FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an articulated firefighting truck. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Bush fires, forest fires and wildfires are a rampant problem in countries with a hot and dry climate in that they cause widespread destruction to vegetation, habitation and may result in the loss of life. Generally bush fires are less controlled than fires in densely urbanised areas and can spread across wide areas in a short time. As a consequence they are very difficult to combat with traditional firefighting equipment and vehicles.

[0003] It is believed that the effects of climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of such fires in the near future which will require a new approach to combating the spread of bushfires to minimise destruction and loss of life.

[0004] Recent approaches include the use of aerial water bombing to douse and extinguish fires from above, however ground response is also required to fight the fire from any and all directions. It is also common for persons to be caught in the fire zone given the increased habitation of rural areas and the speed in which a fire can engulf a home. Currently there is little allowance for fire fighting vehicles to rescue trapped civilians as the vehicles do not have room to transport them. It would therefore be advantageous for this allowance to be made in a fire fighting vehicle without reducing the operating space required to house the fire fighters and the firefighting equipment.

[0005] Another disadvantage to current fire fighting vehicles is that they lack the ability to manoeuvre in all terrains and in particular rural or uninhabited areas due to the lack of access roads, small size of roads and the constant obstruction of passages and access points due to immovable objects and vegetation. For example, many access roads in rural areas consist of a single lane or less which is very narrow and does not allow for easy manoeuvrability for a vehicle the size of a standard fire truck. Such vehicles often have wide turning circles of over one hundred feet (30 metres) which is too wide for such narrow roads and corners. As such the vehicle may not be able to access the desired area in order to effectively fight the fire. [0006] The use of an articulated chassis in mining vehicles to allow for greater manoeuvrability in small areas is known, however this technology has never been applied to firefighting vehicles. Another technique developed in the mining industry is the use of large tyres on the vehicle to prevent bogging and this would be

advantageous to incorporate into firefighting vehicles which are required to be used in a range of terrains.

[0007] The object of this invention therefore is to provide an improved firefighting vehicle with an articulated joint or chassis and other features which would improve the use of the vehicle in various terrains. It is also an object of this invention to provide a fire resistant vehicle with additional room within the vehicle to allow the firefighters to fight the fire from within the vehicle and rescue and house fire victims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In a first aspect the invention comprises a firefighting vehicle comprising a cabin and a body including at least one tank, wherein the cabin and the body are connected by an articulated joint;

[0009] In preference, wherein the body contains a foam storage tank and a water storage tank; and

[0010] In preference wherein the vehicle contains multiple sprinklers fluidly connected to the water storage tank and located at different locations on the vehicle, wherein liquid is pumped from the water storage tank through the sprinklers to be dispersed around the vehicle.

[0011] In a second aspect the invention comprises a firefighting vehicle comprising a cabin and a body including at least one tank, wherein the cabin and the body are connected by an articulated joint, wherein a platform is located at the rear of the vehicle;

[0012] In preference, wherein the platform can be folded against the rear of the vehicle when not in use; and

[0013] In preference, wherein the platform is attached to the rear of the vehicle via a hinge and suspended by at least one cable when in the unfolded position.

[0014] In a third aspect the invention comprises a firefighting vehicle comprising a cabin and a body including at least one tank, wherein the cabin and the body are connected by an articulated joint wherein the cabin includes at least one cannon, wherein a substance is pumped from the storage tank through the cannon; and

[0015] In preference, wherein the cannon is rotatable.

[0016] In a forth aspect the invention comprises a firefighting vehicle comprising a cabin and a body including at least one tank, wherein the cabin and the body are connected by an articulated joint wherein a first and second cannons are located on the cabin, wherein the first canon disperses water from the water tank and the second canon disperses foam from the foam tank; and

[0017] In preference, wherein both cannons are rotatable.

[0018] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0020] Figure 1 a side view of a firefighting truck and sprinkler system with a shelf in the lowered position;

[0021] Figure 2 a top view of a firefighting truck and sprinkler system with an area defined by the dispersion pattern of the sprinkler; and

[0022] Figure 3 a top view of the firefighting truck and sprinkler system with an area defined by the dispersion pattern of the sprinkler and the truck in the process of turning. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the

accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0024] The invention relates to a firefighting truck 8 consisting of a cabin and engine compartment 10, an articulated joint 14 and a chassis 1 1. A high capacity foam storage area 12 and a high capacity water tank 13 are attached to the chassis 1 1 . However it is to be understood that tanks 12 and 13 could contain any kind of fire retard ant.

[0025] The wheels 24, 25 and 26 of the truck 8 are of a large size and diameter to resist getting bogged in loose or unstable ground. In preference, the diameter of each wheel is at least 1.6 metres, such as the typical size of 23.5R25.

[0026] The truck 8 also includes a wide area sprinkler system 17 which is attached to the water tank 13. This sprinkler system transports water from the tank 13 through the system 17 in a circular dispersion pattern around the truck 8. This allows the area immediately surrounding the vehicle to become a relatively safe operating zone for fire fighters when they are not protected inside the vehicle. The truck 8 also includes various specialised sprinklers 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22 and 23 located strategically on the cabin 10, chassis 1 1 , foam storage area 12 and water tank 13. These sprinklers also disperse water and are placed near or on key components of the truck 8 to particularly protect those components when the vehicle moves through areas that may be actively on fire. It is to be understood that the invention can include any combination of general or specific purpose sprinklers for use in protecting the vehicle.

