Patent ID: 7513315

Claim:
A test system, comprising: (a) a foam-water proportioning system, wherein the foam-water proportioning system further comprises: (i) at least one proportioning valve; (ii) at least one source of water; (iii) at least one water supply line, wherein the at least one water supply line connects the at least one source of water to the at least one proportioning valve; (iv) at least one source of foam concentrate; (v) at least one foam supply line, wherein the at least one foam supply line connects the at least one source of foam concentrate to the at least one proportioning valve; and wherein the at least one proportioning valve mixes water with foam concentrate to form a solution; and (vi) at least one solution supply line, wherein the at least one solution supply line is connected to the at least one proportioning valve; (b) means for conducting an acceptance test, wherein the acceptance test characterizes the performance of the proportioning valve based on manufacturers' specifications for the proportioning valve; (c) at least one test apparatus, wherein the at least one test apparatus is connectable to or incorporated into the foam-water proportioning system, and wherein the at least one test apparatus further comprises: (i) means for bypassing the at least one source of foam concentrate, wherein the means for bypassing the at least one source of foam concentrate is located in or on the at least one foam supply line; (ii) a first test line, wherein the first test line is connected to both the at least one water supply line and the means for bypassing the at least one source of foam concentrate; and (iii) a first flow meter in fluid communication with at least one of the first test line and the foam concentrate supply line, and wherein the first flow meter is located upstream from the at least one proportioning valve, and wherein the first flow meter measures the flow of water through the first test line and through the proportioning valve when the at least one source of foam concentrate is bypassed; and (d) means for comparing the performance of the proportioning valve as determined by the acceptance test with the flow of water through the first test line when the at least one source of foam concentrate is bypassed for characterizing the performance and function of the proportioning valve and the foam-water proportioning system.