Periodic Fire Pump Tester Monitoring Contactor Coil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire pump systems require periodic testing for readiness, but existing monitoring systems are dependent on human intervention, skill, and consistency, and often fail due to contactor coil and power on/off pressure switch issues, with high costs for replacing existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A periodic tester that monitors the contactor coil and power on/off pressure switch without human intervention, providing audible alarms for failures and being retrofittable to existing systems, with adjustable cycle times and ensuring continuous operation or non-disabling of functioning systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human intervention is used to monitor fire pump systems, then the system can be monitored, but the effectiveness depends on human skill and consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic tester automatically monitors the fire pump system without human intervention, performing self-testing of the contactor coil and pressure switch at predetermined intervals. The system self-activates, self-monitors, and self-alarms, eliminating dependency on human operators while maintaining reliable monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical human monitoring process with an automated electrical testing system. The periodic tester uses electrical circuits to automatically test the contactor coil resistance and pressure switch functionality, substituting human skill-based monitoring with automated electronic measurement and decision-making.
2Reliability
If existing systems are replaced to incorporate automated monitoring, then monitoring reliability improves, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic tester is designed with universal compatibility to interface with existing fire pump control systems through standard electrical connections. The device can be retrofitted to various existing systems without requiring complete system replacement, thereby maintaining monitoring reliability while reducing implementation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic tester acts as an intermediary device that interfaces between the existing fire pump control system and the monitoring function. Rather than replacing the entire control system, the tester inserts itself as a separate module that provides automated monitoring capabilities while working with existing system components.
3Measurement precision
If the periodic tester monitors key components continuously, then detection accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic tester performs monitoring at predetermined time intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The device automatically activates at scheduled periods to test the contactor coil and pressure switch, providing accurate failure detection while maintaining simple circuit design by avoiding the need for continuous power and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring function is segmented into distinct, simple testing circuits for the contactor coil and pressure switch. Each component is tested independently through separate but simple electrical pathways, allowing accurate detection of failures in each component without requiring a complex integrated testing system.
Data Source
AI summary
A periodic tester to determine the readiness of a fire pump system interfaces with a fire pump controller, an electric motor, and a sprinkler system. The fire pump controller has a power on/off sensor which interfaces with an electric motor which starts the fire pump to provide water to the sprinkler system. The power on/off system has a contactor coil as a component. The periodic tester targets two of the main components of fire system failure: the power on/off sensor and the contactor coil. The periodic tester may be retrofitted to existing systems and interface either directly or indirectly with the power on/off sensor to accommodate both systems that have a solenoid valve and those that do not. The periodic tester is designed to attempt to start the system only once during a set cycle. Any failure to start is displayed through audible and visual alarms.