Method and system for fluid transmission along significant distances

The system contains a plurality of conduit segments and at least one electrically-powered pump. At least one conduit connector joins the conduit segments and the electrically-powered pumps, thereby mating at least one fluid path. A plurality of electric power wires are coupled with the conduit segments and connected to the electrically-powered electric pumps. At least one electrical connector, within said conduit connectors, mates corresponding electric power wires between the conduit segments. An electric power source electrically connected to the electrically-powered pump via the electric power wires.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure is in the field of electrical and fluid distribution. More specifically, this disclosure describes the use of electrical wires associated with fluid conduit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One related prior art device includes a pair of wires attached to a fire hose. The device allows a fireman at the output end of a hose to ring a bell at the fire truck. The bell is used to send simple signals to the fireman in control of the pumps sending water into the hose.

Another prior art device is a grounding wire embedded in a fire hose. The device is used to protect a fireman who encounters a live electric wire while fighting a fire. The ground wire is utilized by bringing the dangerous voltage down to zero volts when the tip of the hose touches the dangerous voltage.

As a fluid is pumped through a hose or pipe, the fluid pressure drops as it gets farther from the pump, eventually becoming inconsequential. A mechanical characteristic of every hose or pipe is a maximum pressure beyond which the hose or pipe will burst. Therefore, increasing pump pressure to increase downstream fluid pressure eventually becomes detrimental to the hose or pump. A common technique to affect downstream pressure in a hose or pipe is to insert booster pumps at prescribed intervals downstream.

Firefighters sometimes connect multiple pumper trucks together to extend the distance of their hoses and to increase the effective fluid pressure, when a fire is a significant distance from a source of water. The use of multiple pumper trucks is called “relay pumping”.

Relay pumping is operationally challenging. The pressure and flow at each pumper truck must be monitored and adjusted and this requires a dedicated firefighter at each pumper truck to be in radio communication with corresponding dedicated firefighters at adjacent pumper trucks. Several expensive fire trucks, which are often is short supply in various jurisdictions, must be dedicated to the relay operation and are thereby not available for other firefighting tasks.

The pumper trucks use their diesel or gasoline fuel to power the pumps. If the relay must be maintained for a long time, the pumper trucks will have to be supplied with more fuel. This requires even more manpower and vehicles to transport fuels to the fire trucks.

Wildfires are often located in areas that are far from roadways and large volumes of water. In many wildfires, relay pumping cannot be implemented because large fire trucks or pump trucks cannot be driven off road into difficult terrain. Special fire trucks that carry water tanks can go off road, but they can supply only a very limited quantity of water, inadequate for fighting most wildfires. Helicopters and planes are often used to drop water or flame retardant material on the fire because no other source of water is nearby.

For non-firefighting situations, there are alternative means available for transporting water. Irrigation canals require enormous amounts of earth moving, and they can suffer from excessive water loss due to evaporation. Pipelines, which do not have to be dug into the ground and they don't have evaporation problems, may be adopted. However, pipelines require spatially distributed pumping stations to keep their fluids moving over long distances. Where possible, a pumping station hooks into a local power grid to power the pumps. Where no local power grid is available, tanker trucks haul diesel fuel to supply the fuel for the pumping stations. With tanker trucks, there are high transportation costs and a risk of vehicle accidents and fuel spills.

Golf course type irrigation systems typically have a central water pumping station, which sends the water through buried pipes to the far reaches of the golf course. Because of pressure drops, booster pumps are often required at the farther ends of the pipes. Electric power is required at these booster pumps and the distribution of the electric power is often a separate system of buried wires, or wires on poles. Sometimes, a booster pump may not be needed, but electric power is needed to power a remote electric sprinkler controller which might be used to determine when the local terrain is dry and in need of water. One proposal has been to add a small turbine in the flow of the water at the far end. The electric power generated by the turbine is used to power the electric sprinkler controller. The turbine is used to preclude the need for constructing a separate electric power distribution system.

