Patent Abstract:
An fire-fighting system for arresting a fire in a flammable or combustible liquid storage vessel comprising a portable discharging apparatus and a portable installation apparatus. The portable discharging apparatus receives a fire-fighting agent from a supply hose and applies the fire-fighting agent to arrest a fire in a storage vessel. The portable discharging apparatus can be attached to a distal end of the portable installation apparatus so that the portable discharging apparatus can be mounted on a storage vessel. Furthermore, a plurality of portable discharging apparatuses can be mounted on a single storage vessel, using the same portable installation apparatus, to provide a large amount or a variety of fire-fighting agents or to provide fire-fighting agents at a specific location on the storage vessel. The portable installation apparatus can be extended to a variety of lengths so that it can mount a portable discharging apparatus on a variety differently sized storage vessels.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Traditional fire-fighting methods for fighting fires in storage vessels containing flammable liquids may require the application of a plurality of fire-fighting agents issued from one or more discharging apparatuses. These methods include:
         a) Long range fire-fighting methods including fixed, semi-portable or portable systems that discharge fire-fighting agents from a position located afar from the storage vessel. These include fixed monitors, semi-portable monitors, fixed cannons, vehicle mounted cannons, hand held nozzles, etc.   b) Fixed systems permanently installed on the storage vessel. These include fixed foam chambers mounted on the roof of the storage vessel, circumferential discharge system or seal area protection systems on floating roof tanks, sub-surface injection systems, etc.   c) Portable systems that are used for mounting discharging apparatuses on the storage vessel.
 
Each of these traditional fire-fighting methods possess certain limitations that can include one or more of the following:
       

   their effectiveness in the application of the fire-fighting agent; 
   the operating system requirements; 
   the costs associated with the acquisition of the fire-fighting equipment and necessary peripheral equipment; 
   the costs associated with the operation of the equipment, namely the volume of fire-fighting agent consumed; 
   the time required to extinguish the fire and resume normal operations; and 
   the associated damages related to property, plant, equipment and lost production. 
   The limitations of long range fire-fighting methods discussed in a) above, include the following:
         a significantly higher minimum system pressure is required for the fire-fighting agent to reach the surface of the flammable liquid in the storage vessel;   the costs are significantly higher in acquiring, maintaining and operating fire-fighting equipment operating at these higher pressures;   the radial component in the stream velocity is allowed more time to develop, hence dispersing the fluid flow, thereby increasing the cross-sectional impact area of the fire-fighting agent, thus decreasing the concentration of the fire-fighting agent, and finally reducing the effectiveness of the fire-fighting agent in arresting the fire;   the atmospheric winds surrounding the vessel and the convective gases arising from the fire also contribute significantly to the dispersion of the fire-fighting agent thereby reducing the effectiveness of the fire-fighting agent in arresting the fire; and   the longer trajectory of the stream of the fire-fighting agent from the discharge point to the target area increases the amount of air dragged into the stream of the fire-fighting agent and onto the surface of the flammable liquid thereby increasing the oxygenation of the fire.
 
The Industry has generally sought to address the above performance limitations in arresting the fire by increasing the rate of application of fire-fighting agents from 3,000 GPM to 5,000 GPM to 10,000 GPM, using a “surround and drown” approach. This method significantly increases the amounts of fire-fighting agents consumed and thereby the costs associated with extinguishing the fire.
       

   The limitations of fixed systems that are permanently installed on storage vessels, discussed in b) above, include the following:
         the foam chambers permanently installed on the roof of storage vessels, traditionally the first line of defense in the event of a fire, are highly vulnerable and are frequently rendered entirely inoperable in the initial phase of the conflagration when violent explosions may occur; and   the Sub-surface injection systems can be rendered inoperable due to the effects of an explosion and more often due to clogging of the system.       

   The limitations of portable systems that are used for mounting discharging apparatuses on the storage vessel, discussed in c) above, can include one or more of the following:
         they operate only with pre-mixtures of foam concentrate and water;   they do not include apparatus for mixing the fire-fighting agents with a conveying media;   they are designed to discharge only one type of fire-fighting agent, for example foam;   the foam discharge device is not detachable from the installation apparatus and therefore the installation of each discharge device requires its own installation apparatus; and   they do not include an apparatus for the transportation of the entire system.       

   In view of the limitations of the traditional fire-fighting methods discussed above, the applicants have developed a portable system for extinguishing fires in storage vessels containing flammable liquids that seeks to complement the positive performance aspects of these methods while addressing many of their core performance limitations. 
   There is therefore a need in the art for low-cost fire-fighting equipment that can be used to extinguish fires on or within a flammable substance in storage vessel. There is also a need for a system that is not permanently installed on the storage vessel so that the fire-fighting equipment is not damaged or destroyed by the explosions or conflagrations often associated with the initial stage of a fire. There is also a need for a portable fire-fighting apparatus that does not attempt to spray fire-fighting agents from a remote position. In addition, there is a need for a fire-fighting apparatus that does not utilize costly high-pressure equipment. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY 
   This disclosure relates to the mounting or placement of one or more portable discharging apparatuses on the top perimeter of a storage vessel that contains a flammable substance. The portable discharging apparatus is adapted to issue a fire-fighting agent, at relatively low pressures, at the top of the burning storage vessel so as to extinguish a fire. The fire-fighting agent may be applied to the surface of the burning liquid either indirectly, by issuing the fire-fighting agent against the inner walls of the storage vessel, or directly into the burning surface. The portable discharging apparatus may be installed on the storage vessel with a portable installation apparatus that can repeatedly install a plurality of portable discharging apparatuses on a burning storage vessel. The portable discharging apparatus is suitable for use with a wide variety of storage vessels including, without limitation, cylindrical storage tanks, spherical storage tanks, storage basins, railcars, tractor-trailers, ships, and barges. The portable discharging apparatus discharges fire-fighting agents, such as fire-fighting foams, onto the surface of a storage vessel. The portable discharging apparatus may also discharge the fire-fighting agents directly onto a surface of the burning substance itself. The fire-fighting agent may comprise any number of well known fire-fighting mixtures, such as foam concentrates and water, foam concentrates and air, powders in a conveying media, chemical agents, colloids, gels or other agents. One or more different types of fire-fighting agents can be applied to a fire either simultaneously, or one at a time. 
   The disclosed system comprises one or more portable discharging apparatuses that can be removably mounted on a flammable liquid storage vessel for discharging at least one fire-fighting agent. The system may further comprise one or more portable installation apparatuses for installing said one or more portable discharging apparatuses on said storage vessel. The system may further comprise one or more transportation apparatuses for carrying at least one portable fire-fighting apparatus and at least one portable installation apparatus. The system may further comprise one or more fire-fighting agent conditioning apparatuses for preparing the formulated proportions of the fire-fighting agents and the conveying media. 
   Only one portable installation apparatus is required to be transported to the fire site to removably mount a plurality of portable discharging apparatuses onto a storage vessel wall. The disclosed system further provides a method for extinguishing fires by removably attaching one or more portable discharging apparatus to a storage vessel for discharging a fire-fighting agent; providing a mobile installation apparatus for removably attaching one or more said portable discharging apparatus on said storage vessel; and providing a transportation apparatus for carrying at least one portable discharging apparatus and one mobile installation apparatus. 
   The portable discharging apparatus, the portable installation apparatus and other accessories for issuing fire-fighting agents may be readily transported to the site of a fire. The portable installation apparatus is deployed near the burning vessel and is used to place one or more of the portable discharging apparatuses on the top perimeter of a storage vessel wall after the conflagration has begun and the possible violent explosive phase has passed. Once the portable discharging apparatus is removably mounted or placed on the wall, the portable installation apparatus may be removed without hindering the continued operation of the portable discharging apparatus. After this, the portable installation apparatus may be used to mount other portable discharging apparatuses to the vessel or other vessels. Only one source of pressurized fluid (i.e. conveying media) need by used with multiple portable discharging apparatuses. 
   A portable discharging apparatus can comprise a hollow circular tube, referred to as a discharge duct. A discharge attachment may be attached to the discharge duct to aim the flow of the fire-fighting agent in a specific direction. The discharge attachment may be connected to the discharge duct at a mating junction to aim the flow of the fire-fighting agent in other directions. A flow collimator is attached to the other end of the discharge duct and provides a supply of fire-fighting agents to the discharge duct. The flow collimator may also include a jet stream enhancer plate, which increases the flow velocity of the fire-fighting agent, thereby enhancing the mixing of the fire-fighting agent with inflowing air to efficiently aerate the fire-fighting agent. Specifically, in the embodiment of a foam concentrate mixed with water as the fire-fighting agent, the collision of the foam concentrate mixture with the in flowing air generates a higher quality of fire-fighting foam. 
   The portable installation apparatus can also comprise a plurality of extendible sections so that the length of the apparatus may be adjusted to correspond to the height of a particular storage vessel. Specifically, by extending the length of the telescopic mast of the portable installation apparatus, the portable discharging apparatus (or apparatuses) may be mounted or placed on storage vessels of a variety of heights. The portable installation apparatus may also have a foldable compact configuration so that it can be readily transported as a pre-assembled structure that may be quickly unfolded at the location of a fire for rapid deployment and operation. Another advantage of the disclosed system is its lower acquisition and operational costs. 
   These and other advantages of the system for extinguishing fires will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description, which refers to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one aspect of the invention in which a portable discharging apparatus is shown attached to the portable installation apparatus prior to the extension of the portable installation apparatus. 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of another aspect of the invention in which a portable discharging apparatus is shown attached to the portable installation apparatus after the portable installation apparatus has been extended and prior to the portable discharging apparatus being mounted or placed on the storage vessel. 
       FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of another aspect of the invention in which the portable discharging apparatus is shown being attached to the portable installation apparatus. 
       FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of another aspect of the invention in which a portable discharging apparatus is mounted or placed on the top of a storage vessel and the portable installation apparatus has been removed. 
       FIG. 1E  is a perspective view of another aspect of the invention in which a plurality of portable discharging apparatuses are mounted or placed on the top of a storage vessel and the portable installation apparatus has been removed. 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of a portable discharging apparatus according to one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a side view of an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment according to another aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 2C  is a side view of a portable discharging apparatus and arc-shaped flow discharge attachment that is mounted or placed on an upper wall of a storage vessel according to one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 2D  is a front view of a portable discharging apparatus and arc-shaped flow discharge attachment according to one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 2E  is a side view of a portable discharging apparatus according to another aspect of the invention for placing or mounting using a mounting loop. 
