Lockout system for metering pump
AssigneeBlue-White Industries, Ltd.
InventorsRobert E. Gledhill, III, John T. Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lockout system for a metering pump is provided. The lockout system can include a user interface that is used to switch the pump between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the operation of the pump cannot be adjusted through the user interface. In the unlocked configuration, the operation of the pump can be adjusted through the user interface. The lockout system can include a passkey notice that provides information regarding how to use the user interface to switch the pump between the locked and unlocked configurations.
Claims16
A metering pump comprising:
- a pump motor;
- a user interface comprising at least one user input station;
- and
- a control unit configured to receive an input signal from the at least one user input station, the control unit further configured to adjust an operational speed of the pump motor based on the input signal, wherein the control unit has a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein in the locked configuration the control unit maintains the operational speed of the pump motor in response to receiving the input signal, wherein in the unlocked configuration, the control unit adjusts the operational speed of the pump motor in response to receiving the input signal, wherein the control unit switches between the locked and unlocked configuration based on a lockout signal received from the user interface, wherein the control unit is configurable in at least one of the following ways (1) to sound an alarm when the pump motor is shut off while the control unit is in the locked configuration and (2) to perform a prime function whether the control unit is in the locked or unlocked configuration.
A method of restricting access to a control panel of a metering pump, the method comprising:
- receiving a user input signal from a user interface;
- determining the user input signal is a lockout access code;
- and
- switching the metering pump between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration based on a receipt of the lockout access code, wherein in the locked configuration an operational parameter of the metering pump is maintained in response to the user input signal, and wherein in the unlocked configuration, the operational parameter is adjusted in response to the user input signal, and at least one of the following (1) sounding an alarm when the pump is shut off while in the locked configuration and (2) performing a prime function when in the locked or unlocked configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.