FR2620033A1 - Device for rapidly creating a continuous wet zone which can combat and extinguish forest fires in strong winds and during the night - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for creating lines of continuous wetness over the forestry terrain in the event of a fire in strong wind, which involves the rapid positioning of canvas hoses, divided into lengths of 5 to 10 m, provided with special connectors which can be fixed to the ground by means of a specially designed stake. Furthermore, these connectors carry a special water spray 5 which gives a vertical fan-shaped jet so that the wind distributes the moisture over the surrounding zone in order to create a non-inflammable barrier which will remain even when the fire arrives. Figure 1: 1 hoses, 2 male attachments, 3 spray, 4 collar for the stake, 5 orifice of the spray, 6 top handle, 7 screw for disassembling the spray. It can create lines of continuous moistness over a length of 500 metres, on pre-established paths. The sprays are supplied from a tank in hilly terrain and by motor-driven pumps and fire engines in other cases.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for sweating,
on pre-established lines forest fires by wind
strong both day and night.

The pre-established lines consist of special pipes
studied and built, easily transportable, cost
moderate and that the common hunt may have in autoncmie.

The hoses are those used by firefighters, canvas
E high resistance, non-combustible, divided into lengths
from 5 to 10 meters depending on the density of the vegetation.

the diameter of the pipes is related to the length of
the line and the number of diffusers. A 500 meter line
and 50 diffusers must have a 50m / m diameter pipe.

 The pipes are fitted at the ends with the usual fasteners.

The pipes are not connected to each other normally but
by 1? by means of a special fitting. (fig. 1
The base of this metal fitting widens by
side (right or left doesn't matter) like a
collar, so that it is possible to fix it on the ground
by means of a special pick hammered in. (fig. 4)
The same fitting is @ removed, on its upper part, with a
removable special water diffuser (fig. 6-11), designed for
produce a vertical fan-shaped water jet.

The water jet must reach a sufficient height to
allow the dP wind to spread the water as well as possible
in the surrounding brushwood.

The hydrostatic pressure required is 3-5 bars at
minimum. With this pressure the 50 m / m # hose can
give 502 liters per minute so the 50 diffusers give
10 liters per minute each.

A second line i continuous humidity with 50 diffusers
over 500 meters can be installed parallel to the
previous at a suitable distance (50 meters) and
thus of several lines so as to create a zone of wood
We can humidify in case of fire.

The advantage of continuous humidity lines is the ease
transport. Similar, fixed, metal lines of a
permanently on the ground, impede the passage, risk the
dimming or deregulation of diffusers, equipment takes rust, thieves etc.

D @ more continuous humidity lines can be placed
1 or they are necessary.

Three men can place a 500 meter line and the
fire on the ground within a quarter of an hour.

 Here is 1 related description them figures from N I to NO 11.

 Te fi .1 shows the special fitting in perspective.

I brass pipe 50 m / m in diameter
2 normal attachment for firefighters (built-in)
3 diffuser @ removable.

 4 collar to fix the fitting to the ground on the ground.

 5 crack in the water fan in vertical fan.

6 gripping crest to orient the crack
7 screws to fix the diffuser
8 trim ring
9 hydrodinamic funnel of the epu diffuser.

In some special cases a three-mouth fitting may be useful. One of the vents must have a built-in cover. The connection with three outlets gives the possibility of a deviation from the i 900 line.

 the crack of the water diffuser at a variable width from m / m 0.3 to m / m 0.8 depending on the pressure. The angle of the water fan is on average 400.

 The three possibilities of continuous humidity lines.

 I The wooded hills.

With the systems currently used for the fight against
the great forest fires, the presence of the hills repre
feels an obstacle for airplanes as for self-pumps.

On the contrary @, with continuous humidity lines, a hill
offers the possibility of establishing a wetland without having to use self-pumps or airplanes.

Just tap the water tanks located on the top
hills, to sprinkle them with a descending metal pipe
it supplies fire hydrants. A mouth must
match an open trail in the undergrowth
This path must be isohypsic, i.e. always at the
same height.

Transportable lines must be plastered in case of fire
on isohypsir paths.

The bottom line should be the first. To make it work
diffusers is enough open your mouth i key to the
cistern. The hydrostatic pressure due to the height difference is more than sufficient to operate the entire system. The bottom line, the one that must face the
fire, at the highest pressure.

Currently existing water tanks, in the event of large forest fires, are abandoned due to smoke
and 12 heat. With this new strategy, the colli
nes turn into points of strength against fire.

Figure N I2 represents a hill with three @ lines at
continuous humidity. The lines can be 4-5.
between the lines will be adjusted @ with practice. Must remember
nir nue it is the first line yes errete the front had fire.

The other lines are used to stop the new, provoked fires
per lFs glowing embers, so he was to space them out
a certain distance from the first, 50 or even 100 meters.

Dens fig.N 12 i) is the tank yes must have a capacity of 200,000 liters. The water supply can be done by means of auto-cisterns during the winter or by rainwater if the hill is higher and higher or by the direct supply to the network of drinking water s 'it exists. Number 2 is the buried downspout, with fire hydrants at each @@ ntier. For 5 lines it must have a diameter of 200 mm and give 5000 liters per minute. The number 3 is the last line while naked the number
ro 5 is the first line, the one which has to face the fire and which, because of the hydrostatinous pressure is the most then
health.

The line closest to the tank must be at least 30 meters below to have sufficient hydrostatic pressure @ to operate the diffusers (3 bar).

