Abstract:
A mobile self-propelled vehicle for fighting fires incorporates an extensible, trainable evacuation tube which can be introduced into a burning building or other enclosed space to remove smoke and gases by means of a power exhaust fan. Fire extinguishing materials can be injected into the space through the same evacuation tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing smoke and gases from enclosed areas where fires are being fought, particularly apparatus mounted upon self-propelled fire-fighting vehicles. 
     2. Description of the Relevant Art 
     Ventilation techniques can be used in fire fighting to control the movement of air and smoke as well as hot, flammable or hazardous gases. Proper ventilation can serve many purposes. For example, with small fires, ventilation can exhaust smoke to minimize smoke damage to property. With larger, more serious fires, exhausting smoke can reduce the risk of personal injury to both firefighters and occupants of the burning structure. Proper ventilation can remove hot air and combustible gases, thus slowing the spread of the fire. Even in “non-fire” emergencies, ventilation can remove toxic and/or flammable gases arising from various sources. 
     Fighting and extinguishing fires in enclosed structures such as buildings often requires the firefighters to enter such areas to rescue occupants and/or to take more effective steps to fight the fire directly. However, the presence of smoke and gases in enclosed areas where fires are burning makes it very difficult for the firefighters to find their way inside, and breathing and protective apparatus must often be used, which limits the time such personnel can spend in actual firefighting. This is particularly difficult for “blind” fires, which may be defined as fires originating from sources that cannot be seen or located precisely, and which yield large quantities of smoke and gases. It would thus be desirable to evacuate or dissipate such smoke and gases from the area where firefighters are required to enter, to improve their effectiveness and provide for their safety while performing their duties. Furthermore, most fires burn upwardly in confined spaces, thus igniting and burning through the floors above. It is often necessary to send firefighters to the roofs of burning buildings to open spaces to ventilate the fire, thus creating personnel hazards. It would be desirable to reduce the tendency of the flames to move upward and avoid the necessity of roof ventilation. 
     A few patents can be found for apparatus designed to achieve these ends. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,563 discloses a fire truck mounting a compressor and other equipment designed to introduce compressed air into a confined space to expel smoke and gases, with the flow of air thereafter to be reversed to provide fresh air to the space. 
     L. C. Moore has at least three patents in this area of interest. His U.S. Pat. No. 1,874,573 discloses a portable fan and hood system which can be attached to a ground level window or other aperture of a burning building to withdraw smoke and gases. U.S. Pat. No. 1,926,298 discloses a fire truck carrying a blower and a long, flexible hose which can be introduced into a window or other opening in a burning building to withdraw smoke and gases. U.S. Pat. No. 2,078,580 discloses a similar fire truck carrying a power exhauster attached to an extensible smoke stack. Portable conduits can be attached to the smoke stack in sections. 
     Clark discloses a dual purpose fire fighting and ventilation apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,364. The apparatus includes a rigid conduit which can be connected to a water source at one end and a nozzle at the other. The nozzle end is inserted into a window of a burning building and water is directed through the conduit and nozzle, which is directed to spray outwardly through the window. The result is an aspiration effect which draws smoke and gases out of the building. When enough smoke has been withdrawn, the nozzle can be repositioned and the flow of water redirected to attack the source of the fire directly. 
     Bateman and Panter disclose another fire fighting ventilation system in U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,233 which is a portable apparatus for supporting and operating ventilation fans. Wheels and adjustable legs and arms are provided to allow the fans to be positioned on uneven surfaces so as to evacuate smoke from accessible areas of burning buildings, preferably directing the flow out a window or the like. 
