GB2336776A

GB2336776A - Mobile robotic fire fighting equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2336776A
Application number: GB9809036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ching-Wei Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-02
Filing date: 1998-04-28
Publication date: 1999-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-28
Also published as: GB2336776B; GB9809036D0; DE19800093A1; FR2778110B1; FR2778110A1; JPH11206903A

Abstract

Unmanned robotic fire equipment 10 comprises a mobile vehicle 11 with an ejector 20 comprising a rotatable member 23 with a spray gun 24 for supply of a fire extinguishing agent onto a fire. The mobile vehicle 11 typically has a lifting device 12 for the ejector 20 and a monitoring device 30.

Description

2336776 UNMANNED FIRE EQUIPMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a fire equipment, and more particularly to an unmanned fire equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fireman's job is extremely hazardous such that he is constantly subjected to an unpredictable predicament, and that he may be burned, hit by a falling debris, or overcome by a toxic fume, and further that he may be fatally injured. In addition, there is often a great deal of shortage of firemen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an unmanned fire equipment consisting of a locomotive device, an ejector, 1 and a remote control mernber. The ejector is mounted on the locomotive device which is operated automatically by remote control for carrying the ejector to the fire site where a fire extinguishing agent is sprayed on the fire by the ejector.

The foregoing objective, features and functions of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an ejector of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic side and top views of the ejector at work according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the second preferred embodiment of the present Invention at work.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an unmanned fire equipment 1 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of a locomotive device 10, an ejector 20, a monitoring device 30, and a control member 40.

The locomotive device 10 is electrically driven and composed of a main body 11, a lifting device 12, and a plurality of batteries 13. The main body 11 is provided with four whe'els 111 enabling the main body 11 to move in all directiong. The lifting device 12 is mounted on the main body 11 and is provided on the top thereof with a seat 12 1. The batteries 13 are mounted on the main body 11 such that they are connected in series for providing the locomotive device 10 with the power source.

The ejector 20 consists of a connection tube 22, a rotary member 23, and a spray gun 24. The connection tube 22 is mounted on the seat 121 of the lifting device 12 and is provided at the inlet end thereof with two hose connectors 221. The rotary member 23 has a horizontal rotary tube 231 which is fastened pivotally at the inlet end thereof with the outlet end of the connection tube 22 and at the outlet end thereof with the inlet end of a vertical rotary tube 232. A spray gun 24 is fastened at 3 the inlet end thereof with the outlet end of the vertical rotary tube 232.

The inlet ends of the horizontal and the vertical rotary tubes 23 1 and 232 are provided with a chain wheel 233 or 234 for linking with a transmission motor 236 or 237. The spray gun 24 is in communication with the hose connectors 221 for spraying water or fire extinguishing agent on the fire.

The power of batteries 13 is made available to the motor 237 by means of a conductive ring 238 located at the inlet end of the horizontal rotary tube 231. The motors 236, 237 and the conductive ring 238 are shielded by a protective cover 239.

The monitoring device 30 consists of a telephoto camera 31, a standard camera 32, and a shield 33. The cameras 31 and 32 transmit the radio signals to a remote displayer enabling the fire fighters to understand the situation at the fire site.

The control member 40 is mounted on the main body 11 of the locomotive device 10 and is composed of control switches and circuits for controlling remotely the operation of the locomotive device 10, the ejector 20, and the monitoring device 30.

In operation, the unmanned fire equipment 1 of the present invention is brought to the fire site. The hose connectors 221 of the connection tube 22 are first connected with the source of a fire extinguishing agent, such as water or chemicals. The spray gun 24 is started to spray water in the vicinity of the unmanned fire equipment 1 to keep the temperature down. In the meantime, the motors 236 and 237 are 4 started to actuate the horizontal rotary tube 23 1 and the vertical rotary tube 232, so as to control the rotation of the spray gun 24. With the help of the monitoring device 30, the fire fighter is able to position the spray gun 24 strategically by manipulating the lifting device 12 by remote control.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an unmanned fire equipment 2 of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of a locomotive device 50, an ejector 60, a monitoring device 70, and a control member 80.

The locomotive device 50 consists of a main body 5 1, four wheels 52, a motor 53, a transmission system (not shown in the drawings), and a plurality of batteries 54 as power source for driving the locomotive device 50.

The ejector 60 has a connection tube 61 which is mounted on the main body 5 1.

The monitoring device 70 consists of cameras and an image smoke sensor (not shown in the drawings).

The control member 80 is mounted on the locomotive device 50 and provided with control switches and circuits for executing the remote control of the locomotive device 50, the spray gun 62 of the ejector 60 and the monitoring device 70.

The unmanned fire equipment 2 of the second preferred embodiment is different in design from the unmanned fire equipment 1 of the first preferred embodiment in that the former is provided with four wheels 52 which are designed to run on two elevated tracks 90 set up in a factory. The unmanned fire equipment 2 is kept on the tracks 90 as a standby. The image smoke sensor of the monitoring device 70 is intended to render assistance in identifying the most effective spot to spray water or chemicals.

6

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An unmanned fire equipment comprising an automatic locomotive device, and an ejector mounted on said locomotive device and provided with a rotary member and a rotary spray gun for spraying a fire extinguishing agent on a fire.

2. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein said locomotive device consists of a main body, a lifting device mounted on said main body, and a plurality of batteries connected in series and mounted on said main body as power source for driving said main body, and said lifting device.

3. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 2, wherein said lifting device consists of a scat located at a top thereof for mounting 1 cj A connect-on tube is a connection tube of sa-d -ector such that sal 1 provided at an inlet end thereof with two water hose connectors, and that said connection tube is fastened pivotally at an outlet end thereof with an inlet end of a horizontal rotary tube of said rotary member of said ejector, said horizontal rotary tube being fastened pivotally at an outlet end thereof with an inlet end of a vertical rotary tube of said rotary member.

4. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 3, wherein said horizontal rotary tube and said vertical rotary tube are provided respectively at the inlet end thereof with a chain wheel linked with a motor by a chain so as to enable said rotary spray gun to rotate in all directions.

5. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 4, wherein 7 said horizontal rotary tube is provided at the outlet end thereof with a conductive ring for transt-nitting power source of said batteries to said motor mounted on said vertical rotary tube.

6. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in clain-i 5, wherein said conductive ring and said motor are shielded by a protective cover.

7. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device having a standard camera and a telephoto camera for transmitting radio signals for providing information on a fire.

8. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 1 further comprising a control member provided with switches and circuits for executing the remote control of said locomotive device, said ejector and said monitoring device.

9. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 7, wherein said monitoring device is provided with an image smoke sensor.

10. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein said locomotive device is provided with a plurality of wheels fastened therewith.

11. The unmanned fire equipment as defined in claim 10, wherein said locomotive device is provided with a plurality of wheels fastened therewith to run on two elevated tracks located on the floor of a structure.

8 -912. An unmanned fire equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.