Abstract:
A water station consisting of a large water tank or bag with a plurality of dangling appendages for lowering toward the ground. These appendages include heat sensors and sprayers, and one or more may be capable of connecting to a fire fighting truck, water tank, fire hydrants, or other pieces of equipment. One or more appendages may also include a bag containing fire-fighting safety gear or ground-based hoses for fighting fires. Cameras and other sensors provide constant feedback to the pilot of the aircraft, such as a helicopter, deploying the water station.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/291,766, filed Feb. 5, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a deployable water station and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a water station capable of being carried by aircraft and deployable at an area where a fire requires fighting. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Currently, firefighters rely on several pieces of equipment for fighting large fires, such as forest fires. These include helicopters and airplanes which have limited storage capacity, along with water trucks which may be incapable of accessing deep wooded areas or other areas where road traffic is impossible. 
         [0006]    Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a deployable water station for fighting fires with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention generally provides a water station consisting of a large water tank or bag with a plurality of dangling appendages for lowering toward the ground. These appendages include heat sensors and sprayers, and one or more may be capable of connecting to a fire fighting truck, water tank, fire hydrants, or other pieces of equipment. One or more appendages may also include a bag containing fire-fighting safety gear or ground-based hoses for fighting fires. Cameras and other sensors provide constant feedback to the pilot of the aircraft, such as a helicopter, deploying the water station. 
         [0008]    An alternative embodiment includes a deployable water station which does not include multiple appendages, but instead contains multiple sprayer heads and heat sensors located on the base face of the station for deploying water over a large area of fire. A single appendage may be included for deploying and refilling water trucks or fire trucks and other equipment. Another appendage may be used for drawing water from a body of water to refill the storage compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in a typical environment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view thereof taken about the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sectional plan view taken about the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an alternative sectional plan view about the arm labeled  8  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view about the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view about the circle of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  in a first, vertical orientation. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  in a second, horizontal orientation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0019]    As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0020]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
       II. Preferred Embodiment Deployable Water Station System  2   
       [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment deployable water station system  2  a deployable water station  4  which is carried by a fire fighting helicopter  12 , such as a Boeing CH-40 manufactured by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems of Ridley Park, Pa., or an S-64 Skycrane as manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Conn., or a similar airborne rotorcraft. The helicopter  12  includes an internal water source  15  which can be fueled prior to use of the water station system  2 , and which can also be fed by the deployable water station  4  for additional water. A fluid connection  14  between the helicopter  12  and deployable water station  4  allows for this. 
         [0022]    The water station  4  includes a main body  10 , an aircraft connection neck  24 , a appendage interface  11  and four appendages, three appendages  6  ending in a hybrid spout/suction end  22 , and a fourth appendage  8  ending in a deployable ground hose assembly  16  having at least three deployable hoses  20  for use by firefighters on the ground. The ground hose assembly  16  could be a ground bag which includes the hoses  20  and other firefighting equipment, food and water for fire fighters, etc. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the appendages each include at least three spray nozzles  18  for spraying directly into or down on top of fires on the ground or in trees or buildings. When in a vertical orientation as shown in  FIG. 2 , the nozzles can be used to fight vertical fires, and the individual arms can rotate separately (see  FIG. 8 ) approximately 90° from their base positions, respectively. Alternatively, the arms can separately be raised into a horizontal orientation as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , whereby spray from the nozzles  18  falls downward onto a fire. The arms are structurally separated to prevent them from interfering with rotation or orientation of any of the other arms using a webbing  21  or other structural element. This webbing allows for a minimum-allowed distance between the arms  6 ,  8 , but allows flexibility for the arms to rotate or tilt upwards. 
         [0024]    The outer shell of the main body  10  and arms  6 ,  8  are constructed at least partially from para-aramid synthetic fibers (a.k.a. Kevlar®), or similar fireproof substance, to prevent damage to those components and the internal components therein. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the main body  10  as taken about the line  3 - 3  on  FIG. 2 . The internal structure of the main body  10  is supported with structural ribs  32  made from some lightweight structural components, such as carbon fiber. Hoses  26  from the helicopter water source  15  pass through the connector  24  to the helicopter  12 , and is attached to the internal face  29  of the main body  10  around the edges, to avoid an internal bladder  30  which contains additional water. Water can be added to the bladder  30  through a suction line  28  from the arms  6 , and can be used to feed the helicopter water source  15  or the arms  6 ,  8  as needed. Various pumps may be implemented to serve these purposes. The connector  24  which connects the main body  10  to the helicopter  12  allows for rotation of the main body  10  by approximately 90°. This can be done by any suitable means, such as through a toothed-gear arrangement. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section of the deployment arm  8  as taken about the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , whereas  FIG. 5  shows a similar cross section of a spout arm  6  if it were taken instead. Several hose connections connect to hoses coming from the bladder  30  and the helicopter water source  13  lines  26  to connect with the arms  6 ,  8 . Three lines are nozzle feeder lines  34  which feed the nozzles  18  for each arm  6 ,  8 . The deployment arm  8  includes three deployment lines  38  which connect to the deployment hoses  20  which deploy near the ground for ground fire-fighting use. All arms also include an arm bladder suction line  36  for receiving water from a bladder  48  within the arm  6 ,  8  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Finally, the spout arms  6  include both a 2½″ supply hose  42  for supplying water to the spout  22  for spraying water onto a fire, and a 2″ suction line  40  for receiving new water, either from a ground-based fire hydrant or body of water such as a lake or pond. This water will be fed back up into the helicopter water supply  13  or the bladder  30 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of one of the spout arms  6  as taken about the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . This shows how the various hoses connect to the various nozzles  18 , spout  22 , and internal arm bladder  48 .  FIG. 7 , which shows a detailed view of a section taken about the circle  7  of  FIG. 6  shows how the external skin  44  of the arm is supported by internal vertical supports  46  and horizontal supports  50 . Again, the skin  44  is made of fireproof material such as para-aramid synthetic fibers and the horizontal  50  and vertical  46  supports would be made of carbon fiber or other lightweight structural elements. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows the deployable water station  4  in a bottom plan view with the appendages  6 ,  8  in a first, vertical orientation and indicates the ability for the appendages to rotate.  FIG. 9  shows the appendages  6 ,  8  in a second, horizontal orientation with the spray nozzles  18  facing directly downward and the structural webbing  21  stretched between the arms. 
         [0029]    The arms  6 ,  8  may include heat sensors within their bodies which can detect heat on the exterior of the arms and activate the sprayers automatically when heat reaches certain levels. 
         [0030]    Cameras and other sensors provide feedback to the helicopter pilot. The ground bag  16  may also include direct lines for the ground-based fire fighters to communicate with the pilot. 
         [0031]    The containment unit may include foam, water, or other fire retardant spray. It could also be used in an alternative purpose to make snow. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.