Foam free test system for use with fire fighting vehicles

• US 5,881,818 A
• Filed: 10/06/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Lee, T. Richard, Kudo, Rance T., Cappillino, Raymond J., McNolty, Jesse L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WELDON, KEVIN P
• Application Number:
  US08/954,890
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 239/318, 239/393, 239/310, 239/10, 239/304, 239/305, 239/307, 169/54, 169/15
• US Class Current: 169/15
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment

Abstract

A test system for use in testing Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting and Structl Pumper vehicles equipped with fire fighting foam distribution systems. The dye piping arrangement for the test system uses a dye concentrate and water mixture which are delivered into the dye water foam free test system through a three way ball valve, a proportioner and eductor. Fluid flow through the eductor generates a vacuum or negative pressure within the eductor. The dye concentrate from a dye storage bottle is then suctioned into the foam distribution system by the negative pressure within the eductor. A needle valve, check valve and a dye solenoid valve are included in the system. The needle valve meters the amount of dye suctioned into the dye water foam distribution system. The check valve prevents any fluids from back flowing into the dye concentrate tank. The normally closed dye solenoid valve is remotely operated by an ON-POWER OFF-OFF three position switch. The switch is turned ON to provide for dye concentrate flow in the system. A digital monitor is also provided for use by the operator to read flow rate in gallons per minute during system operation. The dye concentrates used during testing are environmentally benign and biodegradable.

Claims

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

a foam storage tank having an outlet port, said foam storage tank having an aqueous film forming foam stored therein;

a water storage tank having an outlet port, said water tank providing a pressurized liquid;

a three way ball valve having a first inlet port connected to the outlet port of said foam storage tank, a second inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank and an outlet port;

said three way ball valve providing a first fluid flow path from said first inlet port of said three way ball valve to said outlet port of said three way ball valve whenever said three way ball valve is not at an active state;

said three way ball valve providing a second fluid flow path from said second inlet port of said three way ball valve to said outlet port of said three way ball valve whenever said three way ball valve is at said active state, said aqueous film forming foam flowing along said first fluid flow path through said three way ball valve whenever said three way ball valve is not at said active state, said pressurized liquid flowing along said second fluid flow path through said three way ball valve whenever said three way ball valve is at said active state;

activating means coupled to said three way ball valve for activating said three way ball valve to said active state;

monitoring means coupled to said three way ball valve for monitoring a rate of flow of said aqueous film forming foam through said monitoring means, said monitoring means having a digital display means for providing a visual display of said rate of flow of said aqueous film forming foam through said monitoring means;

proportioner means connected to said monitoring means for controlling said rate of flow of said aqueous film forming foam from said foam storage tank, said proportioner means including an orifice plate to control said rate of flow of said aqueous film forming foam; and

eductor means having a first inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank to receive said pressurized liquid and a second inlet port connected to said proportioner means, said pressurized liquid creating a vacuum within said eductor means as said pressurized liquid flows through said eductor means, said vacuum drawing said aqueous film forming foam into said eductor means, said eductor means mixing said pressurized liquid and said aqueous film forming foam to form a liquid foam concentrate mixture.

2. The foam free test system of claim 1 further comprising:

a dye storage tank having an outlet port, said dye storage tank having a dye concentrate stored therein;

a needle valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said dye storage tank and an outlet port;

a check valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said needle valve and an outlet port; and

a dye solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said check valve and an outlet port connected to an inlet-outlet port of said proportioner means.

3. The foam free test system of claim 2 wherein said dye concentrate comprises a biodegradable yellow-green dye.

4. The foam free test system of claim 2 wherein said dye concentrate comprises a biodegradable blue dye.

5. A foam free test system adapted for testing a foam distribution system of a fire fighting vehicle comprising:

a foam storage tank having an outlet port, said foam storage tank having an aqueous film forming foam stored therein;

a water storage tank having an outlet port, said water tank providing a pressurized liquid;

an air supply tank having an outlet port, said supply tank providing a pressurized gas;

a pneumatic solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said air supply tank and an outlet port;

an air operated valve having an A inlet port connected to the outlet port of said foam storage tank, a B inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank, a C outlet port and a pneumatic inlet port connected to the outlet port of said pneumatic solenoid valve;

a first check valve having an inlet port connected to the C outlet port of said air operated valve;

a first ball valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said first check valve and an outlet port;

a second ball valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank and an outlet port;

a proportioner having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said first ball valve and the outlet port of said second ball valve, an inlet-outlet port and an outlet port;

a dye storage tank having an outlet port, said dye storage tank having a dye concentrate stored therein;

a needle valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said dye storage tank and an outlet port;

a second check valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said needle valve and an outlet port;

a dye solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said second check valve and an outlet port connected to the inlet-outlet port of said proportioner; and

an eductor having a first inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank and a second inlet port connected to the outlet port of said proportioner.

6. The foam free test system of claim 5 wherein said air operated valve comprises a three way ball valve.

7. The foam free test system of claim 5 further comprising a fluid flow sensor coupled between the C outlet port of said air operated valve and the inlet port of said first check valve.

8. The foam free test system of claim 7 further comprising a digital flow monitor electrically coupled to said fluid flow sensor.

9. The foam free test system of claim 5 comprising a third ball valve having an inlet port connected to the inlet-outlet port of said proportioner and the outlet port of said dye solenoid valve.

10. The foam free test system of claim 5 wherein said dye concentrate comprises a biodegradable yellow-green dye.

11. The foam free test system of claim 5 wherein said dye concentrate comprises a biodegradable blue dye.

12. The foam free test system of claim 5 further comprising a hand held push button switch electrically connected to said pneumatic solenoid valve and said dye solenoid valve.

13. The foam free test system of claim 5 further comprising a discharge line, said discharge line being connected to an outlet port of said eductor and the foam distribution system of said fire fighting vehicle.

20. The foam free test system of claim 13 further comprising a fourth ball valve having inlet port connected to the outlet port of said fluid flow sensor.

14. A foam free test system adapted for testing a foam distribution system of a fire fighting vehicle comprising:

a foam storage tank having an outlet port, said foam storage tank having an aqueous film forming foam stored therein;

a water storage tank having an outlet port, said water tank providing a pressurized liquid;

an air supply tank having an outlet port, said supply tank providing a pressurized gas;

a pneumatic solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said air supply tank and an outlet port;

an air operated valve having an A inlet port connected to the outlet port of said foam storage tank, a B inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank, a C outlet port and a pneumatic inlet port connected to the outlet port of said pneumatic solenoid valve;

a first check valve having an inlet port connected to the C outlet port of said air operated valve;

a fluid flow sensor having an inlet port coupled to the C outlet port of said air operated valve, said fluid flow sensor having an outlet port coupled to the inlet port of said first check valve;

a digital flow monitor electrically coupled to said fluid flow sensor;

a first ball valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said first check valve and an outlet port;

a second ball valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank and an outlet port;

a proportioner having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said first ball valve and the outlet port of said second ball valve, an inlet-outlet port and an outlet port;

a dye storage tank having an outlet port, said dye storage tank having a dye concentrate stored therein;

a needle valve having an inlet port connected of said dye storage tank and an outlet port;

a second check valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said needle valve and an outlet port;

a dye solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said second check valve and an outlet port connected to the inlet-outlet port of said proportioner;

an eductor having a first inlet port connected to the outlet port of said water storage tank and a second inlet port connected to the outlet port of said proportioner; and

a third ball valve having an inlet port connected to the inlet-outlet port of said proportioner and the outlet port of said dye solenoid valve.

15. The foam free test system of claim 14 wherein said air operated valve comprises a three way ball valve.

16. The foam free test system of claim 14 wherein said dye concentrate comprises a biodegradable yellow-green dye.

17. The foam free test system of claim 14 wherein said dye concentrate comprises a biodegradable blue dye.

18. The foam free test system of claim 14 further comprising a hand held push button switch electrically connected to said pneumatic solenoid valve and said dye solenoid valve.

19. The foam free test system of claim 14 further comprising a discharge line, said discharge line being connected to an outlet port of said eductor and the foam distribution system of said fire fighting vehicle.