Fire fighting airship

Abstract

• The FFFA is a machine composed of a modem 10 - 60 tons cargo-airship, a parallelepiped steel frame (around 3000x3000x6000 mm size) holding a Ø_3m motorized hose-reel with Ø_80mm hose 680m long, a 10m3 plus water cylinder, a diesel powered water pump (40 to 500psi and 150 to 5000Gpm) and a remote-control fire monitor (2500 to 40 000 l / min). The FFFA also includes a fire catterpilar (Figure 12) and a series of conventional fire trucks with water tanks, pumps and hoses.

Description

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention:

[0001] The FFFA is a machine to be used in the fight against large forest / wild fires and can also be used, without any modifications, in large urban or industrial fires. Description of the Related Art:

[0002] The current state of the art with regards to forest fires is a combination of aerial machines (airplanes and helicopters), terrestrial machines (fire-trucks and bulldozers) and firemen. SUMMARY

[0003] The object of this invention is to have a machine that is able to deal and to extinguish large fires much more efficiently than any combination of the existing means for this purpose nowadays, in the face of the increasing number and dimension of forest fires, due to climate change. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 - this drawing illustrates how the different equipment are connected to enable the continuous heavy flow of water, from altitude, over a forest fire. Figure 2 - this drawing illustrates how the FFFA is supposed to travel from a base station to a designated fire location transporting all the main equipment necessary, the fire frame and fire caterpillar. In the vicinity of the fire only the conventional fire trucks on the ground are necessary to supply water to the FFFA. Figures 3, 4 and 5 - these pictures show examples of three existing modern airships designed to transport cargo loads up to 60 tons. Figures 6 and 7 - the pictures illustrate two brands of modern, high-flow, remote-controlled fire monitors ranging from 2500 to 40 000 (l / min). The monitors have a wide range of jet and spray functions to suit all situations. Figures 8 and 9 - examples of modern high flow fire engine pumps (40 to 500psi and 150 to 5000Gpm). Figure 10 - large stainless steel water cylinder Figure 11 - example of a motorized hose-reel of Ø3m able to carry a Ø80mm hose, 680m long Figure 12 - examples of fire-fighting caterpillars and bulldozers Figure 13 - heavy-duty electric winch DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] The FFFA is a machine devised to deliver a continuous high flow of water, from altitude, for a long period of time, over forest fires in remote and difficult access areas where the conventional existing equipment are unable to reach. In a brief description, the fire trucks take turns in supplying / pumping water to the airship (hovering 50 to 150 meters above the ground) along a water-hose connected to the fire bulldozer on the ground and up to a water tank on the airship. In turn, this reservoir feeds a water pump and orientable monitor nozzle that, from a suitable height, creates a heavy showering effect over the fire.

[0006] The FFFA consists of four main elements: A series of conventional fire trucks with pumps hoses and water tanks A fire-caterpillar with a large motorized hose-reel. A metal frame, structure or chassis holding a 2 nd< large motorized hose-reel, a water tank, a diesel fire pump and a remote controlled fire monitor, as illustrated in Figure 1 (fire frame contents). A modern cargo airship like the ones illustrated in figures 3 ,4 and 5, with similar specifications in terms of payload and cruising speed.

[0007] As illustrated in Figure 1, a series of fire trucks on the ground provide a continuous supply of water to the airship in the sky. The continuous supply is achieved by a series of trucks, each with its individual pumps and hoses taking turns in supplying a water manifold connected to the airship via the fire-caterpillar.

[0008] The fire-caterpillar is a vehicle specially adapted to manoeuvre in burning forest mountains, its main features being the ability to endure fire and flames and the power to climb and move around steep and rough terrain. These vehicles exist in man-driven and remote-controlled versions. To the effect of the FFFA machine, the fire-caterpillar will carry a Ø2 (m) motorized hose-reel fixed on top of the vehicle or in a trailer (pulled by the caterpillar). The reason for this is for the hose to be laid on the ground as the caterpillar moves forward rather than the caterpillar pulling the hose from a standing hose drum along a distance. The aim of the caterpillar is to reach, as close as possible, a locus on the ground vertically below the airship to interlock with the hose un-winded from the hose-reel in the fire frame.

[0009] In case the caterpillar is unable to reach this locus to enable the interlocking of the two water hoses, the airship can manoeuvre above the caterpillar to allow the hoses to interlock before moving to a more suitable position and start throwing water over the fire.

[0010] The parallelepiped steel frame (around 3000x3000x6000 mm size) holds a Ø_3m motorized hose-reel with Ø_80mm hose 680m long, a 10m 3< plus water cylinder, a diesel powered water pump and a remote controlled fire monitor. The main reason for the assembly of these four elements in a common platform is the ease of transportation and maintenance and also to be a fully independent and autonomous unit from the airship that can be parked in a base station during the winter allowing the airship to perform other transport missions that make it economically viable.

