IP Library Granted Patent US 12693692
Granted Patent B2
US 12693692 · App. 18/851,821 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Fluid handling protection system

Inventors: Daniel Schmitz (Scottsdale, AZ); Scott Powers (Scottsdale, AZ); Eric Donaldson (Scottsdale, AZ)
Assignee: Binks US, LLC
G05D16/024F04B49/20F04C14/28F04B49/065F04B2205/01F04C2/10F04C11/00F04C14/08F04C18/08F04C2270/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693692
App. No.
18/851,821
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid handling protection system configured to prevent cavitation in a first pump can include a first pump, a first pump fluid inlet line, a first pump fluid outlet line, a first pump drive unit, wherein the first pump drive unit is operatively coupled to the first pump, a first pressure sensor, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is operatively coupled to the first sensor and the first pump drive unit.

Claims (55)

1 . A system comprising:

a first pump;

a first pump fluid inlet line;

a first pump fluid outlet line;

a first pump drive unit, wherein the first pump drive unit is operatively coupled to the first pump;

a first pressure sensor;

a control unit, wherein the control unit is operatively coupled to the first sensor and the first pump drive unit;

wherein the control unit, in operation, continuously receives, in real time, a first pressure signal from the first pressure sensor;

wherein the control unit is configured to compare the first pressure signal with a first pressure threshold;

wherein the first pressure threshold represents a minimum inlet pressure;

wherein the first pressure threshold is based on a real time first pump speed; and

wherein the first pressure threshold comprises a lower first pressure setpoint and a higher first pressure setpoint, wherein the first pressure threshold is dynamic and has a first direct relationship between 0% first pump speed as a maximum at the lower first pressure setpoint and 100% pump speed as a maximum at the higher first pressure setpoint.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first fluid source comprising a first fluid, wherein the first pump is in fluid communication with the first fluid source via the first pump fluid inlet line.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first pressure sensor is located within the first fluid inlet line.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive the real time first pump speed from the first pump drive unit, and based on detection that the first pressure signal is below the first pump threshold, lower the speed of the first pump via communication to the first pump drive unit such that the first pump speed does not exceed the first pressure threshold.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first direct relationship is linear.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lower first pressure setpoint is programmable by an operator at the control unit.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the higher first pressure setpoint is programmable by an operator at the control unit.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the control unit is preset with a lower first pressure setpoint at 5 psi and a higher first pressure setpoint at 60 psi.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pump is a gear pump.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a first inlet pressure generating mechanism, wherein the first inlet pressure generating mechanism is an elevation system, transfer pump, or combination thereof.

11 . A system comprising:

a first pump;

a first pump fluid inlet line;

a first pump fluid outlet line;

a first pump drive unit, wherein the first pump drive unit is operatively coupled to the first pump;

a first pressure sensor;

a control unit, wherein the control unit is operatively coupled to the first sensor and the first pump drive unit;

wherein the control unit, in operation, continuously receives, in real time, a first pressure signal from the first pressure sensor;

wherein the control unit is configured to compare the first pressure signal with a first pressure threshold;

wherein the first pressure threshold represents a minimum inlet pressure;

wherein the first pressure threshold is based on a real time first pump speed; wherein the first pressure threshold comprises a lower first pressure setpoint and a higher first pressure setpoint, wherein the first pressure threshold is dynamic and has a first direct relationship between 0% first pump speed as a maximum at the lower first pressure setpoint and 100% pump speed as a maximum at the higher first pressure setpoint;

a first fluid source comprising a first fluid, wherein the first pump is in fluid communication with the first fluid source via the first pump fluid inlet line; and

wherein the lower first pressure setpoint is programmable by an operator at the control unit.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first pressure sensor is located within the first fluid inlet line.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive the real time first pump speed from the first pump drive unit, and based on detection that the first pressure signal is below the first pump threshold, lower the speed of the first pump via communication to the first pump drive unit such that the first pump speed does not exceed the first pressure threshold.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first direct relationship is linear.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the higher first pressure setpoint is programmable by an operator at the control unit.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the control unit is preset with a lower first pressure setpoint at 5 psi and a higher first pressure setpoint at 60 psi.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first pump is a gear pump.

18 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a first inlet pressure generating mechanism, wherein the first inlet pressure generating mechanism is an elevation system, transfer pump, or combination thereof.

19 . A system comprising:

a first pump;

a first pump fluid inlet line;

a first pump fluid outlet line;

a first pump drive unit, wherein the first pump drive unit is operatively coupled to the first pump;

a first pressure sensor;

a control unit, wherein the control unit is operatively coupled to the first sensor and the first pump drive unit;

wherein the control unit, in operation, continuously receives, in real time, a first pressure signal from the first pressure sensor;

wherein the control unit is configured to compare the first pressure signal with a first pressure threshold;

wherein the first pressure threshold represents a minimum inlet pressure;

wherein the first pressure threshold is based on a real time first pump speed; and wherein the first pressure threshold comprises a lower first pressure setpoint and a higher first pressure setpoint, wherein the first pressure threshold is dynamic and has a first direct relationship between 0% first pump speed as a maximum at the lower first pressure setpoint and 100% pump speed as a maximum at the higher first pressure setpoint;

wherein the higher first pressure setpoint is programmable by an operator at the control unit; and

wherein the first pressure sensor is located within the first fluid inlet line.

20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a first fluid source comprising a first fluid, wherein the first pump is in fluid communication with the first fluid source via the first pump fluid inlet line.