FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE, AIRCRAFT AND METHOD

Abstract

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE, AIRCRAFT AND METHOD The fire extinguishing device by airdropping over a fire comprises at least one container (3) configured to contain at least one extinguishing agent and to be airdropped full over the fire, at least one platform (5) for supporting the container (3), and at least one system (11) for attaching the container (3) to the support platform (5).

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE, AIRCRAFT AND METHOD FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of firefighting. More specifically, the invention relates to a device, an aircraft and a method for extinguishing fires.

[0002] For example, the invention can be applied to the extinguishing of large-scale fires such as forest fires, using a tactical transport aircraft or a cargo aircraft having a rear exit. State of the art

[0003] Among the known means of fighting fires, the water bomber aircraft comprises a tank which can be filled with water by the progression of the water bomber aircraft over a body of water.

[0004] A water bomber aircraft does not normally operate at night, which is a first limitation. A water bomber aircraft operates during the day to be able to be at a low altitude, for example only several tens of meters above the ground, when it opens its tank above the fire to be fought. Even when it takes place during the day, intervention on a fire using a water bomber aircraft is often dangerous for the crew of the water bomber aircraft and for the water bomber aircraft itself. For example, it may happen that a water bomber aircraft makes a drop at a speed of the order of 150 km / h, between 30 m and 50 m above the ground, in strong winds and in the middle of thermal eddies, near a hillside or in a narrow valley, and sometimes in the presence of high-voltage power lines.

[0005] A large part of the water dropped from the tank of a water bomber aircraft disperses in its fall, then mist as it approaches the fire. The misted water and the water vaporized by the heat of the fire do not reach the ground or the base of the flames, and have practically no extinguishing action. Dropping water from the tank of a water bomber aircraft is therefore of poor effectiveness in fighting a fire. It even happens that, for safety reasons, the water is dropped from such a great altitude that its effectiveness is extremely low, or even zero, in fighting the fire.

[0006] In DE 199 61 215 A1, it is proposed to fill plastic bags with water or another extinguishing agent and then drop these full plastic bags from an aircraft to fight a fire. The plastic bags burst and release their contents when they impact the ground. In the aircraft in flight, plastic bags full of water are very unstable. In the aircraft in flight, plastic bags full of water are even more unstable when they deform under the action of the weight of the water they contain. The instability of plastic bags full of water is detrimental to the stability of the aircraft itself to the point that it is possible to estimate that the solution proposed by document DE 199 61 215 Al is not feasible in practice, because it is too dangerous.

[0007] Patent application US 2001 / 0025712 A1 and patent application FR 3 060 400 A1 propose solutions which are of the same type, with the same main drawback as document DE 199 61215A1. Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention relates to a fire extinguishing device by airdropping above a fire, which comprises at least one container configured to contain at least one extinguishing agent and to be airdropped full above the fire. At least one securing system is provided for securing the container to a support platform. Brief description of the figures

[0009] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and shown in the appended drawings, among which:

[0010] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a fire extinguishing device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0011] [Fig.2] is a perspective view showing the same fire extinguishing device as [Fig.l] but in another configuration,

[0012] [Fig.3] is a schematic view, in section, of a filling inlet constituting the fire extinguishing device shown in Figures 1 and 2,

[0013] [Fig.4] is a side view of a fitting adaptable to the filling inlet shown in [Fig.3],

[0014] [Fig.5] is a schematic plan showing how two fire extinguishing devices according to a second embodiment of the invention are arranged, with their common filling system, inside the rear portion of an aircraft,

[0015] [Fig.6] is a schematic plan showing how two fire extinguishing devices according to a variant of the second embodiment of the invention are arranged, each with its own filling system, inside the rear portion of an aircraft, and

[0016] [Fig.7] is a flowchart showing the steps of a fire extinguishing method according to one embodiment of the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0017] In [Fig.l], a fire extinguishing device 1 is according to a first embodiment of the invention. It is a fire extinguishing device by airdropping above a fire.

[0018] In the following and in the appended claims, the expression "fire extinguishing" must be understood as meaning "partial or total extinguishing of fire", that is to say "extinguishing or weakening of fire", insofar as an action aimed at extinguishing a fire can, on its own, only achieve a partial extinction of the fire and where the complete extinction of an external fire most often results from the sum of the effects of several extinguishing actions.

[0019] The fire extinguishing device 1 comprises a container 3 configured to contain at least one extinguishing agent and to be air-dropped full above the fire. The container 3 comprises a sealed and flexible membrane, which is particularly waterproof. According to one possibility, the sealed and flexible membrane of the container 3 is made of a possibly reinforced polymer. According to one possibility, the container 3 comprises a deformable reinforcing structure, which is associated with the sealed and flexible membrane so as to limit its deformation by the mass of an extinguishing agent inside the container 3.

[0020] The container 3 rests on a support platform 5, which is a tray in the example shown in [Fig. 1]. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the support platform 5 is a pallet that can be easily handled by means of a pallet truck.

[0021] According to one possibility, the support platform 5 is made of wood or another material such as a polymer or a composite comprising a polymer and one or more reinforcements embedded in the polymer. According to one possibility, the support platform 5 is made of several materials and / or comprises several elements each made of one of several different materials.

[0022] The support platform 5 comprises several positioning guides 7 for one or more flexible securing links 9, preferably flexible, which are part of a system 11 for securing the container 3 to the support platform 5. In the first embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the positioning guides 7 are through holes, drilled in the support platform 5. In the first embodiment shown in [Fig.l], the securing system 11 comprises several flexible securing links 9, which are straps.

[0023] The or each flexible securing link 9 passes through one or more positioning guides 7, which positions one or more segments thereof relative to the support platform 5.

[0024] The container 3 is deformable. In [Fig.l], the container 3 is folded, while the securing system 11 is in a stowed state in which it retains the container 3 in the folded configuration. In [Fig.l], a length of each flexible securing link 9 is folded several times and folded back on itself several times so as to form a stack 13 of link segments. Each stack 13 is held in shape by a loop 15.

[0025] The container 3 is unfoldable. In particular, the container 3 can be unfolded by filling it, for example, with an extinguishing agent such as water.

[0026] In [Fig.2], the container 3 is inflated by an extinguishing agent and it is unfolded.

[0027] When inflating the container 3, each stack 13 releases the length of a flexible securing link 9. In this way, the flexible securing links 9 do not oppose the inflation of the container 3, until the container 3 reaches the inflated configuration in which it is found in [Fig.2].

[0028] In its inflated configuration of [Fig.2], the container 3 puts tension on the securing system 11 so that the securing system 11 secures the container 3 to the support platform 5.

[0029] The container 3 comprises a filling inlet 17 and a removable plug (not shown), capable of sealing the filling inlet 17 in a sealed manner. This removable plug is capable of being removed and replaced by a connector 19.

[0030] The filling inlet 17 is shown alone in [Fig. 3]. The filling inlet 17 comprises a neck 21 whose inner surface carries a thread 23.

[0031] A non-return valve 25 carried by the neck 21 is mounted to tilt and returned by an elastic return member 27 to a position for closing the filling inlet 17. When the container 3 is sufficiently full, the extinguishing agent inside the container 3 and the elastic return member together exert a thrust force on the non-return valve 25. When this thrust force is greater than the force that atmospheric pressure or an extinguishing agent in the connector 19 connected to a pressurized supply produces on the non-return valve 25, this non-return valve 25 is pressed against the neck 21 so as to close the filling inlet 17.

[0032] The connector 19 is shown alone in [Fig. 4]. The connector 19 comprises a base 29 for its connection to a filling system such as the filling system described later with reference to [Fig. 5] or the filling system described later with reference to [Fig. 6]. The base 29 is extended by a projecting portion carrying a thread 31 complementary to the tapping 23.

