Fire-fighting control system

• US 9,220,935 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hale Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Phantom Ip Inc.
• Inventors: Cerrano, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US13/800,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20130186653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 169/45, 169/46, 169/67, 169/68, 169/13, 169/60, 239 67- 69, 239/569
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/00 Fire prevention or containment A62C3/00 takes precedence; flame traps A62C4/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/02 Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/00 Control of fire-fighting equipment heat-sensitive devices G01K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/38 by both sensor and actuator, e.g. valve, being in the danger zone
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41302 On off fluid valve and power cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light

Abstract

A nozzle system is provided for use in a fire-fighting environment. The nozzle system includes a nozzle, and a remote component that is communicatively coupleable to a base component and that is associated with the nozzle. The remote component includes an indicator configured to provide a status signal associated with the nozzle system.

Claims

1. A nozzle system for use in a fire-fighting environment, said nozzle system comprising:

a nozzle adapted for manual control by a firefighter positioned adjacent the nozzle; and

a remote component positioned proximate the nozzle, the remote component communicatively coupleable to a base component positioned remote from the nozzle and associated with the nozzle, the remote component comprising a display configured to display a plurality of indicators associated with a status of the nozzle system to the firefighter positioned adjacent the nozzle, wherein the remote component is configured to receive signals from the base component and, in response to the signals received from the base component, present, via the display, a first of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water volume associated with a first water source stored at a fire fighting device, and a second of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water pressure associated with a second water source remote from the fire fighting device.

2. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the remote component is further configured to present, via the display, at least one of the plurality of indicators indicative of whether the nozzle is ready to discharge water in response to the signals received from the base component.

3. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of valves coupled to the nozzle, wherein the remote component is further configured to present, via the display, at least one of the plurality of indicators indicative of an actuation state of at least one valve of the plurality of valves.

4. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the remote component comprises an input device configured to transmit a communication signal to the base component.

5. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a bail coupled to the nozzle, the bail configured to control a position of a valve associated with the nozzle, such that a flow of liquid discharged from the nozzle is regulated by the bail; and

a sensor configured to detect the position of the valve, and transmit a signal indicative of the position of the valve.

14. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the remote component is coupled to the nozzle.

6. A method of controlling a nozzle system in a fire-fighting environment, said method comprising:

communicatively coupling a base component to a first remote component of a plurality of remote components, each remote component of the plurality of remote components including a display configured to display a plurality of indicators associated with a status of the nozzle system;

selectively associating the first remote component with a first nozzle of a plurality of nozzles, each of the plurality of nozzles adapted for manual control by a firefighter positioned adjacent the nozzle, wherein the first remote component is positioned proximate the first nozzle and the base component is positioned remote from the nozzle;

receiving, at the remote component, signals from the base component;

presenting, via the display of the first remote component, a first of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water volume associated with a first water source stored at a fire fighting device to the firefighter positioned adjacent the first nozzle in response to the signals received from the base component; and

presenting, via the display of the first remote component, a second of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water pressure associated with a second water source remote from the fire fighting device to the firefighter positioned adjacent the first nozzle in response to the signals received from the base component.

7. A nozzle system for use in a fire-fighting environment, said nozzle system comprising:

a base component;

a plurality of nozzles, each of the plurality of nozzles adapted for manual control by a firefighter positioned adjacent the nozzle; and

a plurality of remote components, each of the plurality of remote components is positioned proximate one of the plurality of nozzles and communicatively coupleable to the base component, wherein the base component is programmed to selectively associate a first remote component of the plurality of remote components with a first nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, the first remote component comprising a display configured to display a plurality of indicators associated with a status of the nozzle system to a firefighter positioned adjacent the first nozzle, wherein the first remote component is configured to receive signals from the base component and, in response to the signals received from the base component, present, via the display, a first of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water volume associated with a first water source stored at a fire fighting device, and a second of the plurality of indicators indicative of a water pressure associated with a second water source remote from the fire fighting device.

8. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the remote component is further configured to display a third of the plurality of indicators associated with a second nozzle of the plurality of nozzles.

9. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

a bail coupled to the second nozzle, the bail configured to control a position of a valve associated with the second nozzle, such that a flow of liquid discharged from the second nozzle is regulated by the bail; and

a sensor configured to detect the position of the valve, and transmit a signal indicative of the position of the valve to the remote component.

10. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the third indicator is associated with the position of the valve.

11. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the remote component is further configured to present, via the display, at least one of the plurality of indicators indicative of whether the nozzle is ready to discharge water.

12. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a plurality of valves coupled to the first nozzle, wherein the remote component is further configured to present, via the display, at least one of the plurality of indicators indicative of an actuation state of at least one valve of the plurality of valves.

13. A nozzle system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first remote component comprises an input device configured to transmit a communication signal to the base component.