WO2008093138A1

WO2008093138A1 - Airborne fluid distribution device

Info

Publication number: WO2008093138A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/050057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jens Havn Thorup; Karl Darren Forbes
Original assignee: Pursuit Dynamics Plc
Priority date: 2007-01-30
Filing date: 2008-01-29
Publication date: 2008-08-07

Abstract

An airborne fluid distribution device particularly suited to the distribution of decontaminant fluids is provided. The device comprises a body (12) and a wing member (14) extending outwardly from the body (12). The device contains a fluid storage chamber (16) adapted to store a fluid therein and further comprises at least one nozzle (18, 20) in fluid communication with the storage chamber (16) and adapted to spray the fluid out of the device. With the wing member (14) extending from the body (12), the device will spin and slowly fall through the air, spraying fluid as it does so.

Description

AIRBORNE FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE

The present invention is directed to a device for distributing a fluid. More specifically, the invention is a device adapted to produce and distribute a spray of fluid droplets whilst falling through the air.

Contamination of the air as a result of the release of biological, chemical and other harmful contaminants into the atmosphere can have a significant impact on the surrounding environment and the health of any person coming into contact with such contaminants. Contaminants made up of small particles or droplets are of special concern as they do not fall to the ground under gravity, but instead form a "contaminant cloud" in the air.

Proposals which have previously been put forward for the treatment of such airborne contaminants have included spraying the contaminated air in an enclosed space using either a mist-generating apparatus or a sprinkler system. The spraying of the contaminated air can result in the contaminant particles or droplets coalescing with the spray droplets in order to induce gravitational fallout and allow further treatment of the contaminants once on the ground. Alternatively, the spray apparatus can provide sufficient quantities of a neutralising agent to come into contact with the contaminant and thus neutralise any dangers posed by the contaminant.

One disadvantage of such spraying arrangements is that they can only work effectively in an enclosed space. Operation of these arrangements outside of an enclosed space is not as effective, as it is difficult to obtain a homogenous distribution of the spray droplets throughout an uncontained contaminant cloud. It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this and other disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided an airborne fluid distribution device comprising: a body; a wing member extending outwardly from the body; a fluid storage chamber adapted to store a fluid therein; and at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the storage chamber and adapted to spray the fluid out of the device.

The body may be substantially spherical and the storage chamber may be located in the body.

The at least one nozzle may be located on the body. The device may comprise a pair of nozzles located on the body. The pair of nozzles may be located at substantially diametrically opposed locations on the body.

The device may further comprise at least one wing member nozzle located on the wing member adjacent an end of the wing member remote from the body. The wing member may comprise a leading edge, a trailing edge and a web portion connecting the two edges with one another, and the at least one wing member nozzle is located on the leading edge of the wing member. Alternatively, the at least one wing member nozzle may be located on the trailing edge of the wing member.

The at least one nozzle may be located on the wing member in fluid communication with the storage chamber. The wing member nozzle may be located adjacent an end of the wing member remote from the body. The wing member may comprise a leading edge, a trailing edge and a web portion connecting the two edges with one another, and the at least one nozzle may be located on the leading edge of the wing member. Alternatively, the at least one nozzle may be located on the trailing edge of the wing member.

The device may further comprise a plurality of nozzles located on the wing member and spaced between the remote end of the wing member and the body.

The storage chamber may be located in the wing member.

The body and wing member may be deformable.

The device may further comprise at least one valve means adapted to selectively control flow of fluid from the storage chamber.

The body may be suspended below the wing member and attached to the wing member by a connecting member. The at least one nozzle may be located on the connecting member.

The storage chamber may be divided into first and second compartments by a flexible membrane, wherein the first compartment is adapted to store the fluid and the second compartment is adapted to store a pressurised propellant.

The or each nozzle may include an actuation means which must be actuated before the nozzle will spray fluid. The storage chamber may comprise first and second compartments, and the or each nozzle comprises: a working nozzle adapted to spray a stream of fluid received from the first compartment; and a transport nozzle adapted to spray a stream of pressurised gas stored in the second compartment into the stream of fluid issuing from the working nozzle, such that the pressurised gas atomises the fluid issuing from the working nozzle.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a fluid distribution device when full of fluid;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the device of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 shows a side view of the device when empty.

