Fire-fighting monitor with remote control

Abstract

A high pressure monitor includes an outlet body with a transverse passage, which extends through the body to form two inlets of the outlet body, and a second passage, which is in communication with the transverse passage and extends through the outlet body to form an outlet. The monitor further includes first and second bodies, with the outlet body mounted between the first and second bodies. Each of the first and second bodies has a transverse passage, which are in fluid communication with the inlets of the outlet body. A first swivel joint is provided between the outlet body and the first body. A second swivel joint is provided between the outlet body and the second body. Further, each of the swivel joints comprises a pressure balanced hydraulic fitting with seals and bearings, wherein the seals and bearings are oriented to reduce the axial pressure on the bearings from fluid flowing through the monitor.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property right or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A fire-fighting monitor for directing the flow of fluid from a fluid source, said monitor comprising: a cylindrical pipe section adapted to mount said monitor to a fluid source; a monitor body having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet mounted on and supported by said cylindrical pipe section and for receiving fluid through said pipe section, said outlet in fluid communication with said inlet for discharging fluid from said monitor body; a rotatable connection between said inlet and said pipe section, said rotatable connection permitting said inlet to rotate about a first axis over a range of motion about said pipe section; a drive mechanism mounted to one of said pipe section and said monitor body and drivingly engaging the other of said pipe section and said monitor body for rotating said inlet about said pipe section about said first axis; and a control capable of receiving control signal commands, said control operably connected to said drive mechanism so that said control may provide control signals to said drive mechanism in response to receipt of radio control signal commands to control the rotation of said monitor body about said pipe section, and said control further adapted to cause said monitor body to rotate back and forth in oscillation between predetermined limits established electronically by said control. 
     
     
       2. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a remote transmitter apparatus, said remote transmitter apparatus including said transmitter, said remote transmitter apparatus being adapted to allow a user to adjust said predetermined limits. 
     
     
       3. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 2 , wherein said control further establishes maximum predetermined limits. 
     
     
       4. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 3 , wherein said maximum predetermined limits are only adjustable using said control and not by said remote transmitter apparatus. 
     
     
       5. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 2 , wherein said rotatable connection permits said inlet to rotate about said first axis over a range of motion extending at least 360 degrees about said pipe section. 
     
     
       6. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined limits may be adjusted at the control. 
     
     
       7. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 6 , wherein said predetermined limits may be adjusted between any two positions in said range of motion. 
     
     
       8. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing mounted to said monitor body, said control being mounted in said housing. 
     
     
       9. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said monitor body comprises an inlet pipe Section and an outlet pipe section rotatably mounted relative to said inlet pipe section about a second pivot axis, and said outlet pipe section including said outlet. 
     
     
       10. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second drive mechanism for rotating said outlet pipe section about said second pivot axis. 
     
     
       11. The fire-fighting monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical pipe section includes an integral mounting flange extending radially outwardly from said cylindrical pipe section for mounting said monitor to a fire fighting fluid supply. 
     
     
       12. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein said discharge section comprises a stream shaper. 
     
     
       13. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a worm shaft intermeshing with worm gear teeth. 
     
     
       14. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 13, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a motor drivingly connected to the worm shaft. 
     
     
       15. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ports are spaced apart to enable fluid flow during rotation of the discharge section with respect to the housing. 
     
     
       16. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection between the inlet section and the housing includes a pressure balanced swivel joint. 
     
     
       17. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ports include four ports. 
     
     
       18. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein the pair of the plurality of ports are located adjacent to each other. 
     
     
       19. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 1, wherein the pair of the plurality of ports are separated by an element of the discharge section, the element being located circumferentially between the pair of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
       20. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 19, wherein the element is rotatable to extend across a flow passage in the housing. 
     
     
       21. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 19, wherein the element connects the end portion of the discharge section and the middle portion of the discharge section. 
     
     
       22. A fire-fighting monitor for directing a flow of fluid from a fluid source, said monitor comprising: an inlet section adapted to mount said monitor to the fluid source; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet mounted on and supported by said inlet section and for receiving fluid through said inlet section, said outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and a discharge section for discharging fluid from said monitor; a rotatable connection between said housing and said inlet section, said rotatable connection permitting said housing to rotate about a first axis over a range of motion about said inlet section, said discharge section including a plurality of ports configured to rotate relative to the housing and enable fluid flow along a path from the housing to the discharge section, a pair of the plurality of ports being circumferentially spaced in the discharge section; a drive mechanism mounted to the monitor and rotating the housing relative to the inlet section about said first axis; and a control capable of receiving control signal commands, said control operably connected to said drive mechanism in order to provide control signals to said drive mechanism in response to receipt of control signal commands to control a rotation of said housing about said inlet section, and said control further adapted to cause said housing to rotate back and forth in oscillation between predetermined limits. 
     
     
       23. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 22, wherein the pair of the plurality of ports are located between a middle portion and an end portion of the discharge section. 
     
     
       24. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 22, wherein the discharge section includes an element located circumferentially between the pair of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
       25. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 24, wherein the element connects an end portion of the discharge section and a middle portion of the discharge section. 
     
     
       26. A fire-fighting monitor for directing a flow of fluid from a fluid source, said monitor comprising: an inlet section adapted to mount said monitor to the fluid source; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet mounted on and supported by said inlet section and for receiving fluid through said inlet section, said outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and a discharge section for discharging fluid from said monitor; a rotatable connection between said housing and said inlet section, said rotatable connection permitting said housing to rotate about a first axis over a range of motion about said inlet section, said discharge section including a plurality of ports configured to rotate relative to the housing and enable fluid flow along a path from the housing to the discharge section, a pair of the plurality of ports being separated by an element of the discharge section, the element connecting a middle portion of the discharge section and an end portion of the discharge section; a drive mechanism mounted to the monitor and rotating the housing relative to the inlet section about said first axis; and a control capable of receiving control signal commands, said control operably connected to said drive mechanism in order to provide control signals to said drive mechanism in response to receipt of control signal commands to control a rotation of said housing about said inlet section, and said control further adapted to cause said housing to rotate back and forth in oscillation between predetermined limits. 
     
     
       27. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 26, wherein the element of the discharge section is rotatable to extend across a flow passage in the housing. 
     
     
       28. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 26, wherein the element is located circumferentially between the pair of the plurality of ports. 
     
     
       29. A fire-fighting monitor for directing a flow of fluid from a fluid source, said monitor comprising: an inlet section adapted to mount said monitor to the fluid source; a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet mounted on and supported by said inlet section and for receiving fluid through said inlet section, said outlet in fluid communication with said inlet and a discharge section for discharging fluid from said monitor; a rotatable connection between said housing and said inlet section, said rotatable connection permitting said housing to rotate about a first axis over a range of motion about said inlet section, said discharge section including a plurality of ports configured to rotate relative to the housing and enable fluid flow along a path from the housing to the discharge section, a pair of the plurality of ports being separated by an element of the discharge section, the element of the discharge section being rotatable to extend across a flow passage in the housing; a drive mechanism mounted to the monitor and rotating the housing relative to the inlet section about said first axis; and a control capable of receiving control signal commands, said control operably connected to said drive mechanism in order to provide control signals to said drive mechanism in response to receipt of control signal commands to control a rotation of said housing about said inlet section, and said control further adapted to cause said housing to rotate back and forth in oscillation between predetermined limits. 
     
     
       30. The fire-fighting monitor of claim 29, wherein the pair of the plurality of ports are located between an end portion of the discharge section and a middle portion of the discharge section.