IP Library Granted Patent US 11,986,690
Granted Patent B2
US 11,986,690 · App. 17/854,752 · Granted May 21, 2024

Fire fighting systems and methods

Inventors: Eric N. Combs (Goshen, IN); Donald E. Sjolin (Granger, IN); Frederic J. Einstein (Fort Wayne, IN); Kevin McGuire (New Paris, IN); Lee R. Jones (Wakarusa, IN); John E. McLoughlin (Hauppauge, NY); Neocles G. Athanasiades (Setauket, NY); Kiam Meng Toh (Saint James, NY); Kyle A. Stoops (Elkhart, IN)
Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company, Inc.
A62C37/00A62C25/00F16K37/0083F16K37/0091G05B19/409G05D7/0623G06F3/04817G06F3/04842G06F3/0488A62C27/00G05B2219/32128
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,986,690
App. No.
17/854,752
Granted
May 21, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The method of maintaining a first flow rate through a first valve in a fluid delivery system, the fluid delivery system including a and a plurality of fluid valves in fluid communication with the pump, and a controller controlling the pressure generated by the pump and the position of the plurality of valves. The method includes providing the first flow rate of a fluid pressurized by the pump through the first valve, receiving a request for a second flow rate of the fluid through a second valve, determining a predicted effect on the first flow rate based on the request, adjusting at least one of the position of the first valve and the pressure generated by the pump to maintain the first flow rate based on the predicted effect, and adjusting the position of the second valve to provide the second flow rate of the fluid through the second valve.

Claims (24)

1. A method of maintaining a first flow rate through a first valve in a fluid delivery system, the fluid delivery system including a pump and a plurality of fluid valves in fluid communication with the pump, and a controller controlling the pressure generated by the pump and the position of the plurality of valves, the method comprising:

providing the first flow rate of a fluid pressurized by the pump through the first valve;

receiving at the controller a request for a second flow rate of the fluid through a second valve;

determining with the controller a predicted effect on the first flow rate based on the request;

adjusting at least one of the position of the first valve and the pressure generated by the pump to maintain the first flow rate based on the predicted effect; and

adjusting the position of the second valve to provide the second flow rate of the fluid through the second valve.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving at the controller a request for a third flow rate of the fluid through a third valve;

determining with the controller a revised predicted effect on the first flow rate based on the request;

adjusting at least one of the position of the first valve, the position of the second valve, and the pressure generated by the pump to maintain the first flow rate based on the predicted effect; and

adjusting the position of the third valve to provide the third flow rate of the fluid through the third valve.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising considering the effect on the second flow rate as part of the revised predicted effect.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller adjusts needed components based on the predicted effect to maintain the first flow rate.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the needed components comprise one or more of an engine and governor.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the needed components comprise one or more of a monitor, a tank level gauge, a foam system, and a generator.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller modulates an engine RPM when opening or closing a nozzle shut-off valve.

8. The method of claim 1 , further wherein the first flow rate is displayed.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle with a shutoff valve lever, wherein a position sensor identifies the positioned of the shutoff valve lever and the first valve is controlled based on the position of the shutoff valve lever.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the shutoff valve lever is not mechanically coupled to a shutoff valve.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a valve display for each of the first valve and the second valve.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the valve display is selectable by a user to alter one or more of the first flow rate and the second flow rate.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the valve display displays information relating to one or more of the position of the first valve and the position of the second valve.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the valve display shows a range of possible flow rates possible through one or more of the first valve and the second valve.

15. The method of claim 14 , further wherein the range varies between the first valve and the second valve.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: ELKHART BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
To: KKR LOAN ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 066567/0032 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: ELKHART BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: ELKHART BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 065130/0811 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 060419 FRAME 0267. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: COMBS, ERIC N; SJOLIN, DONALD E.; EINSTEIN, FREDRIC J.; MCGUIRE, KEVIN; JONES, LEE R.; ATHANASIADES, NEOCLES G.; TOH, KIAM MENG; STOOPS, KYLE A
To: ELKHART BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065130/0820 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: FIRE RESEARCH CORP.
To: ELKHART BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 065131/0019 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2023
From: JOHN E. MCLOUGHLIN
To: FIRE RESEARCH CORP.
Reel/Frame 065126/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2022
From: COMBS, ERIC N.; SJOLIN, DONALD E.; EINSTEIN, FREDRIC J.; MCGUIRE, KEVIN; JONES, LEE R.; ATHANASIADES, NEOCLES G.; TOH, KIAM MENG; STOOPS, KYLE A.
To: ELKHART BRASS MANUFACTURING INC.
Reel/Frame 060419/0267 →