AU732665B1 - Control panel - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "CONTROL PANEL" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

TITLE

"CONTROL PANEL" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a control panel for a foam proportioning -system suitable for fire-fighting equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a control panel with improved visibility and operability under low-light conditions, such as generally experienced in fire-fighting situations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Foam proportioning systems are commonly used for the purpose of regulating delivery of fire-retardant foam by fire-fighting equipment. Typically, fire-retardant foams such as AFFF (Class A Filmforming Fluoroprotein Foam) and BFFF (Class B Film-forming Fluoroprotein Foam) are mixed in desired proportions with water for the purpose of fire-fighting.

A typical foam proportioning system utilizes a venturi which operates on the Bernoulli principle that as fluid flow velocity increases, pressure decreases, such that water flow through a constriction adjacent an inlet can draw foam concentrate from a reservoir through the inlet and thereby dilute the foam concentrate with water as required. A particularly well-known adaptation of this is the "round-the-pump" system, which splits the proportioned foam into two streams: the first stream pumped through a fire-fighting hose, the second stream pumped back to into the system to thereby maintain a fluid circuit.

A particular feature of foam proportioning systems is that in use, they are manually operable via a control panel to allow selection of a desired proportion of foam.

A particular problem associated with control panel operation is that in situations of low-light and poor visibility, such as are typically encountered in fire-fighting situations, it can be difficult to visualize the control panel and select the desired foam proportion setting.

One approach to dealing with this problem has been to use incandescent illumination of the control panel to assist visualization.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present inventor has realized that in conditions of low visibility, incandescent illumination usually provides insufficient illumination to assist visibility of foam proportioner control panels. In particular, incandescent illumination does not provide light of a specific blue-green wavelength capable of providing sufficient illumination under fire-fighting conditions. Also, there are fire-fighting situations where visibility is greatly impaired or non-existent, in such cases, the ability to operate foam proportioning equipment is highly desirable.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved foam proportioner control panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is therefore broadly directed to a foam proportioner control panel operable under conditions of low or absent visibility.

In one aspect, the invention provides a foam proportioner control panel which includes an electroluminescent source capable of illuminating the control panel with light of a selected wavelength.

In another aspect, the invention provides fire-fighting equipment which includes the foam proportioner control panel of the firstand/or second-mentioned aspects.

Suitably, the electroluminescent source is an electroluminescent sheet, panel or lamp. These are well known in the art and are commercially available from suppliers such as Pacel Electronics

GB.

Preferably, the electroluminescent source is an electroluminescent sheet.

Preferably, the electroluminescent source is capable of back-illuminating foam proportion settings in the control panel.

Suitably, in use, the electroluminescent source emits light of a selected wavelength, preferably in the range 400-500 nm, more preferably in the range 440-480 nm or even more preferably 460 nm wavelength light. Light of 460 nm is "blue-green" light. In this regard, it will be appreciated that only a small proportion of light emitted by the electroluminescent source is infra-red or ultra-violet light. This provides a particular advantage in smoky or hazy conditions created by fire. In use, the illuminated control panel is therefore particularly visible under such conditions.

Suitably, the electroluminescent source is powered by AC current, preferably in the range 100-240V AC.

Preferably, the control panel includes a DC to AC inverter.

Inverters suitable for the present invention are well known in the art and readily available from commercial sources such-as Pacel Electronics, GB.

Preferably, the DC to AC inverter is connectable to an interface circuit which is itself connectable to a DC power supply which provides a voltage in the range 8-35V DC, such as a typical 12VC or 24V DC power supply.

Suitably, the electroluminescent control panel includes a selector means manually operable to select a desired foam proportion.

In one embodiment, the selector means facilitates tactile selection of a foam proportion setting.

In another embodiment, the selector means is illuminated by the electroluminescent source.

Suitably, the control panel of the invention is assembled into a housing which may be mounted, bolted or otherwise fitted to fire-fighting equipment, such as a fire-fighting truck or fire engine.

In this regard, the control panel is readily connectable to a foam and water supply of the fire-fighting equipment.

Suitably, the control is applicable to proportioning AFFF or BFFF foam.

