Penetration device for penetrating a wall structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a piercing device (1) for piercing a wall structure, comprising at least one piercing unit (2) which has a housing (5) defining a working chamber (6), an inlet valve (10) fluidically connected to the working chamber (6) via an inlet channel (11) formed in the housing (5) for controlling a pressurized fluid flow into the working chamber (6), and a piercing tool (7) which is movable relative to the housing (5) and is movably mounted in an opening (9) formed in a side (8) of the housing (5), wherein the piercing unit (2) has a pneumatic actuator which, in order to pierce a wall structure, pneumatically displaces the piercing tool (7) from a deactivated position to an activated position, wherein the piercing tool (7) protrudes at least partially relative to the housing (5) in the activated position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a piercing device for piercing a wall structure with at least one piercing unit which has a housing defining a working space, an inlet valve fluidically connected to the working space via an inlet channel formed in the housing for controlling a pressurized fluid flow into the working space and a piercing tool which is movable relative to the housing and is movably mounted in an opening formed in a side of the housing.

[0002] Such penetration devices, which can also be referred to as penetrating devices, are used particularly in firefighting fires in aircraft interiors. The penetration device is located at the distal end of a pivoting boom, which in turn is attached to an airfield firefighting vehicle. To fight the fire, the airfield firefighting vehicle moves close to the aircraft, and the boom with the penetration device is pivoted close to the aircraft fuselage. The penetration device then pierces the aircraft fuselage, allowing extinguishing medium, which is conveniently supplied via the penetration tool, to reach the interior of the aircraft.For the most successful penetration process, it is necessary for the wall-penetrating element, usually a penetration tool, to be moved from a deactivated position to an activated position with the greatest possible speed to maximize the momentum acting on the wall to be penetrated. Such devices are also increasingly being used in other firefighting operations where various wall structures, such as metal / foam / metal sandwich structures, plastic walls, or glass facades, must be penetrated.

[0003] For the purposes of the present application, a deactivated position is understood to mean a position of the piercing tool that corresponds to a basic state, in which, for example, the piercing tool is essentially located within the piercing device. An activated position, on the other hand, is understood to mean a state in which the piercing tool protrudes maximally relative to the piercing device in the direction of the wall to be penetrated.

[0004] Providing a hydraulic system for a penetration tool, as known from EP 1 980 294 B1, is complex and requires the provision of hydraulic fluid. This necessitates keeping the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic system at all times, thus preventing it from escaping into the environment, particularly to prevent secondary fires caused by escaping hydraulic fluid or hydraulic mist. A closed hydraulic system sealed from the environment is therefore necessary.

[0005] A piercing device with a piercing tool driven by an electric drive is known from EP 3 192 569 A1. Although such systems have a compact design, the maximum speed at which the piercing tool can be moved to penetrate a wall structure is low, and the implementation and control are complex.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a piercing device which enables a high speed of the piercing tool without having to have a complex sealed fluid system.

[0007] This object is achieved by a piercing device having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are presented in the subclaims.

[0008] The piercing device according to the invention is characterized in that the piercing unit has a pneumatic actuator which, in order to pierce a wall structure, pneumatically displaces the piercing tool from a deactivated position to an activated position, wherein the piercing tool protrudes at least partially from the housing in the activated position.

[0009] By using a pneumatic actuator to move the piercing tool from the deactivated position to the activated position, a high displacement speed can be achieved, allowing the piercing tool to impact the wall structure with a high momentum and thus penetrate it safely. The pneumatic actuator can be designed, for example, as a single-acting pneumatic cylinder that is motion-coupled to the piercing tool or acts on the piercing tool during its travel movement, for example, by striking it.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the piercing device, a piston element is formed on the piercing tool. The piston element is arranged in the working chamber and can be subjected to compressed air pressure prevailing in the working chamber to move the piercing tool from the deactivated position to the activated position. Accordingly, the piercing tool functions similarly to a single-acting pneumatic cylinder, eliminating the need for a separate actuator.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the piercing device, the piston element divides the working chamber into a first working chamber section and a second working chamber section, wherein the first working chamber section is fluidically connected to the inlet channel, wherein the second working chamber section is fluidically connected to an outlet channel formed in the housing, and wherein, for moving the piercing tool from the deactivated position to the activated position, compressed air is conducted via the inlet channel into the first working chamber section and the second working chamber section is vented via the outlet channel. The piston element allows the pressure prevailing in the first working chamber section to act more efficiently on the piercing tool.By simultaneously venting the second working space section, it is avoided that air in this section is compressed during the displacement of the piercing tool and thus energy has to be unnecessarily invested in volume change work during the displacement, which in turn maximizes the speed achievable during the displacement.

