Abstract:
An apparatus for fighting fires comprises a rail carriage, a base mounted upon the rail carriage and an enclosure mounted upon the base. The enclosure includes a top wall having an aperture defined therein. At least one vertically extendible lift is mounted within the enclosure and carries a liquid discharging device. A pressurizer and connecting conduits deliver liquid from a liquid source to the liquid discharging device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to fire-fighting equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rail-based apparatus for fighting fires in remote areas. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Forest fires frequently occur in remote forested areas which are often relatively inaccessible by roads. Accordingly, firefighters and equipment are often flown into these remote areas by helicopter or the firefighters must hike through heavily overgrown terrain to reach the remote areas. 
     Water and chemical retardants are the most common fire fighting “tools.” Unfortunately, in remote forested areas, frequently the only source of water and chemical retardants is by aircraft, either planes or helicopters. In the midst of forest fires, such flights are quite dangerous and expensive. 
     An alternative means for accessing the remote areas is to use rail lines which have been built to reach through heavily forested areas, either to be used in logging activities or to achieve the most direct routes. There are many miles of rail extending through heavily forested areas and usable to reach forest fires. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for transporting firefighters, water and equipment into remote, forested areas by rail. In addition, the present invention provides equipment for applying water and/or chemical retardants to extended areas adjacent to rail lines. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with the present invention, a rail car includes a base upon which is mounted an enclosure having side walls and a top wall. Connectors are provided at each end of the rail car for connecting the rail car directly or indirectly to an engine and a tanker car. An entry door is provided in at least one of the side walls. A door is provided in the top wall of the enclosure. 
     Within the enclosure a platform is mounted upon a lift below the door in the top wall. The platform carries a rotatable water-cannon, which is connected by a hose to a pump, which is serially connected by a hose to a source of water, such as a tank car or a body of water. Also contained within the enclosure are an electrical generator and a safe room. 
     When the door in the top wall is opened, the platform is vertically extendible upwardly through the top wall to allow a firefighter to apply water or liquid chemical retardant over an extended area around the rail car, even as the car is moving through a forested area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is cutaway elevation view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, in which similarly numbered parts refer to similar parts in the various drawings, a firefighting rail car  10  is disclosed. The rail car  10  includes a base  12  mounted upon a carriage with wheels  14  and connectors  16  at each end of the carriage. An enclosure  18  is mounted upon the base  12 . The enclosure  18  is defined by a plurality of side walls  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  and  20   d  and a top wall  22 . An access door  24  is provided in the side wall  20   a  to provide egress to the interior of the enclosure  18  and protection from the elements when it is closed. Two sliding doors  26   a  and  26   b  are mounted in the top wall  22 . The side walls  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  and  20   d  and the top wall  22  are constructed of non-flammable materials, such as steel, and are internally insulated to provide resistance to extreme temperatures within the enclosure  18 . 
     Within the enclosure  18 , two platforms  28   a  and  28   b  are mounted upon vertically extendible lifts  30   a  and  30   b , respectively, for elevating the platforms  28   a  and  28   b  above the top wall  22  when the doors  26   a  and  26   b  are open. In the depicted embodiment, the lifts  30   a  and  30   b  comprise scissor lifts, but it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that alternative lift mechanisms may be provided. 
     On each of the platforms  28   a  and  28   b , only one of which will be described in detail, a rotatable water-cannon  32  is mounted to discharge liquid. The water-cannon  32  includes a handle  34  for effecting rotation of the water-cannon  32  and vales to control liquid flow through the water-cannon. A protective rail  36  surrounds the water-cannon  32  to provide additional support for an operator of the water-cannon  32 . 
     The water-cannon  32  is supplied with liquid, such as water or fire retardant through a hose  38  carried on a retractable reel  40 . Accordingly, as the platforms  28   a  and  28   b  are raised and lowered through the doors  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, the hose  38  is uncoiled and coiled upon the retractable reel  40 . A conduit  42  provides flow communication between the hose  38  and the pump  44 . 
     A conduit  46  provides liquid flow communication to the pump  44  from a holding tank  48 . A conduit  50  provides liquid flow communication to the feed tank  48  from a flexible hose  52 , which extends outwardly from the side wall  20   a . The flexible hose  52  is preferably fireproof and provides liquid flow communication from a liquid source, such as a tank car  54  or a natural body of water. 
     A conduit  58  provides liquid flow communication from the pump  44  to a spigot  60  located on the outer surface of the side wall  20   c . As desired, a hose may be connected to the spigot  60  and supplied with pressurized liquid from the pump  44 . 
     A diesel-powered electrical generator  62  is located within the enclosure  18  to provide electrical power for the pump  44 , the lifts  30   a  and  30   b , as well other electrical devices within the enclosure. The generator  62  is vented to the outside atmosphere and is provided with a fresh air intake. An insulated diesel fuel tank  63  is provided Suitable electrical connections, known in the art, provide electrical power from the generator to the various equipment. Alternatively, electrical power may be provided from a train engine generator. 
     Also located within the enclosure  18  is a sealable safe room  56 . The safe room  56  is heavily insulated and provided with suitable respiration equipment to accommodate the firefighting crew in the event that the rail car  10  is overtaken by fire. The safe room may also contain communications equipment and GPS equipment. 
     In operation of one embodiment of the present invention, the tanker car  54  is full of water. The rail car  10  and the tanker car  54  are transported by rail to a location threatened by fire. At the threatened location, the door  26   b  is opened and a firefighter rides upon the platform  28   b  as the lift  30   b  extends vertically upward through the open door  26   b . The pump  44  draws water from the tank car  54  through the hose  52 , the conduit  50 , the feed tank  48 , and the conduit  46 . The water is directed through the conduit  42  and the hose  38  to the water cannon  32 . The firefighter activates the water cannon  32  and directs the water throughout the surrounding threatened area. 
     In the alternative, a firefighter may connect a hose to the spigot  60  and receive water through the conduit  58  to apply water to the ground area adjacent to the rail car  10 , which may be out of range of the water cannon  32 . 
     From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that an improved firefighting apparatus has been provided. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.