Method and apparatus for controlling a pump
First Claim
1. A pumping system comprising aa pump having an inlet and discharge side,a valve having an inlet connected to the discharge side of said pump and having an output side, said valve being operable between first and second positions, one of said positions being a closed position and the other of said positions being an open position,pump stop means for initiating movement of said valve from said first position to said second position,means responsive to attainment by said valve of a position near said second position for stopping said pump,start means for initiating movement of said valve from said second to said first position, andmeans for preventing said pump from starting unless said valve is in said second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety control system for a pump and anti-surge valve protects the pump, the valve and the hydraulic main line system. The valve is controlled by a pressure responsive circuit and, via a limit switch on the valve, controls both the steady state running of the pump and the pump start. A timed start circuit allows pressure to build up sufficiently to operate the valve upon initiation of pump operation. The system automatically shuts down upon power, mechanical or hydraulic failure, and prevents continued operation of the pump control valve when the pump has lost suction or there is a decrease in pump discharge pressure.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A pumping system comprising a
a pump having an inlet and discharge side, a valve having an inlet connected to the discharge side of said pump and having an output side, said valve being operable between first and second positions, one of said positions being a closed position and the other of said positions being an open position, pump stop means for initiating movement of said valve from said first position to said second position, means responsive to attainment by said valve of a position near said second position for stopping said pump, start means for initiating movement of said valve from said second to said first position, and means for preventing said pump from starting unless said valve is in said second position.
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4. The method of operating a pump and valve having open and closed positions, comprising the steps of
causing said pump to run in a steady state run condition when and only when said valve is in one of said positions, and causing said pump to start when and only when said valve is in the other of said positions.
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8. In a fluid pumping system having a pump connected to initially discharge to atmosphere through an initially open valve and a valve control for starting to close the valve when the pump is started, the improvement comprising
means for preventing the valve from fully closing before fluid discharged from the pump has reached the valve, said means comprising means for sensing discharge of fluid from the pump, and means responsive to said means for sensing for initiating closing of said valve.
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11. A pump control system comprising
a pump having an input side and a discharge side, an anti-surge valve having an input connected to said pump discharge side and having an output, a valve controller, means responsive to said valve controller for moving said anti-surge valve between first and second positions, said anti-surge valve being open in one of said positions and closed in the other of said positions, and means responsive to liquid discharged from said pump for operating said valve controller.
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13. In combination
a pump, a motor for driving the pump, a valve connected to receive fluid discharged by the pump and being operable between first and second positions, a run circuit for energizing said motor and thereby driving said pump, said run circuit including means for disabling the run circuit when the valve moves to one of said positions, and a starting circuit for initiating energization of said motor only when said valve is in said one position and thereby initiating driving of said pump, said starting circuit including means independent of said run circuit for disabling said starting circuit while said motor is energized and under control of said run circuit, whereby the motor may continue to drive the pump under control of said run circuit after said starting circuit is disabled and while said valve is in the other of said positions, and whereby said motor cannot be restarted until said starting circuit is enabled.
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20. A pump and valve control system comprising in combination
a pump having a suction side and a discharge side, a motor connected to drive the pump, a motor control for controlling the motor, a valve operable between first and second positions and having an input connected to the discharge side of the pump, a valve controller connected to operate the valve from one of said first and second positions to the other, position detector means for generating a signal representing position of said valve, means for operating said valve controller to move said valve from one of said positions to the other, an initiating circuit responsive to said position detector means for energizing said motor control only when said valve is in one of said positions, and a run circuit for energizing said motor control only when the valve is in a position other than said one position.
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27. In combination
a pump, a motor for driving the pump, an anti-surge valve connected to receive fluid discharged by the pump and being operable between first and second valve positions, a valve controller for driving said valve between said first and second positions and including a solenoid, a run command relay having a coil and first, second and third switches connected to be operated thereby, a command circuit for energizing the run command relay coil, a pressure detector switch connected to be operated when pressure of fluid received by the valve from the pump is above a preselected level, a second circuit connected to energize the solenoid of said valve controller and having said first run command relay switch and said pressure detector switch connected therein, a timer having a timer switch connected to be operated thereby, a third circuit connected to energize said timer and having said second run command relay switch connected therein, a motor control relay having a coil and first, second and third motor control switches connected to be operated thereby, a limit switch connected with said valve for motion between first and second limit switch positions as said valve moves between said first and second valve positions, a run circuit for energizing said motor control relay coil and having said first motor control relay switch and said limit switch connected in circuit therewith, a timed start circuit for energizing said motor control relay and having connected therein said third run command switch, said timer switch, and said second motor control relay switch, an initiating circuit for initially energizing said motor control relay and having said limit switch, said third run command switch, and said timer switch connected in circuit therewith, and a motor energizing circuit having said second motor control relay switch connected in circuit therewith.
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28. A pump control system comprising
a pump having a discharge side, a valve having an input connected to said pump discharge side and operable between first and second positions, a motor connected to drive said pump, a run circuit for energizing said motor, a start circuit independent of said run circuit for energizing said motor, and valve position means responsive to position of said valve for alternatively enabling either said start circuit or said run circuit in accordance with position of said valve.
Specification