Patent Publication Number: US-2018043192-A1

Title: Fire fighting apparatus and method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a DIVISIONAL application of pending parent application U.S. Ser. No. 14/675,725, filed Mar. 31, 2015, and entitled FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS AND METHOD, which is incorporated herein in its entirety, and which claims benefit of the earlier filing date of the parent under 35 U.S.C. §121. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to firefighting equipment and, more particularly, to an aerial-delivered fire retardant device. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     In the western United States, wildfires cause widespread destruction of nature, buildings, and lives. Billions of dollars are spent annually on wildfire suppression. Because even a small wildfire can overwhelm typical structural firefighting equipment, air-based resources are often brought to bear, including fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft. Fixed-wing aircraft must make a pass over the wildfire and drop water or retardant like a bomber. Helicopters can hover over the fire and drop water or retardant. However, each aircraft is “committed” to release their entire fire suppressant load at one time, and must leave the scene for reloading. In addition, aircraft must fly dangerously close to the fire to drop their payload, for example, about 500 feet above ground level. 
     Common materials used to fight wildfires include water and fire retardants. Water is usually dropped directly on flames because its effect is short-lived. Fire retardants are typically dropped ahead of the moving fire or along its edge and may remain effective for two or more days. Currently, fire retardants are typically applied in liquid or semi-liquid form. Present retardants include ammonium sulfate, diammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, or monoammonium phosphate. These retardants are less toxic than sodium or boron salts, which can sterilize the ground or make regrowth difficult. These retardants also act as fertilizers to help the regrowth of plants after the fire. However, such fire retardants can be complex mixtures of chemicals to facilitate its efficacy. For example, fire retardants often contain wetting agents, preservatives, thickeners, rust inhibitors, and coloring agents. Examples of coloring agents are ferric oxide (red) or fugitive color to mark where they have been dropped. Thickeners include attapulgite clay, or a guar gum derivative, and are used to prevent dispersal of the retardant after it is dropped from the plane. Brand names of aqueous fire retardants for aerial application include Fire-Trol® and Phos-Chek®. Fire-Trol® aerial fire retardants are available from Fire-Trol Holdings, LLC, Phoenix, Ariz. Phos-Chek® aerial fire retardants are available from ICL Performance Products in Ontario, CA. Class A foams also may be used as fire retardants. Class A foams lower the surface tension of the water, which assists in the wetting and saturation of Class A fuels with water. This can aid fire suppression and can prevent re-ignition. However, foams tend to be short-lived suppressants. 
     Nevertheless, aqueous fire-fighting materials can be problematic. Water, while inexpensive, can be difficult to reach and to deliver in remote areas or in treacherous terrain. Also, without a thickener or wetting agent, water tends to runoff very quickly and be absorbed into a small area of soil. Water is heavy, weighing approximately 8 pounds per gallon. Thousands of gallons of water, or more, are used even in a small wildfire. As aqueous mixtures, fire retardants can be heavy, like water, but they also are expensive and more finite in quantity. What is needed is a biologically-friendly, plentiful, lightweight, fire retardant, which can be easily delivered from a safe distance, even in remote or dangerous conditions. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments herein provide an apparatus and method for firefighting. Firefighting apparatus embodiments can include a containerless core of a preselected fire retardant material, having a core tail, a core nose, and a core channel extending therebetween. The core can be a preselected fire retardant material that is compressed to form a prolate spheroid shape. A shaft can be coupled to and extend from the core tail, with the shaft having a proximal end near the core tail and a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a plurality of fins coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The containerless core can have a core charge of a preselected explosive material disposed within the core channel. There can be an altimeter sensor coupled to the core charge and a triggering mechanism coupled between the altimeter sensor and the core charge. The altimeter sensor causes the triggering mechanism to detonate the core charge when the apparatus reaches a predetermined altitude, above ground level. 
