WO1996028711A1 - Appareil de mesure de passage de liquide - Google Patents

Appareil de mesure de passage de liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1996028711A1
WO1996028711A1 PCT/US1996/003327 US9603327W WO9628711A1 WO 1996028711 A1 WO1996028711 A1 WO 1996028711A1 US 9603327 W US9603327 W US 9603327W WO 9628711 A1 WO9628711 A1 WO 9628711A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
microcontroller
rotor
led
infrared light
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/003327
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert F. Parker
Christopher D. Bachmann
Peter S. Mischenko
Original Assignee
Elkay Manufacturing Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Elkay Manufacturing Company filed Critical Elkay Manufacturing Company
Priority to AU53080/96A priority Critical patent/AU5308096A/en
Publication of WO1996028711A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996028711A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/08—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred
    • B67D7/14—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/05—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects
    • G01F1/10—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with axial admission
    • G01F1/103—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with axial admission with radiation as transfer means to the indicating device, e.g. light transmission
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
    • G01F15/001—Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
    • G01F15/07—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism
    • G01F15/075—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism using electrically-operated integrating means
    • G01F15/0755—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism using electrically-operated integrating means involving digital counting

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a liquid flow monitor, and, more particularly, to a monitor which may be used in conjunction with a liquid dispenser utilizing a filter such that the user can be alerted when a predetermined volume of dispensed liquid had passed through the filter.
  • Liquid dispensers which utilize filters have many applications. For instance, fuel is commonly dispensed in systems employing filters to ensure no contaminants reach engine parts. A common system which dispenses a filtered liquid is a water purification system. The present invention is equally applicable to any such liquid filter systems.
  • the present invention provides an economical, accurate means for monitoring the volume of liquid dispensed through a filter.
  • the volume of filtered liquid is monitored, and an indication is made when the filter should be replaced.
  • the present invention may be used with various filters having a wide range of filtering capacities, and provides accurate liquid flow monitoring capability, while ensuring efficient, safe use of liquid filtering systems .
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide a device which monitors the accumulated volume of liquid discharged from a liquid dispensing system and indicates when a predetermined volume has been dispensed.
  • a filtering dispenser when the user is informed that a predetermined volume of liquid has been dispensed and, thus, has been filtered, he or she knows that the filter needs changing.
  • the present invention further allows the user to reset the flow monitor electronic volume memory to zero when a new filter is installed and allows the user to choose the amount of liquid to be dispensed ("the filter life volume") which will trigger the indicator.
  • the flow monitor device embodies three interrelated systems -- 1) a flow meter assembly which generates electronic impulses at a rate proportional to the liquid flow rate, 2) an electronic support system which counts the impulses and calculates volume dispensed based on the number of impulses counted and generates a signal when the predetermined volume has been dispensed, and 3) an output indicator assembly which receives and responds to the output signal generated by the electronic support system to indicate that the predetermined volume of liquid has been dispensed.
  • a liquid flow monitor which monitors the amount of liquid dispensed from a liquid dispenser.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid flow monitor which uses a filter and has an indicator light to inform the user that the filter needs changing when a predetermined volume of water has been filtered.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a versatile liquid flow monitor which allows a user to pre-select the amount of liquid to be dispensed before the indicator light indicates that the filter should be replaced.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an economical liquid flow monitor easily installed on or with many types of filtered liquid dispensers.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, user-friendly liquid flow monitor requiring minimal human intervention and providing accurate volume monitoring.
  • a liquid flow monitor is provided that achieves each of the above objects in a simple, economical device which can be easily installed in many liquid dispensers.
  • FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid flow monitor of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the liquid flow meter showing the overall flow meter housing and its constituent parts including the rotor;
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the rotor of the flow meter
  • FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the valve bearing of the flow meter of the preferred embodiment
  • FIGURE 5 is a side view of the lenses of the flow meter
  • FIGURE 6 is a front view of the lenses of the flow meter
  • FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred flow meter showing the flow meter housing, the infrared LED, the phototransistor receptor, the lenses, and the rotor in greater detail;
  • FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of the electronic control assembly.
  • FIGURES 9A to 9M are a flow chart showing the preferred microprocessor program.
  • the liquid flow monitor of the present invention includes three systems working in conjunction -- a flow meter, an electronic control system, and an output indicator system.
  • the flow meter includes a flow meter housing in fluid communication with a fluid source, an infrared LED and a phototransistor receptor connected to the housing, a rotor disposed within the flow meter housing adapted to rotate due to the force of the liquid flowing past the rotor and having an aperture transverse to the axis of rotation through which infrared light may pass from the infrared LED to the phototransistor receptor.
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET(RULE26 ⁇ flow meter further includes lenses for each of the infrared LED and the phototransistor receptor and wiring connecting the infrared LED and the phototransistor receptor to a power supply.
  • the electronic control system includes a printed circuit board including model PIC16C56 microprocessor made by Microchip, Inc., programmed as more fully disclosed below and including a power source, signal conditioning electronics, human input sensing ' electronics, and pulse memory electronics. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention employs the PIC16C56 microchip, it need not employ that microprocessor. Any equivalent known in the industry programmed as described below may be used.
  • the electronic control assembly further includes a standard EEPROM memory microchip type 93C06 made, for instance, by Microchip Technology, Inc. Any substantially equivalent EEPROM memory chip is suitable.
  • the output indicator includes 2 LED's.
  • One LED (“the Green LED”) is lit continuously when the system as a whole is functioning properly.
  • the other LED (“the Yellow LED”) lights only when the preselected volume of liquid has been dispensed. Once the dispensed volume reaches the preselected amount, the Yellow LED is activated. It remains lit until the system is reset such that the accumulated flow amount is less than the stored filter life value. Further, the Yellow LED indicator, once lit, flashes when water is being dispensed.
  • the electronic control system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention calculates and stores in memory the amount of liquid dispensed and indicates when the preselected volume has been dispensed.
  • the present invention achieves this through the
  • a liquid source is in fluid communication with the flow meter. When liquid is dispensed, liquid flows through the flow meter.
  • the preferred embodiment of the rotor is designed as having a substantially cylindrical body with a top and bottom being substantially conical to be hydrodynamic. Two diagonal grooves are cut m the body of the rotor such that the force of the fluid flowing past the rotor and through the grooves causes the rotor to rotate.
  • the rotor is opaque to infrared light except that it has a cylindrical hole through it transverse to its axis of rotation through which infrared light may pass.
  • an infrared LED mounted on one side of the flow meter housing is an infrared LED.
  • a phototransistor receptor mounted on directly the opposite side of the flow meter housing.
  • the infrared LED and the phototransistor receptor each has- a lens made from optically clear plastic material and forms a portion of the flow meter housing walls thus preventing fluid loss.
  • the clear plastic material allows transmission of infrared light energy with little attenuation.
  • the infrared light is directed through the lens of the LED such that it passes intermittently through the liquid and the hole in the rotor as the rotor rotates. When the rotor makes one complete revolution, infrared light passes through the hole in the rotor twice.
  • the phototransistor receptor thus receives two pulses of infrared light for each complete revolution of the rotor.
  • the pulses are converted by the phototransistor resistor to electronic signals which are received by the electronic control system.
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET(RULE25) electro: .c control system counts the pulses and stores the count in memory.
  • the microprocessor is programmed to convert the number of pulses into the corresponding volume of liquid dispensed.
  • the flow meter fluid conduit is designed such that l/7th of an ounce of liquid is dispensed for each complete revolution of the rotor.
  • the microprocessor will add for each pulse counted l/14th of an ounce to the value stored in memory corresponding to the amount of liquid which has been dispensed.
  • the dispensed liquid memory value is reset to zero and the filter life volume is entered into the microprocessor memory.
  • the microprocessor continually compares the volume of water actually dispensed to the filter life volume stored in memory. When the volume dispensed equals or exceeds the filter life volume, the microprocessor causes the Yellow LED to light. The Yellow LED will remain lighted until the liquid dispensed memory value is less than the filter life value. If the Yellow LED is lit and liquid is dispensed, the Yellow LED will flash twice per second. The flashing of the LED indicator further alerts the user that the filter has exceeded its intended maximum filtration capacity and should be replaced.
  • the electrical control system is programmed such that the user can preselect and store in memory the filter life volume.
  • the electrical control system includes a system "test" button.
  • the test button is of a type which is standard in the industry. Suitable devices include the Panasonic (Matsushita) P/N EVQ-PXR04K or the Omron P/N B3F- 4000.
  • the Green LED will flash five times in rapid succession to indicate that the electrical control system is m the programming mode.