       FIG. 2F  is a side view of a portable discharging apparatus and arc-shaped flow discharge attachment that is mounted or placed on an upper wall of a storage vessel using a mounting loop. 
       FIG. 2G  is a side view of a portable discharging apparatus according to another aspect of the invention showing a passage duct. 
       FIG. 2H  is a side view of a portable discharging apparatus, arc shaped flow discharge attachment and passage duct, according to another aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus including a receptacle duct; a jet-stream enhancer plate and a flow collimator positioned for higher system pressure operations. 
       FIG. 3B  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus including a receptacle duct; a jet-stream enhancer plate and a flow collimator positioned for lower system pressure operations. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a receptacle duct, showing a flow collimator, a support rod receptacle and a support rod. 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  are sequential perspective views showing a portable discharging apparatus and an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment issuing fire-fighting agents against the inside wall of a storage vessel. 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  are sequential perspective views showing another embodiment of a portable discharging apparatus, issuing fire-fighting agents directly onto the surface of the liquid in a storage vessel. 
       FIG. 7  is a longitudinal, cross sectional view of a mixing apparatus for mixing the fire-fighting agent with the conveyance medium according to one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 8A  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a portable installation apparatus with the telescopic mast fully retracted and the foldable base tube and foldable lateral support struts fully folded into a compact structure. 
       FIG. 8B  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a portable installation apparatus with the telescopic mast fully retracted and the foldable base tube and foldable lateral support struts partially folded into a more compact structure. 
       FIG. 8C  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a portable installation apparatus with the telescopic mast fully retracted and the foldable base tube and foldable lateral support struts fully extended. 
       FIG. 9A  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a portable installation apparatus with telescopic mast fully retracted and the expandable, telescopic base tube and the expandable, telescopic lateral support struts in the fully retracted position. 
       FIG. 9B  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a portable installation apparatus in which the telescopic mast, the telescopic base tube and the telescopic lateral support struts are all partially extended. 
       FIG. 9C  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a portable installation apparatus in which the telescopic mast, the telescopic base tube and the telescopic lateral support struts have all been fully extended. 
       FIG. 9D  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the telescopic mast showing the inner locking arrangement between the telescoping cylinders and between the mast and the base tube. 
       FIG. 9E  is a transverse cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the telescopic mast showing the inner locking arrangement between the telescoping cylinders. 
       FIGS. 10A-C  are side views of one embodiment of the invention, showing the increase in the separation distance between the base of the portable installation apparatus and the bottom of the wall of the storage vessel for three increasing storage vessel wall heights. 
       FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a transportation apparatus for a skid, a portable installation apparatus, a portable discharging apparatus and accessories. 
       FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a skid for a portable installation apparatus, a portable discharging apparatus and accessories. 
       FIG. 11C  is a perspective view of the major components of a portable installation apparatus, a portable discharging apparatus and accessories according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 11D  is a perspective view of one aspect of the invention depicting the assembly of a portable installation apparatus and a portable discharging apparatus. 
       FIGS. 12A-12C  are sequential perspective views of one aspect of the invention depicting a method for deploying the assembled portable installation apparatus and the portable discharging apparatus, on board the transportation apparatus to the storage vessel. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Two components of a fire-fighting system according to one aspect of the invention are depicted in FIG.  1 A: a portable discharging apparatus  100  and a portable installation apparatus  105 . The portable discharging apparatus  100  may be removably coupled to the portable installation apparatus  105  so that one or more of the portable discharging apparatuses  100  can be mounted or placed on the top of a storage vessel  110 . After the portable discharging apparatus  100  is mounted or placed on a storage vessel  110 , fire-fighting agents are introduced into one end of the portable discharging apparatus and issued at the discharge end to extinguish a fire in the storage vessel. 
   The portable discharging apparatus  100  is comprised of several components, some of which are depicted in FIG.  1 A. The depicted components include a receptacle duct  115 , a flow collimator  120 , a discharge duct  125 , and an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 . A supply hose  135  is attached to the flow collimator  120  to provide a supply of fire-fighting agents to the portable discharging apparatus  100 . Also depicted in  FIG. 1A  is a mixing apparatus  140 , adapted to mix the fire-fighting agent concentrate with a supply of a conveying media in the required proportions before it is fed into the supply hose  135 . Accordingly, a conveyance media supply line  142 , and a fire-fighting agent supply line  144 , are connected to the mixing apparatus  140 . 
