Fluid dispensing system

Abstract

Methods of pumping fluids and fluid pumping devices and systems are disclosed herein. Systems described herein include an adjustable pump configured to discharge fluid at a plurality of flow rates. The system includes at least one current measurement device communicatively coupled to the pump and configured to measure a current applied to the pump. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the pump and the at least one current measurement device. The controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter of the pump based at least in part on a current measurement measured by the at least one current measurement device.

Description

[0001] The contents of any priority application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 385,742, filed on December 1, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to fluid pumps and systems, and more particularly, to adjustable fluid pumps and systems for beverages. Background Art

[0004] Customized beverages can be made by adding different amounts of sauces, syrups, and flavorings to a base beverage such as coffee or tea. Currently, disposable mechanical pumps as shown in FIG. 1 or reusable mechanical pumps as shown in FIG. 2 are used to dispense sauces, syrups, and flavorings. The sauce, syrup, or flavoring is loaded in the pump containers 2 or 4. The barista pumps the sauce, syrup, or flavoring by manually pressing the pump levers 1 and 3 to dispense a fixed volume of sauce, syrup, or flavoring through the pump nozzles 5 and 6. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate prior art pump containers.

[0006] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example pump system.

[0007] Figure 4 is a graph showing the variation of an example pump inlet pressure for pumping a first fluid and the supplied current over time.

[0008] Figure 5 is a graph showing the variation of an example pump inlet pressure for pumping a first fluid and a second fluid and the supplied current over time.

[0009] Figure 6 is a flowchart of an example process for pumping fluid in a manner of stable volume rate and flow rate.

[0010] Various embodiments are depicted in the drawings for illustrative purposes and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments. Additionally, various features of the different disclosed embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments, which are part of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0011] Coffee or tea beverages typically have a base of coffee or tea extracts, mixed with dairy products, and enhanced with various textures, tastes, flavors, colors, and / or aromas. Different textures, tastes, flavors, colors, and aromas can be created by adding different amounts of ingredients or modifiers (such as sauces, syrups, and flavorings) or adding the same ingredients or modifiers in a different order. For example, to create a menu offering 70 handcrafted coffee beverages, there might be 10 flavorings, 2 syrups, and 7 sauces. Flavorings are typically alcohol-based. Some examples of flavorings are vanilla, toffee nut, and hazelnut. Sauces are usually a blend of multiple ingredients in an aqueous solution. Some examples of sauces are white chocolate mocha, chai, and mocha. Syrups are typically a liquid form of sugar or a sugar-free alternative.

[0012] Currently, disposable mechanical pumps as shown in Figure 1 or reusable mechanical pumps as shown in Figure 2 are used to dispense flavorings, sauces, and syrups. The syrups, sauces, or flavorings are loaded in pump containers 2 and 4. A barista pumps the flavorings, sauces, or syrups by manually pressing pump levers 1 or 2 to dispense a fixed volume of flavorings, sauces, and syrups through pump nozzles 5 and 6.

[0013] One aspect of the present disclosure is the recognition that sauces and syrups sometimes include natural ingredients of agricultural products / crops. Generally, crops exhibit different characteristics between different years, or even between different batches. The sources (such as sugar; beets, sugarcane, etc.) and processing of many crops vary, and these variations can result in inconsistencies in the final raw materials. The inconsistencies in the raw materials can affect the fluid formulation through specific gravity, viscosity, etc.

[0014] The varying characteristics described above can make it difficult to accurately dose / load / dispense these fluids in an open system. An open system includes a predetermined pump speed (power, current) and duration, which can be set to produce the desired dose. However, such a system may not include real-time feedback to the system. This method is sufficient when the medium used is known, but other systems may be required to address the varying medium characteristics.

[0015] The various sauces, syrups, and other liquids used to make beverages can have a variety of viscosities. When making a single-serve beverage, the viscosities of the different types of fluids used as ingredients can vary. For example, a syrup can have a different viscosity than milk. Further, the viscosity of a single type of liquid can vary within a container. For example, due to sedimentation of the fluid, a syrup can have a greater viscosity at the bottom of the surrounding container compared to the top of the container. The viscosity of a syrup can also increase over time. The formulation of the syrup can also change over time, resulting in a change in the viscosity or other properties of the medium. In an automated system, this difference in viscosity can cause a pump to dispense inconsistent volumes of fluid over time because, under the same conditions, more energy is required to dispense a viscous fluid from the pump than a less viscous fluid. To dispense a consistent volume of liquid into a beverage, the pump systems according to the present disclosure can use a variety of systems and methods to compensate for changes in viscosity over time and differences in viscosity between fluids.

