Pump motor control responsive to conductive flow switch and dual timers

• US 5,120,198 A
• Filed: 07/22/1991
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fayette M. Clark
• Original Assignee: Fayette M. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Fayette M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scheuermann, David W.
• Application Number:
  US07/733,445
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 417/12, 417/18, 417/20, 417/36, 417/40, 417/43, 417/44, 340/606
• US Class Current: 417/12
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures

Abstract

A protector device connected in series with a pool pump motor. When the automated pool timer contacts close, supplying AC power to pool pump motor, the protector apparatus logic permits instantaneous motor turn on and logic reset of apparatus clock timer. After a nominal period of time, pump motor will be shut off, unless water is flowing through pump motor. In the event water is flowing through pump motor, a water flow sensing switch in the water line to pump will override clock logic, and hold pump motor on, until the automated pool timer reaches a preset trip turn off time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a pump motor, said pump motor being controlled by a circuit comprising:

a power source;

a 24 hour timer connected to said power source, for timing a period of "on" and a period of "off" each 24 hours;

an isolated DC voltage supply;

an off-delay timer, powered by the DC supply which times out after a pre-set time period has elapsed and is reset at the beginning of every "on" period of the 24 hour timer;

a flow sensing switch connected to the DC supply, having a pair of electrodes located in a pump fluid conduit, said electrodes indicate flow by a change in resistance across said electrodes; and

a control circuit for insertion in said power source, said control circuit being connected to enable the delivery of power from said power source to said pump motor beginning when the 24 hour timer "on" period occurs, and to disable the delivery of power at the beginning of the 24 hour timer "off" period, and to disable the delivery of power from said power source to said pump motor during the "on" period after said off-delay timer has timed out and in response to the absence of flow until the beginning of the next "on" period.