Firefighting monitor and control system therefor

Abstract

A firefighting monitor system includes a monitor, a controller selectively generating signals to the monitor for controlling the monitor, and a computer. The computer is configured to receive input from a user relative to the monitor or the controller. The computer generates an output based on the input, and the output is transmitted to the controller for controlling the monitor or the controller in accordance with the output.

1 . A firefighting monitor system comprising:
 a monitor rotatable about a fixed base, the monitor including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being pivotable about a first axis relative to the base, and the second portion being pivotable about a second axis relative to the first portion and being supported by the first portion;   a plurality of controllers, each one of the controllers being capable of generating signals and transmitting the signals to the monitor for controlling the monitor;   a computer, the computer configured to present a user interface on a display, the user interface including inputs related to at least one primary control parameter and at least one secondary control parameter, the at least one primary control parameter associates a first controller of the plurality of controllers with the monitor and the at least one secondary control parameter associates a second controller of the plurality of controllers with the monitor.   
     
     
         2 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller is designated as a primary control for the monitor and the second controller is designated as a secondary control for the monitor. 
     
     
         3 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer generates an output for controlling the monitor or the first controller in accordance with the output. 
     
     
         4 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 3 , wherein the output is based on the at least one primary control parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 4 , wherein the output also controls the second controller and the output is further based on the at least one secondary control parameter. 
     
     
         6 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface further includes inputs related to parameters of the monitor and the output is further based on the parameters of the monitor. 
     
     
         7 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one primary control parameter includes a control type parameter and a communication parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 3 , further comprising a portable storage device, the output being stored on the portable storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a portable storage device, the computer adapted to communicate with the portable storage device for storing the output in the portable storage device, and the first controller adapted to communicate with the portable storage device wherein the portable storage device transmits the output to the first controller. 
     
     
         10 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitor includes an actuator for changing the position or configuration of a portion of the monitor, and the first controller selectively generating signals for controlling the actuator based on the output. 
     
     
         11 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 10 , wherein the monitor includes an inlet and an outlet, the actuator selectively positioning the outlet relative to the inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator, the monitor further including a second actuator, the first actuator changing the position of the outlet relative to the inlet about a first axis, and the second actuator changing the position of the outlet relative to the inlet about a second axis, the second axis being non-parallel to the first axis, and the first controller selectively controlling the first and second actuators based on the output. 
     
     
         13 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 12 , wherein the first axis comprises a vertical axis, and the second axis comprises a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 10 , wherein the monitor includes a nozzle, the actuator selectively controlling the shape of the stream through the nozzle. 
     
     
         15 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator has a variable speed motor with a motor speed, the first controller adjusting the motor speed based on the output. 
     
     
         16 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 10 , wherein the monitor has an adjustable travel limit, the first controller adjusting the travel limit based on the output. 
     
     
         17 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 10 , wherein the monitor has an adjustable stowed position, the first controller adjusting the stowed position based on the output. 
     
     
         18 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 10 , wherein the first controller comprises a remote controller, the monitor further comprising a monitor-based controller and a receiver, the remote controller communicating with the receiver via a radio frequency signal, a serial bus signal, or a CAN bus signal. 
     
     
         19 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 18 , wherein the remote controller is configurable between generating a radio frequency signal, a serial bus signal, or a CAN bus signal for communicating with the receiver, and the first controller being configured to generate a radio frequency signal, a serial bus signal, or a CAN bus signal for communicating with the receiver based on the output. 
     
     
         20 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 3 , wherein the first controller includes programming, the programming being updated based on the output. 
     
     
         21 . The firefighting monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller is selected from the group of a panel mount controller, a joystick, and a handheld controller.