Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a fire fighting device of the above kind in which the fluid driven rotating motor is a turbine. The device is attached to the end or nozzle of a fire hose whereby it is possible manually to cut a hole in a wall by means of the rotating cutting element and subsequently to spray fire fighting fluid (water) into the hole and into the space behind the wall since a central axial passage is provided through the device and the fluid or water leaving the turbine exits in part on a radius smaller than the radius of the hole.

<CIT> discloses another device comprising the feature mentioned by way of introduction and provided for manual operation.

<CIT> disclose another device used for fighting fires in for example rooms, attics and the like. The device is provided with a water driven auger and a spray nozzle arranged for rotation relative to a housing. The firefighter places the tip of the auger against the surface or separation which it is desirable to penetrate in order for the nozzle to reach the fire. A handle is provided which the firefighter uses to control and force the tip of the auger against the surface. By the firefighter applying sufficient downforce in combination with the water rotating the auger, the device will drill itself through the separation, and water issuing from the spray nozzle will quell or dampen the fire. Once the device has penetrated the separation, the device may be fastened to the surface, and be operated and controlled remotely.

<CIT> relates to an extinguishing and penetration unit in which a drilling unit (<NUM>) is connected with a spraying head (<NUM>) provided with a drilling and centering pin (<NUM>) being coupled through the mediation of a freewheeling clutch (<NUM>) by one end of an internal hollow shaft (<NUM>), whereby the other end of the internal hollow shaft (<NUM>) is provided with a rotary supply (<NUM>) of extinguishing water. The internal hollow shaft (<NUM>) of the drilling and centering pin (<NUM>) is supported by a pair (<NUM>) radial antifriction bearings and one axial antifriction bearing (<NUM>) being all mounted by their outer surfaces within an external hollow shaft (<NUM>). The external hollow shaft (<NUM>) is provided in its central portion with external grooves (<NUM>) and in front of the grooves (<NUM>), in the direction toward the spraying head (<NUM>), there is a section with an external motion thread (<NUM>). An extensible tube (<NUM>) is mounted slidably in the external hollow shaft (<NUM>) provided with external grooves (<NUM>). The extensible tube (<NUM>) is provided at its end with internal feathers (<NUM>) and an internal motion thread (<NUM>) of the extensible tube (<NUM>) wherein the extensible tube (<NUM>) is fixedly coupled with a core boring crown (<NUM>). The external hollow shaft (<NUM>) is supported by a radial-axial bearing (<NUM>) that is mounted in a frame (<NUM>) of the extinguishing and penetration unit. One side of the internal hollow shaft (<NUM>) is fixedly coupled with a pin toothed wheel (<NUM>) which engages with a first section (<NUM>) of the pin hydraulic motors, which section is fixedly coupled through the mediation of a cage (<NUM>) with the frame (<NUM>). The toothed wheel (<NUM>) of the boring crown engages with the second section (<NUM>) of the crown rotary hydraulic motors, which are fixedly coupled through the mediation of the cage (<NUM>) with the frame (<NUM>).

In certain circumstances the may be fire in a place which is difficult to reach for a fire fighter e.g. a fire in a container on board a ship where containers are stacked relatively closely and to a considerable height.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fire fighting device which need not be held by an operator during operation.

This is obtained by a device as defined by the appended claim <NUM>. Hereby is obtained that the fire fighting device may be brought into position, e.g. by means of a hoist of any kind, with e.g. a fire hose connected to the fluid inlet and be attached to the wall, whereafter the device automatically cuts hole in the wall. Further it is obtained that a hole may be cut for introduction of fire fighting fluid into a space behind a wall without the need for any other energy source than the pressurised fire fighting fluid.

The fire fighting fluid may be water and the source of fire fighting fluid may be a fire hydrant. Accordingly, the fire fighting device may comprise a connector for connecting a fire hose to the device.

When attaching for use of the fire fighting device the support to wall to be penetrated, the support may in a non-claimed embodiment of the invention be fastened directly to the wall or it may be fastened to a rigid structure fixed relative to the wall or attached to the wall, said structure preferably having a distance from the wall less than <NUM> meter, preferably less than <NUM>, and especially within <NUM> or within <NUM> from the wall.

The direction of the movement of the rotary cutting element towards the wall may be generally parallel or co-axial with the axial direction.

In an embodiment the fluid driven rotating motor comprises a stator attached to the support, the rotor being seated for rotation on said stator, the rotor comprises a driving part and a driven part the driving part driving rotary the driven part, wherein the rotary cutting element is attached to the driven part. It should be noted that as used herein "stator" designates a generally non-rotating part of the fluid driven rotating motor as opposite to the "rotor" which a part of the fluid driven rotating motor rotating during operation of the fluid driven rotating motor.

In a further embodiment the driven part is displaceable in the axial direction from a retracted position to an extended position together with the rotating cutting element and comprises a surface element constituting part of the power means, said surface element being subject to a pressure of the fire fighting fluid through the second conduit to press the rotating cutting element towards the wall.

In a further embodiment the rotating cutting element is attached co-axially to the driven part and at least one passage is provided to receive fire fighting fluid from the fluid outlet for said fire fighting fluid to be ejected into a hole cut by the rotating cutting element. Hereby is provided for the device to eject fire fighting fluid into the space behind the wall once the hole has been cut.

