Fire extinguishing agent discharge apparatus

Provided is a dropping-type fire extinguishing body that, in fire extinguishing using a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, can allow the fire extinguishing agent to be smoothly conveyed and dropped.A dropping-type fire extinguishing body 1 to be dropped onto the fire site to extinguish the fire, wherein a gelling agent 3 is contained in a bag body 2 formed of a water-permeable material and water is permeated into the body and is mixed with the gelling agent to prepare a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, thereby filling the gel-like fire extinguishing agent into the inside of the bag body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing agent discharge apparatus and particularly to a fire extinguishing agent discharge apparatus suitably used for the discharge of a gelled fire extinguishing agent.

BACKGROUND ART

Water is generally used as a fire extinguishing agent in fire extinguishing, and the water is discharged from a fire extinguishing vehicle towards a fire origin to lower the temperature of the fire origin or to reduce the amount of oxygen around the fire origin (that is, to perform smothering extinguishment).

Under such a situation that a fire extinguishing vehicle cannot approach a fire origin, for example, at the time of disaster or mountain fire, effective fire extinguishing work cannot be carried out from the ground.

To cope with this situation, a method of spraying water from above the fire origin using a helicopter or an aircraft on a water ship, is adopted.

In spraying water using the aircraft, a certain altitude should be kept from the viewpoint of ensuring safety of the aircraft against heat in the fire origin and an ascending air current.

However, water applied from the aircraft, when the distance from the fire origin is larger, is likely to be scattered in a wider area by an influence of an external force. Thus, water cannot be easily concentrated to the fire origin, and, further, is scattered as mist before the water arrives at the fire origin, making it impossible to effectively extinguish the fire.

In order to overcome this problem, a technique has been proposed in which the fire extinguishing agent is dropped in a gel form to reduce a scattering area of the fire extinguishing agent and to apply the whole amount of the used fire extinguishing agent for fire extinguishing (see Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Even in the above described prior art, however, the following problem remains unsolved.

Specifically, the gel-like fire extinguishing agent, when brought into a fire extinguishing site, need to be conveyed while being stored in a container and, in fire extinguishing, is dropped from the container towards a fire origin. Thus, from the viewpoint of carrying out rapid fire extinguishing work, it is necessary to obtain rapid gelation of the fire extinguishing agent and dropping operation and an effective dropping and spraying field.

In view of the above problem, the present invention has been made, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dropping-type fire extinguishing body and a dropping control apparatus that, in fire extinguishing work using a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, can control and effectively conduct the production and dropping of the fire extinguishing agent.

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, provided is a dropping-type fire extinguishing body to be dropped on a fire site for extinguishing the fire, wherein the dropping-type fire extinguishing body comprises: a bag body formed of a water-permeable material which stores a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, and the gel-like fire extinguishing agent is produced by introducing the bag body in the fire extinguishing agent tank and allowing water to be absorbed in a gelling agent stored in the bag body, whereby the inside of the bag body is filled with the water-absorbed fire extinguishing agent.

With such a configuration, mere permeation of water into the bag body can allow a gel-like fire extinguishing agent to be produced and the surface of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent to be covered with the bag body. Thus, a dropping-type fire extinguishing body having a uniformly held outer shape can be obtained.

The dropping-type fire extinguishing body is used, for example, in such a manner that the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is produced immediately before fire extinguishing work and is conveyed by a ladder truck to a position above a fire site, or that the fire extinguishing body is formed in a period between the loading in a dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus loaded in an aircraft and the convey of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus to the fire site, followed by dropping the dropping-type fire extinguishing body from above the fire site towards a fire origin.

Here the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is in such a form that a gel-like fire extinguishing agent is filled within the bag body. Thus, scattering of the fire extinguishing agent is prevented, and the dropping point of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body can easily be predicted with a high accuracy from the surface area and weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body (bag body) and the height of the dropping position. Further, the prediction is calculated by a control system to obtain dropping timing, and the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is dropped on the fire origin with a high probability.

When the dropping-type fire extinguishing body approaches a fire origin, the bag body is melted by the heat, or the bag body is ruptured by impact applied at the time of dropping, whereby the gel-like fire extinguishing agent inside the bag is scattered for fire extinguishing.

Accordingly, the gel-like fire extinguishing agent can be reliably allowed to act on the fire origin to effectively extinguish the fire, and, at the same time, fire extinguishing from a higher position is possible to enhance the safety of the fire extinguishing work.

On the other hand, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body can be stored in a dry state, and, further, the shape thereof is held by the bag body. Thus, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is easy to handle. For example, work for loading on the water poured dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus becomes simple, and the production and conveying of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent and the operation of dropping of the fire extinguishing agent on the fire origin can be carried out by a series of operations, contributing to simple works. As a result, rapid fire extinguishing work can be achieved.

When the bag body is formed of a low impact resistant material or a material that can easily be melted by heat, the bag body can easily be removed after dropping on the fire origin, contributing to rapid scattering of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent at the fire origin and making it possible to satisfactorily exert fire extinguishing properties.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material of the bag body contains polylactic acid.

When polylactic acid is used as a main material for the bag body, a highly biodegradable bag body can be formed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the content of polylactic acid is not less than 80% by mass.

When polylactic acid is contained in the sufficiently content range, the occurrence of cramping in the bag body can be suppressed and the strength, when the bag body is immersed in water, can be sufficiently kept.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the basis weight of the polylactic acid is 10 to 30 g/m2.

When the basis weight is in the above described range, the water permeability of the bag body is enhanced and a tensile strength suitable for the dropping-type fire extinguishing body can be sufficiently kept.

Further, the bag body further contains surfactant agent depending upon the size, type and place of the fire.

When the bag body contains a surfactant, the amount of supplied water in the dropping-type fire extinguishing body can be increased.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized that when water is permeated into the bag body to obtain the gel-like extinguishing agent, the bag body has an outer shape of a triangular pyramid shape or a cubic shape.

When the bag body is formed in a triangular pyramid shape or a cubic shape, the bag body can be mechanically manufactured more easily.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gelling agent is an edible gelling agent selected from gelatin, carrageenan, agar, and polysaccharides.

When the edible gelling agent is adopted, there is no influence of the reside on the environment after the fire extinguishing work and a fire extinguishing agent that is environmentally friendly can be realized.

On the other hand, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus is loaded on an aircraft, and the gelling agent is mixed with water within the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus loaded on the aircraft during movement of the aircraft to a fire site to form the dropping-type fire extinguishing body. When the aircraft arrives at a position above the fire site, the packed dropping-type fire extinguishing body may be dropped on a fire by the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus.

According to this method, when the production of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body and the filling of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body into the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus are carried out within the dropping apparatus loaded on the aircraft during the movement to a fire site, the time required from a call for service to the start of fire extinguishing work can be shortened.

Further, in the dropping-type fire extinguishing body, mere permeation of water into the bag body can allow a gel-like fire extinguishing gent to be produced. Thus, there is no need to perform stirring operating for mixing of the liquid with the gelling agent within the aircraft, contributing to an enhancement in safety during the flight.

As a method of loading the dropping fire extinguishing body in the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus, a method in which a bag body containing a gelling agent is loaded on the fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus filled with fire extinguishing water in such a manner that the dry dropping-type fire extinguishing body is loaded or a method in which the dry dropping-type fire extinguishing body is preloaded on the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus followed by filling of water into the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus to produce the dropping-type fire extinguishing body within the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus can be considered as a method for loading of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body into the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus. Alternatively, a method may be adopted in which the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is produced outside the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus and the produced dropping-type fire extinguishing body is manually loaded within the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus.

When the fire extinguishing work is continuously carried out, after the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is once dropped, water and a dropping-type fire extinguishing body are again loaded on the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus.

