Storz

Fire brigade couplings hose couplings for connecting fire hoses and fittings. A distinction is made between pressure couplings, suction couplings and fixed couplings. Special cases are blank caps and transition pieces represents the couplings and transition pieces are among the fittings for water conduction.

The most common in German-speaking firefighters coupling is the Storz coupling.

  • 5.1 Knaust coupling

History

The Storz coupling in 1882 was registered by Guido Storz patent and of the company Zulauf & Cie. produced. Their widespread use in Germany Firefighting she found but until the year 1933 after it was prescribed by a major fire in Oeschelbronn as coupling unit of the German fire brigades. On the use of aluminum couplings for fire fighters Luitpold Schott was instrumental in Germany. The couplings were described in the standards FEN 301-316 and had to switch to 1943. In recent years, manufacturers in China have included the production of Storz fittings, system parts and Faltschläuchen, thus are Storz products recently very conveniently available.

Technology

The Storz coupling is a symmetrical hermaphrodite coupling, ie to be coupled connection fittings are the same on the clutch side and can be connected arbitrarily. Unlike, for example at fitting systems does not need the mapping of the inner -to be taken to an external thread ( both ends of a hose or a fitting are different). By eliminating this restriction, and the nimble domes through a 120 - degree rotation of the handling of the Storz system is much faster and easier than is the case for compound systems with fittings. This is of course just in case of emergency ( fire brigade ) is a valuable advantage.

Unlike the popular in Anglo-Saxon Verschraubungskupplungen the Storz couplings are not screwed, but the connection is based on the principle of a bayonet. The claw grip (fachsprachlich: cleats ) into corresponding contours of the counter-coupling one, where they are locked in place by twisting the two half couplings. Unlike many other systems in the Storz coupling fittings, the outer shape is circular with no points and corners and therefore both pleasant to the touch and comfortable to use and resistant to dirt and wear. The Storz coupling parts ( hose couplings and threaded pieces ) are now commonly made ​​of aluminum and aluminum alloys ( in the early days were the couplings in brass and therefore much more difficult, which is disadvantageous in use ). For the needs of the fire department, water supply and plant the aluminum couplings are pressed ( forged), cast versions ( often from the Far East ) do not have the necessary strength. The seals for these couplings consist primarily of nitrile rubber. Couplings in brass, red brass and stainless steel are used in the areas of drinking water supply in the shipping industry, the food industry, the chemical industry and in other special cases. For these couplings there are seals made ​​of EPDM, Silicone, Viton and other materials.

The Storz couplings are used almost everywhere where flat or rigid tubes are used which exceed the garden hose dimensions (1/ 2 and 3/ 4 inch nominal diameter ), such as in industry, agriculture, construction, shipping, municipal services, utilities and waste disposal as well as in horticulture and fish farming.

The Storz D- couplings are in the normal fire service rarely use, such as suction hose for foam agent. In the stationary fire protection, such as bucket pumps or hydrants, you can find them and more frequently.

Hose coupling systems

Pressure coupling

Pressure couplings are used for connecting pressure hoses. They consist of a rotatable by 130 ° Knaggenteil, a tail pieces, a locking ring and a seal ring with pressure lip. A particular advantage of the Storz system ( in contrast to eg Geka ) is the pivotal connection of Knaggenteil and hose ( with its sealing lip ) characterized the pressed-together seals must not be turned against each other during coupling, which protects the domes very relieved and the seals. Storz couplings to about size B (clutch plate) can be connected and disconnected in most cases at zero pressure by hand without tools.

The following standardized pressure couplings are used in Germany by the fire department:

  • A: Lug spacing: 133 mm; Tube diameter: 110 mm ( DIN 14300 )
  • B: Lug: 89 mm; Tube diameter: 75 mm (DIN 14303 )
  • C52: Lug: 66 mm; Tube diameter: 52 mm (DIN 14302 )
  • C42: Lug: 66 mm; Tube diameter: 42 mm (DIN 14332 )
  • S32: Lug: 66 mm; Tube diameter: 32 mm (DIN 14330-1 )
  • S28: Lug: 66 mm; Tube diameter: 28 mm (DIN 14330-2 )
  • D ( can also be used as a suction coupling ): Lug: 31 mm; Tube diameter: 25 mm (DIN 14301 )

There are also " special sizes " Storz couplings which are not at home when the fire department, in particular, the couplings of the type Storz 38 ( Lug 51 mm, so a size between D and C), particularly for tubes with a nominal size of 1 inches to 1.5 inches is suitable. The German railway used frequently Storz 38 on the hoses for filling the water tank in passenger trains. Similarly, the largest Storz coupling, the type F, which mainly is used in the water industry of mobile pumping stations. There is also another Storz special sizes, but they are all very very widespread. The size Storz C is the variant of the system produced in the highest quantities. Storz couplings are available up to size 12 ".

Suction coupling

Suction hose couplings are used for the connection of suction hoses. They consist of a rotatable by 90 ° Knaggenteil, a longer tail pieces, a locking ring and a seal ring with pressure and suction lip. The following standardized suction couplings are used in Germany by the fire department:

  • A: Lug spacing: 133 mm; Tube diameter: 110 mm ( DIN 14323 )
  • B: Lug: 89 mm; Tube diameter: 75 mm (DIN 14322 )
  • C: Lug: 66 mm; Tube diameter: 52 mm (DIN 14321 )
  • D: Lug: 31 mm; Tube diameter: 25 mm (DIN 14301 )

The seals are designed for both suction and pressure for operation. The suction couplings are more difficult to procure than the pressure couplings.

Fixed coupling

Fixed couplings ( threaded pieces in many variants) are used for connection of hoses to fittings. They are bolted on one side fixed with a pipe thread on a water faucet or leading to a fire hydrant. On the other hand, you Hitch the usual clutches of a pressure hose or suction hose. They are usually made ​​of aluminum, for HD (high pressure) made ​​of brass. For use in hazardous area there them but also made ​​of stainless steel and non-sparking raging brass alloys. They consist of a Knaggenteil with a thread, a seal for the suction and discharge purposes and a flat washer. In Germany the following standard fixed couplings are used by the fire department:

  • A rubber sealing ring ( DIN 14309 )
  • B with rubber sealing ring ( DIN 14308 )
  • C with rubber sealing ring ( DIN 14307 )
  • D with rubber sealing ring ( DIN 14306 )
  • A with metal sealing surface (DIN 14319 )
  • B with metal sealing surface (DIN 14318 )
  • C with metal sealing surface (DIN 14317 )

The threaded pieces (fixed coupling) with metal sealing surface can only be connected with pieces of hose, this always included rubber seals. Threaded rods avoid with metal sealing surface, the problem of rubber aging (cracks, brittleness, crumbling ) and are therefore mainly for fixed fittings in buildings (eg fire water supplies) used, so that no maintenance is created ( long maintenance intervals ) and the function in case of fire is ensured.

Blank caps

Blank caps (ie, end cover for temporarily unused Storz connectors) are used to protect them as statements of fittings (for example, against the ingress of dirt into the pump ) and may not be put under pressure if the line can not be relaxed ( accident risk when releasing the blind lid under pressure). They consist of Knaggenteil, lid, locking ring and sealing ring. From German fire brigades four standard dummy couplings are used:

  • A (DIN 14313 )
  • B (DIN 14312 )
  • C (DIN 14311 )
  • D (DIN 14310 )

Transition piece

Adapters are used to connect different sized couplings, such as the reduction of a hose line from C to D. It thus consist of two different sized Knaggenteilen (eg, C and D ), a correspondingly reducing centerpiece, two sealing rings and depending on the size a locking ring with set screws for a solid grip. In Germany three transition pieces are standardized and are used by the fire service:

  • A- B (DIN 14343 )
  • B-C (DIN 14342 )
  • C-D (DIN 14341 )

Situation in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the same couplings are used as in Germany. However, they are not named after type classification, but on the inner diameter of the coupling.

  • A = 110 mm
  • B = 75mm
  • C52 = 55mm ( effectively 52mm )
  • C42 = 40s
  • D = 25er

Historical couplings

Knaust coupling

While the Storz coupling was already common in Germany, was still in use in Austria - Hungary there since 1906 supplied by the Viennese firm Wm Knaust ( and earlier patented ) coupling K 52 as a unit for coupling pressure hoses. As the Storz clutch and Geka coupling is symmetrical so that the same coupling can be used at both ends of the hose. Because the cleats of Knaust coupling are very stressed by their exposed location and are sensitive to impact, these clutches were made ​​of brass, which they were much heavier than today's clutches. The Knaust system was in Austria until the Second World War in use.

Bayonet mount Aluminium
132369
de