Mixing system for fire extinguishing installations and method for its maintenance

Abstract

FIELD: fire extinguishing installations.SUBSTANCE: mixing system for fire extinguishing installations for creating a mixture of an extinguishing agent and an additive to the extinguishing agent by mixing the additive to the extinguishing agent into the extinguishing agent, as well as to a method for technical maintenance of such a system. The system has a motor driven by the flow of extinguishing agent and a mixing pump connected to this motor for pumping an additive to the extinguishing agent, which is driven by the motor. The mixing system has remote control means for transmitting and executing a command to automatically start or stop the engine and the mixing pump, as well as remote reading means for automatically recording and transmitting data relating to the state of the mixing system. In this case, the presence of an operator at the mixing system is not required.EFFECT: ability to test the operability of the mixing system without the need for the operator to go to the fire extinguishing installation that has the mixing system.13 cl, 1 dwg

Description

[0001] The entire contents of priority application DE 102021203613.9 are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

[0002] The present invention relates to a mixing system for fire extinguishing systems and a method for servicing the same. A fire extinguishing system within the meaning of the present invention is a system comprising a pump, a piping system, and a mixing system for adding an extinguishing agent, through which the extinguishing agent can be released, in particular through nozzles, foam nozzles, or foam generators. The fire extinguishing system may be a stationary system, such as a fire extinguishing system in a tank farm (warehouse) with a permanently mounted so-called monitor, i.e., a large fire nozzle (fire hose), or a permanently mounted sprinkler system in a building. However, it may also be a mobile system on a vehicle or a swap body.

[0003] These fire extinguishing systems typically use water as the extinguishing agent. However, in many cases, it is preferable to foam the extinguishing agent before releasing it onto the fire being fought, so that the applied extinguishing agent forms a long-lasting blanket of extinguishing agent that can suppress the fire. To achieve this, an extinguishing agent additive (in this case, a foaming agent) is usually first mixed with the extinguishing agent in a specific ratio. The mixture of extinguishing agent and extinguishing agent additive (the so-called "premix") is then foamed in a nozzle by introducing air and released onto the fire to be extinguished. The volumetric ratio of extinguishing agent additive to extinguishing agent itself, the so-called mixing rate (ratio), typically ranges from 0.5% to 6%.

[0004] Another additive that can be mixed into the extinguishing agent is a wetting agent, which reduces the surface tension of the extinguishing agent, particularly the extinguishing water. This is beneficial, for example, when fighting forest fires, because it allows the extinguishing water to wet larger surfaces, such as tree leaves, and therefore be applied more effectively. Furthermore, the reduced surface tension allows the extinguishing water to penetrate deeper into the forest floor, extinguishing, for example, deeper fires.

[0005] There are also foaming agents that are just as applicable as wetting agents (then, if necessary, at different mixing rates (coefficients), in particular at a minimum mixing rate of 0.1%).

[0006] The invention is further described in part using water as an extinguishing agent and a foaming agent as an additive to the extinguishing agent. However, this should not be construed as limiting. The invention can also be applied by mixing any additives into any extinguishing agent.

[0007] To operate a fire extinguishing system with a mixing system, both the extinguishing agent and the extinguishing agent additive may be supplied in the extinguishing agent tank, or in the extinguishing agent additive tank, or through the extinguishing agent supply line, or through the extinguishing agent additive supply line. If the extinguishing agent is supplied in the extinguishing agent tank, an extinguishing agent pump is also required, which draws the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent tank, pressurizes it, and delivers it to the mixing system. However, these components are not necessarily part of the mixing system itself.

[0008] The resulting mixture of extinguishing agent and extinguishing agent additive, i.e., the premix (in the case of a foam concentrate as an extinguishing agent additive), is then directed as a premix stream through a foaming nozzle, where the premix flow draws in ambient air and mixes with the premix. This activates the foam concentrate in the premix, causing the premix to foam, causing extinguishing agent foam to emerge from the foaming nozzle and be released onto the fire.

[0009] The air required for foaming the foaming agent can also be supplied to the premix in the form of compressed air. A system that creates foam from compressed air is called a CAFS (Compressed Air Foam System).

[0010] It's true that premix can be prepared in advance, regardless of the fire extinguishing system, but then it may need to be stored for a long time. Therefore, in many cases, it's preferable to prepare the premix only immediately before releasing the extinguishing agent onto the fire being fought. For this purpose, the mixing system has a mixing pump, which can pump the extinguishing agent additive and mix it with the extinguishing agent.

[0011] In the mixing system considered for the present invention, the mixing pump is driven by a motor, which, in turn, is driven by the flow of the extinguishing agent itself.

[0012] Thus, in the above-mentioned non-limiting example of application of the invention, the mixing system has a hydraulic motor driven by the flow of extinguishing water. For this purpose, the output shaft of this hydraulic motor is connected to the input shaft of the mixing pump, for example, via a coupling.

[0013] Then the extinguishing agent additive pumped by the mixing pump is sent through the extinguishing agent additive outlet pipeline from the mixing pump to the mixing pipeline and mixed with the extinguishing agent flow there to form a premix.

