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US 5,004,400 AGranted
Automatic rate matching system
AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorWayne A. Handke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic rate matching system is provided such that the delivery of bulk material is matched with the quantity of bulk material required by a process. An optical probe is used which determines the depth of material delivered into a hopper, prior to its retrieval for use in the process. The probe and associated electronic components output a signal to a CPU which then varies the speed of a belt conveyor based upon the depth of material. As the material depth decreases, belt speed is increased. Conversely, as material depth increases, belt speed is decreased. Therefore, the delivery rate of bulk material is matched to the quantity required in a process by varying the speed of the conveyor belt, based upon the depth of material in the hopper.
Claims9
A method of controlling the delivery of bulk material into a vessel from which delivered bulk material moves, comprising steps of:
- (a) generating a control signal for controlling the speed of a means for delivering bulk material to the vessel at an adjustable rate between a minimum rate and a maximum rate;
- (b) designating a direction of change in the level of bulk material in the vessel;
- (c) generating, in response to the level of bulk material in the vessel, output signals from a plurality of sensors disposed in the vessel;
- (d) determining, in response to the output signals, the highest sensor detecting the presence of bulk material in the vessel;
- and
- (e) controlling the control signal in response to the highest sensor determined to be detecting the presence of bulk material in the vessel, including:
- (i) in response to said highest sensor being above a mid-range of the sensors, changing the control signal so that the speed of the means for delivering is decreased a predetermined amount;
- (ii) in response to said highest sensor being within an upper region of the mid-range of the sensors, changing the control signal to a calculated average control signal in response to a designated increasing level of bulk material in the vessel and maintaining the control signal as is in response to a designated decreasing level of bulk material in the vessel;
- (iii) in response to said highest sensor being within a lower region of the mid-range of the sensors, changing the control signal to a calculated average control signal in response to a designated decreasing level of bulk material in the vessel and maintaining the control signal as is in response to a designated increasing level of bulk material in the vessel;
- and
- (iv) in response to said highest sensor being below the mid-range of the sensors, changing the control signal so that the speed of the means for delivering is increased a predetermined amount.
8 more elements
A method of controlling the delivery of bulk material into a vessel from which delivered bulk material moves, comprising steps of:
- (a) generating a control signal for controlling the speed of a means for delivering bulk material to the vessel at an adjustable rate;
- (b) designating a direction of change in the level of bulk material in the vessel;
- (c) generating, in response to the level of bulk material in the vessel, output signals from seven sensors spaced vertically in the vessel so that a first sensor is the lowest and a seventh sensor is the highest of said seven sensors with the remaining second through sixth sensors being disposed in numerical order therebetween;
- (d) determining, in response to the output signals, the highest sensor detecting the presence of bulk material in the vessel;
- and
- (e) controlling the control signal in response to the highest sensor determined to be detecting the presence of bulk material in the vessel, including:
- (i) in response to said determined highest sensor being the seventh sensor, changing the control signal so that the means for delivery is stopped;
- (ii) in response to said determined highest sensor being the sixth sensor, changing the control signal so that the speed of the means for delivering is decreased by a first predetermined decrement;
- (iii) in response to said determined highest sensor being the fifth sensor, changing the control signal so that the speed of the means for delivering is decreased by a second predetermined decrement, the second predetermined decrement smaller than the first predetermined decrement;
- (iv) in response to said determined highest sensor being the fourth sensor, changing the control signal to an average control signal in response to the direction of change in the level of bulk material in the vessel being designated as increasing and maintaining the control signal as is in response to the directions of change in the level of bulk material in the vessel being designated as decreasing;
- (v) in response to said determined highest sensor being the third sensor, changing the control signal to an average control signal in response to the direction of change in the level of bulk material in the vessel being designated as decreasing and maintaining the control signal as is in response to the direction of change in the level of bulk material in the vessel being designated as increasing;
- (vi) in response to said determined highest sensor being the second sensor, changing the control signal so that the speed of the means for delivering is increased by a predetermined increment;
- and
- (vii) in response to said determined highest sensor being the first sensor, changing the control signal so that the speed of the means for delivering is at a maximum.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.