Wildfire defense system
A wildfire defense system includes a first tank for storing a first fluid, a second tank for storing a second fluid, a mixing valve, two pumps, a controller, and one or more sprayers. The wildfire defense system is controllable remotely allowing property owners to protect structures prior to wildfires without having to be on their property. The first pump pumps the first fluid from the first tank to the mixing valve, and the second pump pumps the second fluid from the second tank to the mixing valve. The controller controls the operations of the pumps and the mixing valve. The mixed fluid is sprayed over a selected geographic region through the sprayers. The apparatus can be remotely activated and the ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid in the mixed fluid is configurable. The system is transportable, allowing for easy relocation or fixed in a dedicated location.
1 . A wildfire defense system, wherein the wildfire defense system is operable to prevent wildfires from causing damage to a protected structure or region comprising:
a first tank, wherein the first tank is configured to store water;
an automated valve having an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the automated valve is operable in a primary mode and a recirculation mode;
a second tank, wherein the second tank has an input and an output, wherein the input of the second tank is fluidly coupled to the second output of the automated valve, wherein the second tank is configured to store fire retardant gel;
a mixing valve having an input and an output, wherein the mixing valve is configured to receive the water from the first tank and the fire retardant gel from the second tank and to output a fire retardant fluid;
a first pump coupled between the first tank and the input of the mixing valve;
a hydraulic flow control valve;
a second pump coupled between the second tank and the input of the mixing valve via the automated valve and the hydraulic flow control valve, wherein the input of the automated valve is fluidly coupled to the second pump, wherein the first output of the automated valve is fluidly coupled to the hydraulic flow control valve, wherein the second output of the automated valve is fluidly coupled to the input of the second tank, and wherein the first output of the automated valve is fluidly coupled to the mixing valve;
a motor configured to drive the second pump, wherein when the automated valve is operable in the primary mode, fire retardant gel flows from the second pump to the hydraulic flow control valve via the input and first output of the automated valve, and from the hydraulic flow control valve to the input of the mixing valve, and wherein in the recirculation mode, fire retardant gel flows from the second output of the automated valve into the input of the second tank;
a controller operatively coupled to the first pump, the second pump, and the mixing valve, wherein the controller is remotely controlled over a network to activate the mixing valve to mix the water stored in the first tank with the fire retardant gel stored in the second tank thereby forming the fire retardant fluid and to spray the fire retardant fluid onto a protected structure or region according to a preconfigured and automated cycle, wherein the controller is also configured to operate in a clean and feed mode, and wherein in the clean and feed mode, a cleaning solution is cycled through the wildfire defense system, wherein the controller controls the first pump, the second pump, the hydraulic flow control valve, and the mixing valve such that the fire retardant fluid has a configurable ratio of the water to the fire retardant gel, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the wildfire defense system in a system flush and/or rehydrate mode and a thermogel tank recirculation mode, wherein the clean and feed mode comprises a mineral oil clean and feed mode, wherein the system flush and/or rehydrate mode comprises a water-only mode in which only water is cycled through the wildfire defense system, and wherein the preconfigured and automated cycle causes the wildfire defense system to automatically rotate spraying among a plurality of zones and to stop upon completion of the plurality of zones;
a communication system, wherein the communication system is communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the communication system is configured to receive a wireless activation signal that remotely switches on the wildfire defense system, and wherein the wireless activation signal is generated by a remote user device or by a remote fire detection system that detects wildfire approaching the protected structure or region, wherein the remote fire detection system comprises a fire detector configured to detect a distance from the wildfire to the protected structure or region and to generate the wireless activation signal based on the detected distance, and wherein the preconfigured and automated cycle is executed in response to receiving the wireless activation signal and causes the wildfire defense system to spray the fire retardant fluid before fire arrives at the protected structure or region;
one or more sprayers coupled to the output of the mixing valve; and
a trailer with a hitch, wherein the trailer is detachably coupled to a vehicle, wherein the trailer includes at least two wheels, wherein the trailer is movable wherein the wildfire defense system is maintained near the protected structure or region, and wherein the wildfire defense system is activated to spray the fire retardant fluid before fire arrives at the protected structure or region.
