Pump and method for facilitating maintenance and adjusting operation of said pump

The present invention relates generally to pumps and the maintenance and operation thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of facilitating the maintenance of a pump utilizing characteristic "signatures" of a pump such as the acoustic sounds the pump makes during operation, the vibrations generated by the pump or other signals unique to the pump. The present invention also utilizes a processor and one or more sensors that provide information about the pump during the operation thereof. The information provided by the sensor is utilized by the processor to determine whether the replacement or repair of a wear part is indicated or whether the operation of the pump should be modified for efficiency, safety or other reasons. A method of facilitating the maintenance of a pump and for facilitating changes in the operation of a pump is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a pump including wear parts, a processor and a memory; sensing at least one operating condition of the pump indicative of the operation of the pump; generating pump operational data reflective of the sensed operating condition; storing the generated operational data in the memory of the processor; storing parts identification data identifying wear parts of the pump in the memory; storing at least one predetermined level of operational information; and operating the processor to compare the stored predetermined level to the stored operational data and in dependent response thereto outputting information as to the desirability of replacing or repairing at least one selected wear part or modifying the operation of the pump. An improved pump with numerous sensors for sensing operational data relative to the wear and tear of various parts of the pump and the operating parameters of the pump which are linked to a processor mounted at the pump and which, in turn, is linked to a main computer is also disclosed.