Apparatus and method for mixing a plurality of substances

Claim 1

An apparatus for controlling the addition of a substance to a primary flow, comprising: conduit means for providing a path for said primary flow; additive means for flowing said substance into said conduit means; First detector means for detecting a rate of said primary flow; second detector means for detecting a rate of said substance when said additive means flows said substance into said conduit means, said second detector means including: speed detector means for detecting a speed rate at which said additive means is operating; and flow detector means for detecting a flow rate of said substance; and control means, responsive to said first detector means and said second detector means, for controlling said additive means, said control means including a unified control panel comprising: a channel control sector including: first data entry means for manually entering a first data number specifying a first magnitude of an additive substance flow rate determining parameter for use by said control means in controlling said additive means; second date entry means for manually entering a second data number specifying a second magnitude of said additive substance flow rate determining parameter for use by said control means in controlling said additive means; and means for directing said control means to use either said speed rate or said flow rate for controlling said additive means; and means for selectably directing said control means to utilize either said first data number or said second data number in controlling said additive means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controlling the addition of a substance to a primary flow, comprising: conduit means for providing a path for said primary flow; additive means for flowing said substance into said conduit means; First detector means for detecting a rate of said primary flow; second detector means for detecting a rate of said substance when said additive means flows said substance into said conduit means, said second detector means including: speed detector means for detecting a speed rate at which said additive means is operating; and flow detector means for detecting a flow rate of said substance; and control means, responsive to said first detector means and said second detector means, for controlling said additive means, said control means including a unified control panel comprising: a channel control sector including: first data entry means for manually entering a first data number specifying a first magnitude of an additive substance flow rate determining parameter for use by said control means in controlling said additive means; second date entry means for manually entering a second data number specifying a second magnitude of said additive substance flow rate determining parameter for use by said control means in controlling said additive means; and means for directing said control means to use either said speed rate or said flow rate for controlling said additive means; and means for selectably directing said control means to utilize either said first data number or said second data number in controlling said additive means.

Claim 6

An apparatus for adding substances to a first flow of a fluid and to a second flow of a mixture, said apparatus comprising: first conduit means for providing a flow path for said first flow; first detector means for detecting a rate of said first flow; first additive means for flowing a first one of said substances into said first conduit means; second detector means for detecting a rate associated with said first additive means; second additive means for flowing a second one of said substances into said first conduit means; third detector means for detecting a rate associated with said second additive means; second conduit means, associated with said first conduit means, for providing a flow path for said mixture, said mixture including said fluid, said first substance and said second substance; fourth detector means for detecting a rate of said mixture when said mixture flows along said flow path provided by said second conduit means; third additive means for flowing a third one of said substances into said second conduit means; fifth detector means for detecting a rate associated with said third additive means; and control means for controlling, in response to said first detector means, said second detector means, and said third detector means, said first additive means and said second additive means, and for controlling, in response to said fourth detector means and said fifth detector means, said third additive means, said control means including a single control panel including: a first channel control sector comprising first display means for displaying said detected rate of said first flow; a second channel control sector comprising: first data entry means for entering first numerical data pertaining to the control of said first additive means; and first variable means for adjustably setting a first electrical signal; a third channel control sector comprising: second data entry means for entering second numerical data pertaining to the control of said second additive means; and second variable means for adjustably setting a second electrical signal; a fourth channel control sector comprising second display means for displaying said detected rate of said mixture; and a fifth channel control sector comprising: third data entry means for entering third numerical data pertaining to the control of said third additive means; and third variable means for adjustably setting a third electrical signal; automatic means, responsive to said first numerical data, said second numerical data, and said third numerical data, for providing first, second and third automatic control signals for controlling said first additive means, said second additive means, and said third additive means, respectively; manual means, responsive to said first electrical signal, said second electrical signal, and said third electrical signal, for providing first, second and third manual control signals for controlling said first additive means, said second additive means, and said third additive means, respectively; said second channel control sector further comprising first switch means for electrically connecting said first automatic control signal to said first additive means when said first switch means is in a first actuation state and for electrically connecting said first manual control signal to said first additive means when said first switch means is in a second actuation state; said third channel control sector further comprising second switch means for electrically connecting said second automatic control signal to said second additive means when said second switch means is in a first actuation state and for electrically connecting said second manual control signal to said second additive means when said second switch means is in a second actuation state; and said fifth channel control sector further comprising third switch means for electrically connecting said third automatic control to said third additive means when said third switch means is in a first actuation state and for connecting said third manual control signal to said third additive means when said third switch means is in a second actuation state.

Claim 7

An apparatus for adding substances to a first flow of a fluid and to a second flow of a mixture, said apparatus comprising: first conduit means for providing a flow path for said first flow; first detector means for detecting a rate of said first flow; first additive means for flowing a first one of said substances into said first conduit means; second detector means for detecting a rate associated with said first additive means; second additive means for flowing a second one of said substances into said first conduit means; third detector means for detecting a rate associated with said second additive means; second conduit means, associated with said first conduit means, for providing a flow path for said mixture, said mixture including said fluid, said first substance and said second substance; fourth detector means for detecting a rate of said mixture when said mixture flows along said flow path provided by said second conduit means; third additive means for flowing a third one of said substances into said second conduit means; fifth detector means for detecting a rate associated with said third additive means; and control means for controlling, in response to said first detector means, said second detector means, and said third detector means, said first additive means and said second additive means, and for controlling, in response to said fourth detector means and said fifth detector means, said third additive means, said control means including a single control panel including: a first channel control sector comprising first display means for displaying said detected rate of said first flow; a second channel control sector comprising: first data entry means for entering first numerical data pertaining to the control of said first additive means; and first variable means for adjustably setting a first electrical signal; a third channel control sector comprising: second data entry means for entering second numerical data pertaining to the control of said second additive means; and second variable means for adjustably setting a second electrical signal; a fourth channel control sector comprising second display means for displaying said detected rate of said mixture; and a fifth channel control sector comprising: third data entry means for entering third numerical data pertaining to the control of said third additive means; and third variable means for adjustably setting a third electrical signal; automatic means, responsive to said first numerical data, said second numerical data, and said third numerical data, for providing first, second and third automatic control signals for controlling said first additive means, said second additive means, and said third additive means, respectively; manual means, responsive to said first electrical signal, said second electrical signal, and said third electrical signal, for providing first, second and third manual control signals for controlling said first additive means, said second additive means, and said third additive means, respectively; said second channel control sector further comprising first switch means for electrically connecting said first automatic control signal to said first additive means when said first switch means is in a first actuation state and for electrically connecting said first manual control signal to said first additive means when said first switch means is in a second actuation state; said third channel control sector further comprising second switch means for electrically connecting said second automatic control signal to said second additive means when said second switch means is in a first actuation state and for electrically connecting said second manual control signal to said second additive means when said second switch means is in a second actuation state; and said fifth channel control sector further comprising third switch means for electrically connecting said third automatic control to said third additive means when said third switch means is in a first actuation state and for connecting said third manual control signal to said third additive means when said third switch means is in a second actuation state.

Claim 12

A method for controlling an additive means, being driven by a drive signal, for adding an additive to a flowing fluid utilizing control means having a front panel, said front panel including a numerical entry switch having an additive concentration value entered therein, said control means also having first voltage means for providing a first voltage corresponding to the flow rate of said fluid, and said control means also having second voltage means for providing a second voltage corresponding to the flow rate of said additive, said method comprising the steps of: storing said concentration value in a random access memory; converting said first voltage into a first digitally encoded number indicating the actual flow rate of said fluid; storing said first digitally encoded number in said random access memory; converting said second voltage into a second digitally encoded number indicating the actual flow rate of said additive; storing said second digitally encoded number in said random access memory; using said concentration value and said first digitally encoded number from said random access memory to define a product representing a desired flow rate at which said additive is to be added to said fluid; using said product and said second digitally encoded number to define a scaled difference representing an error between said actual flow rate of said additive and said desired flow rate of said additive; manually entering data to define a factor having a magnitude less than one; multiplying said error by said factor; and adding said control error to said drive signal for providing an adjusted drive signal to drive said additive means at an adjusted speed for incrementally adjusting said actual flow rate of said additive toward said desired flow rate.

Claim 13

A method for controlling an additive means, being driven by a drive signal, for adding an additive to a flowing fluid utilizing control means having a front panel, said front panel including a numerical entry switch having an additive concentration value entered therein, said control means also having first voltage means for providing a first voltage corresponding to the flow rate of said fluid, and said control means also having second voltage means for providing a second voltage corresponding to the flow rate of said additive, said method comprising the steps of: storing said concentration value in a random access memory; converting said first voltage into a first digitally encoded number indicating the actual flow rate of said fluid; storing said first digitally encoded number in said random access memory; converting said second voltage into a second digitally encoded number indicating the actual flow rate of said additive; storing said second digitally encoded number in said random access memory; using said concentration value and said first digitally encoded number from said random access memory to define a product representing a desired flow rate at which said additive is to be added to said fluid; using said product and said second digitally encoded number to define a scaled difference representing an error between said actual flow rate of said additive and said desired flow rate of said additive; manually entering data to define a factor having a magnitude less than one; multiplying said error by said factor; and adding said control error to said drive signal for providing an adjusted drive signal to drive said additive means at an adjusted speed for incrementally adjusting said actual flow rate of said additive toward said desired flow rate.