FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR A FIRE APPARATUS

• US 20190015692A1
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Published: 01/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Fieber, David, Piller, Brian, Trinkner, Chad
• Granted Patent: US 11,185,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/00 Control of fire-fighting equipment heat-sensitive devices G01K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/002 Apparatus for mixing extinguishants with water

Abstract

A fire apparatus includes a fluid delivery system having a water circuit, an agent circuit, and a ratio controller. The water circuit includes a water pump configured to pump water from a water source through the water circuit. The agent circuit includes an agent tank configured to store an agent, an agent pump configured to pump the agent through the agent circuit, and an agent metering valve positioned to variably restrict a flow of the agent therethrough. The ratio controller is positioned to receive the water and the agent. The ratio controller is configured to provide an agent-water solution to one or more outlets. The agent metering valve is a self-adjusting metering valve having a valve controller configured to adjust at least one of an orifice size and a valve position based on a water flow rate entering the ratio controller and a preselected agent-to-water ratio for the agent-water solution.

Claims

1. A fire apparatus comprising:

a fluid delivery system including;

a water circuit including a water pump configured to pump water from a water source through the water circuit;

an agent circuit including an agent tank configured to store an agent onboard the fire apparatus, an agent pump configured to pump the agent from the agent tank through the agent circuit, and an agent metering valve positioned to receive the agent from the agent pump and variably restrict a flow of the agent therethrough; and

a ratio controller positioned to receive the water from the water circuit and the agent from the agent circuit, the ratio controller configured to provide an agent-water solution to one or more outlets of the fire apparatus;

wherein the agent metering valve is a self-adjusting metering valve having a valve controller configured to adjust at least one of an orifice size and a valve position of the agent metering valve based on a water flow rate entering the ratio controller from the water circuit and a preselected agent-to-water ratio for the agent-water solution exiting the ratio controller.

2. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water circuit includes a water tank configured to store the water onboard the fire apparatus.

3. The fire apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an agent check valve positioned between the agent metering valve and the ratio controller, the agent check valve configured to allow the agent to flow through the agent check valve in a first direction towards the ratio controller and prevent the agent from flowing through the agent check valve in an opposing second direction.

4. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the agent metering valve includes an integrated check valve positioned therein, the integrated check valve configured to allow the agent to flow out of the agent metering valve in a first direction and prevent the agent from flowing into the agent metering valve in an opposing second direction.

5. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery system includes a water flow meter positioned along the water circuit to facilitate monitoring the water flow rate of the water flowing through the ratio controller.

6. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio controller includes an integrated flow meter configured to facilitate monitoring an inlet pressure of the water entering the ratio controller and an intermediate pressure within the ratio controller to facilitate determining the water flow rate of the water flowing therethrough.

7. The fire apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ratio controller includes:

a housing defining a mixing chamber having a first inlet configured to receive the water from the water circuit, a second inlet configured to receive the agent from the agent circuit, and an outlet configured to output the agent-water solution;

a nozzle extending from the first inlet and at least partially into the mixing chamber;

a diffuser extending from the outlet outward from the housing;

wherein a nozzle outlet of the nozzle and a diffuser inlet of the diffuser are spaced a distance that is less than a width of the mixing chamber.

8. The fire apparatus of claim 7, wherein the ratio controller includes:

a first pressure port positioned proximate the first inlet; and

a second pressure port positioned within the mixing chamber;

wherein the integrated flow meter is coupled to the first pressure port and the second pressure port to monitor the inlet pressure and the intermediate pressure within the ratio controller.

9. The fire apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an agent shut-off valve positioned between the agent metering valve and the ratio controller, the agent shut-off valve configured to facilitate selectively isolating the agent circuit from the ratio controller.

10. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the agent metering valve is a combined agent metering valve and shut-off valve such that the agent metering valve is configured to facilitate selectively isolating the agent circuit from the ratio controller.

11. The fire apparatus of claim 10, wherein the agent metering valve has a ninety degree flow path such that an inlet of the agent metering valve is oriented perpendicularly relative to an outlet of the agent metering valve.

12. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the agent metering valve includes a selectively repositionable flow restrictor having at least one of (i) a portion that defines a non-uniform V-shaped profile and (ii) a portion that defines an elongated V-notch that variably restrict the flow of the agent through the agent metering valve.

13. A metering valve for a fluid delivery system of a fire apparatus, the metering valve comprising:

a body defining a first inlet configured to receive a fluid from a component of the fluid delivery system, a first outlet, and a first chamber connecting the first inlet and the first outlet;

a spout defining a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second chamber connecting the second inlet to the second outlet, the spout coupled to the body such that the first outlet and the second inlet align, thereby connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the first inlet and the second outlet are oriented perpendicularly relative to each other such that the body and the spout define a ninety degree flow path; and

a flow restrictor positioned to selectively engage with the first outlet, the second inlet, and the second chamber, the flow restrictor having at least one of (i) a portion that defines a non-uniform V-shaped profile and (ii) a portion that defines an elongated V-notch, wherein repositioning the flow restrictor variably restricts a flow of the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber.

14. The metering valve of claim 13, the fluid is a first fluid, further comprising a controller configured to adaptively adjust a position of the flow restrictor based on a flow rate of a second fluid entering a ratio controller and a preselected ratio for a solution of the first fluid and the second fluid exiting the ratio controller.

15. The metering valve of claim 13, wherein the flow restrictor is a plunger having a plunger head having the portion that defines the non-uniform V-shaped profile.

16. The metering valve of claim 15, wherein the plunger head has an annular ring, a bottom portion, and a peripheral wall extending between the annular ring and the bottom portion, wherein the annular ring selectively seals the second inlet and a portion of the peripheral wall selectively engages an inner surface of the second chamber.

17. The metering valve of claim 16, wherein the peripheral wall includes the portion that defines the non-uniform V-shaped profile, the non-uniform V-shaped profile including:

a first angled wall extending linearly at a first angle from the annular ring along a first side of the peripheral wall to the bottom portion toward a center of the plunger head;

a second angled wall extending linearly at a second angle from a position along an opposing second side of the peripheral wall between the annular ring and the bottom portion to the bottom portion toward the center of the plunger head;

wherein a slope of the first angled wall is less than the slope of the second angled wall.

18. The metering valve of claim 13, wherein the spout defines a third chamber connected to the second chamber, wherein the second chamber and the third chamber connect the second inlet to the second outlet, further comprising an integrated check valve positioned within the third chamber, wherein the integrated check valve is configured to allow the fluid to flow along the ninety degree flow path in a first direction and prevent the fluid from flowing along the ninety degree flow path in an opposing second direction.

19. A method for shifting a pump of a fluid delivery system of a fire apparatus into a pump mode, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processing circuit, a pump shift input from a pump switch, wherein the pump switch is positioned remotely from a cab of the fire apparatus;

determining, by the processing circuit, whether a transmission of the fire apparatus is in neutral;

shifting, by the processing circuit, the transmission into neutral in response to the transmission being in gear;

determining, by the processing circuit, whether a parking brake of the fire apparatus is engaged;

engaging, by the processing circuit, the parking brake in response to the parking brake being disengaged;

shifting, by the processing circuit, a pump transfer case coupled to the pump and an engine of the fire apparatus into the pump mode in response to the transmission being in neutral and the parking brake being engaged such that the pump is drivable by the engine; and

shifting, by the processing circuit, the transmission from neutral into drive such that the engine drives the pump in response to shifting the pump transfer case into the pump mode.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing, by the processing circuit, an indication on an output device that the pump is engaged and operable in response to shifting the transmission into drive.