Hydraulic Water Drill Lance for Stacked Container Fire Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for extinguishing fires in containers are labor-intensive, dangerous for workers, and inefficient, especially when fires occur in stacked containers at varying heights, due to the need for manual perforation and exposure to heat and smoke.

Innovation Solution

A water drill lance that automatically forms a fire-extinguishing hole in a container door using hydraulic pressure and adjusts its vertical height, comprising a clamp body, lock hook assembly, drill module, and lance support for safe and rapid fire extinguishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a worker manually perforates the container door using a hammer, then the fire can be extinguished by injecting water through the hole, but a lot of time and labor are required and the worker is exposed to fire and explosion risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire extinguishment effectivenessVSAvoidworker safety and operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical hammering process with a hydraulic drill system. The drill module uses hydraulic pressure to rotate a drill bit that automatically perforates the container door, eliminating the need for workers to manually hammer and exposing them to fire hazards. The hydraulic system provides controlled, consistent drilling force while keeping workers at a safe distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drill module is designed to automatically perforate the container door without requiring manual intervention during the drilling process. The hydraulic system self-regulates the drilling operation, and the lance automatically positions itself to inject water through the perforated hole, reducing the need for continuous worker involvement and exposure to danger.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If a worker climbs a ladder to reach high-positioned containers, then the container door can be perforated, but the worker is exposed to various risks including falls and fire exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to reach containers at various heightsVSAvoidworker safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lance is equipped with a height adjustment mechanism that allows it to dynamically adapt to different container heights. The lance support structure can be extended or repositioned vertically, enabling the drill module to reach container doors at various elevations without requiring workers to climb ladders. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains worker safety while providing versatility for different stacking configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If conventional manual methods are used to perforate the container door, then the process can be completed, but it is very difficult and dangerous for the worker to directly inject the lance in situations with enormous heat emission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression capabilityVSAvoidworker safety during water injection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the drill module and lance assembly as an intermediary system between the worker and the fire. The worker operates the hydraulic system from a safe distance, and the automated drill-lance assembly performs the dangerous tasks of perforating the door and injecting water into the hot container interior. This intermediary mechanism protects workers from direct exposure to enormous heat while maintaining effective fire suppression capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple stacked containers are on fire, then all containers need to be addressed, but workers would need to repeatedly mount and climb ladders for each container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling of stacked containersVSAvoidtime for repeated ladder operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The height-adjustable lance can be rapidly repositioned between different container heights without requiring workers to dismount and remount ladders. The hydraulic or mechanical adjustment system allows quick vertical movement of the drill module to match the height of different stacked containers, significantly reducing the time lost to repeated ladder operations while handling multiple containers on fire.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 lance enables safe and rapid fire extinguishment without manual labor, forming holes and spraying water through hydraulic pressure, effectively addressing fires in containers at any height, including stacked configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a drill module 130 provided on the clamp body 110, the drill module 130 being configured to form a hole in the container door by using water injected from outside and to spray water inside the container through the hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4667062A1Water drill lance for extinguishing fire in container
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 TANK TECH CO LTD
  • EP4667062A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667062A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667062A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a water drill lance for extinguishing a fire in a container, which, when a fire occurs in a container, can extinguish the fire by automatically drilling a fire-extinguishing hole through a container door by means of a hydraulic pressure and then spraying water into the container, and can quickly extinguish a fire regardless of the height of containers stacked in multiple layers through vertical height adjustment.