ES2255414A1 - Heli-transported forest fire extinguishing system, has spherical device divided into two separate chambers by elastic diaphragm - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a spherical device partitioned into two separate chambers, one filled with pressurized gas and the other with fire extinguishing liquid, by an elastic diaphragm. A remote controlled electronic valve regulates discharge of liquid by pressure.

Description

Forest fire extinguishing system Helitransported

It is a device with characteristics new ones that favor a rational and effective strategy.

Fires are currently fighting since air with small planes, special planes Canadair and with helicopters transporting water in two different ways. Deposit solidarity ventral and suspended bag called Bambi.

The described procedures present problems of risk of human lives and very limited effectiveness, since the aircraft encounter visibility difficulties, turbulence that compromise lift and approach, hot air ascending that disperses and evaporates the water and ultimately, the proportion of water that reaches the ground is low and even less it falls where it is needed at the right time and it is also impossible the desirable continuity, which is what really puts out the fire, by bring the entire mass down in temperature dramatically in combustion.

With the present invention it is intended to eliminate the risk of lives and take advantage of all the water in optimal terms.

Both claims are achieved as follows form: After an analysis of the fire and its individuals circumstances by the technicians, a strategy is designed and determine the line or front where you are going to wait for the fire, with the maximum factors favorable to firefighters and debilitating fire. It may well be a firewall, a road, a river, etc.

While a part of forest mass, the spheres are being transported by helicopter from the base, while collaborating in transportation means terrestrial as long as the terrain allows. As the helicopters, deposit the spheres online at a distance each other overlapping the projection fans of each with the adjoining ones, forming a wide fringe of foam uninterrupted

In case of extremely virulent fire, it they can align more spheres in parallel forming a second cord if necessary activate it.

Once the line of spheres is installed, it is removed firefighters in the danger zone and the director of the operation from a helicopter, at a safe distance, ordering the setting in operation of each sphere with a remote control.

There is no feature history similar to this invention that are known.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to a system of extinguishing helitransported forest fires, which characterized in that it comprises a propellant gas tank, formed by an elastic partition or diaphragm that divides the deposit in two halves or chambers of variable volume and supplementary, both at the same pressure, a higher half intended to contain water or mixture of water and foam and a lower half intended to house air, a sprinkler, whose opening is controlled by a solenoid valve, a receiver of a remote control, a thermal sensor that activates the solenoid valve, a fitting with a manually operated valve, the which is connected to a water dispenser or the mixture of water and foam, the whole being supported by a base that allows the optimal orientation of the set at all times after its orientation and fixation through knobs.

According to the invention, the system of forest firefighting is also characterized by the fact that the lower half of the tank incorporates a valve for filling of said half with pressurized air, as well as a pressure gauge for control air pressure and the amount of water or water more Foam present in the upper half of the tank.

In addition, an additional feature of the system object of the invention is that in its upper part it incorporates a ring or similar that allows the set to be suspended for subsequent transport and deposition in the desired place.

In the following a form of preferred embodiment of the invention, including the mode of operation of the system, which must be understood as merely illustrative and not at all limiting of the invention.

The only figure in the drawings shows, in view in side cut, the forest fire extinguishing system according to the invention. This system consists essentially of a reservoir (16) capable of withstanding internal pressure, preferably spherical. This deposit (16) houses in your inside a rubber diaphragm (8) that divides its capacity into two separate halves, of variable and supplementary volume, which they remain at the same pressure thanks to the elasticity of the diaphragm (8). The lower chamber (16b) is filled with pressurized air by a valve (12) existing in the south pole. Due, the diaphragm (8) is sagging upwards while the Outflow of air contained in the upper chamber (16a). Then the diaphragm (8) adopts a convex shape. This diaphragm, in the embodiment shown, it is anchored to the tank by means of a tab (9).