Here water only, or a mixture of water and a fire extinguishing assistant may be used as a main agent of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent.

On the other hand, a method may also be adopted in which a dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus on which the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is loaded is previously provided and, at the time of the call for service of the fire extinguishing work, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus is loaded on an aircraft.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, in a fire extinguishing work using a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, the fire extinguishing agent before the dropping on a fire origin has a stable shape and thus is easy to handle, and, at the same time, the convey of the fire extinguishing agent and the operation of dropping to a fire origin can be consolidated as a series of operations and smooth operations can be realized, contributing to rapid fire extinguishing work.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

InFIG. 1, numeral1designates a dropping-type fire extinguishing body according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dropping-type fire extinguishing body has such a configuration that a gelling agent3is contained in a bag body2formed of a water permeable material and water is permeated into the bag body and is mixed with the gelling agent to prepare a gel-like fire extinguishing agent, whereby the gel-like fire extinguishing agent is filled into the inside of the bag body2.

Preferably, the bag body2is formed of a material that has low impact resistant and is easily melted by heat.

This is to ensure that, when the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is dropped on a fire origin, the bag body2is easily broken by the dropping impact and the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is easily melted by the heat of the fire origin, whereby the gel-like fire extinguishing agent within the bag body2is rapidly impacted.

Further, in order to prevent scattering of the gelling agent3stored in the bag body2, the bag body2is formed of a material that has micropores having a smaller size than the particle diameter of the gelling agent3.

Examples of specific materials that meet such various conditions include paper, or nonwoven fabrics such as kenafs, wood pulps, regenerated PETs, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyesters, or mixed materials thereof.

Among them, polylactic acids that are polyesters are biodegradable and can easily be bonded by thermocompression bonding or ultrasonic bonding, and the bonded sites are easily broken by impact applied at the time of dropping. Thus, the polylactic acids are suitable as the material for the bag body2.

The polylactic acid is hardly decomposed under ordinary room-temperature environment and can be used for a long period of time. The polylactic acid, however, is biodegradable. Specifically, when the polylactic acid is placed under an environment having a proper water content and temperature, in compost or soil, for example, hydrolysis proceeds and, thereafter, decomposition by microorganisms proceeds. Finally, the polylactic acid is completely decomposed into CO2and water. Accordingly, the polylactic acid does not adversely affect the environment after the fire extinguishing work.

When the polylactic acid is subjected to papermaking, mixing of pulps can be considered. When the pulp is mixed in an amount of not less than 20%, it causes cramping as well as a lowering in strength when the bag body is immersed in water. Accordingly, the content of the polylactic acid in papermaking is preferably in the range of 80 to 100% by mass, more preferably, in the range of 90 to 100% by mass.

The basis weight that exerts water permeability of the polylactic acid is in the range of 10 to 30 g/m2, more preferably in the range of 15 to 20 g/m2. When the basis weight is increased, the thickness is large and the water permeability is likely to be inhibited and the cost is disadvantageously increased.

A method for the formation of nonwoven fabrics used in bag bodies includes a dry method and a wet method. The retention of the strength of the bag body2formed of the polylactic acid formed by the dry method is better than that of the bag body2formed of the polylactic acid formed by the wet method. The bag body2formed by the wet method may also be used. However, when, for example, the retention of the shape for one day or longer after immersion in water is required, the bag body2formed by the dry method that can easily retain the strength is preferably used.

On the other hand, any gelling agent may be used without particular limitation as the gelling agent3as long as the gelling agent can cause gelation of water and does not sacrifice a fire extinguishing capability.

Gelling agents which have viscoelasticity high enough to form a mass and form a gel within 10 min, preferably within 5 min, regardless of the water temperature are preferably used.

Examples of gelling agents include naturally occurring gelling agents such as agars, carageenans, gelatins, pectins, guar gums, and xanthan gums, and polymeric absorbing materials.

