Granted Patent B2

US 12,735,312 · App. 18/938,185 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventor: Mark David Whaling (Huntington Beach, CA)

Assignee: Whaling Fire Line Equipment, Inc.

B67D7/362A62C3/0228B67D7/38B67D7/78B67D7/0277

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A system for filling a firefighting vehicle with water, comprising:

at least one water refill tank having an inlet pipe, at least one wall, an interior space enclosed by the at least one wall and in fluid communication with the inlet pipe, wherein the at least one water refill tank is configured to receive an end portion of a water refill hose from the firefighting vehicle so that the firefighting vehicle can withdraw water from the at least one at least one water refill tank to use for extinguishing fires;

a remote controlled valve assembly in fluid communication with the inlet pipe and configured to selectively control a flow of water through the inlet pipe, the remote controlled valve assembly comprising;

a supply valve configured to move between at least a closed state and an open state;

a controller electronically coupled with the supply valve;

a receiver electronically coupled with the controller; and

a power supply configured to provide a supply of power to at least one of the supply valve, the controller, and the receiver;

wherein:

the receiver is configured to receive a communication produced by a transmitter remotely located relative to the at least one water refill tank and the valve assembly and to provide an output communication to the controller; and

the controller is configured to cause the supply valve to at least move from the closed state to the open state substantially automatically upon receipt of the output communication from the receiver, thereby permitting a flow of water from the water source into the interior space of the at least one water refill tank without the need for a ground support personnel.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one water refill tank comprises a drain pipe in communication with the interior space of the at least one water refill tank and a drain valve in communication with the drain pipe and wherein the controller is configured to cause the drain valve to move from an open state to a closed state substantially automatically upon receipt of the output communication from the receiver, thereby terminating any flow of water from the interior space of the tank through the drain pipe without the need for a ground support personnel.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the at least one water refill tank comprises an opening bound by the wall of the at least one water refill tank and in communication with the interior space of the at least one water refill tank, and wherein the opening is configured such that a helicopter hovering above the at least one water refill tank can siphon water from the at least one water refill tank through a refill hose coupled with the helicopter and having an end portion that has been dropped through the opening in the top of the at least one water refill tank.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is positioned within a firefighting vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to provide the output communication to the controller upon receipt of from one to six clicks from the transmitter during a five second period of time.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to provide the output communication to the controller upon receipt of from one to six clicks from the transmitter over a predetermined radio frequency during a five second period of time.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a communication over a preset radio frequency from the transmitter and to provide the output communication to the controller upon receipt of a predetermined radio communication.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a communication over a preset VHF radio frequency from a transmitter and to provide the output communication to the controller upon receipt of a predetermined radio communication.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output communication comprises at least one of a voltage, a current, a pulse, and an electromagnetic wave.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to provide the output communication to the controller if the communication comprises one or more predetermined characteristics transmitted over a predetermined radio frequency or range of predetermined frequencies during a predetermined period of time not exceeding a predetermined period of time.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time is from four to seven seconds.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to provide the output communication to the controller upon receipt of at least a predetermined number of clicks from the transmitter over a predetermined radio frequency during a predetermined period of time.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined number of clicks is from one to eight clicks.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined number of clicks is from three to five clicks.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined number of clicks is three clicks.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined radio frequency is from 128.000 MHz to 132.000 MHz.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined radio frequency is from 122.700 MHz to 123.075 MHz.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined radio frequency is from 122 MHz to 125 MHz.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined radio frequency is 122.800 MHz.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined radio frequency is the same as the universal communications frequency.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (38)