Fire-extinguishing pump

Abstract

To reduce an operation procedure, to enable easy operation by a simplified procedure, and to enable even a person who is not accustomed to the operation to appropriately perform the operation.SOLUTION: A fire-extinguishing pump 10 is driven by an electric motor to discharge fire-extinguishing water. The fire extinguishing pump 10 discharges fire extinguishing water by opening a discharging valve 12 which is opened and closed by operating a handle 12A. The fire extinguishing pump 10 is provided with handle position detecting means 42 for detecting the position of the handle 12A, and flow rate adjusting means for controlling the rotation of the electric motor according to the position of the handle 12A detected by the handle position detecting means 42. The flow rate adjusting means adjusts the water pressure of the fire-extinguishing water by controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the handle 12A, and controls the flow rate of the fire-extinguishing water discharged from the centrifugal pump.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement to a portable fire pump that is transported to a fire site and used to spray water for extinguishing a fire, and other fire pumps, and in particular to an improvement to enable easy operation with simplified procedures by reducing the number of operating steps in the process from start-up to the end of the water spraying operation. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional fire pumps, fire water is drawn into the centrifugal pump for discharge, and then when it is time to discharge water, the discharge valve is manually opened by operating the handle to enable discharge. The throttle dial is then turned to open the throttle to increase the engine speed, and the water discharge pressure is adjusted to an appropriate level to allow the centrifugal pump to discharge water (see, for example, Patent Document 1, etc.).

[0003] Furthermore, in the process of sucking water into the centrifugal pump using a vacuum pump, which is a prerequisite for water discharge, conventionally it was necessary to operate the throttle dial to the water intake position to increase the rotational speed of the vacuum pump, then operate the vacuum pump lever to start sucking water into the centrifugal pump, and once water intake was complete, return the throttle dial to the minimum opening position (the position where the throttle opening is narrowest) to prepare for the next water discharge process.

[0004] However, as described above, the conventional water intake and discharge processes require many dials and levers to be operated, which can be difficult for people who are not familiar with operating fire pumps. As a result, people may forget to open and close valves, and may not be able to perform the appropriate operations in the correct order, which can lead to problems such as not being able to operate the fire pump properly, making it difficult to carry out appropriate firefighting activities at disaster sites where an emergency is required. In particular, because there is confusion and panic at disaster sites, it is desirable to simplify the process as much as possible so that even people who are not familiar with the process can easily operate it.

[0005] In addition, fire pumps need to be drained of the water remaining in them not only during these operations, but also after the operation is over when the water discharge operation is over, in order to prevent freezing in winter and corrosion inside the fire pump during long-term storage. In the past, the operator had to operate the drain lever and open the drain valve to drain the water after the operation was over. However, if this operation is overlooked and water remains in the fire pump, problems such as damage to the fire pump may occur. In particular, for those who are not familiar with the operation of fire pumps, it is inevitable that they will be too busy putting out the fire to think about draining the water after the operation is over, so it is important to avoid this.

[0006] Furthermore, among fire pumps, most portable fire pumps that can be transported to a fire site and used have generally been engine-powered pumps (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). The main reason for this is that engine-powered pumps can be driven without securing a power source at the site as long as there is fuel such as gasoline, and the weight of the fire pump can be kept to a level suitable for portability.

[0007] However, because engine-driven fire pumps involve exhaust, they are not suitable for use in places where ventilation cannot be adequately ensured, such as indoor buildings and underground structures such as subway stations, and there have been cases where they have been unable to respond to disasters in these places. As a result, fire pumps could not be used to drain water, particularly in the case of flooding disasters in subway stations caused by heavy rains, which have become more frequent in recent years. Furthermore, with engine-driven fire pumps, pulsation occurs in the hose as the engine cycles, causing the hose to shake in the hands of the water sprayer, making it difficult to spray water at the desired location, and also causing fatigue for the water sprayer, especially when the water spraying work takes a long time.

[0008] To address these issues, it is possible to use an electric motor, rather than an engine, as the driving source for portable fire pumps. On the other hand, if an electric motor is used, a battery is required as the driving source to allow use in places without a power source. In this case, the standards for continuous operation time and water discharge rate are set by ministerial ordinance for portable fire pumps, and it is assumed that a battery that meets these standards will be used. However, since it is also assumed that the pump will be transported to the fire scene, the battery cannot be too heavy, so it is necessary to use a battery with the minimum charge capacity necessary to meet the standards while keeping the weight within a transportable range.

