EP1393778B1 - System for fighting fire of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle fire fighting system has temperature sensors (31 - 34) monitoring the drive systems including engine, axles (41, 43), wheels (41R - 43R), brakes (41F - 43F) and with central controller (11) using a correspondence table (65) in status memory (60) to control extinguishers (20 - 23) through time delay units (19). Includes Independent claims for shock detectors to initiate fire suppression and a radio alarm system linked to a central monitoring station through a radio data or radio telephone system.

Description

The present invention relates to the fire protection of land transport vehicles, in particular of great length, such as heavy goods vehicles such as trucks or tractor trucks coupled to a trailer, or even coaches.

The bodies of such a vehicle are subjected to very high mechanical and thermal stresses. This is the case of the engine, in the climbs, and brakes in the descents. Wheel axles, heavily loaded, are thermally sensitive to excessive friction. In all these power devices, there is therefore a risk of overheating may cause a fire.

When the fire occurs in the engine compartment, the driver is likely to detect fumes quickly enough, and thus stop his vehicle to intervene with a portable fire extinguisher.

On the other hand, when the fire is behind the driving seat, it is likely to remain ignored for a long time and therefore to become so large that any action to fight it will be too late and therefore vain.

FR-A-2,808,696 teaches a fire-fighting device, intended to equip a land transport vehicle, comprising temperature sensing means, designed to monitor at least one of a set of power members comprising an engine block and means for braking, comprising a central, monitoring status of the sensor means and control accordingly fire fighting means arranged to deliver a fire-fighting product in a least one zone to be treated comprising the monitored power unit.

The present invention aims to propose a solution to this problem.

To this end, the invention relates to a device having the characteristics specified in claim 1.

Thus, a risk of fire can be detected in time and thus be treated before the fire starts, or quickly after it and the overall condition of the environment of the device is thus directly accessible to it to take appropriate measures over time, that is, before, during and after a fire.

The correspondence table makes it possible to target the countermeasures against a growing fire risk, the additional position logical links allowing the device to have a good perception of the relative positions of the monitored bodies, to best circumscribe a fire. .

The central unit may be associated with timer means arranged to control the launching, to the control means, commands of complementary countermeasures. The device can thus judge the effectiveness of first countermeasures and decide to send additional orders.

For this purpose, the timer means can be arranged to control the reading of the additional links of the table.

In addition, the timer means may be arranged to control a reading, in the table, of a history, containing states of the sensors after activation of some of the control means, controlling the emergency activation of the control means. The history makes it possible to judge the effectiveness of the initial countermeasures.

Preferably, the control means comprise at least two product containers arranged to operate in mutual rescue under the control of the central unit.

The central unit preferably cooperates with a console for monitoring and controlling the device by a driver of the vehicle.

The sensor means are advantageously arranged to provide, for at least one of the monitored devices, a pre-alarm indication.

Advantageously, the control means comprise switching means that can be controlled, connected downstream of control product supply means to deliver it to the area to be treated. However, the switching means can be arranged so that the switch can be inhibited on command, to provide the product to at least two areas to be treated.

Some of the control means, for example a control product container, are preferably arranged to be fixed under a towing vehicle.

The device can be arranged to be carried entirely by a trailer, with then a battery of own power, preferably recharged by a tractor when it is coupled.

The device advantageously comprises shock detector means provided for controlling the fire-fighting means, through the central unit, and for controlling an inhibition output of the vehicle's electrical circuits. A shock is indeed likely to cause a fire, especially of electrical origin.

The device may comprise radio means for transmitting alarms to a monitoring station, for example means for accessing a radio network.

In such a case, it is advantageous to provide means for determining the position of the device and for transmitting position data corresponding to the radio means.

• la figure 1 est une vue latérale d'un ensemble routier constitué par un véhicule tracteur attelé à une remorque, comportant le dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessous de l'ensemble routier de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est un schéma par blocs du dispositif de lutte contre l'incendie équipant l'ensemble routier, et
• la figure 4 est un schéma de capteurs de température et de choc.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of an embodiment of the fire-fighting device of the invention, with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

• the figure 1 is a side view of a road assembly consisting of a towing vehicle coupled to a trailer, comprising the device according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a view from below of the road set of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a block diagram of the firefighting system fitted to the combination vehicle, and
• the figure 4 is a diagram of temperature and shock sensors.

The road set of Figures 1 and 2 comprises, in this example, a towing vehicle 1, with engine block 44, coupled to a trailer 2 carried, at the front, by an axle 43 of the tractor 1, and, at the rear, by two twin axles 41, 42 .

The power organs 41 to 44 above and their environment are designed and sized to dissipate a given maximum flow of calories they generate while driving, without exceeding a predetermined temperature threshold. For example, the engine compartment should not exceed 135 ° C. However, as mentioned at the beginning, the engine is sometimes heavily stressed, as well as the axles 41, 42, 43 or 41F, 42F and 43F brakes respectively associated therewith. The temperature of wheels 41R, 42R and 43R corresponding can itself be monitored and it can be expected to be sprayed with a fog of fire-fighting product (extinguisher and / or cooler), if the wheel or even the Associated brake drum reaches an excessive temperature.

The figure 3 schematically represents the fire-fighting device.

It comprises an electronic control unit 10 located in this example in the tractor 1 and powered from the battery thereof and / or by solar collector, with a central unit 11, comprising at least one input port, here in fact a plurality of four input ports referenced 12, 13, 14, 15, and at least one output port, here in fact two ports referenced 16 and 17. The input ports 12 to 15 are respectively connected to sensors of temperature 31, 32, 33, 34 in close thermal contact with the respective axles 41, 42 (shown partially), 43 and the motor 44. The sensors 31 to 33 are for example kinds of tips or capsules held against, or even in, the body of the axles 41 to 43 of the wheels 41R, 42R, 43R, for example by screwing into a cavity to protect them. The sensors 31 to 34 are example of bimetallic thermostats, opening a hot contact. It is more particularly possible to think of Curie point temperature sensors, which appear as waterproof relay bulbs, called Reed, containing a flexible blade that closes a contact under the effect of a magnet associated with a particular material, contact which opens when the material loses its magnetic properties if the temperature reaches its Curie point. It is therefore in this example a binary indicating sensor, high threshold. The sensor 34 of the motor 44 may for example be constituted by a pair of parallel and adjacent electrical wires, extending above the motor 44, separated by an insulating sheath melting at a predetermined temperature, for example 138 ° C. which produces a contact closure between the two wires.

For the sake of clarity, no additional heat sensors connected to the power dissipative members of the respective brakes 41F, 42F, 43F have been shown. These power devices can for example relate to friction contact elements, such as drums, intended to provide a braking torque, or braking elements electromagnetic recovery of kinetic energy.

Links 31A to 34A connect the sensors 31 to 34 to the respective ports 12 to 15. In this example, these links are loops that open or close if the temperature threshold is exceeded, depending on the nature of the sensor 31 to 34 associated, and whose associated port 12 to 15 detects the state.

The control unit 10 controls, through the port 16 driving a link 16B, a fire extinguisher 20 located under the trailer 2, near the axles 41, 42. The fire extinguisher control 20 is to trigger a pyrotechnic charge releasing an opening of the fire extinguisher container. Port 16 also controls, in this example, a connection 16A for controlling a device 22 for switching off the extinguishing fluid under pressure, for example a network of electro-valves connected in parallel downstream of the extinguisher 20 , to steer the product, in the form of fog, possibly by a duct proper to each (the two upper arrows double line) to an area containing the axle 41 or 42 associated with the sensor 31 or 32 providing an overheating alarm. It could have been expected that the axle 43 of the tractor 1 and the motor 44 could also be fed from the extinguisher 20. However, here the tractor 1 has its own extinguisher 21, here fixed to the rear of the cabin controlled by the port 17 through a link 17B, and associated with a fire extinguishing fluid switch 23 controlled by a link 17A for diffusion, by other conduits (the two lower arrows double line), to the axle 43 or the motor 44, when the associated sensor 33 or 34 indicates a threshold exceeding.

A panel or console 50 for visualization and manual or other control, arranged in the driver's cab, comprises indicators and / or sound transmitters 51, 52, 53, 54 for copying the alarm state of the sensors 31 to 34. Non-drawn knobs or equivalents 55, 56 and the like allow the driver to manually control the activation of any one of the extinguishers 20 and 21 if it deems it useful, and possibly the associated switchman 22 and 23. buttons 55, 56 comprise an involuntary anti-control cover or are of the baffle race type, said to "turn then push".

The extinguishers 20, 21 and the controllers 22, 23 are used for the global fight against fire, that is to say the prevention and, where appropriate, extinction.

Note that the switch 22, 23 is optional, since it could be expected to spread the extinguishing product in all the neighboring monitored areas, one of which is in alarm, such as twinned axles 41, 42.

In addition, it may be provided to inhibit on command the switching function, that is to say, to be able to control a diffusion of extinguishing product simultaneously to the two bodies concerned, such as axles 41 and 42 for example. Such an inhibition can be effected by controlling the simultaneous opening of the two electro-valves with parallel inputs on the output of the extinguisher 20 or 21. As a variant, it is possible to provide an additional output channel of the switcher 22, 23 , on which are connected in common two arteries of diffusion of the product to the two respective protected bodies, such as the axles 41 and 42, possibly through the original ducts at the output of the switch 22, 23, with then anti valves. - back in both arteries to avoid a hydraulic short circuit in normal switching operation. The function of inhibiting the switching of a feed point to several controlled supply zones of the product thus makes it possible to treat a global fire, in several of the zones protected by the same extinguisher 20, 21.

In particular, it may be provided additional fire extinguishers, without locally associated sensor, to protect the rest of the vehicle 1, 2 and in particular the cargo of the trailer 2. The control of these fire extinguishers can be manual from the desk 50 and / or automatic, when overheating is detected in an area where a fire is likely to spread to the rest of the vehicle. For example, a detection of overheating of the engine temperature may automatically trigger a diffusion of fire-fighting product, which is extinguisher and / or cooler such as foam or water, on the fuel tank of the tractor 1 On the other hand, an overheating of the axles 41, 42 or brakes 41F, 42F of the trailer 2 will not automatically trigger action on the tractor 1, and it is the driver who will make a decision, if a fire breaks out in the trailer 2 and that he considers it is not controllable, for example for failure to have been extinguished in a certain time.

It can be provided to associate, to the same body of the vehicle 1, 2, several thermal sensors with a change of state threshold or a single sensor gradually progressive (heat-sensitive resistance), in order to provide the driver a pre alarm and / or allow him to follow the thermal evolution of an organ in a declared fire, to detect the effectiveness of the extinguisher 20, 21 activated and take the preventive measures, mentioned above, for the other zones of the vehicle 1, 2. It can also be provided sensors of the effects of a fire, such as radiation in one or more wavelength ranges, fumes, and the like, for estimating the effectiveness of fire extinguishers 20, 21 The pre-alarm, at a temperature T1 lower than a temperature T2 of alarm and countermeasures, does not trigger an automatic action of countermeasures, but it allows the driver, warned by the desk 50, of stop his vehicle early enough for a start of overheating, due for example to the brakes or the motor 44, does not turn into a fire. The driver can however decide as a precaution to operate a fire extinguisher 20, 21 by control of the central unit 11. The control of the control means 20 to 23 can therefore originate from a command of a person or be automatically generated from of the signal of one of the sensors 31 to 34.

In order to improve the fire-fighting possibilities, it may also be provided that the switchgear fire extinguisher assemblies 20, 22, on the one hand, and 21, 23, on the other hand, can function as a mutual aid, by mutual feeding of the controllers 22, 23. In such a case, the controllers 22 and 23 each comprise for example an additional output supplying the control switch 23, 22 opposite. The driver can thus control, by unrepresented buttons of the console 50, or by voice command, the refueling of a switchman 22 or 23 whose associated extinguisher 20, 21 has emptied without extinguishing the fire or lowering sufficiently the temperature. Alternatively or additionally, the central unit 11 can detect the empty state of an extinguisher 20, 21 activated, or estimate that it is empty when a timer of a timer circuit 19, launched during the activation, expires, to then connect the other fire extinguisher 21, 20 upstream of the active switcher 22, 23. This passage on the fire extinguisher hitherto inactive 21, 20 can however be conditioned by the detection of the continuity of the fire, in order to avoid emptying the inactive extinguisher 21, 20, while another fire may well be declared in the short term, for the same cause, for example the heating of another brake 41F to 43F in a long descent, if that was the case initially. A decrease detected temperature, even remaining above the threshold, may indicate the fire stop and avoid triggering the other fire extinguisher 21, 20.

