US3759330A

US3759330A - Fire extinguishing method

Info

Publication number: US3759330A
Application number: US00848248A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Rainey; M Schwartz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-07
Filing date: 1969-08-07
Publication date: 1973-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-18

Abstract

A method of extinguishing fires comprising providing a source of fire retardant flowable material near ground level and in substantial quantities, and conveying the fire retardant material to an airborne distributor for distributing the flowable material. The distributor is supported by an airborne vehicle and the conduit between the source and the distributor is rapidly set up utilizing aerial conveyance of the conduits.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Rainey et al.

[ 1 Sept.- 18, 1973' FIRE EXTINGUISHING METHOD [22] Filed: Aug. 7, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 848,248

521 U.S. (:1. 169/2 R, 169/13, 169/16 51 Int. Cl. A62c 3/00 58 Field 61 Search 169/2 R, 2 A, 13, 169/16; 239/171, 195, 197, 198, 199; 244/136 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1,523,926 1/1925 Ypma, 169/2 1,953,331 4/1934 Armstrong 169/2 2,266,334 12/1941 Rice 239/195 X 2,634,165 4/1953 Murphy 244/136 x 2,779,421 1/1957 Rust 169/1 3,273,651 9/1966 Andrews... 169/2 X 3,381,922 5/1968 Laing 239/171 X 3,485,302 12/1969 Thorpe 169/2 3,372,872 3/1968 Le Bus et al 239 2 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS OTHER PUBLICATIONS Equipment Development Report No. 44 published by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Division, and titled Improved Fire Hose Dispensing Tray for Helicopters," by Arcadia Equipment Development Center, Arcadia, California, dated Nov., 1956, cover page and pages 8, 9, 1O, 18 and A-3 relied on for rejection.

Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Attorney-Smyth, Roston & Pavitt 571 ABSTRACT tween the source and the distributor is rapidly set up utilizing aerial conveyance of the conduits.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,330

FIRE EXTINGUISHING METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Forest fires often occur in remote areas where it is most difficult to obtain access to the fire. ln fire danger areas, the sources of fire retardant material may be remote from the fire. These factors combine to create a serious logistics problem, i.e., how to'get sufficient fire retardant material to the remotely located fires as quickly as possible. An additional problem is finding the most efficient manner of distributing the fire retardant materials at the fire.

In an effort to solve these problems, aircraft have been used to drop bombs or containers filled with fire retardant material. Although aircraft can reach relatively inaccessible areas, aircraft are limited by the weight of the fire retardant material which they can carry. In addition, the containers may not break until they strike the ground in which event the contents thereof will be of little or no effect in extinguishing a treetop fire.

Another prior art device uses a tank of fire extinguishing material carried by an aircraft. The material in the tank can be expelled over the fire area. This device is limited by the capacity of the tank. In addition, the aircraft must return to the source to have the tank refilled and during this time it cannot exert any retarding effect on the fire. Thus, both of these prior art procedures are quite inefficient and leave unsolved the basic logistics problem of how to rapidly get maximum fire retardant material to the fire area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves these problems by supplying unlimited quantities of fire retardant material to the desired area. This can be accomplished by using a source of fire retardant material at ground level and an airborne distributor. The fire retardant material should be flowable so that it can be pumped through a conduit to the aerial distributor for distribution over the desired area.

Because the source is at ground level, the amount of fire retardant material distributed by the distributor is not dependent upon the size of tank that the aircraft can carry. Rather, the ground level source may provide an unlimited or endless supply and may be, for example, a lake, river, well, fire hydrant, etc. Of course, limited quantity sources such as tanks of water or fire retardant chemicals can also be used. Where limited quantity sources are used, the present invention still offers a substantial advantage in that the airborne distributor can remain aloft while a ground crew rapidly makes the necessary conduit connections to a new unreplenished limited source.

The distributor is preferably carried by an airborne vehicle such as a rotary wing aircraft. The distributor may be mounted on the aircraft or suspended beneath the aircraft. Alternatively, the distributor may be supported on the ground or elsewhere while it is discharging fire retardant material and it may be moved or indexed between stations with an airborne vehicle. Preferably, the distributor is suspended beneath the aircraft to permit the helicopter and its occupants to be as remote as possible from the fire area while permitting the distributor to be relatively close to the fire area to minimize evaporation and drift of the fire retardant materials. This form of aerial distribution permits the fire retardant materials to function at treetop level as well as ground level and also permits controlling of the distributor movements from the airborne vehicle.

