AERIAL FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

摘要

A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.

主权项

1. A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a helicopter, comprising:
a tank assembly comprising
(a) a foam tank for housing a foam and configured for attachment to the helicopter,(b) a water tank located downstream of the foam tank for housing water and configured for attachment to the helicopter, wherein the water tank is configured to receive a foam from the foam tank that when mixed with water in the water tank forms a liquid fire retardant in the water tank, and(c) a tank assembly housing that encases the foam tank and the water tank; a centrifugal pump with a radial outflow impeller mountable to the helicopter and driven by an electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve with an electrically variable valve opening connected to a suction end of the pump, wherein air and the fire retardant are drawn into the suction end and pressurized by the pump; and a cannon assembly including an aimable boom mountable to the helicopter and connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.