Patent Application
20130098642
The present disclosure relates to a system and method of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications.
Firefighting is a highly dangerous occupation that subjects firefighters to many hazards. An important asset to the firefighters is maintaining a steady and abundant water supply to suppress fire and/or filling a truck-mounted water tank. Both of these tasks are typically accomplished by using a pump on-board the fire truck and driven by the truck engine. The water from a fire hydrant is typically directly conducted to the site of the fire. In some instances, the water from the fire hydrant is used to refill a water tank while at the same time supplying water to the fire hose used to extinguish the fire. A dangerous situation occurs when delay is introduced in setting up the fire truck for pumping operation. Because of the complicated series of steps required, the pump operator may easily and inadvertently fail to carry out the steps properly and thus delay the delivery of needed water for firefighting. Such unexpected delay in supplying water to the fire hose and the water tank can be disastrous for the firefighters at the scene.
A system and method of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications is envisioned and described herein.
A system for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising a transmission control having a visual indicator and coupled to a transmission of the truck, a pump control having a visual indicator and coupled to the pump, a prime control having a visual indicator and coupled to a prime pump, a master system control switch operable to receive operator input, and a main controller in data communication with the transmission control, pump control, prime control, and the master system control switch, the main controller receiving an input from the master system control switch to initiate pump setup operation, and automatically transmitting alert signals to the visual indicators of the transmission control, pump control, and prime control to provide visual guidance to the operator in the proper sequence of steps to set up the pump for pumping operation.
A system for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising an engine controller coupled to the engine of the truck, a transmission controller coupled to a transmission of the truck, a pump controller coupled to the pump, a pump pressure transducer coupled to the pump operable to measure a pump pressure, a control valve operable to regulate a water flow from the tank to a truck-mounted pump, a master system control switch operable to receive operator input, and a main controller in data communication with the transmission controller, pump controller, and the master system control switch, the main controller receiving an input from the master system control switch to initiate pump setup operations, and operable to automatically receive the pump pressure, and automatically control the engine, transmission, pump, and control valve in a proper sequence to automatically set up the pump for pumping operation.
A method for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising receiving an operator input to initiate pump setup operations, automatically put the pump at 50% operation and wait for confirmation, automatically put the pump at 100% operation, automatically put a transmission of the truck in drive and wait for confirmation, automatically checking a pump pressure, automatically opening a control valve to permit water from a discharge outlet of the tank to flow to the pump, and automatically increasing an engine speed and a pump speed to predetermined settings to increase water flow from the pump.
A memory having stored therein computer software code executable by a computer to implement a method for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising receiving an operator input to initiate pump setup operation, automatically issuing an alert to guide the operator to put the pump at 50% operation and waiting for confirmation, automatically issuing an alert to guide the operator to put the pump at 100% operation, automatically issuing an alert to guide the operator to put a transmission of the truck in drive and waiting for confirmation, automatically opening a control valve to permit water from a discharge outlet of the tank to flow to a pump, and automatically increasing an engine speed and a pump speed to predetermined settings to increase water flow from the pump.
The pump 20 is further coupled to a prime pump 26 under the control of a prime control 28. The prime control 28 may a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, and may further include an alert device 30, such as an LED. The pump 20 includes an inlet that is coupled to a water tank 32 via an intake pipe 34. A control valve 36 is disposed in the intake pipe 34 and is operable to control the flow of water from the tank 32 to the pump 20. The discharge outlet of the pump may also be coupled to a fire hose (not shown) used by firefighters to suppress fire. A level sensor 38 is further coupled to the water tank 32 operable to measure the amount of water or liquids in the tank and provide the data to a visual display device 40. An intake inlet (not shown) of the pump 20 may be coupled to a fluid source, such as, without limitation, a tank 32 mounted on the fire truck, a fire hydrant, a relay hose, and a draft hose. The pump intake may be coupled to another fluid source, such as a tank mounted on a tanker truck (not shown), or for example a water reservoir, pool, pond, and lake (not shown). It should be understood that there is a system of plumping components coupled to the pump 20 but is not show explicitly in
The operations of the engine 12 is under the control of a main CPU 50 and an engine CPU 52. Further, the operations of the transmission 14 is under the control of a transmission CPU 54. A transmission control 56 is coupled to the transmission CPU 54. The transmission control 56 may include a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, and may further include an alert device 58, such as an LED. The pump 20 is under the control of a pump control 60, which may include a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, and may further include an alert device 62, such as an LED. A pressure transducer 64 is coupled to the pump 20 and operable to measure the discharge pressure of the pump. The main CPU 50 is coupled or in communications with the transmission control 56, prime control 28, and pump control. The main CPU 50 is further coupled to or in communication with the pressure transducer 64 and level sensor 38, and is operable to receive the pressure and tank level measurements periodically or upon polling.
A master system control switch 66 coupled to the main CPU 50 includes a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, to enable the operator to initiate system operations. Additionally, a voice control unit 68 and speaker system 70 may be coupled to the main CPU 50 to enable an audio interface. In one embodiment, the voice control unit 68 may generate and issue audio commands that provide instructions for each step to the operator to ensure proper pump operations. In another embodiment, the voice control unit 68 may additionally generate and issue audio alerts that provide the operator feedback on the proper or improper execution of the pump operation sequence. Further coupled to the main CPU 50 is a display panel 72 capable of presenting status and information to the operator. For example, the display panel may provide the current status of the engine, transmission, pump, and pump valve. Further, the pump discharge pressure and tank level may be displayed. An exemplary status and information display is shown in
Although
In an alternate embodiment, the operator controls or interfaces 56, 60, and 28, of the transmission 14, pump 20, and prime pump 26 may each include an indicator 58, 62, and 30. The indicator 58, 62, and 30 may each be one or more visual indicators such as LEDs (light emitting diodes) and/or other lighting devices now known or later developed. The LEDs may also be color-coded to indicate proper operation/success or improper operation/failure. As the automatic pump operation proceeds through the steps, the indicator LEDs would be lit to alert the operator that the next steps in the sequence is to move or activate certain controls, levers, buttons, switches, etc. In this manner, the operator is instructed to proceed to the next step when appropriate in the correct sequence of steps using visual indicators. As described above, audio indicators or alerts may be used in combination with the visual indicators or instead thereof to provide instructions to the operator in the proper sequence of steps to operate the pump.
Accordingly, the disclosed method automatically steps through the proper sequence to put the fire truck in proper pump operation. The operator may be instructed using visual or audio cues as to the next step in the sequence. Alternatively, the system proceeds through the proper sequence automatically, requiring very little operator effort. In this manner, the truck is automatically put into successful pump operation without undue delay.
It should be noted that the word “water” is used herein to generally convey the concept of a fluid used for firefighting purposes, and “water” may include water, foam, chemicals, and other types of fire-suppression fluids.
Further notice should be given regarding the actual implementation of the system in that certain changes and modifications to the described system, though not described explicitly or in detail, are contemplated herein. For example, the main CPU, engine CPU, and transmission CPU may be implemented using one or more CPU circuits, controllers, or micro-controller circuits. Further, it is understood that a CPU is typically in operation with its attendant circuitry and software, such as memory, interfaces, drivers, etc. as known in the art.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the system and method of automatic pump operation for firefighting applications described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.
