The engineering team at Howe & Howe Inc. has secured a new patent that could change how emergency vehicles handle extreme heat. U.S. Patent No. 12558952, titled ‘Vehicle cooling using external fluid source’, introduces a clever way to keep high-performance machines running in the middle of a fire. By using the very fluid they carry to fight fires, these vehicles can now cool their own internal systems.
Smart Heat Management
Modern firefighting robots and vehicles often face intense thermal stress. Traditional radiators struggle to keep engines cool when the surrounding air is thick with smoke and heat. This invention solves the problem by tapping into the vehicle’s external fluid source, such as a water tank or fire hydrant. A heat exchanger sits between the engine’s coolant and the firefighting fluid. This setup pulls heat away from the motor far more efficiently than air alone.
Enhanced Field Performance
The system allows vehicles to operate longer in dangerous zones. It works by diverting a small portion of the pumped water through a specialized cooling loop. Because water absorbs heat better than air, the vehicle can maintain peak power without the risk of melting down. This technology is particularly vital for unmanned ground vehicles like the Thermite robot. These machines must often sit near the heart of a blaze for extended periods.
Real-World Safety Impact
Reliability is the most critical factor during an emergency. If a robot’s engine fails due to overheating, the mission stops immediately. This new cooling method ensures that rescue and suppression tools stay active when they are needed most. It provides a robust shield against mechanical failure in the world’s most punishing environments.
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The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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