FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE FOR IN-AIR USE

Abstract

A fire-extinguisher device, for aerial use, comprising a bucket which contains two independent but related tanks or cylinders, one for water and one for a foaming agent mixture, along with a chamber in which the extinguishing foam is generated. The device is also equipped with an electronic mechanism to control operation thereof, as well as mechanism for the dispensing of the extinguishing foam that is produced, and which will allow for rapid dropping or spreading over an extended area, as well as providing various discretionary dispensing services.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A fire-extinguisher device for aerial use, of a type that uses a receptacle containing an extinguishing agent, with means that allow a pilot to control opening and discharge, and that uses a mixture of fire-inhibiting or fire-retardant substances and water as the extinguishing agent, wherein the fire-extinguisher device consists of a bucket (1) with a cylindrical body (6) that is fitted with an interior cylinder (4), which is open at a top and a bottom, delimiting a water tank (11) within an exterior annular area, accessible and communicated at the top of the interior cylinder (4), and internally by means of a cylinder that acts as an expansion chamber (12) during dispensing of foam and as the water inlet when refilling by immersion; and the expansion chamber (12) receives a foaming agent and extinguishing mixture, dispensed and under pressure through a foam jet dispersing nozzle (14).

16. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the fire-extinguisher device is equipped, at the bottom (10) of the expansion chamber (12), with an aerator screen (9).

17. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the aerator screen (9) consists of a stretched mesh structure.

18. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the dispersal nozzles use injectors (15) in order to facilitate production of an extinguishing foam.

19. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the bucket (1) is fitted with a supporting stand (2).

20. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the fire-extinguisher device is equipped with means of control and monitoring.

21. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein a motor module (7) is fitted to the top of the bucket (1).

22. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the bucket is equipped with a floatability element (3) designed in such a way that the floatability element (3) prevents immersion of the motor module (6) when the said bucket (1) is lowered to float on the water.

23. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein one way of filling the fire-extinguisher device with water consists of one or more tubular pipes, which transfer the water drawn by delivery pumps (18), which are driven by a motor unit (17), to the water tank (11), under control of valves (19 and 20).

24. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein a foaming agent tank is located at the bottom of the bucket (1).

25. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein the foaming agent is located in a tank attached to a helicopter.

26. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein means for controlling the spraying of the extinguishing material spray consist of regulating the flow selector on a control panel of the pilot, by switching on and off the supply to a water suction pump (18), which disperses the foaming mixture at a given pressure and rate of flow.

27. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein means of carrying the said bucket (1) consist of a sling (22) with a length that is suitable for allowing the pilot to have a view of the bucket (1).

28. The fire-extinguisher device for aerial use according to claim 15, wherein a diameter of the cylinder (6) gradually narrows towards the bottom (8).

Description

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Below, in order to provide a better interpretation of the object of the invention, inter alia and by way of example but not restricted thereto, we attach descriptions of various examples of practical embodiments, accompanied by the corresponding drawings.

[0031] Figure shows a representation of a bucket, according to the invention, identifying the parts that make it up.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the motor module, which is placed at the top of the bucket shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a simplified, schematic representation of the foam generating cannon incorporated to the invention.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a representation of a helicopter with a device, in accordance with the invention, refilling from a body of water, such as a lake, pond, or similar.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a representation of the same helicopter, as in the previous figure, dropping the load of homogeneous and expanded foam obtained in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] The invention consists of a fire extinguisher for aerial use that incorporates an extinguishing-foam generating cannon, consisting of an expansion chamber (12) for the entry of air that receives the mixture of foaming and extinguisher from the injectors (15) of the foam jet dispersal nozzle (14), with the said foam mixture being dispersed under pressure, enabling it to be mixed fully with the air before dispersal to the exterior through an aerator screen (9), thus obtaining an extinguishing foam that is fully expanded and homogeneous.

[0037] The bucket (1) inside which the foam generating cannon is found, is fitted with an independent tank for the water (11) and a motor module (7) inside which the motor unit (17) is located, along with the water suction pump (18), the foaming agent injection and dosage system (24), along with the corresponding flow direction valves (19, 19, 20 and 21), which control the flow of the liquids, as well as the control electronics (23). The tank for the foaming agent may likewise be located inside the bucket (1) or in its own tank, for example attached to the bottom, or in a tank attached to either the helicopter itself or the sling.

[0038] The device of the invention, which is designed to be used by helicopters, consists of a bucket (1), fitted with a supporting stand (2) or landing gear, which may consist of a tube of resistant material, such as aluminium alloy, in the form of a ring, or of a reinforcement fitted to the bottom of the bucket that acts as a supporting stand, insofar as this structure will serve to support the said bucket assembly (1) either on the ground or resting on the bottom at the water refilling point.

[0039] The body of this bucket (1) is made up of a cylindrical element (6) finished at the top with a floating element (3), which keeps the motor module out of the water, and at the bottom by an outlet (10), which is fitted with an aerator screen (9), through which the extinguishing material is dispensed. In some embodiments the diameter of this cylinder (6) may be gradually narrowed towards the bottom (8).

[0040] The interior of the tank, towards the top, as shown in the drawings that accompany the invention, is partially open and in contact with the air, which facilitates the process of filling the bucket (1) when immersed in water and the aeration of the extinguishing mixture.

[0041] The aeration screen (9) consists of a stretched mesh screen structure through which the jet of foaming agent is dispersed to the exterior.

[0042] Inside this cylinder (6) there is another cylindrical body (4), which is open at both ends, top and bottom. The exterior perimeter of this cylinder (4) annularly delimits the water tank (11), and internally the foam cannon, consisting of an expansion chamber (12), in which there are inlets for the air, not shown, and the foam (13), the latter ending in a dispensing nozzle (14) for the jet of foam, the ends of which are fitted with injectors (15) that spray out the foaming substance, under pressure, through the aerator screen (9).

[0043] In those embodiments that so require, the use of a floating element (3) has also been anticipated, consisting of an air chamber and/or light and highly flotable material that will serve to prevent the immersion of the motor module in the water when refilling the tank from a lake, river, reservoir, etc., in those cases where the supporting stand (2) does not touch bottom.

[0044] The motor module (7) consists of a motor unit (17) that drives the water pump (18), which serves both to draw the water from the water tank (11) and dispense the foam, i.e. the mixture of water and foaming agent, under pressure. Likewise, in those cases where the device cannot be refilled by means of immersion, due to the lack of depth of water at the filling point, this pump can also be used to draw in the water, through a vertical pipe, not shown here, in order to refill the tank with water (11).

[0045] There is a system (24) for the injection and dosage foaming agent system, which consists of a pump with a calibrated flow designed to provide the foaming solution with the right proportions; flow direction valves (19, 19, 20 and 21), to select the filling or foaming solution injecting function; as well as the corresponding control electronics (23).

[0046] The preferred method for refilling the present device with water is by direct immersion in a body of water. In order for this refilling to take place in a straightforward and rapid way the device has been designed as a hollow cylinder with an annular tank built round the foam generating cannon, so that, as established by the Archimedes Principle, by decreasing the volume of a body that is submerged in a fluid, we decrease the hydrostatic push that keeps that body afloat, allowing the device to easily penetrate the surface of the water. Through the same cannon the water will then spill out through its upper opening, filling the deposit with water (11) in a rapid immersion operation, up to the float line.

[0047] The aeration screen (9) also serves to prevent any solid bodies entering into the water tank (11).

[0048] The invention device functions as follows:

[0049] At the helicopter base, the foaming agent reserve chamber is filled with foaming agent. When an emergency call is received to attend to the extinguishing of a fire, the filling bucket is immediately hooked up to the helicopter by means of a supporting cable (22) while the control wiring is also connected up. The equipment is then tested and the helicopter takes off, heading for the location of the fire, although if it has not already done so it must first fill up with water, so that it will be able to attack the fire.

[0050] When filling the water tank (11) the invention anticipates a number of different procedures.

Example 1

[0051] The tank may be filled by means of direct immersion in the sea, lakes, rivers, reservoirs, etc., wherever there is sufficient depth.

[0052] This procedure is typical of the present invention and one of the advantageous consequences of its constructive disposition is that it permits a rapid filling of the water tank (11), reducing refilling times, avoiding aircraft having to queue up at water filling points and increasing the interval of drops onto the fire.

Example 2

[0053] The tank can be lowered into a river, reservoir or any other shallow water deposit, resting on its stand (2) or landing gear. As the tank cannot be filled with water in these cases by immersion, the water suction pump (18) starts up, driven by the motor unit (17), until the water tank (11) has been filled. In this case the valves (19 and 20) control the entry of the water.

Example 3

[0054] The tank can also be lowered to the ground, where teams of fireman can fill it with water from their hoses via the auxiliary water input, not shown here.

[0055] The helicopter is then in condition to attack the fire and will lift off and approach the fire area, where it will provide pressure to set off the production of foam by the foam cannon, mixing the foaming-agent with the air and dispersing it under pressure through the aeration screen (9), generating an extinguishing-foam that is completely homogeneous and fully expanded.

[0056] The proportion of the extinguishing mixture is highly efficient, in the sense that a great deal of foam is generated using only small quantities of foaming agent. Water usage is also more economic, allowing for more extensive expanses of terrain to be covered using the same amount of water in the tanks than is the case when the foaming mixture is not used.

[0057] In order to facilitate the production of foam the present invention is provided with a foam cannon, consisting of an expansion chamber (12) with an air inlet, in which the foaming mixture is sprayed through injectors (15) located at the ends of a foaming jet dispersing nozzle (14), which is connected to the foam inlet (13). The jet of foam is then dispersed by means of a gyrating movement, which enables it to mix with the air, due to the presence of directional vanes, not shown here.

[0058] The foaming agent is dispersed under pressure onto the aeration screen (9), which ensures the emergence to the exterior of a homogeneous and fully expanded foam, through the outlet (10).

[0059] The aerator screen (9) is based on a stretched mesh screen structure, against which a jet of foaming agent is dispersed under high pressure, and which generates a homogeneous and fully expanded extinguishing foam.

[0060] In addition there is also another way of dispersing the extinguishing substance, an alternative to the use of the foam cannon described above, which is based on a rapid water discharge system. This system serves a dual purpose, firstly as a means of emergency discharge, should the helicopter need to rapidly dump its load, and secondly, if there is a malfunction of the motor unit (17), allowing the bucket to operate along the lines of the previously known art, i.e. by means of gravity.

[0061] The tank is transported, suspended from the helicopter's cargo line and hook, using a sling (22). The use of a long line is preferable, insofar as it allows the pilot to have a vertical reference with regard to the points at which he wishes to attack the fire, and also because it means that the pilot can keep the helicopter at a sufficient distance from both the fire and the refill points.

[0062] The length of this sling (22) is also important as it avoids the downdraft produced by the blades of the helicopter rotor from fanning the flames.

[0063] An electrical cable or wireless system, not shown here, attached to the sling (22) connects the electronic control systems of the bucket (1) to the pilot's controls in the cabin of the helicopter.

[0064] It must also be taken into account that, depending on the type and intensity of the fire, the pilot will be able to choose between discharging the load at maximum flow, for greater penetration, or at a lower level of flow and with increased output speed, for better coverage. This aspect can be controlled by the flow selector on the control panel, which modifies the rate of flow, and the pressure of the water dispersed by the injectors, acting on the rpm of the motor unit (17) and through the variation of the number of intervening injector jets. Selection is by means of a selector valve that distributes the water through the injectors.

[0065] It is understood in the present case that such details as do not alter or modify the essence of the present invention will be considered as variations thereof.