Fire extinguishing apparatus

Abstract

A fire extinguishing apparatus is provided that comprises: a frame assembly; a carriage support member coupled to the frame assembly; a carriage assembly coupled to the carriage support member and translatable along a plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member, the carriage assembly configured to receive a firefighting tool; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the carriage assembly and configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along the plane or axis of translation. The fire extinguishing apparatus further comprises one or more of: one or more of: an object-anchoring apparatus configured to anchor the frame assembly to an object; and a ground-engaging apparatus configured to engage the frame assembly with a ground surface when in use

Description

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUSTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present specification relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus.BACKGROUND

[0002] A piercing nozzle is a tool used by firefighters to pierce through a wall or material of an object, such as a vehicle or a building, and allows the firefighters to access a fire to be extinguished. Without direct, or near-direct access to the seat or source of the fire reaction, the fire may continue to bum or reignite indefinitely. One particular use of such piercing nozzles is for extinguishing vehicle fires, and more particularly electric vehicle fires, where the location of the fire may require that the shell of the vehicle and battery be pierced to provide access to the fire. For example, a fire in a battery pack of an electric vehicle can quickly lead to thermal runaway. An additional use of piercing nozzles is on objects such as homes or commercial buildings to provide maximal water flow to the fire while limiting the amount of oxygen to the fire, or to enable water flow to an area with limited access, such as a basement or mechanical room.

[0003] Handheld piercing nozzles would require firefighters to get too close to the fire, are physically strenuous due to manual application of human force, and pose a risk to the safety of the firefighter. While some remotely operated piercing nozzles for vehicle fires exist, such devices typically provide the piercing nozzle on a stationary base / trolley on the ground, and actuate the piercing nozzle upwards from below. In the case of electric vehicles, the bottom of the vehicle typically has a road debris protection plate, so to access the battery pack the piercing nozzle must pierce not only the shell of the vehicle but also such road debris protection plate. Alternatively, such piercing nozzles may be mounted on a boom of a vehicle, such as a fire truck, and positioned near a building and / or airplane that is on fire via the boom; but such anarrangement is large, bulky, and requires a vehicle to be specially adapted with a boom that is itself specially adapted for piercing nozzles.

[0004] Accordingly, an additional, alternative, and / or improved fire extinguishing apparatus remains highly desirable.SUMMARY

[0005] A first aspect of the present specification provides a fire extinguishing apparatus, comprising: a frame assembly; a carriage support member coupled to the frame assembly; a carriage assembly coupled to the carriage support member and translatable along a plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member, the carriage assembly configured to receive a firefighting tool; an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the carriage assembly and configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along the plane or axis of translation; and one or more of: an object-anchoring apparatus configured to anchor the frame assembly to an object; and a ground-engaging apparatus configured to engage the frame assembly with a ground surface.

[0006] The actuator may be detachably coupled at a second end thereof to the frame assembly.

[0007] The actuator may be coupled to the carriage assembly via a rotatable coupler that is rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly and / or actuator.

[0008] The actuator may be remotely operable.

[0009] The actuator may be one or more of hydraulically, electrically, and pneumatically powered.

[0010] The carriage support member may be configured to be horizontal, vertical, or at an angle between horizontal and vertical relative to a base of the frame assembly.

[0011] The fire extinguishing apparatus may further comprise a second actuator coupled to the frame assembly and configured to adjust a height of the carriage support member. The second actuator may be remotely operable

[0012] The object-anchoring apparatus may comprise a piercing lift jack, or actuated horizontal spreader, that anchors to the object and is configured to one or more of lift, spread and clamp onto the object.

[0013] The ground-engaging apparatus may comprise one or more of: a frictional surface, a ground-engaging device, and a ground-penetrating device.

[0014] The actuator may be coupled to the frame assembly at one or more of a position and an orientation that directs reactive forces, generated from translating the carriage assembly and the firefighting tool forwards, rearwards and downwards.

[0015] The actuator may be coupled to the frame assembly at one or more of a position and an orientation that directs reactive forces towards the ground-engaging apparatus.

[0016] The fire extinguishing apparatus may further comprise one or more of a voltage indicator and a stop switch mechanism to detect a voltage encountered by one or more of the firefighting tool and the fire extinguishing apparatus.

[0017] The fire extinguishing apparatus may further comprise a one or more of a heat sensor and an infrared sensor to indicate where a seat of a fire is located.

[0018] The fire extinguishing apparatus may further comprise a a handle coupled to the frame assembly fortransporting the fire extinguishing apparatus.

[0019] The actuator may be configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along the carriage support member with a force sufficient for the firefighting tool to pierce a vehicle body and a battery housing of a vehicle.

[0020] A second aspect of the present specification provides a fire extinguishing apparatus, comprising: a carriage assembly configured to receive a firefighting tool; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the carriage assembly and configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along a plane or axis of translation, wherein the actuator comprises an anchoring apparatus at a second end thereof to anchor the actuator against an object, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the carriage assembly via a rotatable coupler that is rotatable with respect to one or more of the carriage assembly and the actuator.

[0021] The fire extinguishing apparatus of the second aspect, may further comprise a carriage support member, and the carriage assembly may be coupled to the carriage support member and translatable along the plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member.

[0022] A third aspect of the present specification provides for use of the fire extinguishing apparatus of the first aspect and the second aspect for extinguishing a fire in a vehicle. Such a fire may be a battery fire. For the use of the fire extinguishing apparatus of the first aspect and the second aspect for extinguishing the fire in the vehicle, the carriage support member may be configured such that the firefighting tool pierces a battery housing in the vehicle vertically from above the battery housing. The carriage support member may be configured such that the firefighting tool pierces a battery housing in the vehicle horizontally or at an angle to horizontal relative to a ground surface.

[0023] A third aspect of the present specification provides for use of the fire extinguishing apparatus of the first aspect and the second aspect for extinguishing a fire in a building.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In accordance with another aspect of the present specification, use of the fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of the above aspects is disclosed for extinguishing a fire in a building.

[0025] FIG. 1 depicts a side perspective view of a fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with examples of the present specification.

[0026] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the fire extinguishing apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 3 depicts a bottom view of the fire extinguishing apparatus with a ground-engaging apparatus in the form of a studded pad thereon.

[0028] FIG. 4 depicts a rear perspective view of the fire extinguishing apparatus with an additional or alternative ground-engaging apparatus that may be incorporated with the fire extinguishing apparatus.

[0029] FIG. 5 depicts a rear perspective view of a portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus with the additional or alternative ground-engaging apparatus of FIG. 4.

[0030] FIG. 6 depicts a rear view of the fire extinguishing apparatus with an additional or alternative ground-engaging apparatus that may be incorporated with the fire extinguishing apparatus; more specifically, the additional or alternative groundengaging apparatus is depicted in a deployed and / or ground engaging position.

[0031] FIG. 7 depicts a rear perspective view of the fire extinguishing apparatus of FIG. 6, with the additional or alternative ground-engaging apparatus in a retracted direction.

[0032] FIG. 8 depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus anchored to a vehicle via an object-anchoring apparatus, and positioned for piercing the vehicle in a horizontal direction.

[0033] FIG. 9 depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus anchored to a vehicle via a further object-anchoring apparatus, and positioned for piercing the vehicle in a horizontal position.

[0034] FIG. 10 depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus anchored to a vehicle via the object-anchoring apparatus of FIG. 9, and positioned for piercing the vehicle in a downward direction.

[0035] FIG. 11 depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus anchored to a vehicle via the object-anchoring apparatus of FIG. 9, and positioned for piercing the vehicle in an upward direction.

[0036] FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view example implementation of a further object-anchoring apparatus.

[0037] FIG. 13A depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus and a further object-anchoring apparatus for anchoring the fireextinguishing apparatus to a vehicle; more specifically, the further object-anchoring apparatus is depicted in a non-deployed position.

[0038] FIG. 13B depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus and the further object-anchoring apparatus of FIG. 13A in a deployed position.

[0039] FIG. 14A depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus and a further object-anchoring apparatus for anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus to a vehicle; more the further object-anchoring apparatus is depicted in a non-deployed position.

[0040] FIG. 14B depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus and the further object-anchoring apparatus of FIG. 14A in a deployed position.

[0041] FIG. 15A depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus and a yet a further object-anchoring apparatus for anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus to a vehicle; more the further object-anchoring apparatus is depicted in a non-deployed position.

[0042] FIG. 15B depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus and the further object-anchoring apparatus of FIG. 15A in a deployed position.

[0043] FIG. 16 depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus anchored to a building via a further object-anchoring apparatus, and positioned for piercing the building in a horizontal position; an inset depicts an alternative objectanchoring apparatus that may be used with a building.

[0044] FIG. 17 depicts a control unit for communicatively connecting to fire extinguishing apparatuses herein, to control the fire extinguishing apparatuses herein.

[0045] FIG. 18 depicts a further fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with examples of the present specification.

[0046] FIG. 19 depicts a yet a further fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with examples of the present specification.

[0047] FIG. 20A depicts a rotatable coupler that couples an actuator to a piercing nozzle and a carriage assembly of a fire extinguishing apparatus as described herein.

