Patent ID: 7712542

Claim:
A system for automatically distributing compressed air foam (CAF) over a hazard area comprising: a pipe system; a supply of CAF solution and compressed air connected to the pipe system; a plurality of spray nozzles connected to the pipe system for delivering a pattern of the CAF to the hazard area; a control system connected to the pipe system for selectively charging the pipe system with the CAF, wherein the control system includes: i) a pilot line connected to the control system for generating a signal based upon sensing at least one environmental parameter; and ii) a first control valve for automatically activating the system based upon the signal and making the CAF, wherein the pilot line and the first control valve are pneumatically actuated and wherein the first control valve forms: i) an empty interior cavity for mixing compressed air and liquid to create the CAF, ii) an outlet in fluid communication with the interior cavity; iii) a first inlet oriented substantially perpendicular to a flow through the outlet and in fluid communication with the interior and a supply of the compressed air; and iv) a second inlet oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow through the outlet and the first inlet, the second inlet in fluid communication with the interior and a supply of the liquid, wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are at right angles with respect to each other.