Fire protection device comprising distributed control system

Abstract

A fire extinguishing system includes: a pump; a nozzle for directing a flow of fluid from the pump; a nozzle component including a first transceiver and an indicator; a fluid line connecting the pump to the nozzle; and a drain valve control assembly. The drain valve control assembly includes: a drain valve that controls fluid flow between the pump and the nozzle; a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid line between the pump and the discharge valve; and a second transceiver providing communication between the nozzle component and the discharge valve control assembly. The drain valve control assembly is configured to: receive a request to charge a hose section of a fluid line; and determining whether to open the drain valve based on the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor in response to receiving the request.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 373,516, filed on August 25, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to control systems and, more particularly, to control systems for use in controlling fire protection devices.

[0004] Fire pump trucks (broadly referred to herein as "fire equipment") are used to extinguish fires by pumping a fluid (e.g., water, foam, or other fire retardant) from a source through a hose line, where the fluid can be directed (i.e., sprayed) onto the fire to facilitate extinguishing or containing the fire. Known pump trucks include a control system for regulating the operation of the truck and for controlling the flow of fluid from the truck to the hose line. Such control systems typically include a plurality of valves for controlling the flow of fluid from a storage tank transported on the truck or from another fluid supply source (e.g., a fire hydrant) to the fire pump. These valves also facilitate control of the flow of fluid from the fire pump to a fire hose or other discharge device. Known control systems include pressure sensors and flow sensors for monitoring the pressure and flow of fluid at various locations within the pump truck. For example, a pressure sensor can monitor the pressure of the fluid received by the fire pump from the supply source. Typically, a pump truck controller for adjusting valves and fire pumps is typically located in a control panel on the side of the pump truck.

[0005] In a conventional pump truck, an operator, often referred to as an engineer, must manually operate the pump truck's controls during use. More specifically, the engineer manually manipulates the controls to change the flow and / or control the pressure of the liquid output by the pump truck to the hose. In addition, during operation, a firefighter located near the nozzle of the hose coupled to the pump truck verbally communicates to the engineer (usually via a handheld radio) any desired changes in the flow and / or pressure of the liquid delivered to the nozzle through the hose. In response, the engineer manually adjusts the controls so that the desired changes in the flow and / or pressure of the liquid delivered through the hose can be achieved. Typically one engineer is responsible for monitoring and responding to communications from multiple firefighters, each of whom has a separate hose coupled to the same pump truck.

[0006] In some known firefighting systems, an automated control system can be used to automatically control at least some of the operations that are traditionally handled by an operator. Known systems utilize one or more controllers that can be communicatively connected to fluid control components, such as discharge valves and / or pumps of a firefighting device. However, such systems are generally complex to install and may require the replacement of several functional components on a pre-existing manufacturing vehicle. Therefore, it may be expensive to install such a system on a pre-existing vehicle. As used herein, the term "engineer" refers to a firefighter who is generally located at a firefighting device, whose duties involve controlling the operation of the firefighting device. As used herein, the term "nozzle operator" generally refers to a firefighter whose duties are to control and / or operate the nozzle of the firefighting device to direct the fluid flow to the target area. As used herein, the term "fill" or "filled with" when used in association with a hose line or nozzle refers to providing a pressurized fluid to the hose line and / or nozzle. Summary of the invention

[0007] In one aspect, a firefighting system is provided. The firefighting system includes: a pump; a nozzle for directing a fluid flow from the pump toward a target area; a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle, the nozzle component including a first transceiver and an indicator; a fluid line connecting the pump to the nozzle; and a discharge valve control assembly. The discharge valve control assembly includes: a discharge valve that controls a fluid flow between the pump and the nozzle; a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid line between the pump and the discharge valve; and a second transceiver that provides communication between the nozzle component and the discharge valve control assembly. The discharge valve control assembly is configured to receive a request to fill a hose section of the fluid line, and in response to receiving the request, determine whether to open the discharge valve based on a fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

[0008] In another aspect, a discharge valve control assembly for use with a fire protection system is provided. The discharge valve control assembly includes a discharge valve that controls fluid flow through a fluid line extending from a pump of the fire protection system to a nozzle; a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid line upstream of the discharge valve; and a transceiver that provides communication with a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle. The discharge valve control assembly is configured to receive a request from the nozzle component to fill a hose section of the fluid line, and in response to receiving the request, determine whether to open the discharge valve based on the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

[0009] In yet another aspect, a method of operating a fire protection system is provided. The method includes: sending a first signal from a transceiver at a fire truck of the fire protection system to a nozzle component indicating that a hose section of a fluid line is ready to be filled, and receiving a second signal from the nozzle component at the transceiver, the second signal including a request to fill the hose section. The method also includes: determining to fill the fluid line based on a fluid pressure detected by a pressure sensor and a predefined minimum pressure stored on a memory, the pressure sensor being positioned on the fluid line upstream of a discharge valve; and automatically controlling the discharge valve to open to fill the hose section in response to the determination. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary fire protection system.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the control system of the fire protection system shown in FIG.

[0012] Figure 3 is used with Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the communication network used with the control system.

[0013] Figure 4 is used with Figure 2 Schematic diagram of an alternative communication network for use with a control system.

[0014] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an alternative fire protection system.

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of an alternative control system for a fire protection system shown in .

[0016] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another alternative fire protection system.

[0017] Figure 8 Yes Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 A flow chart of an exemplary method of operating a fire protection system is shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The exemplary systems and methods described herein overcome the shortcomings of known fire control systems by enabling at least partially automated control of components of the fire protection system. For example, some embodiments described herein include systems that can be retrofitted to non-automated fire trucks to allow pressure control at remote nozzles of the fire protection system and / or to notify a firefighter ("attack officer" or "nozzle operator") at a corresponding nozzle if fluid pressure at the truck is insufficient to fill its corresponding line. Thus, the systems and methods described herein help to increase the efficiency of the fire protection system in a cost-effective and reliable manner, while also increasing the safety of firefighters by reducing the possibility of human error.

