Fluid delivery system health monitoring systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12092116-B2
Application number	US-202117530905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2021
Priority date	Feb 27, 2018
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A fluid supply system includes a fluid delivery system including a pump, a sensor configured to acquire data regarding the fluid delivery system, and a processing circuit coupled to the sensor. The processing circuit is configured to determine a health level of the fluid delivery system based on the data and provide a notification in response to the health level not satisfying a threshold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid supply system for a fire apparatus, the fluid supply system comprising:
a fluid delivery system including a pump;
a sensor configured to acquire data regarding the fluid delivery system; and
a processing circuit coupled to the sensor, the processing circuit configured to perform a dead-head health test to determine a health level of the pump based on the data, wherein, to perform the dead-head health test, the processing circuit is configured to:
operate the pump at a predetermined output flow rate and a predetermined speed;
dead-head the pump such that the predetermined output flow rate decreases to at least a threshold level while maintaining the predetermined speed;
determine a dead-head pressure in response to dead-heading the pump;
determine a pressure difference between the dead-head pressure and a predetermined dead-head pressure;
compare the pressure difference to a predetermined pressure difference; and
provide a notification in response to the pressure difference being greater than the predetermined pressure difference.

2. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein the pump includes:
a housing defining an interior chamber, an inlet configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source, and an outlet configured to a provide pressurized fluid to a fluid output system;
an impeller disposed within the interior chamber; and
an input coupled to the impeller, the input configured to facilitate driving the impeller to pressurize the fluid received at the inlet to generate the pressurized fluid within the interior chamber.

3. The fluid supply system of claim 2 , wherein:
the sensor includes:
a first pressure sensor positioned to acquire pressure data regarding a first pressure of the fluid on an inlet side of the impeller, within the housing; and
a second pressure sensor positioned to acquire pressure data regarding a second pressure of the pressurized fluid on an outlet side of the impeller, within the housing; and

the processing circuit is configured to:
determine a pressure differential between the second pressure and the first pressure; and
provide a pressure differential notification in response to the pressure differential being less than a pressure differential threshold.

4. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor includes a cavitation sensor positioned to acquire cavitation data regarding cavitation events within the pump; and
the processing circuit is configured to:
detect the cavitation events based on the cavitation data; and
provide a cavitation notification in response to at least one of (i) the cavitation events occurring at atypical operating conditions of the pump or (ii) the cavitation events occurring more frequently.

5. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to perform a dead-head baseline test on the pump to determine and store the predetermined speed, the predetermined dead-head pressure, and the predetermined pressure difference.

6. The fluid supply system of claim 5 , wherein, to perform the dead-head baseline test, the processing circuit is configured to:
operate the pump at a predetermined output pressure and the predetermined output flow rate;
determine a first speed required to achieve the predetermined output pressure and the predetermined output flow rate, wherein the first speed is the predetermined speed;
dead-head the pump a first time such that the predetermined output flow rate decreases to at least the threshold level while maintaining the first speed;
determine a first dead-head pressure in response to dead-heading the pump the first time, wherein the first dead-head pressure is the predetermined dead-head pressure;
operate the pump at the predetermined output pressure and a maximum output flow rate;
determine a second speed required to achieve the predetermined output pressure and the maximum output flow rate;
dead-head the pump a second time such that the maximum output flow rate decreases to at least the threshold level while maintaining the second speed;
determine a second dead-head pressure in response to dead-heading the pump the second time; and
determine a baseline pressure difference between the second dead-head pressure and the first dead-head pressure, wherein the baseline pressure difference is the predetermined pressure difference.

7. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
receive power information regarding a power input provided to an input of the pump;
determine operating characteristics of the pump based on the power input;
compare the operating characteristics to predetermined operating characteristics at the power input; and
provide a power input notification in response to the operating characteristics deviating from the predetermined operating characteristics by more than a threshold amount.

8. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor includes a flow sensor positioned proximate an outlet of the pump, the flow sensor configured to acquire flow data regarding an output flow from the pump; and
the processing circuit is configured to:
determine operating characteristics of the pump providing the output flow;
compare the operating characteristics to predetermined operating characteristics at the output flow; and
provide a flow notification in response to the operating characteristics deviating from the predetermined operating characteristics by more than a threshold amount.

9. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery system includes a fluid output system, the fluid output system including a fluid outlet and a valve positioned to selectively restrict flow to the fluid outlet, and wherein:
the sensor includes:
a first pressure sensor positioned to acquire first pressure data regarding a first pressure of a pressurized fluid provided by the pump and entering the valve; and
a second pressure sensor positioned to acquire second pressure data regarding a second pressure of the pressurized fluid exiting the valve; and

the processing circuit is configured to:
determine a pressure differential across the valve based on the first pressure and the second pressure; and
provide a pressure differential notification in response to the pressure differential being less than a pressure threshold.

10. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery system includes a fluid output system including one or more outlets, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to acquire temperature data regarding a temperature of at least one of (i) a pressurized fluid provided to the one or more outlets by the pump or (ii) the one or more outlets, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to at least one of (i) provide a warning or (ii) initiate a cooling mode to cool at least one of the pressurized fluid or the one or more outlets in response to the temperature exceeding a temperature threshold.

11. The fluid supply system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to acquire temperature data regarding a temperature of at least one of the pump or a pressurized fluid provided by the pump, wherein the processing circuit is configured to at least one of (i) provide a warning, (ii) introduce cool fluid into the fluid delivery system, or (iii) slow down the pump in response to the temperature exceeding a temperature threshold.

12. A fluid supply system for a fire apparatus, the fluid supply system comprising:
a fluid delivery system including a pump, the pump including:
a housing defining an interior chamber, an inlet configured to receive a fluid from a fluid

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Linsmeier Eric R
• Woelfel John D
• Archer David W

Classifications

• F04D15/0209

  responsive to a condition of the working fluid (F04D15/029 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04D15/0263

  the condition being temperature, ingress of humidity or leakage · CPC title

• F04D15/0254

  the condition being speed or load · CPC title

• F04D27/001

  Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring · CPC title

• F04D13/0606

  Canned motor pumps · CPC title