U.S. patent number 3,675,721 [Application Number 05/083,925] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-11 for fire fighting apparatus with telescoping boom.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Snorkel Fire Equipment Company. Invention is credited to Kenneth H. Davidson, Carrol V. Morris.
United States Patent |
3,675,721 |
Davidson , et al. |
July 11, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS WITH TELESCOPING BOOM
Abstract
A telescoping boom is disclosed in combination with a pumper
truck. The boom sections are hollow tubular members, and floating
guide shoes mount the outer boom section for movement relative to
the inner boom section. A nozzle is provided at the end of the
outer boom section, and telescoping conduit sections are secured in
external relationship to be boom for conveying water to the nozzle.
Primary control means is provided at the rear of the truck for
remotely controlling the boom and nozzle. Hydraulically actuated
cable means are connected between the boom sections for extension
and retraction of the outer boom section. Secondary control means
is provided adjacent the end of the outer boom section for the
nozzle, and a telescoping ladder is associated with the boom to
provide access to the secondary control means. The telescoping
ladder also enables a fireman to carry out normal fire fighting and
rescue activities in elevated and difficult to reach positions. A
flexible electrical cable and flexible hydraulic conduits are
mounted within the boom structure for providing power to the
control means at the end of the outer boom section, and the cable
and conduits are movable as the outer boom section is extended.
Inventors: |
Davidson; Kenneth H. (St.
Joseph, MO), Morris; Carrol V. (St. Joseph, MO) |
Assignee: |
Snorkel Fire Equipment Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22181546 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/083,925 |
Filed: |
October 26, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
169/24; 239/165;
169/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C
27/00 (20130101); F16L 27/1274 (20190801); F16L
27/125 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
27/12 (20060101); A62C 27/00 (20060101); A62c
027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;169/24,25 ;239/165,281
;182/51,52 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Love; John J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a mobile frame, a boom
structure mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a
horizontal axis and about a vertical axis, said boom structure
including an inner hollow tubular boom section mounted on said
frame for movement about said horizontal and vertical axes and an
outer hollow tubular boom section mounted for telescopic movement
within said inner boom section, nozzle means at the outer end of
said outer boom section for discharging fluid, said nozzle means
including first and second fluid inlets, a pair of conduit means
externally mounted on said boom for conveying fluid to said nozzle
means, each of said pair of conduit means including a first rigid
tubular conduit section externally secured to said inner boom
section and a rigid tubular conduit section externally secured to
said outer boom section and mounted for free sliding telescopic
relationship within said first conduit section, sealing means
between the confronting walls of said first and second sections for
preventing fluid leakage, the outer ends of said second conduit
sections each being in communication with one of said fluid inlets,
manual control means mounted on said boom adjacent the outer end of
said outer boom section for operating said nozzle means, ladder
means on said boom structure providing access to said control
means, said ladder means including a first section secured to said
inner boom section and a second section secured to said outer boom
section, and means completely enclosed within said boom structure
for providing electrical and hydraulic power to said control means
from said mobile frame.
2. Fire fighting apparatus comprising: a mobile frame; a boom
mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about both a horizontal
axis and a vertical axis, said boom including an inner boom section
mounted on said frame and an outer boom section mounted for
telescopic movement relative to said inner boom section; nozzle
means at the outer end of said outer boom section for discharging
fluid; and conduit means mounted on said boom for conveying fluid
to said nozzle means, said conduit means including a first conduit
section secured to said inner boom section and a second conduit
section secured to said outer boom section and mounted in
telescoping relationship with respect to said first conduit
section, manual control means adjacent the outer end of said outer
boom section for operating said nozzle means, ladder means on said
boom providing access to said control means, said ladder means
including a first section secured to said inner boom section and a
second section secured to said outer boom section, means carried by
said boom for providing electrical and hydraulic power to said
control means, said power providing means being completely enclosed
within said boom, said means for providing hydraulic power
including at least one flexible hose having an outlet end connected
to said control means and an inlet end secured to said inner boom
section and connected to a source of hydraulic fluid under
pressure, an intermediate portion of said hose being trained over a
support that is movable with said outer boom section, whereby as
said outer boom section is extended the hose section between said
inlet end and said support is pulled around said support by said
outer boom section, and as said outer boom section is retracted
said support pulls against said hose to feed a portion of the
section of the hose between the support and the outlet end to a
storage position.
