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| Elkhart Brass showed its 10-inch dump valve being made exclusively for Pierce Manufacturing’s PUC tanker. |
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| An Akron Brass UHP bumper turret. |
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| TFT’s Typhoon monitor is designed for flows up to 1,500 gpm. |
Equipment and component makers exhibited their newest pumps, valves, and nozzles for firefighters to handle at the Fire-Rescue International (FRI) trade show in Chicago.
Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co. debuted three new electric valve controllers – the UBEC 1C, 1S and 1AT models.
Don Sjolin, vice president of marketing and strategic development, said the UBEC 1C is a microprocessor-controlled valve with user-designated presets. It is a surface mount unit only a half-inch thick.
“The 1C is made for flexibility in apparatus design so you don't need a panel cutout or space behind it for wiring,” Sjolin said.
The 1S model is an entry-level unit with the same form factor as the 1C, but without microprocessor control, allowing it an attractive price point, Sjolin observed.
The 1AT is an integrated package of valve controller and tank level gauge designed to maintain the tank level without operator activity. The unit uses Fire Research Corp.'s Tank Vision gauge.
Elkhart also showed its new 10-inch dump valve being made exclusively for Pierce Manufacturing’s PUC tanker. Sjolin said the valve weighs less than 10 pounds because of its composite construction, whereas other models weigh as much as 300 pounds. It can be disconnected from the vehicle without tools by pulling two pins.
Akron Brass Co. showed a new forestry bumper monitor, style 3462, designed for brush and wildland firefighting. David Durstine, Akron’s vice president of marketing, said the compact monitor features a fully sealed integrated electrical control system and waterproof locking connectors for all motors.
“The high-speed motors provide proportional speed control for pinpoint stream position and accuracy,” he said.
The unit has a 320-degree rotation range and a 135-degree elevation range.
Akron also exhibited its line of high-pressure handline and bumper turret nozzles. The bumper turret version has a stainless-steel waterway that operates at higher pressures and lower gallonage, giving more surface area from smaller water droplets, which have a greater cooling effect and use less extinguishing agent. The high-pressure handline nozzles displayed flow up to 30 gpm at 1,500 psi.
Another new introduction at FRI was made by Weldon, a division of Akron Brass, which showed its D-Tek 6160 wireless monitoring system for apparatus.
“The unit captures mileage, engine hours, fuel level and use, oil pressure and temperature, voltage, coolant temperature and tire pressure,” Durstine noted. “Each time the truck returns to the station, D-Tek wirelessly transmits all the values in less than a second to a receiver located on the station's computer.”
Waterous displayed a CP4UH PTO-mount ultra-high-pressure fire pump capable of flowing 60 gpm at 1,000 psi or 90 gpm at 1,350 psi.
Mark Severin, marketing communications manager, said the pump is made of high-tensile, close-grained ductile iron, has bronze hydraulically and mechanically balanced impellers, and adjustable braided flexible graphite packing.
Waterous also displayed its CMU two-stage 1,500-gpm midship pump and its series pump.
W.S. Darley & Co. debuted its iStart Internet-based remote start system that allows remote starting of a stationary pump unit via the Internet through a PC or smart phone application.
Jason Darley, pump division accounts manager, said, “The pump can be turned on remotely from any safe location, and once the start order is sent, the engine controller performs the necessary prestart functions and starts the pump, then reports back to the Internet interface that it's running.”
Any warnings encountered, such as high engine coolant temperature or low engine oil pressure, will be reported back to the Web interface, Darley said. If the water source runs out, the engine's controller will turn itself off and report the shutdown.
Also new for Darley at FRI was the HMBC pump assembly, a 500-gpm, PTO-driven pump with a 220-cfm air compressor.
“This unit provides as much CAFS firepower as the largest CAFS pump and fits on mid- to standard-size trucks,” Darley said.
Hale Products displayed its Sidekick pump module, available in 500-gpm to 750-gpm versions, that is designed to fit into a truck's compartment.
“It's great for smaller [original equipment manufacturers] and those departments that want a lot of flexibility,” said Shawn Kelly, a regional sales manager. “Foam options also are available on the Sidekick.”
Hale also exhibited its SafeBuy pump module, introduced earlier in the year, a system of Hale and Task Force Tips fire suppression components that are pre-engineered to work together to guarantee operation and flow.
Task Force Tips introduced its Hydrant Master remote-controlled hydrant valve.
TFT President Stewart McMillan said the valve allows a department to hit the hydrant and lay in to the scene and activate the hydrant only if needed, freeing up the hydrant person for other duties on the fireground. He noted the valve is in field tests and will be available early in 2011.
HMA Fire displayed its ultra-high-pressure (UHP) fire suppression system, a unit that can be mounted on vehicles or used as a skid unit.
Doug Eno, sales manager, said UHP technology extinguishes flames more effectively and efficiently by using less water with smaller water droplets.
“It achieves the same results as low-pressure systems, but uses far less suppressant, whether water or water with aspirated foam,” Eno said. “In structure fires, it gives safer suppression with less water damage and leaves an even layer of foam on fuel fires.”
T-N-T Tools displayed its TNT tool, which President Mark Trujillo called a “five-in-one tool” designed to provide versatility for firefighters.
Made of cast high-carbon, heat-treated steel, the tool has axe, pry, ram and sledgehammer heads, along with a D-handle, on a choice of 30- to 40-inch handle lengths.
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