Pressure monitor optimization of fluid path utilization
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring pressure in a fluid system comprising:
- a pressure monitor for placement in communication with a fluid in said fluid system, said pressure monitor generating a signal representative of a measured pressure; and
a control means for receiving said signal representative of said measured pressure and comparing said measured pressure to a reference,wherein said pressure monitor and said control means are placed in communication with a fluid system,wherein said fluid system comprises;
at least one fluid path section having a first end and a second end;
at least one fluid connection means having a plurality of ports for interconnection and responsive to a connect command signal to assume a first position wherein fluid flows between at least two of said ports and responsive to a disconnect command signal to assume a second position in which fluid does not flow between any of said plurality of ports, at least one port connected to said first end for forming a fluid system configuration; and
a controllable pressure source connected to said second end and responsive to a pressure command signal to create a source pressure on fluid in said fluid system,wherein said at least one fluid connection means has at least one first port and a second port, said at least one first port connected to a first fluid path section and said second port connected to a second fluid path section,wherein said control means is a source of said pressure command signal, andwherein said control means is a source of said connect command signal and said disconnect command signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device comprising a pressure monitor and a control means that receives a signal representing measured pressure at the pressure monitor and controls the controllable elements of a fluid system is utilized to monitor a fluid system for error conditions, to optimize operations and to diagnose the fluid system. By following a testing protocol that selectively enables parts of the system, the control means narrows the list of possible failing components. Comparing the measured pressure against normal pressures allows the device to identify error conditions. Determining the volume of fluid being transported and controlling the duration of the flow optimizes operation of the fluid system.
18 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring pressure in a fluid system comprising:
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a pressure monitor for placement in communication with a fluid in said fluid system, said pressure monitor generating a signal representative of a measured pressure; and a control means for receiving said signal representative of said measured pressure and comparing said measured pressure to a reference, wherein said pressure monitor and said control means are placed in communication with a fluid system, wherein said fluid system comprises; at least one fluid path section having a first end and a second end; at least one fluid connection means having a plurality of ports for interconnection and responsive to a connect command signal to assume a first position wherein fluid flows between at least two of said ports and responsive to a disconnect command signal to assume a second position in which fluid does not flow between any of said plurality of ports, at least one port connected to said first end for forming a fluid system configuration; and a controllable pressure source connected to said second end and responsive to a pressure command signal to create a source pressure on fluid in said fluid system, wherein said at least one fluid connection means has at least one first port and a second port, said at least one first port connected to a first fluid path section and said second port connected to a second fluid path section, wherein said control means is a source of said pressure command signal, and wherein said control means is a source of said connect command signal and said disconnect command signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for monitoring pressure in a fluid system comprising:
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a pressure monitor for placement in communication with a fluid in said fluid system, said pressure monitor generating a signal representative of a measured pressure; and a control means for receiving said signal representative of said measured pressure and comparing said measured pressure to a reference, wherein said pressure monitor and said control means are placed in communication with a fluid system, and wherein said fluid system comprises; a monitored fluid path section having a first end and a second end; and a first and second fluid subsystem each fluid subsystem comprising at least one fluid path section having a section first end and a section second end, at least one fluid connection means having a plurality of ports for interconnection and responsive to a connect command signal to assume a first position wherein fluid flows between at least two of said ports and responsive to a disconnect command signal to assume a second position in which fluid does not flow between any of said plurality of ports, at least one port connected to said at least one section first end for forming said fluid subsystem and a controllable pressure source connected to said at least one section second end, said controllable pressure source responsive to a pressure command signal to create a source pressure on fluid in said fluid subsystem, said first fluid subsystem connected to said first end of said monitored fluid path section and said second fluid subsystem connected to said second end of said monitored fluid path section, said pressure monitor in communication with said monitored fluid path section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for monitoring pressure in a fluid system comprising:
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a pressure monitor for placement in communication with a fluid in said fluid system, said pressure monitor generating a signal representative of a measured pressure; and a control means for receiving said signal representative of said measured pressure and comparing said measured pressure to a reference, wherein said pressure monitor and said control means are placed in communication with a fluid system, wherein said fluid system comprises; at least one fluid path section having a first end and a second end; at least one fluid connection means having a plurality of ports for interconnection and responsive to a connect command signal to assume a first position wherein fluid flows between at least two of said ports and responsive to a disconnect command signal to assume a second position in which fluid does not flow between any of said plurality of ports, at least one port connected to said first end for forming a fluid system configuration; and a controllable pressure source connected to said second end and responsive to a pressure command signal to create a source pressure on fluid in said fluid system, and wherein said fluid system has been calibrated yielding a viscosity calibration factor, one said fluid path section is in communication with said pressure monitor and said control means receives a measured pressure signal in response to movement of fluid in said fluid system to calculate a viscosity of said fluid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of monitoring pressure in a fluid system comprised of (i) at least one fluid path section having a first end and a second end, (ii) at least one controllable pressure source connected to said first end of at least one fluid path section and responsive to a pressure command signal to create a source pressure in said at least one fluid path section, and (iii) a multiport valve having a plurality of ports for interconnecting with said at least one controllable pressure source and said at least one fluid path section, said multiport valve being capable of assuming at least a first position wherein fluid flows between at least two of said plurality of ports in response to a connect command signal and a second position in which no fluid flows in response to a disconnect command signal, said fluid connection means connected to an end of said fluid path section, said method comprising:
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providing a device comprising; a pressure monitor for placement in communication with a fluid in said fluid system, said pressure monitor generating a signal representative of a measured pressure; a control means for receiving said signal representative of said measured pressure and for sending signals to said fluid system; placing said pressure monitor in communication with a fluid in said at least one fluid path section; issuing a pressure command signal from said control means to one of said controllable pressure sources to generate said source pressure in said at least one fluid path section; and comparing said measured pressure to a reference to identify errors in said fluid system; providing said control means with a library having entries comprising sets of command signals and sets of normal pressure values; issuing the command signals of an entry from said control means; comparing said measured pressures to said normal pressure values; and reporting differences that exceed a preset threshold. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification