System and method for multi-component mixture control
AssigneeEPIC Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Arnold Wilkens, Timothy John Marthe, Justin D. Almen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for controlling the mixing ratio of a multi-component mixture including a first pump connectable to a source of a first component and a second pump connectable to a source of a second component. The first and second pump being associated with at least one linear sensor for generating an output indicative of actual pump speed or shaft displacement of the pump. The system further includes a control circuit operative to utilize the output of the linear sensor of one of the pumps to generate a control signal for controlling the output of the other pump.
Claims20
A system for controlling the mixing ratio of a multi-component mixture, comprising:
- a first hydraulic pump connectable to a hydraulic fluid source and being operative to pump a first component between a first component source and a mixing chamber;
- a second hydraulic pump connectable to the hydraulic fluid source and being operative to pump a second component between a second component source and the mixing chamber;
- a first sensor associated with a shaft of the first pump for generating a first output indicative of a velocity of the first pump;
- a second sensor associated with a shaft of the second pump for generating a second output indicative of a velocity of the second pump;
- a control circuit operative to:
- calculate a first velocity of the first pump and a second velocity of the second pump by averaging a plurality of first pump velocities and a plurality of second pump velocities obtained over a predetermined time window, respectively, wherein said first pump velocities and said second pump velocities are determined from the first and second outputs of the first and second sensors;
- and
- generate a velocity adjustment signal for controlling the speed of the second pump;
- and
- a flow-control valve disposed between said second hydraulic pump and said hydraulic fluid source, wherein said valve receives said velocity adjustment signal and adjusts in response to said velocity adjustment signal to control a rate of flow of hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic fluid source to said second pump.
A system for controlling the mixing ratio of a multi-component mixture, comprising:
- a first pump connectable to a hydraulic fluid source and being operative to pump a first component between a first component source and a mixing chamber;
- a second pump connectable to the hydraulic fluid source and being operative to pump a second component between a second component source and the mixing chamber, wherein the first and second pumps are hydraulically actuated positive displacement pumps;
- a first linear sensor associated with a reciprocating shaft of the first pump for generating a first output indicative of an absolute location of the reciprocating shaft of the first pump;
- a second linear sensor associated with a reciprocating shaft of the second pump for generating a second output indicative of an absolute location of the reciprocating shaft of the second pump;
- a control circuit operative to utilize the first and second outputs of the first and second linear sensors to generate a velocity adjustment signal for controlling the speed of the second pump;
- and
- a flow-control valve disposed between said second pump and said hydraulic fluid source, wherein said flow-control valve receives said velocity adjustment signal and adjusts in response to said velocity adjustment signal to control a rate of flow of hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic fluid source to said second pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.