Sump pump system

• US 20070258827A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Gierke
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gierke
• Inventors: Gierke, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/416,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/6
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/068 Battery powered
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/029 for pumps operating in parallel

Abstract

A programmed microcontroller based sump pump system includes multiple pumps that can be employed with one as a primary pump and one as a back-up, or can be employed in combination to increase the discharge rate. The microcontroller monitors the back-up battery condition, and computes and displays the battery life; monitors the system for clogs or vapor locks in the discharge piping; switches to an emergency periodic pumping mode of operation, when needed; and notifies the user by phone or e-mail of a system malfunction.

Claims

1. A sump pump system for removing liquid from a sump comprising:

a plurality of pumps for pumping liquid from the sump, said pumps being arranged to be selectively powered from a primary power source and a secondary battery back-up power source;

a battery back-up power source; and

a programmed microcontroller based controller unit for controlling said pumps and selecting said power source therefor.

2. The sump pump system of claim 1 wherein said controller unit is programmed to selectively operate said pumps either individually or in combination.

3. The sump pump system of claim 1 wherein said controller unit is programmed to selectively operate one of said pumps as a primary pump and to selectively operate one of said pumps as a secondary, back-up pump.

4. The sump pump system of claim 1 wherein said controller unit is programmed to selectively operate one or more of said pumps in an emergency mode by periodically cycling said respective pump ON and OFF.

5. The sump pump system of claim 1 wherein said controller unit is programmed to provide a display or alarm in the event of a malfunction.

6. A sump pump system for removing liquid from a sump comprising:

a pump driven by an electric motor for discharging liquid from the sump, said pump being arranged to be selectively powered from a primary electrical power source or a secondary battery back-up power source;

a battery back-up power source; and

means for computing the expected life of said battery back-up power source, said means including a programmed microcontroller.

7. The sump pump system of claim 6 wherein said means for computing said expected life of said battery back-up power source comprises:

selecting a starting value for said battery life;

determining the expected rate of power consumption by the sump pump system; and

computing said resultant expected battery life, wherein said computation is based on said starting value and said rate of power consumption.

8. The sump pump system of claim 7 further comprising adjusting said starting value of said battery life for recent usage of said battery.

9. The sump pump system of claim 6 further comprising:

display means for displaying said computed expected life of said battery back-up power source; and

alarm means for providing an alert and/or alarm in response to said computed expected battery life.

10. The sump pump system of claim 8 further comprising:

a secondary pump driven by an electric motor for discharging liquid from the sump, said secondary pump being arranged to be selectively powered from a primary electrical power source or a secondary battery back-up power source;

a programmed microcontroller based controller unit for controlling said pumps and selecting said power source therefor;

display means for displaying said computed expected life of said battery back-up power source; and

alarm means for providing an alert and/or alarm in response to said computed expected battery life.

11. A sump pump system for removing liquid from a sump comprising:

a pump driven by an electric motor for discharging liquid from the sump through discharge piping;

a programmed microcontroller based controller unit for monitoring and operating said pump and for monitoring the liquid level in the sump; and

means for sensing the electrical current flowing to said pump motor and thereby determining the existence of a vapor lock condition in said discharge piping, said means including said programmed microcontroller.

12. The sump pump system of claim 11 wherein said controller unit programming comprises:

switching OFF said pump on detection of a low current flow to said pump motor;

counting the ON/OFF cycles of said pump within a preset period; and

determining a vapor lock condition in response to said count of ON/OFF cycles.

13. The sump pump system of claim 11 further comprising means for detecting a discharge blockage, said means including monitoring by said microcontroller of the liquid level in the sump during operation of said pump.

14. The sump pump system of claim 13 wherein said means for detecting a discharge blockage includes a repeating cycle comprising:

monitoring the liquid level in the sump; and

operating said pump during a predetermined time interval following detection of a predetermined liquid level.

15. The sump pump system of claim 14 further comprising alarm means for providing an alert and/or alarm in response to a sensed vapor lock condition or a sensed discharge blockage.

16. A sump pump system for removing liquid from a sump comprising:

a pump for discharging liquid from the sump through discharge piping;

a programmed microcontroller based controller unit, said microcontroller being programmed to detect a notification event, operate a modem, and communicate with a remote computer;

a remote programmed computer system accessible by said microcontroller through a phone line connection; and

a modem under control of said microcontroller for providing a phone line communication connection to said remote computer.

17. The sump pump system of claim 16 wherein said programming of said microcontroller comprises:

detecting a possible notification event;

determining, in response to said detected event, whether communication to said remote computer system is required;

connecting to said remote computer system by placing a telephone call through said modem to a predetermined phone number; and

transmitting to said remote computer system a serial number for the sump pump system and a code for the notification event.

18. The sump pump system of claim 17 wherein said remote computer system is programmed to respond to said transmission from said microcontroller by accessing a database, retrieving an e-mail address from said database corresponding to said serial number of said sump pump system, and sending an e-mail notification through the internet to said e-mail address.

19. The sump pump system of claim 17 wherein said remote computer system is programmed to respond to said transmission from said microcontroller by accessing a database, retrieving a phone number from said database corresponding to said serial number of said sump pump system, and sending a notification in the form of a pre-recorded voice message to said phone number.

20. The sump pump system of claim 18 wherein said notification event includes one or more of the following:

an electrical failure, a clog in the discharge piping, a vapor lock in the discharge piping, a pump failure or activation error, an electrical power failure, a failure of a sensor, or a disconnected battery.