FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE, AIRCRAFT AND METHOD

Abstract

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE, AIRCRAFT AND METHOD The fire extinguishing device for 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 securing the container (3) to the support platform (5). Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE, AIRCRAFT AND METHOD 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, by means of 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 includes a tank that 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 constitutes a first limitation. A water bomber aircraft operates during the day so that it can be at a low altitude, for example, only a few tens of meters above the ground, when it opens its tank over the fire to be fought. Even when it takes place during the day, fighting a fire with a water bomber aircraft is often dangerous for the crew of the water bomber aircraft and for the water bomber aircraft itself. For example, a water bomber aircraft may sometimes make a drop at a speed of around 150 km / h, between 30 m and 50 m above the ground, in strong winds and amidst thermal eddies, near a hillside or in a narrow valley, and sometimes in the presence of high-voltage power lines.

[0005] Much of the water dropped from the tank of a water bomber aircraft disperses during its descent and then becomes mist as it approaches the fire. The mist and the water vaporized by the heat of the fire do not reach the ground or the base of the flames and have virtually no extinguishing effect. Therefore, a water drop from the tank of a water bomber aircraft is of limited effectiveness in fighting a fire. It sometimes happens that, for safety reasons, the water is dropped from such a high altitude that its effectiveness in fighting the fire is extremely low, or even nonexistent.

[0006] In document DE 199 61 215 A1, it is proposed to fill plastic bags with water or another extinguishing agent, then drop these full plastic bags from an aircraft to fight a fire. The plastic bags burst and release Their contents are affected when they impact the ground. In an aircraft in flight, plastic bags filled with water are very unstable. In an aircraft in flight, plastic bags filled with water become even more unstable when they deform under the weight of the water they contain. The instability of plastic bags filled with water is detrimental to the stability of the aircraft itself, to the point that the solution proposed in document DE 199 61 215 A1 is considered impractical because it is too dangerous.

[0007] US patent application 2001 / 0025712 Al and FR patent application 3 060 400 Al 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 suppression device for air-dropping over a fire, comprising at least one container configured to hold at least one extinguishing agent and to be air-dropped full over 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 features will become clearer from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and shown in the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0010] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a fire extinguishing device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0011] [Fig.2] is a perspective view which represents the same fire extinguishing device as [Fig.1] but in a different configuration,

[0012] [Fig.3] is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a filling inlet forming part of 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 drawing 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 drawing 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 process according to an embodiment of the invention. Description of the implementation methods

[0017] In [Fig. 1], a fire extinguishing device 1 is shown according to a first embodiment of the invention. It is a fire extinguishing device by air-dropping over a fire.

[0018] In what follows and in the attached claims, the expression "fire extinguishing" should be understood as meaning "partial or total extinguishing of a fire", that is to say "extinguishing or weakening of a fire", insofar as an action aimed at extinguishing a fire may, by itself, only achieve a partial extinguishing of the fire and the complete extinguishing 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 over the fire. The container 3 includes a sealed and flexible membrane, which is particularly watertight. In one embodiment, the sealed and flexible membrane of the container 3 is made of a polymer, possibly reinforced. In another embodiment, the container 3 includes 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] In 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. In 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 includes several positioning guides 7 for one or more flexible fastening links 9, preferably flexible, which are part of a system 11 for fastening the container 3 to the support platform 5. In the first embodiment shown in [Fig.1], the positioning guides 7 are through holes drilled in the support platform 5. In the first embodiment shown in [Fig.1], the fastening system 11 includes several flexible fastening links 9, which are straps.

[0023] The flexible bonding link or links 9 passes through one or more positioning guides 7, which position one or more segments of it relative to the support platform 5.

[0024] The container 3 is deformable. In [Fig. 1], the container 3 is folded, while the fastening system 11 is in a folded state in which it holds the container 3 in the folded configuration. In [Fig. 1], a length of each flexible fastening 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], container 3 is inflated by an extinguishing agent and is unfolded.

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

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

[0029] The container 3 includes a filling inlet 17 and a removable cap (not shown), capable of sealing the filling inlet 17 in a leak-proof manner. This removable cap can be removed and replaced by a fitting 19.

[0030] The filling inlet 17 is shown alone in [Fig.3]. The filling inlet 17 has a neck 21 whose inner surface has a threaded hole 23.

