The invention relates to a seagoing vessel. In particular, the invention relates to a fire extinguisher for a seagoing vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Autonomous operation of different vessels has been a popular research topic recently. There are several challenges relating to the development of autonomously operated marine vessels. One challenge is fire safety of unmanned vessels. If a fire ignites, crew has to be sent to the unmanned vessel for repairing the material damage caused by the fire. However, a solution for extinguishing a fire and preventing a fire from spreading is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key or critical elements or delineate the scope of the specification. Its sole purpose is to present a selection of concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that will be presented later. Document GB-1440990-A discloses a firefighting equipment for ships.

According to one aspect, a fire extinguisher for a seagoing vessel is provided. The fire extinguisher comprises at least one hose with a submersible pump connected to one end of the hose for pumping water from the sea. The fire extinguisher comprises a guiding arm holding a nozzle for spraying water. The fire extinguisher comprises a housing, the guiding arm being connected to the housing, the housing comprising at least two side surfaces, an upper end and a bottom end and at least one fixing point on one of the at least two side surfaces for fixing the housing to the seagoing vessel. The fire extinguisher further comprises features disclosed in a characterized portion of independent apparatus claim 1. Herein, a seagoing vessel refers to any craft designed for transportation on water that has a propulsive capability provided by one or more engines. Examples of a vessel include but are not limited to a cargo ship and a ferry. The vessel may be any suitable surface vessel, for example a marine vessel.

In another aspect, a seagoing vessel is provided. The seagoing vessel according to the present disclosure comprises a hull comprising at least a front end, a back end and two sides, comprising at least one rail arranged on the outer surface of at least one side. At least one fire extinguisher according to the present disclosure is mounted on at least one wheel to the at least one rail in a moveable manner. The fire extinguisher comprises at least one hose with a submersible pump connected to one end of the hose for pumping water from the sea, a guiding arm holding a nozzle for spraying water, a housing, the guiding arm being connected to the housing, the housing comprising at least two side surfaces, an upper end and a bottom end and at least one fixing point on one of the at least two side surfaces for fixing the housing to the seagoing vessel. There may be multiple units of at least part of the components in the fire extinguisher for increased capacity and reliability. For example there may be several guiding arms, hoses, hose reels, pressure tanks, pressure pumps and sensors in one fire extinguisher. There may also be multiple units of other components of the fire extinguisher. The seagoing vessel may comprise one or more fire extinguishers placed at different locations along at least one side of the vessel or both sides of the vessel. The fire extinguisher may be placed also at the front end and/or at the back end of the vessel. The fire extinguishers may be located on different rails or there may be several fire extinguishers on the same rails.

The fire extinguisher and the vessel according to the present disclosure may offer at least one of the following advantages:

The seagoing vessel comprises an upper deck at which at least part of the cargo of the vessel is located. The cargo may include one or more containers, typically hundreds, located at the upper deck. The upper deck is the uppermost deck of the vessel. The fire extinguisher improves the fire safety on the upper deck of the vessel and the overall fire security of the vessel. On the deck, the cargo makes it difficult to arrange other fire safety systems, so a fire extinguishing device outside the deck frees space on the deck for the cargo. The fire extinguisher may start and stop automatically and/or it can be started and stopped with remote control. Another advantage is that the fire extinguisher can extinguish a fire without manpower and can thus be used in unmanned vessels. Further, in manned vessels the fire extinguisher reduces the risk of a crew member getting injured while fighting a fire. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings .

In the drawings: Figure 1 is schematic sectional side view of a fire extinguisher and part of a vessel according to the present disclosure,

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a fire extinguisher, and

Figure 3 is an upper view of a seagoing vessel.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the following embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. The different parts illustrated in figure 1 and figure 2 and figure 3 are not drawn to scale.

Figure 1 presents an external view of an embodiment of a fire extinguisher when fixed outside the hull of a seagoing vessel. Figure 1 illustrates an example arrangement of a fire extinguisher 1 positioned outside one side 2 of a hull 31 of a seagoing vessel 3. The vessel 3 has an upper deck 27 which usually is in the open. The side 2 has an upper edge 28 and an outer surface 30. The upper edge 28 may be part of the hull 31 or it may be a balustrade mounted at the edge of the upper deck 27. The fire extinguisher 1 may be fixed to the outer surface 30 of the side 2 via one or more wheels 4 arranged on one or more rails 5 for moving the fire extinguisher 1 in a horizontal direction along the side 2. The fire extinguisher 1 has a housing 6. The one or more wheels 4 are fixed to a side surface 20 of the housing 6 of the fire extinguisher 1. The fire extinguisher has a storing or resting position and a use position. When it is in the storing position, a roll-out hose 7 will be rolled inside the housing 6, e.g. on a hose reel 12 (as shown in Fig. 2) . When it is in the use position, the roll-out hose 7 with a submersible pump 8 will hang below the housing 6. The housing 6 comprises four side surfaces 20 (two side walls and two end walls), an upper end 21 and a bottom end 22 (which are constructed as known in the art) . There is an opening 29 in the housing for rolling out the roll-out hose 7. The fire extinguisher comprises one or more guiding arms 9 on which one or more nozzles 11 are arranged for spraying water. Further one or more sensors 10 may be arranged on one or each guiding arm 9 or on one or each nozzle 11. The purpose of the fire extinguisher 1 is to extinguish a fire on the upper deck 27, and thus it is placed in proximity to the upper edge 28.

To take the fire extinguisher into use, the hose 7 and the submersible pump 8 are lowered down so that the submersible pump 8 is below the water level. Water from the sea is pumped with the submersible pump 8 to a reservoir tank 13 located in the housing 6 via the roll-out hose 7. The submersible pump 8 is arranged at the end of the roll-out hose 7. Although not depicted in figure 1, the submersible pump 8 can have different positions when being inactive or when being in operation. In operation, the submersible pump 8 is located under the water level. When the submersible pump 8 is inactive, the position of the submersible pump 8 can vary. For example, the submersible pump 8 may be located beside the housing 6 or below the housing 6 or above the housing 6 or inside or partially inside the housing 6. The submersible pump 8 creates pressure needed for pumping water from the sea to the reservoir tank 13.

In the example embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the fire extinguisher 1 is placed close to the upper edge 28 of the side 2 of the vessel 3, for example so that the upper end 21 of the housing 6 is at the same level with the upper edge 28. The purpose of the location of the fire extinguisher in proximity to the upper edge 28 is that the guiding arm 9 is able to extend over the upper deck and spray water towards a possible fire on the upper deck 27. Thus, the fire extinguisher may be located even up to 1 meter below the upper edge 28 if the guiding arm 9 is made long enough to yet extend over the upper deck 27. In another embodiment, the housing 6 may be of such size that the upper end 21 of the housing 6 may be located above the upper edge 28. Accordingly, depending on the size of the vessel 3 and weight of the cargo it carries, the distance from the upper edge 28 of the side 2 to sea level will vary. Depending on the distance from sea level to the housing 6, the effect of the submersible pump 8 needs to be chosen accordingly in order for the pump 8 to create a pressure great enough for pumping water from the sea to the housing 6. The roll-out hose 7 may be of a hose type used commonly in fire-fighting equipment. In the embodiment, the roll-out hose 7 is rolled on a roll inside the housing 6 when the roll-out hose 7 (and the fire extinguisher) is in the resting position. In the resting position, the submersible pump 8 may be left outside the housing 6 below the housing 6, wherein the roll-out hose 7 rolls out through an opening 29 at the bottom surface 22 of the housing 6. One option is to make the housing 6 large enough to also take the submersible pump 8 inside the housing 6 when the pump 8 is in the resting position. In another embodiment, the roll-out hose 7 is rolled out in the use position. In the use position, the roll-out hose 7 extends from the housing 6 to the submersible pump 8 which is located below the water level.

In an embodiment, the weight of the submersible pump 8 is arranged to be sufficient for unreeling the roll ^¬ out hose 7 to the sea after releasing a latch that may be electrically controlled. In another embodiment, an electric motor can roll out the hose 7 and the submersible pump 8. The re-reeling of the hose 7 may be possible at least partly with a motor. The length of the roll-out hose 7 is chosen according to the size of the vessel 3 and thus the height from the housing 6 to sea level, similarly as was described about the effect of the pump 8. Thus, the length of the hose 7 needs to be long enough for being able to sink the submersible pump 8 below the water level.

A separate pressure pump 14 may be used to create pressure for one or more nozzles 11 that in the example embodiment illustrated in figure 1 is/are mounted at the end of a guiding arm 9 that reaches above the upper deck 27 and guides a water jet to the direction in which water is intended to be sprayed. The guiding arm 9 may be a robotic arm that operates on electricity. The robotic arm 9 may be an articulated arm as shown in figure 1. The bottom part of the robotic arm 9 may be connected to the housing 6 via a rotatable joint in order to rotate the guiding arm both left and right. Further due to a joint in the middle between the upper and bottom parts (arms) , the height of the nozzle 11 and its distance from the housing 6 may be adjusted in order to also adjust the height of the water jet.

