Detecting fluid leaks in pressurized systems of waterjet cutting systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10620079-B2
Application number	US-201715676587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2017
Priority date	Aug 15, 2016
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

In some aspects, waterjet cutting pressurization systems can include a water pump: (i) having a pressurization chamber and (ii) having a high-pressure water seal maintaining water pressure within the chamber; and a leak detector in fluid communication with the high-pressure water seal and configured to monitor a leak rate of a fluid from the high-pressure water seal.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A waterjet cutting pressurization system, the system comprising:
a water pump: (i) having a pressurization chamber and (ii) having a high-pressure water seal maintaining water pressure within the chamber; and
a leak detector in fluid communication with the high-pressure water seal and configured to monitor a leak rate of a fluid from the high-pressure water seal, wherein the leak detector is configured to measure a temperature of the fluid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detector is configured to measure a number of discrete drops of the fluid leaking from the high pressure water seal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detector comprises an optical sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurization system comprises two or more leak detectors, each leak detector configured to monitor a leak rate of the fluid from a different seal.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the pressurization system comprises three or more leak detectors.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second leak detector coupled to the pressurization chamber.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurization chamber is a first pressurization chamber and the water pump has a second pressurization chamber mechanically coupled to the first pressurization chamber.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a second seal maintaining water pressure within the chamber within the second pressurization chamber and a second leak detector configured to monitor a leak rate of the fluid from the second seal within the second pressurization chamber.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a leak collector tray that captures leaks from the water pump and directs them to the leak detector.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detector determines a volumetric flow rate of the fluid from the seal.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detector is in communication with a computerized controller.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detector is in communication with a graphical user interface (GUI).

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid flow path coupled to the water pump to convey the fluid from the high-pressure water seal to the leak detector.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a high pressure liquid cutting system.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detector being configured to monitor a leak rate of a fluid from the high-pressure water seal comprises being configured to detect an extended flow of fluid.

16. A waterjet cutting pressurization system comprising:
an intensifier water pump comprising:
(i) a first pressurization chamber and a first high-pressure seal disposed within the first pressurization chamber; and
(ii) a second pressurization chamber and a second high-pressure seal disposed within the second pressurization chamber; and

a first leak detector fluidly coupled to the first high-pressure seal and configured to monitor a first leak rate of a first fluid from the first high-pressure seal; and
a second leak detector fluidly coupled to the second high-pressure seal and configured to monitor a second leak rate of a second fluid from the second high-pressure seal,
wherein at least one of the first leak detector and the second leak detector is configured to measure a temperature of the first fluid or the second fluid.

17. The waterjet cutting pressurization system of claim 16 , further comprising a fluid flow component coupled to the first pressurization chamber and a third leak detector fluidly coupled to the fluid flow component.

18. The waterjet cutting pressurization system of claim 17 , wherein the first high-pressure seal comprises a high-pressure dynamic seal and the fluid flow component comprises a high-pressure static seal.

19. The waterjet cutting pressurization system of claim 18 , wherein the fluid flow component comprises one of: a check valve, tubing, or a high-pressure fitting.

20. The waterjet cutting pressurization system of claim 16 , further comprising a second fluid flow component coupled to the second pressurization chamber and a leak detector fluidly coupled to the second fluid flow component coupled to the second pressurization chamber.

21. The waterjet cutting pressurization system of claim 20 , wherein the second high-pressure seal comprises a high-pressure dynamic seal and the second fluid flow component coupled to the second pressurization chamber comprises a high-pressure static seal.

22. The waterjet cutting pressurization system of claim 21 , wherein the second fluid flow component coupled to the second pressurization chamber comprises one of: a check valve, tubing, or a high-pressure fitting.

23. An electronic method of determining a flow rate of a fluid leaking from a leaking member within a pressurized chamber of a pump, the method comprising:
providing a drop detector fluidly coupled to the pressurized chamber;
routing drops of the fluid from the leaking member within the pressurized chamber to the drop detector;
measuring, using the drop detector, a number of drops of the fluid expelled from the leaking member and passing by the drop detector;
measuring, using the drop detector, a temperature of the fluid;
sending an electronic signal indicating the number of drops from the drop detector to a computerized controller;
determining, using the computerized controller, an estimated flow rate of the fluid based on the measured number of drops; and
responsive to determining that the estimated flow rate of the fluid exceeds a threshold, issuing a fault signal.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the method is performed by a waterjet cutting system.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the drop detector comprises an optical sensor.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising collecting a series of drops of the fluid in a collection tray prior to the routing of individual drops to the drop detector.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the issuing the fault signal comprises providing a signal on a graphical user interface (GUI).

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the leaking member comprises a chamber seal disposed within the pressurized chamber.

29. The method of claim 23 , wherein the measuring the number of drops includes measuring a change in voltage of an electronic signal generated by a sensor within the drop detector.

30. The method of claim 23 , wherein the fault signal comprises a watch warning in response to determining that the estimated flow rate exceeds a threshold of at least about 5 milliliters per minute.

31. The method of claim 23 , wherein the fault signal comprises an order to replace the leaking member in response to determining that the estimated flow rate exceeds a threshold of at least about 15 milliliters per minute.

32. The method of claim 23 , further comprising: providing a second leaking member disposed in a second pressurized chamber of the pump; providing a second drop detector fluidly coupled to the second pressurized chamber; routing drops of a second fluid from the second leaking member to the second drop detector; measuring, using the second drop detector, a number of drops of the fluid expelled from the second leaking member and passing by the second drop detector; sending an electronic signal indicating

Assignees

• Hypertherm Inc

Inventors

• Farnsworth James E
• Vandergon Cedar J
• Lindsay Jon W

Classifications

• G01M3/2876

  for valves (G01M3/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/38

  by using light (G01M3/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B24C1/045

  for cutting (energy dissipating devices therefor B26F3/008) · CPC title

• F04B49/10

  Other safety measures · CPC title

• F04B51/00

  Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations · CPC title