Liquid Level Responsive Control Of Displacement, Volumetric Capacity, Or Drive Transmission Patents (Class 417/211.5)
  • Patent number: 8708661
    Abstract: A compression device includes a controller to control an operating speed of a compressor based on a detected level of oil in an oil storage area. During a speed-change operation, the controller controls acceleration of the compressor to maintain the oil level within a predetermined range when the oil level is detected to be outside the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yunhi Lee, Jangwoo Lee, Seungjun Lee
  • Publication number: 20120312399
    Abstract: A dosing pump includes a dosing chamber (14), a suction channel (32) communicating with the dosing chamber (14) and a pressure channel (20) communicating with the dosing chamber (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GRUNDFOS MANAGEMENT A/S
    Inventors: Sergei Gerz, Jan Knedler, Andreas Kraus
  • Patent number: 8291761
    Abstract: A sensor system for sensing liquid level in a bilge, for use in automatic bilge pump actuation. First and second field effect sensors are potted or sealed within a container or the bilge wall and are aligned in a vertical array and each comprise a substantially planar pattern of “electrodes” or conductive traces disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) along with integrated circuits used to create a loop or arc-shaped electric field. As bilge liquid rises to the proximity or level of the field effect sensors, a change in the arc-shaped electric field is sensed and, in response, a bilge pump is automatically actuated to pump liquid out of the bilge. Optionally, the pump control can be programmed by use of a microprocessor to permit control of on-off timing and prevent undesirable effects of “sloshing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger D. Burdi, Bruce L. Reniger
  • Patent number: 8240241
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for hydraulic fluid supply between a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic drive unit, switching hydraulic fluid flow direction to the hydraulic drive unit or stopping hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic drive unit when measured hydraulic fluid pressure crosses a predetermined pressure threshold value. The method further comprises calculating an amount of mechanical work done by the hydraulic drive unit and warning an operator or limiting hydraulic fluid flow rate to the hydraulic drive unit when the calculated mechanical work for the drive cycle is less than an expected amount of mechanical work. The apparatus for practicing the method further includes a pressure sensor associated with a hydraulic fluid supply conduit between the pump and the drive unit, and an electronic controller programmed to operate the drive system according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Westport Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Batenburg
  • Publication number: 20110081256
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor fluid levels in a borehole. The system includes a pulse generator to generate a pulse of electromagnetic energy to propagate along the wellbore towards a surface of the fluid, a detector to detect a portion of the electromagnetic pulse reflected from the surface of the fluid and propagated along the wellbore towards the detector, a processor to analyze detected signals to determine a level of the surface of the fluid, and a pump controller to control the operation of a pump located in the wellbore based on the fluid surface level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: M. Clark Thompson, Charles H. Webb
  • Patent number: 7818094
    Abstract: A control system monitors salt level in a brine tank having a water inlet. The control system comprises a memory device storing an amount representing actual salt level in the brine tank. A sensor determines water level in the brine tank. A control valve is operatively connected between a water supply and the water inlet for controllably supplying water to the brine tank. A logic circuit is operatively connected to the memory device, the sensor and the control valve for determining salt level in the brine tank. The logic circuit periodically operates the control valve responsive to sensed water levels to fill the brine tank with water, updates the stored actual salt level in the memory device responsive to water supplied to the brine tank, and provides an indication when actual salt level in the brine tank falls below a select salt level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Bio-Microbics, Inc.
    Inventors: James Rambicourt, Stephen Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7637113
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a process fluid comprises a storage vessel, a process pump for pumping the process fluid from the storage vessel, a hydraulic drive system comprising a hydraulic drive unit operatively connected to drive the process pump, a pressure sensor for measuring hydraulic fluid pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic drive system, and, an electronic controller programmed to monitor a signal representative of hydraulic fluid pressure that is measured by the pressure sensor, process the signal to determine when the storage vessel is empty, and stop the process pump when the storage vessel is empty. The disclosed method relates to using the disclosed apparatus to measure hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic drive system, process measured hydraulic fluid pressure to determine when the storage vessel is empty, and stop the process pump when the storage vessel is empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Batenburg
  • Patent number: 7540718
    Abstract: A hermetic compressor comprises a hermetic container, an electric motor installed inside of the hermetic container, a compressing mechanism disposed within the hermetic container and driven by the electric motor, and an oil surface detector disposed to the compressing mechanism for detecting an oil surface of lubricating oil contained inside of the hermetic container. Here, the hermetic compressor is so constructed as to maintain a constant supply of the lubricating oil to the compressing mechanism by way of controlling operation in a manner to keep a surface level of the lubricating oil stable based on a detected result of the oil surface detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Funami, Katsunori Onobayashi
  • Publication number: 20080302109
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a process fluid comprises a storage vessel, a process pump for pumping the process fluid from the storage vessel, a hydraulic drive system comprising a hydraulic drive unit operatively connected to drive the process pump, a pressure sensor for measuring hydraulic fluid pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic drive system, and, an electronic controller programmed to monitor a signal representative of hydraulic fluid pressure that is measured by the pressure sensor, process the signal to determine when the storage vessel is empty, and stop the process pump when the storage vessel is empty. The disclosed method relates to using the disclosed apparatus to measure hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic drive system, process measured hydraulic fluid pressure to determine when the storage vessel is empty, and stop the process pump when the storage vessel is empty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Greg Batenburg
  • Publication number: 20080267791
    Abstract: A suction system comprising a suction pump (1) having at least one suction connection (2,2?,2?) and a delivery connection (3), a receiving reservoir (4) connected to the delivery connection (3), connecting pipings from a suction connection (2,2?) to a first space (7) from which a first fluid (8) should be sucked, and connecting pipings from the delivery connection (3) to the receiving reservoir (4), characterized in that the system further comprises a connecting piping (14,15,16) extending from a second space (10), from which a second fluid (11) should be sucked, to a suction connection (2,2?) of the pump (1), and comprises a device (12) disposed for causing an intermittent operation of the second fluid suction by the pump (1), responsive to the level reached by the second fluid (11) in the second space (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Leonardo Cadeddu, Christian Jezek
  • Patent number: 7175756
    Abstract: The device for treating working fluid includes a fluid level detecting device for detecting a fluid level of cleaned fluid in a cleaned fluid tank, and a control unit for determining an adjustment value for a discharge rate command for a filter device pump, based on the fluid level detected by the fluid level detecting device. The control unit operates to determine a renewed discharge rate command by adding the adjustment value thus determined to the present discharge rate command, and to output the renewed discharge rate command to a pump controller. The pump controller drives the filter device pump according to the discharge rate command to transfer the working fluid from the polluted fluid tank to the cleaned fluid tank through the filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Yushi Takayama
  • Patent number: 6453927
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for continuously dispensing precise quantities of a liquid from a dispenser holding tank into a receiving tank. A first elastic tube permits fluid flow between the holding tank and the receiving tank and a first peristaltic pump controls the flow rate of liquid through the first elastic tube. A second elastic tube permits fluid flow between the holding tank and the receiving tank and a second peristaltic pump controls the flow rate of liquid through the second elastic tube. The flow rates through the first and second elastic tubes are independently controlled. The flow rate through the first elastic tube is maintained generally constant and at a substantially greater rate than the flow rate of the second elastic tube. The flow rate in the second elastic tube is varied to maintain a desired total flow rate into the receiving tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Jason W. Peterson, F. John Mara