Device for transmitting measured values

• US 7,991,586 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KSB AG (Ksb Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: KSB AG (Ksb Stiftung)
• Inventors: Silovic, Marjan, Gontermann, Daniel, Kollmar, Dirk, Keller, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Khuu; Cindy Hien-Dieu
• Application Number:
  US12/268,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183, 702/115
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass

Abstract

A device for transmitting measured values having a sensor module including miniaturized components and an evaluation unit, in which the sensor module has connections for different sensors, one or more sensors are connected to the sensor module, and the sensor detect operating states of a centrifugal pump arrangement including a pump and a drive motor as measured values. The sensor module is connected to a power supply and processes the measured values. Sensors that are connected to the sensor module are identified. The sensor module is constructed as a signal transmitter with a standardized output signal, an integrated evaluation unit, which has a microcomputer, and a display. The evaluation unit processes the measured values from the sensors and displays measured values and/or calculated variables on the display.

Claims

1. A device for transmitting measured values comprising:

different sensors for sensor connections, said sensors detecting, as measured values, an operating state of a centrifugal pump arrangement to which the sensors are connected and comprising a pump and a drive motor;

a sensor module including a signal transmitter, with a standardized output signal, comprising said sensor connections, an integrated evaluation unit having a microcomputer for processing the measured values, and a display; and

a power supply to which said signal transmitter is connected;

wherein the different sensors either emit identification signals that are identified by the signal transmitter or are connectable to individual coded plug-in connections to provide for identification of the sensors by sensor type and measurement range; and

wherein the integrated evaluation unit receives the measured values from the sensors, processes the measured values received from the sensors, and displays the measured values or calculated variables on the display.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measured values or calculated variables are displayed in a cyclically alternating manner.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter includes a memory apparatus containing stored technical data for the pump, the drive motor, or both;

and wherein the microcomputer calculates and evaluates operating data and operating states of the centrifugal pump arrangement based on the measured values and the stored technical data.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said memory apparatus stores rating data for the pump, rating data for the drive motor, hydraulic characteristic curves, or regulating or diagnostic algorithms for the centrifugal pump arrangement.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stored technical data for the centrifugal pump arrangement is available to an external device for automatic parameterization of the external device, for display, or for further processing by the external device.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the standardized output signal is a 4 to 20 mA current loop signal and provides the signal transmitter with power.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the different sensors comprise at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an intake pressure sensor, a final pressure sensor, and a pump differential pressure sensor.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are connected to the signal transmitter by a bus connection.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a memory apparatus which stores operating data and operating states determined during operation of the centrifugal pump arrangement.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the memory apparatus stores propagation time values, numbers of centrifugal pump starts, and load profile values for predefined periods of time.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an output for stored data for the centrifugal pump arrangement.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensor connections also functions as an output of the memory apparatus.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection to an external device.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said connection to an external device is effected without lines using a mobile transmission element.

15. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said connection to an external device is effected manually through a connecting line.

16. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the external device is connected via a data bus to an output for the standardized output signal of the signal transmitter.

17. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the external device is a drive, control, a pump or motor regulator, a pump or motor monitor, or a pump or motor diagnostic device.

18. A method for transmitting measured values of a centrifugal pump arrangement comprising a pump and a drive motor using a signal transmitter with a standardized output signal, said signal transmitter comprising a sensor module and an integrated evaluation unit having a microcomputer and a display, said sensor module having connections for different sensors that are connectable to the sensor module, sensors connected to the sensor module being provided with identification means, said method comprising:

detecting an operating state of the centrifugal pump arrangement with the sensors as measured values;

connecting the sensors to the signal transmitter by individual coded plug-in connections or emitting an identification signal that is identified by the signal transmitter;

identifying the sensors by the identification means which identify the sensors by sensor type and measurement range;

automatically processing the measured values from the sensors in the integrated evaluation unit; and

displaying the measured values or at least one value of a variable calculated from measured values on the display.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display displays measured values and/or calculated variables in a cyclically alternating manner.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the microcomputer calculates, evaluates and stores operating data or operating states of the centrifugal pump arrangement based on the measured values and on stored technical data for the pump, the drive motor, or both the pump and the drive motor.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stored operating data or operating states are selected from the group consisting of propagation time values, numbers of centrifugal pump starts and load profile values determined and stored over predefined periods of time.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stored technical data are read out via an output.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stored technical data are exchanged with an external device without lines using a mobile transmission element.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the external device accesses the stored technical data for the centrifugal pump arrangement for automatically parameterizing the external device, or for displaying the data, or for further processing the data.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the mobile transmission element of said stored technical data is activated by setting up a connection to the signal transmitter by means of a reset or of trigger switches.

26. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the stored technical data are exchanged with an external device via a manually attached connecting line.