Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for detecting malfunctions in high-pressure fluid pumps

US6970793B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
20References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 2003
Grant dateNov 29, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 10, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B23/0235
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fluid pump system includes a pump having a plurality of cylinders, each having an outlet port coupled to a high-pressure manifold. A pressure transducer is coupled to the manifold and configured to convert pressure levels of fluid in the manifold to a voltage signal at an output of the transducer. The system further includes a digitizer configured to convert the voltage signal from the transducer to a digital signal at a digitizer output, such that when a value of the voltage signal is less than a selected reference voltage a first digital value is produced, and when the voltage level exceeds the selected reference voltage a second digital value is produced. A diagnostic circuit having an input coupled to the digitizer output is configured to detect malfunctions of the pump based upon characteristics of the digital signal.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.