AIRPORT RUNWAY FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

• US 3,583,637 A
• Filed: 04/14/1969
• Issued: 06/08/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John A. Miscovich
• Original Assignee: John A. Miscovich
• Inventors: Miscovich, John A.
• Application Number:
  US04/815,757
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 239/203
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/00 Control of fire-fighting equipment heat-sensitive devices G01K

Abstract

A remote controlled fire-fighting apparatus which remains completely below the ground surface when not in use. When the apparatus is to be used, a hatch covering the unit is opened and the nozzle raised to its operating position. The discharge nozzle can then be rotated in horizontal and/or vertical planes and directed at the source of the fire. After the fire has been extinguished, the apparatus is retracted into its underground housing and the hatch above it replaced. Numerous units of the apparatus are disposed along the runway and are remote controlled to form an integrated fire-fighting system.

Claims

1. A fire-fighting system for airport runways, which comprises:

a plurality of hydraulic monitor units disposed at spaced locations along a runway for airplanes, said units being so located that jets therefrom blanket said runway with fire-fighting fluid, each of said units including a foundation defining a chamber and recessed below the level of the ground, each of said units also including a high-volume hydraulic monitor mounted in said chamber and movable between a retracted position recessed below ground level and an operating position at which at least the nozzle of such monitor is disposed above ground level, said nozzle being mounted for pivotal movement in both horizontal and vertical planes whereby said nozzle may be directed at the source of a fire on said runway, each of said units also including a hatch which is closed over said foundation when said monitor is in said retracted position and is open when said monitor is in said operating position, means to supply fire-fighting fluid to said monitor units, and centrally operated remote-control means connected to all of said monitor units to operate said monitors between said retracted and operating positions, to shift said hatches between said closed and open positions, to direct said nozzles in said horizontal and vertical planes, and to control the supply of fire-fighting fluid to said monitors.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the stem pipe for supplying said fire-fighting fluid to each of said monitors is pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis, and in which means are provided for moving each monitor between said retracted position and said operation position by pivoting said stem pipe about said axis, said last-named means being operated by said remote-control means.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said stem pipe for each monitor is sufficiently short that the associated nozzle is only a short distance above ground level when such monitor is in operating position, whereby to minimize damage in the event such monitor is contacted by an airplane.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said monitor units is so constructed that the most elevated part of each monitor is only a short distance above ground level when said monitor is in operating position.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which motor-operated hydraulic swivel joints are incorporated in each of said monitors to effect said nozzle movement in said horizontal and vertical planes.