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary fire protection system 100 . Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a control system 102 of a fire protection system 100 is shown in FIG.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, fire protection system 100 includes fire protection device 104, such as a fire truck. A pump 106 and a tank 108 are coupled to fire protection device 104. Fluid used for fire protection or fire suppression is stored in tank 108. Tank 108 is coupled to pump 106 via a tank supply line 110 so that fluid can be selectively supplied to pump 106. A tank supply valve 112 coupled to tank supply line 110 provides control over the flow of fluid from tank 108 to pump 106. A tank recirculation line 114 enables fluid to be recirculated from pump 106 to tank 108. A tank recirculation valve 116 coupled to tank recirculation line 114 provides control over the flow of fluid from pump 106 to tank 108. In Figure 1 In some embodiments, the recirculation line 114 of the tank 108 is also used to fill the tank 108 with fluid from the fluid source 117. In other embodiments, the fire protection device 104 may include separate recirculation and fill lines extending from the pump 106 to the tank 108, wherein each of the tank 108 and the fill line has its own selectively controllable valve thereon. In other embodiments, the fire protection system 100 may not include the recirculation line 114 and the recirculation valve 116.

[0021] The fluid source 117 is coupled to the pump 106 via a source line 118. A source valve 120 is coupled to the source line 118 to facilitate controlling the flow of fluid from the fluid source 117 to the pump 106. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor (not shown) is coupled to the source line 118 (e.g., coupled to the source line at an inlet manifold of the fire fighting device 104) to measure the operating pressure of the fluid in the source line 118. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid discharged from the fluid source 117 is water. In other embodiments, the fluid discharged from the source 117 may be any other fluid, such as but not limited to foam or any other fire retardant fluid. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid source 117 is a continuous fluid source 117 implemented as a fire hydrant. In other embodiments, the fluid source 117 may be any other fluid source, such as a river, a lake, or any other body of water. In an exemplary embodiment, the pump 106 is operable to selectively fill the tank 108 with fluid from the fluid source 117 using a tank recirculation valve 116 and / or a filling valve (not shown) coupled to the tank 108.

[0022] The first nozzle 122 is coupled to the pump 106 via a first fluid line 124, and the second nozzle 126 is coupled to the pump 106 via a second fluid line 128. The first nozzle 122 and the second nozzle 126 may be carried by a nozzle operator and / or selectively positioned by a nozzle operator. The pump 106 is operable to receive fluid from either the source line 118 and the tank supply line 110, pressurize the fluid, and provide the pressurized fluid to the first and second fluid lines 124, 128 and to the first and second nozzles 122, 126 for discharge from the nozzles 122, 126 during firefighting operations. Although in Figure 1 Only two fluid lines 124, 128 are shown in FIG. 1 , but it should be understood that in other embodiments, more or less than two fluid lines and associated valves, nozzles 122, 126, and pressure sensors may be used.

[0023] Despite Figure 1 106, it should be understood that the source line 118, the tank supply line 110, the tank recirculation line 114, and the first and second fluid lines 124, 128 may include separate lines, manifolds, or other intermediate structures coupled therebetween. For example, the source valve 120 and / or a pressure sensor (not shown) on the source line 118 may be disposed on an intake manifold of the fire protection device 104 that is fluidly coupled between the source 117 and the pump 106. Additionally, the first and second fluid lines 124, 128 may be coupled to the pump 106 via a discharge manifold (not shown), which may include the features of the first and second fluid lines 124, 128 as described herein.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, a first discharge valve control assembly 130 is coupled to the first fluid line 124, and a second discharge valve control assembly 132 is coupled to the second fluid line 128. The first discharge valve control assembly 130 and the second discharge valve control assembly 132 are substantially identical, except as described differently herein. The discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 each include a discharge valve 134, 136 and a pressure sensor 138, 140. The discharge valves 134, 136 are selectively switchable between an open state and a closed state for controlling the flow of fluid from the pump 106 to the corresponding nozzles 122, 126. In particular, the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 are each coupled to a discharge manifold (not shown) of the fire protection device 104. The pump 106 supplies fluid to the discharge manifold at a uniform fluid pressure, and then provides the fluid to each of the discharge valves 134, 136.

[0025] The fluid lines 124, 128 each include a first section 142 that extends from the pump 106 to a corresponding one of the discharge valves 134, 136, or alternatively to a discharge manifold (not shown). The first sections 142 of the fluid lines 124, 128 are generally positioned internally within the fire protection device 104. The fluid lines 124, 128 also include a second section 144 (also referred to herein as a "hose line" or "hose section"). The second sections 144 each extend from the discharge valves 134, 136 to the corresponding nozzles 122, 126 and are substantially positioned externally of the fire protection device 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the discharge valves 134, 136 are exposed externally of the fire protection device 104 and the hose lines 144 are coupled to the corresponding discharge valves 134, 136. In other embodiments, the discharge valves 134, 136 may be at least partially positioned within the interior of the fire protection device 104.

[0026] The first pressure sensor 138 and the second pressure sensor 140 are coupled to the first hose line 124 and the second hose line 128, respectively, upstream of the corresponding discharge valves 134, 136 to enable measurement of the operating pressure of the fluid flowing from the pump 106 to the discharge valves. In particular, as described herein, the first pressure sensor 138 and the second pressure sensor 140 enable checking the pressure of the fluid ready to be provided to the hose line 144 before the line hose line 144 is filled. That is, even when the discharge valves 134, 136 are in a closed state, the first pressure sensor 138 and the second pressure sensor 140 each measure the operating pressure of the fluid provided by the pump 106. In other embodiments where fluid pressure checking is not required before filling, such as, for example, in embodiments where the control system 102 is configured to control the pump 106 in response to a filling request from a nozzle operator, as described in more detail below, the first pressure sensor 138 and the second pressure sensor 140 upstream of the discharge valves 134, 136 may not be included in the fire protection device 104. In other embodiments, the upstream first and second pressure sensors 138, 140 may be provided as a single pressure sensor coupled between the pump 106 and the discharge valves 134, 136 or a discharge manifold (not shown).

[0027] The third pressure sensor 145 and the fourth pressure sensor 146 are located downstream of the discharge valves 134, 136 for measuring the fluid pressure in the respective hose lines 144 after the hose lines 144 have been filled. Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensors 138, 140, 145, 146 are shown as separate components from the discharge valves 134, 136, but in other embodiments, the pressure sensors 138, 140, 145, 146 can be coupled to the corresponding discharge valves 134, 136 and / or integrated with the corresponding discharge valves 134, 136 to measure the fluid pressure within the discharge valves 134, 136. In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensors 145, 140, 145, 146 are each transducers. In alternative embodiments, the pressure sensors 138, 140, 145, 146 can each measure the flow rate of the fluid in the system. In other alternative embodiments, the pressure sensors 138, 140, 145, 146 can be any sensor that enables the system to function as described herein.

[0028] In some embodiments, the discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 or at least a portion of the discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 is removably coupled to the fire protection device 104 to enable retrofitting of the fluid control system 102 on a pre-existing fire protection device 104. In other embodiments, an additional pressure sensor (not shown) may be provided on the first hose line 124 and / or the first nozzle 122 to measure the operating pressure of the fluid at the first nozzle 122.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, first nozzle component 148 is coupled to first nozzle 122 and second nozzle component 150 is coupled to second nozzle 126. Figure 2 In more detail, each of the nozzle components 148, 150 communicates wirelessly with a corresponding one of the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 for providing information to the nozzle operator during use and for relaying commands from the nozzle operator to the fire protection device 104. In some embodiments, the nozzle components 148, 150 are paired with the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132. In other embodiments, the communication between the nozzle components 148, 150 and the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 can be achieved through additional communication components, such as radio ( Figure 1 The first nozzle assembly 148 and the second nozzle assembly 150 are substantially identical, except that each nozzle assembly 148, 150 wirelessly mates with a different corresponding discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 of the fire protection device 104.

[0030] Reference Figure 2 In an exemplary embodiment, the first nozzle component 148 includes a nozzle transceiver 152 and optionally also includes any of an interface 154 , a nozzle display 156 , an indicator 158 , a nozzle pressure sensor 160 , or a locator beacon 162 .

[0031] The interface 154 receives the information from the operating nozzle 122 ( Figure 1 ) such as, but not limited to, a request to fill, and / or a request for a specific fluid pressure at the nozzle 122, and / or to incrementally increase or decrease the hose line 144 ( Figure 1 A suitable interface 154 may include, but is not limited to, only buttons, switches, touch screens, or twistable collars.

[0032] The nozzle display 156 can display or audibly communicate one or more operating parameters of the fire protection device 104, such as tank level, source fluid pressure, and / or pressure at the nozzle, etc. The indicator 158 provides an audible, visual, and / or tactile indicator to the nozzle operator that the corresponding hose line 144 ( Figure 1 ) is filled and / or ready to be filled. In other embodiments, the indicator 158 can be provided by the nozzle display 156. The nozzle pressure sensor 160 detects the nozzle 122 ( Figure 1 148. The first nozzle assembly 148 also includes a nozzle assembly controller 164, which includes a processor 166 and a memory 168, which stores instructions thereon that communicate with the memory 168.

[0033] Despite Figure 1 The nozzle components 148, 150 are shown coupled to the nozzles 122, 126, but it should be understood that the nozzle components 148, 150 and / or portions of the nozzle components 148, 150 need not necessarily be integrated with the nozzles 122, 126 and may instead be disposed at any point along the hose line 144 between the discharge valves 134, 136 and the fluid outlets of the nozzles 122, 126. For example, in some embodiments, the nozzle transceiver 152, the nozzle pressure sensor 160, the indicator 158, the interface 154, the locator beacon 162, and / or the nozzle component controller 164 may be provided as a separate component from the nozzle 122 that is coupled to the hose line 144 upstream of the respective nozzle 122, 126, such as at an inlet (not shown) of the nozzle 122, 126.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the first discharge valve control assembly 130 further includes a discharge controller 170, which includes a processor 172 and a memory 174 storing instructions thereon. The first discharge valve control assembly 130 further includes a system input port 176, which is used to provide a communication interface between the discharge valve control assembly 130 and the fire protection device 104 ( Figure 1 108 (shown in FIG. 109 ) between the device components 178. Exemplary device components 178 may include a pump control component 180, a pump control component 180 for controlling the tank 108 ( Figure 1 The device component 178 may also include a source valve actuator 186 for actuating the source valve 120, a recirculation valve actuator 189 for actuating the recirculation valve 116, and a source valve actuator 187 for actuating the recirculation valve 116. Figure 116 is actuated by the supply valve actuator 191 shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the first exhaust valve control assembly 130 can be communicatively coupled to the device components 178 of the fire protection device 104 via any suitable wireless communication system and / or wired communication system that enables the control system 102 to function herein. For example, in some embodiments, the fire protection device 104 can include a controller area network (“CAN”) that provides communication between the first exhaust valve control assembly 130 and at least one or more of the device components 178.

[0035] The pump control component 180 may include a component (not shown) operable to adjust the operating state of the pump 106 and, therefore, the pressure of the fluid provided to the hose line 144. In an exemplary embodiment, the operation of the pump 106 is manually controlled (e.g., manually controlled by an engineer at a control panel of the fire apparatus 104). For example, a controller for the pump 106 may be provided on an interface of a pressure regulator (not shown) or at a separate control panel of the fire apparatus 104. Additionally, when the operation of the pump 106 is manually controlled, the pump control component 180 may include an indicator (not shown) on the fire apparatus 104 that signals the engineer to manually adjust the operation of the pump 106. In other embodiments, the control system 102 may be configured to automatically control the pump 106 based on input to the control system 102, such as messages received from nozzle operators at the nozzle components 148, 150. For example, but not limited to, in some embodiments, the pump control component 180 is a pressure regulator (e.g., such as a pressure regulator) that includes a controller that communicates with a prime mover. Figure 5 In such an embodiment, the controller may automatically control the operation of the pump 106 based on signals received from the discharge valve control components 130, 132 or other inputs to the control system 102. In other embodiments, the pump 106 may be automatically controlled, wherein a manual controller is provided as an override device for the automatic control.

[0036] In other embodiments, the first nozzle assembly 148 may not include the nozzle assembly controller 164 and / or the first exhaust valve control assembly 130 may not include the exhaust controller 170. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the functions described herein as being performed by either the nozzle assembly controller 164 and / or the exhaust controller 170 may be performed by a single controller or multiple controllers.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle components 148, 150 and / or the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 together with the device component 178 collectively define the control system 102 of the fire protection device 104 for facilitating at least partially automated control of fluid flow within the fire protection system 100. As an example, the fire protection system 100 can automatically control the operation of the pump 106 and / or the position of the actuation state of the discharge valves 134, 136 based on the fluid pressure in the line 144 as measured by the pressure sensors 138, 140, 145, 146 and / or the request for line filling received at the nozzle component 148. Such an automatic controller provides the following confirmation: the fluid provided by the pump 106 is at a sufficient pressure to continue to fill the hose line 144, thereby preventing the filling of the line 144 when the fluid pressure provided by the pump 106 is below a minimum threshold. For example, upon arriving at the scene, the firefighters can deploy each of the nozzles 122, 126 and request to fill their respective lines when they are in an attack position. In embodiments where pump 106 is not automatically controlled, such as Figure 1 In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 , an engineer can operate the pump 106 to provide a specified fluid to each of the pipelines. The request for pressure can be input at the nozzle component 148, for example, through an interface 154 (e.g., a button, a switch, a touch screen, etc.) disposed on the nozzle component 148 and / or through other controllers (not shown) disposed at the fire protection device 104. In addition, the discharge valve control components 130, 132 can prevent the corresponding pipeline from filling (e.g., by keeping the corresponding discharge valve 134, 136 closed) until the associated pressure sensor 138, 140 detects that the pressure in the corresponding pipeline exceeds the minimum pressure threshold required to fill the pipeline 144.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, if the discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 detects that the pressure measured by the corresponding pressure sensor 138, 140 is equal to or exceeds the minimum pressure threshold, the discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 can automatically open the corresponding discharge valve 134, 136 by controlling the corresponding discharge valve actuator 133 (e.g., in response to a request to fill the corresponding pipeline) and / or can send a signal to the corresponding nozzle component 148 so that the nozzle component 148 indicates to the firefighter (e.g., using the indicator 158) that the pipeline is ready to be filled and / or filled. If the detected pressure is below the minimum pressure threshold, the discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 can prevent the filling of the pipeline (e.g., by keeping the discharge valve 134, 136 closed). In addition, in response to detecting that the fluid pressure is below the minimum threshold, the control system 102 can also provide a signal to the corresponding nozzle component 148 to indicate to the firefighter that the pipeline is not ready to be filled. Additionally or alternatively, if the detected pressure is insufficient to fill the line 144, the discharge valve control assembly 130 can notify an engineer at the fire protection device 104 (e.g., at a control panel) that the pressure at the pump 106 is insufficient to fill the line. The low fluid pressure indicator 158 can include an audible notification or a visual notification perceptible by the engineer. Alternatively, the control system 102 can automatically send a signal to the pump control component 180, which causes the pump control component 180 to automatically adjust the operating state of the pump 106 (e.g., by increasing the speed of the pump 106) to increase the fluid pressure.

[0039] In an exemplary embodiment, the minimum pressure threshold for filling each of the pipelines 144 is stored in the memory 168 of the discharge controller 170. Different thresholds can be set for each discharge valve control assembly 130 and / or each different nozzle component 148. In some embodiments, the pressure threshold of each discharge valve control assembly 130 can be manually set by a user. In other embodiments, a machine learning algorithm can be used to adjust the minimum pressure for subsequent use based on the historical average of the pressure detected in the pipeline 144 accumulated over time. By way of example, if friction losses within the system (e.g., within the hose pipeline 144) repeatedly cause the fluid pressure at the nozzle 122 to be 50 pounds per square inch ("psi") when the pump 106 is running at a pump outlet pressure of 80 psi, in order to maintain 50 psi at the nozzle 122, the control system 102 will begin to initialize or start the initial filling at 80 psi, and then use the nozzle pressure sensor 160 to measure the pressure at the nozzle 122 and adjust the pump speed accordingly. Over time, the hose lines 144 on the vehicle may be replaced, and thus, the machine learning algorithm may adapt to changes in hose loads after only a few uses. In some embodiments, the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 may also be communicatively coupled to one or more components of the fire protection system 100 for relaying information for display at the corresponding nozzle components 148, 150. For example, in some such embodiments, the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 may each include an input for receiving the fluid level at the tank 108 (e.g., as detected by the tank level sensor 182), the pressure from the fluid source 117 (e.g., as detected by the source line pressure sensor 188), and / or any other suitable information.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the discharge valve control assemblies 130, 132 are operable to move the discharge valves 134, 136 (e.g., via the discharge valve actuator 133) between an open state, a closed state, and a plurality of intermediate states between the open state and the closed state. The intermediate states may enable adjustment of the fluid pressure in the corresponding pipeline (relative to the fully open state), thereby setting a different pressure setting at each of the nozzles 122, 126. For example, the fluid pressure requested by the nozzle operator at the first nozzle 122 via the interface 154 may be different than the fluid pressure requested by the nozzle operator at the second nozzle 126. Thus, to enable a change in the pressure in one of the pipelines, the control system 102 may increase the operating speed of the pump 106 and / or adjust the position of the corresponding discharge valve 134. In alternative embodiments, the discharge valves 134, 136 may be positioned in either the open state or the closed state (i.e., without the ability to individually adjust the fluid pressure in the pipeline via the intermediate states of the valves). In some such embodiments, the fire protection system 100 may include a central controller (not shown) that facilitates controlling the actuation states of the valves 134, 136 and controlling the operation of the pump 106 based on the actuation states of the valves 134, 136. For example, in such embodiments, in response to receiving a request to open the discharge valve, the central controller (not shown) may send a signal to the pump control component 180 to increase the operating speed of the pump 106 to maintain a constant fluid pressure in the lines 124, 128.