[0009] However, in actual firefighting situations, there are cases where it is necessary to spray water at a rate greater than that specified in the standard, and it is necessary to respond to such cases. In particular, if a person who is unfamiliar with the operation of the device fails to put out a fire even after spraying water according to the procedure, he or she may become impatient and find it difficult to respond appropriately, so it is desirable to make it possible for even a person who is unfamiliar with firefighting to respond appropriately. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-4293 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-081719 A [Patent Document 3] Utility Model Registration No. 3234575 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] In view of the above problems, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a fire pump that reduces the operating procedures in processes such as the water intake process and water discharge process from start-up to the end of water discharge, allowing for easy operation with simplified procedures, and also improves output when necessary so that even those who are unfamiliar with the operation can operate it appropriately to extinguish a fire accurately. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] (1. Adjustment of water discharge pressure by operating the handle) As a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a fire pump that is driven by an electric motor and discharges fire water, the fire pump comprising: a centrifugal pump that discharges fire water by opening a discharge valve that is opened and closed by operating a handle; and a vacuum pump that draws fire water from a water source and supplies the fire water to the centrifugal pump, the fire pump further comprising handle position detection means that detects the position of the handle, and flow rate adjustment means that controls the rotation of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the handle detected by the handle position detection means, and the flow rate adjustment means controls the water pressure of the fire water by controlling the flow rate of the fire water discharged from the centrifugal pump in accordance with the operation of the handle.

[0013] (2. Adjusting the rotation speed of the electric motor using the vacuum lever) As a second means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides a fire pump that is driven by an electric motor and discharges fire water, the fire pump comprising: a centrifugal pump that discharges fire water by opening a discharge valve that is opened and closed by operating a handle; and a vacuum pump that begins to draw fire water from a water source by operating a vacuum lever and supplies the fire water to the centrifugal pump, the fire pump further comprising vacuum lever position detection means that detects the position of the vacuum lever, and rotation control means that controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the vacuum lever detected by the vacuum lever position detection means, and the rotation control means controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever to a speed at which the vacuum pump operates optimally.

[0014] (3. Adjust the water pressure by operating the handle and the rotation speed of the electric motor by using the vacuum lever) As a third means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a fire pump that is driven by an electric motor and discharges fire water, the fire pump comprising: a centrifugal pump that discharges fire water by opening a discharge valve that is opened and closed by operation of a handle; and a vacuum pump that starts suction of fire water from a water source by operation of a vacuum lever and supplies the fire water to the centrifugal pump, the fire pump comprising handle position detection means that detects the position of the handle, and flow rate adjustment means that controls the rotation of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the handle detected by the handle position detection means, the flow rate adjustment means controls the flow rate of the fire water discharged from the centrifugal pump by adjusting the water pressure of the fire water by controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the handle, and the fire pump further comprises vacuum lever position detection means that detects the position of the vacuum lever, and rotation control means that controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the vacuum lever detected by the vacuum lever position detection means, the rotation control means controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever to a speed at which the vacuum pump operates optimally.

[0015] (4. Automatic drainage) As a fourth means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides a fire pump characterized in that, in any of the first to third solving means above, a drain valve for controlling the drainage of fire water remaining in the fire pump is an electromagnetic valve type check valve whose opening and closing is electrically controlled in conjunction with the operation of the power switch, and the drain valve is controlled so as to open to drain the fire when the power switch is off, and to close to enable the discharge of fire water when the power switch is on.

[0016] (5. Boost mode) As a fifth means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides a fire pump according to any one of the first to third solving means, further comprising a boost means for temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor, the boost means usually consisting of a limiter that electrically limits the maximum rotation speed of the electric motor, and a boost switch that releases the limiter's restriction.