[0048] FIG. 20B depicts a further rotatable coupler that couples an actuator to a piercing nozzle and a carriage assembly of a fire extinguishing apparatus as described herein.

[0049] FIG. 20C depicts a piercing nozzle coupled to a rotatable coupler as described herein.

[0050] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In accordance with the present specification, a fire extinguishing apparatus is provided that easily portable, and configurable to actuate a piercing nozzle horizontally, diagonally (e.g. in an upward or downward direction), or vertically from above to pierce an object; fire extinguishing apparatus may further be remotely operable. In one example, the fire extinguishing apparatus comprises a frame assembly and a carriage support member coupled to the frame assembly. A carriage assembly may be coupled to the carriage support member and may be translatable along a plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member. The carriage assembly is generally configured to receive a firefighting tool, in particular a piercing nozzle. An actuator is coupled to the carriage assembly and configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along the plane or axis of translation, for example to cause translation of the firefighting tool and / or the piercing nozzle towards an object (e.g. a vehicle, and / or a battery casing and / or shell in a vehicle, and / or a building, and / or any other suitable object) that is on fire and / or contains a fire, such that the object is pierced, and a fire-extinguishing agent and / or agents, and the like, are released into the object.

[0052] Advantageously, the fire extinguishing apparatus is configurable such that the piercing nozzle may be thrust towards an object vertically, horizontally, or at a diagonal (e.g. at an upwards angle or a downwards angle), such that the piercing nozzle may pierce the object at an optimal location and / or angle (e.g., that may be heuristically selected), and may thus allow for more direct application of fireextinguishing agents such as water, gas, powder, chemicals or other extinguishing or cooling agents to the fire. By applying the fire-extinguishing agents, and the like, directly to the source of the fire, the fire tetrahedron may be broken, via cooling (reduction or remove of heat), removal or reduction of oxygen, removal or reduction of fuel, and / or removal and reduction of thermal runaway (generally a self-heating phenomena related to chemical reaction within batteries). It is understood that the fire tetrahedron may represent four essential components required for a fire to ignite andbe sustained: heat, fuel, oxygen, and a chemical chain reaction. Without direct, or near-direct, access to a source of a fire reaction, the fire may continue to bum or reignite indefinitely. Hence, the fire extinguishing apparatus brings fire-extinguishing agents (e.g. which may include, but is not limited to cooling agents, and / or firetetrahedron breaking agents), closer to a source of a fire, for example by piercing an object that contains the fire, and thus provides a greater chance of extinguishing of the fire, and / or reducing a time period for extinguishing the fire.

[0053] The fire extinguishing apparatus in accordance with the present specification is easily portable, and may be transported and positioned to the location of the fire quickly and easily. Further, in some examples, the fire extinguishing apparatus may include one or more of an object-anchoring apparatus and a ground-engaging apparatus to assist at counteracting a force caused by the piercing nozzle piercing an object.

[0054] For example, an object-anchoring apparatus as provided herein may be coupled to the frame assembly, and / or any other suitable portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus, and such an object-anchoring apparatus may be generally configured to anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus and / or the frame assembly to an object that is on fire and / or contains a fire, to counteract a force caused by the piercing nozzle piercing the object, such that the fire extinguishing apparatus remains generally stationary at least relative to the object.

[0055] Alternatively, or an addition, a ground-engaging apparatus as provided herein may be coupled to the frame assembly, and / or any other suitable portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus, and such a ground-engaging apparatus may be generally configured to engage the fire extinguishing apparatus and / or the frame assembly with a ground surface to counteract a force caused by the piercing nozzle piercing an object, such that the fire extinguishing apparatus remains generally stationary at least relative to the object. In particular, the ground anchoring apparatus may be positioned such that reactive forces caused by the piercing nozzle piercing an object are directed towards the ground-engaging apparatus, which causes the ground-engaging apparatusto more firmly engage a ground surface. Furthermore, an actuator of a fire extinguishing apparatus that includes a ground-engaging apparatus may be coupled to the frame assembly at one or more of a position and an orientation that directs reactive forces towards the ground-engaging apparatus. Such a ground-engaging apparatus may alternatively be referred to as a ground anchoring apparatus that may anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus to a ground surface. Such a ground-engaging apparatus may alternatively be referred to as a ground bracing apparatus that may brace the fire extinguishing apparatus to a ground surface; indeed the groundengaging apparatus may brace the fire extinguishing apparatus to a ground surface.

[0056] Put another way, the fire extinguishing apparatus may comprise one or more anchoring points and / or one or more anchoring apparatuses (e.g. which may be provided via an object-anchoring apparatus and / or a ground-engaging apparatus) to better enable the fire extinguishing apparatus to remain in a fixed position as a firefighting tool and / or piercing nozzle, and the like, is actuated towards an object and engages and / or pierces the object.

[0057] The fire extinguishing apparatus may be remotely operable. For example, an actuator for actuating a position of a firefighting tool and / or piercing nozzle may provide a propulsion force to the firefighting tool and / or piercing nozzle via hydraulics, pneumatics, electric motors, or in any other suitable manner, and the actuator may be remotely controlled by an operator to reduce risk of electrocution for operators, for example when the firefighting tool and / or piercing nozzle is piercing a battery casing of a vehicle that is on fire. A remote, or stand-alone power source for the fire extinguishing apparatus may be provided in any suitable manner, and may include, but is not limited to, a hydraulic power pack, a battery pack, an electric power device, and such power may be provided via a power cable (e.g., which may include, but is not limited to, a hydraulic cable) attached to a battery and / or hydraulic component of a fire truck and / or engine, and the like, for example to achieve remote operation. A control device may also be provided which may communicate with actuators of the fire extinguishing apparatus in a wired and / or wireless manner. Whensuch a control device communicates with actuators of the fire extinguishing apparatus in a wired manner, a control cable therebetween may have a limited gauge of wiring and appropriate electrical safety mechanisms, such as fuses, to limit the potential for human operators to become a grounding route for energy in batteries of a vehicle that is on fire.

[0058] Furthermore, the actuator and carriage assembly of fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may be detachable from such fire extinguishing apparatuses. Accordingly, a fire extinguishing apparatus according to a further example may comprise a carriage assembly configured to receive a firefighting tool, in particular a piercing nozzle, and an actuator coupled to the carriage assembly, the actuator configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along a plane or axis of translation. The fire extinguishing apparatus according to this example may provide a one, two or team person-portable, piercing and thrusting mechanism that may be utilized in the tight spaces. The fire extinguishing apparatus of this example may comprise an anchoring apparatus and / or anchoring apparatus coupled to the actuator, to anchor and / or brace the actuator against various structural components of an object, or other apparatuses and / or means generally available at a fireground, such as cables, chains, clevises, anchors, cribbing, push plates, etc. Additionally, the actuator may be coupled to the carriage assembly and / or a piercing nozzle via a rotatable coupler that is rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly and / or the piercing nozzle, and / or actuator, and that advantageously allows for 360 degree rotation of the actuator about the carriage assembly so as to provide more options to anchor the actuator and / or position the carriage assembly. In particular, piercing nozzles may include a coupler opposite a piercing end, for coupling to fire extinguishing agent containers, and such couplers may rely on particular orientations, for example relative to the fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein, for operation; as such, rotatable couplers as provided herein may enable piercing nozzles to be attached to a carriage assembly at suitable orientations. The carriage assembly in the fire extinguishing apparatus of this example may be placed on a surface of, for example, a floor, a trunkspace or other nearby surface, of a vehicle on fire, and translatable there-along. Additionally or alternatively, at least one rail of such a carriage assembly in this example may also be detachable and provided for use as a guide surface for the carriage assembly in the fire extinguishing apparatus.

[0059] While the present specification may specifically contemplate the use of the fire extinguishing apparatus disclosed herein to extinguish a fire in a vehicle, and more particularly a battery fire in an electric vehicle, it will be appreciated that the use of the fire extinguishing apparatus disclosed herein is not limited to such use and that the fire extinguishing apparatus may be advantageously used for various other applications, including building fires and / or any other suitable fires. Further, while the present specification specifically contemplates the fire extinguishing apparatus being equipped with a piercing nozzle, it will be appreciated that the fire extinguishing apparatus may be equipped with other non-piercing firefighting tools, such as a battering ram, a fire hose, and the like, without departing from the scope of this specification.

[0060] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may include rails, and / or any other suitable guidance apparatus for guiding a firefighting tool towards and object on fire, and such rails, and the like, may be raised, lowered and or maneuvered in three-dimensional space at various angles.

[0061] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may include object engaging apparatuses and / or ground engaging apparatuses and / or anchoring apparatuses and / or bracing apparatuses to anchor and / or engage and / or brace the fire extinguishing apparatuses relative to objects on fire and / or the ground (e.g. to counteract reactive forces from piercing, and the like). Such object engaging apparatuses and / or ground engaging apparatuses and / or anchoring apparatuses and / or bracing apparatuses may be specifically adapted for specific object types, and / or may be specifically adapted to engage ground surfaces that may include, but are not limited to, asphalt surfaces, concrete surfaces, gravel surfaces, structural surfaces and the like.

