Metering system and control therefor

Claim 2

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform Dispensing strokes and a valve system by which the parts of the chamber on each side of the displaceable member are connectable to said fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed and a common controller operable electrically to control said valve system to cause said displaceable member to execute complete dispensing strokes and to provide data derived independently of the dispensing strokes directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line.

Claim 3

A metering system according to claim 1 in which said displacement assembly has a swept volume less than the permitted volumetric error for the minimum delivery of fluid to be dispensed by the system.

Claim 4

A metering system according to claim 1 in which the swept volume of said displacement assembly is less than 30 milliliters.

Claim 5

A metering system according to claim 1 in which said displacement assembly is a piston and cylinder assembly of the free piston type with the piston to be driven by the pressure of fluid to be dispensed.

Claim 6

A metering system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is petroleum.

Claim 7

A fluid metering system comprising two sources of fluid under pressure, a dispensing system, operable to execute dispensing strokes under the influence of pressure fluid, valve means operable to selectively connect the dispensing system to either one of said two sources, an outlet line connected to said dispensing system, control means for supplying electrical pulses to control the valve means and actuate the dispensing system to dispense fluid from the connected source and blend selector means for adjusting the ratio of the number of pulses controling dispensing from one of said sources relative to the number of pulses controling dispensing from the other of said sources.

Claim 8

A fluid metering system comprising two sources of fluid under pressure, a dispensing system, operable to execute dispensing strokes under the influence of pressure fluid, valve means operable to selectively connect the dispensing system to either one of said two sources, an outlet line connected to said dispensing system, control means for supplying electrical pulses to control the valve means and actuate the dispensing system to dispense fluid from the connected source and blend selector means for adjusting the ratio of the number of pulses controling dispensing from one of said sources relative to the number of pulses controling dispensing from the other of said sources.

Claim 9

A fluid metering system comprisng fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform dispensing strokes and a valve system by which the parts of the chamber on each side of the displaceable member are connectable to said fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed and a common controller operable electrically to control said valve system and to provide data directly to the indicating means, said controller including a pulse generator, first selector means operable to select the number of pulses to be supplied to the valve system to cause said displaceable member to execute complete dispensing strokes, and second selector means for independently selecting the number of pulses to be supplied to said indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line.

Claim 10

A fluid metering system comprisng fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform dispensing strokes and a valve system by which the parts of the chamber on each side of the displaceable member are connectable to said fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed and a common controller operable electrically to control said valve system and to provide data directly to the indicating means, said controller including a pulse generator, first selector means operable to select the number of pulses to be supplied to the valve system to cause said displaceable member to execute complete dispensing strokes, and second selector means for independently selecting the number of pulses to be supplied to said indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line.

Claim 11

A metering system according to claim 7 in which the indicating means includes a first part for indicating the valve of fluid dispensed and a second part for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed each of the parts being driven by independently selectable numbers of the pulses.

Claim 12

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a piston and cylinder assembly, and a valve system comprising a first set of apertures formed in the cylindrical surface of the piston and opening to one end face thereof and a second set of apertures formed in said cylindrical surface and opening to the other end face of the piston, at least one set of two ports formed in angularly spaced relationship in the wall of the cylinder with one port of the set connected to said outlet line and The other port of the set connected to said fluid supply means, and means for relatively rotating the piston and cylinder to connect the first and second sets of apertures alternately to the first and second ports of said set of ports, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed and a common controller operable to control said valve system to cause said piston to execute complete dispensing strokes and to provide data directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line.

Claim 13

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a piston and cylinder assembly, and a valve system comprising a first set of apertures formed in the cylindrical surface of the piston and opening to one end face thereof and a second set of apertures formed in said cylindrical surface and opening to the other end face of the piston, at least one set of two ports formed in angularly spaced relationship in the wall of the cylinder with one port of the set connected to said outlet line and The other port of the set connected to said fluid supply means, and means for relatively rotating the piston and cylinder to connect the first and second sets of apertures alternately to the first and second ports of said set of ports, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed and a common controller operable to control said valve system to cause said piston to execute complete dispensing strokes and to provide data directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line.

Claim 14

A metering system according to claim 8 including a second set of two ports formed in the wall of the cylinder in angular spaced relationship to each other and to the ports of the first set with one port of said second set connected to said outlet line, and the other port of said second set connected to a second fluid supply means whereby relative rotation between the piston and cylinder in one direction connects one end of the piston to one supply means and relative rotation in the other direction connects that end of the piston to said second supply means.

Claim 15

A metering system according to claim 8 in which one of the apertures and the ports are in the form of slots extending parallel to the length of the piston and cylinder assembly.

Claim 16

A metering system according to claim 8 in which the means for causing relative rotation of the piston and cylinder is electro-magnetic.

Claim 17

A fluid metering system comprising first and second fluid supply means each arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, first and second displacement assemblies each including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of fluid pressure to perform dispensing strokes, a first valve system by which the parts of the chamber of said first assembly on either side of the displaceable member thereof are connectable to said first fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, a second valve system by which the parts of the chamber of said second assembly on either side of the displaceable member thereof are connectable to said second fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed, a common controller operable electrically to control said first and second valve systems and to provide data directly to the indicating means, and blend selector means electrically connecting said controller to said first and second valve systems, said controller including a pulse generator, first selector means operable to select the number of pulses to be supplied through said blend selector means to said first and second valve systems to cause the displaceable members of the first and second displacement assemblies to execute complete dispensing strokes, and second selector means for selecting independently the number of pulses to be supplied to said indicating means, whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line and said blend selector means being operable to select the proportion of the pulses selected by the first selector means for operation of the first valve system and the first displacement assembly and the proportion of the pulses selected by the first selector means for operation of the second valve system and the second displacement assembly.

