments of bundles that together extend over the complete length of the outer jacket.

[00014] In one embodiment, each bundle comprises between 16 and 24 filament yarns. This design has been found to work well. However, it will be appreciated that bundles having a different number of filament yarns may also be employed.

[00015] As further shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the two bundles may subtend an angle Θ (theta) of between 20 and 90 degrees.

[00016] In one embodiment, an arc length ("width" w) of each bundle represents between 3 and 10% of a total circumference of the outer jacket. For example, in one embodiment, the width w is 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch for a 5 to 6 inch diameter hose. In one embodiment, the width represents 3-8% of a circumference of the outer jacket.

[00017] The filaments in each filament yarn may be made of nylon, polyester, etc. Other materials may be substituted. [00018] The fire hose described above inhibits the formation of unwanted air trapped between the inner jacket and the outer jacket. This novel fire hose thus facilitates the folding or rolling of the fire hose after usage.

[00019] The embodiments of the present invention that are described herein are intended to be exemplary only. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variations, modifications and refinements may be made to the inventive concept(s) presented herein.