Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
In a liquid pumping system, including a pump chamber which may exhibit compliance and which is operable in a filling cycle and in a pumping cycle, apparatus comprising: means for measuring the pressure within said chamber during filling and during pumping; and means for determining the portion of a cycle over which the pressure within said chamber is undergoing a transition between a substantially constant pumping pressure and a substantially constant filling pressure; wherein the ratio of said portion to said total cycle indicates the compliance of said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a liquid pumping system, including a pump chamber which may exhibit compliance and which is operable in a filling cycle and in a pumping cycle, apparatus comprising: means for measuring the pressure within said chamber during filling and during pumping; and means for determining the portion of a cycle over which the pressure within said chamber is undergoing a transition between a substantially constant pumping pressure and a substantially constant filling pressure; wherein the ratio of said portion to said total cycle indicates the compliance of said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: means for determining the ratio of said portion to said total cycle; and means for calculating the product of said ratio and the nominal volume of said chamber to determine the volume of liquid not pumped by reason of compliance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 2, further comprising: means for subtracting said volume of liquid not pumped by reason of compliance from said nominal volume of said chamber to determine the volume of liquid pumped by said system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said portion of a cycle is a portion of said filling cycle, and wherein said total cycle is the total filling cycle.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for measuring the compliance of a liquid pumping chamber in which for displacing liquid is moved into and out of said chamber in alternating pumping and filling cycles comprising the steps of: (a) measuring a substantially constant pumping pressure level; (b) measuring a substantially constant filling pressure level; (c) measuring the change in displacement of said displacing means as the pressure undergoes a transition between said pumping and filling pressure levels; and (d) dividing the difference between said pumping and filling pressure levels by said change in displacement to obtain a measure of compliance.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for measuring the compliance of a liquid pumping chamber in which for displacing liquid is moved into and out of said chamber in alternating pumping and filling cycles comprising the steps of: (a) measuring a substantially constant pumping pressure level; (b) measuring a substantially constant filling pressure level; (c) measuring the change in displacement of said displacing means as the pressure undergoes a transition between said pumping and filling pressure levels; and (d) dividing the difference between said pumping and filling pressure levels by said change in displacement to obtain a measure of compliance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: (e) dividing said measure of compliance by the total displacement change of said displacing means during the cycle in which said change in displacement was measured to obtain a compliance ratio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: (f) multiplying said compliance ratio by the nominal volume of said chamber to determine the volume of liquid not pumped by reason of compliance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of: (g) subtracting said volume of liquid not pumped by reason of compliance from said nominal volume to determine the volume of liquid pumped.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of operating a liquid pumping system which includes a pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet, with a valve located at said outlet which opens upon the attainment of a given pressure level within said chamber, said pumping system being operable in a filling operation during which said chamber is filled with liquid, and in a pumping operation during which pressure is applied to the liquid within said chamber, comprising: operating said pumping system at a predetermined rate during said filling operation; operating said pumping system at a predetermined rate during an initial portion of said pumping operation until said given pressure level is attained; and thereafter, during the pumping operation, operating said pumping system at a rate which provides a desired flow of liquid.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of operating a liquid pumping system which includes a pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet, with a valve located at said outlet which opens upon the attainment of a given pressure level within said chamber, said pumping system being operable in a filling operation during which said chamber is filled with liquid, and in a pumping operation during which pressure is applied to the liquid within said chamber, comprising: operating said pumping system at a predetermined rate during said filling operation; operating said pumping system at a predetermined rate during an initial portion of said pumping operation until said given pressure level is attained; and thereafter, during the pumping operation, operating said pumping system at a rate which provides a desired flow of liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each of said predetermined rates are greater than said rate which provides a desired flow of liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10, wherein each of said predetermined rates are equal to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a liquid pumping system, apparatus for controlling the speed of a continuous D.C. pump motor which is energized by a continuous D.C. voltage comprising: means for detecting motor movement; means for calculating a speed control factor based upon a desired pumping rate; a source of signals which recur at a predetermined rate; counter means which is incremented in correspondence with said recurring signals, and which is decremented in correspondence with detected motor movement and said speed control factor, to produce a motor control signal; and means for energizing said D.C. pump motor with a D.C. voltage in response to said motor control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a liquid pumping system, apparatus for controlling the speed of a continuous D.C. pump motor which is energized by a continuous D.C. voltage comprising: means for detecting motor movement; means for calculating a speed control factor based upon a desired pumping rate; a source of signals which recur at a predetermined rate; counter means which is incremented in correspondence with said recurring signals, and which is decremented in correspondence with detected motor movement and said speed control factor, to produce a motor control signal; and means for energizing said D.C. pump motor with a D.C. voltage in response to said motor control signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The liquid pumping system of claim 12, wherein said means for detecting motor movement comprises a position sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The liquid pumping system of claim 13, wherein said counter means is decremented by an amount K whenever a change in motor position in a given direction is detected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The liquid pumping system of claim 14, wherein said recurring signals are represented by a term N, said changes in motor position are represented by a term P, and said motor control signal is represented by the expression N minus K times P.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The liquid pumping system of claim 14, wherein said means for energizing said motor includes a digital to analog converter and a pulse width modulator.