     Despite these early efforts, fire fighting is an evolutionary science, with efforts continuing to develop apparatus and methods to improve the effectiveness of fighting fires in various enclosed spaces. In some cases, modern construction materials and methods as well as the contents of various buildings have complicated the tasks of fire fighters. For example, many synthetic fabrics and construction materials used in modern buildings produce voluminous, dense smoke and toxic gases while burning. There is clearly a need for improved apparatus for evacuating smoke and gases from burning buildings and other enclosed spaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a mobile, self-propelled apparatus capable of removing smoke and gases from burning buildings or other enclosed spaces. Another object of the invention is to provide a self-propelled vehicle which can be positioned close to such burning buildings and provide a stable platform for apparatus to withdraw the smoke and gases. A related object of the invention is to provide a stable foundation for the apparatus when positioned close to a burning structure. A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible channel to penetrate the burning building and a powered exhaust system to remove the smoke and gases. Another object of the invention is to provide means for injecting fire extinguishing materials into the building once the smoke has been evacuated. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a mobile self-propelled evacuating fire vehicle is provided, comprising an extensible evacuation tube operatively connected to mechanical suction means and including means for positioning the tube for entry into a window or similar opening in a burning structure. Preferably, the evacuation tube can be extended and retracted by remotely-controlled power means to facilitate insertion into or withdrawal from such a window. The positioning means can include mechanical means for training the tube laterally, as with a rotary turret, and means for elevating and depressing the tube above and below the horizontal plane. The entry end or nose cone of the tube can be fitted with doors which can be opened and closed, again preferably by remotely-controlled power means. The entry end or nose cone can also be fitted with remotely-controlled power means for adjusting its aim in both lateral and vertical directions so as to aim the open doors in the most effective direction. This is particularly helpful when the tube is equipped with hoses or other channels to carry firefighting materials such as water or chemicals to the entry end of the tube and propel them toward the source of the fire. The vehicle should have sufficient wheels or other drive means to support each corner of the vehicle, and at least two drive wheels or other drive means. To facilitate movement through wet or slippery terrain, the vehicle should have all-wheel drive or the equivalent. Additionally, to facilitate providing a stable base for movement of the tube, the vehicle preferably has at least one wheel on each side which can be extended laterally and positioned vertically to support the vehicle, even on sloping or irregular terrain. The vehicle includes a prime mover for its own propulsion and power take-offs or auxiliary power units to meet all the energy needs involved in manipulating and exerting suction with the evacuation tube. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following detailed description of preferred embodiments together with the drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of a vehicle incorporating the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the vehicle illustrating the training and extension of the evacuation tube of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the tip of the evacuation tube. 
     FIG. 3A is a detailed view of certain features at the tip of the evacuation tube. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the vehicle with its extensible wheels extended and bracing the vehicle in place. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the vehicle, cut away to reveal pneumatic equipment. 
     FIG. 7A is a detail view of the extender wheel mechanism of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed cutaway view of the evacuation tube in extended position. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating drive mechanisms for the evacuation tube. 
     FIG. 10 is a cutaway view illustrating the mechanism for opening the nose cone gates of the evacuation tube. 
     FIG. 11 is an end view of the evacuation tube with nose cone gates closed. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the control panel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It should be understood that the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention is merely representative of many possible embodiments and thus is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the following description, like structures will be referred to by similar numerical designations. In some figures, some features will be omitted to clarify the illustration of the remaining features. 
     Referring now to the drawings, a typical embodiment of a fire vehicle  16  incorporating the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7. Front wheels  60  and rear wheels  62  are provided, preferably with drive power being available to all wheels on demand. Although wheels are shown for conventional support and drive means, tracks or other suitable support/drive means can be used as appropriate. The vehicle preferably has relatively high ground clearance, e.g. at least about 8 inches, to allow easy passage of rough terrain. Front doors  80  and rear doors  84  afford easy access for driver and crew. 
     The vehicle&#39;s most important component is an extensible evacuation tube  20  with exhaust section  23  and a nose cone  25  containing nose cone gates  24 . The evacuation tube  20  can include at least two telescoping tubes, described below, or any other suitable means of extending the tube to greater length from the carrying and storage position shown. In transit, the tube is supported by support rack  64 . The tube can be fabricated of light metals such as aluminum and alloys thereof, and/or high temperature polymer composites. 
