Nozzle has been proposed with tip that will punch through wall very quickly. It would allow extinguishing agent to be delivered inside closed structure in minimum amount of time. Two versions of nozzle have been conceived:  one operated from hydraulic pressure source and one activated by explosive charge

Parker, J. F.

Robbins, R. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

June 1975	 B75-10111 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual. copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Powered Fire Nozzle for Fast Penetration of Structures: A Concept 
[-I:
A special fire-entinguishing nozzle has been pro-
posed with a tip that will punch through a wall very 
quickly. It would allow an extinguishing agent to be 
delivered inside a closed structure in a minimum 
amount of time. Powersaws, fire axes, and sledge-
hammer-driven nozzles have been used to penetrate 
walls. Unlike these, the powered nozzle will penetrate 
a wall almost instantly, an important consideration in 
firefighting. 
Two versions of the nozzle have been conceived: one 
operated from a hydraulic pressure source and the 
other activated by an explosive charge. 
The hydraulic ram shown in Figure 1 has a solid 
head connected to a hollow tube with nozzles on one 
end and a piston on the other. The piston end is 
mounted in a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder has
inlet and outlet hydraulic ports that can be opened or 
closed to extend or retract the ram. The ports can be 
operated by a hand valve or by remote control. The 
extinguishing agent is fed through a flex line into the 
ram cavity and is expelled through four nozzles 
behind the penetration head. The device would also 
include a method (not shown) to adjust the length of 
the ram stroke to prevent the penetration of objects 
inside a wall. One version of the device would be 
mounted on a boom and a platform so operators 
would be at a safe distance from a fire. 
A scaled-down portable version (Figure 2) of the 
nozzle could be operated by two men. This device 
would use an explosive charge as a power source. 
Otherwise it is similar to the hydraulic nozzle. 
Fire-Extinguishing Agent 
Supply (Agent Supplied 
Through Hollow Penetrator 
Outlet Port
	 Hydraulic-Supply 
Inlet Port 
Figure 1. Hydraulic-Ram Nozzle
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United Stales
	
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	
will be free from privately owned rights.
.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750000111 2020-03-19T20:06:11+00:00Z
Electrical 
Connector . 
End Cap 
Ilt^;a 
Backup Spring 
Release Mechanism
(Gas-Actuated) 
Body 
Interface 
Adapter
Primary Charge 
Secondary Charge 
Guide/Internal Line Assembly 
Nozzle/ Penetrator 
Assembly (Fog/ Foam Nozzle Shown)
Figure 2. Explosive-Powered Nozzle 
Note:	 Patent status: 
Requests for further information may be directed
	 NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer	 Source: J. F. Parker and R. L. Robbins of 
Johnson Space Center	 Rockwell International Corp. 
Code AT3	 under contract to 
Houston, Texas 77058 	 Johnson Space Center 
Reference: TSP75-10111	 (MSC-19528)
S B75-10111	 Category: 06 (Mechanics)


Powered fire nozzle for fast penetration of structures: A concept

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