Abstract:
A targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system comprising: a droppable extinguisher package, adapted for filling and handling, for containing fire suppressant solution, and bursting when it hits a target on the ground full of said fire suppressant solution and dropped from a height; a quantity of fire suppressant solution inside said droppable extinguisher package; and a package dispenser, adapted for suspending, for holding said droppable extinguisher package and dropping said droppable extinguisher package upon command. A stirrer adapted to be inserted into said droppable extinguisher package for stirring said fire suppressant solution may also be provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES 
     The Applicants claim the benefit of Disclosure Document No. 431,309 filed Jan. 12, 1998 and their Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/179,357, filed Jan. 31, 2000. The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/271,626 is also hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of fire suppression and more particularly to a system for dropping packages of fire extinguisher materials which are designed to burst and spray fire suppressant over a limited target area upon impact. 
     Currently fire suppressant or retardant is dropped on or in front of established fires by aerial tanker, which can be either a fixed wing aircraft (e.g. what is popularly known as a “superscooper”) or a helicopter. The tanker includes a tank with bottom opening doors. In fixed wing aircraft, the tank is filled with fire retardant or suppressant solution while the doors are closed. Then the tanker is flown to a strategically selected location over the fire. Finally, the doors are opened which allows the fire retardant or suppressant solution to fall under the influence of gravity. Helicopters carry a bucket suspended underneath by a cable with the ability to spill the suppressant, upon command from the cockpit, onto the area near the fire. 
     Newly developed wildland fire fighting systems will allow these fires to be detected at inception. See U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/271,626. Then fire suppression must be administered with great accuracy. This new method of fighting small wildland fires will require a fire suppressant capability which: 1) can contain a droppable suppression package, 2) can be rapidly replenished, 3) can be easily loaded into or suspended from an aerial fire suppression vehicle, 4) has a refillable suppression package that is droppable at will from the fire suppression vehicle, and 5) is able to target fire suppressant onto an identified, limited area. 
     Development of a fire suppressant system which: 1) can contain a droppable suppression package, 2) can be rapidly replenished, 3) can be easily loaded into or suspended from an aerial fire suppression vehicle, 4) has a refillable suppression package that is droppable at will from the fire suppression vehicle, and 5) is able to target fire suppressant onto an identified, limited area represents a great improvement in the field of fire suppression and satisfies a long felt need of wildland fire fighting services. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a fire suppressant droppable package/package dispenser which: 1) can contain a droppable suppression package, 2) can be rapidly replenished, 3) can be easily loaded into or suspended from an aerial fire suppression vehicle, 4) has a refillable suppression package that is droppable at will from the fire suppression vehicle, and 5) is able to target fire suppressant onto an identified, limited area. 
     The basic invention is a remotely controllable extinguisher dispenser that can be refilled with a droppable extinguisher package. One embodiment of his invention comprises: a housing; a top plate with a central hole across the top of the housing; a bag, with a neck made to fit inside the hole, made of pliable material, designed to contain fire suppressant solution, fit snugly yet freely inside the housing when full, and burst when it hits the ground and dropped from a height; a quantity of fire suppressant solution inside the bag; a bottom plate, hingeably attached to the bottom of the housing; a suspending mechanism for suspending the housing; a latch for releasably latching the bottom plate in a closed position; a latch release moveably attached to the latch and the housing; a lid, sized to fit inside the neck, with a handle and a threaded loading port through it firmly assembled inside the neck; a threaded closure, adapted to be inserted into and removed from the threaded loading port; and a securing mechanism, attached to the top plate adjacent the hole, designed to hold the neck/lid assembly when the first bag is full of fire suppressant solution and the bottom plate is latched closed and to release the neck/lid assembly when the bag is full of fire suppressant solution and the bottom plate is open. 
     In this first embodiment, the extinguisher package comprises: the bag, filled with a quantity of fire suppressant solution; the lid; and the threaded closure; and the package dispenser comprises: the housing; the top plate; the bottom plate; the suspending mechanism; the latch; the latch release; and the securing mechanism. 
     A second embodiment of this invention also includes: a first valved port, passing through the lid and pressurized gas inside the bag. 
