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US 7,748,662 B2Granted
Aerial delivery system
AssigneeEvergreen International Aviation, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Hale, Daniel A. Kottman, Christopher B. Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for aerial fire suppression utilizing a potable fire retardant chemical dispensing system, readily adaptable, without extensive aircraft modification, to various makes of aircraft, for dispensing current types of forest and range fire fighting chemicals. The aerial delivery system is self contained and reusable. It enables cargo/utility aircraft to carry and dump a load, under control. The aerial delivery system is capable of attachment at the wing box, pressurized delivery from the nozzles, and nozzles directed straight downward.
Claims29
An aerial fluid delivery system capable of association with an aircraft having a longitudinal dimension, comprising:
- an aboard area and an outer area of the aircraft;
- a plurality of storage tanks located in the aboard area of the aircraft along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft, the storage tanks capable of containing a fluid;
- an air accumulator including a plurality of air tanks located in the aboard area of the aircraft along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft and in pneumatic communication with the storage tanks, the air tanks being capable of containing pressurize air at a pressure sufficient for propelling the fluid contained in the storage tanks;
- an elongated dump manifold located in the aboard area of the aircraft and extending along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft, the dump manifold being associated with the storage tanks to receive the fluid propelled from the storage tanks;
- and
- a plurality of dump outlets located along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft, each dump outlet having an input communicating with the dump manifold at a different location along the length of the dump manifold to receive a portion of the fluid propelled from the storage tanks and into the dump manifold, and an outlet located at a different location along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft at the outer area of the aircraft, the dump outlets arranged to direct the fluid propelled from the storage tanks by the pressurized air in the air tanks of the air accumulator downward from the aboard area of the aircraft for exit from the aircraft to the outer area of the aircraft.
3 more elements
An aerial fluid delivery system for use with an aircraft having a wing box and a longitudinal dimension, comprising:
- an air accumulator, the air accumulator capable of holding high-pressure air and being positioned forward of the wing box;
- a high pressure line;
- a plurality of material holding tanks located along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft and in serial fluid communication, the material holding tanks capable of containing a fluid in sufficient volume for fire suppression when discharged from the aircraft, the material holding tanks connected to the air accumulator by the high pressure line, the plurality of material holding tanks including at least a forward tank located forward of the wing box and an aft tank located aft of the wing box;
- a high pressure regulator associated with the air accumulator, wherein the high pressure regulator allows the air accumulator to hold large amounts of air at high pressures so low and constant air pressure can be delivered to the material holding tanks;
- at least one separation valve associated with the aft tank of the material holding tanks;
- a dump manifold associated with the material holding tanks and in fluid communication with the separation valve to receive therethrough the fluid held within the material holding tanks;
- and
- a plurality of dump outlets located along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft, each dump outlet having an input communicating with the dump manifold at a different location along the length of the dump manifold to receive a portion of the fluid propelled from the storage tanks and into the dump manifold, and an outlet located at a different location along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft at the outer area of the aircraft;
- each dump outlet having an outlet end communicating with the exterior of the aircraft and sized to discharge the fluid held within the material holding tanks from the outlet ends under propulsion from the high pressure air from the air accumulator for delivery to a ground fire below the aircraft with sufficient volume, dispersal and discharge rate for fire suppression.
6 more elements
An aerial fluid delivery system for use with an aircraft having a wing box and a longitudinal dimension, comprising:
- an air accumulator, the air accumulator capable of holding high-pressure air and being positioned forward of the wing box;
- a high pressure line;
- a plurality of material holding tanks in serial fluid communication, the material holding tanks capable of containing a fluid in sufficient volume for fire suppression when discharged from the aircraft, the material holding tanks connected to the air accumulator by the high pressure line, the plurality of material holding tanks including at least a forward tank located forward of the wing box and an aft tank located aft of the wing box;
- a high pressure regulator associated with the air accumulator, wherein the high pressure regulator allows the air accumulator to hold large amounts of air at high pressures so low and constant air pressure can be delivered to the material holding tanks;
- a dump manifold associated with the material holding tanks to receive the fluid held within the material holding tanks;
- and
- a plurality of dump outlets located along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft, each dump outlet having an input communicating with the dump manifold at a different location along the length of the dump manifold to receive a portion of the fluid propelled from the storage tanks and into the dump manifold, and an outlet located at a different location along the longitudinal dimension of the aircraft at the outer area of the aircraft;
- each dump outlet having an outlet end communicating with the exterior of the aircraft and sized to discharge the fluid held within the material holding tanks from the outlet ends under propulsion from the high pressure air from the air accumulator for delivery to a ground fire below the aircraft with sufficient volume, dispersal and discharge rate for fire suppression.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.