Fire fighting helicopter

• US 4,090,567 A
• Filed: 10/26/1976
• Issued: 05/23/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francis E. Tomlinson
• Original Assignee: Francis E. Tomlinson
• Inventors: Tomlinson, Francis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/735,736
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 239/171, 169/53, 169/62, 244/136, 244/137 R, 89/7, 89/37.5 R
• US Class Current: 169/53
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/16 Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting jettisoning fuel B64D37/26

Abstract

Helicopter fire fighting apparatus includes a large quick-connect and disconnect fire-fighting fluid tank, a pump mounted near the engine, a fire fighting control station on the rear of the helicopter and a nozzle broom swiveled near the control station. A helicopter lands, quickly drops an empty tank and hooks up a full tank before rising to the proper location to fight a fire, such as in an office building. The boom breaks windows for access to the fire, and a hardened water-driven projectile may be propelled from the nozzle boom to break a window.

Claims

1. Fire fighting helicopter apparatus comprising a helicopter, tank attachment means connected to the helicopter for rapidly attaching and detaching external tanks, an external fire fighting fluid tank connected to the tank attaching means, a high pressure pump mounted amidship, pump driving means mounted on the helicopter and connected to the pump for driving the pump, suction means connected to the pump and to the tank for drawing fluid from the tank into the high pressure pump, a discharge line connected to the pump and extending through the helicopter, a nozzle boom connected to the discharge line and extending from the helicopter for directing fluid from the pump to a fire, swivel means mounted rearwardly on the helicopter and connected between the discharge line and the nozzle boom whereby the snorkel is movable horizontally and vertically to varied positions by the swivel means for discharging fluid in varied directions from the helicopter a control module mounted aft on the helicopter adjacent the swivel means, said tank being positioned sufficiently forward in the helicopter to counterbalance the control module, and means operable in the control module for controlling said swivel means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pump is connected to the helicopter engine for direct drive by the engine.

3. Fire fighting helicopter apparatus comprising a helicopter, tank attachment means connected to the helicopter for rapidly attaching and detaching external tanks, an external fire fighting fluid tank connected to the tank attaching means, a high pressure pump mounted amidship, pump driving means mounted on the helicopter and connected to the pump for driving the pump, suction means connected to the pump and to the tank for drawing fluid from the tank into the high pressure pump, a discharge line connected to the pump and extending through the helicopter, a nozzle boom connected to the discharge line and extending from the helicopter for directing fluid from the pump to a fire, projectile means removably connected to the end of the nozzle boom remote from the helicopter for propelling from the nozzle boom upon flow of fluid under high pressure from the pump wherein the projectile means comprise a relatively large head portion substantially covering the end of the nozzle boom, a central portion connected to the head portion and extending into the end of the nozzle boom in sealing relation therewith, and wing portions connected to the head portion and spaced outwardly from the end of the nozzle boom.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising release means connected to the projectile means for holding the projectile means on the end of the snorkel upon flow of fluid under pressure from the pump.