[0033] According to one possibility, the container 3 comprises at least one safety valve (not shown) configured to allow an escape from the inside of the container 3 to the outside when the pressure difference between the inside of the container 3 and the outside exceeds a predetermined value, and / or at least one float valve (not shown) configured to allow residual air to escape from the container 3 during the phase of filling the latter with extinguishing agent and to close once reached by the extinguishing agent. The safety valve(s) prevent the containers from bursting in the event of significant overpressure between the inside of container 3 and the outside during flight or during the filling phase.

[0034] The extinguishing agent employed is a liquid, gel, foam, powder and / or granular material such as sand. For example, the extinguishing agent comprises water and / or a chemical such as a retardant.

[0035] The filling inlet 17 described above is suitable when the extinguishing agent is a liquid, a gel, a foam or a powder. In the case where the extinguishing agent is a granular material or a powder, the container 3 has a different opening, for example having edges provided with a zipper.

[0036] In [Fig. 5], reference 35 designates the fuselage of an aircraft 37 such as a tactical transport aircraft or a cargo aircraft. Only a rear portion of the fuselage 35 is visible in [Fig. 5].

[0037] The aircraft 37 comprises a storage room 38 inside the fuselage 35 and several exits through which the storage room 38 can be accessed from the outside. In the example shown in [Fig. 5], the exits giving access to the storage room 38 are two side exits 39 and a rear exit 41, which is centered on the longitudinal axis of the fuselage 35. The closing doors of the side exits 39 and the rear hatch for closing the rear exit 41 are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0038] The fuselage 35 contains two fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the storage room 38 of the aircraft 37, which is a fire extinguishing aircraft.

[0039] In the following, only the fire extinguishing device 51a is described among the fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b, which are identical or similar. In the following, the fire extinguishing device 51a is described only in that in which it differs from the fire extinguishing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, any reference hereinafter designating a part of the fire extinguishing device 51a identical or equivalent to a referenced part of the fire extinguishing device 1 is constructed by increasing the reference identifying that part on the fire extinguishing device 1 by fifty. Furthermore, since they are identical or equivalent, any referenced part of the fire extinguishing device 51a and any part of the fire extinguishing device 51b are designated by the same reference.

[0040] The fire extinguishing device 51a comprises several containers 53, which are arranged in succession, in a row, on two parallel ramps 72. In the example shown, the containers 53 of the fire extinguishing device 51a are ten in number. Generally, the containers 53 of the fire extinguishing device are two or more in number.

[0041] The support platform 55 comprises the two ramps 72, which are ramps for guiding the containers 53 of the fire extinguishing device 51a towards the rear exit 41.

[0042] In [Fig.5], a filling conduit 74 of a filling system of containers 53 comprises a succession of conduit segments 76 connected to each other by connectors 78. At least a portion of the filling conduit 74 is a flexible pipe.

[0043] Each conduit segment 76 has an outlet 80. The filling inlet 67 of each of the containers 53 of the fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b is connected to an outlet 80 of the filling conduit 74, by means of a copy of the connector 19.

[0044] A terminal end of the filling conduit 74 is closed by a shutter 82. An inlet end of the filling conduit 74 is connected to a supply (not shown) such as a pressurized water supply, via a valve 84. Alternatively, the supply provides an extinguishing agent other than water or an extinguishing agent comprising water and a chemical such as a retardant.

[0045] The containers 53 are loaded into the aircraft 37 while they are empty or partially empty. According to one possibility, the containers 53 contain a chemical product such as a retardant, but without being full, when they are loaded into the aircraft 37.

[0046] By means of the filling conduit 74, the containers 53 are filled with water or another extinguishing agent while they are in the aircraft 37. When they are filled, the containers 53 are inflated until a securing system not shown and identical or similar to the securing system 11 is tensioned. Each securing system thus tensioned secures a container 53 to the support platform 55.

[0047] [Fig. 6] shows the same rear part of the aircraft 37 as [Fig. 5]. In [Fig. 6], the fuselage 35 contains the two fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b in the storage room 38. In [Fig. 6], the system for filling the containers 53 of the fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b comprises four filling conduits 74.

[0048] According to a first variant, each filling conduit 74 is connected to a supply (not shown) of pressurized water, via a valve 84. In this way, the filling of the containers 53 of the fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b is faster with the arrangement shown in [Fig.6] than with the arrangement shown in [Fig.5].

[0049] The containers 53 are loaded into the aircraft 37 while empty or partially empty. Alternatively, the containers 53 contain a chemical such as a retardant, but are not full, when loaded into the aircraft 37. By means of the filling conduits 74, the containers 53 are filled with water or another fire extinguishing agent while in the aircraft 37. When filled, the containers 53 are inflated until a securing system, not shown, which is identical or similar to the securing system 11, is tensioned. Each securing system thus tensioned secures a container 53 to the support platform 55.

[0050] According to a second variant, at least one of the filling conduits 74 is connected to a supply (not shown) of a first extinguishing agent, via a valve 84. According to the second variant, at least one of the other filling conduits 74 is connected to a supply (not shown) of a second extinguishing agent, via a valve 84. The first extinguishing agent is different from the second extinguishing agent. According to an advantageous possibility, the first extinguishing agent has a fire extinguishing action different from and / or complementary to a fire extinguishing action of the second extinguishing agent.

[0051] In [Fig.6], two attachment links 86 attach a first container 53 and a second container 53 to each other. The first container 53 is intended to be filled with the first extinguishing agent. The second container 53 is intended to be filled with the second extinguishing agent.

[0052] According to an alternative embodiment, the attachment links 86 are absent between the first and second containers 53, which are free relative to each other, in particular once released.

[0053] A fire extinguishing method according to one embodiment of the invention is designated by the reference 90 in [Fig.7].

[0054] The fire extinguishing method 90 comprises a loading step 92, in which at least one fire extinguishing device, for example the fire extinguishing device 51a, is loaded into the aircraft 37. In the loading step 92, containers 53 are loaded into the aircraft 37 while at least some of these containers 53 are empty or partially empty.

[0055] According to a first possibility: - the loading of the empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out while the rear tailgate of the aircraft 37 is tilted to the ground, - the loading of empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out by means of a rolling machine, which climbs into the aircraft 37 by rolling on the rear tailgate tilted to the ground, - the loading of empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out without using lifting platform required for loading heavy loads.

[0056] According to a second possibility: - the loading of the empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out while the rear tailgate of the aircraft 37 is tilted to the ground, - each container 53 in its folded configuration has a weight and volume that are low enough to allow the empty or partially empty container 53 to be manually loaded into the aircraft by being carried by operators, who board the aircraft 37 by walking on the rear hatch tilted to the ground, - the loading of empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out without using rolling stock, handling equipment or lifting platforms required for loading heavy loads.

[0057] According to a third possibility, the loading of the empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out using a lifting platform.

[0058] In a filling step 94 of the fire extinguishing method 90, several of the containers 53 are filled with the first extinguishing agent while these containers 53 are inside the aircraft 37. In the filling step 94, several other containers 53 are filled with the second extinguishing agent while these other containers 53 are inside the aircraft 37.

[0059] After the aircraft 37 has taken off and headed towards a fire to be fought, an airdrop step 96 is carried out. In the airdrop step 96, at least some of the securing systems identical or equivalent to the securing system 11 are removed, then containers 53 full of the first extinguishing agent and containers 53 full of the second extinguishing agent are dropped. According to a first possibility, the full containers 53 are dropped by being driven by their own weight to the rear exit 41, by means of a pitch-up of the aircraft 37. According to a second possibility, the full containers 53 are driven or pushed towards the rear exit 41 by a drive system or by operators. The airdrop of the full containers 53 takes place during the day or at night.Preferably, the airdropping of the full containers 53 takes place from a high airdrop altitude, at which the aircraft 37 is at least vertically distant from the fire to be fought so that the airdropping of the full containers 53 is carried out with a high level of safety for the crew of the aircraft 37.

