Angled Mixing Assembly for Compact Firefighting Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firefighting devices with differential pressure injectors are bulky due to their linear construction, making them unsuitable for downsizing, particularly when designed as mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A mixing assembly for a firefighting device that includes two differential pressure injectors arranged at angled flow axes, allowing for a more compact design by splitting and recombining the pressurized fluid and foaming agent streams in a rectangular arrangement, reducing the axial extension of the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a conventional linear differential pressure injector is used, then the mixing function is achieved, but the device becomes bulky with increased axial extension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the linear axial arrangement of mixing components into a multi-dimensional configuration where fluid streams are split and recombined at angled orientations (approximately 60-120 degrees). This spatial reorganization reduces the axial extension of the device while maintaining effective mixing functionality through rectangular arrangement of the mixing sections.
2Ease of operation
If the device is downsized for mobile application, then mobility is improved, but the mixing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing assembly is divided into multiple mixing sections with separate differential pressure injectors that process fluid streams independently. Each injector accelerates and mixes a portion of the fire extinguishing fluid with foaming agent, and the sections are arranged in a rectangular configuration with angled flow axes. This segmentation allows compact packaging while maintaining overall mixing effectiveness through parallel processing of fluid streams.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a significant reduction in the length of the firefighting device while maintaining effective mixing of fire extinguishing fluid and foaming agent, enhancing mobility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Differential pressure injectors typically comprise a linear pipe with a first pipe section having a decreasing cross sectional area followed by a second pipe section of increasing cross sectional area. When feeding pressurized water through the pipe, the water is accelerated along the first pipe section. As a result, the static pressure in the region of smallest cross sectional area (i.e., in the region between the outlet of the first pipe section and the inlet of the second pipe section) will be lower than the static pressure at the inlet of the first pipe section. The resulting pressure difference leads to a suction effect in the region of smallest cross sectional area.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mixing assembly (116) for a firefighting device (102) is described. The mixing assembly comprises an inlet (118) configured to receive pressurized fire extinguishing fluid from a firefighting device pump (108) along a first flow axis (140). The assembly (116) further comprises a mixing section (124) with a differential pressure injector (146) configured to accelerate the fluid along a second flow axis (152) arranged at a first angle relative to the first flow axis and to inject a foaming agent in the fluid, thereby producing a mixture of the fluid and the foaming agent. An outlet (122) of the mixing assembly is configured to deliver the mixture along a third flow axis (164) that is arranged at a second angle relative to the second flow axis (152). Each of the first angle and the second angle lies approximately between 60 degrees and 120 degrees.