Patent Application
20210146175
The invention relates to the field of fire control, suppression and extinguishment. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a fire suppression device and system for manual use or for use on a fire truck.
Fire suppression systems are used to extinguish fires or prevent the spread of fire. Suppression systems comprise water or a combination of dry chemicals and/or wet agents depending on the origin of the fire. Water has by far been the most commonly used agent for bringing fires under control. The water is delivered to the fire using many systems including, automatic or remotely operated sprinkler systems installed in buildings and a fire hose that is operated by fire safety personal. In the later case, a breach in the wall, door, roof or window barrier needs to be made before the hose is used to direct a water jet in the direction of the fire.
Fire control using a jet of water while convenient requires significant consumption of water most of which is wasted. Further, the excess of water damages and weakens building structure. Personal property is also damaged and in many cases is not replaceable thereby adding to the emotional and financial toll.
Thus there is a recognized need in the art for fire suppression devices that improve the efficiency in suppressing fires while reducing water usage. The present invention fulfills this longstanding need and desire in the art.
The present invention is directed to a fire suppression device. The fire suppression device comprises a pipe with a proximal end and a distal end. In the device diffuser is removably attached to and in fluid communication with the proximal end of the pipe and a first shutoff valve is disposed in fluid communication with the pipe distal to the diffuser. At least one hook is attached to the pipe between the diffuser and the shutoff valve. A Y-connector is formed at the distal end of the pipe comprising an inlet coupled to each arm of the Y-connector and in fluid communication therewith.
The present invention is directed to a related fire suppression device further comprising a second shutoff valve disposed in fluid communication with each inlet coupled to the arm of the Y-connector or with each arm thereof. The present invention is directed to another related fire suppression device further comprising a handle depending from the pipe between the shutoff valve and the Y-connector.
The present invention also is directed to another fire control device. In fluid communication in the device is a diffuser section with a proximal and distal end, a shutoff valve and grip combination with a proximal end disposed at the distal end of the diffuser section and a distal end and a Y-connector with a proximal end disposed at the distal end of the shutoff valve and grip combination and a distal end.
The present invention is directed further to a barrier-penetrating fire suppression system. The barrier-penetrating fire suppression system comprises a penetrator assembly and a boom arm and piston combination mounted to the penetrator assembly and to a vehicle platform boom. The penetrator assembly has an injector head comprising a hollow interior portion with an open proximal front end and an open distal back end disposed transversely therewithin and a penetrator driver motor disposed on the injector head. A hollow striker shaft with an open proximal end and an open distal end is disposed within the hollow interior portion of the injector head and in a mechanical relationship with the penetrator driver motor such that the hollow striker shaft extends from both the open proximal front end and from the open distal back end thereof. A piercing nozzle is in fluid communication with the open proximal end of the hollow striker shaft and removably attachable therefrom. A manifold is in fluid communication with the open distal end of the hollow striker shaft. The boom arm and piston combination is mounted to the injector head at proximal ends thereof and to the vehicle platform boom at distal ends thereof where the arm and piston combination is electrically operable.
Other and further aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are given for the purpose of disclosure.
So that the matter in which the above-recited features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become clear, are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular descriptions of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings form a part of the specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting in their scope.
For convenience, before further description of the present invention, certain terms employed in the specification, examples and appended claims are collected herein. These definitions should be read in light of the remainder of the disclosure and understood as by a person of skill in the art. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification, may refer to “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Some embodiments of the invention may consist of or consist essentially of one or more elements, components, method steps, and/or methods of the invention. It is contemplated that any composition, component or method described herein can be implemented with respect to any other composition, component or method described herein.
The term “or” in the claims refers to “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or”.
As used herein, terms “comprise” and “comprising” are used in the inclusive, open sense, meaning that additional elements may be included.
As used herein, term “including” is used herein to mean “including, but not limited to”. “Including” and “including but not limited to” are used interchangeably.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to a numeric value, including, for example, whole numbers, fractions, and percentages, whether or not explicitly indicated. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numerical values (e.g., +/−5-10% of the recited value) that one of ordinary skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (e.g., having the same function or result). In a non-limiting example, when referring to the dimensions of the components of the fire suppression systems disclosed herein, an inner bore diameter of 34.3 mm or 279.4 mm are considered within the scope of about 38.1 mm and about 254 mm degrees, respectively. Correspondingly, a water pressure and/or gas pressure of 450 psi and 1,100 psi are considered within the scope of about 500 psi to about 1,000 psi.
