Fluid dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024184314-A1
Application number	US-202318522994-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 29, 2023
Priority date	Dec 1, 2022
Publication date	Jun 6, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of pumping fluids and fluid pump devices and systems. The systems described herein include an adjustable pump configured to expel fluid at a plurality of flow rates. The systems include at least one current measurement device communicatively coupled to the pump and configured to measure an electrical current applied to the pump. The systems include a controller communicatively coupled to the pump and the at least one current measurement device. The controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter of the pump based at least in part on a measurement of the electrical current measured by the at least one current measurement device.

First claim

1 . A fluid pump system comprising:
an adjustable pump configured to expel fluid at a plurality of flow rates; at least one current measurement device communicatively coupled to the pump and configured to measure an electrical current applied to the pump; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pump and the at least one current measurement device, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter of the pump based at least in part on a measurement of the electrical current measured by the at least one current measurement device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is an operating speed of the pump.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is a duration of pump operation.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is a duration of pump operation and operating speed of the pump.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pressure measurement device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter of the pump based at least in part on a pressure measured by the at least one pressure measurement device.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one pressure measurement device comprises at least one of an inlet pressure sensor and an outlet pressure sensor.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising, at least one air displacement measurement device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter of the pump based at least in part on air displacement measured by the at least one air displacement measurement device.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the pump to expel fluid over a period of time at a substantially uniform volume flow rate based at least in part on the current measurement.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to dynamically adjust the electrical load applied to the pump during operation of the pump.

10 . A method of pumping fluid comprising:
sending a control signal to a pump; monitoring an electrical current supplied to a motor of the pump; modifying an operating parameter of the pump in response to a change in the electrical current supplied to the motor of the pump.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, determining a working fluid viscosity based at least in part on the electrical current of the motor.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the working fluid viscosity comprises correlating the electrical current of the motor to at least one fluid viscosity.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Levey Jonathan

Classifications

• G05D7/0676 Primary

  by action on flow sources (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• A23F3/405

  Flavouring with flavours other than natural tea flavour or tea oil · CPC title

• A23F5/465

  Flavouring with flavours other than natural coffee flavour or coffee oil · CPC title

• A47J31/468

  Pumping means · CPC title

• F04B49/065 Primary

  and making use of computers · CPC title