Anti-entrapment and anti-deadhead function
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump driven by a motor coupled to the pump, the method comprising:
- determining, via a controller in communication with the motor, whether a blockage condition exists based on a power consumption value of the motor,wherein the blockage condition is at least one of an entrapment condition and a deadhead condition, andwherein, if a blockage condition is detected,restarting the pump after detection of the blockage condition,undertaking a detection method in response to the entrapment condition, wherein the controller is alerted upon a first occurrence of a blockage event, orundertaking another detection method in response to the deadhead condition, wherein the controller is alerted upon a plurality of blockage events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with one aspect, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for controlling a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system can include a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, an interface associated with the pump designed to receive input instructions from a user, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller determines a blockage condition based on a power consumption value of the motor, and can further include an auto-restart function that is designed to allow the pump to automatically restart after detection of the blockage.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump driven by a motor coupled to the pump, the method comprising:
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determining, via a controller in communication with the motor, whether a blockage condition exists based on a power consumption value of the motor, wherein the blockage condition is at least one of an entrapment condition and a deadhead condition, and wherein, if a blockage condition is detected, restarting the pump after detection of the blockage condition, undertaking a detection method in response to the entrapment condition, wherein the controller is alerted upon a first occurrence of a blockage event, or undertaking another detection method in response to the deadhead condition, wherein the controller is alerted upon a plurality of blockage events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump coupled to a motor, the method comprising:
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determining, via a controller in communication with the motor, whether a blockage condition exists by comparing a current power consumption value of the motor to one of; a baseline value of power consumption of the motor, or a previous power consumption value of the motor; performing a condition check to determine whether a speed of the motor has recently changed; shutting down the pumping system based on the comparison of the current power consumption value if the speed change did not occur during a transition or a stabilization stage of the speed change; and calculating a power gradient baseline value based on the change in speed and corresponding oscillations in power consumption of the motor if the speed has recently changed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a pumping system having a pump that is coupled with a motor, the method comprising:
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establishing, via a controller in communication with the motor, a baseline value of power consumption of the motor during a deadhead condition; determining, via the controller, a current value of power consumption of the motor, increasing a counter, via the controller, when the current value decreases below the baseline value, and determining, via the controller, a deadhead condition caused by a blockage downstream from the pump when the counter exceeds a limit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump being electrically coupled with a motor, the method comprising:
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comparing, via a controller in electrical communication with the motor, a current power consumption value of the motor to a substantially immediately previous power consumption value of the motor to determine a difference value; shutting down the motor, via the controller, substantially immediately if the difference value indicates a sudden decrease in power consumption of the motor occurring during an entrapment condition caused by a blockage on a suction side of the pump; performing a condition check, via the controller, to determine whether a speed of the motor has recently changed before shutting down the motor due to torque ripple; and calculating a power gradient baseline value, via the controller, based on the change in speed. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of operating a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump that is operatively coupled with a motor, the method comprising:
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comparing, via a controller in communication with the motor, a current power consumption value of the motor to a substantially immediately previous power consumption value of the motor to determine a difference value; shutting down the motor, via the controller, substantially immediately if the difference value indicates a sudden decrease in power consumption of the motor during an entrapment condition caused by a blockage on a suction side of the pump; and performing a condition check, via the controller, to determine whether a speed of the motor has recently changed before shutting down the motor in order to avoid shutting down the motor due to torque ripple, wherein if the speed has not recently changed, the controller calculates a power gradient baseline value based on a percentage of a present power consumption of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification