PROGRAMMABLE POSITIONAL LIQUID FLOW SENSING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A fluid flow measuring system for calculating fluid flow volume of a fluid dispensing apparatus during fluid dispensing operations, said fluid flow measuring system comprising:
- a) a positional flow sensing device operatively coupled to a control valve dispensing mechanism to provide control valve positional information, which can be converted to flow volume through transfer functions using any of the following information;
gravitational force magnitude, beverage container pressure, supply line diameter to control valve mechanism, specific gravity of fluid, measured positional transfer function, or control valve mechanism positional information;
b) a local controller comprising means for receiving positional information from said positional flow sensing device, said local controller being operatively coupled to said positional flow sensing device to indicate fluid flow volume based on said control valve position;
c) a computing device and user interface for enabling a user to program said local controller and/or a tap hub module, and for calculating accumulated flow volume information;
e) said local controller, tap hub module, and personal computing device accumulating fluid flow volume data using positional information received from said positional flow sensing device to determine when a fluid flow event commences, control valve positional information during a fluid flow dispensing event, and, when a pouring event terminates, to tabulate fluid volume information into predetermined container sizes, providing the user tabulated fluid flow volume data via said user interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A positional flow sensing device includes an accelerometer or inclinometer with user readable indicators for tracking information associated with a succession of fluid flow events. The fluids can be any fluid that it may be desirable to monitor the dispensing of, such as beer, other beverages, or oil. Each fluid flow event volume is calculated based on control valve positional information, upon which the positional flow sensing device is installed. The positional flow sensing device is operatively coupled to a user interface having a display and grouping of switches arranged to provide to the user fluid volume related information during and after each fluid flow event.
53 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A fluid flow measuring system for calculating fluid flow volume of a fluid dispensing apparatus during fluid dispensing operations, said fluid flow measuring system comprising:
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a) a positional flow sensing device operatively coupled to a control valve dispensing mechanism to provide control valve positional information, which can be converted to flow volume through transfer functions using any of the following information;
gravitational force magnitude, beverage container pressure, supply line diameter to control valve mechanism, specific gravity of fluid, measured positional transfer function, or control valve mechanism positional information;b) a local controller comprising means for receiving positional information from said positional flow sensing device, said local controller being operatively coupled to said positional flow sensing device to indicate fluid flow volume based on said control valve position; c) a computing device and user interface for enabling a user to program said local controller and/or a tap hub module, and for calculating accumulated flow volume information; e) said local controller, tap hub module, and personal computing device accumulating fluid flow volume data using positional information received from said positional flow sensing device to determine when a fluid flow event commences, control valve positional information during a fluid flow dispensing event, and, when a pouring event terminates, to tabulate fluid volume information into predetermined container sizes, providing the user tabulated fluid flow volume data via said user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fluid flow measuring system providing user readable tabulated data, with a reasonable accuracy, indicating total fluid flow information in known container sizes, comprising:
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a) at least one positional flow sensing device attached to at least one fluid control valve, providing fluid control valve positional information during dispensing of a fluid; b) means for transfer of fluid control valve positional information to an electronic module including a controller; c) means for removing acceleration from said fluid control valve positional information to obtain fluid flow information; d) said electronic module including a controller unit operatively coupled to said one or more positional flow sensing devices indicating a mechanical movement of said one or more control valves; e) a computing device and user interface for enabling a user to program said controller and/or a tap hub module, and for calculating and viewing accumulated flow volume information; f) said user interface providing tabulated data indicating volume of liquid dispensed by known container sizes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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13. In a fluid dispensing system having a valve actuator movable along a predetermined path between a closed position and a fully open position, a flow sensing system comprising:
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a) a sensor element mounted to a fluid control valve, comprising a positional indicator element interacting with the force of gravity, such that the state of said sensor element changes in accordance with a position of aid valve actuator along said predetermined path; and b) a computer-based information handling and communication system coupled to said sensor element for detecting the state of said sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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19. An apparatus for dispensing liquid, comprising:
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a) a dispensing valve having a manually operated valve actuator for controlling discharge of said liquid, said valve a actuator movable along a predetermined path between a closed position and a fully open position; b) a position indicator element affixed to said actuator; c) a sensor element mounted in a fixed position relative to said indicator element, said indicator element interacting with the force of gravity to vary a state thereof, such that the state of said sensor element varies in accordance with a position of said valve actuator along said predetermined path; and d) a computer-based information handling system coupled to said sensor element for detecting said state of said sensor element.
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20. A method for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from a fluid dispensing system, comprising the step of:
calculating said dispensed volume based on input received from a sensor element mounted in a fixed position relative to an indicator element interacting with the force of gravity to vary a state thereof, said indicator element being affixed to an actuator of a liquid dispensing valve having a manually operated valve actuator for controlling discharge of said liquid, such that the state of said sensor element varies in accordance with a position of said valve actuator.
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21. A method for accurately determining the instantaneous rate of fluid flow from a fluid dispensing valve, comprising the step of:
calculating a volume of fluid dispensed, based upon a) the position of said fluid dispensing valve, as indicated by an analog position sensor affixed thereto; b) dispensing container pressure; c) supply line diameter; d) supply line length; e) and one or more additional factors selected from the group consisting of duration of a current pouring event, duration of a previous pouring event, calculated volume of a previous pouring event, time elapsed since a previous pouring event, and volume of fluid remaining in a fluid dispensing vessel. - View Dependent Claims (22)
Specification