Water is mixed with fire suppressant polymer in a mixer absent a power source. The mixer receives water through a water inlet with water exhibiting high velocity and associated hydrodynamic force. Such velocity is achieved by locating the water inlet connected to a float or other part of an aircraft
Water is mixed with fire suppressant polymer in a mixer absent a power source. The mixer receives water through a water inlet with water exhibiting high velocity and associated hydrodynamic force. Such velocity is achieved by locating the water inlet connected to a float or other part of an aircraft so that when the aircraft flies over water with the float dipping into the water, water is driven through the opening and into the water inlet of the mixer. A polymer inlet passes into the mixer. A bend is located downstream of the water inlet and the polymer inlet. The bend exhibits sufficient resistance to fluid flow direction therethrough that the polymer is sheared and thoroughly mixed and activated with the water. A colorant inlet is optionally provided within the mixer and the water and polymer mixture is then discharged into a tank for later utilization at a firefighting location.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus for mixing wildland fire suppressant polymer with water, comprising in combination: a source of high velocity water;a water inlet into a fluid pathway, said water inlet coupled to said source of high velocity water;a source of polymer;a polymer inlet into said fluid pathway, said pol
1. An apparatus for mixing wildland fire suppressant polymer with water, comprising in combination: a source of high velocity water;a water inlet into a fluid pathway, said water inlet coupled to said source of high velocity water;a source of polymer;a polymer inlet into said fluid pathway, said polymer inlet coupled to said source of polymer;at least one elbow in said fluid pathway, said elbow downstream of said water inlet and said polymer inlet;said source of high velocity water having sufficient velocity to cause mixing of the polymer with the water by said at least one elbow;a mixed water and polymer outlet at an end of said fluid pathway downstream from said elbow;wherein said source of water includes an opening located on an aircraft, said opening positioned to cause water to drive into said opening and into said water inlet at said high velocity when said aircraft is in contact with a body of water while said aircraft skims over said body of water; andwherein at least two elbows are located in said fluid pathway downstream of said water inlet and said polymer inlet. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elbow is a substantially 90° elbow. 3. An apparatus for mixing wildland fire suppressant polymer with water, comprising in combination: a source of high velocity water;a water inlet into a fluid pathway, said water inlet coupled to said source of high velocity water;a source of polymer;a polymer inlet into said fluid pathway, said polymer inlet coupled to said source of polymer;at least two elbows in said fluid pathway, said at least two elbows downstream of said water inlet and said polymer inlet;said source of high velocity water having sufficient velocity to cause mixing of the polymer with the water by said at least two elbows;a mixed water and polymer outlet at an end of said fluid pathway downstream from said at least two elbows;wherein each of said at least two elbows is a substantially 90° elbow; andwherein said at least two elbows are located adjacent to each other. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least two elbows are oriented to redirect flow along said fluid pathway in different directions relative to each other. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least two elbows are located within a common plane with a first elbow rotating the flow in a first direction and the second elbow rotating the flow in a second direction opposite said first direction. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least two elbows are positioned to divert the flow out of a single plane, including said first elbow rotating the flow along the fluid pathway within a first plane and the second elbow rotating the flow along said fluid pathway in a second plane non-parallel with said first plane. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a colorant inlet is located in said fluid pathway downstream from said water inlet, and upstream of said mixed water and polymer outlet. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid pathway includes at least two separate flow paths between said water inlet and said mixed water and polymer outlet. 9. An apparatus for mixing wildland fire suppressant polymer with water, comprising in combination: a source of high velocity water;a water inlet into a fluid pathway, said water inlet coupled to said source of high velocity water;a source of polymer;a polymer inlet into said fluid pathway, said polymer inlet coupled to said source of polymer;at least one elbow in said fluid pathway, said elbow downstream of said water inlet and said polymer inlet;said source of high velocity water having sufficient velocity to cause mixing of the polymer with the water by said at least one elbow;a mixed water and polymer outlet at an end of said fluid pathway downstream from said elbow;wherein said fluid pathway includes at least two separate flow paths between said water inlet and said mixed water and polymer outlet; andwherein said at least two flow paths are concentric, including an inner flow path and an outer flow path, each said flow path fed by water from said water inlet, said polymer inlet located in said inner flow path. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said separate flow paths are parallel to each other with said polymer inlet located in a manifold upstream of a split where said separate flow paths commence. 11. A method for mixing wildland fire suppressant polymer with water, comprising in combination: introducing a mixer having a water inlet into a fluid pathway, a source of polymer, a polymer inlet into the fluid pathway, the polymer inlet coupled to the source of polymer, at least one elbow in the fluid pathway, the elbow downstream of the water inlet and the polymer inlet, and a mixed water and polymer outlet at an end of the fluid pathway downstream from the elbow;driving water at high velocity into said water inlet, the velocity sufficiently high to mix the polymer from the polymer inlet with water from the water inlet when the polymer and water pass through the at least one elbow;providing the water inlet downstream of an opening in an aircraft;flying the aircraft over a body of water;contacting the aircraft with the water to position said opening in the body of water;driving the high velocity water into the water inlet; andidentifying the fluid pathway with at least two elbows adjacent each other and oriented to cause fluid flow therethrough to bend in different directions. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said providing the fluid pathway step includes orienting the at least two elbows oriented within a common plane with a first one of the at least two elbows rotating the water and polymer passing therethrough in a first direction and the second elbow rotating the flow passing through the second elbow in a second direction opposite the first direction. 13. A method for mixing wildland fire suppressant polymer with water, comprising in combination: introducing a mixer having a water inlet into a fluid pathway, a source of polymer, a polymer inlet into the fluid pathway, the polymer inlet coupled to the source of polymer, at least one elbow in the fluid pathway, the elbow downstream of the water inlet and the polymer inlet, and a mixed water and polymer outlet at an end of the fluid pathway downstream from the elbow;driving water at high velocity into said water inlet, the velocity sufficiently high to mix the polymer from the polymer inlet with water from the water inlet when the polymer and water pass through the at least one elbow; andsplitting the fluid pathway into a pair of concentric flow paths and introducing the polymer into an inner one of the concentric flow paths. 14. The method of claim 11 including the further step of splitting the flow through the fluid pathway into adjacent flow paths, each of said adjacent flow paths coupled to a common manifold downstream of the water inlet, with the polymer inlet coupled to the manifold. 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said aircraft has a float and said opening is positioned on said float. 16. The method of claim 11 including the step of locating the opening in a float of the aircraft.
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