   The portable installation apparatus  105  is also comprised of several components, some of which are also depicted in FIG.  1 A. These components include a telescopic mast  150 , a base tube  165  and a pair of lateral support struts  170 . The telescopic mast  150 , the base tube  165  and the lateral support struts  170  are arranged in a generally triangular shape to provide a simple and stable support for erecting the portable installation apparatus  105 . A support rod  155  with a horizontal control rod  160  is affixed to the top of the telescopic mast  150 . The support rod  155  and the support rod receptacle  175  join the portable discharging apparatus  100  to the portable installation apparatus  105 . Specifically, the portable discharging apparatus  100  may be removably coupled to the portable installation apparatus by inserting the support rod  155  into the support rod receptacle  175 , which is permanently affixed to the receptacle duct  115 . While the disclosed embodiment depicts a support rod  155  and a support rod receptacle  175  as the means by which the portable discharging apparatus  100  is attached to the portable installation apparatus  105 , other suitable coupling devices will be apparent to one of ordinary skills, such as a hook and eye bolt connection, or other such means. Some of the other components of the portable installation apparatus  105  are stabilizing rods  180 , which may be coupled to the telescopic mast  150  to provide stability and control during the installation of the portable discharging apparatus  100 . Also depicted are tether lines  185 , which are connected to the ends of the horizontal control rod  160  to provide further stability and control for orienting the portable discharging apparatus during the installation process. 
   Another aspect of the portable fire-fighting apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1A  is an installation control system  190  that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the portable installation apparatus  105 . The installation control system  190  provides bi-directional hydraulic fluid flow through the hydraulic line  192  to the telescopic mast  150 . As this hydraulic fluid is supplied, the telescopic mast  150  will be extended, thereby lifting the portable discharging apparatus  100  until it reaches the height of the storage vessel  110 . Similarly, by removing hydraulic fluid from the telescopic mast  150 , it can be retracted. According to one embodiment of the invention, hydraulic fluid is injected into or released from the hollow cavity of the telescopic mast  150  to either expand or contract the telescopic mast  150 . The hydraulic fluid flows into and out of the cylindrical cavity though the hydraulic line  192  with a quick disconnect coupler that functions as a check valve at an orifice at the base of telescopic mast  150 . The check valve operation is deactivated whenever the hydraulic line  192  is inserted into the quick disconnect coupler and activated when the hydraulic line  192  is removed from the quick disconnect coupler. Yet another aspect of the portable fire-fighting apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1A  is a spacer member  194  that may be placed between the base tube  165  of the portable installation apparatus  105  and a wall of the storage vessel  110 . The spacer member  194  is used to maintain a distance between the portable installation apparatus  105  and the wall of the storage vessel  110  during the installation of a portable discharging apparatus  100 , thereby increasing the forward stability of the portable installation apparatus  105  as it raises or lowers the portable discharging apparatus  100 . 
   A fully extended portable installation apparatus  105  is depicted in  FIG. 1B  wherein the telescoping sections of the telescopic mast  150  are fully extended. As described above, the extension and retraction of the telescopic mast is controlled by the installation control system  190 . According to the disclosed embodiment, the telescopic mast  150  of the portable installation apparatus  105  is comprised of a plurality of axially concentric sliding hollow cylinders. The inner hollow cylinders slide out of the top-end of the outer cylinder to extend the telescopic mast along the common axis to the length required to reach the upper perimeter rim of the storage vessel  110 . Wide varieties of means are known in the art and are available to extend or contract the inner cylinders of the telescopic mast  150 . 
   After the portable discharging apparatus  100  is lifted over the edge of the storage vessel  110  and any fixed obstacles such as perimeter rails or cat walks, the telescopic mast  150  is lowered so as to locate the portable discharging apparatus  100  on the edge of the storage vessel  110 . 
   After the portable discharging apparatus  100  is mounted or placed on the storage vessel  110 , the portable installation apparatus  105  may be disengaged from the portable discharging apparatus  100  thereby leaving the portable discharging apparatus  100  mounted on the storage vessel  110 . After the portable installation apparatus  105  has been used to place a portable discharging apparatus  100  on the storage vessel  110 , it may be moved to different locations to successively mount a plurality of portable discharging apparatuses  100 . 
     FIG. 1C  depicts the assembly of the portable installation apparatus  105  and the portable discharging apparatus  100  according to one aspect of the invention. The portable installation apparatus  105  is shown with the telescopic mast  150  elevated at the distal end and supported using the support pedestal  198  for the purpose of facilitating the assembly process. 
   A portable discharging apparatus  100  that has been mounted or placed on a storage vessel  110  is depicted in  FIG. 1D. A  supply hose  135  remains connected to the portable discharging apparatus  100  so that the fire-fighting agent can be applied continuously to the storage vessel  110 . Thus, after the portable discharging apparatus  100  is mounted or placed on the top of the storage vessel  110 , it can function independently to provide fire-fighting agents without the portable installation apparatus  105 . 
   More than one portable discharging apparatus  100  may be mounted or placed on a storage vessel  110 . This embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 1E  where three separate portable discharging apparatuses  100  are mounted or placed on the storage vessel  110 . This embodiment may be suitable for large surface-area vessels or for large fires, which may require the application of larger amounts of fire-fighting agents. 
