Method of controlling the flow rate of the liquid by controlling operation of the pump
AssigneeUsc, L.L.C.
InventorsTimothy A. Craft, Daniel M. Tramp, Lynn E. Strahm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Integrated, stand-alone, multiple-purpose pump stands are provided for controlled pumping of different liquids from a stand-mounted tank to a downstream use location, e.g., a seed treating device. The pump stands are equipped with an operating assembly including a liquid tank, a powered pump, a liquid flow line equipped with a flow meter from the tank and pump to the use location, and a programmable digital control device. During operation, the control device serves to approach and maintain the flow rate from the pump stand at or about a desired setpoint flow rate.
Claims12
A method of controlling the flow rate of a liquid from a liquid source to a use location where the liquid is expended, comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a desired set point flow rate for the liquid from the source;
- (b) pumping said liquid from said source towards said use location using a powered pump, and determining the flow rate of the pumped liquid from said pump;
- (c) controlling the operation of said powered pump using a controller device to pump the liquid at a flow rate at or about said set point flow rate, by periodically comparing said determined flow rate of the liquid from said source with said set point flow rate, and:
- (i) if the difference between said determined flow rate and the set point flow rate is at or above a first predetermined magnitude, operating said pump so as to alter the operation of the pump at a relatively high aggressive first correction rate, so that said determined flow rate approaches said set point flow rate at the aggressive first correction rate;
- (ii) if the difference between said determined flow rate and the set point flow rate is at or above a second predetermined magnitude but below said first predetermined magnitude, operating said pump so as to alter the operation of the pump at a relatively low moderate second correction rate lower than said first correction rate, so that the determined flow rate approaches said set point flow rate at the moderate second correction rate;
- and
- (iii) continuing said controlling steps (c)(i) and (c)(ii) throughout the flow of liquid from said liquid source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.