Device for Transmitting Measured Values

• US 20090125252A1
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KSB AG (Ksb Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: KSB AG (Ksb Stiftung)
• Inventors: Silovic, Marjan, Gontermann, Daniel, Kollmar, Dirk, Keller, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/47
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass

Abstract

A device for transmitting measured values having a sensor module including miniaturized components and an evaluation unit, in which the sensor module has connections for different sensors, one or more sensors are connected to the sensor module, and the sensor detect operating states of a centrifugal pump arrangement including a pump and a drive motor as measured values, and in which the sensor module is connected to a power supply and processes the measured values. The sensors (7, 8) which are connected to the sensor module are determined by identification means (13, 14, 15, 16). The sensor module is constructed as a signal transmitter (1) with a standardized output signal (10), with an integrated evaluation unit (2) which has a microcomputer (3), and with a display (4). The evaluation unit (2) processes the measured values from the sensors (7, 8) and displays measured values and/or calculated variables on the display (4).

Claims

1. A device for transmitting measured values comprising a sensor module, which comprises miniaturized components, and an evaluation unit, said sensor module having connections for different sensors;

at least one sensor being connected to the sensor module, said at least one sensor detecting the operating state of a centrifugal pump arrangement comprising a pump and a drive motor as at least one measured value; and

said sensor module being connected to a power supply and processing the at least one measured value;

wherein sensors which are connected to the sensor module are determined by identification means;

the sensor module comprises a signal transmitter with a standardized output signal, an integrated evaluation unit having a microcomputer, and a display; and

the evaluation unit processes the measured values from the sensors and displays measured values or calculated variables on the display.

2. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit displays measured values or calculated variables on the display in a cyclically alternating manner.

3. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter includes a memory apparatus containing technical data for the pump or the drive motor, or both;

and wherein the microcomputer calculates and evaluates operating data and operating states of the centrifugal pump arrangement based on the measured values and the stored data.

4. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the standardized output signal is a 4 to 20 mA current loop signal and provides the signal transmitter with power.

5. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor connected to the signal transmitter comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an intake pressure sensor, a final pressure sensor, and a pump differential pressure sensor.

6. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor emits an identification signal which is identified by the signal transmitter.

7. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connected sensors are connected to the signal transmitter by individual coded plug-in connections.

8. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connected sensors are connected to the signal transmitter by a bus connection.

9. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said memory apparatus stores rating data for the pump, rating data for the drive motor, hydraulic characteristic curves, or regulating or diagnostic algorithms for the centrifugal pump arrangement.

10. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, comprising a memory apparatus which stores operating data and operating states determined during operation of the centrifugal pump arrangement.

11. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 10, wherein the memory apparatus stores propagation time values, numbers of centrifugal pump starts, and load profile values for predefined periods of time.

12. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an output for stored data for the centrifugal pump arrangement.

13. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 12, wherein a sensor connection also functions as an output of the memory apparatus.

14. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection to an external device.

15. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 14, wherein connection to an external device is effected without lines using a mobile transmission element.

16. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 14, wherein connection to an external device is effected manually through a connecting line.

17. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 14, wherein the external device is connected via a data bus to an output for the standardized output signal of the transmitter.

18. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 14, wherein the external device is a drive, control, a pump or motor regulator, a pump or motor monitor, or a pump or motor diagnostic device.

19. The signal transmitter as claimed in claim 14, wherein stored data for the centrifugal pump arrangement is available to the external device for automatic parameterization of the external device, for display, or for further processing by the external device.

20. A method for transmitting measured values of a centrifugal pump arrangement comprising a pump and a drive motor using a signal transmitter with a standardized output signal;

said signal transmitter comprising a sensor module, an evaluation unit having a microprocessor, and a display; and

said sensor module having connections for different sensors and at least one sensor being connected to the sensor module;

wherein sensors which are connected to the sensor module are provided with identification means;

said method comprising detecting an operating state of the centrifugal pump arrangement with at the least one sensor as at least one measured value;

identifying the at least one sensor by the identification means;

automatically processing the at least one measured value from the at least one sensor in the evaluation unit; and

displaying the at least one measured value or at least one value of a variable calculated from the at least one measured value on the display.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the display displays measured values and/or calculated variables in a cyclically alternating manner.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the microcomputer calculates, evaluates and stores operating data or operating states of the centrifugal pump arrangement based on the measured values and on stored technical data for the pump and/or the drive motor.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the stored operating data or operating states are selected from the group consisting of propagation time values, numbers of centrifugal pump starts and load profile values determined and stored over predefined periods of time.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein stored data are read out via an output.

25. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein data are exchanged with an external device without lines using a mobile transmission element.

26. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein data are exchanged with an external device via a manually attached connecting line.

27. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein an external device accesses the stored data for the centrifugal pump arrangement for automatically parameterizing the external device, or for displaying the data, or for further processing the data.

28. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein automated data transmission is activated by setting up a connection to the signal transmitter by means of a reset or of trigger switches.