EP1342921A1

EP1342921A1 - Pump with integral flow sensor

Info

Publication number: EP1342921A1
Application number: EP02004980A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Domenico Antonacci
Original assignee: Ergon Srl
Current assignee: COFINUR
Priority date: 2002-03-05
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2003-09-10

Abstract

An apparatus for pumping and for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, in particular but not exclusively fuels, lubricants, oils, comprises a pump (10) with a pump body (14), which contains an impeller (17), a motor (15) that operates the impeller (17), a sensor (13) for measuring the fluid flow rate, a control box (1) containing a control unit associated to a display (2). In operation, the fluid enters body (14) of pump (10), through inlet (11) and is conveyed by the impeller (17) towards the outlet (12), where the fluid crosses a sensor (13), located in a housing made near outlet (12). This sensor (13) produces a signal, analogic or digital, proportional to the amount of fluid pumped, that is sent to a computer (1) located above motor (15).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a pump for liquids in which the amount of fluid pumped has to be measured.
In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a pumping apparatus liquid lubricants (oil) or fuels (diesel oil etc.) in which the amount of fluid pumped has to be measured.

Background of the invention.

Different types of pumps are known in the market that are installed upstream of mechanical and/or electronic flow rate counters. Normally such flow rate counters can be mounted in line on the duct near the pump or the dispenser gun.
Presently, the pumps used for fluids with medium-high viscosity, such as lubricants and fuels for vehicles, are either of gear, positive displacement, liquid ring, centrifugal type pumps, etc.
Such types of pumps require usually a accurate control of the fluid flow rate pumped.
In particular, in the petrol pumps the fluid flow rate supplied must be measured with precision for avoiding billing errors that would affect either the user or of the owner of the petrol pump.
To this purpose, then, it is necessary associate to the pump a flow rate counter at the delivery of the pump or of the dispenser gun.
Furthermore such fuel pumping systems are subject, during their use, to critical conditions of temperature and pressure. Therefore, for avoiding damages to the pump and the fuel delivery duct, is necessary a fixed control both of the pressure and of the temperature in order to stop in good time or to start again the delivery of the fuel.
Even if, in the field of water pumps systems of control exist for turning on and off the pump responsive to the flow rate, however these systems not provide means for measuring the flow rate, but only a detection of the pressure and of the presence of the water.
Therefore, in the case problems, due to an excess or a lack of fluid in the pump or in the duct, it is necessary to stop manually the delivery of fluid and then to intervene near the place of operation.
Furthermore in order in any case to provide a system for pumping, controlling and displaying the flow rate, several components must be assembled in series, that have to be compatible to each other, and this would be time consuming and expensive.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid pumping apparatus that is capable of measuring the fluid flow rate with at least the same precision of the known systems but with much less costs.
It is another object of the present invention, to provide a fluid pumping and flow rate measuring apparatus that allows to reduce remarkably the time of installation with respect to the known systems.
It is a further object of the present invention, to provide a fluid pumping and flow rate measuring apparatus that is not much bulky.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a fluid pumping and flow rate measuring apparatus that can be used for fuels, oils, lubricants, and that has the above described advantages with respect to the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the invention a fluid pumping and flow rate measuring apparatus comprises:

a hydraulic unit comprising a pump body and an impeller, that sucks and pumps the fluid towards the outside;
a motor that drives the impeller by means of a rotating shaft; comprising further:

a sensor, for measuring the fluid flow rate, integrated in the pump body, said sensor and said body creating together a pump unit;
an electronic circuit of detection and/or drive and/or control of the operation of all the pump unit.