[0014] This type of mixing system, in which the mixing pump is driven by the existing flow of extinguishing agent, has the advantage of requiring no external drive energy, particularly electricity, making the mixing system highly fail-safe. Furthermore, the pump's output (power) is substantially proportional to the engine speed, which in turn is substantially proportional to the extinguishing agent flow rate. Thus, a substantially constant mixing rate is automatically achieved without the need for additional control or regulation devices.

[0015] A mixing system with a similar structure is known from the present applicant's publication DE 102019215406. This publication discloses a mixing system for fire extinguishing installations for creating a mixture of an extinguishing agent and an additive to the extinguishing agent (premix) by mixing an additive, in particular a foaming agent, into the extinguishing agent, in particular water, having a structure according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention, in particular with a motor driven by the flow of the extinguishing agent and a mixing pump for pumping the additive to the extinguishing agent, preferably a piston pump and also preferably a plunger pump having a drive shaft that is connected to the shaft of said motor.

[0016] Also known is the system from US 2018 / 0272164 A1, which concerns a portable or stationary, operator-operated or self-contained fire extinguishing system, which can be combined with a first-aid medical system, for remote locations. This system comprises a water supply system, a foam concentrate, a mixer, and an electric fluid pump, where the mixer and pump form a single unit through which both water and foam concentrate are pumped. The system can be activated remotely, with the mixer and pump, as well as the valves, being activated remotely by the operator.

[0017] Fire extinguishing systems, and thus also the additional fire extinguishing systems of this type, particularly when it comes to stationary additional fire extinguishing systems, are often kept in reserve for long periods but are rarely used. However, their constant readiness for use is of the utmost importance. Therefore, additional fire extinguishing systems must be regularly maintained and tested for functionality. This typically involves the operator manually starting the additional fire extinguishing system, visually checking its functionality or using measuring instruments installed on the additional fire extinguishing system, and then manually shutting it down again. Especially with stationary additional fire extinguishing systems, this requires significant personnel and associated costs, particularly travel expenses and time.

[0018] Therefore, the present invention is based on the problem of reducing the maintenance costs of the mixing system for the fire extinguishing installation.

[0019] This problem is solved by means of a mixing system according to claim 1 of the invention, respectively, by means of a method for its maintenance according to claim 12 of the invention. Preferred improvements of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

[0020] The invention is based on a mixing system for fire extinguishing installations for creating a mixture of an extinguishing agent and an additive to the extinguishing agent (premix) by mixing an additive to the extinguishing agent, in particular a foaming agent, to the extinguishing agent, in particular water.

[0021] This mixing system has the following components and piping:

[0022] - an engine driven by a flow of extinguishing agent, in particular a hydraulic (water) engine, having at least one feed device for feeding extinguishing agent to the engine, in particular from a tank for extinguishing agent or from a supply pipeline for extinguishing agent, at least one output device for removing extinguishing agent from the engine and an engine shaft driven by the engine;

[0023] - an inlet pipeline of an extinguishing agent, having an end facing the engine, which is connected to the said at least one supply device of the engine, and an end facing the supply of the extinguishing agent, which can be connected, in particular, to a tank for the extinguishing agent or to a supply pipeline of the extinguishing agent;

[0024] - a mixing pump for pumping an additive to an extinguishing agent, preferably a piston pump and further preferably a plunger pump, with a drive shaft that is connected to the engine shaft of said engine, with at least one supply device for providing an additive to an extinguishing agent, in particular from a tank for an additive to an extinguishing agent or from a supply pipeline for an additive to an extinguishing agent, and with at least one outlet device for removing the additive to an extinguishing agent;

[0025] - a mixing pipeline having an end facing the engine and an end facing the outlet, wherein the end facing the engine is hydraulically connected to the said at least one outlet device of the engine;

[0026] - a pipeline for an additive to an extinguishing agent, having an end facing the pump and an end facing the mixing pipeline, wherein the end facing the pump is hydraulically connected to the said at least one outlet device of the mixing pump, and the end facing the mixing pipeline is connected to the mixing pipeline at the mixing point.

[0027] In accordance with the invention, the mixing system has remote control means for transmitting and implementing a command to automatically start or stop the engine and the mixing pump and / or time control means for automatically starting or stopping the engine and the mixing pump, wherein these remote control means and / or time control means allow the engine and the mixing pump to be started or stopped automatically without the presence of an operator at the mixing system.

[0028] In this case, the said time control means are preferably designed so that they start and stop the engine and the mixing pump in accordance with certain, in particular freely set time settings (tasks), preferably at certain time intervals and / or when a certain time has passed since the last (automatic or manual) start or stop.

[0029] Of course, both functions can also be combined, i.e. the remote control can simultaneously function as a time control device.

[0030] In accordance with the invention, the mixing system also has remote reading means for automatically recording and transmitting data that relates to the state of the mixing system, and these remote reading means make it possible to automatically record and transmit this data without the presence of an operator at the mixing system.

[0031] With these remote maintenance features, the functionality of the mixing system can be checked without the operator having to travel to the fire extinguishing system, eliminating travel costs. This can significantly reduce costs and associated maintenance for manufacturers whose mixing systems are used worldwide.

[0032] According to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the mixing system also has a pump for the extinguishing agent for pumping the extinguishing agent from the tank for the extinguishing agent and for supplying it to the engine, at least one output device of which is connected to the end of the inlet pipeline of the extinguishing agent facing the supply of the extinguishing agent, and remote control means and / or time control means are intended to start and stop this pump for the extinguishing agent.

[0033] This creates a flow of extinguishing agent in the extinguishing agent inlet line, which drives the engine, which also activates the engine-connected mixing pump, which injects the extinguishing agent additive. This allows the functionality of all essential components of the mixing system to be tested.

[0034] According to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, alternative to the previously named embodiment, the inlet pipeline of the extinguishing agent has an extinguishing agent valve for supplying the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent supply pipeline to the engine, and remote control means and / or time control means are designed to open and close this extinguishing agent valve.

[0035] In this way, if the extinguishing agent in the extinguishing agent supply line is already under sufficient pressure, a flow of extinguishing agent is created in the extinguishing agent inlet line. As in the previously mentioned embodiment, the functionality of all essential components of the mixing system can be tested.

[0036] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixing system also has a bypass pipeline for the engine, which is hydraulically connected at the end facing the engine inlet to the inlet pipeline of the extinguishing agent, and at the end facing the engine outlet to the mixing pipeline.

[0037] A piping circuit is thus created within the mixing system, consisting of a portion of the mixing pipe between the end of the mixing pipe facing the engine and the end of the bypass pipe facing the engine outlet, the bypass pipe itself, and a portion of the extinguishing agent inlet pipe between the end of the bypass pipe facing the engine inlet and the end of the extinguishing agent inlet pipe facing the engine. The engine is also located in this piping circuit. It is therefore possible for the extinguishing agent to circulate through the piping circuit and through the engine without the extinguishing agent being supplied at the end of the extinguishing agent inlet pipe facing the supply of the extinguishing agent and / or the extinguishing agent being discharged at the end of the mixing pipe facing the outlet.In this way, the mixing system can be tested and maintained with minimal logistical costs, as a closed system.

[0038] In particular, when the mixing system is a so-called “wet installation”, i.e. the extinguishing agent pipelines are always filled with extinguishing agent, even when the mixing system is idle for a long time, then the said pipeline circuit is also always filled with extinguishing agent and therefore should not be filled with extinguishing agent specifically for maintenance work.

[0039] According to one preferred embodiment of the previously named embodiment, the mixing system also has a drive device that is designed to drive the engine into rotation, and the engine is designed to pump the extinguishing agent, which is contained in the previously described pipeline circuit, through this pipeline circuit.

[0040] By driving the engine with a drive unit and acting as a pump, the previously mentioned circulation of extinguishing agent in the pipeline circuit can be easily implemented, thereby conducting a closed-loop test of the mixing system. Simultaneously, the engine also starts the mixing pump, forcing the extinguishing agent additive into the system, allowing all essential components of the mixing system to be reactivated and tested.

[0041] According to one of the preferred embodiments concerning this, the remote control means and / or the time control means are intended to start and stop the drive device from operating.

[0042] This, in turn, makes it possible to carry out the desired remote maintenance work in a simple manner.

[0043] According to one of the preferred embodiments concerning this, the drive device is a drive motor, in particular an electric motor, the motor shaft of which is connected to the motor shaft of the said engine for the extinguishing means, selectively transmitting torque, in particular by means of a freewheel clutch and / or by means of an elastic coupling.

[0044] A drive motor and, in particular, an electric motor as a drive motor has the advantage that it can be easily used with remote control means and / or time control means and can be started and stopped by them, in particular by means of electrical switching devices.

[0045] However, torque transfer from the drive motor to the extinguishing agent motor should only occur during maintenance work, so that the motor functions as a pump, forcing the extinguishing agent into the piping system and circulating it. During the "real" operation of the mixing system during fire extinguishing applications, torque transfer from the drive motor to the extinguishing agent motor should not occur.

[0046] To achieve the required selective disconnection of the drive motor from the extinguishing agent motor, a clutch that opens and closes depending on the operating mode of the mixing system can be used. However, such a clutch represents another component of the mixing system that requires active control. Therefore, a mechanical overrunning clutch is preferably used. This clutch is configured such that during maintenance work on the mixing system, it transmits torque from the rotating drive motor to the extinguishing agent motor. However, when the drive motor is stopped, particularly during "real" operation of the mixing system, it allows the extinguishing agent motor to rotate, but then torque is not transmitted. This mechanical overrunning clutch can be designed in a conventional manner, for example, as a ratchet or roller overrunning clutch.

[0047] Also between the drive motor and the extinguishing agent motor, in particular in addition to the clutch or the freewheel clutch, another elastic clutch may be arranged so that oscillations of the torque of the drive motor or the extinguishing agent motor are not transmitted or are at least transmitted with damping to the respective other motor.

[0048] According to one of the preferred variants of the said embodiment of the invention having a bypass pipeline, this bypass pipeline has a shut-off valve, and the remote control means and / or the time control means are intended to open and close this shut-off valve.

[0049] This way it can be ensured that the bypass pipe is only open during maintenance work and closed during “real” operation.