In a preferred embodiment, the foam proportioner control panel has settings of 0.5% and 1.0% BFFF, 3.0% and 6.0% AFFF, 6 and 0.1-0.3% AFFF or BFFF for "mop up" operation. It will be understood that said settings refer to foam to water.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides a foam proportioner control panel having improved visibility in conditions of low ambient light and impaired or absent as commonly encountered in fire-fighting situations. Furthermore, the foam proportion settings are more readily selected, even without visualization, by a selector means which provides tactile selection of a desired foam setting. It will also be appreciated that the control panel of the invention is adaptable to a variety of fire-fighting situations by virtue of the interface circuit which in use, readily connects the system to a variety of DC power supplies, and by virtue of the housing which readily facilitates mounting to fire-fighting equipment and also minimizes the possibility of water damage in use.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" are used inclusively, in that a stated integer or group of integers may include another nonstated integer or group of integers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that the invention may be understood in more detail, the skilled person is directed to the following detailed description and drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of foam proportioner control panel prior to assembly; FIG. 2 is a plan view of fascia and illuminated selector means and a 7 sectional view of illuminated selector means; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of control panel housing and connecting elbows; FIG. 4 is a plan view of an interface circuit diagram; FIG. 5 is a plan view of a mask for production of an interface circuit board; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of assembled foam proportioner control panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG.1, foam proportioner control panel 10 includes fascia 11, backing plate 12 and electroluminescent sheet 13. Electroluminescent sheet 13 is preferably provided with self-adhesive copper contacts (not shown) as electrodes connectable to DC-AC inverter 14.

Electroluminescent sheet 13 and copper contacts are laminated in a protective pouch (not shown) which is preferably UV-protective to minimize UV sunlight damage to electroluminescent sheet 13. Fascia 11 is preferably made of red over clear engraving grade plastic with foam proportion settings 15 etched thereupon. In cases where tactile selection is required, fascia 11 may also have a respective indent 16 at each setting 15 to assist tactile selection of a particular setting 15 by selector means 17. In such a case, selector means 17 comprises spigot 18 connectable to handle 19 together with ball 20 and spring 21 which facilitate tactile selection of settings 15. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that selector means 17 need not provide tactile selection 8 via indents 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, handle 119 may have fibreoptic cable 141 which carries illumination from each etched setting 115 at proximal end 142 of fibreoptic cable 141 to distal end 143 of fibreoptic cable 141 so that an operator can visually monitor progression from one etched setting 115 to the next.

Referring now to FIG. 3, control panel 10 is readily connectable to the existing plumbing of fire-fighting equipment, such as the commonly-used "round-the pump" venturi system. Control panel includes T-piece 22 with elbows 23A, 238 and 23C which respectively interconnect an existing foam conduit (not shown) via coupling 24A, an existing water conduit (not shown) via coupling 24B and an existing outflow conduit (not shown) via coupling 24C. In a typical foam proportioning system, the aforementioned foam conduit is connected to a foam reservoir, the aforementioned water conduit provides water flow through the venturi while the aforementioned outflow conduit directs proportioned foam through a pump intake which subsequently splits flow into a hose stream and a stream which flows back through the system.

Inside stem 25 of elbow 23A of T-piece 22 is a venturi comprising, preferably, a commercially available CIM 012 ball valve, which controls inflow of foam through T-piece 22 (and hence foam proportion) in response to operation of selector means 17, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Assembly of control panel 10 in housing 26 is best seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. T-piece 22 and elbows 23A, 23B and.23C are placed 9 in cavity 27 of housing 26, elbows 23A, 23B and 23C being connectable via couplings 24A, 24B, 24C to foam proportioner conduits through respective apertures 28A, 28B, 28C in rear wall 29 of housing 26.

Housing 26 is preferably constructed of rubber, and cavity 27 in housing 26 is filled with resin 30, such as Araldite LC264 Aluminium Filled Thixotropic high temperature resin. Preferably, resin 30 is subsequently cured at 25°C for 16 hr and then at 70 0 C for 4 hr. During this process, moulds are used to create recesses in resin 30 into which are placed DC/AC inverter 14 and interface circuit 31.

A preferred interface circuit 31 circuit diagram is shown in detail in FIG. 4 and a preferred interface circuit 31 circuit board is illustrated in FIG. 5. Interface circuit 31 is electrically connectable to any external 8-35V DC power supply via an electrical conduit having positive and earth (not shown), and is electrically connectable to inverter 14 via an electrical conduit having a 12V DC and a common (not shown). The interface circuit is electrically connectable, for example, to a 12 or 24V DC battery to provide approximately 11.5V DC to inverter 14 which in turn supplies, preferably, 170V AC to electroluminescent sheet 13. It will be appreciated that the AC supply to electroluminescent sheet 13 can be as low as 100V or as high as 240V, depending at least partly on the size of electroluminescent sheet 13.

