Transfer tube material flow management
AssigneeSchwing America, Inc.
InventorThomas M. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for the transport of high solids materials such as concrete includes a positive displacement pump, a pipeline connected to the pump and a valve in the pipeline located downstream from the pump for preventing material flow through the pipeline when the valve is in a closed position. The valve is closed at the end of each pumping stroke to prevent material flow through the pipeline. The pressure of material on the pump side of the valve is sensed. During a subsequent pumping stroke, the valve is opened when sufficient pressure exists on the pump side of the valve to ensure that material will flow in a positive direction through the pipeline.
Claims25
A method of controlling the operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder material pump and pipeline system having an inlet for receiving material during each filling stroke, an outlet at which material is delivered to a pipeline during each pumping stroke, and a valve in the pipeline located downstream from the pump for preventing material flow through the pipeline when the valve is in a closed position, the method comprising:
- closing the valve at an end of each pumping stroke to prevent material flow through the pipeline towards the pump;
- sensing pressure of the material in the pipeline on an up stream side of the valve;
- and
- opening the valve during a subsequent pumping stroke when sufficient pressure exists in the pipeline on the up stream side of the valve to ensure that material will flow in a positive direction through the pipeline.
A pump system for pumping a material, the pump system comprising:
- a positive displacement piston/cylinder material pump for pumping material through a pump outlet during each pumping stroke;
- a pipeline connected to the pump outlet for receiving material from the pump;
- a valve in the pipeline located downstream from the pump for preventing material flow through the pipeline when the valve is in a closed position;
- means for closing the valve at an end of a first pumping stroke to prevent material flow through the pipeline past the valve;
- means for sensing pressure of the material on an upstream side of the valve;
- means for determining when during a second pumping stroke the sensed pressure on the upstream side of the valve is sufficient to ensure that material will flow in a positive direction through the pipeline, the means for determining providing a first signal when the pressure is sufficient;
- and
- means for opening the valve in response to the first signal.
A pump system for pumping a material, the pump system comprising:
- a positive displacement pump which includes:
- an inlet;
- an outlet;
- a first cylinder;
- a first piston movable in the first cylinder;
- first hydraulic drive means for moving the first piston reciprocatively through cycles which include a pumping stroke and a filling stroke;
- and
- first valve means for connecting the first cylinder to the outlet during pumping strokes and connecting the first cylinder to the inlet during filling strokes;
- a first outlet pipe section connected to the outlet for receiving material from the positive displacement pump;
- a second outlet pipe section connected to the first outlet pipe section for receiving material from the first outlet pipe section;
- second valve means for selectively closing to prevent material flow between the first and second outlet pipe sections and selectively opening to allow material flow between the first and second outlet pipe sections;
- means for sensing pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section;
- means for storing a first pressure value dependant upon the sensed pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section at an end of a first pumping stroke;
- means for closing the second valve means at the end of the first pumping stroke to prevent material flow between the first and second outlet pipe sections;
- means for comparing the sensed pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section during a second pumping stroke to the first pressure value;
- and
- means for opening the second valve means during the second pumping stroke when the pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section and the first pressure value have a predetermined relationship.
A pump system for pumping a material, the pump system comprising:
- a positive displacement pump which includes:
- an inlet;
- an outlet;
- a first cylinder;
- a first piston movable in the first cylinder;
- first hydraulic drive means for moving the first piston reciprocatively through cycles which include a pumping stroke and a filling stroke;
- and
- first valve means for connecting the first cylinder to the outlet during pumping strokes and connecting the first cylinder to the inlet during filling strokes;
- a first outlet pipe section connected to the outlet for receiving material from the positive displacement pump;
- a second outlet pipe section connected to the first outlet pipe section for receiving material from the first outlet pipe section;
- second valve means for selectively closing to prevent material flow between the first and second outlet pipe sections and selectively opening to allow material flow between the first and second outlet pipe sections;
- means for sensing pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section;
- means for sensing pressure of the material in the second outlet pipe section;
- means for closing the second valve means at an end of a first pumping stroke to prevent material flow between the first and second outlet pipe sections;
- means for comparing the sensed pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section during a second pumping stroke to the sensed pressure of the material in the second outlet pipe section during the second pumping stroke;
- and
- means for opening the second valve means during the second pumping stroke when the pressure of the material in the first outlet pipe section and the pressure of the material in the second outlet pipe section have a predetermined relationship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.