Fire-fighting apparatus

Abstract

 The invention provides a fire-fighting apparatus (100) comprising: at least one extinguishing agent module (10) for holding a supply of a fire-extinguishing agent; an operating module (20) adapted to convey the fire-extinguishing agent from one or more of said extinguishing agent modules (10) in such a manner that the extinguishing agent may be applied to a fire; and mounting means (40) for mounting the operating module (20) in combination with a variable selected number of said extinguishing agent modules (10) such that the operating module and the selected number of extinguishing agent modules combine to form a common portable unit. The mounting means (40) typically comprises a frame providing structural integrity to the unit, the frame being adjustable to accommodate the selected number of said at least one extinguishing agent module (20). The frame includes a plurality of substantially rigid elongate members (41) for releasable connection with one another, the elongate members having lengths which are variable to accommodate the selected number of extinguishing agent modules. The extinguishing agent modules (10) all have substantially the same shape and size, and comprise a container for holding a supply of the fire-extinguishing agent. The mounting means (40) includes engagement means (13) provided on each of the extinguishing agent modules (10) for engagement with the elongate frame members (41) during assembly of the apparatus (100).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to fire-fighting equipment, and in particular to a fire-fighting apparatus which is preferably suitable for portable delivery to a fire scene, such as by trailer, or on the back of a utility or pick-up truck.

[0002] Portable fire-fighting equipment is known in various forms. Hand-held fire-extinguisher cylinders, for example, are perhaps the most commonly known and most widely used fire-fighting apparatus. A problem with many such examples of fire-fighting equipment, however, is that they are only available in specific forms or sizes. Accordingly, when greater fire-fighting capacity is required, multiples of the individual units are required. Alternatively, it is necessary to maintain an inventory of several differently sized units in order that an appropriately sized unit may then be selected to meet the particular circumstances encountered.

[0003] The present invention is concerned with providing a fire-fighting apparatus which overcomes or at least ameliorates problems associated with known fire-fighting equipment.

[0004] Broadly, the present invention provides a fire-fighting apparatus having the features recited in claim 1. Preferred features of the invention are recited in the dependent claims 2 to 20.

[0005] Thus, the present invention provides a fire-fighting apparatus comprising at least one extinguishing agent module for holding a supply of a fire-extinguishing agent, an operating module adapted to convey the fire-extinguishing agent from one or more of the extinguishing agent modules in such a manner that the extinguishing agent may be applied to a fire, and mounting means for mounting the operating module in combination with a variable selected number of said extinguishing agent modules such that the operating module and the selected number of extinguishing agent modules combine to form a common unit.

[0006] One of the advantages of the present invention is, of course, its modular construction. The apparatus enables an operating module to be combined with a variable number of extinguishing agent modules, with the number of extinguishing agent modules able to be selected or determined according to the fire-fighting capacity demanded by the circumstances. That is, the amount of fire-extinguishing agent to have at one's disposal can be pre-selected. Thus, the apparatus of the invention provides the flexibility to expand or reduce fire-fighting capacity without duplicating equipment or maintaining an excessive inventory.

[0007] The number of extinguishing agent modules that may be selected for combination with the operating module can vary widely. For example, the number may be as few as a single extinguishing agent module, as many as ten, or any number in between.

[0008] In one form of the invention, the extinguishing agent module(s) and the operating module may be structurally rigid and self-supporting, such that the mounting means merely facilitates the selective interconnection and combination of the various modules.

[0009] In a preferred form of the invention, however, the mounting means includes a substantially rigid frame providing structural support to the unit, the frame being adjustable to accommodate the selected number of said at least one extinguishing agent module. In this respect, the frame preferably includes a plurality of elongate members for releasable connection with one another, the elongate members having lengths which are variable to accommodate the selected number of extinguishing agent modules. For example, the elongate members may have a range of different lengths which may be chosen to suit the selected number of extinguishing agent modules to be mounted on the frame. Alternatively, the elongate members may include extension elements which may be added to, or removed from, the frame to adjust the length of the elongate members to suit the selected number of containers. Another advantage of the invention, therefore, is that the frame of the apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate the desired number of extinguishing agent containers so that the apparatus may readily be adapted to different fire-fighting scenarios.

[0010] In a preferred form of the invention, each of the extinguishing agent modules comprises a container for holding a supply of the fire-extinguishing agent. Furthermore, each of the containers is preferably adapted for mounting on the frame of the apparatus. In this regard, the mounting means preferably further includes engagement means provided on each of the containers for engagement with the elongate frame members as the apparatus is assembled. In particular, the engagement means may comprise formations, such as slots, at the sides of each container for receiving and engaging with the elongate frame members during assembly of the apparatus. Thus, yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the fire-fighting apparatus enables quick addition or removal of extinguishing agent containers by sliding them in and out between the structurally supporting frame members. The extinguishing agent modules are typically all of the same size and shape, and have the same volume capacity for holding fire-extinguishing agent.

[0011] In some fire scenarios, the desired extinguishing agent to be used may comprise a mixture of two or more different substances. For example, foam-type extinguishing agents often comprise a mixture of water and a foaming agent. These two substances are mixed together in specific predetermined quantities to produce the desired fire-extinguishing agent. Another advantage of the present invention, therefore, is that separate extinguishing agent modules may be employed to hold different constituents of the final fire-extinguishing agent, with the number of extinguishing agent modules selected to provide the desired proportions of the constituents to be mixed. By way of example, extinguishing agent modules separately containing water and foaming agent can be provided in the appropriate proportions for a particular fire scenario by selecting the appropriate number of containers and modifying the frame of the apparatus to accommodate them accordingly. For example, the extinguishing agent modules may provide a 1:1 ratio of foaming agent to water, 1:2 ratio of foaming agent to water, 1:3 ratio of foaming agent to water, a 2:3 ratio of foaming agent to water, etc. This is achieved by modifying the modular apparatus to accommodate the corresponding number of extinguishing agent modules. Of course, as already mentioned, not only the particular mixture, but also the total volume of extinguishing agent carried by the fire-fighting apparatus is therefore adapted to the particular fire scenario.

[0012] In a preferred form of the invention, the operating module includes pump means for fluid communication with the one or more extinguishing agent modules for pumping the fire-extinguishing agent to a location where it is required, and a delivery line for conveying the fire-extinguishing agent from the pump means to that point of application. The delivery line preferably comprises a relatively long flexible hose, which may be stored on a reel within the operating module. The operating module may also include a device for mixing two or more constituents of the fire-extinguishing agent separately contained in the extinguishing agent modules. This mixing device may preferably be adapted to foam the fire-extinguishing agent.

[0013] In a preferred form of the invention, the elongate frame members for mounting the operating module in combination with the selected number of extinguishing agent modules comprise tubular sections. A novel fastening mechanism for the releasable interconnection of those frame members has been developed for use with the present invention. The fastening mechanism comprises a pair of opposed insert elements for partial receipt within a hollow end region of a first frame member such that the insert elements project from said hollow end region to form a male connecting component for insertion into a hollow end region of a second frame member to be connected to the first frame member. The fastening mechanism further comprises expansion means designed to force the two opposed insert elements apart such that they bear against inner surfaces of the hollow end regions of the first and second frame members to form an interference connection.

[0014] The expansion means preferably comprises a screw element, and one of the pair of opposed insert elements is therefore preferably provided with a threaded through-bore extending transversely towards the other of said pair of opposed insert elements for receiving said screw element, such that an end of the screw element emerging from the bore may contact a facing surface of said other insert element.

[0015] In operation, as the screw element is increasingly screwed into the threaded bore of the one insert element, the end of the screw emerges to engage the facing surface of the other insert element, whereby further tightening of the screw element forces the two opposed insert elements apart so that they press against the inner surfaces of the hollow end regions of the frame members. The outer surfaces of the insert elements, which preferably have a geometry complementary to the inner surfaces of the tubular frame members, are therefore forced outwardly against the inner surfaces of the frame members to create an interference fit therewith. In a preferred form of the fastening mechanism, the screw element itself may also be mechanically coupled to one of the frame members. While this fastening mechanism is particularly well suited to use in the frame of the fire-fighting apparatus of the invention, it will be appreciated that it is not limited to this use but has applications in the secure inter-connection of tubular members in general.

