Positive displacement pump controller and method of operation
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorBryan K. Colby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Non-limiting exemplary embodiments of a pumping system and methods for operating the pumping system in a region of high pressure or a region of high flow are disclosed. The pumping system includes a piston disposed within a piston cylinder, a drive shaft, an eccentric coupled to the drive shaft, a connecting arm having opposing first and second ends, and a controller for controlling the rotation of the drive shaft such that the piston oscillates within a region of high pressure or a region of high flow.
Claims21
A pumping system, comprising:
- a piston disposed within a piston cylinder;
- a drive shaft;
- an eccentric coupled to the drive shaft;
- a connecting arm comprising opposing first and second ends, wherein
- the first end of the connecting arm and the piston are coupled to each other;
- and
- the second end of the connecting arm and the eccentric are coupled to each other;
- and
- a controller for controlling the rotation of the drive shaft such that the eccentric oscillates the piston within one of:
- a first high pressure region (between HP1 and HP3);
- a second high pressure region (between HP4 and HP6);
- a first high flow region (between HF1 and HF3);
- and
- a second high flow region (between HF4 and HF6).
A pumping system, comprising:
- a piston disposed within a piston cylinder;
- a drive shaft;
- an eccentric coupled to the drive shaft;
- a connecting arm comprising opposing first and second ends, wherein
- the first end of the connecting arm and the piston are coupled to each other;
- and
- the second end of the connecting arm and the eccentric are coupled to each other;
- and
- a controller for controlling the rotation of the drive shaft such that the eccentric oscillates the piston within one of:
- a region of maximum relative mechanical advantage;
- and
- a region of minimum relative mechanical advantage.
A method of operating a pumping system in a region of high pressure, wherein:
- the pumping system comprises:
- a piston disposed within a piston cylinder;
- a drive shaft;
- an eccentric coupled to the drive shaft;
- a connecting arm comprising opposing first and second ends, wherein
- the first end of the connecting arm and the piston are coupled to each other;
- and
- the second end of the connecting arm and the eccentric are coupled to each other;
- and
- the method comprises the step of oscillating a rotation of the drive shaft in opposing directions by:
- rotating the drive shaft in a first direction whereby a torque and a rotational speed of the drive shaft increase;
- limiting the rotational speed of the drive shaft to a pre-set minimum speed as the torque approaches a pre-set upper limit;
- rotating the drive shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- limiting the rotational speed of the drive shaft to the pre-set minimum speed as the torque approaches the pre-set upper limit.
A method of operating a pumping system in a region of high flow, wherein:
- the pumping system comprises:
- a piston disposed within a piston cylinder (130);
- a drive shaft;
- an eccentric coupled to the drive shaft;
- a connecting arm comprising opposing first and second ends, wherein
- the first end of the connecting arm and the piston are coupled to each other;
- and
- the second end of the connecting arm and the eccentric are coupled to each other;
- and
- the method comprises the step of oscillating a rotation of the drive shaft in opposing directions by:
- rotating the drive shaft in a first direction whereby a torque and a rotational speed of the drive shaft increase;
- limiting the rotational speed of the drive shaft to a pre-set maximum speed as the torque approaches a pre-set lower limit;
- rotating the drive shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- limiting the rotational speed of the drive shaft to the pre-set maximum speed as the torque approaches the pre-set lower limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.