US2895693A

US2895693A - Fire fighting airplane

Info

Publication number: US2895693A
Application number: US535818A
Authority: US
Inventors: Socrates G Portias
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-09-22
Filing date: 1956-09-22
Publication date: 1959-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-21

Description

July 21, 1959 s. G. Pom-IAS FIRE FIGHTING AIRPLANE Filed Sept. 22, 1956 7 Wi/V741. .fam/rif v50/F7441,

2,895,693` FIGHTING AI'RPLANE Socrates G. Portias, Los Angeles, Calif. Application september z2, 1956, seal No. 535,818

Claims.` (ci. 244-136) This invention relates to a fire ghting airplane for use particularly on forest and brush fires, and where a fire usually covers a considerable area and primarily Aalong a rather definite line.

An object of my invention is to so construct an' airplane that a plurality of water filled bags can be mounted within the bomb bay, so that'the bags maybe readily released and dropped from 'above into the re on the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel fire fighting airplane in which the water filled Ybags are formed of a breakable material which willreadily tear, break, or shatter on impact with the ground so that the water therein will be spilled over a considerable area.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel fire fighting airplane of the character stated, in which the water filled bags are formed of a waterproof paper, the paper bag being positioned within a net for theA purpose of externally reinforcing the bag. Also this nettingl may be impregnated within the material of the bag wall for the purpose of reinforcing the same.

Still another object is to provide a novel means of rapidly filling the various bags positioned within the bomb hay of the airplane.

Still another object is to provide a novel fire fighting airplane of the character stated, in which the water yfilled bags are mounted in a novel mannerand may be released either manually or automatically as might be found to be most expedient. i i f Other'objects, ladvantages andfeatures of' invention may appear from the accompanying drawing," the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

v In the drawing: l

Figure l is a top plan view of an airplane embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the bag mounting and releasing mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates an airplane of any satisfactory type, which includes a bomb bay 2. 'Ihe bomb bay 2 is any suitable enclosure within the fuselage of the airplane and provided with suitable openings or doors 3 3 at the bot-tom which can be opened by the pilot to permit the water filled bags within the bomb bay to be dropped, as will be subsequently described. The operation of the openings or doors 3-3 is usual and well known and the details of this actuating mechanism forms no part of this invention. Positioned within the bomb bay 2 is a manifold 4 formed of suitable pipe and extending substantially the entire length of the bomb bay. The manifold 4 is fixedly mounted within the bomb bay in a suitable manner, so that it will support the considerable weight of a plurality of breakable bags filled with water and which may be hung therefrom. A plurality of spaced nozzles 5 extend from the manifold 4 and the upper open end of a bag 6 is fitted over the nozzle 5 with a slip fit. The

fice

bags 6 are each formed of a breakable, tearable, 'of shatterable material which is waterproof and will, there; fore, contain a considerable quantity of water. The bags 6 are all filled when the airplane is on the ground and all ofthe bags on the manifold are simultaneously filled with water from the filling system subsequently described.y

To increase the strength of the wall of the bag it may be enclosed in a net or netting material 7 which Willca'y the load of the water therein during the transportation period, and will still permit -therbag to tear or break on impact with the ground and permit the water contents to scatter over a considerable area. The bags 6 are each supported on a nozzle 5 by means of a hook 8 which is mounted or formed on the nozzle. The bag may be provided with a rope loop 9 which ts over the hook 8, thus supporting the bag on the nozzle 5 and permitting the bag to be released either by cutting or breaking the rope 9, or by tilting the hook 8. If the hook 8 is tilted it is pivotally mounted on the nozzle 5, as shown at 10, and is formed with an upwardly projecting finger 11. A latch 12` is pivotally mounted on the nozzle 5 adjacent the hook 8 and this latch engages the finger l1 in one position of that finger. The latch 12 is pivoted to release the finger 11 and thus release the hook 8 for rotation to drop the bag 6. This action of the latch 12 is accomplished by a solenoid 13, or other electrical means to which the electrical wires 14 extend, and a suitable control (not shown) such as a switch or button is actuated by the operator to drop one or all of the bags 6 into the fire, as may be desired.

The bags 6 are simultaneously filled on the ground from ythe manifold 4 through a pair of headers 15-16 which are preferably mounted on each side of the bomb bay 2, and each header is provided with a fitting 17 and 18' to which a hose 19 can be attached for the purpose of rapidly filling all of the bags 6 through the manifold`4. Afplurality of conduits 20-21 extend from the headers 15-16, respectively, into the manifold 4, thus rapidly distributingthe water from the header into the manifold and thence into each of the dropable bags 6. When the bags 6 are dropped the bomb bay doors 3 are open and any Water in the manifold 4, headers 15--16, etc., will spill out through these doors. The manifold 4 is of considerable length and to fill this manifold and all of the bags 6 attached thereto the headers 15-16 and conduits 20-21 are provided. These'headers and conduits more effectively distribute the water throughout the length of theI manifold.