     A second embodiment of this invention also includes: a second valved port passing through the lid; a second bag having a neck and made of pliable material, smaller than the first bag, located inside the first bag; the neck of the second bag being attached to the interior portion of the second valve; pressurized gas inside the second bag; and sharp point(s) attached to the interior of the first bag. 
     Also provided with this invention may be a stirrer adapted to be inserted into the first bag through the threaded opening. The threaded opening may be canted to allow the stirrer to clear the second bag. 
    
    
     An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and description of a preferred embodiment. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a three dimensional, exterior view of the fire suppressant package dispenser of this invention showing the extinguisher dispenser, partially open, and the package bag lid. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of two embodiments of the package bag which goes inside the extinguisher dispenser illustrated on FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic of the fully assembled invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partially cut away, exploded view illustrating assembly of the package bag and bag lid. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial, exterior, three dimensional view of the assembled package bag and lid. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a typical dispenser lid mounting assembly. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial, three-dimensional view of the top of the invention, illustrating in greater detail a typical suspending mechanism. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view through a package lid, illustrating several embodiments of the invention and its solution mixing capability. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a three dimensional, exterior view of the targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system  10  of this invention, partially open. The dispenser housing  14  is essentially cylindrical and hollow with a top plate  18  affixed to and closing its top  22 . A suspending mechanism  26 , which allows for the targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system  10  to be handled, and loaded into or suspended from an air vehicle, is attached to the dispenser housing  14 . At the bottom  30  of the housing  14 , the bottom plate  34  is attached by a hinge  38 . A latch  42  enables keeping the bottom plate  34  in the closed position. A latch opening mechanism  46  is attached to the latch  42  and the housing  14  in order to enable remote operation of the latch  42 . Attached, approximately centrally to the top plate  18 , is a securing mechanism  50 . A bag/lid assembly  54  is secured within the securing mechanism  50 . Only the lid portion  58  of the assembly  54  is visible in the view shown on FIG.  1 . The function and construction of the securing mechanism  50  and lid  58  will become apparent from descriptions below. 
     While the housing  14  shown on FIG. 1 is a typical 55 gallon drum, made of steel, it will be apparent to those most familiar with the technology which this invention pertains that other dispenser styles, designs and materials of housing  14  could easily be used. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the package bag  62  of this invention. This bag  62  is made of flexible material which is compatible with the desired fire suppressant solution, such as metallized Mylar®. It is constructed so that it will fit inside the housing  14  with a close but free fit so that, when the bag  62  is fall of the fire suppressant solution, it will slide easily out of the housing  14 . The bag  62  has a neck  66  and is designed so that, when full of solution and dropped from a height, it will burst when it hits the target, which is on the ground. Such a design may be achieved by appropriately weakening or scoring the bag  62  at strategic locations. 
     FIG. 2 also illustrates an alternate embodiment of this invention  10 . Inside the first bag  62  is second, smaller bag  70 . This second bag  70  is designed and constructed similarly to the first bag  62 . The second bag also has a neck  74 . However this second bag  74  is designed to be filled with a compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide, air, or nitrogen. To insure that this second bag  74  ruptures when the first bag  62  hits the ground, one or more sharp points  78  is attached to the inside  82  of the first bag  62  at strategic locations. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic of one embodiment of a fully assembled targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system  10  of this invention. The first bag  62  is inserted in the dispenser housing  14 , the bottom plate  34  is in the latched closed position, and the first bag  62  is full of the selected fire suppressant solution  86 . The neck  66  of the bag  62  is assembled to a lid  58 . The neck/lid portion  94  of the bag/lid assembly  54  fits closely but freely through an opening  96  in the top plate  18  and is retained with a securing mechanism  50 . The function of the securing mechanism  50  is to hold the filled bag  62  within the housing  14  when the bottom plate  34  is latched closed but to release the bag  62  fall of fire suppressant solution  86  when the bottom plate  34  is open. 