In a practical not claimed embodiment the stator comprises an annular protrusion with a second external cylindrical surface in sliding engagement with said first internal cylindrical surface, said annular protrusion comprising at one axial end said annular surface, said annular protrusion comprising at an opposite axial end a second annular surface, a third annular surface positioned opposite the second annular surface being connected to the first internal cylindrical surface, a second annular chamber thereby being provided between the second annular surface and the third annular surface, whereby either the area of the second annular surface part, and thus of the annular surface part of the driven part, is bigger than the area of the third annular surface as seen in the axial direction, or the second annular chamber is vented to the surroundings. Hereby the third annual surface may abut on the second annular surface when the driven part is in the extended position thus defining said extended position.

In an embodiment the driving part comprises a hollow shaft member, a number of nozzles extending from the hollow shaft member to eject fire fighting fluid fed to the rotor, the nozzles thereby ejecting the fire fighting fluid in a direction with a circumferential component in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. Hereby is obtained that the driving part is driven rotationally in a direction opposite to said circumferential component. Thus the fluid driven rotating motor is provided generally in the form of a so-called Segner wheel or Segner turbine.

In a not claimed embodiment the stator comprises a circular cylindrical section which has a third external cylindrical surface and the driving part has a second internal cylindrical surface in sliding engagement with said third external cylindrical surface, the first conduit extends through the stator and out through at least one second aperture in the circular cylindrical section at the third external cylindrical surface at an axial position, the driving part at the second internal cylindrical surface comprises at least one third aperture for receiving fire fighting fluid from the first conduit, a circumferential recess defining an axial recess area is provided in one of the third external cylindrical surface and the second internal cylindrical surface, and the second aperture and the third aperture are opening into said circumferential recess when the driving part is in an axial starting position relative to the stator. Hereby is obtained a fluid connection between the non-rotating stator and the rotating driving part of the rotor.

In a not claimed embodiment an adjustable valve is attached to the first conduit, said adjustable valve being adjustable between an open position and a closed position, whereby the adjustable valve in the closed position at least throttles a flow of fire fighting fluid to the rotor.

In a further embodiment the driving part is displaceable in the axial direction relative to the stator from the axial starting position, which is a retracted position, to an extended position, whereby one of the second aperture and the third aperture is outside the axial recess area when the driving part is in the extended position. Hereby an adjustable valve opening and at least restricting the flow of fire fighting fluid to the rotor since said flow is at least restricted when one of the second and the third apertures are out of the axial recess area.

In a not claimed embodiment the driving part and the driven part are integrated. Hereby is obtained that the driving part and the driven part move in unison in the axial direction.

In a not claimed practical embodiment the stator is attached immovably to the support and the support is preferably rigid.

In an embodiment the support is provided with means for attachment to the wall, said means comprising one or more of: a magnet, a suction device, a hook, a claw, a pair of jaws, a clamp, etc. Hereby the attachment means may be adapted to the intended place of use of a specific fire fighting device according to the invention, e.g. on a ship container made of ferromagnetic steel and/or wherein bars are permanently mounted adjacent to a wall or door of the container, on a wall with a smooth surface, on a surface with protrusions adapted for engagement with hooks, claws, clamps, a pair of jaws, etc. Hereby the stator will be fixed relative to the wall during use, when the support is rigid and the stator is attached immovably to the support.

A hoist, not part of the present invention, can be used in order to bring the fire fighting device into position at elevated fire sites. The hoist comprises a telescopic section where said telescopic section has a lower end and an upper end and two or more concentrically arranged extendible sections there between, where in the upper end a fastening bar is arranged perpendicular to the extendible sections, and a pully wheel, where a wire is provided from adjacent the lower end around the pully wheel and back to the lower end, where said wire comprises means for fastening the fire fighting device to an end of the wire.

The hoist provides a number of advantages. Often, particularly with ISO containers being carried on freighters, they are stabled to a height where it is not possible for personnel to immediately reach the desired height.

For this purpose the hoist may be extended be extending the telescopic section such that the fastening bar is positioned at a desired height relative to the container in which it is desirable to extinguish the fire. The fastening bar is typically arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the telescopic section. In this manner it is possible to insert the fastening bar between the front of the container and the vertical bars which are typically part of the locking arrangement on ISO containers (see <FIG>).

When the telescopic section including the fastening bar is installed against the surface on which it is desirable to place the fire fighting device, the fire fighting device is attached to the wire and hoisted up to the upper end of the telescopic section such that the fire fighting device will be positioned immediately adjacent the fastening bar and thereby in its operational position.

In order to ease the work with the hoist the hoist is provided with a winch at the lower end such that it is possible to activate the winch in order to elevate the fire fighting device to the desired elevation. The winch may be manually or electrically operated.

The two or more concentric sections may be extended by applying a force to the lower ends of each section, where said force is generated by one or more of the following: electrical motor means, hydraulic or hydro means, pneumatic means, mechanical means in the shape of a winch, releasable gas springs.

As it is foreseen that the concentric sections may be extended to a relatively high elevation, for example <NUM>-<NUM> meters, it may become difficult to handle this extension by hand. Therefore, by providing a force to extend the concentric sections this work is eased.

Generally, the force may be generated by electrical motor means which in addition to being a well-known technology is easy to install, easy to handle and furthermore electricity is present on most ships, and as such the source of energy is readily available. The alternatives, for example using hydraulic or hydro means, are also viable in that for example ships carrying containers will have a hydraulic system for other reasons and as such it is possible to hook up to the existing hydraulic system and thereby convert the hydraulic system to the force necessary to extend the concentric sections.

As the fire fighting device is using a fire fighting liquid which is typically water, water is available anyway in connection with the hoist when used together with a fire fighting device and as such by diverting part of the water pressure to be used as the force extending the concentric sections is a straightforward and available solution. As is the case with hydraulic means most ships of the type carrying containers will also have pneumatic installations such that it is possible divert a pressurized hose, for example with pressurized air, to the concentric sections and thereby elevate the concentric sections by supplying the force by means of air.

As already a winch in some embodiments not part of the invention may be installed in order to elevate the fire fighting device to the upper end of the hoist the same winch or an additional winch may be used in order to provide the force pushing up the concentric sections.

As an extra safety measure the hoist may in a further advantageous embodiment not part of the invention be provided adjacent the upper end of the hoist with a releasable locking mechanism where said locking mechanism is suitable to interact and lock the fire fighting device in position adjacent the upper end of the hoist. The locking means may for example be a spring loaded tab which as the fire fighting device passes the place where the tab is present pushed the tab into the hoist, and as the fire fighting devise passes the tab, an aperture in the fire fighting device may release the spring force, whereby the tab is inserted into the aperture such that the fire fighting device is locked relative to the hoist.

Naturally, the underside of the fire fighting device will also release the tab such that the fire fighting device may be resting on the tab. When desiring to free the fire fighting device from the engagement with the tab internal means, for example in shape of a wire threaded pulley, and operational from the lower end of the hoist, may be used in order to release the locking mechanism.

Another alternative locking mechanism may be a pivotable member which may pivot out of the perimeter of the hoist as the fire fighting device has passed and thereby creating a lock such that the fire fighting device cannot slide back down the hoist. When it is desirable to release the lock the fire fighting device is elevated slightly, or the hoist is lowered slightly relative to the fire fighting device which due to the engagement with the fastening bar to the side of the container is locked in place allowing the hoist to be lowered such that the releasable locking mechanism in the shape of a pivotal member may be pivoted back inside the perimeter of the hoist whereby it is possible to lower the fire fighting device along the hoist.

The invention is also directed at a method of using a fire fighting device according to the appended claim <NUM>. This method comprises the following steps:.

In this manner the fire fighting device together with the hoist constitutes a very effective overall fire fighting device regardless of the height where the object is positioned such that it is possible to position the effective fire fighting device manually and relatively easily at a desired elevation.

In the following the invention will be explained in further detail by way of example having reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which.

The figures show an embodiment of a fire fighting device which comprises a support <NUM> and a fire fighting aggregate <NUM>. The fire fighting device is attached to a wall <NUM> which is to be penetrated for ejecting a fire fighting fluid into a space behind the wall.

For ease of description the fire fighting fluid will in the following be generally referred to as "water", since water, of the quality available, will in many cases be the actual fluid used as fire fighting fluid.

For sake of explanation the end of the device, or parts thereof, closest to the wall <NUM> during use is designated "front end" and the opposite end is designated "rear end". Correspondingly as used herein "forward" designates a direction from the rear end towards the front end and "rearward" designates the direction opposite to "forward", etc..

As used herein "a wall" should be interpreted as any flat element defining a space into which water should be sprayed to fight a fire, thus including e.g. a door, a roof, a floor, etc..

In the following like reference numerals are used for like parts.

Referring to <FIG>, the support <NUM> comprises a number of legs <NUM> provided with feet <NUM> for abutment against the wall <NUM> to position the fire fighting device. The support is provided with means for attachment to the wall said means being in the present example permanent magnets <NUM> attached to the feet <NUM> since the fire fighting device in the present embodiment is intended for use in fighting fires in steel containers e.g. on board a container ship. The support <NUM> further comprises a tubular connector <NUM> with an internal thread for receiving a threaded end of a stator <NUM> of the fire fighting aggregate <NUM>. The tubular connector <NUM> is in the present example provided with a fire hose connector <NUM> for connecting a fire hose <NUM> (see <FIG>), the fire hose connector <NUM> thus providing a fluid inlet of the fire fighting device.

Though in the schematic drawings only two legs <NUM> of the support <NUM> are shown it should be understood that the support <NUM> in practise comprise a number of legs that will provide for a stable attachment of the device to the wall.

The fire fighting aggregate <NUM> comprises, apart from said stator <NUM>, a rotor <NUM> and a rotating cutting element <NUM> all three of which are aligned on an axis of rotation <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. Thus in the example shown the rotating cutting element <NUM> is rotating coaxially with the rotor <NUM>. The rotating cutting element <NUM> is shown to be a hole saw, but any device might be use provided that is suitable for trepanning or drilling a hole of a certain diameter in the material of a wall for which the fire fighting device might be intended to be used.

The rotor <NUM> comprises a driving part <NUM> and a driven part <NUM>. In the present example the driving part <NUM> and the driven part <NUM> are integrated and accordingly they move in unison both in rotation around the axis of rotation <NUM> and in translation along said axis.

The stator <NUM> is a generally tubular body and is as mentioned above threaded i.e. at its rear end and is through the thread <NUM> connected to the tubular connector <NUM>. Hereby the stator <NUM> is attached to the support <NUM> to be immovable relative to the wall <NUM> during operation. Extending forwards from the thread <NUM> the stator <NUM> comprises three circular cylindrical sections, which counted from the front end are designated first, second and third circular cylindrical section, respectively. At its front end the stator <NUM> has a closed end wall. However, apertures providing passages from an inner hollow of the tubular body to the outside are provided in the circular cylindrical sections as will be explained in the following.

