Pumping system with housing and user interface

• US 10,240,604 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S)
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S), Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Stiles, Jr., Robert W., Berthelsen, Lars Hoffmann, Robol, Ronald B., Yahnker, Christopher, Hruby, Daniel J., Murphy, Kevin, Runarsson, Einar Kjartan, Hansen, Arne Fink, Lungeanu, Florin, Westermann-Rasmussen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lettman, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US14/665,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1245 Recirculating pumps for swimming pool water
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1281 Devices for distributing chemical products in the water of swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/129 Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/103 Responsive to speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0077 Safety measures F04D15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling

Abstract

A pumping system for at least one aquatic application controlled by a user. The pumping system includes a pump and a motor disposed in a first housing and coupled to the pump. A user interface is associated with a second housing, the second housing defined by a base portion shaped to interact with the first housing and a user interface portion that carries a plurality of control buttons, wherein the second housing is selectively positionable among a plurality of positions relative to the first housing.

Claims

1. A pumping system, comprising:

a pump configured to direct water from a pump inlet to a pump outlet;

a motor coupled to the pump and configured to drive the pump, the motor defines a cylindrically shaped exterior surface;

a controller electrically coupled to the motor and configured to control operation of the motor;

a user interface electrically coupled to the controller, the user interface configured to receive inputs and communicate the inputs to the controller;

a housing configured to engage the controller and the user interface, the housing defines a concave exterior surface; and

a ribbed member that includes ribs that each terminate at a tip, the successive rib tips define an arcuate profile from a first outermost rib on a first side of the ribbed member to a second outermost rib on a second side of the ribbed member that mirrors the cylindrically shaped exterior surface of the motor;

wherein the ribbed member is positioned adjacent to the cylindrically shaped exterior surface of the motor;

wherein the ribbed member extends from the housing such that the concave exterior surface of the housing at least partially shrouds the ribbed member;

wherein the controller is positioned between the ribbed member and the user interface; and

wherein the ribbed member, the housing, the controller, and the user interface are secured to the motor.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is fastened to the motor with a plurality of fasteners.

3. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a protective cover.

4. The pumping system of claim 3, wherein the protective cover is opaque.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of control buttons.

6. The pumping system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of control buttons includes at least one user input component to select a first speed value associated with a first time period and at least a second user input component to select a second speed value associated with a second time period.

7. The pumping system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of control buttons includes an increase button and a decrease button to alter at least one of the first speed value and the first time period and the second speed value and the second time period.

8. The pumping system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to obtain one of the first speed value and the first time period and the second speed value and the second time period and operate the motor at a steady-state speed based on one of the first speed value and the second speed value.

9. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a first visual indicator that illuminates when the pumping system is operational and a second visual indicator that illuminates to indicate a fault condition.

10. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display screen.

11. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to cause a present speed to be displayed on the display screen.

12. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to cause an operational parameter associated with one of the pump and the motor to be displayed on the display screen.