Starch-based polymeric absorbing materials, cellulose-based polymeric absorbing materials, polysaccharides, polyvinyl-based polymeric absorbing materials, and acrylic acid-based polymeric absorbing materials may be used as the polymeric absorbing material.

The gelling agent is preferably particulate or powdery.

Among others, using edible gelling agents that, even when animals eat residues, are harmless allows to obtain fire extinguishing agents that are harmless to a natural environment. In particular, gelatins, carageenans and other naturally occurring polysaccharides have a large water supplying capability and can realize a high water supply speed and thus are preferably used as gelling agents for the dropping-type fire extinguishing body.

Gel-like fire extinguishing agents produced by mixing these gelling agents3with water undergo a change in weight when the amount of water absorbed by the gelling agent3increases with the elapse of time after the mixing. The degree of a change in weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body is shown in Table 1. The initial weight of samples 1 to 4 that are dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies is 1.1 g, and the samples formed of 0.2 g of a bag body2and 0.9 g of a gelling agent3. Further, in the sample 1 and the sample 2, a polylactic acid formed by a wet method is used as the bag body2, and, in the sample 3 and the sample 4, a polylactic acid formed by a dry method is used as the bag body2.

The gel-like fire extinguishing agent produced as described above, together with the bag body2, constitutes the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1. When the impact power applied in dropping the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is large, for example when a building is included in the fire origin, breaking of the building by the dropping-derived impact power of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is expected.

In order to suppress this phenomenon, the weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is preferably 100 g to 200 g. Accordingly, the amount of the gelling agent3is set from the maximum water absorption amount of the gelling agent3, and the gelling agent3in this setting amount is filled into the bag body2.

In Table 1, when the amount of the gelling agent3is set to 0.9 g, about 100 g of a dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can be obtained by absorption and filling of water into the gel-like fire extinguishing agent. Accordingly, it has been found that, when the preparation of about 100 g of a fire extinguishing agent is contemplated, a suitable dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can be obtained by dissolving the gelling agent3in water at a concentration of about 1% by mass of the weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1. Further, the results in Table 1 reveal that there is no difference in water absorption between the polylactic acid formed by the wet method and the polylactic acid formed by the dry method.

In order to increase the amount of water supplied into the bag body2, a surfactant may be mixed into the bag body2.

Nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and anionic surfactants may be used as surfactants. In particular, surfactants produced from coconut oils or polysaccharides are preferred because the environmental load at a dropping point is low.

FIG. 18is a graph illustrating a change in weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1with the elapse of time when water is permeated into the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1, for a case where the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1contains a surfactant and a case where the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is surfactant free. Table 2 shows the amount of a polysaccharide-based gelling agent (WA-702) contained in the bag body2in Examples 1 to 7 illustrated inFIG. 18and the amount of a surfactant respectively. The surfactant used at that time is Joribu (registered trademark), and values illustrated inFIG. 18are average values in the number of tested samples.

Examples 1 to 4 where 0.7 g of WA-702 was contained will be compared with reference toFIG. 18. As compared with Examples 1 and 2 where 0 g of the surfactant and 0.1 g of the surfactant are contained, respectively, in Examples 3 and 4 where 0.2 g of the surfactant and 0.3 g of the surfactant are contained, respectively, the amount of water supplied into the bag body2was increased by about 10 g.

Likewise, comparison of Examples 5 to 7 where 0.8 g of WA-702 was contained reveals that, as compared with Example 5 where the surfactant was not contained, a larger amount of water was supplied in Examples 6 and 7 where 0.1 g of the surfactant and 0.2 g of the surfactant were contained, respectively.

In the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above, an aircraft equipped with an dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus containing a number of dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1of this type is located above a fire site, and the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1are dropped on the fire site by the dropping apparatus. Alternatively, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus is located above the fire site by a ladder truck, and the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1are dropped on the fire site by the dropping apparatus.

As described above, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is produced by immersing a bag body2containing the gelling agent3in water. Alternatively, other methods usable include a method in which the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is previously produced, the produced dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is loaded on the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus and, together with the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus, is conveyed by an aircraft to a position above a fire site, a method in which a number of bag bodies2containing the gelling agent3are previously loaded on the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus, and, in conveying the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus to a position above a fire site, water is filled into the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus to immerse the bag body2in water to produce the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1, or a method in which a bag body2containing the gelling agent is introduced into the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus into which fire extinguishing water was previously filled.

On the other hand, when fire extinguishing work may be carried out with an aircraft, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus is loaded on the aircraft.

FIG. 2illustrates a helicopter4as an aircraft for use in the above-described aerial fire extinguishing. A slide-type door5is provided on both sides (only one door is shown in the drawing).

As illustrated inFIG. 3, a dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6in an embodiment of the present invention is loaded on an inner side of the door5within the helicopter4.

More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6is formed in a hollow rectangular parallelopiped shape and includes a fire extinguishing agent storage box7on which bag bodies2not permeated with water are loaded, a water tank31that is integrally provided on the side thereof and in which compressed air is stored, and a counter weight6that is integrally provided on the side of the box7below the water tank31.

The water tank31constitutes a discharge unit that applies a pressure to the fire extinguishing agent Z by the stored compressed air to discharge the fire extinguishing agent Z from the fire extinguishing agent storage box7.

The fire extinguishing agent storage box7has opened upper and lower portions. A bottom plate8as an opening/closing member that opens/closes the lower opening is rotatably mounted on the lower portion, and a top plate9that opens/closes the upper opening is rotatably mounted on the upper portion.

A first locking unit10that fixes the bottom plate8to a position that blocks the lower opening is provided between the side edge of the rotatable end of the bottom plate8and the side face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7.

The first locking unit10includes a lock bolt11that is mounted on the side edge of the bottom plate8and rotatable along a face orthogonal to the face of the bottom plate8, a locking plate12that is provided in a protruded state on the side face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7and, in such a state that the bottom plate8is located at the closed position, allows the lock bolt11to be fitted thereinto from a direction orthogonal to the side face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7when the lock bolt11is rotated, and a lock nut13that is threadably mounted on the lock bolt11and, in such a state that the lock bolt11is located at a position of fitting into the locking plate12, is brought into press-contact against the locking plate12to fix the lock bolt11to the locking plate12.

A second locking unit14that fixes the top plate9to a position at which the upper opening is blocked is provided between the side edge of the rotatable end of the top plate9and the side face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7.

The second locking unit14includes a lock bolt15that is mounted on the side face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7and rotatable along a face orthogonal to the face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, a locking plate16that is anchored to the top plate9so as to be protruded from the side edge thereof and, in such a state that the top plate9is located at the closed portion, allows the lock bolt15to be fitted thereinto from a direction orthogonal to the side face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7when the lock bolt15is rotated, and a lock nut17that is threadably mounted on the lock bolt15and, in such a state that the lock bolt15is located at a position of fitting into the locking plate16, is brought into press-contact against the locking plate16to fix the lock bolt15to the locking plate16.

A counter weight30is mounted on a position below the side of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, and a water tank31in which water for the production of a gel-like fire extinguishing agent is stored is formed at the upper portion of the counter weight30.

A water supply pipe19that communicates the water tank31and the fire extinguishing agent storage box7with each other is provided between the water tank31and the fire extinguishing agent storage box7. An opening/closing valve20that communicate the water tank31and the fire extinguishing agent storage box7and blocks that communication between the water tank31and the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is provided at the halfway of the water supply pipe19.

On the other hand, a stay25is integrally mounted on both sides of the counter weight30along the direction of the face of the lower opening of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, and a plurality of guide rollers26are rotatably mounted at predetermined intervals on these stays25.