The helicopter moves the distributor over the desired area at the desired rate of speed. The distributor may direct the fire retardant material directly on the fire or be used to form a water break at a location spaced from the fire front. Preferably a flexible connector is used to connect the distributor to the conduit which leads to the ground source.

Not infrequently the source of fire retardant materials may be quite remote from the fire. The present invention solves this problem by providing for the aerial conveyance of long flexible conduits from the remote source to a region adjacent to the fire. Specifically, one end of a first conduit section is suitably connected to a source of fire retardant material and the other end of the conduit section is carried by helicopter for a distance approximately equal to the length of that conduit. A second conduit is then connected to the first conduit and the second conduit is similarly carried by helicopter for a distance approximately equal to the length of the second conduit section. The last conduit section is connected to the distributor. In this manner, the supply conduit can be rapidly established between a substantial source of fire retardant material and the distributor. Of course, more than one distributor may be employed for each supply line and multiple supply lines may be used, if desired.

The conduit sections should be flexible to facilitate aerial movement thereof. The conduit sections should also be collapsible so that they will require minimum storage space within the aircraft.

Pumps can also be supplied by helicopter as needed along the supply conduit. Preferably the pumps are located between adjacent conduit sections. The pumps may be modular units which can be left at their respective stations by the helicopter carrying same. Alternatively, the helicopter may carry a pump which can be powered by the rotary wing power source or an auxil- I iary power source, in which event the helicopter, after having laid its length of conduit section remains on the ground to serve as a pumping station.

The pumping stations can be located at ground level. Alternatively, one or more of the pumping stations can be airborne in which event, they are preferably carried by a helicopter. One advantage of making at least the pumping station that is farthest downstream an airbornestation is that the airborne distributor is afforded greater maneuverability.

irregularities in ground contour and foliage ma cause kinks in the flexible conduit laid by helicopter. Such kinks would subtantially impede the flow of water through the conduit and may give rise to disruptive forces when such kink is initially contacted by the wa ter. To obviate this problem, the present invention provides for charging of the conduit section with a fluid such as air to straighten the conduit section prior to connecting the conduit section to an adjacent conduit section.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further features and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic, side elevational view of a fire fighting system constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention and carrying out the method of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic, side elevational view illustrating a preferred manner for aerially laying of the supply conduit.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic, side elevational view showing an alternate system and method of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, reference numeral 11 designates a fire extinguishing system adapted for carrying out the method of this invention. In the embodiment illustrated, the system 11 includes a pump 13 and syphon 15 located at ground level near a source of fire retardant material in the form of a lake 17. One end of thesyphon 15 is submerged in the lake 17 and a strainer 19 prevents debris and other solid material from entering the syphon.

Virtually any source flowable fire retardant material can be utilized. Normally fixed sources such as lakes, hydrants, rivers, and wells are preferred because they can provide a virtually unlimited or endless supply of water. However, it will be appreciated that tanks of chemicals and other fire retardant materials whether fixed or vehicle mounted can also be utilized.

The pump 13 and the syphon 15 can be flown to the lake 17 by a helicopter or other suitable airborne vehicle and rapidly set up. The pump 13 in the embodiment illustrated is a modular unit of substantial capacity having its own power supply; however, the pump 13 can be permanently mounted to a helicopter and be driven by a power take-off shaft from the main power source of the helicopter. l

A conduit section 21 interconnects the pump 13 to a pump 23 mounted on a helicopter 25. The conduit section '21 is preferably in the form of a long flexible hose of substantial internal diameter so that a large vol-' ume of water can be readily pumped therethrough. Although the length of the conduit section 21 may vary, it is contemplated that the conduit section will be of substantial length and may be, by way of example, l,000 feet long.

In the'embodiment illustrated, the pump 23 and helicopter 25 are located at ground level. The pump 23 is mounted on the helicopter 25 and is driven on a power take-off shaft from the main helicopter power source which might be a turbine. This requires that the helicopter remain with the pump 23 but facilitates rapid movement of the pump. Alternatively, the pump 23 may have its own power supply. If desired, the pump 23 may be a separate modular unit such as the pump 13 in which event, the helicopter 25, after the pump 23 has been installed, may leave the pump23 at ground level and fly to a new location.

