System and method of delivering foam to a firefighting bucket

Abstract

A foam delivery system for delivering firefighting foam solution to a firefighting bucket that is suspended by at least one cable from a helicopter. A firefighting foam solution is carried aboard the helicopter in one or more foam storage containers. The foam delivery system facilitates the delivery of the foam solution to the bucket and facilitates the mixture of the delivered foam solution with the water, the resultant mixture being effective in fighting fires, in one embodiment, more effective than the use of water alone. The foam solution is delivered from the cabin to the firefighting bucket through a hose. The hose includes a container segment and a bucket segment, the two segments detachably coupled together by an automatic release coupling system.

1 . A foam delivery system to deliver firefighting foam solution to a firefighting bucket, the foam delivery system comprising: 
 a bucket suspended by at least one cable from a helicopter;    a first container located in a cabin of the helicopter, the first container containing firefighting foam solution;    a hose having a first segment and a second segment, a first end of the hose coupled to the first container and a second end of the hose located proximate to the bucket, wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled using an automatic release coupling system, the automatic release coupling system including a female coupling at an end of the first segment, the female coupling including a release sleeve, an elastic cord having a first end affixed proximate to the female coupling and a second end fixed at a first position on the first segment, the first position being a predetermined distance from the female coupling, the automatic release coupling system further including a cable of fixed length having a first end connected to the release sleeve and a second end fixed at a second position on the first segment, the second position being a predetermined distance from the female coupling, wherein the elastic cord maintains at least a portion of the first segment between the first position and the female coupling in a curved position; and    a male coupling releasably coupled to the female coupling.    
   
   
       2 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , further including a support tray removably secured in the cabin of the helicopter, wherein the first container is located within the support tray.  
   
   
       3 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first container further includes a gauge, a dispensing valve, and at least one vent valve.  
   
   
       4 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing valve includes a coupling for receiving the first end of the hose.  
   
   
       5 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first position is proximate to the second position.  
   
   
       6 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the hose is run proximate to and approximately parallel to the at least one cable.  
   
   
       7 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the male coupling is released from female coupling when the curved portion of first segment is straightened by a longitudinal pulling force.  
   
   
       8 . The foam delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal pulling force exceeds approximately 5 pounds of force.  
   
   
       9 . The foam delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal pulling force exceeds approximately 10 pounds of force  
   
   
       10 . The foam delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein the first container is retrofitted with the gauge, the dispensing valve, and the at least vent valve.  
   
   
       11 . The foam delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein water is contained in the bucket and during generally horizontal travel of the bucket through the air, ramp air pressure generates agitation of the water, wherein delivered foam solution is mixed with the water.  
   
   
       12 . The foam delivery system of  claim 2 , further including a second support tray and a second container located within the second support tray, wherein the container end of the first segment is configured for removable coupling to the first container and the second container.  
   
   
       13 . The foam delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the support tray includes an inclined container stand  
   
   
       14 . A foam delivery system to deliver firefighting foam solution to a firefighting bucket, the foam delivery system comprising: 
 a firefighting bucket suspended by at least one cable from a helicopter;    a support tray removably secured in a cabin of the helicopter;    a first container located in the support tray, the first container containing firefighting foam solution, the container further including a gauge, a dispensing valve, and a vent valve;    a first segment of hose having a container end and a coupling end, the container end of the first segment of hose removably coupled to the dispensing valve, the coupling end including an automatic release coupling system, the automatic release coupling system including a first coupling located at the coupling end of the first segment, the first coupling including a release mechanism, a tube fixed on the first segment a predetermined distance from the first coupling, an elastic cord having a first end affixed to the tube and a second end affixed proximate to the first coupling, a cable of fixed length having a first end affixed to the tube and a second end coupled to the release mechanism, wherein the elastic cord maintains at least a portion of the first segment between the tube and the first coupling in a curved position;    a second segment of hose having a coupling end and a dispensing end, the coupling end including a second coupling releasably coupled to the first coupling of the automatic release coupling system, and the dispensing end positioned proximate to the firefighting bucket; and    wherein at least part of the first segment and at least part of the second segment are located proximate to and approximately parallel to the at least one cable.    
   
   
       15 . The foam delivery system of  claim 14 , wherein second coupling is released from first coupling when the portion of first segment is straightened by a longitudinal pulling force applied to the second segment.  
   
   
       16 . The foam delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal pulling force exceeds approximately 5 pounds of force.  
   
   
       17 . The foam delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal pulling force exceeds approximately 10 pounds of force  
   
   
       18 . The foam delivery system of  claim 14 , wherein the first container is retrofitted with the gauge, the dispensing valve, and the vent valve.  
   
   
       19 . The foam delivery system of  claim 14 , wherein water is contained in the bucket and generally horizontal travel of the bucket through the air generates agitation of water, wherein delivered foam solution is mixed with the water.  
   
   
       20 . The foam delivery system of  claim 14 , further including a second support tray and a second container located within the second support tray, wherein the container end of the first segment is configured for removable coupling to the first container and the second container.  
   
   
       21 . The foam delivery system of  claim 14 , wherein the support tray includes an inclined container stand  
   
   
       22 . A foam delivery system to deliver firefighting foam solution to a firefighting bucket, the foam delivery system comprising: 
 a firefighting bucket;    means for suspending the firefighting bucket from a helicopter;    means for containing foam solution in the helicopter;    means for removably securing the containing means in the helicopter;    a hose for delivering the foam solution from the containing means to the firefighting bucket, wherein the hose includes a first segment and a second segment, the second segment detachably coupled to the first segment by coupling means, the first segment being coupled to the containing means and the second segment being coupled to the firefighting bucket, wherein the coupling means provides for decoupling of the second segment from the first segment when a longitudinal pulling force is applied to the second segment of the hose.    
   
   
       23 . The foam delivery system of  claim 20 , wherein the coupling means includes elastic means for maintaining a curved portion in the first segment and release means for decoupling the second segment from the first segment, wherein the release means is actuated upon stretching of the elastic means and straightening the curved portion.