Electronic converter unit for a pump and a method for communicating with the electronic converter unit

• US 10,132,508 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grundfos Holding A/S (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Original Assignee: Grundfos Holding A/S (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Inventors: Frilev, Karsten, Molgaard Moller, Simon, Kampmann, Rose
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US15/532,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 370338, 455 411, 455 412, 455 39, 455 7, 455 15, 455 16, 455 131, 3405391, 340540, 340541, 417 4411, 417 63, 417 48, 343760, 343894, 375340, 375211, 375219, 375214, 375325, 375360
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1012 by regulating the speed of a pump
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1015 using a valve or valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1048 Counting of energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/10 Feed-line arrangements, e.g. providing for heat-accumulator tanks, expansion tanks ; Hydraulic components of a central heating system
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An electronic converter unit (30, 86, 87) for being arranged external to a pump unit (10) is described. The pump unit (10) includes a housing (12), which comprises a signal source (16, 18) for emitting a signal. The electronic converter unit (30, 86, 87) comprises a signal detector (40) for measuring the signal emitted from the signal source (18) of the pump unit (10). The electronic converter unit (30) further comprises a converter unit (41) for converting said signals to electrical signals, and transmitting means (42) for transmitting the electrical signals to an external communication unit (50). The electronic converter unit (30, 86, 87) is further configured to operate in a signal converter mode (30) and a signal repeater mode (86, 87).

Claims

1. An electronic converter unit to be arranged external to a pump unit, wherein the pump unit includes a housing, which comprises a signal source for emitting a signal, the electronic converter unit comprising:

a signal detector for detecting the signal emitted from the signal source of the pump unit;

a converter unit for converting the detected signal to an electrical signal; and

transmission means for transmitting the electrical signal to an external communication unit, wherein the electronic converter unit further is configured to operate in a signal converter mode using a first signal detector and a signal repeater mode using a second signal detector, and that the electronic converter unit is configured to automatically set itself to signal converter mode, if the first signal detector detects a signal from the signal source of the pump unit, and to signal repeater mode, if the first signal detector does not detect a signal from said signal source.

2. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic converter unit in signal converter mode receives the signal from the signal source of the pump unit; and

the electronic converter unit in signal repeater mode is configured to receiving electrical signals from an identical converter unit and relays the electrical signal to a further identical converter unit or the external communication unit.

3. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic converter is configured to send telegrams in a broadcasting mode, as unidirectional communication.

4. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic converter unit in repeater mode is configured to be synchronized with another identical electronic converter unit.

5. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic converter unit is configured to receive and transmit telegrams including data packages comprising at least first data packages and second data packages, and wherein the first data packages are transmitted according to a first repetition rate and the second data packages are sent according to a second repetition rate.

6. An electronic converter unit according to claim 5, wherein the first packages comprise time variable data about pump operation, comprised of measured or calculated actual flow rate, pressure, electrical current, electrical power and/or rotational speed of an impeller, and the second packages comprise static data comprised of pump model type, and serial number, and wherein the first repetition rate is higher than the second repetition rate.

7. An electronic converter unit according to claim 6, wherein the first repetition rate is at least three times larger and advantageously at least five times larger than the second repetition rate.

8. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic converter unit is adapted to be detachably coupled to the pump unit.

9. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the signal source is a light source, and wherein the first signal detector is a photo detector for measuring the light emitted from the light source of the pump, and wherein the converter unit is adapted to converting optical signals to electrical signals, and wherein the second signal detector is an antenna.

10. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic converter unit comprises:

a RFID or near-field communication receiver;

a converter unit for converting RFID or NFC signals to electrical signals; and

transmitting means for transmitting the electrical signals to an external communication unit.

11. An electronic converter unit according to claim 1, wherein the converter device is adapted to wirelessly transmit the electrical signals as infrared or as a radio signal, such as GSM, CDMA, 3G, 4G and Bluetooth®

.

12. A kit of parts comprising:

a pump unit;

a first electronic converter unit comprising a signal detector for detecting the signal emitted from the signal source of the pump unit, a converter unit for converting the detected signal to an electrical signal, and transmission means for transmitting the electrical signal to an external communication unit, wherein the first electronic converter unit is configurable to be operated in converter mode; and

a second electronic converter unit comprising a signal detector for detecting the signal emitted from the signal source of the pump unit, a converter unit for converting the detected signal to an electrical signal, and transmission means for transmitting the electrical signal to an external communication unit, wherein the second electronic converter unit is configurable to be operated in repeater mode.

13. A system for checking the operating status of a pump unit, the system comprising:

a pump unit;

an external communication unit;

a first electronic converter unit comprising a signal detector for detecting the signal emitted from the signal source of the pump unit, a converter unit for converting the detected signal to an electrical signal, and transmission means for transmitting the electrical signal to an external communication unit, wherein the first electronic converter unit is operating in converter mode; and

at least a second electronic converter unit comprising a signal detector for detecting the signal emitted from the signal source of the pump unit, a converter unit for converting the detected signal to an electrical signal, and transmission means for transmitting the electrical signal to an external communication unit, wherein the second electronic converter unit is operating in repeater mode.

14. A method of communicating between a pump unit and an external communication unit, such as a smart phone, the method comprising the steps of:

arranging a first electronic converter unit external to the pump unit, the first electronic converter unit automatically setting itself to operate in signal converter mode;

positioning one or more second electronic converters between the first electronic converter unit and the external communication device, the second electronic converter unit automatically setting itself to operate in signal repeater mode, such that the first electronic converter unit detects signals from the pump unit and converts the signals to digital telegrams or data packages that are transmitted as electronic signals, and the second electronic converter unit or units relays the digital telegrams or data packages to the external communication unit.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the electronic converter unit after being activated inspects a first signal detector input on the electronic converter unit and if the first signal detector input is idle then switches to signal repeater mode to receive digital telegrams or data packages on the second signal detector input.

16. A method according to claim 14 used for balancing heating elements in a heating system.