     Some embodiments of the firefighting apparatus can include an arming mechanism coupled to the triggering mechanism, the arming mechanism causing the triggering mechanism to arm the core charge for explosion in an armed state and preventing the core charge from exploding in a stand-down state. The arming mechanism has an arming tab extending from the shaft distal end. Also, a nose cone coupled to the core nose can have the altimeter sensor and the triggering mechanism disposed within. The triggering mechanism can be coupled between the altimeter sensor and the core charge. A cable can be coupled between an altitude sensor and the core charge via the triggering mechanism, wherein the triggering mechanism transmits a detonation signal to the core charge in response to an altitude signal from the altitude sensor. Further embodiments can include a spiked spine traversing the core from the nose cone to the shaft distal end with a plurality spikes extending from the spiked spine into the compressed preselected fire retardant material, preventing shifting thereof. Also, a carry hook can be coupled to the shaft distal end, with the carry hook being disposed to suspend the firefighting apparatus when in aerial transit. Certain selected embodiments can include a carrying hook extending from the shaft of the firefighting apparatus. 
     A delivery apparatus including a rigid frame having a frame top and a frame bottom, a carry harness secured to the frame, at least one holding hook coupled to the frame bottom, and a nose cup on the frame top, above the holding hook. The carrying hook of the frame is releasably coupled to the holding hook on the firefighting apparatus. The carry harness supports the transport of the delivery apparatus, for example, from a remote staging area to a locus of a fire. A wiring harness can be coupled between the control panel and the arming mechanism, causing the arming of triggering mechanism upon break-away from the delivery apparatus. In some embodiments, the core charge includes one of a C4-based explosive or an ammonium nitrate-based explosive, and an electric blasting cap to detonate the core charge. 
     The preselected fire retardant material can be calcium carbonate powder, magnesium carbonate powder, or both. At least one of powders of magnesium carbonate, ammonium sulfate, diammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, or monoammonium phosphate can be intermixed with the preselected fire retardant material. In yet other embodiments, the fire retardant materials can include two or more of the powders of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, ammonium sulfate, diammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, monoammonium phosphate, or attapulgite clay. 
     Certain embodiments have an indigenous plant seed mixed in with the preselected fire retardant material. The preselected fire retardant material can act as a fertilizer. Some embodiments can employ indigenous grass seed as the indigenous plant seed. 
     Firefighting method embodiments, for firefighting apparatus delivery by a carrier system, can include providing a delivery apparatus having a firefighting apparatus positionally loaded thereon, providing a carrier harness between the carrier system and the delivery apparatus, releasably securing the delivery apparatus to the carrier system with the carrier harness, providing a wiring harness between a holding hook on the delivery apparatus and a control panel, wherein the holding hook is electrically operable from the control panel, releasably coupling the holding hook to a carrying hook attached to a firefighting apparatus, and coupling an arming mechanism of the firefighting apparatus to a holding hook. The method can include bringing the carrier system into the proximity of a fire, electrically releasing the holding hook, wherein the firefighting apparatus is released from the delivery system and directed towards the fire. The firefighting apparatus is armed to detonate at a predetermined height above ground level. 