  • the test button is pushed the appropriate number of times to correspond to the desired volume as shown m the table below.
  • the filter When in use, once the Yellow LED lights, the filter should be changed.
  • the electrical control system should be reset when the filter is replaced. Resetting the electrical control system resets the memory of the liquid volume actually dispensed to zero. The system is reset for a new filter by pressing the test button for
  • the predetermined filter life volume is preset at the factory to 1500 gallons.
  • the preferred embodiment also has a built-in loss-of-power protection in the microcontroller which is well known in the industry.
  • the loss-of-power protection device insures that if a loss of power occurs, the electrical control system maintains all stored and preset values and need not be reprogrammed when power is re-established.
  • plastic housing 5 of the flow meter provides for the mounting of the parts and the means of coupling to the water supply by means of integral tubing fittings (not shownj .
  • cavity 12 Within housing 5 is cavity 12 through which water flows.
  • Rotor device 20 which rotates as water passes through cavity 12.
  • Rotor 20 is opaque to infrared light except for aperture 22 which passes through rotor 20 perpendicular to path 42 (see FIGURE 8) of water flow.
  • Rotor 20 is caused to rotate by the liquid flow from the upstream end of rotor 20 to its down-stream end.
  • pressure is exerted obliquely upon the walls of each of two diagonally cut channels, or grooves, 24 which allow water to pass from one end of rotor 20 to the other. These forces cause rotor 20 to turn in the water stream.
  • Rotor 20 is supported at each end by a bearing 30.
  • One bearing 30' is molded into flow meter housing 5 at the downstream end, and another bearing 30" is inserted into housing wall 8 at installation at the upstream end.
  • the rotation of rotor 20 permits the intermittent transmission of infrared light energy between two ports 6, 7 on opposite sides of cavity 12.
  • One port 6 is fitted with infrared light-emitting diode
  • Suitable infrared LED's include the OPTEK
  • Suitable phototransistors include the OPTEK P/N OP506B, or the Quality
  • printed circuit board t assembly 50 provides all the needed logical functions for the system by means of a single chip microcontroller unit.
  • the firmware (see FIGURE 11) residing in the PIC 16C56 microprocessor (made by Microchip Technology, Inc., Chandler, AZ) microprocessor causes the microcontroller unit to provide the various input/output, timing, and control functions required by the system. Full details are presented below, but an explanation of the hardware is presented first.
  • the hardware consists of the following printed circuit board resident circuit blocks :
  • Controller reset and error detection circuits .
  • AC line power is supplied to a dual primary step-down transformer.
  • the primary of the transformer may be configured for world-wide power line voltages (110 volts to 230 volts) via jumper wires which may be added or removed to connect the Droper primary windings in series or parallel fashion.
  • the secondary of the transformer is connected to a full wave diode bridge supplying a capacitor input filter (CD .
  • Another diode (D5) is connected to one of the transformer secondary poles such that t forms a half wave rectifier circuit feeding capacitor C2. The use of this circuit will become clear later in this disclosure.
  • the full wave rectified voltage of Cl supplies current to resistors Rl and R2.
  • Rl provides dc current to the parallel combination of zener diode ⁇ 6 and capacitor C9.
  • This pair of components forms a voltage regulation circuit which stabilizes t.ie voltage in this circuit at + 12 volts dc.
  • current is fed through resistor R2 to the parallel combination of zener diode D7 and capacitor C12.
  • This pair of components forms a voltage regulator circuit which stabilizes the voltage at the junction of resistor R2 and zener diode D7 at +7 volts dc. +12 volts dc and +5 volts dc are the main power supply voltages required by the control system.
  • a voltage divider circuit comprised of R3 , R4 , and R5 produces reference voltages required in the system.
  • Capacitor C7 acts to bypass high frequency noise to the circuit common (ground) so as to allow the dc voltage levels (+.78 volts and +.39 volts) produced by the divider to be relatively free from high frequency noise.
  • the reference voltages are used by voltage comparators and must be relatively free of noise in order for the voltage comparator circuits to operate properly.
  • Flowmeter 5 infrared LED 45 and phototransistor 44 are connected to circuit board 50 by means of a short cable terminating at connector (header) P2.
  • Flowmeter infrared LED 45 is supplied current from the +12 volt dc source on circuit board 50 through resistor Rll and pin 1 of connector P2.
  • Resistors R19 and R20 provide a means for the microcontroller to discern the dis ⁇ connection of flowmeter 5 ; this will be discussed in greater detail later in this disclosure.
  • Current passes through infrared LED 45 and returns to circuit board 50 common iground) at pin 2 of connector P2.
  • Flowmeter phototransistor 44 also receives its supply current from the +12 volt dc source through resistor R8.
  • the voltage level of the pulses appearing at connector P2 pin 4 is approximately +10 volts peak.
  • the quiescent level of the pin is approximately 0.05 volt dc and is due to small amounts of current leakage through phototransistor 44 or can be due to a small amount of outside ambient light falling on phototransistor 44. Therefore, a signal of approximately 10 volts peak-to-peak is usually impressed on P2 pin 4 when the dispensing system is in operation.
  • the signal introduced at connector P2 pin 4 is coupled to the non-inverting input of a voltage comparator (U3C) by resistor R12.
  • Resistor R13 acts to give the input of the comparator a ground reference during flowmeter 5 transistor off periods; it also discharges capacitor C5 during these off periods.
  • Capacitor C15 acts with resistor R12 to form a low pass filter network which effectively eliminates high frequency noise at the + input of the comparator, thus reducing the possibility of false "compares" due to noise.
  • the + .39 volt dc reference is applied to the inverting input of the comparator.
  • SUBSTITUTESHEET(RULE26 a "pull-down" output stage (similar to those incorporated in the LM 339 type quad comparator made by National Semiconductor Inc. of California) , the value of the pull-up resistor R18 and that of CIO will govern the integrator time constant . This time constant is set at about 100 microseconds for the purposes of this design.
  • the comparator output signal is then presented to microcontroller Ul through two of its ports . Each port pin has an integral Schmitt trigger circuit applied to it so that slowly changing input signals are well tolerated. (See the firmware section for an explanation of the handling of the detected flowmeter 5 pulses.)
  • Comparator stage U3D provides a signal to microcontroller Ul which indicates the quality of the power provided by the ac powerline.
  • a "power good” signal is a "low” voltage level (0 volts) at microcontroller Ul pin s (port pin RBO) . As long as microcontroller Ul reads this pin as a logic low level, normal operation is permitted. If this pin is read as a logic high level, microcontroller Ul enters into a shut-down program. (See the firmware section for details on the operation of this firmware routine.) The hardware develops the power-good signal in the following way.
  • the transformer secondary voltage is half waved rectified and fed to capacitor C2.
  • C2 is charged by the rectified transformer output.
  • C2 is discharged by the series combination of resistors R6 and R7.
  • the voltage at the junction of these two resistors is fed to the inverting input of comparator stage U3D.
  • While C2 is continuously being charged and discharged, its terminal voltage is typically between 13 and 16 volts dc with about 3 volts peak-to-peak of 60 Hz ripple impressed on the dc level. Since the non-inverting input of the U3D comparator stage is tied to + 5 volts, the 13 to 16 volt levels on the inverting input will place the output of the comparator in the logic low level.
  • Microcontroller Ul reads this level as indicating that the power is good. If the ac line voltage is removed, capacitor C2 will cease to be charged and will discharge to below the +5 volt level in about 35 milliseconds. Microcontroller Ul will then read the output of the comparator as a logic high level, indicating that power is failing. The microcontroller will then execute a firmware routine which allows the present flowmeter 5 pulse count to be stored in non-volatile EEPROM memory U2, thus preserving the current pulse count for restoration in the counter on the next power-up of the system (when the ac line power returns) . This operation works well in terms of storing the accumulated pulse counts.
  • microcontroller Ul either powers down fully and “rationally” (that is, does not corrupt memory contents as the system power supply levels are reduced) in the event of a total loss of ac line power, or that it momentarily shuts down then recovers in the case of a momentary powerline voltage sag.
  • Comparator stages U3A and U3B perform the functions required to recover from momentary losses of ac power.
  • the power-good circuit notifies microcontroller Ul in 35 milliseconds. Microcontroller Ul then stores the present count value in EEPROM memory U3. During this time, the +5 volt dc power supply is still at full voltage. The +12 volt supply is also still at its full supply voltage due to the nature of the power supply system. Capacitor Cl has enough stored energy that the +12 volt and +5 volt supplies will remain in regulation for about 100 milliseconds after the ac power line is cut off. After about 100 milliseconds, the + 12 volt supply starts to sag. The +5 volt supply is still in regulation.