[0031] A non-return valve 25 carried by the neck 21 is mounted to pivot and returned by an elastic return member 27 to a position of 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 pushing force on the non-return valve 25. When this pushing force is greater than the force that atmospheric pressure or an extinguishing agent in the fitting 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 fitting 19 is shown alone in [Fig. 4]. The fitting 19 has a base 29 for connecting 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 tapped hole 23.

[0033] According to one possibility, the container 3 includes at least one safety valve (not shown) configured to allow 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 filling phase of the container with extinguishing agent and to close itself once reached by the extinguishing agent. The safety valve(s) prevent the containers from bursting in the event of a large overpressure between the inside of container 3 and the outside during flight or during the filling phase.

[0034] The extinguishing agent used is a liquid, a gel, a foam, a powder and / or a granular material such as sand. For example, the extinguishing agent includes 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, gel, foam, or powder. If the extinguishing agent is a granular material or a powder, the container 3 has a different opening, for example, one with edges fitted with a zipper.

[0036] In [Fig. 5], reference numeral 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 includes 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 providing 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 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 what follows, only the fire extinguishing device 51a is described among the fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b, which are identical or similar. In what follows, only the features of the fire extinguishing device 51a that distinguish it from the fire extinguishing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention are described. Furthermore, any reference numeral hereinafter designating a part of the fire extinguishing device 51a that is identical or equivalent to a referenced part of the fire extinguishing device 1 is constructed by increasing by fifty the reference numeral identifying that part on the fire extinguishing device 1. Moreover, when 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 numeral.

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

[0041] The support platform 55 includes the two ramps 72, which are guide ramps for 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 comprise a succession of conduit segments 76 connected to each other by fittings 78. At least part of the filling conduit 74 is a flexible hose.

[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 fitting 19.

[0044] One terminal end of the filling conduit 74 is closed by a plug 82. One inlet end of the filling conduit 74 is connected to a supply (not shown) such as a pressurized water supply, via a valve 84. According to one embodiment, 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 empty or partially empty. According to one possibility, the containers 53 contain a chemical such as a retardant, but are not 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 being filled, the containers 53 are inflated until a restraining system not shown and identical or similar to restraining system 11 is under tension. Each restraining system thus put under tension restrains a container 53 to the support platform 55.

[0047] Figure 6 shows the same rear portion of aircraft 37 as Figure 5. In Figure 6, the fuselage 35 contains the two fire extinguishing devices 51a and 51b in the storage room 38. In Figure 6, the filling system for 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 pressurized water supply (not shown) 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. In one possibility, 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 lines 74, the containers 53 are filled with water or another extinguishing agent while they are in the aircraft 37. During filling, the containers 53 are inflated until a restraining system (not shown) identical or similar to restraining system 11 is under tension. Each restraining system thus under tension secures a container 53 to the support platform 55.

[0050] According to a second embodiment, 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 embodiment, 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 option, the first extinguishing agent has a fire extinguishing action that is different from and / or complementary to the fire extinguishing action of the second extinguishing agent.

[0051] In [Fig. 6], two fastening 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 containing 53, which are free from each other, particularly once released.

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

[0054] The fire extinguishing method 90 includes 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 down to the ground, - the loading of empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out using a rolling device, which enters the aircraft 37 by rolling on the tilted rear tailgate until it reaches the ground, - The loading of empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out without using lifting platform needed 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 down 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 tailgate which has been tilted down to the ground, - the loading of empty or partially empty containers 53 is carried out without the use of rolling stock, handling equipment, or lifting platform necessary 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 process 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 is heading towards a fire to be fought, an airdrop step 96 is carried out. In the airdrop step 96, at least some of the restraint systems identical or equivalent to restraint system 11 are removed, and then full containers 53 of the first extinguishing agent and full containers 53 of the second extinguishing agent are dropped. According to one possibility, the full containers 53 are dropped by being driven by their own weight to the rear exit 41, by means of a nose-up attitude 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 airdrop of the full containers 53 takes place from a significant drop altitude, at which the aircraft 37 is at least vertically away from the fire to be fought so that the airdrop 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 filled containers 53 fall by gravity. The tethering links 86 prevent the first container 53 filled with the first extinguishing agent and the second container 53 filled with the second extinguishing agent from moving apart beyond a predetermined distance when these first and second containers 53 are in free fall after being dropped from the aircraft 37 in the airdrop step 96.