[0017] As a sixth means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides a fire pump according to the fourth solution, further comprising a boost means for temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor, the boost means usually consisting of a limiter for electrically restricting the maximum rotation speed of the electric motor, and a boost switch for releasing the restriction imposed by the limiter. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, as described above, an electric motor is adopted as the driving source of the fire pump, so that it is possible to electrically control this electric motor, and the rotation speed of the electric motor can be controlled in conjunction with the operation of the handle by the flow rate adjustment means which controls the rotation of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the handle detected by the handle position detection means which detects the position of the handle. Therefore, the water discharge pressure can be adjusted by operating the handle alone, thereby reducing the number of operating steps required for water discharge, and even a person who is unfamiliar with the operation can avoid forgetting to open and close the discharge valve, allowing him / her to perform water discharge work easily and appropriately, and there is a practical benefit in that it is possible to prevent damage to the fire pump by avoiding the discharge of water at high water pressure when the discharge valve is fully closed, etc.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, as described above, the rotation control means controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the vacuum lever detected by the vacuum lever position detection means which detects the position of the vacuum lever, and controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever to a speed at which the vacuum pump operates optimally. Therefore, water can be properly sucked into the centrifugal pump and stopped from being sucked in by operating the vacuum lever alone, thereby reducing the number of operating steps required for water sucking, and even those who are unfamiliar with the operation can avoid forgetting to readjust the throttle opening, thereby providing the practical benefit of allowing water sucking to be performed easily and appropriately.

[0020] In addition, according to the present invention, as described above, an electric motor is used as the driving source for the fire pump, so no exhaust is generated and it can be used in places where it is difficult to ensure sufficient ventilation, such as indoors or underground. In particular, it can be used as a drainage pump in the event of flooding in subway stations. At the same time, there is no pulsation in the hose when spraying water, so water can be sprayed accurately at the desired location, and the person spraying the water is less tired, which has the practical benefits of being able to use it for long periods of time.

[0021] At the same time, according to the present invention, as described above, the water discharge flow rate and the rotation speed of the electric motor can be adjusted simply by operating the handle or vacuum lever, eliminating the need for a separate throttle dial. This reduces the number of parts, making the fire pump lighter, which has the practical benefit of contributing to weight reduction in transportable fire pumps in particular.

[0022] Furthermore, according to the present invention, as described above, the drain valve that controls the drainage of fire water remaining in the fire pump is an electromagnetic valve type check valve whose opening and closing is electrically controlled in conjunction with the operation of the power switch, and the drain valve is controlled so that it opens to drain the fire water when the power switch is off, and closes to enable the discharge of fire water when the power switch is on. This reliably prevents water from remaining in the fire pump due to oversight of the drainage operation, thereby avoiding breakdowns of the fire pump, and has the practical benefit of preventing problems even if a person who is unfamiliar with handling fire pumps operates it.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the present invention, as described above, a boost means is provided for temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor, and this boost means normally electrically restricts the maximum rotation speed of the electric motor by a limiter, but when necessary, the restriction by the limiter can be released by a boost switch to increase output. Therefore, at an actual firefighting scene, it is possible to suppress battery consumption while increasing output when necessary, such as when a fire is not easily put out, and to carry out appropriate firefighting, which has the practical benefit of allowing even people who are inexperienced in firefighting to carry out firefighting activities accurately. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire pump according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal structure of a fire pump used in the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a handle of a discharge valve equipped with a handle position detection means used in the present invention. [Figure 4]4 is a side view of the handle of the discharge valve used in the present invention, showing the operating state of the handle position detection means according to the handle position. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a power transmission mechanism to a vacuum pump used in the present invention. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the operating state of a vacuum lever position detection means used in the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery unit that can be applied to the fire pump of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] (1. Fire pump) The embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fire pump 10 of the present invention, and in the illustrated embodiment, the fire pump 10 is a portable fire pump 10 that discharges water for fire extinguishing. The fire pump 10 in this embodiment is loaded onto a vehicle such as a minivan or a fire engine and transported to a disaster site, and then unloaded from the vehicle and transported to a fire extinguishing location by the human power of a worker for use in fire extinguishing activities. In addition, the fire pump 10 is not limited to being used by firefighters, but can also be installed in advance in public places such as fire brigades or meeting places, and used for fire extinguishing activities by people other than firefighters when a disaster occurs. However, the fire pump 10 of the present invention is not necessarily limited to a transportable type, and can be a pump mounted on a vehicle or a pump fixedly installed as long as it is driven by an electric motor 16 described later.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 2, in the present invention, the fire pump 10 is driven by an electric motor 16, not an engine. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the fire pump 10 includes a base 18, an electric motor 16 mounted on the base 18, a centrifugal pump 20 connected to the electric motor 16 and driven by the electric motor 16 to discharge fire water, a vacuum pump 22 that exhausts air from the centrifugal pump 20, sucks up fire water from a water source for fire water, and supplies the fire water to the centrifugal pump 20, and a controller 24 that is installed on a controller base 18B of the base 18 and controls the driving of the electric motor 16. As shown in Fig. 1, the base 18 is mounted on a frame 26, and the periphery is covered with a cover 28.

[0027] In this case, in the portable fire pump 10 in the illustrated embodiment, a transportable battery unit 14 formed separately from the fire pump 10 can be used as a power source for the electric motor 16, as shown in Fig. 7. The fire pump 10 and the battery unit 14 are transported to the fire extinguishing place, and are electrically connected to each other by a connecting cable (not shown) at the fire extinguishing place for use. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the fire pump 10 of the present invention, the battery unit 14, and a connecting cable (not shown) detachably connected to the fire pump 10 and the battery unit 14 are separated into three and transported to the fire extinguishing place.

[0028] Both ends of this connection cable are detachably connected to the fire pump 10 and the battery unit 14, with waterproof couplers (not shown) preventing leakage current. This connection cable can supply power between the fire pump 10 and the battery unit 14, and can also transmit and receive control signals between the controller 24 of the electric motor 16 and the battery controller (not shown), allowing for precise electrical control and accurate water discharge.

[0029] In this way, the portable fire pump 10 is equipped with an electric motor 16 rather than an engine as the driving source. As a result, no exhaust is generated, so it can be used in places where it is difficult to ensure sufficient ventilation, such as indoors or underground. In particular, it can be used as a drainage pump in the event of flooding in subway stations. At the same time, there is no pulsation in the hose when spraying water, so water can be sprayed accurately at the desired location, and the water sprayer is less fatigued, so it can be used for long periods of time.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the battery unit 14 shown in FIG. 6 is used as the power source (power supply) of the electric motor 16 in the portable fire pump 10. However, the power source of the electric motor 16 is not necessarily limited to this battery unit 14, and an on-board battery mounted on a fire truck or an outlet may also be used.

[0031] (2. Centrifugal Pump) It is desirable to use a turbine pump with guide vanes, which has high discharge pressure and is suitable for miniaturization, as the centrifugal pump 20. As shown in Fig. 2, this turbine pump, which is the centrifugal pump 20, is connected to the rotating shaft of an electric motor 16, and the internal guide vanes rotate when driven by the electric motor 16, and when the discharge valve 12 is opened, fire extinguishing water can be discharged from the discharge port 12B connected to a water discharge hose (not shown).

[0032] This discharge valve 12 is opened and closed by operating the handle 12A, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4(A), the handle 12A is arranged at a position perpendicular to the water discharge direction (the diagonally upward right direction in Figure 4, which is the direction of water movement) in the flow path in the discharge valve 12, so that the valve body inside the discharge valve 12 is oriented in a direction that blocks the flow path and the discharge port 12B is fully closed. Also, by displacing the handle 12 from the fully closed position shown in Figure 4(A) to a direction parallel to the water discharge direction in the flow path in the discharge valve 12 as shown in Figure 4(B), the internal valve body gradually opens the flow path, and by positioning the handle 12 parallel to the water discharge direction as shown in Figure 4(C), the discharge port 12B is fully opened. That is, the position (orientation) of the handle 12A corresponds to the opening degree of the internal valve body, and the position of the handle 12A indicates the opening degree of the valve body.

[0033] (3. Vacuum Pump) 2 and 5, the vacuum pump 22 is driven by the rotation of a drive pulley 30 connected to the rotary shaft of the electric motor 16 and driven by the electric motor 16, which transmits power to a driven pulley 34 connected to the shaft of the vacuum pump 22 via a drive belt 32. In this case, the vacuum pump 22 for supplying fire extinguishing water as priming water into the centrifugal pump 20 includes a clutch mechanism 36 for transmitting or cutting off the power generated by the driving of the electric motor 16 to the vacuum pump 22, as shown in FIG.

