초록 ▼

An automatic festoon hose handling system for mass transit vehicles such as buses or the like, includes a vacuum or pressurized fluid source, a hose connected to the source, and a lance portion disposed on a distal end of the hose. A festoon assembly is positioned for suspending the hose from an ove

An automatic festoon hose handling system for mass transit vehicles such as buses or the like, includes a vacuum or pressurized fluid source, a hose connected to the source, and a lance portion disposed on a distal end of the hose. A festoon assembly is positioned for suspending the hose from an overhead support. The hose is pneumatically extendable and retractable.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A festoon hose handling system for mass transit vehicles such as buses or the like, comprising: a vacuum or fluid pressure source; a hose connected to said vacuum source; a distal end of the hose, through which fluid may pass; and a festoon assembly for suspending the hose fr

What is claimed is: 1. A festoon hose handling system for mass transit vehicles such as buses or the like, comprising: a vacuum or fluid pressure source; a hose connected to said vacuum source; a distal end of the hose, through which fluid may pass; and a festoon assembly for suspending the hose from a suitable support, said festoon assembly comprising a festooning tube having a movable piston disposed therein, and a chamber disposed adjacent to said piston, said chamber having a flow passage connected thereto for permitting the pressure in said chamber to be changed in order to move said piston in a desired direction; wherein the hose is pneumatically extendable and retractable. 2. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a control switch in proximity to said hose distal end for pneumatically extending and retracting the hose. 3. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow passage includes a valve therein which is selectively actuatable between a closed and an open position. 4. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 3, wherein said valve comprises a three-position valve which is selectively actuatable between said closed position, an open to vacuum position, and an open to atmosphere position. 5. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 3, wherein said flow passage comprises two connected flow passages, said valve being disposed in one of said flow passages and a second valve being disposed in a second one of said flow passages, said second valve also being selectively actuatable between a closed and an open position. 6. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a cord attached to said piston on one end and to said hose on a second end, wherein when said piston moves in a first direction, said cord moves with the piston in said first direction to extend the hose, and when the piston moves in a second direction, said cord moves with the piston in said second direction to retract the hose. 7. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 6, and further comprising a brake disposed adjacent to said cord at a predetermined location, said brake being selectively actuatable between a set position, wherein the cord is prevented from moving, and a released position, wherein the cord is free to move. 8. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 6, and further comprising a pulley about which said cord is arranged to travel when moving in said first or second directions. 9. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 8, and further comprising a plurality of pulleys about which said cord is arranged to travel when moving in said first or second directions. 10. A festoon hose handling system for mass transit vehicles such as buses, comprising: a vacuum or fluid pressure source; a hose connected to said vacuum or fluid pressure source; and a festoon assembly for suspending the hose from a suitable support, said festoon assembly comprising a cord attached to said hose on one end and to a movable member on a second end, the movable member being actuatable to selectively retract and extend said hose. 11. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 10, and further comprising a control switch disposed in proximity to a distal portion of said hose, for actuating said movable member. 12. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 10, wherein said movable member is pneumatically driven. 13. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 10, and further comprising a festooning tube in which said movable member is disposed, and a chamber located adjacent to said movable member, said movable member reciprocating within said festooning tube responsive to changes in pressure in said chamber. 14. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 13, and further comprising a flow passage connected to said chamber for permitting the pressure in said chamber to be selectively changed, and a valve disposed in said flow passage which is selectively actuatable between a closed and an open position, said flow passage connecting said chamber to said vacuum or fluid pressure source. 15. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 14, said system having a stowed configuration, wherein said hose is stowed in a retracted condition, an extended configuration, wherein said hose is extended in an operational condition, and a retracted configuration, wherein said hose is permitted to retract to said retracted condition from said extended condition. 16. A method of vacuuming, cleaning, or extracting fumes from a mass transit vehicle such as a bus or the like, using a system having a festooned hose which is suspended from a suitable support using a festoon assembly comprising a cord attached to the festooned hose on one end, and to a movable member on a second end, said method comprising: actuating a control switch to cause said movable member and attached cord to move in a first direction toward said festooned hose, thereby extending the festooned hose to a desired cleaning location; maneuvering said festooned hose as desired to vacuum, clean or extract fumes from said mass transit vehicle; and actuating the control switch to cause said movable member and attached cord to move in a second direction opposite to said first direction, thereby retracting said festooned hose to a storage position. 17. A festoon hose handling system for mass transit vehicles such as buses or the like, comprising: a vacuum or fluid pressure source; a hose connected to said vacuum source; a distal end of the hose, through which fluid may pass; a festoon assembly for suspending the hose from a suitable support; wherein the hose is pneumatically extendable and retractable; and a control switch in proximity to said hose distal end for pneumatically extending and retracting the hose. 18. The festoon hose handling system as recited in claim 17, and further comprising a control wire which is disposed along said hose along a substantial length thereof, electrically connecting said control switch to a control unit.