Most farmers use either electricity or diesel engines to supply power for their irrigation systems. A few use propane, natural gas or gasoline. Large irrigation systems can require more electric power than is available on single phase wiring systems. If three-phase power is not available on or near the farm, the cost to construct power lines may be prohibitive. If the farmer's fields are far from the source of electricity, then diesel powered booster pumps will be required. The cost and effort of delivering the diesel fuel to the diesel generators can be a burden. Alternatively, the farmer must construct electric power lines that run across his property to the locations of the electric booster pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for conveying a fluid. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system contains a plurality of conduit segments and at least one electrically-powered pump. At least one conduit connector joins the conduit segments and the electrically-powered pumps, thereby mating at least one fluid path. A plurality of electric power wires are coupled with the conduit segments and connected to the electrically-powered electric pumps. At least one electrical connector, within said conduit connectors, mates corresponding electric power wires between the conduit segments. An electric power source electrically connected to the electrically-powered pump via the electric power wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1Ais an illustration of a cross-section of a conduit, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 1Ashows a cross section of a conduit, such as a fire hose or a rigid or semi-rigid pipe, combined with insulated electrical power wires120, a ground wire125and communication wires130, which will be referred to hereinafter as a wired fluid conduit (wfc)100. The wired fluid conduit100can take the form of a wired fluid hose (wfh)101, or a wired pipe (wp). The wired fluid hose and wired pipe are defined by the material and characteristics of the conduit.FIG. 1Ashows a cross-section of the wired fluid hose101when it is full of water and in its expanded mode.FIG. 1Aalso shows a cross-section of the rigid or semi-rigid wired pipe. Three power wires120supply three-phase electrical power and a fourth wire supplies a ground wire125, although single-phase power may be similarly provided. The communication wires130may be used to support an Ethernet type of data network and/or provide a low voltage system. The wires120,125,130may be located between an inner conduit surface110and an outer conduit surface140.

FIG. 1Bis an illustration of a cross-section of a conduit100, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the conduit shown inFIG. 1A.FIG. 1Bshows a cross-section of a length of wired fluid hose (wfh)101when the wired fluid hose101is not under pressure and is able to assume a more flat shape suitable for storage.

FIG. 1Cis an illustration of a cross-section of a conduit, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the conduit shown inFIG. 1A.FIG. 1Cshows one of many possible alternate configurations of the wired fluid conduit100. A maximum temperature tolerated by the insulation on the insulated electrical power wires limits the amount of current carried by insulated electrical power wires. InFIG. 1C, the power conductors160and ground conductor170, are shown to be four separate flexible, flat stranded conductors that are covered with insulation165,175and are located between an outer boundary185and an inner boundary180of the wired fluid conduit100. The wired fluid conduit100is constructed such that the fluid flowing through the wired fluid conduit100will cool the insulated electrical power conductors160. The cooling allows the insulated electrical power conductors160to carry more current without thermally damaging the insulation. The ground conductor170may be smaller than the three power conductors160, as is common practice in power distribution, because less current flows through the ground conductor170in a three phase electrical system than through the other three power conductors160.

InFIG. 1Dis a schematic illustration of a ground fault interrupter for use with the conduit shown inFIG. 1A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG. 1D, a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)190may be connected to the power conductors120and to the ground conductor125to prevent accidental shocks from the voltage on the wires. The use of GFI's is well known in the art.

FIG. 2Ais a perspective illustration of the conduit101ofFIG. 1Bon a storage reel220, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2Ashows a length of wired fluid hose101on a storage reel220. The storage reel220can be placed on an off road vehicle so that the wired fluid hose101can be deployed to fight a wildfire. A wfc connector230(as shown inFIG. 2B) is attached to an end of the wired fluid hose101. The wfc connector230is kept fixed at the beginning of a wired fluid hose101run. A vehicle carries the reel220and the wired fluid hose101is deployed onto the ground from the storage reel220. Trucks with long cargo areas can deploy lengths of wired pipe102.

FIG. 2Bis an illustration of an end view of a wfc connector230for the conduit100ofFIG. 1A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2Bshows an end view of the wfc connector230that attaches to both ends of a length of wired fluid conduit100. The wfc connector230may include a plurality of power pins240that connect to the ends of the power wires120, and a ground pin245that connects to the end of the ground wire125. There is at least one communication pin250that attach to the communication wires130in the wired fluid conduit100. The wfc connectors230may be designed to connect to the corresponding pins in a mating connector on an end of another length of wired fluid conduit100. The communication wires130may be attached to a network connector252(shown inFIG. 4) that enables attachment of external networking capable devices to the network.

FIG. 3Ais an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of two conduit connectors mated with a clamp, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3Ashows a side view of a first wfc connector260A being urged to mate to a second wfc connector260B via a wfc connector clamp375.

FIG. 3Bis an illustration of an exploded view of the mated connectors ofFIG. 3A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3Bshows a perspective view of the wfc connector260A being urged to mate with the wfc connector260B via the wfc connector clamp375, as shown inFIG. 3A. Clamp375has a hinge380and a lock390which allows it to at least temporarily clamp together the two wfc connectors260A,260B. This connector technique is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 4is an illustration of a pipeline400of the conduit shown inFIG. 1A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 4shows a base unit401. The base unit401includes an electric power source410that supplies electric power via a wire412to an electric base pump420. The electric base pump420draws water from a water supply425and pumps the water into a first wired fire conduit100A which further connects to a second wired fire conduit wired fluid conduit100B via at least one wfc connector230. The second wired fire conduit1008further connects to an electric booster pump436via at least one wfc connector230. The electric booster pump436may have a connector on each end that is compatible with a wfc connector230. The electric booster pump436is further connected to a third wired fluid conduit100C via at least one wfc connector230. The electric booster pump436continues the power and communication paths between the two adjacent wired fluid conduits100.

The electric booster pump436may contain a network device452that enables the data network to monitor and control the motors and apparatus in the electric booster pump436. The vehicles that carry the reels220may carry the electric booster pumps436.

An arrangement of one or more lengths of wired fluid conduit100that have a base unit401and one or more electric booster pumps436is hereinafter called a pipeline400. The electric booster pump436may have an auxiliary power connector, auxcon480, which allows electric power to be added to the pipeline400from additional power sources that are located at locations other than the beginning of the pipeline400where the base pump420is located. The technique of adding an additional power source within a generic power system is well known in the art.

The electric base pump420differs from the electric booster pump436. Pump input422of electric base pump420may attach to a conventional fire hose444, which draws water from water supply425. No electrical wires are associated with the conventional fire hose444. The input of base pump420has hose connections that are compatible with the industry standards that are well known in the industry.

A preinstalled pipeline400using mostly large diameter wired pipe102can be installed alongside roads and highways and can be pre-charged with water. This pipeline can be the water supply425. The electric base pump420may further have a conventional data network connection to a network computer450. The base pump420may further have industry standard electrical connections to the power source410. The pump output424may have a connector426that is mateable with the wfc connector230.

An Ethernet type of data network operates on the communication wires130. In a pipeline400arrangement, there can be many electric booster pumps436that are connected to wired fluid conduits100. The data network enables the network computer450to communicate with each electric booster pump436network device452that is located in each electric booster pump436. The data network may be used to remotely measure and control each of the individual parameters of each electric booster pump436in the pipeline400. The base pump420can replaced by a pumper fire truck, which can become the water supply425and the power source410. The power source410can be a local power line, or a diesel or gasoline generator.

Global Positioning System (GPS) units460can be used by firefighters to determine the latitude, longitude and the elevation of each device (e.g., electric booster pump436) to which they are proximate. Wherever there is a network connector252, the location data from the GPS units460can be sent to the network computer450via the data network. The GPS location data is sent to the network computer450which may contain algorithms that determine where a electric booster pump436must be inserted to compensate for elevation differences and distances from the previous pump. The network computer450can also determine when an electric booster pump436must be added to compensate for pressure drops associated with the length of the arrangement. Each device in the network may have a unique network address so that the network computer450can automatically determine whether the most recent section of the pipeline400is a wired fluid hose101or a wired pipe102. The wired fluid hose101and the wired pipe102have different pressure drops per unit of length and the network computer450must account for the difference before it can do its calculations for where the next electric booster pump436must be placed.

The data network allows for a multiplicity of parameters to be monitored by the network computer450. A network device452may be attached to a network connector252, on each of the wired fluid conduit100. The temperature of the electric power wires120can be monitored, via the data network, to insure that the electric power wires120don't overheat their insulation165.

A test box470has an attached connector which mates with the wfc connector230. The test box470is mated to the wfc connector230at the right end of third wired fluid conduit100C, as shown inFIG. 4. The test box470measures the resistance of the electric power wires120from end to end of the pipeline400in order to confirm that all of the electric power wires120and connections are functioning properly. The test box470also communicates with the network computer450in order to insure that the communication wires130and connections are working properly.

Firemen can use the data network in the pipeline400to send and receive voice and data with firemen at other locations. This feature is useful in locations where radio communication is impaired.

FIG. 5Ais an illustration of a cross-section of a conduit, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the conduit shown inFIG. 1A.FIG. 5Ashows a cross section of a wired spray conduit (wsc)500whose function is to spray water into the air to fight fires. The wired spray conduit500can take the form of a flexible wired spray hose (wsh) or it can take the form of a rigid or semi rigid wired spray pipe (wsp). The two bottom wired spray conduit sections502and504transport the water and they create a wide and flat profile that urges the wired spray conduit500to lie flat when placed on the ground. Electric power wires516,518,520, and a ground wire522, and communication wires524are shown inside the wired spray conduit500inFIG. 5A.

Spray nozzles512may be associated with a left hose section506, a center hose section508, and a right hose section510of the wired spray conduit500. The left hose section506aims a spray in a leftward direction, relative to the view inFIG. 5A. The center hose section508aims a spray in a vertical direction. The right hose section510aims a spray in a rightward direction. The spray nozzles512are placed a predetermined distance apart along a length of the wired spray conduit500and their orifice diameter may change to compensate for pressure drops along the hose. A nozzle far from a pump may need a large orifice in order to spray the desired volume of water. The different spray directions allow the firemen to select a desired spray direction to compensate for ground slope and wind conditions. When the wired spray conduit500are deployed on a steep slope, they can be staked into the ground to prevent slippage or twisting.

FIG. 5Bis an illustration of an end view of a wsc connector530for the conduit500ofFIG. 5A, in accordance with the fourth exemplary embodiment of the conduit shown inFIG. 1A.FIG. 5Bshows an end view of a wsc connector530placed on each end of a length of wired spray conduit500(shown inFIG. 5A). The wsc connector530has a left section orifice536that connects to the left hose section506. The wsc connector530has a center section orifice538connected to the center hose section508and a right section orifice540connected to the right hose section510. Ground pin552connects to a wsc ground wire522. A first power pin550connects to the first electric power wire518, a second power pin548connects to the second electric power wire516, and a third power pin546connects to the third electric power wire520. Communication pins554connect to the communication wires524. Two lengths of wired spray conduit500can be connected together via a clamp similar to clamp375inFIG. 3Ballowing spray conduit sections502,504to mate with two connector ports532,534. The corresponding power and communication wires516,518,520,522,524in each length of the wired spray conduit500are connected together by the wsc connectors530.

FIG. 6Ais an illustration of a perspective view of an adapter600for connection to the various conduits shown inFIG. 1A,FIG. 1B,FIG. 1C, andFIG. 5A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The wired fluid conduit100and the wired spraying conduit500may be compatible with the wfc connector230on multiple sides of the adapter600. Adapter600may also have connectors compatible with the wsc connector530on multiple sides.

FIG. 6Bis an illustration of a cross-sectional side view of the adapter600shown inFIG. 6A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 6Bshows a side view of the adapter600. On each side is a connector compatible with the wfc connector230and the wsc connector530. A valve620is shown inserted between a water path610in the wsc connector530and the container630. The valve620enables or disables water flow between the wsc connector530and container630. The valve620is controlled by an adapter controller650that receives commands from a network device640that is connected to the data network by the communication wires252524which are located in wfc connector230and wsc connector530. All of the water paths on the wfc connector230and the wsc connector530connect to valves that enable or disable water flow to the container630. The adapter controller650may control all of the valves.

The electrical and communication wires660,662,664,666are connected to the adapter controller650, the network device640, the network connector252and to the corresponding connections in the other connectors230,530such that the power and communication wires120,130,160,170,516,518,520,522,524are passed between different segments of wired fluid conduit100and wired spraying conduit500. The valves620in the adapter600allow for a plurality of interconnections between wired fluid conduits100and wired spraying conduits500. The valves620allow water to flow in either direction, so that any conduit connector230,530can be an input or an output for water flow.

FIG. 6Cis an illustration of a perspective view of another adapter for connection to the conduits100,500shown inFIG. 1A,FIG. 1B,FIG. 1C, andFIG. 5A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 6Cshows a perspective view of a multiport adapter680that is similar to adapter600and has additional connectors with the same functionality. The multiport adapter680allow for additional topological arrangement of wired fluid conduit100as will be described in following sections.

FIG. 7Ais an illustration of a pipeline400, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 7Ashows an example of interconnecting different lengths of wired fluid conduit100and wired spraying conduit500using adapters600. Base pump420supplies water under pressure to a first wired fluid conduit100A which supplies water to a second wired fluid conduit100B which delivers the water to a first electric booster pump436A. First electric booster pump436A boosts the pressure and sends the water into a third wired fluid conduit100C which delivers the water to the connector on a first adapter600A. The water exits the first adapter600A from a connector compatible with the wsc connector530, and enters the first wired spraying conduit500A. The first wired spraying conduit500A delivers water to the second wired spraying conduit500B which delivers water to a second adapter600B. The second adapter600B delivers the water to a second electric booster pump436B which boosts the pressure and further delivers the water to a third adapter600C. The third adapter600C delivers water to the third wired spraying conduit500C which delivers the water to a fourth adapter600D. The fourth adapter600D which further delivers the water to a fourth wired fluid conduit100D.

FIG. 7Bis an illustration of an exploded view of an interconnection of the conduit500ofFIG. 5Aand a pump700, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 7Bshows a wsc pump700that contains a wsc connector530on each end that allows connection to the wsc530connector on the wsc500. The wsc pump700allows lengths of a wired spraying conduit500to be connected together without the use of the adapters600.

FIG. 7Cis an illustration of a perspective view of a fire hose adapter710, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. A hose adapter710allows fire hoses to connect to a first end connector715. A second end connector712mates with the wfc connector230on an end of the wired fluid conduit100and is held in contact by the clamp375.

FIG. 7Dis an illustration of a perspective view of a flow stop720, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. A wsc flow stop720connected to the wired spraying conduit500via a clamp similar to wfc connector clamp375. In order to improve the pressure in the spray nozzles512at the end of a wired spraying conduit500pipeline, the water must not be allowed to exit the end of the pipeline. The wsc flow stop720prevents water from exiting the wsc connector530.