[0016] Accordingly, it can be desirable to dispense fluid into a container at a consistent volumetric flow rate to provide a consistent volume of fluid into a beverage over a given period of time. Additionally, in beverage applications where the fluid is dispensed in multiple discrete portions, it is advantageous to maintain a consistent volumetric flow rate between dispensations to ensure a consistent amount of fluid in each portion or dose. Manual systems of pumps such as those shown in FIGS. 1-2 that use a volumetric filling mechanism can provide a generally uniform fluid output when dispensing discrete portions. However, automated systems with non-volumetric filling mechanisms can benefit from the additional configurations disclosed herein to maintain a substantially consistent fluid volume output.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the systems described herein advantageously automate the dispensing of ingredients, modifiers, or enhancers (e.g., sauces, syrups, flavorings, tastes, colors, reducing agents). A variety of devices, systems, and methods are provided for pumping one or more fluids of different viscosities (or viscosities that change over time) at a generally consistent volumetric flow rate. The systems and methods described herein provide a pump system configured to adjust the output volumetric flow rate to compensate for an increase or decrease in the viscosity of the fluid being pumped through the pump system. The system is configured to use data and correlations determined based on previous pumping to maintain a substantially consistent volumetric flow rate. In some examples, the data and correlations can include associating one or more of current, pressure data, and displacement volume to flow rate data.

[0018] As described above, in some examples, the system utilizes continuous pumping, while in some examples, the system utilizes discrete pumping. In a system that utilizes continuous pumping, the system uses pumping data from an earlier time point. For example, the system utilizes current, pressure (pump inlet or outlet), and / or displacement (from the pump) over a determined time period (e.g., 2 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.) to determine current pumping parameters. In a system where the pump utilizes discrete pumping, the system utilizes a previous pumping sequence to determine pumping parameters. For example, the system may utilize current, pressure (pump inlet or outlet), and / or displacement (from the pump) from one or more previous pumping sequences to estimate an appropriate pump speed and / or duration to displace a desired volume of fluid. In an example system that utilizes continuous pumping, determining pumping parameters in this way provides the system with a means to generally maintain a desired output volume flow rate. In an example that utilizes discrete pumping, this configuration provides a means to displace fluid at a desired volume flow rate for subsequent discrete pumping sequences such that the pump displaces a generally uniform volume of fluid in each pumping sequence. In some examples, pumping data may be stored and associated with certain conditions to provide information for future pumping sequences. For example, data reflecting a particular current load characteristic (e.g., rate of change) may be associated with a certain corresponding working fluid viscosity. As such, the data may later be referenced and used to provide desired pumping characteristics.

[0019] Figure 3 Shown is a system 300 for dispensing fluid, which includes an adjustable pump 302, a current measuring device 304 communicatively coupled to the pump 300, a controller 306 communicatively coupled to the pump 302 and the current measuring device 304, a pressure measuring device 311 that may include an inlet pressure sensor 308 and / or an outlet pressure sensor 310, and a displacement measuring device 313 that measures the displacement of the adjustable pump 302.

[0020] The pump 302 is used to transfer fluid from a fluid reservoir to a container, such as a cup or a mixing device, etc. In Figure 3In the example shown, pump 302 includes an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface that defines a passage between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet of pump 302 is in fluid communication with the outlet of pump 302 such that fluid entering the inlet of pump 302 can be discharged through the outlet of pump 302. Pump 302 also includes an electric motor. The motor is configured to drive pump 302 at various speeds to vary the flow rate through the pump. The speed of the motor depends on the amount of electric current supplied to the motor. For example, as the current supplied to the motor increases, pump 302 can increase the flow rate through the pump, and as the current supplied to the motor decreases, pump 302 can decrease the flow rate through pump 302. Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, by increasing the time of motor operation, pump 302 can increase the output flow rate. Pump 302 can be configured to operate in a discrete sequence manner such that pump 302 can discharge a desired discrete volume of fluid depending on the number of the sequence. However, in some examples, the pump is a continuous pump, such as an impeller pump, which can operate at a specific speed and / or duration to control the flow rate. In other examples, the pump can be any type of pump capable of discharging a viscous liquid through it. Pump 302 includes an electrical input terminal configured to receive an electric current. In Figure 3 In the example shown, the electrical input terminal is an electrical lead. However, in other examples, the electrical input terminal can be any mechanism capable of receiving an electric current and capable of transmitting the current at a current corresponding to the received current. For example, the electrical input terminal can transmit the received current at the same current or at a current corresponding to a ratio of the input current.

