Method and apparatus for controlling a pump

• US 6,264,432 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milton Roy, LLC
• Original Assignee: Liquid Metronics Incorporated (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Ryan, Liam, Kilayko, Enrique L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): FASTOVSKY, LEONID M
• Application Number:
  US09/388,823
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 417/212, 417/12, 417/17, 417/44, 417/44.1, 417/18, 417/44.3, 417/222.1, 417/45, 123/504, 123/196, 621/60, 364/510
• US Class Current: 417/44.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/04 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0206 Length of piston stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/04 of linear electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0407 Force
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0408 Power
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/04 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/12 by varying the length of stroke of the working members

Abstract

A control for a pump detects an operational characteristic thereof and applies power to a power unit in dependence upon the detected operational characteristic to automatically and electronically control pump priming and stroke length.

Claims

1. A control for a metering pump having a movable pump element, the movable pump element being movable over a stroke length which is controllably variable in response to electrical power applied to a power unit, comprising:

a sensor for detecting the velocity of the movable pump element; and

a circuit responsive to the sensor and modulating electrical power applied to the power unit in dependence upon the detected velocity of the movable pump element to automatically prime the pump.

2. The control of claim 1, wherein the power unit comprises a solenoid.

3. The control of claim 2, wherein the solenoid comprises a coil.

4. The control of claim 1, wherein the pump element comprises an armature.

5. The control of claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor for detecting armature position.

6. The control of claim 3, wherein the circuit comprises a driver circuit that is coupled to the coil for applying electrical power thereto.

7. The control of claim 4, further comprising a programmed processor responsive to the sensor for controlling the circuit and wherein the circuit modulates electrical power delivered to the power unit in dependence upon a position of the armature.

8. The control of claim 7, wherein the circuit increases the power delivered to the power unit during a discharge stroke in response to a high viscous fluid condition.

9. The control of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an electromagnetic metering pump.

10. The control of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a hydraulic metering pump.

11. The control of claim 1, wherein the pump element is alternately movable in suction and discharge strokes and wherein the circuit includes means for increasing power applied to the power unit during a suction stroke when the detected pump element velocity is greater than a certain magnitude and means for reapplying power to the power unit during a subsequent discharge stroke to prime the pump.

12. The control of claim 11, wherein the pump has a mechanical stop and wherein the circuit increases the amount of power applied to the power unit to prevent the pump element from contacting the mechanical stop.

13. The control of claim 11, wherein the circuit includes means for returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters after the pump is primed.

14. The control of claim 11, wherein the circuit includes means for returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters once a particular priming period has expired.

15. The control of claim 14, wherein the returning means comprises a timer and means for establishing the set of programmed parameters.

16. A control for a metering pump having a movable pump element, the movable pump element being movable over a stroke length which is controllably variable in response to electrical power applied to a solenoid, comprising:

a position sensor for detecting a position of the pump element; and

a driver circuit responsive to the sensor and modulating electrical power applied to the solenoid in dependence upon the position of the pump element to automatically prime the pump;

wherein the pump element is alternately movable in suction and discharge strokes and wherein the circuit includes means for increasing power applied to the power unit during a suction stroke when a detected pump element velocity is greater than a certain magnitude and means for reapplying power to the power unit during a subsequent discharge stroke to prime the pump.

17. The control of claim 16, wherein the solenoid comprises a coil.

18. The control of claim 16, wherein the pumping element comprises a movable armature.

19. The control of claim 18, wherein the position sensor detects the position of the armature.

20. The control of claim 17, wherein the driver circuit is coupled to the coil for applying electrical power thereto.

21. The control of claim 18, further comprising a programmed processor responsive to the sensor for controlling the driver circuit and wherein the circuit modulates electrical power delivered to the solenoid in dependence upon the position of the armature.

22. The control of claim 21, wherein the circuit increases the power delivered to the solenoid during a discharge stroke in response to a high viscous fluid condition.

23. The control of claim 16, wherein the metering pump comprises an electromagnetic metering pump.

24. The control of claim 16, wherein the pump has a mechanical stop and wherein the circuit increases the amount of power applied to the power unit to prevent the pump element from contacting the mechanical stop.

25. The control of claim 16, wherein the circuit includes means for returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters after the pump is primed.

26. The control of claim 16, wherein the circuit includes means for returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters once a particular priming period has expired.

27. The control of claim 26, wherein the returning means comprises a timer and means for establishing the set of programmed parameters.

28. A method of automatically priming a pump having a coil and an armature movable within a range of positions, wherein the armature is movable in suction and discharge strokes, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the position of the armature;

increasing electrical power applied to the coil during a suction stroke of the armature when the detected armature velocity is greater than a certain magnitude; and

reapplying power to the coil during a subsequent discharge stroke to prime the pump.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pump has a mechanical stop and wherein the circuit increases the amount of power applied to the power unit to prevent the pump element from contacting the mechanical stop.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters after the pump is primed.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters once a particular priming period has expired.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of providing power to the coil during a discharge stroke in dependence upon the detected armature position.

33. A control for a metering pump having a movable pump element alternately movable in suction and discharge strokes, the movable pump element being movable over a stroke length which is controllably variable in response to electrical power applied to a power unit, comprising:

a sensor for detecting an operational characteristic of the pump; and

a circuit responsive to the sensor and modulating electrical power applied to the power unit in dependence upon the detected operational characteristic of the pump element causing an increase in the stroke length to prime the pump.

34. The control of claim 33, wherein the power unit comprises a solenoid.

35. The control of claim 34, wherein the solenoid comprises a coil.

36. The control of claim 33, wherein the pumping element comprises a movable armature.

37. The control of claim 36, wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor for detecting the position of the armature.

38. The control of claim 35, wherein the circuit comprises a driver circuit that is coupled to the coil for delivering electrical power thereto.

39. The control of claim 38, wherein the circuit increases the power delivered to the coil during a discharge stroke in response to a high viscous fluid condition.

40. The control of claim 33, wherein the pump comprises an electromagnetic metering pump.

41. The control of claim 33, wherein the pump comprises a hydraulic metering pump.

42. The control of claim 33, wherein power is applied to the pump during a suction stroke for controlling the stroke length.

43. The control of claim 33, wherein the pump element is alternately movable in suction and discharge strokes and wherein the circuit includes means for increasing power applied to the power unit during a suction stroke when the detected pump element velocity is greater than a certain magnitude and means for reapplying power to the power unit during a subsequent discharge stroke to prime the pump.

44. The control of claim 43, wherein the pump has a mechanical stop and wherein the circuit increases the amount of power applied to the power unit to prevent the pump element from contacting the mechanical stop.

45. The control of claim 43, wherein the circuit includes means for returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters after the pump is primed.

46. The control of claim 43, wherein the circuit includes means for returning the pump to a set of programmed parameters once a particular priming period has expired.

47. The control of claim 46, wherein the returning means comprises a timer and means for establishing the set of programmed parameters.