Subsequently, the upper chamber is filled (16a) with water or mixture of water and suitable foam. By overcoming the water pressure to that of the air in the lower chamber (16b), the diaphragm was sagging down, confining the mass of air in a Small volume at high pressure.

The advantages of this diaphragm (8) are, on the one hand, that when completely emptied, the mass of air pressurized do not miss and, on the other, that to recharge the enough tank with a water pump and it is not necessary also a air compressor. Likewise, in the probable case that fill in full fire and the amount of water available is not enough to complete the total capacity of all systems, you can do a partial recharge and thanks to the camera Pressurized air, have sufficient pressure to produce foam, with the precise reach. In this way, it can be then reused in another area of the same fire or in it, once dominated, connecting a hose to soak the area and prevent eventual regrowth.

The system incorporates the following externally elements: on its north pole it has a ring (2) for anchoring with a cable and to be able to deposit it on the ground or pick it up.

A sprinkler (7) adjustable in degrees of fan, mounted on and controlled by an electrovalve (4) that receives the opening order of a radio receiver (3) with a frequency specific to each unit.

A fitting (5) with actuating valve (6) manual used to let air out of the upper chamber (16a) in the air filling phase, to fill with water and foam and to connect, if interested, a hose.

A thermal sensor (1) so that if by any reason, the fire will approach the system without it having been activated, the sensor sends the opening order to the solenoid valve and so work automatically

In the lower half it has a valve (12) for fill with pressure air, with a pressure gauge being provided (11) control and a base (17) that is designed to compensate the irregularities of the land, maintaining the verticality. For this, said base (17) is formed by a body that embraces the sphere, without being in solidarity with it, that is, allowing the sphere turn freely in all directions. This base (17) incorporates a handle (13) and a housing (15) for the pressure gauge (11). By On the other hand, each arm incorporates a knob (10) that immobilizes the deposit once oriented.

Without pretending to be limiting, and merely to optional title, the different system components could be of the form and materials described below:

Deposit (16) : under the guidelines regulated by the Pressure Apparatus Regulation, the shape is preferably spherical since this geometric shape in the calculation of wall thickness yields a lower value and thus the weight is reduced and in the case of Hanging transport of the helicopter is aerodynamically neutral and the location of the center of gravity is sufficiently favorable.

Diaphragm (8) : it is made of an elastic material. Its resting shape is hemispherical so that under load conditions it is not subject to tension. It must be anchored by a flange (9) or similar that at the time of welding of the hemispheres prevents heat from deteriorating it.

Sprinkler (7) : The width of the cone that forms the jet can be adjusted to suit each case.

Remote control receiver (3) : its function is to send a signal to the solenoid valve (4) for opening. The transmission of the command to the receiver is not limited to radio waves with specific frequency for each device, but can also be by laser beam, ultrasound, etc.

Claims (3)

1. Helitransported forest fire extinguishing system, which is characterized in that it comprises a tank (16) of propellant gas, consisting of an elastic partition or diaphragm (8) that divides the tank (16) into two chambers of variable and supplementary volume , both at the same pressure, an upper chamber (16a) intended to contain water or mixture of water and foam and a lower chamber (16b) intended to house air, a sprinkler (7), whose opening is controlled by an electrovalve ( 4), a receiver of a remote control (3), a thermal sensor (1) that activates if necessary the solenoid valve (4), a fitting (5) with a manually operated valve (6), which is connected to a dispenser (14) of the water or of the mixture of water and foam, the assembly being supported by a base (17) that allows the optimum orientation of the assembly at all times after its orientation and fixation through knobs (10). 2. Extinguishing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower chamber (16b) of the tank (16) incorporates a valve (12) for filling said chamber with pressurized air, as well as a pressure gauge (11) for controlling the air pressure and the amount of water or water plus foam present in the chamber (16a) of the tank (16). 3. Extinguishing system according to claim 1, characterized in that in its upper part it incorporates a ring (2) or the like that allows the assembly to be suspended for subsequent transport and deposition in the desired place.