Compressed air foam pumping system
First Claim
1. A compressed air foam system for use in extinguishing fire comprising:
- a mixer having an inlet and an outlet;
a solution discharge device configured to receive mixed aerated foam solution from the outlet of the mixer and output the mixed aerated foam solution from the system;
a fire pump having a suction port and a discharge port, the fire pump being configured to pump water under pressure from the discharge port, the suction port being in fluid communication with a water source;
a conduit providing a fluid path between the discharge port of the fire pump and the inlet of the mixer;
a water flow sensor configured to sense a water flow rate of the water flowing through the conduit;
a foam proportioning apparatus configured to inject foam chemical into the water flowing through the system;
an air conduit configured to inject compressed air at an air injection point into the water flowing through one of the conduit and the mixer, the air conduit being in fluid communication with a source of compressed air;
an air flow sensor configured to sense an air flow rate of the air flowing through the air conduit;
an air flow control valve configured to control the flow of the compressed air through the air conduit; and
a system controller having a user adjustable ratio input, the system controller being configured to receive the sensed water flow rate from the water flow sensor, to receive the sensed air flow rate from the air flow sensor, to output a first control signal to the air flow control valve for regulating the flow of compressed air and to output a second control signal to the foam proportioning apparatus for regulating the flow of foam relative to the sensed water flow rate, the system controller automatically adjusting the first and second control signals to maintain a ratio of air flow to foam flow based upon the user adjustable ratio input.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compressed air foam system for use in extinguishing fire includes a conduit, a water flow sensor, a foam proportioning apparatus, an air conduit, an air flow sensor, an air flow control valve and a system controller. The water flow sensor is configured to sense a water flow rate through the conduit. The air flow sensor is configured to sense an air flow rate through the air conduit. The system controller has a user adjustable ratio input. The system controller is configured to receive the sensed water flow rate, to receive the sensed air flow rate, to output a first control signal to the air flow control valve and to output a second control signal to the foam proportioning apparatus. The system controller automatically adjusts the first and second control signals to maintain a ratio of air flow to foam flow based upon the user adjustable ratio input.
79 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A compressed air foam system for use in extinguishing fire comprising:
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a mixer having an inlet and an outlet; a solution discharge device configured to receive mixed aerated foam solution from the outlet of the mixer and output the mixed aerated foam solution from the system; a fire pump having a suction port and a discharge port, the fire pump being configured to pump water under pressure from the discharge port, the suction port being in fluid communication with a water source; a conduit providing a fluid path between the discharge port of the fire pump and the inlet of the mixer; a water flow sensor configured to sense a water flow rate of the water flowing through the conduit; a foam proportioning apparatus configured to inject foam chemical into the water flowing through the system; an air conduit configured to inject compressed air at an air injection point into the water flowing through one of the conduit and the mixer, the air conduit being in fluid communication with a source of compressed air; an air flow sensor configured to sense an air flow rate of the air flowing through the air conduit; an air flow control valve configured to control the flow of the compressed air through the air conduit; and a system controller having a user adjustable ratio input, the system controller being configured to receive the sensed water flow rate from the water flow sensor, to receive the sensed air flow rate from the air flow sensor, to output a first control signal to the air flow control valve for regulating the flow of compressed air and to output a second control signal to the foam proportioning apparatus for regulating the flow of foam relative to the sensed water flow rate, the system controller automatically adjusting the first and second control signals to maintain a ratio of air flow to foam flow based upon the user adjustable ratio input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control system for a compressed air foam system, the compressed air foam system having at least a pumped water line, a compressed air line coupled to an air source and to the water line, and a foam concentrate line coupled to a foam source and to the water line, the control system comprising:
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a water flow sensor configured to sense a flow rate of the water flowing through the water line; a water pressure sensor configured to sense a water pressure of the water flowing through the water line; an air flow sensor configured to sense a flow rate of the air flowing through the air line; an air flow control valve configured to variably throttle the air flowing through the air line and into the water flowing through the system; a foam proportioning apparatus configured to meter the foam chemical flowing through the foam concentrate line and into the water flowing through the system; and a system controller having a user adjustable ratio input, the system controller being configured to receive the sensed water flow rate from the water flow sensor, to receive the sensed air flow rate from the air flow sensor, to output a first control signal to the air flow control valve for regulating the flow of air and to output a second control signal to the foam proportioning apparatus for regulating the flow of foam relative to the water flow rate, the system controller automatically adjusting the first and second control signals to maintain a user adjustable ratio of air flow to foam flow based upon the user adjustable ratio input. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A compressed air foam system for use in extinguishing fire comprising:
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a mixer having an inlet and an outlet; a solution discharge device configured to receive mixed aerated foam solution from the outlet of the mixer and output the mixed aerated foam solution from the system; a fire pump having a suction port and a discharge port, the fire pump being configured to pump water under pressure from the discharge port, the suction port being in fluid communication with a water source; a conduit providing a fluid path between the discharge port of the fire pump and the inlet of the mixer; a foam proportioning apparatus configured to inject foam chemical into the water flowing through the conduit; an air conduit configured to inject air into the water flowing through one of the conduit and the mixer, the air conduit being in fluid communication with a source of compressed air; an air flow sensor configured to sense an air flow rate of the air flowing through the air conduit; an air flow control valve configured to control the flow of the compressed air through the air conduit; an air flow controller having a user adjustable setpoint, the air flow controller being configured to receive the sensed air flow rate from the air flow sensor and to output an air flow control signal to the air flow control valve for regulating the flow of air; and a variable water restriction device disposed in the conduit, the variable water restriction device being configured to selectively reduce water flow and pressure when a user desires to create an aerated mixed foam solution having higher air concentrations once the flow rate of the air being injected has reached a maximum attainable value.
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17. A compressed air foam system for use in extinguishing fire comprising:
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a mixer having an inlet and an outlet; a first solution discharge device configured to receive mixed aerated foam solution from the outlet of the mixer and output the mixed aerated foam solution from the system; a fire pump having a suction port and a discharge port, the fire pump being configured to pump water under pressure from the discharge port, the suction port being in fluid communication with a water source; a conduit providing a fluid path between the discharge port of the fire pump and the inlet of the mixer; a foam proportioning apparatus configured to inject foam chemical into the water flowing through the conduit; an air conduit configured to inject air into the water flowing through one of the conduit and the mixer, the air conduit being in fluid communication with a source of compressed air; a second solution discharge device configured to receive a foam and water solution; and a branch conduit coupled to the conduit upstream of the air conduit, the branch conduit configured to provide the foam and water solution from the conduit to the second solution discharge device.
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Specification