[0012] The pneumatic actuator is preferably designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, wherein compressed air is supplied to the second working chamber section for moving the piercing tool from the activated position to the deactivated position, and the first working chamber section is vented. This allows the piercing device to be moved back to the deactivated position after use, so that the piercing device can be used again. For example, compressed air can be supplied via the outlet channel.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the piercing device, the pneumatic actuator is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, wherein a venting valve is arranged in the region of the outlet valve and is fluidically connected to the second working chamber section via a venting channel formed in the housing, wherein a venting valve is arranged in the region of the inlet valve and is fluidically connected to the first working chamber section via a venting channel formed in the housing, wherein for the displacement of the piercing tool from the activated position to the deactivated position, compressed air is conducted via the venting channel into the second working chamber section and the first working chamber section is vented via the venting channel, wherein the outlet valve, the inlet valve, the venting valve and the venting valve are preferably designed as 2 / 2-way valves.The use of simple 2 / 2-way valves enables a simple design and reduces the susceptibility to failure of the piercing device. The separate vent valve and the separate bleed valve allow the use of simple 2 / 2-way valves for these valves, which have to meet lower requirements than the inlet and outlet valves in terms of their opening and closing speed and nominal inner diameters.

[0014] Alternatively, the inlet valve and the vent valve can be configured as a correspondingly connected 3 / 2-way inlet valve, and the outlet valve and the vent valve can be configured as a correspondingly connected 3 / 2-way outlet valve. Alternatively, all of the aforementioned valves can also be replaced by a single 5 / 2-way valve that is connected accordingly.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the inlet valve is a quick-venting valve and the outlet valve is a quick-venting valve, wherein the inlet valve preferably has a nominal inner diameter of at least ½ inch, particularly preferably of at least 1 inch, and the outlet valve preferably has a nominal inner diameter of at least ½ inch, particularly preferably of at least 1 inch. Due to the comparatively large nominal diameter and the rapid response of the valves, i.e. rapid reaching of a maximum position of the valve body, the two valves can enable the largest possible compressed air mass flow, so that pressure changes in the first working chamber section and venting of the second working chamber section can take place as quickly as possible. A rotary drive, in particular an electric rotary drive, can be provided as the drive for each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve, which rotary drive has a motor which is necessary for the function of the inlet valve orof the exhaust valve enables the rapid response required.

[0016] Advantageously, a damping element is arranged on a side of the housing facing the working area to slow the displacement of the piercing tool from the deactivated position to the activated position. This prevents the piercing tool from exerting a large impulse on the housing side and damaging it. This is particularly advantageous during maintenance tests when the function of the piercing device needs to be tested without the piercing tool penetrating a wall during this test.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the piercing device, a sensor device with a plurality of sensors, in particular touch or proximity sensors, is arranged on the side of the housing facing away from the work space. The sensor device releases the displacement of the piercing tool from a deactivated position to an activated position for manual initiation upon contact with or approach to a wall structure. The sensor device ensures that the displacement is only released upon contact with the wall structure to be pierced, so that, for example, manual initiation by a user cannot take place if the piercing device is not or not yet optimally aligned with the wall structure to be pierced. This is the case, for example, if the piercing device is too far away or too close to the wall structure or is oriented at an impermissibly high angular offset to it.Angular offset is understood to mean an angle between the surface of the wall structure to be penetrated and a central axis of the piercing tool, along which the piercing tool is moved, the angle of which is not equal to 90°. If the sensor device enables manual initiation, a user can initiate the movement of the piercing tool from the deactivated position to the activated position by operating an actuating device. This prevents accidental initiation by a user when the piercing device is not located on or near a wall structure, thereby increasing overall operational safety. It also prevents initiation from occurring at an unacceptably high angular offset to the wall structure, which would result in unacceptable transverse forces acting on the piercing tool.All sensors, in particular touch sensors and proximity sensors, can be considered as sensors whose measuring principle allows a reliable determination of a distance to and / or contact with the wall structure to be penetrated.

