GR1009161B - Aerial duct adapted to a ground-based water cistern for carrying water at long distance for fire extinction and irrigation purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

Novelty: an aerial duct adapted to ground-based water cistern for carrying water over long distance for fire extinction and irrigation purposes is disclosed. Constitution: the invented aerial duct has its one end adapted to a ground-based water cistern while the other end is travelling over hills to carry water for fire extinction purposes. Function mode: a tube of 16 inch in diameter providing, in case of fire extinction, 7281 m3/hour or 2427 times more water than an helicopter; the general interoperability of the invention is very simple: water pumping from the cistern via the pump provided, water transfer to the aerial duct and water discharge on the fire. Advantages: the essential is that the air transport of the water via said aerial tube which hangs from tens of drone-type helicopters proves to be some thousands of times more efficient.

Description

Description

An airborne pipeline attached to a ground tank to carry water over a long distance for aerial firefighting and irrigation.

The technical scope of the invention is:

• Forest fire fighting,

• Water pipes.

• Small helicopter technology,

• Aerial fire fighting,

• Crop irrigation.

The existing means of forest fire fighting are inefficient in space and time. Forest fire engines cannot get close to the fire due to the topography of the terrain. Airplanes carry relatively more water but do not focus on the focus of the fire. The firefighting helicopters approach the fire precisely but end up pouring very little firefighting water.

The main idea of the invention is to use a pipe to pour water on a forest fire. A secondary use of this pipeline would be to irrigate large areas during dry periods.

Existing technology more or less approaches fire suppression in more or less the same way. They transport water to the fire area by trucks, planes and helicopters. The most efficient means is the helicopter. Even this carries a ton of water on each of its flights. According to rough calculations, the time interval between two drops of water on average is twenty minutes, that is, 3 cubic meters of water every hour and this is not during the night.

The solution of air conveying water through a pipe is several thousand times more efficient. A typical diameter for plastic pipe is 16 inches which delivers water at a rate of 3.9 m3/sec. It pours water into the forest fire 7281 cubic meters per hour or 2427 times more than the helicopter.

Today all commercially reliable pipeline subsystems are designed for continuous operation. In our case, however, firefighting takes a few minutes, so less expensive components such as pipes, pumps, valves, etc. are acceptable.

The main idea of the invention is to pump water from a lake, dam or sea at the beginning of a pipeline. The other end of the pipe travels aerially over the hills and mountains and pours several tons per minute to extinguish any fire.

For the description of the invention, 3 drawings are attached. Drawing number 1 describes the general theoretical and operational operation, drawing number 2 gives some construction directions of the pumping station and drawing 3 details the construction of the interconnection node and the suspension structure. Finally, drawing 4 is a detail of the flow amplifier (30).

Plan No. 1 describes the general theoretical and operational operation. There are nine collaborating departments:

• The water reservoir(1) which can be a lake, sea or artificial dam.

• The pumping station (2)

• The airborne pipeline (3)

The penultimate point of pouring water (4)

• The fire to be put out (5)

• Optionally a helicopter (6) or hot air balloon (7).

· The interface node (9) and the suspension structure (8).

• The body of water that is a sea, lake or dam. (1)

• The pumping station (2)

• the airborne water pipeline (3)

• The water pouring point (4)

· The forest fire (5)

• Optional helicopter (6) or hot air balloon (7)

• The interface node (9) and the suspension structure (8)

Drawing number 2 gives some construction directions of the pumping station:

·     The high tower (10)

•     Two pumps upstream-downstream of the station (11,13),

•     Special water lift pipe (12) (depression pipe)

•     Long elastic hose (14).

•     Dozens of pipes ready with interconnection nodes(9) and suspension structures(8) lie on the ground for assembly

An electrical substation (17),

energizing the cable (18)

•     a modified warship (19) that has everything from construction and destination.

Drawing 3 gives construction details of the interconnection node and the suspension structure:

•     Main ring (21) for connection upstream and downstream of the water flow, • Rubber sub-rings for assembly (22), electrical and data wiring (27),

·     An optional small coaxial pump for pressure and flow boost (23),

•     The sprinkler and emergency discharge valve (29)

• Upper suspension ring from the helicopter (24).

•     a hook (25) on which the interconnection node (24) is suspended; a support structure (26)

•      electric motors, propellers and driving commonly known as drones (28). • Power and data lines (27)

The general interoperability of the invention is very simple. The water is pumped from the tank (1) through the pump (2) to the air-borne pipe (3). Kilometers later where the pipeline (4) ends, the water pours towards the fire (5). The essential difference is that the pipeline flies suspended by dozens of drone-type helicopters.

