US2359573A

US2359573A - Means for fighting forest fires

Info

Publication number: US2359573A
Application number: US479045A
Authority: US
Inventors: Denver R Mackay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-03-13
Filing date: 1943-03-13
Publication date: 1944-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1961-10-03

Description

I D. R. M cKAY 2,359,573

MEANS FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES Filed March 13, 1-943 INVENTOR 05/71 52 A. flQ/M/(A v BY Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MEANS FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES I Denver R. MacKay, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application March 13, 1943, Serial No. 479,045

3 Claims.

My invention relates to chemical bombs, and while adapted for various uses where area distribution of chemical gases for various purposes is desired it is more particularly adapted for use in combatting fires from airplanes.

The invention has for its main object the provision of an improved bomb to be dropped from airplanes upon fire areas to spread fire' smothering gases thereover for the purpose of extinguishing the flames. Another object is to provide a bomb of the character referred to which is of simple, compact and inexpensive structure, and easily and safely handled, and automatic in its operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the illustrated embodiment thereof, wherein;

Fig. 1 is an exterior side elevational view of a bomb of the invention in an inoperative collapsed condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but in an operative infiated condition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an element of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view showing the preferred application of the invention.

The invention embodies primarily an inflatable and normally collapsed bag I which is formed preferably of flexible material, such as rubber. Integral rib portions II for reinforcing the bag are provided. At one end of the bag is a neck [2 having an opening I3 leading into the interior I4 of the bag. Secured in the neck I2 by any suitable means such as the strap I5 is a weighted plug [6 which carries a container II by means of the support l8 extending interiorly of the bag II).

The invention contemplates the use of chemical solutions such as sulphuric acid and bicarbonate of soda solution which when admixed will produce a fire-extinguishing gas which is heavier than air.

In using the invention to fight a fire which would otherwise be remote from adequate fire control facilities, an airplane previously equipped with bombs of the invention is dispatched to the scene. The bombs may be either in assembled or unassembled condition, but it is preferred to carry the bombs in unassembled condition. Thus the plane will be equipped with a supply of the various parts of the bombs to be assembled by an attendant during the flight to the fire area. In assembling the bombs a portion of soda solution is first placed in the bottom of the bag In,

and a portion of the acid solution is placed in the container I1, and the latter is then snapped onto the support I8 by means of resilient fingers 20 extending from the support. The plug lBis then secured into the neck l2 of the normally collapsed bag It! by the strap I5, in the position as shown in Fig. 3, with the opening 2| of the container I! held upwardly to prevent the acid from running out and causing a premature admixture of the chemicals. Any desired number of these bombs may be so prepared while the plane is on its way to the fire area. A book 22 is provided in the plug by which the prepared bombs may be hung up in the position as illustrated by Fig. 1 upon any suitable support means, such as a wire 23 carried within the plane 'interior. i

When the plane is approaching the fire area, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the attendant begins throwing the bombs out of the plane. The forces of gravity acting upon the weighted plug l6 turns the bag over to the attitude shown in Fig. 2, thus releasing the acid solution from the container I! to mix with the soda solution in the bag In, thereby generating the flame smothering gas which accumulates in the bag, causing it to expand as the gas is generated. The ribs ll' exert a restraining effort upon the expansion of the bag causing the gasto be somewhat compressed. The bombs float down toward the fire area, and upon striking trees or other sharp objects, or upon contacting the flames of the fire the bag becomes ruptured thereby releasing the gas to smother the flames. Other general applications of the invention where fire is a hazard, such as in homes, industrial plants, etc., are believed obvious. The prepared bomb may be hung by the hook 22 in any strategic place, and thus if a flre should start the bomb may be readily removed from the support and turned over to cause a mixture of the chemicals to form the fire-smothering gas. Then the bomb may be thrown into the flames which will rupture the bag and release the gas to smother the fire.

Various adjustments may be made to either retard or speed the generation of gas within the bomb. One method is to vary the size of the opening 2| of the acid container [1. Another method is to vary the quantity of either or both of the chemicals. The bag may be made to be self-rupturing by supplying enough chemicals therein to generate gas in excess of the capacity of the bag, whereby the thinner wall sections of the bag between the ribs II will burst under the gas pressure.

Thus the invention provides an improved fire fighting or other gas laying means, comprising a flexible container which is adapted to be stored in an airplane or the like within a minimum of space prior to arrival at the dispensing point. Upon arrival at the dispensing point the container may be simply discharged from the carrying vehicle whereupon it will automatically assume an inverted attitude resulting in mixing of the gas generating reagents. As the gas generating process proceeds the container expands to accommodate the generated gas, thus assuming a greatly enlarged condition at a time when space consumption is no detriment, and whereby the generated gas is retained by the-elastic bag against wasteful dispersion thereof. Upon arrival at the land area over which it is desired to dispense the gas the gas bag is in such elastically distorted condition as to be adapted to be ruptured with extreme facility, as in response to slight. contact with any hard object or in responseto the gas pressure forces which may be arranged to exceed the strength of the bag material. Thus, upon rupturing of the bag the gas isfinally delivered to the desired land area in the formrof a blanketlof concentrated gas which is adapted to smother the area andto displace therefrom the, suppl of air normally surroundingthe same.

. It will also be understood that the bomb of the inventioncan be used to distribute, chamical warfaregases over battle areas by following the loading and dispensing technique described hereinabove; and, that although the bomb herein illustrated and described ismerely one embodiment of theinventive principles thereof, the invention may be applied to other physical embodiments without. departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention claimed.

I claim:

1. An inflatable aerial bomb for distributing fire smothering gas over fire areas comprising, in combination, a normally collapsed bag having an opening therein, weightedmeans for sealing said opening, said weighted means having container. means associated therewith for holding a gas producing chemical agent, a second chemical agent contained in said bag separate from said first chemical agent when the bag is supported in upright attitude but which when admixed with said first chemical agent is adapted to react therewith to produce a heavier than air fire extinguishing gas for smothering fires, said weighted means being adapted to cause said bag to assume an inverted attitude when said bag is released in the air to provide admixture of the chemical agents to produce gas to inflate said bag during descension thereof toward a fire area, said bag being adapted to become ruptured upon contact with solid objects to allow said gas to spread over the fire area to smother the fire.

2'. Anaerial'bomb for fighting fires, comprising in combination a flexible inflatable bag adapted to carry a chemical supply therein and having a wall portion adapted to rupture upon tearing contact with ground objects, a separate openmouthed chamical container supported normally within said bag for withholding its chemical contents from mixing with thefirst mentioned chemical supply Within said bag, and means for causing said bomb to tilt when jettisoned from an aircraft or the like and to thereby upset said chemical container to provide mixing of said first'and second mentioned chemicals for generation of a fire extinguishing gas.

3. A rubber balloon-like aerial bomb for distributing flame smothering gas over fire areas, comprising a normally collapsed flexible bag adapted to receive a supply of loose chemical material therein, an open-mouthed container 1 mounted within said bag for holding a second chemical normallyseparate from the first mentioned chemical within said bag when said bag is in an upright attitude, and means associated with said bag for causing it to automatically tilt upon being discharged from a moving vehicle or the like and upsetting the chemical contents from said container for mixing thereof with the first mentioned chemical for producing aflame smothering gas tending to inflate said bag; said bag being rupturable when coming into puncturing contact with ground objects for releaseofthe flame smothering gas therefrom.