[0016] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and without limiting the generality of the preceding description, a preferred embodiment of the fire-fighting apparatus of the invention is hereafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters designate like features throughout the several views, and:

Fig. 1

is a perspective view of the fire-fighting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a partially disassembled state;

Fig. 2

is a perspective view of the fire-fighting apparatus of Fig. 1 when fully assembled;

Fig. 3

is a top view of the fire-fighting apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

is an end view of the fire-fighting apparatus in Fig. 2, showing details of the operating module;

Fig. 5

is a front view of the fire-fighting apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

is another end view of the fire-fighting apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7

is a sectioned top view of a fastening mechanism used in the frame of the fire-fighting apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 6; and

Fig. 8

is a perspective view of the fastening mechanism of Fig. 7 protruding from the end region of an elongate frame member.

[0017] Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a fire-fighting apparatus 100 according to the invention is illustrated. Broadly speaking, the particular example of the apparatus 100 shown includes three extinguishing agent modules 10 mounted in combination with an operating module 20. The apparatus 100 further includes a substantially rigid frame 40 by means of which the three extinguishing agent modules 10 are mounted together with the operating module 20. The frame 40 provides the structural support and structural integrity for the overall unit.

[0018] Each of the three extinguishing agent modules 10 illustrated in this embodiment is in the form of a substantially rectangular tank. The tanks are relatively rigid containers formed, for example, from steel or some other suitable metal to provide high durability. On the other hand, however, the tanks may also be formed of a suitable heavy-duty plastics material, such as polyethylene or the like, which is not only durable but also has significantly less weight. Each of the tanks has a filling opening formed at the top thereof, which is sealed by a screw-cap 11.

[0019] The frame 40 is formed from a plurality of elongate tubular members 41. These elongate members 41 are substantially rigid and are typically formed from tubular steel, although other materials are also contemplated. The elongate members 41 of are designed to be assembled to provide the rigid structural framework for the apparatus 100. As can be best seen in Fig. 1, the means for mounting the tanks of the extinguishing modules 10 to the operating module 20 include formations provided at side walls 12 of the tanks which engage with some of the elongate frame members 41. In particular, both upper and lower regions of the side walls 12 of the tanks 10 include curved slot formations 13 which are adapted to slidably receive and engage with the tubular frame members 41 for securely holding the extinguishing agent module 10 on and within the frame 40.

[0020] In addition to a plurality of individual elongate members 41, the frame 40 also includes two pre-formed sub-assemblies 42, 43, which each comprise a number of elongate members 41 that have been rigidly and non-releasably connected with one another in a predetermined configuration. As can be clearly seen in Fig. 1, one of these sub-assemblies 42 forms an end part of the framework, the removal of which enables the individual tanks 10 to be slid onto or off the frame members 41 via the slots 13 when adding or removing any extinguishing agent modules 10 to and/or from the apparatus 100. The other sub-assembly 43 is specifically adapted for mounting the operating module 20.

[0021] With reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it can be seen that the operating module 20 is mounted within the sub-assembly 43 at one end part of the frame 40. The operating module 20 comprises pump means 21, which is connected in fluid communication with the tanks of the extinguishing agent modules 10 for pumping the fire-extinguishing agent contained therein at a sufficient pressure and flow rate such that it can be conveyed for application to a fire. The operating module 20 furthermore includes drive means in the form of a motor 22 for driving the pump 21. The motor 22 could conceivably be an electric motor, but is preferably in the form of a combustion engine so that the fire-fighting apparatus 100 of the invention has a high degree of portability for completely independent operation in remote locations. Thus, operating module 20 also includes a fuel supply 23 for the motor 22.

[0022] The operating unit 20 furthermore includes a flexible hose 24 connected to an outlet of the pump means 21 for conveying the fire extinguishing agent pumped from the supply tanks to a position of its desired application. In this regard, the hose 24 forms a delivery line and a hand-held nozzle 25 is provided at the distal end thereof for manual operation by a user. Accordingly, the user can draw the desired length of hose from its storage reel 26 mounted under the pump means 21 to manually direct the fire-extinguishing agent to the point of desired application. The nozzle 25 may also incorporates a valve for selectively starting and stopping the flow of the fire-extinguishing agent. As can be seen in Fig. 4, the operating unit 20 also includes a manually operable handle 27 for re-coiling the flexible hose 24 onto the reel 26 after use.

[0023] With reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, it can be seen that the sub-assembly 43 of the frame 40 essentially forms a housing for the operating module 20. In this regard, panel elements 44 are incorporated at sides of the frame sub-assembly 43 and an access port having a rollable shutter 45 is provided at the end of the frame 40. The shutter 45 can be locked in the closed position as shown in Fig. 6 to prevent undesired access to the components of the operating module 20. Furthermore, the handle 27 of the hose reel 26 is preferably also removable. Another feature of the frame 40 is the presence of hoisting loops 46 formed at upper corner regions to facilitate the connection of ropes or cables for use when lifting the fire-fighting apparatus 100 to place it on a trailer or on the back of a utility vehicle.

[0024] With reference now to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, a fastening mechanism 50 for releasably interconnecting the elongate tubular members 41 of the frame 40 is illustrated in detail. The fastening mechanism includes a pair of first and second semi-cylindrically shaped insert elements 51, 52 facing each other in opposed relation. In use, as seen in Fig. 7, the pair of insert elements 51, 52 are partially inserted together into a hollow end region of a first one of the tubular frame members 41', such that curved outer surfaces 53 of the insert elements 51, 52 face the curved inner surface of the tube, and such that flat facing surfaces 54 of the insert elements are opposite one another and perhaps in contact.

[0025] A first one of the insert elements 51 is provided with four threaded bores 55 spaced approximately evenly apart along the length of the insert element 51. These threaded bores 55 extend transversely fully through the insert element 51. The fastening mechanism 50 furthermore includes four screw elements 56, each of which has an external thread complementary to the internal thread of one of the bores 55. The first frame member 41' furthermore includes a pair of holes 47 for alignment with two of the threaded bores 55 formed in the insert element 51. The holes 47 have a larger diameter than the threaded bores 55 so that the screw elements 56 may pass unhindered there-through. Accordingly, a screw element 56 is respectively inserted through each of the holes 47 of the first frame member 41' and screwed into each of the two threaded bores 55 of that part of the first insert element 51 received within the hollow end region of that frame member 41'.

[0026] As can be seen in Fig. 8, the screw elements 56 are screwed through each of the bores until the end of the screw element emerges to contact the facing surface 54 of the other insert element 52. The facing surface 54 of the second insert element 52 may be completely flat, or may preferably include a small recess for receiving the end of the screw element 56. Such a recess would naturally assist with the proper alignment of the two insert elements 51, 52 during the connection of two frame members 41.

[0027] Before the two screw elements 56 are fully tightened, the insert elements 51, 52 connected to a first frame member 41' as shown in Fig. 7 project from the end region thereof as a male connecting component. The hollow end region of a second frame member 41" is then positioned over those projecting insert elements 51, 52 such that two holes 47 formed in the second frame member align with the remaining threaded bores 55 of the insert element 51. The other two screw elements 56 are then screwed into the remaining two threaded bores 55 as before. Now that both of the tubular frame members 41', 41" are in position over the insert elements 51, 52, the screw elements 56 may be fully tightened. As the screw elements 56 are tightened, they act as an expansion means to force the two insert elements 51, 52 apart from one another such that the curved outer surfaces 53 of each insert element then bear against the complementary curved inner surfaces of the tubular frame members 41', 41". Thus, in addition to the mechanical coupling of the screw elements 56 with the frame members 41', 41" via the holes 47, the insertion elements 51, 52 bear against the inner surfaces of the tubular members to create a secure interference connection.

[0028] In a particularly preferred form of the fastening mechanism 50, the curved outer surface 53 of the insertion elements 51, 52 has a radius of curvature the same as or slightly greater than an internal radius of curvature of the tubular frame members 41. This facilitates a rapidly achieved interference connection with a minimum of expansion of the insert elements.