As used herein, the terms “proximal” and “distal” in reference to the fire suppression systems disclosed herein refer to those components, features, parts and aspects thereof that are nearer or nearest to or farther or farthest from the nozzle, the diffuser nozzle and the piercing nozzle, respectively.
As used herein, the terms “front” and “back” refer to those components, features, parts and aspects thereof that face toward or face away from a barrier, a structure, or a window, etc. when the device or system is in use
As used herein, the term “rigid” refers to the structural characteristic of retaining shape even when not under pressure from water and/or gas flow therethrough, e.g. a hose, fire hose, water inlet line, and gas inlet line.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fire suppression device comprising a pipe with a proximal end and a distal end; a diffuser removably attached to and in fluid communication with the proximal end of the pipe; a first shutoff valve disposed in fluid communication with the pipe distal to the diffuser; at least one hook attached to the pipe between the diffuser and the shutoff valve; and a Y-connector formed at the distal end of the pipe comprising an inlet coupled to each arm of the Y-connector and in fluid communication therewith.
Further to this embodiment, the fire control device may comprise a second shutoff valve disposed in fluid communication with each inlet coupled to the arm of the Y-connector or with each arm thereof. In another further embodiment, the fire control device may comprise a handle depending from the pipe between the shutoff valve and the Y-connector. In addition, each inlet may have an inner bore with a diameter equal to the diameter of the inner bore of the pipe. Furthermore, one inlet may be a water inlet and the other inlet may be an air inlet. Further still, the device may be constructed from a material that withstands a pressure of about 500 psi to about 1,000 psi.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fire control device comprising in fluid communication a diffuser section with a proximal and distal end; a shutoff valve and grip combination with a proximal end disposed at the distal end of the diffuser section and a distal end; and a Y-connector with a proximal end disposed at the distal end of the shutoff valve and grip combination and a distal end.
In this embodiment, the diffuser section may comprise a cylindrical pipe comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a diffuser nozzle removably attached to and in fluid communication with the proximal end of the cylindrical pipe; and a plurality of hooks attached circumferentially to the cylindrical pipe. Further to this embodiment the fire control device may comprise a plurality protective strips disposed along the cylindrical pipe between the plurality of hooks and the shutoff valve and grip combination. In another further embodiment, the diffuser nozzle may comprise a venturi disposed therein. In all embodiments the cylindrical pipe may have an inner bore with a diameter of about 38.1 mm to about 254 mm.
Also in this embodiment, the Y-connector may comprise a coupler attached to proximal end thereof and a coupler attached to the distal end of each arm of the Y-connector; an inlet with a coupler attached to a proximal end thereof removably coupled with the coupler at the distal end of each arm of the Y-connector and in fluid communication therewith; and a second shutoff valve disposed on each arm of the Y-connector and in fluid communication therewith.
In one aspect of this embodiment, the diffuser section further comprises a coupler attached at the distal end thereof and the shutoff valve and grip combination comprises a first shutoff valve disposed in fluid communication between the diffuser section and the Y-connector and a coupler attached at the proximal end thereof and a coupler attached at the distal end thereof, said shutoff valve and grip combination coupled with the coupler at the distal end of the diffuser section and at the proximal end of the Y-connector.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the shutoff valve and grip combination comprises a first shutoff valve disposed in fluid communication between the diffuser section and the Y-connector and a coupler attached at the distal end thereof, where the shutoff valve and grip combination is in direct fluid contact with the distal end of the diffuser section and is coupled with the coupler at the proximal end of the Y-connector.
In this embodiment and aspects thereof, each inlet may have an inner bore with a diameter equal to the diameter of the inner bore of the pipe. Also in this embodiment and aspects thereof, one inlet may be a water inlet and the other inlet may be an air inlet.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a barrier-penetrating fire suppression system comprising a penetrator assembly comprising an injector head comprising a hollow interior portion with an open proximal front end and an open distal back end disposed transversely therewithin; a penetrator driver motor disposed on the injector head; a hollow striker shaft with an open proximal end and an open distal end disposed within the hollow interior portion of the injector head and in a mechanical relationship with the penetrator driver motor, said hollow striker shaft extending from both the open proximal front end and from the open distal back end thereof; a piercing nozzle in fluid connection with the open proximal end of the hollow striker shaft and removably attachable therefrom; and a manifold in fluid communication with the open distal end of the hollow striker shaft; and a boom arm and piston combination removably mounted to the injector head at proximal ends thereof and attached to a vehicle platform boom at distal ends thereof where the boom arm and piston combination are electrically operable. In this embodiment, penetrator assembly is constructed from a material that withstands a pressure of about 500 psi to about 1,000 psi.