'In operation- While the plane is landed an operator attaches a hose 19 to one or both of the headers `15-16 and water is then forced through this hose. The Water distributes rapidly into the manifold 4. Before the water is turned on all of the bags 6 have been positioned on a nozzle 5 so that the bags are thus all filled and substantially simultaneously. The bags are all supported on a suitable loop 9 from a hook 8. The airplane now takes off and flies over the line of the fire and an attendant or the pilot can drop bags in sequence or simultaneously by either automatically releasing all of the hooks 8, or by releasing the hooks individually to space the bags properly along the line of fire and thus covering a large area of the fire.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold positioned within the bay area, conduit means extending to said manifold, said conduit means including a hose connection thereon, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water lled bag mounted on each of the nozzles, and supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon.

2. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold positioned within the bay area, conduit means extending to said manifold, said conduit means including a hose .Connection thereon, a plurality of nozzles onsaid manifold, a breakable water filled bag mounted ou each of the nozzles, and supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon, and releasing means-engaging the `supporting means to release a bag from said sopporting means.

3. A fire fighting airplane having a-n open bay area, a manifold positioned within the bay area, a header on the airplane adjacent 4the manifold, conduits ,extending from the header to the manifold, a hose fitting on the header, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water filled bag mounted on each of the nozzles, and supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon.

4. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, ,a manifold positioned within the bay area, a header on the airplane adjacent Vthe manifold, conduits extending from the header -to the manifold, a hose fitting on the header, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water filled bag vmounted on each of the nozzles, and supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon, and releasing means engaging the supporting means to lrelease a bag from said supporting means.

5. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, `a manifold positioned within the bay area, conduit means extending to said manifold, said conduit means including a hose connection thereon, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water filled bag mounted on each of the nozzles, and `supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon, said supporting means comprising a hook, and a thong on the bag looped over the hook to support said bag.

6. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold positioned within the bay area, conduit means extending to said manifold, said conduit means includinga hose 'connection thereon, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water filled bag mounted on each of the nozzles, and 'supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon, said supporting means comprisinga hook, and a thong on the bag looped over the hook to support said bag, said hook being pivotally mounted on the nozzle, latch means engaging the hook, and power operated means engaging the latch to release said latch from the hook.

7. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold positioned within the bay area, conduit means extending to said manifold, said conduit means including a hose connection thereon, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a -breakable water filled bag mounted on each of the nozzles, land supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon, each of the bags being formed of a breakable material, and a netting surrounding the bag and supporting the bag to prevent Vbreaking thereof prior to striking the ground.

8. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold ,positioned within 4the bay area, conduit means extending to said manifold,said conduit means including a hose connection thereon, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water filled bag mounted on each of the nozzles, and supporting means on each nozzle for a bag positioned thereon, each of the bags being formed of a breakable material, and a netting surrounding the bag and supporting the bag to prevent breaking thereof ,prior to striking the ground, and releasing means engaging the supporting means to release said supporting means and a bag from said supporting means.

9. A fire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold positioned within the bay area, a header on the airplane adjacent the manifold, conduits extending from the header to the manifold, a hose fitting on the header, a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water ifiiled 'bag vmounted on each of the nozzles, and supporting lmeans Aon each `nozzle for a bag ,positioned thereon, ,each 'of the bags being formed of breakable material, and a netting surrounding the bag and supporting the jbag to prevent 'breaking thereof prior to striking 'th'e ground.

-ll0. Afire fighting airplane having an open bay area, a manifold positioned within-the bay area, a header on the airplane adjacent the manifold, conduits extending from the header to the manifold, a 'hose fitting fon the header, `a plurality of nozzles on said manifold, a breakable water 'filled bag :mounted on 'each of the nozzles, and supporting imeanson each lnozzle for a bag positioned thereon, each of the "bags being formed of breakable materia-Land a netting -surrounding the bag and support n'g the bag to prevent breaking thereof prior to striking the ground, 'a 'hook being Ipivota'lly mounted on the noz- 'z-le, latch means engaging the hook, and 4power means engaging lthe :latch to release said latch from Ithe hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent STATES PATENTS 1,243,556 Reynolds et al Oct. 16, 1917 1,278,170 Koma sept. 1o, 191s 1,335,283 Graf et al. Mar. 30, 1920 1,997,669 Arcieri Apr. 16, 1935 2,284,650 Grant June 2, 1942 2,306,321 Roberts Dec. 22, 1942 VV2,359,573 ,MacKay Oct. 3, 1944 ,2,362,361 Davis Nov. 7, 1944 AFL'JREIGISI PATENTS 470,442 Canada Ian. 2, 1951