AU2004100118A4

AU2004100118A4 - Pump flushing system for a fixed firefighter pump

Info

Publication number: AU2004100118A4
Application number: AU2004100118A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sean Henry Reid
Original assignee: AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE PROT SERVI
Current assignee: AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE PROTECTION SERVICE P/L
Priority date: 2004-02-19
Filing date: 2004-02-19
Publication date: 2004-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-19

Description

P

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION

PATENT

PUMP FLUSHING

SYSTEM

FOR A FIXED FIREFIGHTER

PUMP

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it to me: MOOZ 83d 6 i e!Iej1snVV dl PUMP FLUSHING SYSTEM FOR A FIXED FIREFIGHTER PUMP

INTRODUCTION

There is currently an emerging Residential Bushfire Protection industry catering to the needs of home owners in bushfire prone areas.

One of the products being offered to home owners is a Bushfire Sprinkler System, (also known as, and referred to in this Innovative Patient application as, an External Water Sprinkler System EWSS).

An External Water Sprinkler System is made up of a series of pipes, valves and sprinklers fixed to the exterior of a residential dwelling. The system is designed to produce a water canopy/curtain or shield over and or around a dwelling that is threatened by, or exposed to bushfire attack. Bushfire attack being; airborne live embers, radiant heat and direct flame contact.

A EWSS is designed to operate independently of city mains pressurized water supply and power supply thus providing a stand alone system that will still operate should all services fail. These systems utilize tanked fresh/mains water or swimming pool water as their water supply source. The systems are pressurized via a fire-fighter pumps that run on petrol or diesel.

To date there has been no standard or specification for the installation of these systems. Generally tradespersons or handy-men have designed and installed different types of systems that have varied greatly in their design and performance.

CURRENT SITUATION PROBLEM Some of the systems currently installed use a fixed firefighter pump sourcing water from a swimming pool, (a fixed pump refers to a pump that is installed in a manner consistent with the pump being bolted down to a hard surface and the inlet and discharge pipes attached to the pump being solid pipes that remain attached for the life of the pump).

Where an EWSS sources water from a swimming pool the water is considered harsh, (salt and pool chemicals); in such cases the pump requires flushing after use.

Swimming pool generally corrodes a pump bowl and impeller and may result in a pump seizing.

The current method used to flush a portable fire fighter pump is; to undo the attached pipes, and flush with a garden hose directly into the pump bowl suction inlet.

In a fixed installation as described in this specification introduction, with a fixed pump and fixed pipe work, the pipe work cannot easily be removed and therefore flushing is very difficult.

PUMP FLUSHING SYSTEM DESIGN The design method described in this specification incorporates: A flushing system for a fixed fire-fighter pump installation that does not require the removal of the pump, any fixed pipes, nor any other parts.

1. Design Layout for a Fixed Pump Flushing System: A fixed pump flushing system in accordance with this invention includes: 1. A ball valve screwed into a short branch line 7 teeing off the suction line 3 at the pump 2 (The suction line is the water supply line that runs from the static water supply source 1 to the suction inlet on the pump 2).

2. The branch line and valve 7 is placed between the pump 2 and the water supply valve 5 (a water supply valve 5 is the valve that is used to open and close the flow of water from the static supply 1 to the pump 2 and the spray system).

3. A butterfly type handle is best used on the valve 7 4. On the end of the valve 7 that is not screwed into the short branch is a garden hose adaptor ('snap on hose adaptor), this is screwed into the open end of the ball valve.

The assembly above is referred to as the 'Flush Valve' (7) A ball valve screwed into a short branch line 8 teeing off the discharge line 4 (pressure line) at the pump 2 (The discharge or pressure line 4 is the water supply line that runs from the firefighter pump 2 to the sprinkler system fixed to the exterior of the dwelling).

6. A butterfly type handle is best used on the valve 8 7. On the end of the valve 8 that is not screwed into the short branch is a garden hose adaptor ('snap on hose adaptor), this is screwed into the open end of the ball valve.

The assembly above is referred to as the 'Drain Valve' (8) Where a fixed firefighter pump 2 has been used to pump harsh water, the pump flushing system (as previously described) is designed to circulate fresh water through the pump bowl 2 without requiring the removal of the pump, nor any pipes and fittings.

2. Pump Flushing System in Operation After the fixed firefighter pump and sprinkler system have been operated using harsh swimming pool water the pump will need to be flushed out. This is done in the following way: 1. Switch off the pump/sprinkler system 2 2. Close off the valve on the suction line 5 (water supply line from the pool to the pump).

3. Connect a garden hose 11 with snap on fitting to the drain valve 8 (located after the pump 2 on the pressure line 4).

4. Open the drain valve 8 Drain the water out of the sprinkler system through the garden hose 11 and onto a suitable drainage area. (The system will drain using the water pressure generated by gravity).

6. When draining has finished close off the main line valve/manifold valves 6 (on the discharge line 4 after the pump 2 and drain valve 8).

7. Connect a second garden hose 10 with snap on fitting to the flush valve 7 (located between the water supply valve 5 on the suction line 3 and the pump 2).

8. Connect the other end of the garden hose 10 to a garden tap 9 pressurized by city mains or other equivalent fresh water source.

9. Turn on the garden tap 9 and tap water will flush fresh water through the pump bowl 2 and back out of the pump and system via the drain valve 8 and hose 11.

The pump engine may be restarted and idled for approximately one minute to assist with the flushing process.

This pump flushing system may also be used to flush out the entire sprinkler system if desired or required. To flush out the entire system reverse the process by using the flushing valve 7 and garden hose 10 first and the drain valve 8 second.

Claims

1. A Firefighter pump flushing system for a EWSS (external bushfire sprinkler system), comprising of a drain valve (ball valve) branching off on a short branch line after the pump on the discharge main line, with a snap on garden hose adaptor; and a flush valve (ball valve) located between the water supply valve and the pump inlet on the suction line, branching off on a short branch line with a snap on garden hose adaptor; constitutes the required components for a pump flushing system as outlined in this specification.

2. A pump flushing system as claimed in claim 1, where upon a garden hose is attached to the open drain valve and a second garden hose is attached to the open flush valve with the other end of the garden hose being attached to an open and pressurized garden tap; will produce a fresh water flushing effect through the pump bowl. Fresh water will be circulated in through the flush valve, down along the suction line, through the pump bowl, along the discharge line and out through the drain valve and hose, thus expelling resident harsh water and residue from within the pump bowl.

3. A pump flushing system as claimed in claim 1 and 2, may also be used to effectively flush out the an attached systems pipe work and sprinklers. By connecting a pressurized garden hose to the open the flush valve, and with the drain valve remaining closed, the fresh water will build up in the systems pipe work until flushes out and is discharged at the sprinkler heads. In this manner an entire sprinkler system may also be flushed.

4. In accordance with the claims of claims 1-3, the before described pump flushing system allows for the flushing ofharsh/swimming pool water from the pump bowl on a fixed fire-fighter pump installation, without the removal of the pump, any fixed pipes, nor any other parts. A pump flushing system can substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1-2 of the accompanying drawings. AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE PROTECTION SERVICE PTY LTD 11 JANUARY 2001 Scan Reid 4 February 2004