[0018] Advantageously, the piercing tool is lance-shaped and has a tip for piercing the wall structure and a shaft, the shaft being coupled to the piston element. The tip can be made of a different material than the shaft, allowing, for example, the use of a hard metal without significantly increasing manufacturing costs.

[0019] Preferably, the piercing tool is hollow for supplying extinguishing agent, and several outlet openings for the extinguishing agent are formed in the tip region. The shaft is movably mounted on a supply tube, and the supply tube is fluidly connected to a supply channel formed in another side of the housing. This allows the extinguishing agent to be introduced immediately after piercing, eliminating the need to first retract the piercing tool and replace it with an extinguishing lance or the like. This also provides internal cooling of the piercing tool, thus expanding its application range to include very high-temperature fires.

[0020] The outlet channel is expediently formed in the housing side, with a sealing seat formed in the housing side, into which a sealing element formed on the piston element engages in the activated position to seal the outlet channel. This offers the advantage that even in the event of a failure of the outlet valve, in which the outlet valve no longer closes or no longer closes completely, the outlet channel is reliably sealed, and the compressed air pressure in the first operating range does not drop unintentionally.

[0021] Advantageously, a bearing sleeve is arranged in the opening on the housing side to guide and movably mount the piercing tool. The material of the bearing sleeve can be matched to the material of the piercing valve shaft to achieve low wear and further reduce friction between these two components, preventing unnecessary energy conversion into frictional heat.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the piercing device, a compressed air source is provided for providing a compressed air flow, which is fluidly connected to the piercing unit. The compressed air source can, for example, consist of a compressed air cylinder or a compressor device for providing a compressed air flow. A shut-off valve is preferably provided downstream of the compressed air source in order to be able to prevent the inflow of compressed air. Further preferably, a pressure reducer is arranged between the compressed air source and the piercing unit, which reduces the compressed air pressure present in the compressed air source or provided by it to the compressed air pressure intended for the piercing unit, which can also be referred to as the operating pressure. For example, a compressed air cylinder with a pressure of 300 bar can be used, the compressed air pressure of which is then reduced to the operating pressure of 12 bar.

[0023] In a further development of the piercing device, a compressed air reservoir for storing a defined volume of compressed air is arranged between the compressed air source and the piercing device and is fluidly connected to the compressed air source and the piercing device. The compressed fluid reservoir is arranged as close as possible to the piercing unit to minimize the necessary line lengths. This ensures that a constant volume of compressed air is available, which is necessary for moving the piercing tool from the deactivated position to the activated position, even if the compressed air source temporarily provides no or insufficient compressed air volume.

[0024] Particularly preferably, the piercing device comprises an extinguishing agent supply device for providing an extinguishing agent volume flow, which is fluidly connected to the supply channel of the piercing unit. Accordingly, an extinguishing process can be started immediately without first having to connect an extinguishing agent supply device to the piercing device. Preferably, the piercing tool is movably mounted in such a way that the supply of extinguishing agent to the piercing tool is possible regardless of the position of the piercing tool relative to the extinguishing agent supply device.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the piercing device, Figure 2 shows a piercing unit with a piercing tool in a deactivated position in section in a perspective view, Figure 3 shows the piercing unit with the piercing tool in an activated position in section in a perspective view, Figure 4 shows the piercing unit in a side view with the piercing tool in a deactivated position.

[0026] In the Figure 1 A piercing device 1 is shown in a schematic representation. The piercing device 1 comprises, by way of example, a piercing unit 2, a compressed air source 3, and a compressed air reservoir 4 arranged between the compressed air source 3 and the piercing unit 2. All elements explained below that have a control function can be controlled via a controller (not shown).

