Fire Extinguishing Mortar Shell with Multi-Option Fuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wildfires and brushfires are difficult to extinguish due to their location and limited accessibility, especially in challenging terrains, as traditional methods like aircraft-based fire retardant spraying are slow and allow fires to spread in untreated areas.
Innovation Solution
A fire extinguishing mortar shell with a main body containing a fire retardant compound, a multi-option fuse for precise detonation, and propellant charges to rapidly release the retardant over a large area, equipped with sensors to monitor position, altitude, and terrain, and a fuse selector for customizable detonation settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aircraft and vehicles are used to spray fire retardant, then fire can be extinguished, but the process is slow and allows fire to spread in untreated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The fire retardant delivery system is segmented into multiple independent mortar shells, each capable of autonomous flight and detonation. This allows simultaneous deployment of multiple retardant packets across different fire zones, dramatically increasing coverage speed compared to sequential aircraft spraying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical aircraft spraying system with a projectile-based mortar shell system. The shells are propelled ballistically to the target area and detonate to disperse retardant, eliminating the time constraints of aircraft approach, positioning, and sequential spraying operations.
2Productivity
If mortar shell detonates on target surface, then fire retardant is released quickly, but precise control of detonation timing and location becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse selector is pre-configured with multiple fuse settings before deployment. These pre-set timing mechanisms ensure that the mortar shell detonates at the precise moment and location intended, eliminating the need for complex real-time adjustments during flight while maintaining accurate retardant delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic fuse selection capabilities that allow adjustment of detonation timing based on flight conditions. The multi-option fuse can be selected to provide different time delays, enabling precise control over when the shell detonates relative to its trajectory and target area.
3Measurement precision
If multi-option fuse with sensors is added to main body, then precise targeting and detonation control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-option fuse serves multiple functions: it monitors position, controls detonation timing, and adapts to different fire scenarios. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated fuse assembly rather than separate systems, the patent achieves precise targeting control while managing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse system incorporates selectable parameters through the fuse selector mechanism, allowing different operational modes and time delays to be chosen based on mission requirements. This parameter flexibility enables precise control without requiring multiple different fuse designs, thereby managing complexity.
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 mortar shell quickly extinguishes wildfires and brushfires by precisely targeting and releasing fire retardant compounds, reducing the complexity of managing fires in difficult terrains and effectively containing fires at various administrative levels.
Implementation Method 1
at least one propellant charge disposed on at least a portion of the main body to detonate the main body to release the at least one fire retardant compound
Implementation Method 2
a fire retardant compound disposed within the main body to eliminate a fire in response to contact with the fire
Implementation Method 3
The multi-option fuse may monitor at least one of a position of the main body, an altitude of the main body, a temperature level of a surrounding environment of the main body, and a terrain of the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 4
an ignition unit disposed on at least a portion of the main body to ignite the at least one propellant charge
Implementation Method 5
a plurality of fins disposed on at least a portion of the main body to stabilize movement of the main body during flight
Data Source
AI summary
A fire extinguishing mortar shell, including a main body to store at least one compound therein, a fire retardant compound disposed within the main body to eliminate a fire in response to contact with the fire, a multi-option fuse disposed on at least a portion of the main body to send a detonation signal therefrom in response to detecting the fire and a position of the main body with respect to a target surface where the fire is located, and at least one propellant charge disposed on at least a portion of the main body to detonate the main body to release the at least one fire retardant compound in response to receiving the detonation signal from the multi-option fuse.