Electronic ram pump controller

Abstract

The present invention is a wireless electronic control device, primarily intended to be attached to the impulse valve of a Hydraulic Ram Pump (‘HRP’), enabling remote automatic and manual management of the HRP. The Electronic Ram Pump Controller (‘ERPC’) may be used to control the HRP, through the restriction of the fluids entering/or exiting the pump. In the presented form, the Impulse Valve Manager (‘IVM’), attaches to an impulse valve and restricts, to a varying degree, the aperture size of the impulse valve. Through this control mechanism the HRP may be sealed, started, or tuned—either remotely by a user or automatically through the ERPC's automated systems. The presented version can be augmented with valve actuation and sensing of the impulse cycle. The ERPC may be retrofitted or incorporated into the design of a new HRP.

1 . A hydraulic ram pump electronic controller comprising:
 a housing for connection to a hydraulic ram pump;   an elongate stem for coupling to a valve in the hydraulic ram pump to control the maximum aperture of the valve as it opens and closes under the action of a fluid in the hydraulic ram pump, the elongate stem having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongate stem coupling to the valve, and the elongate stem and being mounted with respect to the housing to freely move bi-directionally along its longitudinal axis under influence of pressure variations in the fluid;   a limiting element for limiting the movement of the elongate stem along its longitudinal axis in a direction towards its first end;   a drive unit for adjusting the positon of the limiting element with respect to the housing, wherein the limit on the movement of the elongate stem provided by the limiting element sets the maximum aperture of the valve; and   a control circuit connected to the drive unit, the control circuit being configured to instruct the drive unit to adjust the position of the limiting element based on a desired maximum valve aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The hydraulic ram pump electronic controller of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a valve aperture sensor for determining the current open/closed extent of the valve and/or the current maximum aperture setting of the valve, and providing a signal indicative of the current open/closed extent and/or the current maximum aperture to the control circuit;   wherein the valve aperture sensor is one or more of a pressure sensor arranged to detect the pressure variations inside the pump, a linear position sensor on the elongate stem for measuring the position of the elongate stem with respect to the housing, an accelerometer mounted on the elongate stem, or a linear position sensor on the limiting element for measuring the position of the limiting element with respect to the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The hydraulic ram pump electronic controller of  claim 1  or  2 , comprising:
 a retaining element on the elongate stem located towards its second end, the retaining element engaging with the limiting element to limit the movement of the elongate stem in a direction towards its first end. 
 
     
     
         4 . The hydraulic ram pump electronic controller of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the retaining element on the elongate stem is a magnet; and   the limiting element includes a first coil that is electrically coupled to the control circuit.   
     
     
         5 . The hydraulic ram pump electronic controller of  claim 4 , wherein the motion of the magnet relative to the first coil induces a signal in the first coil that enables the control circuit to sense the position and movement of the elongate stem and/or determine the current maximum aperture setting of the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic controller of  claim 4  or  5 , further comprising a power storage device coupled to the first coil and coupled to the control circuit and/or drive unit;
 wherein the induced current in the first coil due to the motion of the magnet relative to the first coil is used to generate power that is stored in the power storage device and is used to power the control circuit and/or drive unit. 
 
     
     
         7 . The electronic controller of any of  claims 4  to  6  wherein:
 the electronic controller further comprises a second coil that is electrically coupled to the control circuit; and 
 the control circuit is configured to send a signal to the second coil to create an electromagnetic force on the magnet that moves the elongate stem in a direction towards its first end in order to open the valve and/or accelerates/decelerates the elongate stem. 
 
     
     
         8 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, further comprising a spring member that is configured to produce a force on the elongate stem in a direction towards its first end. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein the limiting element is configured to be moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate stem. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a base plate onto which the limiting element is mounted. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein the housing includes mounting elements allowing the electronic controller to be retrofitted to the hydraulic ram pump. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein:
 the electronic controller further comprises a power storage device that is configured to power the control circuit and/or drive unit; and   the power storage device is configured to receive power from at least one of an external power supply, a solar cell, a micro hydro generator, or an internal turbine in the hydraulic ram pump.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein either:
 the drive unit comprises a screwthread connected to a stepper motor controlled by the control circuit, and rotation of the screwthread moves the limiting element parallel to the axis of the elongate stem; or   the drive unit comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic element controlled by the control circuit and configured to move the limiting element parallel to the axis of the elongate stem.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic controller of any of  claims 3  to  13 , wherein:
 the limiting element is a socket; and 
 the elongate stem passes through the socket such that the retaining element engages with the socket to limit the movement of the elongate stem in a direction towards its first end. 
 