[0021] As described above, in some examples, the pump is a continuous flow pump, while in other examples, the pump is a reciprocating pump, such as a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump. Pump 302 can be driven using an electric motor. In examples including a reciprocating pump, the pump can be motor-driven such that the motor presses down and releases the pump sequentially to periodically discharge fluid. For example, the motor used to press down the pump can include a cam feature that extends perpendicularly from the center axis of the rotation axis of the motor such that when the motor rotates, the cam structure presses down the pump at least once in each complete rotation of the motor.

[0022] In some examples, system 300 also includes a fluid reservoir. In some examples, the inlet of pump 302 is fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir can be used to hold the required fluid that will be sucked into the inlet of pump 302 and discharged through pump 302. In some examples, the fluid reservoir is a plastic container or any other container suitable for holding a perishable edible liquid. The fluid reservoir can be fluidically sealed with the inlet of pump 302 such that pump 302 can create a vacuum to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir. The output of the pump can be delivered to a nozzle for delivering the substance inside the pump to a beverage container.

[0023] The current measurement device 304 is used to determine the current applied to the pump 302 at a given time. The current measurement device 304 receives a current input such that the current supplied to the pump 302 is substantially the same as the current supplied to the current measurement device 304. Thus, the current measurement device 304 provides a mechanism for the system 300 to monitor the current, which can be used to determine the power and duration consumed to move the fluid through the pump 302. In addition, this power determination can be associated with or used in combination with additional data, such as data from one or more of the pressure sensors 308, 310 (described in further detail below). The current measurement device 304 is configured to measure the current and transmit the current measurement results in real time to the controller 306 (described in further detail below). Thus, when the current supplied to the pump 302 changes, the current measurement device 304 transmits the change in current to the controller 306, enabling the controller 306 to perform various functions based on the change in current. For example, the controller 306 can send a control signal to the pump 302, associate the current measurement results with predetermined data such as the working viscosity of the fluid, and associate the current measurement results with other measured parameters such as volumetric flow rate, displacement, inlet pressure, and outlet pressure. Although the current measurement device 304 is configured to measure the current and transmit the current measurement results to the controller 306 in real time, in some examples, a current measurement device that transmits the measurement results to various receivers at various time intervals can be used. For example, the current measurement device 304 can transmit the current measurement results to a remote server for association with corresponding data, or use the current measurement results as training data for machine learning.

[0024] In Figure 3 the example shown, the current measurement device 304 is a current probe integrated into the controller 306. The current probe is adjacent to the electrical input of the pump 302 such that the current probe receives a current measurement result substantially similar to the current entering the electrical input. Although Figure 3 the current measurement device 304 in the example shown is a current probe, in some examples, the current measurement device is any device capable of measuring the current at a given location. Although in Figure 3 the example shown, the current measurement device 304 is integrated with the controller 306, in some examples, the current measurement device 304 is located away from the controller 306 and communicates with the controller 306 electronically and / or wirelessly.

[0025] As described above, in some instances, such as Figure 3The system 300 shown includes a pressure measurement device. In some examples, the pressure measurement device 311 can be used in combination with the current measurement device 304 to provide additional accuracy for system measurements such as fluid flow rate and fluid viscosity. In some examples, the pressure measurement device 311 can make measurements to provide data for calculating an additional information set. The pressure measurement device 311 is a device that determines the pressure at the inlet and / or outlet of the pump 302.