  • microcontroller Ul In the time period between 35 and 40 milliseconds after the onset of an ac power line loss microcontroller Ul is storing the oulse count information in EEPROM memory U2. Microcontroller Ul then continuously monitors the power-good signal for a change in status. If the ac power is still not present after about 150 milliseconds, the +5 volt power supply will start to sag. As the +5 volt supply sags, the .78 volt reference will also sag. Note that the inverting input of comparator stage U3A is clamped to a voltage level of approximately .65 volts by means of the forward biased diode drop of a single silicon diode (D8) .
  • the comparator's output will switch from being an open circuit (single pull-down transistor output) to a low impedance to ground. This will act to rapidly discharge capacitor C3 through resistor R16. Within a millisecond the voltage on C3 will reduce to a level lower than that at the inverting input (now typically 4.0 volts) of comparator stage C3B. This sequence of events will cause the output of comparator stage C3B to become active in the low impedance state and will place a logic low on the MCLR pin of microcontroller Ul.
  • the MCLR pin is also known as the reset pin.
  • Microcontroller Ul will immediately cease to function in any manner and thus it cannot affect the memory contents . Any return from this state (when the power is restored) will result in an orderly power-up of microcontroller Ul and logical operation.
  • This circuitry works both in normal (long term) ac line loss and in transient (greater than 150 milliseconds) ac line loss situations. During ac line losses of less than 150 milliseconds duration,
  • This momentary contact switch (SWl) is mounted tc the circuit board and is accessed by a plastic button which protrudes through a hole in the circuit board enclosure.
  • Resistors R21 and R22 form a voltage divider circuit which results in reducing the +12 volt supply to a maximum voltage of about 4.7 volts across the switch.
  • C6 is used in two ways .
  • C6 is used to lower the impedance at high frequencies (reducing noise susceptibility) and it also is used to produce a shot of current through the switch SWl as the switch SWl contacts close during operation. The shot of current acts to clean any accumulated film from switch SWl contacts, thus lengthening the life of switch SWl .
  • the state of switch SWl is read by microcontroller Ul at port pin RBI .
  • the microcontroller Ul is programmed with appropriate routines which decipher switch SWl closure sequences into command and data inputs (See the firmware description. )
  • the output of the system is seen by the user in the form of
  • LED lights 80, 90 (see FIGURE 1) .
  • the system normally places Green
  • LED 80 in the continuously “ON” or lighted state to indicate that power is applied to the system and that all is OK.
  • the system may flash Green LED 80 to indicate changes in the mode of operation or the passage of water through the dispensing unit (see firmware description) .
  • Yellow LED 90 is also present in the system to indicate when a predetermined amount of fluid (water) has been dispensed by the system.
  • the control system drives LEDs 80, 90 through two transistor drivers generally shown as Ql and Q2. Resistor R9 restricts current from the +12 volt power supply tc LEDs 80, 90. Since the two LEDs 80, 90 are never on at the same time, only one resistor was needed to limit the current to both LEDs 80, 90.
  • Green LED 80 is connected from connector PI pin 1 (anode) to PI pin 2 (cathode) .
  • Yellow LED 90 is connected between connector PI pin 4 (anode) and Pi pin 5 (cathode) .
  • PI pin 3 is net present and is used to key the connector housing thus differentiating PI from P2.
  • the microcontroller Ul drives transistors Ql and Q2 through its port pins RB7 and RB6 respectively. Resistors R10 and R26 are used to limit the output currents from the respective port pins.
  • the microcontroller Ul provides its own clock by means of an RC oscillator contained on board the chip. Resistor R25 and capacitor C8 form the constant circuit which operates the RC oscillator at a frequency of approximately 1 MegaHertz.
  • the microcontroller Ul also provides data, clock and communications lines to the memory chip U2 via port RAO through RA3.
  • the memory chip U2 is a serial communications device which is capable of storing up to 128 words of 16 bits each. Several other sizes of memory devices may be substituted for the cited device, since only four words are used, the smallest size device was chosen in this case.
