Pump system and pump abnormality detection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10408204-B2
Application number	US-201615014383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A pump system is equipped with a body, a displacement body, a bellows member, an indirect medium, and a diaphragm. The pump system is further equipped with a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the indirect medium in a charge chamber, the charge chamber being formed to include an interior space of the bellows member in the interior of the body. A controller of the pump system determines an abnormality of the diaphragm based on detection values detected by the pressure sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pump system comprising:
a body having a pump chamber;
a displacement body configured to be displaceable along an axial direction of the body in an interior of the body;
a connector interposed between the displacement body and the body;
an indirect medium comprising a non-compressible fluid, and with which a charge chamber including an interior space is charged, the connecting member liquid-sealing the indirect medium in the interior space at the interior of the body; and
a diaphragm disposed between the charge chamber and the pump chamber in the interior of the body, and configured to, under a flowing action of the indirect medium, cause a fluid to flow into and flow out of the pump chamber,
the pump system further comprising:
a pressure detector configured to detect a pressure of the indirect medium in the charge chamber; and
a judgment processor configured to analyze detection values detected by the pressure detector and determine a normality or an abnormality of the diaphragm based on the analyzed detection values,
wherein:
the body includes a charging port that communicates with the charge chamber, the charge chamber being charged with the indirect medium through the charging port; and
the pressure detector includes a detector, the detector being inserted and fixed in the charging port and closing the charging port.

2. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure detector is disposed at a position adjacent the diaphragm.

3. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump system further comprises a notification unit configured to notify presence of the abnormality of the diaphragm, in a case that the judgment processor determines that the abnormality of the diaphragm exists.

4. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pump system further comprises a solenoid valve configured to supply the fluid to the pump chamber or discharge the fluid from the pump chamber; and
the judgment processor halts operation of the solenoid valve in a case it is determined that the abnormality of the diaphragm exists.

5. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pump system further comprises a drive unit including a shaft on an end of the body, the drive unit being configured to displace the displacement body along the axial direction upon energizing of the drive unit; and
the judgment processor halts energizing of the drive unit in a case it is determined that the abnormality of the diaphragm exists.

6. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pump system is disposed on an apparatus that receives outflow of the fluid from the pump chamber; and
the judgment processor is connected to a control unit of the apparatus or is installed with respect to the control unit, and halts operation of the apparatus in a case it is determined that the abnormality of the diaphragm exists.

7. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by comparing, with a threshold value, a maximum pressure in a stable state period within a pressure waveform of the detection values.

8. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by comparing, with a threshold value, an average pressure in a stable state period within a pressure waveform of the detection values.

9. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by comparing, with a threshold value, a minimum pressure in a stable state period within a pressure waveform of the detection values.

10. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by comparing, with a threshold value, a maximum pressure during a rise in pressure within a pressure waveform of the detection values.

11. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by calculating a sum of the detection values within a predetermined period, and comparing the sum with a sum threshold value.

12. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by comparing, with an angular threshold value, a gradient of a pressure waveform of the detection values.

13. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by detecting a time delay of a rise or a fall in pressure from within a pressure waveform of the detection values.

14. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by detecting a time delay until transitioning to a stable state from within a pressure waveform of the detection values.

15. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, by performing a plurality of different types of judgments.

16. The pump system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment processor determines the abnormality of the diaphragm, using a plurality of pressure waveforms of the detection values.

17. A pump abnormality detection method for a pump, the pump including:
a body having a pump chamber;
a displacement body configured to be displaceable along an axial direction of the body in an interior of the body;
a connector interposed between the displacement body and the body;
an indirect medium comprising a non-compressible fluid, and with which a charge chamber including an interior space is charged, the connecting member liquid-sealing the indirect medium in the interior space at the interior of the body; and
a diaphragm disposed between the charge chamber and the pump chamber in the interior of the body, and configured to, under a flowing action of the indirect medium, cause a fluid to flow into and flow out of the pump chamber,
the pump abnormality detection method comprising the steps of:
detecting a pressure of the indirect medium in the charge chamber, with a pressure detector; and
determining an abnormality of the diaphragm based on detection values detected by the pressure detector, with a judgment processor configured to analyze detection values detected by the pressure detector and determine a normality or an abnormality of the diaphragm based on the analyzed detection values,
wherein:
the body includes a charging port that communicates with the charge chamber, the charge chamber being charged with the indirect medium through the charging port; and
the pressure detector includes a detector, the detector being inserted and fixed in the charging port and closing the charging port.

Assignees

• Smc Corp

Inventors

• Suzuki Takamitsu

Classifications

• F04B43/06

  Pumps having fluid drive · CPC title

• F04B43/009

  leakage control; pump systems with two flexible members; between the actuating element and the pumped fluid · CPC title

• F04B43/0054

  particularities of the flexible members · CPC title

• F04B43/0081 Primary

  systems, control, safety measures · CPC title

• F04B45/047 Primary

  Pumps having electric drive · CPC title