FR2737415A1 - FIRE FIGHTING ROBOT - Google Patents

Abstract

A robot comprising a fire hose (36) connected to a hose (20) providing fire extinguishing water, a drive source and a movement mechanism operated by the drive source. The drive source is a water turbine (38) driven by the extinguishing water passing through the pipe (20).

Description

The invention relates to a fire fighting robot equipped with a

  water lance connected to a hose for the supply of water used for extinguishing, a drive source and a displacement mechanism actuated by the drive source. In the case of building fires, the fire pit

  the fire is generally inside the building.

  However, in general, firefighters cannot enter the burning building because of the significant risks as well as the

  risk of building collapse or high concentration

  tion of hazardous or corrosive materials, high temperatures and high radiation. The fire captains thus generally decide to attack the fire from the outside.

  with large fire hoses and tubes.

  However, this process is not very effective. It requires

  very large amounts of water, which creates the problem of disposing of contaminated fire water. The possibility of at least partially saving precious machines and installations inside buildings is limited because of the low efficiency. Given the growing development of plastics and chemical fires, an attack on the fire from outside the building is very ineffective and the fire may release quantities

significant amounts of harmful gases.

  This is why we know different types of ro-

  fire fighting bots, instead; these robots are generally tracked vehicles driven by electric motors from an accumulator or a line

  feed. An example of this state of the art is given.

  born by documents US-A-3,724,554 and 3,726,478.

  Most of these known devices are too large and too heavy due to their construction so that it is

  difficult to transport them to where they are used

  tion and moreover they do not exhibit sufficient resistance

  designed to function as fire hoses and to absorb high reactions from them. These machines are hardly suitable for going up stairs or over piles of rubble. Due to their significant weight, these machines cannot circulate on light slabs and storage halls, of great height. These machines are also sensitive to the action of heat. A protected creation

  against explosions, in particular its energy supply

  gie, correspondent is not possible in principle. The present invention aims to develop a fire fighting robot corresponding to the type defined above, which is small, light and which, despite the reduced means used, resists heat and is protected against the explosions and also allows to pass

  stairs, rubble or moving on uneven ground

  regular. This problem is solved by a fire fighting robot corresponding to the type defined above, characterized

  in that the drive source is a water turbine

  dragged by extinguishing water coming from the pipe.

  In this way, a complete training source

  such as an electric motor with a relatively heavy accumulator or hydraulic motor and its equipment are eliminated, which makes it possible to make the fire fighting robot relatively small and light. Fire extinguisher water is available anyway as a working fluid. On the way to the home, that is, outside the

  operating mode in extinction, the extinguishing water supplied

  nie is preferably returned through a

  return pope and a second pipe to the fire-fighting vehicle; in other words, water circulates in a circuit. The permanent supply of extinguishing water cools the robot from the inside and protects it from the start against overheating. The same remark applies to the two pipes which are preferably joined in an assembly forming a double water pipe. For circulating control water

  against fire, a centric pump is preferably used

usual fuge among firefighters.

  Once reached the fire fighting place in the building hall or similar place, using a valve, the return line is closed and the extinguishing water is

emitted by the fire hose.

  In practice, the fire fighting robot

  place at the entrance of the building and connects to the pipes

  rolled, usual, firefighters. The device pulls the pipes as far behind it as possible. When as a result of the addition of the friction of the pipe or a pinch of the pipe, the resistance becomes too great, we can unwind another length of pipe, preferably from a coil fitted to the robot and hold the pipe by a sliding brake, the braking effect of which must be overcome by predetermined traction

exerted on the pipe.

  To protect against high temperatures and in particular strong radiant heat, the robot

  has a tank covering the water turbine and the transmission

  corresponding mission; this tank is filled with water. This filling

  This is done directly at the place of use, which considerably increases the weight of the device and improves its stability. A limited change of location remains

  however possible with the robot filled with water. External nozzles

  laughs cooling the surface of the robot allow improvement

  rer protection of it. However, this should only be done in a limited area because such means are used

  to the detriment of the return of extinguishing water and food

tation.

  Besides the protection of the device, it is also

  It is also very important to protect the supply lines.

  These supply lines preferably include a double

  ble water line for supply and return or reinforced water supply; this pipe is surrounded by a simple woven, permeable pipe. The woven hose also houses a drilled hose like a garden hose. At a predetermined temperature, for example detected by a temperature sensor, the perforated water hose continuously humidifies and cools the woven hose. The coiled hoses for supplying the appliance are located either outside the

  hall, sufficiently distant from the fire.

  As a drive mechanism, there is preferably provided a step-by-step mechanism allowing passage through

  stairs or over obstacles such as, for example,

  falling walls. The step-by-step mechanism includes for example-

  ple a number of parallel plates, and also parallel-

  them to the direction of movement of the robot; these plates are alternately fixed and are pivotally driven via a crankshaft along a circular path.

  laire. During the lower half of the crankshaft rotation

  quin, the pivoting plates protrude below the fixed plates and move the robot forward; during the second half of the crankshaft rotation the robot rests again on the fixed plates. Fixed plates can have teeth along their bottom edge to allow them to better

pass the obstacles.

  The device can be controlled using a simple joystick and a cable, also housed in the woven hose, from the outside. This limits the means in

  circuit implemented at solenoid valves and switching valves

  very simple and very reliable regulating the water flow.

  The electrical energy is supplied to the device either by the cable

  ble, or by a small battery. Instead of solenoid valves

  switching elements can also be used.

pneumatic or hydraulic control.

  To increase the possibilities of application, we

  can replace the fire hose with a grip arm or

  tre, for example to look for a gas cylinder or a container

  pient containing chemicals.

  Examples of preferential embodiments of the in-

  vention will be described below using the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a fire fighting vehicle with a fire fighting robot according to the invention, - the Figure 2 is a side view of the fire fighting robot on an enlarged scale, - Figure 3 is a vertical section of the robot of Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a cross section of a pipe along the invention, - Figure 5 is a schematic view of a control station provided between the fire fighting vehicle and the robot, comprising the connecting lines to the vehicle

  fire fighting and robot.

  Figure 1 shows a fire fighting vehicle marked 10; this vehicle essentially corresponds to the usual technique and does not

  as such part of the present invention. The vehicle 10 com-

  carries a centrifugal fire fighting pump 12,

  chée and therefore only shown in broken lines; this pump is connected to two outputs 14, 16 by a valve

  switching. The outputs 14, 16 are appropriately connected

  requested, described more precisely later, by pipes to a control console 18; this is connected by at least one other hose 20 to a fire fighting robot 22. On the rear side of the robot 22 is a coil 24 with a

hose 20.

  Using FIGS. 2 and 3, we will describe other

  details of the fire fighting robot and its trainer

  corresponding step by step. The robot 22 according to FIG. 2 presents, as the schematic view of this drawing indicates, a box 26 in the form of a box constituting at the level of its entire upper surface and four side walls which are opposed each time in pairs and whose the side walls

  30, 32 are shown, a hollow double-walled tank 34.

  This tank 34 is filled with water by the pipe 20 as soon as the ro-

  firefighting bot is located where it was put

  in work; this increases the weight of the construction robot re-

  laterally light; it also increases its resistance, in particular its reaction to the force exerted by the lance

  with the reference 36 in Figure 1.

  In the middle area of the interior volume covered

  through the tank 34, there is a water turbine 38 and the trans-

  corresponding mission; this turbine is driven by a vi-

  lebrequin 40 mounted transversely to the two side walls

  , 32 or to the corresponding zones of the tank 34, in the di-

  horizontal section. The crankshaft 40 carries essential plates

  partially rectangular 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 whose lower edges are essentially horizontal with nevertheless a zigzag shape. Overall we have at least two

  crankshafts 40 rotating in synchronism to guide the plates

  ques 42 to 56, but of which only one is

  dragged by the water turbine 38. It appears that a group of plates bearing the references 44, 48, 50, 54 mounted on the non-referenced journals of the crankshaft 40, and which also describe circular paths, allow the plates to describe a cycle going first forwards, then downwards, then backwards, then again, upwards. Furthermore, the other group of plates bearing the references 42,

  46, 52, 56 is fixed. These plates are mounted on all

  bearing crankshafts of the crankshafts. While the other pla-

  ques are in their upper trajectory, the robot 22 rests on the plates 42, 46, 52, 56. Alternatively, the plates 42, 46, 52, 56 can also be mounted on crankshaft pins, opposite, but not shown in FIG. 3 so that the two groups of plates execute a rotational movement offset by a phase angle of 180. This increases the movement speed. A permanent step-by-step mechanism offers great resistance; it allows movement on stairs as well as passage over difficult obstacles such as sections of fallen walls or

analogous situations.

  The water turbine 38 is driven by the water supplied

  by the centrifugal pump 12. A complete drive mechanism

  therefore becomes useless. On the way to the point of use, the water first circulates in a first pipe to return through a second pipe and is thus circulated. The water then always flows through the tank 34 so that the water does not take an excessive temperature. AT

  location of use, water is supplied by the tur-

of water in the water projector.

  Figure 4 shows a cross section of the pipe 20 on an enlarged scale. The pipe 20 is constituted by a woven pipe 58 constituting the outer envelope; this pipe is in

  a material permeable to water. Inside the envelope ex-

  of the woven hose 58 there is a supply line

  tion of water and a supply and return line 62.

