Distributed control architecture for dispensing particulate material into a fluid medium
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first dispensing device;
a second dispensing device for dispensing particulate matter, the second dispensing device comprising;
a container for holding particulate matter;
a conduit to transport a stream of liquid carrier and to receive particulate matter from the container;
a sensor to monitor the amount of dry particulate matter dispensed; and
a local controller coupled to the sensor to generate a signal when a predetermined quantity of particulate matter is dispensed and to modify the flow of particulate matter into the conduit in response to said signal; and
a parent controller coupled to the first and second dispensing devices, wherein the parent controller transmits to the second dispensing device remote signals associated with a first set of dispensing device operations and the local controller generates local signals associated with a second set of dispensing device operations.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling a networked array of dispensing devices for dispensing particulate matter may include local controllers connected to a parent controller. The parent controller may control an array of local controllers configured according to a network architecture. Each local controller may control one or more local dry chemical dispensing machines. In this way, the parent controller may control multiple dry chemical dispensing units over a network from a central location. In addition, the parent controller may directly control conventional liquid dispensers over the network. The parent and local controllers may be implemented using, for example, programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A system comprising:
-
a first dispensing device;
a second dispensing device for dispensing particulate matter, the second dispensing device comprising;
a container for holding particulate matter;
a conduit to transport a stream of liquid carrier and to receive particulate matter from the container;
a sensor to monitor the amount of dry particulate matter dispensed; and
a local controller coupled to the sensor to generate a signal when a predetermined quantity of particulate matter is dispensed and to modify the flow of particulate matter into the conduit in response to said signal; and
a parent controller coupled to the first and second dispensing devices, wherein the parent controller transmits to the second dispensing device remote signals associated with a first set of dispensing device operations and the local controller generates local signals associated with a second set of dispensing device operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21)
-
-
7. (canceled)
-
13. A dispensing device for dispensing particulate matter, the dispensing device comprising:
a local controller to receive from a remote controller a first set of instructions for controlling dispensation of a quantity of particulate matter from the dispensing device, wherein the local controller generates a second set of instructions for controlling at least one operation of the dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification