Provided is a dropping-type fire extinguishing body that, in fire extinguishing using a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, can allow the fire extinguishing agent to be smoothly conveyed and dropped. A dropping-type fire extinguishing body 1 to be dropped onto the fire site to extinguish the fire, wherein a gelling agent 3 is contained in a bag body 2 formed of a water-permeable material and water is permeated into the body and is mixed with the gelling agent to prepare a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, thereby filling the gel-like fire extinguishing agent into the inside of the bag body.

The system includes an intake assembly upstream of a pump within the bucket which selectively uses an outer port for drawing water outside of the bucket into the system and an inner port for drawing water from within the bucket into the system. A polymer gel port is interposed between the intake assembly and the pump for combination, mixing and activation of a water and polymer gel emulsion combination within the pump. A fill assembly is provided downstream of the pump which can selectively direct water back into the bucket. A discharge assembly is also provided downstream of the pump which leads to a nozzle or other outlet for water and/or polymer gel emulsion from the system. A control valve selects between delivery of water and/or polymer gel emulsion back into the bucket through the fill assembly or out of the bucket through the discharge.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances, an attachment mechanism, and first and second struts. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The attachment mechanism is attached to the upper frame structure and is configured to engage a cargo hook mount on the underside of the fuselage of the helicopter. The first and second struts extend from respective opposing sides of the upper frame structure. Each of the first and second struts is configured to engage a respective side mount on the fuselage of the helicopter.

The present invention relates to an aerial fire-fighting bucket. The bucket includes a base plate and a valve arrangement including at least one valve and a liner actuator. The base plate includes at least one aperture and the valve is arranged to block the aperture in a closed position and to allow fluid to pass from within the bucket through the aperture when in an open position. The valve is arranged to be moved by the linear actuator generally transversely across an upper face of the base plate between the closed position and the open position of the valve to progressively reveal the aperture.

In the field of agriculture and aerial firefighting, some example vent systems for aircraft fluid dispersion tanks include a vent-well recessed below the top of the tank. When a gate valve assembly below the tank opens to release fluid for dispersion along the aircraft's trailing flight path, the vent system prevents a detrimental vacuum from developing within the tank. In some examples, a recessed vent exploits the Coanda effect to direct air into the tank without obstructing the pilot's view. In some examples, a low profile scoop above the vent further promotes airflow with minimal visual obstruction. In addition or alternatively, some example vent systems include a lightweight cable connecting the gate valve assembly to a spring-loaded vent. The cable pulls the vent open in response to the gate opening to release fluid. When the gate closes, the cable becomes slack, which allows the spring to close the vent.

A suspension and control head apparatus includes: a cable attachment member; a housing having an exterior face; an electronic head control system; a drive pulley system mounted to the exterior face, the drive pulley system includes: a valve control line with a first end and a second end; an end piece on the first end; a drive pulley with a first face and a second face defining a channel there between running along the circumference of the drive pulley; a groove on the first face of the drive pulley configured to fit the end piece; and a driver system; wherein the valve control line is removably inserted into the groove and the channel and the valve control line is retractable and extendable from the drive pulley. The location and features of the drive pulley system allows for ease of access for maintenance and replacement of the valve control line.

A firefighting float plane having a fuselage, one or more wings, two floats, a water scoop associated with each float for filling a water tank of the firefighting float plane, and systems and/or methods for deploying the water scoops to prevent (and/or mitigate the effects of) asymmetric deployment and/or retraction of the water scoops.

An aircraft with a fuselage separated into an upper part and a lower part by a floor, a tubular tank containing an extinguishing fluid, positioned in the upper part and fastened to the floor, a discharge device connected between the tubular tank and the outside, passing in succession through the floor and the fuselage, a release system movable between a retention position and a discharge position, and a control unit arranged to control the movement of the at least one release system from the retention position to the discharge position, and vice versa.

The system includes an intake assembly upstream of a pump within the bucket which selectively uses an outer port for drawing water outside of the bucket into the system and an inner port for drawing water from within the bucket into the system. A polymer gel port is interposed between the intake assembly and the pump for combination, mixing and activation of a water and polymer gel emulsion combination within the pump. A fill assembly is provided downstream of the pump which can selectively direct water back into the bucket. A discharge assembly is also provided downstream of the pump which leads to a nozzle or other outlet for water and/or polymer gel emulsion from the system. A control valve selects between delivery of water and/or polymer gel emulsion back into the bucket through the fill assembly or out of the bucket through the discharge.

An arrangement for actuating a closure element that is movable to selectively close and open up an outlet opening of a tank, which can be received or is accommodated in an aircraft, of a device for dropping water for firefighting. The arrangement is formed with a Geneva drive mechanism and makes it possible for the closure element situated in an opened position to be closed to close the outlet opening in a closed position, for the closure element to be locked in the closed position, and for the closure element locked in the closed position to be unlocked for opening the closure element, when the tank is full, to release water. A device with the arrangement for dropping water from an aircraft for firefighting purposes and an aircraft with the device are disclosed.