what instrument does firefighters use to help find people
Hydraulic rescue tools are used by emergency rescue personnel to assist in the extrication of victims involved in vehicle accidents, as well as other rescues in small spaces. These tools include cutters, spreaders, and rams. Such devices were first used in 1963 as a tool to free race car drivers from their vehicles subsequently crashes.
History [edit]
A hydraulic spreader in employ, seen here widening a window on the door of a Volkswagen Golf Mk2 to allow fire crews access into the vehicle.
The Hurst Rescue Tool was invented by George Hurst, circa 1961, after he viewed a stock car race accident in which it took workers over an hr to remove an injured driver from his automobile.[1] [ii] Previously rescuers ofttimes used circular saws for vehicle extrication, only these suffered from several drawbacks. Saws tin create sparks, which could start a fire, create loud sounds, stress the victim(southward), and often cutting slowly. Alternatively, rescuers could effort to pry open the vehicle doors with a crowbar or Halligan bar, but this could compromise the stability of the vehicle, or hurt the victims further.
In comparison, hydraulic spreader-cutters are quieter, faster, stronger, and more versatile: they tin cut, open, and even lift a vehicle. Hurst Functioning began to consign parts to a European company, Zumro ResQtec, to avoid import duty. Zumro ResQtec was interested in developing these tools for use in car racing, with ResQtec targeting the European market place and Hurst targeting the American market. The hydraulic spreader was originally developed in 1972 by Tim Smith and Mike Brick, who later adult a cutter and a hydraulic ram. When an occupant is trapped the tool is used to pry or cutting the car to remove the occupant. It takes most two minutes to take the roof off a car. Mike Brick coined the phrase "Jaws of Life" afterward he observed people proverb that their new device "snatched people from the jaws of death", and then used as a registered brand proper name for Hurst products. The proper name "jaws of life" is, nevertheless, used colloquially to describe other hydraulic rescue tools.[2] [3]
Brick later developed a single rescue tool that combines the functions (push, pull, cut and spread) of previous rescue tools, and patented it; the pattern is currently implemented as the Phoenix Rescue tool.
Tool types [edit]
Cutters [edit]
The cutter is a pair of hydraulically powered shears that is designed to cut through metal. It is often called the jaws of life, owing to the shape and configuration of its blades. Sometimes specified as to their capacity to cut a solid circular steel bar, these are most commonly used to cut through a vehicle's construction in an extraction performance. Cutter blades are replaceable, and blade development progresses as vehicle applied science progresses in social club to exist able to cope with the new car protection technology.
Spreader [edit]
A spreader is a hydraulic tool that is designed with ii artillery that come together in a narrow tip, and that uses hydraulic pressure level to separate or spread the artillery. The tip of the tool can be inserted into a narrow gap betwixt ii vehicle panels (such equally between two doors, or between a door and a fender)—when the tool is operated. Spreaders may besides exist used to "pop" vehicle doors from their hinges.
Combination spreader [edit]
While a cutter or spreader tool is designed for a particular application, a combination tool, or combi-tool as popularly referred to by the burn section, is likewise available, which combines the cut and spreading functions of separate tools into a unmarried tool. In operation, the tips of the spreader-cutter'due south blades are wedged into a seam or gap—for example, effectually a vehicle door—and the device engaged. The hydraulic pump, attached to the tool or every bit a split unit, powers a piston that pushes the blades apart with great force and spreads the seam. Once the seam has been spread, the now-open blades can be repositioned around the metal. The device is engaged in reverse and the blades close, cutting through metallic. Repeating this process allows a rescuer to quickly open a gap wide enough to pull free a trapped victim. The blades can spread or cut with a force of several tons or kilo-newtons with the tips of the blades spreading upwardly to a meter.
This operation tin can too be performed by dedicated spreading and cutting tools, which are designed especially for their ain operations and may exist required for some rescues. Spreader-cutters sometimes have lower capabilities when compared to the dedicated tool (eastward.yard. a smaller spreading range) but may be useful where space is at a premium on burn down and rescue vehicles, or when the upkeep does not allow for a dissever cutter and spreader tool.
Many manufacturers employ the trunk of their dedicated cut tool for the combination tool. Specially engineered combination blades that are designed to spread and cutting are used on the cutter body. If the finish user decides later to add a dissever cutter and spreader, the blades of the combination tool can be changed to make information technology a cutter only.
Extension rams [edit]
A demonstration of using a hydraulic ram to open up the infinite at the passenger leg expanse
Rams are used far less than spreader-cutters in auto rescues; nonetheless, they serve an important purpose. At that place are many types and sizes, including single-piston, dual-piston and telescopic rams. Sizes commonly vary from 50.80 cm (xx") to 178 cm (70") (extended). Rams use more hydraulic fluid during operation than spreader-cutters, so it is essential that the pump being used has enough capacity to allow the ram to attain full extension.
Power [edit]
The tools operate on the basis of the hydraulic fluid pressure level of up to 720 bars (10,400 psi; 72,000 kPa), which must exist provided from a power source. At nowadays, there are three different means of generating pressure. The most commonly used source is a separate power unit, small petrol (gasoline) engine connected to a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic fluid is pressurised in the pump and conveyed in a hose under pressure to the tool.
Alternative power sources are a small electrical pump in the tool powered by a heavy-duty rechargeable battery, and a hand- or pes-operated pump also connected to the tool directly. These are useful for lighter-duty use and do not require the storage infinite taken up past the dissever ability unit of measurement and associated lengths of hose.
Some manufacturers take begun offering all-electric products driving rotation motors or a spiral piston. These are still relatively new on the market and thus may still be somewhat immature but potentially offer many benefits over hydraulic such as simply not limited to lower cost of buying, quicker, more directly and responsive functioning, decreased weight and improved portability and treatment, and greater reliability.
Run into also [edit]
- Bolt cutter
- Holmatro
- Pneumatic lifting bag
References [edit]
- ^ "Hurst Rescue Tool". Motor Trend. Vol. 23 Number nine. Petersen Publishing Co. September 1971. pp. 82–83.
- ^ a b "How the Jaws of Life became a tool to snatch you from the jaws of death". firerescue1.com. Retrieved Feb 26, 2021.
- ^ "Has jaws of life wrap become a generic trademark?". genericides.org. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
External links [edit]
- Bonsor, Kevin (August 24, 2001). "How the Jaws of Life Piece of work". HowStuffWorks
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_rescue_tool
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