FIG. 8is an illustration of a portion of a pipeline400, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 8shows a topology that can fight a fire by remote control and adapt as the fire conditions change. Base pump420pumps water into a fifth wired fluid conduit WOE, which supplies water to a first adapter680A, which further supplies water to a sixth wired fluid conduit100F and a seventh wired spraying conduit500H. The sixth wired fluid conduit100F supplies water to a second adapter6808which further supplies water to an eighth wired fluid conduit100G and an eighth wired spraying conduit500G. The eighth wired fluid conduit100G supplies water to a third adapter680C which further supplies water to the sixth wired spraying conduit500F. The sixth, seventh and eighth wired spraying conduit500F,500G,500H are attached to the wsc flow stops720.

FIG. 8shows a fire810which is near the sixth wired spraying conduit500F. The firemen can use the data network to direct the water from base pump420to flow only to the sixth wired spraying conduit500F. If the fire passes the sixth wired spraying conduit500F, the firemen can direct the water only to the eighth wired spraying conduit500G, or the seventh wired spraying conduit500H. The ability to spray water on a fire using a wired spraying conduit500, and the ability to have remote control of water flow, will lower the risk of death and injury for firemen.

FIG. 9is an illustration of a portion of a pipeline400, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Base pump420pumps water into a fifth wired fluid conduit100E, which supplies water to a first adapter680A, which further supplies water to a sixth wired fluid conduit100F and a seventh wired spraying conduit500H. The sixth wired fluid conduit100F supplies water to a second adapter680B which further supplies water to an eighth wired fluid conduit100G and an eighth wired spraying conduit500G. The eighth wired fluid conduit100G supplies water to a third adapter680C which further supplies water to the sixth wired spraying conduit500F.

FIG. 9shows a fourth, fifth, and sixth supplemental adapters680D,680E,680F replacing wsc flow stops720(as compared toFIG. 8). A ninth, tenth, and eleventh wired spraying conduit500I,500J,500K are added to the supplemental adapters680D,680E,680F. A ninth and tenth wired fluid conduit100interconnect the supplemental adapters680D,680E,680F in order to give redundant paths for the water to flow if there is a failure in any of the first, second and third adapters680A,680B,680C. The wsc flow stops720are placed at the end of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh wired spraying conduit500I,500J,500K.

FIG. 10is an illustration of a portion of a pipeline400, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 10shows a system of water spray conduit500that have been deployed to surround an area of a fire1000. The base pump420urges water into the wired fluid conduit100which delivers the water to electric booster pump436which further delivers water to adapter680. Adapter680supplies water to wired spraying conduit500A which further supplies water to wired spraying conduit500B. Adapter680supplies water to wired spraying conduit500C which further supplies water to wired spraying conduit500D. On the ends of wired spraying conduit500B,500D are wsc flows stops720. The wired spraying conduit500can be used to surround and protect a cluster of homes from a wildfire rather than surround the fire1000. If there are swimming pools in the home cluster, the pools might be used as a water source. A community without swimming pools might decide to invest in a large portable pool to store an emergency water supply.

Controlled burns are fires that are intentionally set by firemen to clear combustible material that collects on the ground. Firemen also use controlled burns to consume combustible material before a larger wildfire arrives. Sometimes the controlled burns get out of control and become large fires. The topology ofFIG. 10can help control the controlled burns by surrounding them with pipes and hoses that can spray water on any nearby fires.

FIG. 11is an illustration of a portion of a pipeline400, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 11shows base pump420taking water from water supply425via a conduit444. The base pump420gets its electric power from an electric power source410through conductors412and the base pump420pumps water into a first wired fluid conduit100A, which further delivers the water to a first electric booster pump436A. The first electric booster pump436A urges water into a second wired fluid conduit100B which further delivers the water to a second electric booster pump436B, which urges water into a third wired fluid conduit100C which delivers the water into a portable pool1105. A portable pool1105is commonly used by firemen to store water, and is typically a plastic swimming pool type liner that is supported by a foldable metallic structure.

InFIG. 11, a third electric booster pump436C draws water out of the portable pool1105and urges the water into a fourth wired fluid conduit100D which further carries the water to a fourth electric booster pump436D which further pumps the water into a fifth wired fluid conduit100E.

InFIG. 11, the portable pool supplies a technique for pumping water a longer distance than would normally be possible. The electric current for the base pump420comes directly through the conductors412from the power source410and therefore the electric current for the base pump420does not travel through any power wires in a wired fluid conduit100or a wired spraying conduit500.

If all of the electric booster pumps436A,436B,436C,436D are turned on at once, the electric current traveling in the electric power wires120(shown inFIG. 1A) in the first wired fluid conduit100A will be the total of the currents required by each of the group of electronic booster pumps436A,436B,436C,436D. If only the first and second electric booster pumps436A,436B are turned on, the water will be delivered only into the portable pool1105. There will be no current flowing to power the third and fourth electric booster pumps436C,436D and the current in the first wired fluid conduit100A will be diminished accordingly. If only the third and fourth electric booster pumps436C,436D are turned on, the water in the portable pool1105will be delivered to the fifth wired fluid conduit100E. There will be no current flowing to power the first and second electric booster pumps436A,436B.

Only half of the water may be delivered to the fourth wired fluid conduit100D in a given period of time, but the water can be delivered approximately twice as far for a predetermined maximum current capacity of the power wires in the wired fluid conduit100. More portable pools1105can be added to a pipeline in order to extend the maximum length, but the amount of water delivered per period of time will be reduced each time a portable pool1105is added. Another way to increase the current handling capabilities of the pipeline400is to have different gauge wires in different sections. The first wired fluid conduit100A might have the thickest power wires because it must handle the current for all of the electric booster pumps436. The second wired fluid conduit100B might have less thick wires because it does not have to supply the same current as the first wired fluid conduit100A, but must supply more current than the third and fourth wired fluid conduit100C,100D. The third and fourth wired fluid conduit100C,100D might have the least thick wires because fewer electric booster pumps436require current flow through them.

FIG. 12is an illustration of a side view of a detail of the pipeline400ofFIG. 11, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 12shows a technique for separating the water flow path from the electric power and communication path when a portable pool1105is added to the topology. The third wired fluid conduit100C delivers water to a pool hose1210A. A first wfc connector230A mates with a pool hose connector1230A. The water passes through the pool hose1210A (also shown inFIG. 11) and exits from the hose end1235A into the portable pool1105.

The electric power wires120, the ground wire125, and communication wires130(shown inFIG. 1A) must not come into contact with the water in the portable pool1105. The wires120,125,130exit the first pool hose connector1230A via a first pool connector1245A and mates with wire bundle1240via a first bundle end connector1242A.

A second pool hose1210B is similar to the first pool hose1210A, but is used to withdraw water from the portable pool1105. The pool hoses1210A,1210B may be reinforced such that they can tolerate suction as well as pressure. Water is drawn into the second pool hose1210B at a second hose end1235B and travels through a second pool hose connector1230B into electric booster pump436which further pumps the water into a second wired fluid conduit100B.

The wire bundle1240attaches via a second end connector1242B to a second pool connector1245B which further connects the power, ground, and communication pins on the second pool hose connector1230B which further mates with a compatible connector230A on electric booster pump436. The wire bundle1240enables the power wire120, the ground wire125, and communication wires130(shown inFIG. 1A) to bypass the portable pool1105.

If an electric booster pump436fails, the failure is detected by the network computer450, and the network computer450can command the adjacent electric booster pumps436to incrementally increase their pressure to compensate for the failure. The communication wires130may support TV cameras, microphones, motion detectors, and thermometers along the pipeline400. The multiple sections of the wired spraying conduit500improve system reliability because the spray function from a failed section can be replace by the spray function of another section. If, because of some system failure, the data network cannot control a particular device, a manual (local) method of controlling the particular device may be desirable. The electric power wires120may be made from an electrical conducting material that has superior strength in order to diminish a possibility of breakage of the electric power wires120.

The proposed wildfire fighting system requires that electric power be sent to pumps436placed at intervals along a significant length of wired fluid conduit100.FIG. 1shows an exemplary arrangement of associating the electric power wires120with the wired fluid conduit100. An electric power wire120might be a normal bundle of copper strands, or it might be a flat woven conductive fabric which is embedded into the walls of the wired fluid conduit100. The electric power wires120might be concentric layers in the walls of the wired fluid conduit100.

Another possibility is to have the electric power wires120attached by wire-ties to the outside of the wired fluid conduit100. This possibility would allow fire companies to keep their current stock of conduit and to simply attach bundles of electric power wires120to selected conduit. Another possibility is to keep the electric power wires120separate from the conduit. The electric power wires120and conduit can be put on different reels on the back of a vehicle that would be deployed concurrently as the vehicle drives along the terrain.

FIG. 13Ais an illustration of a side view of an aerial vehicle (e.g., a helicopter1301) carrying reels of conduit, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13Ashows a plurality of aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C which store interconnected lengths of aerial hose or helicopter hose (hh)1300. The reels are attached to the helicopter1301via reel support brackets1302. The helicopter hose1300is similar in function to the wired fluid hose101, but is designed to be delivered to a fire site by an aerial vehicle such as a helicopter1301. The helicopter hose1300has wfc connectors230.

A base pump420, on the ground, supplies water, electric power, and communication signals to the helicopter hose1300. The helicopter hose1300may be wrapped around and stored on a first aerial reel1350A. At the center of the first aerial reel1350A is a reinforced hose1366. The reinforced hose1366connects via wfc connectors230to another length of helicopter hose1300stored on a second aerial reel1350B which is similarly connected to another length of helicopter hose1300on a third aerial reel1350C.

