Helicopter Wildfire Suppression System with Retractable Hose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wildfire suppression systems face challenges such as frequent refilling needs, inaccurate dispersal of suppressants due to turbulence and wind forces, and high training costs due to sensitive helicopter operations.
Innovation Solution
The aerial firefighting suppression (AFS) system includes a suppressant assembly with a retractable hose and nozzle array unit, allowing for a staggered release of fire suppressant mix, improved maneuverability, and controlled discharge, which enhances the effectiveness of wildfire suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If helicopters maintain high speeds to maneuver with suppression systems, then maneuverability is improved, but turbulence is increased resulting in reduced water density and greater sensitivity to wind forces
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts helicopter speed based on operational phase: higher speeds for approach and positioning, reduced speeds during suppressant discharge. The variable speed operation allows the helicopter to optimize between maneuverability requirements and suppressant dispersal accuracy, reducing turbulence during the critical discharge phase while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the speed parameter during different operational phases. By reducing helicopter speed during suppressant discharge, the system minimizes turbulence and wind sensitivity, thereby improving dispersal accuracy. This parameter change allows the system to resolve the contradiction between maintaining high speed for maneuverability and reducing speed for accuracy.
2Productivity
If buckets are used for suppressant release, then suppressant delivery is improved, but refilling frequency increases reducing time spent actively combating fire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the refilling operation from the active fire suppression mission by using a separate support helicopter dedicated to refilling. This allows the primary suppression helicopter to continuously discharge suppressant without interruption, while the support helicopter handles refilling operations separately, eliminating the loss of time during refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The support helicopter performs preliminary refilling actions before the primary helicopter needs to refill during suppression operations. By pre-positioning and refilling the suppressant tank in advance, the system ensures continuous suppressant supply without interrupting the active fire combat mission.
3Loss of time
If suppressant is released at high speed, then response time is improved, but training sensitivity increases due to helicopter type, size, bucket size, terrain, and day/night variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universal operation across different helicopter types, sizes, and environmental conditions by using standardized suppressant discharge procedures and equipment. The multi-functionality approach allows the same suppression system to operate effectively on various helicopter platforms (from small BELL 202 to large CHINOOK) without requiring extensive type-specific training, thereby reducing training complexity while maintaining rapid response capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for fighting fires from a helicopter. The system has a wetting agent tank to hold a wetting agent, a suppressant mix tank to hold a fire suppressant mix including water and the wetting agent, and pumps. The system has a fire hose containment system including a retractable hose to deliver the fire suppressant mix from the suppressant mix tank through a suppressant mix hose to the hose containment system and out through the retractable hose. The hose containment system has a hose drum around which the retractable hose is stored, and a motor to extend and retract the retractable hose. Coupled to the distal end of the retractable hose is a nozzle array unit configured to direct the fire suppressant mix to a fire through nozzles included in a nozzle array housing of the nozzle array unit.