   Various embodiments of the portable discharging apparatus are depicted in  FIGS. 2A through 2H .  FIG. 2A  depicts a side view of a portable discharging apparatus  100  in further detail. As described previously, the portable discharging apparatus  100  may be comprised of a flow collimator  120 , a receptacle duct  115 , a discharge duct  125  and a support rod receptacle  175 . Also depicted in  FIG. 2A  are a first rigid device  205  and a second rigid device  210 . These rigid devices  205  and  210  work in unison to provide the required orientation for the portable discharging apparatus  100  and for maintaining the positional stability of the portable discharging apparatus  100  on the upper edge of the storage vessel  110  wall. The portable discharging apparatus  100  can be stabilized in this position using various other coupling mechanisms, such as spring loaded stabilizers, clamps, magnets and other means known in the art. This embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100  is suited for orienting the flow of the fire-fighting agent directly onto the surface of the burning liquid in the storage vessel  110 . The portable discharging apparatus  100  is also equipped with connection means, connecting bolts  215  in this embodiment, that allow the connection of alternate attachments to the portable discharging apparatus  100 . 
   Another component that may be used with the portable discharging apparatus  100  is an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 , a representative embodiment of which is depicted in FIG.  2 B. The discharge attachment  130  is used, to direct the flow of the fire-fighting agent being discharged from the portable discharging apparatus  100  in a specific direction to extinguish a fire. The arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  of  FIG. 2B  is designed to be connected to the end of the discharge duct  125  by joining the connecting bolts  215  with the eye and bolt  220  of the arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 . A wide variety of other means for attaching the arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  to the discharging duct  125  are known in the art and may be suitable for use with this invention, such as spring loaded tensors, buckles or other means. 
   A portable discharging apparatus  100  that includes an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  is depicted in  FIG. 2C  wherein the portable discharging apparatus  100  is mounted onto the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . As the portable discharging apparatus  100  is mounted or placed on the storage vessel  110 , the first rigid device  205  maintains a space between the portable discharging apparatus  100  and the wall of the storage vessel  110 . In addition, the second rigid device  210  secures the apparatus  100  onto the upper edge of the storage vessel wall  110 . A supply hose  135  is connected to the flow collimator  120  to supply a mixture of fire-fighting agents to the receptacle duct  115 . In  FIG. 2C , the embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100  with the arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  is suited for orienting the flow of the fire-fighting agent against the inside wall of the storage vessel  110 . Other embodiments, however, may be utilized to direct the fire-fighting agent in different directions.  FIG. 2D  is a front view of the portable discharging apparatus  100  and an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 . 
   In  FIG. 2E , a side view of a portable discharging apparatus  100  is depicted. This embodiment incorporates a mounting loop  225  which is attached to the receptacle duct  115 . This mounting loop  225  provides another means by which the portable discharging apparatus  100  may be mounted or placed on a storage vessel  110 . Specifically, the portable discharging apparatus  100  may be raised or lowered by attaching the mounting loop  225  to a hook that is connected to a crane or other such conveyances.  FIG. 2F  depicts an alternative embodiment for the portable discharging apparatus  100  with an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 , and the mounting loop  225  mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . 
   In  FIG. 2G , a side view of a particular embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100  is depicted wherein a passage duct  240  is externally attached to the receptacle duct  115 , passes into the discharge duct  125  and terminates concentrically at the output end of the discharge duct  125 . The passage duct  240  is used to deliver an additional fire-fighting agent, such as powders, colloids, gels, etc. within the discharge stream of the fire-fighting agent being delivered through the discharge duct  125 . This embodiment permits the use of more than one fire-fighting agent simultaneously and orients the flow of the fire-fighting agents directly onto the surface of the burning liquid in the storage vessel  110 . 
   In  FIG. 2H , a side view of a particular embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100  and an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  is depicted wherein the passage duct  240  extends concentrically through the interior of the arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 . This embodiment permits the use of more than one fire-fighting agent simultaneously and orients the flow of the fire-fighting agents directly onto the inner wall of the storage vessel  110 . 
   In other embodiments, the passage duct  240  may be attached externally on the portable discharging apparatus  100  and the arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130 . More than one additional passage duct  240  may be attached to the portable discharging apparatus  100  for conveying and issuing a plurality of fire-fighting agents. 
     FIG. 3A  depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100 , illustrating the positioning of the flow collimator  120  to the receptacle duct  115 , as well as the mixing operations provided by these elements. After the fire-fighting agents pass through the flow collimator  120 , they are aerated and passed from the receptacle duct  115  to the discharge duct  125 . A mixture of foam concentrate is provided into a first end  305  of the flow collimator  120  by a supply hose  135 . The conveyance of the mixture through the flexible supply hose  135  imparts a high degree of turbulence or non-uniform velocity in the mixture flow, shown by arrows  310 , arriving at the first end  305 . A higher level of turbulence in the flow results in a greater pressure loss along the length of the supply hose  135 . The flow collimator  120  is used to pre-condition the mixture flow to obtain a higher degree of uniformity in the flow velocity of the mixture flow, as depicted by arrows  315 , prior to passing through the jet-stream enhancer plate  325  with an end result of a better, more efficient and cost effective foam generation process. The flow collimator  120  may be comprised of a cylindrical tube of sufficient length to collimate the mixture. Upon reaching a second end  320  of the flow collimator  120 , the foam concentrate mixture passes through a jet-stream enhancer plate  325 . The jet-stream enhancer plate  325  increases the velocity of the flow and directs the foam concentrate mixture against the interior surface of the receptacle duct  115  thereby increasing the impact force between the foam concentrate mixture and the air  330 , thus improving the foaming process. Furthermore, the flow of the foam concentrate mixture from the flow-collimator  120  into the receptacle duct  115  draws a supply of air  330  into the air input port  335 , which is located at a first end of the receptacle duct  115 . As the foaming agent is distributed throughout the interior of the receptacle duct  115 , it is mixed with the air  330  that is drawn in from the air input port  335  so as to generate a foam  340  that will be directed towards a second end of the receptacle duct  115 . The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3A  utilized a flow collimator  120  and a jet-stream enhancer plate  325  to generate the foam  340 , however, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other arrangements may be utilized to generate a foam. 