     The method also includes multiple firefighting apparatus by providing a delivery apparatus having a plurality of firefighting apparatus positionally loaded thereon, providing a wiring harness between a plurality of holding hooks on the delivery apparatus and the control panel, wherein each of the plurality of holding hooks is electrically operable from the control panel, releasably coupling a holding hook to respective carrying hooks individually attached to the plurality of firefighting apparatus, and coupling arming mechanisms of the plurality of firefighting apparatus to respective holding hooks. Some embodiments further include bringing the delivery apparatus into a locus of a fire, electrically releasing selected ones of the holding hooks, wherein corresponding firefighting apparatus are released from the delivery system towards the fire, and arming ones of the firefighting apparatus to detonate at a predetermined height above ground level, upon electrically releasing. Further method embodiments include providing a stacked plurality of delivery apparatus, each with a corresponding plurality of firefighting apparatus. In selected embodiments, providing a delivery apparatus having a firefighting apparatus positionally loaded thereon includes one of horizontally positionally loaded, vertically positionally loaded, or angularly positionally loaded. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures herein provide illustrations of various features and embodiments in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cut-away view of a firefighting apparatus, according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a delivery apparatus, according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of a delivery apparatus of  FIG. 2 , according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a stack of firefighting apparatus of  FIG. 1  and delivery apparatus of  FIG. 2 , according to the teachings of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a delivery apparatus of  FIG. 2 , delivering firefighting apparatus of  FIG. 1  onto a wildfire, according to the teachings of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments herein provide a firefighting apparatus that is effective, inexpensive, easy to use, safe to handle, and biodegradable. Also, some embodiments include seeds, which may be grass seeds, and which may be indigenous to the locale in which the wildfire is occurring. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a cross-section, firefighting apparatus  100  includes a core  105  with core nose  110  and core tail  115 , shaft  120  coupled to and extending from core tail  115 , plurality of aerodynamic fins  125  coupled to the distal end  150  of shaft  120 , core charge  130  embedded within core  105 , and nose cone  135 , which can be fitted onto core nose  110 . Nose cone  135  can house altimeter sensor  140 , and triggering mechanism  145 , and can connect to core charge using internal wiring harness  147 . Wiring harness  147  also is operably coupled to arming mechanism  155 . Handling of apparatus  100  can be rendered relatively safe by providing breakaway arming mechanism  155 . With arming mechanism  155  in place, firefighting apparatus  100  can be in a quiescent “STAND-DOWN” state. Also, apparatus  100  may include spine  160  having a plurality of barbs  165  extending outward in to core  105 . Barbs  165  may be long enough to prevent shifting and dislodgment of at least a portion of the core from the rest of apparatus  100 . Spine  160  may be coaxially disposed within core channel  180 . 
     Core channel  180  may be formed during the forming of core  105 . Core channel  180  can contain arming and triggering wires (not shown), as well as core charge  130 . Carrying hook  170  may be used to suspend apparatus from a releasable hook or latch (not shown) during transport of apparatus to the wildfire site. Once firefighting apparatus  100  is released and begins its descent, arming mechanism  155  is actuated, for example, by pulling off an arming tab, to place triggering mechanism  145  into the “ARMED” state. In the “ARMED” state, triggering mechanism  145  can be activated to detonate at a predetermined height AGL, for example at 200 feet AGL, as determined by altimeter sensor  140 . 
     Core  105  can include between about 220 pounds to about 300 pounds of compressed fire retardant material, so that a complete apparatus  100  may weigh between about 250 to about 330 pounds. The remainder of the weight of core  105  may include indigenous grass seed mixed throughout core  105 , as well as triggering mechanism  145 , altimeter sensor  140 , spine  160  and barbs  165 , shaft  120 , fins  125 , and other components. Of course, other core weights are contemplated, with the amount of the compressed fire retardant material in core  105  varying accordingly. 
     In making a core  105 , spine  160  can be assembled using cable  147  with the carrying hook  170  at the top. An explosive can be put into place in the basket for core charge  130  that can be molded in spine  160 . Spine  160  then can be placed into a mold and positioned in center of the mold. The chalk-and-seed formula will be made into a liquid and poured into the mold. The mold will be in place for a short time until and mix is stable enough to be removed. At this point core  105  can be somewhat wet and can be let stand to dry. After the drying process is complete core nose  110  can be screwed on and mounted with the carrier device and readied for service. Core  105  can be containerless: no external “skin,” shell, housing or carrying case may be needed to contain core  105 . 
