Sludge flow measuring system
AssigneeSchwing America, Inc.
InventorsEdward A. Oakley, Harry K. Crow, Thomas M. Anderson, Richard T. Atherton, Berthold A. Fehn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for the transport of high solids sludge includes a positive displacement pump for pumping sludge through a pipeline. The volume of sludge transported is accurately measured by determining the fill percentage during pumping cycle.
Claims31
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement sludge pump having an inlet for receiving sludge material and an outlet at which sludge material is delivered under pressure, the sludge material received at the inlet being partially compressible such that a reduction in volume of the sludge material occurs during a pumping cycle as it is pumped from the inlet to the outlet, the method comprising:
- sensing a parameter related to operation of the pump which bears a known relationship to an actual volume of sludge material delivered during a pumping cycle;
- determining, from the parameter sensed, an output value;
- and
- providing an output signal as a function of the output value.
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder sludge pump, the method comprising:
- sensing a fill percentage of the cylinder based upon when sludge material, which contains solids, liquids, and gases and which is partially compressible, begins to flow out of the cylinder during each pumping stroke of the pump after piston movement begins;
- and
- determining an output value based on the fill percentage of the cylinder when sludge material begins to flow out of the cylinder after piston movement begins;
- and
- providing an output signal as a function of the output value.
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder sludge pump which receives a sludge material at a pump inlet and delivers the sludge material at a pump outlet, the method comprising:
- sensing when the sludge material, which contains solids, liquids, and gases and which is partially compressible, begins to flow out of the cylinder to the pump outlet after piston movement begins;
- determining an output value based on when sludge material begins to flow out of the cylinder after piston movement begins;
- and
- providing an output signal as a function of the output value.
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder sludge pump receives sludge material at a pump inlet and delivers the sludge material at a pump outlet, the method comprising:
- measuring time intervals from start of the pumping stroke to a moment when sludge material, which contains solids, liquids, and gases and which is partially compressible, begins to flow from the cylinder at a time following the beginning of the piston movement during the pumping stroke;
- measuring time intervals from a moment when sludge material begins to flow from the cylinder at a time following the beginning of the piston movement during the pumping stroke to the end of the pumping stroke;
- calculating an output value based upon the measured time intervals;
- and
- providing an output signal as a function of the output value.
A pump system for pumping sludge material, the pump system comprising:
- a positive displacement pump which includes:
- an inlet for receiving sludge material which contains solids, liquids, and gases and which is partially compressible such that a reduction in volume of sludge material occurs when sludge material is placed under pressure in the pump system;
- an outlet at which sludge material is delivered under pressure;
- a cylinder;
- a piston movable in the cylinder;
- hydraulic drive means for moving the piston reciprocatively through a cycle which includes a pumping stroke and a filling stroke;
- and
- valve means for connecting the cylinder to the outlet during the pumping stroke and connecting the cylinder to the inlet during the filling stroke;
- means for providing a signal which indicates when sludge material begins to flow from the cylinder at a time following the beginning of the piston movement during the pumping stroke;
- means for determining an output value based upon the signal;
- and
- means for providing an output signal as a function of the output value.
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder sludge pump having a inlet for receiving sludge material and an outlet at which sludge material is delivered, the sludge material received at the inlet being partially compressible such that a reduction in volume of the sludge material occurs during each pumping stroke, the method comprising:
- sensing when, during pumping strokes of the pump, the sludge material begins to flow out of the cylinder after piston movement begins;
- and
- determining an output value based on when, during the pumping stroke, sludge begins to flow out of the cylinder after piston movement begins;
- and
- providing an output signal as a function of the output value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.