  This supply and return line 62 is used, when approaching the location of the fire, to circulate the water used to drive the water turbine while at home this line constitutes conduct

additional power.

  Inside the woven pipe 58, there is also a humidification pipe 64 perforated in the manner of a garden sprinkler pipe and which permanently supplies a small quantity of water over its entire length; this water passes through the woven pipe 58 and keeps the interior thereof moist. The water supply is controlled according to the ambient temperature.

  Finally, the woven hose 58 houses a supply cable.

  electrical supply 66 and a control line 68. These con-

  used for example to control a reversing valve

  not shown in the fire fighting robot.

  Figure 5 shows a top view strongly

  schematic of the control panel 18. The pipe 20 connects the pu-

  control console 18 to the fire fighting robot; this

  last pipe is shown in cross section as shown

  qué above in figure 4. On the left entry according to the figure

  Figure 5 is a return line 70 and two supply lines 72, 74. The supply lines 72, 74 are connected to the outlet 16 of the fire fighting vehicle 10; the supply line 70 is connected to the outlet 14 of the fire-fighting vehicle 10. The switching valve, already mentioned, fitted to the turbine pump 12, makes it possible to alternately use the return line 70

  as an additional supply line.

  The robot control, when you get closer to the hearth then later for the extinction phase, can be done from the control console using the two reversing valves fitted to the fire fighting vehicle and the robot. The robot's reversing valve ensures, in a first position, a return flow of

  water through the water turbine 38 then back to the

  hicle. At the level of the fire, all the lines are switched to the water supply. At least some

  a stream of water constantly crosses the wall 34 and all the water arrives on the water projectors 26 for the maximum use of the extinguishing means.

  At the same time as the switching valve of the extinguishing robot, the return valve provided in this case, not shown

  also felt, switches between the circulation of the water and the water supply alone. The coil 24 has an anti-slip brake adjusted relatively rigidly. As far as possible, the robot 22 pulls the pipe 20 on its way to the place of the fire. It is only when the traction forces exceed a predetermined threshold because of the friction of the pipe on the ground and at the corner of the building or because

  the pipe got stuck, that another pipe segment 20 comes off

  empty hose reel 24, braked.

Claims (5)

R E V E N D I C A T IONS   1) Fire fighting robot equipped with a water lance   (36) connected to a pipe (20) for the supply of potable water   before extinction, a drive source (38) and a mechanism   displacement gear (40-56) actuated by the drive source, characterized in that the drive source is a water turbine (38) driven by the extinguishing water coming from the pipe (20) 2 ) Fire fighting robot according to claim 1, characterized by a second pipe (62) which, apart from the extinguishing mode, forms a closed circuit with the first pipe (20, 60), the turbine water (38) and a pump (12).   3) Fire fighting robot according to claim 2, characterized in that the fire hose (36) is provided, upstream, with a switching valve for switching between the extinguishing mode and the setting circulating water.   4) Fire fighting robot according to any one of previous claims,   characterized in that in the housing (26) of the fire fighting robot, at   less at the level of the upper surface (28) and of the walls   teral (30, 32) a double walled tank (34) has been formed which is filled by the robot switching valve with water from the pipe.    ) Fire fighting robot according to any one of previous claims,   characterized in that the pipe (20) forms a maintained assembly joined by a pipe   woven (58), permeable, this pipe surrounding a supply line   water mentation (60), a water supply and return pipe (62), a humidification pipe (64) as well as lines   power supply and control (66, 68).   6) fire fighting robot according to claim 5, characterized in that   the humidification pipe (64) is a perforated pipe on its length   like a garden hose.   ) Fire fighting robot according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that   the movement mechanism is a step-by-step mechanism   with at least one crankshaft (40) mounted transversely to the direction of movement of the robot, in its housing (26), and the crank pins of which carry at least one group of advance members   step by step in the form of plates (44, 48, 50, 54) while a se-   cond group of plates (42, 46, 52, 56) forming organs   step by step is mounted fixed.   8) Fire fighting robot according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that   the movement mechanism is a step by step mechanism which   takes at least one crankshaft (40) mounted transversely to the direction of movement in the housing (26) of the robot (20), this   crankshaft receiving a group of crankpins directed in the opposite direction   posed and in that on the first group of trunnions there is   organs in the form of plates (44, 48, 50, 54) and on the   cond group of trunnions there are step-by-step advancing members in the form of plates (42, 46, 52, 56) so that the plates each carry out in advance offset from each other a movement of advance , descent, return and ascent. 9) Fire fighting robot according to any one of claims 7 or 8,   characterized in that the plates (42-56) are rectangular plates having a toothed bottom edge.