Firefighting System and Method
OwnerStephen Crabbe, Lewis Malone +2inventors
InventorsStephen Crabbe, Lewis Malone, Shane Sauceman, Robert Lauf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Firefighting systems use a gas exchange module to infuse CO2 into water to produce carbonic acid, which is then applied to a fire by conventional means. The carbonic acid solution extinguishes a fire more effectively than water alone. The gas exchange system may be integrated into existing platforms, such as water tankers, pumpers, and firefighting aircraft. Alternatively, it may be a mobile, free-standing system placed between a fire hydrant and a pumper or tanker truck to supply carbonic acid to the pumper or tanker. The carbonic acid solution may further contain firefighting chemical additives as are known in the art. Related methods are also disclosed.
Claims16
A firefighting system comprising:
- a source of water;
- a source of pressurized CO2;
- a gas exchange module comprising:
- a rigid, monolithic polymer body defining an internal cavity and an external surface;
- a gas inlet integral to the polymer body so that pressurized CO2 gas may be introduced into the internal cavity and maintained at a selected pressure therein;
- a rigid housing defining a fluid chamber surrounding the polymer body, the housing having a water inlet, and a water outlet, and wherein the gas inlet passes through the housing wall from the polymer body to an external gas connection;
- and wherein,
- the polymer body is sufficiently hydrophobic so that when water is passed through the fluid chamber, the pressurized CO2 gas will diffuse from the internal cavity to the external surface of the polymer body and enter solution in the water as it passes through the fluid chamber, thereby forming a carbonic acid solution;
- and,
- a delivery system for dispensing the carbonic acid solution at the scene of a fire so that the fire may be extinguished.
A firefighting method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a supply of water;
- b) providing a supply of pressurized CO2;
- c) providing a gas exchange module comprising:
- a rigid, monolithic polymer body defining an internal cavity and an external surface;
- a gas inlet integral to the polymer body so that pressurized CO2 gas may be introduced into the internal cavity and maintained at a selected pressure therein;
- a rigid housing defining a fluid chamber surrounding the polymer body, the housing having a water inlet, and a water outlet, and wherein the gas inlet passes through the housing wall from the polymer body to an external gas connection;
- and wherein,
- the polymer body is sufficiently hydrophobic so that when water is passed through the fluid chamber, the pressurized CO2 gas will diffuse from the internal cavity to the external surface of the polymer body and enter solution in the water as it passes through the fluid chamber, thereby forming a carbonic acid solution;
- and,
- d) dispensing the carbonic acid solution at the scene of a fire so that the fire may be more efficiently extinguished than by dispensing water alone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.