[0026] The pressure entering or exiting the pump 302 can vary as the pump 302 receives power at different current levels. The pressure of the fluid exiting the pump 302 also changes with the nature of the fluid being discharged from the pump 302. For example, a certain amount of energy can be used to discharge a highly viscous fluid. Using the same amount of energy, the highly viscous fluid can be discharged at a different pressure than a low-viscosity fluid. The pressure measurement device 311 can measure this pressure at a given time. The pressure measurement device can further transmit the fluid pressure to the controller 306. In an example as Figure 3 shown, the pressure measurement device 311 is the first pressure sensor 308 (inlet pressure sensor) and / or the second pressure sensor 310 (outlet pressure sensor). In Figure 3 the example shown, the inlet pressure sensor is disposed adjacent to the inlet of the pump 302 such that the inlet pressure sensor 308 can measure the fluid pressure at the inlet of the pump 302. The outlet pressure sensor 310 is disposed adjacent to the outlet of the pump 302 such that the outlet pressure sensor 310 can measure the fluid pressure at the outlet of the pump 302. Thus, in certain embodiments, the controller 306 can determine the pressure change of the fluid passing through the pump 302 based at least in part on the difference between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure of the pump 302.

[0027] The controller 306 is configured to at least partially regulate pump operating parameters (e.g., pump operating speed and / or duration) to control the flow rate through the pump 302. In some examples, the controller 306 may determine the fluid flow rate of the fluid discharged from the pump 302 and determine the viscosity of the fluid based on the measured current and / or pressure measurements. The controller 306 is also configured to control the pump operating speed and / or the pump duration 302 at a given time to control the fluid flow rate of the fluid discharged from the pump 302. For example, based on the measured current and / or pressure, the controller 306 may determine that the working fluid in the pump 302 has an increased viscosity. The controller 306 may determine to increase the pump operating speed and / or duration to maintain the desired volume delivered from the pump 302. In some examples, the controller 306 may determine the working fluid characteristics based on the association of the current data and / or pressure data with a table including the working fluid properties. In some examples, the controller 306 may send a signal to the pump 302 in response to the current and / or pressure measurement signals to increase the amount of power supplied to the pump 302. Thus, the controller 306 may stably maintain the amount of power until the controller 306 receives an indication from the current measuring device and / or the pressure measuring device that the fluid is being pumped at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate. Then, the controller 306 may send a signal to increase the amount of power supplied to the pump 302 until the flow rate reaches the desired flow rate. The controller 306 may determine the amount of power supplied and determine to use that amount of power for subsequent pumping.

[0028] The controller 306 may continue to implement at least one of the above sequences to pump the fluid at a generally consistent volumetric flow rate. In some examples as described above, the pump 302 distributes the fluid in discrete sequences, such as operating the pump at predetermined time intervals. Thus, the controller 306 may determine the fluid flow rate and energy output for each pumping sequence and regulate the energy supplied to the pump 302 such that an appropriate amount of power is provided to subsequent sequences to maintain the fluid flow rate at a given viscosity. The provided parameters may be used to preset future sequences of this system or different future systems. For example, certain parameters may be associated with a certain fluid type as described above. Thus, the system 300 may be adjusted to the desired parameters when the current input is related to the associated fluid type to be pumped through the system 300. For example, in an example system of a dispenser including a sensing or reading device that can identify the ingredients being loaded into a modular dispenser, the controller 306 may determine the desired current supplied to the pump 302 based on predetermined data or data received from the flow rate sensor and / or the current measuring device 304. Thus, the system may be adapted to pre-accommodate the fluid discharged from the pump 302.

[0029] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is an example graph showing the pump inlet pressure of a pump actively pumping fluid;Figure 4 and Figure 5 also shows the current supplied to the pump at a particular operating speed. Figure 4 is an example graph showing the variation of the pump inlet pressure 402 and the supplied current 404 over time when pumping a first fluid. Figure 4 shows a substantially consistent inlet pressure 402 applied to the pump and a generally constant current 404. Figure 4 Further shows a spike in the current 404 that is substantially correlated with the spike in the measured pressure 402. This spike is related to the change in the fluid and causes the motor to accelerate. Figure 5 is an example graph showing the variation of the pump inlet pressure 502 and the supplied current 504 over time in the case where the fluid changes from a first fluid to a second fluid. Figure 5 also shows a spike in the current 504 that is substantially correlated with the spike in the measured pressure 502. This spike is related to the change in the fluid, and the resulting motor acceleration shows a fluid with a greater viscosity compared to the Figure 4 fluid used in. In some examples, the spike in the current 504 can be attributed to various fluid or component characteristics, such as an example using a non-Newtonian fluid.