The operation of the plant 10 is specified below.

For the management of the detection of the zones of overheating and the countermeasures taken against the fire, the central unit 11 comprises a memory 60 in which four blocks of memory 61, 62, 63, 64 serve to memorize the state of the respective sensors 31 to 34. It can be provided that each block 61 to 64 allows the storage of a history of the state of the sensor 31 to 34, indicating the successive states and the time of each change of state. In the case where, as an alternative and as already mentioned, the superheating sensors are of a type providing continuously evolving values, and not all or nothing as here, the measured values, analog or digitized, would be sampled cyclically in the ports 12 to 15 to be stored and, to trigger an alarm, the CPU 11 would perform a monitoring comparison between the measurement and the temperature set point, the value of which may depend on the type of organ 41 to 44 monitored.

The memory 60 further comprises two memory blocks 70 and 71 for storing activation commands of the respective extinguishers 20 and 21 transmitted by the central unit 11 through the ports 16 and 17. Similarly, memory blocks 81, 82, 83, 84 serve to memorize the switch commands transmitted to the switchers 22, 23. Each block 81 to 84 therefore represents the activated state of one of the four extinguishing product ducts, that is to say to say electro-valves controlling them. Two associated blocks, like 81 and 82 for example, may further indicate a common activation of the two distribution lines or channels as discussed above.

In order to manage the development of the controls of the extinguishers 20, 21 and the controllers 22, 23, the memory 60 comprises a memory block 65 comprising a correspondence or patching table, logical links of position between each sensor 31 to 34 and at least 1 one of the extinguishing elements 20 to 23. The table 65 therefore associates each sensor 31 to 34 with the one or the extinguishers 20 and 21 which is physically associated therewith, that is to say capable, in cooperation with the switch 22, 23 associated, to return the measurement of the sensor 31 to 34 below the threshold, by cooling the monitored member 41 to 44 or even extinguishing a fire in the area of the sensor 31 to 34 considered.

Thus, in case of detection of the crossing of the high threshold of the sensor 31 for example, the central unit 11 reads the correspondence table 65 and deduces that it is necessary to activate the extinguisher 20 and control the switching of the switchman 22 on the conduit leading to the axle 41 overheating. The table 65 thus allows the feedback, or loopback, between the alarm input link 31A and the output control link 16A, 16B for delivering the extinguishing product in the area of the sensor 31 in alarm. The corresponding orders are then issued. The memory blocks 61, 70 and 81 then receive a data bit representing the states activated above at the input (12) and at the output (16). The activated state of the block 61 is visualized by the indicator 51 which lights up. In a general manner, the console 50 may comprise LEDs representing the state of the blocks of the memory 60.

As mentioned above, the central unit 11 can detect a return of the temperature below the threshold, or at least a tendency to fall towards the high threshold, if necessary by additional sensors or by using scalable sensors, and not all or nothing as described. In the absence of an indication of a significant drop in temperature, the central unit 11 can then, after expiry of the timer 19 armed with the issuance of the fire control commands, take measures of complementary control, for example the watering of the tank, the emergency activation of the extinguisher at rest 21, 20 if the active fire extinguisher 20, 21 is considered or detected as empty. For this purpose, the table 65 comprises a second-level complementary table constituting an extension of the association logic links 31 to 34 / fire extinguishers 20, 21 with the switches 22, 23, which is consulted by the central unit 11 after the expiry of the timer 19. The timer 19 then controls the reading of the link supplement of the table 65. To avoid an unnecessary triggering of the extinguisher 21, 20 remained at rest, the timer 19 commands a reading, in the table 65 , of the history, containing states of the sensors 31 to 34 after the activation of some of the extinguishing means (20 to 23). This reading controls the emergency activation of extinguisher 21, 20 at rest, that is to say that it is activated only if the history does not reveal a fire extinguishing. Alternatively, the central 10 could be carried by the trailer 2, to the extent that the console 50 remains accessible to the driver.

The plant 10 could also be split, that is to say that each element 1, 2 of the road unit would have its own fire-fighting device. In such a case, the two CPUs 11 would preferably be linked to exchange data in order to provide the global management capabilities described above.

Radio alarm transmission circuits (state of the memory 60) can be provided to a monitoring station, for example circuits of a wireless telephone handset accessing a radio network, such as the GSM network. It can also be expected that the radio circuits control the central unit 11 in the manner of the desk 50, thus functionally remote, In addition, it is also possible to provide circuits for determining the position of the device, for example GPS, and of transmission of position data corresponding to the radio circuits. These radio circuits and the associated GPS receiver are conventional and have not been drawn.

The figure 4 schematically represents a shock detector 101, or inertial unit, connected at the output to the control unit 10 for controlling the extinguisher 21 to spray liquid. The engine temperature alarm device or sensor 34, by detection of exceeding a temperature setpoint threshold, also controls the central unit 10.

In addition, the button 56 allows a manual control of the activation of the central unit 10. The actuation of the button 56 is protected by a device 57 inadvertent anti-commands, such as a removable cover or a mounting push button depression , "turn-push".

The shock detector 101, the temperature alarm device 34, and the button 56 are thus functionally in parallel at the output to control the central 10. An associated button, manual control of the switch 23, has not been drawn.

The impact detector 101 comprises, in this example, a metal ball 111 plated, by an end of a metal spring 112 here in a helix, against a cup 110 connected to the electrical ground. The opposite end of the spring 112 is connected to a supply voltage, here +12 volts, through a resistor 113. An amplifier circuit 114 is input connected to the downstream end of the resistor 113.

The shock detector 101 is intended to, inter alia, allow mounting to the rear-left of the vehicle, which is the most likely location of shock for a slow vehicle, for example a tank truck or a trailer vehicle. . The principle of the internal mounting of the shock detector is preferably intrinsically safe type, that is to say it provides an alarm by disappearing an alarm blocking signal. As a variant of the drawn assembly, the device 101 is constituted by a loop of wire comprising, in series, the cup 110 and the ball 111, the central unit 10 detecting any interruption of the loop.

The central unit 10 comprises an amplifier 121 for controlling a pyrotechnic device 211 for triggering a charge for actuating a bottle of extinguisher 21, releasing a liquid under pressure. The bottle 21 is connected at the output, through the switch 23, to a ramp 153 of the liquid diffusion, comprising a longitudinal tube provided with a row of four distribution nozzles 154, 155, 156, 157 equidistributed. The diffusion ramp 153 is intended to be placed close to an organ of the vehicle to be protected, here the motor 44.

The central unit 10 includes a deactivation control output 122, which inhibits the electrical circuits of the vehicle. The output 122 is controlled by the inertial unit 101, to cut the power supply of the power organs of the vehicle. On the other hand, the temperature alarm device 34 does not control the output 122, in order to avoid, in the event of detection of excessive heating, the unexpected loss of the engine brake, loss likely to cause an accident. However, the button 56 enables the output 122 to be activated.

The temperature alarm device 34 comprises a cable 130 comprising a pair of electrically conductive adjacent wires 131 and 132 (not drawn in detail) between which is interposed a layer of an insulating material 133, having a corresponding melting point. at a set point, here 138 ° C, to establish, in case of exceeding the threshold, a conduction between the two son 131, 132, controlling the activation of the diffusion nozzles 154 to 157, through an amplifier 134 connected in In practice, at least one of the wires 131 and 132 has been dipped in a bath of the heated and melted material, so as to receive an insulating sheath. The wire 131 is connected to a determined potential source, not shown, of activation of the amplifier 134, and the wire 132 is connected to the input of the amplifier 134, with a grounding resistor not drawn. The material 133 thus constitutes a switch which, when closed by melting the material, applies the desired potential to the amplifier 134 to switch the output.

It can be provided several temperature sensors, of the above type or other, arranged in various locations of the vehicle, each of these sensors can trigger the extinguisher 21 or another.