[0034] 5, the clutch mechanism 36 is specifically composed of a tension pulley 38 and a vacuum lever 40 for displacing the tension pulley 38, and when water for extinguishing is drawn from the water source, the vacuum lever 40 is pulled to pull an internal wire (not shown), thereby pressing the tension pulley 38 against the drive belt 32 and applying tension to the drive belt 32, and the power from the drive pulley 30 by the electric motor 16 is transmitted to the driven pulley 34 via the drive belt 32, thereby starting the rotation of the vacuum pump 22. On the other hand, after the water drawing is completed, the vacuum lever 40 is pressed to push in the internal wire (not shown), causing the tension pulley 38 to move away from the drive belt 32 and releasing the tension applied to the drive belt 32, and the drive of the drive pulley 30 by the electric motor 16 is not transmitted to the driven pulley 34, and the vacuum pump 22 stops operating.

[0035] (4. Handle position detection means and flow rate adjustment means) The fire pump 10 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration further includes, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4, a handle position detection means 42 for detecting the position of the handle 12A, and a flow rate adjustment means 44 for controlling the rotation of the electric motor 16 in accordance with the position of the handle 12A detected by the handle position detection means 42.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the handle position detection means 42 is composed of a contact portion 46 having a substantially isosceles triangle shape that is integral with the handle 12A near the rotation axis of the handle 12A and displaces together with the handle 12A, and a switch 48 that transmits a signal indicating that the contact portion 46 is in contact with the controller 24 when the contact portion 46 is in contact. More specifically, these switches 48 are composed of three switches 48: a first switch 48a provided corresponding to the fully closed position of the handle 12A of the discharge valve 12 as shown in Figure 4(A), a second switch 48b provided corresponding to the half-open position of the handle 12A of the discharge valve 12 as shown in Figure 4(B), and a third switch 48a provided corresponding to the fully open position of the handle 12A of the discharge valve 12 as shown in Figure 4(C).

[0037] On the other hand, the flow rate adjustment means 44 adjusts the water pressure of the fire-extinguishing water by controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor 16 in conjunction with the operation of this handle 12A, thereby controlling the flow rate of the fire-extinguishing water discharged from the centrifugal pump 20. Specifically, the flow rate adjustment means 44 is provided as a control circuit within the controller 24 electrically connected to the electric motor 16, and when the handle 12A is in the fully closed position shown in Figure 4 (A), the controller 24 receives a signal from the first switch 48a, determines that the discharge valve 12 is in the fully closed position, and controls the electric motor 16 to stop rotating in conjunction with the fully closed position of the handle 12A. When the handle 12A is in the half-open position shown in Figure 4 (B), the controller 24 receives a signal from the second switch 48b, determines that the discharge valve 12 is in the half-open position, and controls the electric motor 16 to rotate at a low speed suitable for the half-open state. When the handle 12A is in the fully open position shown in Figure 4 (C), the controller 24 receives a signal from the third switch 48c, determines that the discharge valve 12 is in the fully open position, and controls the electric motor 16 to rotate at a high speed (maximum speed) suitable for the fully open state, thereby discharging water at high water pressure.

[0038] As a result, in conventional fire pumps, in order to discharge water, a two-step operation was required: first, the discharge valve 12 was fully opened by operating the handle 12A, and then the throttle dial was rotated to adjust the rotational speed of the centrifugal pump 20 to discharge water. On the other hand, in order to stop discharging water, a two-step operation was required: first, the throttle dial was rotated in the opposite direction to stop the rotation of the centrifugal pump 20, and then the discharge valve 12 was fully closed by operating the handle 12A. In the present invention, however, the rotational speed of the electric motor 16 is controlled in conjunction with the operation of the handle 12A, so that the two processes of opening and closing the discharge valve and adjusting the rotational speed of the centrifugal pump can be automatically performed with just one operation of operating the handle 12A, and both the operations of discharging water and stopping water discharge can be easily performed.

[0039] In this way, in the present invention, the water discharge pressure can be adjusted by operating only the handle 12A, thereby reducing the number of operating steps required for water discharge. Even a person who is unfamiliar with the operation can avoid forgetting to open or close the discharge valve 12, and can easily and appropriately perform water discharge operations. At the same time, it is possible to prevent damage to the fire pump 10 by avoiding the situation where water is discharged at high water pressure when the discharge valve 12 is fully closed.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 48 is used as the handle position detection means 42, but it is not necessarily limited to the switch 48, and a mechanical sensor other than the switch 48 or an electrical sensor such as an infrared sensor can also be used. As a result, although the illustrated embodiment provides three-stage adjustment, fully closed, half open, and fully open, the rotation speed of the electric motor 16 can also be controlled in continuous response to the position of the handle 12A.

