US3779461A

US3779461A - Explosive blast actuated liquid distributors and processes of operation thereof

Info

Publication number: US3779461A
Application number: US00152044A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Paul
Original assignee: EBALD Inc
Current assignee: EBALD Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-23
Filing date: 1971-06-11
Publication date: 1973-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-18

Abstract

An explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly is transported by and located at or near and operatively connected to the location at which its operation is desired for applying successive increments of water as a stream which extends substantial distances from the end of that assembly for purposes of quelling riots and controlling fires.

Description

United States Patent [191 Paul 1 Dec. 18, 1973 1 EXPLOSIVE BLAST ACTUATED LIQUID DISTRIBUTORS AND PROCESSES OF OPERATION THEREOF [75] Inventor: Dwaine M. Paul, Amarillo, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Ebald, lnc., Lubbock, Tex.

[22] Filed: June 11, 1971 [21]. Appl. No.: 152,044

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 835,539, June 23,

1969, Pat. No. 3,589,604.

52 u.s.c|... ..239/l72,162/24 {51] Int. Cl B05b 9/04 [58] Field of Search; 169/24; 417/73; 239/177, 172

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hisaw 169/24 3,589,604 6/1971 Paul 239/177 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-.lohn J. Love Att0meyEly Silverman and Charles W. Coffee [57] ABSTRACT An explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly is transported by and located at or near and operatively connected to the location at which its operation is desired for applying successive increments of water as a stream which extends substantial distances from the end of that assembly for purposes of quelling riots and controlling fires,

12 Claims, '18 Drawing Figures sir/9.461

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INVENTOR.

DWA/NE M. PAUL ATTORNEY PMENTEU DEC 18 I975 SHEET 8 OF 9 FIG. /2

ATTORNEY 1 EXPLOSIVE BLAST ACTUATED LIQUID DISTRIBUTORS AND PROCESSES OPERATION THEREOF RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of thelnvention: The field of this invention is v fluid distributing apparatus comprising sprayin means carried by vehicular support means.

2. Description of the Prior Art: Quelling riots has not been independent of a pressurized water supply'and accordingly were subject to mobs distroying water pressure at points functionally connected to the site at which such pressurized fluid might be needed; also, projection of water in areas whereat high pressure water was not available left such areas without adequate protection against fires.

In order to create a pressure that will project water as a stream to points 544 feet distant a large amount of power is required and conventional high pressure distribution systems are expensive.

According to this invention, the problems of the prior art are met by a system which is light in weight, can be run without eigh water pressure source and is effective, economic and reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the jet stream is substantially stationary so as to suffer minimum resistance by the'air through which the stream passes and may be of sufficiently short duration to reach the ground as a spray or as a stream. I

The apparatus of the invention provides for automatically periodically repeatedly projecting coherent masses of liquid from a reservoir of such liquid supported on a mobile self-propelled wheeled vehicle, for long distances either at a mass of rioters, or to a height of over 200 feet, to apply said liquid to a fire at such elevation, or, when said liquid is one containing herbicides and fungicides, liquid is projected to and atomized at height in excess of 200 feet above the'ground. This is accomplished by passing successive portions of liquid into one or more combustion chambers of large diameter at a first pressure level and obstructing the liquid flow from each said chamber and confining each said portion of liquid in said chamber .with a combustible mixture thereabove, and igniting each said combustible mixture at an ignition point within said chamber while concurrently removing obstruction to the flow from said chamber, whereby the pressure in each said chamber rises to substantial pressures in excess of said first pressure level prior to discharge of said liquid from each said chamber and discharging said liquid from each said chamber through a narrow con-duit operatively connected to said chamber as coherent'masses of from 20 to 30 gallons and passing air from which mois- V ture has been removed into each said chamber past its ignition point to remove moisture from such ignition point'and thereafter directing a combustible gas to the vicinity of such ignition pointprior toagain igniting such a combustible mixture in such combustion chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of apparatus 412 according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side oblique view of the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 of the apparatus 412 of FIG. l with apparatus in zone 2B-l and 2B2 removed. FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic top view of zone 2C of FIG. 1 to show apparatus in zone 2B-1 and 23-2 of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of apparatus 411 according to this invention and FIG. 4 is a top view of embodiment 413.

FIG. 5A is a side view of embodiment 413, which is a variation of embodiment-412. I

FIG. 5B is a .view of the portion of apparatus 413 in zone SBB of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is a view of the portion of apparatus 413 in zone SCC of FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6 is a plan view along Section 6A of FIG. 5B.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view of the apparatus shown in zone 7A of FIG. I with the nozzle 45 bent in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view taken along the direction of arrow 8A of FIG. 7 showing, in enlarged view, zone 7A of FIG. 1 with axis of nozzle 45 in the flat ver tical plane including longitudinal. axes of the collimator tube 43 of the explosive blas=liquid distributor assembly 40 and of the chamber 42.

FIG. 9 is a front view of apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 taken along the direction of arrow 9A in FIG. 7 with the nozzle 45 bent, as seen from above, to approximate its most counterclockwise position. 7

FIG. 10 shows another form of apparatus according to this invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic representation of two different valve timing mechanisms for the explosive blast liquid distributor assemblies herein described. FIGS. 11 and fi'correspond in respect to array of assembly 60.

FIG. 13 is a side view of embodiment 413 in fire fighting operation.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of the gas volume control assembly 92.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic showing of connections of a battery of combustion chambers within the. scope of this invention.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Broadly, the apparatuses of this invention comprise the cooperative combination of an explosive blast liquid distributing system assembly as 40, or 240- and The self-propelled truck carrier and reservoir assembly 310 comprises a bed truck 311 and a water tank 316. The bed truck 311 comprises a pair of

front wheels

312 and 313, a pair of rear wheels 313', and conventional flat bed 314 and a cab 315 in a conventional operative combination; the tank 316 is a conventional steel cylindrical tank feet high and 8 feet long of oneeighth inch wall thickness and about 13,000 gallon capacity. Tank 316 and assembly 40 are firmly attached to and supported on bed 314. A power take-off from the motor of truck 311 drives a motor for a pump 138 for assembly 40.

The frame or flat bed 314 carries two butane tanks, 421 and 137, one for the compressor motor 423- which is a four cylinder Chevrolet engine 6. The engine 423 drives the air pump or compressor 128 at 2,400 r.p.m. and drives air into air tank 424 to produce air at 45 poundsv per square inch pressure. This air passes through a cooling line as 129 in the water tank 316 and then to a water trap 426 and then to a 125 p.s.i.g. regulator 427 to provide dry air to the air tank, as 139 or 210. The motor 423 also drives a generator for the timing and electrical controls 118. The timing control provides a one-half second pause after the cleaning by the air before the propane gas is added to the combustion chamber. The propane gas from

tank

137 or 222 is added with the outlet of the gas line adjacent to the inlet of thespark plug (as shown in FIG. 12) so that it will operate to put such gas next to the spark plug (after the air stream from orifice, as 136 cleans the spark plug) and so provide effective combustion.

Another embodiment, 413, of this invention, shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C comprises a variation in the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 in combination with the self-propelled carrier and truck assembly 310.

Another embodiment, 411, of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a separable movable trailer frame assembly 270 with an explosive blast liquid distributing water assembly 240 located thereon, in operative combination with a self-propelled trailer tractor and reservoir assembly 320.

The self-propelled trailer tractor and reservoir assembly 320 comprises a bed truck 321 and a water tank 326. The 'bed truck 321 compriese a pair of front wheels 322, a pair of rear wheels 323, a flat frame or bed 328 and acab 325 in conventional operative combination. The tank 326 is a conventional large cylindrical tank 5 feet high and 8 feet long of one-eighth inch wall thickness and about 13,000 gallons capacity: tank 326 is firmly attached to and supported on bed 328. A power take-off from the motor of tractor 321 drives a pump motor for a pump.

A modification of apparatus 411, shown in FIG. 10 as 411A, comprises an exlposive blast liquid distributing assembly 140 pivotally attached to and supported by the frame 328 of tractor 321A of carrier and reservoir tractor assembly like 320. A pump (like 138) on frame 328 is driven by the motor of tractor 321A and serves to supply water to chamber 142A of assembly 140 under pressure.

The explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 comprises a water discharge assembly 41, an ignition and timing control subassembly system 50, a nozzle positioning subassembly 60 and a nozzle frame subassembly 70 in operative combination,'as shown in FIGS. 11

and 12 diagramatically and in more detail in FIGS. 7-9.

The water discharge assembly 41 comprises a vertically extending cylindrical hollow combustion chamber 42, a collimator tube 43, a nozzle control valve 44,a nozzle assembly 45.

The combustion chamber 42 assembly is a hollow vertically extending rigid circular cylindrical chamber rounded at its upper and lower ends and connected at its bottom through a discharge opening therein to a collimator tube 43 by' a smoothly rounded elbow.

Valves

126, 121 and other valves shown in FIG. 11 in box indicated as 11B are supported in control box chamber 41A (FIG. 2) and form timing valve assembly 119A.

The collimator tube 43 is a rigid cylindrical tube of uniform cross-section along its length and with the axis thereof horizontal and, at its inlet end, intersects the longitudinal vertical axis of the chamber 42. A nozzle control valve 44-at the other,outlet,end (right hand end as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) of the collimator tube 43 is operatively connected thereto. The inlet end of a flexible nozzle tube 46 is operatively connected to the outlet of valve assembly 44 and the inlet of nozzle 45 i is operatively connected to the outlet end of tube 46. A valve control arm 47 is operatively connected to the normally closed closure element or gate 48 of the valve 44; the gate 48 is movably mounted on the frame 49 of the conventional valve assembly 44 which is normally closed, and opened by assembly 50.

The nozzle 45 is supported on the nozzle positioning assembly on the nozzle frame assembly 70.

The nozzle frame assembly compriese a horizontal box frame 81 firmly attached to a vertical frame 82, to bed frame 314. The box frame 81 comprises lateral beam member 71, central beam member 72, front beam member 73 and a rear beam member 74, firmly joined together in the form of a hollow box. The vertical frame 82 has the general shape of an inverted U having a vertical forward member 83 and a vertical rear member 84 joined to the

members

73 and 74 respectively and the horizontal top member 85 joining the tops of the

members

83 and 84.

The ignition and timing control subassembly system 50 shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11 comprises, in operative combination, a 55 and a spark switch'53, and a timing valve assembly 119A.

A piston assembly 55 comprises a rigid piston shaft 59 in a vertical cylindrical piston casing 57, the upper end of casing 57 is pivotally held by arm 85 of box 81. Piston shaft 59 is movable lengthwise within casing 57 tomove outward of that casing 57 and is pivotally joined at its outer end to control arm 47 of valve 44 at the central portion of the arm;a rigid switch contact arm 52 is firmly attached to the lower end of shaft 59. A tension spring 56 is attached to the outer end of arm 47 and to member 85. Hence, the piston shaft 59 moves in opposition to the force of the piston spring 56. The valve 47 is thus normally closed. The spark plug 51 is firmly attached with a combustion tight fit into the top of the combustion chamber 42. Spark timer arm 52 is a rigid horizontally extending ear located on the water discharge control valve piston shaft and movable there- I with to contact and actuate the spark switch 53; the

spark plug switch is connected to a voltage source 54 so that, on movement of the timer arm 52 into contact drive piston 63, a supplementary positioning oil piston 64, a-nozzle clamp 65 and a nozzle positioning elevator bracket 67. The nozzle 45 is operatively connected to the front end of a flexible water-tight nozzle tube 46. The L-shaped nozzle positioning bracket 62 is formed of a rigid driving arm 61A and a driven arm 61B pivotally supported at a pivot pin 66 therefor on the member 71 of the nozzle frame '70. A spring 75 is attached at one end to the corenr whereat

members

71 and 74 of the' frame 70 join and is attached at its other end to the outer end of the arm 61'B'to draw it clockwise as shown in FIG. 7. Bracket 67 is supported at end of arm 6113. A nozzle positioning drive piston 63 has a rigid piston chamber casing therefor 63A firmly yet pivotally fixed on to the frame 70 and a piston shaft 633 extending therefrom is pivotally attached to arm 61A of the bracket 62. Nozzle clamp 65, which is firmly attached to the nozzle 45, is supported in a vertical adjustment sleeve or bracket 67 from which a rigid elevator rod 68 porjects and adjusts vertically and onwhich (elevator rod theclamp 65 is firmly attached and supported. A lock screw fixes the portion of rod 68 in bracket 67.

. In operation the drive piston 63 is moved by air passing through two-way control valve 91 and timing throttle valve 91T, to slowly move the bracket 62 about its pivot pin 66 and thus, over a period of time ranging from 2 to 6 minutes and usually of about 4 minutes,'rotates the arm 62 from the extreme clockwise position shown in' FIG. 7 to the extreme counterclockwise position-thereof shown in FIG. 9. Contact of bracket arm 62 and pin 90A of release valve 90 releases the pressure applied to'piston 63 (as shown by the piping diagram of FIG. 11) andthen the bracket 62 is returned to its starting position of FIG. 7 by spring 75.

A release valve switch 90 is operatively connected to the piston 63 by-a two-way noramlly open valve 911. After the relatively slow counterclockwise motion of nozzle 45 it is rapidly moved clockwise when button 90A of release valve switch 90 is contacted'by the arm 618 when the nozzle has traversed its intended path counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 9.

, The elevation of the nozzle is effected by adjustment of elevator rod 68 in the supporting bracket 67 (shown as FIG. 9).

The nozzle positioning assembly 60 is located on the nozzle frame 70 as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. In the position of parts there shown the actuation of the nozzle piston 63 provides for motion of the nozzle 45 from its clockwise position as shown in FIG. 7 to its counterclockwise positionshown in FIG. 9. This travel is performed by overcoming the tension in the spring'75. The controlled motion of the longitudinal axis of nozzle 45 relative to the line of or longitudinal axis of the collimator tube 43 is the method of varying the angle of discharge of the stream of water 115 which is discharged from the nozzle orifice 69 during the operation of the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40; in the combination of apparatus shown in the apparatus.

An air compressor 128 passes compressed'air by air line 129, which is attached to and extends along the frame 314 to air tank 139 located near the chamber 42.

The conduit 324 of the apparatus 242 isoperatively connected via a check valve 130 to the combustion chamber 42. The water in conduit 324 is pressurized by a pump as 138. A reservoir 24A and a constant output pressure valve 248 are in line with check valve 130, so the water feeding intotank 42 is at a constant pressure. Air line 139A passes to valve 126 from tank 139. A source of compressed fuel 137 also passes by line 137A to valve 126 on outer wall of chamber 42. The valve diagram of FIG. 11 illustrates the connections of the valves and lines herebelow referred to in respect to their operation. Compressed air from tank 139, provides, via line 139A that constant air pressure at about 100 p.s.i.g. comes into the timer valve 121 and therethrough into the timing or variable pressure tank 124. The air pressure builds up in the timer tank 124; When its pressures reaches 50 psig. air passes constant input pressure valve or regulator 125V (which it reaches by manifold line 124M) via line 125A to the slider 127 and moves the control slider 127 in the valve 126 from its normally closed position to the position thereof for the fuel gas and air to enter into the chamber 42. As the air pressure (100 p.s.i.g.) is substantially greater than the 50 psig pressure of the water in the tank 42,the pressure of the gasses causes the check valve 1.30 to close. The gas which enters into tank 124 and into the tank chamber 42 is at 100 p.s.i.g: when the pressure in chamber 124 reaches p.s.i.g. as sense'dby the pilot valve 131 such pressure is passed by line 131A against the other end of the slider 1.27, and moves the slider 127, overcoming the opposing pressure previously applied thereto of only 50 psig through valve 125V. This slider movement also serves to pass air to the valve control line 135 and thereby. to the piston 57 and causes the shaft 59 thereof to move downward. The spark timer arm 52 their contacts the spark switch 53 and causes ignition at the spark plug 51. On ignition the great pressure in the combustion chamber (about 300 psig) forces the water 37 then in the chamber 42(as below described) and the collimator tube 43 and the nozzle 45 out therefrom as a'stream, 115, that passes through the air for a distance of to 550 feet. The outer portion as 115A of the stream is projected for up to 550 feet; the lower portion of the stream (115B) extends at different times during the portion of such discharge from 10 to 450 feet from the orifice 69. The stream delivers water relatively evenly over a fan-like area 116 that is shaped generally like the upper portion of an exclamation point.

The narrow stream from apparatus 412 may be directed at any of a groupfof rioters, as 117 as in FIG. 3 or to reach the upper stories of a building as on fire, as in FIG. 13, as shown for apparatus 411 in FIG. 3 and for apparatus 413 in FIG. 13.

With the particular dimensions of apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, & 9, after the discharge of the water from the nozzle 45, the exhaust gasses created by the combustion in chamber 42 continue to-pass out from orifice 69 for a short time, about I to 2- seconds.

' When theslider ll27'passes air to the piston chamber 57' it also passes it to a purge channel 132 which goes to a purge orifice 133 in the chamber 42:purge line 132 is provided with check valves 134A, 1348 and a purge storage chamber 136. Accordingly, when the pressure in the combustion chamber 42 falls from combustion pressures as the combustion or exhaust gas reaches the atmosphere, the purge line air is applied thereinto; the relatively small purge tank 136 drives air into and through thechamber 42 and the collimator tube 43 out through the nozzle 45 and thereby exhausts the combustion gasses from that system and also drives water or moisture away from the adhacent spark plug 51 in the chamber 42, was to keep it dry for its next ignition step. This purge operation is a very brief duration, of approximately 1 to 2 seconds, but it is adequately long to effect such purge and drying. Concurrently with the purging, immediately after the drive of water by combustion, the water from the pipe 24 pours through the check valve 130 and again proceeds to fill up the tank 42. When the pressure in the chamber 42 rises to combustion value, the pressure in tank 124 and lines 131A and 121A are released by pilot relief valve 124V and like valves 131V and 121V, respectively. Line 125A pressure is released when pressure in line 131A exceeds that of 125A as 125R opens at a preselected pressure less than that of line 131A but more than that of line 125A: hence, after combustion,slider 127 is moved by the usual valve spring to the normally closed position in regard to the air and fuel passage therethrough into the chamber 42. This disconnection of such line pressure permits bleeding and/or passage of air from the cylinder 57 and the spring 56 attached to the arm 47 then closes the gate 48 of the valve 44 and the pressure of the water in the chamber 42 builds up after pressure of the purge tank is dissipated (it falls to atmospheric). The water then enters tank 42 and traps the air therein and thereabove and the pressure in tank 42 increases as water enters that tank.

The constant pressure input valve regulator 1211 concurrently allows air to pass to timer regulator 121 when the pressure in chamber 42 is below a predetermined value of 30 p.s.i.g: this'starts the timing cycle initiated by passage of air (at constant input pressure) from 121 to volumetric or timer tank 124. The adjustment of valve 121 in view of the capacity of timer tank 124 is such that, by the time that the pressure in the variable pressure timer tank 124 is sufficient to reach 50 psig that the amount of water desired to be located in the tank 42 is again up to the usual level and has a sufficient volume to deliver water to cover the zone desired by stream 115 discharged from nozzle 69 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and the size of the combustion chamber 42, which is thereabove, is adequate to provide sufficient combustion energy to deliver the liquid water to that zone. As above described at that point of reaching of 50 psig pressure in the variable pressure tank 124 the pilot valve 125V permits air to pass there- 'past, move the slider 127 of the valve 126 into the open position and fuel and air pass into the chamber 42 until, as above described, the pressure in chamber 42 as well as 124 rises to a pressure of about 90 lbs whereupon the tank 124 is connected by line 131A to the slider 127 and shuts off the further flow of gasses through valve 126 into the chamber 42. During this time of passage of combustion gas into chamber 42 the excess in pressure of the gas over that of the water has closed check valve 130 and prevented further movement of the water into the chamber 42. When the valve 131 moves the slider 127 as above described to cut off the further flow of such combustion gas into thechamber 42 the valve 126 also then passes air into the cylinder 57 for movement of the arm 59 and the

spark timer arm

52 and 53 to initiate combustion and repeat the cycle above described. The timer valve 121 is adjustable from 0 to 2 minutes and is usually set at 6 seconds for the process above described.

Accordingly, in operation of the apparatus 412 the chamber 42 thus provides for containing explosions which, within a period of about one and a half seconds in each period, (depending upon the valve arrangements it might have a range of from one to five seconds) purge the water added to the pipe section 43 through the nozzle 45 and provide for a trajectory of the water so discharged by the explosion in chamber 42 for a distance of up to about 550 feet. The explosion energy is varied to vary the trajectory of such water and such trajectory may also be varied by varying the angle of the nozzle 45 with respect to the ground 330. Such water is distributed to a zone against personnel, as 1 17, at necessary distance as 100 to 400 feet from the apparatus 411, 412or 41in riot quelling operations as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; as a measure of the pattern of the water in the stream 115, such water when ejected in a path from 0 to 30 angle with the ground is distributed so as to reach the ground 330 at distance of 300 to 500 feet from the nozzle 45 with a pattern that is somewhat egg-shaped (with the wide shape of the eggshaped pattern at the greater distance) with a maximum 30 feet width when there is over 150 pounds of pressure developed by each explosion. Standard nozzles are available as brought out in the L. B. Nelson Manufacturing Company catalog (L. R. Nelson Manufacturing Company, Inc., Irrigation Division for No. 80 693) for trajectories of up to 590 feet. The embodiment 411 herein provides for a recharge time of tube 43 and chamber 42 of about 6 seconds with 40 lb. pressure in the pipe 324. Pressure in chamber 42 automatically actuates water supply cut-off. Each time there is such a water purge 25 to 30 gallons are distributed at a distance of from 2010 500 feet distance from the nozzle 45. It is within the scope of the invention that the distance traversed will be proportional to the energy of the explosion for that purge or series of purges which may be, in turn, controlled as below described. One way of controlling this distance is to have the amount of open angle of the valves supplying the gas to the explosion system to vary for the particular series of purges than to be made as by gas volume control assembly 92. It is within the scope of the invention that pressures of 450 p.s.i. in chamber 42 will be easily obtained so that 600 ft. trajectory or distance can be obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, arm 52 that actuates the ignition switch 53 that actuate the spark plug 51 for the explosion chamber 42 does not actuate switch 53 until after the valve 44 to the nozzle 45 has first been opened by its crank arm 47. The arm 47 that controls the nozzle valve 45 is actuated bythe same shaft 59 as supports the arm 52 and the timing thereby provides for a flattening out" of the pressure in the explosion chamber 42 by opening the valve 44 to the nozzle 45 prior to the combustion explosion occurring in the chamber 42. Accordingly, the force given to the water as it is ejected on each purge from the nozzle 45 isat a more even rate than it would be without such avoidance of a short peak pressure; this also avoids excessively high mechanical strain on the walls of chamber 42 and tube 43. The slow rate of movement of the nozzle and provides that, at

9 each period of time during which the liquid is purged (that is for'the substantially 1% to 2 seconds period) while the nozzle is in fact to a slight degree moving, it is moving so slowly in radial motion that, for practical purposes, it can be regarded during that l to 2 second period as stationary.

The explosion, purge and fill cycle repeats automatically each 6 to l seconds while the nozzle slowly moves in one direction. The nozzle moves slowly counterclockwise as shown in sequence of P108. 7, 8 and 9 and then snaps back to position of FIG. 7 on release of pressure to cylinder 63 automatically to start again: the nozzle moves at a rate of about four minutes per each such cycle, the rate being controllable as herein described.

An oil piston 64 may be interposed (as in FIG. 8 and 11) between valve 91 and piston 63 to move the piston 63 more smoothly than by pneumatic power alone. A throttle valve 90T is used in line 9013 between valve 191 and piston 63 as well as throttle valve 91T to control the speed of movement of bracket 62 pivotally about pin 66 from position of FIG. -7 to that of FIG. 9. i

In another embodiment of timing valve assembly shown in FIG. 12 the timing valve assembly is, as below described, free of connection to or pressure measurement within the container 42. in that timing valve assembly a valve 201 is attached to the end of the line 324 and is attached through a normally open pneumatic valve .202 connectedvai line 204 and a check valve 203 to the bottom of the combustion chamber 42. The line 204 is connected by tee 205 to the collimator tube 43 and the valve 244 is a normally closed valve with a pneumatic line 245 attached thereto for control thereof. l u

The airline 2111 is attached through the tee 211 to a reguator valve 212 and adjustable timer valve 223 to the timer tank 124 which feeds

into'regulator valves

213, 214 and 215; These valves are set for opening at different pressures, valve 215 opens at 50 psig pressure, valve 214 opens at 100 psig pressure and valve 213 is pilot that opens at l 15 psig pressure. When, after combustion and discharge of water from the chamber 42 through tee 205 and line 43, water comes from the line 324 through the line 2114, valves'201, 202 and 243 and tee 20,5 and enters the tank 42, the air used to purge the exhaust gases is trapped and compressed by the incoming water: the amount of water that enters chamber 42 is determined and limited by the volume of that air remaining after compression thereof bythe water. The timer valve 223 operates through the valve 216 to move the slider 217 tothe left and thereby the air line from tee (or T) 211 passes air into the line 218

past check valve

219 and 220 into the tank 42; concurrently the air passing along line 218 also passes to the normally closed 2-position valve 221 and'provides for pas-v sage of gas from source 222 through check valve 224 into the chamber 42. This passage of gas to chamber 42 continues until the pressure in the tank has reached the pressure of the gas, i.e., about 120 psig. Timer valve 223 continues to let air pass to tank 124. at a fixed rate.

When the pressure of tank 124 reaches 100 psig (a) the pilot valve 214 opens and via line 214A moves the slider 217 of valve 216 to the right. So moving slider 217 to the right (as shown in FIG. 12)'permits bleeding valve 221 to return to closed position, (b) the normally closed bleed valve 225 is then automatically opened and air passes through the line 226 to check valve 220 .14 but not into the chamber 42 until it is at the same or lower pressure, while, (c) normally open valve 202 is closed during air passage through the line 226 by passage of air through the

lines

227 and 245 which closes the valve assembly 2112 and opens the-valve 244 and then moves arm 52 to close switch 53 and initiate combustion. Such combustion produces gasses that drive the water out of the chamber 42. When the water 42 passes out of the chamber tee 205 check valve 2113 closes. The valve 223 contains air between lOO and 1 l5 p.s.i.g.. and maintains the slider 217 in pre-combustion position; after combustion valve 225 passes air as. a purge through tank 42. The timer tank 124 is so set that this passage of air from thepurge tank is of relatively short duration[although it provides enough air to clear out the tank as a purge] When the pressure in the tank 124 later reaches lbs per-square inch valve 213 opens and the timer valve 233 is released, and the timer valve 233 bleeds out the air therefrom and from tank 124; with the tank 124 exhausted, the slider 217 returns to its normal position and the 45 p.s.i.g. regulator 216 also bleeds. out so that the slider 217 returns to its,

normal position and the pressure in the lines 218 is relieved and also at the valve 221 via a bleed therein.