A reel of conventional hose1384with a conventional nozzle1381is also attached to the helicopter1301. The non-nozzle end of the conventional hose1384has a connector that is physically compatible with the wfc connector230and that allows water transmission, but does not receive the electric power wires120or the communication wires130from the helicopter hose1300. The firemen use the conventional hose1384to fight the fires. A winch1388is attached to the helicopter1301and is capable of lowering and raising the aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C and the reel of the conventional hose1384.

FIG. 13Bis an illustration of a perspective view of a reel support bracket1302for supporting the aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C shown inFIG. 13A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13Bshows a reel support bracket1302that is designed to attach the reel support device1320to the helicopter1301. The reel support bracket1302has vertical sections1310, long horizontal sections1312, short horizontal section1314, long diagonal sections1318, and short diagonal sections1316. A plurality of release mechanisms1319are attached to the vertical sections1310and also to the helicopter1301and facilitate the release of the aerial reels1350A,13508,1350C from the helicopter1301at a predetermined time.

FIG. 13Cis an illustration of a perspective view of a reel support device1320for supporting the aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C,1350D shown in FIG.13A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13Cshows a perspective view of a reel support device1320. Two reel troughs1322A,1322B are connected by reel trough supports1326. A motor1317is attached to a first reel trough1322A and can be used to force the aerial reel1350(as shown inFIG. 13E) to unwind or rewind the helicopter hose1300wrapped around the aerial reel1350.

FIG. 13Dis an illustration of a side view of a detail of the reel support device1320ofFIG. 13C, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13Dshows a cross-section of the reel trough1322. The reel troughs1322contains ball bearings1330. The reel ends1355A1355B (shown inFIG. 13E) reside inside the reel troughs1322A,1322B and are supported by the ball bearings1330that are located within the reel troughs1322A,1322B.

FIG. 13Eis an illustration of a perspective view of the aerial reel1350illustrated inFIG. 13A, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13Eshows an aerial reel1350storing a length of helicopter hose1300, which has a wfc connector1369on an end hanging from the aerial reel1350. The aerial reel1350has reel ends1355A,1355B that are connected by a hollow reel cylinder1360. At the center of the second reel end1355B is a cylindrical cavity that passes through the hollow reel cylinder1360. The gear teeth1358on the second reel end1355B engage with gear teeth1358on the motor1317(shown inFIG. 13C) and urge the aerial reel1350to rotate.

FIG. 13Fis an illustration of a perspective view of a helicopter electrical booster pump1364, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 13Fshows a helicopter electrical booster pump1364located in the cavity in the center of the aerial reel1350. The helicopter electrical booster pump1364is similar in function to the electric booster pump436, but it may differ in size and shape so as to fit inside the aerial reel1350. On the end of helicopter electrical booster pump1364located at reel end1355B is the pump output1380. The helicopter electrical booster pump1364has a pump input port1368attached to the reel cylinder1360.

FIG. 13Gis an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the aerial reel1350shown inFIG. 13E, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The helicopter electrical booster pump1364is attached to a slip ring assembly1372. The slip ring assembly1372is attached to a wfc connector230that is attached to a reinforced hose1366. The reinforced hose1366has wfc connectors230on each end that carry along all of the electric power wires120and the communication wires130(as shown inFIG. 1A) used in helicopter hose1300. The reinforced hose1366may bend only in an elbow type motion so that the electric power wires120and the communication wires130inside will not be twisted. The electrical booster pump1364is fixedly attached to the reel cylinder1360by at least one bracket1374.

The slip ring assembly1372allows the reinforced hose1366to rotate freely with respect to helicopter electrical booster pump1364while the flow of the water and electrical power and the data communications are not interrupted. A slip ring is a method of making an electrical connection through a rotating assembly. Slip rings, also called rotary electrical interfaces, rotating electrical connectors, collectors, swivels or electrical rotary joints, are commonly found in electrical generators for AC systems and alternators. Slip ring construction is known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 14is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the slip ring assembly1372shown inFIG. 13G, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. A plurality of slip ring bands1440are mounted on the pump output shaft1380. A plurality of brushes1410run in contact with the slip band rings1440and pass current through the wires120,130in the wfc connector230and a cable box1460. The electric power wires120and the communication wires130continue along the wire bundle1462and into a conduit1376where the electric power wires120are connected to the pump input port1368and to wfc connector230. The electric power wires120, the communication wires130, and the water that enter the aerial reel1350are thus passed along to the helicopter electrical booster pump1364.