     FIG. 4 is a partially cut away, exploded view illustrating assembly of the bag  62  and bag lid  58 . The lid  58  is fairly thick and has annular grooves  100  in its circumference  104 . This circumference  104  is coated with a thermosetting adhesive  108  and the lid  58  placed within the neck  66 . A shrink fit band  112  is then the placed around the neck  66 . Finally, hot air is applied to the shrink fit band  112  in order to shrink the band  112  and cure the adhesive  108 . The assembly  94  will then look as illustrated in FIG.  5 . FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a preferred method for assembling the lid  58  to the neck  66  of the bag  62 . It will be apparent to those to whom this invention is most familiar, that other assembly methods can be devised. 
     There is a filling port  116  through the lid  58 . This port  116  is preferably threaded and can be closed with a mating closure  120 . The port  116  and closure  120  are similar to the gasoline filling mechanisms of automobiles. Of course, alternatives to threaded ports and closures exist and could easily be substituted. There may be one or two more holes  124  through the lid  58 . These are for installation of optional gas filling valves  128 ,  130  (see FIG. 8) which are just like valves used for filling tires. There is also a handle  132  on the lid  58  to facilitate handling of the unfilled bag/lid assembly  54 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a typical neck/lid mounting assembly  136 . This assembly is made from several pieces of metal extrusion  140 ,  144 , of specific cross-section as shown on FIG. 6, and a band of elastomer  148  connected together with a tightening screw  152 , as illustrated on FIG.  6 . When the tightening screw  152  is tightened in the direction of the first arrow  156 , the elastomer bulges outward in the direction of the second arrow  160 . The assembly  136  is fastened to the top plate  18  adjacent the opening  96 . It will readily be appreciated that, when the neck/lid assembly  94  is adjacent to this mounting assembly  136 , tightening the screw  152  will retain the neck/lid assembly  94  within the mounting ring  136  with a specific amount pressure. The pressure is selected so that the filled bag  62  stays within the housing  14  when the bottom plate  34  is latched closed, but slides out when the bottom plate  34  is open. Although the neck/lid mounting assembly  136  is illustrated on this and other Figures as being continuous and circular, it could be comprised of arcuate segments. Clearly, again, other methods of insuring that the filled bag  62  stays within the housing  14  when the bottom plate  34  is latched closed but slides out when the bottom plate  34  is open, can be devised. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial, three-dimensional view of the top of the dispenser housing  14 , illustrating in greater detail a typical suspending mechanism  26 . This mechanism  26  is designed for the case when the housing is a  55  gallon drum and consists of: several straps  164 , which curl around the rim  168  of the drum; several cross straps  172 , which hold the straps  164  in a particular relationship; and several hanger bars  176 , which are attached to and project vertically from the straps  174 . Clearly, again, other designs of suspending mechanism  26  would work equally well and may be necessary with other designs of housing. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view through a bag/lid assembly  54 , illustrating several embodiments of the invention  10  and its solution mixing capability. In case the fire suppressant solution  86  settles during storage, a propeller  180  designed to fit through the filling port  116  is provided. The propeller  180  can be rotated from the outside by motor in standard fashion. 
     The optional first valve  128  may be installed in order to allow pressurization with compressed gas  188  when the fire suppressant solution  86  is contained within the first bag  62 . The purpose of the pressurization is to increase the spread of the fire suppressant solution  86  when the bag  62  bursts upon impact with the target. 
     The second bag  70 , if used, is attached to the inner portion  184  of the second optional valve  130 . It is then pressurized with compressed gas  188 . When the first bag  62  hits the target, the sharp point(s)  78  will prick the second bag  70 , thus bursting it like a balloon. The function of the second bag  70  is also to increase spread of fire suppressant solution  86  when the first bag  62  bursts upon impact with the target. 
     One method of fabricating this targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system  10  is: 
     1. fabricating the housing  14 ; 
     2. fabricating the top plate  18 ; 
     3. cutting a hole  96  through the top plate  18 ; 
     4. attaching the top plate  18  to the top  22  of the housing; 
     5. fabricating the first bag  62 ; 
     6. fabricating the bottom plate  34 ; 
     7. hingeably attaching the bottom plate  34  to the bottom  30  of the housing; 
     8. fabricating a suspending mechanism  26 ; 
     9. attaching the suspending mechanism  26  to the housing  14 ; 
     10. attaching a latch  42  to the housing  14 ; 
     11. fabricating a latch release  46 ; 
     12. attaching the latch release  46  to the latch  42  and the housing  14 ; 
     13. fabricating a lid  58 , which will fit inside the neck  66  of the bag  62 , with a handle  132  and a filling port  116 ; 
     14. assembling the lid  58  inside the neck  66  of the bag  62 ; 
     15. fabricating a securing mechanism  50 ; 
     16. attaching the securing mechanism  50  to the top plate  18  adjacent the hole  96 ; 
     17. placing the bag  62  with its assembled lid  58  inside the housing  14  and inserting the neck/lid portion  94  through the hole  96  and into the securing mechanism  50 ; 
     18. retaining the neck/lid assembly  94  within the securing mechanism  50  with the desired pressure; 
     19. latching the bottom plate  34  in its closed position with the latch  42 ; 
     20. mixing a batch of fire suppressant solution  86 ; 
     21. filling the bag  62  with the fire suppressant solution  86  through the filling port  116 ; 
     22. providing a threaded closure  120 , adapted to mate with the threads of the filling port  116 ; and 
     23. threading the closure  116  into the filling port  116 . 
     If pressurization of the first bag  62  is desired, the method will further include: 
     24. providing a first valved port  120 ; 
     25. installing the first valved port  120  through the lid  58 ; and 
     26. pressurizing the inside of the bag  62  with compressed gas  188  through this first valved port  120 . 
     If the second bag is necessary, the method will include: 
     27. providing a second valved port  130 ; 
     28. installing this second valved port  130  through the lid  58  prior to assembling the lid  58  inside the first neck  66 ; 
     29. attaching sharp point(s)  78  to the interior of the first bag  62  prior to assembling the lid  58  to the neck  66 ; 
     30. fabricating the second bag  70 ; 
     31. attaching the neck  74  of the second bag  70  to the interior portion  184  of the second valved port  130 ; 
     32. placing the second bag  70  inside the first bag  62  prior to assembling the lid  58  inside the first neck  66 ; and 
     33. pressurizing the second bag  70  with compressed gas  188  through the second valved port  130  after the threaded closure  120  has been threaded into the filling port  116 . 
     If it is necessary to stir the solution  86  in the first bag  62  after the targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system  10  has been fully assembled, it will be necessary to: 
     34. remove the closure  120  from the threaded opening  116 ; 
     35. insert the stirrer  180  into the first bag  62  through the threaded hole  116 ; and 
     36. stir the solution  86  for a time sufficient to make it homogeneous again. 
     If a second bag  70  is installed inside the first bag  62 , it may be necessary to cant the threaded opening  116  so that the stirrer  180  clears the second bag  70 . 
     The following reference numerals are used on FIGS.  1  through  8 : 
       10  Targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system 
       14  Housing 
       18  Top plate 
       22  Top of housing 
       26  Suspending mechanism 
       30  Bottom of housing 
       34  Bottom plate 
       38  Hinge 
       42  Latch 
       46  Latch opening mechanism 
       50  Securing mechanism 
       54  Bag/lid assembly 
       58  Lid 
       62  First bag 
       66  Neck of first bag 
       70  Second bag 
       74  Neck of second bag 
       78  Sharp point 
       82  Inside of first bag 
       86  Fire suppressant solution 
       94  Neck/lid portion of bag/lid assembly 
       96  Opening in top plate 
       100  Annular grooves 
       104  Circumference of lid 
       108  Thermosetting adhesive 
       112  Shrink fit band 
       116  Filling port 
       120  Port closure 
       124  Optional holes through lid 
       128  First gas filling valve 
       130  Second gas filling valve 
       132  Handle 
       140  First metal extrusion 
       144  Second metal extrusion 
       148  Elastomer band 
       152  Tightening screw 
       156  Tightening direction 
       160  Bulging direction 
       164  Strap 
       168  Rim of drum 
       172  Cross strap 
       176  Hangar bar 
       180  Propeller 
       184  Inner portion of second valve 
       188  Compressed gas 
     The targeting, small wildland fire extinguisher dropping system  10  has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.