Claim 18

A fluid metering system comprising first and second fluid supply means each arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, first and second displacement assemblies each including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of fluid pressure to perform dispensing strokes, a first valve system by which the parts of the chamber of said first assembly on either side of the displaceable member thereof are connectable to said first fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, a second valve system by which the parts of the chamber of said second assembly on either side of the displaceable member thereof are connectable to said second fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed, a common controller operable electrically to control said first and second valve systems and to provide data directly to the indicating means, and blend selector means electrically connecting said controller to said first and second valve systems, said controller including a pulse generator, first selector means operable to select the number of pulses to be supplied through said blend selector means to said first and second valve systems to cause the displaceable members of the first and second displacement assemblies to execute complete dispensing strokes, and second selector means for selecting independently the number of pulses to be supplied to said indicating means, whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line and said blend selector means being operable to select the proportion of the pulses selected by the first selector means for operation of the first valve system and the first displacement assembly and the proportion of the pulses selected by the first selector means for operation of the second valve system and the second displacement assembly.

Claim 19

A fluid metering system according to claim 12 in whch the blend selector means is operable incrementally to vary the ratio of said proportion of pulses selected for operation of the first valve system with respect to said proportion of pulses selected for operation of said second valve system.

Claim 20

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber iNto two parts and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform dispensing strokes, and a valve system connected between the two chamber parts and the fluid supply and the outline line and operable in response to a first electrical signal to place one chamber part alternately in communication with said fluid supply means and said outlet line and simultaneously to place the other chamber part alternately in communication with said outlet line and said fluid supply means to cause the displaceable member to make complete dispensing strokes driving metered volumes of fluid through the outlet line, indicating means operable by a second electrical signal to indicate the volume of fluid dispensed, and a controller including means for deriving said first and second electrical signals independently of said dispensing strokes and supplying said first and second electrical signals independently to said valve system and said indicating means respectively.

Claim 21

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber iNto two parts and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform dispensing strokes, and a valve system connected between the two chamber parts and the fluid supply and the outline line and operable in response to a first electrical signal to place one chamber part alternately in communication with said fluid supply means and said outlet line and simultaneously to place the other chamber part alternately in communication with said outlet line and said fluid supply means to cause the displaceable member to make complete dispensing strokes driving metered volumes of fluid through the outlet line, indicating means operable by a second electrical signal to indicate the volume of fluid dispensed, and a controller including means for deriving said first and second electrical signals independently of said dispensing strokes and supplying said first and second electrical signals independently to said valve system and said indicating means respectively.

Claim 22

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform dispensing strokes and a valve system by which the parts of the chamber on each side of the displaceable member are connectable to said fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed, a common controller operable electrically to control said valve system to cause said displaceable member to execute complete dispensing strokes and to provide data derived independently of the dispensing strokes directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line and means for adjusting the number of dispensing strokes performed by the displaceable member relative to the data provided directly to the indicating means whereby the metering system may be calibrated.

Claim 23

A fluid metering system comprising fluid supply means arranged to supply under pressure fluid to be metered, a fluid outlet line for metered fluid, a dispensing system having at least one displacement assembly including a chamber and a displaceable member dividing the chamber and movable therein under the influence of the pressure of said fluid to perform dispensing strokes and a valve system by which the parts of the chamber on each side of the displaceable member are connectable to said fluid supply means and to said outlet line for metered fluid, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed, a common controller operable electrically to control said valve system to cause said displaceable member to execute complete dispensing strokes and to provide data derived independently of the dispensing strokes directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid metered to said outlet line and means for adjusting the number of dispensing strokes performed by the displaceable member relative to the data provided directly to the indicating means whereby the metering system may be calibrated.

Claim 24

A fluid metering system comprising two sources of fluid under pressure, a dispensing system operable to execute dispensing strokes under the influence of pressure fluid, valve means operable selectively to connect the dispensing system to either one of said two sources, an outlet line connected to said dispensing system, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed, a common controller operable electrically to activate the dispensing system to execute complete dispensing strokes under the influence of the fluid pressure of the connected source to dispense fluid from the connected source to said outlet line and to provide data derived independently of the dispensing strokes directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid dispensed to said outlet line and blend selector means operable to control said valve means to select the ratio of the number of dispensing strokes performed under the influence of the fluid pressure of one of said two fluid sources to the number of dispensing strokes performed under the influence of the fluid pressure of the other of said two fluid sources whereby a selected mixture of fluids is dispensed.

Claim 25

A fluid metering system comprising two sources of fluid under pressure, a dispensing system operable to execute dispensing strokes under the influence of pressure fluid, valve means operable selectively to connect the dispensing system to either one of said two sources, an outlet line connected to said dispensing system, indicating means for indicating the volume of fluid dispensed, a common controller operable electrically to activate the dispensing system to execute complete dispensing strokes under the influence of the fluid pressure of the connected source to dispense fluid from the connected source to said outlet line and to provide data derived independently of the dispensing strokes directly to the indicating means whereby the indicating means indicates the quantity of fluid dispensed to said outlet line and blend selector means operable to control said valve means to select the ratio of the number of dispensing strokes performed under the influence of the fluid pressure of one of said two fluid sources to the number of dispensing strokes performed under the influence of the fluid pressure of the other of said two fluid sources whereby a selected mixture of fluids is dispensed.