[0029] In the particular example illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the threaded bores 55 and complementary screw elements 56 are all provided in just one insert element 51. It will be appreciated, however, that both of the insert elements 51, 52 may alternatively incorporate one or more threaded bore 55, with those bores being longitudinally offset from one another. In the present case it is convenient that the fastening of the frame members 41 occurs from the external side of the fire-fighting apparatus 100 and that the protruding heads of the screw elements are on the external side of the apparatus where they do not interfere with the tanks of the extinguishing agent modules 10.

[0030] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the various modifications and/or additions may be made to the particular construction and arrangement of the parts described above with reference to the drawings without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Fire-fighting apparatus comprising:

at least one extinguishing agent module for holding a supply of a fire-extinguishing agent;

an operating module adapted to convey the fire-extinguishing agent from one or more of said extinguishing agent modules in such a manner that the extinguishing agent may be applied to a fire; and

mounting means for mounting the operating module in combination with a variable selected number of said extinguishing agent modules such that the operating module and the selected number of extinguishing agent modules combine to form a unit.

2. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a frame providing structural integrity to the unit, said frame being adjustable to accommodate the selected number of said at least one extinguishing agent module.

3. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frame includes a plurality of substantially rigid elongate members for releasable connection with one another, the elongate members having lengths which are variable to accommodate the selected number of extinguishing agent modules.

4. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of elongate members have a range of different lengths which may be chosen to suit the selected number of extinguishing agent modules to be mounted on the frame.

5. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of elongate members include extension elements which may be added to or removed from the frame to adjust the length of the elongate members to suit the selected number of extinguishing agent modules to be mounted on the frame.

6. Fire-fighting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the extinguishing agent modules all have substantially the same shape and size, and each comprises a container for holding a supply of the fire-extinguishing agent.

7. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the extinguishing agent modules is adapted to be mounted on the frame, said mounting means including engagement means provided on each of the extinguishing agent modules for engagement with the elongate frame members during assembly of the apparatus.

8. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the engagement means comprises formations at the sides of each extinguishing agent container for receiving and engaging with the elongate frame members.

9. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the engagement means comprise slots adapted to slidably receive and engage with the elongate frame members during assembly of the apparatus.

10. Fire-fighting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said operating module includes pump means adapted for fluid communication with said one or more extinguishing agent modules for pumping the fire-extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent modules to a point of application, and a delivery line for conveying the fire-extinguishing agent from said pump means to the point of application.

11. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the delivery line comprises a relatively long flexible hose.

12. Fire-fighting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the frame includes a housing for at least partially enclosing the operating module.

13. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the housing includes a retractable access port which may be locked in a closed position to prevent undesired access to the operating unit.

14. Fire-fighting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the frame comprises an at least partially open framework.

15. Fire-fighting apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 14, wherein the elongate members and/or extension elements are tubular, and wherein the frame includes a fastening mechanism for releasable interconnection of the elongate members.

16. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises:

a pair of opposed insert elements for partial receipt within a hollow end region of a first frame member such that the insert elements project from said hollow end region to form a male connecting component for insertion into a hollow end region of a second frame member to be connected to the first frame member;

expansion means adapted to force the two opposed insert elements apart such that they bear against inner surfaces of the hollow end regions of the frame members in an interference fit.

17. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the expansion means comprises a screw element, and wherein one of the pair of opposed insert elements includes a threaded bore extending transversely there-through towards the other of said pair of opposed insert elements for receiving said screw element such that an end of the screw element may contact a facing surface of said other insert element, whereby tightening of the screw element forces the two opposed insert elements apart so that they press against the inner surfaces of the hollow end regions of the frame members.

18. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pair of opposed insert elements have curved outer surfaces for bearing against curved inner surfaces of the tubular frame members and substantially planar opposite facing surfaces.

19. Fire-fighting apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the fastening mechanism includes at least two threaded bores and two associated screw elements for forcing the insert elements apart such that they bear against the inner surfaces of the hollow end regions of the frame members, said bores being substantially evenly spaced apart on the insert elements.

20. Fire-fighting apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein at least one of the elongate frame members has a hole formed there-through for alignment with a threaded bore of one of the insert elements, the hole having a larger diameter than the threaded bore such that the screw element may be screwed into the threaded bore through the hole in the frame member.

Drawing