Flow-controlled injector system

• US 4,370,996 A
• Filed: 03/13/1981
• Issued: 02/01/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Williams Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James F. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spiegel, H. Jay
• Application Number:
  US06/243,371
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 137/99, 222/57
• US Class Current: 137/99
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/035 with auxiliary non-electric power
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2516 Interconnected flow displacement elements

Abstract

A chemical injection system for automatically injecting chemicals into a fluid process line in direct proportion to the fluid flow. A fluid flow meter in the line operates a cam which in turn operates an air valve for pneumatically actuating a controller by air pulses. The controller in turn supplies pressurized air to an injector pump to operate the pump in cycles corresponding to the air pulses. By manipulating valves the controller can be changed from operating in response to the fluid-flow related air pulses regulated by the meter to a self-contained adjustable speed of operation and such valves may be remotely controlled.

Claims

1. In a chemical injection system for use on fluid pipeline comprising, a meter measuring fluid flow through the pipeline, an air-operated injection pump means for connecting to the pipeline for injecting predetermined amounts of chemicals into the pipeline upon each stroke, a supply of pressurized air, a controller means operatively connected to said pump means, a valve means associated with said meter for supplying first pulses of pressurized air to the controller means proportional in rapidity to the fluid flow measured by the meter, and the controller means supplying separate and controlled second pulses of pressurized air to the pump means in response to and in sequence with the first air pulses from the valve means for operating the pump means in like sequence and further in which said controller includes an adjustable control valve and port means to permit said controller to cycle automatically at adjustable rates and second valve means for selectively isolating said adjustable control valve and operating the controller by air pulses from said meter-associated valve means or isolating said meter-associated valve means and operating the controller by said adjustable control valve and port means.

2. The system of claim 1 in which said second valve means are provided with means for remotely controlling same for permitting remote selection of automatic or flow-controlled operation of said controller.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the meter is a turbine type meter, a cam is operatively connected to the turbine of said meter to rotate in direct proportion thereto, the cam is provided with at least one lobe, and means engage said cam to operate said valve means through one cycle to produce one said first air pulse in response to each lobe.

4. In a chemical injection system for use on pipeline having a meter measuring fluid flow through the pipeline, comprising, an air-operated injection pump means connected to the pipeline for injecting predetermined amounts of chemicals into the pipeline upon each stroke, a supply of pressurized air, a controller means operatively connected to said pump means, a valve means associated with the meter for supplying first pulses of pressurized air to the controller means proportional in rapidity to the fluid flow measured by the meter, and the controller means supplying separate and controlled second pulses of pressurized air to the pump means in response to and in sequence with the first air pulses from the valve means for operating the pump means in like sequence and further in which said controller includes an adjustable control valve and port means to permit said controller to cycle automatically at adjustable rates and second valve means for selectively isolating said adjustable control valve and operating the controller by air pulses from said meter-associated valve means or isolating said meter-associated valve means and operating the controller by said adjustable control valve and port means.

5. In a chemical injection system for use on a pipeline having a meter measuring fluid flow through the pipeline, an air operated injection pump means for measured and controlled injection of chemicals in the pipeline, and a supply of pressurized air, the improvement comprising, a controller means connected to the supply of pressurized air for supplying controlled pulses of pressurized air to the pump means for operating the pump means, an air valve means connected to the supply of pressurized air for supplying separate pulses of pressurized air to the controller means for operating the controller means, and means operatively connecting said air valve means and the meter for cycling said valve means between positions supplying and not supplying pressurized air to said controller means in response to the fluid flow measured by the meter and further in which said controller includes an adjustable control valve and port means to permit said controller to cycle automatically at adjustable rates and second valve means for selectively isolating said adjustable control valve and operating the controller by air pulses from said meter-associated valve means or isolating said meter-associated valve means and operating the controller by said adjustable control valve and port means.

6. The system of claim 5 in which said second valve means are provided with means for remotely controlling same for permitting remote selection of automatic or flow-controlled operation of said controller.

7. The system of claim 5 in which the meter is a turbine type meter, a cam is operatively connected to the turbine of said meter to rotate in direct proportion thereto, the cam is provided with at least one lobe, and means engage said cam to operate said valve means through one cycle to produce one air pulse in response to each lobe.

8. In a chemical injection system for use on a pipeline having a meter measuring fluid flow through the pipeline, an air operated injection pump means for measured and controlled injection of chemicals in the pipeline, and a supply of pressurized air, the improvement comprising, a controller means connected to the supply of pressurized air for supplying pulses of pressurized air to the pump means for operating the pump means, a movable valve member in said controller for causing one said air pulse in response to one cycle of movement thereof, an air valve means connected to the supply of pressurized air for supplying separate pulses of pressurized air to the controller means for causing said cyclic movement of said valve member for operating the controller means to produce said first air pulses, and means operatively connecting said air valve means and the meter for cycling said valve means between positions supplying and venting the pressurized air to said controller means in direct relationship to the fluid flow measured by the meter and further in which said controller includes an adjustable control valve and port means to permit said controller to cycle automatically at adjustable rates and second valve means for selectively isolating said adjustable control valve and operating the controller by air pulses from said air valve means or isolating said air valve means and operating the controller by said adjustable control valve and port means.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said selectively operable means are remotely controllable.

10. In a chemical injection system for use on fluid pipeline comprising, a meter measuring fluid flow through the pipeline, an air-operated injection pump means for connecting to the pipeline for injecting predetermined amounts of chemicals into the pipeline upon each stroke, a supply of pressurized air, a controller means operatively connected to said pump means, a valve means associated with said meter for supplying first pulses of pressurized air to the controller means proportional in rapidity to the fluid flow measured by the meter, and the controller means supplying separate and controlled second pulses of pressurized air to the pump means in response to and in sequence with the first air pulses from the valve means for operating the pump means in like sequence and further in which said controller includes a diaphragm adjacent a cavity which flexes upon pressurizing said cavity which flexes upon pressurizing said cavity to cause the controller to cycle for supplying said separate and controlled second pulse of air to said pump, a port connecting said valve means directly to said cavity for communicating said first air pulses directly thereto, adjustable valve and port means for connecting the second air pulse to said cavity for causing automatic cycling, and valve means for selectively and alternately connecting the cavity to air supplied from the first said valve means or from the adjustable valve means.

11. In a chemical injection system for use on a pipeline having a meter measuring fluid flow through the pipeline, an air operated injection pump means for measured and controlled injection of chemicals in the pipeline, and a supply of pressurized air, the improvement comprising, a controller means connected to the supply of pressurized air for supplying controlled pulses of pressurized air to the pump means for operating the pump means, and air valve means connected to the supply of pressurized air for supplying separate pulses of pressurized air air to the controller means for operating the controller means, and means operatively connecting said air valve means and the meter for cycling said valve means between positions supplying and not supplying pressurized air to said control means in response to the fluid flow measured by the meter and further in which said controller includes a diaphragm adjacent a cavity which flexes upon pressurizing said cavity to cause the controller to cycle for supplying said separate and controlled pulse of air to said pump, a port connecting said valve means to said cavity for communicating said air pulses from the valve means directly to the cavity, adjustable valve and port means for communicating a portion of the controlled air pulse from the controller to the pump also to said cavity for causing automatic cycling, and valve means for selectively and alternately connecting the cavity to air supplied from the first said valve means or from the adjustable valve means.