Fluid Control Platform and System
First Claim
1. A fluid control platform, comprising:
- a first controller programmed to control a first set of a plurality of fluid control components;
a controller board,wherein the controller board contains the first controller, andwherein the controller board contains hardware sufficient to permit the first controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control components, including the first set of a plurality of fluid control components;
a power supply connected to the first controller.
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Abstract
A fluid control platform that may control various fluid control components and is scalable by connecting with additional substantially identical platforms, as well as related systems, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of fluid control are disclosed. the platform may include a programmable controller, a power supply, a data input, a data output device, and/or a networking connection, among other things. A coordinated fluid control system may include multiple networked platforms, which may be networked to each other in, for example, a ring. The programmable controller may be provided with hardware that permits operation of each of a plurality of fluid control components, some of which may be intelligent fluid control components.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A fluid control platform, comprising:
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a first controller programmed to control a first set of a plurality of fluid control components; a controller board, wherein the controller board contains the first controller, and wherein the controller board contains hardware sufficient to permit the first controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control components, including the first set of a plurality of fluid control components; a power supply connected to the first controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A fluid control system, comprising:
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a first controller programmed to control a first set of fluid control components; a controller board, wherein the controller board contains the first controller, and wherein the controller board contains hardware sufficient to permit the first controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control components, including the first set of a plurality of fluid control components; a second controller programmed to control at least one fluid control component that is not a member of the first set of fluid control components; a first networking connection on the first controller configured to communicate with the second controller; a second networking connection on the second controller configured to communicate with the first controller; and one or more power supplies, each said controller being connected to a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of controlling a fluid control system having a plurality of fluid control components comprising:
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using a controller board wherein the controller board contains a single controller, and wherein the controller board contains hardware sufficient to permit the first controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control components, including the first set of a plurality of fluid control components; and using the single controller, for operating a first fluid control component; for operating a second fluid control component of a type different from the first fluid control component. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of manufacturing a fluid control system, comprising:
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providing a prefabricated controller board, the controller board including a programmable controller and the controller board having hardware sufficient to permit the controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control and input and output components; determining specifications of the fluid control system; based on the specifications, selecting a component group of fluid control components, zero or more data input and output components, and zero or more direct user input and output components; connecting the component group to the prefabricated controller board; and programming said controller to operate the component group.
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33. A method of manufacturing a fluid control system comprising:
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providing a first prefabricated controller board, the first controller board including a first programmable controller and the first controller board having hardware sufficient to permit the first controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control and input and output components; providing a second prefabricated controller board, the second controller board including a second programmable controller and the second controller board having hardware sufficient to permit the second controller to operate each of a plurality of different groups of fluid control and input and output components; determining specifications of the fluid control system; based on the specifications, selecting a component group of at least two fluid control components, zero or more data input and output components, and zero or more direct user input and output components; determining the number of controller boards to support the component group; connecting the component group to the first and second controller boards, wherein each controller board is connected to at least one fluid control component of the component group; connecting the first programmable controller to the second programmable controller to form a network; programming the first and second programmable controllers to communicate with one another; and programming the first and second programmable controllers to operate components connected to the first and second controller boards respectively.
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34. A method of controlling power supplied a fluid control system, comprising:
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determining an amount of power needed to comply with commands from a controller to simultaneously operate a plurality of system components, the plurality of system components including at least one fluid control component; determining if the amount of power is above a predetermined amount of power; and if the amount of power is above the predetermined amount of power, delaying operation of at least one system component.
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Specification