Aerial fire suppression system
AssigneeSimplex Manufacturing Co.
InventorsMark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
Claims25
A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a helicopter, comprising:
- a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the helicopter that when mixed forms a fire retardant;
- a pump driven by an electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve wherein air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized by the pump together with the fire retardant;
- and
- an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a helicopter, comprising:
- a tank assembly attachable to the helicopter, the tank assembly supporting a foam tank for housing a foam, a water tank for housing water, and a foam pump for pumping the foam from the foam tank to the water tank to form a fire retardant;
- a powerpack supported on one end of the tank assembly, including a pump driven by an electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve wherein air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized by the pump together with the fire retardant;
- and
- a cannon assembly supported on an opposite side of the tank assembly, comprising
- a boom having a nozzle positioned at a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target, wherein a proximal end of the boom is connected to the pump by a conduit for conducting pressurized fire retardant and air therethrough to the boom, and
- a rotatable turret supporting the boom, the turret including a first actuator for rotating the turret and a second actuator for moving the distal end of the boom.
A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a helicopter, comprising:
- a tank assembly attachable to the helicopter, including a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant;
- a retractable pump system attached to the tank assembly or the helicopter for refilling the container associated with the water when the helicopter is in flight, the retractable pump system including
- a collapsible hose connected on a first end to a reversible, motorized reel for deploying and retrieving the hose, and
- a water pump positioned on a second end of the hose for pumping water from a water source to the container associated with the water;
- a powerpack supported on one end of the tank assembly, including a pump driven by an electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve wherein air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized by the pump together with the fire retardant;
- and
- an aimable boom supported on an opposite end of the tank assembly and connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.