3. Fire fighting apparatus comprising: a mobile frame; a boom
mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about both a horizontal
axis and a vertical axis, said boom including an inner boom section
mounted on said frame and an outer boom section mounted for
telescopic movement relative to said inner boom section; nozzle
means at the outer end of said outer boom section for discharging
fluid; and conduit means mounted on said boom for conveying fluid
to said nozzle means, said conduit means including a first conduit
section secured to said inner boom section and a second conduit
section secured to said outer boom section and mounted in
telescoping relationship with respect to said first conduit
section, manual control means adjacent the outer end of said outer
boom section for operating said nozzle means, ladder means on said
boom providing access to said control means, said ladder means
including a first section secured to said inner boom section and a
second section secured to said outer boom section, means carried by
said boom for providing electrical and hydraulic power to said
control means, said power providing means being completely enclosed
within said boom, said means for providing electrical power
including at least one flexible cable having one end connected to
said control means and the other end secured to said inner boom
section, an intermediate portion of said cable being trained over a
support that is movable with said outer boom section, whereby as
said outer boom section is extended the cable section between said
other end and said support is pulled around said support by said
outer boom section, and as said outer boom section is retracted
said support pulls against said cable to feed a portion of the
section of the cable between the support and said one end to a
storage position.
4. Fire fighting apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said
means for providing hydraulic power includes at least one flexible
hose having an outlet end connected to said control means and an
inlet end secured to said inner boom section and connected to a
source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, an intermediate portion
of said hose being trained over said support, whereby as said outer
boom section is extended the hose section between said inlet end
and said support is pulled around said support by said outer boom
section, and as said outer boom section is retracted said support
pulls against said hose to feed a portion of the section of the
hose between the support and the outlet end to a storage
position.
5. Fire fighting apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said
support is a sheave associated with said outer boom section and
which moves at half the speed of the outer boom section.
6. Fire fighting apparatus comprising: a mobile frame; a boom
mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about both a horizontal
axis and a vertical axis, said boom including an inner boom section
mounted on said frame and an outer boom section mounted for
telescopic movement relative to said inner boom section; nozzle
means at the outer end of said outer boom section for discharging
fluid; and conduit means mounted on said boom for conveying fluid
to said nozzle means, said conduit means including a first conduit
section secured to said inner boom section and a second conduit
section secured to said outer boom section and mounted in
telescoping relationship with respect to said first conduit
section, including extension means for extending and retracting
said outer boom section relative to said inner boom section, said
extension means including a first cable secured at one end to said
outer boom section and secured at the outer end to said inner boom
section, the intermediate portion of said cable being trained over
a reaction member, said extension means further including a second
cable secured at one end to said outer boom section on an opposite
side of said reaction member than said first cable and secured at
the other end to said inner boom section on an opposite side of
said reaction member than said first cable, and means for shifting
said reaction member outwardly relative to said inner boom section
whereby said first cable pulls said outer boom section outwardly
and for shifting said reaction member inwardly whereby said second
cable pulls said outer boom section inwardly.
7. Fire fighting apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
means for shifting said reaction member is a fluid ram.
8. Fire fighting apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
inner boom section is a hollow member having said outer boom
section nested therewithin, with support means being interposed
between said boom sections to guide said outer boom section as it
moves relative to said inner boom section.
9. Fire fighting apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said
outer boom section is a hollow member, and wherein guide means is
provided within said outer boom section for supporting said
reaction member.
10. Fire fighting apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
support means includes guide members floatingly mounted upon the
top and bottom of said inner boom section, said floating members
having guide shoes thereon engageable with the top and bottom of
said inner boom section.
11. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a mobile frame, a boom
structure mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a
horizontal axis and about a vertical axis, said boom structure
including an inner hollow tubular boom section mounted on said
frame for movement about said horizontal and vertical axes and an
outer hollow tubular boom section mounted for telescopic movement
within said inner boom section, nozzle means at the outer end of
said outer boom section for discharging fluid, said nozzle means
including a fluid inlet, conduit means mounted on said boom for
conveying fluid to said nozzle means, said conduit means including
a first rigid tubular conduit section secured to said inner boom
section and a rigid tubular conduit section secured to said outer
boom section and mounted for free sliding telescopic relationship
within said first conduit section, sealing means between the
confronting walls of said first and second conduit sections for
preventing fluid leakage, the outer end of said second conduit
section being in communication with said fluid inlet, manual
control means mounted on said boom adjacent the outer end of said
outer boom section for operating said nozzle means, ladder means on
said boom structure providing access to said control means, said
ladder means including a first section secured to said inner boom
section and a second section secured to said outer boom section,
and second manual control means on said mobile frame at the lower
end of said inner boom section for operating said nozzle means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multiple section booms have been utilized in the past in connection
with fire fighting apparatus and an arrangement that has met with
wide commercial acceptance in illustrated in Moore et al. U.S. Pat.
No. 3,346,052. The boom structure illustrated in the Moore et al.
relative consists of a pair of pivotally connected boom sections
and two hydraulic cylinders are provided for movement of the boom
sections from a road-ready position to an extended position. The
first hydraulic cylinder is connected to the inner boom section for
pivoting the same about a horizontal axis, while the second
hydraulic cylinder is connected between the boom sections to pivot
the outer boom section relative to the inner boom section. While
such folding boom sections have functioned satisfactorily, there
has been a long felt need for an alternate boom structure that
possessed the advantages of an articulated boom structure, i.e.,
the capability of extension to remote areas while maintaining a
compact road-ready position, and heretofore satisfactory
alternatives to articulating boom structures have not been provided
for fire fighting apparatus.
Those skilled in the art have recognized for some time the
desirability of providing a pumper truck or the like with a
telescoping boom structure, but heretofore such a combination has
not been effected due at least partially to problems arising from
providing water under pressure to the nozzle at the end of the
outer boom section. The problems in providing a telescoping boom
for fire fighting equipment is also compounded when it is desired
to have controls at the outer end of the boom for controlling the
nozzle, since this requires the provision of means for supplying
hydraulic and electric power to the control means, as well as
providing manual access thereto.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention obviates the problems noted above by
providing fire fighting apparatus with a telescoping boom structure
in combination with a telescoping conduit structure for supplying
water under pressure to the nozzle at the end of the outer boom
section. The conduit means is comprised of a pair of slidably
mounted tubular members that are mounted externally of the boom,
with one conduit member being secured to the inner boom section,
and the other conduit member being secured to the outer boom
section for movement therewith. Positive sealing means are provided
for preventing leakage regardless of the position of one conduit
member relative to the other conduit member.
The present invention also includes novel means for guiding the
outer boom section relative to the inner boom section, and the
guide means includes a plurality of floating guide members that
assure free movement of the outer boom section relative to the
inner boom section regardless of irregularities therein. The
retraction means for the outer boom section relative to the inner
hydraulically actuated cable system which provides for reliable
extension and retraction of the outer boom section.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, control means are
provided adjacent the outer end of the outer boom section, so that
the nozzle on the outer boom section can be directly, rather than
remotely, controlled. In the preferred embodiment, a telescoping
ladder is associated with the boom structure, so that a fireman can
readily reach remote areas to perform normal fire fighting and
rescue activities, and to have access to the control means at the
end of the boom.
The telescoping boom structure of the present invention contains
many advantages not attainable with prior art articulated boom
structures. For example, since the movement of the boom is
rectilinearly, instead of arcuate, the boom can more easily be
manipulated into confined areas. This is particularly important in
fighting a fire in areas where power wires are present. A further
advantage that inures from the rectilinear movement is that the
nozzle at the end of the outer boom section can be easily inserted
through a confined opening in a building, such as a window. The
boom structure of the present invention can be moved from a
position pointing straight up to a position below the horizontal,
which is important, for example, when it is desired to direct water
back toward the pumper truck, as for example in extinguishing a
fire below a dock.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the fire fighting apparatus of
the present invention with the telescoping boom section in a travel
position;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the outer boom section taken
generally along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a broken, enlarged plan view of the inner end of the boom
structure taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line
4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line
5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the structure adjacent
the outer end of the inner boom section, with certain portions
broken away for clarity of illustration;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7--7 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8--8 of FIG.
5;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9--9 of FIG.
5;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10--10 of
FIG. 2; and
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken generally along line 11--11 of
FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described
in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The
scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended
claims.
Referring now to the drawings, the boom structure of the present
invention is illustrated in its entirety at 20 in FIG. 1, and the
boom structure is illustrated in a retracted position in FIG. 1 on
a mobile frame in the form of a pumper truck 22. The pumper truck
22 is essentially of conventional design and includes a control
panel 24 at a pedestal at the back of the truck where a fireman can
remotely control the boom structure 20 and the nozzle 26 at the end
of the boom structure for discharging a controlled spray of water
on to a fire. A turntable 28 is provided at the rearward end of the
pumper truck 22, and supports the boom 20 for pivotal movement
about a vertical axis. Turntable structure 28 is essentially the
same as that disclosed in commonly assigned Moore et al. U.S. Pat.
No. 3,346,052 and in the commonly assigned copending Davidson et
al. application Ser. No. 788,200 filed Dec. 31, 1968.
As is explained in said patent and said application, hydraulic
cylinder means 30 is provided for pivoting boom 20 about a
horizontal axis 32 on turntable assembly 28. As is also explained
in said application, a monitor assembly 40 at the outer end of the
boom 20 provides a support for the nozzle means 26, and a pair of
hollow conduit portions 42 communicate with the monitor assembly
for conveying first and second supplies of water to the nozzle
means 26.
The boom structure 20 of the present invention comprises a
plurality of telescopically arranged boom sections, and in the
specific embodiment disclosed herein, the boom 20 includes an inner
boom section 44 and an outer boom section 45, although the boom 20
can include additional sections, if it is desired to increase the
reach thereof. As can be best seen in FIGS. 7-9, inner boom section
44 is a hollow rectangular member including spaced parallel top and
bottom walls 46 and 48, respectively, and spaced parallel side
walls 50 and 52. The innermost end of inner boom section 44 is
mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal axis 32, and an
upwardly extending support 54 is provided on the pumper truck 22
rearwardly of the cab thereof to support the boom structure in the
transport position.
Outer boom section 45 is also a hollow rectangular member that
includes spaced parallel top and bottom walls 56 and 58,
respectively, and spaced parallel side walls 60 and 62. Guide means
64 (FIGS. 4, 7 and 11) is provided adjacent the outer end of inner
boom member 44 for guiding the outer boom section 45, while further
guide means 66 (FIGS. 5 and 8) is provided adjacent the inner end
of the outer boom section 45.
Each guide means 64 includes a central support plate 68 with the
upper central support plate 68 being secured in spaced relationship
with respect to the top surface 46 of the inner boom section and
with the lower support plate 68 being secured in spaced
relationship with respect to the bottom 48 of the inner boom
section. Plates 68 are secured to boom section 44 by a plurality of
bolts 65, and further bolts 67 are threaded into openings in the
plates 68 so that the spacing of the plates relative to the boom 44
can be adjusted. Concave supports 69 are carried on plates 68,
mating with convex supports 70 that extend outwardly from guide
shoes 74 to mount the guide shoes for rocking movement. Guide means
64 function to guide the outer boom member 45 relative to the inner
boom member 44, even though there may be irregularities in the top
56 and bottom 58 of the outer boom member, since guide shoes 74 are
free to rock about the axis provided by supports 70. Upright guide
members 76 are preferably secured to the side walls 50 and 52 of
the inner boom member 44 to engage the side walls 60 and 62 of the
outer boom member 45, so that the outer boom member is positively
guided as it moves relative to the inner boom member.
Guide means 66 are similar to guide means 64, and include a
transversely extending pin 80 that is secured to the side walls 60
and 62 of the outer boom section 45 adjacent the inner end thereof.
Pin 80 is supported by brackets 82 that are secured to the top wall
56 and bottom wall 58 of the outer boom section. Guide shoes 84 are
positioned in sliding engagement with the inner surfaces of the top
wall 46 and the bottom wall 48 of the inner boom section, and arms
86 extend outwardly from guide shoes 84 through enlarged openings
88 (FIG. 5) in the top and bottom walls of the outer boom section.
Arms 86 include arcuate recesses that are mounted on pin 80, so
that each of the guide means 66 is floatingly mounted in a manner
similar to guide means 64.
The means for moving the outer boom section 45 relative to the
inner boom section 44 includes a hydraulic cylinder 90 (FIG. 5)
having a fluid powered ram 92 mounted for axial movement relative
thereto. Cylinder 90 is a double acting cylinder, so that ram 92 is
powered in both directions. The head end of the cylinder is mounted
upon a pin 94 that extends transversely between the sides 50 and 52
of the inner boom section 44. A yoke 96 is secured to the outer end
of ram 92, and sheaves 98 are rotatably mounted on a pin 100 that
extends transversely between the arms 102 of yoke 96.
First cable means is provided for moving the outer boom section 45
outwardly relative to the inner boom section 44 when the ram 92
moves outwardly, and the first cable means includes a pair of
spaced, parallel cables 104 that are secured at one end to a
bracket 106 that extends upwardly from the inner end of the bottom
wall 58 of the outer boom section 45. Cables 104 extend forwardly
as shown in FIG. 5 and are trained up and around sheave 98 where
the opposite ends of the cable are secured to a bracket 108 that is
secured to the top of hydraulic cylinder 90.
A second cable means is provided for retracting the outer boom
section 45 when ram 92 is retracted, or moved to the right as
viewed in FIG. 5, and the second cable means includes a pair of
laterally spaced, parallel cables 116 that are each connected
adjacent one end to brackets 118 extending downwardly from the top
wall 56 of the outer boom section 45. The intermediate portions of
cables 116 are trained over sheave 98, and the opposite ends of
cables 116 are secured to a plate 121 that is fixed between
brackets 120 that extend downwardly from the lower flange 122 of
guide members 110 that are bolted, or otherwise suitably secured,
to the side walls 50 and 52 of the inner boom section 45. Thus, as
ram 92 is retracted, cables 116 pull outer boom section 45 into the
retracted position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A guide shoe 123 is
secured to the lower end of guide members 110 adjacent the forward
end thereof to support the guide members 110 as the outer boom
section 45 moves relative thereto. Guide blocks 124 are secured to
the outer surfaces of the spaced arms 102 of yoke 96, and the guide
blocks are mounted for sliding movement between the flanges 112 and
122 of guide members 110 to support the yoke 96 during extension
and retraction of ram 92.
Generally identical conduit means 126 are provided for supplying
water under pressure to the spaced conduits 42 connected to the
monitor assembly 40. Each conduit means 126 includes a first
tubular member 128 that is secured to a side wall of inner boom
section 44 by spaced brackets 130 (FIG. 3) and 132 (FIG. 2). The
right-hand end of conduit members 128 are connected by elbows 134
to pivot assembly 32 to receive water under pressure from a
vertical pipe 136, and the passage means establishing communication
between pipe 136 and elbows 134 can be understood by reference to
the above-mentioned Davidson et al. application.
Conduit means 126 each further include second tubular members 138
that are each slidably received in one of tubular members 128.
Conduit members 138 are fixedly secured in fluid communication with
monitor conduits 42 by clamping means 140 so that the conduit
members 138 move with the outer boom section 45 during extension
and retraction thereof. Each tubular member 138 is retained in
fluid tight sliding engagement within a tubular member 128 by
structure that can be best seen from FIG. 10. As shown therein, an
annular recess 142 is provided adjacent the right-hand end of
tubular member 138, and a urethane bearing ring 144 is seated in
recess 142 in sliding engagement with the inner surface of tubular
member 128. A cup member 146 is secured to the outer end of tubular
member 128, and the left-hand end of cup member 146 is internally
threaded at 148 for reception of the externally threaded portion
150 of a retaining member 152. A pair of longitudinally spaced
annular urethane bearing rings 154 are positioned between cup
member 146 and the outer periphery of outer tubular member 138, and
an annular flexible sealing member 156 is interposed between
bearing rings 154. Cup member 146 includes an outwardly facing
shoulder 158 against which one bearing ring 154 is seated. Seal 156
is positioned in fluid tight sealing engagement between the inner
diameter of member 146 and the outer diameter of member 138, and
retaining member 152 holds the rings 154 in assembled relationship.
A wiper 160 is preferably seated in an annular recess in clamping
member 152 in engagement with the outer periphery of tubular member
138. With the above described arrangement, a positive fluid tight
seal is effected, with the structure providing support for the
movable conduit member 138 at a plurality of axially spaced
locations to positively guide the same during its movement relative
to the fixed conduit member 128.
A control panel 162 (FIG. 2) is provided on the outer end of outer
boom 45, so that the nozzle 26 of monitor 40 can be controlled by a
fireman at the end of the boom structure 20 instead of remotely
controlled from the rear pedestal 24. It should be understood that
the control panel provides means for operating the nozzle 26 in the
manner described in detail in the above mentioned Davidson et al.
application. In order to get electric and hydraulic power to the
control panel 162, a flexible electrical cable and flexible
hydraulic conduits are provided. The hydraulic conduits are in the
form of a pair of flexible hose members 164 (FIGS. 5 and 6) that
are trained over a pulley 166 that is pivotally mounted on a pin
168 that extends transversely between the ends of yoke arms 102.
The lower reaches of hoses 164, as viewed in FIG. 4, are provided
with hydraulic fluid under pressure from fixed conduits 170 that
are connected to a bracket 172 adjacent the inner ends of guide
members 110. Conduits 170 receive fluid under pressure from a fluid
source on the pumper truck 22. The upper reaches of hoses 164 are
connected directly to valving on the outer end of the outer boom
section, associated with control panel 162. The electric power is
supplied to control panel 162 through wires in a flexible cable 176
(FIG. 4). One end of cable 176 is connected to the control panel
and the outer end is fixed to guide members 110, with an
intermediate portion of cable 176 being trained over pulley 166
(FIG. 6). Thus, as ram 92 is extended, the outer boom section 45
pulls cables 176 and hoses 164 around pulley 166, while during
retraction of ram 92, the cable 176 and hoses 164 are pulled to the
storage position by pulley 166.
In order to provide manual access to the control panel 162, a
telescoping ladder assembly 177 is mounted on boom 20. The ladder
includes an inner section 178 that is fixed to inner boom section
44, and an outer section 180 that is secured to outer boom section
45 and which extends outwardly a distance sufficient to allow a
fireman to easily manipulate the controls of panel 162. The
telescoping ladder assembly also enables a fireman to perform
normal fire fighting and rescue activities in remote areas.
* * * * *