The guide roller26is fitted into each of a pair of guide rails27provided parallel to a floor face within the helicopter4to lock the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, the water tank31, and the counter weight30to the inside of the helicopter4.

On the other hand, on each of the guide rails, a stopper28that protrudes on a movement locus of the guide roller26and restrains the movement of the guide roller26to position the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is detachably mounted.

The dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6according to an embodiment of the present invention thus constructed is stored at a standby state, for example, at a heliport in such a state that a number of bag bodies2containing a gelling agent3are loaded on the fire extinguishing agent storage box7.

That is, as illustrated inFIG. 4, in such a state that the bottom plate8is fixed at a closed position by the first locking unit10, a number of bag bodies2are loaded from the upper end of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, and the top plate9is fixed at a closed position.

Further, in such a state that an opening/closing valve20is held at a closing position, a predetermined amount of water is filled into the water tank31.

The above operation allows the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6in an embodiment of the present invention to be brought into a standby state.

When fire extinguishing with the helicopter4is requested, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6is loaded on the helicopter4as illustrated inFIG. 5by inserting the guide roller26into between the pair of guide rails27provided within the helicopter4and then mounting a stopper28on these guide rails27to restrain the movement of the guide roller26.

At the same time, the opening/closing vale20is opened, and water contained in the water tank31is fed into the fire extinguishing agent storage box7to immerse the box body2in water to allow the gelling agent3contained in the bag body2to absorb water and thus to start the production of a gel-like fire extinguishing agent. In this case, water is supplied in such an amount that, after the production of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1, enough water to prevent the occurrence of buoyancy in each of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1stays within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7. Water needs to be prepared in an amount corresponding to the capability of the gelling agent which allows fire extinguishing water that can be fed into the dropping apparatus to be supplied within 5 to 15 min.

The opening operation of the opening/closing valve20is carried out so that the production of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent is completed in a period between the takeoff of the helicopter4and the arrival of the aircraft at a position above the fire site.

Upon the arrival of the aircraft at the fire site, the first locking unit10in the loaded dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6is opened, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6is pushed out from the door5(release fixed) of the aircraft to an outside of the aircraft by a predetermined distance, and the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6is fixed at the pushing out position by the stopper28.

At this point, locking by the first locking unit10is released, and, thus, the bottom plate8is rotated downward by its own weight. As a result, the lower portion of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is released as illustrated inFIG. 6.

Thus, the dropping fire extinguishing body1loaded on the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is dropped by its own weight and dropped towards a fire origin. In this case, even after the production of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1, water remains between the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1and between the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1and the inner face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, and, thus, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is less likely to be adhered on the inner face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7. Accordingly, as compared with the case where the whole water within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is gelled followed by dropping, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can be very easily dropped.

Further, in the method in which the whole water within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is gelled followed by dropping, there is a possibility that, after dropping, the gel remains within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7. In the configuration according to the present invention wherein the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is dropped, the fire extinguishing agent within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7can be completely dropped.

The dropped dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is dropped in such a state that the shape is covered by the bag body2. Thus, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is introduced into the fire origin while maintaining its shape and suppressing melting or evaporation, and, when the fire extinguishing body1approaches the fire origin or after the arrival of the fire extinguishing body1at the fire origin, the bag is broken and liquefied and the fire extinguishing body1is applied as a fire extinguishing agent to fire extinguishing.

Accordingly, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is charged as a mass, towards the fire origin, thus is less likely to be buffeted by a wind such as a fire wind, and is dropped through a stable trajectory.

As a result, effective dropping on the fire origin is realized, and, at the same time, heat removal or disappearance of oxygen can be carried out at a position close to the fire origin, leading to effective fire extinguishing.

In order to confirm a heat removing effect of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1, a thermal analysis was carried out for an endothermic reaction of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent with a differential scanning calorimeter DSC6300 manufactured by Seiko Instruments Inc. The dropping-type fire extinguishing body1was heated from room temperature to 1000 degrees Celsius, and the quantity of heat of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent was measured. As a result, it was confirmed that, when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees Celsius, an endothermic reaction occurred by the heat of evaporation of water and, consequently, a heat quantity of about 1932 J/g was absorbed.

In the above-described example, a dropping work of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1on one side face of the helicopter4has been described. As illustrated inFIG. 7, the dropping work may be carried out on both side faces of the helicopter4.

When the dropping work is carried out from both side faces of the helicopter4in synchronization, the dropping area of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can be widened and, at the same time, the weight on the left of the helicopter4and the weight on the right of the helicopter4can be balanced, contributing to enhanced stability of the posture.

As described above, various works of the production of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent, conveying of the fire extinguishing agent, and the dropping of the fire extinguishing agent on a fire origin can be carried out with one dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6, and, thus, these works can be smoothly carried out.

By virtue of the high fire extinguishing efficiency of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1including a gel-like fire extinguishing agent having a shape retained by a bag body2, fire extinguishing at a high altitude with an aircraft can be every effective. At the same time, the safety of the aircraft in fire extinguishing work with the aircraft can be ensured, and rapid response to a fire site that cannot approach from the ground, such as mountain fires and fires at disasters, is possible.

In the above embodiment, an example where the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1is produced during movement to a fire site has been described. Alternatively, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1may be produced before the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6is loaded on an aircraft.

In the above embodiment, an example where the bag body2has a box shape has been described. The bag body2may have any shape, and various shapes may be adopted, such as a cylindrical or disk shape shown inFIG. 8, a triangular pyramid shape shown inFIG. 9, a spherical shape shown inFIG. 10, a cubic shape shown inFIG. 11, or a capsule shape shown inFIG. 12.

In particular, a triangular pyramid or cubic bag body2is more preferably used because the bag body2can be mechanically manufactured in a continuous manner evenly from a roll paper having a constant width and, at the same time, a large amount of the bag body2of this shape can be loaded in the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6. That is, the triangular pyramid or cubic bag body2can be formed by combining regular triangles or squares having an identical shape and thus can easily be manufactured.

Further, when the triangular bag body2is formed, a dropping-type fire extinguishing body1having a weight of about 100 g that is a preferred weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1of the present invention can be obtained by forming a regular triangular pyramid having a length of 8 cm per side.

Further, an example where a number of bag bodies2are loaded in the fire extinguishing agent storage box7and, at the same time, water is poured into the fire extinguishing agent storage box7to produce the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1has been described. In this case, there is a possibility that, when a number of dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1are stacked on top of each other, the lower dropping-type fire extinguishing body is collapsed by the weight of the upper dropping-type fire extinguishing body1. That is, when, after the production of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1, residual water exists in an amount large enough to produce buoyance in each of the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, no problem occurs, but on the other hand, when residual water hardly exists, it may be expected that dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1located at lower positions are collapsed. The residual water refers to water that exists between the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1and between these dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1and the inner face of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7.

To prevent this phenomenon, as shown inFIG. 13, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of partition walls40are provided within the fire extinguishing agent storage box7so as to vertically divide the inside of the box7into a plurality of portions, each of the partition walls40are formed of, for example, punch plates having a number of through-holes, one ends of these punch plates are rotatably connected to the inner wall of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7through a hinge41, and, further, a third locking unit42is provided between each of the other end and the inner wall of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7so as to be engaged with or disengaged from each of the partition walls40and the bottom plate8, to lock the bottom plate8and each of the partition walls40at positions that vertically partition the inside of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7. According to this configuration, the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1are dispersedly loaded in the partitioned areas.

The third locking unit42is configured so that the state of engagement with the bottom plate8and each of the partition walls40that are in a locked stated are successively released from the lower side by the rotation of the third locking unit42.

Accordingly, the rotation of the third locking unit42allows the bottom plate8, the lower partition wall40, and the upper partition wall40to be successively rotated by their own weight, and the dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1mounted thereon are successively dropped (seeFIGS. 14 and 15).

