Transportable fire training apparatus and method

Abstract

A transportable fire training apparatus includes a trailer frame having a rear raised section at a rear end of the trailer frame and an unraised section at a middle portion of the trailer frame, a shell attached to the trailer frame and partitioned into a plurality of training rooms, a rear multi-axle wheel set disposed below, and attached to, the rear raised section of the trailer frame via an air ride suspension system that raises the trailer frame relative to the a rear multi-axle wheel set in response to pressurization of the air ride suspension system. The unraised section of the trailer frame rides substantially above the ground when the air ride suspension system is in a pressurized state and rests on the ground when the air ride suspension system is in an unpressurized state. A method for deploying and using the transportable fire training apparatus is also disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transportable fire training apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a trailer frame having a rear raised section at a rear end of the trailer frame and an unraised section at a middle portion of the trailer frame;   a shell attached to the trailer frame and partitioned into a plurality of training rooms;   a rear multi-axle wheel set disposed below, and attached to, the rear raised section of the trailer frame via an air ride suspension system that raises the trailer frame relative to the a rear multi-axle wheel set in response to pressurization of the air ride suspension system; and   wherein the unraised section of the trailer frame rides substantially above the ground when the air ride suspension system is in a pressurized state and the unraised section of the trailer frame rests on the ground when the air ride suspension system is in an unpressurized state.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trailer frame comprises a front raised section at a front end of the trailer frame that is configured to attach to a tractor having a multi-axle wheel set. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a tractor attached to the trailer frame. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a pair of extendable landing supports attached to the front raised section of the trailer frame. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of extendable landing supports each comprise a hydraulic ram. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of extendable landing supports facilitate coupling the tractor to the trailer frame and decoupling the tractor from the trailer frame. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a slideout for increasing the volume of a room of the plurality of rooms. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a hydraulic ram for moving the slideout relative to the tractor frame. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the slideout comprises a window. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the window has a width and a height that are substantially similar to the width and height of a standard bathroom window. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a roof with a replaceable panel for providing access to the roof from within the shell. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a pitched roof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a fold down roof extension attached to the shell and configured to extend the pitched roof and simulate a roof overhang when deployed. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an interior rear stairwell for accessing the raised rear section and the roof from the unraised section. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a standpipe for connecting a fire fighting hose thereto. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage room for fire training equipment. 
     
     
         17 . A fire training method comprising:
 providing a fire training apparatus comprising a trailer frame having a rear raised section at a rear end of the trailer frame and an unraised section at a middle portion of the trailer frame, a shell attached to the trailer frame and partitioned into a plurality of training rooms, a rear multi-axle wheel set disposed below, and attached to, the rear raised section of the trailer frame via an air ride suspension system that raises the trailer frame relative to the a rear multi-axle wheel set in response to pressurization of the air ride suspension system, wherein the unraised section of the trailer frame rides substantially above the ground when the air ride suspension system is in a pressurized state and the unraised section of the trailer frame rests on the ground when the air ride suspension system is in an unpressurized state;   transporting the fire training apparatus to a training location with the air ride suspension system in a pressurized state; and   un-pressurizing the air ride suspension system to rest the unraised section of the trailer frame on the ground.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising conducting fire training exercises using the fire training apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein transporting the fire training apparatus comprises attaching the fire training apparatus to a tractor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein transporting the fire training apparatus comprises retracting an extendable landing support.