Aircraft water tank polymer gel preparation system

Abstract

A tank on a firefighting aircraft initially is loaded with water. A polymer gel emulsion vessel is provided but gel emulsion is not activated and mixed with water in the tank until such polymer gel preparation is initiated by an operator. When initiated, a pump pulls water from the tank and returns water back to the tank with a dose of gel emulsion supplied therein. Double elbows and/or the pump impeller fully activates the polymer gel. The activated polymer gel is mixed within the tank by one of a variety of systems including sparging with air, routing of return water from the pump through nozzles and providing a baffle for generating circulatory mixing flow within the tank, or utilizing a mixer element which moves dynamically within the tank. Hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft passing over a body of water can power dosing of the water with polymer gel emulsion.

Claims

1. A system for preparation of waterborne polymer gel onboard an aircraft, comprising in combination: a water tank having an intake for loading of water into said tank, said tank located upon an aircraft; a polymer gel emulsion vessel having a feed line extending therefrom; a water pump having a suction port coupled to said tank to draw water from said tank into said pump, and an output within said tank delivering water back into said tank; said polymer gel emulsion feed line routed into a water pathway between said suction port and said output for delivery of polymer gel emulsion into said water pathway and into said tank; and wherein said output into said tank includes a manifold in the form of an axle with arms extending radially from said axle manifold and with a plurality of nozzles extending from said arms, and with paddles extending substantially perpendicular from said arms, said axle manifold adapted to rotate at least partially by force of water exiting said nozzles of said arm, causing said paddles to be driven through water within said tank for mixing of polymer gel and water together within said tank.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said feed line is routed into said water pathway upstream of said pump, said pump including a rotating impeller with blades thereon, said blades of said rotating impeller imparting sufficient shear on the polymer gel emulsion and water entering said pump to activate the polymer gel emulsion and water therein.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said feed line is routed into said water pathway downstream of said pump, said water pathway including a double elbow along said water pathway downstream of said feed line and between said pump and said manifold, said double elbow sufficiently abrupt and with sufficient flow rate therethrough to cause polymer gel emulsion to be sheared sufficient to activate the polymer gel emulsion and water therein.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said output into said tank includes a manifold, said manifold within said tank including outlets therefrom oriented at least partially upward, said outlet sufficiently small to impart velocity to the polymer gel as it exits said manifold, and a baffle located above said manifold, said baffle configured to deflect water striking the baffle from moving at least partially vertically to moving more laterally after impacting said baffle than before impacting said baffle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a dosing subsystem is interposed along said polymer gel emulsion feed line for controlling delivery of a dose of polymer gel emulsion of pre-selected quantity into water within the tank, the dosing subsystem including a housing with a movable driver therein and with a water inlet into said housing and a polymer gel emulsion inlet into said housing, said driver movable between a first polymer gel emulsion storing position and a second polymer gel emulsion expelling position, with said driver biased toward said polymer gel emulsion storing position, and said water side of said housing coupled to a source of high velocity water moving relative to the aircraft as the aircraft skims over a surface of a body of water.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said dosing subsystem includes a pressurized dose reservoir in fluid communication with said polymer gel emulsion side of said housing, and with a selectively openable valve on an output of said dosing subsystem.

7. A system for preparation of waterborne polymer gel onboard an aircraft, comprising in combination: a water tank having an intake for loading of water into said tank, said tank located upon an aircraft; a polymer gel emulsion vessel having a feed line extending therefrom; a water pump having a suction port coupled to said tank to draw water from said tank into said pump, and an output within said tank delivering water back into said tank; said polymer gel emulsion feed line routed into a water pathway between said suction port and said output for delivery of polymer gel emulsion into said water pathway and into said tank; wherein a dosing subsystem is interposed along said polymer gel emulsion feed line for controlling delivery of a dose of polymer gel emulsion of pre-selected quantity into water within the tank, the dosing subsystem including a housing with a movable driver therein and with a water inlet into said housing and a polymer gel emulsion inlet into said housing, said driver movable between a first polymer gel emulsion storing position and a second polymer gel emulsion expelling position, with said driver biased toward said polymer gel emulsion storing position, and said water side of said housing coupled to a source of high velocity water moving relative to the aircraft as the aircraft skims over a surface of a body of water; and wherein said dosing subsystem includes an air reservoir and a fluid reservoir defined by said housing, with said fluid reservoir including a fluid piston therein defined by said driver and with a water side and a polymer gel emulsion side, and with said air reservoir having a water side and an air compartment on opposite sides of said air piston, both said air reservoir and said fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a pressure feed of high velocity water moving relative to the aircraft, and with said polymer gel emulsion side of said fluid reservoir interposed between said polymer gel emulsion vessel and said feed line and at least one valve on a supply of said dosing subsystem for controlling said dosing subsystem.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a motor is coupled to said axle manifold to deliver power to said axle manifold causing said axle manifold to rotate along with said plurality of arms and said plurality of paddles.

9. A method for preparation of waterborne polymer gel, the method including the steps of: placing a water tank within an aircraft with an intake leading into the tank; positioning a polymer gel emulsion vessel with a feed line extending therefrom; pumping water from a suction port extending into the tank along a water pathway through a pump and to an output within the tank, to recirculate water out of the tank and back into the tank; dosing the water pathway with polymer gel emulsion from the feed line, the polymer gel emulsion routed into the water pathway between the suction port and the output; activating the pump to draw polymer gel into the water tank and also cause the polymer gel emulsion to be activated and mixed with water within the tank; and configuring output as an axle manifold within the tank with a plurality of arms radiating from the axle manifold and with nozzles extending out of the arms, and with the axle manifold adapted to rotate relative to the tank, and with a plurality of paddles extending substantially perpendicular from the arms, with the axle manifold, arms and paddles caused to rotate within the tank due to forces applied by water discharged from the nozzles.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein polymer gel emulsion is dosed into the water pathway by hydrodynamic forces associated with high velocity water passing by the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said paddles extends between two of said arms which extend from said axle at locations axially spaced from each other.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said arms from which at least one of said paddles extends are substantially parallel to each other.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one paddle extends substantially perpendicularly between two of said arms and substantially parallel with said axle.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said at least one paddle has at least one standoff at an interface between said at least one paddle and one of said arms from which said at least one paddle extends, said standoff locating a portion of said paddle adjacent to said standoff further from said arm adjacent to said standoff, than a spacing between a second one of said arms from which said paddle extends and portions of said at least one paddle adjacent to said second one of said arms.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the paddles extends between two of the arms which extend from the axle at locations axially spaced from each other.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the arms from which at least one of the paddles extends are substantially parallel to each other.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one paddle extends substantially perpendicularly between two of the arms and substantially parallel with the axle.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one paddle has at least one standoff at an interface between the at least one paddle and one of the arms from which the at least one paddle extends, the standoff locating a portion of the paddle adjacent to the standoff further from the arm adjacent to the standoff, than a spacing between a second one of the arms from which the paddle extends and portions of the at least one paddle adjacent to the second one of the arms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a firefighting aircraft with a tank thereon configured according to a preferred embodiment of this invention where water is initially loaded into the tank and later selectively caused to have polymer gel emulsion activated and added to water within the tank, and mixed therein.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tank for use upon a firefighting aircraft with associated polymer gel emulsion preparation equipment, and with portions of the tank cut away to reveal interior details.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a water tank similar to that depicted in FIG. 2 but with a different location for an entry port into the tank.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of that which is shown in FIG. 3 but from a different angle and illustrating how various different fluids flow through conduits within the system.

(5) FIG. 5 is a full sectional front elevation view of that which is shown in FIG. 2 and with water shown within the tank and arrows depicting mixing circulation caused by the system of this invention within the tank.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of that which is shown in FIGS. 2-5 and illustrating an alternative where polymer gel emulsion is added to a water pathway downstream of a water pump rather than upstream.

(7) FIG. 7 is a full sectional detail of an alternative nozzle for delivery of recirculating water and air into the tank.

(8) FIG. 8 is a full sectional view of a further alternative configuration for a nozzle delivering only recirculating water into the tank.

(9) FIGS. 9-11 are schematic views illustrating three steps in the process of utilizing hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft moving over a body of water to power a dosing subsystem for dosing of polymer gel emulsion into a water pathway leading into the water tank, the various figures revealing steps in the sequence of operation of the dosing subsystem.

(10) FIGS. 12-14 are schematic views of an alternative dosing subsystem to that which is depicted in FIGS. 9-12 which also is powered by hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft moving relative to a body of water.

(11) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative system to that which is depicted in FIG. 2 which utilizes an axle manifold, arms and paddles for mixing of water and polymer gel within the water tank.

(12) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of that which is shown in FIG. 15 with offset paddles.

(13) FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative of that which is shown in FIG. 16 featuring three pairs of arms and three pairs of paddles.

(14) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of that which is shown in FIG. 17 featuring two pairs of arms and two paddles.

(15) FIG. 19 is a schematic flow diagram of a third accumulator for use with the system of this invention to store pressurized activated polymer gel separate from a water tank.

(16) FIG. 20 is a schematic flow diagram similar to that which is depicted in FIG. 19, but after high energy water has entered the system and charged an activated polymer gel reservoir with pressurized activated polymer gel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(17) Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is directed to a system for preparation of polymer gel emulsion and water for enhanced firefighting efficacy. The system 10 is configured so that water W is first loaded into a water tank 10 onboard a firefighting aircraft A (FIG. 1). In later steps and at the direction of an operator, polymer gel emulsion is supplied from a gel emulsion vessel 30 into the tank 20 through action of a water pump 50. The system 10 is configured so that the polymer gel emulsion is activated with water during supply into the tank 20. The system 10 is also configured so that mixing occurs within the tank 20 so that a homogenous mixture of activated polymer gel and water is located within the tank 20 when so directed by the operator, so that the mixture of activated polymer gel and water can be dropped (arrow D) from the firefighting aircraft (FIG. 1) when desired.

(18) In essence, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, basic details of the system 10 of this invention are described, according to a first embodiment. The system 10 includes the tank 20 and various additional equipment located adjacent the tank 20. This tank 20 is mounted within a firefighting aircraft A in a manner allowing filling of the tank 20 from an intake 12 (along arrow I of FIG. 1) onboard the aircraft A leading to an entry port 14 into the tank 20. The tank 20 is also configured to drop water (arrow D of FIG. 1) when an operator desires to drop water, such as in fighting of a wildfire.

(19) The polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 is located adjacent the tank 20. The polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 is configured so that it can deliver polymer gel into the tank 20. An air compressor 40 is optionally provided which provides a source of sparging of water within the tank 20 to promote mixing of water within the tank 20 with activated polymer gel emulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30. A water pump 50 draws water out of the tank 20 and supplies water back into the tank 20, with the water pump 50 also facilitating feed of polymer gel into the water tank and activation of the polymer gel emulsion.

(20) A baffle 60 is provided within the tank 20 in one form of the invention to promote thorough mixing of all of the water and polymer gel within the tank 20 and to avoid dead spots within the tank 20 where little or no polymer gel is located. Water W fed from the pump 50 back into the tank 20 can be provided through an optional double nozzle 70 (FIG. 7) or single nozzle 80 (FIG. 8) to further promote thorough mixing of water and polymer gel within the tank 20. A first accumulator 90 or second accumulator 100 can be utilized as a form of dosing pump for low power dosing of polymer gel emulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 into water passing through the pump 50, without requiring a separate power source for such dosing.

(21) An alternative system 110 is also disclosed (FIGS. 15-18) which features a tank 120 with a polymer gel emulsion supply line 130 leading to a pump 150 which supplies polymer gel to an axle manifold 162 of a mixer 160. The mixer 160 includes arms 170 and nozzles 180 extending from the arms 170 for release of water back and activated polymer gel into the tank 120. Paddles 190 are also provided on the arms, with the paddles 190 promoting thorough mixing of water and polymer gel within the tank 120.

(22) More specifically, and with particular reference to FIGS. 2-5, basic details of the tank 20 are described according to a first embodiment and basic variations thereof. The tank 20 can have a variety of different geometries. For simplicity, an exemplary tank 20 is depicted which is generally cubic in shape. However, the tank 20 would typically have a geometry which facilitates fitting within the fuselage of the aircraft A (FIG. 1) along with other necessary aircraft A equipment. The tank 20 generally includes rigid walls which form a complete enclosure. These walls generally include a floor 22 defining a lower portion of the tank 20, an end wall 24 extending up from the floor 22, and a rear wall 26 and front wall 28 on opposite sides of the tank 20 extending up from the floor 22 and from front and rear edges of the end wall 24.

(23) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the entry port 14 is located in the front wall 28. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the tank 20 is slightly modified so that the entry port 14 is located within the end wall 24. The entry port 14 could also be provided skewed relative to the orientation of various walls 24, 26, 28 of the tank 20, or could be in an upper wall of the tank 20, or could include multiple inlets. The orientation of the entry port 14 is not particularly important when polymer gel emulsion is to be added later after loading of the tank 20 with water through the entry port 14 (along arrow H of FIG. 4). In instances where some polymer gel and water is already located within the tank 20, the orientation of the entry port 14 can beneficially further promote mixing as water is added into the tank 20.

(24) With continuing reference primarily to FIGS. 2-5, details of other equipment provided adjacent the tank 20 for polymer gel addition and preparation are disclosed, according to a preferred embodiment. The polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 is located adjacent the tank 20 and is filled with polymer gel emulsion ready to be activated and diluted with water supplied to the tank 20. A feed line 32 extends (along arrow B of FIG. 4) from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 to a water pathway through the water pump 50. In particular, the feed line 32 can either be routed to a suction inlet 34 upstream of the pump 50 or to a pressure side inlet 36 (FIG. 6) on a downstream side of the water pump 50.

(25) Some form of dosing pump 33 or other system can be provided to dose a desired amount of polymer gel emulsion along the feed line 32 and into the water pathway when an operator determines that it is desirable that polymer gel emulsion be added to the water within the tank 20. The first accumulator 90 or second accumulator 100 (described in detail below) are two forms of dosing system which are described below, while a pump 33 of some kind could alternatively be utilized.

(26) The polymer gel emulsion must not only be added to the water, but also be activated. In particular, the polymer gel is activated by applying sufficiently high shear to the polymer gel emulsion in conjunction with water so that the polymer gel emulsion is converted into an activated state dispersed within water and ready for enhanced firefighting performance. After activation, the polymer gel still benefit from being thoroughly mixed with remaining water within the water tank 20 so that a homogenous mixture of water and polymer gel is contained within the tank 20 before dropping (along arrow D of FIG. 1) of the water and polymer gel from the tank 20.

(27) One method for promoting mixing within the water tank 20 is through utilization of sparging. In particular, an air compressor 40 or source of compressed air is located adjacent the tank 20. An air line 42 extends from the air compressor 40 and feeds an air bar 44 or other air inlet within the tank 20 (along arrow F of FIG. 4). Holes 45 extend out of the air bar 44, preferably on an underside thereof, and allow air to pass into the tank 20. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, this air bar 44 is located below where water is routed back into the water tank 20, with the air from the air bar 44 tending to carry the water and activated polymer gel vertically and to promote circulation (along arrow L of FIG. 5) within the tank 20. Other configurations for the air compressor 40 and air inlet can also be utilized if desired.

(28) The water pump 50 is positioned adjacent the tank 20 with the suction port 52 passing into an interior of the tank 20. A motor 54 is coupled to the water pump 50 and causes an impeller of the water pump 50 to rotate so that blades of the impeller draw water from the tank 20 through the suction port 52 (along arrow C of FIG. 4) and into the water pump 50. While a dynamic pump 50 (such as an axial or centrifugal pump) is preferred or some other type of pump. The water is then routed along a water pathway to a manifold 56 back within the tank 20. In at least some embodiments a pair of elbows 55 are located along the water pathway downstream of the pump 50. Nozzles 58 extend from the manifold 56 for delivery of polymer gel out of the manifold 56 and back into the water tank.

(29) To effectively shear and activate the polymer gel emulsion as it enters into the water pathway, two configurations are disclosed herein. In a first configuration, the feed line 32 is routed to a suction inlet 54 upstream of the water pump 50. In such a configuration the blades of the impeller in the pump 50 act on the water and polymer gel emulsion to shear and activate the polymer gel emulsion and water before they pass to the manifold 56.

(30) As a second option, the feed line 32 is routed to a pressure side inlet 36 on a downstream side of the water pump 50. Such a configuration is depicted in FIG. 6. In such a configuration the double elbows 55 are provided where the water has sufficient velocity and sufficiently sharp corners are presented that the polymer gel emulsion and water are caused to be sheared and activated by passing through the double elbows 55 (along arrow E of FIG. 4 or 6). As an option, the double elbows 55 can be provided even when the feed line 32 is routed to a suction inlet 34 upstream of the water pump 50 so that both the impeller of the water pump 50 and the double elbows 55 redundantly ensure activation of polymer gel emulsion and water before delivery back to the manifold 56 within the water tank 20 (along arrow E of FIG. 4). Details of the double elbows 55 can be selected from U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2013/0112907, incorporated herein by reference.

(31) The nozzles 58 preferably extend substantially vertically away from the manifold 56 to promote circulation within the tank 20 (along arrow L of FIG. 5) as one alternative. To further promote such circulation, the baffle 60 is provided within the tank 20. This baffle 60 includes a substantially planar wall surface 64 perpendicular to a substantially planar top surface 66 and with a curving surface 68 extending from a lower mostly vertical orientation to an upper mostly horizontal orientation. The curving surface 68 curves away from the end wall 24 of the tank 20 to which the baffle 60 is mounted. Tracks 62 are located on this end wall 24 with slots 63 in the tracks 62. Slides 65 on the baffle 60 ride within the slots 63 to allow the baffle 60 to move up and down along the tracks 62.

(32) The baffle 60 has a density which causes it to float on water W within the tank 20 (FIG. 5). For instance, the baffle 60 can be hollow to facilitate such flotation. The curving surface 68 is thus strategically positioned to redirect the water W effectively in a recirculation pathway (along arrow L of FIG. 5), so that no dead spots of low concentration polymer gel are presented within the tank 20.

(33) To further promote mixing within the tank 20, various different specific nozzle configurations can be provided. The double nozzle 70 (FIG. 7) provides one configuration for air from the air compressor 40 and water from the water pump 50 to be returned back into the water tank to maximize mixing within the water tank for homogenous distribution of fully activated polymer gel and water. This double nozzle 70 includes a water tube 72 providing one form of manifold at a lower portion of this arrangement and an air tube 74 above the water tube 72. An inner nozzle 76 extends up from the water tube 72. A plurality of such inner nozzles 76 extend up from the water tube 72, such as the three nozzles depicted in FIG. 2, but with a greater or lesser number of nozzles optionally being provided.

(34) The inner nozzles 76 are surrounded by a shroud 78. This shroud 78 extends up from the air tube 74 and is open between the inner nozzle 76 and the shroud 72 into the air tube 74, so that air can leave the air tube 74 and extend up between the inner nozzle 76 and the shroud 78 in an annular space extending to an upper end of the inner nozzle 76. Preferably this shroud 78 extends slightly beyond an upper end of the inner nozzle 76. The inner nozzle 76 passes through the air tube 74 in this particular embodiment.

(35) Water W within the water tube 72 is directed up through the inner nozzle 76 (along arrow J of FIG. 7). Air X within the air tube 74 travels up between the shroud 78 and inner nozzle 76 in an annular space surrounding the water passing along arrow J. This air is depicted as bubbles of air X passing along arrow K (FIG. 7). To some extent the inner nozzle 76 acts as a form of Venturi to further energize and suck the air X from the air tube 74 and out adjacent the upper end of the inner nozzle 76 to energize the bubbles of air X exiting with the water W. In this way, highly energetic flow extending vertically from the nozzles and with air entrained therein promotes thorough mixing of the activated polymer gel included with the water W, for full mixing within the tank 20 (FIG. 2).

(36) In another nozzle embodiment, the single nozzle 80 (FIG. 8) can alternatively be provided. With the single nozzle 80, an embodiment is shown where no air compressor 40 supplies air into the tank 20, or where air from the air compressor 40 is delivered into the tank 20 at a location spaced from where water is introduced into the tank 20. With the single nozzle 80, a water tube 82 feeds a plurality of inside nozzles 86 extending substantially vertically upward therefrom. An outer shroud 88 surrounds the inside nozzle 86. The outer shroud 88 extends down to a skirt 89 extending below the water tube 82. The skirt 89 is open at a lower end thereof. Flow of water W out of the inside nozzle 86 (along arrow J of FIG. 8) creates a Venturi effect tending to suck additional water up through the annular space between the outer shroud 88 and the inside nozzle 86, for flow of water along arrows J.

(37) This water is initially sucked up into the skirt 89 along arrow J and then up around the space between the inside nozzle 86 and outer shroud 88 until it is discharged adjacent an upper end of the inside nozzle 86 for vertical flow into the tank 20. With the single nozzle 80, a potential dead space in a lower corner of the tank 20 beneath the water tube 82 is effectively sucked up into the skirt 89 and caused to be mixed with other water within the tank 20 to further promote homogenous mixing of activated gel emulsion with water inside the tank 20.

(38) With particular reference to FIGS. 9-14, a first accumulator 90 (FIGS. 9-11) and a second accumulator 100 (FIGS. 12-14) are described which act as an alternative to a basic dosing pump for dosing a water pathway with polymer gel emulsion when desired by an operator. The first accumulator 90 includes a pressure feed 92 leading into a housing 94. This housing 94 includes a driver 95 therein. The driver 95 is configured with two pistons and a rigid link between the two pistons which cause the driver 95 to move between a first position and a second position.

(39) A spring 96 or other biasing element is interposed between the housing 94 and the driver 95 to bias the driver 95 toward a first polymer gel emulsion storing position (FIG. 9). The first accumulator 90 has an end of the housing 94 opposite the pressure feed 92 in communication with the feed line 32 downstream from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30. This feed line 32 leads through a flow rate/amount control valve 97 to an output 99.

(40) A reservoir 98 is also located along this feed line 32. The reservoir is an enclosure with an inlet open to the feed line 32 and with a piston therein, and with a biasing element, such as a chamber of air which can be compressed, or a spring located on a side of the piston opposite the inlet into this pressurized dose holding reservoir 98.

(41) The first accumulator 90 allows for dosing of polymer gel emulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 without requiring (or requiring less) electric power or other power taken from the aircraft A. Rather, hydrodynamic forces associated with the aircraft A traveling rapidly over a stationary body of water are beneficially utilized to store polymer gel emulsion under pressure for delivery when desired into a water pathway leading into the tank 20. Operation of the first accumulator 90 proceeds as follows. First, the pressure feed 92 of the first accumulator 90 is brought into contact with high velocity and/or high pressure water, such as water being forced into the intake 12 (FIG. 1) or a separate pitot tube type inlet passing into the water when the aircraft A is skimming over a surface of the water.

(42) High energy water is driven through the pressure feed 92 into the housing 94. A check valve is provided along the pressure feed 92 which allows water to pass into the housing 94 from the pressure feed 92, but not to return. A solenoid bypass is provided which can be selected to be opened or closed and is opened when desired to have water return back from the housing 94 through the pressure feed 92 after polymer gel emulsion has been accumulated and pressurized by the first accumulator 90. A second solenoid or other valve and check valve are provided in series adjacent the output 99 of the first accumulator 90 along with the flow control valve 97. When the pressure feed 92 initially brings pressurized water into the housing 94, the solenoid adjacent the output 99 is closed. The check valve adjacent the output 99 is oriented so that polymer gel emulsion can leave the first accumulator 90 (if the solenoid valve is open), but not return back through the first accumulator 90.

(43) Before the pressure feed 92 is brought into contact with high energy water, and with the solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 92 open and with the solenoid adjacent the output 99 closed, the spring 96 within the housing 94 will cause the driver 95 to move toward the pressure feed 92 and cause induction of a charge of polymer gel emulsion from the feed line 32 into an upper portion of the housing 94 above the driver 95 (by motion of the driver 95 along arrow M of FIG. 9). Then, when high energy water passes through the pressure feed 92 and into the housing 94 below the driver 95, sufficient force is applied on the driver 95 to overcome force of the spring 96 or other biasing element, and the driver 95 is caused to move upward to a second position, expelling the polymer gel emulsion into the feed line 32 with a high amount of associated pressure.

(44) Because the solenoid valve adjacent the output 99 is closed, and because the feed line 32 has a one way check valve between the feed line 32 and the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30, the only option for the polymer gel emulsion contained within the housing 94 above the driver 95 is to pass into the feed line 32 and along the feed line 32 toward the output 99, and then into the reservoir 98. Thus, the piston within the reservoir 98 moves upward (along arrow N of FIG. 10) and compressed air or other biasing element above the piston within the reservoir 98 is put into a pressurized or otherwise energized state.

(45) The solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 92 remains closed, and the solenoid adjacent the output 99 remains closed, so that the driver 95 remains in an elevated position and with the spring 96 or other biasing element within the housing 94 compressed or otherwise energized and with pressurized polymer gel emulsion stored within the reservoir 98. The pressurized polymer gel emulsion can be stored within the reservoir 98 of the first accumulator 90 while the tank 20 is filled with water.

(46) At a later time, should an operator decide that it would be beneficial to add polymer gel emulsion into the tank 20, the operator can control the solenoid adjacent the output 99 to transition it to an open state. The compressed air or other biasing element above the piston within the reservoir 98 will then move downward (along arrow P of FIG. 11) at least partway, and polymer gel emulsion will be forced out of the output 99 in an amount allowed by the flow control valve 97. This flow control valve could be set to allow a selectable amount of polymer gel emulsion to be discharged, or to control a flow rate, and is preferably adjustable by an operator. This dose of polymer gel emulsion is then fed along the feed line 32 down to the water pathway passing through the water pump 50 (FIGS. 2-5) for activation and mixing with water within the tank 20.

(47) Finally, when this dosing is complete, the solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 92 can be opened to allow water within the housing 94 and below the driver 95 to pass out of the housing 94 and so that the spring 96 or other biasing element within the housing 94 can return the driver 95 to its original position (by movement of the driver 95 along arrow M of FIG. 9) and recharge the upper portion of the housing 94 with polymer gel emulsion. The first accumulator 90 is then ready to repeat the dosing accumulation and supply process described above.

(48) The second accumulator 100 is shown in FIGS. 12-14, as an alternative to the first accumulator 90. With the second accumulator 100, a pressure feed 102 passes through a check valve and with a bypass solenoid. Two reservoirs are provided adjacent the pressure feed 102 of the second accumulator 100, including an air reservoir 104 and fluid reservoir 106. The air reservoir 104 has an air piston 105 therein with air above the air piston 105 and water below the air piston 105. As an alternative, the air reservoir 104 can be fitted with a biasing element (such as a spring) above the air piston 105 rather than with compressed air. In another embodiment, air within the air reservoir 104 and above the air piston 105 can be contained within a bladder of flexible configuration so that the air does not leak and the piston does not need to maintain a high quality seal (this is also an option for the reservoir 98 of the first accumulator 90).

(49) The fluid reservoir 106 includes a fluid piston 107 therein. Water is supplied below the fluid piston 107 and polymer gel emulsion from the feed line 32 is provided above the fluid piston 107. The pressure feed 102 is configured as a manifold line which feeds both the air reservoir 104 below the air piston 105 and the fluid reservoir 106 below the fluid piston 107. An upper end of the air reservoir 104 is closed. An upper end of the fluid reservoir 106 is in communication with the feed line 32 from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30. This feed line 32 also passes to a supply 109 after passing through a solenoid, a flow control valve 108 and a check valve, similar to that of the first accumulator 90, which limits polymer gel emulsion flow from being out of the second accumulator 100 and not back into the second accumulator 100 through the supply 109.

(50) In operation, and reviewing FIGS. 12-14 in sequence, the air piston 105 and fluid piston 107 are both in lower orientations initially. The air piston 105 is biased towards this lower position by the compressed air or other biasing element above the air piston 105. A biasing element, such as a spring, is also preferably located above the fluid piston 107 to bias the fluid piston 107 towards this lower position. Action of this biasing element causes the fluid piston 107 to move downward and to draw polymer gel emulsion from the polymer gel emulsion vessel 30 and through the feed line 32 into the fluid reservoir 106 above the fluid piston 107 (along arrow Q of FIG. 12). During this initial loading of polymer gel emulsion into the fluid reservoir 106, the solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 102 is open and the solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109 is closed.

(51) When the pressure feed 102 comes into contact with high energy fluid, such as that associated with the intake 12 coming into contact with a body of water while the aircraft A passes at high speed over the body of water, or through a pitot tube extending into the body of water from the aircraft A, the high energy water passes through the pressure feed 102 to supply high energy water into the air reservoir 104 and the fluid reservoir 106. Because the solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109 is closed, and because a check valve is provided along the feed line 32, the fluid piston 107 is prevented from moving. Rather, it remains in a lower position. Thus, the only portion of the second accumulator 100 which can accommodate this high energy water passing into the pressure feed 102 is by upward movement of the air piston 105 within the air reservoir 104 (along arrow R of FIG. 13). The air reservoir 104 is thus loaded with high pressure water. The solenoid adjacent the pressure feed 102 remains closed and the check valve along the pressure feed 102 causes this pressurized water to remain pressurized within the air reservoir 104.

(52) Later, when an operator decides to have polymer gel emulsion added to a water pathway leading into the tank 20, the solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109 is opened. The pressurized water within the air reservoir 104 then acts upon the fluid piston 107 within the fluid reservoir 106, causing the fluid piston 107 to move upward (along arrow T) and the air piston 105 within the air reservoir 104 to move downward (along arrow S of FIG. 14). Movement of the fluid piston 107 at least partway upward along arrow T causes polymer gel emulsion to be supplied into the feed line 32 and through flow control valve 108 to the supply 109 for routing into the water pathway leading to the tank 20 (FIG. 2).

(53) The solenoid valve adjacent the supply 109 is then closed and the solenoid valve adjacent the pressure feed 102 is opened. This allows pressurized water in the pressure feed 102 to drain back out of the pressure feed 102 and for biasing elements adjacent the fluid piston 107 and air piston 105 to return to lower positions and for recharging of the fluid reservoir 106 with polymer gel emulsion (by movement of the fluid piston 107 along arrow Q of FIG. 12). The second accumulator 100 is then charged and ready to be pressurized by hydrodynamic forces and to again dose water within the tank 20 with polymer gel emulsion later.

(54) With particular reference to FIGS. 15-18, details of an alternative system 110 are described, which achieves mixing of activated polymer gel emulsion with water within the tank 20 through a mixer 160 located within a tank 120. This alternate system 110 includes the tank 120 generally similar to the tank 20 of FIGS. 1-6. A gel emulsion supply line 130 passes through a valve 132 or other accumulator or dosing pump for dosing polymer gel emulsion into a water pathway leading from the water tank 120 and back into the water tank 120.

(55) A pump 150 is located between a dual suction intake 152 on a suction side of the pump 150 and a riser 156 on an output side of the pump 150. The dual suction intake 152 beneficially pulls water from lower corners of the tank 120 which might otherwise be dead spots which might not be thoroughly mixed with activated polymer gel emulsion otherwise. As an alternative, a single intake or multiple intakes could be provided.

(56) The gel emulsion supply line 130 can be fed into a suction side of the pump 150 or a pressurized side of the pump 150 (as shown in FIG. 15). As shown in FIG. 15, shearing and full activation of the polymer gel emulsion occurs by routing of the polymer gel emulsion and water through a double elbow 154 having sufficient velocity and sufficiently sharp corners to fully activate the polymer gel emulsion. As an alternative, and as depicted in FIGS. 2-5, the gel emulsion supply line 132 can feed a suction side of the pump 150 where blades of an impeller act upon the water and polymer gel emulsion to fully activate the polymer gel emulsion.

(57) The activated polymer gel and water are fed up into the riser 156 and then pass into a mixer 160. This mixer 160 includes an axle manifold 162 laterally spanning the tank 120. A motor 164 is optionally provided at an end of the axle manifold 162 opposite the riser 156 and pump 150. The motor 164 can rotate the axle manifold 162 in one embodiment of the invention. Preferably, the axle manifold 162 is powered by forces associated with water and polymer gel being discharged from the axle manifold 162 rather than force supplied by the motor 164. As a further alternative, both power of the motor 164 and forces associated with water and polymer gel exiting the axle manifold 162 can cause the axle manifold 162 to rotate. Alternatively, the motor 164 can merely be used after dosing is done.

(58) The axle manifold 162 has a plurality of arms 170 extending radially therefrom. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15, four arms 170 extend from each end of the axle manifold 162. These arms 170 extend linearly and are provided in pairs which are oriented in a common plane. These pairs of arms 170 are spaced 90 apart from other pairs of arms 170 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15 for equal spacing. Tips of the arms 170 are fitted with nozzles 180 which extend perpendicular to a long axis of the arms 170, and generally oriented circumferentially relative to a central axis of the axle manifold 162. Polymer gel is thus discharged (along arrow U of FIG. 15). This in turn causes rotation of the axle manifold 162 (about arrow V). Most preferably, paddles 190 span each pair of parallel arms 170. The paddles 190 thus revolve about the axle manifold 162 and stir water and polymer gel within the tank 120.

(59) With particular reference to FIG. 16, a slightly modified mixer 160 is disclosed. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16, standoffs connect the paddles 190 to the arms 170. The arms are oriented parallel with each other, but the standoffs include short standoffs 192 and long standoffs 194. Because the short standoffs 192 are provided on one of each pair of arms 170 and the long standoffs 194 are provided on the other of the pair of arms 170, the paddles 190 are non-parallel with the axle manifold central axis, rather having a skewed relationship relative to the central axis of the axle manifold 162. This tends to promote lateral and full mixing within the tank 20. While each of the pairs of arms 170 are shown with the mixer 160 of FIG. 16 including both a short standoff 192 and a long standoff 194, it is conceivable that some paddles 190 would be attached without standoffs to further provide variability in the action of the mixer 160 for full homogenous distribution of polymer gel and water within the tank 120.

(60) FIG. 17 depicts a further alternative mixer 160. The mixer 160 includes three pairs of arms 170 rather than four pairs of arms 170 oriented parallel with each other and extending radially from the axle manifold 162. In this embodiment, the mixer 160 features standoffs 192, 194 which are angled so that the paddles 190 are tilted somewhat away from being oriented within a plane parallel with a plane in which the arms 170 to which the paddles 190 attach, are located. Also, a pair of paddles 190 are provided for each pair of arms 170 with the mixer 160 and a pair of nozzles 180 are provided on sides of the arms 170 opposite the paddles 190.

(61) In FIG. 18 a further alternative embodiment mixer 160 is depicted. With the mixer 160 only two pairs of arms 170 are provided with a single paddle 190 coupled to each pair of arms 170. However, multiple nozzles 180 are provided on each arm 170 extending away from the arms 170 on a side thereof opposite the paddles 190. The nozzles 180 themselves provide mixing, while the paddles 190 also provide mixing. The nozzles 180 and/or the motor 164 also cause rotation of the entire mixer 160 (about arrow V). The mixer 160 (such as those depicted in FIGS. 15-18) provides a second step in the preparation of polymer gel and water within the tank 120. A first step involves shearing of the polymer gel emulsion and water for full activation of the polymer gel emulsion and water. The second step in this preparation process involves full homogenous mixing of polymer gel and water within the tank 120 so that the water and polymer gel can have maximized efficacy when dropped from the tank 120 for fighting wildfire (along arrow D of FIG. 1).

(62) With reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, a third accumulator 200 is described according to a further alternative embodiment. With the third accumulator 200, rather than merely storing polymer gel emulsion under pressure, the accumulator 200 also stores activated polymer gel which has been activated with water in a pressurized activated polymer gel accumulator separate from the gel emulsion vessel 30. In particular, with the third accumulator 200, a high energy water feed line 201 such as supplied from a water intake 12 on a float or other lower surface of the aircraft A (FIG. 1), or a pitot tube type inlet coupled to the aircraft A feeds high energy water into the third accumulator 200. A check valve in this high energy water feed line 201 allows water to flow in but to maintain pressure within the high energy water feed line 201 past the check valve, unless a solenoid bypass is opened to allow water pressure to subside and excess water to drain out.

(63) This high energy water feed line 201 is split into two paths including a first path 202 and a second path 204. The first path 202 leads to a first chamber 203 of a polymer gel emulsion accumulator enclosure. This enclosure has two halves including a first chamber 203 and a second chamber 205. A piston, or pair of pistons (or other movable barrier), is interposed between the first chamber 203 and second chamber 205, preferably with a biasing element (such as a spring) biasing this piston or other barrier in a first position closer to the first chamber 203 and with the second chamber 205 filled with polymer gel emulsion. The first path 202 leads to the first chamber 203 and the second chamber 205 is open to the feed line 32 from the gel emulsion vessel 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

(64) The second path 204 passes to a junction where the feed line 32 and polymer gel emulsion from the second chamber 205 can be combined with the high energy water from the second path 204 leading from the high energy water feed line 201, and then into an activated polymer gel reservoir 206. This activated polymer gel reservoir 206 is fed from an inlet downstream from the junction of the second path 204 and the feed line 32. An exit 207 passes out of the activated polymer gel reservoir 206. This activated polymer gel reservoir 206 includes a piston or other moving sealed element therein, preferably with air above this piston, but alternatively with some other biasing element such as a spring above the piston.

(65) The inlet includes double bends 208 thereon so that as the combination of high energy water from the second path 204 and the polymer gel emulsion from the feed line 32 are carried together through the inlet into the activated polymer gel reservoir 206, activation is caused by passage through these double bends 208 and the associated high shear that occurs when passing through these sharp double bends 208. The exit 207 leads to an output 209 from the third accumulator 200.

(66) FIG. 19 shows the third accumulator 200 in a first state with the second chamber 205 charged with polymer gel emulsion and the activated polymer gel reservoir 206 at least partially empty. When high energy water passes into the high energy water feed line 201, such as by the aircraft A coming into contact with a body of water at a high velocity, the piston or other movable barrier between the first chamber 203 and the second chamber 205 is caused to move upward along arrow Y. Furthermore, this causes polymer gel emulsion to pass out of the second chamber 205 and into the feed line 32 where it then passes to the junction and is combined with the high energy water from the second path 204 and is then fed through the double bends 208 into the activated polymer gel reservoir 206. This causes the piston or other movable element within the activated polymer gel reservoir 206 to move upward (along arrow Z of FIG. 20) and to cause the activated polymer gel reservoir 206 to be filled with activated polymer gel.

(67) With the solenoid between the exit 207 and the output 209 initially closed, and with check valves provided in the second path 204 and the feed line 32, the activated polymer gel reservoir 206 holds pressurized activated polymer gel therein. When an operator desires to have activated polymer gel passed into the tank 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2) this solenoid is transitioned to an open state and the activated polymer gel is allowed to pass from the activated polymer gel reservoir 206, through the exit 207, through the output 209 and on into the tank 20.

(68) In such an embodiment, the water pump 50 could be reduced in size or eliminated, and no need would exist for the double elbows 55 downstream of this water pump 50 (FIG. 2). Rather, energy for such water passage into the tank 20 would be supplied by hydrodynamic forces which are stored within this activated polymer gel reservoir 206 in the form of high pressure activated polymer gel therein. Thus, limited power on the aircraft A could be utilized to power other systems such as the mixer 160 (FIGS. 15-18) or the air compressor 40.

(69) Furthermore, to optimize the utilization of limited power available on the aircraft A, batteries can be supplied which can be charged in advance when the vehicle is on the ground, or charged at some time when the aircraft A is not requiring other accessories thereon to draw power. Then when various power drawing accessories are required, such as the air compressor 40, water pump 50 or power to turn the mixer 160, such batteries can be discharged to assist in powering these auxiliary systems. In this way, the aircraft A can continue to operate close to its original design parameters while still successfully performing the mission of gathering water, effectively activating polymer gel emulsion into activated polymer gel when release of activated polymer gel is deemed by an operator to be imminent, and then successfully kept thoroughly mixed within the tank 20 until the aircraft A is over a location where the activated polymer gel is to be applied.

(70) This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.