[0060] After their airdrop, the full containers 53 fall by gravity. The attachment links 86 prevent the first container 53 full of the first extinguishing agent and the second container 53 full of the second extinguishing agent from moving apart from each other beyond a predetermined distance when these first and second containers 53 are in free fall after having been dropped from the aircraft 37 in the airdrop step 96.

[0061] The containers 53 burst and release their contents when they impact the ground. The bursting of the containers 1 produces a blast which has an extinguishing effect. In addition, the first extinguishing agent and the second extinguishing agent are spread at the base of the flames and / or under the flames, with no or practically no loss, so that they have an extremely effective extinguishing action against the fire.

[0062] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In particular, according to an alternative embodiment, the container 3 or at least one of the containers 53 is already completely full of at least one extinguishing agent when it is loaded into the aircraft 37. In other words, the complete or practically complete filling of the container 3 or at least one of the containers 53 with at least one extinguishing agent is carried out before it is loaded into the aircraft 37. Statement of the invention

[0063] The invention has at least the aim of enabling progress in the fight against fires.

[0064] According to the invention, this aim is achieved by means of a fire extinguishing device by airdropping above a fire, which comprises: - at least one container configured to contain at least one extinguishing agent and to be air-dropped full above the fire, - at least one container support platform, and - at least one system for securing the container to the support platform.

[0065] Thanks to the securing system and the support platform, the container can be stabilized even when full and transported in an aircraft.

[0066] The fire extinguishing device defined above may incorporate one or more other advantageous features, individually or in combination, in particular among those defined below.

[0067] According to an advantageous possibility, the container is deformable by filling with extinguishing agent from a collapsed configuration to an inflated configuration, in which the container tensions the securing system such that the securing system secures the container to the support platform.

[0068] Thus, it is possible to set up the securing system before filling the container. In addition, the tensioning of the securing system results simply from filling the container.

[0069] According to an advantageous possibility, the securing system is arranged or capable of being arranged in a stowed state in which the securing system retains the container in the folded configuration, the securing system being releasable from the stowed state to a primary use state in which the securing system allows deployment of the container from its folded configuration. up to its inflated configuration.

[0070] According to an advantageous possibility, the container is a first container of the fire extinguishing device, which fire extinguishing device comprises at least one second container.

[0071] According to an advantageous possibility, the first container comprises at least one filling inlet giving access to the interior of the first container, the second container comprising at least one filling inlet giving access to the interior of the second container, the fire extinguishing system comprising at least one filling system comprising several outlets each connectable to one of the filling inlets so as to put an interior volume of the filling system into communication with the interior of one of the first and second containers.

[0072] According to an advantageous possibility, the first container contains a first extinguishing agent, the second container containing a second extinguishing agent different from the first extinguishing agent.

[0073] Thus, it is made possible to combine and / or stagger the different and / or complementary extinguishing actions of two different extinguishing agents.

[0074] The invention also relates to a fire extinguishing aircraft, which contains a fire extinguishing device as defined above.

[0075] The invention also relates to a fire extinguishing method, which comprises at least one airdropping step in which, from an aircraft, at least the container of a fire extinguishing device as defined above is dropped onto a fire at the same time as at least one extinguishing agent contained in the container.

[0076] The fire extinguishing method defined above may incorporate one or more other advantageous features, individually or in combination, in particular among those defined below.

[0077] According to an advantageous possibility, the fire extinguishing method comprises at least one filling step in which, with at least a portion of an extinguishing agent, the container located in the aircraft is filled.