The threaded rear end of the stator <NUM> is open to receive water supplied through a fire hose connected to the fire hose connector <NUM>. Accordingly, the inner hollow of the tubular body of the stator <NUM> provides part of several conduits for feeding the water to various places in the device, i.e. a first conduit for feeding the driving part <NUM> and a second conduit for feeding the driven part <NUM>, as it will be explained further below.

The rotor <NUM>, including, in the present example, the driving part <NUM> and the driven part <NUM>, comprises a likewise generally tubular body which is seated for rotation on the tubular body of the stator <NUM>.

The driven part <NUM> comprises a first internal cylindrical surface <NUM> and an annular surface part <NUM> adjacent to the first internal cylindrical surface <NUM>. The first circular cylindrical section of the stator <NUM> comprises a first external cylindrical surface <NUM>. The extent of the second circular section is defined by an annular protrusion <NUM> which has a second external cylindrical surface <NUM>. The second external surface <NUM> thus has a larger diameter than the first external surface <NUM>. At a front end of the annular protrusion <NUM> the latter has an annular surface <NUM>. When the fire fighting device is in the axial starting position shown in <FIG> and <FIG> the first internal cylindrical surface <NUM>, the annular surface part <NUM>, the first external cylindrical surface <NUM> and the annular surface <NUM> between them defines an annular chamber <NUM> the function of which will be explained below.

In the present example a number of first apertures <NUM> are spaced equidistantly around the first external cylindrical surface <NUM> to provide an opening between the inner hollow of the stator <NUM> and the annular chamber <NUM>. The fire hose connector <NUM>, the tubular connector <NUM>, the inner hollow of the stator <NUM> and the first apertures <NUM> together provide what is arbitrarily designated the second conduit.

A front end of the driven part <NUM> comprises in the present example a generally cup shaped plug member <NUM> which by means of an external thread 342a is threaded into an internal thread provided in axial extension of the first internal cylindrical surface <NUM>. The cup shaped plug member <NUM> provides by a rim of the cup shape the annular surface part <NUM> at its rear end, and at its front end it comprises co-axially with the axis of rotation <NUM> a threaded tubular protrusion <NUM> onto which the rotating cutting element <NUM> is threaded. The cup shaped plug member <NUM> provides, extending from the rim, a cylindrical end chamber <NUM> of the driven part <NUM>. The cylindrical end chamber <NUM> accommodates an end part of the stator <NUM> comprising at least a part of the first external cylindrical surface <NUM>, when the driven part is in the axial starting position, which is a retracted position, as it will be explained below.

An inner hollow of the tubular protrusion <NUM> is extended through a bottom part of the cup shaped plug member <NUM> to provide a fluid outlet <NUM> allowing water in the cylindrical end chamber <NUM> to flow out of said chamber, and the inner hollow of the tubular protrusion <NUM> per se provides a passage for fire fighting fluid such as water to receive water from the fluid outlet <NUM> for said water to be ejected into a hole cut by the rotating cutting element, as it will be further explained below. Further outlet openings 345a are provided around the tubular protrusion <NUM> through the bottom part of the cup shaped plug member <NUM> and through corresponding openings in the rotating cutting element <NUM> (not shown).

The first external cylindrical surface <NUM> is fitting slidably in the cylindrical end chamber <NUM> and the first internal cylindrical surface <NUM> is fitting slidably on the second external cylindrical surface <NUM>. Accordingly, the driven part <NUM> may slide on the stator <NUM> in rotation around the axis of rotation <NUM> as well in translation along said axis, as it will be explained further below with reference to the function of the fire fighting device.

The driving part <NUM> comprises a hollow shaft member <NUM> which comprises a second internal cylindrical surface <NUM> which is fitting slidable on a third external cylindrical surface <NUM> of the third circular cylindrical section of the stator <NUM>.

The first conduit for feeding the driving part <NUM> extends through the fire hose connector <NUM>, the tubular connector <NUM>, the stator <NUM> and out through at least one, in the present example six or eight, second apertures <NUM> in the third circular cylindrical section at the third external cylindrical surface <NUM> at an axial position. At the second internal cylindrical surface <NUM> the driving part <NUM> comprises at least one third aperture <NUM> for receiving water from the first conduit. A circumferential recess <NUM> defining an axial recess area is provided in the second internal cylindrical surface <NUM> and the second apertures <NUM> are opening into said recess <NUM>, and the third apertures <NUM> are also opening into said circumferential recess <NUM> when the driving part <NUM> is in an axial starting position relative to the stator <NUM>.

A number of nozzles <NUM> are extending from the hollow shaft member <NUM> to eject the water fed through the first conduit to the rotor <NUM>. The nozzles <NUM> receive the water through the third apertures <NUM>, and the nozzles <NUM> are ejecting the water in a direction with a circumferential component in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation <NUM>.

The nozzles <NUM> are in the present example provided by channels in a nozzle ring <NUM> shown in section in <FIG>.

In the present example the driving part <NUM> is displaceable in the axial direction relative to the stator <NUM> from the axial starting position, which is a retracted position, to an extended position, whereby the second apertures <NUM> are outside the axial recess area defined by the recess <NUM>, when the driving part <NUM> is in its extended position as seen in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Since the driving part <NUM> and the driven part <NUM> are in the present example integrated and accordingly move in unison, the driving part <NUM> and the driven part <NUM> will be in their respective retracted positions and extended positions simultaneously, the axial position of driving part <NUM> being controlled by the axial position of the driven part <NUM>.

