Termite control system with multi-fluid proportion metering and batch signal metering
First Claim
1. A method of proportion metering first and second fluids that are output from first and second pumps, respectively, over a plurality of proportioning cycles to achieve a selected mix ratio, comprising:
- a) simultaneously operating the first and second pumps;
b) monitoring the amounts of the first and second fluids output by the first and second pumps during each proportioning cycle, respectively; and
c) stopping the first pump while the second pump continues operating until the selected mix ratio is achieved for a current proportioning cycle, and then restarting the first pump to begin the next proportioning cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for proportion metering multiple fluids together that are output from different pumps. The invention further provides a system and method for batch signal metering that provides feedback on the amount of fluid that has been dispensed. The invention has applications in numerous technologies, including metering together pest control fluids, such as those used for termite control; metering lawn care fluids such as herbicide and fertilizer; blending colors used in dyes, paints and the like; personal care products such as lotions; water treatment; and other technologies in which different fluids are pumped by separate pumps and thereafter mixed together downstream of the pumps prior to being dispensed.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of proportion metering first and second fluids that are output from first and second pumps, respectively, over a plurality of proportioning cycles to achieve a selected mix ratio, comprising:
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a) simultaneously operating the first and second pumps;
b) monitoring the amounts of the first and second fluids output by the first and second pumps during each proportioning cycle, respectively; and
c) stopping the first pump while the second pump continues operating until the selected mix ratio is achieved for a current proportioning cycle, and then restarting the first pump to begin the next proportioning cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of proportion metering first and second fluids output from first and second pumps to achieve a predetermined mix ratio, comprising:
pumping the first and second fluids in proportioning batches through operation of the first and second pumps, the ratio of the volumes of the first and second fluids in each proportioning batch equaling the predetermined mix ratio, and, wherein for each proportioning batch, operation of one of the first and second pumps is stopped.
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10. A method of controlling first and second pumps that output first and second fluids, respectively, in order to blend the first and second fluids in a selected mix ratio, comprising:
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simultaneously operating the first and second pumps over a plurality of proportioning cycles to output the first and second fluids;
monitoring the amounts of the first and second fluids output by the first and second pumps during each proportioning cycle;
stopping operation of the first pump in each proportioning cycle while the second pump continues to operate, operation of the first pump being stopped each time the first pump outputs a selected amount of the first fluid; and
restarting the first pump to begin the next proportioning cycle once the second pump has output enough of the second fluid in a current proportioning cycle to achieve the selected mix ratio. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of tracking the amount of fluid dispensed from a fluid dispensing system, comprising:
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selecting an incremental amount of fluid that is less than a total amount of fluid to be dispensed;
electronically monitoring the amount of fluid being dispensed during dispensing, wherein monitoring occurs at a location remote from the location of dispensing the fluid; and
electronically generating a sensory signal each time that the amount of fluid dispensed equals the incremental amount of fluid, wherein generation of the sensory signal occurs at a location remote from the monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of proportion metering first and second fluids output from first and second pumps to achieve a predetermined mix ratio in a fluid blend formed from the first and second fluids prior to dispensing a batch of the fluid blend, comprising:
pumping the first and second fluids in proportioning batches through operation of the first and second pumps, the ratio of the first and second fluids in each proportioning batch equaling the predetermined mix ratio, and the volume of the first and second fluids in each proportioning batch is small enough so that the dispensed batch comprises at least one of said proportioning batches. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of proportion metering first and second fluids output from first and second pumps to achieve a predetermined mix ratio in a fluid blend formed from the first and second fluids prior to dispensing a batch of the fluid blend, comprising:
pumping the first and second fluids in proportioning batches through operation of the first and second pumps, each proportioning batch comprising a proportioning batch volume that includes an amount of the first fluid and an amount of the second fluid, and wherein each proportioning batch volume is a fraction of the volume of the dispensed batch, whereby the dispensed batch comprises at least one said proportioning batch volume and the ratio of the first and second fluids in the dispensed batch equals the predetermined mix ratio. - View Dependent Claims (19)
Specification