Air blower for extinguishing fires and method for extinguishing fires

A fire extinguishing system comprising:

• a frame;
• a blower adapted to generate an airstream coupled to the frame, the blower comprising:
• an engine adapted to generate exhaust;
• and,
• an outlet hose adapted to conduct the airstream, the outlet hose being directionally controllable;
• a valve comprising:
• an exhaust input leg in communication with and adapted to receive exhaust from the engine;
• a first exhaust output leg;
• a second exhaust output leg;
• and,
• a valve member adapted to selectively control exhaust flow from the exhaust input leg to the first exhaust output leg and the second exhaust output leg;
• and,
• wherein the outlet hose is in communication with and adapted to receive exhaust from the second exhaust output leg and facilitates combination of the exhaust from the engine and the airstream from the blower.

A method of extinguishing a fire comprising:

• generating an airstream with a blower;
• flowing the airstream through an outlet hose;
• generating exhaust from an engine of the blower;
• selectively directing at least a portion of the exhaust through an exhaust output leg of a valve having at least two exhaust output legs;
• delivering the exhaust into the outlet hose;
• combining the airstream and the exhaust in the outlet hose;
• propelling the combined airstream and exhaust through the outlet hose.

A method of extinguishing a fire comprising:

• generating an airstream with a blower;
• flowing the airstream through an outlet hose;
• generating exhaust from an engine of the blower;
• selectively directing at least a portion of the exhaust through an exhaust output leg of a valve having at least two exhaust output legs;
• directing the exhaust to atmosphere;
• and,
• propelling the airstream through the outlet hose.