Directional Firefighting Aircraft Fluid Release Device With Segmented Tubes
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-bombing systems in aircraft disperse water excessively in the air during release, limiting their effectiveness in firefighting applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular fluid storage and release system with a reservoir and tubes arranged longitudinally within the aircraft, featuring controlled fluid flow and directional release, allowing focused water delivery to the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional water-bombing systems eject liquid from the aircraft, then water is delivered to the ground, but water is excessively dispersed in the air
Solution Approach 1:
The water delivery system is segmented into multiple vertical tubes arranged in parallel, each tube delivering water independently to the ground. This segmentation allows focused vertical streams rather than dispersed horizontal projection, directly addressing the water dispersion problem while maintaining delivery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the delivery dimension from horizontal ejection (conventional side-looking systems) to vertical downward flow. By orienting tubes vertically and using gravity-assisted downward flow, the system delivers water precisely to the target area below while minimizing lateral dispersion in the air.
2Speed
If the reservoir height is greater than the tube height, then fluid flow velocity increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses gravitational potential energy created by positioning the reservoir above the tube outlets. By exploiting the natural height difference and gravity, the system achieves high flow velocity without requiring additional pumps or complex pressurization systems, thus increasing speed while maintaining simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own structural configuration (reservoir height relative to tube outlets) to generate the necessary flow velocity. The gravitational field serves as a free energy source, and the system self-regulates flow through the height differential without external control mechanisms, simplifying the overall system.
3Measurement precision
If multiple tubes are used for fluid delivery, then water delivery precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vertical tubes are used to deliver water precisely to different areas of the target. Each tube acts as an independent delivery channel, improving precision by allowing targeted distribution across the fire area while keeping individual tube structures simple and identical, which reduces overall system complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tubes are merged into a single integrated system sharing common support structures, mounting mechanisms, and control systems. This merging approach allows precise multi-point delivery while avoiding the complexity of completely separate systems for each tube.
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
The system minimizes water dispersion in the air, ensuring efficient water delivery to the target, enhancing firefighting capabilities while maintaining aircraft balance and operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The height Hr of the reservoir, namely the largest dimension of the reservoir taken in the vertical Z direction, is greater than that Ht (largest dimension taken in the vertical Z direction) of the tube(s) 12
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention aims to improve fluid storage and release systems for use on host aircraft for firefighting purposes, thereby limiting water dispersion into the air. To this end, the fluid release device for an aircraft fluid storage and release system, comprising a fluid reservoir (10) and at least one tube (12), includes a closed tank (46) having at least one opening for a leak-proof connection to said tube(s) (12) for fluid inlet, and at least one opening oriented to allow the fluid to be released in a specific direction different from the longitudinal direction of fluid flow in the tube(s) (12). The present invention also relates to the storage and release system and the host aircraft thus equipped.