Systems and Methods of Controlling Pressure Maintenance Pumps and Data Logging Pump Operations

• US 20120230846A1
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASCO Power Technologies LP (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: ASCO Power Technologies LP (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Stephens, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,240,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/279
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/58 Pipe-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/60 wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/04 with electrically-controlled release
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/03 Pressure in the compression chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/05 Pressure after the pump outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/04 Combinations of two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 41/06 Combinations of two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/022 by means of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/08 Regulating by delivery pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations

Abstract

Example devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein relate to controlling operation of a jockey pump of a fire pump system. A jockey pump controller may include an electronic circuit board configured to receive a signal indicating a pressure value, and to compare the pressure value to a threshold for initiating operation of a jockey pump. The jockey pump controller may further include memory configured to store event statistics indicating information regarding past operation of the jockey pump. Additional example devices, systems, and methods are described herein.

Claims

1. A programmable maintenance pump controller for controlling operation of a maintenance pump residing within a pump system, the pump controller comprising:

an electronic circuit board comprising a programmable microprocessor, the microprocessor configured

to receive a signal indicating a pressure value, and

to compare the pressure value to a threshold for initiating operation of a maintenance pump; and

a memory operatively configured to the programmable microprocessor, the memory used to store event statistics that are representative of maintenance pump operation.

2. The pump controller of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is configured to receive inputs from a serial communication interface.

3. The pump controller of claim 1 further comprising

an input/output (I/O) expansion board operatively coupled to the electronic circuit board.

4. The pump controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit board includes a graphics display driver, a relay output, a digital interface, an analog input interface, and a keypad interface.

5. The pump controller of claim 1,

wherein the pump controller is configured to instruct the pump to continue to run until it receives a signal from the electronic circuit board indicating that the pressure value is above the threshold and a minimum run timer has expired, whichever occurs last.

6. The pump controller of claim 1, further comprising a pressure transducer configured to generate a signal based on a pressure of the pump system.

7. The pump controller of claim 1, wherein the pump controller is configured to instruct the pump to run after receiving the pump run signal from the electronic circuit board and after an on-delay time has expired.

8. The pump controller of claim 1, wherein the event statistics include an indication of when the pump was operated and a run-time of the pump.

9. The jockey pump controller of claim 1, wherein the event statistics comprises a historical data log of certain operational conditions of the pump.

10. The pump controller of claim 1 wherein the event statistics comprises cycle data history of at least the maintenance pump.

11. The pump controller of claim 1, wherein the event statistics can be retrieved through the communications interface.

12. The pump controller of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure that is configured to house the electronic circuit board

wherein the enclosure further comprises a door and

further comprising a user accessible door mounted touch screen display.

13. The pump controller of claim 1 wherein the pump controller is programmed to allow the controller to operates at least two maintenance pumps within the system.

14. The pump controller of claim 13 wherein the pump controller maintains event statistics of the two or more pumps within the system.

15. The pump controller of claim 1 further comprising a programmable timer.

16. The pump controller of claim 1 further comprising a phase monitoring interface.

17. The pump controller of claim 16 wherein the phase monitoring interface is provided by an expansion board.

18. The pump controller of claim 16 wherein the monitoring interface provides pulsed digital signals to the microcontroller, these pulsed digital signals indicative of a power line characteristic.

19. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to control operation of a jockey pump of a fire pump system, where the instructions are effective to cause the computing device to perform the functions of:

receiving at an electronic circuit board a signal indicating a pressure value;

comparing the pressure value to a threshold for initiating operation of a jockey pump;

providing the pump run signal to the jockey pump; and

storing event statistics indicating information regarding past operation of the jockey pump.

20. A computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the event statistics include an indication of when the jockey pump was operated and a run-time of the jockey pump.

21. A computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the event statistics include a historical data log of operation of the jockey pump.

22. A method of controlling operation of a jockey pump of a fire pump system, the method comprising:

receiving at an electronic circuit board a signal indicating a pressure value;

comparing the pressure value to a threshold for initiating operation of a jockey pump;

providing the pump run signal to the jockey pump; and

storing event statistics indicating information regarding past operation of the jockey pump.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising recording a time-stamped system pressure value at predetermined intervals.