     The tube is extended and retracted by power systems actuated remotely from driver&#39;s control panel  36 , discussed below. The tube can be elevated above the horizontal plane, and depressed below same when trained over either side of the vehicle, by power units  66  and  68 , discussed below. These mechanisms should be designed to allow elevation of the tube to at least about 45 degrees above the horizontal, and about 15 degrees below the horizontal. Fan or blower  22  is driven by motor  21 , shown schematically in the center of the tube. Control panel  36  allows the operator to actuate the fan to evacuate air through the tube or to reverse the flow, at various rates. To minimize damage from hot gases and liquids, the motor can be located outside the tube and the fan driven remotely by mechanical means such as gears or chains (not shown here). (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1,926,298, which is incorporated herein by reference.) 
     The motor can be electrical, internal combustion or pneumatically driven, depending upon the prime mover of the vehicle and other power sources provided in the design. A power take-off from the vehicle can also be used, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,926,298. Suitable air-cooled internal combustion engines are widely available commercially. Small but powerful gas turbine units are also available and can be used. Similarly, the power for moving the tube in its various directions can be pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, or suitable combinations thereof. Suitable connections for pressurized fluids, power and switching are provided, with due regard for the operating motions of the apparatus. 
     Turret  32  mounts the tube  20  on brackets  70  or the equivalent, and is capable of rotating by means of power-driven gears  71  to train the tube through at least 180 degrees, preferably about 360 degrees. Screen  72  is mounted upwind of the motor  21  and blower  22  within the tube  20  to trap debris. Floodlights or spotlights  28  are mounted in at least one suitable external position on the tube to illuminate the work area. Swivel joint  34 , described below in FIGS. 9-11, allows the nose cone  25  of the tube  20  to be positioned vertically and laterally for aiming purposes. Nose cone gates  24  are normally closed while the vehicle is in transit or inactive, then opened as discussed below to allow smoke and gases to freely enter the tube. A screen  132  (shown in FIG. 10) can be provided in nose cone  25  to screen the entry to tube  20 . The exhaust section  23  is elevated slightly to permit the tube to be elevated at least about 20 degrees without causing the exhaust section to strike the rear deck of the vehicle. Exhaust section  23  can be elevated and depressed about 40 degrees relative to tube  20  by power unit  66  and rod  67 , by bending flexible joint  48 . Flex joint  48  is fabricated of metal and high temperature fabrics or polymers. Greater elevation and depression of the tube  20  can be attained if it is trained to project over the side of the vehicle. 
     At least one external tank  52  of fire fighting materials (such as dry chemicals, carbon dioxide or water) is provided on the vehicle and connected to the tube via hoses  102  and junction  99 . Hose retractor  101  is spring loaded and allows extra hose to pay out as tube  20  is elevated and/or trained or extended, then retracts ths hose as the tube again approaches the stow position. Hoses  102  extend along the top of tube  20  to carry fire extinguishing materials from tanks  52  and  54  plus water from tank  94  (shown in FIG.  7 ). These hoses are supported by at least one bracket  82 , and can be extended from reel  101  when tube  20  is extended. Hoses  102  enter tube  20  and nose cone  25  at  27 . When the smoke has been evacuated, the tube  20  can be extended and the nose cone  25  positioned to direct a flow of such fire fighting materials at the source of the fire through nozzle  75  (shown in FIG.  3 ), with the flow being actuated from control panel  36 . Similarly, water can be pumped from tank  94  through hoses  102  to nozzle  76  in nose cone  25 . Water and firefighting materials can be blown into the fire site by reversing the flow of motor  21  and fan  22 . When evacuating smoke, water can be released from nozzle  76  to extinguish sparks and cool gases in passage through tube  20 . Connections  55  and  57  are provided for filling the inner tanks. 