The annular protrusion <NUM> of the stator <NUM> comprises at one axial end the annular surface <NUM>, and said annular protrusion <NUM> comprises at an opposite axial end a second annular surface <NUM>. A third annular surface <NUM> positioned opposite i.e. vis-à-vis the second annular surface <NUM> is connected to the first internal cylindrical surface <NUM>. A second annular chamber <NUM> is thereby provided between the second annular surface <NUM> and the third annular surface <NUM>. In the present example the fire fighting aggregate <NUM> is constructed such that the area of the annular surface part <NUM> of the driven part <NUM> is bigger than the area of the third annular surface <NUM> as seen in the axial direction. In the alternative, or supplementary, the second annular chamber <NUM> might be vented to the surroundings.

In use the fire fighting device works as follows:
A fire hose is connected to the fire hose connector <NUM> and the fire fighting device is attached to a wall <NUM> which should be penetrated for water or another fire fighting fluid to be ejected through the wall <NUM> into a space behind the wall.

When attaching the fire fighting device to the wall <NUM> a supply of water to the fire hose <NUM> should not yet be turned on.

The rotor <NUM>, including the driving part <NUM> and the driven part <NUM>, will at this time be pushed to its axial starting position i.e. the retracted position shown in <FIG>.

Now the water supply is turned on to supply water at a pressure of e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> bar to the fire fighting device. The water enters the fire fighting device through the fire hose connector <NUM> and the tubular connector <NUM> to follow the first and second conduit into the inner hollow of the stator <NUM> and out the second apertures <NUM> following the first conduit and also out through the first apertures <NUM> following the second conduit.

The water flowing out through the first apertures <NUM> fills the first annular chamber <NUM> and water flowing out through the second apertures <NUM> fills the circumferential recess <NUM>.

Since respectively the first external cylindrical surface <NUM> is fitting slidably in the cylindrical end chamber <NUM>, the first internal cylindrical surface <NUM> is fitting slidably on the second external cylindrical surface <NUM>, and the second internal cylindrical surface <NUM> is fitting slidable on the third external cylindrical surface <NUM> the water is restricted but not prevented from flowing past said surfaces. In fact, a film of water with a thickness of e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> will be present between the respective surfaces fitting slidably with each other to provide a lubricating film facilitating movement of the rotor <NUM> relative to the stator <NUM>. Further the water will flow into the second annular chamber <NUM>.

The water is restricted from flowing between the first external cylindrical surface <NUM> and the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical end chamber <NUM> and into said cylindrical end chamber <NUM>. Accordingly, the water will build up pressure in the first annular chamber <NUM>.

The water in the circumferential recess <NUM> flows freely through the third apertures <NUM> and the nozzles <NUM> to be ejected by said nozzles <NUM> in directions 317a with a circumferential component in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation <NUM>. This ejection of water will result in the rotor <NUM> being driven to rotate in an opposite direction of rotation <NUM> as it will be understood by the person skilled in the art, and the rotating cutting element <NUM> will thereby be driven to rotate likewise.

The water pressure building up in the first annular chamber <NUM> will act on the annular surface part <NUM> to expand said first annular chamber <NUM> and accordingly the rotating cutting element <NUM> will be pressed against the wall <NUM>, the rotor <NUM> sliding axially on the stator <NUM>. Thus the annular surface part <NUM> constitutes a surface element constituting part of a power means or a power cylinder.

Since the water also flows into the second annular chamber <NUM> it must be assured that any pressure building up in said chamber does not prevent the pressure in the first annular chamber <NUM> from expanding the latter to press the rotating cutting element <NUM> against the wall <NUM>. This may as mentioned be obtained either by constructing the annular surface part <NUM> to have a larger area than the third annular surface <NUM>, i.e. by constructing the first external cylindrical surface <NUM> with a smaller diameter than the third external cylindrical surface <NUM>, and/or by venting the second annular chamber <NUM> to the surroundings, if it appears to be a problem: Thus the pressure in the circumferential recess <NUM> is relatively low since the water flows freely out the nozzles <NUM> and accordingly the pressure in the second annular chamber <NUM> may appear to be smaller than the pressure in the first annular chamber <NUM>.

During the rotation of the rotating cutting element <NUM> the latter cuts its way through the wall <NUM> and accordingly the rotor <NUM> is axially displaced in what has been defined as the forward direction. The fire fighting device should be dimensioned relative to the thickness of walls which the device is meant to penetrate so that, before the forward end of the stator <NUM> is completely withdrawn from the cylindrical end chamber <NUM>, the rotating cutting element <NUM> has cut through the wall <NUM> allowing the rotor <NUM> to slide axially with only little resistance to the extended end position shown in <FIG>. In this extended end position, the third annular surface <NUM> abuts on the second annular surface <NUM> thereby defining the extended end position.

When the rotor <NUM> is in the extended end position the second apertures <NUM> are outside the circumferential recess <NUM> and the water is restricted from exiting the second apertures <NUM>, the first conduit having thus been generally shut. Thus the water substantially stops flowing through the nozzles <NUM> and the rotor <NUM> stops rotating. The forward end of the stator <NUM> has in this extended end position been completely withdrawn from the circular end chamber <NUM> and the water is free to flow from the first apertures <NUM>, past the forward end of the stator <NUM>, through the circular end chamber <NUM>, through the fluid outlet <NUM>, and through the threaded tubular protrusion <NUM> to be ejected into the space behind the wall <NUM>. Likewise, the water flows from the circular end chamber <NUM> through the further outlet openings 345a to be eventually ejected into the space behind the wall <NUM>.

