Pump Controller With External Device Control Capability
First Claim
1. A fluid circulation system for a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump for moving the fluid from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, the power used to turn the pump depending upon flow resistance into and out of said fluid receptacle, comprising:
- a variable speed motor couplable to the pump for turning it;
a controller in electrical communication with said variable speed motor, said controller determining the amount of electrical power delivered to said variable speed motor and the rotational speed of said variable speed motor;
an electrical load sensing circuit for sensing the electrical load on said variable speed motor in turning said pump;
a vent valve coupled to the suction conduit and having at least two positions, a first position which fluidly connects the suction conduit to matter outside the suction conduit and a second position which isolates the suction conduit from matter outside the suction conduit;
said controller having an output that triggers said vent valve to assume the first position when said electrical load sensing circuit senses a load level indicative of a restricted flow of fluid into said suction conduit.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variable speed motor controller senses the electrical load on the motor in turning a pump. An output of the controller may be used to trigger a vent valve or power to the motor may be cut if the load level indicates a restricted flow of fluid into the suction side of the pump, such as would be caused by drain occlusion in a swimming pool. A sensor in communication with the suction side of the pump ascertains a vacuum/pressure level present and may be used to verify that an intended operational state for the variable speed motor and the pump is actualized, otherwise anomaly processing is invoked. This pressure/vacuum monitoring may be conducted through speed changes of the motor/pump.
87 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A fluid circulation system for a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump for moving the fluid from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, the power used to turn the pump depending upon flow resistance into and out of said fluid receptacle, comprising:
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a variable speed motor couplable to the pump for turning it; a controller in electrical communication with said variable speed motor, said controller determining the amount of electrical power delivered to said variable speed motor and the rotational speed of said variable speed motor; an electrical load sensing circuit for sensing the electrical load on said variable speed motor in turning said pump; a vent valve coupled to the suction conduit and having at least two positions, a first position which fluidly connects the suction conduit to matter outside the suction conduit and a second position which isolates the suction conduit from matter outside the suction conduit;
said controller having an output that triggers said vent valve to assume the first position when said electrical load sensing circuit senses a load level indicative of a restricted flow of fluid into said suction conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fluid circulation system for a fluid receptacle with a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the receptacle, a fluid inlet for returning fluid to the receptacle, a pump for moving the fluid from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet, a suction conduit providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the pump and a return conduit providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid inlet, the power used to turn the pump depending upon flow resistance into and out of said fluid receptacle, comprising:
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a variable speed motor couplable to the pump for turning it; a controller in electrical communication with said variable speed motor, said controller determining the amount of electrical power delivered to said variable speed motor and the rotational speed of said variable speed motor; an electrical load sensing circuit for sensing the electrical load on said variable speed motor in turning said pump; a sensor in communication with the suction conduit for ascertaining a vacuum level present in the suction conduit and generating a corresponding output signal, the vacuum level present in the suction conduit varying depending upon the degree of restriction of fluid flow into and out of the receptacle and the speed of said variable speed motor driving the pump, said controller generating control outputs to said variable speed motor to control the operational state of said variable speed motor and defining an intended operational state for said variable speed motor and the pump, said controller checking output from said sensor to verify that an actual operational state of the pump is consistent with the intended pump state and terminating pump operation when an inconsistency exists. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A system for controlling a pump having a pump portion and a motor portion driving the pump portion, the pump portion having an intake and an outlet, with a suction conduit leading to the intake of the pump portion, comprising:
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a pulse width modulator in electrical communication with said motor portion, said motor portion being a variable speed motor, said pulse width modulator determining the amount of electrical power delivered to said variable speed motor and the speed of the variable speed motor; a microprocessor electrically coupled to and controlling said pulse width modulator; a minimum load sensor circuit in electrical communication with said variable speed motor for sensing electrical load on said variable speed motor in turning said pump portion and generating an output to said microprocessor indicative of a load state of said variable speed motor, including when the electrical load on said variable speed motor drops below a minimum load criteria; a power supply for powering said microprocessor; a solenoid valve coupled to the suction conduit that vents the suction conduit to atmosphere when in a venting position; a power supply to send power signals to said solenoid valve via a relay, said microprocessor programmed to shut said variable speed motor OFF via control of said pulse width modulator when said minimum load detector circuit detects a violation of minimum load criteria and to trigger said relay to provide a power signal to said solenoid causing said solenoid to vent to atmosphere.
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Specification