EP2065076A1 | 2009-06-03 | |||
US5146996A | 1992-09-15 | |||
US4881601A | 1989-11-21 | |||
FR2615109A1 | 1988-11-18 | |||
US20090266567A1 | 2009-10-29 |
CLAIMS 1. The forest fire extinguisher device is consisted from a fire proof blanket (2) which is rolled up in a fire proof base (1). This system is guided from an aircraft (helicopter) that positions it over the forest fire in a way that it covers the forest fire. Each aircraft may carry more than one forest fire extinguisher devices inside the special transport module (4). The aircraft positions one end of the fire blanket at the end of the forest fire (at the point where the wind pushes the fire to), then while unrolling the fire blanket the aircraft guides it in order to cover all or a substantial part of the fire in order to take it out or slow it down. 2. According to claim 1, the specialized transport module (4) is consisted from the base (5) which incorporates the rolled up forest fire extinguisher devices, the holding cables (6) and the rotating axle (7). 3. According to claim 1, on the sides of the fire proof blanket (2) and along the edges of it, there are weights (3) installed in order to push the fire blanket towards the ground. When the forest fire blanket embraces the fire it does not allow the intake of oxygen, therefore extinguishing the fire. Or in the worst case scenario it dramatically slows down the spreading of the fire allowing for existing fire aircrafts to through water at the fire. 4. According to claims 1 and 3, the width and length of the fire blanket (2) and therefore the dimensions of its base (1), are dependent on the maneuvering capabilities of the aircrafts (helicopter) and the weight they can carry. 5. According to claims 1, 3 and 4, the fire proof blanket is proposed to be made from fluorescent fabric in order to aid the extinguishing of forest fires during night time. 6. According to claims 1, 3, 4 and 5 the forest fire blanket may be positioned by the aircraft either parallel to the fire embracing it, or perpendicular to the fire forming a blockade preventing the spreading of the fire beyond this point. Furthermore, the fire proof blanket can be used in order to cover houses and prevent them from being burnt from fires. |
The invention is about a new method of extinguishing (forest) fires. The fire extinguisher device is consisted from a rolled up fire proof blanket that is carried from firefighter aircrafts. Each aircraft may carry more than one rolled up fire proof blankets inside the specially designed lowering control system that will be hanging from the aircraft.
Until today many ways of fighting the forests fires have been implemented. There are many examples of patented products for this cause.
The most common method that we see being used around the world are the specially designed aircrafts, which fly above the fires and drop water on them.
A disadvantage of this method is that there is a time delay when the aircrafts need to reload with water. This factor dramatically affects the efficiency of putting out the fire. Also in many cases there is no water supply (sea) near the place where the forest fire takes place, resulting in even bigger delays.
Furthermore with the above mentioned method we have high accuracy regarding where the water is dropped. That is because the water is being dropped from a distance of tens of meters and usually when forest fires occur there are strong winds in the area.
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The biggest disadvantage though is that the aircrafts cannot continue dropping water after the sunset. This has catastrophic results because during the night the forest fires are left alone and burn significant amounts of our forests.
An advantage of this invention is that it enables the fire aircrafts (helicopters) to continue extinguishing the fires during nighttime also. Furthermore there is no use of water and constant reloading of the aircrafts is not required. This is because the aircrafts may carry more than one devices that have inside them the rolled up fireproof blankets.
Finally another significant advantage is that the accuracy of this way of extinguishing fires is much better, since the aircraft (helicopter) may lower the first end of the fire proof blanket at the required point of the fire and then when it has placed one side on the ground, it may guide the rest of the cloth as it desires with great accuracy.
As it is illustrated in Figure 1 the forest fire extinguisher device is consisted by a fire proof base (1) where the fire proof blanket (2) is rolled up. The size of the fire proof blanket (2) is dependent on the maneuvering abilities of the aircraft (helicopter) and how much load it may carry.
The aircraft will situate itself above the fire and will lower the one end of the fire proof blanket (2) to the ground, placing it at the end of the fire, endeavoring to block the path of the fire that the wind pushes it to. At the end of the fire proof blanket (2) there are weights attached (3) in order to force the edge of the fire proof blanket towards the ground and make easier the guidance of the fire proof blanket (2) to the desired point. When the end of the fire proof blanket (2) touches the ground, then the aircraft (helicopter) will fly against the wind parallel to the fire and by unrolling the rest of the fire proof blanket (2) it will embrace the fire. When there is no more fire proof blanket (2) left to be unrolled, the aircraft will lower the base (1) embracing in that way the fire. The base (1) of the fire proof blanket (2) will also be equipped with substantial weights (3) in order to allow the blanket to embrace the fire. Also all around the edges of the fire proof blanket (2) there will be weights (3) installed for the same reason.
Each aircraft may carry more than one forest fire extinguisher devices that will be situated inside the specialized transport module (4). That will enable the aircrafts to cover a bigger surface area of the fire without having to reload. The specialized transport module (4), as seen in figure 1, is consisted from the base (5) which contains the fire extinguisher devices, the carrying cables (6) and the rotating axle (7) which allows the rotation of the whole system in order to enable the lowering of the fire extinguisher devices at the desired point.
The forest fire extinguisher device takes off the forest fire by embracing the burning trees and not allowing the intake of oxygen. In a worst case scenario were the forest fire is very big in surface area it delays the spreading of the fire enabling the fire fighter forces to take it out.
When the aircrafts use the forest fire extinguisher device they can operate during day and night time.
Another use of the invention is to place the fire proof blanket in a horizontal position to the fire in order to create a blockage and not allow the fire to proceed further.
Also the invention can be used to cover houses that are in the path of the forest fire and prevent them from being burnt.
When the forest fire has been extinguished, then the fire proof blankets can be rolled up again, with the help of trained personnel, in order to be used in the future.