     
     
         15 . The electronic controller of any of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the limiting element is mounted on a threaded protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic controller of  claim 15 , wherein the drive unit rotates the limiting element about the threaded protrusion to adjust the positon of the limiting element with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic controller of  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the elongate stem extends through a hollow center of the threaded protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic controller of any of  claims 15  to  17 , wherein the drive unit, the elongate stem and the limiting element are collinear along the longitudinal axis of the elongate stem. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein:
 the housing is a sealed unit that encases the electronic controller;   the housing includes an exit for the first end of the elongate stem; and   the exit in the housing includes a sealing member configured to facilitate movement of the elongate stem.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic controller of any of  claims 1  to  18  wherein:
 the housing is a first housing that encases the elongate stem, limiting element and drive unit; and 
 the electronic controller further comprises a second housing that encases the control circuit. 
 
     
     
         21 . The electronic controller of  claim 20  when dependent on  claim 12 , wherein the power storage device is encased within the second housing. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic controller of  claim 20  or  21  wherein the first housing is a sealed unit that includes an exit for the first end of the elongate stem. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic controller of any of  claims 20  to  22  wherein the second housing is a sealed unit. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein:
 the control circuit includes a memory that is configured to store previous instructions sent to the drive unit; and   the control circuit is configured to determine the position of the limiting element with respect to the housing based on the stored previous instructions.   
     
     
         25 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein the control circuit is configured to send and/or receive telemetry signals to/from a remote operator which can control the electronic controller remotely. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic controller of any preceding claim, wherein the first end of the elongate stem is suitable for coupling to either the impulse value or the delivery valve of the hydraulic ram pump. 
     
     
         27 . A pump system comprising a hydraulic ram pump and the electronic controller of any of  claims 1  to  26 . 
     
     
         28 . A method for controlling a hydraulic ram pump, the hydraulic ram pump having a valve, and an electronic controller with a housing connected the hydraulic ram pump; an elongate stem for coupling to a valve in the hydraulic ram pump to control the maximum aperture of the valve as it opens and closes under the action of a fluid in the hydraulic ram pump, the elongate stem having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongate stem coupling to the valve, and the elongate stem and being mounted with respect to the housing to freely move bi-directionally along its longitudinal axis under influence of pressure variations in the fluid; a limiting element for limiting the movement of the elongate stem along its longitudinal axis in a direction towards its first end; and a drive unit for adjusting the positon of the limiting element with respect to the housing, wherein the limit on the movement of the elongate stem provided by the limiting element sets the maximum aperture of the valve;
 wherein the method comprises:   receiving, at the electronic controller from a remote operator, a control signal including one or more commands and/or one or more setting parameters;   adjusting, by the drive unit of the electronic controller, the position of the limiting element based on the received control signal, in order to set the maximum valve aperture to a desired value.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining one or more operating parameters indicating performance of the hydraulic ram pump, and   sending a signal to the remote operator indicative of the determined one or more operating parameters.   
     
     
         30 . The method of any of  claims 28  to  29 , further comprising:
 positioning the limiting element at the end of its travel span in a direction towards the first end of the elongate stem, to fully open the valve in the hydraulic ram pump to start up the pump or perform a cleaning flush of the valve; and/or 
 positioning the limiting element at the end of its travel span in a direction towards the second end of the elongate stem, to fully close the valve in the hydraulic ram pump and shut down the pump. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of any of  claims 28  to  30 , wherein the electronic controller includes a retaining element which is a magnet on the elongate stem located towards its second end, and the limiting element includes a first coil, the method further comprising:
 detecting a signal induced in the first coil by the motion of the magnet relative to the first coil, the induced signal being indicative of the movement of the elongate stem and/or the current maximum aperture setting of the valve. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of any of  claim 31 , wherein the electronic controller further comprises a second coil, the method further comprising:
 sending a signal to the second coil, the signal creating an electromagnetic force on the magnet that moves the elongate stem in a direction towards its first end in order to open the valve and/or accelerates the elongate stem.   
     
     
         33 . A hydraulic ram pump electronic controller comprising:
 a housing for connection to a hydraulic ram pump;   a drive unit coupled to a retaining arm in a valve in the hydraulic ram pump, wherein the retaining arm controls the maximum aperture of the valve as it opens and closes under the action of a fluid in the hydraulic ram pump, the drive unit being configured to adjust the positon of the retaining arm with respect to the housing;   a control circuit connected to the drive unit, the control circuit being configured to instruct the drive unit to adjust the position of the retaining arm based on a desired maximum valve aperture.   
     
     
         34 . The hydraulic ram pump electronic controller of  claim 33 , wherein the adjusting of the positon of the retaining arm includes rotating the retaining arm. 
     
     
         35 . The hydraulic ram pump electronic controller of  claim 34 , wherein the retaining arm is rotated via an elongate stem coupled between the retaining arm and the drive unit.