US 2025/0186818 A1Published application

Compressed air foam generating device that creates foam with high fire-extinguishing capabilities

OwnerTimothy R. Roweinventor

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Abstract

A foam generating device that maximizes the fire extinguishing capabilities of fluorine-free foam solutions. An air bubble injector placed in a central region of a flow of water and surfactant through a pipe forces air forward and rearward out from the center of the air bubble injector in two curtains of air, thereby creating 360 degree vortexes, so all the water with surfactant flowing through the pipe will be suffused with air bubble streams folding into each other at high speed, thereby creating a dense tough bubble foam that retains its “drain time” when applied to a fire, resulting in faster fire extinguishment, and less exposure of the fire fighter to carcinogens. The foam generating device helps reduce the amount of foam used for fire extinguishment, thereby reducing environmental impact from toxic run-off. The air bubble injector can be made from all stainless steel.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A compressed air foam generating device to maximize the fire-extinguishing capabilities of fluorine-free foam solutions, the device comprising:

a pipe having a first opening configured to accommodate a water and surfactant input flow, a second opening configured to accommodate a foam output flow, and at least one compressed air inlet configured to enable a compressed air flow from outside the pipe to inside the pipe;
and
an air bubble injector, in fluid communication with the at least one compressed air inlet, configured to transform the compressed air flow into a plurality of streams of air bubbles injected into the water and surfactant input flow, the air bubble injector having:
a compressed air input port;
a central air manifold having a first plurality of bubble injectors that inject forward bubbles with respect to the compressed air flow, and a second plurality of bubble injectors that inject rearward bubbles with respect to the compressed air flow;
a rearward vortex generating ramp configured to deflect the rearward bubbles outward as a rearward vortex into the water and surfactant input flow, the rearward vortex generating ramp in fluid communication with the compressed air input port and the central air manifold to permit a flow of compressed air from the compressed air input port to the central air manifold;
a forward vortex generating ramp configured to deflect the forward bubbles outward as a forward vortex of bubbles into the water and surfactant input flow;
and
a flow deflector, attached to the forward vortex generating ramp, the flow deflector having a surface configured to reduce fluid drag as the water and surfactant input flow impinge upon the air bubble injector,
the forward vortex of bubbles turbulently comingling with the rearward vortex of bubbles in the water and surfactant input flow so as to produce a foam output flow having high bubble density, resulting in prolonged drain time when applied to a fire, thereby providing faster fire extinguishment.

7 more elements

An air bubble injector for use in a compressed air foam generating device, the air bubble injector maximizing the fire-extinguishing capabilities of fluorine-free foam solutions, the air bubble injector comprising:

a compressed air input port;
a central air manifold having a first plurality of bubble injectors that inject forward bubbles with respect to the compressed air flow, and a second plurality of bubble injectors that inject rearward bubbles with respect to the compressed air flow;
a rearward vortex generating ramp configured to deflect the rearward bubbles outward as a rearward vortex into the water and surfactant input flow, the rearward vortex generating ramp in fluid communication with the compressed air input port and the central air manifold to permit a flow of compressed air from the compressed air input port to the central air manifold;
a forward vortex generating ramp configured to deflect the forward bubbles outward as a forward vortex of bubbles into the water and surfactant input flow;
and
a flow deflector, attached to the forward vortex generating ramp, the flow deflector having a surface configured to reduce fluid drag as the water and surfactant input flow impinge upon the air bubble injector,
the forward vortex of bubbles turbulently comingling with the rearward vortex of bubbles in the water and surfactant input flow so as to produce a foam output flow having high bubble density, resulting in prolonged drain time when applied to a fire, thereby providing faster fire extinguishment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.