[0030] As Figure 5 shown, the inlet pressure exhibits an upward and downward trend. More specifically, Figure 5 shows an upward and downward trend related to the fluid change from a lower viscosity fluid to a higher viscosity fluid. Thus, Figure 5 shows that when the inlet pressure 502 increases with the fluid change, the current 504 applied to the pump also increases. The shown correlation between the fluid pressure 502 in the pump and the current 504 supplied to the pump shows a mechanism for providing flow rate consistency based on current measurement results, and can be used to correlate the current 504 and / or pressure 502 with viscosity. Such information can be used to generate formulas or look-up tables that the controller can use to determine viscosity and / or adjust pump operating parameters (e.g., pump speed and / or duration) so as to deliver a substantially constant amount of fluid even when the fluid viscosity changes.

[0031] In Figure 6 the example shown, an example process 600 of pumping fluid at a stable volumetric flow rate is shown.

[0032] At 602, the controller 306 sends a control signal to the pump 302 to discharge the fluid at a first flow rate by at least partially causing the pump 302 to receive a first electrical load.

[0033] The first electrical load is a predetermined electrical load estimated to discharge an expected fluid from the pump 302 at a desired volumetric flow rate. For example, the electrical load can be determined to pump syrup at a flow rate sufficient to fill one fluid ounce per second. However, in other examples, the controller 306 sends a control signal to the power supply to cause the pump to discharge fluid from the outlet at a non-fluid-specific flow rate that can be adjusted over time.

[0034] At 604, the controller 306 monitors the electrical load of the motor of the pump 304. The controller 306 receives data from the current measuring device 304, which, as described above, indicates the current flowing to the pump 302. The electrical load can be measured in real time to indicate changes in the current supplied to the pump 302.

[0035] At 606, the controller 306 sends a control signal to the pump 302 to discharge fluid at a first flow rate by at least partially causing the pump 302 to receive a second electrical load different from the first electrical load. The second electrical load is an electrical load estimated to discharge the expected fluid from the pump 302 at a volumetric flow rate substantially the same as the first volumetric flow rate. For example, the second electrical load can be determined to pump syrup at a flow rate sufficient to fill one fluid ounce per second based on a working fluid having different fluid properties from the working fluid pumped using the first electrical load.

[0036] As described above, in some examples, the system 300 can utilize at least one sensor, such as one of the fluid flow rate measuring device 311 and the displacement measuring device 313, to provide additional measurement accuracy and / or capabilities. In some examples, the controller 306 determines the pump flow rate at least in part based on the pump input pressure measurement and the pump output pressure measurement. As described above, the controller 306 can calculate the flow rate of the fluid discharged through the pump 302 based on the difference between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure. The controller 306 determines that the dynamic flow rate of the fluid discharged from the pump is different from the first flow rate. In some examples, the controller 306 can also determine the pump flow rate at least in part based on the displacement at the inlet or outlet of the pump 302. In some examples, the controller 306 determines the viscosity of the working fluid within the pump 302 based on the combination of the fluid flow rate and the measured electrical load as described above. The controller 306 can modify the input data and the determination of the input parameters of the pump 302 based on the viscosity data. Thus, the electrical load and / or the running time applied to the pump 302 can be adjusted to compensate for changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

[0037] In some examples, the controller 306 receives updated electrical input data that includes electrical input measurements of a second electrical load. The controller 306 can then determine to use the second electrical load for a subsequent pumping sequence to discharge the fluid at a first fluid flow rate. In some examples, the controller 306 can cause the pump 302 to stop discharging the fluid and end the first pumping cycle. The controller 306 can then cause the pump 302 to resume discharging the fluid in a second pumping cycle using previously measured parameters (such as the second electrical load). In some examples, the system 300 can store data and / or transmit data to a processor that can correlate or use the data in future pumping cycles to compensate for a determined fluid having a determined viscosity. In some examples, the processor is a local processor, while in other examples, the processor is a remote processor.