The system is then ready to initiate another cycle with the timing controlled by the setting on the timer 223. More particularly the water from source 24 passes through the normally open valve 202 and. enters the tank 42 while the normally closed valve 244 is closed. This filling of the tank 42 will occur only to that point at which the air, which previously filled the system during the purge thereof, is compressed to a predetermined value of about 4 to l. The water stays at this level and can stay there for some time when the machine is shut off; when the timer 223 (and 124) again actuates valves 225 and 2116 gas and air pass into the chamber 42 via

valves

219, 220, 221, 224 and 216 and the pressure reaches a. predetermined value in tank 124', inasmuch as the volume is fixed the chamber 42 receives a predetermined weight of such gas when

valves

98 and 99 are fully open as shown in FIG. 111 for the apparatus 411 and in MG. 12, an accessory water tank 42A is supplied by line 324 inapparatus 411 whereby the'liquid in line-324 has a particularly constant pressure prior to entry into chamber 42: this accessory tank 42A is applicable to

apparatus

412 and 413 as well as to apparatus 411. Line 324 is supplied by tank 326 which has a constant output pressure assisted by a constant pressure output valve as 3013 and 4213 for 2111 or 248. Line 324 passes water to accessory water tank 42A by constant input pressure valve 4213. Tank 42A supplies tank 42 by constant output pressure valve 2111 and check valve 203. The tank 42A is accordingly filled during discharge of tank 42 and improves the smoothness of operation of assembly 40. Tank 42A has approximately the same capacity as tank 42 and is supported near thereto as on the terminal station of apparatus 20. In embodiments 41 1, 412, 413 apparatus 44 (as well as and 240) does not require the water pressure in the supply to

tank

316 or 326 in the particular embodiment herein shown to be higher than 50 p.s.i.g.

A gas volume control assembly 92 is located at and near the central water supply tank 316 in apparatus 412 (and near tank 326 in apparatus 411) and is located in part at and is operatively connected to ignition and timing control subassembly 50 adjacent chamber 42 of assembly 40. i

Assembly 92 comprises-a gas volume control cam 337 firmly attached at its center to the vertical portion 338A of a sturdy elbow pipe 338. Pipe 338 is in the shape of an upside down L the top portion of which, 338B is horizontal and the bottom portion, 338A, of which is vertical and rotatably attached to the support therefor and vertical. The cam is shaped like a square and is flat on its top and bottom and is rigid and its vertical edges or sides are smooth, as shown in FIG. 14.

A spring loaded piston positioning sensing sleeve 94 is supported on bracket 92A which is firmly located on pipe 338A and slidably supports a cam edge sensing arm 93. Sensing arm 93 is a rigid straight arm that is coaxial with and reciprocatable within sleeve 94 and lies in a plane parallel to the top of cam 337 and slightly therebelow.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the components and relations of the gas volume control assembly 92, the cam 337 thereof being shown in isometric view, the sensing sleeve 94 being shown broken away in part.

The camedge sensing arm 93, at one, sensing, end thereof (93A), slidably and continuously contacts one edge as (37Din FIG. 14) of the cam 337 and is a cam follower with a roller. A spring loaded throttle valve 99 in the outlet line 137A of the gas supply to the combustion chamber 42 and a similar spring loaded throttle valve 98 in the outlet line 139A of the high pressure air supply to the combustion chamber 42 are controlled by an adjustable bleeder valve 96 which is operatively connected to those valves by a line 97 carried on the pipe 324 of assembly 412. Adjustable bleeder valve 96 is firmly supported on the rigid bracket 92A and firmly located thereby relative to the cam sensing arm 93 and is operatively connected to the air supply 139. The control end 938 of the arm 93 is pivotally connected to a rigid control arm 95 which is operatively connected to and controls the bleeder valve 96. The pneumatic line 97 is supported by the conduit pipe 324 and operatively connected to throttle

valves

98 and 99 adjacent combustion chamber'42. Accordingly, the cam 337 controls the amount of gasa't high'pressure and air at high pressure passed into the combustion chamber 42 in a manner controlled by the position of arm 33813. The valve 96 is arranged so that the

valves

98 and 99 are full open when the apparatus as 412 is the maximum distance from nozzle 69 of the apparatus 412 to the target, as 117 of the stream 115, as shown in FIG. 2 and the

valves

98 and 99 may be accordingly controlled for greater or lesser amount of energy to be released to provide lesser amount of combustion energy to be released to provide varied amount of force on the body of liquid on the combustion chamber, as 42... Thereby the combustion force in the operation of the assembly I 4015 varied according to the position of the assembly 40 to provide maximum power when needed and to reduce the power in that explosive blast liquid distributing assembly as needed.

In one embodiment of apparatus 412 dimensions and details are as-follows: j

Combustion chamber 42 is 54 inches high and has an 8 inch internal diameter; tube 43 is l l. feet'long and has a 6 inch internal diameter from the central longitudinal axis of combustion chamber 42 to the gate of valve 44; nozzle 45 is a 1 inch 9,200 R type of L. R. Nelson sn s Pe Ill .(Bull n.BQ93J1X2IY 223 of FIG. 12 and valve 121 of FIG. 11 is a two-way pilot operated valve No. 3,092 of Schrader Manufacturing Co., Wake Forest, N. C., Catalogue VAL-l page 21 (type44,4353,000 as per page 25 thereof); and valve 126 of FIGS. 11 and 12 is a four-way three position mark 420 valve series, 1/2 N.P.T., valve type 9, double pilot externally piloted, type 44,921-3 ,000 as set out in Schrader'Catalogue VAL-l page 25. While the timing valve assemblies in the ignition and timing control subassembly of FIGS. 11 and 12 are shown for penumatic control such systems could be electrically controlled by use of conventional electrical equivalents thereof and the process of this invention includes the use of electrical valve and timing-components therefor.

The pressure during discharge of water from chamber 42 and nozzle 45 is 250 psig. when the apparatus 412 is operating. FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are pictorial in character and dimensions may be approximated therefrom.

The combination of apparatus 411A shown in FIG. 10 comprises a water discharge assembly 140, an ignition system 150 and a carriage frame assembly 270.

The assembly 140 and system 150 are mounted on the frame assembly 270.

In embodiment 411A the frame assembly 270 is pivotally and movably supported on its own wheels as 177A and 17713 as shown as FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 and a combustible fuel supply and an air supply are provided on the tractor assembly 310 as above described.

The frame assembly 270 comprises a radial frame 170 and a main frame assembly 118. I

Assemblies

140, 150 and 170 are, respectively, identical with the watere discharge assembly 40; ignition and timing control subassembly system 50 and frame of the apparatus 412and the parts of assembly are referred to b y referent numbers that are 100 units higher than the referent numeral applied to the corresponding part of assembly 40. The explosive blast liquid distributing assembly, 140, is mounted with its nozzle, 145, in fixed position relative to and in line with, (i.e. the axis of nozzle, 145, in the same vertical plane as) the longitudinal axis of collimator tube, 143, but

there is no motion of the nozzle with respect to the collimator tube 143 as' provided for in assembly 40.

Frame 118 is rigid and extends the full length of assembly 140. Frame assembly 118 comprises rigid front and rear member's 118A and 1 18B and central member 118C and a lateral member 118D. The front end of the members 118A and 1188 are firmly joined to frame by rigid members 11813 and NSF. Members 118A 118F are firmly joined together and supported pivotally about a vertical axis 118G through hinges 1181-! the member 1188 and serves to position it relative to' the trailer tractor frame 328 in a manner similar to that of the nozzle positioning assembly 60 and a release valve 1911A is attached to frame 328 of tractor321. A

65 spring is attached to frame 321 and to a distant portion of frame 118, as shown in FIG. 10.