[0050] According to another preferred variant of the said embodiment of the invention, having a bypass pipeline, a switching device is located in the pipeline of the additive to the extinguishing agent, in particular a ball valve, which is also hydraulically connected to the return pipeline, and this switching device can be switched in such a way that the flow of the additive to the extinguishing agent from the end of the pipeline of the additive to the extinguishing agent facing the pump is selectively directed along the pipeline of the additive to the extinguishing agent to the mixing point or to the return pipeline, and wherein the remote control means and / or the time control means are intended to switch this switching device.

[0051] Thus, by switching the switching device, the flow of extinguishing agent additive during maintenance work can be directed into a return line, which is preferably connected to the extinguishing agent additive tank and returns the extinguishing agent additive to it. This has the advantage of allowing the mixing pump to pump the extinguishing agent additive while simultaneously circulating the extinguishing agent in the pipeline circuit, without the extinguishing agent additive entering the mixing line.

[0052] According to another preferred embodiment of the said embodiment of the invention having a bypass pipeline, this bypass pipeline has at least one first measuring device, in particular a flow measuring device, preferably a magnetic-inductive flow meter, a pressure measuring device and / or a temperature measuring device, and the remote reading means are intended to read and transmit data from this first measuring device.

[0053] Thus, the measurement results of said at least one first measuring device, such as the flow rate, pressure and / or temperature of the extinguishing agent in the bypass pipeline, are available and can be evaluated there to check the functionality of the mixing system.

[0054] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixing pump has at least one second measuring device, in particular an oil level sensor and / or an oil quality sensor, and the remote reading means are designed to read and transmit data from this second measuring device.

[0055] Accordingly, the measurement results of said at least one second measuring device, such as the oil level and / or the quality of the oil in the mixing pump, are also available for evaluation.

[0056] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the return pipeline has at least one third measuring device, preferably a flow measuring device, and also preferably a magnetic-inductive flow meter, and the remote reading means are designed to read and transmit data from this third measuring device.

[0057] Accordingly, the measurement results of said at least one third measuring device, such as the consumption of the extinguishing agent additive in the return line, are also available for evaluation.

[0058] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the engine has at least one fourth measuring device, in particular a tachometer, and the remote reading means are designed to read and transmit data from this fourth measuring device.

[0059] Accordingly, the measurement results of said at least one fourth measuring device, such as the engine speed, are also available for evaluation.

[0060] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for remote control of the components of the mixing system, for the start-up and shutdown of which these remote control means are intended, and / or the means for remote reading of the components of the mixing system, for the registration and transmission of data of which these remote reading means are intended, are located remotely, in particular on a remote server computer.

[0061] If the mixing system has timing controls, they are preferably located near or adjacent to the mixing system components that these timing controls are designed to activate and deactivate. This allows for autonomous control of these mixing system components using timing controls. However, it is also possible for remote controls to simultaneously function as timing controls and then also be located remotely.

[0062] Here, "remotely located" means that the remote control devices, or remote reading devices, are not directly installed on the corresponding components of the mixing system. Furthermore, the remote control devices, or remote reading devices, may be connected to the mixing system via communication lines, preferably via telecommunications networks and, preferably, via the internet. They may be located in the same building as the mixing system itself, in another building on the premises of the mixing system operator, at the mixing system manufacturer, or in virtually any other location worldwide. This enables the desired remote maintenance while saving travel time and travel costs for technical service personnel.

[0063] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the data of the components of the mixing system transmitted by the remote reading means, the data of which must be recorded and transmitted by these remote reading means, can be stored remotely, in particular in the memory of a remote server computer or in cloud memory.

[0064] The term "cloud storage" here, in accordance with the generally accepted term "cloud computing" in computer science, refers to data storage that can be distributed across multiple physical storage locations and whose geographic locations, accordingly, may be completely unknown or unknown to the user of the cloud storage. Typically, the user can access cloud storage over the internet and use it in the same way as if it were installed on a local computer.

[0065] The same applies to the recorded and transmitted data as to the remote maintenance and remote reading equipment itself, namely that they can be stored practically anywhere in the world in order to be evaluated preferably immediately or later, in particular by comparison with specified nominal values, with earlier data from the same mixing system or with data from other mixing systems.

[0066] The method for maintaining the mixing system proposed by the invention has the following steps:

[0067] - starting the engine and mixing pump using remote control and / or time control means;

[0068] - recording and transmission of data relating to the state of the mixing system using remote reading means, and

[0069] - stopping the engine and the mixing pump from working using remote controls and / or time control means.

[0070] This allows the desired remote maintenance work to be carried out without the need for technical service personnel to go to the fire extinguishing system and mixing system itself.

[0071] In one preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the mixing system has a bypass pipeline, the following step is carried out before starting the engine and the mixing pump:

[0072] - switching the switching device in the extinguishing agent additive pipeline by means of remote control and / or timing control means in such a way that the flow of extinguishing agent additive is directed from the end of the extinguishing agent additive pipeline facing the pump to the return pipeline.

[0073] Also, after the engine and the mixing pump are taken out of operation, the following step is carried out:

[0074] - switching the switching device in the extinguishing agent additive pipeline using remote control means and / or time control means in such a way that the flow of extinguishing agent additive is directed from the end of the extinguishing agent additive pipeline facing the pump through the extinguishing agent additive pipeline to the mixing point.

[0075] The advantages of this embodiment of the method are obtained similarly to the corresponding embodiment of the mixing system described above.

[0076] In addition, before starting the engine and the mixing pump and after stopping the engine and the mixing pump, the valve in the return line may also be opened or closed, respectively, to allow or prevent the extinguishing agent additive from flowing through the return line.

[0077] Other advantages, features and possibilities of application of the present invention will follow from the following description with reference to the figure. It is shown:

[0078] Fig. 1: a flow chart of the mixing system proposed by the invention, as well as a schematic representation of the means for remote maintenance and remote reading and communication lines for linking them.

[0079] The following first describes the “real” operation of the mixing system 1, i.e., the use of the mixing system 1 to extinguish a fire.

[0080] The mixing system 1 is supplied with extinguishing water, which is pumped from the extinguishing water tank by the extinguishing water pump (both not shown) and is thereby pressurized. The extinguishing water then flows through the extinguishing agent inlet pipe 17 from its end 19 facing the extinguishing agent supply to the feeding device 3 of the hydraulic motor 2 and into it, to drive it. The hydraulic motor 2 preferably operates according to the displacement principle, and also preferably according to the reciprocating piston principle or the rotary principle.

[0081] From the outlet device 4 of the hydraulic motor 2, the extinguishing water enters the mixing pipeline 10 at its end 11 facing the engine.

[0082] The shaft 5 of the hydraulic motor 2 is preferably connected via a coupling (not shown) to the drive shaft 9 of the mixing pump 6. Thus, the shaft 5 of the hydraulic motor 2 also sets the drive shaft 9 of the mixing pump 6 in rotation, thereby driving the mixing pump 6. The mixing pump 6 is preferably a plunger pump.

[0083] The mixing pump 6 pumps an additive to the extinguishing agent, in particular a foaming agent, which is provided in a tank for the extinguishing agent (not shown) and is directed to the feeding device 7 of the mixing pump 6. There, it is sucked in by the mixing pump 6, loaded with pressure by it and pumped to the outlet device 8 of the mixing pump 6.

[0084] At the outlet device 8 of the mixing pump 6, the extinguishing agent additive enters the end 14 of the extinguishing agent additive pipeline 13 facing the pump.

[0085] In the extinguishing agent additive pipeline 13, the extinguishing agent additive first reaches the three-way ball valve 30 and, if it is in the “mixing” state, to the end 15 of the extinguishing agent additive pipeline 13 facing the mixing pipeline, where this pipeline is connected to the mixing pipeline 10. There is also a mixing point 16 there, in which the extinguishing agent additive is mixed with the extinguishing water.

[0086] By synchronizing the flow rates of the extinguishing water flow in the mixing pipeline 10 and the flow rate of the extinguishing agent additive in the extinguishing agent additive pipeline 13 due to the connection of the hydraulic motor 2 with the mixing pump 6, the volume ratio between the mixed extinguishing agent additive and the extinguishing water, i.e. the mixing rate (coefficient), is essentially constant, for example, 3%.

[0087] The extinguishing water mixed in this way with the additive to the extinguishing agent, i.e. the premix, is finally directed through the mixing pipeline 10 to its end 12 facing the outlet and is released there to the consumer or consumers of the fire extinguishing system, for example, to one or more sprinkler nozzles or to a foaming nozzle and extinguishing monitor (all not shown).

[0088] During the “real” operation of the mixing system 1, the shut-off valve 29 in the bypass pipeline 22, which will be described in more detail below, is closed, so that the extinguishing water at the end 24 of the bypass pipeline 22 facing the engine outlet cannot flow from the mixing pipeline 10 into the bypass pipeline 22.

[0089] In addition to the "real" operation in fire extinguishing applications, the mixing system 1 can also be used for maintenance work, which will now be described.

[0090] For this purpose, the mixing system 1 has remote control means 20, by means of which a command can be transmitted for automatically starting or stopping the operation of the hydraulic motor 2 and the mixing pump 6, as well as remote reading means 21, by means of which data concerning the state of the mixing system 1 can be automatically recorded and transmitted.

[0091] Additionally or alternatively, time control means for automatically starting or stopping the hydraulic motor 2 and the mixing pump 6 may also be provided. However, they are not shown in this embodiment.

[0092] The remote control means 20 and the remote reading means 21, being connected by the signal / control pipeline (line) 40, can be located in the local building 39 or, being connected by an additional internet connection 41, in any other place. The remote control means 20 and / or the remote reading means 21 can be located, in particular, in the local control with programmable memory (PLC, programmable logic controller) 42 or on the server computer 37 on the internet. The data transmitted to the remote reading means 21 can be stored, in particular, also in the cloud memory 38.

[0093] Therefore, the presence of an operator in the immediate vicinity of the mixing system 1 for maintenance is no longer required, making purely remote maintenance work possible.

[0094] During maintenance work, no extinguishing water is supplied to the mixing system 1 from the extinguishing water tank or from the extinguishing water supply pipeline, i.e., no extinguishing water flows through the end 19 of the extinguishing agent inlet pipeline 17 facing the extinguishing agent supply. Accordingly, the mixing system 1 also does not discharge extinguishing water or premix to the specified consumers, i.e., no extinguishing water or premix flows through the outlet end 12 of the mixing pipeline 10 facing the outlet. Thus, the maintenance work is carried out practically "autonomously," i.e., without exchanging extinguishing water or premix between the mixing system 1 and other components of the fire extinguishing system.

[0095] Instead, the extinguishing water circulates in a pipeline circuit that consists essentially of a bypass pipeline 22, or more precisely, of a portion of the mixing pipeline 10 between the end 11 of the mixing pipeline 10 facing the engine and the end 24 of the bypass pipeline 22 facing the engine outlet, the bypass pipeline 22 itself and a portion of the inlet pipeline 17 of the extinguishing agent between the end 23 of the bypass pipeline 22 facing the engine inlet and the end 18 of the inlet pipeline 17 of the extinguishing agent facing the engine. The hydraulic motor 2 closes this pipeline circuit between the end 18 of the inlet pipeline 17 of the extinguishing agent facing the engine and the end 11 of the mixing pipeline 10 facing the engine.

[0096] Also located in the bypass pipeline 22 and thus in the pipeline circuit are a flow measurement device 32, in particular a magnetic-inductive flow meter (MIR), which will be described in more detail below, as well as a shut-off valve 29.

[0097] During maintenance work on the mixing system 1, the shut-off valve 2 9 is open to allow extinguishing water to flow through the pipeline circuit. The opening and closing of the shut-off valve 29 is preferably also carried out using the remote control 20.

[0098] During maintenance work, hydraulic motor 2 functions as a pump and pumps extinguishing water through the aforementioned pipeline circuit. Since the mixing system 1 in this embodiment is a so-called wet system, whose pipelines are always filled with extinguishing water, or with an extinguishing agent additive or premix, the pipeline circuit does not need to be filled with extinguishing water specifically for maintenance work.

[0099] However, the invention can also be implemented in a so-called dry system, whose pipelines are not always filled with extinguishing water, or with an extinguishing agent additive or premix. In this case, the pipeline circuit does not necessarily need to be specifically filled with extinguishing water. Instead, rather than the actual measured extinguishing water flow, the rotational speed and associated discharge volume of the hydraulic motor are used as a measure of extinguishing agent flow.

[0100] Since hydraulic motor 2 must function as a pump during maintenance work, it must be driven by another drive unit. For this purpose, hydraulic motor 2 is connected to drive unit 25, in this embodiment an electric motor, which optionally has a transmission, particularly a reduction gear.

[0101] In this case, the shaft 26 of the drive device 25 is connected to the shaft 5 of the hydraulic motor 2. Preferably, for this purpose, the shaft 5 of the motor on the side opposite the mixing pump 6 is additionally extended from the housing of the hydraulic motor 2.

[0102] Between the drive device 25 and the hydraulic motor 2, a freewheel clutch 27 is additionally located, which transmits the torque of the drive device 25 during maintenance work on the mixing system 1 to the hydraulic motor 2, thereby causing it to rotate. During the "real" operation of the mixing system 1, in which the drive device 25 is stopped, the freewheel clutch 27, in contrast, slips, so that the hydraulic motor 2, in this case driven by the flow of extinguishing water in the inlet pipe 17 of the extinguishing agent, can rotate freely.

[0103] Also, between the drive device 25 and the hydraulic motor 2, an elastic coupling 28 is located so that uneven rotation in one of the two motors 25, 2 is not transmitted to the other, respectively.

[0104] The drive device 25 is switched on and off using the remote control means 20, for which, for example, the switching functions of the PIC 42 can be used. This also starts and stops the hydraulic motor 2 and, consequently, the mixing pump 6.

[0105] The circulation of extinguishing water in the pipeline circuit and thus the proper functioning of the hydraulic motor 2 is monitored by several measuring devices, namely a pressure measuring device 33, a flow measuring device 32, which in this embodiment is a magnetic-inductive flow meter (MIR), and a temperature measuring device 34, which can also be integrated into the flow measuring device 32. The measurement results of these measuring devices are recorded and transmitted via remote reading means 21 and are therefore available for evaluation, if necessary, at a remote location.

[0106] Accordingly, the rotational speed of the hydraulic motor 2 can also be measured by a corresponding measuring device, in particular a tachometer (not shown), and recorded and transmitted using the remote reading means 21.

[0107] During maintenance work, the mixing pump 6 is also started by its connection with the hydraulic motor 2 and pumps the extinguishing agent additive from the extinguishing agent additive tank (not shown). Since the described pipeline circuit must not exchange with the environment during maintenance work, the extinguishing agent additive must not enter the mixing line 10. For this reason, the three-way ball valve 30 is actuated by the remote control means 20 from the "mixing" position to the "return" position during maintenance work, as a result of which the extinguishing agent additive is pumped into the return line 31 instead of the mixing point 16 and from there back into the extinguishing agent additive tank.

[0108] The switching of the three-way ball valve 30 between the "mixing" position and the "return" position is carried out by means of the remote control means 20. Preferably, the three-way ball valve 30 has an electric drive for this purpose and also preferably a position control device, which is activated or controlled by the remote control means 20, in particular in the form of a PIC.

[0109] The mixing system 1 may also have a two-way ball valve (not shown), which is located in the flushing pipeline (also not shown). This flushing pipeline branches off from the inlet pipeline 17 of the extinguishing agent and leads to the feed device 7 of the mixing pump 6. The two-way ball valve can be switched between a closed and open position. During the "real" operation of the mixing system 1, the two-way ball valve is closed. During flushing work of the mixing system 1, the two-way ball valve is open and releases the flushing pipeline so that extinguishing water can flow through it. In this way, the mixing pump 6 can be flushed with extinguishing water.

[0110] Also, the two-way ball valve may have an electric drive and / or a position control device, which, respectively, is activated, respectively, controlled by remote control means 20.

[0111] In the return line 31, another flow measuring device 36 is arranged, in this embodiment again a magnetic-inductive flow meter (MIR), with the help of which the flow of the additive to the extinguishing agent in the return line 31 and thus the proper functioning of the mixing pump 6 can be monitored. The measurement results of the flow measuring device 36 are also recorded and transmitted by means of remote reading means 21 and are therefore available for evaluation, if necessary, at some remote location.

[0112] From the recorded and transmitted during maintenance work consumption of water for extinguishing in the bypass pipeline 22 and the additive to the extinguishing agent in the return pipeline 31, the mixing rate can also be found by calculations and compared with a certain specified nominal mixing rate.

[0113] The proper functioning of the mixing pump 6 is also monitored by means of an oil level sensor and / or an oil quality sensor 35, the measurement results of which are likewise recorded and transmitted by means of remote reading means 21 and are available for evaluation, if necessary, at some remote location.

[0114] List of reference positions

[0115] 1 Mixing system

[0116] 2 Hydraulic motor

[0117] 3 Hydraulic motor feed device

[0118] 4 Hydraulic motor output device

[0119] 5 Hydraulic motor shaft

[0120] 6 Mixing pump

[0121] 7 Feeding device of mixing pump

[0122] 8 Mixing pump outlet device

[0123] 9 Mixing pump drive shaft

[0124] 10 Mixing pipeline

[0125] 11 Engine end of mixing pipe

[0126] 12 Discharge end of mixing pipe

[0127] 13 Extinguishing agent additive pipeline

[0128] 14 Pump end of extinguishing agent additive pipeline

[0129] 15 End of extinguishing agent additive pipeline facing the mixing pipeline

[0130] 16 Mixing place

[0131] 17 Extinguishing agent inlet pipe

[0132] 18 Engine end of extinguishing agent inlet pipe

[0133] 19 Extinguishing agent supply end of the extinguishing agent inlet pipe

[0134] 20 Remote controls

[0135] 21 Remote reading means

[0136] 22 Bypass pipeline

[0137] 23 Engine inlet end of bypass pipe

[0138] 24 Engine outlet end of bypass pipe

[0139] 25 Drive device

[0140] 26 Engine shaft

[0141] 27 Freewheel Clutch

[0142] 28 Flexible coupling

[0143] 29 Shut-off valve

[0144] 30 Three-way ball valve

[0145] 31 Return pipeline

[0146] 32 Flow Measuring Device

[0147] 33 Pressure measuring device

[0148] 34 Temperature measuring device

[0149] 35 Oil level sensor and / or oil quality sensor

[0150] 36 Flow Measuring Device

[0151] 37 Server Computer

[0152] 38 Cloud Memory

[0153] 39 Local Building

[0154] 40 Signal / control pipeline (line)

[0155] 41 Internet connection

[0156] 42 PLC.

Claims

1. A mixing system (1) for fire extinguishing installations for creating a mixture of an extinguishing agent and an additive to the extinguishing agent by mixing the additive to the extinguishing agent into the extinguishing agent, having - an engine (2) driven by the flow of extinguishing agent, having at least one feed device (3) for feeding the extinguishing agent to the engine (2), at least one output device (4) for removing the extinguishing agent from the engine (2) and an engine shaft (5) driven by the engine (2); - an inlet pipeline (17) of the extinguishing agent, having an end (18) facing the engine, which is connected to the said at least one supply device (3) of the engine (2), and an end (19) facing the supply of the extinguishing agent; - a mixing pump (6) for pumping an additive to the extinguishing agent, having a drive shaft (9), which is connected to the shaft (5) of the said engine (2), at least one feeding device (7) for providing an additive to the extinguishing agent and at least one outlet device (8) for removing the additive to the extinguishing agent; - a mixing pipeline (10) having an end (11) facing the engine and an end (12) facing the outlet, wherein the end (11) facing the engine is hydraulically connected to the said at least one outlet device (4) of the engine (2); - a pipeline (13) for adding an extinguishing agent, having an end (14) facing the pump and an end (15) facing the mixing pipeline, wherein the end (14) facing the pump is hydraulically connected to the said at least one outlet device (8) of the mixing pump (6), and the end (15) facing the mixing pipeline is connected to the mixing pipeline (10) at the mixing point (16), characterized in that the mixing system (1) has remote control means (20) for transmitting and implementing a command for automatically starting up or stopping the engine (2) and the mixing pump (6) and / or time control means for automatically starting up or stopping the engine and the mixing pump, wherein said remote control means (20) are located remotely from the components of the mixing system (1) for starting up and stopping the operation of which these means are intended, respectively,said time control means are configured to start up and, respectively, to stop working the engine (2) and the mixing pump (6) according to certain time settings, and that the mixing system (1) has remote reading means (21) for automatically recording and transmitting data that relate to the state of the mixing system (1), wherein said remote reading means (21) are located remotely from the components of the mixing system (1) for recording and transmitting the data of which these means are intended, that the mixing system (1) also has a bypass pipeline (22) for the engine (2), which is hydraulically connected by the end (23) facing the engine inlet to the inlet pipeline (17) of the extinguishing agent, and by the end (24) facing the engine outlet to the mixing pipeline (10), that the mixing system (1) also has a drive device (25), which is intended forto drive the engine (2) in rotation, and that the engine (2) is intended to pump the extinguishing agent, which is contained in a pipeline circuit consisting of a portion of the mixing pipeline (10) between the end (11) of the mixing pipeline (10) facing the engine and the end (24) of the bypass pipeline (22) facing the engine outlet, the bypass pipeline (22) and a portion of the inlet pipeline (17) of the extinguishing agent between the end (23) of the bypass pipeline (22) facing the engine inlet and the end (18) of the inlet pipeline (17) of the extinguishing agent facing the engine, through this pipeline circuit, and that the remote control means (20) and / or the timing means are intended to start and stop the said driving device (25)., 2. The mixing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixing system (1) also has a pump for the extinguishing agent for pumping the extinguishing agent from the tank for the extinguishing agent and for supplying it to the engine (2), at least one output device of which is connected to the end (19) of the inlet pipeline (17) of the extinguishing agent facing the supply of the extinguishing agent, and that the remote control means (20) and / or the time control means are intended to start and stop this pump for the extinguishing agent.

3. The mixing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet pipeline (17) of the extinguishing agent has an extinguishing agent valve for supplying the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent supply pipeline to the engine (2), and that the remote control means (20) and / or the time control means are designed to open and close this extinguishing agent valve.

4. A mixing system (1) according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the drive device (25) is a drive motor, in particular an electric motor, the shaft (26) of which is connected to the shaft (5) of said motor (2), selectively transmitting torque, in particular by means of a freewheel clutch (27) and / or by means of an elastic clutch (28).

5. A mixing system (1) according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the bypass pipeline (22) has a shut-off valve (29), and the remote control means (20) and / or time control means are designed to open and close this shut-off valve (29).

6. A mixing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a switching device (30), in particular a ball valve, is located in the pipeline (13) for the additive to the extinguishing agent, which is also hydraulically connected to the return pipeline (31), and this switching device (30) has the ability to switch in such a way that the flow of the additive to the extinguishing agent from the end (14) of the pipeline (13) for the additive to the extinguishing agent facing the pump is optionally directed along the pipeline (13) for the additive to the extinguishing agent to the mixing point (16) or to the return pipeline (31), and wherein the remote control means (20) and / or the time control means are intended to switch this switching device (30).

7. A mixing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bypass pipeline (22) has at least one first measuring device (32, 33, 34), in particular a flow measuring device (32), preferably a magnetic-inductive flow meter, a pressure measuring device (33) or a temperature measuring device (34), and the remote reading means (21) are designed to read and transmit data from this first measuring device (32, 33, 34).

8. A mixing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing pump (6) has at least one second measuring device (35), in particular an oil level sensor and / or an oil quality sensor, and the remote reading means (21) are designed to read and transmit data from this second measuring device (35).

9. A mixing system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the return pipeline (31) has at least one third measuring device (36), preferably a flow measuring device and also preferably a magnetic-inductive flow meter, and the remote reading means (21) are designed to read and transmit data from this third measuring device (36).

10. A mixing system (1) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the engine (2) has at least one fourth measuring device, in particular a tachometer, and the remote reading means (21) are intended to read and transmit data from this fourth measuring device.

11. A mixing system (1) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the data of the components of the mixing system (1) transmitted by the remote reading means (21), for the registration and transmission of which these remote reading means (21) are intended, can be stored remotely, in particular in the memory of a remote server computer (37) or in cloud memory (38).

12. A method for servicing a mixing system (1) according to one of the previous points, having the following stages: - starting up the drive device (25), as a result of which the engine (2) is set in rotation and the extinguishing agent is pumped through the pipeline circuit, and the mixing pump (6) using the remote control means (20) and / or time control means; - recording and transmitting data concerning the state of the mixing system (1) using remote reading means (21), and - deactivation of the drive device (25) and, as a result, the engine (2), as well as the mixing pump (6) using remote control means (20) and / or time control means.

13. The method according to paragraph 12, characterized in that before starting the engine and the mixing pump, the following step is carried out: - switching the switching device (30) in the extinguishing agent additive pipeline (13) using the remote control means (20) and / or the time control means in such a way that the flow of extinguishing agent additive is directed from the pump-facing end (14) of the extinguishing agent additive pipeline (13) to the return pipeline (31), and that after the engine (2) and the mixing pump (6) are taken out of operation, the following step is carried out: - switching the switching device (30) in the extinguishing agent additive pipeline (13) using remote control means (20) and / or time control means in such a way that the flow of extinguishing agent additive is directed from the pump-facing end (14) of the extinguishing agent additive pipeline (13) along the extinguishing agent additive pipeline (13) to the mixing point (16).

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