Fig. 13 minutes how the fire performs in the mountainous regions considerable jumps from one hill to another.

With continuous humidity lines this possibility is eliminated at the start.

20 Small lakes.

The presence of a small lake in the forest can be a decisive defense against fire.

It’s enough to have pumped trailer pumps capable of drawing water from the lake to supply a continuous humidity line that must be fixed to the ground on a pre-established path in the forest.
The motor pump must have sufficient power to give 500 liters per minute! for a 50 mm diameter hose and a continuous humidity line of 500 hose length 50 mm bolsters and 50 diffusers at 10 liters per minute.

A small lake 30 meters wide and 30 meters long with a depth of 2 meters contains 1,800,000 liters of water.

This enormous availability of water has not been used rationally for the fight against forest fires.

With several motor pumps, as shown in the drawing (fig I4)
where 1? number 1 is the small lake, the 6 the motor-pump sirens, the 5 12 first line against the fire, the 4 and the 3 the other lines, it becomes possible @ to establish a decisive dam against any forest fire.

Fig. 15 shows an overall view of the humidity barrier, created by three motor pumps.

This system can very well be used for private properties.

In the case of swimming pools @ villas, a single motor pump would be very efficient with a continuous humidity line with a few three-mouth fittings.

Once naked the motor-pumps work, one can shelter from the smoke in a protected place at the arrival of the fire.

30 The self-pumps.

Self-pumps can organize a very elastic defense with continuous humidity lines.

the important thing is to establish in advance a series of paths which cut through strategically valid places from the point of view of forest fire in relation to the usual wind.

 Once the trails are open and in case of danger, auto pumps @ with 5000 liters of water and a small trailer loaded with a continuous humidity line with fittings and peaks) could organize a line on the trails before the arrival of the fire.

the diffusers of a line for auto-pump can give only 5 liters per minute on a line this 250 meter.

The 25 diffusers need 125 liters per minute
The auto pump must have this capability.

It is the hydraulicians yes must settle the ouestion according to the circumstances.

If the diffusers are operated 10 minutes before the fire arrives, there will be a total of 50 liters of water well distributed in the undergrowth with the help of the wind.

In fig 16 there are three pre-established paths A, B, C between the two routes R1 and R2. Pumps are stopped on roads at AP points
In fig I7 M it is a house. In AP the auto-pump yes has fixed a line with fittings and three outlets (R)
The house @ and the pump are protected by the continuous humidity line @
THE MANY ADVANTAGES OF THE CONTINUOUS MOISTURE LINE SYSTEM
I) No risk to life and possibility of organizing it through the intervention of firefighters.

2) It is the only system that uses the force of the vPnt to diffuse the water mixed with the retarder and therefore extinguish the fire.

3) Operates wherever it is the force of the wind, so day or night when the planes cannot intervene.

4) Fears neither smoke nor heat. the tubes are non-combustible and the diffusers continue to operate when the fire is on them and also continue afterwards, to eliminate the smallest foci, the location of which always takes a long time.

5) Is also applicable in regions far from the sea and large lakes where aircraft intervention is very slow.

6) In mountainous areas, the system has the advantage of using the hydrostatic pressure.

7) @e does not require specialized personnel, such as aircraft pilots, and the maintenance of tubes and fittings is extremely simple.

8) Possibility of organizing a defense of inhabited places without having to wait for the firefighters.

9) Possibility of making a joint action plan in collaboration with the aviohs.

10) Given the moderate cost of continuous humidity lines, all municipalities can have one or more facilities and establish a particular strategy in relation to the nature of their own land.

 The only system to stop large forest fires overnight.

One day there will inevitably be a strong Mistral during the summer night after a period of drought
It will then be a catastrophe.

It is therefore necessary to prepare a preventive defense system similar to a fortified military line with the important difference that fire is not intelligent, it does not have a General Ouardier who can look for the weak points of the fortified line,
With the trensportable contained humidity lines it is possible, in a month of work, to make a decisive defense yes can protect the most important points of the Cte d'Azur thanks to the fire-resistant hills, the lakes, the pre-established paths and a trail system at strategically designated points.

The economic point of view.

 With the price out costs a single Canadair and its maintenance, we can build a barrage of continuous humidity lines with a length of 200 km and a width of 250 meters.

All this means 5000 hectares of non-combustible wood.

However, the price of brush cutting of 5,000 hectares (between I0,000 and I5,000 frs per hectare) is 50-75 million francs.

The price of mechanical brushcutting, very fast, costs 40,000 francs per hectare and for 5,000 hectares makes a total of 200 million francs.

Every 3-5 years the debrouss illage is to be redone.

So the advantages of a line defense system with continuous humidity are obvious.

Claims (3)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S 1) Device for diffusing continuous humidity in wooded areas during fires with strong wind, by means of a series of canvas pipes, connected to each other by means of special fittings (fig. I-2-3) so as to be able form variable alignments according to the shape of the terrain and adapted to the defense circumstances (fig. 13-14-15-16-17) 2) Connections for the pipes (fig. 1-2-3) in reference to claim 1 characterized by having a yes base widens (4) on the side in the form of a collar to allow passage a pick (fig.5) designed to fix the fitting itself firmly to the ground (fig. 4). 3) Connections for pipes referring to the claim I and 2, characterized by being equipped with a water diffuser (fig. 6-7-8-9-10-ll) which produces a vertical fan jet yes arrives at a height sufficient to exploit the force of the wind to diffuse the humidity in the undergrowth and the surrounding brushwood.