[0027] The piercing unit 2 shown schematically has a housing 5 which defines a working chamber 6 in which a lance-like piercing tool 7 is partially accommodated, which piercing tool is movable relative to the housing 5. The piercing tool 7 is movably mounted in an opening 9 formed in a side 8 of the housing 5. In order to move the piercing tool 7 from the deactivated position shown into an activated position for piercing a wall structure, a pressurized fluid flow, in particular a compressed air flow, is fed from the compressed air source 3 into the working chamber 6 in order to increase the compressed air pressure present in the working chamber 6, which pressure acts on the piercing tool 7 and displaces it relative to the housing 5. In order to pierce a wall structure, the piercing tool 7 is moved at the highest possible speed from the deactivated position shown into an activated position shown in the Figure 1not shown activated position, so that the piercing tool 7 hits the wall structure to be pierced with a high impulse during this displacement.

[0028] The compressed air flow to the working chamber 6 is controlled by an inlet valve 10, which is fluidically connected to an inlet channel 11 formed in the housing 5. The inlet valve 10 is also fluidically connected to the compressed air reservoir 4, in which a predetermined volume of compressed air can be stored, wherein the volume is dimensioned such that it is at least sufficient for the complete displacement of the piercing tool 7 from the deactivated position to the activated position. The compressed air reservoir 4 is fluidically connected to the compressed air source 3, wherein the compressed air source 3 is exemplified as a compressed air cylinder.The flow of compressed air from the compressed air source 3 to the compressed air reservoir 4 is controlled by a shut-off valve 12. A pressure reducer 13 is provided between the shut-off valve 12 and the compressed air reservoir 4, which reduces the compressed air pressure provided by the compressed air cylinder, for example 300 bar, to a working pressure of 15 bar. To prevent an impermissibly high compressed air pressure in the compressed air reservoir 4, it has a safety valve 14, which opens, for example, at a compressed air pressure of 18 bar. The compressed air flow introduced into the working chamber 6 increases the compressed air pressure in the working chamber 6 in order to cause the piercing tool 7 to move. In order to convert as much pressure as possible into force, a piston element 16 is formed on a shaft 15 of the piercing tool 7, which divides the working chamber 6 into a first working chamber section 17 and a second working chamber section 18.The first working space section 17 and the second working space section 18 have variable volumes due to the displacement of the piercing tool 7. Accordingly, in the embodiment shown, the housing 5 and the piercing tool 7 form a pneumatic actuator. Alternatively, the piercing device could have a separate pneumatic actuator that is, for example, only motion-coupled to the piercing tool 7. The first working space section 17 is fluidly connected to the inlet channel 11, wherein the inlet channel 11 is arranged in the housing 5 such that it opens into the first working space section 17 even when the piercing tool 7 is completely in the deactivated position and thus the volume of the first working space section 17 is minimal.

[0029] To prevent compressed air or air in the second working chamber section 18 from being compressed during the displacement of the piercing tool 7 from the deactivated position to the activated position, thus forcing the piercing tool 7 to be displaced against resistance, an outlet channel 19 is formed in the housing 5. This outlet channel is fluidically connected to the second working chamber section 18 and can be vented via this outlet channel when the piercing tool 7 is displaced into the activated position. The outlet channel 19 fluidically connects the second working chamber section 18 to the environment and can be closed off from it by means of an outlet valve 20.

[0030] After piercing a wall structure, the piercing tool 7 is in the activated position in which an extinguishing process is to be carried out. For this purpose, extinguishing agent, in particular water or water / foam mixtures, can be introduced into the space behind the wall structure via the piercing tool 7. For this purpose, the piercing device 1 according to the invention has an extinguishing agent supply device 21. The extinguishing agent supply device 21 has a supply channel 22, an extinguishing agent line 24, an extinguishing agent pump 25 and an extinguishing agent valve 27. The extinguishing agent pump 25 is fluidically connected to an extinguishing agent reservoir (not shown) and conveys extinguishing agent via the extinguishing agent line 24 to the supply channel 22. An extinguishing agent volume flow can be controlled by the extinguishing agent valve 27, which is arranged in the extinguishing agent line 24 between the extinguishing agent pump 25 and the supply channel 22.The supply channel 22 is arranged on a further housing side 26 of the housing 5 and is fluidically connected to the piercing tool 7. In order to introduce the extinguishing agent from the supply channel 22 into the space behind the pierced wall structure, the shaft 15 is designed to be hollow, for example, so that extinguishing agent is guided from the supply channel 22 through the shaft 15 to a tip 28 of the piercing tool 7 arranged at a distal end of the piercing tool 7. Formed in the tip 28 are several outlet openings (not shown) for the extinguishing agent to exit the piercing tool 7.

