Pump System with Calibration Curve

• US 20070207040A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership, The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Carpenter, Gregg, Hughes, Robert, Ziesel, Lawrence, Newman, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/44.100
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations

Abstract

A pumping system for pumping one out of a number of fluids with varying viscosities. The pumping system may include a positive displacement pump and a control for operating the positive displacement pump. The control may include viscosity compensation data. The viscosity compensation data relates to at least one of the fluids such that the control instructs the positive displacement pump to operate based on the viscosity of the fluid.

Claims

1. A pumping system for pumping one out of a number of fluids with varying viscosities, comprising:

a positive displacement pump; and

a control for operating the positive displacement pump;

the control comprising viscosity compensation data;

wherein the viscosity compensation data relates to at least one of the number of fluids such that the control instructs the positive displacement pump to operate based on the viscosity of the one of the number of fluids.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fluid containers for the number of fluids.

3. The pumping system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fluid containers comprises an identifier positioned thereon.

4. The pumping system of claim 3, wherein the identifier comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

5. The pumping system of claim 3, further comprising a fluid source identification device capable of reading the identifier.

6. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the viscosity compensation data comprises data relating to a pump output at a given flow.

7. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the viscosity compensation data comprises a plurality of viscosity compensation charts.

8. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the viscosity compensation data comprises volumetric efficiency data on the positive displacement pump.

9. A method for operating a positive displacement pump with one out of a number of fluids with varying viscosities, comprising:

determining the slippage rate of the positive displacement pump for each of the number of different fluids at a given flow rate;

determining the compensation rate for each of the number of different fluids;

placing one of the number of fluids in communication with the pump; and

pumping the one of the number of fluids at the given flow rate based upon the compensation rate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of pumping the one of the number of fluids at the given flow rate based upon the compensation rate comprises varying the number or rate of strokes, cycles, steps, or a pulse width modulation of the positive displacement pump.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of pumping the one of the number of fluids at the given flow rate based upon the compensation rate comprises increasing the speed of the positive displacement pump.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of pumping the one of the number of fluids at the given flow rate based upon the compensation rate comprises increasing the length of time the positive displacement pump operates.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining the compensation rate for each of the number of different fluids comprises volumetric efficiency data on the positive displacement pump.

14. A beverage dispenser, comprising:

a plurality of fluid sources with a plurality of fluids of different viscosities;

a dispensing valve;

a positive displacement pump to pump one of the plurality of fluids from the plurality of fluid sources to the dispensing valve; and

a control for operating the positive displacement pump in response to the dispensing valve;

wherein the control comprises compensation data related to the one of the plurality of fluids such that the positive displacement pump compensates for the viscosity of the one of the plurality of fluids during operation.

15. The beverage dispenser of claim 14, wherein the compensation data comprises a plurality of viscosity compensation charts.

16. The beverage dispenser of claim 14, wherein the compensation data comprises volumetric efficiency data on the positive displacement pump such that the positive displacement pump compensates for the volumetric efficiency of the positive displacement pump.

17. The beverage dispenser of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fluid sources comprises a plurality of fluid containers.

18. The beverage dispenser of claim 17, wherein the plurality of fluid containers comprises an identifier positioned thereon.

19. The beverage dispenser of claim 18, wherein the identifier comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

20. The beverage dispenser of claim 18, further comprising a fluid source identification device capable of reading the identifier.