- Author
- McCarson, T. D., Jr. | Kirst, J. A. | Stepetic, T. J. | Lee, M. E.
- Title
- New Concept Firefighting Agent Delivery System. Final Report. February 1986-September 1990.
- Coporate
- New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque
- Sponsor
- Air Force Engineering and Services Center, Tyndall AFB, FL
- Report
- ESL-TR-91-04; SS 2.07(4), May 1992, 121 p.
- Contract
- F29601-87-C-0001
- Keywords
- fire fighting | design applications | prototypes | projectiles | fire suppression | pool fires
- Identifiers
- launcher; catapulting; firefightin cannon; firefighting projectiles; firefighting prototype; fighting hazardous fires
- Abstract
- The objectives of this project were to develop conceptual designs for a long-range, fire suppressant delivery system and to construct, test, and demonstrate a prototype unit. Two basic long-range delivery system concepts were considered: streaming and catapulting. Design consideratons were throw range, effect of winds, accuracy of delivery, and mass of agent delivered to the target. Streaming concepts were investigated initially, but were abandoned because the desired delivery range could not be achieved. Catapulting concepts became the focus of the remainder of the project. The first catapulting prototype device demonstrated in field testing that a 35-pound sphere filled with firefighting agent could be delivered a distance of 600 feet with a reasonable accuracy. JP-4 pool fires of 40 ft² and 80 ft² were extinguished in testing from a distance of 600 feet and 400 feet, respectively. This led to the development of a more advanced, computer-controlled, rapid-fire prototype. Field testing of the second prototype demonstrated the capability to deliver 6-shot barrages of 35-pound agent canisters to a distance of over 1400 feet.