The nozzle and frame positioning cylinder 163 of the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 1410 is 10- chamber'142 (identical in structure to the combustionchamber 42 above described for the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40). The operation of the nozzle and frame positioning assembly 160 of the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 140 is to a great degree the same as that of nozzle position subassembly 60 of the explosive blast liquid distributing as sembly 40 with the exception that the frame and nozzle and frame positioning subassembly 160 is arranged so that the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 14%) rotates as a unit about the vertical longitudinal axis of hinge 1180 on chamber 142 and the thrust of the discharge from the nozzle 145 (identical in structure andfunction to the nozzle 45 of assembly'40) is passed, without any sideways change of direction, directly to the support for the combustion chamber 142.

The wheels 177A'AND 17713 are rotatably located on axles on frames that are pivotally located in outrigger frame 176 portion of frame 270 so as to be ableto travel in a path perpendicular to the length of collimator tube 143 as shown in FIG. or parallel thereto, as

in FIG. 3. v

The pressure in piston 63 extending its shaft is cut off on contact of member 118C with valve pin 136A. That contact releases the pressure applied to 163, when, in directions shown in FIG. 10, the assembly 146 moves counterclockwise relative to frame 328. However the frame 1 18 may be locked to the frame 328. The control of the combustion process and water distribution from its nozzle in'assembly 140 is the same as above described for assembly 40 to cover zones 117 in F168. 3 and 4.

ln apparatus embodiment 411 the frame assembly 270 has an explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 240 located thereon. The explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 240 is the same as assembly 40 and its components are supported on and attached to frame 270 in the same manner as assembly 140 is attached to frame 270 (rather than to truck bed frame 318) and are functionally connected in the same manner as above described for assembly 40 and in embodiment 411, a combustible fuel supply and compressed air supply are provided on frame assembly 270.

A fuel tank 301 (corresponding totank 1370f embodiment 412) and a pump 302 (corresponding to 13'7P in assembly 40 for compression of the fuel gas) for passing it from that tank to combustion chamber 142 (as above described for 42) and an air compressor 303 (corresponding to 128 in embodiment 4l2),and air tank 304 (corresponding to

tanks

424 and 425 with valves as 427 and and line, as 129 in embodiment 412) are connected as is the air supply to chamber 42 and are firmly attached to frame assembly 270. The air compressor may be connected to and driven by a power take-off line, as 327 from tractor 321 or may be driven by a separate internal combustion engine, as 423. Accessory water tanks, as 306 and 307, may be carried on frame 270 adjacent to the tank 42 to even out water flow thereto: such tanks may be connected in series with the water line 324 and valves, as 201 and 202,

as shown in FIG. 11, or as shown for tank 42A in H6.

- and a central frame assembly as 118, and a central carriage assembly 276-assembly 276 is attached to and is firmly attached to and. supported on frame 270 withchamber 142 also attached to frame 298: a collimator tube, as 143 of the apparatus (which collimator tube corresponds exactly to the collimator tube 43 of assembly 40) is arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis or length of the frame 270 and in the center thereof as shown in H6. 10. The nozzle 145 of assembly 240 projects radially from the frame 270. Conduit 324 is operatively connected to the combustion chamber 142 of the assembly 241) by a flexible line extending from the terminal end of tank 326 to accessory water tank 307' and then, in series, to a regulator valve as 261 and a check valve means 203 of FIG. 12 intothe combustion chamber 142.

In the embodiment 413 the nozzle positioning assem-v bly 460 is substituted for the nozzle positioning assembly 60 of explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 and the

tank

42 and 139 of assembly 41 is moved atop that assembly 36 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B from their position as shown as FIGS. 1 and 2.

Embodiment 413, shown as FIG. 5A, comprises the self-propelled carrier and reservoir truck assembly 321 and an explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 440 supported on frame 314 and operatively connected thereto.

The explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 440 comprises, in operative combination, the same water discharge assembly 41 and ignition and timing control.

subassembly 50 as in explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 and a nozzle positioning assembly 460.

- The nozzle positioning assembly 460 comprises upper and lowerplates 461 and 462, a pivot or vertical arm unit 459 and a pivotal nozzle unit 445.

A top or upper horizontally extending rigid rearwardly extending semi-circular ribbed flat plate 461 is firmly attachedto a' rigid vertically extending framework 4810; framework 480 extends to-the top of tank 316 and is firmly fixed to frame 314.-

A bottom or lower horizontally extending rigid rearwardly extending semi-circular ribbed flat plate 462 is firmly attached to the rear of the frame 314 and extends rearwardly therefrom. A railing 479 extends 3 feet upwardly from and is firmly attached to the upper and outer edg'e of plate 462. A vertical arm unit 459 is located between

plate

461 and 462 and is pivotally attached thereto; a nozzle unit 445 is pivotally supported on the vertical arm unit 459. a

A vertically extending chamber 442, corresponding to the chamber 42 of assembly 40, is firmly attached to the upper plate 461 and supported thereon by a frame work 444. A rigid pipe, conduit portion 424, is operatively attached to the bottom of tank 442 and is firmly fixed to the plate 461 and extends vertically downward therethrough. A rigid vertically extending armunit 459 is firmly yet pivotably attached to the pipe 424 (fixed to top plate 461) and a base 446 which base is fixed to bottom plate 462. The vertical arm unit 459 comprises in series, an upper swivel element, 453, an upper vertical inverted tee 447, and a lower vertical support pipe 463 in operative combination.

Tee 447 comprises an upper vertical conduit tee arm 464, a left horizontal conduit te'e arm 465 and a right horizontal conduit tee arm 468, a standard left swivel 466 is operatively attached to left side ofleft conduit arm 465 and a right swivel469 is operatively attached to right tee arm 468.

Nozzle unit 445 comprises

arm

467 and 471, a wye (Y-shaped element) 472, and a nozzle 473 firmly attached to each other. A rigid lift J (jay)shaped curved conduit arm, 467, is firmly attached to a left swivel, 466, through flange 470' and a similar right .I (jay) shaped curved conduit arm, 471, is firmly attached to a right swivel, 469 through a similar flange 470; the rigid wye (or Y-shaped) conduit 472 is firmly and operatively attached at the end of its arms to

conduit arms

467 and 471, while the other end of the wye 472 is firmly attached to and supports a rigid nozzle 473 similar to nozzle'45 of assembly 40. The

arms

467 and 471 project in one (rightward as shown in FIG. B) direction from tee 447 while a rigid control arm 474 is firmly fixed at its left (shown as FIG. 58) end to the other side of tee conduit arm 464 at level of its junction with

arm conduit arms

467 and 468; at its right end arm 474 has left handle arm 475 and a righthandle arm 476 for movement of the nozzle unit 445. A counterweight 477 may balance the weight of nozzle unit 445 about axis of

swivel joints

466 and 469; if the hydraulic servo mechanism is not used. I

Lower vertical support pipe 463 is firmly fixed at its top to tee 447 where

arms

464, 465 and 468 meet and is co-axial with tee arm 464. Pipe 463, at its bottom is rotatably seated in a base 446. An operator seat 478 is firmly fixed to and supported in pipe 463 on one (left as shown in FIG. 58) side of support pipe 463.

