Monitoring system for reciprocating pumps
First Claim
1. In a reciprocating pump assembly having a pump housing that houses a crankshaft, a plurality of pistons mechanically connected to the crankshaft for pumping a fluid through a plurality of cylinders, each of the cylinders having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the reciprocating pump, comprises:
- a monitoring housing mounted to the reciprocating pump assembly;
a computer located within the monitoring housing, the computer having a memory; and
a plurality of pressure sensor assemblies mounted to the pump and in electrical communication with the memory to sense a pressure value of a fluid within the pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reciprocating pump assembly includes a pump housing that houses a crankshaft. Pistons are mechanically connected to the crankshaft for pumping fluid through cylinders. Each cylinder has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The pump also has a monitoring housing connected to the reciprocating pump. Within the monitoring housing is a computer with memory. Pressure sensor assemblies sense a pressure value of a fluid within the pump, and are in electrical communication with the memory. An accelerometer positioned on the pump measures vibrations of the pump and is also in electrical communication with the memory for storage of sensed vibrations or displacements during operations. A proximity sensor in electrical communication with the memory is located within the pump housing to determine the rotational velocity of the crankshaft.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a reciprocating pump assembly having a pump housing that houses a crankshaft, a plurality of pistons mechanically connected to the crankshaft for pumping a fluid through a plurality of cylinders, each of the cylinders having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the reciprocating pump, comprises:
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a monitoring housing mounted to the reciprocating pump assembly;
a computer located within the monitoring housing, the computer having a memory; and
a plurality of pressure sensor assemblies mounted to the pump and in electrical communication with the memory to sense a pressure value of a fluid within the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A reciprocating pump assembly, comprising:
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a pump housing that houses a crankshaft for the reciprocating pump;
a plurality of piston rods extending from the pump housing, each being mechanically connected to and driven by the crankshaft, each of the piston rods having a piston portion on the end extending away from the crankshaft;
a plurality of piston chambers in fluid communication with the piston portion of each of the piston rods, each of the piston chambers receiving fluid to be pumped by the piston portion of each of the piston rods, each of the piston chambers having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a plurality of ports extending through a selected plurality of sidewalls of the reciprocating pump, each of the ports having a threaded counter-bore, defining an outward facing shoulder;
a monitoring housing mounted to the reciprocating pump;
a computer located within the monitoring housing, the computer having a memory; and
a plurality of pressure sensor assemblies in electrical communication with the memory to sense a pressure value of a fluid within the pump, each pressure sensor assembly comprising;
a threaded plug member that secures to one of the ports, the plug member having an aperture therethrough that registers with the port;
a metal annular seal member compressed between an inward facing end of the plug member and the outward facing shoulder; and
a transducer mounted to the plug and in fluid communication with the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring the operating conditions of a reciprocating pump assembly having a pump housing that houses a crankshaft, a plurality of pistons mechanically connected to the crankshaft for pumping a fluid through a plurality of cylinders, each of the cylinders having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the method comprising:
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providing a computer with a memory, mounting the computer in a monitoring housing, and mounting the monitoring housing to the reciprocating pump;
positioning a plurality of pressure sensor assemblies in fluid communication with ports formed in a selected location and electrically connecting the sensor assemblies to the computer of the reciprocating pump, operating the pump, sensing fluid pressure with the sensor assemblies; and
communicating pressure values from each of the sensor assemblies to the memory. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification