Pumps – Condition responsive control of drive transmission or pump... – Having condition responsive pumped fluid control
Utility Patent
1999-10-28
2001-01-02
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Condition responsive control of drive transmission or pump...
Having condition responsive pumped fluid control
C417S063000, C417S047000, C417S416000, C324S207160
Utility Patent
active
06168387
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to active feedback devices for air motors and more particularly for reciprocating pumps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reciprocating pumps are typically utilized to transfer a high viscosity material typically grease or the like from a container such as a drum or barrel to an object of interest which may be a car chassis for example. Such pumps are typically oriented vertically during operation and include a drive motor located outside the container on the container lid, and a reciprocating member operatively connected to the motor to be driven by the motor in a pump chamber. The reciprocating member is placed inside the container and is immersed in the material to be transferred.
During operation of a conventional reciprocating pump, a primer element attached to the reciprocating member is moved with the reciprocating member along a linear axis. The primer element is displaced along the linear axis in a first direction, toward the bottom of the material to be transferred, and is then displaced in a second direction, opposite the first direction, toward the surface of the material to be transferred. As the primer element is displaced in the second direction, it acts like a shovel and pulls the medium into the pump.
Various factors including the dynamics of the fluid being pumped affect the rate of reciprocation of the reciprocating rod. In the case of more viscous fluids, for a given air supply pressure, the reciprocating rod will be caused to reciprocate more slowly thus reducing the output rate of the pump. In attempting to compensate for inequalities between the desired output and the actual output of the pump, passive control systems have been used to measure the pump output and perform some function to increase or decrease the rate of reciprocation of the reciprocating rod. One problem with conventional reciprocating pumps having such passive control systems is that they are not readily controllable except by the introduction of external flow measuring devices which add to the complexity and expense of the pump.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present reciprocating pumps. Thus it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly an alternative reciprocating pump having active feedback monitoring is provided including the features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, reciprocating pumps having active feedback systems are provided. In a first embodiment, the reciprocating pump includes a reciprocating pump having a housing including a pump chamber. The pump chamber has a rod which is reciprocally movable along a longitudinal axis of the pump chamber and comprises a ferromagnetic material. An induction coil disposed around the rod wherein relative axial movement between the inductance coil and the ferromagnetic material of the rod varies the inductance of the induction coil.
In a second embodiment, a reciprocating pump is provided having an active feedback system in which the rod has an electrically conductive, diametrically tapered portion. A linear displacement sensor is disposed next to the tapered portion which induces a current in the tapered portion and generates an output voltage proportional to a relative position between the linear displacement sensor and the tapered portion.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawing figures.
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Able Stephen D.
Meloche Joseph L.
Schroeder Gordon M.
Evora Robert Z.
Freay Charles G.
Ingersoll-Rand Company
Nigohosian, Jr. Leon
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