[0062] Furthermore, while fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein are described with respect to piercing nozzles, such fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may be adapted for any suitable type of firefighting tools that may include, but are not limited to, other types of piercing nozzles and / or firefighting lances, rams, hoses and the like.

[0063] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may be controlled remotely.

[0064] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may include voltage detection mechanisms, for example to detect voltage of batteries when piercing nozzles, and the like, pierce such batteries. Such voltage detection mechanisms may provide a voltage reading to a control device such that the control device may be used to stop a fire extinguishing apparatus from continuing to pierce an object, and / or provide a warning, and the like, of such a voltage from a battery when encountered. Indeed, when such a voltage from a battery is encountered, a fire extinguishing apparatus may be controlled to apply fire extinguishing agents as described herein, as such a voltage may indicate that a battery casing is pierced and hence a fire may be engaged and extinguished.

[0065] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may include force detection mechanisms, for example to detect a force of piercing nozzles, and the like, which may indicate when a surface of an object is pierced. Such force detection mechanisms may provide a force reading to a control device such that the control device may be used to stop a fire extinguishing apparatus from continuing to pierce an object, and / or provide a warning, and the like, of such a force. Indeed, a drop in such a force may indicate that a battery casing has been pierced, and a fire extinguishing apparatus may be controlled to apply fire extinguishing agents as described herein. Such force detection mechanisms may in any suitable format and may depend on a type of actuator used to translate the carriage assembly that carries a piercing nozzle; for example, while such a force detection mechanism may be configured to detect force in Newtons, such a force detection mechanism may be configured to detectforce in form of amperage drawn by an electric motor of an actuator, and / or hydraulic pressure and / or pneumatic pressure used to actuate an hydraulic and / or pneumatic device of an actuator, and the like.

[0066] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may include temperature detection mechanisms, for example to detect a temperature of piercing nozzles, and the like, which may indicate when a fire is encountered. Such temperature detection mechanisms may provide a temperature reading to a control device such that the control device may be used to apply fire extinguishing agents as described herein.

[0067] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may be configured for portability and / or foldability and / or general ability to fit in standard fire engine / truck compartments, and / or for carrying by one or two firefighters, and the like.

[0068] Furthermore, fire extinguishing apparatuses as provided herein may include cradles for piercing nozzles, that may removeable along with any hydraulic cylinder used to control an actuator for piercing, and such detachable portions may be removed and utilized in passenger compartment or space restricted areas.

[0069] Examples are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings.

[0070] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 depict a representation of a fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in accordance with examples of the present specification. Specifically, FIG. 1 depicts a side perspective view of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, and FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. It will be appreciated that a size of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be scaled up or down depending on application, without departing from the scope of the present specification.

[0071] Furthermore, herein, it is understood that a front end of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is a piercing and / or firefighting end, for example from which a piercing nozzle and / or firefighting tool is located and / or protrudes and is generally an end that faces an object that is on fire and / or contains a fire, when in use. Conversely, it isunderstood that a rear and / or back end of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is an end opposite a front and / or piercing and / or firefighting end, and is generally an end that is directed away from an object that is on fire and / or contains a fire, when in use. Similarly a bottom of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is a side which is facing a ground surface when in use, and atop of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is a side opposite the ground surface, when in use.

[0072] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 comprises a frame assembly 102. The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 further comprises a carriage support member coupled to the frame assembly 102; as depicted the carriage support member may be provided in the form of at least one rail, and, more particularly, as depicted, the form a pair of rails 104a and 104b, coupled to the frame assembly 102. The frame assembly 102 provides structural support to the carriage support member (i.e. rails 104a, 104b) and the frame assembly 102 may be generally configured to rest on a ground surface. The pair of rails 104a, 104b may be pivotally coupled to the frame assembly 102, to enable an orientation of the rails 104a, 104b to be pivoted between horizontal, diagonal, and vertical positions relative to a ground surface. The pair of rails 104a, 104b may also be detachable from the frame assembly 102 (e.g. via one or more pins or bolts). A carriage assembly 106 is coupled to carriage support member (i.e. the rails 104a, 104b) and is translatable along a plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member. For example, as depicted, the carriage assembly 106 is coupled to the rails 104a, 104b by a pair of slidable connection members 107 that slidably couple the carriage assembly 106 to the rails 104a, 104b, the slidable connection members 107 located, for example, at opposite ends of the carriage assembly 106.

[0073] The carriage assembly 106 may also be detachable from the rails 104a, 104b. While the carriage assembly 106 is shown in FIG. 1 as being translatable along stationary rails 104a, 104b, a carriage support member may alternatively be provided as rails, and like, of a rod-in-tube, telescopic configuration, with the carriage assembly 106 coupled to a rod portion thereof, and translatable along a plane or axis defined bythe rod-in-tube rail configuration as the carriage assembly 106 and correspondingly the rod portion are actuated forwards. Such a rod-in-tube configuration may provide for a lighter rail configuration (e.g. relative to the rails 104a, 104b) that may enable the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to be easier to lift and store in a fire truck and / or fire engine, and the like.

[0074] The carriage assembly 106 is generally configured to receive a firefighting tool, which, as depicted, may comprise a piercing nozzle 108. Indeed, as depicted, the carriage assembly 106 may be provided in form a cradle for the piercing nozzle 108. Furthermore, as will be described herein, the carriage assembly 106 may be actuated to translate the piercing nozzle 108 towards an object that is on fire and / or contains a fire, such that the piercing nozzle 108 pierces an object such as an outer shell of a vehicle and / or battery housing. The carriage assembly 106 may be configured for receiving various types of piercing nozzles, as well as for receiving non-piercing firefighting tools depending on the application, including, but not limited to, firefighting lances, firefighting rams, firefighting hoses and the like.

[0075] The piercing nozzle 108 is generally a pointed device that may have hollow passage ways within. Fire-extinguishing agents may be applied through, or in combination with the piercing nozzle 108 itself, and / or applied via a hole in an object that is created by the piercing nozzle 108 when the piercing nozzle 108 is removed and / or withdrawn from the hole. The piercing nozzle 108 may be hollow to allow fireextinguishing agents, and the like, to flow through to the inner compartments, and / or piercing nozzle 108 might include, but is not limited to, a separate, potentially lateral, non-piercing passageway to allow for such flow; such a separate, potentially lateral, non-piercing passageway may be required in some applications to reduce and / or eliminate a risk of electric current (e.g. from an object being pierced) flowing up a continuous path of a liquid or gas of fire-extinguishing agents, and conductive metal of the piercing nozzle 108.

[0076] Alternatively, or in addition, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be configured to support use of high-powered devices such as a wateijet piercing devicelike the Cobra Coldcut™, which may be unsafe to operate as a handheld device but may be safely operated remotely using the fire extinguishing apparatus 100.Alternatively, or in addition, a slower (low pressure) application of a product like Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) may be applied through the piercing nozzle 108 to prevent a fire from reacting with the environment, and which may shut down thermal runaway, and which may be applied in combination with water (simultaneously or separately), as an effective way to fight a battery fire (via direct injection).

[0077] Furthermore, while not depicted, it is understood that the carriage assembly 106 may be adapted to receive a firefighting tool, and to attach such a firefighting tool thereto using any suitable combination of attachment apparatuses. In particular, it is understood that, as the carriage assembly 106 is actuated to translate the piercing nozzle 108 towards an object in order to pierce the object, actuation force applied to the carriage assembly 106 translates to the piercing nozzle 108, and the piercing nozzle 108 remains in position relative to the carriage assembly 106 while piercing an object.

[0078] For example, the piercing nozzle 108 may be clamped and / or physically secured to the carriage assembly 106. Additionally or alternatively, the carriage assembly 106 may provide a threaded connection to couple the piercing nozzle 108 thereto.

[0079] In a particular example, the carriage assembly 106 may be provided with a rotatable coupler used to couple to the piercing nozzle 108, and that is rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly 106. An example of such a rotatable coupler is further described with reference to FIG 19A, FIG. 19B, and FIG. 19C, and may be particularly useful in a detachable configuration of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to facilitate different configurations in tight / compact spaces. Furthermore, while not depicted, the piercing nozzle 108, at end opposite a piercing end, may include a coupler for coupling the piercing nozzle 108 to a hose, and the like, to provide fireextinguishing agents to the piercing nozzle 108; as such, via such a rotatable coupler,the piercing nozzle 108 may be used to rotationally orient the carriage assembly 106 and / or an actuator, relative to the piercing nozzle 108, such that the coupler of the piercing nozzle 108 is in a particular direction to accommodate the hose. In these examples, a rotatable coupler may be used to rotatably attach the piercing nozzle 108 and / or the carriage assembly 106 to an actuator at any suitable orientation.

