EP0993321A1

EP0993321A1 - System of timely prevention and extinction of fires in forests, national parks, zoological gardens, etc.

Info

Publication number: EP0993321A1
Application number: EP99944123A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Venetia Vallianatou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-03
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 2000-04-19
Also published as: AU5265199A; AU738422B2; GR1003060B; WO1999051305A1

Abstract

This system is a combination of electronics, computer, automation and drillings for water. It consists of: pillars (f.1) bearing a chamber equipped with a revolving video-camera with a lens, a thermal sensor of infrared radiation and photocell, a special computer processor bearing a special program and a transmitter. A series of scattered drillings (f.2) of water with corresponding pump rooms bearing a receiver, an elecromagnetic relay, an electric switch and a time switch. Pipes start from the drillings, at the end of which there is a branching with vertical revolving water sprinkler. The supply of electricity to the drillings comes from the mains-scattered reservoirs (f.3) connected to the drillings through ironpipes and bearing portable pressure pumps.

Description

D e s c r i p t i o n

SYSTEM FOR THE TIMELY EXΗNCTION OF FIRES IN FORESTS, NAΗONAL PARKS, ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, ETC.

During the past feu yearβ, more specifically since 1993 to 5 present the extinction of forest fires all over the world, either by air ( aeroplanes, helicopters, etc.), or by land, ( fire engines, forest guards, etc. ) has been very cumbersome. This is due to the many break out points of fire uith devastating results, rendering at the same time human interim vention very difficult.

The enormous destructions, such as those of Hollywood in 1995. New Castle, Ausrralia in 1994, Sumatra, Borneo in 1998 uere not only costly but claimed human lives as well. In the most damaging cases, forest fires leave behind them barren land and upset the equilibrium of environmental eco systems.

Uater bearing underground layers cannot be sufficiently en- 10 riched by rain uater- since there are no trees and roots - and this results in a universal reduction of agricultural products.

The most important fact however is that such destructive forest 5 fires create a thick layer of smoke bearing several particles. This smoke layer firstly hovers over the fire area but then , depending an prevailing high winds, is transferred over populated areas causing the death of many people as us all know. Needless, to say that this litters the atmosphere excessively G and destructively.

The usefulness, therefore, and necessity of timely forest fire extinction becomes imperative because of the above mentioned reasons.

For the confrontation of this great problem, a system of compu- 5 tβr science, automation and drillings (for uater)is suggested.

The combination - planning consists of :

1. Cβ aπtpillars, higher than the tree night , scattered within the forest area. These pillars are equipped with a cement -0 stair case leading to a small chamber ^drawing 1 ).-

SUBStTTUTE SHEET (RULE 26) This chamber is equipped uith several instruments such as a revolving video camera with a lens bearing a thermal sensor of infra red radiation and photo cell, a special electronic computer processor bearing _a special program and a transmit- ij ter.

2« On the forest area ground there must be a series of dril - lings scattered around ( drawing 2 ) the depth of which varies according, to the morphology of the ground,as the supply of water from each drilling is always different. _jQ Each drilling bears its pump room inside which there is a sign receiver an electromagnetic realy, an electric switch and a tine switch.

In addition, each drilling is permanently connected, through a joint, with an ironpipe the length and cross section of which has been specified according to its supply of water.

At the end of the iron, pipe there is a branching in two different directions approximately 20 meters in length each. Each branch is connected - through a joint ( head ) uith a revolving sprinkler installed vertically to the branch, 0 and the hight of which varies according the hight of thetrees and ground morphology.The sprinklers must be grounded(earthed). Outside each pump room there must be a pylon on the upper part of which a plate has been placed uith an anemometer (uith gauge) and a wind indicator so that the direction and intensity ofωind

.jl ό ^{Can DB} observed.

3, Rore over in the forest areas (drawing 3) there must be scattered reservoirs connected to the drilling through an ironpipe. These reservoirs must always be full of water and the distances between one another should vary according to the supply of water )C from the drilling. They should also carry portable pressure pumps

The supply of electric energy to the instruments housed in the cementpillars is done by batteries of nominal strength. In the more inaccessible areas the charging of batteries is effected by a accumulator Panel of photovoltaic energy ( conversion 5 ° solar energy to electrical ).

In the drillings themselves, the supply of electric energy is done by electric current ( that of towns and cities ) via underground cables. This does not exclude the on land supply 3

of electric energy in inaccessible areas.

Hou the system operates :

In the cemeπtpillars, as soon as the revolving video-camera 5 teledetects the thermal incident, the infrated radiation through a photocell is converted to an electric sign entering the processor of the electronic computer which in turn processes, filtrates the noises of the sign and if the sign exceeds the threshold allowed for the manifestation of an 0 incident ( fire ), than it channels the net sign to the transmitter, inside the chamber.

The transmitter then modulates and uirelessly transmits the sign of a specific frequency to the receiver of the pump 1.5 house of the drilling.

The receiver will amplify it an convert it to electric current capable to put into operation the electromagnetic Relay of the pump house, and via the electrical switch the pump of the drilling is set into operation. The pumped _Q up water is delivered to the ironpipes at the end of which it is distributed through branching in two dire - ctions and finally it is launched through the revolving uater sprinklers for the extinction of the fire.

Claims

Requirements / Claims System of timely extinction fire forests, Nationals Parks, Zoologicals Gardens, etc.

3 Clai /Req. 1.

On land planning consists of :

A. Cement pillars (dr.l-) in the chamber of which these is : 1) A revolving video-camera uith a lens, a thermal sensor of infra red radiation and a photocell. iO 2) A Special electronic computer Processor bearing a special system . 3) A transmitter

B. A layout of drillings (dr.2 ) uith their corresponding pump- rooms uhich are equipped uith : _j 1) A sign receiver

2) An electromagnetic Relay

3) An electric suitch

4) A time suitch

Each drilling is permanently connected through a joint to SLG an hotizontal ironpipe the length and cross section of uhich depends on its supply of uater. At the end of the pipe there is a branching uhich through a joint is connected to the water sprinkler. The said sprinkler is installed vertically to the branch and in a hight corresponding to the tree 15 coverage and ground morphology.

The sprinklers are grounded ( earthed ).

C. The supply of electric current to all pillar instruments (videocamera, computer, transmitter ) as well as to the pump rooms (sign receiver, electromagnetic Relay and electric suitch except the drillings ; is done by batteries of nominal 0 strength. In the more inaccessible areas of the cementpillars the charging of batteries is done by a panel of photovoltaic energy ( conversion of solar energy to electric one ) . The supply of electricity to the drilling pumps is done by alternating current from electricity stations, the cables

35 of uhich reach the drillings underground.

0. Outside the pumproo s theirs is a pylon on the plate of uhich there is an anemometer and a uind indicator so that the direction and intensity of the wind can be known.

E.Hater reservoirs connected to the drillings (dr.2) with iron- pipe so that they can be fed with water. These reservoirs bear portable pressure pumps connected uith a gazoline engine or a petrol motor. The reservoirs are always full of water , scattered and of various capacities.

Claim/Req.II. 0 The uater reservoirs, as mentioned in Req. I can be used independehtly(by themselves) in case of need or system blockage.

Claim/Req. III. Way the system operates

I ₎ AS mentioned in Req. I the system operates as follows : As soon as the revolving videocamera in the cementpillars teledetects the thermal incident, the infra red radiation through the photocell is converted to an electric sign uhich enters the processor of the special electronic com- Q puter uhich in turn processes and filtrates the noises of the sign.

If the sign exceeds the threshold ( limits ) alloued for the manifestation of an incident ( fire ) the Processor channels the net sign to the transmitter inside the chamber.

X^) The transmitter in turn modulates and transmits the sign of specific frequency uirelessly to the receiver of the pumproom in the drilling. The receiver will amplify it and convert it to electric current capable of putting into operation the electromagnetic relay of the pump room. C The relay through an electric suitch puts into opera ^■ tion the pump of the drilling. The uater pumped from the drilling is delivered! to the ironpipes at the end of uhich it is distributed through branching in two directions and finally it is launched through the two revolving water sprinklers for the extinction of the fire.