Modular Pump System Control for Multi-Component Dispensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump systems for dispensing multi-component materials under pressure face significant downtimes and inflexibility due to the need for extensive shutdowns and conversion when individual pumps fail or when changing applications, requiring complex troubleshooting and reconfiguration.
Innovation Solution
A modular pump system design featuring a control device that communicates with multiple operating devices, allowing for autonomous operation of standardized pump devices, enabling continued operation even if one pump fails, and facilitating flexible conversion and remote monitoring and control through data exchange, including wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pump system is designed with multiple pumps and liquid reservoirs for different applications, then the adaptability and versatility of the system is improved, but the device complexity and conversion requirements increase when individual components fail or when changing applications
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into modular pump devices, where each pump device contains a pump and an associated liquid reservoir as independent functional units. This segmentation allows individual pump devices to be replaced or converted without affecting other parts of the system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability for different applications
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system is designed with multiple pump devices that can be configured for different applications and component materials. Each pump device can be independently assigned to different functions, allowing the system to handle multiple applications simultaneously or to be easily reconfigured when application requirements change, thereby achieving universality without proportionally increasing complexity
2Ease of operation
If a pump system is designed with integrated control for all pumps, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases because a single point of failure can shut down the entire system
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into a central control device that communicates with multiple independent operating devices, each assigned to specific pump devices. This allows individual pump devices to operate autonomously with their own operating device, so that failures in one pump device do not propagate to other pump devices, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation through centralized coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple independent operating devices and pump devices. It enables centralized monitoring and control functions while allowing individual operating devices to independently control their assigned pump devices, thus preventing single-point failures from shutting down the entire system while maintaining ease of operation
3Manufacturing precision
If extensive troubleshooting and reconfiguration are required when pumps fail or applications change, then the manufacturing precision and customization are improved, but the loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Pump devices are designed as modular segments with standardized interfaces for component materials and delivery lines. When a pump device fails or application requirements change, individual pump devices can be quickly replaced or reconfigured without extensive troubleshooting of the entire system, significantly reducing downtime while maintaining the ability to customize for different applications through standardized connection interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system is pre-configured with multiple pump devices and liquid reservoirs that are ready for different applications. When application changes are needed, pre-configured pump devices can be quickly switched in without extensive reconfiguration or troubleshooting, reducing downtime while maintaining manufacturing precision through pre-optimized settings for different applications
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a pump system and to a pump system (34) having a pump unit (44) for discharging multi-component material under pressure by way of a spray gun, wherein the pump unit comprises a pump device (12), a mixer (13) and a spray gun (14), wherein the pump device has at least two pumps (16, 17) for delivering component material and respectively associated liquid reservoirs (18, 19) for storing component material, wherein the pump device has an operating device (23), by means of which the pump device is controlled, wherein the pump unit comprises at least one further pump device (35), wherein the pump system has a control device (24), wherein the control device forms a control unit (41) together with the operating devices (23, 40), wherein the pump unit is controlled by means of the control unit.