The detailed operation has several sequential steps. The water from the tank (1) is pumped by a system of centrifugal pumps (11,13). From the top of the tower (10) the main pipeline (14) begins its journey of tens of kilometers. At the same time, electric current comes from the substation (17) to the cable integrated in the conductor (18) and from then on it continues in parallel. The hanging initial pipe (14) is the beginning of the total pipeline (3). Dozens of pipes (15,16) ready with interconnection nodes (9) and suspension structures (8) lie on the ground for assembly and routing to the fire site. The first type pipe (15) is connected to the original pipe (14) and so on. After the first connections, the first pipe (15) begins to swing towards the fire (5) and so on, all the remaining pipes.

This is how the pipeline (3) is constructed that travels through the air towards the fire. When it reaches there, it pours the water from the nozzle (4) towards the fire (5), which goes out in a few minutes.

Especially for coastal areas a modified warship(19) can replace all pumping systems. Some such ships cover 80% of the Greek Territory.

Returning to the main invention in order to achieve this interoperability the tubes are connected together with a dual subsystem.

1. the interface node (9) and

2. the suspension structure (8)

The interface node (9) has four sides that give the following functions:

1. The upper first side has a sturdy connecting ring (24) for hanging from the hook (25) of the suspension structure (8).

2. On the left and right side it is connected by a pipe (15,16).

This is done by means of the elastic gasket (22) which also gives flexibility of freedom of movement in three axes.

3. The last lower side has a sprinkler valve (29) for fire extinguishing and irrigation.

The interface hub (9) supplies all the drones, pumps and valves with electricity and direction data via the cable (27). It also has a coaxial pump to boost the manometric (21).

The suspension structure (8) has:

•    A hook (25) from which the interconnect node (9) is suspended freely hanging.

•    A structure (26) to which everything is firmly attached

•    the elements of helicopter drones (28) which ultimately give the structure, hub and conduit (3) lift, travel and guidance.

The main problem of the invention is the safety of citizens on the ground in the event of a fall. At the current stage, various solutions are already proposed.

• Automatic electromechanical disconnection of the pipes (15).

• Parachutes for smooth landing of components.

• Small battery that will ground everything safely in case of power loss.

• Sound and light alarms.

• Automatic water discharge valve (29)

• Use of safe civilian-free air routes and transport lines.

Instead of the coaxial manometric and flow amplifier (21), a smaller multiple continuous pump (30) was designed integrated inside the tube (15) without reducing the diameter. It draws water on the side wall of the pipe downstream (31) and delivers it upstream (32) and slightly diagonally with an increased pressure. This small trapezoidal ring pump can span the entire length and width of the pipe.

Apart from this all other electromechanical components are available in the market today.

Claims (1)

An airborne pipeline attached to a ground tank to carry water over a long distance for aerial firefighting and irrigation. Claim 1 The aerial pipe (3) is suspended above the ground to carry water from the reservoir (1), supplied by the pumping station (2), to the fire point (5) and is characterized by continuous interconnected smaller pipes (15,16). , which are assembled in series through the respective interconnection node (9) which is finally suspended from the suspension structure (8). Claim 2 The interconnection node (9) according to the above main claim, characterized by the main ring (21) for connection upstream and downstream of the water flow, the elastic sub-rings of assembly (22), electrical and data wiring (27), an optional small coaxial pressure and flow booster pump (23) or a flow booster (30) on the side walls of the pipe (15), a sprinkler and emergency discharge valve (29) and finally the upper suspension ring from the helicopter (24). Claim 3 The suspension structure (8) according to the above main claim, is characterized by a hook (25) on which the interconnection node (9,24) is suspended, a support structure (26) and the electric motors, propellers and driving, better known as drones (28). Claim 4 The pumping station (2) according to the main claim 1 is characterized by an electrical substation (17), two pumps upstream-downstream of the station (11,13), a high tower (10) for the initial lifting and guiding of the beginning of the pipeline (14) while dozens of pipes (15,16) ready with interconnection nodes(9) and suspension structures(8) lie on the ground for assembly and routing to the fire site. Claim 5 The support structure (26) in the above claim 3 is characterized by the possibility of partial substitution for operational and safety reasons by a balloon (7) or a helicopter (8). Claim 6 The pumping station (2) of the above claim 4 is characterized by its total replacement by a modified warship (19) which has everything in terms of construction and destination. Claim 7 The interface node (9) and the suspension structure (8) according to the above claims 2 and 3 are characterized by optional safety features such as a parachute, a landing alarm and an electric accumulator for a few minutes of flight and landing after a power failure. Claim 8 The flow intensifier (30) in the side walls as referred to in claim 2 is characterized by a small pump that introduces the water upstream in contact (31) with the side inner walls of the tube (15,3) enhances its manometric and flow and re-exports downstream (32).