     Various accessory components can be provided on the vehicle which are common to fire fighting vehicles and assist the firefighters in using the invention effectively. For example, extension ladder  38  provides a useful feature. Various cabinets and storage areas  40  (on right side) and  41  (rear) are provided for firefighting tools and equipment. The vehicle provides a well-equipped driver/control compartment covered with a clear dome  56  which is fire and impact resistant to provide both protection and good visiblity for the crew. In addition to the driver/operator, space is provided for at least two additional firefighters to assist in operating the vehicle and fighting the fire. In addition to conventional headlights  74 , the vehicle carries search/flood lights  44 , which can be either permanently mounted (e.g., on the fender) or directionally controlled from the driver/operator compartment as is conventional in emergency vehicles. A power-driven winch  46  can be provided near the front bumper  47  to enable the vehicle to exert pulling force on other vehicles, portions of structures or the like. The winch can be used to remove window grilles from structures when necessary. 
     Extender wheels  58  can be extended laterally and adjusted vertically to provide support for the vehicle, as described in detail below. Pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders  87  and A-frames  89  are provided for this purpose. Wheels  58  allow the vehicle to be moved slightly when they are in place. The extender wheels  58  can be positioned to maintain the vehicle in a stable position even when it is necessary to park on sloping or irregular surfaces, and assist in maintaining the vehicle in position even when the tube  20  is trained out over the side and fully extended. Extender wheels  58  can also be used to stabilize the vehicle during sharp turns. In addition, sufficient ballast weight near the base of the vehicle (not shown) is provided so that the vehicle can remain level even when fuel and water tanks are empty and the tube  20  is trained and extended fully over one side or the other. 
     As seen in FIG. 2 from overhead, tube  20  can be trained laterally via turret  32  and brackets  70 . The tube can be extended so that telescoping tube sections  20 A and  20 B protrude, using the power equipment shown in FIG.  8  and discussed below. FIGS. 2 and 4 also illustrate the ability of nose cone  25  to be aimed laterally (as well as vertically) through swivel joint  34 , as described in detail below. FIG. 3 shows the nose cone  25 , tube  20  with telescoping tubes  20 A and  20 B partially extended, and nose cone gates  24  opened to allow smoke and gases to be sucked in. Gates  24  are hingedly attached to tube  20 B. Nozzle  75  is placed to permit firefighting materials such as dry chemicals to be directed at the source of the fire when appropriate, being pumped from tank  52  via hoses  102 . At least one floodlight  33  is provided inside the gates  24  to illuminate the target. A second nozzle  76  can pump water from inner tank  94 . Exterior coil springs  42  are attached to swivel joint  34  and nose cone gates  24  to hold the gates open. Gate cables  134  are attached to the inner surfaces of each gate to close same, as discussed below. FIG. 3A illustrates additional features, discussed below in conjunction with FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the right side of the vehicle, with connections  55  and  57  for filling inner tanks  54  and  94 . Nose cone  25  is elevated slightly, gates  24  closed and tube  20  is in the stowed position in bracket  64  for travel. Extender wheels  58  are retracted and fastened in elevated stowed positions above the ground for travel. Hoses  102  lead from hose reel  101  to enter tube  20  at  27 , near nose cone  25 . FIG. 5, a front view of the vehicle, shows extender wheels  58  in the extended position, touching the ground to stabilize the vehicle&#39;s position. A frames  89  and stub axles  88  support the wheels. Cylinder  68  is actuated to elevate or depress tube  20  via rod  69 . Tube  20  pivots about pin  73  in bracket  70 . 
     FIG. 7, a right side partial cutaway view of the vehicle, provides a schematic illustration of a 24 volt generator  90  which can be powered by electrical or gas motors or gas turbines, air compressor  92 , water tank  94  and fire extinguisher tank  54 , all mounted behind the crew seats and below the rear deck to take full advantage of this space. The generator  90  provides auxiliary power for various units as needed through suitable wiring and connections. Air compressor  92  provides compressed air at suitable pressures up to about 100 psi to actuate various pneumatic components including the extenders for tube  20 , nose cone gates  24 , swiveling nose cone  25  around swivel joint  34 , the training of turret  32  and elevation of tube  20  and exhaust section  23 . The air compressor is also driven by a suitable power source as discussed above. Water tank  94  contains at least about 100 gallons of water for use in tube nozzle  75  and other applications. The tank should contain baffles inside to prevent sloshing water from affecting the balance of the vehicle, especially in transit. Water can also be piped into tank  94  from a hydrant connection or other source via connection  55  to prevent running out of water in extended missions. Fire extinguisher tank  54  can be recharged via connection  57 . 
