Pneumatic Landfill Pump Cycle Counter with Magnetic Shuttle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pumps, such as groundwater sampling pumps, face inaccuracies in cycle counting due to the shuttle's long travel distance causing multiple state changes and the need for calibration for each well condition, leading to erroneous data on the volume and flow rate of pumped fluids.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter with a spring-actuated shuttle and magnetic field-responsive counter, featuring a snub-nose profile and brace to prevent over-counting, accurately increments cycles by moving between home and hold positions within a housing passage, passively detecting gas flow phases without controlling the pump operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the shuttle travels a long distance from home position to equilibrium position, then the pump cycle can be detected, but the reed switch changes state multiple times causing over-counting
Solution Approach 1:
The passage is segmented into distinct zones with magnetic fields positioned at specific locations (home position zone and equilibrium position zone). The shuttle's long travel path is divided into segments, with each segment containing a magnetic field that triggers a state change. This ensures that even though the shuttle travels a long distance, it only triggers state changes at specific predetermined locations, preventing over-counting while maintaining accurate cycle detection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reed switch is used to detect shuttle position, then the cycle can be counted, but calibration is needed for each well condition
Solution Approach 1:
The counter system performs self-calibration by detecting the magnetic field positions automatically during operation. The microprocessor monitors the shuttle's movement and identifies the home and equilibrium positions based on where the magnetic fields are detected, eliminating the need for manual calibration for each well condition. The system adapts to different well conditions automatically while maintaining accurate cycle counting.
3Reliability
If the shuttle moves freely between positions, then the pump operation is detected, but over-counting occurs due to multiple state changes
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic fields act as intermediaries between the shuttle's physical movement and the reed switch's state changes. Instead of the reed switch directly detecting the shuttle's position along the entire travel path, the magnetic fields are positioned at specific locations to mediate the detection process. This ensures that state changes occur only at predetermined positions (home and equilibrium), improving measurement precision while maintaining reliable cycle detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures accurate counting of pump cycles, preventing double counting and ensuring precise data on the quantity and rate of fluid removal, eliminating the need for frequent calibration across varying well conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage
Implementation Method 2
move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position
Implementation Method 3
a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.