In this example, the pair of wires 131, 132 is wound around the ramp 153, the assembly being intended to be placed above the motor 44 of the vehicle. Other ramps, or simple nozzles, may be provided, to diffuse towards other organs likely to heat excessively. In particular, it can be provided fire sprinkler elements arranged independently of the temperature sensor or sensors. The diffusion ramp 153, or equivalent, can thus be provided to act in a part of the vehicle intended to receive a load. There can therefore be detection of fire and / or application of countermeasures (153) in an area of the vehicle intended for the goods, and in the latter case, even if there has been no local detection of fire hazard event. A ramp or diffusion nozzle (153) or equivalent can thus be arranged in a trailer and connected to the bottle 21 by a flexible conduit protected by a sleeve in the form of a braid, vandal-proof. The sleeve can also be used to protect, against the flames or mechanically, a hose supplying the ramp 153.

It will be noted that the amplifiers 114, 121 and 134 are optional and intended to provide with certainty the electrical energy required by the pyrotechnic device 211. Direct controls of the pyrotechnic device 211 by the resistor 113, or an equivalent circuit, and by the wires 131 and 132 may be provided if they can provide the required energy and voltage level. As a result, the central unit 10 is not then necessary.

Claims (19)

1. Apparatus for firefighting, designed to equip a ground transport vehicle (1, 2), including temperature sensing means (31 to 34), designed to monitor at least one of a set of power units (41 to 44, 41F to 43F, 41 R to 43R) comprising an engine unit (44), an axle (41 to 43), the wheels (41R to 43R) of the axle and braking means (41F to 43F), comprising a centralized installation (10) that includes a central unit (11) for monitoring the status of the sensor means (31 to 34) and for controlling as a consequence thereof firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) arranged for delivering a firefighting product into at least one region to be treated including the monitored power unit (41 to 44, 41F to 43F, 41R to 43R), characterized by the fact that the central unit (11) is associated with memory means (60) for storing the status of said sensors (31 to 34) and for storing commands for the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) and is associated with a lookup table (65) arranged to supply positional logical associations between each sensor means (31 to 34) and at least one of the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23), the lookup table (65) containing supplementary positional logical associations that indicate, for a least some of said sensor means (31 to 34), certain ones of the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) to be activated as backup, in the case of ineffectiveness of other ones of the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the central unit (11) is associated with time delay means (19) arranged for controlling issuance to the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) of supplementary countermeasure commands.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, in which the time delay means (19) are arranged to control readout of the supplementary associations in the lookup table (65).
4. The apparatus according to one of claims 2 and 3, in which the time delay means (19) are arranged to control readout, in the said table (65) of a history trace containing the status of the sensors (31 to 34) after certain ones of the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) have been activated, controlling activation as backup of firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23).
5. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the firefighting means include a least two firefighting product containers (20, 21) arranged to operate as mutual standby under the control of the central unit (11).
6. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the central unit (11) is arranged to cooperate with a panel (50) for monitoring and controlling the apparatus by a driver.
7. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the sensor means (31 to 34) are arranged for supplying, for one at least of the monitored units (41 to 44, 41F to 43F), a pre-alarm indication.
8. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the firefighting means include controllable redirecting means (22, 23), connected downstream of the product supply means (20, 21) for delivery thereof into the region to be treated.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, in which the redirecting means (22, 23) are arranged so that redirection can be controllably inhibited, in order to supply the product to a least two regions to be treated.
10. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which certain ones of the firefighting means (20, 22) are arranged to be secured underneath a trailer vehicle (2).
11. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 10, arranged to be fully carried by a trailer.
12. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the temperature sensing means include a pair of adjacent electrical conductor leads (131, 132), separated by a layer of insulating material (133), having a melting point at a reference threshold value, for establishing, should said threshold be exceeded, conduction between the two leads (131, 132), controlling activation of the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23).
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, in which the pair of leads (131, 132) is wound around a boom (156) for distributing the firefighting product.
14. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which a manual control button (56) for controlling the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) is provided, which is protected by a device for preventing untimely operation (141) thereof.
15. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 14, further including impact detecting means (101) provided for commanding the firefighting means (20, 21, 22, 23) via the centralized installation (10).
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, in which an output (122) is provided for inhibiting electrical circuits of the vehicle, controlled by the impact detecting means (101).
17. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 16, including radio means for alarm transmission to a monitoring station.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, in which the radio means are means for accessing a mobile phone network.
19. The apparatus according to one of claims 17 and 18, including means for determining the position of the apparatus and for transmitting data on the corresponding position to the radio means.

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