[0031] After the extinguishing process has been completed, the piercing tool 7 of the illustrated embodiment of the piercing device 1 can be returned to the deactivated position. For this purpose, a ventilation channel 29 is arranged in the region of the outlet channel 19, which fluidically connects the second working chamber section 18 to the compressed air reservoir 4. A ventilation valve 30 provided for controlling a compressed air flow for ventilating the second working chamber section 18 is arranged in the ventilation channel 29 between the second working chamber section 18 and the compressed air reservoir 4. Accordingly, for moving the piercing tool 7 from the activated position to the deactivated position, a compressed air flow can be introduced from the compressed air reservoir 4 into the second working chamber section 18 to increase the compressed air pressure therein.Accordingly, the pneumatic actuator formed by the working chamber 6 and the piercing tool 7 is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder. To prevent compression of compressed air in the first working chamber section 17 during displacement from the activated position to the deactivated position, a vent channel 31 is formed in the region of the inlet valve 10, which fluidically connects the first working chamber section 17 to the environment. A sealing ring 23 positioned in the opening 9 seals the second working chamber section 18 from the environment in the region of the opening 9. To prevent compressed air from escaping via the vent channel 31 when the piercing tool 7 is moved from the deactivated position to the activated position, the vent channel 31 can be closed off from the environment via a vent valve 32.

[0032] In the schematic representation, the inlet valve 10, the outlet valve 20, the vent valve 30, and the vent valve 32 are designed as pneumatically operated 2 / 2-way valves, more precisely as ball valves, with their respective nominal diameters adapted to their intended function. In particular, the inlet valve 10 is designed as a quick-venting valve and the outlet valve 20 as a quick-venting valve in order to enable the fastest possible venting of the first working chamber section 17 and the fastest venting of the second working chamber section 18. The nominal inner diameter of the inlet valve 10 and the outlet valve 20 is, for example, 1 inch, although other nominal inner diameters are possible provided they enable rapid venting of the first working chamber section 17 and rapid venting of the second working chamber section 18.Slower valves with smaller nominal inside diameters can be used for the vent valve 30 and the vent valve 32.

[0033] In Figure 2 A piercing unit 2 is shown in a deactivated position in section, the inlet channel 11 of which is equipped with the inlet valve 10 and the outlet channel 19 of which is equipped with the outlet valve 20. In this embodiment, the venting channel 31 (not shown) is formed in the region of the inlet channel 11 and the venting valve 32 (not shown) is arranged in the region of the inlet valve 10. Similarly, the ventilation channel 29 is formed in the region of the outlet channel 19 (not shown) and the ventilation valve 30 is arranged in the region of the outlet valve 20 (not shown). The representation in Figure 3shows an activated position. The housing 5 is formed, for example, by a further housing side 26, which is designed as a housing base 33, a housing side 8, which is designed as a housing cover 34, a cylinder 35 and a first housing plate 36 and a second housing plate 37, which connect the housing base 33 and the housing cover 34. For example, the housing base 33 is designed in several parts. The first housing plate 36 and the second housing plate 37 are each connected to the housing base 33 and the housing cover 34 by means of fastening means 38, for example screws. The housing base 33 and the housing cover 34 are arranged at a distance from one another and have a substantially square cross-section.The piercing tool 7 protrudes through an opening 9 formed in the housing cover 34, with the length of the piercing tool 7 being dimensioned, for example, such that the piercing tool 7 protrudes from the housing cover 34 both in the deactivated position and in the activated position. For sealingly receiving the cylinder 35 on the housing base 33 and on the housing cover 34, the housing base inner side 39 facing the working chamber 6 and the housing cover inner side 40 have cylindrical projections 41, 42 whose outer diameters correspond to an inner diameter of the cylinder 35. The cylindrical projections 41, 42 each have a groove 43, 44 on their circumference with radial sealing elements 45, 46 received therein to seal the working chamber 5.

[0034] The piston element 16 is in this case designed essentially symmetrically and has a central section 47, a first sealing section 48 and a second sealing section 49, wherein the first sealing section 48 and the second sealing section 49 extend in opposite directions from the central section 47. The central section 47 is provided on its circumference with two piston sealing elements 50, which effect a movable mounting on an inner side of the cylinder 35 and the division of the working chamber 5 into the first working chamber section 17 and the second working chamber section 18. The piston element 16 has a central bore 52 and a blind hole 53 arranged concentrically to the central bore 52, in which an end of the shaft 15 of the piercing tool 7 opposite the tip 28 is partially received for coupling the piston element 16 and the piercing tool 7.

[0035] The first sealing section 48 and the second sealing section 49 are provided to seal the inlet channel 11 in the deactivated position and the outlet channel 19 in the activated position. For this purpose, the first sealing section 48, in the deactivated position, partially engages in the inlet channel 11 formed in the housing base 33, in the end region of which facing the working chamber 6, an inlet sealing element 54 is arranged. The end region can therefore also be referred to as an inlet-side sealing seat 55. Analogously, the second sealing section 49, in the activated position, partially engages in the outlet channel 19 formed in the housing cover 34, wherein an outlet sealing element 57 is provided in an end region of the outlet channel 19 facing the working chamber 6, which can also be referred to as an outlet-side sealing seat 56.

[0036] To supply extinguishing agent, the piercing tool 7 of the Figure 2 and 3In the embodiment shown, the tip 28 is hollow, and the tip 28 has a plurality of outlet openings (not shown) that are fluidically connected to the shaft 15 and allow the extinguishing agent to exit from the tip 28 into the space behind the pierced wall structure. The shaft 15 of the piercing tool 7 is movably mounted, for example, on a feed tube 58, which is fluidically connected to a feed channel 22 formed in the housing base 33 and is partially received in the housing base 33.

[0037] For additional movable mounting of the piercing tool 7, the housing cover 34 has a conical bearing section 59 on its side facing away from the working chamber 6, through which the opening 9 also extends and in which a bearing sleeve 60 for movable mounting of the piercing tool 7 is introduced.

[0038] So that the displacement of the piercing tool 7 from the deactivated position to the activated position can only be released by a user upon contact with the wall structure to be penetrated, a sensor device 61 with a plurality of sensors 62 is arranged on the side of the housing cover 34 facing away from the work space 6. By way of example, the plurality of sensors 62 are designed as touch sensors which, upon contact with the wall to be penetrated, release the displacement by sending a sensor signal generated as a result of the contact to a controller (not shown) that is connected to the piercing device 1. Only then can a user manually initiate the displacement via an actuating device integrated into the controller or connected to it by signaling. The use of proximity sensors is also conceivable.Release preferably only occurs when at least two sensors send a sensor signal. In order to enable reliable triggering of multiple sensor signals from the plurality of sensors 62, even in the case of non-planar wall structures or in the case of an angular offset between the piercing unit 2 and the wall to be pierced, the individual sensors of the plurality of sensors 62 are connected to one another, for example, via a sensor ring 63. So that the plurality of sensors 62 can be brought into contact with the wall structure to be pierced in front of the piercing tool 7, the sensor device 61 is arranged at a distance from the housing cover 34 by means of spacer elements 64, wherein, for example, four spacer elements 64 are provided, which fix a sensor plate 65 to which the plurality of sensors 62 are attached.

[0039] Figure 3 shows the piercing unit 2 from Figure 2, in which the piercing tool 7 is in the activated position. In this position, the second sealing section 49 is received in the outlet-side sealing seat 56.

[0040] In the Figure 4 is the piercing unit 2 from the Figure 2 shown in a side view. In this view, a rotary actuator 66 of the exhaust valve 20, designed as an electric rotary actuator, can be clearly seen.

[0041] In an embodiment of the piercing device (not shown), a damping element for slowing the displacement of the piercing tool 7 can be arranged on the side of the housing cover 34 facing the working chamber. For example, the damping element can be designed as a spring or a rubber-elastic damping element.

Claims

1. A piercing device (1) for piercing a wall structure, comprising at least one piercing unit (2) comprising a housing (5) defining a working chamber (6), an inlet valve (10) fluidically connected to the working chamber (6) via an inlet channel (11) formed in the housing (5) for controlling a pressurized fluid flow into the working chamber (6), and a piercing tool (7) movable relative to the housing (5) and movably mounted in an opening (9) formed in a side (8) of the housing (5), wherein the piercing unit (2) comprises a pneumatic actuator which pneumatically displaces the piercing tool (7) from a deactivated position to an activated position in order to pierce a wall structure, wherein the piercing tool (7) protrudes at least partially relative to the housing (5) in the activated position.

2. Piercing device according to claim 1, characterized in thata piston element (16) is formed on the piercing tool (7), wherein the piston element (16) is arranged in the working chamber (6) and can be acted upon by a compressed air pressure prevailing in the working chamber (6) in order to move the piercing tool (7) from the deactivated position into the activated position.

3. Piercing device according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe piston element (16) divides the working chamber (6) into a first working chamber section (17) and a second working chamber section (18), wherein the first working chamber section (17) is fluidically connected to the inlet channel (11), wherein the second working chamber section (18) is fluidically connected to an outlet channel (19) formed in the housing (5), and wherein, in order to move the piercing tool (7) from the deactivated position to the activated position, compressed air is conducted via the inlet channel (11) into the first working chamber section (17) and the second working chamber section (18) is vented via the outlet channel (19).

4. Piercing device according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe pneumatic actuator is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, wherein compressed air is fed into the second working space section (18) for the displacement of the piercing tool (7) from the activated position to the deactivated position and the first working space section (17) is vented.

5. Piercing device according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe pneumatic actuator is designed as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, wherein a venting valve (30) is arranged in the region of the outlet valve (20), which is fluidically connected to the second working chamber section (18) via a venting channel (29) formed in the housing (5), wherein a venting valve (32) is arranged in the region of the inlet valve (10), which is fluidically connected to the first working chamber section (17) via a venting channel (31) formed in the housing (5), wherein for the displacement of the piercing tool (7) from the activated position to the deactivated position, compressed air is conducted via the venting channel (29) into the second working chamber section (18) and the first working chamber section (17) is vented via the venting channel (31), wherein preferably the outlet valve (20), the inlet valve (10), the venting valve (30) and the venting valve (32) are 2 / 2-way valves are designed.

6. Piercing device according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the inlet valve (10) is a quick vent valve and the outlet valve (20) is a quick vent valve, wherein the inlet valve (10) preferably has a nominal inner diameter of at least ½ inch, more preferably of at least 1 inch, and the outlet valve (20) preferably has a nominal inner diameter of at least ½ inch, more preferably of at least 1 inch.

7. Piercing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a damping element for braking the displacement of the piercing tool (7) from the deactivated position to the activated position is arranged on a side of the housing side (8) facing the working space (6).

8. Piercing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thaton the side of the housing side (8) facing away from the working space (6), a sensor device (61) with a plurality of sensors (62), in particular touch or proximity sensors, is arranged, which, upon contact or approach to a wall structure, releases the displacement of the piercing tool (7) from a deactivated position to an activated position for manual initiation.

9. Piercing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piercing tool (7) is lance-shaped and has a tip (28) for piercing the wall structure and a shaft (15), wherein the shaft is coupled to the piston element (16).

10. Piercing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe piercing tool (7) is hollow for supplying extinguishing agent and a plurality of outlet openings for the extinguishing agent are formed in the region of the tip (28), wherein the shaft (15) is movably mounted on a supply tube (58) and wherein the supply tube (58) is fluidically connected to a supply channel (22) formed in a further housing side (26).

11. Piercing device according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the outlet channel (19) is formed in the housing side (8), wherein an outlet-side sealing seat (56) is formed in the housing side (8), into which an outlet sealing element (58) formed on the piston element (16) engages in the activated position to seal the outlet channel (19).

12. Piercing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bearing sleeve (60) for guiding and movably supporting the piercing tool (7) is arranged in the opening (9) of the housing side (8).

13. Piercing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a compressed air source (3) for providing a compressed air flow, which is fluidly connected to the piercing unit (2).

14. Piercing device according to claim 13, characterized in that a compressed air reservoir (4) for storing a defined volume of compressed air is arranged between the compressed air source (3) and the piercing device (7) and is fluidly connected to the compressed air source (3) and the piercing device (7).

15. Piercing device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized by an extinguishing agent supply device (21) for providing an extinguishing agent volume flow, which is fluidly connected to the supply channel (22) of the piercing unit (2).

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