SURROGATE FOAM TEST SYSTEM

• US 20140262355A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Linsmeier, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/24
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/002 Apparatus for mixing extinguishants with water
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/02 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A surrogate foam test system for testing a foam distribution system of a fire fighting vehicle includes a water tank having an outlet coupled to a flush line and a foam storage tank having an outlet coupled to a foam feed line. The water tank provides water through the outlet and the foam storage tank provides a foam fire suppressant. The test system also includes a flush valve coupled to the flush line, where the flush line extends through the flush valve and into the foam feed line at a junction, and a foam valve coupled to the foam feed line before the junction, where the foam feed line extends through the foam valve and accepts the flush line the junction. A flow meter is coupled to the flush line between the flush valve and the junction, where the flow meter is configured to monitor a flow rate of the water within the flush line.

Claims

1. A surrogate foam test system for testing a foam distribution system of a fire fighting vehicle, comprising:

a water tank having an outlet coupled to a flush line, wherein the water tank provides water through the outlet;

a foam storage tank having an outlet coupled to a foam feed line, wherein the foam storage tank provides a foam fire suppressant;

a flush valve coupled to the flush line, wherein the flush line extends through the flush valve and into the foam feed line at a junction;

a foam valve coupled to the foam feed line before the junction, wherein the foam feed line extends through the foam valve and accepts the flush line the junction; and

a flow meter coupled to the flush line between the flush valve and the junction, wherein the flow meter is configured to monitor a flow rate of the water within the flush line.

2. The surrogate foam test system of claim 1, further comprising a flow indicator operably connected to the flow meter, wherein the flow indicator is configured to visually represent the flow rate of the water within the flush line.

3. The surrogate foam test system of claim 1, further comprising a proportioning device coupled to the foam feed line after the junction, wherein the proportioning device is configured to control a flow rate of water therethrough.

4. The surrogate foam test system of claim 3, further comprising an eductor comprising a first inlet coupled to a fluid outlet line from the proportioning device and a second inlet coupled to a water feed line from the water storage tank, wherein the eductor is configured to mix water from the water feed line and water from the proportioning device and discharge a mixed fluid.

5. The surrogate foam test system of claim 3, wherein the flow rate of the water through the proportioning device is adjustable by the proportioning device, such that a measured flow rate by the flow meter is within a range of known flow rate values that correspond to a passing condition of the surrogate foam test system.

6. The surrogate foam test system of claim 1, wherein the foam valve prevents a flow of foam fire suppressant through the foam feed line when the surrogate foam test system is in a testing mode.

7. The surrogate foam test system of claim 1, wherein the flush valve allows a flow of the water through the flush line when the surrogate foam test system is in a testing mode.

8. The surrogate foam test system of claim 1, wherein the flush valve includes a ball valve and the foam valve includes a ball valve.

9. A fire fighting vehicle having a foam distribution system, comprising:

a main water tank having an outlet coupled to a flush line, wherein the main water tank provides water through the outlet;

a foam storage tank having an outlet coupled to a foam feed line, wherein the foam storage tank provides a foam fire suppressant;

a flush valve coupled to the flush line, wherein the flush line extends through the flush valve and into the foam feed line at a junction;

a foam valve coupled to the foam feed line before the junction, wherein the foam feed line extends through the foam valve and accepts the flush line the junction; and

a flow meter coupled to the flush line between the flush valve and the junction, wherein the flow meter is configured to monitor a flow rate of the water within the flush line.

a proportioning device coupled to the foam feed line after the junction, wherein the proportioning device is configured to control a flow rate of fluid therethrough; and

an eductor comprising a first inlet coupled to a fluid outlet line from the proportioning device and a second inlet coupled to a water feed line from the main water tank, wherein the eductor is configured to mix water from the water feed line and fluid from the proportioning device and discharge a mixed fluid.

10. The fire fighting vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a flow indicator operably connected to the flow meter, wherein the flow indicator is configured to visually represent the flow rate of the water within the flush line.

11. The fire fighting vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a fluid pump coupled to an educator discharge line, wherein the fluid pump pressurizes the mixed fluid from the eductor and discharges the pressurized mixed fluid.

12. The fire fighting vehicle of claim 11, further comprising at least one outlet coupled to a fluid pump discharge line, wherein the at least one outlet is configured to eject the pressurized mixed fluid.

13. The fire fighting vehicle of claim 9, wherein during a testing mode, the flow rate of the water through the proportioning device adjustable by the proportioning device, such that a measured flow rate by the flow meter is within a range of known flow rate values that correspond to a passing condition of the surrogate foam test system.

14. The fire fighting vehicle of claim 9, wherein the foam valve prevents a flow of foam fire suppressant through the foam feed line when the surrogate foam test system is in a testing mode.

15. The fire fighting vehicle of claim 9, wherein the flush valve allows a flow of the water through the flush line when the surrogate foam test system is in a testing mode.

16. A method of testing a foam distribution system of a fire fighting vehicle, comprising:

opening a flush valve coupled to a flush line, wherein the flush line extends through the flush valve and into a foam feed line at a junction;

closing a foam valve coupled to the foam feed line upstream of the junction, wherein the foam feed line extends through the foam valve and accepts the flush line the junction;

feeding water through the flush line from a main water tank having an outlet coupled to the flush line; and

monitoring, with a flow meter, the flow rate of the water within the flush line, wherein the flow meter is coupled to the flush line between the flush valve and the junction.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising comparing the flow rate of water within the flush line with a known passing flow rate.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

feeding the water from the flush line, through the junction, and into the foam feed line;

feeding the water through the foam feed line and into a proportioning device, wherein the foam feed line is coupled to the proportioning device, and wherein the proportioning device is configured to control a flow rate of the water therethrough; and

regulating, with the proportioning device, the flow rate of the water therethrough

19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the flow rate of the water through the proportioning device includes selecting a proportioning device flow rate based on the passing flow rate.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the flow rate of the water through the proportioning device includes comparing the proportioning device flow rate to a baseline value.