[0041] Figure 3 It is possible to Figure 2 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary communication network 190 for use with the control system 102 shown in FIG. In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle components 148, 150, 151 communicate wirelessly with the corresponding discharge valve control components 130, 132, 133. The discharge valve control components 130, 132, 133 are each individually communicatively coupled to the device component 178. In other embodiments, the communication network 190 may include a communication interface (not shown), such as a communication bus, a router, or other suitable network interface, which is used to distribute communication signals between the discharge valve control components 130 and the device components 178 of the fire protection device 104. In such an embodiment, the discharge valve control components 130, 132, 133 can each be individually coupled to the communication interface, and the communication interface can communicate with each of the device components 178.

[0042] Figure 4 It is possible to Figure 2 Schematic diagram of an alternative communication network 290 for use with the control system 102 shown in FIG. Figure 4 The communication network 290 is similar to Figure 3, because each of the nozzle components 148, 150 is communicatively coupled to a corresponding discharge valve control assembly 130, 132. Figure 4 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , not all of the discharge valve control assemblies 130 , 132 are directly communicatively linked to the device component 178 . Specifically, in FIG. Figure 4 In an embodiment, the first exhaust valve control assembly 130 is directly communicatively coupled to the device component 178, and the other exhaust valve control assemblies 132, 133 are communicatively coupled to the first exhaust valve control assembly 130 in a piggyback manner. Specifically, communication between the second exhaust valve control assembly 132 and the device component 178 is routed through the first exhaust valve control assembly 130. Communication between the "nth" exhaust valve control assembly 133 and the device component 178 is routed to the second exhaust valve control assembly 132 and from the second exhaust valve control assembly 132 to the first exhaust valve control assembly 130. In such an embodiment, the exhaust valve control assemblies 130, 132, 133 may communicate wired and / or wirelessly. For example, in an embodiment where the exhaust valve control assemblies 130, 132, 133 are linked in wireless communication, the exhaust valve control assemblies 130, 132 may form a wireless mesh network in which one exhaust valve control assembly (e.g., Figure 4 The first discharge valve control component 130) in the embodiment serves as a master node, and the remaining discharge valve control components 132, 133 serve as secondary nodes that relay communications with the master node.

[0043] In other embodiments, at least one of the exhaust valve control assemblies 130, 132 may communicate directly wirelessly with the master node first exhaust valve control assembly 130. Furthermore, in some embodiments, CAN messaging of the fire protection device 104 may be used to facilitate communication between the exhaust valve control assemblies 130, 132, 133 in addition to or in lieu of other communication methods described herein. Additionally, in some embodiments, the vehicle's CAN messaging network may be used to facilitate communication between the device component 178 and the first exhaust valve control assembly 130. For example, but not limited to, in some embodiments, the pressure sensors 138, 140, 145, 146 ( Figure 1 ) and / or from the tank level sensor 182 ( Figure 2 The fluid level information (shown in ) may be transmitted using CAN messaging provided by the manufacturer of the fire protection device 104 .

[0044] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an alternative fire protection system 500 . Figure 6 It is possible to Figure 5Schematic diagram of an alternative control system 502 for use with a fire protection system 500 .

[0045] In addition to the following, Figure 5 Fire protection system 500 with Figure 1 The fire protection system 100 shown in FIG. Figure 5 In an embodiment, the fire protection system 500 also includes a pressure regulator 501 for controlling the operation of the pump 506. The pressure regulator 501 includes a controller 503 that controls the prime mover 507. The transceiver 505 is coupled to the fire protection device 504 and communicates with the pressure regulator 501. In this embodiment, the transceiver 505 can be provided with the fire protection device 504, or provided independently of the fire protection device 504 and installed (i.e., retrofitted) on a pre-existing fire protection device 504. In such an embodiment, the transceiver 505 can be communicatively coupled to one or more device components 578 of the fire protection device 504 (e.g., via a wired communication system or a wireless communication system, such as CAN), and data can be transmitted between the fire protection device 504 and the nozzles 522, 526 and / or can be based on the data from the device component 578 ( Figure 6 ) and / or the nozzle components 548, 550 send control signals to the fire fighting device 504 and / or the nozzles 522, 526. For example, in some embodiments, the transceiver 505 communicates directly with each of the device components 578 and sends command signals to the device components 578. In other embodiments, the transceiver 505 communicates with one or more centralized controllers (not shown) of the fire fighting device 504, and the one or more centralized controllers receive signals from the transceiver 505 and generate control instructions for each of the device components 578 based on the signals received from the transceiver 505. The system 500 also includes a control unit that is connected to the fire fighting device 504 and / or the nozzle components 548, 550. Figure 1 Tank 508 and source 517 are the same as tank 108 and source 117 shown in FIG.

[0046] In some embodiments, the transceiver 505 can be integrated into the control loop of the fire fighting device 504 (eg, Figure 5), so that components of the fire-fighting device 504 (e.g., prime mover 507, pump 506, valves 512, 516, 520, 534, 536, etc.) are automatically controlled based on the data and / or signals received by the transceiver 505. In other embodiments, the transceiver 505 may not be integrated with the control loop of the fire-fighting device 504, or may be only partially integrated within the control loop of the fire-fighting device 504. In such an embodiment, the fire-fighting device 504 may display data (e.g., nozzle pressure, nozzle flow, etc.) to, for example, an operator or engineer at a display (not shown) on the fire-fighting device 504, and the operator or engineer then manually adjusts the components of the fire-fighting device 504 to achieve the desired fluid parameters, such as with respect to Figure 7 In addition, in some embodiments, the transceiver 505 can be sold in combination (e.g., as a kit or assembly) with one or more nozzles 522, 526 (e.g., a first nozzle 522 and / or a second nozzle 526) that are paired with the transceiver 505, and can transmit data and / or control signals between the fire fighting device 504 and the nozzles 522, 526.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment, the fire protection device 504 does not include a discharge valve control assembly 130, 132 (communicating with the nozzle components 548, 550). Figure 1 Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the fire fighting device 504 includes a transceiver 505, and the nozzle components 548, 550 each communicate wirelessly with the transceiver 505. In an alternative embodiment, the fire fighting device 504 may include a discharge valve control assembly 530, 532, except that the discharge valve control assembly 530, 532 is connected to the transceiver 505. Figure 5 503 and the prime mover 507 communicate with each other, the discharge valve control components 530, 532 and Figure 1 The components 130 , 132 shown in FIG. 1 are generally similar.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, prime mover 507 controls the operation of pump 506. For example, prime mover 507 may include a pump motor (not shown). Controller 503 receives signals from transceiver 505 and controls prime mover 507, and thus the operation of pump 506 is based at least in part on the signals received from transceiver 505. That is, in an exemplary embodiment, the pump 506 is controlled by a motor. Figure 1 In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the control system 502 is configured to automatically control the pump 506 without requiring manual control by an operator at the fire fighting device 504 .

[0049] Reference Figure 6In an exemplary embodiment, the first nozzle component 548 includes a transceiver 552 for providing communication between the first nozzle component 548 and the transceiver 505 of the fire fighting device 504. The transceiver 505 of the fire fighting device 504 is also communicatively coupled to the device component 578 of the fire fighting device 504. Figure 6 The device component 578 includes Figure 3 , including, for example, pressure regulator 501, pump pressure sensor 584, source line pressure sensor 588, source valve actuator 586, recirculation valve actuator 589, supply valve actuator 591, and tank level sensor 582. However, in Figure 6 In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device component 578 communicating through the transceiver 505 also includes a first discharge valve actuator 533 and a second discharge valve actuator 535. The first nozzle component 548 can also include an interface 554, a nozzle display 556, an indicator 558, a nozzle pressure sensor 560, a locator beacon 562 and a nozzle component controller 564, and the first nozzle component 548 is connected to the first nozzle component 148 ( Figure 2 The description is substantially the same as shown in ).

[0050] In some embodiments, the fire device transceiver 505 and / or the device component 578 may include a communication interface such as a communication bus, router, or other suitable network interface for distributing communication signals between the fire device transceiver 505 and the device component 578 of the fire device 504. Communication between the fire device transceiver 505 and the device component 578 may be facilitated by a separate input to the transceiver 505, an analog input, a CAN messaging input, and / or a wireless connection.

[0051] In some embodiments, the fire apparatus transceiver 505 is part of a controller (not shown) of the fire apparatus 504. In some such embodiments, the controller includes a processor and memory (not shown), and the controller monitors the tank level based on readings from the tank level sensor 582, monitors the inlet pressure of the vehicle based on readings from the source line pressure sensor 588, monitors the pressure (e.g., outlet pressure) in the pump 506 based on one or more pump pressure sensors 584, sends or receives pressure requests from the pressure regulator 501 to maintain the different pressures required in the pump 506 to adequately pump the hose lines 544 at the safety pressure of the nozzles 522, 526, provides opening and closing signals to the valve actuators 533, 535, 586, 589, 591 during operation and / or sets the position of the valve to an intermediate state based on the pressure sensed by the pressure sensors 545, 546 to control the pressure in the corresponding lines. Furthermore, although the transceiver 505 is described herein as a single unit, in other embodiments, the control system 502 may include multiple transceivers 505, controllers, and / or nodes on a network that collectively perform the functions of the fire protection device transceiver 505 as described herein.

[0052] In some embodiments, the fire apparatus transceiver 505 controls the discharge valve actuators 533, 535 and / or the pressure regulator 501 based on the actual pressure sensed at the nozzle and the user-requested fluid pressure at the corresponding nozzle. For example, a nozzle operator may first request that the hose line 544 be filled using the interface 554 at the nozzle component 548. In response, the nozzle transceiver 552 sends a signal indicating the request to the fire apparatus transceiver 505, and the fire apparatus transceiver 505 may send a signal to the first discharge valve actuator 533 to open the first discharge valve 534, thereby regulating the valve 534 based on a predetermined starting pressure setting. When the hose line 544 of the first fluid line 524 is filled, the nozzle pressure sensor 560 detects the fluid pressure at the nozzle 522 and may send the detected pressure to the transceiver 505. If there is a difference between the predetermined set pressure and the actual pressure sensed at the nozzle pressure sensor 560 (e.g., due to friction losses in the hose), the transceiver 505 can adjust the position of the corresponding discharge valve 534 and / or adjust the operation of the pump 506 (via the pump control component 580) to reduce any difference between the set pressure and the sensed pressure. The transceiver 505 can also learn over time whether more pressure is consistently needed and can then adjust the initial starting pressure setting based on data from the historical average used. In addition, Figure 2 The control system 102 can also adjust the settings of the corresponding discharge valves 134, 136 and / or pump 106 to match the Figure 6The desired fluid pressure is provided at the nozzles 122 , 126 in substantially the same manner as described.

[0053] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another alternative fire protection system 700. In addition to the following, Figure 7 Fire protection system 700 with Figure 5 The fire protection system 500 is substantially the same. In particular, Figure 7 In the embodiment of the present invention, the fire fighting device 704 includes a panel display 707 in communication with the transceiver 505. The panel display 707 can convey information provided by the transceiver 705 and received from the nozzle components 748, 750 and / or other device components, such as the device component 578 ( Figure 6 ) received visual format information and / or audio format information.

[0054] During operation, the engineer can control the operation of the pump 706, the discharge valves 734, 736, and / or any device component 778 of the fire fighting device 704 based on the information displayed on the panel display 707. For example, the panel display 707 can display the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor at each of the nozzle components 748, 750, and the engineer can manually adjust the pump 706 or other device components, such as device component 578 ( Figure 6 In some embodiments, the panel display 707 includes an operator interface for receiving controls from an engineer. In other embodiments, the fire fighting device 704 includes a control panel (not shown) separate from the panel display 707.

[0055] In other embodiments, Figure 1 The fire fighting device 104 may further include a panel display 707, which is used to communicate with the user about Figure 7 The panel display 707 described above operates in substantially the same manner, except that the panel display 707 is Figure 1 The discharge valve control components 130, 132 communicate with each other.

[0056] Figure 8 is a flow chart of an exemplary method 800 of operating a fire protection system. The method may be used Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 Any of the fire protection systems 100, 500, 700 and Figure 2 or Figure 6 In some embodiments, Figure 8The method provides a rapid offensive firefighting method in which nozzle operators can deploy to an offensive position, request fluid, and begin discharging fluid from their respective nozzles 122, 126 without any operator intervention or control at the firefighting device 104, such as with respect to Figure 5 as described in the implementation method of FIG.

[0057] In the exemplary method, first, upon arriving at a scene (e.g., a fire scene), the control system 102 initiates a firefighting operation 802. In some embodiments, the control system 102 may automatically determine to initiate the firefighting operation 802 in response to detecting a change in the operating state of the firefighting device 104. For example, in some such embodiments where the firefighting device 104 is a fire truck, the control system 102 may initiate the firefighting operation 802 when the system detects that the vehicle has shifted between a parking gear and a drive gear or that the vehicle has shifted to another gear that is typically used for firefighting operations.

[0058] In response to the firefighting operation being initiated 802, the control system 102 opens 804 the tank supply valve 116 ( Figure 1 ) to allow fluid to flow from tank 108 to pump 106. In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 , the recirculation valve 116 also automatically opens to vent any trapped air in the pump 106 from the pump 106 and provide cooling for the pump 106 during operation. In other embodiments, trapped air can be vented from the pump 106 and the pump 106 can be cooled using any valve, such as a tank fill valve (not shown) or by using a smaller solenoid controlled valve or using any line, such as a pump cooler line (not shown) separate from the tank fill valve.

[0059] In the exemplary method, after the supply valve 116 is opened 804, the control system 102 provides 806 a signal to the nozzle components 148, 150 indicating that the fire protection device 104 is ready to receive a request for water at the nozzles 122, 126 (i.e., the corresponding hose line 144 is ready to be filled). In some embodiments, before providing the indication 808 that the line 144 is ready to be filled, the control system 102 may first start the operation of the pump 106 and perform a pressure check (e.g., as described above with respect to Figure 1 and Figure 2148, 150) to determine whether the predetermined fluid pressure has been generated by the pump 106. This check may be particularly useful in embodiments where the pressure in the pump 106 is manually controlled and maintained (e.g., by an engineer). In other embodiments, the control system 102 automatically adjusts the control of the pump 106 and the discharge valves 134, 136. In some such embodiments, it may be unnecessary to perform a pressure check before signaling the nozzle operator that the line 144 is ready to be filled because the pump 106 and the valves 134, 136 can be controlled to provide at least a minimum or starting fluid pressure to the line 144 in response to receiving a request from the nozzle operator at the nozzle assembly 148, 150 to fill the line 144.

[0060] In an exemplary method, the control system 102 receives a request 808 from at least one of the nozzle components 148, 150 to fill the corresponding line 144. In some embodiments, the request to fill the line 144 may include a user-requested fluid pressure to be provided in the line. In other embodiments, a predetermined starting fluid pressure setting may be determined for all nozzle components 148, 150 or multiple nozzle components. In other embodiments, each nozzle component 148, 150 may have an initial pressure setting specific to the nozzle 122, 126.

[0061] In an exemplary method, the control system 102 controls the operation 810 of the pump 106 and / or the discharge valves 134, 136 to provide fluid to the nozzles 122, 126 at a starting fluid pressure setting. In embodiments where the pressure settings are different between the nozzles 122, 126, the pump 106 is controlled 810 to provide the highest pressure setting of the different nozzle components 148, 150. The control system 102 is also configured to provide closed-loop updates to the control of the pump 106 and / or the discharge valve based on the sensed fluid pressure measured at the nozzle pressure sensor 160.

[0062] In an exemplary system, the control system 102 may also prevent an engineer from manually adjusting the controller of the pump 106 to reduce the pressure setting below the determined fluid pressure setting for each hose line and nozzle assembly. For example, in the event that a nozzle operator requests a fluid pressure of 60 psi at their nozzle assembly, the control system 102 controls the operation of the pump 106 and the discharge valves 134, 136 to provide 60 psi of fluid to the corresponding nozzle. If an engineer at the fire apparatus 104 adjusts the controller of the pump 106 in a manner that limits the pump 106 to being able to provide only 55 psi of fluid to the corresponding nozzle, the control system 102 may reject or prevent the adjustment made by the engineer and provide an error message to the engineer notifying the engineer that they are making an unsafe adjustment. If a change in the fire protection system 100 (such as, for example, a change in the source pressure or the tank 108) causes the system to operate below the determined fluid pressure setting, the control system 102 may, for example, provide the engineer with an audible, visual, and / or tactile alarm that the line is under pressure. If the system 102 notices a complete loss of inlet pressure and the tank supply valve 116 is closed, the system 102 can open the tank supply valve 116 and restore flow while alerting the operator to close the source valve 120. If the tank supply valve 116 is closed and the system 102 reaches a significant discharge pressure, the system 102 can assume a pumping state (i.e., a state in which the pump 106 creates a negative pressure differential within the source line 118). The system 102 can then open the tank supply valve 116 and alert the operator to close the source valve 120 if the system loses discharge pressure.

[0063] Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for controlling firefighting devices are described in detail above. The methods and apparatus are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the systems and / or steps of the methods may be used independently and separately from other components and / or steps described herein. For example, the systems and methods may also be used in conjunction with other firefighting systems and methods, and are not limited to practice using only the firefighting devices as described herein. Rather, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented and utilized in conjunction with many other firefighting devices.

[0064] Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Furthermore, reference to "one embodiment" in the above description is not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. In accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and / or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

[0065] This written description uses examples, including the best mode, to disclose the invention, and also enables any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any device or system and performing any incorporated method. The patent scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. If such other examples have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if such other examples include equivalent structural elements that do not differ substantially from the literal language of the claims, such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fire fighting system, comprising: Pumps; a nozzle for directing a flow of fluid from the pump toward a target area; a nozzle assembly coupled to the nozzle, the nozzle assembly comprising a first transceiver and an indicator; a fluid line connecting the pump to the nozzle; as well as A discharge valve control assembly, the discharge valve control assembly comprising: a discharge valve controlling fluid flow between the pump and the nozzle; a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid line between the pump and the discharge valve; and a second transceiver providing communication between the nozzle assembly and the discharge valve control assembly, the discharge valve control assembly being configured to: receiving a request to fill a hose section of the fluid line; and Whether to open the discharge valve is determined based on the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor in response to receiving the request.

2. The fire fighting system according to claim 1, wherein: The request to fill the hose section of the fluid line is transmitted from the nozzle component to the discharge valve control assembly via the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

3. The fire fighting system according to claim 2, wherein: The nozzle component also includes a display and an interface configured to receive user input, wherein the nozzle component transmits the request to fill the hose section of the fluid line in response to receiving the user input at the interface.

4. The fire fighting system according to claim 2, wherein: The nozzle component is paired with the discharge valve control assembly via communication between the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

5. The fire fighting system according to claim 1, wherein: The discharge valve control assembly is communicatively connected to at least one device component of the fire protection system, wherein at least one of the components includes a pump control component, a tank sensor coupled to a tank of the fire protection system, at least one of a source valve actuator, a recirculation valve actuator, and a tank supply valve actuator.

6. The fire fighting system according to claim 5, wherein: The discharge valve control assembly is communicatively coupled to one or more of the device components via a controller area network ("CAN") of the fire protection system.

7. The fire fighting system according to claim 5, wherein: The nozzle is a first nozzle, the nozzle component is a first nozzle component, the fluid pipeline is a first fluid pipeline, and the discharge valve assembly is a first discharge valve control assembly, wherein the fire protection system further comprises: a second fluid line connecting the pump to a second nozzle; and A second exhaust valve control assembly is communicatively coupled to at least one of the device components.

8. The fire fighting system according to claim 7, wherein: The first exhaust valve control assembly and the second exhaust valve control assembly are each directly connected in communication with at least one of the device components.

9. The fire fighting system according to claim 7, wherein: The second discharge valve control assembly is indirectly connected to at least one of the device components through the first discharge valve control assembly.

10. The fire protection system of claim 1, further comprising a second pressure sensor coupled between the discharge valve and the nozzle.

11. The fire fighting system according to claim 1, wherein: The bleed valve control assembly further comprises a controller comprising a processor and a memory having instructions and predefined pressure limits stored thereon, wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of: receiving the request to fill the hose section and determining whether to open the bleed valve, wherein the processor is further configured to: comparing the detected fluid pressure with the predefined pressure limit; if the detected fluid pressure equals or exceeds the predefined pressure limit, causing the exhaust valve to open; and If the detected fluid pressure is less than the predefined pressure limit, an alarm is sent to the nozzle assembly.

12. A discharge valve control assembly for use with a fire protection system, the control assembly comprising: a discharge valve that controls fluid flow through a fluid line extending from a pump of the fire protection system to a nozzle; a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid line upstream of the discharge valve; as well as a transceiver providing communication with a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle, the discharge valve control assembly being configured to: receiving a request from the nozzle assembly to fill a hose section of the fluid line; as well as Whether to open the discharge valve is determined based on the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor in response to receiving the request.

13. The discharge valve control assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The discharge valve control assembly is communicatively connected to at least one device component of the fire protection system, at least one of the device components including a pump control component, a tank sensor for detecting a level of fluid in a tank of the fire protection system, a source valve actuator, a recirculation valve actuator, and a tank supply valve actuator.

14. The discharge valve control assembly according to claim 13, wherein: The discharge valve control assembly is communicatively connected to an additional discharge valve control assembly of the fire protection system, the additional discharge valve control assembly being indirectly connected to at least one of the device components through the discharge valve control assembly.

15. The discharge valve control assembly of claim 12, further comprising a processor and a memory having instructions and predefined pressure limits stored thereon, wherein: The processor is configured to perform the steps of receiving the request to fill the hose section and determining whether to open the drain valve, wherein the processor is further configured to: comparing the detected fluid pressure with the predefined pressure limit; if the detected fluid pressure equals or exceeds the predefined pressure limit, causing the exhaust valve to open; and If the detected fluid pressure is less than the predefined pressure limit, an alarm is sent to the nozzle assembly.

16. The discharge valve control assembly of claim 12, further comprising a second pressure sensor coupled to the fluid line between the discharge valve and the nozzle.

17. The discharge valve control assembly of claim 12, wherein: The discharge valve control assembly wirelessly mates with the nozzle assembly.

18. A method of operating a fire protection system, the method comprising: sending a first signal from a transceiver at a fire truck of the fire protection system to a nozzle assembly indicating that a hose section of a fluid line is ready to be filled; receiving, at the transceiver, a second signal from the nozzle assembly, the second signal comprising a request to fill the hose section; determining to fill the fluid line based on a fluid pressure detected by a pressure sensor positioned on the fluid line upstream of a discharge valve and a predefined minimum pressure stored on a memory; as well as The discharge valve is automatically controlled to open to fill the hose section in response to the determination.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: detecting a change in the operating state of the fire truck; and A tank supply valve is automatically opened in response to the detecting, the tank supply valve being coupled to a tank supply line extending between a fluid tank and a pump of the fire protection system, wherein the sending of the first signal is automatically performed in response to opening the tank supply valve.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein: The second signal comprises a user requested fluid pressure, the method further comprising: receiving, at a control panel of the fire engine, a request to change a pressure setting of a pump of the fire protection system; The request is denied based on a determination that the change in the pressure setting of the pump will provide a fluid pressure to the nozzle that is lower than the fluid pressure requested by the user.

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