Remote monitoring for fluid applicator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9939822-B2
Application number	US-201414766712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2014
Priority date	Feb 11, 2013
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

In one embodiment, a remote monitoring system for a fluid applicator system is disclosed. The fluid applicator system is disposed to heat and pump spray fluid, and to transmit reports including sensed temperatures, pressures, and other operational parameters of the fluid applicator system via a wireless network. The remote monitoring system comprises a data storage server, and an end user interface. The data storage server is configured to receive and archive the reports. The end user interface is configured to provide a graphical user interface based on the reports. The graphical user interface illustrates a status of the fluid handling system, sensed and commanded temperatures of the fluid handling system, sensed and commanded pressures of the fluid handling system, and usage statistics of the fluid handling system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A remote monitoring system comprises:
a fluid handling system comprising:
a fluid delivery subsystem configured to pump and heat a fluid;
at least one temperature sensor disposed on the fluid delivery subsystem to sense temperatures of the fluid;
at least one pressure sensor disposed on the fluid delivery subsystem to sense pressures of the fluid; and
a fluid handling system processor configured to produce duty data and commanded pressures and temperatures for the fluid delivery subsystem, and configured to receive the sensed pressures and temperatures,
wherein the fluid handling system is a dual fluid system with an A-side fluid system comprising an A-side pump and an A-side heater, and a B-side fluid system comprising a B-side pump and a B-side heater, and further wherein the sensed temperatures, sensed pressures, commanded temperatures, and commanded pressures comprise temperatures and pressures of both the A-side fluid system and the B-side fluid system;

a communications module attached to the fluid handling system, the communications module comprising:
a communications module processor configured to retrieve a first data set comprising the duty data, the commanded pressures and temperatures, and the sensed pressures and temperatures, and to produce a second data set that includes the first data set; and
a transceiver disposed to transmit the second data set via a communication network to an end user-accessible data storage server.

2. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the communications module further comprises:
a global positioning system (GPS) unit configured to identify a location of the communications module, and thereby the fluid handling system; and
wherein the second data set further comprises the location of the communications module.

3. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the communications module further comprises:
an ambient temperature sensor configured to sense an environmental temperature at the communications module; and
wherein the second data set further comprises the sensed environmental temperature.

4. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the duty data includes a pump cycle count.

5. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid handling processor controls the fluid handling subsystem according to the commanded pressures and temperatures.

6. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid handling processor comprises a motor controller processor unit and a heater controller processor unit.

7. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a temperature sensor disposed at a fluid inlet of the fluid handling system, and a temperature sensor disposed at a fluid outlet of the fluid handling system.

8. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the second data set further comprises event codes indicating events and errors experienced by the fluid handling system and/or the communications module.

9. The remote monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver transmits the second data set wirelessly via a cellular network.

10. A remote monitoring system for a fluid applicator system disposed to heat and pump spray fluid, and to transmit reports via a network, wherein the fluid applicator system is a dual fluid system with an A-side fluid system comprising an A-side pump and an A-side heater, and a B-side fluid system comprising a B-side pump and a B-side heater, the remote monitoring system comprising:
a data storage server configured to retrieve and archive the reports, including sensed temperatures and pressures of the fluid applicator system; and
an end user interface configured to provide a graphical user interface based on the reports, the graphical user interface outputting:
a status of the fluid handling system;
sensed and commanded temperatures of the fluid handling system;
sensed and commanded pressures of the fluid handling system; and
usage statistics of the fluid handling system,
wherein the other operational parameters included commanded pressures and commanded temperatures of the A- and B-side pumps, and the A- and B-side heaters, respectively.

11. The remote monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein the sensed temperatures included in the reports comprise inlet and outlet fluid temperatures of the fluid applicator system.

12. The remote monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein the sensed pressures included in the reports comprise inlet and outlet pressures of the fluid handling system.

13. The remote monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein the other operational parameters include usage statistics comprising fluid handling system on-time, pumping time, and pumped volume based on pump duty cycles.

14. The remote monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface provides a history of temperatures, pressures, and usage statistics from the archived reports.

15. The remote monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface provides a history of event logs indicating error and event codes reflecting events experienced by the fluid applicator system.

16. The remote monitoring system of claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface provides location information indicating a location of the fluid handling system, based on global positioning system data.

17. A remote monitoring system for use with a fluid applicator system configured to pump two or more fluids, the fluid applicator system including an A-side fluid system with a A-side pump and A-side heater, and a B-side fluid system with a B-side pump and a B-side heater, the remote monitoring system comprising:
a communications module in communication with the fluid applicator system, the communications module including a communications module processor configured to retrieve a first data set comprising commanded pressures and temperatures of the A- and B-side pumps and heaters, respectively, and sensed pressures and temperatures of the A- and B-side pumps and heaters, respectively, and further configured to produce a second data set and transmit the second data set from a transceiver via a communication network to an end user interface; and
an end user interface disposed to provide a graphical user interface for displaying the second data set, wherein the end user interface receives the second data set sent by the transceiver.

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Lange Christopher M
• Pagano Nicholas A

Classifications

• G05D16/2066 Primary

  using controlling means acting on the pressure source · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• H04Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• B05B7/0408

  with arrangements for mixing two or more liquids · CPC title

• B05B12/006

  Pressure or flow rate sensors · CPC title