Hybrid Foam Proportioning System

• US 20090218110A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hale Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hale Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Colletti, Dominic John, Laskaris, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/44
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/02 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0363 For producing proportionate flow

Abstract

A hybrid foam system for providing a variety of proportioned foam solutions is provided. The system includes a low flow foam proportioning system operatively associated with a high flow foam proportioning system and a system controller for controlling the operating conditions of the overall hybrid foam system.

Claims

1. A hybrid foam system comprising:

a low flow foam proportioning system;

a high flow foam proportioning system operatively associated with the low flow foam proportioning system;

a water source connected to the low flow and high flow foam proportioning systems; and

a system controller operatively in communication with the low flow and high flow foam proportioning systems.

2. The hybrid foam system of claim 1, wherein the high flow foam proportioning system comprises a venturi based foam proportioner.

3. The hybrid foam system of claim 2, wherein the system controller is operatively in communication with the venturi based foam proportioner.

4. The hybrid foam system of claim 2, wherein the high flow foam proportioning system further comprises a bypass conduit for bypassing the venturi based foam proportioner.

5. The hybrid foam system of claim 4, wherein the high flow foam proportioning system further comprises at least one of an inlet flow sensor, an inlet pressure sensor, and an outlet pressure sensor, connected to the venturi based foam proportioner and in communication with the system controller.

6. The hybrid foam system of claim 4, wherein the high flow foam proportioning system further comprises a control valve connected to the venturi based foam proportioner and a bypass valve connected to the bypass conduit.

7. The hybrid foam system of claim 6, wherein the venturi based foam proportioner includes a foam inlet valve.

8. The hybrid foam system of claim 1, further comprising a discharge unit operatively connected to at least one of the low flow and high flow foam proportioning systems.

9. The hybrid foam system of claim 1, wherein the low flow foam proportioning system comprises:

a foam pump;

a selector valve operatively connected to one or more foam tanks and the foam pump; and

a first conduit connected to the foam pump for providing a fluid path between at least the water source, the foam pump, and a discharge unit.

10. The hybrid foam system of claim 9, wherein the selector valve and the foam pump is operatively associated with the system controller.

11. The hybrid foam system of claim 9, wherein the low flow foam proportioning system further comprises a water flow sensor connected to the first conduit and in communication with the system controller.

12. The hybrid foam system of claim 1, wherein the low flow foam proportioning system and the high flow foam proportioning system are connected in series or in parallel.

13. The hybrid foam system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is a programmable logic controller or a computer.

14. The hybrid foam system of claim 1, wherein the system controller further comprises a set of stored instructions for automatically controlling the low flow and high flow foam proportioning systems.

15. A method of producing a variety of foam solutions comprising the steps of:

providing a low flow foam proportioning system;

providing a high flow foam proportioning system operatively associated with the low flow foam proportioning system; and

providing a system controller operatively associated with the low flow and high flow foam proportioning systems for controlling the operation of the low flow and high flow foam proportioning systems.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a set of stored instructions for the system controller for automatically controlling the operation of the low flow foam proportioning system and the high flow foam proportioning system.