Pressure assisted aerial retardant delivery system

摘要

An aerial retardant delivery system comprising a retardant tank mountable in the fuselage of an aircraft. The tank includes a pressure opening in fluid communication with the fuselage such that pressure in the fuselage may act on retardant contained in the tank. The tank includes an outlet extending through a sidewall of the aircraft's fuselage, through which retardant may be delivered to a target. The system also includes a discharge gate operative to open and close the outlet. An actuation mechanism is disposed on the exterior of the tank and operatively coupled to the at least one discharge gate. A variable flow controller controls the discharge gate open position in order to provide retardant over a desired area of terrain. A one-way flapper is disposed in the pressure opening and is operative to allow pressure in the fuselage to enter the tank while inhibiting retardant from spilling from the tank.

主权项

1. An aerial fire retardant delivery system, the system comprising in combination:
A. an aircraft having a fuselage with (i) a fuselage exterior about an fuselage interior and (ii) a fuselage interior pressurization system; B. a fire retardant tank having a retardant tank exterior surrounding a retardant tank interior, the fire retardant tank being located within the fuselage of the aircraft and including:
a fuselage air pressure delivery passage penetrating the retardant tank exterior and the retardant tank interior in fuselage air pressure communication with (i) the fuselage interior and (ii) the retardant tank interior; andat least one fire retardant delivery outlet extending through a sidewall of the fuselage; and C. at least one fire retardant discharge gate system in communication with the aerial retardant delivery outlet, whereby fuselage air pressure within the fuselage interior provided by the fuselage interior pressurization system can pressurize the retardant tank interior.