Patent Publication Number: US-8118108-B2

Title: Combustion process stopper

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/005,306, filed 2007 Dec. 3 by the same inventor. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to fire extinguishing, in particular extinguishing forest fires. 
     2. Prior Art 
     In resent history, wildfire and forest fires have become difficult phenomenon to control and an economical strain, both for the loss in property such as homes and forest, but also on resources and environmental impact. 
     The efficiency of forest fire fighting techniques has remained the same for many years, in particular dropping water or chemicals over the fire by means of an aircraft. A mayor disadvantage of this method is the need to leave the firefighting area to reload the water or chemicals after they have been released, wasting valuable time. 
     Other methods used are those of back burning and firebreaks. The back burning method is performed by setting fires in strategically planned areas, but runs the danger of getting out of control and provoking yet, another wildfire. Firebreaks are a method of removing combustible materials from the path of the fire, therefore preventing the fire from advancing. Firebreaks usually require a lot of personnel and equipment, but can be hindered by irregular terrain and can be dangerous to personnel. 
     The objective of this invention is to fight fires by mechanical means eliminating the need to carry water or chemicals (such as fire retardants) to the fire fighting site. Furthermore, by eliminating the use of chemicals, money is saved and additionally, more time is dedicated to the actual fighting of fires since no time is wasted in having to leave the area to recharge the aircraft with chemicals or water. A longer continuity fighting fires is accomplished since the helicopter carrying the invention will be limited by its own fuel consumption. Moreover, less ground personnel will be utilized fighting the fire, therefore exposing firefighters to less danger. 
     Since the invention can be carried by helicopter to the fire sight, it can be utilized in any type of terrain and fight fires in an aggressive and direct technique by actually submerging in to the fire. 
     The invention, combustion process stopper (CPS), in its main embodiment can be fabricated in different sizes, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , to accommodate the different types of fires as well as different types of geographical region characteristic (difference in type of terrain, forest density, size of trees, etc.). Also by having a small CPS, as in  FIG. 6C , it can be mobilized in a rapid manner to start combating the fires, while the bigger CPS&#39;s are readied. In addition, the CPS is not limited to only forest fires, but can be used in different types of fires, i.e., in the correct size and configuration, it can be used to put out an oil well fire. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the combustion process stopper comprises of a main cavity to encapsulate the fire and strive it of oxygen, accommodating its self to any type of terrain and forming a seal with the ground. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
       In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of the embodiment in the collapsed position. 
         FIG. 2  shows front view of the embodiment in its extended position. 
         FIG. 3  shows front view of the embodiment rested in an inclined terrain. 
         FIG. 4  shows top view of the embodiment illustrating sections for  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 5  shows cross section  5 - 5  ( FIG. 4 ). 
         FIG. 6  shows different size configurations. 
         FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of the dome structure. 
         FIG. 8  shows detail of load coupling attachment. 
         FIG. 9  shows detail of the supporting ring and attachment, showing section for  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 10  shows top view of supporting ring and attachments, showing section for  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 11  shows cross section  11 - 11  ( FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ). 
         FIG. 12  shows detail of primary beam attachment. 
         FIG. 13  shows cross section  13 - 13  ( FIG. 4 ) at primary beam illustrating operation of winch cable. 
         FIG. 14  shows detail of winch motor and cable. 
         FIG. 15  shows detail of cross section  13 - 13  at upper truss and primary beam. 
         FIG. 16  shows detail of cross section  13 - 13  at winch cable and outer cover. 
         FIG. 17  shows detail of cross section  13 - 13  at attachment of winch cable to lower circular truss. 
         FIG. 18  shows cross section  18 - 18  at secondary beam and limiting chain. 
         FIG. 19  shows detail of cross section  18 - 18  at attachment of limiting chain and fabric bellows to middle circular truss. 
         FIG. 20  shows detail of cross section  18 - 18  at attachment of limiting chain to pivoting unions. 
         FIG. 21  shows detail of cross section  18 - 18  at attachment of limiting chains and fabric bellows to lower circular truss. 
         FIG. 22  shows detail of cross section  18 - 18  at lower circular truss and sealing weight supporting chains. 
         FIG. 23  shows detail of cross section  18 - 18  at sealing weights. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates one of the embodiments in use. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           101  lifting device 
           102  load coupling attachment 
           103  stabilizing tensor cables 
           104  winch mounting and stabilizing brackets 
           105  extending and collapsing winches 
           106  exterior dome panels 
           107  upper circular truss cover 
           108  middle outer cover 
           109  middle circular truss cover 
           110  winch cables 
           111  limiting chains 
           112  pivoting unions 
           113  fire resistant fabric bellows 
           114  lower circular truss cover 
           115  outer sealing fabric sections 
           116  inner sealing fabric sections 
           117  sealing weights 
           118  vertical beam supporters 
           119  fire proof panels 
           120  fabric attaching metal rings 
           121  supporting ring 
           122  upper circular truss 
           123  middle circular truss 
           124  lower circular truss 
           125  cable end connector 
           126  primary beam horizontal support 
           127  cable end attachment 
           128  electrical connections 
           130  secondary beam vertical connector 
           129  primary beams 
           131  secondary horizontal support 
           132  secondary beams 
           133  chain supporting bracket 
           134  primary beam vertical connector 
           135  pulley 
           136  sealing weigh supporting chain 
           137  structural member 
           138  cable guide 
           139  winch base 
       
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION—FIGS.  1  THROUGH  24 —PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  (front view),  FIG. 2  (front view extended),  FIG. 3  (front view in incline), and  FIG. 4  (top view) show illustrations of one embodiment of the Combustion Process Stopper (CPS). The CPS is lifted though a lifting device  101  (helicopter, crane, etc.) connected to a load coupling attachment  102 . The load coupling attachment  102  is welded to a structural member  137  ( FIG. 10 ), said structural member  137  is welded to supporting ring  121 . 
     Furthermore the CPS is comprised of a dome covered with a plurality of exterior dome panels  106  on which a plurality of winch mounting and stabilizing brackets  104  are attached and an extending and collapsing winches  105  are mounted. A plurality of stabilizing tensor cables  103  are attached between the winch mounting and stabilizing brackets  104  and the coupling attachment  102 . 
     Additionally, upper circular truss cover  107 , middle outer cover  108 , middle circular truss cover  109 , and lower circular truss cover  114  are shown with lifting and lowering winch cables  110  and a plurality of limiting chains  111 . 
     The extending and collapsing portion of the CPS is comprised of a fire resistant fabric bellows  113 , forming bellows comprised of pivoting unions  112 . 
     In the lower section of the CPS a fire proof outer sealing fabric sections  115  and a fire proof inner sealing fabric sections  116  are attached to a lower circular truss  124  ( FIG. 24 ). Also shown is a plurality of the sealing weights  117 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a section marked on  FIG. 4  as  5 - 5  and illustrates the interior parts of the embodiment. Shown are primary beams  129  connecting to the supporting ring  121  on one end. Said primary beams  129  extend down attaching an upper circular truss  122  and a middle circular truss  123 . Attached to structure formed by the said primary beams  129 , supporting ring  121 , upper circular truss  122 , and middle circular truss  123  are a plurality of inner fire proof panels  119  on the inside, and a plurality of the exterior dome panels  106  as well as the middle outer cover  108  on the outside of the structure. 
     Also shown on  FIG. 5  is a plurality of fabric attaching metal rings  120  alternating in size to form the fire resistant fabric bellows  113 . To the top of the said fire resistant fabric bellows  113  is fasten the middle circular truss  123 , and the lower circular truss  124  on the bottom. Affixed to the said lower circular truss  124  are the inner sealing fabric sections  116  and the sealing weights  117 . 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric illustration of the dome structure showing the primary beams  129  which attach to the upper circular truss  122  and the middle circular truss  123 , and affix to the center top at the supporting ring  121 . Also attached to the supporting ring  121  is a plurality of secondary beams  132 . The upper circular truss  122  and the middle circular truss  123  are reinforced by vertical beam supporters  118 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a detail of the load coupling attachment  102  and a cable end attachment  127  with attachment of stabilizing tensor cables  103  by the use of a cable end connector  125 . Also illustrated are the electrical connections  128 . 
       FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  is a detail of attachments of the primary beams  129  to the supporting ring  121  by use of a primary beam horizontal support  126 . The secondary beams  132  are attached to the supporting ring  121  by a secondary beam horizontal support  131 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrated cross section  11 - 11  shown on  FIG. 10  and details the supporting ring  121  and structural member  137 . 
       FIG. 12  is a detail of attachment of the primary beam  129  with the supporting ring  121  by the use of a primary beam vertical connector  134  and the primary beam horizontal support  126 . Also shown are the secondary beam horizontal support  131  and a secondary beam vertical connector  130  and the exterior dome panels  106  and the fire proof panels  119 . 
     The collapsing and extending system is illustrated in  FIGS. 13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 , and  17 . The extending and collapsing winches  105  are mounted to a winch base  139  and the winch mounting and stabilizing brackets  104 . The said extending and collapsing winches  105  are connected to the winch cable  110  which pass through a pulley  135  and a cable guide  138 . Said winch cable  110  continues through perforations on the middle outer cover  108  and runs all the way down to the lower circular truss  124  connecting by means of a cable end attachment  127 . 
       FIGS. 18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  illustrate the cross section at the secondary beams  132 . To said secondary beams  132  the upper circular truss  122  and the middle circular truss  123 . To the circumference of the middle circular truss  123  a plurality of limiting chains  111  are attached. The said limiting chains  111  continue down to the lower circular truss  124 . 
     The fire resistant fabric bellows  113  is attached to the middle circular truss  123 , and to the limiting chains  111  at alternating pivoting unions  112  and to the lower circular truss  124 . As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the pivoting unions are formed by clamping the fire resistant fabric bellows  113  by 2 fabric attaching metal rings  120  and by alternating the perimeter size of the fabric attaching metal rings  120 , they give form and allow the fire resistant fabric bellows to extend and collapse. 
     The said lower circular truss  124  has a chain supporting bracket  133 . To said chain supporting bracket  133  a sealing weight supporting chain  136  is attached. The sealing weights  117  are affixed to the said sealing weight supporting chain  136 . 
     Also to the lower circular truss  124 , a plurality of outer sealing fabric sections  115  are attached, to cover the sealing weight supporting chain  136  on the outside circumference. And in the same manner, to the said circular truss  124 , a plurality of inner sealing fabric sections  116  are attached, to cover the sealing weight supporting chain  136  on the inside circumference. 
     Operation— FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  13 ,  18 ,  23 . 
     The operation of the Combustion Process Stopper (CPS) is as follows. The CPS is hooked to a lifting device  101  and lifted off the ground and is transported in the collapsed position to the fire battle area. Once in the vicinity of the fire, the extending and collapsing winches  105  are activated to extend the embodiment, by releasing the winch cables  110 . By releasing the winch cables  110  the lower circular truss  124  is allowed to part from the middle circular truss  109 . By separating the lower circular truss  124  and the middle circular truss  109 , the fire resistant fabric bellows  113  are extended. The fire resistant fabric bellows  113  are limited from over extending and having to support the lower section of the embodiment by the limiting chains  111 , therefore allowing the limiting chains  111  to support the mass of the lower section of the embodiment. 
     Now that the CPS has been extended, the apparatus is lower on to the burning area attempt to cover as much of the burning area as possible. As the CPS is lowered on to the ground, the sealing weights  117 , supported by the sealing weight supporting chains  136 , are the first to touch the ground and the outer sealing fabric sections  115  and the inner sealing fabric sections  116  form a seal around the circumference of the embodiment as it continues to be lowered. Once the lower circular truss  124  has reached the ground the fire is completely enclosed in a volume limiting the amount of oxygen present to sustain combustion. The fire resistant fabric bellows  113  may be allowed to contract to further lower the volume enclosed. Once the oxygen has been consumed by the fire, the combustion process will be stopped. After a lapsed time, the CPS can be lifted and move to the next burning area to repeat the process as necessary. 
     In uneven terrains, the lower section of the embodiment formed by the sealing weight supporting chains  136  and, the flexibility of the outer sealing fabric sections  115  and the inner sealing fabric sections  116 , allow for a seal to still be made. Furthermore, the flexibility of the before mentioned lower section in combination with the flexibility of the fire resistant fabric bellows  113 , allow for the embodiment to be lowered on to an inclined terrain such as found in mountainous terrain as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Additionally, in small brush fires, the embodiment may be lowered on to the fire without the need to extend the embodiment, allowing for a faster pace of work. Moreover, if high winds are encountered, the embodiment may also be placed in its collapsed position to lower its profile and hence lower its air resistance. 
     Once the fire has been put out, the embodiment is collapsed and transported back to its base and lower on to the ground. 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE 
     As can be read and seen through the illustrations, the combustion process stopper of the various embodiments can be used to put out fires in an efficient manner. Furthermore, the combustion process stopper has the additional advantages in that
         it permits the combustion process stopper to be produced in a variety of sizes to allow the extinguishing of different types of fires;   it provides for a mechanical means of fighting fires;   it permits a continuous fire fighting method with out having to stop to recharge for water or chemical repellent;   it uses a small team of operators;   it can adapt to the inclination or irregularity of the terrain being used;   it provides for a seal to be formed with the ground;   it adjusts in size to accommodate different size of burning material;   it requires little maintenance;   it can be a first response apparatus to combat fires.       

     Although the description above contains many specifities, these should no be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the combustion process stopper can be constructed with longer bellows to allow it to become taller and accommodate taller trees; the embodiment does not have to be circular and can be made in other shapes. 
     Thus the scope of the embodiment should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.