A plurality of band wires1451are connected to the slip ring bands1440and to the corresponding pins on the wfc connector230on the end of pump input port1368. The slip ring assembly1372has an outer shell1373fixedly attached to the helicopter electrical booster pump1364. The outer shell1373cannot rotate relative to the aerial reel1350because the helicopter electrical booster pump1364is fixedly attached to the reel1350. The pump output shaft1380is rotationally attached to the outer shell1373by a plurality of roller bearings1420.

A plurality of watertight seals1450prevents water exiting a pump output1430from corning into contact with the brushes1410. The free rotation of the reinforced hose1366is useful. When the first aerial reel1350A, shown inFIG. 13A, is rotating and releasing the helicopter hose1300, the helicopter hose1300segment between the first aerial reel1350A and the second aerial reel1350B will be fixed. The slip ring assembly1372is required to separate the motion of the first aerial reel1350A and the second aerial reel1350B. The conduit1376has the pump input port1368that is attached to the wfc connector230. The other end of the conduit1376connects to a pump input1382.

A plurality of pressure sensors1370is used to detect when the helicopter hose1300is at a last section of the aerial reel1350. The helicopter hose1300will apply pressure on the pressure sensors1370until the helicopter hose1300is removed from the aerial reel1350. When the aerial reel1350is almost empty, the aerial reel1350is released from the helicopter1301via the release mechanisms1319and allowed to fall towards the ground with the adjacent lengths of helicopter hose1300. The aerial reel1350offers impact protection to the helicopter electrical booster pump1364that is located at its center.

FromFIG. 13A, the group of aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C comprises a continuous pipeline400which has helicopter electrical booster pumps1364to boost the water pressure such that water can be pumped for the entire length of the pipeline400. A continuous length of electric power wires120delivers power to the helicopter electrical booster pumps1364and a continuous length of communication wires130allow for monitoring and control of the helicopter electrical booster pumps1364.

The group of aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C is attached to the helicopter1301and a loose end of the first aerial reel1350A is attached to the base pump420. The helicopter1301flies toward a fire location and pays out the helicopter hose1300. When the first aerial reel1350A is almost empty, it is detached, via a first release mechanism1319A, from the helicopter1301and is lowered towards the ground by remaining attached to the helicopter hose1300on the second aerial reel1350B, which is deploying. When the second aerial reel1350B is almost empty, the second aerial reel1350B is released from the helicopter1301by a second release mechanism1319B and is lowered towards the ground by its connection to helicopter hose1300on the third aerial reel1350C, which is being deployed.

If the helicopter1301arrives at its destination and is still carrying the third aerial reel1350C and the reel of the conventional hose1384, it releases them with a third and fourth release mechanism1319C,1319D and lowers to the ground these remaining reels1350C, and reel of conventional hose1384, by cables attached to the winch1388. The firemen on the ground then unspool as much of helicopter hose1300as needed and attach it to a distal end1369of the conventional hose1384. The conventional hose1384is used to fight the fire using the conventional nozzle1381.

The helicopter1301might hover and spray water onto the fire. It is possible that the helicopter1301might be piloted by remote control. An onboard GPS device might send back the exact location of the helicopter1301via the communication wires130in the helicopter hose1300. A remote controlled helicopter1301might be used to drop supplies to firemen, or even rescue firemen, in a smoky or windy zone that is too dangerous for a piloted helicopter to enter.

A test box similar to the test box470can be used to insure the integrity of the entire length of the wire circuits on the helicopter hose1300before and during a flight. Breakable bolts may be used to attach the aerial reels1350A,1350B,1350C to the helicopter1301. These bolts would break if the tension became excessively large on the helicopter hose1300and posed a safety risk to the helicopter1301.

In order to avoid excessive twisting of the helicopter hose1300, it may be necessary to place a slip ring assembly1372to both ends of the aerial reel1350. The need will depend on exactly how the aerial reels1350move through the air when they are released from the helicopter1301.

FIG. 15is a perspective view of a portable water tent1500, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The electric power wires120that are part of the pipeline400can be used to power a variety of devices that can be used to filter and purify the air breathed by firemen at the scene of a fire. These devices may have to be designed to handle the voltages that are used in the pipeline400. Firefighters often carry lightweight portable tents that have a metallic coating so as to reflect the heat of a fire away from their bodies. They enter this tent when they are at risk of being burned and when there is no safe escape route. Since the pipeline400carries water, the firemen have access to water if they are near the pipeline400.

A portable water tent1500is a reflective tent that can be partially filled with water and which gives extra protection from heat to the firemen inside. The water will absorb much of the heat of a fire. It has a tent hose1510that can be connected to a wired fire hose100(shown inFIG. 1A) and which will allow portions of the water tent1500to be filled with water. The portable water tent1500may be constructed from a plurality of interconnected chambers which fill with water. The chambers form the sides1530A,1530C of the water tent1500, the top1530B of the water tent1500, a pair of entry chambers1530D,1530E for the water tent1500, and a distal end1530F of the water tent1500.