  • the selected memory device is an industry standard type
  • Microcontroller Ul is programmed for two types of error situations. If flowmeter 5 is not connected or its LED circuit opens for some reason, microcontroller Ul senses this by means of sensing the voltage at the junction of resistors R19 and R20. This junction is connected to microcontroller Ul at port pin RB2. If RB2 is at a logic low level, it is assumed that infrared LED 45 is present in the system (flowmeter is connected) . If the logic level on RB2 is high, this indicates that infrared LED 45 is either disconnected or is open circuited. The microcontroller Ul will take appropriate action upon reading port pin RB2 and will flash an error code on a user interface LED. Microcontroller Ul also can detect defects in the data being read from the EEPROM memory U2. An error code (distinctly different from the LED error code) is flashed on a user interface LED if a memory error is encountered. See the firmware description for details.
  • the user is alerted to system status changes by means of a pair of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 80, 90 of different colors.
  • the lit Green LED 80 signifies normal system operation.
  • Lighting of Yellow LED 90 signifies that the specified amount of water (fluid) volume has gone through the system and that the filter element (s) should be changed.
  • LEDs 80, 90 are at the end of two sufficiently long cables 83, 84 so that they are placed where a user will easily notice them during dispensing operations. Cables 83, 84 terminate in one connector which is plugged into connector (header) PI. Operation is as follows.
  • Green LED 80 flashes once if the power up test is OK and the control system has been set for a specified number of gallons of thru-put. If the system has NOT been set for a thru- put value, Green LED 80 will flash twice on power up to indicate an unprogrammed system. After power-up, Green LED 80 will be constantly ON to indicate that power is applied.
  • Yellow LED 90 After power-up, and if the specified thru-put has been exceeded, Yellow LED 90 will be lit constantly to indicate that the overflow mode is active, and the power is applied.
  • the port A and port B pins are initialized into benign states. Proper operation of EEPROM memory U2 is verified by microcontroller Ul . Microcontroller Ul writes data to one location in the memory and then reads from the same location. If the same data as written returns, EEPROM U2 is deemed to be operating properly. Microcontroller Ul then reads the current thru-put limit and the current pulse count from EEPROM memory U2. Microcontroller Ul then toggles Green LED 80 on, then off (.50 second "on" time) once to indicate that the system has powered up properly. The internal counter (RTCC) is then configured to count pulses from flowmeter 5. The RTCC counter operates as a hardware event counter which can be read and reset to zero as the firmware requires. The power-up routine is then complete. Microcontroller Ul then runs the main loop routine (see FIGURE 11) continually unless caused to divert from the routine by the results of tests contained in the main loop program.
  • Microcontroller Ul turns Green LED 80 "on” to indicate that the power to the system is on. Green LED 80 remains lit continuously. Microcontroller Ul then tests for the presence of the flowmeter 5 infrared LED 45 by reading port pin RB2 (a logic low means infrared LED 45 is present and "on") . Microcontroller Ul then tests the status of the power-good port pin RBO (if a logic level at port pin BR1 indicates the switch is being depressed) . The microcontroller then tests the internal counter against the maximum thru-put limit which is now present in an internal register after being loaded from EEPROM memory U2 ; an overflow condition (current count greater than thru-put maximum count) is grounds for calling an overflow service routine (see FIGURE 11) .
  • Microcontroller Ul then adds any accumulated counts in the RTCC to the count register which always contains the most current pulse count. The system loops continuously in this main loop until some sensed condition causes another routine to be called.
  • Typical diversions from the main loop program cause other routines to be called.
  • microcontroller Ul is then directed back to the beginning of the main loop routine to continue the polling of the port pins .
  • infrared LED 45 port pin (RB2) becomes active, it means that the infrared LED 45/flowmeter 5 is disconnected and the system will not read flowmeter 5 pulses. This will cause a diversion to the ERR0R1 routine which, in turn, causes microcontroller Ul to flash a code on indicator LED 80 so that the user is alerted tc the problem. The code is flashed indefinitely or until the flowmeter
  • ERR0R1 routine also checks the infrared LED 45/flowmeter 5 port pin
  • RB2 if the problem is corrected, the ERRORl routine is immediately exited in favor of returning to the main loop routine.
  • the mam loop program is executed until an exception is noted. The exception is processed and control then returns to the main loop program.
  • Some exceptions require human intervention or are caused by human intervention. One such intervention is that of the service tecnn cian inputting a command.
  • Commands There are three commands: (1) display flowmeter
  • the flowmeter 5 test mode is initiated.
  • Green indicator LED 80 will toggle “ON” once and “OFF” once per second. (ON time will be .5 second, OFF time will be .5 second)
  • the test mode is timed-out by microcontroller Ul; the mode lasts 15 seconds. So, for 15 seconds the technician is dispensing water and watching Green indicator LED
  • Program mode (2) allows the service technician to set a particular total thru-put gallonage at which to alert the user to replace the filter (s) .
  • Program mode is entered by depressing switch SWl for at least 3 seconds but not more than 5 seconds.
  • Initiation of the program mode is signaled by microcontroller Ul flashing Green indicator LED 80 rapidly (.1 second on, .1 second off, repeated) 5 times in succession.
  • the inputter is then given 15 seconds in which to depress and release switch SWl the first of a given number of times, each of which relates to an increasing value of maximum thru-put. That is, for example, one depression/release cycle might relate to a value of
  • microcontroller Ul gives the inputter an additional 5 seconds to input the next cycle of depress/release. After microcontroller Ul sees a period of more than 5 seconds elapse without an additional input cycle, microcontroller Ul makes the assumption that the inputter is finished inputting. The number of input cycles are then summed and microcontroller Ul then flashes Green indicator LED
  • microcontroller Ul After completion of the program mode routine microcontroller Ul returns to the main loop program.
  • the rest mode (3) is entered by depressing switch SWl and holding it depressed for at least seven seconds .
  • microcontroller Ul clears its internal flowmeter pulse counter.
  • Microcontroller Ul then runs a firmware routine which enables writing to EEPROM memory device U2.
  • the memory is then fed the address of the count word and the data "0000" from the flowmeter 5 pulse count register. This effectively zeros the count in both the internal counter and the memory address at which the count is stored.
  • Microcontroller Ul signals the inputter that the reset indicator LED 20 times. Microcontroller Ul then returns to the main loop program after completion of the reset sequence.
  • Overflow condition This condition occurs when the current flowmeter 5 pulse count equals or exceeds the thru-put limit which was set by the service technician. (If no value was set by the service technician, the system defaults to setting 5, (1,500 gallons) in the present embodiment.)
  • main loop program microcontroller Ul adds newly received pulse counts from the RTCC to the internal flowmeter 5 pulse count register. The contents of the count register are then compared to the maximum thru-put value which is contained in a table which has a location pointed to by another register containing the maximum thru-put inputted (cycle) number. If the current count register's contents are equal to or greater than the maximum thru-put value found in the table, the overflow condition is initiated.
  • microcontroller Ul shifts the active indicator LED from Green LED 80 to Yellow LED 80. That is, Yellow LED 90 now is turned on to indicate that power to the unit is on. Green LED 90 is turned off. To the user, who is at present dispensing water (otherwise the change in condition would not have occurred) , there is an immediate indication that the capacity of the filter (s) has just been exceeded. As the user continues to dispense water, Yellow LED 90 will now flash (.25 second on, .25 second off) for as long as water is in the process of being dispensed. After the dispensing of water has ceased, the system still indicates the overflow condition to the user by means of Yellow LED 90 having replaced Green LED 80 as the power indicator.
  • Microcontroller Ul program execution during the overflow condition is almost identical to the main loop execution except for the fact that Yellow LED 90 is now the indicator used by the system to indicate both that the power is applied and the overflow condition is present (by means of flashing the LED during the dispensing of water) .
  • the overflow condition can be exited.
  • the service technician changes the filter(s)
  • he/she can reset the flowmeter pulse count by entering the reset command to zero both the internal and EEPROM memory U2 pulse counts . This will re-initialize the counters and microcontroller Ul will use any previously set maximum thru-put value.
  • the second of the ways in which the overflow condition may be exited is by r -programming of the maximum thru-put value to a higher amount. Obviously this is not recommended in the case of filters requiring replacement, but by programming to a higher value the current count is less than the maximum by definition and normal main loop program execution (Green LED 80 active) takes place until the maximum thru-put value is again exceeded.
  • this feature could be used as a "grace" period if the new maximum is just a few gallons more than the original value. Exiting the overflow condition in either of the above ways will result in the program dropping back into the main loop program which was described previously.
  • ERROR1 Microcontroller Ul has sensed that infrared LED 45 has failed or that flowmeter 5 has become disconnected. Microcontroller Ul then runs a service routine which continuously outputs the code 2, 3 on Green LED 80. That is, the microcontroller causes the green LED to turn on and off in the following sequence: on for .5 second, on for .5 second, off for 1.5 seconds, on for .5 second, off for .5 second, on for .5 second, off for .5 second, on for .5 second, off for 3.5 seconds, repeat from the beginning indefinitely or until the problem is remedied.
  • ERR0R2 Microcontroller Ul has sensed an error in the return of data (a stored number) from EEPROM memory device U2.
  • microcontroller Ul flashes the code 2, 4 on Green LED 80 indefinitely.
  • Microcontroller Ul causes Green LED 80 to be turned on and off in a fashion similar to that demonstrated under ERROR1 above, except that the number of flashes is adjusted to the pattern 2, 4.
  • Microcontroller Ul has a routine which is resident in its memory which allows microcontroller Ul to participate in the testing of the PC board assembly at the production facility. When connected to a test apparatus, the unused port pin RB4 is placed in the active logic low state at an appropriate time during the testing cycle. Microcontroller Ul reads this as a command to enter the factory test mode. Factory test mode causes the execution of a series of tests on EEPROM memory device U2 to determine that its registers function properly when read and written. Microcontroller Ul signals the test device via port pin RB5 and the LED driver circuits as certain test signals are placed on the input/output channels of PC board 50 for the purpose of determining the proper operation of the other components situated on PC board 50. The last task accomplished by microcontroller Ul prior to exiting the factest mode is erasing EEPROM memory device U2 and writing a number in one memory location to signify that PC board 50 has passed its factory tests.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Flowmeters (AREA)

Abstract

Appareil de mesure de passage de liquide (100) faisant intervenir un débitmètre (5), un système de soutien électronique (50) et un indicateur (80, 90) servant à surveiller le passage de liquide provenant d'un système de distribution de liquide et à indiquer à l'utilisateur quand une quantité prédéterminée de liquide, variable et programmable, a été distribuée.
PCT/US1996/003327 1995-03-15 1996-03-11 Appareil de mesure de passage de liquide WO1996028711A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU53080/96A AU5308096A (en) 1995-03-15 1996-03-11 Liquid flow monitor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US40526395A 1995-03-15 1995-03-15
US08/405,263 1995-03-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996028711A1 true WO1996028711A1 (fr) 1996-09-19

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/003327 WO1996028711A1 (fr) 1995-03-15 1996-03-11 Appareil de mesure de passage de liquide

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5308096A (fr)
IL (1) IL117508A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996028711A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1030143A2 (fr) * 1999-02-18 2000-08-23 CANDY S.p.A. Dispositif de distribution d'eau réfrigérée pour réfrigérateur
EP1308702A2 (fr) * 2001-11-06 2003-05-07 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Débitmètre à turbine

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107860433A (zh) * 2017-12-26 2018-03-30 重庆前卫克罗姆表业有限责任公司 燃气表端的脉冲计量装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818479A (en) * 1972-04-17 1974-06-18 R Ledbetter Direction finder
US4389902A (en) * 1980-04-25 1983-06-28 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Flow rate transducer
US4885943A (en) * 1988-05-11 1989-12-12 Hydro-Craft, Inc. Electronic flowmeter system and method
US5307686A (en) * 1988-12-01 1994-05-03 Anders Noren Device for measuring the rate of flow of a flowing fluid

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818479A (en) * 1972-04-17 1974-06-18 R Ledbetter Direction finder
US4389902A (en) * 1980-04-25 1983-06-28 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Flow rate transducer
US4885943A (en) * 1988-05-11 1989-12-12 Hydro-Craft, Inc. Electronic flowmeter system and method
US5307686A (en) * 1988-12-01 1994-05-03 Anders Noren Device for measuring the rate of flow of a flowing fluid

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1030143A2 (fr) * 1999-02-18 2000-08-23 CANDY S.p.A. Dispositif de distribution d'eau réfrigérée pour réfrigérateur
EP1030143A3 (fr) * 1999-02-18 2001-02-28 CANDY S.p.A. Dispositif de distribution d'eau réfrigérée pour réfrigérateur
EP1308702A2 (fr) * 2001-11-06 2003-05-07 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Débitmètre à turbine
EP1308702A3 (fr) * 2001-11-06 2003-10-29 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Débitmètre à turbine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IL117508A0 (en) 1996-07-23
AU5308096A (en) 1996-10-02

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