To assist fitting assembled electroluminescent sheet 13, backing plate 12 and fascia 11, groove 32 is provided inside flange 33 of housing 26. In one embodiment, fascia 11 is affixed to backing plate 12, such as by adhesive, so as to sandwich electroluminescent sheet 13 therebetween. In another embodiment, laminated electroluminescent sheet 13 is self-adhesive and adheres to fascia 11 and backing plate 12.

In either case, electroluminescent sheet 13, fascia 11 and backing plate 12 are fitted into groove 32. Electroluminescent sheet 13 has electrodes, such as copper contacts, which are connected to inverter 14 through an AC and a common wire (not shown). The assembled electroluminescent sheet 13, backing plate 12 and fascia 11 are held in place by doublesided tape and may be secured to cured resin 30 in housing 26 by screws 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D which extend through fascia screw-holes 35A, 35D and backing plate screw holes 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D to thereby secure fascia 11, electroluminescent sheet 13 and backing plate 12 to resin-filled housing 26. However, in practice, screws 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, fascia screw-holes 35A, 35B, 35C, 35D and backing plate screw holes 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D are not necessarily required for securing fascia 11, electroluminescent sheet 13 and backing plate 12 into housing 26.

An assembled control panel is shown in FIG. 6. When assembled, spigot 18 of selector means 17 extends through aperture 37 in fascia 11 and is manually operable via handle 19. Tactile selection of each foam setting 15 is achieved through ball 20 and spring 21, whereby ball 20 is of appropriate size to removably engage respective indents 16 in fascia 11. Each indent 16 and respective foam proportion setting corresponds to a calibrated proportion of foam controlled by the aforementioned ball valve in T-piece 22. Preferred settings are 0.1%, 11 and 1.0% BFFF, 3.0% and 6.0% AFFF, and 0.1-0.3% AFFF or BFFF for "mop up" operation. Back illumination of settings 15 by electroluminescent sheet 13 and, where applicable, illumination of handle 19 of selector means 17 greatly improves operability of control panel under low-light conditions. Furthermore, in cases where tactile selection of settings 14 is provided via indents 16 and selector means 17 having ball 20 and spring 21, use of control panel 10 is possible in total darkness or where the operator has been temporarily blinded by smoke, for example.

Referring now to FIGS 3 and 6, control panel 10 can be mounted into a rear panel of a fire-fighting truck or fire engine, for example, by virtue of flange 33 fitting flush with an outer surface of the rear panel. Mounting bracket 40 is then secured through coupling nuts 38A, 38B (not shown) in apertures 39A, 39B (not shown) in rear wall of housing 26. Alternatively, bolts (not shown) can be used to directly mount control panel 10 to a surface via coupling nuts 38A 38B, without the need for flush-fitting of flange 33.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a control panel which is readily connectable to the existing foam and/or water supply of fire-fighting equipment, and which provides enhanced visibility and operability under low-light and obscured vision conditions as are frequently encountered during fire-fighting.

It will also be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification and variation and is not limited to the particular 12 embodiments described herein, such that other embodiments are contemplated which nevertheless fall within the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. A foam proportioner control panel which includes an electroluminescent source capable of illuminating the control panel with light of a selected wavelength.

2. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent source is capable of back-illuminating foam proportion settings in the control panel.

3. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 1, wherein the selected wavelength is in the range 400-500 nm.

4. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 2, wherein the selected wavelength is in the range 440-480 nm.

The foam proportioner of Claim 4, wherein the selected wavelength is 460nm.

6. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 1, which is powered by AC current.

7. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 6, which includes a DC to AC inverter.

8. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 7, wherein the DC to AC inverter is connectable to an interface circuit.

9. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 8, wherein the interface circuit is connectable to an 8-35V DC power supply.

The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 9, wherein the interface circuit converts a voltage in the range 8-35V DC to a voltage in Sthe range 100-200V AC. 14

11. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 10, wherein the AC voltage is 170V.

12. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 1, which includes a T- piece that facilitates connection of the control panel to a water and foam supply of fire-fighting equipment.

13. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 1 which includes a selector means that facilitates tactile selection of a desired foam proportion setting.

14. The foam proportioner control panel of Claim 1 which includes a selector means that is illuminated by the electroluminescent source.

The foam proportioner control panel of any preceding claim, which includes a housing that is mountable to fire-fighting equipment.

16. A foam proportioner control panel substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Fire-fighting equipment which includes the foam proportioner control panel of any one of Claims 1-16 mounted thereto in fluid communication with a foam and/or water supply. DATED this first day of September 2000. AAA ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD., by their Patent Attorneys, FISHER ADAMS KELLY.