SMART FLOW SYSTEM FOR FIRE FIGHTING

• US 20080041599A1
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joel Mulkey, Scott Malone
• Original Assignee: Joel Mulkey, Scott Malone
• Inventors: Malone, Scott, Mulkey, Joel
• Application Number:
  US11/780,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/60
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/009 Methods or equipment not provided for in groups A62C99/0009 - A62C99/0081

Abstract

In fire-fighting, a method of controlling operation of a fire apparatus as to at least one hose lay, the method comprising acquiring data at a location associated with the hose lay; communicating at least some of the acquired data from the remote location so as to be receivable at or adjacent to the fire apparatus; and based at least in part on at least some of the so-communicated data, controlling operation of the fire apparatus.

Claims

1. In fire-fighting, a method of controlling operation of a fire apparatus as to at least one hose lay, the method comprising:

(i) acquiring data at a location associated with the hose lay;

(ii) communicating at least some of the acquired data from the remote location so as to be receivable at or adjacent to the fire apparatus; and

(iii) based at least in part on at least some of the so-communicated data, controlling the operation of the fire apparatus.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein communicating further comprises a wireless communications link.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein acquiring data further comprises water pressure data.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said acquired water pressure data further comprises data at or adjacent to the nozzle of the hose lay.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said acquired water pressure data further comprises data related to water pressure at or adjacent to an appliance of the hose lay.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein acquiring data further comprises water flow data.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein controlling the operation of the fire apparatus further comprises enabling an engineer to control the operation based on providing information to the engineer at a human interface, the information being based at least in part on at least some of the so-communicated data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the fire apparatus further comprises automatically controlling operation of the fire apparatus.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein controlling operation of the fire apparatus further comprises enabling an engineer to participate in controlling the operation based on providing information to the engineer at a human interface, said information being based at least in part on at least some of the so-communicated data.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising processing at least some of the acquired data so as to convert such data to accurate or substantially accurate data.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein processing comprises using calibration information.

12. A fire fighting apparatus, said fire fighting apparatus comprising;

a data acquisition sensor;

said sensor generating data concerning a hose lay;

a transmitter electrically connected to the data acquisition sensor;

a receiver electrically connected to the transmitter;

and fire apparatus controlling device electrically connected to the receiver.

13. A fire fighting apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said data acquisition sensor further comprises a water pressure sensor.

14. A fire fighting apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said data acquisition sensor further comprises a water flow sensor,

15. A fire fighting apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said hose lay further comprises a fire nozzle, said data acquisition sensor integrated within the fire nozzle.

16. A fire fighting apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said hose lay further comprises an insert, said data acquisition sensor integrated within the insert.

17. A fire fighting apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said electrical connection from said receiver to said transmitter further comprises a wireless connection.

18. A firefighting apparatus as in claim 17, where said wireless connection operates on the 900 MHz frequency band.

19. A water nozzle, comprising a housing defining a fluid supply passage through the housing, a sensor located in the passage, and a data acquisition system located within the housing for receiving a signal and configured to communicate data concerning water flow parameters within the passage to a controller associated with a remote water supply for the water nozzle.