[0011] All hoses used in the FFFA are high pressure (@50 bar which is equivalent to 510 mH2O, well above the estimated hovering height necessary to assure a safe operation of the airship) and self-supported (sewn to a steel cable to sustain high tensile stresses).

[0012] The motorized hose-reel holds a long 80mm hose that is unwound from the airship down to the fire-caterpillar on the ground. The 680 m length is feasible but is highly overestimated since the safety height of operation for the airship shouldn't exceed 150 meters (more on this later).

[0013] The ~10m3 water tank supplies the diesel water pump and acts as balast. To keep the weight constant for the airship (which floats in the air according to the buoyancy principle) the water flow rate of the diesel-pump and fire monitor over the fire is the same as the water pumped from the water-trucks on the ground to the airship.

[0014] Water tanks come in many shapes, sizes and materials and can easily be adjusted to fit the final requirements of the FFFA in terms of discharge flowrates, airship size, ballast concerns and the like.

[0015] The diesel water pump and the fire monitor must have equivalent ratings in terms of working pressure and water flowrates. The specifications presented for the pumps and monitors in Figures 6 to 9 are largely oversized simply to show that the characteristics of the existing devices largely exceed the requirements for the FFFA. An estimated flowrate of 1000 lpm should be more than enough for this purpose, especially considering the ability of the fire monitor to direct, shape and spread the water jet and the fact that the water is discharged from altitude above the fire. There is no need to waste water.

[0016] Modern cargo airships have different mechanisms of suspension cables that can easily be used to transport the fire-frame containing the hose reel, water tank, water pump and nozzle. To the effect of the FFFA, a command console must be added to the airship's cockpit to operate all the equipment in the fire-frame via control or communication cables including a remote controlled video-camera.

[0017] The main features of cargo airships that significantly surpass those of conventional aircraft for this purpose, namely aeroplanes and helicopters, are: Air ships can stay in the air almost indefinitely with minimal limitations in terms of fuel consumption Airships can hover and manoeuvre in the air just like helicopters Airships, unlike helicopters, have no safety or security issues with being tied to a cable to the ground.

[0018] Being anchored to the ground is the usual way to park these vehicles or to keep them from moving.ANNEX (ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN FAVOUR OF THE FFFA)

[0019] The development plan for a FFFA prototype is relatively short and simple, being able to be safely and thoroughly tested in its full configuration in a large open field with regards to the assessment of mechanical stresses and tensions of couplings and hoses, technical dimensioning of cables, pumps and motors, determination of the most effective hovering altitude for fire extinguishing efficiency, testing of different modes of nozzle discharge and water flow rates, and testing of emergency actions. On the safety concerns of the airship's operation in the vicinity of a forest fire, the following issues can be argued: ∘ The airship can and should always be driven to operate upwind from the fire, with clear visibility and the wind direction favorable to the water discharge. ∘ The primary function of the large water tank (@10 tons) in the fire-frame is to act as ballast to enable an emergency ascending manoeuvre of the airship, whose working principle is based in fluid buoyancy (floating ). The nominal flow of the diesel water pump can be calculated to empty the water tank in a matter of minutes or seconds. ∘ The physical attachment of the airship to the ground via the hose and cable is a normal working condition that doesn't compromise the safety of operation for this type of aircraft ∘ Due to the large debit of water supplied to the fire-frame, a line of sprinklers can be adapted / extended over the top surface of the airship to enable the temperature control inside the envelope (this might not be necessary since modem airships have specific mechanisms to this effect) The FFFA is very expeditious in relocating between different fire fronts With an average cruising speed of around 100 km / h the FFFA is able to to arrive early at a fire location while the fire front is still within manageable dimension Acquisition, maintenance and operation costs of a FFFA are much lower compared to fire fighting airplanes and helicopters. Because the fire-frame contains all the equipment that enables the use of the airship as a fire fighting tool, the fire frame can be parked in the winter season, allowing the airship to be used for cargo transport and other uses that make it economically viable , if not profitable.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0005]The FFFA is a machine devised to deliver a continuous high flow of water, from altitude, for a long period of time, over forest fires in remote and difficult access areas where the conventional existing equipment are unable to reach. In a brief description, the fire trucks take turns in supplying / pumping water to the airship (hovering 50 to 150 meters above the ground) along a water-hose connected to the fire bulldozer on the ground and up to a water tank on the airship. In turn, this reservoir feeds a water pump and orientable monitor nozzle that, from a suitable height, creates a heavy showering effect over the fire.

[0006]The FFFA consists of four main elements:

A series of conventional fire trucks with pumps hoses and water tanks A fire-caterpillar with a large motorized hose-reel. A metal frame, structure or chassis holding a 2 ndFigure 1 (fire frame contents). A modern cargo airship like the ones illustrated in figures 3 ,4 and 5, with similar specifications in terms of ...

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention:

[0001] The FFFA is a machine to be used in the fight against large forest / wild fires and can also be used, without any modifications, in large urban or industrial fires. Description of the Related Art:

[0002] The current state of the art with regards to forest fires is a combination of aerial machines (airplanes and helicopters), terrestrial machines (fire-trucks and bulldozers) and firemen. SUMMARY

[0003] The object of this invention is to have a machine that is able to deal and to extinguish large fires much more efficiently than any combination of the existing means for this purpose nowadays, in the face of the increasing number and dimension of forest fires, due to climate change. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 - this drawing illustrates how the different equipment are connected to enable the continuous heavy flow of water, from altitude, over a forest fire. Figure 2 - this drawing illustrates how the FFFA is supposed to travel from a base station to a designated fire location transporting all the main equipment necessary, the fire frame and fire caterpillar. In the vicinity of the fire only the conventional fire trucks on the ground are necessary to supply water to the FFFA. Figures 3, 4 and 5 - these pictures show examples of three existing modern airships designed to transport cargo loads up to 60 tons. Figures 6 and 7 - the pictures illustrate two brands of modern, high-flow, remote-controlled fire monitors ranging from 2500 to 40 000 (l / min). The monitors have a wide range of jet and spray functions to suit all situations. Figures 8 and 9 - examples of modern high flow fire engine pumps (40 to 500psi and 150 to 5000Gpm). Figure 10 - large stainless steel water cylinder Figure 11 - example of a motorized hose-reel of Ø3m able to carry a Ø80mm hose, 680m long Figure 12 - examples of fire-fighting caterpillars and bulldozers Figure 13 - heavy-duty electric winch DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] The FFFA is a machine devised to deliver a continuous high flow of water, from altitude, for a long period of time, over forest fires in remote and difficult access areas where the conventional existing equipment are unable to reach. In a brief description, the fire trucks take turns in supplying / pumping water to the airship (hovering 50 to 150 meters above the ground) along a water-hose connected to the fire bulldozer on the ground and up to a water tank on the airship. In turn, this reservoir feeds a water pump and orientable monitor nozzle that, from a suitable height, creates a heavy showering effect over the fire.

[0006] The FFFA consists of four main elements: A series of conventional fire trucks with pumps hoses and water tanks A fire-caterpillar with a large motorized hose-reel. A metal frame, structure or chassis holding a 2 nd< large motorized hose-reel, a water tank, a diesel fire pump and a remote controlled fire monitor, as illustrated in Figure 1 (fire frame contents). A modern cargo airship like the ones illustrated in figures 3 ,4 and 5, with similar specifications in terms of payload and cruising speed.

[0007] As illustrated in Figure 1, a series of fire trucks on the ground provide a continuous supply of water to the airship in the sky. The continuous supply is achieved by a series of trucks, each with its individual pumps and hoses taking turns in supplying a water manifold connected to the airship via the fire-caterpillar.

[0008] The fire-caterpillar is a vehicle specially adapted to manoeuvre in burning forest mountains, its main features being the ability to endure fire and flames and the power to climb and move around steep and rough terrain. These vehicles exist in man-driven and remote-controlled versions. To the effect of the FFFA machine, the fire-caterpillar will carry a Ø2 (m) motorized hose-reel fixed on top of the vehicle or in a trailer (pulled by the caterpillar). The reason for this is for the hose to be laid on the ground as the caterpillar moves forward rather than the caterpillar pulling the hose from a standing hose drum along a distance. The aim of the caterpillar is to reach, as close as possible, a locus on the ground vertically below the airship to interlock with the hose un-winded from the hose-reel in the fire frame.

[0009] In case the caterpillar is unable to reach this locus to enable the interlocking of the two water hoses, the airship can manoeuvre above the caterpillar to allow the hoses to interlock before moving to a more suitable position and start throwing water over the fire.

[0010] The parallelepiped steel frame (around 3000x3000x6000 mm size) holds a Ø_3m motorized hose-reel with Ø_80mm hose 680m long, a 10m 3< plus water cylinder, a diesel powered water pump and a remote controlled fire monitor. The main reason for the assembly of these four elements in a common platform is the ease of transportation and maintenance and also to be a fully independent and autonomous unit from the airship that can be parked in a base station during the winter allowing the airship to perform other transport missions that make it economically viable.

[0011] All hoses used in the FFFA are high pressure (@50 bar which is equivalent to 510 mH2O, well above the estimated hovering height necessary to assure a safe operation of the airship) and self-supported (sewn to a steel cable to sustain high tensile stresses).

[0012] The motorized hose-reel holds a long 80mm hose that is unwound from the airship down to the fire-caterpillar on the ground. The 680 m length is feasible but is highly overestimated since the safety height of operation for the airship shouldn't exceed 150 meters (more on this later).

[0013] The ~10m3 water tank supplies the diesel water pump and acts as balast. To keep the weight constant for the airship (which floats in the air according to the buoyancy principle) the water flow rate of the diesel-pump and fire monitor over the fire is the same as the water pumped from the water-trucks on the ground to the airship.

[0014] Water tanks come in many shapes, sizes and materials and can easily be adjusted to fit the final requirements of the FFFA in terms of discharge flowrates, airship size, ballast concerns and the like.

[0015] The diesel water pump and the fire monitor must have equivalent ratings in terms of working pressure and water flowrates. The specifications presented for the pumps and monitors in Figures 6 to 9 are largely oversized simply to show that the characteristics of the existing devices largely exceed the requirements for the FFFA. An estimated flowrate of 1000 lpm should be more than enough for this purpose, especially considering the ability of the fire monitor to direct, shape and spread the water jet and the fact that the water is discharged from altitude above the fire. There is no need to waste water.

[0016] Modern cargo airships have different mechanisms of suspension cables that can easily be used to transport the fire-frame containing the hose reel, water tank, water pump and nozzle. To the effect of the FFFA, a command console must be added to the airship's cockpit to operate all the equipment in the fire-frame via control or communication cables including a remote controlled video-camera.

[0017] The main features of cargo airships that significantly surpass those of conventional aircraft for this purpose, namely aeroplanes and helicopters, are: Air ships can stay in the air almost indefinitely with minimal limitations in terms of fuel consumption Airships can hover and manoeuvre in the air just like helicopters Airships, unlike helicopters, have no safety or security issues with being tied to a cable to the ground.

[0018] Being anchored to the ground is the usual way to park these vehicles or to keep them from moving.ANNEX (ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN FAVOUR OF THE FFFA)

[0019] The development plan for a FFFA prototype is relatively short and simple, being able to be safely and thoroughly tested in its full configuration in a large open field with regards to the assessment of mechanical stresses and tensions of couplings and hoses, technical dimensioning of cables, pumps and motors, determination of the most effective hovering altitude for fire extinguishing efficiency, testing of different modes of nozzle discharge and water flow rates, and testing of emergency actions. On the safety concerns of the airship's operation in the vicinity of a forest fire, the following issues can be argued: ∘ The airship can and should always be driven to operate upwind from the fire, with clear visibility and the wind direction favorable to the water discharge. ∘ The primary function of the large water tank (@10 tons) in the fire-frame is to act as ballast to enable an emergency ascending manoeuvre of the airship, whose working principle is based in fluid buoyancy (floating ). The nominal flow of the diesel water pump can be calculated to empty the water tank in a matter of minutes or seconds. ∘ The physical attachment of the airship to the ground via the hose and cable is a normal working condition that doesn't compromise the safety of operation for this type of aircraft ∘ Due to the large debit of water supplied to the fire-frame, a line of sprinklers can be adapted / extended over the top surface of the airship to enable the temperature control inside the envelope (this might not be necessary since modem airships have specific mechanisms to this effect) The FFFA is very expeditious in relocating between different fire fronts With an average cruising speed of around 100 km / h the FFFA is able to to arrive early at a fire location while the fire front is still within manageable dimension Acquisition, maintenance and operation costs of a FFFA are much lower compared to fire fighting airplanes and helicopters. Because the fire-frame contains all the equipment that enables the use of the airship as a fire fighting tool, the fire frame can be parked in the winter season, allowing the airship to be used for cargo transport and other uses that make it economically viable , if not profitable.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0005]The FFFA is a machine devised to deliver a continuous high flow of water, from altitude, for a long period of time, over forest fires in remote and difficult access areas where the conventional existing equipment are unable to reach. In a brief description, the fire trucks take turns in supplying / pumping water to the airship (hovering 50 to 150 meters above the ground) along a water-hose connected to the fire bulldozer on the ground and up to a water tank on the airship. In turn, this reservoir feeds a water pump and orientable monitor nozzle that, from a suitable height, creates a heavy showering effect over the fire.

[0006]The FFFA consists of four main elements:

A series of conventional fire trucks with pumps hoses and water tanks A fire-caterpillar with a large motorized hose-reel. A metal frame, structure or chassis holding a 2 ndFigure 1 (fire frame contents). A modern cargo airship like the ones illustrated in figures 3 ,4 and 5, with similar specifications in terms of ...

Claims

1. • The claim is for a machine combining, in the arrangement described in Discription of the FFFA, a modern cargo-airship, a fire-frame containing a monitor, water pump, reservoir and an extendable hose to the ground, and an all-road fire-proof vehicle connecting hoses from the airship and from fire trucks on the ground to provide a continuous, high flow discharge of water from altitude, resulting in a highly effective tool to extinguish large forest, industrial and urban fires.

Images