Collapsible hose winding apparatus

Abstract

An improved apparatus for winding hoses such as those used in the firefighting industry. The apparatus includes a control mechanism adapted for engagement by an operator to move the apparatus along a support surface while concurrently controlling the winding of the hose. The apparatus has an operating configuration and a storage configuration. In the operating configuration the control mechanism is at a first height convenient for the operator to move the apparatus backward and forward in multiple directions while concurrently to control rotation of a hose winder assembly. In the storage configuration the height of the control mechanism is changeable to a second height which allows storage of the apparatus in a substantially smaller space as compared to the operating configuration. Movement of the apparatus from the operating configuration to the storage configuration is enabled by separate wheeled front and rear frame portions movable relative to each other and to the control mechanism by a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement collapses and folds the apparatus upon itself and thereby reduces the height of the control mechanism with respect to the support surface.

1 . An improved winding apparatus having a first configuration usable when actively winding hoses and a second configuration suitable for storage comprising,
 a control mechanism extending generally from front to rear of said apparatus, said control mechanism adapted to be manually engaged by an operator to move the apparatus backward and forward in multiple directions on a support surface while concurrently controlling the winding of said hose,   a wheeled front frame portion supported on said surface and located generally below said control mechanism, said front frame portion including a first upwardly extending member rotatably connected to said control mechanism near the end thereof remote from said wheel,   a wheeled rear frame portion supported on said surface and located generally below said control mechanism, said rear frame portion including a second upwardly extending member rotatably connected to said control mechanism near the end thereof remote from said wheel, one of said members including a channel along the longitudinal extent thereof, and   first and second connecting links rotatably coupled to each other at one end thereof to form a coupling for movement along said channel, the other end of one of said second links rotatably coupled to said control arm, and the other end of said other link rotatably coupled to said first member,   whereby, starting in said second configuration, upward rotation of the control mechanism about its connections with said members moves said coupling upwardly in said channel and concurrently moves the apparatus into said first configuration wherein the operator may comfortably operate the apparatus, and downward rotation of said control mechanism allows rotational movement of the control mechanism about its connections with said first and second members   to move the apparatus to said second configuration in which the distance between the control mechanism and the wheels is reduced with respect to the first configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a hose retainer assembly supported for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the control mechanism, said control mechanism having manually operable control elements controlled by said operator for moving the apparatus along said surface and rotating said assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said control mechanism is rotatably connected to said first and second members and said control mechanism rotates about said connections when moving between first and second configurations. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a drive bar extending at a right angle from the control assembly for manually moving the apparatus forward and rearward by means of the operator pushing and pulling on said bar. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said drive bar supports a cylindrical shaft and a crank arm adapted to rotate said shaft to control the rotation by the operator of a retainer assembly, said retainer assembly supported for rotation on the control assembly to wind said hose on itself to form a rolled hose bundle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further including a sprocket and chain arrangement located in the control mechanism and coupled intermediate the crank arm and the retainer assembly to amplify the force applied by the operator to the retainer assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including a brake arrangement including an activator biased to normally prevent operation of the sprocket and chain arrangement, said activator located for manual engagement by the operator when rotation of the retainer is desired. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said retainer assembly further includes means to grasp a coupling located at one end of the hose and in response to rotation of said crank arm to wind said hose on itself to form a rolled bundle. 
     
     
         9 . A hose winding apparatus adapted for use by an operator to wind hose located adjacent the apparatus on the same support surface as the apparatus comprising,
 a split frame supported on wheels for movement back and forth along said surface,   a control mechanism including a manually operable first member for effecting movement of said apparatus along said support surface, said control mechanism also supporting a hose retainer for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the hose entering the apparatus, said control mechanism having a manually operable second member for controlling the rotation of said retainer, said retainer having means for grasping, during the winding process, one end of the hose to be wound and releasing said one end after said hose has been wound, and   an adjustable linkage arrangement connected intermediate the frame and the control mechanism for supporting the mechanism at a first height during the winding process to allow said control mechanism to be at comfortable first position for the operator to use during the winding process, said linkage arrangement being adjustable to enable the movement of said control mechanism to a second height relative to said frame to reduce the storage volume occupied by the apparatus and thereby permit easier storage of the apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein
 said split frame comprises a wheeled front frame portion and a wheeled rear frame portion, each having an upstanding member, each member rotatably connected to said control mechanism, one of said members including a channel running along its length, and said linkage arrangement includes two links connected to each other near one end of each link to form a coupling moveable along said channel, the other end of the links rotatably coupled to the control mechanism and the first member, to translate downward movement of the control mechanism into movement of the frame portions in directions to collapse the apparatus upon itself and reduce the storage volume of the apparatus.