Global Patent Index - EP 4036407 A1

EP 4036407 A1 20220803 - PUMP CONTROL BASED ON BUBBLE DETECTION

Title (en)

PUMP CONTROL BASED ON BUBBLE DETECTION

Title (de)

PUMPENSTEUERUNG BASIEREND AUF BLASENDETEKTION

Title (fr)

COMMANDE DE POMPE BASÉE SUR LA DÉTECTION DE BULLES

Publication

EP 4036407 A1 20220803 (EN)

Application

EP 22154617 A 20220201

Priority

  • US 202217582455 A 20220124
  • US 202163144794 P 20210202

Abstract (en)

A pump system (110) includes a drive motor (240), a pump head (222) that receives tubing, and a controller (260) configured to control a rotation of the drive motor (240) to move a liquid within the tubing from an inlet to an outlet. A bubble sensor (112) is coupled to the tubing downstream from the outlet and configured to send a signal to the controller (160) in response to presence of a gas bubble within the tubing. The controller (160) is configured to: determine a quantity of bubbles detected based on the signal; determine an alert in response to the quantity of bubbles detected exceeding a threshold; and stop the drive motor after a safe operating time from the alert. The threshold and the safe operating time are based, at least in part, on a characteristic of the tubing. The corresponding method of operating a pump system (110) is also disclosed.

IPC 8 full level

F04B 43/08 (2006.01); F04B 43/00 (2006.01); F04B 43/09 (2006.01); F04B 43/12 (2006.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01); F04B 49/10 (2006.01); F04B 51/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

F04B 43/0072 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 43/0081 (2013.01 - EP US); F04B 43/08 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 43/09 (2013.01 - EP US); F04B 43/12 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 49/06 (2013.01 - US); F04B 49/065 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 49/10 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 51/00 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 2205/503 (2013.01 - EP); F04B 2207/70 (2013.01 - EP)

Citation (applicant)

US 9546983 B2 20170117 - FRITSCHE TOBIAS [DE], et al

Citation (search report)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Designated extension state (EPC)

BA ME

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 4036407 A1 20220803; EP 4036407 B1 20231206; US 2022243714 A1 20220804

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 22154617 A 20220201; US 202217582455 A 20220124