Control system and method for chemical injectors
First Claim
1. A device for adjusting the volumetric capacity of a chemical injector in response to receiving a drive signal from a remote controller, the injector including a cylinder-like housing having a cavity and a reciprocal piston-like element dividing the cavity into an injection chamber and a complement chamber, the adjusting device comprising:
- stop means, located in the path of reciprocal motion of the piston-like element, for limiting the reciprocal motion and thereby limiting the available volume of the injection chamber and the volumetric injection capacity of the injector;
power means, responsive to the drive signal, for controlling the position of the stop means with respect to the reciprocal piston-like element, along the path of reciprocal motion and thereby adjusting the volumetric injection capacity of the injector;
capacity measuring means for indicating the volumetric injection capacity of the injector and providing a capacity signal indicative of the volumetric injection capacity; and
a clutch assembly connected between the power means and the stop means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system and method for chemical injectors includes a controller which outputs multiple feed set point signals and associated driver signals, each set point signal defining a desired injection capacity for a chemical injector and the associated driver designation signal designating the injector to receive the set point signal. A driver assembly is associated with each injector. The driver assembly receives a capacity signal from the injector which defines the volumetric injection capacity of the injector, compares the capacity signal to the feed set point signal, and outputs a drive signal to adjust the volumetric injection capacity of the injector. An adjustment assembly is provided for receiving the drive signal and positioning a stop to limit the reciprocal motion of the piston of the injector, thereby adjusting the volumetric injection capacity of the injector. The injectors inject into a common carrier fluid, such as irrigation water, and the carrier fluid, through a carrier fluid flow operated valve, is also used to reciprocate the injector pistons. A disabling assembly is provided to disable the driver assemblies when the pistons of the injectors are forced against the stops.
11 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A device for adjusting the volumetric capacity of a chemical injector in response to receiving a drive signal from a remote controller, the injector including a cylinder-like housing having a cavity and a reciprocal piston-like element dividing the cavity into an injection chamber and a complement chamber, the adjusting device comprising:
-
stop means, located in the path of reciprocal motion of the piston-like element, for limiting the reciprocal motion and thereby limiting the available volume of the injection chamber and the volumetric injection capacity of the injector; power means, responsive to the drive signal, for controlling the position of the stop means with respect to the reciprocal piston-like element, along the path of reciprocal motion and thereby adjusting the volumetric injection capacity of the injector; capacity measuring means for indicating the volumetric injection capacity of the injector and providing a capacity signal indicative of the volumetric injection capacity; and a clutch assembly connected between the power means and the stop means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method for adjusting the volumetric capacity of a chemical injector in response to receiving a drive signal from a remote controller, the injector including a cylinder-like housing having a cavity and a reciprocal piston-like element dividing the cavity into an injection chamber and a complement chamber, the adjusting method comprising the steps of:
-
limiting the reciprocal motion and thereby limiting the available volume of the injection chamber and the volumetric injection capacity of the injector; controlling, in response to the drive signal, the position of the stop means with respect to the reciprocating piston-like element, along the path of reciprocal motion; adjusting via a clutch assembly the volumetric injection capacity of the injector; and measuring the volumetric injection capacity of the injector and providing a capacity signal indicative of the volumetric injection capacity.
-
-
5. A device for adjusting the volumetric capacity of a double-diaphragm pump in response to receiving a drive signal from a remote controller, the pump including a cylinder-like housing having a cavity and a reciprocal piston-like element dividing the cavity into an injection chamber and a complement chamber, the adjusting device comprising:
-
stop means, including an elongated bar having an end extending between the diaphragms of the double-diaphragm pump for limiting the reciprocal motion and thereby limiting the available volume of the injection chamber and the volumetric injection capacity of the injector; power means, responsive to the drive signal, including an electric motor rotating a threaded shaft threadingly engaged with the other end of the elongated bar for controlling the position of the stop means with respect to the reciprocal piston-like element along the path of reciprocal motion and thereby adjusting the volumetric injection capacity of the pump; capacity measuring means for indicating the volumetric injection capacity of the pump and providing a capacity signal indicative of the volumetric injection capacity. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
Specification