Figures 1 and 2 show views of a fluid distribution device, generally designated 10. The device comprises a substantially spherical body 12 for storing a fluid, and a wing member 14 which extends outwardly from the body 12. The body 12 and wing 14 are preferably integrally formed with one another, with the wing 14 extending radially from the body 12. The body 12 has an internal fluid storage chamber 16 and a pair of nozzles 18,20. The nozzles are located on opposing sides of the body 12 and are in fluid communication with the chamber 16. Preferably, the nozzles 18,20 are located at substantially diametrically opposite locations on the exterior of the body 12. The body 12 is provided with a one-way valve (not shown), which allows the filling of the chamber 16 with the chosen fluid but will not allow the fluid to exit from the chamber 16 through the same valve. Alternatively, the chamber 16 may be filled via one of the nozzles 18,20. The wing 14 comprises a resilient leading edge 22, a trailing edge 23 and a web portion 24 connecting the two edges 22,23 with one another. The web portion 24 is preferably thinner than the leading edge 22. Optionally, the leading edge 22 may contain a passage 26 which extends from the body 12 along the leading edge 22. The passage 26 is in fluid communication with the chamber 16 and located at the end of the passage 26 remote from the chamber 16 is an auxiliary nozzle 28. Further auxiliary nozzles can be placed at points along the length of the passage 26 and leading edge 22 if desired.

As best seen in Figure 2 when viewed in plan, the wing 14 has a radius of curvature as it extends away from the body 12. In other words, the leading edge 22 curves backwards until it reaches a point 30 where the leading edge 22 and the trailing edge 23 meet.

It is envisaged that a plurality of the devices will be simultaneously deployed into or above a contaminant cloud. The deployment can be achieved by way of a delivery system comprising an appropriate vehicle, such as a manned/unmanned aircraft or a missile, for example, and a deployment means. In one preferred embodiment, the vehicle has a delivery compartment, or canister, detachably fitted to the vehicle. The deployment means includes a clamping mechanism which retains each device in the canister and releases the devices at the appropriate time. Once the airborne vehicle has reached the location of the contaminant cloud, a rotating means causes the canister to begin rotating about its longitudinal axis. The rotating means could be an aerofoil attached to the canister at an appropriate angle to encourage rotation. At the same time, the canister will open and release its cargo of fluid distribution devices. Imparting a rotational motion to the canister will spread the devices further apart in the contaminant cloud. The clamping mechanism can also include a means to prevent release of the fluid in each device until deployment. The clamping mechanism includes a plurality of clamps adapted to impart a rotational motion to the devices as they are released. Each clamp can include stoppers which locate in the nozzle apertures of the devices. When the devices are released by the respective clamps, the stoppers are removed from the nozzles and the pressurised fluid will be free to leave the chamber via the nozzles.

As each device is released, it begins to fall through the contaminant cloud. Thanks to the arrangement of the wing and body, the device will begin to rotate in a similar manner to a sycamore seed as it slowly descends. As the device descends, the air flowing over the upper curved surface of the wing moves faster than the air beneath the wing. The pressure underneath the wing is therefore greater than that on the top of the wing, as explained by Bernoulli's theorem, which causes lift. The chamber 16 of the body 12 contains a decontaminating fluid which is held in the chamber under pressure. Once the device begins to fall through the cloud, the pressurised fluid is forced out of the chamber 16 through the nozzles 18,20 and the auxiliary nozzle(s) 28, when present. The rotational motion of the device ensures that the fluid contained in the body 12 is sprayed outwardly into the cloud. Thanks to the rotation of the device, the atomisation of the fluid is enhanced by one or more of the following mechanisms: swirl generated by the rotation of the device; turbulence generated by the wing; the wake of the device; impact atomisation of droplets contacting the wing. Distribution of the fluid is improved further when auxiliary nozzles are provided on one or both edges 22,23 of the wing, as the rotation of the device will spray the fluid out through the auxiliary nozzles in an arc. Figure 3 shows the device 10 when the body 12 is empty. The body 12 and wing member 14 are formed from a lightweight, deformable material. One suitable material for this purpose is rubber. This ensures that the devices do not cause damage or injury upon landing and also that the devices lie flat when empty. They can therefore be stored one on top of another and take up less storage space. If desired, when the used devices have been emptied, they can be collected, cleaned and/or decontaminated and used again for further jobs.

The present invention provides a more homogenous distribution of fluid droplets into a contaminant cloud than existing proposals. Due to the arrangement of wing and body, the device will not only fall slowly through the air, but will also rotate whilst doing so. This ensures a greater volume of the cloud is sprayed with a suitable countermeasure fluid. By delivering a number of such devices into a contaminant cloud, the entire cloud can be thoroughly treated. The present invention also enables clouds of contaminants to be treated without requiring enclosed spaces, thereby allowing the treatment to be undertaken on much larger scales than presently possible. By adjusting the aerodynamics of the wing in particular, the speed of rotation of the device can be adjusted.

Furthermore, locating one or more of the nozzles at the wing tip ensures that the discharge force of the nozzles also can be utilised to ensure optimum rotation of the device as it falls.

The device may be partially or completely manufactured from biodegradable materials. Whilst it is preferable that the wing and body are integrally formed, it will be appreciated that the material used to manufacture the wing must provide sufficient rigidity to ensure the necessary lift. The geometry of the wing will be dependent on the weight of fluid held in the body, and may be adjustable as a result. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the body and storage chamber are suspended below the wing and connected thereto by a connecting member. Preferably, the wing, body and connecting member are integrally formed. In this embodiment, the nozzles are provided on either the body or the connecting member. As before, auxiliary nozzles can be provided at one or more locations on the wing.

In any of the described embodiments of the invention, the device need only have one nozzle if desired. That nozzle can be located at the end of the wing, on either the leading or trailing edge as described above. The device could have more than one wing and/or more than one body.

The fluid storage chamber can be located in the wing member as opposed to the body, with the one or more nozzles also in the wing member as described above. In such a case, the device would have a similar appearance to the "deflated" state shown in Figure 3 with the body provided to ensure the correct balance and aerodynamics of the device.

The one or more nozzles of the present invention are preferably mist- generating nozzles. Most preferably, the mist-generating nozzles are of the same type as the various embodiments of nozzle illustrated and described in WO2005/082545 and WO2005/082546 to the same applicant. In operation of such nozzles the working fluid, which in this example is the decontaminant fluid, is introduced from a first compartment of the storage chamber 16 into a feed port and out through a working nozzle in fluid communication with the outlet nozzle(s) 18,20. The transport fluid, which in this example is a pressurised gas, is introduced from a second compartment of the storage chamber 16 into another feed port and out through a transport nozzle in fluid communication with both the working nozzle and the outlet nozzle(s) 18,20. The high velocity gas jet issuing from the transport nozzle imparts a high shear force upon the decontaminant stream issuing from the working nozzle, thereby atomising the decontaminant into a mist of fine droplets.

The nozzles may also be supersonic nozzles, in that the fluid(s) are sprayed from the nozzles at supersonic velocity. Such supersonic nozzles generate a noise whilst spraying, and may be tuned to emit a particular frequency and amplitude of noise. The acoustic waves may aid the airborne decontamination process by enhancing airborne interaction between the sprayed fluid(s) and the contaminant.

In the delivery system, the devices may be held by the aforementioned clamping mechanism in a compartment which remains attached to the vehicle, rather than being detachable. In this case, the compartment of the missile is adapted such that when the compartment is opened, a rotational motion will be imparted to the compartment by a rotating member driven by the vehicle. This rotational motion will ensure a wide distribution pattern of the devices when they are released from the delivery system. Alternatively, the devices may begin rotating due to the airflow over the vehicle, and can then simply be released. A still further alternative would be to briefly divert a portion of the vehicle propellant to the delivery compartment, the propellant forcing the devices out of the compartment.

The fluid to be sprayed can be introduced into the storage chamber under pressure and held under pressure in the chamber until release. For example, a pressurised gas may be suspended in the fluid before the fluid is introduced to the chamber. Alternatively, a suitable propellant can be placed in the chamber and activated when spraying is to begin. This propellant may be activated by way of a chemical reaction when spraying is to begin. By way of example, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) may be used to obtain a suitable chemical reaction. It may also be used as a decontaminant in some circumstances.

A further alternative is to provide the storage chamber with two compartments separated by a deformable barrier. One compartment contains the decontaminant fluid and the other contains a propellant stored under high pressure. Once the device is released and the nozzle opened the propellant will expand, deforming the barrier and pushing the decontaminant fluid out of the device.

As an alternative to retaining the fluid in the device using the stoppers referred to above, the body may include one or more valves which will keep the communication between the chamber and nozzles closed until spraying of the fluid is required. The valve(s) can be operated in any conventional manner which is appropriate. A still further alternative is to adapt the delivery system such that the fluid is only introduced into the devices immediately prior to their deployment. Such a fluid distribution system could carry a number of different fluids in reservoirs and fill the devices with the appropriate fluid upon arrival at the location of the contaminant cloud. An appropriate selection mechanism may select the desired fluid. As described above, the devices can be filled via a dedicated one-way filling valve or else via one of the nozzles present on the device.

The decontaminant fluid being sprayed from the device can take a number of forms. These can include liquids, powders and slurries. The nozzle(s) of the device may require actuation to begin spraying fluid, in the manner of an aerosol can. In such a case, the delivery system includes means to actuate the nozzle as the devices are being released. For example, the delivery system may include an actuation member which depresses the nozzle into a spraying position as the device is being released. Alternatively, the nozzle may act as a reverse aerosol, in which it will only spray fluid when released. In this case, the clamping mechanism is adapted in order to hold the nozzle closed and will only release and open the nozzle when the device itself is released by the delivery system.

Whilst the primary application of the present invention is in the treatment of contaminant clouds, the invention may also be used for the purposes of identification of unidentified threats. By storing a taggant in the chamber rather than a decontaminant, the device may spray the taggant into a cloud of unidentified matter. Depending on the colour change seen in the taggant, or alternatively a change in how it reflects signals (e.g. infra-red or a laser), the component(s) of the cloud may be identified and treated accordingly.

Furthermore, whilst the present invention is ideally suited for deployment into contaminant clouds, it is also suitable for distributing decontaminant over ground, buildings and equipment which are already contaminated.

It should further be understood that the device is perfectly suited to other airborne spraying applications, such as crop spraying for example. The present invention is therefore not limited solely to decontamination applications. These and other modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An airborne fluid distribution device comprising: a body; a wing member extending outwardly from the body; a fluid storage chamber adapted to store a fluid therein; and at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the storage chamber and adapted to spray the fluid out of the device.

2. The device of Claim 1 , wherein the body is substantially spherical and the storage chamber is located in the body.

3. The device of Claim 2, wherein the at least one nozzle is located on the body.

4. The device of Claim 3, comprising a pair of nozzles located on the body.

5. The device of Claim 4, wherein the nozzles are located at substantially diametrically opposed locations on the body.

6. The device of any of Claims 3 to 5, further comprising at least one wing member nozzle located on the wing member adjacent an end of the wing member remote from the body.

7. The device of Claim 6, wherein the wing member comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge and a web portion connecting the two edges with one another, and the at least one wing member nozzle is located on the leading edge of the wing member.

8. The device of Claim 6, wherein the wing member comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge and a web portion connecting the two edges with one another, and the at least one wing member nozzle is located on the trailing edge of the wing member.

9. The device of either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the at least one nozzle is located on the wing member and is in fluid communication with the storage chamber.

10. The device of Claim 9, wherein the wing member nozzle is located adjacent an end of the wing member remote from the body.

11. The device of either Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the wing member comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge and a web portion connecting the two edges with one another, and the at least one nozzle is located on the leading edge of the wing member.

12. The device of either Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the wing member comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge and a web portion connecting the two edges with one another, and the at least one nozzle is located on the trailing edge of the wing member.

13. The device of any of Claims 9 to 12, further comprising a plurality of nozzles located on the wing member and spaced between the remote end of the wing member and the body.

14. The device of any of Claims 9 to 13, wherein the storage chamber is located in the wing member.

15. The device of Claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber is located in the wing member.

16. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the body and wing member are deformable.

17. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises at least one valve means adapted to selectively control flow of fluid from the storage chamber.

18. The device of Claim 1 , wherein the body is suspended below the wing member and attached to the wing member by a connecting member.

19. The device of Claim 18, wherein the at least one nozzle is located on the connecting member.

20. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the storage chamber is divided into first and second compartments by a flexible membrane, wherein the first compartment is adapted to store the fluid and the second compartment is adapted to store a pressurised propellant.

21. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the or each nozzle includes an actuation means which must be actuated before the nozzle will spray fluid.

22. The device of any of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the storage chamber comprises first and second compartments, and the or each nozzle comprises: a working nozzle adapted to spray a stream of fluid received from the first compartment; and a transport nozzle adapted to spray a stream of pressurised gas stored in the second compartment into the stream of fluid issuing from the working nozzle, such that the pressurised gas atomises the fluid issuing from the working nozzle.