Mobile Water Container Layout for Helicopter Bucket Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for aerial firefighting using helicopters are inefficient and costly when a suitable water source is far from the fire, as they require significant flying time and portable reservoirs like dip tanks are prone to dislocation by helicopter rotor downwash, causing delays and disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The use of mobile containers, such as shipping containers, retrofitted with ports and bucket guides, mounted on trailers, which are filled with water via a mass water transfer system, allowing helicopters to fill buckets efficiently and safely without the need for extensive flying, and incorporating automatic water level sensing and safety features to prevent interference during filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If helicopters are used to transport buckets to distant water sources for filling, then firefighting coverage is extended, but operation time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Water is pre-staged in mobile containers at locations near the firefighting operations before the helicopter arrives. This preliminary positioning of water eliminates the need for the helicopter to travel to distant water sources, directly reducing operation time while maintaining extended firefighting coverage.
2Quantity of substance
If portable reservoirs (dip tanks) are used for water storage near the fire, then water availability is improved, but they are dislocated by helicopter rotor downwash causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile container uses a streamlined, curved bottom surface that directs helicopter rotor downwash away from the container body. This aerodynamic shaping reduces the dislocating force of the downwash, maintaining the container's position stability and water availability during helicopter filling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates visual indicators (such as colored markings or illuminated elements) that change or become visible to indicate the water level and container status. This allows the helicopter pilot to accurately assess the container state without hovering closely, preventing dislocation while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Productivity
If the bucket opening is made large to facilitate filling, then filling speed is improved, but the bucket may move into restricted interior areas of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The container features localized structural elements such as front and back barriers positioned strategically within the interior. These barriers create specific zones that guide the bucket's movement, allowing a large opening for fast filling while preventing the bucket from entering restricted areas, thus maintaining both filling speed and positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates guide structures or intermediary elements that mediate between the large opening and the bucket. These intermediaries direct the bucket's path during insertion, enabling rapid filling through the large opening while ensuring the bucket remains in the correct position and does not enter restricted interior zones.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile firefighting installation for firefighting helicopter bucket filling operations is provided. The installation includes a container with a vessel having an upper opening extending across a portion of the upper surface and one or more conduits extending from a water source. The conduits are configured to transfer water to the one or more containers via a port in the container or, in the absence of the ports, via the open or openable tops. Also provided is a container configured for use in firefighting helicopter bucket filling operations. The container includes a vessel having a flat upper surface and an upper opening extending across a majority portion of the upper surface.