Systems and Methods for a Connected Sump Pump

• US 20200137830A1
• Filed: 10/28/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies LLC (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies LLC (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Khalid, Hassan, Sgambelluri, Nicola, Broga, Brian, Boothe, Brian, Featherstone, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 11,425,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/023 only the pump-part being immersed, the driving-part being outside the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0236 Lack of liquid level being detected by analysing the parameters of the electric drive, e.g. current or power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/02 Registering or indicating working or idle time only
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring operation of a sump pump are provided. A method includes connecting a power adapter to the sump pump and a float-switch. The power adapter includes a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned within a housing, a power supply in electrical communication with components coupled to the PCB, and an integrated chip coupled to the PCB. The integrated chip is configured to establish a wireless connection to a first wireless network, and transmit a message to a remote server over the first wireless network. The method further includes causing an internet enabled device to send one or more instructions that causes the power adapter to connect to the first wireless network, and receiving, using the internet enabled device, a message from the remote server.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring operation of a sump pump via a remote server, the system comprising:

a power adapter, comprising;

a housing;

a controller positioned within the housing and configured to execute computer-readable instructions, the controller establishing communication with the remote server via a first wireless connection to a first wireless network;

prongs extending away from the housing and in electrical communication with components coupled to the controller, the prongs configured to receive electric power from electric power inputs;

a first receptacle positioned on the housing and configured to accept a float-switch input and electrically connect the float-switch input to the controller and the electric power inputs; and

a second receptacle positioned on the housing and configured to accept a sump pump input of the sump pump and electrically connect the sump pump input to the controller and the electric power inputs,

the controller executing the computer-readable instructions to;

(i) determine that a float switch electrically coupled to the power adapter at the first receptacle is on;

(ii) provide power to the sump pump;

(iii) sense a current provided to the sump pump;

(iv) determine that the float switch is off;

(v) determine that the current is below a threshold value;

(vi) determine a time value that has elapsed between the determining that the float switch is off and the determining that the current is below the threshold value; and

(vii) control the pump based on the time value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a mounting hole oriented to accept a screw for insertion into a duplex wall outlet to affix the power adapter to the duplex outlet.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a tab extension comprising a second mounting hole and being configured to be inserted into the mounting hole, the second mounting hole being configured to accept a screw for insertion into a simplex wall outlet to affix the power adapter to the simplex outlet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power adapter further comprises a terminal comprising two contactors configured to couple to a high water sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second receptacle comprises three terminals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein to control the pump based on the time value, the controller performs a method comprising:

(a) determining that the float switch is on;

(b) providing power to the sump pump;

(c) determining that the float switch is off;

(d) continuing to provide power to the sump pump for an amount of time equal to the time value has passed since the determining that the float switch is off at step (c); and

(e) ceasing to provide power to the sump pump.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein power adapter is configured to communicate with a user device and receive a request for a health test from the user device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein to perform the health test the controller performs a method comprising:

running the sump pump for a predetermined time period;

receiving operational data from the power adapter;

generating a health test report based on the operational data; and

outputting the health test report to the user device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the health test report comprises recommendations to help a user better run the sump pump.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the power adapter further comprises:

an indicator light positioned on a front face of the power adapter; and

a pushbutton positioned on the front face of the power adapter,

and wherein the pushbutton is configured to activate a local mode of the power adapter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the power adapter communicates directly with a user device over a Bluetooth or direct WiFi connection during the local mode.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the pushbutton is further configured to initiate a manual pump operation process.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the power adaptor is configured to communicate with a monitoring process and receive a request for a health test from the monitoring process.

14. A system for monitoring operation of a float-switch controlled sump pump via a remote server, the system comprising:

a power adapter, comprising;

a housing;

a controller positioned within the housing and configured to execute computer readable instructions, to establish a first wireless connection to a first wireless network and to transmit a message to a remote server over the first wireless network;

prongs extending away from the housing and in electrical communication with components coupled to the controller, the prongs configured to receive electric power from electric power inputs;

a first receptacle positioned on the housing and configured to accept a float-switch input, the float-switch input in electrical communication with the printed circuit board upon insertion into the first receptacle; and

a second receptacle positioned on the housing and configured to accept a sump pump input, the sump pump input in electrical communication with the printed circuit board upon insertion into the second receptacle,

wherein controller is further configured to

(a) determine that the float switch is on;

(b) provide power to the sump pump;

(c) determine that the float switch is off;

(d) continue to provide power to the sump pump for an amount of time equal to a predetermined time value has passed since the determining that the float switch is off at step (c); and

(e) cease to provide power to the sump pump.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a mounting hole oriented to accept a screw for insertion into the duplex wall outlet to affix the power adapter to the duplex outlet.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a tab extension comprising a second mounting hole and being configured to be inserted into the mounting hole, the second mounting hole being oriented to accept a screw for insertion into a simplex wall outlet to affix the power adapter to the simplex wall outlet.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the power adapter further comprises a terminal comprising two contactors configured to couple to a high water sensor.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the message comprises at least one of an average weekly motor current, an average motor current per cycle, a longest cycle length, a shortest cycle length, a total number of cycles, a total pump run time, an average power per week, an average power per cycle, a power factor, a number of cycles between a previous health test, a time of one or more health tests, and a voltage measured by the power adapter.

19. A method for controlling and monitoring a sump pump coupled to a power adapter, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) determining that a float switch is on, the float switch being coupled to the power adapter;

(ii) providing power to the sump pump;

(iii) sensing a current provided to the sump pump;

(iv) determining that the float switch is off;

(v) determining that the current is below a threshold value;

(vi) determining a time value that has elapsed between the determining that the float switch is off at step (iv) and the determining that the current is below a threshold value at step (v);

(vii) providing power to the sump pump based on the time value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the providing power to the sump pump based on the time at step (vii) comprises:

(a) determining that the float switch is on;

(b) providing power to the sump pump;

(c) determining that the float switch is off;

(d) continuing to provide power to the sump pump for an amount of time equal to a predetermined time value has passed since the determining that the float switch is off at step (c); and

(e) ceasing to provide power to the sump pump.