2 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the trailer with the hitch is configured to relocate the wildfire defense system, and wherein the first tank, the second tank, the mixing valve, the first pump, the second pump, the controller, and the one or more sprayers are disposed on the trailer with the hitch.
3 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power system, wherein the power system supplies power to the controller, the first pump, the second pump, and the mixing valve.
4 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the mixing valve, the first pump, the second pump, and the hydraulic flow control valve such that the fire retardant fluid that is output from the output of the mixing valve has a configurable ratio of water stored in the first tank to fire retardant gel stored in the second tank.
5 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:
a memory that stores instructions; and
a processor, wherein when the instructions are executed or interpreted by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to control the mixing valve, the first pump, and the second pump to generate the fire retardant fluid that is output by the one or more sprayers in response to receiving the wireless activation signal according to the preconfigured and automated cycle.
6 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the first tank has a storage capacity that is more than ten times that of the second tank.
7 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sprayers include a first sprayer of a first type and a second sprayer of a second type.
8 . The wildfire defense system of claim 7 , wherein the first sprayer of the first type is coupled to the mixing valve via a first control valve, and wherein the second sprayer of the second type is coupled to the mixing valve via a second control valve.
9 . The wildfire defense system of claim 7 , wherein the first sprayer of the first type is a fixed location sprayer, and wherein the second sprayer of the second type is a manual sprayer.
10 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning solution cycled through the wildfire defense system in the clean and feed mode is mineral oil.
11 . The wildfire defense system of claim 1 , wherein the system sprays structures or regions with fire retardant fluid before fire arrives at the location of the protected structure or region.
12 . A fire prevention method comprising:
storing an amount of water in a first tank;
storing an amount of fire retardant gel in a second tank;
receiving a wireless activation signal over a network, wherein the wireless activation signal is generated by a remote user device or by a remote fire detection system that detects wildfire approaching a protected structure or region, and wherein the remote fire detection system comprises a fire detector configured to detect a distance from the wildfire to the protected structure or region and to generate the wireless activation signal based on the detected distance;
remotely controlling a pump system and a mixing valve in response to receiving the wireless activation signal to combine the water stored in the first tank with the fire retardant gel stored in the second tank according to a configurable ratio thereby generating a fire retardant fluid and to spray the fire retardant fluid onto the protected structure or region according to a preconfigured and automated program, wherein the program automatically rotates spraying among a plurality of zones and stops upon completion of the plurality of zones;
outputting the fire retardant fluid from one or more sprayers, wherein the first tank, the second tank, the pump system, and the mixing valve are disposed on a transportable structure, wherein the transportable structure is maintained near the protected structure or region, and wherein the pump system is activated to spray the fire retardant fluid before fire arrives at the protected structure or region;
controlling the pump system to operate in a recirculation mode, wherein in the recirculation mode, a second pump and an automated valve having an input, a first output, and a second output, wherein the second output operates to recirculate fire retardant gel in the second tank, wherein the fire retardant gel flows through the second pump and the input and the second output of the automated valve, wherein the input of the automated valve is fluidly coupled to the second pump, wherein the second output of the automated valve is fluidly coupled to an input of the second tank, and wherein in the recirculation mode the automated valve couples the input to the second output; and
controlling the pump system to operate in a clean and feed mode, wherein in the clean and feed mode, a cleaning solution is cycled through the pump system.
13 . The fire prevention method of claim 12 , further comprising:
setting the configurable ratio to a desired value.
14 . The fire prevention method of claim 12 , further comprising:
supplying power from a power source to the pump system, wherein the power source is disposed on the transportable structure.
15 . The fire prevention method of claim 12 , wherein the pump system includes a first pump and a second pump, wherein the first pump draws the water from the first tank, and wherein the second pump draws the fire retardant gel from the second tank.
16 . The fire prevention method of claim 15 , wherein the first pump is driven by an engine, and wherein the second pump is driven by a motor.
17 . The fire prevention method of claim 12 , further comprising:
moving the transportable structure while outputting the fire retardant fluid from the one or more sprayers thereby distributing the fire retardant fluid throughout an area surrounding the transportable structure.