In this embodiment, the hollow striker shaft may comprise a gear drive disposed therein and coupled with the penetrator driver motor; a linear gear track interiorly disposed along the hollow striker shaft and engaged with the gear drive; and a hollow delivery line disposed therewithin with a proximal end in fluid communication with the piercing nozzle and a distal end in fluid communication with the manifold. Particularly, the hollow delivery line may have an inner bore diameter of about 38.1 mm to about 254 mm.
Related to this embodiment. the piercing nozzle may comprise a proximal end adapted to pierce a barrier; and a plurality of nozzle ports disposed circumferentially thereon in fluid communication with the hollow delivery line. In this embodiment the barrier may be a wall, a roof or a window. In a further related embodiment the manifold may comprise a pair of feed lines each with a proximal end in fluid communication therewith and each removably attachable thereto. In this further related embodiment. one of the pair of feed lines may be a water feed line and the other of the pair of feed lines may be an air feed line.
Provided herein are fire control devices and fire suppression devices for delivery of fire retardants or suppressors, for example, fluids such as water and a fire retardant gas. Generally, these devices comprise in fluid communication a central portion or section, for example, a pipe, with a diffuser or diffuser section attached at or coupled to a proximal end and a Y-connector formed from or coupled to the distal end. A pair of inlets is removably coupled with or removably connected to the arms of the Y-connector in fluid communication, that is, one inlet of the pair coupled to one arm and the other inlet coupled to the other arm. The components of any devices described herein are made of a material or combination of materials adapted to sustain a pressure from about 500 psi to about 1,000 psi as are known in the art. Means for coupling the components may be any couplers known and standard in the art mechanically or structurally effective to withstand these pressures.
The central portion or section has at least one hook attached thereon distal to the diffuser nozzle. A single hook may be attached to and depend from the exterior bottom surface of the central portion or central section. Alternatively, one or two pairs of hooks are circumferentially disposed on the exterior surface such that one hook or two hooks extend upwardly from the top surface and the other one or two hooks depend downwardly. All hooks disposed on the device have an equal length of about 2 in. to about 10 in. and are braced against an interior surface of a barrier through an opening therethrough, for example, a window, or through a breach in a door, a roof, or a wall or other area of a structure to support and stabilize the device when in use.
The central portion or section serves as the common conduit for delivery of the fire retardants or fire suppressors from the inlet pipes to the diffuser nozzle, which is directed in the direction of the fire. The central portion or section, for example, a pipe, may have a length from about 12″ to about 36″ and an inner core diameter from about 38.1 mm to about 254 mm. The fire retardants or fire suppressors may be retardant fluids, for example, water and a gas, for example, ambient air or ambient air supplemented with a gas including, but not limited to, nitrogen, argon, helium, or carbon dioxide.
The central portion or section comprises a shutoff valve and a handle or a grip individually disposed thereon or comprises a shutoff valve and grip combination, as is known in the art, coupled to the central section. Alternatively, in addition to the central or first shutoff valve, the Y-connector comprises a pair of second shutoff valves in fluid communication therewith, that is, one shutoff valve in the pair in fluid communication with one arm of the Y-connector and the other shutoff valve in fluid communication with the other arm. As is known in the art each shutoff valve is adapted to independently cease or to independently control the rate of flow of the fire retardants through the device thereby enabling a user to vary the proportion of fluids and/or gases per cubic volume of the central portion or central section and/or in the Y-connector.
Particularly, the inlets are made of a flexible material or a rigid material as is known in the art depending upon the fire retardant carried in each. The flexible or rigid material may be chemically resistant to the fire retardants. The inlets may be interiorly coated with a liner resistant to, but not limited to, chemicals, temperature, mold, mildew, and abrasion. The inlets may have any suitable length that gives a user access to the fire, for example, but not limited to, about 50 feet to about 200 feet. The fire retardants may be delivered to the inlets by any means standard in the art. Water may be delivered via a city water supply, such as a fire hydrant, or siphoned from a body of water near to the fire, such as a reservoir, a lake, a river, or ocean. The fire retardant gas, for example, air or air mixture, may be delivered using a compressor, a pressurized container or any other suitable means well known in the art and available commercially. One inlet may fluidly deliver water or both inlets may fluidly deliver water and a gas fire retardant to the Y-connector which fluidly delivers the fire retardant(s) to the central portion or central section of the device and subsequently to the diffuser nozzle for use against a fire.
The diffuser may comprise a diffuser nozzle or a diffuser nozzle and venturi combination. The venturi may be disposed within the diffuser nozzle or disposed immediately distal to the diffuser nozzle in fluid communication with the central portion or section. A plurality of orifices on the proximal end of the diffuser nozzle diffuse the fire retardants introduced via the inlets and propelled under pressure through the Y-connector and central portion or central section to the diffuser. A spray or mist is produced. The diffuser nozzle may be adjustable as to the characteristics of the spray or mist delivered to the fire. The diffuser nozzle may have an overall length of about 3 in. to about 10 inch and an inner bore diameter of about 38.1 mm to about 254 mm. The diffuser nozzle and venturi are well-known in the art and commercially available.
Also provided herein is a barrier-penetrating fire suppression system adapted to breach a barrier and to deliver the fire retardants or fire suppressors as described herein to extinguish a fire behind the barrier. The system is adapted to be utilized with any vehicle platform boom used by a fire department to breach a barrier at an elevated location. The barrier is any barrier that must be breached or broken to enable access to the fire in an interior space. The barrier may be, but is not limited to a roof, a wall and a window. Generally, fire suppression system comprises a penetrator assembly removably mounted to or removably attached to a boom arm and piston combination attached to the vehicle platform boom. The penetrator assembly may have an overall length of about 48 inches to about 72 inches. As described herein, the components of the fire suppression system are made of a material or combination of materials adapted to sustain a pressure from about 500 psi to about 1,000 psi as are known in the art.
The penetrator assembly has an injector head or penetrator injector head comprising a driver motor or penetrator driver motor and a hollow striker shaft disposed within the interior of the injector head and through the injector head to extend from the front and back thereof. A hollow delivery line is disposed within the hollow striker shaft. The hollow striker comprises a piercing nozzle removably attached at its proximal end and a manifold at its distal end such that the hollow delivery line is in fluid communication with both the piercing nozzle and the manifold. The manifold comprises two inlets distal to the distal end of the hollow striker shaft to which are removably attached to a pair of feed lines that supply the water and fire retardant gas to the manifold. Supply to the manifold via the feed lines is as described herein for the fire control device and fire suppression device.
The piercing nozzle facilitates breaching the barrier by one or more impacts thereon and is made of any material suitable to withstand the impacts on the barrier. The piercing nozzle comprises a tip at the proximal end for breaching and a plurality of nozzle ports or orifices circumferentially disposed distal to the proximal end. The nozzle ports are in fluid communication with the proximal end of the hollow delivery line.
The hollow striker shaft contains a gear drive mechanically coupled to the injector head and a linear gear track engaged with the gear drive. The injector head comprising the penetrator driver motor may be operated/actuated by hydraulic or electrical means to engage the gear drive to move the linear gear track in a reciprocal or forward and backward motion. This results in the forward movement of the hollow striker shaft with sufficient force that enables the piercing nozzle to breach the barrier to extinguish the fire and to move the hollow striker shaft backward to withdraw the piercing nozzle back through the breach after the fire is extinguished.
The boom arm and piston combination is removably mounted or removably attached to the bottom of the penetrator injector head via means standard in the art thereby securing the penetrator assembly to the vehicle platform boom. The boom arm and piston combination is electrically operated such that the movement of the piston enables the penetrator assembly to be moved freely in an upward or downward direction to orient the hollow piercing nozzle perpendicularly to the barrier. The boom arm and the piston are each made of materials suitable to support the penetrator assembly and suitable to withstand the pressure used to propel the fire retardants through the components thereof.
Particularly, embodiments of the present invention are better illustrated with reference to the Figure(s), however, such reference is not meant to limit the present invention in any fashion. The embodiments and variations described in detail herein are to be interpreted by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
The injector head 21 has a mount 21a at the base thereof onto which a combination of an arm 28 and a piston 30 are mounted at 29b and at 29a, respectively. The arm is part of a vehicle boom platform. The piston enables a user to move the penetrator assembly in an upward or downward direction using electrical controls 31 for orientation of the piercing nozzle perpendicular to the barrier.
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
