Flow calculation system

• US 6,789,024 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc. (Emecole Metro, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc. (Emecole Metro, LLC)
• Inventors: Kochan, John R. Jr., Belehradek, Anton Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US09/714,385
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 702/45, 702/142, 738/612.3, 738/162.5, 738/610.3, 738/61, 731/95, 738/614.3, 738/612.7, 340/10.42, 340/5.62, 340/5.9
• US Class Current: 702/45
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/001 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence

Abstract

A microprocessor based flow meter establishes a series of pump on and off time intervals. Using previously entered flow rate information, the meter establishes quantities of flow during each pumping cycle or totals for predetermined time intervals such as days or weeks. Quantities of flow can be displayed on a per cycle basis or can be accumulated based on predetermined elapsed time intervals such as days or weeks.

Claims

1. A flow meter comprising:

control circuitry;

circuitry for storing a manually settable fluid flow rate parameter, coupled to the control circuitry;

time interval determination circuitry coupled to the control circuitry wherein in response to a received time interval defining signal, the determination circuitry establishes an indicium corresponding to the respective time interval and wherein the control circuitry combines the stored flow rate parameter with the indicium to establish a quantity of fluid delivered during the interval.

2. A flow meter as in claim 1 wherein the control circuitry includes a processor for executing a pre-stored flow determining program.

3. A flow meter as in claim 2 wherein the flow determining program is retained in the circuitry for storing.

4. A flow meter as in claim 2 wherein the program includes instructions for storing the established quantity of fluid.

5. A flow meter as in claim 4 which includes a visual display and instructions for presenting a visual representation of the established quantity of fluid on the display.

6. A flow meter as in claim 1 which includes an input device for entry of at least one parameter.

7. A flow meter as in claim 1 which includes an input device selected from a class which includes a keypad, and an input receiving display.

8. A flow meter as in claim 1 which includes instructions for carrying out a pre-stored fluid delivery schedule.

9. A flow meter as in claim 8 which includes an input device coupled to the control circuitry and instructions for entry and storage of a fluid delivery schedule.

10. A flow meter as in claim 9 wherein the schedule comprises sequences for producing a plurality of timed fluid delivery output signals.

11. A flow meter as in claim 2 which includes instructions for delivery of a selective additive, in accordance with a predefined schedule, to the fluid.

12. A flow meter as in claim 11 which includes instructions for entry and storage of an additive delivery schedule.

13. A flow meter as in claim 12 which includes an input device coupled to the control circuitry and instructions for entry and storage of a fluid delivery schedule.

14. A flow meter as in claim 1 which includes a source of electrical energy.

15. A flow meter as in claim 14 wherein the source comprises an AC/DC power supply.

16. A flow meter as in claim 14 wherein the source comprises a replaceable battery.

17. A flow meter as in claim 1 which includes an input port for receipt of a signal indicative of a depth of fluid in storage.

18. A flow meter as in claim 1 which includes an audible output device.

19. A flow meter as in claim 18 which includes an input port for receipt of a signal indicative of a depth of fluid in storage and instructions for actuating the audible output device in response thereto.

20. A self-contained flow meter comprising:

a housing;

energy receiving prongs carried by the housing;

a power supply with an input coupled to the prongs;

circuitry, coupled to the power supply, wherein the circuitry stores an expected flow rate parameter and at least one flow delivery interval;

circuitry for multiplying the parameter and the interval to establish a quantity of fluid delivered during the interval; and

a display device for visually presenting the quantity of fluid delivered.

21. A meter as in claim 20 which includes an input port for receipt of a flow delivery interval defining signal.

22. A meter as in claim 20 which includes at least one pre-stored additive supplying sequence.

23. A meter as in claim 22 which generates at least one additive supplying output signal in response to the additive supplying sequence.

24. A meter as in claim 20 which includes circuitry for entering at least one flow delivery command sequence.

25. A meter as in claim 24 with circuitry for executing the flow delivery command sequence.

26. A meter as in claim 20 wherein the circuitry includes a processor programmed with pre-stored instructions and a non-volatile memory unit for storing the flow rate parameter.

27. A meter as in claim 20 which includes a user operable input device.

28. A meter as in claim 27 which includes executable instructions for receiving the flow rate parameter from the input device and for storing the parameter.

29. A meter as in claim 28 which includes an input port for receipt of a flow delivery interval defining signal.

30. A meter as in claim 29 which includes executable instructions responsive to an interval start signal form the port to initiate the flow delivery interval and responsive to an interval end signal to terminate the interval and store it.

31. A meter as in claim 30 which includes executable instructions for storing a plurality of fluid delivery intervals.

32. A meter as in claim 30 which includes executable instructions for displaying a plurality of fluid quantities delivered during respective delivery intervals.

33. A flow meter comprising:

a manually operable input device for enabling a user to enter an expected flow rate parameter; and

control circuitry, coupled to the input device, for receipt of pump on/off signals indicative of one or more time intervals during which fluid is being pumped, and instructions, executable by the control circuitry for estimating a quantity of pumped fluid based on only the expected flow rate parameter and the one or more time intervals.

34. A meter as in claim 33 which includes instructions, executable by the control circuitry, for producing additive supply output signals in response to one of a time interval during which fluid has been pumped, or, an estimated quantity of fluid having been pumped.

35. A meter as in claim 33 wherein the control circuitry includes executable instructions enabling a user to program a fluid delivery schedule during a predetermined time interval, and in response to a previously entered flow rate parameter an estimated delivered quantity of fluid can be established for an executed delivery schedule.

36. A meter as in claim 35 which includes instructions for manually establishing a plurality of different fluid delivery schedules and for estimating fluid delivery for each based on one or more previously manually entered flow rates.

37. A meter as in claim 33 which includes instructions for arithmetically combining the expected flow rate parameter and the one or more time intervals.

38. An estimating device comprising a programmed processor executable instructions for receiving and storing one or more estimated fluid flow rates, circuitry, coupled to the processor for receiving pump operating time interval signals and additional executable instructions for combining the estimated flow rates with the sensed pump operating time intervals to produce an estimated quantity of delivered fluid.

39. A device as in claim 38 which includes circuitry to deliver a quantity of an additive to an estimated volume of delivered fluid based upon the received estimated flow rates.