[0061] The containers 53 burst and release their contents upon impact with the ground. The bursting of the containers 1 produces a blast that has an extinguishing effect. Furthermore, the first and second extinguishing agents are dispersed at the base and / or below the flames, with little or no loss, resulting in extremely effective fire suppression.

[0062] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In particular, according to one embodiment, the container 3 or at least one of the containers 53 is already completely filled with at least one extinguishing agent when it is loaded into the aircraft 37. In other words, the container 3 or at least one of the containers 53 is completely or almost completely filled with at least one extinguishing agent before being loaded into the aircraft 37. Description 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 objective is achieved by means of a fire extinguishing device that uses an air-drop system over a fire, which comprises: - at least one container configured to hold at least one extinguishing agent and to be air-dropped full over the fire, - at least one container support platform, and - at least one system for attaching the container to the support platform.

[0065] Thanks to the fastening 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, alone 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 folded configuration to an inflated configuration, in which the container puts tension on the fastening system so that the fastening system fastens the container to the support platform.

[0068] Thus, it is possible to put in place the fastening system before the container is filled. Moreover, the tensioning of the fastening system results simply from the filling of the container.

[0069] According to an advantageous possibility, the fastening system is arranged or can be arranged in a stored state in which the fastening system retains the container in the folded configuration, the fastening system being releaseable from the stored state to a primary operating state in which the fastening 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 a second container.

[0071] According to an advantageous possibility, the first container includes at least one filling inlet giving access to the interior of the first container, the second container includes at least one filling inlet giving access to the interior of the second container, the fire extinguishing system includes at least one filling system comprising several outlets each connectable to one of the filling inlets so as to connect an interior volume of the filling system 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 contains 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 includes at least one airdrop step in which, from an aircraft, on a fire, at least the container of a fire extinguishing device as defined above is dropped at the same time as at least one extinguishing agent contained in the container.

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

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

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

[0079] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first container and the second container are attached to each other by at least one tether during the airdrop step in which, from the aircraft, on the fire, the second container is dropped simultaneously with the second extinguishing agent contained in the second container, said at least one tether being capable of preventing the first container containing the first extinguishing agent and the second container containing the second extinguishing agent from moving apart beyond a predetermined distance. completed after being dropped from the aircraft in the airdrop stage.

[0080] Thus, it is possible to prevent two containers from moving apart beyond a predetermined distance during their free fall following their release from the aircraft. It is therefore possible to choose the maximum distance separating the two containers when they 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 on the same fire, during the same airdrop step or during a first iteration of the airdrop step for the first container containing the first extinguishing agent and a second iteration of the airdrop step for the second container containing the second extinguishing agent.

Claims

Demands

1. Fire extinguishing device by air drop over a fire, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one container (3, 53) configured to contain at least one extinguishing agent and to be air dropped full over the fire, - at least one platform (5, 55) for supporting the container (3, 53), and - at least one system (11) for attaching the container (3, 53) to the support platform (5, 55).

2. Fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, wherein the container (3, 53) is deformable by filling with extinguishing agent from a folded configuration to an inflated configuration, wherein the container (3, 53) puts tension on the fastening system (11) so that the fastening system (11) fastens the container (3, 53) to the support platform (5, 55).

3. Fire extinguishing device according to any 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 a second container (53).

4. Fire extinguishing device according to claim 3, wherein the first container (53) comprises at least one filling inlet (67) giving access to the interior of the first container (53), the second container (53) comprising at least one filling inlet (67) giving 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 connect an interior volume of the filling system (74) with the interior of one of the first and second containers (53).

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

7. A fire extinguishing method, characterized in that it comprises at least one airdrop step in which, from an aircraft (37), on in 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 dropped at the same time as at least one extinguishing agent contained by the container (3, 53).

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

9. A fire extinguishing method according to any 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 tether (86) during the airdrop step in which, from the aircraft (37) onto the fire, the second container (53) is dropped simultaneously with the second extinguishing agent contained in the second container (53), said at least one tether (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 being dropped from the aircraft (37) in the step airdrop.

10. A fire extinguishing method according to any 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 on the same fire, during the same airdrop step or during a first iteration of the airdrop step for the first container (53) containing the first extinguishing agent and a second iteration of the airdrop step for the second container (53) containing the second extinguishing agent.

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