Abstract:
A system for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising a transmission control having a visual indicator and coupled to a transmission of the truck, a pump control having a visual indicator and coupled to the pump, a prime control having a visual indicator and coupled to a prime pump, a master system control switch operable to receive operator input, and a main controller in data communication with the transmission control, pump control, prime control, and the master system control switch, the main controller receiving an input from the master system control switch to initiate pump setup operation, and automatically transmitting alert signals to the visual indicators of the transmission control, pump control, and prime control to provide visual guidance to the operator in the proper sequence of steps to set up the pump for pumping operation.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a system and method of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Firefighting is a highly dangerous occupation that subjects firefighters to many hazards. An important asset to the firefighters is maintaining a steady and abundant water supply to suppress fire and/or filling a truck-mounted water tank. Both of these tasks are typically accomplished by using a pump on-board the fire truck and driven by the truck engine. The water from a fire hydrant is typically directly conducted to the site of the fire. In some instances, the water from the fire hydrant is used to refill a water tank while at the same time supplying water to the fire hose used to extinguish the fire. A dangerous situation occurs when delay is introduced in setting up the fire truck for pumping operation. Because of the complicated series of steps required, the pump operator may easily and inadvertently fail to carry out the steps properly and thus delay the delivery of needed water for firefighting. Such unexpected delay in supplying water to the fire hose and the water tank can be disastrous for the firefighters at the scene. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A system and method of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications is envisioned and described herein. 
         [0004]    A system for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising a transmission control having a visual indicator and coupled to a transmission of the truck, a pump control having a visual indicator and coupled to the pump, a prime control having a visual indicator and coupled to a prime pump, a master system control switch operable to receive operator input, and a main controller in data communication with the transmission control, pump control, prime control, and the master system control switch, the main controller receiving an input from the master system control switch to initiate pump setup operation, and automatically transmitting alert signals to the visual indicators of the transmission control, pump control, and prime control to provide visual guidance to the operator in the proper sequence of steps to set up the pump for pumping operation. 
         [0005]    A system for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising an engine controller coupled to the engine of the truck, a transmission controller coupled to a transmission of the truck, a pump controller coupled to the pump, a pump pressure transducer coupled to the pump operable to measure a pump pressure, a control valve operable to regulate a water flow from the tank to a truck-mounted pump, a master system control switch operable to receive operator input, and a main controller in data communication with the transmission controller, pump controller, and the master system control switch, the main controller receiving an input from the master system control switch to initiate pump setup operations, and operable to automatically receive the pump pressure, and automatically control the engine, transmission, pump, and control valve in a proper sequence to automatically set up the pump for pumping operation. 
         [0006]    A method for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising receiving an operator input to initiate pump setup operations, automatically put the pump at 50% operation and wait for confirmation, automatically put the pump at 100% operation, automatically put a transmission of the truck in drive and wait for confirmation, automatically checking a pump pressure, automatically opening a control valve to permit water from a discharge outlet of the tank to flow to the pump, and automatically increasing an engine speed and a pump speed to predetermined settings to increase water flow from the pump. 
         [0007]    A memory having stored therein computer software code executable by a computer to implement a method for automatically setting up a truck-mounted pump driven by an engine for pumping operation, comprising receiving an operator input to initiate pump setup operation, automatically issuing an alert to guide the operator to put the pump at 50% operation and waiting for confirmation, automatically issuing an alert to guide the operator to put the pump at 100% operation, automatically issuing an alert to guide the operator to put a transmission of the truck in drive and waiting for confirmation, automatically opening a control valve to permit water from a discharge outlet of the tank to flow to a pump, and automatically increasing an engine speed and a pump speed to predetermined settings to increase water flow from the pump. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a simplified diagram illustrating an embodiment of an operation feedback panel; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a simplified flowchart of an exemplary method of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system  10  of automatic tank refill generally for firefighting applications. System  10  is shown in operation with an engine  12  of a fire truck (not shown) mechanically coupled to a transmission  14 , which includes a transmission shaft  16  mechanically coupled to a transfer unit  18 . The transfer unit  18  is further coupled to a pump  20  and a drive shaft  22  and drive wheels  24  of the fire truck. The transfer unit  18  is operable to divert engine power to the drive shaft  22  and drive wheels  24  to drive the pump  20 . 
         [0012]    The pump  20  is further coupled to a prime pump  26  under the control of a prime control  28 . The prime control  28  may a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, and may further include an alert device  30 , such as an LED. The pump  20  includes an inlet that is coupled to a water tank  32  via an intake pipe  34 . A control valve  36  is disposed in the intake pipe  34  and is operable to control the flow of water from the tank  32  to the pump  20 . The discharge outlet of the pump may also be coupled to a fire hose (not shown) used by firefighters to suppress fire. A level sensor  38  is further coupled to the water tank  32  operable to measure the amount of water or liquids in the tank and provide the data to a visual display device  40 . An intake inlet (not shown) of the pump  20  may be coupled to a fluid source, such as, without limitation, a tank  32  mounted on the fire truck, a fire hydrant, a relay hose, and a draft hose. The pump intake may be coupled to another fluid source, such as a tank mounted on a tanker truck (not shown), or for example a water reservoir, pool, pond, and lake (not shown). It should be understood that there is a system of plumping components coupled to the pump  20  but is not show explicitly in  FIG. 1  or described herein for the sake of clarity and brevity. A check valve  35  is disposed in the pump intake pipe  34  to regulate the direction of water flow therein. 
         [0013]    The operations of the engine  12  is under the control of a main CPU  50  and an engine CPU  52 . Further, the operations of the transmission  14  is under the control of a transmission CPU  54 . A transmission control  56  is coupled to the transmission CPU  54 . The transmission control  56  may include a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, and may further include an alert device  58 , such as an LED. The pump  20  is under the control of a pump control  60 , which may include a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, and may further include an alert device  62 , such as an LED. A pressure transducer  64  is coupled to the pump  20  and operable to measure the discharge pressure of the pump. The main CPU  50  is coupled or in communications with the transmission control  56 , prime control  28 , and pump control. The main CPU  50  is further coupled to or in communication with the pressure transducer  64  and level sensor  38 , and is operable to receive the pressure and tank level measurements periodically or upon polling. 
         [0014]    A master system control switch  66  coupled to the main CPU  50  includes a manually-operable lever, button, switch, for example, to enable the operator to initiate system operations. Additionally, a voice control unit  68  and speaker system  70  may be coupled to the main CPU  50  to enable an audio interface. In one embodiment, the voice control unit  68  may generate and issue audio commands that provide instructions for each step to the operator to ensure proper pump operations. In another embodiment, the voice control unit  68  may additionally generate and issue audio alerts that provide the operator feedback on the proper or improper execution of the pump operation sequence. Further coupled to the main CPU  50  is a display panel  72  capable of presenting status and information to the operator. For example, the display panel may provide the current status of the engine, transmission, pump, and pump valve. Further, the pump discharge pressure and tank level may be displayed. An exemplary status and information display is shown in  FIG. 2 . The various components described above may employ designs and construction now known or later developed. 
         [0015]    Although  FIG. 1  shows the electrical connections between the CPUs and the sensors and controls as wired connections, wireless transmission may be used instead or a combination thereof to send and receive sensed data and control information. It should be understood that although memory devices, interface circuits, analog-to-digital circuits, digital-to-analog circuits, and other devices known in the art are not explicitly shown in  FIG. 1  or described herein, such circuits and devices are included in the system  10  where required or appropriate to carry out the method shown in  FIG. 3  and described below. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a simplified flowchart of an exemplary method  80  of automatic pump operation generally for firefighting applications. The method  80  may be implemented in computer software code specifying logic and operations which are carried out in series of steps. In block  82 , the operator may initiate operations by using the master system control switch  66 . Prior to initiating pump operations, the fire truck must first be stopped, the transmission shifted to neutral, and the emergency (parking) brake on. The operator may then initiate the operations using the control switch  66 . In block  84 , a determination may be made by the main CPU  50  whether the transmission is in neutral and the emergency brake is on. The determination may be made by the transmission CPU  54  and a brake sensor (not shown) and relayed to the main CPU  50 . If these conditions are not satisfied, then an alert may be automatically generated and issued in block  86 , such as issuing an audio alert to remind the operator that the transmission and brake conditions are not satisfied. Additionally, appropriate alert messages may be displayed on the display panel  72 . The method does not proceed unless the transmission is placed in neutral and the emergency brake is engaged. If these conditions are satisfied, then in block  88  the pump control  60  is automatically moved to the 50% position, and in block  90  wait for confirmation. If the pump is properly put in the 50% setting, then the pump control  60  is automatically advanced to the 100% position in block  92 . The transmission  14  is then automatically shifted to drive in block  94 . If the transmission is in drive, as determined in block  96 , then the tank-to-pump control valve  36  is opened in block  98 . The pump discharge pressure is automatically obtained to determine whether it is operating properly in block  100 . For example, it is desirable that the pump pressure is greater than 15 psi for most pump governors. In block  102 , the prime pump  26  may be used to automatically prime the pump, if required or preferred. In block  104 , the pump speed is automatically ramped up by increasing the engine speed to increase the pump discharge pressure. The pump speed may be raised so that the pump pressure reaches a predetermined pressure setting, for example. The automatic pump operation process ends in block  106 . 
         [0017]    In an alternate embodiment, the operator controls or interfaces  56 ,  60 , and  28 , of the transmission  14 , pump  20 , and prime pump  26  may each include an indicator  58 ,  62 , and  30 . The indicator  58 ,  62 , and  30  may each be one or more visual indicators such as LEDs (light emitting diodes) and/or other lighting devices now known or later developed. The LEDs may also be color-coded to indicate proper operation/success or improper operation/failure. As the automatic pump operation proceeds through the steps, the indicator LEDs would be lit to alert the operator that the next steps in the sequence is to move or activate certain controls, levers, buttons, switches, etc. In this manner, the operator is instructed to proceed to the next step when appropriate in the correct sequence of steps using visual indicators. As described above, audio indicators or alerts may be used in combination with the visual indicators or instead thereof to provide instructions to the operator in the proper sequence of steps to operate the pump. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, the disclosed method automatically steps through the proper sequence to put the fire truck in proper pump operation. The operator may be instructed using visual or audio cues as to the next step in the sequence. Alternatively, the system proceeds through the proper sequence automatically, requiring very little operator effort. In this manner, the truck is automatically put into successful pump operation without undue delay. 
         [0019]    It should be noted that the word “water” is used herein to generally convey the concept of a fluid used for firefighting purposes, and “water” may include water, foam, chemicals, and other types of fire-suppression fluids. 
         [0020]    Further notice should be given regarding the actual implementation of the system in that certain changes and modifications to the described system, though not described explicitly or in detail, are contemplated herein. For example, the main CPU, engine CPU, and transmission CPU may be implemented using one or more CPU circuits, controllers, or micro-controller circuits. Further, it is understood that a CPU is typically in operation with its attendant circuitry and software, such as memory, interfaces, drivers, etc. as known in the art. 
         [0021]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the system and method of automatic pump operation for firefighting applications described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.