     Extender wheel  58  is shown in the extended position, with rear wheels  62  omitted for clarity. Extender wheel  58  is mounted on a stub axle  88  attached to A-frame  89 , which is hingedly connected to the vehicle body at  85  and  86 . Wheels  58  are extended and lowered into operating position by pneumatic cylinder  87  and rod  97 . Conventional suspension equipment (not shown) ensures that the extender wheels  58  are in vertical position when they are raised and stowed and when they are lowered to the ground. 
     Tube  20  contains at least one telescoping tube within which can be extended and retracted, shown in this embodiment as tubes  20 A and  20 B. Although any suitable power source can be used for the extension and retraction, including hydraulics, magnetics or mechanical springs, FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a pneumatic system for this operation. Tubes  20 ,  20 A and  20 B are arranged in a telescoping relationship which permits easy extension and retraction. Suitable seals (not shown) can be provided to keep dirt and moisture from penetrating the spaces between the tubes. Separate air cylinders  91  and  93  (which can be mounted within or outside the cylinders) are provided with compressed air via hoses  95  and  96  to extend ramrods  98  and  100 . These ramrods connect to the telescoping tubes via reinforcing bands  103  and  104  so that extension of the ramrods also extends the tubes. Compressed air is provided from compressor  92  via suitable valving and controls (not shown), actuated from control panel  36 . Air cylinders  91  and  93  are fitted with reversible air plungers (not shown) which can be activated from control panel  36  to retract rods  98  and  100  and tubes  20 A and  20 B. The tube asembly can be extended to lengths which permit the vehicle to retain a stable position, e.g. at least about thirty feet. The outermost tube (here,  20 B) connects to swivel joint  34  for nose cone  25 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 provide a schematic illustration of the operation of swivel joint  34 . This joint could be described as a wrist joint, since it rotates and bends to provide both lateral and vertical aiming of nose cone  25 . Electrical power lines  105  are actuated by a switch or switches on control panel  36 , providing power to electric motors  106  and  110 . These motors drive screw drive  108  and spur gear  114  plus ring gear  112 , to deflect and rotate nose cone  25 , respectively. Nose cone  25  is deflected via axle  111  and hinge  113 . Thus, the nose cone  25  can be deflected up to about fifteen degrees from the center line of the tube, laterally and/or vertically, to aim it precisely at an opening in a structure and/or at a fire source. Hoses  102  enter tube  20 B just behind swivel joint  34  and emerge within nose cone  25  to feed water and other firefighting materials through nozzles  76  and  75 , respectively, when gates  24  are open. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 provide a side sectional view and an end view of nose cone  25  with nose cone gates  24  closed. Gates  24  are spring ( 42 ) loaded to remain open when in use, as described above, and are pneumatically actuated to close and remain closed via air cylinder  116  and rod  118 , receiving air from compressor  92  via line  123  and activated via electrical line  120  and switch  160  from control panel  36 . Center bar  122  occupies the center portion of screen  132  and mounts pulley  130 . Gate cables  134  pass from the inner surfaces of gates  24  to pulley  130 , via guides  133  (shown in FIG.  11 ), are collected and bunched by collector  119  after leaving pulley  130  together, and can then be pulled by rod  118  to close gates  24  when cylinder  116  is activated. 
     At least one floodlight  33  can be activated from control panel  36  to illuminate the fire scene. A coarse, durable metal screen (say, about 1″ mesh)  132  is mounted just inside the gates  24  to prevent large debris from entering. Nozzles  75  and  76  are fed by hoses  102  and can also be activated from control panel  36  when gates  24  are open to direct fire extinguishing materials and/or water to the fire source. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates control panel  36 , providing a schematic depiction of the controls for the various systems. Control panel  36  consolidates all controls for smoke evacuation and firefighting systems in a position on the vehicle dashboard which can be easily reached by either the driver or a crewman in the passenger seat. Separate controls are provided for activating the systems and operating same. The controls can take any suitable form, including levers, joysticks, toggle switches and buttons. Related controls for the various systems are grouped together. 
     Separate lighting switches  140 ,  142  and  144  are provided for the spotlights  44  (fender mounted),  28  (outside tube mounted) and  33  (mounted inside tube). Switches  146 ,  148  and  150  activate the systems for elevating plus extending/retracting tube  20  and for training turret  32 . Control  152 , preferably a lever, is used for elevating and lowering the tube, e.g. by pulling back to elevate, pushing forward to lower same. Another lever or other suitable control  154  is used to extend and retract the tubes, again by pressing forward to extend and pulling back to retract. Control  155  is used to train turret  32  and the associated tubes. The control can be a simple three-position lever to train right or left or stop, but can optionally include a dial on which the desired final position of the tube relative to the front centerline of the vehicle can be set, with the training mechanism automatically training the tube to that position. Such synchro/servo systems are commercially available. 
     Switch  156  activates power to the aiming mechanism of nose cone  25 , and a joystick or other suitable control  158  permits the nose cone to be aimed up, down, right, left or any combination thereof. Switch  160  closes the nose cone gates  24  against the spring pressure which keeps them open while in use evacuating smoke, etc. Conventional switches  168  and  170  activate motor  21  and fan  22  in evacuation or blowing modes, and provide at least three speeds for such actions, including reverse. 
     Aimable spotlights  44  (not shown here) mounted adjacent the driver and passenger doors are conventional emergency vehicle units with power switches and manual means for aiming in any direction (not shown). Power switch  162  and conventional controls  164  activate and control electric winch  46 . Switches  172  and  174  activate generator  90  and air compressor  92 . 
     Switch  175  activates the power system for extending extender wheels  58 , and lever  176  is used for extending and retracting them to the stowed position or to touch the ground. Additional controls are provided for conventional operation of the vehicle, emergency lights/sirens (not shown) and any additional accessory devices which may be provided to improve the operation of the vehicle. Switch  185  activates cylinder  66  for raising and lowering exhaust section  23 , with joystick  180  used to actuate the system. 
     As can be seen by any firefighter, the vehicle of this invention is very useful and versatile in combating fires and other emergencies. In operation, typically the vehicle will approach the scene, park, and allow the firefighters (preferably about three in addition to the driver) to debark. The driver remains in communications with the firefighters, other vehicles and headquarters via the usual emergency radio systems. While the driver positions the vehicle near a suitable entry point for breaching the structure and prepares the tube for extension, the firefighters approach the structure and break out accessible windows and doors to allow air to enter the burning structure. If metal window grilles or the like need to be removed, the vehicle winch can be used to assist. They then assist and guide the driver/operator in extending the tube and directing it into an open window or other aperture. The firefighters can break open a window for the tube if accessible; otherwise, the tube itself can be extended into the window to break open a path. Once the tube is inside the structure, the nose cone is aimed as necessary or appropriate, the nose cone gates are opened and the driver/operator applies the degree of suction appropriate, based upon observations by the entire crew. Water is pumped through nozzle  76  to cool smoke and gases. When sufficient smoke and hot gases have been evacuated, the firefighters can enter the structure to rescue occupants, fight the fire and perform other critical tasks. The tube can be further employed by providing ilumination, firefighting materials directed to the fire source or even blowing in air and/or mist generated from the water from nozzle  76 . 
     Various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attandent advantages. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover such changes and modifications, and are the sole limits on the scope of the invention.