The fire brigades of Ireland use couplings, which function like a quick-connect on a pneumatic airline. Simply insert the male coupling into the female coupling until it clicks, and you’re done. Unlike threaded and sexless couplings, you do not have to line anything up or screw the couplings together.
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| Male coupling above, female coupling below. |
To release the couplings, pull the two knobs on the female coupling outward and remove the male coupling.
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| From this angle the internal latch can be seen, as well as the black rubber gasket which help keep the connection water tight. |
I didn’t get to see these couplings in action, but the firefighters I spoke with said they didn’t have problems with them leaking or the release knobs getting caught on things. Lines that have these couplings are primarily used for supplying water to the pumper or defensive fire operations. I did not see them loaded as pre-connected lines.
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| Pump panel of Irish fire engine, note the three-into-one intake. |
Hydrants in Ireland are below ground, and the quick-connect coupling system is used to attach to them.
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| By pressing the side levers in, the female coupling can be released from the below ground connection. |
The small diameter of their hydrants reflects how much water they use in regular fire operations. In contrast to American fire equipment, everything is oriented towards building a high water pressure, not producing a large volume.
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