Nozzle unit 445 is symmetrical about a vertical plane passing through end 469 of nozzle 473 and the center of axis of vertical tee arm 464,

pipes

463 and 424 and swivel 458.

The structure of arm unit 459 and nozzle unit 445 provide that an operator in seat 478 may readily control the left and right direction of nozzle 473 as well as its elevation and direction relative to the horizontal to direct the stream as 1 l5 ejected therefrom as above described for assembly 40.

Controls for assembly 80 shown in box 118 of FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12 at 14A may be located in a box 414A firmly fixed to frame 480.

The structure of nozzle positioning assembly 460 allows the nozzle to swivel about the vertical axis that passes through the swivel 458 and vertical pipe element 463 and arm 464 of tee 447. The wye 472 is pivotally attached by

swivels

466 and 469 to

arms

465 and 468 of .tee 447 and the arm unit 459 is pivotally supported in swivel 458 (which is firmly supported on plate 461) and on base 446 which is in turn firmly supported on bottom plate 462. One end of a rigid piston chamber 454 is firmly yet pivotally attached to vertical arm or support pipe 463. A piston is slidably located within that chamber and the inner end of a piston arm 456 is firmly fixed to that piston and extends through the other, or distant,end of chamber 454 and is slidably supported therein. The outer end of arm 456 is pivotally attached to wye 472 and readily controlled by an operator as chamber 454 is operatively connected to a source of pressure fluid, as 139 or 210 by a control valve, as 482(or may be separately connected to a source of hydraulic fluid) which valve is controllable by an operator in seat 478.

A plug 451 which has a truncated conical form, the minimum exterior diameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the outlet 455 of nozzle 473 and the maximum diameter of which plug is greater thanthe internal diameter of nozzle outlet 455, is firmly attached to at its base and supported on a rigid pivotal arm 452 of a tee shaped plate 450. Arm 452 is, as shown in FIG. 5C, firmly fixed to the rigid pivot plate stem 453. Arm 454 is pivotally supported on pin 484 and pin 484 is firmly fixed to ear 485 of fixed arm 486. Fixed arm 486 is a rigid channel bar (in the form of a U-section) and is firmly fixed to nozzle 445 and held firmly and slightly below and spaced away therefrom by

brackets

487 and 488. One inner end of a piston chamber 495 with a longitudinally movable hydraulically actuated piston therein is firmly yet pivotally attached to the vertical arm 463 (FIG. 5B). The other outer end of the piston chamber slideably supports a rigid piston arm 489. Arm 489 extends along channel arm 486 and, at its outer end, is pivotally attached to the pin 483 in the pivot plate stem 453 (as shown in FIG. 5C). Accordingly rightwardly (as shown in FIG. 5B and 5C) extension and motion of the piston arm 489 causes plate 450 to pivot around the pin 484 in ear 485 to position shown in FIG. 5C and remove the conical valveclosure plug 451 from the outlet 455. Also, leftward motion of the piston arm 457 into the piston chamber .495 causes the valve closure plug 451 to snap against and close the orifice 455 of the nozzle 445. This closure element acts axactly as does the gate 448 in FIG. 11. The piston 485 is connected to line 245 in assembly of FIG. 12 as shown for unit 50 in lieu of the piston assembly 50 in the assembly 40 of FIG. 12, (or connected to line 135 in lieu of unit 55, shown in FIG. 11).

-In assembly 413 the valves shown in box 118 of FIG. 11 are arrayed in a control box 414A on framework 480 of tank 326.

Using LP. gas at a combustion ratio of 8 to 1 and with a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch in the combustion chamber .442 when the sparking fires a pressure of 400 p.s.i.g. is effected on combustion.

Such a stream projects easily 200 feet upwards into the air and atomizes at such height, and the thus atomized stream, or spray, cover an area of 200 to 400 feet in length and 200 feet wide and it is accordingly used for spraying solutions and suspensions of herbicide and fungicide and the like, and is used for the spraying of large areas of trees and field crops and the like.

Additionally, apparatus 413 and 412' may be used with carbon tetrachloride liquid for fighting oil well fires; said liquid can be used in place of water in the tank 316. Such a liquid is sprayed as above described for water as a fire fighting means; it may be projected as a solid stream of well over 300 feet length measured horizontally to douse oil well fires and to do so without the need of conventional high pressure pumping equipment in the lines except that which is developed by this explosive blast liquidassembly.

It is also within the scope of this invention that while the apparatus above described presently operates at rate of one explosive blast every 4 seconds with larger air lines and a larger pump than herein disclosed a period of 2 seconds is readily obtained.

It is within the scope of this invention that a battery of combustion chambers may be operated as shown in FIG. 15. In such assembly each of

chambers

442A, 4423 and 442C,jeac'h like 442' are loaded and fired in sequence for maintaining a high pressure throughout the entire period of discharge. In such an operation each of the

chambers

442A, 442B and 442C is operated and connected by lines as-4S92A, 492B and 492C respectively through check valves 493A, 4938 and 493C to a pressure equalization maintaining tank as 494. The ignition units 4511A and 451B and 451C for ignition in chambers 4342A, 4428 and 442C and supply of air 210 and gas 222 to

chambers

442A, 442B and 442C are as shown for chamber 42 in FIGS. Ill and 12: the connections also include a pressure sensitive switch as 496A, 4196B and'496C also connected to each such chamber;-as the pressure in the tank in which combustion occurs first as 442A falls from'400 to 200 psi. the next tank (442B) via switch 496A has the ignition system thereof. As 451B, actuated by the pressure sensitive switch 496A and that next tank 4423 is then provided with ignition and, being theretofore charged with air and gas as was tank 442 from sources as 210 and 222 (or 137 and 139) is operated to combust the contents thereof and to provide a pressure of over 400 p.s.i.g. therein and discharge the contents thereof toward the nozzle 445. After this combustion occurs as the pressure in line 4928 rises over the pressure in line 492A the discharge of the first tank 4142A is cut off at valve 493Av as the pressure of tank 442A falls. When the pressure in the second tank @423 falls from 400 to 200 p.s.i.g'. the pressure sensitive switch 496B thereof operates the ignition in tank 442C and causes combustion in thattank and discharges the contents thereof through the line 492C. As the pressure in line 492C exceeds that'in line 492B-as well as 492A the

check valves

493B and 493A prevent flow at any lower pressure than the discharge from line 492C. Accordingly, the contents of the

tank

442A, 44213 and 442C pass to tank494 (as an equalizing tank) and fromtank 494 to nozzle 445. as a high pressure stream, as 115 (heretofore discussed as produced by assembly 40) but of extended time duration and greater volume delivery.