[0041] In addition, in the present invention, the water discharge flow rate, water discharge pressure, and rotation speed of the electric motor 16 can be adjusted simply by operating the handle 12A, eliminating the need for a separate throttle dial. This reduces the number of parts, thereby making the fire pump 10 lighter, which in particular contributes to reducing the weight of the transportable fire pump 10.

[0042] (5. Vacuum Lever Position Detection Means and Rotation Control Means) In addition, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the fire pump 10 of the present invention further includes a vacuum lever position detection means 50 for detecting the position of the vacuum lever 40, and a rotation control means 52 for controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor 16 in accordance with the position of the vacuum lever 40 detected by the vacuum lever position detection means 50.

[0043] Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the vacuum lever position detection means 50 is composed of a switch 54 fixedly installed by a bracket 53, and a moving element 58 that is provided below the lever rod 56 of the vacuum lever 40 and displaces together with the vacuum lever 40 to move forward and backward relative to the switch 54. When the vacuum lever 40 is pulled up from the pushed-in state shown in Figure 6(A) to the state shown in Figure 6(B), the moving element 58 is pulled up together with the vacuum lever 40 in the same direction and moves toward the switch 54 located above, so that it can come into contact with the switch 54. When the switch 54 comes into contact with the moving element 58, as shown in Figure 6(B), the switch 54 transmits a signal to the controller 24 indicating that it is in contact with the moving element 58.

[0044] On the other hand, the rotation control means 52 controls the rotation speed of the electric motor 16 to a speed that optimizes the operation of the vacuum pump 22 in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever 40. Specifically, the rotation control means 52 is provided as a control circuit in the controller 24 electrically connected to the electric motor 16, and when the vacuum lever 40 is in the pressed-in state shown in Fig. 6(A) (i.e., when the tension pulley 38 is separated from the tension belt 32), the switch 54 does not come into contact with the moving element 58, and stops the rotation of the electric motor 16 without receiving any electric signal. On the other hand, when the vacuum lever 40 is in the raised state shown in Fig. 6(B) (i.e., when the tension pulley 38 is pressed against the tension belt 32), the switch 54 comes into contact with the moving element 58 displaced toward the switch 54, receives a signal from the switch 54, and determines that the tension pulley 38 is pressed against the tension belt 32. The rotation control means 52 controls the electric motor 16 to rotate at a speed required for water absorption, and transmits power from the electric motor 16 to the vacuum pump 22, allowing water absorption to begin. Then, after the water suction operation is completed, the vacuum lever 40 is pushed down again as shown in FIG. 6(A), the moving member 58 moves away from the switch 54, and the rotation control means 52 no longer receives a signal. In response to the displacement of the vacuum lever 40, the rotation control means 52 cuts off the transmission of driving force, and the electric motor 16 stops rotating.

[0045] As a result, in conventional fire pumps, in order to suck in water, a two-step operation was required: rotating the throttle dial to increase the rotational speed of the electric motor 16 and then pulling the vacuum lever 40 to transmit power. On the other hand, in order to stop sucking in water, a two-step operation was required: pressing the vacuum lever 40 to cut off the transmission of power, and then rotating the throttle dial in the opposite direction to stop the rotation of the electric motor 16. However, in the present invention, the rotational speed of the electric motor 16 is controlled in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever 40, so that with just one operation of operating the vacuum lever 40, the two processes of adjusting the rotational speed of the electric motor 16 and transmitting power can be automatically performed, and both the operations of sucking in water and stopping the water sucking can be easily performed.

[0046] In this way, in the present invention, water can be properly sucked into the centrifugal pump and water suction can be stopped simply by operating the vacuum lever 40. This reduces the number of operating steps required for water suction, and even those who are unfamiliar with the operation can avoid forgetting to readjust the throttle opening, and can perform the water suction operation simply and properly.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 54 is used as the vacuum lever position detection means 50, but it is not necessarily limited to the switch 54, and mechanical sensors other than the switch 54 or electrical sensors such as an infrared sensor can also be used. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the moving element 58 is used as a contact part to make contact with the switch 54 in the form of a microswitch, but it is not necessarily required to make contact, and instead of the switch 54, a proximity sensor that detects the approach of the moving element 58 can be used, and when the moving element 58 approaches the proximity sensor within a predetermined distance, a signal is sent to the rotation control means 52 of the controller 24, and when the moving element 58 moves away from the proximity sensor beyond the predetermined distance, no signal is sent, thereby controlling the rotation of the electric motor 16. When this proximity sensor is used, the position of the vacuum lever 40 can be detected without contact, thereby reducing wear and damage to each part.