[0080] The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 further includes an actuator 110, which, as depicted, may be in form of actuatable cylinder, and which may include, but is not limited to, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, and the like. Alternatively, or in addition, the actuator 110 may include, but is not limited to, an electric motor for electrical actuation thereof. The actuator 110 may be generally coupled to the carriage assembly 106 and generally configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly 106 along the rails 104a, 104b. The actuator 110 may be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically actuated. While not depicted, a pressure and / or power line may be provided, that provides any suitable pressure and / or power to the actuator 110 (e.g. hydraulic / pneumatic pressure and / or power, and / or electric power). A remote, or stand-alone pressure source and / or power source for the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be provided in any suitable manner, and may include, but is not limited to, a hydraulic power pack, a battery pack, an electric power device. Furthermore, such pressure and / or power may be provided via a power line, and / or a cable attached to a pressure providing device and / or a battery of a fire truck and / or engine, and the like; in these examples, control of pressure and / or power may be remotely operable away from the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 such that the actuator 110 may be controlled according to a remote operation performed by an operator standing well away from the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, and thus a safe distance from a fire.

[0081] The actuator 110 is generally coupled to the carriage assembly 106 at a first end thereof, and to the frame assembly 102 at a second end thereof. The actuator 110 may be detachably coupled to the frame assembly 102. For example, the frame assembly 102 may comprise a clevis, or similar plate and / or device, to which the second end of the actuator 110 is coupled to. The actuator 110 may be coupled to theframe assembly 102 at a position / orientation such that reactive forces generated from translating the carriage assembly 106 and piercing nozzle 108 forwards are directed rearwards and downwards, thus self-anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to the ground, and / or bracing the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 against the ground, for example at least via frictional forces.

[0082] A height of the rails 104a, 104b may also be adjustable. A second actuator 112, for example, as depicted, in the form of a second cylinder, may be actuated to push and / or lift a frame member 114. The second actuator 112 may be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically actuated and controlled remotely, similar to the actuator 110. The frame member 114 may be pivotally coupled to a rail support member 116 of the frame assembly 102, such that, as the frame member 114 is pushed upwards and rearwards, the rail support member 116 is raised. Configuring the second actuator 112, frame member 114, and rail support member 116 in this manner advantageously provides an over-center linkage, such that when the second actuator 112 is lifting, the reactive force is applied downwards, to further self-anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to the ground. It will be appreciated that depending on the length and configuration of the linkages connecting the frame member 114 and the rail support member 116, a different amount of height adjustment may be possible.

[0083] Additionally, to pivot the rails 104a, 104b, parallel members 117 extend from the frame assembly 102 to the rail support member 116, and the parallel members 117 are configured to pivot at respective pins, for example at a base member 118 of the frame assembly 102 and at the rail support member 116. The parallel members 117 may also be adjustable in length separate from each other, for example to control an angle of the rails 104a, 104b relative to the base member 118 of the frame assembly 102 and / or a ground surface. More specifically, the parallel members 117 may be used to pivot the rails 104a, 104b and hence the carriage assembly 106 and the piercing nozzle 108, to any suitable angle relative to the base member 118 of the frame assembly 102 and / or a ground surface, including, but not limited to angles nonparallel to the base member 118 of the frame assembly 102 and / or a ground surface.The parallel members 117 may comprise any suitable extendible devices, and may be of a rod-in-tube configuration.

[0084] The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may also be portable. For example, as depicted, the base member 118 may comprise wheels 120 at a first end thereof, such as a front end. A handle (not shown, though, in some examples, the frame member 114 may act as a handle) may be coupled to a rear end of the frame assembly 102 such that the rear end of the frame assembly 102 may be lifted and the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be transported on wheels 120 like a wheelbarrow. The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may also be of a size and / or weight that enables carrying of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 by one or two firefighters, and the like.

[0085] The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may also be foldable, for example by actuating the second actuator 112 to minimize a height of the rails 104a, 104b, relative to the base member 118 (e.g. contracting the parallel members 117), and may therefore be readily stored on a firetruck, in a firehouse, etc., with a minimal footprint. In some implementations, components of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may have dimensions suitable for actuating the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to a storage configuration that is approximately 12 inches in height. The rails 104a, 104b may also be telescopic or foldable so that they do not stick out from a front of the frame assembly 102 in a storage configuration. Furthermore, as best seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a removable pin 122, or any other suitable component, may couple the first end of the actuator 110 to the carriage assembly 106, and may be removable, such that the carriage assembly 106 may slide to the back of the rails 104a, 104b, and the front of the rails 104a, 104b may fold back alongside of the carriage assembly 106. Alternatively, with a rod-in-tube rail configuration, the carriage assembly 106 may simply be pushed to a back of the rails 104a, 104b and the rods positioned within the tubes of the rails.

[0086] Indeed, the carriage assembly 106 may be provided in form a cradle for the piercing nozzle 108, and the carriage assembly 106 may be provided in form a cradlethat may be detachable (e.g. along with any hydraulic cylinder and / or electric motor used to control the actuator 110 for piercing), and such detachable portions may be removed and utilized in passenger compartments of vehicles and / or space restricted areas, and the like. Examples of such a configuration are described with respect to FIG. 18, FIG. 18 and FIG. 20.

[0087] While not depicted, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may include an electrical grounding rod to discharge any electrical energy encountered (e.g. from a vehicle battery) directly into the ground instead of into equipment or personnel. Alternatively, or in addition, at least a portion of the components of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be conductive from at least the carriage assembly 106 to portions of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 that are configured to touch and / or engage the ground, to provide such electrical grounding.

[0088] The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may further comprise a voltage detection mechanism 124, for example to detect voltage of batteries when the piercing nozzle 108, and the like, pierces such batteries. While as depicted, the voltage detection mechanism 124 is mounted on one of the slidable connection members 107, such a voltage detection mechanism 124 may be mounted and / or located at any suitable position at the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, assuming that there is an electrical pathway from the piercing nozzle 108 to the voltage detection mechanism 124; indeed, as depicted, it is assumed that the carriage assembly 106, the piercing nozzle 108 and the slidable connection members 107 are conductive.

[0089] Such a voltage detection mechanism 124 may provide a voltage reading to a voltage indicator, and / or a control device that includes a voltage indicator (e.g. see FIG. 16), such that voltage indicator may indicate a detected voltage, and / or the control device may be used to control the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to stop the process of piercing an object, and / or provide a warning, and the like, of such a voltage from a battery of an object being pierced, when encountered. Indeed, when such a voltage from a battery is encountered, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be controlled to apply fire extinguishing agents as described herein, as such a voltagemay indicate that a battery casing is pierced and hence a fire may be engaged and extinguished.

[0090] Hence, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and / or a control device thereof, may further comprise one or more of a voltage indicator and a stop switch mechanism. The voltage indicator generally indicates the voltage encountered by the piercing nozzle 108 and / or the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. The voltage indicator comprise a light or other signal that indicates to an operator that a voltage has been encountered. A stop switch mechanism may be implemented to stop the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 when a particular voltage has been encountered; for example, such a stop switch mechanism may stop the actuators 110, 112 from actuating. Indeed, the aforementioned stop switch mechanism may be used to stop the actuators 110, 112 from actuating when a given voltage is detected (e.g. such as above 12 V, and / or any other suitable voltages).

[0091] The voltage indicator and / or the stop switch mechanism may be integrated directly with the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and / or one or more of the voltage indicator and the stop switch mechanism may be integrated with a control device communicatively connected to the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in a wireless and / or wired manner; indeed, whether wired and / or wireless, such a control device may be a component of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. An example of such a control device is described herein with respect to FIG. 17.

[0092] The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may further comprise a temperature detection mechanism 126, such as a heat sensor and / or infrared sensor to indicate where a source of a fire is located (typically the hottest location). As depicted, such a temperature detection mechanism 126 may be located at a front end of the carriage assembly 106 to detect a temperature of the piercing nozzle 108, and the like, which may indicate when a fire is encountered. Such a temperature detection mechanism 128 may provide a temperature reading to a control device such that the control device may be used to apply fire extinguishing agents as described herein. Indeed, the aforementioned stop switch mechanism may be used to stop the actuators 110, 112from actuating when a given temperature is detected (e.g. such as above 500 degrees Celsius, and / or any other suitable temperature).

[0093] The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may further comprise a force detection mechanism 128, for example to detect a force applied to the piercing nozzle 108, and the like, which may indicate when a surface of an object is pierced. Such a force detection mechanism 128 may provide a force reading to a control device such that the control device may be used to stop a fire extinguishing apparatus from continuing to pierce an object, and / or provide a warning, and the like, of such a force. Indeed, a drop in such a force may indicate that a battery casing has been pierced, and the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be controlled to apply fire extinguishing agents as described herein. Such a force detection mechanism 128 may in any suitable format and may depend on a type of actuator used to translate the carriage assembly that carries a piercing nozzle; for example, while such a force detection mechanism 128 may be configured to detect force in Newtons, such a force detection mechanism 128 may be configured to detect force in form of amperage drawn by an electric motor of an actuator, and / or hydraulic and / or pneumatic pressure used to actuate an hydraulic and / or pneumatic device of an actuator, and the like. Hence, while as depicted, the force detection mechanism 128 is at the actuator 110, the force detection mechanism 128 may be at any suitable location of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. Indeed, the aforementioned stop switch mechanism may be used to stop the actuators 110, 112 from actuating when a given force is detected and / or when a given force drops indicating that an object has been pierced.

