Abstract
The Caldwell Roadside Vortex-Disk Fire Suppression Platform (RVFD-1.0) is a public-domain, open-hardware engineering architecture designed to replace hazardous manual roadside fire-hose crews during high-wind, zero-visibility wildfire events. Mounted on a heavy-duty rear flatbed trailer towed by a high-capacity 6,000–10,000-gallon water tanker truck, the system utilizes an elevated, folding 12–16-foot rotating vortex-disk applicator (with optional telescoping mast to 30–50 ft). Fed by a high-pressure independent auxiliary pump via a hollow-shaft central rotary swivel, the disk discharges pre-conditioned water through circumferential vortex injector nozzles, optionally enhanced with electrostatic charging rings and/or compressed air injection to form coherent, wind-resistant vortex rings. Operating in a coordinated two-rig tandem leapfrog formation, the platform creates an unbroken 360-degree high-velocity “fire protector bubble,” allowing emergency response fleets to drive safely through active fire corridors, suppress roadside thermal fronts instantly, and protect urban-wildlife interface (WUI) assets without exposing human personnel to extreme radiant heat or smoke inhalation. This disclosure integrates previously posted TDC modules—including the GCI Vortex Spine, MASA (Modular Aerial Suppression Architecture), and VMR Titan-2.0 Pump Stack—and adds community-driven enhancements (swarm logic, sector control, wind compensation, retrofit kit philosophy) to maximize viability and adoption.news.osu+4
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Caldwell, Michael Victor Mr., "CALDWELL ROADSIDE VORTEX-DISK FIRE SUPPRESSION PLATFORM (RVFD-1.0) A Tandem-Deployed, High-Wind Mobile Perimeter Shield and Kinetic Extinguishing Engine Using a Rotating Hollow-Shaft Gyroid-Balanced Fluid Manifold for Autonomous Roadside Wildfire Defense", Technical Disclosure Commons, (July 28, 2026)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/11182