Pumping system with precise ratio output
AssigneePumptec, Inc.
InventorJames E. Cook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A precision pumping system is disclosed. The pumping system includes an electric motor assembly powering a first drive shaft driving a first pump at a first flow rate and powering a second drive shaft driving a second pump at a second flow rate. A proportioned fluid output includes a first fluid pumped by the first pump and a second fluid pumped by the second pump. The pumping system provides a desired ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid at the proportioned fluid output, relatively independently of pressure and flow rate at the output.
Claims25
A system for pumping a first fluid and a second fluid in a desired proportion, the system comprising:
- an electric motor assembly having a first drive shaft and a second drive shaft, wherein during operation, the electric motor assembly drives the first drive shaft at a first rotational rate and the second drive shaft at a second rotational rate;
- a first pump driven at a first rate by the first drive shaft;
- and
- a second pump driven at a second rate by the second drive shaft.
A system for pumping a first fluid and a second fluid in a desired proportion, the system comprising:
- a first pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a first container for holding a quantity of the first fluid, and an outlet;
- a second pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a second container for holding a quantity of the second fluid, and an outlet;
- an electric motor assembly for driving the first pump at a first cycling rate and the second pump at a second cycling rate;
- and
- wherein the outlet of the first pump and the outlet of the second pump are in fluid communication with an outlet of the system through respective check valves to prevent backflow.
A system for pumping a first fluid and a second fluid in a desired proportion, the system comprising:
- a first pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a first container for holding a quantity of the first fluid, and an outlet;
- a second pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a second container for holding a quantity of the second fluid, and an outlet, wherein the outlet of the first pump and the outlet of the second pump are in fluid communication with a first stage outlet;
- an electric motor assembly for driving the first pump at a first cycling rate and the second pump at a second cycling rate;
- a third pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the second container, and an outlet;
- and
- a fourth pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the first stage outlet, and an outlet, wherein the outlet of the third pump and the outlet of the fourth pump are in fluid communication with a second stage outlet, wherein the third pump is driven at a third cycling rate and the fourth pump is driven at a fourth cycling rate.
A method of combining a first fluid with a second fluid into a mixture of accurate predetermined proportions of the first fluid and the second fluid, the method comprising:
- pumping the first fluid through a first fixed displacement pump at a first flow rate, the first fixed displacement pump having a first displacement;
- pumping the second fluid through a second fixed displacement pump at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate, the second fixed displacement pump having a second displacement;
- and
- mixing the first fluid with the second fluid in a proportioned output downstream of the first fixed displacement pump and downstream of the second fixed displacement pump;
A method of providing an accurately proportioned liquid mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid to an applicator, the method comprising:
- providing a first pump having a first displacement;
- providing a second pump having a second displacement;
- actuating the first pump at a first cyclic rate by a motor, the first pump pumping the first liquid at a first fluid flow rate;
- actuating the second pump at a second cyclic rate by the motor, the second pump pumping the second liquid at a second fluid flow rate;
- the first pump pumping the first liquid to a first fluid output line when the pressure of the first liquid being pumped from the first pump is less than a first threshold pressure, and the first pump pumping the first liquid to a first fluid bypass line when the pressure of the first liquid being pumped from the first pump is more than the first threshold pressure;
- the second pump pumping the second liquid to a first fluid output line when the pressure of the second liquid being pumped from the second pump is less than a second threshold pressure, and the second pump pumping the second liquid to a second fluid bypass line when the pressure of the second liquid being pumped from the second pump is more than the second threshold pressure;
- and
- mixing the first liquid pumped from the first pump through the first fluid output line with the second liquid pumped from the second pump through the second output line in a proportioned output, the proportioned output having a desired ratio of the first liquid to the second liquid, wherein the proportioned output is in fluid communication with the applicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.