Data logger device and system for high pressure leaning lance drive apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12313356-B2
Application number	US-202318535823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2023
Priority date	Oct 23, 2017
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A data logger device for monitoring operation of a flexible lance drive apparatus is disclosed that includes a cylindrical housing removably connected to an air fluid pressure line to the drive apparatus, a circuit board mounted in the housing, a pressure sensing switch mounted on the circuit board and communicating with the fluid in the pressure line, and a processor and memory on the board operable to log time at which the switch changes state between two predetermined states.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A data logger device for connection to an air pressure supply line to an air motor driving a flexible cleaning lance hose drive apparatus, the device comprising:
a housing removably fastenable to a pressurized air supply line to an air motor driving a flexible lance hose drive apparatus;
a pressure transducer operable to continuously monitor air pressure within the air line in real time; and
a datalogging processor and memory communicating with the transducer for recording data from the transducer and providing an input to automated lance hose drive control circuitry that initiates one or more of (a) automated lance reversal operations upon sensing an obstacle in a tube being cleaned by a cleaning lance driven by the drive apparatus and (b) cleaning fluid pressure dump operations upon sensing an unexpected event.

2. The data logger device according to claim 1 wherein the housing is removably fastenable to the pressurized air supply line via a connector that is one of a male and female cam-lock connector fitting adapted to fasten to the air supply line to the flexible lance drive apparatus.

3. The data logger device of claim 1 wherein, the pressure transducer is connected to a switch operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to a predetermined pressure sensed within the air line.

4. The data logger device of claim 1 wherein the pressure transducer is a piezoelectric pressure cell operable to continuously monitor air pressure in the air line in real time.

5. The data logger device of claim 1 wherein the pressure transducer is a piezo-resistive strain gauge operable to continuously monitor air pressure in the air line in real time.

6. The data logger device of claim 5 wherein the piezo-resistive strain gauge provides an input to the automated lance hose drive control circuitry.

7. The data logger device of claim 6 wherein the automated lance hose drive control circuitry anticipates and senses obstacles in tubes being cleaned and initiates the automated lance reversal operations upon sensing the obstacles in the tubes.

8. The data logging device of claim 1 wherein the pressure transducer and the datalogging processor are miniaturized and functionally incorporated into a single fitting that is threaded, snap fit or otherwise attached to a fluid T connection of an air motor control line.

9. A flexible cleaning lance hose drive apparatus comprising:
a drive housing;
a first air motor in the drive housing for driving a lance hose through the drive housing in a first direction;
a second air motor in the drive housing for driving the lance hose in a second, opposite direction; and
a data logging device operably connected to the first air motor via an air pressure supply line, the data logging device having a housing removably connected to the first air motor, a pressure transducer operable to sense air pressure within the air pressure supply line, and a datalogging processor and memory communicating with the transducer for recording data from the transducer and providing an input to automated lance hose drive control circuitry that initiates one or more of (a) automated lance reversal operations upon sensing an obstacle and (b) cleaning fluid pressure dump operations upon sensing an unexpected pressure event.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the pressure transducer is connected to a switch operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to a predetermined pressure sensed within the air line.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the pressure transducer is a piezoelectric pressure cell operable to continuously monitor air pressure values in the air line in real time.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the pressure transducer is connected to a switch operable to move between a first position and a second position in response to a predetermined pressure sensed within the air pressure supply line.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the pressure transducer is a piezo-resistive strain gauge operable to continuously monitor air pressure in the air line in real time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the piezo-resistive strain gauge provides the input to the automated lance hose drive control circuitry.

15. A data logger system comprising:
a plurality of data logger devices, each of the plurality of data logger devices including:
a housing removably fastenable to a pressurized air supply line to an air motor driving a flexible lance hose drive apparatus;
a pressure transducer operable to continuously monitor air pressure within the air line in real time, and
a datalogging processor and memory communicating with the transducer for recording data from the transducer and providing an input usable to initiate one or more of (a) automated lance reversal operations upon sensing an obstacle in a tube being cleaned by a cleaning lance driven by the drive apparatus and (b) cleaning fluid pressure dump operations upon sensing an unexpected event; and

a control circuit communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of data logger devices and configured to receive the input, wherein:
the control circuit is configured to automatically sense and log operations of the flexible cleaning lance hose drive apparatuses based on the input, and
at least one of the plurality of data logger devices is operably connected to a high pressure dump valve control for automatically diverting high pressure fluid to atmosphere upon sensing the unexpected event.

16. The data logger system according to claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to continuously monitor one or more of an individual lance drive speed, lance hose resistance to forward motion, lance direction, and lance penetration distance.

17. The data logger system according to claim 15 , wherein the housing is removably fastenable to the pressurized air supply line by one of a male and female cam-lock connector fitting adapted to fasten to the air supply line to the flexible lance drive apparatus.

18. The data logger system of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to calculate an applied torque to individual lances.

Assignees

• Stoneage Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Timothy
• Schneider Joseph
• Brown Rawlin

Classifications

• F28G15/06

  Automatic reversing devices · CPC title

• G01L19/08

  Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication · CPC title

• G01D9/005

  Solid-state data loggers · CPC title

• G07C3/02

  Registering or indicating working or idle time only · CPC title

• G01P5/14

  by measuring differences of pressure in the fluid · CPC title