Focused Stream, Aerated Foam Projecting Nozzle Including Fixed Wand System and Method As Well As Possibly Portable Center Pointing Nozzle

Abstract

The invention includes components and methodology for fixed and semi-fixed systems for extinguishing fire in large industrial flammable liquid storage tanks, including aerated foam projecting nozzles discharging substantially focused streams together with aeration chambers and risers and the formation of wand heads and wands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Fire fighting apparatus for projecting aerated fire fighting foam in a substantially focused stream, comprising:
 a nozzle structured for projecting into the atmosphere from a solid bore discharge orifice at least 100 gallons per minute (gpm) aerated fire fighting foam at 100 pounds per square inch (psi);   the nozzle having a tip portion defining a longitudinal axis and terminating the nozzle in the solid bore discharge orifice, the tip portion having a stream shaper;   the stream shaper having at least four fins with a longitudinal dimension in the tip portion greater than a radial dimension in the tip portion, the fins terminating substantially flush with the nozzle solid bore discharge orifice;   the nozzle tip portion attached by conduit to, and proximally downstream of, an ambient air aeration chamber, the conduit structured to provide substantially open, unobstructed flow upstream of the fins for at least a distance of a diameter of the nozzle discharge orifice.   
     
     
         2 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 1  including greater than four fins and wherein the fins have a longitudinal dimension greater than twice a radial dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 2  structured to project between 100 gpm and 900 gpm of the aerated fire fighting foam at 100 psi. 
     
     
         4 . A fire fighting apparatus for projecting aerated fire fighting foam in a substantially focused stream, comprising:
 a nozzle structured for projecting into the atmosphere from a solid bore discharge orifice at least 100 gallons per minute (gpm) aerated fire fighting foam at 100 pounds per square inch (psi);   the nozzle having a tip portion defining a longitudinal axis and terminating the nozzle in the discharge orifice, the tip portion having a stream shaper;   the stream shaper having greater than four fins with a longitudinal dimension in the tip portion greater than twice a radial dimension in the tip portion, the fins terminating substantially flush with the nozzle discharge orifice;   the nozzle tip portion attached by conduit to, and proximally downstream of, an ambient air aeration chamber, the conduit structured to provide substantially open, unobstructed flow upstream of the fins for at least a distance of a diameter of the nozzle discharge orifice.   
     
     
         5 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claims 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4  wherein the ambient air aeration chamber includes a tubular jet structure discharging into an aeration portion of the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the aeration portion of the chamber includes crosswires proximally downstream of the tubular jet structure and wherein the conduit provides substantially open unobstructed flow between the crosswires and the stream shaper. 
     
     
         7 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the ambient air aeration chamber in combination with the nozzle is structured to project foam with an expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1. 
     
     
         8 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the ambient air aeration chamber in combination with the nozzle is structured to project foam with an expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1. 
     
     
         9 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 5  structured together with the ambient air aeration chamber to attach proximate a top of an at least 100 foot diameter industrial tank wall. 
     
     
         10 . The fire fighting apparatus of  claim 9  in fluid communication with a riser attached to or proximate an at least 100 foot diameter industrial tank wall.