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Relay pumping controllerRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Condition Responsive Control Of Pump Drive Motor, Responsive To Accumulation Of Pumped Liquid In ReceiverRelay pumping controller description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070274839, Relay pumping controller. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/802,904 entitled "Relay pumping controller" that was filed on May 24, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to pumping machines. More precisely, the invention pertains to a method and apparatus for controlling a relay pumping setup. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In fighting fires, it is common practice, when water is not readily available, to either truck water in, provide aerial drops via aircraft or move water over long distances through varying terrains/elevations to get water to the fire. The first two options are quite costly. Agencies therefore choose to opt for the third option which is less expensive but has its own associated problems. Moving water over long distances requires pumps that can produce higher pressures. This is important because water is not always readily available. At times, water may have to be pumped thousands of feet through varying terrains and elevations. However, moving water over long distances and varying terrains induces pressure losses, due in part to friction and static head. [0004] Pressure loss is caused, in part, by increases in elevation, also referred to as static head loss. Typically, for every foot of elevation, there is a loss of approximately 0.5 pounds per square inch (psi). Static head is the pressure loss due to the difference in elevation between the pump discharge outlet and the nozzle at the end of the hose. For example, if a pump produces 100 psi and an elevation difference of 100 feet exists between the pump and the nozzle, only 50 psi is available at the nozzle. Friction loss, on the other hand, is a loss of pressure due to friction between the flow of water and the hose. Friction loss increases as the flow in a hose increases. While higher-pressure pumps may be used in order to overcome pressure and friction losses, it will be appreciated that hose pressure ratings will limit the amount of pressure that can be used. [0005] Presently operators use many different methods for delivering water over long distances. [0006] One method uses tandem pumping wherein at least two pumps are connected in series such that one pump pumps water into the suction of the next pump downstream and so on. One problem with this method is that if any pump in the series fails or if a hose ruptures then the entire water delivery system will fail to deliver water to the fire until all pumps/broken hoses are repaired and are up and running. The tandem setup is analogous to a chain being as strong as its weakest link. In the case of a fire, the failure of the tandem setup will result in the water delivery to the fireline being interrupted, which is a major disadvantage. [0007] A second method uses relay pumping. In this method a first given pump pumps water into a relay reservoir and a second given pump drafts from the relay reservoir. A benefit of this type of setup is that the distance between the pumps can be greater than that of the tandem setup thus requiring fewer pumps. Another benefit of relay pumping is that if an upstream pump fails or if a hose breaks and the relay reservoir downstream is full of water, the pump drafting from the respective downstream reservoir can continue working and delivering water to the fire-line while an operator rectifies the problem upstream. This method creates a buffer in the event of a failure of an upstream pump and/or an upstream hose. [0008] Unfortunately, a disadvantage of the relay pumping method is that if a downstream pump drafting from a relay reservoir consumes more water than what the upstream pump can furnish, the downstream pump ends up choking (running dry), i.e. there is no water to pump for the downstream pump. The result is that no water is delivered to the fire-line, and the pump may be damaged as well. [0009] Another disadvantage of the relay pumping method is that if an upstream pump furnishes more water than the downstream pump can draft from the relay reservoir, then the relay reservoir connected to the downstream pump will overflow, wasting valuable water, wasting fuel to keep the upstream pump running needlessly and causing unnecessary wear and tear on the upstream pump. [0010] Unfortunately, a problem associated with relay pumping is that if the upstream pump and the downstream relay reservoir are far apart, it may be difficult or next to impossible for a single operator to control both pumps simultaneously. This is especially the case in mountainous terrain. [0011] Further, the operator may need to check the hose as well as the relay reservoir and spend tremendous efforts to monitor the overall operation, which renders the operation very cumbersome and costly. [0012] There is a need for a method and apparatus that will overcome at least one of the above-identified drawbacks. [0013] Features of the invention will be apparent from review of the disclosure, drawings and description of the invention below. BRIEF SUMMARY [0014] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a controller for controlling a relay pumping setup comprising an upstream pumping unit for pumping a liquid into a relay reservoir and a downstream pumping unit for pumping from the relay reservoir to a given location, the controller comprising a relay reservoir liquid level indication interface for receiving a liquid level indication signal indicative of a liquid level in the relay reservoir, an upstream pumping unit interface communicating with the upstream pumping unit, a downstream pumping unit interface communicating with the downstream pumping unit and a processing unit for receiving the liquid level indication signal and for providing a control signal to at least one of the upstream pumping unit interface and the downstream pumping unit interface according to the liquid level indication signal. [0015] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling a relay pumping setup comprising an upstream pumping unit for pumping a liquid into a relay reservoir and a downstream pumping unit for pumping from the relay reservoir to a given location, the method comprising receiving a relay reservoir liquid level indication indicative of a liquid level in said relay reservoir and providing a control signal to at least one of the upstream pumping unit and the downstream pumping unit depending on the received relay reservoir liquid level indication. [0016] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a relay pump controller comprising a relay reservoir liquid level sensor interface which receives a liquid level indication signal indicative of a liquid level in an associated relay reservoir, an upstream pumping unit interface which transmits to an upstream pumping unit an upstream control signal, a downstream pumping unit interface which receives a downstream control signal, a pumping unit interface for controlling an associated relay pumping unit and a processing unit which, responsive to the received liquid level indication signal and the downstream control signal, controls the associated pumping unit and transmits the upstream control signal. [0017] An upstream pump is intended to mean a pump filling a relay reservoir. [0018] A downstream pump is intended to mean a pump drafting from a relay reservoir. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. Continue reading about Relay pumping controller... Full patent description for Relay pumping controller Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Relay pumping controller patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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