Constant flow rate regulating valve assembly for an aerial firefighting bucket

Inventors: Britton Coulson (Port Alberni, CA); Brian McDonald (Parksville, CA); David Lawrence (Courtenay, CA); Mike McClellan (Port Alberni, CA)

Assignee: Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc

A62C37/04 A62C3/0235

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12673228
App. No.: 17/373,064
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

A valve assembly for a firefighting bucket includes a base plate having an opening, a valve body configured to seal the opening of the base plate, and a linear actuator coupled to the valve body and configured to displace the valve body. Valve control systems direct the release of firefighting material through the valve assembly at a constant flow rate. The valve body may have a chamfered, tapered, or rounded surface to restrain the head pressure of the firefighting material.

Claims (37)

1 . A valve assembly for a firefighting bucket, comprising:

a base plate having an opening;

a valve body configured to seal the opening of the base plate;

an actuator coupled to the valve body and configured to displace the valve body; and

a lower base assembly extending downward from the base plate,

wherein the lower base assembly comprises an annular perforated exterior panel having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter concentric with the outer perimeter, wherein the inner perimeter forms a panel opening concentric with the opening of the base plate, and

wherein the base plate comprises an annular groove configured to mate with a rim of the valve body in a closed configuration.

2 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to translate the valve body in a vertical direction to a position that is a percentage of its maximum extension.

3 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a top plate coupled to and disposed above the base plate.

4 . An aerial firefighting system comprising the valve assembly of claim 1 , and further comprising:

the firefighting bucket, wherein the firefighting bucket comprises a bucket opening and is configured to hold firefighting material; and

a sensor configured to obtain a measurement related to the firefighting material,

wherein the valve body is further configured to seal the bucket opening of the firefighting bucket, and

wherein the valve body maintains a constant flow rate of material released from the firefighting bucket.

5 . The aerial firefighting system of claim 4 ,

wherein at least a portion of the firefighting bucket is disposed between the base plate and the lower base assembly.

6 . The aerial firefighting system of claim 4 , further comprising a computing system coupled to and configured to control the actuator in response to a signal from the sensor.

7 . The aerial firefighting system of claim 4 , further comprising an aircraft.

8 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor configured to determine at least one of head pressure, volume, and flow rate of firefighting material.

9 . The valve assembly of claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to the base plate.

10 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises an opening concentric with the opening of the base plate to release firefighting material.

11 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein a surface between an inner edge of the base plate and an outer frame of the base plate is chamfered, tapered, or rounded to reduce the occurrence of turbulent flow.

12 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the annular perforated exterior panel extends below the base plate.

13 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the base plate is disposed inside the outer perimeter of the annular perforated exterior panel.

14 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower base assembly comprises a perforated interior panel.

15 . A valve assembly for a firefighting bucket, comprising:

a base plate having an opening;

a valve body configured to seal the opening of the base plate;

an actuator coupled to the valve body and configured to displace the valve body; and

a lower base assembly coupled to and disposed below the base plate, wherein the lower base assembly comprises a plurality of concentric perforated panels configured to allow fluid passage during use of the valve assembly,

wherein a bottom of a first concentric perforated panel of the plurality of concentric perforated panels is coupled to a bottom of a second concentric perforated panel of the plurality of concentric perforated panels by a lower support plate configured to allow fluid passage during use of the valve assembly, and

wherein the first concentric panel is disposed inside a perimeter of the second concentric panel.

16 . The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of concentric perforated panels are annular.

17 . The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lower base assembly comprises an opening concentric with the opening of the base plate to release firefighting material.

18 . The valve assembly of claim 17 , wherein the opening concentric with the opening of the base plate is disposed inside a perimeter of the plurality of concentric perforated panels.

19 . The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein a center of the opening of the base plate is collinear with a center of the plurality of concentric perforated panels.

20 . The valve assembly of claim 15 , wherein a height of the first concentric panel is less than a height of the second concentric panel.