Comprehensive Control System for Mobile Pumping Apparatus

• US 20110064591A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Athanasiades, Neocles G., McLoughlin, John E., Toh, Kiam Meng
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/321
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/06 Mobile combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/08 Regulating by delivery pressure

Abstract

A control system for a pumping apparatus consisting of an engine-driven primary pump includes an intake pressure regulating system for maintaining the intake pressure above a preset low value, a discharge pressure regulating system for maintaining the discharge pressure below a preset maximum value, and a master controller for monitoring, recording, and controlling the intake and discharge pressure regulating systems and other components of the system. The discharge pressure regulating system includes a pump governor which varies the engine RPM and operates a relief valve in response to fluctuations in discharge pressure. The intake pressure regulating system includes a reserve tank that is automatically maintained at a preset level which determines the minimum intake pressure of the system. The system may also include a priming pump, foam tanks, foam pumps, bottled nonflammable gas, and an air compressor.

Claims

1. A pumping apparatus comprising:

an engine;

a primary pump driven by said engine, the primary pump including a supply side and a discharge side;

an intake system coupled to the supply side of the primary pump for delivering liquid thereto;

an inlet pressure sensor communicating with the intake system and producing a first signal proportional to the inlet pressure;

an intake pressure regulating system for maintaining the pressure of fluid in the intake system above a preset low inlet pressure P_LOW;

a discharge system coupled to the discharge side of the primary pump for dispensing liquid therefrom;

a discharge pressure sensor communicating with the discharge system and producing a second signal proportional to the discharge pressure;

a discharge pressure regulating system for maintaining the pressure of fluid in the discharge system below a preset maximum discharge pressure P_MAX; and

a master control system communicating with the intake and discharge pressure regulating systems for actuating said systems in response regulating systems in response to said first and second signals.

2. The pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said preset minimum inlet pressure is in the range of 2 psi to 7 psi.

3. The pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the intake system comprises a supply line having an outlet end coupled to the primary pump and an inlet end selectively coupleable to a pressurized source of liquid and a reserve tank having a level sensor; and

the intake pressure regulating system comprises

at least one control element for allowing liquid from the reserve tank to flow into the supply line when the inlet pressure sensor detects that the inlet pressure is below a preset minimum level and for liquid from the pressurized source to flow into the reserve tank when the inlet pressure is at or above the preset minimum level and the level of liquid in the reserve tank is below a predetermined minimum level.

4. The pumping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the outlet end of the supply line is coupled to

a first conduit communicating with the pressurized source,

a second conduit communicating with an inlet opening in the reserve tank, and

a third conduit coupleable to an outlet opening in the reserve tank; and

the at least one control element comprises

a first control valve associated with the first conduit, the first control valve having a closed position preventing flow between the pressurized source and the primary pump and an open position allowing flow between the pressurized source and the primary pump,

a second control valve associated with the second conduit, the second control valve having a closed position preventing flow between the pressurized source and the reserve tank and an open position allowing flow between the pressurized source and the reserve tank; and

a third control valve associated with the third conduit, the third control valve having a closed position preventing flow between the reserve tank and the primary pump and an open position allowing flow between the reserve tank and the primary pump.

5. The pumping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the master control system comprises a microprocessor for receiving input signals from the inlet pressure sensor and the level sensor and sending output signals to the first, second, and third control valves.

6. The pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge system further comprises:

a discharge line coupled to the discharge side of the primary pump;

at least one foam tank containing foam;

at least one foam supply line connecting the at least one foam tank to the discharge line; and

a foam pump associated with the at least one foam supply line.

7. The pumping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the discharge system further comprises a hydraulic turbine positioned within the discharge line, the hydraulic turbine having an output shaft; and

the foam pump is a centrifugal pump mounted on the output shaft of the hydraulic turbine.

8. The pumping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air compressor for receiving ambient air from the atmosphere, compressing the ambient air, and injecting the compressed air into the discharge system.

9. The pumping apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the discharge system further comprises a discharge line coupled to the discharge side of the primary pump;

a hydraulic turbine positioned within the discharge line, the hydraulic turbine having an output shaft; and

the air compressor is mounted on the output shaft of the hydraulic turbine.

10. The pumping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary pump associated with the primary pump for priming said primary pump when the discharge sensor detects that the discharge pressure is below a preset minimum level P_MIN.