In operation of the fire extinguisher 1, the target is to have the submersible pump 8 in an upright position under the water level. Preferably, the submersible pump 8 is completely under water for proper operation. The vessel 3 may slow down or stop in order to enable proper operation of the pump 8. Via a wireless communication device 19 in the fire extinguisher 1, the fire extinguisher 1 may signal to a control unit (not shown) of the vessel 3 to slow down or stop if it turns out that the submersible pump 8 is not operating properly when the vessel 3 is moving or moving at high speed. The control unit of the vessel 3 may be a dynamic positioning system (DP) that exists in most vessels today.

The one or more rails 5 arranged on the outer surface of one side 2 of the vessel 3 are depicted in figure 1. In the example embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the rail or rails 5 may be attached on the side 2 of the hull 31 of the vessel 3 at a distance from the outer surface 30 of the side 2 to enable movement of the wheels 4 and thus the fire extinguisher along the rail 5 or rails 5. In another embodiment, the rail or rails 5 are engaged to the outer surface 30 of the side 2 and the wheels 4 are running on a channel or slot or groove (not shown in figures) of the rails 5. The fire extinguisher 1 may move along the side 2 of the vessel 3 on wheels 4 running on the rails 5. Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a fire extinguisher 1. The fire extinguisher 1 comprises a housing 6. In one embodiment, the housing 6 incorporates at least the reservoir tank 13 and the pressure pump 14. The pressure pump may enable the use of lower pressure in the submersible pump 8, although the pressure needs to be sufficient for pumping water from the sea. Especially, this embodiment is suitable for a larger vessel in which the distance from the sea level to the guiding arm 9 may be high and the pressure loss may be 2-3 bar. Thus, in the larger vessel, the hose 7 may be under significant strain if the fire extinguisher 1 includes only the submersible pump 8. The pressure pump 14 may enable the use of a light hose material in order to enable easy reeling of the hose 7. The housing 6 may further include a pressure tank 15 for receiving water from the pressure pump 14 and for smoothing pressure and supplying pressurized water to the guiding arm 9. In another embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 may be implemented without the reservoir tank 13 and the pressure pump 14 so that the fire extinguisher 1 operates by the submersible pump 8 pumping water directly from the sea, and this water is supplied directly to the guiding arm 9 and nozzle 11. This embodiment is especially suitable for a smaller vessel in which the pressure loss may be lower. The housing 6 may also include a hose reel 12. The housing 6 may also cover other parts of the fire extinguisher 1 such as an electric motor 16, a battery 17 that will be explained later herein, as well as e.g. the wireless communication device 19 mentioned above. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 2, the housing

6 comprises four side surfaces 20 (two side walls and two end walls) , an upper end 21 and a bottom end 22 (which are constructed as known in the art) . The housing 6 may have other forms as well, so that typically it will include at least two side surfaces 20, an upper wall 21 (and thus an upper surface) and a bottom wall 22 (thus a bottom surface) . The housing 6 protects the main components from sea water in a water proof manner or splash proof manner.

In one embodiment, a hose reel 12 of the roll-out hose

7 may be configured between the submersible pump 8 and the reservoir tank 13 for reeling the hose 7. In another embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 is implemented without the hose reel 12, and the roll-out hose 7 is folded up inside the housing 6. In that case, there is an electronically controlled latch for releasing the (folded up) hose 7.

In one embodiment, the reservoir tank 13, the pressure pump 14 and the pressure tank 15 may be connected to each other as shown in figure 2. The pressure tank 15 smooths out the pressure in operational connections leading to the nozzle 11/guiding arm 9. The need to have a pressure tank 15 and the optimal size of the tank depends on the exact structure of the guiding arm 9, the nozzle 11, the operational connection, and the properties of the chosen pressure pump 14. In another embodiment, the fire extinguisher is implemented without a pressure tank 15 and operates by the pressure pump 14 pumping water directly from the reservoir tank. Although the reservoir tank 13, the pressure pump 14 and the pressure tank 15 are depicted on top of each other in figure 2, this needs not be the case. The location of all the components can vary in relation to each other, and figure 2 rather illustrates an operational order of the components of the fire extinguisher. The reservoir tank 13 may be configured to store water for fire-fighting. The size of the reservoir tank 13 may be chosen according to the size of the vessel 3, and the size of the tank may vary for example between 10 and 100 litres. The reservoir tank 13 may comprise a detector (not shown) for detecting the water level in the tank 13. The water level detector may comprise any known means to be used for detecting the water level like a level controller, a liquid level switch or a level control transmitter. The submersible pump 8 may automatically start and stop according to the water level in the tank 13. An electric wire may be arranged along the hose 7, e.g. on the outside of the hose 7 to provide electricity to the pump 8. This or another wire may provide a start/stop signal from the water level detector to the pump 8.

The amount of water pumped by the submersible pump 8 may be irregular. In order to compensate for possible irregular operation of the submersible pump 8, at least one reservoir tank 13 is included in the fire extinguisher in an example embodiment illustrated in figure 2. The reservoir tank 13 further helps the proper operation of the fire extinguisher 1 in situations where the submersible pump 8 takes in air.

In one embodiment, the guiding arm 9 for directing the water jet on the fire is arranged on the upper surface 21 of the housing 6. Although the guiding arm 9 is depicted above the housing 6, this needs not be the case. The guiding arm 9 may be arranged also on one of the side surfaces 20 of the housing 6 or on the bottom surface 22 of the housing 6. Although only one guiding arm 9 is depicted in figure 2, it is possible that there are several of them located next to each other in the same housing 6. The guiding arm 9 may be used for providing the water jet for extinguishing the fire. The guiding arm 9 may be articulated for enabling movement of the arm in different directions, i.e. both horizontally and vertically in different positions. There may be one or more nozzles 11 arranged at the guiding arm 9 for spraying water. The nozzle 11 refers to any nozzle for spreading water.

In one embodiment, one or more sensors 10 may be arranged on the guiding arm 9 or on the nozzle 11 for locating fire and/or smoke. The vessel 3 can also comprise, e.g. on the upper deck 27, one or more sensors for detecting fire and/or smoke. In another embodiment, the one or more sensors 10 may provide one or more control signals for guiding the guiding arm 9, the nozzle 11 and/or for moving the fire extinguisher 1 along the rail or rails 5. The one or more sensors 10 may comprise an IR (infrared) camera and/or a visual spectrum camera. With the visual spectrum camera, the fire may be located from a command centre or an operations room which may be located on board of the vessel or on shore, the latter being called a remote operating centre. The guiding arm 9 may direct the water jet automatically and also autonomously where the fire and/or smoke is detected with the sensors 10. In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 may move along the rails 5 autonomously in order to "sense" and monitor any possible fire and/or smoke on the upper deck 27. The one more sensors 10 may also control the start and stop of the extinguishing operation of the fire extinguisher 1 (for example lowering the submersible pump into the sea, starting the submersible pump 8, guiding the direction of the nozzle and spraying water) . Also the operational connections between the reservoir tank 13, the pressure pump 14, the pressure tank 15 and the guiding arm 9 are shown in figure 2. The pressure pump 14 takes water from the reservoir tank 13 via the operational connection which may be for example a pipe or outlet hose or duct. The pressure tank 15 and the pressure pump 14 are connected with similar operational connections. The pressure pump 14 may be any kind of pressure pump known in the art.

A wheel 4 is attached to the housing 6 at a fixing point 26. In one embodiment, there is at least one fixing point 26 on one of the at least two side surfaces 20 for fixing the housing 6 to the seagoing vessel 3. In another embodiment, there is more than one fixing point 26 on one of the at least two side surfaces 20. In one embodiment, the at least one fixing point comprises at least one wheel 4. In another embodiment, the at least one fixing point comprises two or more wheels, e.g. three wheels or four wheels. In another embodiment, there are two or more fixing points 26 comprising wheels 4. Thus, each wheel 4 may be connected to the housing via a respective fixing point, or a frame comprising two or more wheels may be fixed to a fixing point. In one embodiment, three wheels 4 may be fixed to the housing 6. In another embodiment, there are more than three wheels 4, e.g. four wheels. They can be arranged so that there are two upper and two lower wheels. The upper wheels may be running on an upper rail and the lower wheels on a lower rail. The rails 5 are depicted as rectangles in figure 2 (although they are attached to the vessel 3) .

At least part of the components of the fire extinguisher 1 may operate on electric power like the pressure pump 14, the submersible pump 8 and the guiding arm 9. Also other components of the fire extinguisher 1 may operate on electric power. At least part of the components may be electronically controlled like the pressure pump 14, the submersible pump 8 and the guiding arm 9. Also other components of the fire extinguisher 1 may be electronically controlled. The wires are not shown in the figures. There may be electric outlets near or on the rail 5, either all the way, at certain places, or only where the fire extinguisher 1 is parked. The battery 17 of the fire extinguisher 1 may be charged when the fire extinguisher is parked. In one embodiment, the wheels 4 may be connected to an electric motor 16 for supplying electric power to the wheels 4. The battery 17 may provide power but also ensure uninterrupted operation in case of occasional problems in the external power supply. Further, in another embodiment, there may be a small petrol or diesel generator 18 to supply electric power for providing uninterrupted operation in case of occasional problems in the external power supply. The generator 18 may be provided in the fire extinguisher in addition to or instead of the battery 17.

In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 may be wirelessly controlled via the wireless communication device 19. The wireless communication device 19 may be connected to the overall fire security and sensor system of the vessel 3, including sensors in the containers making up the cargo. The containers may include one or more fire and/or smoke detectors which provide a control signal if fire and/or smoke is detected. In this embodiment, an advantage is that it is connected to the overall fire security and sensor system of the vessel 3 so that the overall fire security system can instruct the fire extinguisher 1. The wireless communication device 19 may use radio frequency signals or other wireless communication signals .

Figure 3 illustrates an upper view of the seagoing vessel 3. The seagoing vessel comprises a hull 31 comprising two sides 2, a front end 23 and a back end 24. The rails are arranged on at least one of the outer surfaces 30 of the two sides 2, the frond end 23 or back end 24. In one embodiment shown in figure 3, several fire extinguishers 1 are arranged on the rails 5 arranged on the outer surface 30 of both sides 2 of the seagoing vessel 3. The rails can be arranged on one or two sides 2 of the vessel 3, on the back end 24 of the vessel 3, on the front end 23 of the vessel 3 or on any combination thereof. The rails are arranged in a horizontal direction along the hull 31. There may be one or more fire extinguishers 1 arranged to the rails 5.

In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 may autonomously detect the position of another extinguisher 1 for preventing collision if the fire extinguishers 1 are on the same rails 5. In another embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 may be moved with remote control via the wireless communication device 19, in which system the collision is prevented otherwise. In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher 1 may also take into account the position of other fire extinguishers 1 when extinguishing a fire for proper operation of the fire extinguishers 1 and for efficient extinguishment of fire. In another embodiment, the operation of all the extinguishers 1 may be controlled remotely via the wireless communication device 19, for example from a remote operating centre. According to one aspect, a fire extinguisher for a seagoing vessel is provided. The fire extinguisher comprises at least one hose with a submersible pump connected to one end of the hose for pumping water from the sea. The fire extinguisher comprises a guiding arm holding a nozzle for spraying water. The fire extinguisher comprises a housing, the guiding arm being connected to the housing, the housing comprising at least two side surfaces, an upper end and a bottom end and at least one fixing point on one of the at least two side surfaces for fixing the housing to the seagoing vessel. In one embodiment, the housing covers the hose at least partly.

In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher comprises at least one reservoir tank for receiving water pumped by the submersible pump via the hose and at least one pressure pump for receiving water from the reservoir tank and for pressurizing the water for supplying the water to the guiding arm. In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher comprises a pressure tank for receiving water from the pressure pump and for smoothing the water pressure and for supplying pressurized water to the guiding arm. In one embodiment, the housing encapsulates at least the reservoir tank and the pressure pump in at least one of a water proof manner or splash proof manner.

In one embodiment, the housing encapsulates an electric motor, and the at least one fixing point comprises at least one wheel outside the housing rotatable by the electric motor. In one embodiment, the guiding arm is a robotic arm.

In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher comprises at least one fire and/or smoke sensor for locating fire and/or smoke and for providing control signals for guiding the guiding arm and the nozzle and for rotating the at least one wheel. In one embodiment, the at least one sensor comprises at least an IR (infrared) camera and/or a visual spectrum camera for locating the fire and/or the smoke . In one embodiment, the at least one sensor is placed on at least one of the guiding arm or the nozzle.

In one embodiment, the fire extinguisher comprises a wireless communication device enabling remote control of the fire extinguisher.

In another aspect, a seagoing vessel is provided. The seagoing vessel according to the present disclosure comprises a hull comprising at least a front end, a back end and two sides, comprising at least one rail arranged on the outer surface of at least one side. At least one fire extinguisher according to the present disclosure is mounted on at least one wheel to the at least one rail in a moveable manner. The fire extinguisher comprises at least one hose with a submersible pump connected to one end of the hose for pumping water from the sea, a guiding arm holding a nozzle for spraying water, a housing, the guiding arm being connected to the housing, the housing comprising at least two side surfaces, an upper end and a bottom end and at least one fixing point on one of the at least two side surfaces for fixing the housing to the seagoing vessel.

In one embodiment, the vessel comprises an upper deck, and the fire extinguisher is arranged in a vertical direction of the hull in proximity to the upper deck.

In one embodiment, the one or more wheels arranged on the at least one rail are rotatable by an electric motor for moving the fire extinguisher according to the present disclosure on the at least one rail.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. It will be understood that the above description is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this specification .