Controller for a motor and a method of controlling the motor
First Claim
1. A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus being connectable to a power source and comprising:
- a pump including an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return, the pump adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return;
a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump;
a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor;
a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor; and
a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch, the microcontroller including a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value, the microcontroller configured to control the motor based on the second value.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.
187 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus being connectable to a power source and comprising:
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a pump including an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return, the pump adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return; a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump; a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor; a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor; and a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch, the microcontroller including a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value, the microcontroller configured to control the motor based on the second value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus being connectable to a power source and comprising:
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a pump including an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return, the pump adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return; a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump; a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor; a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor; and a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch, the microcontroller including a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of a modeled pressure based on the first value, the microcontroller configured to control the motor based on the second value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a jetted fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus comprising a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return, the pump adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:
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determining a power of the pump motor; applying the power to a model observer; obtaining a value representative of a flow based on the power and the model observer; determining whether the value indicates a condition of the pump; and controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a jetted fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus comprising a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return, the pump adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:
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determining a power of the pump motor; applying the power to a model observer; obtaining a value representative of a pressure based on the power and the model observer; determining whether the value indicates a condition of the pump; and controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of controlling a fluid-movement system including a motor and a pump, the motor being coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:
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calibrating the system to obtain a calibration value for a motor parameter; obtaining a relationship between the motor parameter and a fluid parameter; determining a trip value based on the calibration value and the relationship; controlling the motor to operate the pump; monitoring the operation of the pump, the monitoring act including determining a value for the motor parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump; and further controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of controlling a fluid-movement system including a motor and a pump, the motor being coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:
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determining a relationship between an input power to the motor and a flow rate through the pump; determining a calibration value for the input power; determining a percentage drop for the relationship; determining a trip value based on the relationship, the calibration value, and the percentage drop; monitoring the operation of the pump, the monitoring act comprising determining a first value for the input power, comparing the first value to the trip value, and determining whether the first value indicates a condition of the pump; and controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification