Method and apparatus for controlling fluid pumps and valves to regulate fluid pressure and to eliminate fluid flow surges

• US 5,351,705 A
• Filed: 08/09/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Watertronics, LLC (Lindsay Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Watertronics, LLC (Lindsay Corporation)
• Inventors: Carlson, Frank R. III, Reinders, Richard G., Novak, Anton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US08/104,396
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 137/12, 137/486, 137/487.5, 137/606, 137/607, 417/5, 417/26, 417/28
• US Class Current: 137/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2026 with a plurality of throttling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0379 By fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure includes means for measuring fluid pressure, means for measuring fluid flow and means for actuating fluid valves to control fluid pressure and flow through the valves. A programming means is also included so that fluid pressure and flow measurements are processed and the fluid valves are actuated according to a preprogrammed scheme.

Claims

1. A method for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure and without fluid surges within a system which comprises the steps of

providing at least one fluid pump,

providing an actuable fluid valve downstream from each of said fluid pump or pumps, said valve or valves being actuable between a fully closed and a fully opened position to correspondingly prevent and allow fluid flow through such valve,

providing a fluid pressure measuring means downstream from said fluid valve or valves,

providing a fluid flow measuring means,

measuring fluid pressure within the system,

measuring the rate of change of fluid pressure within the system,

measuring fluid flow within the system, and

variably actuating said valve or valves to control fluid pressure and fluid flow through, and to prevent fluid surges within, the system, said valve actuating step including a pump switching step, said pump or pumps being switchable between "on" and "off" fluid pumping states to correspondingly pump and not pump fluid within the system.

2. The method of claim 1 including, prior to said valve actuating step, the step of providing a programming means for processing the fluid pressure, fluid pressure rate of change and fluid flow measurements, and the pump switching and valve actuating step includes switching the pump or pumps, actuating the fluid valve or valves and controlling the opening and closing speed of the valve or valves according to a preprogrammed scheme.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said valve providing step comprises providing electrically actuated valves.

4. In a fluid flow system having at least one actuable fluid pump and an actuable fluid valve downstream from each such pump, a method for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure and without fluid surges within the system which comprises the steps of

measuring the fluid pressure within the system,

measuring the rate of change of the fluid pressure within the system,

measuring fluid flow within the system,

providing a programming means so that the fluid pressure, fluid rate of change and fluid flow measurements are processed according to a preprogrammed scheme, and

actuating said fluid pump or pumps and valve or valves to control fluid pressure and flow through, and to prevent fluid surges in, the system according to a preprogrammed scheme.

5. An apparatus for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure within a system and without fluid surges which comprises

means for measuring fluid pressure within the system,

means for measuring the rate of change of fluid pressure within the system,

means for measuring fluid flow within the system,

at least one actuable fluid pump,

means for actuating said pump or pumps, said pump or pumps being actuable between states to pump and not pump fluid within the system,

an actuable fluid valve downstream from each fluid pump,

means for variably actuating said valve or valves, said valve or valves being actuable between a fully closed and a fully opened position, and

a programming and processing means whereby fluid pressure, fluid pressure rate of change and fluid flow measurements are processed and the fluid pump or pumps and the fluid valve or valves are actuated and the opening and closing speed of the valve or valves is controlled according to a preprogrammed scheme to control fluid pressure and fluid flow through, and to prevent fluid surges within, the system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fluid valves are electrically actuated valves.

7. A method for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure at varying flow demands and without fluid surges within a system which comprises the steps of

providing at least one fluid pump,

providing an actuable fluid valve downstream from each of said fluid pump or pumps, said valve or valves being actuable between a fully closed and a fully opened position to correspondingly prevent and allow fluid flow through such valve,

providing a fluid pressure measuring means downstream from said fluid valve or valves,

providing a fluid flow measuring means,

measuring fluid pressure within the system,

measuring the rate of change of fluid pressure within the system,

measuring fluid flow within the system, and

variably actuating said valve or valves to control fluid pressure and fluid flow through, and to prevent fluid surges within, the system and to maintain a constant system pressure at varying flow demands, said valve actuating step including a pump switch step, said pump or pumps being switchable between "on" and "off" fluid pumping states to correspondingly pump and not pump fluid within the system.

8. The method of claim 7 including, prior to said valve actuating step, the step of providing a programming means for processing the fluid pressure, fluid pressure rate of change and fluid flow measurements, and the pump switching and valve actuating step includes switching the pump or pumps, actuating the fluid valve or valves and controlling the opening and closing speed of the valve or valves according to a preprogrammed scheme.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said valve providing step comprises providing electrically actuated valves.

10. In a fluid flow system having at least one actuable fluid pump and an actuable fluid valve downstream from each such pump, a method for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure at varying flow demands and without fluid surges within the system which comprises the steps of

measuring the fluid pressure within the system,

measuring the rate of change of the fluid pressure within the system,

measuring fluid flow within the system,

providing a programming means so that the fluid pressure, fluid rate of change and fluid flow measurements are processed according to a preprogrammed scheme, and

actuating said fluid pump or pumps and valve or valves to control fluid pressure and flow through, and to prevent fluid surges in, the system and to maintain a constant system pressure at varying flow demands according to a preprogrammed scheme.

11. An apparatus for supplying and delivering fluids at a constant pressure at varying flow demands within a system and without fluid surges which comprises

means for measuring fluid pressure within the system,

means for measuring the rate of change of fluid pressure within the system,

means for measuring fluid flow within the system,

at least one actuable fluid pump,

means for actuating said pump or pumps, said pump or pumps being actuable between states to pump and not pump fluid within the system,

an actuable fluid valve downstream from each fluid pump,

means for variably actuating said valve or valves, said valve or valves being actuable between a fully closed and a fully opened position, and

a programming and processing means whereby fluid pressure, fluid pressure rate of change and fluid flow measurements are processed and the fluid pump or pumps and the fluid valve or valves are actuated and the opening and closing speed of the valve or valves is controlled according to a preprogrammed scheme to control fluid pressure and fluid flow through, and to prevent fluid surges within, the system and to maintain a constant system pressure at varying flow demands.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fluid valves are electrically actuated valves.