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CA-3002179-C - FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENT DELIVERY APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

CA3002179CCA 3002179 CCA3002179 CCA 3002179CCA-3002179-C

Abstract

A fire extinguishing agent delivery apparatus, system, and method of use having an outer tube with an inlet attached to a pressurized water source and an outlet attached to a firefighting hose. The apparatus includes an inner venturi tube mounted within the outer tube, having a funnel-shaped inlet and outlet, a reduced diameter intermediate portion, and an extinguishing agent inlet port. The apparatus includes a device for injecting extinguishing agent into the inlet port and the venturi tube has a smaller diameter than the outer tube, so a portion of water travels through the venturi tube and mixes with extinguishing agent and a greater portion of water travels unobstructed through the outer tube and mixes with the mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from the venturi tube, prior to discharge from the outer tube.

Inventors

  • Andrew Bainton

Assignees

  • Andrew Bainton

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20180419

Claims (20)

  1. Claims 1. A fire extinguishing agent delivery apparatus, for attachment between a water source and an inlet of a firefighting hose, comprising: a generally cylindrical outer tube comprising a first open end defining an inlet, a second open end opposite therefrom defining an outlet, and a cylindrical inner surface having a uniform inner diameter defining a fluid channel therebetween having a diameter, said fluid channel extending through said outer tube which establishes fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said inlet of said outer tube is configured and dimensioned to attach to the water source, to receive pressurized water therefrom and said outlet of said outer tube is configured and dimensioned to attach to the inlet of the firefighting hose, to deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent thereto; an inner venturi tube having a cylindrical outer surface along its entire length and circumference, said cylindrical outer surface of said inner venturi tube having a uniform diameter, said inner venturi tube being mounted within said fluid channel of said outer tube, such that said cylindrical outer surface of said inner venturi tube abuts said inner surf ace of said outer tube; said inner venturi tube having a first open end defining an inlet located within said fluid channel of said outer tube, to receive pressurized water from said fluid channel of said outer tube, a second open end opposite therefrom defining an outlet which is located within said fluid channel of said outer tube and is spaced inwardly from said second open end of said outer tube, to deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent to a downstream portion of said fluid channel of said outer tube defined between said second open end of said inner tube and said outlet of said outer tube, said downstream portion of said fluid channel of said outer tube having a uniform diameter, and an inner surface defining a fluid channel therebetween extending through said inner venturi tube which establishes fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet thereof and is in fluid communication with said fluid channel of said outer tube, and wherein said inner venturi tube has a funnel-shaped inlet portion adjacent to said inlet thereof, a funnel-shaped outlet portion adjacent to said outlet thereof, and a reduced 26 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 diameter intermediate portion between said inlet portion and said outlet portion, and said inner venturi tube is configured and dimensioned to define a reduced pressure zone in said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube, between said inlet and said outlet thereof; an extinguishing agent inlet port disposed in said inner venturi tube, to deliver fire extinguishing agent to said reduced pressure zone of said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube, for discharge via said outlet of said inner venturi tube; and means for injecting fire extinguishing agent under pressure into said extinguishing agent inlet port, to mix the fire extinguishing agent with pressurized water traveling through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube; and wherein said diameter of said outer surface of said inner venturi tube is smaller than said diameter of said inner surface of said outer tube, such that a majority of the fluid channel of said outer tube is unobstructed by said inner venturi tube to permit a lesser first portion of water to travel through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube and mix with the fire extinguishing agent and a greater second portion of water to travel unobstructed through said fluid channel of said outer tube and to mix with said mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said inner venturi tube, prior to discharge from said outlet of said outer tube, such that the flow rate and pressure of the pressurized water delivered into said inlet of said outer tube is substantially the same as the flow rate and pressure of said pressured mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said outer tube.
  2. 2. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: said means for injecting fire extinguishing agent into said extinguishing agent inlet port comprises an electric pump which pumps fire extinguishing agent into said reduced pressure zone of said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube.
  3. 3. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: 27 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 said means for injecting fire extinguishing agent into said extinguishing agent inlet port comprises pneumatic means to inject fire extinguishing agent into said reduced pressure zone of said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube.
  4. 4. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: said inner venturi tube has a length of approximately five inches and an outer diameter of approximately one inch.
  5. 5. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: said outer tube has a diameter of approximately 2.5".
  6. 6. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein: the amount of water that travels through said inner venturi tube is approximately 16% and the amount of water that travels unobstructed through said outer tube is approximately 84%.
  7. 7. The apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: means for metering the concentration of fire extinguishing agent injected into said extinguishing agent inlet port.
  8. 8. The apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a check valve disposed upstream of said extinguishing agent inlet port.
  9. 9. The apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a hollow screw having a fluid channel defined therein and wherein said inner venturi tube is mounted to said outer tube with said hollow screw, to permit fire extinguishing agent to travel through said fluid channel of said screw and into said extinguishing agent inlet port.
  10. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 28 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 the water source delivers pressurized water into said inlet of said outer tube at a rate of approximately 200 to 250 gallons per minute and said pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said outer tube into the firefighting hose is at a rate of approximately 200 to 250 gallons per minute.
  11. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said inner diameter of said inner surface of said outer tube is the same as the diameter of said fluid channel of said outer tube immediately downstream of said second open end of said inner venturi tube.
  12. 12. A firefighting assembly for delivering a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent to a firefighting hose, comprising: a pressurized water source having an outlet; and a fire extinguishing agent delivery apparatus for attachment between said pressurized water source and an inlet of the firefighting hose, comprising a generally cylindrical outer tube comprising a first open end defining an inlet, a second open end opposite therefrom defining an outlet, and a cylindrical inner surface having a uniform inner diameter defining a fluid channel therebetween having a diameter, said fluid channel extending through said outer tube which establishes fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said inlet of said outer tube is connected to said pressurized water source, to receive pressurized water therefrom and said outlet of said outer tube is configured and dimensioned to attach to the inlet of the firefighting hose, to deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent thereto; an inner venturi tube having a cylindrical outer surface along its entire length and circumference, said cylindrical outer surface of said inner venturi tube having a uniform diameter, said inner venturi tube being mounted within said fluid channel of said outer tube, such that said cylindrical outer surface of said inner venturi tube abuts said inner surface of said outer tube; said inner venturi tube having a first open end defining an inlet located within said fluid channel of said outer tube, to receive pressurized water from said fluid channel of said outer tube, a second open end opposite therefrom defining an outlet which is located within said fluid channel of said outer tube and is spaced 29 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 inwardly from said second open end of said outer tube, to deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent to a downstream portion of said fluid channel of said outer tube defined between said second open end of said inner tube and said outlet of said outer tube, said downstream portion of said fluid channel of said outer tube having a uniform diameter, and an inner surface defining a fluid channel therebetween extending through said inner venturi tube which establishes fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet thereof and is in fluid communication with said fluid channel of said outer tube, and wherein said inner venturi tube has a funnel-shaped inlet portion adjacent to said inlet thereof, a funnelshaped outlet portion adjacent to said outlet thereof, and a reduced diameter intermediate portion between said inlet portion and said outlet portion, and said inner venturi tube is configured and dimensioned to define a reduced pressure zone in said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube, between said inlet and said outlet thereof; an extinguishing agent inlet port disposed in said inner venturi tube, to deliver fire extinguishing agent to said reduced pressure zone of said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube, for discharge via said outlet of said inner venturi tube; and means for injecting fire extinguishing agent under pressure into said extinguishing agent inlet port, to mix the fire extinguishing agent with pressurized water traveling through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube; and wherein said diameter of said outer surface of said inner venturi tube is smaller than said diameter of said inner surface of said outer tube, such that a majority of the fluid channel of said outer tube is unobstructed by said inner venturi tube to permit a lesser first portion of water to travel through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube and mix with the fire extinguishing agent and a greater second portion of water to travel unobstructed through said fluid channel of said outer tube and to mix with said mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said inner venturi tube, prior to discharge from said outlet of said outer tube, such that the flow rate and pressure of the pressurized water delivered into said inlet of said outer tube is substantially the same as the flow rate and pressure of said pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said outer tube.
  13. 13. The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising: Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 a firefighting hose attached to and in fluid communication with said outlet of said outer tube.
  14. 14. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said pressurized water source is a standpipe.
  15. 15. The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising: a source of fire extinguishing agent in fluid communication with said extinguishing agent inlet port, for injections into said extinguishing agent inlet port via said means for injecting fire extinguishing agent.
  16. 16. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said pressurized water source delivers pressurized water into said inlet of said outer tube at a rate of approximately 200 to 250 gallons per minute and said pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said outer tube into the firefighting hose is at a rate of approximately 200 to 250 gallons per minute.
  17. 17. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said inner diameter of said inner surface of said outer tube is the same as the diameter of said fluid channel of said outer tube immediately downstream of said second open end of said inner venturi tube.
  18. 18. A method for extinguishing a fire, comprising the steps of: providing a pressurized water source and a firefighting hose having an inlet; providing a fire extinguishing agent delivery apparatus connectable to said pressurized water source and said firefighting hose, comprising a generally cylindrical outer tube comprising a first open end defining an inlet, a second open end opposite therefrom defining an outlet, and a cylindrical inner surface having a uniform inner diameter defining a fluid channel therebetween having a diameter, said 31 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 fluid channel extending through said outer tube which establishes fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said inlet of said outer tube is configured and dimensioned to attach to said pressurized water source, to receive pressurized water therefrom and said outlet of said outer tube is configured and dimensioned to attach to said inlet of said firefighting hose, to deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent thereto; an inner venturi tube having a cylindrical outer surface along its entire length and circumference, said cylindrical outer surface of said inner venturi tube having a uniform diameter, said inner venturi tube being mounted within said fluid channel of said outer tube, such that said cylindrical outer surface of said inner venturi tube abuts said inner surface of said outer tube; said inner venturi tube having a first open end defining an inlet located within said fluid channel of said outer tube, to receive pressurized water from said fluid channel of said outer tube, a second open end opposite therefrom defining an outlet which is located within said fluid channel of said outer tube and is spaced inwardly from said second open end of said outer tube, to deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent to a downstream portion of said fluid channel of said outer tube defined between said second open end of said inner tube and said outlet of said outer tube, said downstream portion of said fluid channel of said outer tube having a uniform diameter, and an inner surface defining a fluid channel therebetween extending through said inner venturi tube which establishes fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet thereof and is in fluid communication with said fluid channel of said outer tube, and wherein said inner venturi tube has a funnel-shaped inlet portion adjacent to said inlet thereof, a funnelshaped outlet portion adjacent to said outlet thereof, and a reduced diameter intermediate portion between said inlet portion and said outlet portion, and said inner venturi tube is configured and dimensioned to define a reduced pressure zone in said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube, between said inlet and said outlet thereof; an extinguishing agent inlet port disposed in said inner venturi tube, to deliver fire extinguishing agent to said reduced pressure zone of said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube, for discharge via said outlet of said inner venturi tube; and means for injecting fire extinguishing agent under pressure into said extinguishing agent inlet 32 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 port, to mix the fire extinguishing agent with pressurized water traveling through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube; and wherein said diameter of said outer surface of said inner venturi tube is smaller than said diameter of said inner surface of said outer tube, such that a portion of the fluid channel of said outer tube is unobstructed by said inner venturi tube to permit a first portion of water to travel through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube and mix with the fire extinguishing agent and a greater second portion of water to travel unobstructed through said fluid channel of said outer tube and to mix with said mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said inner venturi tube, prior to discharge from said outlet of said outer tube, such that the flow rate and pressure of the pressurized water delivered into said inlet of said outer tube is substantially the same as the flow rate and pressure of said pressured mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said outer tube; providing a source of fire extinguishing agent in fluid communication with said extinguishing agent inlet port, for injection into said extinguishing agent inlet port via said means for injecting fire extinguishing agent; connecting said inlet of said outer tube to said pressurized water source; connecting said outlet of said outer tube to said inlet of said firefighting hose; injecting fire extinguishing agent under pressure into said extinguishing agent inlet port of said inner venturi tube via said means for injecting, to mix with said first portion of water traveling through said fluid channel of said inner venturi tube and be discharged from said outlet of said inner venturi tube into said fluid channel of said outer tube, to mix with said greater second portion of water traveling unobstructed through said fluid channel of said outer tube; and discharging said pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent from said outlet of said outer tube into said inlet of said firefighting hose for discharge therefrom.
  19. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: 33 Date re~ue/Date received 2024-05-13 said pressurized water source delivers pressurized water into said inlet of said outer tube at a rate of approximately 200 to 250 gallons per minute; and said pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent discharged from said outlet of said outer tube into said firefighting hose is at a rate of approximately 200 to 250 gallons per minute.
  20. 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein: a pressure of said fire extinguishing agent injected into said inlet port of said inner venturi tube is greater than the pressure in said reduced pressure zone of said inner venturi tube.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENT DELIVERY APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF FIELD OF INVENTION The invention is generally in the field of firefighting equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for attachment to a pressurized water source to mix and deliver a pressurized mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent to a fire hose, to more effectively extinguish fires. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Firefighting in high-rise and fireproof buildings presents unique challenges both logistically, with getting firefighting personnel and firefighting equipment to the fire as well as tactically, in delivering an adequate volume of water into the fire hose lines which are utilized to attack and extinguish the fire. These problems are further compounded by the increase in fire loading found in modern day buildings and structures. The fire loading of a building is a means of establishing the potential severity of a hypothetical future fire and is utilized in evaluating industrial safety risks. Fire loading is measured by the heat output per unit floor area, often in kJ/m2, which is calculated from the calorific value of the materials present. The increased fire loading found in modern day buildings is due, in part, to the increased use of petroleum based products in manufacturing building materials such as, for example, the furnishings, 1 wall and floor coverings, and various other everyday items. As a result of these factors, today's fires burn hotter than in the past and reach flash over (i.e., the near-simultaneous ignition of the most directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area) more quickly. Another difficulty in fighting fires in such buildings is the buildings' retention of heat from the fire, and the difficulty of the building being able to manually vent the heat from the fire floor or floors. Windblown fires add yet another dimension to these firefighting problems. To more effectively combat fires, many municipalities and fire codes have required the installation of standpipe systems into buildings to facilitate firefighting efforts in certain classes of buildings where certain of the above described problems are present. In North America, a standpipe is a type of rigid water piping which is typically built into multi-story buildings in a vertical position or bridges in a horizontal position, to which fire hoses can be connected, allowing manual application of water to the fire. Typically, the standpipe extends into the building to supply firefighting water to the interior of the structure via hose outlets, often located between each floor in stairwells in high-rise buildings. Firefighters often bring hoses in with them and attach them to standpipe outlets located along the pipe throughout the structure. For example, a conventional standpipe system provide a 2.5" inch hose connection for use primarily by trained personnel or by the fire department during initial response. The fire department will typically carry hose packs to the floor level, typically a stairwell, where they will start their operations by connecting the fire hoses to the standpipe system. While the standpipe systems are utilized to better deliver water to fight the fires, the 2 cooling power of the water is limited by the size of the hose lines used, and the amount of water that can be delivered to the fire through the hose line. A conventional fire hose is a high-pressure hose that carries water, or other fire retardant, to a fire to extinguish it. Outdoors, the fire hose attaches either to a fire engine or a fire hydrant. Indoors, the hose can attach to the building's standpipe or plumbing system. Currently, a conventional fire hose is approximately 2.5" in diameter, and delivers water at the rate of approximately 200- 250 gallons per minute (GPM). The normal working pressure of a fire hose can vary between 8 to 20 bar (800 to 2,000 kPa; 116 to 290 psi). Furthermore, modern day fire extinguishing agents also known as "wetting agents", such as those designated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and UL, have been developed which, when mixed with water, allow for increased absorption of heat per gallon, as compared to water alone. Particularly, modern day wetting agents are utilized in structural fires by extinguishing a fire by rapidly cooling the fire to the point where vapors are not given off or are reduced to a point where the amount of vapor is too minimal to support combustion. As a result, these fire extinguishing agents increase the cooling effect of the water through the mixture of water and fire extinguishing agent absorbing proportionally more heat per gallon of water as compared to water alone or even as compared to conventional fire-fighting foams such as, aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) or Fluroprotein foams, lending to their use in structural fires. As a results, systems have been developed which allow for the incorporation of fire extingui