Patent ID: 7290457
Filing Date: 2007-11-06
Classification: A62C,G01F

Abstract:
1. A foam free system which provides for an environmentally safe testing of a foam delivery system on a fire fighting vehicle, comprising: a mobile platform adapted for movement to a location having said fire fighting vehicle; a surrogate fluid storage tank mounted on said mobile platform, said surrogate fluid storage tank containing an environmentally safe surrogate fluid, said surrogate fluid storage tank having an inlet/outlet port; a flow sensor located on said mobile platform, said flow sensor including a paddle wheel flow transmitter connected to the inlet/outlet port of said surrogate fluid storage tank and a flow indicator electrically connected to said paddle wheel flow transmitter, said flow indicator providing a measurement of a fluid flow rate of said surrogate fluid through the paddle wheel flow transmitter of said flow sensor; a first ball valve located on said mobile platform, said first ball valve having an inlet port connected to the paddle wheel flow transmitter of said flow sensor and an outlet port; a flexible hose having one end connected to the outlet port of said first ball valve; a second ball valve located on said fire fighting vehicle, said second ball valve having a reducer operating as an inlet port connected to the other end of said flexible hose and an outlet port; a third ball valve having a pneumatic operator, said third ball valve being located on said fire fighting vehicle, said third ball valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said second ball valve and an outlet port; said first ball valve, said second ball valve and said third ball valve being open when said foam free system is testing the foam delivery system on said fire fighting vehicle allowing said surrogate fluid to flow through said first ball valve, said second ball valve and said third ball valve; a multi-metering manifold valve located on said fire fighting vehicle, said multi-metering manifold valve having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of said third ball valve and a discharge port, said multi-metering manifold valve controlling a flow rate of said surrogate fluid from said third ball valve through said multi-metering manifold valve when said foam free system is testing the foam delivery system on said fire fighting vehicle; a supply tank for providing an environmentally safe pressurized liquid, said supply tank having an outlet port; an eductor located on said fire fighting vehicle, said eductor having a first inlet port connected to the outlet port of said supply tank, a second inlet port connected to the outlet port of said third ball valve, and a discharge port, said eductor receiving said pressurized liquid from said supply tank, said pressurized liquid creating a vacuum within said eductor that draws said surrogate fluid into said eductor, said eductor mixing said surrogate fluid with said pressurized liquid to form a surrogate fluid mixture under pressure, said eductor discharging said surrogate fluid mixture through the discharge port of said eductor to a plurality of nozzles located on said fire fighting vehicle; and a foam drainage system connected to the outlet port of said second ball valve and the inlet port of said third ball valve, said foam drainage system including a drain valve having a discharge port; a foam concentrate storage bottle connected to the discharge port of said drain valve to receive AFFF concentrate from said fire fighting vehicle when said drain valve is open.