A conduit section 27, which may be identical to the conduit section 21, connects a pump 29 mounted on a helicopter 31 to the pump 23. The helicopter 31, like the helicopter 25 is at ground level. The pump 29 and the helicopter 31 may be identical to the pump 23 and helicopter 25, respectively. Alternatively, the pump 29 may be a modular unit like the pump 13 in which event the helicopter 31, after installation of the pump, may move to a new location.

A distributor in the form of a deluge rig 33 is supported above ground level by an airborne vehicle such as a helicopter 35. Although the deluge rig 33 may be of various designs, in the embodiment illustrated, it includes a frame 37 and three spray heads 39, each of which includes one or more orifices for directing the water laterially and/or downwardly of the spray head. Preferably the spray heads 39 are spaced laterally and the spray pattern is so selected that a relatively large area can be covered by the deluge rig 33.

The deluge rig 33 may be mounted directly on the helicopter 35 if desired. .However, it is preferred to suspe'nd the deluge rig 33 with one or more cables 41 from the helicopter 35.

The deluge rig 33 is connected to the pump 29 by a third conduit section 43 which may be identical to the conduit section 21. A flexible coupling 45 is utilized to connect the conduit section 43 to the deluge rig 33. With the deluge rig 33 suspended from the helicopter 35, the amount of fluid andthe direction in which such fluid is discharged from each of the spray heads 39 should be substantially balanced so that the net reaction force on the deluge rig is minimized.

With the system 11. set up as shown in FIG. 1, the

pumps

13, 23 and 29 are started so that water is drawn from' the lake l7 and pumped in huge quantities through the

conduit sections

21, 27 and 43 to the deluge rig 33. The deluge rig, which is suspended perhaps several hundred feet above ground level, disperses the water through the spray heads 39. The helicopter 35 moves at a prescribed rate so that the deluge rig can cover a substantial area or the helicopter may index the rig 33 between stations with the latter being substantially stationary at each of the stations. The deluge rig 33 may be used to provide a fire break or to distribute water directly on the burning area. I

Of course, more than one deluge rig 33 may be connected to the outlet of the pump 29 and one or more of the systems 11 may be employed simultaneously. The number and size of the pumps utilized willbe determined by the distance which the water must be pumped, the quantity of water desired, and the amount that the water must be elevated between the lake 17 and the deluge rig 33. .Of course, if the water source is itself pressurized as when a hydrant source is utilized, no pumps may be necessary. In addition, if the elevation of the lakel7 were above the elevation of the deluge rig 13 when the latter was in flight, the pumping requirements would be significantly reduced.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a preferred manner of setting up and installing the system 11. First, the pump 13 and-the syphon 15 are moved to the lake 17 via helicopter and properly set up at ground level. Next, the helicopter 25 while aloft may drop one end of the conduit section 21 for connection to the distion 21 with 'air may be accomplished in any suitable manner such as with an air pump or with the bleed air from the turbine which is the main power source for the helicopter 25. The downstream end of the conduit section 21 is then connected to the inlet of the pump 23.

Next, the helicopter 31 drops the upstream end of the conduit section 27 adjacent the helicopter 25 for attachment to the discharge side of the pump 23 which connection can be made by the crew in the helicopter 25. The helicopter 31 then repeats the procedure described hereinabove with reference to the helicopter 25. If the pump 23 is a separate modular unit, the helicopter 25 need not remain in position as shown in FIG. 1.

The conduit section 43 can be connected to the pump 29 and to the deluge rig 33 with the latter resting at ground level. The helicopter 35 then raises the del' uge rig 33 aloft as shown in FIG. 1. A means of control such as a manually or automatically controlled valve 47 near the discharge end of the pump 29 can be utilized to control the flow of water to the deluge rig 33. Of

out. This requires that the flexible conduit section 27a extend above ground level between the

pumps

23a and 29a and that the conduit 27a be connected to the pump 290 by a flexible coupling 49. Similarly, the flexible conduit section 43a is connected to the discharge side of the pump 29a by a flexible coupling 51. In all other respects, the system shown in FIG. 3 is identical to the system shown in FIG. 1 and the methods carried out by these two systems are also identical except to the extent,

expressly indicated herein. A primary advantage of the method of FIG. 3 is that the deluge rig 33 may be moved through a larger area as permitted by

