System for monitoring concrete pumping systems
OwnerJulio Vasquezinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for monitoring a dual cylinder concrete pumping apparatus and a transition valve operated by an actuator. The system including position sensors to detect the position of pistons in the dual cylinders and the actuator. Additional sensors can monitor various aspects of the concrete pumping apparatus. A processor receives information from the sensors and transmits data to a monitor. When sensor data is outside of predetermined parameters, the processor sends an alert notice and a performance snapshot of the system to the monitor.
Claims21
In a pumping system for slurries, the system having a filling chamber for said slurry, the chamber having first and second inlets and an outlet, a first piston cylinder assembly being connected to said first inlet and having a first piston, a first cylinder, and a first piston terminal position, a second piston cylinder assembly connected to said second inlet and having a second piston, a second cylinder, and a second piston terminal position, a valve having a valve element mounted in said chamber, said valve element having a passageway therethrough, said valve element being movable between a first position wherein said passageway is in register with said first inlet and said outlet, and a second position wherein said passageway is in register with said second inlet and said outlet, an actuator operatively connected to said valve to move said valve element between said first and second positions, wherein when said first piston cylinder assembly is drawing said slurry into said first cylinder, said valve element is in said second position, and when said first piston cylinder assembly is pumping slurry through said valve element, said valve element is in said first position, an improvement comprising a monitoring system operatively connected to said pumping system, said monitoring system comprising:
- a first position sensor for determining when said first piston is in said first piston terminal position and generating a first signal;
- a second position sensor for determining when said second piston is in said second piston terminal position and generating a second signal;
- a third position sensor for determining when said actuator has moved said valve element to said first position and generating a third signal;
- and
- a fourth position sensor for determining when said actuator has moved said valve element to said second position and generating a fourth signal;
- a processor for receiving said first, second, third, and fourth signals, said processor determining if said signals are generated within a predetermined time window of one another and, if any of said signals are outside said predetermined time window, said processor generating an alert and a report;
- a monitor operative to receive said report and display it to an end user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.