Ethernet Boards programmed to demo a relay pumping simulation

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Mike Laskaris, Engineering Director of Hale Pumps states:

• "Hale Products Inc has a variety of Engine Driven Pump packages that carry an SAE J1939 compliant CAN data network.
  These units might be ideal to incorporate into an Ethernet equipped pumping system."
  
• Hale Products uses an SAE J1939 CAN Bus local area network to interconnect the components of an engine and its associated pump. This CAN network can easily be connected to a Ethernet network that is running on a wire pair in the relay hose line.
  
• The connection between the CAN and Ethernet networks allows for direct monitoring and control of ALL pumps along the relay.
  
• The system could be controlled by a simple panel where a firefighter inputs a desired Gallons per Minute (GPM) of flow.
  
• It is also possible to add this digital network control capability to existing diesel engines/pumps.
  If the pump control panel uses push buttons or rocker switches, the network can activate plungers or servo motors to manipulate the controls.
  
• Another possibility for adding digital network control to the control panel of an existing engine/pump is to connect wires to the
  terminals of the rocker switches and push buttons. These wires can be then placed on a new connector on the panel so that the Ethernet node can connect to these wires via the new connector.
  switches and buttons.
  
• If the panel displays are simple lights, the voltage state driving the lights can be read by the Ethernet node through the new connector. If the panel displays are digital, they can be also be read by the data network via wires passing through the new connector.
  
• For diesel pumps that are controlled by the SAE J1939 CAN Bus, a serial protocol (UART) between the J1939 controller and the Lonworks device will allow for remote monitoring and control of every variable in the diesel engine and pumps.
  
• The photo above shows three Ethernet Evaluation Boards.
  The gray wire pair entering, from the left, comes from a PC.
  Each board is attached to a twisted pair network, and on the right the network is terminated.
  
• The board on the left has been programmed to supply a desired Gallons per Minute (GPM) message that is sent to the other two boards which are pump interface units. The GPM can be increased or decreased by push buttons on the left board.
  
• The middle and right boards have been programmed to exchange data with the pump microprocessor and its CAN network.
  
  
• Any elevation changes in a hose relay route will effect the placement of the pumps along the route.
  A topo map must be used to plan the hose segment and pump placement to insure that the pumps can supply enough pressure to overcome elevation head losses.
  
• It is proposed that each vehicle carrying the hose and pumps be equipped with a GPS receiver that can supply altitude as well at Lat/Long. The GPS data can be sent to a system administrator, via the network, as the trucks are being deployed. This live GPS data can be used to insure the correctness of pump spacing decisions based on the topo maps.