<FIG> shows schematically an end of a ship container <NUM> known per se. The ship container comprises two doors <NUM> which may constitute the wall <NUM> to be penetrated in case of a fire inside the container. In front of each door <NUM>, as it will be familiar to the skilled person, two vertical bars <NUM> are present, said bars <NUM> constituting part of a locking arrangement for locking the doors <NUM> and are usually positioned at a distance of <NUM> to <NUM> from the main surfaces of the doors. A number of grooves <NUM> with a generally trapezoid cross-section are recessed in the main surfaces of the doors <NUM> as it will be familiar to the skilled person.

When the doors <NUM> of the ship container <NUM> are made of ferromagnetic material a fire fighting device as described above including feet <NUM> with permanent magnets <NUM> may be attached directly to a surface of one of the doors <NUM> the permanent magnets <NUM> cohering to the door <NUM>.

Alternatively, the support <NUM> may be provided with other means for attachment to the wall <NUM>, such means alternatively comprising one suction devices, which might provide for attachment directly to the surface of the wall <NUM> or door <NUM> or such means for attachment might comprise one or more hooks, claws, pairs of jaws, or clamps, which might be attached to one or more of the bars <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a very simple way of attaching the support to the wall to be penetrated. Thus <FIG> shown schematically the fire fighting aggregate <NUM> suspended in a variant of the support <NUM>' which comprises two legs <NUM> fixed to a vertical bar <NUM>. An upper end of the vertical bar <NUM> is fixed to a horizontal bar <NUM> in an overlaying manner as shown in <FIG> and the vertical bar <NUM> comprises a recess with a through hole <NUM> for the rotating cutting element <NUM> to pass through. For attaching the fire fighting aggregate <NUM> suspended in the support <NUM>' the horizontal bar <NUM> is simply inserted between the two bars <NUM> and into one of the grooves <NUM> whereafter the fire fighting aggregate <NUM> and the support <NUM>' are shifted laterally in a longitudinal direction of the groove <NUM> until the vertical bar <NUM> abuts one of the bars <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The engagement of the horizontal bar <NUM> with a lower side wall <NUM> of the groove <NUM> and with the bar <NUM> and the engagement of the lower end of the vertical bar <NUM> with the main surface of the door <NUM> will keep the fire fighting aggregate <NUM> securely in place during operation. It is seen that the horizontal bar <NUM>, though straight, functions as a hook hooking behind the bar <NUM>. It is noted that especially the vertical bar <NUM> might be constructed differently from what is shown in <FIG> as long as the support <NUM>' comprises an element extending vertically (in the use position) to be fixed to the horizontal bar, to be able to abut on a surface below the groove <NUM>, and to allow the rotating cutting element <NUM> to pass to the surface of the wall to be penetrated.

Thus the device may be attached directly to the wall to be penetrated of to a structure which is in a fixed position relative to the wall, preferably within a distance of <NUM> meter from the wall and especially within <NUM> or within <NUM>.

The bars <NUM> and groove <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> are typically part of a door construction of a typical ship's container. The invention, although not limited to use with containers and in particular the type of containers being used very widely for sea transport the following examples will be discussed with reference to a construction similar to the construction illustrated in <FIG> containing substantially vertical bars <NUM> and a substantially horizontal groove <NUM>.

In <FIG> is illustrated a further way of attaching the support to the wall to be penetrated. A variant of the support <NUM>" is connected to the device <NUM> where the tubular connector <NUM> is connected to the firehose <NUM>.

Two of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> are liquid conduits such that part of the water being led by the firehose <NUM> to the device <NUM> is diverted into the arms <NUM>, <NUM>. The arms <NUM>, <NUM> are in the opposite end to where they are connected to the tubular connector <NUM> connected to respective hydraulic cylinders <NUM>, <NUM>. The hydraulic cylinders <NUM> have a piston <NUM>, <NUM> (see also <FIG>) such that when a water pressure is present in the conduits <NUM>, <NUM> the water pressure will urge the pistons <NUM>, <NUM> away from the cylinders <NUM>, <NUM>.

The device is furthermore provided with a vertical bar <NUM> such that when the vertical bar <NUM> is placed parallel to one of the bars <NUM> and a water pressure is activated the piston <NUM>, <NUM> will be activated thereby urging the piston <NUM> or <NUM> against the vertical bar <NUM>. At some point the vertical bar <NUM> will come into contact with the vertical bar <NUM> and the piston <NUM> or <NUM> will effectively squeeze the bar <NUM> such that a firm grip is provided for the cutting device <NUM>.

Once the water pressure in the conduit <NUM>, <NUM> is released, the pistons <NUM>, <NUM> will be able to move backwards thereby releasing its grip on the vertical bar <NUM> such that the device may be removed from the vertical bar <NUM>.

A further way of attaching the device to the wall is illustrated in <FIG>. Here the support <NUM> is again provided as a water conduit. The water connection is created in the tubular connector <NUM> such that water from the firehose may be led into the support <NUM>'.

In the other end of the support <NUM>' is again provided expandable members <NUM>, <NUM>. The expandable members <NUM>, <NUM> comprise a fixed central section <NUM> connected to the support <NUM>. Inside the fixed section <NUM> are arranged <NUM> pistons <NUM>, <NUM>' such that as water pressure is introduced into the fixed section <NUM> the pistons <NUM>, <NUM>' will be urged sideways thereby coming into contact with the vertical bars <NUM>.

