# US 10,503,177 B2 · Additive delivery system with sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,177 B2 - Document ID: US10503177B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/668,021 - Filed: 2017-08-03 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-03 - Assignees: Safe Harbor Associates LLC - Applicants: Safe Harbor Associates LLC - Inventors: Robert B. Cregger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503177B2 ## CPC - G05D 7/0629: {characterised by the type of regulator means} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05D 11/131: {by measuring the values related to the quantity of the individual components (G05D11/139 takes precedence)} - G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract An additive management system is disclosed. The system includes an additive selection system, which selects an additive for dispensing into a working fluid. The system also includes an additive dispensing system having a fluid sensing chamber with sensors. The system also includes an additive delivery system, which delivers the selected additive to the additive dispensing system, and a processor which causes the fluid sensing chamber to receive a sample of the working fluid, receives measurement signals from the one or more fluid parameter sensors corresponding with the values of fluid parameters of the working fluid, and determines values for fluid parameters of the working fluid based on the measurement signals. The processor also causes the additive delivery system to deliver the selected additive to the additive dispensing system and causes the additive dispensing system to dispense the selected additive into the working fluid through the fluid sensing chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An additive management system, comprising: an additive selection system, configured to select one of a plurality of additives for dispensing into a working fluid; an additive dispensing system, comprising a housing, and a sensing head moveably located within the housing, the sensing head comprising a sensing head top and a sensing head bottom, a fluid parameter sensor mounted on one of the sensing head top and the sensing head bottom, and at least one nozzle located in the other of the sensing head top and the sensing head bottom, the nozzle aimed at the fluid parameter sensor, wherein the housing and the sensing head together define a fluid sensing chamber; an additive delivery system, configured to deliver the selected additive to the additive dispensing system; and a processor configured to cause a portion of the sensing head to extend beyond the housing to thereby open the sensing chamber to cause the fluid sensing chamber to receive a sample of the working fluid and to cause a portion of the sensing head to retract into the housing to thereby close the sensing chamber, to receive working fluid measurement signals from the fluid parameter sensor corresponding with values of fluid parameters of the working fluid in the sensing chamber, and to determine one or more values for one or more fluid parameters of the working fluid based on the received working fluid measurement signals, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the additive delivery system to deliver the selected additive to the additive dispensing system and to cause the additive dispensing system to dispense the selected additive into the working fluid through the fluid sensing chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The additive management system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an additive for dispensing into the working fluid based on the one or more values for the one or more fluid parameters of the working fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The additive management system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the additive selection system to select the determined additive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The additive management system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause the fluid sensing chamber to receive the selected additive, to receive additive measurement signals from the fluid parameter sensor corresponding with the values of fluid parameters of the selected additive, and to determine one or more values for one or more fluid parameters of the selected additive based on the received additive measurement signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The additive management system of claim 4, further comprising an extraction tube configured to extract the selected additive from the fluid sensing chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The additive management system of claim 4, wherein the nozzle is configured to clean the fluid parameter sensor with a cleaning fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The additive management system of claim 1, further comprising a level sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a level of the working fluid based on a level signal from the level sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The additive management system of claim 1, wherein the fluid parameters include one or more of pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved gas, and redox. ### Claim 9 A method of operating an additive management system, the additive management system comprising: an additive selection system, configured to select one of a plurality of additives for dispensing into a working fluid, an additive dispensing system, comprising a housing, and a sensing head moveably located within the housing, the sensing head comprising a sensing head top and a sensing head bottom, a fluid parameter sensor mounted on one of the sensing head top and the sensing head bottom, and at least one nozzle on the other of the sensing head top and the sensing head bottom, the nozzle aimed at the fluid parameter sensor, wherein the housing and the sensing head together define a fluid sensing chamber, and an additive delivery system, configured to deliver the selected additive to the additive dispensing system, the method comprising: causing a portion of the sensing head to extend beyond the housing to thereby open the sensing chamber and receive a sample of the working fluid; causing the portion of the sensing head to retract into the housing to thereby close the sensing chamber; and determining one or more values for one or more fluid parameters of the working fluid in the sensing chamber based on signals from the fluid parameter sensor; selecting an additive for dispensing into the working fluid based on the one or more values for the one or more fluid parameters of the working fluid; causing the additive dispensing system to dispense the selected additive into the working fluid through the fluid sensing chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: causing the fluid sensing chamber to receive the selected additive; receiving additive measurement signals from the fluid parameter sensor corresponding with the values of fluid parameters of the selected additive; and determining one or more values for one or more fluid parameters of the selected additive based on the received additive measurement signals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, extracting the selected additive from the fluid sensing chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising spraying a cleaning fluid on the fluid parameter sensor with the nozzle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: delivering a calibration fluid to the fluid sensing chamber; and determining one or more values for one or more fluid parameters of the calibration fluid based on signals from the fluid parameter sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a level of the working fluid based on a level signal from a level sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid parameters include one or more of pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved gas, and redox. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the method is performed periodically. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein causing the portion of the sensing head to extend beyond the housing fluidly connects the fluid sensing chamber with the working fluid.