In particular, the part of the pump body that is located near the delivery outlet of the fluid houses said sensor that detects the passage of the fluid and transmits a signal (analogic or digital) proportional to the amount of fluid pumped. The signal sent from the flow rate sensor is acquired by the electronic circuit located in the motor, is computed and displayed or sent to another remote device, as a measure of the delivered litres of fluid.
Advantageously, in addition to the sensor for measuring the fluid flow rate, the device is equipped with at least a sensor for detecting the pressure in the pump body. The data recorded by this sensor are computed by the electronic circuit which, being operatively connected to means for turning the pump on or off, turns the pump on or off, depending on critical pressure conditions.
Furthermore the apparatus can be equipped also with at least a temperature control sensor. Therefore, all the sensors are integrated in the pump and operated by electronic boards connected to each other, and mounted in the pump, on a control console or other remote device.
Advantageously, the fluid pumping and flow rate measuring apparatus, according to the present invention, detects the amount of fluid that exits from the pump, without being influenced by possible looping of fluid, bypasses etc..
Preferably, the flow rate value, recorded by the sensor, can be displayed directly on a display monitor arranged on the pump.
Alternatively, the flow rate value can be transmitted to an external unit through a remote connection (net of personal computer, RS-232 interface, etc.) and displayed on the monitor of a personal computer, of a client computer etc. This solution is preferable if the pump has to be located in a place where an operator is not present.
Advantageously, a system is provided for stopping the pump when a predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and the advantages of the apparatus according to the invention will be made clearer with the following description of an embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative with reference to attached drawings wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fluid pumping and flow rate measuring apparatus according to the invention;
figure 2 shows a cross section of the device of figure 1 in a plane according to arrows II-II;
figure 3 shows a cross section of the device of figure 1 in a plane according to arrows III-III.
figure 4 shows an elevational front view of the device of figure 1, from above the suction opening of the impeller;
figure 5 shows a cross section of the device of figure 4 according to arrows V-V;
figure 6 shows the device of figure 1 in a perspective partially cross sectional view, for highlighting the sensor that measures the fluid flow rate.

Description of the preferred embodiment

With reference to figures 1 and 6, an apparatus 10 for pumping and for measuring the flow rate of a fluid, in particular but not exclusively fuels, lubricants, oils, according to the invention, comprises a pump 10 with a fixed part or pump body 14, which contains a rotating part 17 usually called impeller, a motor 15 that operates impeller 17, a sensor 13 for measuring the fluid flow rate, a control box 1 containing a control unit associated to a display 2.
As shown also in figures 2, 3, 4, 5, pump body 14 has an inlet 11, or suction inlet, and an outlet, or delivery, 12 located tangentially to the impeller. A motor 15, by means of an armature 16 on whose axis the impeller 17 is keyed, brings the latter into rotation.
In operation, the fluid enters body 14 of pump 10, through inlet 11 and is conveyed by the centrifugal force received by impeller 17 towards outlet 12, for being delivered in the delivery duct. At delivery outlet 12, the fluid crosses sensor 13, located in a housing made near outlet 12. This sensor 13 produces a signal, analogic or digital, proportional to the amount of fluid pumped, that is sent to a computer 1 located above motor 15.
In particular, with reference to figure 2, the sensor 13 is a wheel with two magnets 23 that send pulses to a proximity sensor 24, that are counted by control unit 1 and displayed on display 2.
As shown in figures 1 and 6, the control unit 1 is provided with a plurality of buttons 3, 3', 4, and 4' that allow to set device 10. In particular, through buttons 3, 3', 4, and 4' an operator can choose displaying on display 2 the values of the partial/total fluid flow rate, or can cancel the count of the delivered litres of fluid, or can also set the functions of control of the pump or of other external apparatus.
As shown in figure 6, the hydraulic part, at the delivery outlet provides the addition of a housing for sensor 13. This integration allows to reduce substantially the size and the costs of the unit pump-flow-counter, with considerable reduction of time of installation.
Notwithstanding the apparatus is suitable to pump oil or fuel, its principles and operation can be adapted to a desired other type of fluid, comprising water, without particular problems for a man of the art.
The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

Pumping apparatus for a fluid comprising:
- a hydraulic unit with a pump body and an impeller, that sucks and pumps the fluid towards the outside;

- a motor that drives the impeller by means of a rotating shaft;
characterised in that it comprises:
- a sensor, for measuring the fluid flow rate, integrated in the pump body, said sensor and said body creating together a pump unit;

- a electronic unit of detection and/or drive and/or control of the operation of all the pump unit.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the part of the pump unit that is located near the delivery outlet of the fluid houses a sensor that detects the passage of the fluid and transmits a signal proportional to the amount of fluid pumped.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sensor comprises an wheel having at least a magnet that gives pulses to a proximity detector.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said wheel is arranged in said pump unit and said proximity detector is arranged in said electronic unit.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said proximity detector delivers said pulses to a circuit located in said electronic unit that displays on a display monitor, or on another remote device, values of measure of the delivered litres of fluid.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least a sensor is provided for detecting the pressure in the pump body.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the values measured by said pressure sensor are computed by said electronic unit, the latter being operatively connected to means for turning the pump on or off, which stop the pump in case of conditions of critical pressure.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least a temperature control sensor is provided.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the value of delivered litres of fluid, recorded by said sensor, can be displayed directly on a display monitor arranged on the pump.
Pumping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flow rate value is transmitted to an external unit through a remote connection, chosen among network of personal computer, RS-232 interface, and displayed on a client monitor.