I have invented a new way to fight wildfires by using electric relay pumping. It can be deployed to stop a fire before it can reach a development of homes

The same invention can be used to deliver water, electric power, and communications to localities that have lost these services because of terrorism or natural disasters.

I propose to attach electric power wires to Large Diameter Hose (LDH) sections (see left figure). The LDH would be placed on large reels on the back of 4WD trucks. One truck would start at a source of water and it would drive towards a fire. When its LDH was fully deployed over the terrain, the next truck would connect its hose end to the first LDH, and then would begin to deploy its hose. Special connectors would connect the electric power and a data network between LDH sections. The pipeline could go for many miles to bring water to a remote location.

Click HERE to see LDH on reels.

Click HERE to see how the hoses would be coupled together.

Pumps are needed to keep the water moving, and they would be snapped into the pipeline where needed. The pumps would receive their electric power from the attached wires. The pumps might weigh a several hundred pounds, so they could be kept in the beds of dedicated  4WD trucks. Transformers weighing several hundred pounds  are also be kept on the pump trucks because it is efficient to use a higher transmission voltage and then use a a transformer to step down the voltage to the pumps.

Click HERE to see 4WD Trucks with reels and with pumps and transformers.

Before a new section of hose is connected to the end of a deployed section, a GPS device is connected to the data network in the deployed hose. The GPS sends the altitude of the location to the system computer which sends a message back over the network to the GPS unit. The message tells the firefighters if an electric pump is needed at that location. Firefighters can talk or send messages over the data network. Pump and valve status can be monitored and controlled via the data network.

Click HERE to see the special type of wire used in the system.

The figure on the right shows the system doing relay pumping . The pipeline is powered by several electric pumps. Click HERE to see a cross section of the Hose. A portable Electric Generator supplies the power for the pumps. If nearby three phase power is available from the power grid, it can be used instead of a portable electric generator. Click HERE to see a portable electric generator that would be used.

Click HERE to see how the proposed electric pipeline can be combined with a gasoline powered pipeline.

An array of special spray hoses can be used to fight a fire via remote control. The firefighters would not have to stand near the flames. Click HERE to see Spray Hose.

Click HERE to see how the spray hose can be used to fight wildfires via remote control. Also shown is a new way to control prescribed fires.

I will show a system example where water can be pumped 8 miles and up 180 feet. Click HERE to see a map of past San Diego Wildfires. On that map I have drawn circles with 8 mile radii around significant sources of water. The circled area shows that my proposed 8 mile system could have delivered water to all of the fire areas.

If a second complete system is connected to the first system, the water can be pumped for 16 miles. The addition of more systems will allow water to be pumped for any distance that is required. Systems with larger diameter hoses can pump more than the stated 400 gallons per minute.

Click HERE to see the proposed System Design.

Click HERE to see a version of the system that uses a storage pool to lengthen the range. This version does not use transformers and a thicker wire is needed to deal with voltage drop.

Another version of the invention is a helicopter that pays out a powered hose to the ground from a spool on the helicopter.  Multiple spools are carried by the helicopter.
The electric pumps are built into the center of the hose spools.                                                                                                                     

Click HERE to see a helicopter based system.

Click HERE for approximate system costs.

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Summary of invention features:

I have invented a new way to do "relay pumping" of water to fires.

 Relay pumping uses multiple fire trucks to boost the water pressure in hose segments, and can pump water long distances to fight wildfires.

 In place of an expensive fire truck, I use an inexpensive electric pump.

 The hoses and electric pumps connect together quickly. The hoses contain electric power wires which power the electric pumps. The hoses also contain wires which support an Ethernet type network.

 The hoses and pumps can be rapidly deployed from a fleet of off-road vehicles with the hoses on reels. A fleet of such vehicles can create a long hose run in a short time.

 For control of each pump's pressure and flow, a firefighter with a radio is replaced by the Ethernet type network.
The Ethernet type network can supply voice and data communication in locations at locations where radios don’t work.

 A pumper truck must be periodically refueled, but the pumps need only a source of electricity at the start of the pipeline.

 Controlled burns (prescribed fires) are less likely to get out of control if they are surrounded by remote controlled spray hoses. These hoses will shoot a curtain of water into the air without a firefighter nearby.

 For fighting real wildfires, I propose that rows of remote controlled spray hoses be run parallel to each other such that if the fire gets past the first row, the water can be sent   to a second or third row of spray hose.

 Remote control of hoses will increase safety for firefighters.

 By powering only some of the pumps at the same time, water can be moved very long distances at low cost and overhead.

 A large diameter, PVC version of this pipeline concept might be pre-installed in an area where wildfires are expected to be a problem.

 

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This invention is patent pending.