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CN-122003547-A - Method for expanding the function of a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump

CN122003547ACN 122003547 ACN122003547 ACN 122003547ACN-122003547-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for performing a functional extension of a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, comprising the steps of providing an optional pump function for the pump on a display device of a user terminal device, which is connected or connectable to the pump (10) and a server (30), transmitting a request for switching on the optional pump function to an external server after a request by a user, providing a function-specific token for the requested pump function to the user terminal device by the server, transmitting the function-specific token to the pump by the user terminal device, and switching on the optional pump function by a pump control device of the pump if it is determined that the received function-specific token is valid for the pump function to be switched on.

Inventors

  • GONTERMANN DANIEL
  • C. Kohler
  • J. Mades
  • SCHAAB JOCHEN
  • P. SCHMIDT

Assignees

  • KSB股份有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20240913
Priority Date
20230926

Claims (14)

  1. 1. Method for functional extension of a pump (10), in particular a centrifugal pump, comprising the steps of: providing an optional pump function for the pump on a display device of a user terminal device (20) connected or connectable to the pump (10) and a server (30), Transmitting a request to an external server (30) for switching on said optional pump function after a request by a user, Providing, by the server (30), a function-specific token for the requested pump function to the user terminal device (20), Transmitting the function-specific token by the user terminal device (20) to the pump (10), -If it is determined that the received function specific token is valid for the pump function to be switched on, switching on the optional pump function by the pump control means of the pump (10).
  2. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in commissioning and/or pump operation the pump control means determines which selectable pump functions supported by the pump (10) are not enabled, in particular determines for which selectable pump functions there are no valid function-specific tokens in the pump memory, and transmits to the user terminal device at least one function identification number which is characteristic for the associated, not yet enabled selectable pump function.
  3. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the pump (10) transmits the at least one function identification number together with its device identification number to the user terminal device (20).
  4. 4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the user terminal device (20) provides the user with the activation of the at least one pump function based on at least one function identification number received from the pump (10).
  5. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized by transmitting a function identification number selected by the user for an enabled pump function to the server (30) together with a device identification number, according to the user input.
  6. 6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the function specific token is bound to a specific pump (10).
  7. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that a function-specific token bound to the specific pump (10) is generated by the server (30) using the device identification number or a device-independent token is generated in connection with the server (30) and transmitted to the user terminal device (20), wherein the user terminal device (20) associates the device-independent token with the device identification number afterwards.
  8. 8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the function specific token has a time limited validity and is deemed invalid by the pump control means after a defined duration has been exceeded.
  9. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the time-limited token is generated by the user terminal device (20) and transmitted to the pump (10).
  10. 10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the time-limited token contains information about a maximum operation duration and that the pump control means count the operation duration of the pump (10) from the moment the pump function is switched on and compare it with the maximum operation duration, wherein after exceeding the maximum operation duration the activation of the selectable pump function is deactivated.
  11. 11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that for transmitting a request to the server (30) a user identification is required, via which user identification the user terminal device (20) is authenticated in the server (30), wherein the user terminal device (20) transmits the user identification to the pump (10) upon transmitting a function specific token to the pump (10), and the pump (10) saves the user identification in the pump memory.
  12. 12. A system comprising a server (30), at least one user terminal device (20) and at least one pump (10), wherein the server (30), the user terminal device (20) and the pump (10) are adapted for implementing the method according to any of the preceding claims.
  13. 13. Pump (10) with a pump reservoir and a pump control device, configured for carrying out the method according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 11.
  14. 14. A user terminal device (20) configured to perform the method according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 11.

Description

Method for expanding the function of a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump Technical Field The invention relates to a method for functionally expanding a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump. Background An increasing number of pumps, in particular centrifugal pumps, are equipped with control electronics and adjustable drive technology. As the performance of installed control and regulation electronics continues to increase, a number of possibilities are created to increase the functional range of the control and regulation components. This relates in particular to functions for optimizing the operating mode of the pump in the current pump operation, whereby the pump can be adapted adaptively to existing operating conditions. However, the performance of the installed components also enables integration of a wide range of monitoring and evaluation programs to enable current operating conditions to be acquired and analyzed in real time. However, the various possibilities add to the complexity of operation, so that it is considered interesting to switch on the above-mentioned optional functions as required in continuous pump operation, i.e. the functions are usually already contained in the pump hardware or software, but a pre-start-up procedure is first required in order to be implemented. The applications of pumps of the same structural type may also differ significantly from each other, so that certain pump functions should be more meaningfully available after commissioning and interaction with the end user. It may also be desirable that certain pump functions that optimize pump operation or provide additional information to the end user regarding the facility are only available under certain conditions (e.g., after signing a supplemental frame agreement or paying additional fees). One problem in the subsequent function switch-on may be that the pump is typically installed at a special point of use where it is typically not possible to access the existing network infrastructure. However, installing specialized network access devices is associated with additional costs. Disclosure of Invention The above-mentioned idea about the opening of the subsequent function is solved by a method according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the method are the subject matter of the dependent claims. According to the invention, a proposal (Angebot) for switching on an optional pump function of the pump in operation is first presented to the pump user at an external user terminal. The user terminal is in this case connected in communication with the pump in order to first obtain information about the additional functions that need to be switched on. For this purpose, it is sufficient for the user terminal to be temporarily connected to the pump, for example directly via a standardized wireless interface. Of course, the connection can also be made by means of a local network infrastructure (e.g. WLAN) or any other communication possibility for data exchange. On the other hand, the user terminal device is connected to an external server, or at least may be temporarily connected thereto. The server represents an administrator for managing the activation of the function and is run, for example, by the pump manufacturer. The user terminal device thus also acts as a gateway for an intermediate interconnection in order to achieve data exchange between the pump and the server. The user terminal device may be a commercially available smart phone or tablet computer, preferably with a dedicated application for performing the method. Similarly, the user terminal device may be a commercially available notebook or computer. If the proposal is displayed to the user on the display of the user's user terminal device and the user accepts the presented proposal with respect to the user terminal device, the user terminal device sends a corresponding request to the server for switching on the selected selectable pump function. The obtained request is checked on the server side and, if necessary, a function-specific token for the requested pump function is provided, which is transmitted by the server to the user terminal device. Such function specific tokens are tailored to the selected pump function to be enabled. After obtaining the function specific token from the server, the user terminal device transmits the received function specific token to the pump to be switched on. The pump control means of the receiving pump stores the function specific token obtained from the user terminal device in a memory and may switch on the optional pump function if the received function specific token is considered valid. After the activation of the optional pump function, the pump function may be implemented by the pump control device after a corresponding user interaction or without a corresponding user interaction. In this context it is important that the hardware or software of the pump is already suitable for implementing the alt