[0038] Although specific embodiments have been described herein in connection with flavorants, sauces, or syrups for coffee or tea beverages, the systems described herein can be used with any type of ingredient or food product. For example, in some embodiments, the systems herein can be used to dispense fluid or solid ingredients such as ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, cheese sauce, seasonings, onions, etc. In some embodiments, the systems herein can be used to prepare other types of beverages such as soda, juice, smoothies, milkshakes, etc.

[0039] Conditional language used herein, such as: "can", "could", "may", "for example", etc., unless specifically stated otherwise or otherwise understood within the context in which it is used, is generally intended to clarify that some embodiments include certain features, elements, or states that other embodiments do not include. Thus, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that one or more embodiments require, in any way, these features, elements, blocks, and / or states, or that one or more embodiments must include means for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether to include or to perform these features, elements, and / or states in any particular embodiment.

[0040] Depending on the embodiment, certain actions, events, or functions of any of the processes or algorithms described herein can be performed in a different order, can be added, combined, or entirely omitted (e.g., not all described operations or events are necessary for the practice of the algorithm). Additionally, in some embodiments, the operations or events can be performed simultaneously.

[0041] The various illustrative logical blocks, modular allocators, routines, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modular allocators, and steps have been generally described above in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. For each particular application, the described functionality may be implemented in different ways, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] In addition, the various illustrative logical blocks, devices, and systems associated with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or executed by a machine, such as a general purpose processor device, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor device may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor device may be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, or combinations thereof, etc. The processor device may include circuitry configured to process computer executable instructions. In another embodiment, the processor device includes an FPGA or other programmable device that performs logical operations without processing computer executable instructions. The processor device may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Although described herein primarily in terms of digital technology, the processor device may also primarily include analog components. For example, some or all of the signal processing algorithms described herein may be implemented in analog circuitry or in hybrid analog and digital circuitry. The computing environment may include any type of computer system, including but not limited to a microprocessor-based computer system, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, a portable computing device, a device controller, or a computing engine within a device, etc.

[0043] Elements of the methods, processes, routines, or algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor device, or in a combination of both. The software modules may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor device such that the processor device can read information from, or write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integrated into the processor device. The processor device and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor device and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a client terminal.

[0044] Although the foregoing detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out the novel features applied to the various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices or algorithms shown may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, although different numbers have been used for similar components or features in different figures (e.g., different numbers have been used for the dispenser module, the display, the controller, etc.), the structural and functional features described in connection with an element of one figure, embodiment, or number may be incorporated into different numbered components or features, and vice versa. It will be understood that certain embodiments described herein may be embodied in a form that does not set forth all of the features and benefits described herein, since some features may be used or practiced separately from other features. The scope of certain embodiments disclosed herein is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that fall within the meaning and range of the equivalents of the claims should be included within their scope.

Claims

1. A fluid pump system, comprising: An adjustable pump configured to discharge fluid at a plurality of flow rates; At least one current measuring device communicatively coupled to the pump and configured to measure the current applied to the pump; And A controller communicatively coupled to the pump and the at least one current measuring device; Wherein the controller is configured to adjust an operating parameter of the pump at least in part based on a measurement of the current measured by the at least one current measuring device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein The operating parameter is the operating speed of the pump.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The operating parameter is the duration of pump operation.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The operating parameter is the duration of pump operation and the operating speed of the pump.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure measuring device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein, The controller is configured to adjust the operating parameter of the pump at least in part based on the pressure measured by the at least one force measuring device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein, The at least one pressure measuring device includes at least one of an inlet pressure sensor and an outlet pressure sensor.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one exhaust gas measurement device communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein, The controller is configured to adjust the operating parameter of the pump at least in part based on the discharge volume measured by the at least one discharge measuring device.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is configured to cause the pump to discharge fluid at a substantially uniform volumetric flow rate over a period of time at least in part based on the current measurement.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is configured to dynamically adjust the electrical load applied to the pump during operation of the pump.

10. A method of pumping fluid, comprising: Sending a control signal to a pump; Monitoring the current supplied to a motor of the pump; And Modifying an operating parameter of the pump in response to a change in the current supplied to the pump.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a working fluid viscosity at least in part based on the current of the motor.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Determining the working fluid viscosity includes correlating the current of the motor with at least one fluid viscosity.

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