conduit sections

27a and 43a.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. We claim: l. A method for the rapid aerial distribution of a flowable material for retarding a fire comprising:

providing a source'of the flowable material substantially at ground level, said flowable material having fire retardant characteristics; positioning one end of a first conduit section adjacent and in communication with the source of flowable material; conveying the other end of the first conduit section to a firststation remote from said source of flowable material utilizing an airborne vehicle with said step of conveying being at least partially carried out with said airborne vehicle aloft;

interconnecting said other end of said first conduit section to one end of a second conduit section;

conveying the other end of the second conduit section to a second station remote from said first station utilizing an airborne vehicle with said last mentioned step of conveying being at least partially carried out with said airborne vehicle aloft;

flying an airborne vehicle over the region at which the flowable material is to be distributed;

interconnecting a third conduit section to a distributor and the other end of said second conduit section;

supporting the distributor on said last mentioned airborne vehicle so that the distributor is above ground level at said region;

pumping the flowable material from said source through said conduit sections andv through said distributor to thereby distribute the flowable material over said region; and

charging said first conduit section with air to at least substantially eliminate any kinks therein prior to interconnecting said first and second conduit sections.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second stations are at ground level.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said second station is elevated above ground level by the airborne vehicle utilized in the conveying of said second conduit section whereby the distributor has increased freedom of movement.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second conduit sections are conveyed by first and second airborne vehicles, respectively, and said steps of conveying said first and second conduit sections includes landing said first and second airborne vehicles, respectively, at said first and second stations, respectively, each of said first and second airborne vehicles carrying pumpsand said step of pumping including operating said pumps carried by said first and second airborne vehicles to 'pump the flowable material through said conduit sections. 3 I

5. A method as defined in claim 1 including interposing pumps between said first and second conduit sections and between said second and third conduit sections and said step of pumping includes operating said pumps to force the flowable material through said -conduit sections. I

6. A method as defined in claim I wherein said region is close to said fire, said last mentioned airborne vehicle is a rotary wing aircraft, and said step of supporting includes suspending the' distributor from a rotary wing aircraft so that the distributor is relatively close to said region and saidaircraft is relatively remote from the fire.

. 7. A method as defined in claim 1 including flexibly interconnecting the third conduit section to the distrib-,

utor.

8. A method as defined in claim I wherein said flowable material is water and said source is virtually unlimited, said step of pumping being carried out substantially continuously.

Claims

1. A method for the rapid aerial distribution of a flowable material for retarding a fire comprising: providing a source of the flowable material substantially at ground level, said flowable material having fire retardant characteristics; positioning one end of a first conduit section adjacent and in communication with the source of flowable material; conveying the other end of the first conduit section to a first station remote from said source of flowable material utilizing an airborne vehicle with said step of conveying being at least partially carried out with said airborne vehicle aloft; interconnecting said other end of said first conduit section to one end of a second conduit section; conveying the other end of the second conduit section to a second station remote from said first station utilizing an airborne vehicle with said last mentioned step of conveying being at least partially carried out with said airborne vehicle aloft; flying an airborne vehicle over the region at which the flowable material is to be distributed; interconnecting a third conduit section to a distributor and the other end of said second conduit section; supporting the distributor on said last mentioned airborne vehicle so that the distributor is above ground level at said region; pumping the flowable material from said source through said conduit sections and through said distributor to thereby distribute the flowable material over said region; and charging said first conduit section with air to at least substantially eliminate any kinks therein prior to interconnecting said first and second conduit sections.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second conduit sections are conveyed by first and second airborne vehicles, respectively, and said steps of conveying said first and second conduit sections includes landing said first and second airborne vehicles, respectively, at said first and second stations, respectively, each of said first and second airborne Vehicles carrying pumps and said step of pumping including operating said pumps carried by said first and second airborne vehicles to pump the flowable material through said conduit sections.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 including interposing pumps between said first and second conduit sections and between said second and third conduit sections and said step of pumping includes operating said pumps to force the flowable material through said conduit sections.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said region is close to said fire, said last mentioned airborne vehicle is a rotary wing aircraft, and said step of supporting includes suspending the distributor from a rotary wing aircraft so that the distributor is relatively close to said region and said aircraft is relatively remote from the fire.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 including flexibly interconnecting the third conduit section to the distributor.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said flowable material is water and said source is virtually unlimited, said step of pumping being carried out substantially continuously.