     FIG. 3B  depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the jet-stream enhancer plate  325 , together with the collimator tube  120 , are positioned at such a height, so as to reduce the vertical column of foam between the jet-stream enhancer plate  325  and the top of the receptacle duct  115 , thus allowing a lower system pressure to overcome the back pressure of the foam  340  and thus obtain a higher fire-fighting agent flow at a lower pressure. 
   This alternative embodiment incorporates many of the same components as the embodiment depicted in FIG.  3 A. The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3B , however, incorporates certain differences. Specifically, a much longer portion of the flow collimator  120  is placed within the receptacle duct  115 . In addition, air vents  350  are incorporated into the sidewall of the receptacle duct  115  in order to facilitate the mixing of the fire-fighting agents with the air  330 . 
   A perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the connection between a flow collimator  120  and a receptacle duct  115  is depicted in FIG.  4 . The flow collimator  120  is attached to the receptacle duct  115  by a series of fins  400 . The fins  400  secure the separation between the flow collimator  120  and the receptacle duct  115  resulting in an air input port  335  at the first end of the receptacle duct  115 . 
   Also depicted in  FIG. 4  is a support rod receptacle  175  that is attached to the exterior of the receptacle duct  115 . The support rod receptacle  175  is designed to receive a support rod  155  that is attached to the telescopic mast  150  of the portable installation apparatus  105  (not shown). The portable installation apparatus  105  may be removably connected to the portable discharging apparatus  100  by inserting the support rod  155  into the support rod receptacle  175 . The support rod receptacle  175  may also include a flared termination  410  that is designed to guide the support rod  155  into the support rod receptacle  175  so that the portable discharging apparatus  100  may be readily coupled to and de-coupled from the portable installation apparatus  105 . Further, the support rod receptacle  175  and the support rod  155  depicted in  FIG. 4  have square cross-sectional areas adapted to prevent the rotation of the support rod receptacle  175  with respect to the support rod  155 . The specific embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , also shows an oval point at the upper end of the support rod  155  for the purpose of facilitating the coupling of the support rod  155  with the support rod receptacle  175 . Other forms of coupling may exist with corresponding mating cross-sections for the prevention of rotation such as a triangular cross-section, etc. Also depicted in  FIG. 4  is the horizontal control rod  160 , which may be used to stabilize and control the orientation of the portable discharging apparatus  100 . 
   The use of one embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100  is depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5C . In  FIG. 5A , a portable discharging apparatus  100  has been mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . In the depicted embodiment, an arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  is attached to the discharging duct  125 , so that the fire-fighting agent  500  is directed against the inside wall of the storage vessel  110 . The fire-fighting agent flows down and in contact with the inside wall of the storage vessel  110  as a thick, continuous cascade, as depicted in FIG.  5 B. As the fire-fighting agent  500  continues to be applied, it will spread uniformly over the surface  510  of the burning liquid contained in the storage vessel  110 , as depicted in FIG.  5 C. Experience demonstrates that the disruptive effects of the fire on the fire-fighting agent layer, such as push back or disruption of the continuity of the fire-fighting agent layer is overcome by the back pressure that exists on the leading edge of the fire-fighting agent layer. This back pressure is generated from the location where the fire-fighting agent flows down the inside wall of the storage vessel  110  and comes in contact with the liquid contained in the storage vessel. 
   Eventually, as the fire-fighting agent continues to be issued from the portable discharging apparatus  100 , the entire surface  510  of the burning liquid contained in the storage vessel  110  will be covered with the fire-fighting agent  500 , thus cutting off the oxygen supply and extinguishing the fire. 
   In another embodiment of this invention, fire-fighting agents may be used also to extract heat from the burning liquid contained in the storage vessel  110 . In this manner, the temperature of the burning liquid is lowered beneath the ignition point thus contributing to extinguishing the fire. 
   Another embodiment of the portable discharging apparatus  100  is depicted in  FIGS. 6A-6C . In  FIG. 6A , a portable discharging apparatus  100  is mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . In this embodiment, however, the arc-shaped flow discharge attachment  130  is not utilized. Accordingly, the fire-fighting agent  500  that is discharged from the discharge duct  125  is aimed directly onto the surface  510  of the burning liquid contained in the storage vessel  110 . Eventually, as the fire-fighting agent continues to be issued from the portable discharging apparatus  100 , the entire surface  510  of the burning liquid contained in the storage vessel  110  will be covered with the fire-fighting agent  500 , thus cutting off the oxygen supply and extinguishing the fire (FIGS.  6 B &amp;  6 C). In this embodiment experience indicates that the disruptive effects of the fire may destroy the continuity of the fire-fighting agent layer thereby permitting the access of oxygen and delaying or preventing the extinction of the fire. In this embodiment it is recommended that several portable discharging apparatuses be mounted using only one portable installation apparatus  105  and used simultaneously to ensure the successful extinction of the fire. 