[0078] Thus, it is made possible to easily load the container into the aircraft while this container is empty or partially empty.

[0079] According to an advantageous possibility, the first container and the second container are attached to each other by at least one attachment link during the airdropping step in which, from the aircraft, onto the fire, the second container is dropped at the same time as the second extinguishing agent contained by the second container, said at least one attachment link being capable of preventing the first container containing the first extinguishing agent and the second container containing the second extinguishing agent from moving away from each other beyond a predetermined distance. completed after being dropped from the aircraft in the airdrop stage.

[0080] Thus, it is made possible to prevent two containers from moving apart from each other beyond the predetermined distance, during their free fall following their release from the aircraft. Thus, it is made possible to choose the maximum distance which separates the two containers when these two containers impact the ground, burst and each release one of two different extinguishing agents.

[0081] According to an advantageous possibility, at least the first container containing the first extinguishing agent and the second container containing the second extinguishing agent are dropped onto the same fire, during the same airdropping step or during a first iteration of the airdropping step for the first container containing the first extinguishing agent and a second iteration of the airdropping step for the second container containing the second extinguishing agent.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for extinguishing fire by airdropping above a fire, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one container (3, 53) configured to contain at least one extinguishing agent and to be airdropped full above the fire, - at least one platform (5, 55) for supporting the container (3, 53), and - at least one system (11) for securing the container (3, 53) to the support platform (5, 55).

2. A fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, wherein the container (3, 53) is deformable by filling with extinguishing agent from a collapsed configuration to an inflated configuration, wherein the container (3, 53) tensions the securing system (11) such that the securing system (11) secures the container (3, 53) to the support platform (5, 55).

3. A fire extinguishing device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the container is a first container (53) of the fire extinguishing device, which fire extinguishing device comprises at least one second container (53).

4. A fire extinguishing device according to claim 3, wherein the first container (53) comprises at least one filling inlet (67) providing access to the interior of the first container (53), the second container (53) comprising at least one filling inlet (67) providing access to the interior of the second container (53), the fire extinguishing system comprising at least one filling system (74) comprising several outlets (80) each connectable to one of the filling inlets (67) so as to place an interior volume of the filling system (74) in communication with the interior of one of the first and second containers (53).

5. A fire extinguishing device according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the first container (53) contains a first extinguishing agent, the second container (53) containing a second extinguishing agent different from the first extinguishing agent.

6. Fire extinguishing aircraft, characterized in that it contains a fire extinguishing device (1, 51a, 51b) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A method of extinguishing a fire, characterized in that it comprises at least one airdropping step in which, from an aircraft (37), on a fire, at least the container (3, 53) of a fire extinguishing device (1, 51a, 51b) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is released at the same time as at least one extinguishing agent contained by the container (3, 53).

8. A fire extinguishing method according to claim 7, which comprises at least one filling step in which, with at least a portion of an extinguishing agent, the container (3, 53) located in the aircraft (37) is filled.

9. A fire extinguishing method according to one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the fire extinguishing device (51a, 51b) is according to claim 5, the first container (53) and the second container (53) being attached to each other by at least one attachment link (86) during the airdropping step in which, from the aircraft (37), onto the fire, the second container (53) is dropped at the same time as the second extinguishing agent contained by the second container (53), said at least one attachment link (86) being capable of preventing the first container (53) containing the first extinguishing agent and the second container (53) containing the second extinguishing agent from moving apart from each other beyond a predetermined distance after having been dropped from the aircraft (37) in the airdrop stage.

10. A fire extinguishing method according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the fire extinguishing device (51a, 51b) is according to claim 5, and wherein at least the first container (53) containing the first extinguishing agent and the second container (53) containing the second extinguishing agent are dropped onto the same fire, during the same airdropping step or during a first iteration of the airdropping step for the first container (53) containing the first extinguishing agent and a second iteration of the airdropping step for the second container (53) containing the second extinguishing agent.

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