The pressure sensitive switch, as 496C, operatively connected to the last of the chambers 'to fire in the series, as 442C, is operatively connected to relief valves 497A, 4978 and 497C to bypass or otherwise relieve the difference in pressure between the minimum prestiming control subassembly, and a nozzle frame .subassembly in operative combination,

the explosive blast actuated liquid distributor assembly comprising a vertically extending hollow combustion chamber, a collimator tube longer and narrower thansaid chamber, a nozzle control valve,

and a nozzle connection near tothe bottom of the combustion chamber connected to the collimator tube at one end thereof, said collimator tube being subassembly,

I connected at its other end to a nozzle control valve, said nozzle frame assembly comprising a rigid frame with a timing means thereon, said timing means operatively attached to said nozzle valve for opening and closing said valve, and said timing means having ignition switch actuation means operatively at- I tached thereto and said ignition switch means being connected to said combustion chamber, an inlet for combustion fuel to said combustion chamber and automatically and operatively attached thereto, said nozzle movably supported in said nozzle frame assembly,

a liquid conduit connected to said reservoir, said conduit operatively connected to said combustion chamber,

said reservoir having a substantially larger volumetric capacity than said combustion chamber, 7

said reservoir and said n'ozzle frame being fixedto platform portions that are firmly attached to each other, whereby impulse from said nozzle is transmitted to said reservoir.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir is supported on a mobile carrier and said carrier comprises a self-propelled wheeled vehicle,

said reservoir is operatively attached to a pump, said pump and reservoir are operatively attached to said combustion chamber.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 comprising also a separate movable support means and said explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly is located thereon, and a source of compressed air is located thereon and a source of combustible fuel is located thereon.

4. Apparatus as in'claim 3 wherein said nozzle control valve is interposed between said collimator tube and said nozzle.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 comprising variable valv control means operatively connected to said inlet for combustion fuel.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly comprises a collimating tube and a nozzle, the longitudinal axis of the nozzle being moveable relative to the longitudinal axis of the collimator tube. I

7. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and the nozzle are fixedly located with respect to each other. and the longitudinal axis of the collimator tube is pivotally supported on'the self-propelled vehicle.

8. Apparatus as inclaim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and the nozzle are pivotally located with re-' spect to each other and the longitudinal axis of the collimator tube is pivotally supported on the self-propelled vehicle.

9. In an explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly comprising a' vertically extending hollow combustion chamber, a collimator tube, a nozzle frame assembly, a nozzle control valve and a nozzle and a timing valve assembly in an ignition and timing control the bottom of the combustion chamber being connected near to its bottom to one end of the collimator tube, the other end of said collimator tube being connected to a nozzle'control valve,

said nozzle frame assembly comprising a rigid'frame with a nozzle valve control means supported there'onand operatively attached to said nozzle valve for opening and closing said-nozzle valve,

said ignition and timing control subassembly comprising ignition means operatively connected to a spark means in said combustion chamber, gas containing means and air containing means each operatively connected to said combustion chamber by gas inlet valve means and air inlet valve means, respectively; means controlling the volume of water passing from a water source to said combustion chamber, gas inlet valve timing means operatively attached to said air inlet valve means and to said nozzle valve control means, valve means operatively connected to said combustion chamber automatically closing said water source off from said combustion chamber on actuation of said ignition means, gas purge means operatively connected to said combustion chamber, and valve means automatically connecting said purge means to said combustion chamber, said gas inlet valve timing means being operatively connected to said ignition means; The improvement comprising: said air inlet valve means connected to said combustion chamber adjacent said spark means with the air inlet valve means blowing inlet air across said spark means to remove moisture from said spark means. 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said gas inlet valve timing means is a penumatic timing means.

11. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said gas inlet valve timing means is an electrical timing means.

12. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said nozzle control valve operatively connects said collimator tube and said nozzle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for projecting water comprising, in operative combination, a liquid reservoir and an explosive blast actuated liquid distributing system assembly, said explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly comprising a water discharge assembly, an ignition and timing control subassembly, and a nozzle frame subassembly in operative combination, the explosive blaSt actuated liquid distributor assembly comprising a vertically extending hollow combustion chamber, a collimator tube longer and narrower than said chamber, a nozzle control valve, and a nozzle connection near to the bottom of the combustion chamber connected to the collimator tube at one end thereof, said collimator tube being connected at its other end to a nozzle control valve, said nozzle frame assembly comprising a rigid frame with a timing means thereon, said timing means operatively attached to said nozzle valve for opening and closing said valve, and said timing means having ignition switch actuation means operatively attached thereto and said ignition switch means being connected to said combustion chamber, an inlet for combustion fuel to said combustion chamber and automatically and operatively attached thereto, said nozzle movably supported in said nozzle frame assembly, a liquid conduit connected to said reservoir, said conduit operatively connected to said combustion chamber, said reservoir having a substantially larger volumetric capacity than said combustion chamber, said reservoir and said nozzle frame being fixed to platform portions that are firmly attached to each other, whereby impulse from said nozzle is transmitted to said reservoir.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir is supported on a mobile carrier and said carrier comprises a self-propelled wheeled vehicle, said reservoir is operatively attached to a pump, said pump and reservoir are operatively attached to said combustion chamber.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said nozzle control valve is interposed between said collimator tube and said nozzle.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 comprising variable valve control means operatively connected to said inlet for combustion fuel.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly comprises a collimating tube and a nozzle, the longitudinal axis of the nozzle being moveable relative to the longitudinal axis of the collimator tube.

7. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and the nozzle are fixedly located with respect to each other and the longitudinal axis of the collimator tube is pivotally supported on the self-propelled vehicle.

8. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and the nozzle are pivotally located with respect to each other and the longitudinal axis of the collimator tube is pivotally supported on the self-propelled vehicle.

9. In an explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly comprising a vertically extending hollow combustion chamber, a collimator tube, a nozzle frame assembly, a nozzle control valve and a nozzle and a timing valve assembly in an ignition and timing control subassembly, the bottom of the combustion chamber being connected near to its bottom to one end of the collimator tube, the other end of said collimator tube being connected to a nozzle control valve, said nozzle frame assembly comprising a rigid frame with a nozzle valve control means supported thereon and operatively attached to said nozzle valve for opening and closing said nozzle valve, said ignition and timing control subassembly comprising ignition means operatively connected to a spark means in said combustion chamber, gas containing means and air containing means each operatively connected to said combustion chamber by gas inlet valve means and air inlet valve means, respectively; means controlling the volume of water passing from a water source to said combustion chamber, gas inlet valve timing means operatively attached to said air inlet valve means and to said nozzle valve control means, valve means operatively connected to said combustion chamber automaticAlly closing said water source off from said combustion chamber on actuation of said ignition means, gas purge means operatively connected to said combustion chamber, and valve means automatically connecting said purge means to said combustion chamber, said gas inlet valve timing means being operatively connected to said ignition means; The improvement comprising: said air inlet valve means connected to said combustion chamber adjacent said spark means with the air inlet valve means blowing inlet air across said spark means to remove moisture from said spark means.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said gas inlet valve timing means is a penumatic timing means.