DISPERSION BURNER FOR FIREFIGHTER TRAINING

This application is being filed on 03 July 2007, as a PCT

International Patent application in the name of KIDDE FIRE TRAINERS, INC., a U.S. national corporation, applicant for the designation of all countries except the U.S., and Steven J. Williamson, a citizen of the U.S., and Louis Orotelli, a citizen of the U.S., applicants for the designation of the U.S. only, and claims priority to U.S. Utility Patent Application Serial No. 11/498,978 filed on 02 August 2006.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a dispersion burner design for firefighter training. More particularly, this invention pertains to a dispersion burner design having an enhanced realism and performance during training.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When training firefighters, simulated fire conditions are created to permit trainees to practice firefighting techniques. One type of apparatus for creating a simulated fire condition is a so-called water dispersion burner (also referred to as "water bath" burner). Water dispersion burners create gas- fueled flame patterns for firefighter training systems. An example of such a water bath burner is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,055,050 to Rogers et al. issued October 8, 1991. The firefighting trainer of the '050 patent includes a tank which contains water, gravel or other dispersion medium. A combustible fuel (such as propane or the like) is piped into the dispersion medium. The fuel vaporizes and percolates out of the dispersion medium and mixes with the atmosphere at the surface of the dispersion medium to form a combustible mixture. This mixture is ignited by a pilot flame creating a sustained flame at the surface of the dispersion medium. Firefighters can then practice firefighting techniques on the sustained flame. Water bath burners such as those disclosed in the O50 patent have been generally acceptable for training firefighters. Such burners create a uniform flame pattern and yield a high heat output. However, they suffer from a few

deficiencies. For example, the burner's water surface is exposed and visible to firefighting trainees. As a result, the simulation fire is a non-realistic representation of a fire which might be present on wood, paper, fabric or other Class A material.

Firefighting techniques include aiming a fire hose to direct water in a tight direct stream (referred to as a "direct stream attack pattern") at a fire. Such techniques also include sweeping the surface of the fire in a so-called hose line attack pattern.

During a direct stream attack pattern, water flow from the fire hose can result in rapid displacement of water from the tank of the water bath burner such as that of the '050 patent. This can adversely affect burner performance. Also, the flames produced in the water bath burner of the '050 patent can be swept away from the surface of the water burner during line attack patterns. This can result in non- combusted fuel being released into a training area atmosphere at a high rate creating a potential hazard.

II.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to preferred embodiment of the present invention, a firefighting trainer is disclosed which includes a tank for containing a volume of a non-combustible dispersion medium such as water. The water resides within the tank having an upper surface of the water exposed through an open upper end of the tank. A fuel distribution system distributes a combustible fuel into the tank beneath the water surface. An air distribution system distributes an oxygen containing gas (such as air) into the tank beneath the upper water surface. An ignition system ignites a mixture of a vapor of the fuel and the air at the upper surface of the water. Additional features of the invention include a screen covering the open end of the tank and spaced from the upper surface of the water. The screen has open spaces permitting passage of flame through the screen.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus according to the present invention with a screen and grating removed to reveal internal components;

Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of a screen for the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of a grid for the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 5 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing gas and air flow to create a flame.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the various drawing figures in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be provided. The present invention is an improvement upon water bath burners such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,055,050 to Rogers et al. issued October 8, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference. The firefighting trainer according to the present invention is shown generally at 10. The trainer 10 includes a tank 12 having a floor 14 and vertical walls 16 defining an interior 18. Upper ends of the walls 16 may or may not include outward flanges 20. By way of non-limiting the example, the tank 12 can have a length L of about 6 feet and a width W of about 3 feet and a depth D of about four to six inches. The floor 14 and side walls 16 are reinforced by struts 15 welded across the bottom wall 14. The tank is preferably formed of non-combustible rigid material such as corrosion-resistant steel or the like.

A plurality of steel cylinders 22 are secured to the bottom wall 14 with each cylinder 22 arranged with its cylindrical axis vertically aligned and perpendicular to the floor 14. The height of the cylinders is preferably equal to the depth D of the tank 12 (i.e., about 4 inches high in the example) and terminate at a common plane with the optional flange 20 for reasons that will become apparent. In the example, the cylinders 22 have a diameter of about four inches.

The cylinders 22 are preferably spaced from the walls 16. As will become apparent, this allows combustion air to be provided to the core of the fire.

In this rectangular tank example the cylinders 22 are bounded by the burner loop 26. If the tank 12 were round, the cylinders 22 would be centralized and the burner loop

26 would surround the cylinder pattern. It is important to note that the air can be provided to the core of the tank via non-cylindrical-shaped tubes. The size and specific pattern of such tubes is illustrative only and can vary.

The trainer 10 includes a fuel distribution system 24. The fuel distribution system 24 includes a fuel distribution piping 26 disposed within the tank 12 and beneath the upper plane defined by the cylinders 22 and flange 20.

The piping 26 surrounds an inside perimeter of the tank 12 near the floor 14. A resulting flame naturally fills in the center of the pattern.

The piping 26 is perforated to discharge a fuel under pressure into water contained within the tank 12. If desired, the piping 26 can be fitted with nozzles (not shown) to discharge the fuel. When exited from the piping 26, the fuel diffuses through the water 27 (Fig. 5) as fuel vapor bubbles 29.

External piping 28 connects the internal piping 26 to a source (not shown) of combustible fuel. A valve 30 is provided to control delivery of pressurized fuel from the source to the interior piping 26. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel is pressurized propane or natural gas.

The invention also includes an air distribution system 32. The air distribution system includes an air plenum 34 connected to the output of a fan 36. A control valve 38 is provided in the plenum 34 to permit controlling the rate of flow of air from the fan 36 through the plenum 34. Alternatively, the air distribution system could use a dedicated combustion air blower that pressurizes the area directly under the burner tank 12. Sheet metal can extend to the floor forming a duct system. Instead of a valve 38, a variable speed drive and blower can be used to vary the airflow to the burner. The fan 36 receives air from ambient air. The plenum includes nozzles 40 contained within the cylinders 22 for discharging air from the plenum 34 into the cylinders 22.

A pilot flame device 44 includes a pilot line 46 connected to a suitable gas supply (not shown) through a controller 48. The pilot flame device 44 is positioned to project a pilot flame at the plane of the cylinders 22.

A screen or mesh material 42 is provided resting on the flange 20 and spaced just above the plane defined by the cylinders 22 by a small spacing S (Fig. 5) such as 0.25 inches. The screen 42 is corrosion-resistant steel placed above the

surface of the water in the tank 12. It has an approximate open area of 50%. Its purpose is to break up the high pressure direct stream hose attacks into smaller water drops.

A rigid grate 50 rests on the screen 42. The grating 50 is constructed of heavy steel stock with an approximate open area of 80%. The grating 50 keeps the screen 42 in place, allowing it to expand and contract during thermal cycling. The grating 50 also holds the weight of personnel who may walk on it after a fire training exercise. The grating 50 also forms a rigid flat plane simulating an upper surface of a specific fire training mockup. In use, water is placed within the tank 12 with an upper level of the water defined by the plane of the cylinders 22. The cylinders 22 open through the tank floor 14 into a collection trough 52 to collect any water that spills over the top of the cylinders 22 into the interior of the cylinders 22. The collection trough 52 may direct the water to any suitable drain or the like (not shown) for disposal. Alternatively, a separate cylinder (not shown) can be provided with an upper end slightly lower (e.g., 0.25 inch) than cylinders 22. As a result, the water level can be lower than cylinders 22.

The control valve 30 is actuated to admit pressurized propane into the internal piping 26. Air is admitted into the cylinders 22. Within the water, the fuel from the piping 26 is injected into the water through perforations of the piping with the injected fuel flashing into a vapor which diffuses through the water as propane vapor bubbles 29. At the surface, the fuel vapor 60 above the water surface 27 (Fig. 5) mixes with the air 62 from the cylinders 22 to form a combustible mixture. The air-fuel mixture is ignited by the pilot flame from pilot 44. The ignition creates a flame 70 which passes through the screen 42 and grate 50.

Firefighters in training approach the apparatus 10 with fire hoses and the like. As they approach, they see the flame above the screen 42 but, by reason of the obstruction of the screen 42, do not see the water surface. As a result, the resulting flame is a more realistic representation of burning class A material (such as wood, paper, fabric, etc.).

In the event the firefighter trainees use direct stream hose attacks on the flame, the screen 42 prevents the water from the fire hose displacing the water in

the tank 12. Further, any water that is admitted to the tank 12 from the hose spills over the cylinders 22 and is collected by the collection syste'm 52. Also, in the event the firefighter trainees apply water from a hose in a sweeping pattern the flame is not pushed off the water surface 27. Instead, the surface of the water at which combustion is occurring is protected by the screen 42.

It has been shown how the present invention has been attained in the preferred embodiment. Modification and equivalents of the disclosed concepts are intended to be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.