Reciprocating Pump with Electronically Monitored Air Valve and Piston

Abstract

An air operated pump 10 uses a magnet 14 mounted in the valve cup 16 of the air motor 18 and two reed sensors 20 mounted in the valve cover 22 to monitor the speed and position of the valve 16. A solenoid 24 is mounted on the valve cover 22 and can be commanded to extend a plunger 26 into the valve cup 16 to stop valve movement and therefore the pump from running away. A magnetoresistive sensor 34 is located in the center of the air motor 18 to precisely monitor the piston 36 position and with air valve sensors 20 provides the input necessary for precise control and diagnostics of the pump 10 and makes it suitable for metering and plural component application.

1 . An air operated pump having an air valve with an valve cup and a valve cover, the improvement comprising:
 a magnet mounted in said valve cup of said air motor; and   first and second reed sensors mounted in the valve cover to monitor the speed and position of the valve.   
   
   
       2 . The air operated pump of  claim 1  further comprising a solenoid having a plunger and being mounted on said valve cover said solenoid being capable of extending said plunger into said valve cup to stop valve movement and therefore the pump from running away. 
   
   
       3 . The air operated pump of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface monitoring said reed sensors to allow the display of various parameters. 
   
   
       4 . The air operated pump of  claim 3  wherein said parameters may include cycle rate, flow rate, total cycles and diagnostic errors. 
   
   
       5 . The air operated pump of  claim 1  wherein said air operated pump comprises a piston and further comprising a sensor for sensing the position of said piston. 
   
   
       6 . The air operated pump of  claim 5  wherein said sensor comprises a magnetoresistive sensor.