     Core  105  can include a primary fire retardant material such as powdered calcium carbonate or powdered magnesium carbonate, or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, one or more mixtures of ammonium sulfate, diammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, monoammonium phosphate, or attapulgite clay can supplement the primary fire retardant. In general, calcium carbonate is a mineral compound found in most rocks and can be found in all parts of the world. Calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate are good materials for firefighting materials because they are relatively lightweight and highly compressible. For example, calcium carbonite, or ground calcite, can be powderized and can have an apparent bulk density of about 55-65 lbs ft −3  when compacted. The fire retardant material can be highly compressed or compacted to form core  105  such that no outer shell or container is needed to enclose the fire retardant material. In addition, core  105  also can have plant seed, such as grass seed, intermixed with the fire retardant material to facilitate regrowth of the ground layer, which reduces the risk of post-fire mudslides. The grass seed may be selected to be indigenous to the area of the fire, if possible. Any indigenous, fast-growth plant seed also could be used. 
     Core charge  130  can be manufactured from a high-energy brisant material such as Composition C-4 plastic explosive, ammonium nitrate, or any comparable high detonation pressure, high detonation velocity material, capable of powderizing core  105  upon detonation. For example, ammonium nitrate has a detonation velocity of 5,270 m/s (17,290 ft/s) at a density of 1.30 g/ml. Compound C4 has a detonation velocity of 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s) at high density (1.60 g/ml) and a detonation velocity of 7,550 m/s (24,770 ft/s) at low density (1.48 g/ml). Other explosives within this range, suitable for manufacturing the apparatus  100  may be used. Lower-velocity explosives may shatter instead of powderize core  105 , causing incomplete pulverization of core  105 . An electric blasting cap typically is used to detonate the charge, for example, using electric current heating. An electric blasting cap contains an easy-to-ignite explosive that provides the initial activation energy to start a detonation in a more stable explosive. These are well-known in the art. Total weight of core charge  130  can be between about one-half pound to one pound of explosive, including blasting cap. When powderized, the fire retardant material can form a dust cloud that settles over the fire, extinguishing or slowing the fire. The dust cloud (e.g., calcium carbonate) then can settle over the burning embers, reducing the likelihood of fire reflash, and further robbing the fire of oxygen. In addition to powderizing the core, the explosive charge can disrupt a region of fire proximate to the blast area, and may extinguish it. The indigenous plant seed, which may be grass seed, can intermingle with the fire debris, and later germinate when the fire is extinguished. 
     Typically, apparatus  100  is deployed by a fixed- or rotary-winged device and dropped over an active wildfire (e.g., in a forest, in a refinery, in a large building). Unlike most “bombs” which are an ogive, or drawn cylinder, or spherical, in shape, core  105  can be shaped like a prolate spheroid, a “football,” to provide improved aerodynamic efficiency during the downward flight of apparatus  100 . A prolate spheroid is a spheroid in which the polar axis is greater than the equatorial diameter. Aerodynamic fins  125  can stabilize and orient the fall of the device. Fins  125  may be disposed to cause apparatus  100  to fall in a spiral trajectory to maximize stability while in flight, and accuracy in delivery. Example lengths (spheroid major axis) for core  105  can be between about 26-33 inches long. Example widths (spheroid minor axis) for core  105  can be between 14-18 inches in diameter. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of delivery apparatus  200  for firefighting apparatus  100 , in which delivery apparatus can include quadrilateral frame  210  with cross bracing, a plurality of operable holding hooks  240 , carrying harness  250  secured between frame  210  and carrier system (not shown), wiring harness  260  coupling release/arming system to firefighting apparatus  100 , and nose pads  270  each used while transporting plural delivery apparatus  200  of firefighting apparatus  100 . A carrier system may be, without limitation, as rotary-winged aircraft, a fixed-wing aircraft, or a motorized crane boom on a truck, boat, or barge. Holding hooks  240  may be electrically released hooks configured to be electrically opened via wiring harness  260  by a control panel  290  onboard the aircraft, causing the release and arming of firefighting apparatus  100 . While firefighting apparatus  100  are disposed on the underside of frame  210 , nose pads  270  can be disposed on the top side of frame  210 . Nose pads  270  may be used during transport and will be described below. Alternately, nose pads  270  can be attached to frame  210  during the pre-deployment/transport period prior to being attached to an aircraft (not shown). Although delivery apparatus  200  is shown to hold firefighting apparatus  100  in a vertical position, apparatus  200  can be modified to hold firefighting apparatus  100  in a horizontal position or an angular position. 
     As indicated earlier, with prior art firefighting equipment, fixed-wing aircraft must make a pass over the wildfire and drop water or retardant like a bomber, while helicopters hover over the fire and drop water or retardant. In either case, under the present regime, the aircraft must come perilously close to the fire and blinding smoke in order to deliver a load of fire retardant. Once they drop their firefighting load all-at-once, they are required to clear the scene in order to get another load of fire retardant and to allow other aircraft access to the wildfire site. In the firefighting equipment of the present embodiments, aircraft may maintain a higher and safer altitude relative to the fire due to the aerodynamics of firefighting apparatus  100 . Rotary-winged craft can loiter over the fire, selecting drop areas. 
     Delivery apparatus  200  can be disposed to carry plural firefighting apparatus  100 . For example, delivery apparatus  200  can hold 3×4, or 12, firefighting apparatus  100 , although a delivery apparatus carrying eight (8) firefighting apparatus  100  also may be used, depending upon the size of the firefighting apparatus  100  and the payload capability of the carrier system (e.g., aircraft, crane boom). Twelve apparatus  100  at 250 pounds each can weigh about 3,000, which can be carried by a medium-payload helicopter such as the Bell  412 . Delivery apparatus  200  may be modified to carry eight apparatus  100 , but other configurations are contemplated. For example, where larger-payload capacity fixed wing aircraft may be used. Delivery apparatus  200  may be modified to carry one apparatus  100  for delivery by a boom crane. Delivery apparatus  200  can be modified for air, ground, and water/marine carrier systems with payloads and apparatus sizes being modified to fit the platform accordingly. 
     Delivery apparatus  200  can be made to be strong, reusable, and fire-resistant. Delivery apparatus  200  can have frame  210 , sized and shaped to carry a predetermined number of apparatus  100 , for example 3×4=12. Frame  210  can be made of a study yet lightweight material that is fire and heat resistant, such as aluminum, heat-resistant plastic, or epoxy resin, which also can be tooled to accept various hardware elements, harnesses, and hooks. Holding hook  240  can be provided for each carrying hook  170  of firefighting apparatus  100 , and hook  240  can be made to cooperate with carrying hook  170 . Hook  240  can be made to release hook  170 , for example, using an electrically-operated clasp. Hook  240  also may be designed to retain arming mechanism tab  155 , such that when firefighting apparatus  100  is dropped, triggering mechanism  145  becomes ARMED. Wiring harness  255  can be coupled to all carrying hooks  240 , to provide them with a releasing signal from control panel  290  individually or as a group or groups, which releases firefighting apparatus  100  from delivery mechanism  200 . Prior to transport to a fire, individual arming mechanisms  155  in a STAND-DOWN state can be coupled to a respective hook  240 , and ready the respective firefighting apparatus  100  for deployment onto a fire. 
     Also, with delivery apparatus  200  holding plural firefighting apparatus  100 , an aircraft may deliver some firefighting apparatus  100  to a particular area, and change position in order to re-address the fire at the same or different area, repeating until all firefighting apparatus  100  kept on a delivery apparatus  200  are delivered. As an example, and without limitation, a helicopter may hover over a defined region, individually dropping apparatus  100  strategically into the fire zone. Once delivery apparatus  200  is depleted of firefighting apparatus  100 , the aircraft can return to a safe area and be given another loaded delivery apparatus  200  to repeat the process. 
     Typically, firefighting apparatus  100  is in the “STAND-DOWN” state, even when hooks  240  and  170  are in operable communication. In an embodiment, when firefighting apparatus  100  is dropped from delivery apparatus  200 , hook  240  can be operated to separate from hook  170 . Set to activate triggering mechanism  145  at a predetermined level AGL prior to deployment, altimeter sensor  140  sends an actuation signal to triggering mechanism  145  and, in turn triggering mechanism activates core charge  130  when the predetermined level is reached, detonating the core charge  130  and dispersing core  105  over a wide area of the fire. 
       FIG. 3  can be an example of a firefighting apparatus-frame portion  300 , which shows a portion of core tail  115 , shaft  120 , fin portion  125 , arming mechanism  155 , carrying hook  170 , frame  210 , holding hook  240 , and nose pad  310 . Elements are shown in relation to removable attachment to frame  210 . Holding hook  240  is shown to be a quick release mechanism for release of firefighting apparatus  100 , coupled to carrying hook  170 . Holding hook  240  can be disposed on the underside of frame  210 . When closed, holding hook  240  can be in the “STANDBY” state. In some embodiments arming mechanism  155  also may be coupled to holding hook  240  so that when holding hook is opened to its “RELEASE” state, arming mechanism  155  is caused to activate firefighting apparatus  100  into the “ARMED” state. Frame  210  can be configured to support another frame above it. 
     In some of these embodiments, nose pad  310  can be implemented on the upper side of frame  210 , roughly above firefighting apparatus-frame portion  300 . Nose pad  310 , which may be shaped like a cup, may be positioned above frame  210  and may provide cushioning of nose cone  135  of firefighting apparatus  100 . Nose pad  310  can be formed of, for example, an elastomeric material, which may be a thermoplastic elastomer. As is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , each frame  210  may carry a predetermined number of nose pads  310  arranged in the same configuration as is found on a delivery apparatus  200  above. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , loaded delivery apparatus  200  can be modular and may be stacked upon each other after manufacturing, during storage, or during transport, making for easy transport and deployment, once at a staging area for firefighting equipment. Nose cushion  405  can be formed to withstand the shock, vibrations, and movement of transportation and handling, and may be made of, for example, an elastomeric material, which may be a thermoplastic elastomer. Nose cushion  405  may be thicker than nose pad  310 , and may be deployed on the bottommost layer to protect the nose cones of the apparatus  100  array on the bottommost delivery apparatus  200 . 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of a rotary-winged aircraft  510  delivering firefighting apparatus  100  to a wildfire site  520 , by means of a delivery apparatus, such as delivery apparatus  200 . Other delivery apparatus and methods for delivery of firefighting apparatus may be used. A fixed wing aircraft also can be used, with some adjustments for firefighting apparatus trajectory into the fire. Control panel  290  can allow selected apparatus  100  or groups of apparatus  100  to be dropped upon the fire site. In some embodiments, all firefighting apparatus  100  supported within delivery apparatus  200  may be delivered, virtually at once. As previously noted, firefighting apparatus  100  can detonate at the predetermined height, for example, 200 ft. above ground level, bursting a plume of firefighting powder onto the fire site. In some instances, the blast effects of the core charge explosion may extinguish the flame, and the fire retardant can prevent fire reflash. For a large fire, multiple drops may need to be made, with the aircraft returning to a safe location to release depleted delivery apparatus  200  and re-load with a fresh delivery apparatus  200 , complete with its complement of firefighting apparatus  100 . In some embodiments, delivery apparatus  200  and firefighting apparatus  100  may be brought in as a unit and stacked  540  at a remote site  530 , for example by personnel  550  with a forklift  560 . In any event, the aircraft can take-off and land from remote make-shift airfields far from water or other firefighting resources, if necessary. 
     The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, although not every figure may repeat each and every feature that has been shown in another figure in order to not obscure certain features or overwhelm the figure with repetitive indicia. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific methodology, devices, apparatuses, materials, applications, etc., described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.