Fluid flow monitor and control system

• US 7,970,558 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compressor Products International LLC (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Coltec Industrial Products LLC (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roys, Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge; Charles R
• Application Number:
  US12/759,468
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 700/281, 700/282, 700/283, 137/2, 137/151, 702/45, 702/55, 702/46, 702/100, 73/11.6, 73/17.3, 73/530.4, 731/49, 738/61, 184/1.5, 184/6.1, 184/6.4, 184/7.4, 184/108, 377/21
• US Class Current: 702/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means

Abstract

A method for monitoring a signal from a cycle switch mounted to a lubrication divider block system. The method comprises receiving a signal from a remotely located cycle switch that is mounted to a divider block, wherein the cycle switch is responsive to the motion of a piston in the divider block. The number of cycles of the cycle switch are counted based on the signal from the cycle switch. The number of cycles is stored in a computer readable medium and the amount of lubricant used is calculated based on the number of cycles. The amount of lubricant used is then stored in the computer readable storage medium.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a signal from a cycle switch mounted to a divider block system, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a remotely located fluid flow sensor mounted to a divider block system, the signal being responsive to a motion of a piston of the divider block system, the motion detected by a cycle switch of the fluid flow sensor;

counting a number of cycles of the cycle switch based on the signal;

storing the number of cycles in a computer-readable storage medium;

calculating an amount of lubricant used based on the number of cycles; and

storing the amount of lubricant used in the computer-readable storage medium.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting fluid flow information stored in the computer-readable storage medium to a second computer-readable storage medium.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow information is transmitted to the second computer-readable storage medium via a wired electrical connection.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the fluid flow information is transmitted to the second computer-readable storage medium via a wireless connection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting an alarm signal in response to the amount of lubricant used satisfying a predetermined alarm condition.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an indication of fluid flow information based on the signal received from the fluid flow sensor.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying an amount of lubricant dispensed per day.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying an amount of under-lubrication or over-lubrication.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a total run time of the divider block system since a previous reset and a total amount of lubricant dispensed.

10. A method for monitoring a signal from a cycle switch mounted to a divider block system, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a remotely located fluid flow sensor mounted to a divider block system, the signal being responsive to a cycle switch of the fluid flow sensor;

counting a number of cycles of the cycle switch based on the signal;

storing the number of cycles in a computer-readable storage medium;

calculating an amount of lubricant used based on the number of cycles;

storing the amount of lubricant used in the computer-readable storage medium;

determining an amount of time that has elapsed since the most recent signal was received;

determining whether the amount of time exceeds a predetermined threshold;

in response to determining that the amount of time exceeds the predetermined threshold;

outputting an alarm signal indicative of an inadequate lubrication flow event; and

logging the event in the computer-readable storage medium.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is further responsive to a motion of a piston of the divider block system, the motion being detected by the cycle switch of the fluid flow sensor.

12. An apparatus for monitoring fluid flow from a divider block system, the apparatus comprising:

a first housing;

a microcontroller disposed within the first housing;

a computer-readable storage medium disposed within the first housing, the computer-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for;

receiving a signal from a fluid flow sensor mounted to a divider block system,

the signal being responsive to a motion of a piston of the divider block system, the motion detected by a cycle switch of the fluid flow sensor,

the fluid flow sensor including a second housing that is separate and distinct from the first housing;

counting a number of cycles of the cycle switch based on the signal;

storing the number of cycles in the computer-readable storage medium;

calculating an amount of lubricant used based on the number of cycles; and

storing the amount of lubricant used in the computer-readable storage medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising computer instructions for transmitting fluid flow information stored in the computer-readable storage medium to a second computer-readable storage medium.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer instructions include instructions for transmitting fluid flow information to the second computer-readable storage medium over a wired electrical connection.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer instructions include instructions for transmitting fluid flow information to the second computer-readable storage medium over a wireless connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer instructions include instructions for outputting an alarm signal in response to the amount of lubricant used satisfying a predetermined alarm condition.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a battery electrically disposed within the apparatus to supply electric power to the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising computer instructions for displaying an amount of lubricant dispensed per day.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising computer instructions for displaying an amount of under-lubrication or over-lubrication.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an input for allowing a user to enter commands.

21. An apparatus for monitoring fluid flow from a divider block system, the apparatus comprising:

a first housing;

a microcontroller disposed within the first housing;

a computer-readable storage medium disposed within the first housing, the computer-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for;

receiving a signal from a fluid flow sensor mounted to a divider block system,

the signal being responsive to a cycle switch of the fluid flow sensor,

the fluid flow sensor including a second housing that is separate and distinct from the first housing;

counting a number of cycles of the cycle switch based on the signal;

storing the number of cycles in the computer-readable storage medium;

calculating an amount of lubricant used based on the number of cycles;

storing the amount of lubricant used in the computer-readable storage medium;

determining an amount of time that has elapsed since the most recent signal was received;

determining whether the amount of time exceeds a predetermined threshold;

in response to determining that the amount of time exceeds the predetermined threshold;

outputting an alarm signal indicative of an inadequate lubrication flow event; and

logging the event in the computer-readable storage medium.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the signal is further responsive to a motion of a piston of the divider block system, the motion being detected by the cycle switch of the fluid flow sensor.