SMALL-SIZED MOBILE ROBOTIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING UNIT

Abstract

The invention relates to small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing units to monitor extreme situations and conduct recovery operations in the hazardous area under extremely dangerous conditions and/or in inaccessible areas, including nuclear power plants. The fire extinguishing unit includes a tracked assembly with housing mounted on it, a control panel and a drive part with an accumulator battery inside the housing, a fire extinguishant feed element mounted on the housing with remote control capability, video surveillance system, a connecting pipeline, the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of the fire extinguishant supply element, the connection pipeline is installed inside the housing.

Claims

1. A mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit, including a housing with a tracked assembly mounted on it, a control panel and a drive part with an accumulator battery inside the housing, a fire extinguishant feed element mounted on the housing with remote control capability, video surveillance system, as well as a connecting pipeline, the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of the fire extinguishant supply element, characterized in that the connection pipeline is installed inside the housing, and its central axis is located in the vertical housing symmetry plane, while the inlet axis of the connecting pipe is located below at least by half the height of the mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit with respect to the outlet axis of the fire extinguishant supply element, and the outlet of the connecting pipe is located in the center of the upper surface of the housing.

2. The mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting pipeline inlet is located on the side surface of the housing.

3. The mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a fire monitor is used as an element for supplying fire extinguishing agents.

4. The mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the fire extinguishing agent supply element has a flow rate from 15 to 20 l/s.

5. The mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the video surveillance system is equipped with at least one video camera and at least one IR imager.

6. The mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the video surveillance system is located on the housing and/or inside the housing.

7. The mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote control of the fire extinguishant supply element is carried out with the help of a drive gear in the range from −120° to +120° in the horizontal plane and from −15° to +75° in the vertical plane.

Description

[0033] The claimed invention is illustrated by drawings explaining the subject matter of the invention, where

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the housing of a small mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit, that passes through the vertical plane of the housing symmetry;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a small mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit, and

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a small mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit.

[0037] The proposed technical solution as a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit is explained with a specific design described below, however, the given example is not the only possible one, but it clearly demonstrates the possibility of its achieving by this set of essential features of the claimed technical result.

[0038] Small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit includes the housing 1 with the tracked assembly 2 installed on it. Control unit 3 and drive part (which is not shown in Figures) with accumulator battery 4 of small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit are located inside the housing 1. The fire extinguishant supply element 5 is installed on the housing 1 with the possibility of remote control. Small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit also contains the video surveillance system, connecting pipeline 6, the outlet 7 of which is connected to the inlet 8 of the fire extinguishant supply element 5. The connecting pipe 6 is installed inside the housing 1, and its central axis is located in the vertical plane of symmetry of the housing 1, which coincides with the cross section of the housing 1 shown in FIG. 1, while the connecting pipe 6 located inside the housing 1 ensures that power is not transmitted to the fire extinguishant feed element 5 from a fire-fighting fire hose (which is not shown in the figures) connected to a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit, and the location of the connecting pipe 6 in a vertical plane of symmetry of the housing 1 is selected to ensure the weight balance between the opposite parts to the vertical plane of symmetry of the housing 1.

[0039] The inlet axis 9 of the connecting pipe 6 is located with respect to the outlet axis 10 of the fire extinguishant supply element 5 is below by half the height of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit. However, the specified distance is chosen from half the height to the integer value of the height of the small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit, which is due to the following: the lower the inlet 9 of the connecting pipe 6 is located relative to the outlet 10 of the fire extinguishant supply element 5, the smaller, including lateral, tilting forces arise in a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit when pressure is transferred to it from a fire hose (which is not shown in the figures). The outlet 7 of the connecting pipe 6 is located in the center of the upper surface of the housing 1, because when the outlet 7 of the connecting pipeline 6 is otherwise located, for example, near the edge of the upper surface of the housing 1, the tilting efforts of the small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit increase due to the effort reverse to the direction of the jet stream of fire extinguishants supplied through the outlet 10 of the fire extinguishant supply element 5, since the tilting moment lever coinciding with the axis of the fire extinguishant supply element 5, is also shifted to the edge of the upper surface of the housing 1.

[0040] The inlet 9 of the connecting pipe 6 is located on the side surface of the housing 1, and can also be located below the housing 1 by means of the connecting pipe 6, removed from the housing 1 in order to reduce the tilting forces arising from the small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit when pressure is transferred from the fire hose (which is not shown in the figures). In this case, a force-feed head is used as the inlet 9 of the connecting pipe 6 to attach to the fire hose.

[0041] A fire monitor is used as the fire extinguishant supply element 5, with a remote control carried out by means of a drive gear (which is not shown in the figures) in the range from −120° to +120° in the horizontal plane and from −15° to +75° in the vertical plane.

[0042] The fire extinguishant supply element 5 provides the supply of extinguishing agents with a flow rate of 15 to 20 l/s over distances: [0043] 45 m with water continuous column; [0044] 30 m with sprayed substance (at a spray-cone angle of 300); [0045] 30 m with foam substance.

[0046] When applying extinguishing agents in an automated mode, it is possible to change the spray-cone angle of the sprayed jet of water from 0 to 120°.

[0047] The video surveillance system is equipped with the camera 11, located in the housing 1, and the camera 12 and a IR imager 13, mounted on the element 5 supplying extinguishing agents. The video camera 11 provides monitoring of the onward movement of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit. Whereas the video camera 12 and the IR imager 13 provide monitoring of the direction of rotation of the element 5 supplying extinguishing agents and allow to control the extinguishing of the fire. In addition, the video cameras 11 and 12 are complete with the ability to work in the darkness (night vision), and two LED lamps 14 are installed in the housing 1 to illuminate the work site or the route of movement. Moreover, flashing beacons (which are not shown in the figures) are installed on the housing 1, warning about the work and allow to easily detect small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit under the conditions of smoke or poor visibility.

[0048] Small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit is also equipped with its own irrigation system, necessary for protection against heat flow and temperature. The own irrigation system (which is not shown in the figures) is located on the housing 1. The irrigation system pipeline is connected to the fire extinguishant supply element 5, and during the supply of fire extinguishing agents through the fire extinguishing substance supply element 5 to the irrigation system pipeline and spray nozzles in the amount of two pieces (which are not shown in the figures), located on the upper part of the housing 1 on the right and left side, irrigation of the housing 1 occurs.

[0049] The control unit 3 of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit is equipped with the antenna 15 of transceiver for information transmitting from/to the command/control panel (is not shown in the figures), with which the operator controls at least the following elements: the movement of drive part of the tracked assembly 2, the position of the fire extinguishants supply element 5, supplying fire extinguishing agents, supplying extinguishants to the own irrigation system, the operation of the IR imager 13 and video cameras 11 and 12, including 14 LED lamps and flashing beacons. The control panel 3 has protection against gamma radiation (is not shown in the figure), that is necessary when working under conditions of radioactive effects.

[0050] The movement of the drive part of the tracked assembly 2 of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit is carried out by two gear motors (are not shown in the figures), driving the rear gears 16. The tracked assembly 2 provides for the movement of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit in conditions of compact premises and small debris. Maneuverability is also ensured due to the possibility of turning the unit through 360°. In view of the fact that the type of drive gear is electromechanical, its working efficiency is ensured under conditions of dense smoke, since the electromechanical drive, unlike the internal combustion engine, does not depend on the amount of oxygen in the air.

[0051] The above-mentioned electric motors, as well as the rest of the electricity consumers of the small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit, are powered from the rechargeable battery 4 located inside the housing 1.

[0052] The electromechanical drive and the presence of a tracked assembly allow the unit to move at a speed of 3 km/h, while overcoming obstacles at angles in the longitudinal direction up to 35°, and in the transverse direction up to 30°.

[0053] Small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit has a towing force of at least 80 kg, which allows laying fire hose lines for distances that provide pressure-flow characteristics of fire extinguishing agents.

[0054] This set of design features provides maximum functionality of the unit with minimum dimensions. The unit can, using a remote control, conduct scanning search and determine the location of the fire source and maneuver in the dangerous zone on an area comparable to the dimensions of the unit itself

[0055] People can be searched in premises or places of accidents due to the use of the IR imager.

[0056] The mass of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit in curb condition is 110 kg, that ensures its transportation by personnel of fire and rescue units and is an advantage that increases its mobility.

[0057] Boundary dimensions (L×B×H mm) (1100×700×890 mm) allow the unit freely moving inside the premises having standard exits and entrances, as well as among the technological equipment of the object.

[0058] Layout solutions made it possible to place all the necessary elements in the design, while keeping weight on the sides of a small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit and to ensure that the center of gravity is located right in the middle.

[0059] Small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit is used to conduct reconnaissance and fire extinguishing at nuclear power plants, including under radiation, namely:

[0060] a) when used as an independent combat unit when conducting reconnaissance for the following purposes: [0061] movement in the surveyed area along the route, remotely set by the operator's team in the online mode, [0062] surveyed area lighting in the direction of travel; [0063] transfer of the image to the operator's monitor in the direction of travel, [0064] scanning of objects in predetermined planes (under the standard program) with a flame (fire source) detection,

[0065] b) when used as an independent fire fighting unit with a force-feed fire fighting line connected through the inlet 9 of the connecting pipe 6 (force-feed head) to tank apparatus, pumping station or hydrant for the following purposes: [0066] movement in the surveyed area along the route, remotely set by the operator's team in the online mode, [0067] surveyed area lighting in the direction of travel; [0068] transfer of the image to the operator's monitor in the direction of travel, [0069] scanning of objects in predetermined planes (under the standard program) with a flame (fire source) detection, [0070] supplying water or foam/water mixture to a fire source, to a point specified by the operator.

[0071] Loading and transportation of the unit can be carried out in accordance with the regulatory documents in force on the railway, sea, road and air transport. For the purpose of convenient mechanized loading and unloading operations, lifting eye bolts 17 are provided on the unit, and there are also folding handles (are not shown in the figures) for manual transportation.

[0072] Small-sized mobile robotic fire extinguishing unit is made with increased maneuverability and informativeness, allows for the possibility of its quick delivery to the emergency center and evacuation, including manual fire extinguishing with folding handles.