Product dispensing system
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsRussell H. Beavis, Benjamin W. Jones, Jr., John M. Kerwin, Larry B. Gray, Casey P. Manning, Felix Winkler, Robert A. Charles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducer assembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.
Claims14
A method for controlling flow of a fluid in a product dispensing device, the method comprising:
- flowing fluid in a fluid line;
- measuring the flow of the fluid to generate a flow feedback signal indicative of a volume of the fluid flowing within the fluid line;
- sending the flow feedback signal to a feedback controller system;
- receiving the flow feedback signal at the feedback controller system;
- in the feedback controller system, comparing the flow feedback signal to a desired flow volume of the fluid;
- using a feed forward controller in the feedback controller system to establish an initial value for a flow control value;
- generating a flow control signal related to the flow control value;
- sending the flow control signal to a variable impedance device in the fluid line;
- receiving the flow control signal at the variable impedance device;
- adjusting the variable impedance device based at least in part on the flow control signal.
A method for controlling flow of fluids in a product dispensing device, the method comprising:
- flowing a first fluid in a first fluid line;
- measuring the flow of the first fluid to generate a first flow feedback signal indicative of a volume of the first fluid flowing within the first fluid line;
- sending the first flow feedback signal to a feedback controller system;
- receiving the first flow feedback signal at the feedback controller system;
- in the feedback controller system, comparing the first flow feedback signal to a desired flow volume of the first fluid;
- using a feed forward controller in the feedback controller system to establish a first initial value for a first flow control value;
- generating a first flow control signal related to the first flow control value;
- sending the first flow control signal to a first variable impedance device in the first fluid line;
- receiving the first flow control signal at the first variable impedance device;
- adjusting the first variable impedance device based at least in part on the first flow control signal;
- flowing a second fluid in a second fluid line;
- measuring the flow of the second fluid to generate a second flow feedback signal indicative of a volume of the second fluid flowing within the second fluid line;
- sending the second flow feedback signal to the feedback controller system;
- receiving the second flow feedback signal at the feedback controller system;
- in the feedback controller system, comparing the second flow feedback signal to a desired flow volume of the second fluid;
- using the feed forward controller in the feedback controller system to establish a second initial value for a second flow control value;
- generating a second flow control signal related to the second flow control value;
- sending the second flow control signal to a second variable impedance device in the second fluid line;
- receiving the second flow control signal at the second variable impedance device;
- adjusting the second variable impedance device based at least in part on the second flow control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.