Marine macerator pump control module
First Claim
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1. An electrical controller for connection with a motor driving a marine macerator pump and of the type having maximum and minimum allowable currents, said controller comprising:
- a housing;
electrical connectors on said housing for connecting in circuit between said motor and a power source;
a memory in said housing for storing maximum and minimum reference signals corresponding with the respective said maximum and minimum allowable currents, and a reference time signal corresponding with the maximum allowable motor operating time for one pumping operation;
a sensor device in said housing and connected with said memory and said electrical connectors for sensing the real time current level drawn by said motor to produce a sensed signal;
a timer in said housing and operative to measure elapsed motor operating time to produce an elapsed time signal;
a comparator in said housing, connected with said memory, sensor and timer and operative in response to said sensed signal exceeding said maximum reference signal and to falling below said minimum reference signal to generate respective first and second stop signals, said comparator further operative to compare said elapsed time signal with said reference time signal and responsive to said elapsed time signal exceeding said reference time signal to generate a third stop signal; and
a control circuit in said housing connecting said connectors in circuit with said comparator and including a motor power switch, said control circuit responsive to a start signal to close said motor power switch to communicate power to said motor and responsive to either said first, second, or third stop signals, to open said motor power switch to remove power from said motor.
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Abstract
A marine macerator switch including a comparator programmable with over and under current limits corresponding with the characteristics of a macerator drive motor. A sensing circuit senses the real time motor current and compares it with the current limits to, at respective predetermined differentials, shut the motor down. The control also includes a timer programmed to allow the motor to run for a period of time corresponding with that required for emptying of the tank.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electrical controller for connection with a motor driving a marine macerator pump and of the type having maximum and minimum allowable currents, said controller comprising:
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a housing;
electrical connectors on said housing for connecting in circuit between said motor and a power source;
a memory in said housing for storing maximum and minimum reference signals corresponding with the respective said maximum and minimum allowable currents, and a reference time signal corresponding with the maximum allowable motor operating time for one pumping operation;
a sensor device in said housing and connected with said memory and said electrical connectors for sensing the real time current level drawn by said motor to produce a sensed signal;
a timer in said housing and operative to measure elapsed motor operating time to produce an elapsed time signal;
a comparator in said housing, connected with said memory, sensor and timer and operative in response to said sensed signal exceeding said maximum reference signal and to falling below said minimum reference signal to generate respective first and second stop signals, said comparator further operative to compare said elapsed time signal with said reference time signal and responsive to said elapsed time signal exceeding said reference time signal to generate a third stop signal; and
a control circuit in said housing connecting said connectors in circuit with said comparator and including a motor power switch, said control circuit responsive to a start signal to close said motor power switch to communicate power to said motor and responsive to either said first, second, or third stop signals, to open said motor power switch to remove power from said motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a refuse disposal macerator pump driven by an electric motor, including:
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determining the maximum time period for disposal of said refuse by said macerator pump to establish a time limit and determining the respective maximum allowable high and low current deviations from an average motor operating current under load driving said macerator pump, said maximum high deviation indicative of onset of motor stall and said maximum low deviation indicative of completion of disposal of said refuse;
entering high and low deviation signals corresponding with said respective maximum allowable high and low current deviations in a comparator included in a controller of the type including said comparator and also including a timer operable to signal at said time limit;
starting said motor;
sensing the average operating current of said motor immediately after pump stabilization and entering an average current reference signal corresponding with said average operating current in said comparator;
repeatedly sensing the operating current of said motor and entering a real-time current signal corresponding with said operating current in said comparator;
repeatedly determining the deviations of said real-time current signal from said average current reference signal and comparing, in said comparator, said real-time deviation signals with the respective said high and low deviation signals to determine if either said high or low deviation has been exceeded; and
if said maximum or minimum deviations or said time limit are exceeded, turning off said motor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. An electrical controller for connection with a dc motor driving a marine macerator pump, said dc motor of the type having an average operating current under the load of operating said pump and maximum and minimum allowable currents, said controller comprising:
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electrical connectors for connecting in circuit between said dc motor and an on-board battery power source;
a memory for storing a reference average signal corresponding with said average operating current, maximum and minimum reference signals corresponding with the respective said maximum and minimum allowable currents, and a reference time signal corresponding with the maximum allowable motor operating time for one pumping operation;
a sensor device connected with said memory and said electrical connectors for sensing the real time current level drawn by said dc motor to produce a sensed signal;
a timer operative to measure elapsed motor operating time to produce an elapsed time signal;
a comparator connected with said memory, sensor and timer and operative to compare said sensed signal with the respective said maximum and minimum reference signals and responsive to said sensed signal exceeding the respective said maximum and minimum reference signals to generate respective first and second stop signals, said comparator further operative to compare said elapsed time signal with said reference time signal and responsive to said elapsed time signal exceeding said reference time signal to generate a third stop signal, said comparator further operative to compare said sensed signal with said reference average signal and responsive to the differential between said sensed signal and said reference average signal exceeding a predetermined positive magnitude to generate a fourth stop signal and responsive to the differential between said sensed signal and said reference average signal exceeding a predetermined negative magnitude to generate a fifth stop signal; and
a control circuit connecting said connectors in circuit with said comparator and including a voltage regulator and reverse voltage polarity protection diode to regulate power received from said battery to a predetermined voltage level suitable for said controller memory and logic circuits, said control circuit further including a field effect transistor (FET), said control circuit responsive to a start signal to turn on said FET to communicate power to said motor and responsive to either said first, second, third, fourth or fifth stop signals, to turn off said FET to remove power from said motor.
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21. A marine refuse disposal system in circuit between a battery and dc motor driving a macerator pump, said dc motor of the type having an average operating current under the load of operating said pump and maximum and minimum allowable currents, said system, comprising:
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a refuse holding tank;
an electrical controller connected with said dc motor;
a memory for storing a reference average signal corresponding with said average operating current, maximum and minimum reference signals corresponding with the respective said maximum and minimum allowable currents, and a reference time signal corresponding with the maximum time required for said pump to empty said tank;
a sensor connected with said memory and operative in response to the real time current level drawn by said dc motor to produce a sensed signal;
a timer operative to measure elapsed motor operating time to produce an elapsed time signal;
a comparator connected with said memory, sensor and timer and operative to compare said sensed signal with the respective said maximum and minimum reference signals and responsive to said sensed signal exceeding the respective said maximum and minimum reference signals to generate respective first and second stop signals, said comparator further operative to compare said elapsed time signal with said reference time signal and responsive to said elapsed time signal exceeding said reference time signal to generate a third stop signal, said comparator further operative to compare said sensed signal with said reference average signal and responsive to the differential between said sensed signal and said reference average signal exceeding a predetermined positive magnitude to generate a fourth stop signal and responsive to the differential between said sensed signal and said reference average signal exceeding a predetermined negative magnitude to generate a fifth stop signal; and
a control circuit in circuit with said comparator and including a voltage regulator and reverse voltage polarity protection diode to regulate power received from said battery to a predetermined voltage level suitable for said controller memory and logic circuits, said control circuit further including a field effect transistor (FET), said control circuit responsive to a start signal to turn on said FET to communicate power to said motor and responsive to either said first, second, third, fourth or fifth stop signals, turn off said FET to remove power from said motor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification