Apparatus and method to provide run-dry protection to semi-positive and positive displacement pumps

• US 20020131866A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, David Lynn
• Application Number:
  US09/810,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20020131866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/36
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0205 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/25 Devices for sensing temperature, or actuated thereby
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/27 Devices for sensing current, or actuated thereby overcurrent protection responsive to temperature of the machines or parts thereof, e.g. windings, H02K11/25

Abstract

Apparatus and method to provide run-dry protection to semi-positive and positive displacement pumps is disclosed, including a resettable fuse placed in line with the motor of said pump to interrupt the supply of electrical power to the pump in response to sensing a run-dry condition. The resettable fuse prohibits pump operation until manual resetting, which occurs only upon interrooting and re-applying electrical power to the resettable fuse.

Claims

1. A protector device to protect a motor-pump assembly having a pump to pump fluids and a motor to drive said pump, said protector device comprising:

a resettable fuse device placed in line with a power source supplying electrical power to said fuse and said motor-pump assembly, said fuse adapted to interrupt supply of electrical power to said motor-pump assembly in response to sensing a run-dry condition and reset only upon interruption and re-application of the supply of electrical power to said fuse.

2. The device of claim 1, said fuse device further comprising:

a plurality of resettable fuses connected to each other in a parallel circuit configuration.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said run-dry condition comprises an increase in current level within said fuse.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said fuse is disposed within the housing of the motor pump assembly.

5. A method for protecting a motor-pump assembly having a pump to pump fluids and a motor to drive said pump, said method comprising:

interrupting the supply of electrical power to said motor-pump assembly in response to sensing the occurrence of a run-dry condition; and

manually resetting said fuse from a remote location by interrupting and then reinitiating electrical power to said fuse.

6. In a positive and/or semi-positive displacement pump having a motor and pump disposed within a housing, the improvement comprising:

a resettable fuse disposed within said housing and placed in line with said motor;

said resettable fuse providing an automatic shut-off for said motor upon encountering a run-dry pump condition, which fuse remains open until electrical power is discontinued and subsequently re-initiated to said fuse.