[0048] In addition, in the present invention, the rotation of the electric motor 16 can be controlled only by operating the vacuum lever 40, so in this sense, there is no need to provide a separate throttle dial, and the fire pump 10 can be made lighter by reducing the number of parts, which can particularly contribute to reducing the weight of the transportable fire pump 10.

[0049] (6. Automatic drainage) In addition, in the fire pump 10 of the present invention, a solenoid valve type check valve is used as a drain valve (not shown) that controls the drainage of fire water remaining in the fire pump 10. The drain valve, which is a solenoid valve type check valve, is electrically controlled to open and close in conjunction with the operation of a power switch 62 provided on the control panel 60 shown in Fig. 1.

[0050] Specifically, the drain valve is controlled so as to open to drain water when the power switch 62 is in the off state (power is not turned on), and close to enable the discharge of fire-extinguishing water when the power switch 62 is in the on state (power is turned on). This control can be programmed in the controller 24.

[0051] This reliably prevents water from remaining in the fire pump 10 due to oversight of drainage work after the water discharge work is completed, and prevents breakdowns of the fire pump 10, and no problems will occur even if a person who is unfamiliar with operating the fire pump 10 operates it.

[0052] In addition, not limited to this drain valve, if an electromagnetic check valve whose opening and closing is electrically controlled is used as various check valves (for example, a check valve used for suctioning water in the vacuum pump 22) that open and close the flow path of the fluid in the fire pump 10, the opening and closing of the electromagnetic check valve can be electrically controlled to open and close appropriately even if the fire pump 10 is turned over on its side, so unlike a mechanical check valve, it is possible to respond to water discharge in all positions of the fire pump 10, including a state in which the fire pump 10 is turned over on its side, and there is no need to reset the fire pump 10 even if the fire pump 10 turns over during water discharge work, and it is possible to respond quickly and appropriately at the disaster site where urgent action is required without considering how to respond to the position of the fire pump 10. However, it is not necessary to make all valves electromagnetic, and it is not excluded to use mechanical check valves in some places as in conventional fire pumps.

[0053] (7. Boosting Method) In addition, the fire pump 10 of the present invention further includes a boost means (not shown) for temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor 16. This boost means is set as a control circuit in the controller 24, and specifically, it usually consists of a limiter that electrically limits the maximum rotation speed of the electric motor 16, and a boost switch (not shown) that releases the limiter.

[0054] Therefore, even if the discharge valve 12 is fully opened and the electric motor 16 is in a full throttle state under normal circumstances, it will not rotate faster than a preset rotation speed. On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to increase the fire extinguishing capacity, the boost switch can be pressed to release the restriction by the limiter and rotate the centrifugal pump 20 at the maximum output of the electric motor 16. For this reason, it is desirable to use an electric motor 16 that can output more than the standard specified by the ministerial ordinance.

[0055] This allows the device to reduce battery consumption at an actual firefighting scene, while increasing output when necessary, for example when a fire is not easily put out, allowing even those who are inexperienced at firefighting to carry out appropriate firefighting activities.

[0056] (8. Other embodiments) As shown in Fig. 1, it is preferable to provide the fire pump 10 with casters 64 that allow the fire pump 10 to be moved. This allows the fire pump 10 to be moved by rotating the casters 64, improving transportability.

[0057] 1, it is desirable to attach a carrying handle 66 to the fire pump 10, which can be grasped when moving the fire pump 10. This makes it easier for one person to transport the fire pump 10, and in particular, by using it in combination with the casters 64, the fire pump 10 can be tilted by operating the carrying handle 66, with only the casters 64 touching the ground and transported by rotating the casters 64, thereby reducing the transport load and improving transportability, and the direction of the fire pump 10 can be easily changed.

[0058] In this case, the carrying handle 66 is detachably attached to the fire pump 10. As a result, the carrying handle 66 can be attached to the fire pump 10 for easy operation during transportation, and can be detached from the fire pump 10 during water discharge, allowing firefighting activities to be carried out appropriately without the carrying handle 66 interfering with the operation of the fire pump 10 or the water discharge operation. [Industrial Applicability]

[0059] The present invention can be widely applied to various types of fire pumps equipped with an electric motor, including portable fire pumps that are transported to disaster sites and used for firefighting. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 Fire pump 12 Discharge valve 12A Discharge Valve Handle 12B Discharge valve outlet 14 Battery unit 16 Electric motor 18 Foundation 20 Centrifugal Pump 22 Vacuum Pump 24 Controller 26 Frames 28 Cover 30 Drive pulley 32 Drive belt 34 Driven pulley 36 Clutch mechanism 38 Tension pulley 40 Vacuum Lever 42 Handle position detection means 44 Flow rate adjustment means 46 Contact part 48 Switch 48a First Switch 48b Second Switch 48c Third Switch 50 Vacuum lever position detection means 52 Rotation control means 53 Stay 54 Switch 56 Lever 58 Movable 60 Control Panel 62 Power switch 64 Caster 66 Carrying handle

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing pump that is driven by an electric motor to discharge fire extinguishing water, The fire extinguishing pump includes a centrifugal pump that discharges the fire extinguishing water by opening a discharge valve that is opened and closed by operating a handle, and a vacuum pump that draws the fire extinguishing water from a water source and supplies the fire extinguishing water to the centrifugal pump, The fire pump further includes a handle position detection means for detecting a position of the handle, and a flow rate adjustment means for controlling rotation of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the handle detected by the handle position detection means, A fire extinguishing pump characterized in that the flow rate adjustment means adjusts the water pressure of the fire extinguishing water by controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the handle, thereby controlling the flow rate of the fire extinguishing water discharged from the centrifugal pump.

2. A fire extinguishing pump that is driven by an electric motor to discharge fire extinguishing water, The fire extinguishing pump includes a centrifugal pump that discharges the fire extinguishing water by opening a discharge valve that is opened and closed by operating a handle, and a vacuum pump that starts suction of the fire extinguishing water from a water source by operating a vacuum lever and supplies the fire extinguishing water to the centrifugal pump, The fire pump further includes a vacuum lever position detection means for detecting a position of the vacuum lever, and a rotation control means for controlling a rotation speed of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the vacuum lever detected by the vacuum lever position detection means, A fire pump characterized in that the rotation control means controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever to a speed at which the vacuum pump operates optimally.

3. A fire extinguishing pump that is driven by an electric motor to discharge fire extinguishing water, The fire extinguishing pump includes a centrifugal pump that discharges the fire extinguishing water by opening a discharge valve that is opened and closed by operating a handle, and a vacuum pump that starts suction of the fire extinguishing water from a water source by operating a vacuum lever and supplies the fire extinguishing water to the centrifugal pump, the fire pump includes a handle position detection means for detecting a position of the handle, and a flow rate adjustment means for controlling rotation of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the handle detected by the handle position detection means, the flow rate adjusting means adjusts the water pressure of the fire-extinguishing water by controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the handle, thereby controlling the flow rate of the fire-extinguishing water discharged from the centrifugal pump; The fire pump further includes a vacuum lever position detection means for detecting a position of the vacuum lever, and a rotation control means for controlling a rotation speed of the electric motor in accordance with the position of the vacuum lever detected by the vacuum lever position detection means, A fire pump characterized in that the rotation control means controls the rotation speed of the electric motor in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum lever to a speed at which the vacuum pump operates optimally.

4. 4. A fire pump according to claim 1, wherein a drain valve for controlling the drainage of the fire water remaining in the fire pump is an electromagnetic check valve whose opening and closing is electrically controlled in conjunction with the operation of a power switch, and wherein the drain valve is controlled so as to open to drain the fire water when the power switch is in the off state, and to close to enable the discharge of the fire water when the power switch is in the on state.

5. 4. The fire pump according to claim 1, further comprising a boost means for temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor, the boost means comprising a limiter for electrically restricting the maximum rotation speed of the electric motor under normal circumstances, and a boost switch for releasing the restriction imposed by the limiter.

6. 5. The fire pump according to claim 4, further comprising a boost means for temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor, the boost means comprising a limiter for electrically restricting the maximum rotation speed of the electric motor under normal circumstances, and a boost switch for releasing the restriction by the limiter.

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