[0094] Indeed, one or more, or all, of the detection mechanisms 124, 126, 128 may be optional, and / or, when present may be at any suitable respective locations, and / or, when present, may be in any suitable respective format. Furthermore, while wiring to and / or from such detection mechanisms 124, 126, 128 is not depicted, such wiring may be present; alternatively, or in addition, such detection mechanisms 124, 126, 128 may be configured for wireless communications, for example with a control device.

[0095] Alternatively, or in addition, one or more, or all, of the detection mechanisms 124, 126, 128 may mounted on and / or mounted in, the piercing nozzle 108, and / or one or more, or all, of the detection mechanisms 124, 126, 128 may be inherent components of the piercing nozzle 108 itself. In one example of the temperature detection mechanism 126, a heat conductive metal tube and / or thermocouple components may be mounted on, or in, or be inherent components of the piercing nozzle 108, and located adjacent a tip of the piercing nozzle 108.

[0096] Notwithstanding the self-anchoring and / or ground-engaging configurations of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may further comprise one or more of: an object-anchoring apparatus, for example coupled to the frame assembly 102 (or any other suitable part of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100), to anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and / or the frame assembly 102 to an object; and a ground-engaging apparatus coupled to the frame assembly 102 (or any other suitable part of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100), to engage the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and / or the frame assembly 102 with a ground surface.

[0097] Indeed, fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may comprise any suitable combination of anchoring points and / or ground engaging points and / or anchoring apparatus and / or ground engaging means (e.g. which may be provided via an objectanchoring apparatus and / or a ground-engaging apparatus) to better enable the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to remain in a fixed position, when a firefighting tool, such as the piercing nozzle 108, and the like, is actuated towards an object and engages and / or pierces the object. Such anchoring, and the like, may ensure the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be used safely while being remotely operated, and / or may enable more efficient operation of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 (e.g. such that the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 doesn't move when piercing an object and / or extinguishing a fire).

[0098] Examples of ground-engaging apparatuses are next described.

[0099] Indeed, attention is next directed to FIG. 3, depicts a bottom view of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. In particular, FIG. 3 depicts the fire extinguishingapparatus 100 with a ground-engaging apparatus in form of a studded pad 202 thereon. The studded pad 202 is attached to a bottom surface of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, for example to a bottom surface of the base member 118 of the frame assembly 102, towards a rear of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. In particular, the studded pad 202 may be attached to a portion of a bottom surface of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, which receives the reactive force from the actuator 110 as described herein. The studded pad 202 may be made of rubber and have metal studs extending downwards therefrom, however the studded pad 202 may be of any suitable materials and / or frictional components (e.g. in place of the studs). The studded pad 202 thus provides a high friction surface that may be particularly suitable for hard ground surfaces such as concrete and asphalt, and / or surfaces of structures on which the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be positioned; put another way, while the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is described herein as being used on the ground, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be used on any suitable surface including, but not limited to, structural surfaces and / or hard structural surfaces (e.g., that may be comprise of metal, plastic, and / or any other hard material, and the like).

[0100] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 with an alternative, or additional, ground-engaging apparatuses, that may be incorporated with the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, showing alternative, or additional ground-engaging apparatuses in the form of a braking mechanism 302 and spikes 304a, 304b. The braking mechanism 302 comprises a plate 306 attached to any suitable portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, for example, as depicted, via a pair of parallel bars 308 perpendicular to the plate 306, the pair of parallel bars 308 attached to the frame assembly 102 about adjacent to the second actuator 112, and extending at an angle downwards from (e.g. a bottom end of) the second actuator 112 past the base member 118 and / or adjacent to the base member 118. Hence, reactive force from a front of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 due to the piercing nozzle 108 is directed to the plate 306.

[0101] Put another way, the plate 306 generally provides a surface area that engages with a ground surface and is orientated diagonally downwards from the back of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to prevent the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 from being pushed backwards due to the reactive force of the actuator 110.

[0102] As depicted, the spikes 304a, 304b may be located at either side of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, and may be pivotally coupled to the frame assembly 12 to pivot into contact with a ground surface and / or to engage a ground surface, and may likewise be oriented diagonally from the back of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, or vertically downwards from the back of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100.

[0103] The braking mechanism 302 and / or the spikes 304a, 304b may be particularly suitable for soft ground surfaces such as dirt or gravel.

[0104] Furthermore, as depicted, the spikes 304a, 304b, may be connected to respective handles 310a, 310b to operate and / or pivot the spikes 304a, 304b to engage, or disengage, a ground surface. For example, in FIG. 5, the handle 310a has been used to operate the spike 304a into a ground engaging position, whereas the spike 304b remains in a ground disengaged position.

[0105] Furthermore, one handle may be provided, which may be connected to both spikes 304a, 304b to simultaneously operate and / or pivot the spikes 304a, 304b.

[0106] The spikes 304a, 304b may further be conductive, and / or generally adapted, to electrically ground the fire extinguishing apparatus 100.

[0107] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 further depict an optional pair of screws 315a, 315b located on opposite sides of the frame assembly 102, that may be turned via respective handles to cause the screws to turn relative to the frame assembly 102, and screw into, and / or otherwise engage, the ground. Indeed, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be placed into a position, and the screws 315a, 315b may be used as described herein, prior to the spikes 304a, 304b being operated as described herein.

[0108] FIG. 4 further depict an optional pair of back wheels 320 located on opposite sides of the frame assembly 102, that may be used in conjunction with the front wheels 120 to maneuver the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 into position.

[0109] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 depicts a rear of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 with yet a further an additional, or alternative, ground-engaging apparatus in the form of a flip-down ground-engaging and / or penetrating mechanism 402 (hereafter referred to as the flip-down ground penetrating mechanism 402). In particular, FIG. 6 depicts the flip-down ground penetrating mechanism 402 in a flipped down position and / or a deployed position and / or ground engaging position, and FIG 7 depicts the flip-down ground penetrating mechanism 402 in a flipped up position and / or a retracted position and / or ground disengaging position.

[0110] In particular, the flip-down ground penetrating mechanism 402 may be flipped upwards / forwards (e.g. relative a rear of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100) when not in use (e.g. as in FIG. 7), and flipped downwards once the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is in a desired position (e.g. as in FIG. 6).

[0111] The ground-penetrating mechanism 402 is rotationally attached to the base member 118. For example, the ground-penetrating mechanism 402 includes a jagged edge 404 of a plate bent at a 90° angle, that is joined to a plate 406 via a hinge 408, the plate 406 attached to the to the base member 118.

[0112] In a deployed position, the jagged edge 404 of the ground-penetrating mechanism 402 penetrates and / or digs into the ground surface to secure the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in place. The ground-penetrating mechanism 402 may be particularly suitable for soft ground surfaces such as dirt or gravel.

[0113] While the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 includes the spikes 304a, 304b, screws 315a, 315b and wheels 320, such spikes 304a, 304b and / or screws 315a, 315b and / or wheels 320 may be omitted.

[0114] Examples of object-anchoring apparatuses are next described. It is assumed in the following discussion that examples of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may also include any of the ground-engaging apparatuses as described herein. However, itis further understood that the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 as described herein may include one or both of an object-anchoring apparatus and a ground-engaging apparatus.

[0115] FIG. 8 depicts an example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 anchored to a vehicle 500 via an object-anchoring apparatus in the form of one or more chains and / or cables 510 (e.g. hereafter referred to as the cables 510).

[0116] In particular, the cables 510 are attached, at opposite ends to the vehicle 500 and the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, via any suitable combination of attachment apparatuses (e.g. hooks that may be attached to a frame and / or handles of the vehicle 500, and the like, and pins and / or bolts and / or anchoring points and / or clevises, and the like, that may be attached to the frame assembly 102).

[0117] As described above, the portable, remotely operable, and configurable nature of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 make it suitable for use in a variety of applications. One particular implementation may be to use the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to extinguish vehicle fires, and more particularly battery fires in electric vehicles. The configuration of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 as depicted in FIG. 5, with the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 anchored to the vehicle 500 via the cables 510 in an orientation where the piercing nozzle 108 is directed towards the vehicle 500, allows the piercing nozzle 108, when the carriage assembly 106 is actuated, to pierce a side wall of the vehicle 500 (horizontally or at an angle), which may provide better access to a battery housing of the vehicle 500 by the piercing nozzle 108.

[0118] FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 are next described, and depict a further example object-anchoring apparatus, for example to anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to a vehicle 600 on a ground surface 999, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 configured for piercing the vehicle. In this configuration, the object-anchoring apparatus is provided in the form of a lift jack 900 coupled to a front of the frame assembly 102 of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. The lift jack 900 may be welded as part of the frame assembly 102, or any other suitable portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, for example via an arm and / or cable 901, and / or the liftjack 900 may be atachable and detachable from the frame assembly 102, or any other suitable portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100.

[0119] The lift jack 900 comprises a piercing spike 902, atached to a rolling carriage 904 via a jack apparatus 906 (and alternatives to the piercing spike 902 are described below at least with respect to FIG. 12). The piercing spike 902 is depicted in outline as in each of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the lift jack 900 has been rolled under the vehicle 600 with the lift jack 900 in a rolling position (e.g., with the piercing spike 902 positioned to fit under the vehicle 600) to position the piercing spike 902 under the vehicle 600 and directed towards an underside of the vehicle 600, and the jack apparatus 906 has been actuated (e.g. remotely) to cause the piercing spike 902 to lift and pierce underside of the vehicle 600, thereby anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in a fixed position relative to the vehicle 600.

[0120] Put another way, the lift jack 900 is generally configured to roll under an object (e.g., the vehicle 600). The lift jack 900 is generally configured to raise the piercing spike 902, via the jack apparatus 906, upwards with force selected to pierce an object, and / or atach to an object, and / or engage the object with sufficient friction, and the like, to anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in a position relative to the object. The lift jack 900 may be further configured to lift an object (i.e. the vehicle 600) to provide beter access for the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to pierce a desired fire location with the piercing nozzle 108. The jack apparatus 906 may be provided in the form of a hydraulic lift and / or pneumatic lift and / or electric lift.

[0121] In particular, FIG. 9 depicts the piercing nozzle 108 in a horizontal position, whereas FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 respectively depict the piercing nozzle 108 positioned in an upward direction and a downward direction.

[0122] Indeed, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 generally depict how a carriage assembly (e.g. the rails 104a, 104b) of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, that holds the piercing nozzle 108, may be pivoted so that the piercing nozzle 108 may pierce the vehicle 600 at any suitable angle. As an alternative to the lift jack 900, an actuated horizontal spreader (not shown) may be coupled to the frame assembly and serve asthe anchor point to anchor to the object (e.g. a building, vehicle casing, etc.). An example of such a horizontal spreader is described herein with respect to FIG. 16.

[0123] FIG. 12 depicts an alternative of the lift jack 900 where the piercing spike 902 is replaced with a claw apparatus 1202, that includes a pair jagged edges (e.g. a claw), facing in an upward direction. FIG. 12 further better illustrates that the piercing spike 902 and / or the claw apparatus 1202, and the like, may be positioned at a lifting end of the jack apparatus 906. While the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is not depicted in FIG. 12, it is understood that the arm and / or cable 901 connects to the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100.

[0124] In some examples, the lift jack 900 may be provided with one of the piercing spike 902 or the claw apparatus 1202 permanently attached to a lifting end of the jack apparatus 906. However, in other examples, the lift jack 900 may be provided in a modular format, such that the piercing spike 902 or the claw apparatus 1202 may be removably attached to a lifting end of the jack apparatus 906 (e.g. via clamps and / or clips and / or rails, and the like), and hence the piercing spike 902 may be replaced with the claw apparatus 1202, or vice versa, depending on a surface of an object that the lift jack 900 is to be anchored to. Indeed, the lift jack 900 may be provided with a plurality of anchoring devices, including, but not limited to, the piercing spike 902 and / or the claw apparatus 1202, which may be swapped at the lift jack 900 in a modular fashion.

[0125] Regardless of whether the piercing spike 902 or the claw apparatus 1202, or another anchoring device, is used, the lift jack 900 is understood to anchor the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in a fixed position relative to the vehicle 600. Indeed, as the piercing nozzle 108 pierces the vehicle 600, a reactive force will be at least partially translated through to the lift jack 900 and the piercing spike 902 and / or the claw apparatus 1202, and as the lift jack 900 is anchored to an underside side of the vehicle 600, the reactive force least partially counteracts the force of the piercing nozzle 108 on the vehicle 600.

[0126] Atention is next directed to FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, which depict a further example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, with a further objectanchoring apparatus 1300 for anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to the vehicle 600, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and the vehicle 600 located on the ground surface 999. For simplicity, in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the vehicle 600 is depicted schematically and / or without the detail of FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The comp

[0127] More specifically, in FIG. 13A, the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 is depicted in a non-deployed position, and in FIG. 13B, the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 is depicted in a deployed position.

[0128] For example, the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 comprises a first arm 1302 coupled to the frame assembly 102 via the arm and / or cable 901 at a first end, and a second arm 1304 that may extend from the first arm 1302 at a 90° angle at a second end opposite the first end.

[0129] It is further understood that the first arm 1302 of the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 may be rotatable such that, in a non-deployed position, as shown in FIG. 13 A, the first arm 1302 is rotated such that the second arm 1304 is adjacent the ground surface 999. Furthermore, in the non-deployed position, the first arm 1302 and the second arm 1304 are understood to be of dimensions that enable the first arm 1302 and the second arm 1304 to fit under the vehicle 600. The object-anchoring apparatus 1300 may then be inserted under the vehicle 600 in the non-deployed position, from a side where the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is located, until the second arm 1304 is on an opposite side of the vehicle 600. The first arm 1302 may be rotated until the second arm 1304 is in an upright position, as depicted in FIG. 13B, and the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 and / or fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be pulled away from the vehicle 600 until a spike 1306 that extends from the second arm 1304 engages and / or anchors to the vehicle 600, for example in a penetrating and / or frictional manner. The spike 1306 may be extend from the second arm 1304 about parallel to the first arm 1302, and back along the first arm 1302, and may belocated at an end of the second arm 1304 that is opposite an end from which the second arm 1304 extends from the first arm 1302.

[0130] Furthermore, the second arm 1304 is understood to have dimensions that cause the spike 1306 to engage the vehicle 600 in the deployed position. Such dimensions may be customized based on a size and / or model of the vehicle 600, and furthermore, the second arm 1304, and / or the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 itself, may be provided in a modular fashion, so that different second arms 1304 and / or object-anchoring apparatuses 1300 may be swapped to accommodate vehicles of different sizes, and the like.

[0131] Furthermore, while not depicted, the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 may have rotational components for remotely rotating the object-anchoring apparatus 1300, such as a motor that rotates the object-anchoring apparatus 1300, and / or rotation of the object-anchoring apparatus 1300 may occur manually.

[0132] Attention is next directed to FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B, which depict a further example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, with a further objectanchoring apparatus 1400 for anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to the vehicle 600, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and the vehicle 600 located on the ground surface 999. For simplicity, in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B, the vehicle 600 is depicted schematically and / or without the detail of FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

[0133] More specifically, in FIG. 14A, the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 is depicted in a non-deployed position, and in FIG. 14B, the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 is depicted in a deployed position.

[0134] For example, the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 comprises a first arm 1402 coupled to the frame assembly 102 via the arm and / or cable 901 at a first end, and a spring mechanism 1404, that includes a frictional claw 1406, and the like, that may extend from the first arm 1402 at a second end opposite the first end.

[0135] It is further understood that the spring mechanism 1404 may be operated from a non-deployed position, as shown in FIG. 14A, to a deployed position, as depicted in FIG. 14B.

[0136] Furthermore, in the non-deployed position, the first arm 1402 and the spring mechanism 1404 are understood to be of dimensions that enable the first arm 1402 and the spring mechanism 1404 to fit under the vehicle 600. Like the object-anchoring apparatus 1300, components of the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 and / or the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 itself, may be provided in a modular fashion to accommodate different sizes and / or models of vehicles.

[0137] In the non-deployed position of FIG. 14A, the spring mechanism 1404 is understood to fit under the vehicle 600, and in such a non-deployed position, the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 may then be inserted under the vehicle 600 from a side where the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is located, until the spring mechanism 1404 is on an opposite side of the vehicle 600.

[0138] While not depicted, the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 may comprise an actuating mechanism to actuate the spring mechanism 1404 between the nondeployed position and the deployed position. Hence, once the spring mechanism 1404 clears the vehicle 600, the spring mechanism 1404 may be actuated to rotate such that the frictional claw 1406 engages a comer of the vehicle 600 that may include the bottom and a side of the vehicle 600, as depicted. Such actuation may occur via a rotational motor, and the like, which may be remotely controlled.

[0139] Indeed, in some examples, the spring mechanism 1404 may be spring loaded, such that as soon as the spring mechanism 1404 clears the bottom of the vehicle 600, the spring mechanism 1404 "pops" into the deployed position. Alternatively, or in addition, the object-anchoring apparatus 1400 may comprise a release mechanism for releasing the spring mechanism 1404 from the non-deployed position to the deployed position.

[0140] Attention is next directed to FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, which depict a further example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, with a further objectanchoring apparatus 1500 for anchoring the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to the vehicle 600, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 and the vehicle 600 located on theground surface 999. For simplicity, in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the vehicle 600 is depicted schematically and / or without the detail of FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

[0141] More specifically, in FIG. 15 A, the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 is depicted in a non-deployed position, and in FIG. 15B, the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 is depicted in a deployed position.

[0142] For example, the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 comprises a first arm 1502 coupled to the frame assembly 102 via the arm and / or cable 901 at a first end, and a spring mechanism 1504, that includes a frictional surface 1506, and the like, that may extend from the first arm 1502 at a second end opposite the first end.

[0143] It is further understood that the spring mechanism 1504 may be operated from a non-deployed position, as shown in FIG. 15 A, to a deployed position, as depicted in FIG. 15B.

[0144] Furthermore, in the non-deployed position, the first arm 1502 and the spring mechanism 1504 are understood to be of dimensions that enable the first arm 1502 and the spring mechanism 1504 to fit under the vehicle 600, for example as depicted in FIG. 15A. Like the object-anchoring apparatuses 1300, 1400 components of the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 and / or the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 itself, may be provided in a modular fashion to accommodate different sizes and / or models of vehicles.

[0145] Returning to FIG. 15A, in the non-deployed position, the spring mechanism 1504 is understood to fit under the vehicle 600, and in such a non-deployed position, the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 may then be inserted under the vehicle 600 from a side where the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is located, until the spring mechanism 1504 is under the vehicle 600.

[0146] While not depicted, the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 may comprise an actuating mechanism to actuate the spring mechanism 1504 between the nondeployed and the deployed position. Hence, as depicted in FIG. 15B, once the spring mechanism 1504 is under the vehicle 600, the spring mechanism 1504 may beactuated to rotate such that the frictional surface 1506 engages a bottom of the vehicle 600.

[0147] Regardless, in their respective deployed positions, the object-anchoring apparatuses 1300, 1400, 1500 are understood to anchor the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 in a fixed position relative to the vehicle 600. Indeed, as the piercing nozzle 108 pierces the vehicle 600, a reactive force will be at least partially translated through to the object-anchoring apparatuses 1300, 1400, 1500. As the object-anchoring apparatuses 1300, 1400 are anchored to a side of the vehicle 600 opposite the remainder of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, the reactive force counteracts the force of the piercing nozzle 108 on the vehicle 600. Similarly, as the object-anchoring apparatus 1500 is anchored to a bottom of the vehicle 600, the reactive force is at least partially translated to the bottom of the vehicle 600 via the object-anchoring apparatus 1500, counteracting the force of the piercing nozzle 108 on the vehicle 600

[0148] Attention is next directed to FIG. 16, which depicts another example implementation of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 anchored to a building via a further object-anchoring apparatus, and positioned for piercing the building in a horizontal position. The building has a wall 702 (depicted in cross-section for illustrative purposes) with a window 704. The fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may comprise the one or more ground-engaging spikes 304a, 304b described previously and configured to engage a ground surface 710. Additionally or alternatively, an object-anchoring apparatus is provided in the form of one or more window jack anchors 706 and chains 720. In particular the one or more window jack anchors 706 may be placed in the window 704 (vertically, diagonally or horizontally), and one or more chains 720 may be coupled between the one or more window jack anchors 706 and an anchoring point 722 (e.g. that may include, but is not limited to, a clevis) on the fire extinguishing apparatus 100. The window jack anchors 706 may further be an example of an actuated horizontal spreader, which, when used horizontally, may comprise an actuated horizontal spreader.

[0149] Furthermore, while in FIG. 16, the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is depicted a relatively large distance from the building that may be pierced by the piercing nozzle 108 of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, it is understood that, in use, a length of the one or more chains 720 may be selected to position the piercing nozzle 108 adjacent the building such that that the piercing nozzle 108 is in a position to pierce the building.

[0150] A fire service may use the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 as depicted in FIG. 16 to inject water into a building to extinguish a fire without having to open / break windows, walls, or doors; for example, as openings that occur when opening / breaking windows, walls, or doors may better feed the fire with oxygen; whereas small precise holes provided via the piercing nozzle 108 may limit oxygen flow in comparison. Indeed, while the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 is depicted in FIG. 7 with the piercing nozzle 108, the piercing nozzle 108 may first used to pierce the building and created holes therethrough, and then replaced with a hose, and / or any other water injection device, that may be used to inject water into holes made by the piercing nozzle 108.

[0151] However, any other suitable object-anchoring apparatus that may anchor the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to a building is within the scope of the present specification. For example, the one or more window jack anchors 706 may be replaced with a pallet puller and / or clamp, and the like, which may attach to a door, and / or any other protruding surface of a building, and which may advantageously tighten when pulled, for example due to a reactive force of a firefighting tool of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 that is used to fight a fire in a building.

[0152] Indeed, an inset 750 in FIG. 16 depicts an example of a pallet puller 751 that comprises a pair of jaws 754 attached to the chain 720 via a hinged mechanism 756. While not depicted in the inset 750, it is understood that the chain 720 may be attached to the anchoring point 722 of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, for example at an end opposite the pallet puller 751. A door and / or other protruding component of the building may be placed between the jaws 754, which may be closedand / or clamped onto the door and / or other protruding component of the building, causing the hinged mechanism 756 to extend towards the chain 720. alternatively, or in addition, the chain 720 may be pulled, and / or the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may be backed up away from the building (e.g. thereby pulling on the chain 720) to close and / or clamp the jaws 754 onto the door and / or other protruding component of the building. The jaws 754 may include frictional components (e.g. rubber and / or silicone pads) to assist with clamping of the jaws 754 onto the door and / or other protruding component of the building. Because such pallet pullers 751 clamp onto items when the hinged mechanism 756 is pulled, reactive forces caused by the piercing nozzle 108 piercing an object such as the building may cause the such reactive forces to pull on the chain 720, thereby causing the jaws 754 to clamp harder onto the door and / or other protruding component of the building.

[0153] Attention is next directed to FIG. 17, which depicts a control device 1600 for controlling the fire extinguishing apparatus 100, which may wirelessly connect to the various actuators 110, 112 of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 via any suitable combination of wireless transceivers, which may include Bluetooth™ transceivers, WiFi transceivers, and the like, though wired connections are within the scope of the present specification.

[0154] As depicted, the control device 1600 includes a housing 1602, a first control 1604 for raising and lowering the carriage assembly 106 and / or the rails 104a, 104b, and the like, a second control 1606 for controlling the relative heights of the parallel members 117 to control an angle of the carriage assembly 106, and / or the rails 104a, 104b, and the like, and a control 1608 for extending and retracting the carriage assembly 106 and / or the piercing nozzle 108 and / or any suitable firefighting tool, relative to an object. The controls 1604, 1606, 1608 may comprise respective rocker switched and / or toggle switches, and the like. As depicted, the control device 1600 includes an emergency stop switch 1610, which, when actuated, causes all motion of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 to stop (e.g. the actuators 110, 112 may stop) and / or may cause the carriage assembly 106 and / or the piercing nozzle 108 and / or anysuitable firefighting tool to retract. The emergency stop switch 1610 may hence be understood to comprise a stop switch mechanism, and / or the emergency stop switch 1610 may activate a stop switch mechanism.

[0155] As depicted, the control device 1600 further includes displays 1612, 1614 for respectively indicating voltage measurements by the voltage detection mechanism 124 and force measurements by the force detection mechanism 128. While not depicted, the control device 1600 may further include a display for indicating temperature measurements by the temperature detection mechanism 126. One or more, and / or all, of such displays may be optional. Furthermore the display 1612 may comprise a voltage indicator and the display 1614 may comprise a force indicator.

[0156] Attention is next directed to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, which show representations of yet further fire extinguishing apparatuses in accordance with examples of the present specification.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 18, a fire extinguishing apparatus 800 according to this example comprises a carriage assembly 802 configured to receive a firefighting tool (e.g. piercing nozzle 804), and an actuator 806 coupled and / or attached to the carriage assembly 802; the actuator 806 may comprise an actuatable cylinder, such as a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, and the like, and / or an electric motor, and the like. The actuator 806 is configured to actuate the carriage assembly 802 along a plane or axis of translation. The actuator 806 comprises an anchoring apparatus 808 at a second end thereof (e.g., opposite the carriage assembly 802) to anchor and / or brace the actuator 806 against an object. The anchoring apparatus 808 generally comprises a plate with spikes for anchoring and / or bracing the actuator 806 against an object, however any other suitable apparatus for anchoring and / or bracing the actuator 806 against an object is within the scope of the present specification, including anchoring apparatuses of shapes other than circular, and with piercing and / or frictional components other than spikes.

[0158] Furthermore, it understood that the piercing nozzle 804 is depicted in two parts, and in a separated configuration, to illustrate that a rotating coupler 1900, 1900'may be used to couple together the two parts. The rotating couplers 1900, 1900' are described in more detail with respect to FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B and FIG. 20C.

[0159] The compact configuration of the fire extinguishing apparatus 800 allows the fire extinguishing apparatus 800 to be utilized in compact spaces, such as an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle, a trunk of a vehicle, and the like. For example, in use, the fire extinguishing apparatus 800 may be located so that the carriage assembly 802 is positioned on a surface (e.g. a trunk of a vehicle), the anchoring apparatus 808 is fastened and / or braced against an object (e.g. a wall of the trunk), and thus as the actuator 806 is actuated the carriage assembly 802 with the piercing nozzle 804 is thrust along the surface to a desired piercing location.

[0160] The fire extinguishing apparatus 800 may also be remotely operable and the actuator 806 may be hydraulically, electrically, or pneumatically powered, which may be controlled by a remote operator.

[0161] Referring to FIG. 19, a fire extinguishing apparatus 800' according to an alternative example may comprise the components of fire extinguishing apparatus 800, as well as a carriage support member. Certain components of the fire extinguishing apparatus 800' are similar to respective components of the fire extinguishing apparatus 800, with like components having like numbers.

[0162] As depicted, a carriage support member may be provided in the form of a pair of rails 810a, 810b to which the carriage assembly 802 is coupled via a pair of slidable connection members 817 that slidably couple the carriage assembly 802 to the rails 810a, 810b, for example at opposite ends of the carriage assembly 802. Indeed, the carriage assembly 802, the rails 810a, 810b and the slidable connection members 817 are respectively similar to the carriage assembly 106, the rails 104a, 104b and the slidable connection members 107.

[0163] In general, the rails 810a, 810b defines a plane and / or axis of translation so that the carriage assembly 802 is translatable along the rails 810a and 810b. In contrast to the fire extinguishing apparatus 800 of FIG. 18, and at least partially due to use of the rails 810a, 810b, the fire extinguishing apparatus 800' is not limited to thecarriage assembly 802 being translated along an existing surface. For example, the fire extinguishing apparatus 800' may be used in an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle, with the anchoring apparatus 808 anchored to an interior roof of the vehicle and the rails 810a, 810b oriented vertically. The rails 810a and 810b may be of various configurations, including rod-and-tube configuration as described above.

[0164] As described above, the actuating cylinder, carriage assembly, and rails of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100 may each be removable / detachable, individually, and / or as a whole. Accordingly, one or more of fire extinguishing apparatuses 800, 800' may be a detachable portion of the fire extinguishing apparatus 100.Alternatively, or in addition, the fire extinguishing apparatuses 800, 800' may be provided as stand-alone apparatuses.

[0165] To facilitate use of the fire extinguishing apparatuses 800, 800' in a range of applications, the actuator 806 may be coupled to the carriage assembly 802 via a rotatable coupler 1900, 1900' that is rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly 802 and / or the actuator 806. The rotatable couplers 1900, 1900' are next described with respect to FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B, and FIG. 20C, which show rotatable couplers 1900, 1900' that may be used to couples the actuator 806 to the carriage assembly 802, for example via a piercing nozzle 804.

[0166] FIG. 20A depicts a first example of a rotatable coupler 1900. The rotatable coupler 1900 comprises a 360 degree rotatable interface 1901 (e.g. a rotatable lug or a male / female mating receiver) to which the actuator 806 be coupled. The rotatable interface 1901 includes a rotatable lug with a protrusion 1902 extending therefrom, with an aperture thereto, that may be used to couple to the actuator 806, for example via the pin 122, and the like.

[0167] While the actuator 806 is depicted as an actuatable cylinder, the actuator 806 may be any suitable actuator, which may include, but is not limited to, a R 522 E3 Ram HURST™ Jaws of Life™, and the rotatable coupler 1900 may be adapted accordingly. For example, the rotatable coupler 1900 may include an appropriate coupler configured to couple to a ram of the aforementioned Jaws of Life™.

[0168] As depicted, the 360 degree rotatable interface 1901 may have welded flanges 1903 for securing the protrusion 1902 to nozzle-receiving piping 1904. The piercing nozzle 804 or other firefighting tool may be inserted into the nozzlereceiving piping 1904 and clamped. The nozzle -receiving piping 1904 may be a halfpipe as shown to facilitate clamping for example to different portions of the piercing nozzle 804. The nozzle receiving piping 1904 is fastened to a carriage member 1906 that may form a part of the carriage assembly 802. Accordingly, the actuator 806 may be coupled to the rotatable interface 1901 of the rotatable coupler 1900 via the protrusion 1902, and be rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly 802, or the rotatable coupler 1900 may be used in conjunction with the actuator 806 by itself. Indeed, the rotatable coupler 1900 may enable the actuator 806 to couple to the piercing nozzle 804 at an angle that allows a hose and / or fire-extinguishing agent coupler of the piercing nozzle 804 to be accessible and / or to move freely in use.

[0169] FIG. 20B depicts a second example of a rotatable coupler 1900'. The rotatable coupler 1900' is similar to the rotatable coupler 1900, with like components having like numbers, however instead of having nozzle -receiving piping 1904 that is clamped to a firefighting tool (e.g. the piercing nozzle 804), the rotatable coupler 1900' has a nozzle-receiving piping 1908 that comprises threads for a threaded coupling to different portions of a firefighting tool (e.g. different portions of the piercing nozzle 804). While not depicted, the rotatable coupler 1900' may also include a carriage member that may be similar to the carriage member 1906.

[0170] FIG. 20C depicts an example of the piercing nozzle 804 in an assembled state threaded onto the rotatable coupler 1900'. While the protrusion 1902 is not depicted, it is nonetheless understood to be present.

[0171] It is further understood that any of the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' described herein may include other suitable components that may better adapt the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' for fighting fires. For example, any of the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' may include one or more suitable heat shielding components, which may be specifically provided forcomponents on the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' that are susceptible to heat and / or that may be positioned closest to a fire and / or heat. For example, respective ends of the carriage assemblies 106, 802 and / or the rails 104a, 104b, 810a, 810b that are towards a front of respective fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' may be adapted to include any suitable heat shielding components. Indeed, in operation, a temperature at the front of the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' may very high. Indeed, other components on the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800', that may be sensitive to heat, such as electrical cables, hydraulics and / or actuators, may be adapted to include heat shielding components. Alternatively, or in addition, any components of the heat shielding components of the fire extinguishing apparatuses 100, 800, 800' that may be susceptible to heat may be at least partially manufactured from any suitable heat resistant materials.

[0172] It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the system and components shown in the figures may include components not shown in the drawings. For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, are only schematic and are non-limiting of the elements structures. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.

[0173] It is understood that for the purpose of this specification, language of “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “one or more of X, Y and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XY, YZ, XZ, and the like). Similar logic may be applied for two or more items in any occurrence of “at least one...” and “one or more...” language.

[0174] The terms “about”, “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, and the like, are defined as being “close to”, for example as understood by persons of skill in the art. In some examples, the terms are understood to be “within 10%, ” in other examples, “within 5%”, in yet further examples, “within 1%”, and in yet further examples “within 0.5%”.

[0175] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there are yet more alternative examples and modifications possible, and that the above examples are only illustrations of one or more examples. The scope, therefore, is only to be limited by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A fire extinguishing apparatus, comprising: a frame assembly; a carriage support member coupled to the frame assembly; a carriage assembly coupled to the carriage support member and translatable along a plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member, the carriage assembly configured to receive a firefighting tool; an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the carriage assembly and configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along the plane or axis of translation; and one or more of: an object-anchoring apparatus configured to anchor the frame assembly to an object; and a ground-engaging apparatus configured to engage the frame assembly with a ground surface.

2. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is detachably coupled at a second end thereof to the frame assembly.

3. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the actuator is coupled to the carriage assembly via a rotatable coupler that is rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly and / or actuator.

4. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is remotely operable.

5. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the actuator is one or more of hydraulically, electrically, and pneumatically powered.

6. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the carriage support member is configured to be horizontal, vertical, or at an angle between horizontal and vertical relative to a base of the frame assembly.

7. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a second actuator coupled to the frame assembly and configured to adjust a height of the carriage support member.

8. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object-anchoring apparatus comprises a piercing lift jack, or actuated horizontal spreader, that anchors to the object and is configured to one or more of lift, spread and clamp onto the object.

9. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging apparatus comprises one or more of: a frictional surface, a ground-engaging device, and a ground-penetrating device.

10. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is coupled to the frame assembly at one or more of a position and an orientation that directs reactive forces, generated from translating the carriage assembly and the firefighting tool forwards, rearwards and downwards.

11. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is coupled to the frame assembly at one or more of a position and an orientation that directs reactive forces towards the ground-engaging apparatus.

12. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising one or more of a voltage indicator and a stop switch mechanism to detect a voltage encountered by one or more of the firefighting tool and the fire extinguishing apparatus.

13. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising one or more of a heat sensor and an infrared sensor to indicate where a seat of a fire is located.

14. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a handle coupled to the frame assembly for transporting the fire extinguishing apparatus.

15. The fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the actuator is configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along the carriage support member with a force sufficient for the firefighting tool to pierce a vehicle body and a battery housing of a vehicle.

16. A fire extinguishing apparatus, comprising: a carriage assembly configured to receive a firefighting tool; and an actuator coupled at a first end thereof to the carriage assembly and configured to cause translation of the carriage assembly along a plane or axis of translation, wherein the actuator comprises an anchoring apparatus at a second end thereof to anchor the actuator against an object, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the carriage assembly via a rotatable coupler that is rotatable with respect to the carriage assembly and / or actuator.

17. The fire extinguishing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a carriage support member, the carriage assembly coupled to the carriage support member and translatable along the plane or axis of translation defined by the carriage support member.

18. Use of the fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17 for extinguishing a fire in a vehicle.

19. The use of claim 18, wherein the fire is a battery fire.

20. The use of claim 19, wherein the carriage support member is configured such that the firefighting tool pierces a battery housing in the vehicle vertically from above the battery housing.

21. The use of claim 19, wherein the carriage support member is configured such that the firefighting tool pierces a battery housing in the vehicle horizontally or at an angle to horizontal relative to a ground surface.

22. Use of the fire extinguishing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17 for extinguishing a fire in a building.

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