On the other hand, the bag body2is contained in the fire extinguishing agent storage box7by rotating each of the partition walls40upwardly in such a state that the top plate9is opened, first engaging the bottom plate8with the third locking unit42to lock the bottom plate8at a closed position, mounting a plurality of the bag bodies2on the bottom plate8, then rotating the lower partition wall40downwardly to engage the lower partition wall40with the third locking unit42to lock the lower partition wall40at the position that partitions the inside of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, placing a plurality of the bag bodies2thereon, then engaging the upper partition wall40with the third locking unit42in the same manner as described above in connection with the lower partition wall40and then placing the bag bodies2thereon.

The fire extinguishing agent storage box7can be brought into a standby state by fixing the top plate9at the closed position.

Here when water is poured into the fire extinguishing agent storage box7, the water flows downward into the fire extinguishing agent storage box7from the through-holes in the partition wall40to fill the inside of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7with the water.

When the inside of the fire extinguishing agent storage box7is filled with water, water is permeated into each of the bag bodies2to produce gel-like fire extinguishing agents and thus to produce dropping-type fire extinguishing bodies1and these dropping type fire extinguishing bodies1are dispersedly supported by the bottom plate8and each of the partition walls40for each of a plurality of partitioned areas.

Thus, the load applied to the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1located at the lower portion is reduced to prevent collapse or the like.

It is noted that an example where transverse-mounted partition walls40formed of a punch plate or the like are provided in two stages has been described. Alternatively, a three- to five-stage configuration may be adopted. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which the partition wall40is taken in and out, for example, by sliding the partition wall40in a horizontal or nearly horizontal lateral direction.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 16, an aerial fire extinguishing bucket51that is suspended from the aircraft for fire extinguishing work may be used as the dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus6. The dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can be used by merely immersing the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1in water contained in the aerial fire extinguishing bucket51.

A bottom dropping apparatus52that allows a valve to be opened in response to a signal may be provided at the bottom of the aerial fire extinguishing bucket51.

As illustrated inFIG. 17, the bottom dropping apparatus52is provided with a waterproof electric lock53and is configured so that the valve is opened manually or in response to a signal from a program.

In an embodiment of the present invention, even when the aerial fire extinguishing bucket51is used, a gel-like fire extinguishing agent having an outer shape retained by the bag body can be dropped. Accordingly, the scattering of the gel-like fire extinguishing agent can be prevented, and the gel-like fire extinguishing agent can be dropped on a fire site with a high probability.

Further, the gel-like fire extinguishing agent is formed only within the bag body2, and, thus, the gel-like fire extinguishing agent is less likely to be adhered to the aerial fire extinguishing bucket51, whereby the whole amount of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can be easily and completely discharged.

Further, depending upon the type (a rotary blade or a stationary blade) of an aircraft applied as an aerial fire extinguishing equipment, a dropping-type fire extinguishing body dropping apparatus that can maximally utilizes the structure can be newly designed, or alternatively, an existing fire extinguishing water dropping apparatus as such may be used for the dropping of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body.

For example, a belly tank mounted on the bottom of an aircraft that is utilized as a fire attacker as such can be used as long as, due to the size of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body, the dropping of the fire extinguishing body is restricted by the opening of the belly tank.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, since the gel-like fire extinguishing agent is filled into the inside of the bag body, a dropping point of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1can easily be predicted with a high accuracy from the surface area and weight of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1(bag body2) and the height of dropping position.

Specifically, the dropping-type fire extinguishing body can be dropped while predicting a position of dropping of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body on a fire site with a high accuracy by calculating an optimal dropping point with dropping properties of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1being added from information on wind direction and speed and information on fire position of a fire site, information on position, altitude, course, and speed of the aircraft and information on the weight and shape of the dropping-type fire extinguishing body1.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST