An apparatus that produces and dispenses foam comprises a housing, an adjustable water flow member, an adjustable foam concentrate flow member, a first mixing chamber comprising an outlet, a water pressure reducing member with a portion thereof disposed within the first mixing chamber, a second mixing chamber in a communication with the outlet from the first mixing chamber, an air pressure reducing member with a portion thereof disposed within the second mixing chamber, a third mixing chamber in a communication with an outlet from the second mixing chamber, the third mixing chamber comprising a port in a communication with an external environment to the housing, and a screen member disposed within the third mixing chamber and configured to convert a mixture of air, water and foam concentrate exiting the outlet of the second mixing chamber into the foam, the foam being dispersed through the port during operation of the apparatus.

A method of manufacturing a self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution is disclosed. Here, the method can include purging air from a container, wherein the purging is performed via flowing an inert gas into the container, such that substantially inert environment is created within the container. In addition, the method can further include dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of foam concentrate into a container, dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of water into the container, and mixing the foam concentrate and water within the container, wherein the mixed foam and water within the inert container provide the self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution and having a pH ranging from about 6.8 to 7.8 moles per liter.

An embodiment of a fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from an aerial vehicle is disclosed having a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant in the separate water container, a pump driven by a first electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve positioned at the pump inlet where air and the fire retardant are drawn into the inlet and pressurized simultaneously by the pump, a primer pump driven by a second electric motor to prime the inlet with the fire retardant before starting the pump, an inverter to control startup of the first electric motor, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized water/foam/air fire retardant is dispensed toward a target. Vertical mount plates can attach the apparatus to opposite sides of the helicopter.

A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.

A multi-modular aerial firefighting control method and apparatus for use by firefighters to control fire. The multi-modular aerial firefighting control method and apparatus generally includes multi-modular units that are held together to form an aerial firefighting system. The modular units may work together or independently. The multi-modular system comprises more than one modular unit, fluid, fluid conduit, reservoir, air flow generator, multi-modular unit support structure, aerial suspension system and aerial lift system.

A fire extinguisher includes a liquid fire extinguishing media, and first and second gases inside of a storage vessel at an operating pressure, and a discharge tube extending between a control valve and the fire extinguishing media. At least a portion of the first gas is dissolved in the fire extinguishing media. The control valve can be operated to control discharge of the fire extinguishing media via the discharge tube whereupon at least a portion of the second gas enters a flow of the fire extinguishing media via one or more holes in the discharge tube forming bubbles of the second gas in the flow of the fire extinguishing media. The fire extinguishing media exiting the control valve can pass through a nozzle which can causing first and second portions of the fire extinguishing media to collide forming a plume mist of the fire extinguishing media.

A dispensing unit that consists of two or more dispensing solutions, at least one being a fluorine-free foam solution, and at least one hydrogel-based solution, and which involves the dispensing of each solution through one or more compressed air foam system (CAFS), where the CAFS may use compressed air, nitrogen, or other inert gas. The individual solutions may be mixed prior to the CAFS, or one or more solutions mixed after the CAFS, or they may be mixed in separate CAFS chambers. The resulting foam may be dispensed through a single line or through multiple lines, applied simultaneously and/or at different times, and may be controlled manually and/or through automatic controls, or through a combination of the above.

An aerial firefighting system has a foam production unit attached to an aircraft. The foam production unit has a single unit variable block high expansion foam generator; a light weight bladder tank system for collection and storage of water; a light weight bladder tank system for storage of a foaming agent; a telemetry unit for adjusting air flow, foam agent proportioning, and water pressure; and tubing for foam stream straightening. The foam production unit also has a fan capable of delivering at least 75,000 cubic feet per minute of air. The incorporation of a high-CFM fan increases foam production capability more than tenfold over existing aerial firefighting systems. The volume of firefighting foam produced is in excess of 50,000 cubic feet of foam per minute.

A multi-modular aerial firefighting control method and apparatus for use by firefighters to control fire. The multi-modular aerial firefighting control method and apparatus generally includes multi-modular units that are held together to form an aerial firefighting system. The modular units may work together or independently. The multi-modular system comprises more than one modular unit, fluid, fluid conduit, reservoir, air flow generator, multi-modular unit support structure, aerial suspension system and aerial lift system.

The present disclosure relates to a foam machine. Liquid for generating foams is conveyed onto a laminating member through a liquid pump. The laminating member further conveys the liquid onto a foam forming device. On the foam forming device, a rotating ring is provided with a plurality of forming rings and a plurality of forming ribs, so that a plurality of foam film forming holes are formed in the rotating ring; afterwards, as the rotating ring rotates, the laminating member can form foam films on the respective foam film forming holes, and continuous foams are formed after an air flow is blown through; the foams are pushed by the air flow to be continuously sprayed out; and new foam films are continuously formed on the respective foam film forming holes.