   The two embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 5A-5C  and  6 A- 6 C, and other embodiments not specified here, can be used simultaneously given the flexible nature of the portable discharging apparatus  100  and the range of geometries available for the flow discharge attachments. 
   In another embodiment of this invention, fire-fighting agents may be used also to extract heat from the burning liquid contained in the storage vessel  110 . In this manner, the temperature of the burning liquid is lowered beneath the ignition point thus contributing to extinguishing the fire. 
   A representative embodiment of a mixing apparatus  140  is depicted in FIG.  7 . As described earlier with reference to  FIG. 1A , the mixing apparatus  140  mixes a conveying media with a concentrated fire-fighting agent, such as a foaming mixture, and feeds this mixture into a supply hose  135 . In  FIG. 7 , a conveyance media supply line  142  is provided to a first end  700  of the mixing apparatus  140 . A pressure gauge  705  may be attached to the conveyance media supply line  142  to measure pressure. Within the mixing apparatus  140  is an inspirator  720 . The inspirator  720  draws a supply of fire-fighting agent concentrate through the fire-fighting agent concentrate inlet  730  that it is mixed with the conveying media. The inside diameter of the fire-fighting agent concentrate inlet  730  is selected a priori to provide the required proportions of fire-fighting agent concentrate and conveying media. A fire-fighting agent supply line  144  is attached to the fire-fighting agent concentrate inlet  730  to provide fire-fighting agent concentrate to the mixing apparatus  140 . Thus, at the second end  735  of the mixing apparatus  140 , a mixture of a conveying media and fire-fighting agent concentrate is provided to a fire-fighting agent supply hose  135 . 
   A representative embodiment of the portable installation apparatus  105  is depicted in  FIGS. 8A-8C . A fully assembled portable installation apparatus  105  is depicted in FIG.  8 A. As previously described, the portable installation apparatus  105  may be comprised of a telescopic mast  150 , a base tube  165 , and a pair of lateral support struts  170 . Each of the lateral support struts  170  is attached to a respective end of the base tube  165  by couplers  900 . The other ends of the lateral support struts  170  are coupled to a collar  905  that is attached to the telescopic mast  150 . A support rod  155  and a horizontal control rod  160  may be attached to the distal end of the telescopic mast  150 . As previously described, the support rod  155  may be used for attaching the portable discharging apparatus  100  onto the distal end of the telescopic mast  150 . The horizontal control rod  160 , when used with tether lines  185 , provides vertical stability to the telescopic mast  150  and the horizontal orientation to the portable discharging apparatus  100  as it is mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the portable installation apparatus  105  may be collapsed into a unit that may be readily folded and stored. This embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 8B &amp; 8C . In  FIG. 8B , the base tube  165  and each of the lateral support struts  170  further comprising pivotal joints  910 , which allow the rigid members to be folded into a more compact arrangement. A fully collapsed and folded embodiment of the portable installation apparatus  105  is depicted in FIG.  8 C. Each of the flexible joints  910  has a corresponding sliding cover  915  that is used to lock the joint  910  when the portable installation apparatus  105  is fully extended and deployed. For example, in  FIG. 8A , the sliding covers  915  have been deployed over the flexible joints  910  to maintain the rigidity of the respective lateral support struts  170  and the rigidity of the base tube  165 . Also depicted in  FIG. 8A  are the base anchors  920 , which are used to secure the base tube  165  to the ground or other surfaces as the portable discharging apparatus  100  is elevated and mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . 
   In another embodiment of the inventions the base tube  165 , the lateral support struts  170  and the telescopic mast  150  are comprised of telescopic members that can readily be extended or contracted so that the portable installation apparatus  105  can be used with a wide variety of sizes of storage vessels. This concept is illustrated in  FIGS. 9A-9E . In  FIG. 9A , an embodiment of the portable installation apparatus  105  is depicted in which the members of the telescopic mast  150 , base tube  165  and the lateral support struts  170  are in their respected contracted positions. 
   In  FIG. 9B , the telescopic mast  150 , the base tube  165 , and the lateral support struts  170  are partially extended to such a position that may allow the portable discharging apparatus  100 , attached to the support rod  155  at the distal end of the telescopic mast  150 , to be mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 , having a relatively medium height. In  FIG. 9C , the telescopic mast  150 , the base tube  165  and the lateral support struts  170  are fully extended so that the portable discharging apparatus  100  attached to support rod  155  at the distal end of the telescopic mast  150  may be mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 , having a relatively higher height. 
   In  FIGS. 9D and 9E  an embodiment of an arrangement of locks and keys are depicted to prevent the rotation the members of the telescopic mast  150  with respect to the base tube  165  and thus secure the transverse angular orientation of the portable discharging apparatus  100 , as it is mounted or placed on the upper edge of the wall of a storage vessel  110 . In  FIG. 9D , a longitudinal cross-section of an embodiment of the interior of the telescopic mast  150  is depicted in which an arrangement of a key  960  is attached to the base of the telescopic mast  150 . A U-shaped grove  965  is attached to the base support socket  970 , which is attached to the base tube  165 . The key  960  mates with the U-shaped grove  965  so as to prevent the rotation of the exterior member of the telescopic mast  150  about the longitudinal centerline of the telescopic mast  150  with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the base tube  165 . 
   In  FIG. 9E , a transverse cross-section view of one embodiment of the telescopic mast  150  illustrates an embodiment of inner locking devices, between adjacent telescopic sections, which prevent the rotation of the telescopic mast  150  with respect to the longitudinal center line of the base tube  165 . Thus, the alignment of the base tube  165  with respect to the storage vessel  110  is maintained throughout the entire length of the portable installation apparatus  105 . This specific embodiment uses an arrangement of a keyed collar  945  attached to the inner wall of a telescopic section and a grove  940  along the entire length of the outer wall of the next inner telescopic section, as showed in  FIGS. 9D-9E . Other suitable arrangements of inner locks will be apparent to one of ordinary skill for the prevention of rotation between the telescopic sections, such as inverting the key and the grove arrangement or using rectangular telescopic sections or other such means. 
     FIG. 9D  also depicts an embodiment of a bi-directional flow apparatus  930  for incoming or outgoing hydraulic flow in the hydraulic line  192  (not shown), and is adapted to prevent the loss of hydraulic pressure in the interior of the telescopic mast  150  when the hydraulic line  192  is removed either intentionally or accidentally. Also depicted in  FIG. 9D  is an embodiment of a drain apparatus  935 . One aspect of the drain apparatus  935  is the removal of the residual hydraulic fluids prior to the storage of the portable installation apparatus  105 . This prevents corrosion of the inner cavities of the telescopic mast  150  when not in operation. The second aspect of the drain apparatus  935  is the relief of hydraulic pressure in the telescopic mast  150  for the purpose of preventing damage to the seals and compromising structural integrity of the telescopic members. 
     FIGS. 10A-10C  depict the key difference in the process of mounting the portable discharging apparatus  100  on storage vessels  110  of varying heights. The length of the spacer member  194  can be adjusted to preset lengths corresponding to different heights of the storage vessel  110  or flexibly adjusted on site in response to the actual environment and available space. The spacer bar  194  serves to fix the distance between the bottom of the wall of the storage vessel  110  and the base tube  165  of the portable installation apparatus  105  and to achieve the correct degree of inclination of the portable installation apparatus  105 , to ensure the directional stability of the apparatus as it is elevated to mount or remove the portable discharging apparatus  100 . 
     FIGS. 11A-11E  depict another aspect of the invention wherein a conveying embodiment for the purpose of transporting the fire-fighting apparatuses of the present invention is shown. 
   In  FIG. 11A  a transportation apparatus  1100  is shown, which is adapted to be either manually maneuvered or mechanically towed to the site of the burning storage vessel  110 . The transportation apparatus  1100  is further adapted to carry the portable discharging apparatus  100 , the portable installation apparatus  105  and accessories on board. 
   In  FIG. 11B  a skid  1105  is shown, which is a further embodiment of the present invention that is adapted for containing and transporting the fire-fighting apparatuses. The skid  1105  is designed such that it can be transported in a variety of ways, including a trailer, a railcar, a truck, a boat, or a helicopter. In addition, the skid  1105  is designed such that it can be pulled or carried across a variety of surfaces so that all of the components of the present invention can be readily transported to the immediate vicinity of the fire. 
   In  FIG. 11C  the portable discharging apparatus  100  and the portable installation apparatus  105  are loaded in the skid  1105 , wherein the entire fire-fighting apparatuses and accessories of the present invention may be readily transported and deployed at the location of a fire. 
   In  FIG. 11D  depicts the skid  1105  loaded with the portable discharging apparatus  100 , the portable installation apparatus  105  and accessories onboard the transportation apparatus  1100 . 
   A perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the  FIGS. 12A-12C , wherein the portable installation apparatus  105 , and the portable discharging apparatus  100 , are fully assembled on board the transportation apparatus  1100 . Specifically, the transportation apparatus  1100  is adapted to move the assembled portable installation apparatus  105  with the portable discharging apparatus  100  from a distant assembly point to the wall of the storage vessel  110 . In this embodiment of the invention, the portable installation apparatus  105  is adapted with a second telescopic device  1210 , wherein the second telescopic device  1210  is adapted to erect the portable installation apparatus  105  together with the portable discharging apparatus  100  to the full upright position using two mounting trunnions  1205 , that mate with each end of the base tube  165 . The two mounting trunnions  1205  together with the ends of the base tube  165  provide for the erective rotation and locking of the portable installation apparatus in the full upright position. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other arrangements may be utilized in the assembly, transporting and erecting the portable installation apparatus. 
   Although certain embodiments and aspects of the present inventions have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed descriptions, it will be understood that the inventions are not limited to the embodiments disclosed. Further, the inventions are capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof. The Applicants intend that the claims shall not invoke the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 unless the claim is explicitly written in means-plus-function or step-plus-function format.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0