Electronic control for pool pump

• US 20050260079A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven D. Allen
• Original Assignee: Steven D. Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Steven D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,484,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems

Abstract

An electronic pool pump timer that controls the run time of the pump for a period of time each day depending on the date. In the preferred embodiment, the user enters the historical daily maximum and minimum pump run times for the specific pool and the system calculates the required time the pump will run on a given day. The customized run time is thus calculated as a function of the date and the minimum and maximum run times for a given pool. The system then self-adjusts the run time each day as necessary. The device comprises a data input means, a display, memory, and a controller. It may also include a manual override to allow the user to turn the pump on at any time. The device is connected to the pump motor. The device is connected to a power supply and may also include a battery back-up in the event of a power outage. To prevent the pool from freezing, the system may also include an air temperature sensor that triggers pump operation when the ambient air is below a given temperature.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operating time of a pool pump comprising:

a) storing a plurality of run times by date; and

b) operating the pool pump for the stored run time on each date.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the run time is customized to a climatic region.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating the stored run time for each date, wherein each run time is a function of a maximum run time and a minimum run time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the maximum run time and minimum run time are user-specified.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the function describes the slope of a curve of a graph of run time vs. temperature.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein curve is substantially v-shaped.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein curve is substantially Gaussian.

8. The method according to claim 4 wherein curve is substantially parabolic.

9. A method for controlling the operating time of a pool pump comprising:

a) storing the current time, month, and day;

b) storing a default maximum run time and a default minimum run time;

c) storing a user-specified maximum run time and a user-specified minimum run time;

d) calculating a run time for each day as a function of;

i. the default maximum run time;

ii. the default minimum run time;

iii. the user-specified maximum run time;

iv. the user-specified minimum run time; and

e) operating the pool pump each day for the calculated run time.

11. The device according to claim 9 wherein the controller calculates run times as a function of a user-specified maximum run time and a user-specified minimum run time.

12. The device according to claim 9 wherein the controller further comprises a clock.

13. The device according to claim 9 further comprising switch connected between the controller and the pump.

14. The device according to claim 9 further comprising a battery as a back-up power source.

15. The device according to claim 9 further comprising a temperature sensor that turns the pump on when the ambient air is below a given temperature.

16. The device according to claim 9 further comprising a manual override to run the pump on demand.

17. The device according to claim 9 further comprising an input port.

10. A device for controlling the operating time of a pool pump comprising:

a) an input means;

b) a display;

c) a power supply;

d) a controller in communication with the pump; and

e) a memory for storing run times as a function of the date.