Pump System with Automated Testing

Abstract

A pump system is provided. The pump system includes a power source, a pump and a transmission. A first sensor is configured to provide information indicative of at least one first operating condition relating to the pump. A second sensor is configured to provide information indicative of at least one second operating condition relating to the transmission. A controller is communication with the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller is configured to perform a first comparison of the first operating condition to a predetermined first operating condition and a second comparison of the second operating condition to a predetermined second operating condition and based on the first and second comparisons determine if the pump system passes a functionality test.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pump system, comprising:
 a power source;   a pump;   a transmission configured to operatively connect an output rotation of the power source to an input rotation of the pump;   a first sensor configured to provide information indicative of at least one first operating condition relating to the pump;   a second sensor configured to provide information indicative of at least one second operating condition relating to the transmission; and   a controller in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the controller being configured to perform a first comparison of the first operating condition to a predetermined first operating condition and a second comparison of the second operating condition to a predetermined second operating condition and based on the first and second comparisons determine if the pump system passes a functionality test.   
     
     
         2 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the first operating condition comprises a pump flow rate. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the first operating condition comprises a pump discharge pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the second operating condition is a transmission output speed. 
     
     
         5 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the second operating condition is a transmission input speed. 
     
     
         6 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the transmission includes a torque converter fluidly connecting an output of the engine to an input of a gear box, the gear box being mechanically connected to an input of the pump and having a plurality of gear combinations and wherein the second operating condition is a torque converter output speed. 
     
     
         7 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to set the power source to a predetermined speed and the transmission to a predetermined gear before performing the first and second comparisons. 
     
     
         8 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to provide information to a user if the pump system fails the functionality test. 
     
     
         9 . A method of testing functionality of a pump system having a power source, a pump and a transmission configured to operatively connect an output rotation of the power source to an input rotation of the pump, the method comprising:
 sensing a first parameter indicative of at least one first operating condition relating to the pump;   sensing a second parameter indicative of at least one second operating condition relating to the transmission;   performing a first comparison of the first actual operating condition and a predetermined first operating condition;   performing a second comparison of the second actual operating condition and a predetermined second operating condition; and   determining if the pump system passes a functionality test based on the first and second comparisons.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the first operating condition comprises a pump flow rate. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the first operating condition comprises a pump discharge pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the second operating condition is a transmission output speed. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the second operating condition is a transmission input speed. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the transmission includes a torque converter and a gear box and wherein the second operating condition is a torque converter output speed. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of setting the power source to a predetermined speed and the transmission to a predetermined gear before performing the first and second comparisons. 
     
     
         16 . The method to  claim 9  further including the step of providing information to a user if the pump system fails the functionality test. 
     
     
         17 . A pump system, comprising:
 an engine;   a slurry pump;   a transmission configured to operatively connect an output rotation of the power source to an input rotation of the pump, the transmission including a torque converter fluidly connecting an output of the engine to an input of a gear box, the gear box being mechanically connected to an input of the slurry pump and having a plurality of gear combinations;   a first sensor configured to provide information indicative of at least one first operating condition relating to the slurry pump;   a second sensor configured to provide information indicative of at least one second operating condition relating to the transmission; and   a controller in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the controller being configured to perform a first comparison of the first operating condition to a predetermined first operating condition and a second comparison of the second operating condition to a predetermined second operating condition and based on the first and second comparisons determine if the pump system passes a functionality test.   
     
     
         18 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the first operating condition comprises a pump flow rate. 
     
     
         19 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the first operating condition comprises a pump discharge pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the second operating condition is a transmission output speed.