The end of the pistons <NUM>, <NUM>' are provided with an oblique surface <NUM> such that the pistons <NUM>, <NUM>' will be wedged between the vertical bars <NUM> and the wall <NUM>. In this manner the device is firmly fixed to the wall.

With reference to <FIG> a further way of attaching the device to the wall <NUM> by means of the vertical bars <NUM> is illustrated. The support <NUM> is connected to a shaped bar <NUM> comprising two sections <NUM>, <NUM>. The cutting device <NUM> as well as the support <NUM> is attached to the section <NUM>. Some distance from the distal end <NUM>' of the section <NUM> is provided a cut-out <NUM>. The shape of the cut-out is as illustrated with reference to <FIG> such that the cut-out <NUM> has a small opening <NUM> and a wider bottom <NUM>.

The opening is large enough to accommodate a vertical bar <NUM> such that as illustrated with reference to <FIG> the section <NUM> may be fitted around the bar <NUM> and by tilting the bar as illustrated in <FIG> the bar <NUM> will become locked inside the cut-out <NUM> due to the geometric shape of the cut-out.

Returning to <FIG> when having placed the cut-out <NUM> over a bar <NUM> gravity caused by the length of the section <NUM> and the section where the cutting device is placed, i.e. the section <NUM>, will cause the section <NUM> to obtain the position as illustrated in <FIG>. As the device <NUM> is activated, thereby pushing the drill into the wall <NUM> creating a reactive force in the opposite direction the shaped bar <NUM> will try to rotate around the bar <NUM>.

Due to the provision of an extending distal end <NUM>' the turning will be resisted as the distal end <NUM>' engages the wall <NUM> such that it is possible to transfer the forces created by the drilling device <NUM> to the wall of the container <NUM>.

A further manner in which to attach the device to a vertical bar <NUM> is illustrated with reference to <FIG>. In this embodiment the device <NUM> and the support <NUM> is mounted on a first sliding bar <NUM>. In this sliding bar an aperture <NUM> is provided such that the drill <NUM> can operate through the aperture <NUM>.

The first slide bar <NUM> is connected to a second slide bar <NUM> by pivotable connectors <NUM>. By simply displacing the slide bars <NUM>, <NUM> relative to each other the distance will change due to the length of the connectors <NUM> such that in one position the slide bars <NUM>, <NUM> will be firmly engaged with the vertical bar <NUM> such that the drilling action may commence at the desired height.

As again the drill <NUM> when pushed towards the wall <NUM> creates an outward force which would otherwise make the fastening device turn had it not been for the other slide bar <NUM>. The slide bar <NUM> will resist the turning movement and thereby retain the device <NUM> in operative contact with the wall <NUM>. When removing the device from the vertical bar <NUM> the sliding movement is just carried out in the opposite direction such that the distance between the slide bars <NUM>, <NUM> is increased thereby releasing the slide bars from their engagement with the vertical bar <NUM>.

In a further example of how to attach the device to a wall by means of the vertical bars <NUM> the device <NUM> as illustrated with reference to <FIG> is mounted on a wheel <NUM>. In this example the device <NUM> and the tubular connector <NUM> are connected by four supports to the wheel, but any suitable number of supports may be provided. The wheel is provided with engagement sections <NUM>, <NUM> which engagement sections <NUM>, <NUM> are provided with wedge shaped engagement ends <NUM>.

By placing the wheel over the vertical bar <NUM> and rotating the wheel in any of the directions indicated by the arrows <NUM> the engagement sections <NUM> will engage the vertical bar <NUM> thereby locking the vertical bar <NUM> between the engagement sections <NUM> and the wheel <NUM>. In this manner, simply by rotating the wheel a firm engagement will be attained between the wheels <NUM> and thereby the device <NUM> and the vertical bar <NUM> in such a manner that the cutting device will be able to cut through the wall.

When desiring to remove the device the wheel is turned in the opposite direction <NUM>, <NUM>' thereby releasing the engagement section's <NUM> engagement with the vertical bar <NUM>.

In <FIG> is schematically illustrated the situation onboard a container ship where stacks of ISO containers <NUM> are arranged. In between the rows of ISO containers <NUM> is provided a division <NUM>. The division will typically rise from the bottom of the hull <NUM> to a certain elevation, for example even with the railing of the ship. In this example <NUM> ISO containers are stacked one on top of the other, but in practice more or less containers may be stacked in this manner. In this situation a fire has been detected in one of the uppermost ISO containers <NUM> and a fire fighter <NUM> has erected the hoist <NUM> and fastened the hoist by means of the fastening bar (see <FIG>). In the illustrated example the fire fighter <NUM> is in the process of hoisting the fire fighting device <NUM> connected to a fire hose <NUM>.

As the fire fighting device <NUM> travels up the hoist <NUM> pulling along the fire hose <NUM> the fire fighting device <NUM> will arrive at the intended destination <NUM> after which the fire fighting device is activated by increasing the water pressure thereby activating the fire fighting device to penetrate the door of the container and extinguish the fire inside the container <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG> a similar scenario is illustrated, however, in this scenario the fire fighter <NUM> is elevated relative to the separation <NUM> by means of a lift <NUM>. Instead of the lift it could be a scaffold, ladder or other means suitable for the task. In this manner it is possible to reach containers even further up or to avoid extending the hoist <NUM> to its full extent. In the illustrated example the fire fighting device <NUM> has been installed at the intended location <NUM>, and consequently the fire fighting may commence.

Turning to <FIG> two different means of retaining the fire fighting device <NUM> adjacent the upper end of the hoist device <NUM> are illustrated.

