Airport runway fire control method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An airport fire control system for combating combustion in the vicinity of an airport runway, said system comprising:
- a network of tubing containing a fire suppressant substance and disposed about said airport runway;
means for pressurizing said fire suppressant substance within said tubing and causing said fire suppressant substance to egress under relatively constant pressure;
discharge means spaced along said tubing and interconnected therewith for discharging fire suppressant material therefrom;
angulation means coupled to said discharge means controlling the orientation of said discharge means for selectively ejecting fire suppressant in a predefined pattern;
control means for regulating the actuation of said network of tubing;
detector means interconnected with said control means for sensing a select event requiring the discharge of fire suppressant from said discharge means;
said detector means including a heat sensor coupled to said discharge means for causing the select angulation thereof for spraying fire suppressant upon a select area; and
said control means including detector means coupled therewith for establishing a select glide path spectrum and receiving a response therefrom relative to aircraft approaching said airstrip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for instantaneous response and control of an aircraft and/or airfield fire. An array of fire retardant nozzles interconnected to a fire retardant supply system is provided alongside a runway of an airport and interconnected with a computerized control network for remote actuation thereof. A series of different types of sensors is provided in conjunction with the retardant nozzle system for detecting heat of the type produced from an aircraft and/or runway fire or incident and permitting fire retardant response thereto. The sensors are constructed in conjunction with orientation and angulation drive systems for positioning the separate fire-retardant nozzles in a configuration for spraying fire retardant upon the selected combustion. The system is provided with a smoke and fume evacuation system for use in conjunction therewith whereby toxic by-products of aircraft fire may be removed from the vicinity of the fire hazard. In the same manner, a laser integrated glide path response system is provided for use in conjunction with the computerized network for activation in times of detected emergency. In this manner, the response time to an aircraft fire may be substantially reduced and the deleterious side effects thereof eliminated because of the prompt utilization of the present invention.
17 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An airport fire control system for combating combustion in the vicinity of an airport runway, said system comprising:
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a network of tubing containing a fire suppressant substance and disposed about said airport runway; means for pressurizing said fire suppressant substance within said tubing and causing said fire suppressant substance to egress under relatively constant pressure; discharge means spaced along said tubing and interconnected therewith for discharging fire suppressant material therefrom; angulation means coupled to said discharge means controlling the orientation of said discharge means for selectively ejecting fire suppressant in a predefined pattern; control means for regulating the actuation of said network of tubing; detector means interconnected with said control means for sensing a select event requiring the discharge of fire suppressant from said discharge means; said detector means including a heat sensor coupled to said discharge means for causing the select angulation thereof for spraying fire suppressant upon a select area; and said control means including detector means coupled therewith for establishing a select glide path spectrum and receiving a response therefrom relative to aircraft approaching said airstrip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of combatting a fire in the vicinity of an airport runway comprising steps of:
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providing a system of pressurized tubing having fire suppressant received therein and constructed for maintaining a pressurized flow therethrough; providing a plurality of discharge nozzles about said system for discharging fire suppressant on an area of combustion in the vicinity of said runway; sensing the approach of an aircraft to the subject runway; detecting the deviation of the aircraft from a predefined glide pattern adjacent to said runway; activating said fire suppressant system in response to the detection of said aircraft deviating from said preselected flight pattern; sensing combustion on and about said aircraft and said aircraft runway; orienting said nozzle of said system of pressurized tubing in a direction toward said combustion;
p1 pumping fire suppressant through said nozzles onto said combustion; andcontrolling the emission and discharge pattern of fire suppressant from said nozzles onto said combustion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification