US 4,265,266 A · Controlled additive metering system · patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A transportable frame includes a plurality of liquid material storage tanks and dry material storage bins mounted thereon. There are smaller liquid material storage tanks and larger liquid material storage tanks. The metering system for the larger liquid material storage tanks has a flow rate range varying from a low end to a high end. The metering system for the smaller liquid material storage tanks has a second flow rate range varying from a low end to a high end. The low end of the second range is lower than the low end of the first range, and the high end of the second range is between the low and high ends of the first range. There are also larger and smaller dry material storage bins with similarly sized metering systems for the dry material storage bins. The dry material storage bins are partially supported from the transportable frame by load cells which are mounted on extendable hydraulic cylinders. The system also includes apparatus for controlling the storage and metering of the additives within the tanks and bins. This apparatus includes an element which determines how much additive is being discharged from an additive storage tank and an element for sensing how much of a primary substance is being discharged from a primary substance container. Based on the operation of these two elements, a third element controls the amount of additive discharged. This third element includes a microprocessor which controls the metering based on inputs from load cells, flowmeters, and manual data entry members of which the additive determining and primary substance sensing elements and the control element are comprised.

Claims55

Dependent claims

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first solid phase material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second solid phase material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
and
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
wherein said first metering means includes:
metering bin means for receiving said first material from said first storage means;
and
conveyor means, controlled by said controlling means, for discharging said first material from said first metering bin means at said controlled flow rate within said first range of flow rates.

11 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first solid phase material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second solid phase material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
a first flexible connecting means for connecting said first storage means to said first metering means;
and
a second flexible connecting means for connecting said first metering means to a discharge conduit means.

9 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first solid phase material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second solid phase material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
a discharge conduit means for receiving said first and second materials from said first and second metering means and conveying said first and second materials to a common discharge point for blending with said primary substance;
and
blower means for supplying a pressurized gas to said discharge conduit means to carry said first and second materials through said discharge conduit means.

9 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first solid phase material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second solid phase material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
and
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
wherein said first metering means includes:
a metering bin means for receiving said first material from said first storage means;
a hydraulically powered screw conveyor means, controlled by said controlling means, for discharging said first material from said metering bin means at said controlled rate within said first range of flow rates;
and
a hydraulically powered air lock means, controlled by said controlling means, connecting said screw conveyor to a discharge conduit, for allowing passage of said first material therethrough while preventing an internal pressure within said discharge conduit from being communicated to said screw conveyor means.

12 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first solid phase material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second solid phase material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
and
a transportable frame having ground engaging means for allowing said frame to traverse a ground surface, said first and second storage means and said first and second metering means being mounted upon said frame for transport therewith.

8 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
and
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second material, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means, said material determining means including means for detecting the weight of a first portion of said first material and for generating a first electrical signal proportional to the detected weight;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means.

7 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
and
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
wherein said material determining means includes:
means for monitoring the volumetric flow rate of said first material and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the monitored flow rate;
means for converting the electrical signal into a digitally-coded format;
and
means for retaining the digitally-coded signal for acquisition by said controlling means.

12 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
and
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
wherein said primary substance sensing means includes:
means for generating a first electrical signal proportional to the flow rate of the sensed primary substance;
means for simulating a flow rate of the primary substance and for generating a second electrical signal proportional to the simulated flow rate;
and
means for switchably communicating said first electrical signal generating means and said simulating and generating means with said controlling means.

12 more elements

A material storage and metering system, comprising:

first storage means for storing a first material;
first metering means for transferring said first material from said first storage means at a controlled flow rate within a first range of flow rates for blending with a flowing primary substance, said first range being defined with a low end and a high end;
second storage means, for storing a second material;
second metering means for transferring said second material from said second storage means at a controlled flow rate within a second range of flow rates for blending with said flowing primary substance, said second range being defined by a low end and a high end, said high end of said second range being at least substantially as great as said low end of said first range;
and
control station means, responsive to the flow rates of said first and second materials, and to a flow rate of said primary substance, for providing the controlled flow rates of said first and second materials, said control station means including:
material determining means for determining the amounts of said first material and said second material being discharged from said first storage means and said second storage means;
primary substance sensing means for sensing the amount of said primary substance being discharged from a primary substance container;
and
controlling means, responsive to said material determining means and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling the amounts of said first and second materials being discharged from said first and second storage means;
wherein said controlling means includes:
means for comparing the amount of discharged first material with a predetermined reference value;
and
means, responsive to said comparing means, for creating an error signal when the discharged amounts do not favorably compare with the predetermined reference value.

11 more elements

A controlled additive metering system, comprising:

a frame;
a plurality of solid phase additive containers located on said frame, each of said solid phase additive containers having a solid phase additive stored therein;
a plurality of liquid additive containers loaded on said frame, each of said liquid additive containers having a liquid additive stored therein;
a primary substance container having a primary substance stored therein, which primary substance is for mixing with the solid phase and liquid additives;
means for discharging each solid phase additive from each of said solid phase additive containers;
means for discharging each liquid additive from each of said liquid additive containers;
means for discharging the primary substance from said primary substance container;
means for determining the amount of solid phase additive being discharged from each of said solid phase additive containers;
means for determining the amount of liquid additive being discharged from each of the liquid additive containers;
means for sensing the amount of primary substance being discharged from the primary substance container;
and
means, responsive to said solid phase additive determining means, said liquid additive determining means, and said primary substance sensing means, for controlling said solid phase additive and liquid additive discharge means so that the quantity of the solid phase and liquid additives mixed with the primary substance is thereby metered.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.