The hoist device <NUM> comprises a number of sections, in the embodiments illustrated in <FIG> three sections <NUM>', <NUM>", <NUM>‴. These extendable sections <NUM>', <NUM>", <NUM>‴ are concentrically arranged such that they may be extended as illustrated in <FIG>. In an uppermost end of the telescopic device is provided a pulley wheel <NUM>. A wire is provided from the bottom of the hoist <NUM> around the pulley wheel and back initially to the bottom of the hoist. It is naturally clear that although a pully wheel is illustrated and suitable means for creating a low friction turning of the wire may be used, for example, blocks, low friction surface on a bstainless steel bar or the like. In this manner it is possible to attach the fire fighting device <NUM> to the wire and after having positioned the hoist in its proper position as illustrated in <FIG> hoist the fire fighting device <NUM> by pulling on the wire such that the fire fighting device will be elevated up to the upper end of the hoist <NUM>.

Likewise the wire shall be understood as any suitable type of flexible elongated member. A stainless steel wire is preferred but also ropes made from various base materials, such as for example carbon fibres, glass fibres and the like is contemplated within the term wire.

In order to retain the fire fighting device <NUM> relative to the upper end of the hoist a releasable fastening mechanism <NUM> may be provided. The releasable fastening mechanism <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> comprises a tab <NUM> which by means of a spring is urged outside the perimeter of the concentric section of the hoist <NUM> in such a manner that by having a further wire available at the bottom of the hoist the tab may be withdrawn in order to release its engagement with the fire fighting device.

As the fire fighting device is being hoisted towards the top of the hoist it will pass the position of the tab <NUM> such that the tab either will insert itself into an aperture provided in the support <NUM> of the fire fighting device or in the fire fighting device itself or below the support <NUM> in order to keep the fire fighting device fixed in the upper end of the hoist.

With reference to <FIG> a different mechanism for releasably fastening the fire fighting device <NUM> in an upper end of the hoist is illustrated. This mechanism comprises a pivotable member <NUM> which may be moved slightly in the longitudinal direction of the hoist <NUM> due to a pin <NUM> travelling in an elongated slut provided in the upper end of the hoist <NUM>.

As the support or the fire fighting device passes the mechanism by lowering the hoist <NUM> a flange <NUM> will be manipulated in such a manner that a bar fixed between the flange <NUM> and the pivotable member <NUM> will flip the pivotable member either into engagement or out of engagement with the support or the fire fighting device itself.

By further lowering the hoist after the fire fighting has been concluded the flange <NUM> will again engage the fire fighting device whereby the pivotable member <NUM> will be pivoted out of the way allowing the fire fighting device to be lowered.

As already discussed above the hoist <NUM> is in an upper end provided with a fastening member <NUM>. This fastening member is designed to be inserted between the vertical bars <NUM>, in this connection see also <FIG> and <FIG>. The vertical bars are provided as part of the door locking mechanism and are a standard feature on ISO containers. A further standard feature of ISO containers are also the grooves <NUM>. By arranging the fastening member <NUM> inside the groove <NUM> it is possible to manipulate the fastening member into engagement behind both bars <NUM> (see <FIG>) such that the fastening member <NUM> is retained in the groove <NUM> by the two bars <NUM>.

When the fire fighting device <NUM> is activated and engages the surface of the container <NUM> the reactive force will be countered by the fastening member's <NUM> engagement with the vertical bars <NUM> and in this manner the fire fighting device's drilling action will commence due to the urging of the drill member <NUM> into the wall <NUM> of the container.

In these illustrated examples the hoist comprises three sections, but in reality any suitable number of sections may be provided such that the hoist can elevate the fire fighting device to any desired height. As the fire fighting device <NUM> is only elevated into the desired elevation once the fastening member of the hoist has been correctly positioned at its elevated position it is possible to operate the invention with very high telescopic members. In practice, the telescopic members may be <NUM>-<NUM> meters such that after for example having engaged the fastening member <NUM> in a groove <NUM> in a ISO container at a height of <NUM> meters it is very simple to elevate the fire fighting device into the correct operational position as discussed above.

Claim 1:
A fire fighting device with a fire fighting aggregate (<NUM>) for penetrating a wall (<NUM>) and injecting fire fighting fluid into a space behind the wall, said fire fighting aggregate (<NUM>) comprising:
a fluid driven rotating motor, such as a turbine, having
a rotor (<NUM>) rotating around
an axis of rotation (<NUM>) defining
an axial direction,
a rotating cutting element (<NUM>) attached to the rotor (<NUM>) to be rotated thereby,
a fluid inlet (<NUM>) for receiving fire fighting fluid from a source of fire fighting fluid, and
a first conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for feeding the fire fighting fluid from the fluid inlet (<NUM>) to the rotor (<NUM>) to drive the fluid driven rotating motor,
wherein, the fighting aggregate (<NUM>) comprises:
a support (<NUM>) for attachment to the wall (<NUM>),
the fire fighting aggregate (<NUM>) being suspended by said support (<NUM>),
a power means (<NUM>, <NUM>) for pressing the rotating cutting element (<NUM>) towards the wall (<NUM>), characterized in that,
at least the rotating cutting element (<NUM>) is being movable relative to the support (<NUM>) towards the wall (<NUM>), and in that it comprises
a second conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for feeding the fire fighting fluid to the power means (<NUM>, <NUM>) to provide for said power means (<NUM>, <NUM>) to press the rotating cutting element (<NUM>) towards the wall (<NUM>).