[0027] Mounted on the cabin are a foam canon 43 and a water canon 44 that are connected to the foam storage area 12 and water tank 13 respectively. These canons 43 and 44 are used to direct water and foam at fires within the immediate area for directed dousing of a fire. The canons 43 and 44 are rotatable to allow for an operator within the vehicle to direct the foam and water as required. This is advantageous because it allows for the operator to remain securely within the cabin and also direct foam or water spray into a desired direction and area which allows the operator to, for example, clear the path in front of the vehicle from fire or otherwise focus the water and/or foam into the area where the fire is the most concentrated. In addition due to the articulation the operator can simply "steer" the cabin to point it in a desired direction even if the cannons are not rotatable.

[0028] The invention is illustrated in a side view in Figure 1 where all of the main components of the truck 8 are visible. A transport platform 16 is also located at the rear of the vehicle and when not in use is stored vertically against the rear of the water tank 13. When the platform 16 is lowered into the horizontal position is can be used as a shelf or ledge to house passengers other than the fire fighters working in the vehicle. This may be required when the vehicle encounters stranded fire victims during the course of the firefighting operations and no other safe way of evacuating the victims is available. As can be seen in Figure 1 , the platform 16 is supported by a secure attachment chain 27 and is in the lowered horizontal position. Of course other means may be used such as hydraulic lifters.

[0029] Therefore, the use of the platform 16 allows additional room on the vehicle for the collection and transport of passengers and yet does not decrease or diminish the space required for the firefighters or the fire extinguishing compositions held in the foam and water tanks 12 and 13. In preference, this platform is a simple suspended shelf capable of supporting the weight of several persons at any one time, however could be any transport platform or enclosure including additional features such as seating, railing and retractable steps.

[0030] Figure 2 illustrates the truck 8 in a top view and also demonstrates a fire resistant area 54 created when the sprinkler system 17 is in use. This is done through the pumping of water from the water tank 13 through the sprinkler system 17, surrounding the truck 8 in a circular dispersion pattern between radius 55 between the sprinkler system 17 and the edge of the area 54. This allows firefighters to work outside of the truck 8 and remain protected from the fire through the dispersion of water. The firefighters can also operate the foam and water cannons 43 and 44, which are mounted on rotatable bases to direct the spray as required. These canons 43 and 44 can be independently operated from within the cabin 10 and aimed at fires within the proximity of the truck 8

[0031] Illustrated in Figure 3 is an alternate top view of the truck 8 to fight fires in two proximate locations 74 and 75. The cabin 10 is allowed to articulate from the chassis 11 due to the articulated joint 14, allowing the foam and water cannons 43 and 44 to be used to fight fires in two directions simultaneously while the sprinkler system 17 provides the fire resistant area 54. This system therefore allows for more flexibility in the fighting of fires and the direction of the firefighting compositions including directing the foam and water to the desired location. This is demonstrated by the direction of the foam and water cannons 43 and 44 towards the desired fire areas 74 and 75.

[0032] The articulated nature of the truck 8 achieved by the articulated joint 14 between the cabin 10 and the chassis 11 allows manoeuvring of the truck 8 in tight spaces and around sharp corners. This is preferable when the truck 8 is being transported to and from the fire area when it is imperative that the firefighters reach their destination as soon as possible and without delays. To allow for the greatest manoeuvrability, the platform 16 is kept in the retracted vertical mode and secured to the water tank 13. This allows the vehicle to move quickly and unhindered in tight confines when not transporting fire victims.

[0033] The disadvantage of non-articulated fire fighting vehicles is that they often cannot access the desired rural area as there are either no access roads or the roads are not large enough for the truck to navigate. The use of an articulated truck as in the present invention improves on this by creating a smaller turning circle for the truck which allows it to traverse these narrower roads and areas while the larger diameter tires and all-wheel drive system allows the vehicle to be driven off-road and in a variety of loose, rough and slippery terrains.

[0034] As illustrated in Figure 3, the cabin 10 of the truck 8 is turned in the required direction and the articulated joint 14 allows such a movement with a small turning circle associated with the length of the cabin 10 itself. The joint 14 initially keeps the chassis 11 straight until the forward momentum turns the chassis 11 in the same direction as the cabin 10, however the turning circle remains small allowing the truck 8 to be driven on narrower country roads and in bushland.

[0035] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which is a firefighting truck with an articulated joint and large diameter tyres which allows for far more manoeuvrability than standard vehicles of the same size. The truck also includes a system whereby firefighters can direct water and foam in multiple directions

simultaneously while operating in a fire resistant area created by additional sprinklers, which also protect the vehicle from damage. The truck also contains a platform which allows for the evacuation and transport of fire victims. The truck is therefore a vast improvement over existing firefighting vehicles as it contains various features ad systems which greatly assist in the fighting of fires and the saving of lives.

[0036] Whilst the above description concentrated on the use of the vehicle in firefighting applications such as bush fire applications, it could very well be used in other applications such as airport, mining and military applications.

[0037] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0038] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.