US5332366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concrete pump monitoring system
Assignee: Schwing Bioset Inc
•
Filing: 1993-01-22
•
Granted: 1994-07-26
•
Expires: 2013-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A system for monitoring the transport of concrete includes a computer, pump sensors, and a positive displacement pump for pumping concrete through a pipeline. The monitoring system senses and records the number of pump strokes and the pumping pressure during each pump stroke. The actual volume and instantaneous pumping rates of concrete pumped during each pump stroke are calculated. Based upon a calculated velocity and upon the pressure of the concrete being pumped, the monitoring system provides predicted component wear information for maintenance scheduling and warranty verification.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:14
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; F; F04; F04B; F04B15/00; F04B15/02; F04B49/00; F04B49/06; F04B49/065; F04B2201/00; F04B2201/02; F04B2201/0201; F04B2201/04; F04B2201/0402; F04B2201/0406; F04B2203/00; F04B2203/09; F04B2203/0902; F04B2205/00; F04B2205/05; F04B2205/09; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S417/00; Y10S417/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement concrete pump having an inlet for receiving concrete and an outlet at which concrete is delivered under pressure, the method comprising: sensing a parameter which bears a known relationship to an actual volume of concrete delivered under pressure from a material cylinder of the pump; determining velocity information as a function of the parameter sensed, the velocity information being related to a velocity of concrete delivered under pressure from the material cylinder of the pump; and predicting wear on pump components as a function of the determined velocity information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement concrete pump having an inlet for receiving concrete and an outlet at which concrete is delivered under pressure, the method comprising: sensing a parameter which bears a known relationship to an actual volume of concrete delivered under pressure from a material cylinder of the pump; determining velocity information as a function of the parameter sensed, the velocity information being related to a velocity of concrete delivered under pressure from the material cylinder of the pump; and predicting wear on pump components as a function of the determined velocity information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising: updating a pump maintenance schedule as a function of predicted wear on pump components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein determining velocity information further comprises: determining an average velocity of concrete delivered under pressure from the material cylinder of the pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 wherein predicting wear on pump components further comprises: sensing a pressure indicative parameter which bears a known relationship to a pressure of concrete delivered under pressure from the material cylinder of the pump; determining pressure information as a function of the sensed pressure indicative parameter, the pressure information being related to a pressure of concrete delivered from the material cylinder of the pump; and predicting wear on pump components as a function of both the determined velocity information and the determined pressure information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein determining pressure information further comprises: determining an average pressure of concrete delivered from the material cylinder of the pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising: generating pump maintenance information as a function of the predicted wear on pump components.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder concrete pump which receives concrete at a pump inlet during filling stroked and delivers concrete to a pipeline at a pump outlet during pumping strokes, the method comprising: sensing a parameter which bears a known relationship to a flow of concrete out of a cylinder of the pump; determining from the parameter sensed an actual volume of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump; determining velocity information as a function of the actual volume of concrete delivered to the pipeline, the velocity information being related to a velocity of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump; predicting wear on pump components as a function of the velocity information; and providing an output signal as a function of the predicted wear on components of the pump and pipeline.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of monitoring operation of a positive displacement piston/cylinder concrete pump which receives concrete at a pump inlet during filling stroked and delivers concrete to a pipeline at a pump outlet during pumping strokes, the method comprising: sensing a parameter which bears a known relationship to a flow of concrete out of a cylinder of the pump; determining from the parameter sensed an actual volume of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump; determining velocity information as a function of the actual volume of concrete delivered to the pipeline, the velocity information being related to a velocity of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump; predicting wear on pump components as a function of the velocity information; and providing an output signal as a function of the predicted wear on components of the pump and pipeline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the output signal represents predicted wear on components of the pump and pipeline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the output signal represents a predicted quantity of concrete which may be pumped before pump and pipeline components will require maintenance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 and further comprising: generating warranty information as a function of the output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein determining velocity information further comprises: determining an average velocity of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 7 wherein predicting wear on components of the pump and pipeline further comprises: sensing a pressure indicative parameter which bears a known relationship to a pressure of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump; determining pressure information as a function of the sensed pressure indicative parameter, the pressure information being related to a pressure of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump; and predicting wear on components of the pump and pipeline as a function of the velocity information and as a function of the pressure information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein determining pressure information further comprises: determining an average pressure of concrete delivered to the pipeline from the cylinder of the pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3650638A
Cited
US4465441A
Cited
US4472118A
Cited
US4611973A
Cited
US4545736A
Cited
US4605356A
Cited
US4543044A
Cited
US4681513A
Cited
US4790728A
Cited
US4781066A
Cited
US5222867A
Cited
US4850805A
Cited
US4938054A
Cited
US5106272A
Cited
US5257912A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-01-24 | 1998-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-01-24 | 2002-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-25 | 2006-01-24 | 2006-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |